Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Córas Iompair Éireann

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will meet representatives of workers in CIÉ who face reduced pension entitlements as a result of the delay in signing a statutory instrument to give effect to agreed changes to the CIÉ regular wages scheme; the timeframe for signing the statutory instrument given the numbers of workers adversely affected by the continued delay in signing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43682/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

243. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the decision to reduce or phase out the pandemic unemployment payment over the coming months with recipients moving to a more traditional social welfare payment, is causing significant anxiety particularly among low income families who are fearful of a marked decrease in income coming up to Christmas; if she will give compassionate consideration in view of the very difficult past 18 months to delaying the reductions in the pandemic unemployment payment and transition to other payments until after the holiday period in order that families can enjoy Christmas without additional financial stress during this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44292/21]

Workplace Relations Commission

Bríd Smith

65. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans in relation to consulting interested groups regarding the proposed legislation to grant access to the Workplace Relations Commission for retired workers that was deferred for 12 months in the last term of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43718/21]

Workplace Relations Commission

Bríd Smith

87. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to advance representative rights for retired workers especially in relation to access to the Workplace Relations Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43719/21]

Data Centres

Bríd Smith

209. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to deal with threats to the State's power supply in the coming period, specifically actions in relation to proposed data centres; if he will support proposals for a ban on proposed data centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43677/21]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

243. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the detail of the fines for service failures over the past two years for Dublin Bus and Go Ahead; and the reasons and formulae for deciding these fines. [43678/21]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

244. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the details of the fines issued to Dublin Bus by the NTA over the past period, specifically those that relate to the operations of the new PA hybrid bus; if his attention has been drawn to concerns (details supplied) that such fines are being issued erroneously by the NTA for failure to deliver services which have in fact operated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43679/21]

Vaccination Programme

Bríd Smith

631. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure that all surplus Covid-19 vaccines, many of which are approaching their expiration date are immediately collected and dispatched to countries that need them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43466/21]

Homeless Persons Supports

Bríd Smith

402. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to address the issue of youth homelessness; the number of young persons who have become homeless in the past three years; the options that have been available in the past for such persons; the options that are available currently; his views on whether the current homeless hostels and shelters are not suitable for young persons; the steps he is taking to ensure that young homeless persons are protected from abuse in all its forms and to being exposed to substance abuse and addiction; the steps he is taking to prevent youth homelessness occurring in the first place; if he plans to provide accommodation and services solely for young person's experiencing homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43171/21]

Foreign Birth Registration

Bríd Smith

421. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the date for the resumption of processing of applications for Irish citizenship via the foreign birth register which has been paused for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41998/21]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

666. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of passenger journeys for which her Department compensated the licensed transport operator under the free travel scheme in respect of each year from 2015 to 2020 and during the period January 2021 to June 2021 in respect of licensed routes numbers 481 and 482 and licence numbers 01019 and 99070. [41813/21]

Legislative Process

Bríd Smith

751. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 has not yet been fully enacted over five and a half years later; the definitive timeline for its enactment given the human rights implications of the anachronistic Lunacy Regulation Act 1871 which is still being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41820/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Bríd Smith

1141. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on reports of the inability to perform scans at St. James’s Hospital in Dublin; the manner in which this is impacting both the treatment of individual patients awaiting scans and the management of ward beds; the waiting times for scans in St. James’s Hospital; the impact of such waiting times on hospital bed usage; when this situation be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41855/21]

Córas Iompair Éireann

Bríd Smith

186. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 92 of 12 May 2021, if the SI has been signed to give effect to this agreement; if not , when it will be signed; if he will clarify the position of a worker in the regular wages scheme week who is due to retire during the period in between which the agreement was accepted and the present time; if the worker will receive the increased benefits when or if the SI is signed even if they had retired before the signing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39588/21]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

201. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the NTA has discussed with Dublin Bus the need for wide ranging changes to drivers current work rosters and schedules prior to the BusConnects plan being implemented; if the NTA has expressed the view that Dublin Bus cannot successfully operate BusConnects proposals under current working arrangements for drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39809/21]

Driver Test

Bríd Smith

224. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport when driving lessons and driver tests will resume for non-essential workers and the general population; the steps that will be taken to clear the significant backlog of those awaiting driving tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40159/21]

Passport Services

Bríd Smith

815. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the timeframe for all backlogged applications for passports to be cleared; the emergency procedures in place for persons who must undertake travel to other countries but are affected by the current delays in passport application processing and by the delays in the registration of births as a result of the cyberattack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39400/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

833. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will use its influence in the EU to ensure the Indian Government is aware of Ireland’s concern over its handling of the Covid-19 crisis in India and the high death toll there; if he will urge the EU to ensure that future trade deals and so on are contingent on vaccines been available to all citizens in India; if funds donated to a fund (details supplied) will be open for full scrutiny as to their dispersal and use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39831/21]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

934. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made to secure an autism class in schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39193/21]

School Accommodation

Bríd Smith

935. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education her views on whether forward planning is needed for Dublin 12 given that there will be an increase of over 6,000 new residents in the area in next two years; if she has spoken to her Department regarding a new school for the area which will include autism classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39194/21]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

936. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education her views on whether early start requires an overhaul and that autistic children need additional support to be able to fulfil their potential; her plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39195/21]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

954. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of students and schools by county that have participated in or plan to participate in the July provision; the number of teaching staff who have signed up to provide the cover in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39500/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bríd Smith

1123. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of passenger journeys for which her Department compensated the licensed transport operators under the free travel scheme in respect of each year from 2015 to 2020 and during the period January to June 2021 in respect of licensed routes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39819/21]

Prison Service

Bríd Smith

1354. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the issue in the Midlands Prison in relation to complaints from inmates and staff on the lack of proper ventilation or air conditioning in the recent warm weather; if she will investigate the conditions in the prison; her plans to deal with the conditions there in the coming period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39807/21]

Courts Service

Bríd Smith

1391. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if it will be guaranteed that the promised research on parental alienation and the use of same in the Court system will be carried out in Q3 as part of her Department's Action Plan 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40477/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

1639. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will consider regulations to safeguard the largely unvaccinated cohort of young workers employed in the retail and hospitality sector by ensuring CO2 monitors are placed in all such venues to monitor air quality and possible dangers of the Covid-19 virus spreading in view of the planned reopening of retail and hospitality; if consideration has been given to making such monitors compulsory in all indoor dining areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34550/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

2049. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters relating to vaccination and mandatory hotel quarantine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36375/21]

Assisted Decision-Making

Bríd Smith

2062. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 has not yet been fully enacted over five and a half years later; the definitive timeline for its enactment given the human rights implications of the anachronistic Lunacy Regulation Act 1871 which is still being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36420/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

2181. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the requirement to obtain a negative PCR test prior to travel (details supplied) in relation to travel restrictions into the State from red-listed countries. [36379/21]

Vaccination Programme

Bríd Smith

2576. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when a vaccine (details supplied) will be approved for 12 to 15-year-old children and in particular children with underlying health conditions who remain in a very high risk category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38139/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

2910. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 15 July 2021, the reason the reply does not deal with the question which relates to the recommendations of the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 which called for an inquiry into the deaths in nursing homes from Covid-19; his position on actions he intends to take in relation to those recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39631/21]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

2993. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the companies currently operating the HPV cervical screening programme; the percentage of work per laboratory and company; the length of time the current contracts operate for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39808/21]

Birth Certificates

Bríd Smith

2996. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when births will be registered in order that those needing to travel urgently can get passports for their children; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result of the inability to register births medical cards and child benefit have been suspended and that this has grave implications for those who need this support now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39824/21]

Assisted Decision-Making

Bríd Smith

3019. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify procedures and processes around parental guardian consent in administering contraceptives in care home settings with a view to controlling monthly menstruation in a young autistic person (details supplied); if a parent, guardian should have the final say in whether this should proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40002/21]

Departmental Schemes

Bríd Smith

212. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will implement the comprehensive set of recommendations contained in the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Safe as Houses? A Report on Building Standards, Building Controls & Consumer Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38826/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

319. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to Government policy on conducting a public inquiry into deaths in nursing homes from the Covid-19 as recommended by the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31713/21]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

320. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of protected disclosures made by staff in the HSE since 2010; the action taken to protect those making such disclosures; the number of protected disclosures that have led to actions or changes in policy as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31714/21]

National Economic and Social Council

Bríd Smith

11. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [37721/21]

Employment Support Services

Bríd Smith

27. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has been notified by a company (details supplied) of any proposals for redundancies; if such proposals ahead of a transfer of undertakings by it of a firm is in line with current employment legislation and TUPE directives that seeks to offer protection to workers facing such transfer of business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38436/21]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

28. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his proposals to begin the consultation process in relation to the proposed Industrial relations (amendment) Bill that sought to grant representative rights to retired workers on issues relating to their pensions schemes; if this consultation process will involve the representative bodies of those retired workers affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38437/21]

Birth Certificates

Bríd Smith

154. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which parents of newborn children who have been unable to register their child’s birth can travel with their child for essential reasons to other countries in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30917/21]

State Examinations

Bríd Smith

204. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her Department will facilitate traditional Chinese leaving certificate papers in the future; if it will ensure that the correcting system can accept an answer written in traditional Chinese; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38362/21]

Departmental Offices

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the parliamentary liaison unit of his Department. [37719/21]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach the membership and terms of reference of the Covid-19 oversight group chaired by the Secretary General of his Department. [37720/21]

Health Services Staff

Bríd Smith

149. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the plans and measures that will be put in place to support training, recruitment and retention of the healthcare professionals necessary to build capacity across the whole health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37725/21]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

407. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of applications for an exceptional review in relation to SNA allocations in 2021; the number of such applications that were rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37370/21]

Third Level Admissions

Bríd Smith

512. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the criteria used to determine the six indicators for the higher education access route; his views on whether the rigid application of same can further exclude poor students; the numbers of applicants refused this term; and the breakdown of refusals by each indicator used (details supplied) in tabular form. [37274/21]

Grant Payments

Bríd Smith

33. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if it will be ensured that students who qualified for the pandemic unemployment payment can have €4,500 disregarded in line with the normal treatment of payments for holiday work or the employment wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36660/21]

Grant Payments

Bríd Smith

42. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the position of students who qualified for the pandemic unemployment payment and who now face cuts to their SUSI grant as a result of the additional reckonable income will be reviewed in view of the extraordinary difficulties faced by this cohort over the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36661/21]

An Garda Síochána

Bríd Smith

85. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will commission a review into the workings of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC and its limitations compared to a full commission of investigations in view of recent cases (details supplied) involving GSOC investigations and questions regarding the speed and outcome of these; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36697/21]