Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

286. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of times and the schemes involved in which the Pension Authority issued a section 50 order under the Pensions Acts to reduce benefits to ensure a scheme stays within the minimum funding standard for defined benefit schemes since 2010. [27288/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

3. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the President of the European Commission. [24253/21]

An Garda Síochána

Bríd Smith

10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the policing reform implementation programme office based in his Department. [26247/21]

Departmental Bodies

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the housing, infrastructure and digital unit of his Department. [26248/21]

Departmental Bodies

Bríd Smith

22. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [26249/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his latest engagement with the social partners. [24667/21]

Vaccination Programme

Bríd Smith

7. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach the membership and terms of reference of the vaccine roll-out group chaired by the Secretary General of his Department. [24665/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

13. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with church leaders. [24252/21]

Employment Support Services

Bríd Smith

77. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to ensure the services provided and the ethos of the local employment services scheme are preserved; her views on whether current EU directives mean such services must be competitively tendered out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26213/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost and number of staff employed in operating the employer reporting facility established by her Department in March 2020 to enable employers to notify it regarding staff not willing to return to work while they continued to claim pandemic unemployment payments; the number of employees on the pandemic unemployment payment who subsequently had their payments reduced or terminated on foot of employers contacting her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26214/21]

National Monuments

Bríd Smith

371. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his officials along with Dublin City Council officials and representatives of a company (details supplied) have supported a number of proposals for the development of Moore Street; the actions he has taken to support such proposals; the details of meetings between his officials and others in relation to the Moore Street development including those conducted with representatives of the company and with a group; if such proposals are separate to a possible compensation package being discussed by the group in preparation of its recent report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25684/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

484. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will acknowledge the significant impact that the Covid-19 pandemic and public health restrictions have had on young persons' mental health; if she will respond favourably to secondary school students' requests for the provision of a counsellor to schools to help address the mental health and emotional issues during and post public health emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25874/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

554. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address issues relating to carers and specifically the recommendations made by the Citizens' Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26325/21]

Defence Forces

Bríd Smith

8. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence the timeframe for the work of the commission on defence to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25107/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

64. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the arrangements that will made to cater for the children in families who have members with serious underlying conditions and who remain unvaccinated against Covid-19 and therefore are forced to keep their children from schools at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24602/21]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

81. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will amend circular 0030/2014 which defines the role of SNAs as one of care needs only given the actual work and role played by SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24719/21]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she plans to recognise the education achievements and continuous professional development of SNAs; her plans to accredit the course recently commenced in UCD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24718/21]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

116. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she plans to meet with representatives of SNAs (details supplied) to ensure that the allocation of rosters and work for the next school term can be arranged in a more just and professional manner than the current and previous system which results in great uncertainty for SNAs across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24720/21]

State Examinations

Bríd Smith

155. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the situation will be clarified for secondary school pupils who will not be progressing to fifth year having completed the junior cycle in 2021; if these pupils will be awarded a certificate for the junior certificate; if classroom based assessments will be provided to ensure the award of some certificate for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24721/21]

Schools Amalgamation

Bríd Smith

164. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of pupils expected to be placed in a school (details supplied) following the amalgamation of two schools; the additional resources and staffing and facilities that will be available for the school to cater for this increased number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24717/21]

State Examinations

Bríd Smith

312. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of pupils who sat exams in November 2020 and who are expected to apply for third-level courses in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25261/21]

Third Level Admissions

Bríd Smith

361. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider the plight of students who sat exams in November 2020 by accommodating these students' course preferences ahead of the class of 2021 given the difficulties they faced, especially with some having had their calculated grades reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25260/21]

Third Level Admissions

Bríd Smith

364. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in the event that points needed are increased for third-level courses, he will make some arrangements for the class of 2020 who sat exams in November 2020 by facilitating their admission based on the 2020 points needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25262/21]

National Economic and Social Council

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [24251/21]

Electronic Commerce

Bríd Smith

40. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to .ie domains and their usage by UK companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24818/21]

Córas Iompair Éireann

Bríd Smith

92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will approve changes to the CIÉ regular wages pension scheme that were approved in a ballot of members in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25094/21]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 40 and 41 of 6 May 2021, if the 100x is also facing cancellation by Bus Éireann; his plans to cover the towns and areas mentioned in the original Parliamentary Question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25145/21]

Student Accommodation

Bríd Smith

189. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of progress towards the objectives of the student accommodation strategy in view of the disruption to the construction sector over 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25143/21]

Trade Agreements

Bríd Smith

134. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the economic and sustainability impact assessment for Ireland of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement will be published given that he indicated it would be due at the end of quarter 1 2021 and this date has now passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24128/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

249. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider allowing event catering companies that comply with all of the business eligibility criteria to access the Covid restrictions support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24535/21]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

365. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the upcoming Land Development Agency Bill 2021 will be revised at committee stage to prioritise traditional council housing and to ensure that the affordable housing is defined in relation to incomes and not in relation to market prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24647/21]

Insolvency Service of Ireland

Bríd Smith

627. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases since 2015 in which a debtor has proposed a personal insolvency arrangement which has been rejected by a creditor and in which the debtor has subsequently sought a personal insolvency court review; the number of these cases in which the original proposed arrangement was imposed by the court on the creditors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23835/21]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

840. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that safeguarding mediation services for older persons are currently only available via online meeting; his views on the difficulties this presents for older persons who do not have the skills or know-how to engage with much needed support in this way; if he will address the difficulties this presents for persons with any kind of cognitive impairment, for example, dementia; if he will consider the type of alternatives that should be made available especially in critical safeguarding situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24324/21]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

995. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of racing greyhound pups born from information recorded when owners make a declaration of litter submission to a club (details supplied) for each of the years 2009 to 2020, specifically the individual number of pups per litter; if he will clarify that such information is available to his Department from the club database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24479/21]

Bus Éireann

Bríd Smith

40. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the steps he will take in relation to the proposed cuts to expressway services by Bus Éireann; if these cuts will commence on 15 May 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23552/21]

Bus Éireann

Bríd Smith

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to plans to cut the 100x expressway service; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that such a cut will leave towns such as Castlebellingham, Dunleer and Newtown Monasterboice without any public transport link to Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23553/21]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

116. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to extend free travel to those living with epilepsy; if her attention has been drawn to the implications for those with epilepsy who are not allowed to drive and who have to rely completely on public transport to travel and all that entails; the rationale for excluding this cohort from the free travel scheme; if she will carry out a review of the scheme with a view to including persons with epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23381/21]

Departmental Information

Bríd Smith

114. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social policy and public service reform division of his Department. [23259/21]

National Economic and Social Council

Bríd Smith

115. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [23260/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

215. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending benefits or the staycation supports to owners of mobile homes that face annual fees but have been unable to access their home due to level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22959/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

216. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending tax relief to owners of mobile homes that face annual fees but have been unable to access their home due to level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22961/21]

Irish Sign Language

Bríd Smith

382. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education her plans to add Irish Sign Language to the secondary school curriculum given that it is the third official language; her views on whether a failure to do so contravenes the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the areas of exclusion, segregation and integration when students with disabilities are educated in separate environments designed or used to respond to a particular impairment or to various impairments in isolation from students with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22923/21]

School Meals Programme

Bríd Smith

413. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to an anomaly that exists in relation to the provision of the hot meal scheme at two schools located on one site (details supplied); if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that there is a distinct likelihood that parents will prefer to enrol their children at one of the schools to the detriment of the other as a result of this development; the steps she will take to ensure that both schools that are located in an area that will benefit from this initiative will be included in the hot meal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22830/21]

Prisoner Data

Bríd Smith

466. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners from each county who are known to have minor children; and the number of children residing in each county known to have a parent or parents in prison. [22729/21]

Prison Staff

Bríd Smith

467. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of personal injury claims taken by prison officers in each of the four main committal institutions (details supplied) in each of the years 1972 to 2001; the number of the claims in each prison in each year related to physical injuries; the number of claims that relate to psychological injuries sustained by staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22730/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

540. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has undertaken a review of the HSE staff temporary accommodation scheme which was used to accommodate front-line workers such as those in direct provision who had been housed in unsuitable accommodation; if care staff in east County Galway have been advised that they must move from their current accommodation at the end of April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22738/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

541. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has offered care staff in east County Galway single occupancy rooms with no cooking facilities as an alternative to their current accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22739/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

542. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that accommodation is provided for front-line staff who worked in the health system during the Covid-19 crisis that is suitable and can ensure safe work practices including their own door and toilet and cooking facilities within a reasonable distance of their workplace in the event that the HSE ends the current staff temporary accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22740/21]

Vaccination Programme

Bríd Smith

137. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of some high risk and vulnerable persons in relation to taking a vaccine (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to comments by some experts on the lower efficacy and poorer performance of the vaccine against new variants; if he will facilitate older age cohorts for whom the vaccine is being reserved the right and option to request an alternative vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22509/21]

Vaccination Programme

Bríd Smith

138. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will facilitate the request of any person with a history of or a condition that makes them susceptible to blood clotting to opt for another vaccine other than a particular vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22510/21]