Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

143. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reason CIÉ retired workers have received no increase in their occupational pension since 2008; if the CIÉ board or management has discussed this or related pension issues with him or his Department officials; if increased funding of the CIÉ regular wages scheme by CIÉ has been considered to allow for a cost-of-living increase for these retired workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24436/24]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

153. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his views on the removal of a bus service (details supplied) and the considerable difficulties this causes for older and disabled people; to clarify if there are any plans to resume a service in the area; if not, the alternative arrangements being made to address this gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24470/24]

Departmental Bodies

Bríd Smith

192. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will grant the request of retired members of staff of Ordnance Survey Ireland to attend OSI HQ in Phoenix Park on 21 June 2024 (details supplied) as part of the OSI's 200-year anniversary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24487/24]

Urban Development

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach what level of engagement his Department will have with the Dublin city centre task force. [23877/24]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with defence will next meet. [21748/24]

Schools Building Projects

Bríd Smith

92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the status and expected starting time of works on the development of a new building for a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay with the project; if her Department has had talks with the builders or management at the school in relation to delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24375/24]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

73. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland will meet next. [24030/24]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

151. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of drivers directly employed by CIÉ tours; the number of drivers contracted by CIÉ tours to operate their services; the steps the company can take to ensure all drivers either directly employed or contracted abide by current regulations related to maximum working time driving and breaks and so on; if the NTA has any role in the implementation and enforcement of such regulations as they apply to transport sector and to the tourism sector specifically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23948/24]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

164. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline, given his powers to freeze, seize or otherwise impose restrictive measures on assets for the purpose of combating terrorism under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, and that the construction of settlements in the West Bank meets the definition of terrorist activity under that Act, as it is carried out with the intention of seriously destabilising or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a state or an international organisation, the measures he intends to impose to prevent the financing of organisations carrying out terrorist activity in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23622/24]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

401. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if plans to accommodate people seeking international protection at a location (details supplied) include the provision of transport services in order that they are not isolated and can access other amenities or appointments elsewhere; to list all other proposed services that will be provided to the residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23717/24]

Living Wage

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is planning to delay the introduction of a living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23305/24]

Business Supports

Bríd Smith

89. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is planning to issue grants to small and medium enterprises in the retail and hospitality sectors through the increased cost of business scheme based on their profitability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23307/24]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

93. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is planning to delay the expansion of the sick pay scheme to workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23306/24]

Foreign Conflicts

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach to report on any recent discussions he has had with other world leaders in connection with the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. [22697/24]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

7. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on migration, integration and Ukraine will meet next. [21747/24]

Departmental Policies

Bríd Smith

132. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the findings of the 2024 UNFPA State of World Population Report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22665/24]

Education Schemes

Bríd Smith

315. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the Inspire programme as an education support programme for vulnerable students (details supplied); if there are plans to extend this programme; the annual remuneration for an Inspire programme line manager; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22865/24]

National Security

Bríd Smith

27. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there are any immediate military threats to Irish security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21889/24]

Defence Forces

Bríd Smith

29. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has received recent official requests from the European Commission to strengthen the Irish Defence Forces; if so, the reasons for doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21890/24]

Defence Forces

Bríd Smith

34. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the specific issues he has with the triple lock system that need to be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21888/24]

Asylum Applications

Bríd Smith

82. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of people refused permission to enter Ireland via inbound flight in the past 12 months who subsequently applied for international protection, by nationality of applicants and month; the number refused permission to enter Ireland who were actually turned back with the airline that brought them in, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22116/24]

Asylum Applications

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of international protection applications received in the past 12 months, by nationality of applicants and month, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22117/24]

Asylum Applications

Bríd Smith

84. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice how many people were granted refugee status, subsidiary protection and permission to remain the country in the past twelve months, by month, type of status granted and nationality, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22118/24]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

96. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 91 and 92 of 30 April 2024, if he is aware that the proposed draft childminding regulations represent a further bureaucratisation of a system that is already onerous for parents and service providers; if he is aware that childminders are reporting that these regulations are too extreme and will drive many of them out of childminding, creating a further dearth of places for parents already facing difficulties in securing care for their children; if he will scrap the current draft proposals with a view to consulting with and listening to childminders and parents’ concerns (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21964/24]

European Council

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the recent special meeting of the European Council. [20465/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent meeting with the President of the European Commission. [21746/24]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

462. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) who has been forcibly displaced four times in Gaza after the building in which they lived was completely destroyed and whose parents and siblings in Ireland are desperate for the person to join them; if she and her Government colleagues will implement special measures in fast-tracking visa applications, similar to the fast-tracking of visa applications for Ukrainian refugees, for Palestinians who urgently want to join family here; if she will expedite the person’s visa application as a matter of priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21623/24]

Departmental Programmes

Bríd Smith

26. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the child poverty and well-being programme office. [20463/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

36. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent conversation with the British Prime Minister. [20464/24]

Residential Institutions

Bríd Smith

195. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if, in belated recognition of the second interim report (section 5.14) and the final report (recommendations, page 5) as emphatic recommendations of the MBHCI, that former residents of the Westbank Orphanage in Greystones, County Wicklow, be included in the residential institutions redress scheme as an urgent matter of justice, fairness and healing for those affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20376/24]

Vacant Properties

Bríd Smith

177. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a potential gap in the criteria in relation to the vacant/derelict property grant (details supplied); if he will investigate a case involving the protection and incorporation of a deteriorating 160 year old protected structure into a new dwelling with a view to the overturning a refusal of a vacant property grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19991/24]

Hospital Services

Bríd Smith

278. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health where on the campus of Cherry Orchard hospital the new coronary care unit will be located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19977/24]

Hospital Services

Bríd Smith

279. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if she will assure the families of residents on both willow and sycamore units in Cherry Orchard hospital, that neither unit will be used to facilitate a new service, other than its prior use as a nursing home care facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19978/24]

Hospital Services

Bríd Smith

280. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the person or body that is currently undertaking the ongoing risk assessments of the 16 remaining residents’ rooms in Cherry Orchard hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19979/24]

Hospital Services

Bríd Smith

281. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health to confirm the qualifications of the ongoing risk assessors to carry out this task with regard to health and safety; if the assessor also has another role at Cherry Orchard hospital in addition to their role of risk assessor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19980/24]

Defective Building Materials

Bríd Smith

171. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm where the legislation for the establishment of defects scheme for apartments and duplexes is currently at and to confirm when the draft legislation will be published; when he believes that OMCs will be able to apply for and receive funding for permanent remediation of defects; if he will commit to passing the legislation before the budget and if so, if he will clarify what financial allocation will be required for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19589/24]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

91. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his plans to increase childcare places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19265/24]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will establish a publicly owned childcare service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19266/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bríd Smith

103. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will abolish childcare fees in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19267/24]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

113. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his accommodation plans for international protection applicant refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19263/24]

Human Rights

Bríd Smith

145. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the recent report that Irish protesters were told at a pro-Palestine protest camp in Berlin that they were not allowed to speak Irish by German police; if he agrees that this is an unacceptable development and infringes a person's right to speak a language of their choice and is a dangerous precedent to set; if he will clarify if this violates any article of the European Convention on Human Rights or any other legislation; if he intends to raise this matter with his German counterpart with a view to expressing his concerns that Irish citizens were instructed not to speak their national language and under which legislation was this ordered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18937/24]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

187. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of difficulties facing Dublin Bus and other transport providers in recruiting and retaining maintenance staff; the steps his Department is taking to ensure staff shortages do not hinder the roll out of BusConnects or plans to expand the bus transport system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18749/24]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

188. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the staff numbers in maintenance and mechanics for Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and a company (details supplied); the details of any shortages of staff in these areas; the plans by these companies to ensure that staff numbers in these key areas are filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18750/24]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

189. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and a company (details supplied) use directly employed labour in the maintenance of their bus fleet; the scale of these companies' use of contract labour or outside companies for the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18751/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bríd Smith

438. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the available State supports for people with disabilities seeking work or already working; if she plans to improve supports; if there are proposals to change these supports in any way in the foreseeable future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18800/24]

Immigration Policy

Bríd Smith

497. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice to provide, in tabular form, by month and nationality, the number of people who have been refused permission to land in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19048/24]

Citizenship Applications

Bríd Smith

498. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will clarify the reason a person (details supplied) who attended the citizenship ceremony at the National Concert Hall on 26 February 2024, has still not received their certificate eight weeks later; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19052/24]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

242. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to employ more staff or take additional steps to deal with the significant backlog of applications for visas, renewals and extensions that are taking a long time to process (details supplied); the steps her Department will take to reduce the unacceptable waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18477/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Bríd Smith

552. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide advice to the mother of a young child (details supplied) who has been on the waiting list for an assessment of need for almost eight months with no indication of when they will be assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17745/24]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

620. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that Ireland currently screens newborn babies for fewer diseases than 75% of EU member states; if he is aware that only one new test has been delivered in the intervening years since the establishment of the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee in 2019; if he will agree to a comprehensive newborn screening programme that is adequately resourced and ensures that babies born in Ireland are screened for the EU average of 18 conditions at a minimum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17638/24]