Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Widow's Pension

Bríd Smith

118. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider carrying out a review of the requirements including documentation expected of those applying for a widow and widowers' pension (details supplied); if her Department will consider providing assistance in the procurement of certain documentation for those who are very often struggling to manage as a result of their loss; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34706/22]

Church-State Relations

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with church leaders. [27831/22]

Military Neutrality

Bríd Smith

440. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views in relation to an incident in Cork harbour recently and the arrival of a foreign warship to the harbour; if he will confirm that all laws and procedures were adhered to in relation to the arrival of such vessels in Ireland's territorial waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33944/22]

Housing Provision

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has plans to examine the income limits for social housing; if they will be increased and whether those who have been removed from the list over the last period will be reinstated to their position on the lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32965/22]

Rental Sector

Bríd Smith

34. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the rising number of evictions; his plans to deal with these; if he will consider a reintroduction of an outright ban as an emergency measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32966/22]

Foreign Policy

Bríd Smith

142. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on Poland's abortion ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33169/22]

Human Rights

Bríd Smith

146. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will use its place on the UN security council or call in the Israeli ambassador to raise the use of administrative detention by the Israeli state, and if it can specifically raise the hunger strike of two detainees (details supplied) who have been held in administrative detention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32969/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

184. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if a company (details supplied) and Dublin Bus are unable to provide their full scheduled bus services in Dublin as a result of staff shortages; the reason that in the absence of the company having its required staffing numbers the National Transport Authority has proceeded to expand services with new routes such as the N6 and N4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33422/22]

Housing Schemes

Bríd Smith

217. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify exactly when housing assistance payment rates will be increased; if he will acknowledge that an increase will help some tenants to remain in properties in which rents have risen and will also provide for others waiting to be housed to access more dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33330/22]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

218. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of commercial rates that have been collected by all local authorities since 2018 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33334/22]

Work Permits

Bríd Smith

393. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a publication date of the review of atypical work permit scheme for non-European Economic Area fishers given that she recently declared that it was imminent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33490/22]

Data Centres

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of data centres connected to the national grid; the number of new data centre applications presently approved for connection by Commission for Regulation of Utilities; if the Minister will seek clarification from the CRU on whether new rules on connecting data centres apply only to new data centre applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33219/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

126. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the planned total investment in the national public service obligation bus fleet; and the increase anticipated in over all fleet numbers per year to 2030, in tabular form (details supplied). [32014/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

127. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost and number of fully electric vehicle buses to be added to he national fleet between now and 2030, in tabular form. [32015/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the planned increases in bus fleet numbers in public service obligation services in Galway, Cork Limerick and Waterford city services between now and 2030, in tabular form. [32016/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the current total number of buses in the fleet of companies (details supplied); and the number of bus vehicles in these companies that are not included in the public service obligation numbers in tabular form. [32017/22]

Defective Building Materials

Bríd Smith

269. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give a definitive date when the working group specifically tasked with examining the issues of fire safety and structural safety defects in apartments and duplexes built between 1991 and 2013 will deliver it’s report which was due in March 2022; if his attention has been drawn to the immense stress and anxiety that homeowners impacted by these defects continue to experience as a result of significant payments they have been requested to make to remedy defects they are in no way responsible for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32501/22]

School Management

Bríd Smith

552. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if schools (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be compelled to open classes for autistic students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32028/22]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

668. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there have been 511 violent attacks on trans sex workers to date in 2022; her plans to address this; if these attacks are recorded specifically as attacks on trans sex workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32150/22]

Tax Collection

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he has studied a recent paper on wealth taxes and the problems with previous attempts by European Union states to introduce wealth taxes (details supplied); the plans he has in this regard for the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31246/22]

Public Sector Pay

Bríd Smith

105. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if public sector pay talks will form part of a wider process similar to previous social partnership agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31247/22]

National Lottery

Bríd Smith

124. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if unclaimed National Lottery winnings are subject to any oversight or monitoring by the Government in terms of the way and when they are spent; if he has plans to revisit previous agreements on the issue with the winning contractor for the national Lottery; when the current contract expires; if there are plans on the future of the Lottery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31248/22]

Energy Conservation

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a home that previously had some home energy efficiency work carried out is disqualified in cases in which a new home owner seeks to improve the energy efficiency of the home from applying for a new SEAI grant; if the SEAI has specific rules or regulations relating to same, such as the time that has lapsed since the previous grant, the BER rating that was achieved through the previous work, the type of work previously undertaken and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31697/22]

Energy Conservation

Bríd Smith

163. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if all homes that have had some energy efficiency work carried out under SEAI grants are excluded from any further support from the SEAI; if the statistics are available on the work that has been carried out to date that demonstrate the energy efficiencies that have been achieved in terms of reduced CO2 emissions and improved BER ratings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31698/22]

Tax Collection

Bríd Smith

210. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if property tax revenue for the individual electoral areas in each county are available or kept by his Department.
[31657/22]

Insurance Coverage

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if motorists involved in an accident with an uninsured or undetected vehicle will be covered by an organisation (details supplied) for damages caused to their vehicle and or injuries suffered by passengers; the legislation or regulations that decide the particulars which are and are not covered in such circumstances; the plans, if any, that his Department has to amend such regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31346/22]

State Examinations

Bríd Smith

148. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the concerns (details supplied) of students sitting the Leaving Certificate 2022 and their parents regarding the results being released on 31 August 2022; if she plans to address the matter by bringing the release of the results forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31293/22]

Electric Vehicles

Bríd Smith

65. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his views on the recent report on the roll-out of electric vehicles in the State; and the measures that he intends to take to ensure greater provision of charging facilities and greater access to electric vehicles among the general population. [30737/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

68. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport when works are expected to commence on the necessary infrastructural provisions for the dedicated BusConnects corridors in Dublin; the liaison and consultations that will take place between the National Transport Authority and households that have had compulsory purchase order notices on foot of the proposed works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30736/22]

Electric Vehicles

Bríd Smith

77. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to ensure that public transport providers such as Dublin Bus or a company (details supplied) have dedicated electric vehicle chargers at their depots to encourage staff to use electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30738/22]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

80. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will commission a study to examine the impact of fare reductions and the provision of greater fare-free travel on public transport in view of recent moves in Germany and elsewhere to reduce monthly fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30735/22]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

98. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he has had any contact or discussion with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the signing of a S.I. to give effect to changes in the regular wages scheme of CIÉ workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30739/22]

Company Law

Bríd Smith

165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the position in relation to section 357 of the Companies Act of 2014 will be clarified, specifically in relation to the exemption which allows each subsidiary to submit the financial statements of the parent company instead of its own as in the case of a company (details supplied). [29006/22]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

179. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; if he intends to support the referral of the Bill to Committee Stage in advance of the anniversary of the Second Stage reading of the Bill on 30 June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29743/22]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

180. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will publish or make available to the public any submissions made to his Department in relation to the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29758/22]

Environmental Schemes

Bríd Smith

238. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of environmental permits issued by the Environmental Protection Agency; the dates of issue of same for industrial and greenhouse gases to operators of data centres; the total annual purchase of emission allowances through the European Union emissions trading system from these permits in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30317/22]

Energy Usage

Bríd Smith

239. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the new Eirgrid restrictions on data centre connections to the national grid relate only to new applicants or those already approved by Eirgrid for connection; the number of approved but unconnected applications from data centre developments that Eirgrid expect to connect in the coming years; the locations of new data centres that Eirgrid expect to connect to the grid in the coming years; the total extra mw of power expected to be used by these new data centre connections in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30325/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

293. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 176 and 178 of 12 May 2022, if he can specify the actual number of lost or missed departures from each terminal where a scheduled departure did not happen on the route concerned and not just the average of lost kilometres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30009/22]

Statutory Instruments

Bríd Smith

434. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects to make a decision on the proposed statutory instrument, S.I. that relates to the regular wages scheme of CIÉ workers; the expected timeline for signing-off on the proposed S.I.; the discussions and potential difficulties with the proposed S.I.; if his Department has held discussions with other bodies in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30791/22]

Animal Welfare

Bríd Smith

523. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of licences that have been issued in the past ten years for the capture and killing of protected wild birds and animals for educational or scientific purposes; the species and numbers of birds and animals affected; the nature of the educational or scientific purposes; the method of capture; the number that were killed; the number that were released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30142/22]

Animal Welfare

Bríd Smith

524. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to at least 320 birds, five seals, five hares and a rabbit that were among the animals used in experiments at in University College Cork in 2021; if they were captured from the wild; the method of capture; if licences were granted to allow same; if so, the conditions attached to the licences; the number of animals that were killed; if he has concerns that protected animals are being killed in experiments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30143/22]

Data Centres

Bríd Smith

531. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of operative data centres in the State at present; the number of centres approved but not yet built; the number awaiting planning approval; the number of those in the process of being built if these are not captured in the previous categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30318/22]

International Relations

Bríd Smith

898. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the plight of two persons (details supplied) on hunger strike in Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly and with the Israeli authorities. [31003/22]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bríd Smith

1086. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to increase payments to those on the job initiative schemes; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that those working on these schemes are struggling to make ends meet as a result of the spiralling cost of living; the assistance that is available to these workers to stop them falling further into poverty; if there are plans to extend fuel allowance to this cohort; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29195/22]

Child and Family Agency

Bríd Smith

1190. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify the situation in relation to a facility (details supplied); if Tusla has withdrawn this facility’s registration and therefore its ability to access funding under the early childhood care and education scheme; if so, the reason for this action; if the agency has met with any representatives of the facility to resolve this issue; if the agency will now meet with parents, the relevant local authority and staff affected by this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30079/22]

Child and Family Agency

Bríd Smith

1191. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will clarify the position in relation to Pobal funding for a facility (details supplied); if Pobal has withdrawn funding from this facility; if so, the rationale for same; the efforts that the agency has made to resolve any outstanding issues; if the agency will meet with management, local authority personnel and parents affected by this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30080/22]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

1328. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if, a matter (details supplied) will be clarified in relation to the processing of foreign student applications for visa permits to attend education facilities in the State; if all information needed to proceed with an application is available to Turkish and other foreign nationalities is on her Department's website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30021/22]

Residency Permits

Bríd Smith

1338. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications in relation to waiting times and so on for permanent residence cards that have been received by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for permanent residence cards by family members of EEA nationals who have complied with the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015 in each of the years from 2017 to 2022, in tabular form; the number of applications processed annually; and the average length of time to process the applications per year. [30239/22]

Residency Permits

Bríd Smith

1339. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if additional resources in relation to waiting times and so on for permanent residence cards has been allocated to meet the target of six months stated in the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015 to process permanent residence applications. [30240/22]

Residency Permits

Bríd Smith

1340. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if, in relation to waiting times and so on for permanent residence cards these applications for permanent residency for family members of EEA nationals are processed in chronological order; and when the applications currently being processed were received. [30241/22]

Residency Permits

Bríd Smith

1341. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the length of time in relation to waiting times and so on for permanent residence cards, that it takes for family members of EEA nationals to receive temporary stamp 4 permission while the permanent residence application is processed; and if they can travel and return to Ireland while the permanent residency application is being processed. [30242/22]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

1443. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to 35 children with cystic fibrosis who are being denied access to the life-changing drug Kaftrio due to a new pricing dispute between an organisation (details supplied) and the HSE; his views on the fact that those with cystic fibrosis over the age of 12 years have access to the drug and it was also made available to 140 other children aged 6 to 11 years in May 2022 while 35 children in this age bracket have been excluded; if he will take immediate steps to include these children by providing access to the drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29119/22]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

2. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to recent media reports of further delays to his Department’s plans to abolish direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28434/22]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

45. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers that have been given own door accommodation since publication of the White Paper For Ending Direct Provision. [28429/22]

Ukraine War

Bríd Smith

46. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to refugees being accommodated in hotels (details supplied) in Dublin that have not been provided with beds and have been sleeping on floors and on chairs, in unsafe situations for families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28427/22]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

74. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres that have been closed since the publication of the White Paper For Ending Direct Provision. [28428/22]

Ukraine War

Bríd Smith

76. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the recent case of 60 Ukrainian refugees, including children attending school that were given less than 24 hours' notice of being transferred from their accommodation in Dublin to Youghal, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28426/22]

Child and Family Agency

Bríd Smith

84. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that Tusla is not paying the pandemic bonus payment to its staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28430/22]

Energy Policy

Bríd Smith

92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if sectoral carbon budgets targets can be met if the State also supports the building of liquified natural gas terminals and if this is in line with current climate science; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28375/22]

Climate Change Policy

Bríd Smith

94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that is being made on sectoral carbon emissions limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28374/22]

Energy Policy

Bríd Smith

101. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a recent report (details supplied) which suggests that fossil fuel industrial lobbyists in the United States have used the war in Ukraine to push for new oil and gas infrastructure and expansion given that such expansion is incompatible with Paris treaty targets similar pressure is being applied to build new liquefied natural gas terminals in Europe and Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28377/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Bríd Smith

117. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that the bid price for renewable electricity support scheme 2 projects has been significantly higher than renewable electricity support scheme 1 projects; the reason that the price varied between community-led projects and others; if he will consider State or semi-State bodies delivering renewable projects in the future instead of the current reliance on auction schemes such as the renewable electricity support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28378/22]

National Broadband Plan

Bríd Smith

145. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the sanctions that were applied to the provider of the National Broadband Plan for failure to reach targets; the future benchmarks expected that is, the targets to be reached in terms of roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28376/22]

Passport Services

Bríd Smith

252. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to the validity of a current passport, specifically if a passport is due to expire in the next month, if a trip within a European Union country takes place if a return ticket is produced for inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28702/22]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

144. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made on the signing of the statutory instrument to give effect to changes in the CIE regular wages pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28045/22]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

145. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to the BusConnects scheme and the recent issuing of notices to householders in an area regarding the compulsory purchase order process. [28046/22]

Hare Coursing

Bríd Smith

217. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions his Department or the National Parks and Wildlife Service intend to take in relation to the alleged misuse of national parks by organisers of hare coursing events specifically in Killarney National Park; if he will further clarify the position in relation to the use of national parks for such events; if the NPWS were informed prior to such events taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27218/22]

International Relations

Bríd Smith

296. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will meet the ambassador from India to express the Government’s outrage at recent and escalating calls by members and supporters of President Modi’s party in Haridwar and Delhi for the large-scale elimination of Muslims (details supplied); if he will use Ireland’s position on the United Nations Security Council to call for international sanctions against the Modi regime for encouraging such calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27466/22]

Human Rights

Bríd Smith

313. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will take immediate steps to put pressure on the Israeli government to halt the expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians, which represents the largest expulsion and forced transfer of Palestinians to take place since the beginning of the Israeli military occupation of Palestine in 1967; if he will acknowledge that the United Nations and international, Israeli and Palestinian human rights organisations have called this a grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and a possible war crime; if he will act with the urgency that is required to prevent this action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27534/22]

Child Abuse

Bríd Smith

577. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases of alleged historical child sexual abuse that the DPP did not prosecute, by year, for the past three years and present, in tabular form. [27434/22]

Coroners Service

Bríd Smith

582. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she has plans to include a complaints mechanism for families during a reform process of the Coroner’s Courts system; when this reform process will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27574/22]

Industrial Disputes

Bríd Smith

42. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of his plans to resolve the current dispute with staff who are members of a union (details supplied); the steps that he has taken to ensure that testing services operate during this dispute; the way that he plans to recruit and retain the required number of workers in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26871/22]

Hospital Facilities

Bríd Smith

98. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when the proposed new testing laboratory at the Coombe Hospital will be completed and operating; the number of medical laboratory scientists who are required to fully staff the facility; the estimated percentage of the CervicalCheck programme that this facility will conduct when fully operational; the locations in which the remaining testing for CervicalCheck programmes will be conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26872/22]

Ukraine War

Bríd Smith

149. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of meetings that have been held and the plans of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee in relation to threats to food security as a result of the current war specifically the plans to deal with costs and supplies of fertiliser; and the take-up of schemes to increase the planting of tillage crops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26873/22]

Animal Welfare

Bríd Smith

187. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the latest figures for the licensed slaughter of young dairy calves which show that 30,000 animals were killed in 2021; and his plans to stop this practice and to reduce these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26874/22]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

293. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the rationale that was used by his Department in 2000 when the decision was taken to commence the direct provision system; if he will detail and supply the studies, risk assessments and policy deliberations and so on that were conducted by his Department at the time (details supplied); the advice that the Government relied upon to support the decision to set-up and extend the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27052/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bríd Smith

314. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers who have signed up to the early childhood care and education scheme but who choose not to accept the affordable childcare scheme; the steps that his Department is taking to deal with the numbers of providers who will not accept the affordable childcare payments; the assistance that is available for parents of children in such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27175/22]

Departmental Investigations

Bríd Smith

367. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the progress on any investigation or report into the practice of the misuse and incineration of the organs of deceased babies; the steps that his Department is taking to ensure that this practice is not repeated; the meetings or consultations that are taking place with parents who have been affected with his Department or HSE officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27108/22]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

108. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education when, the way and the reason that the National Council for Special Education’s new rule regarding professional reports advising on a suite of options for children with special needs in relation to their education will now no longer meet the criteria for enrolment in an ASD class; the consultation that took place in advance of this decision; if parents were consulted and advised of this change; if referring psychologists were consulted and made aware of the change; if her attention has been drawn to the pressure on existing services; the way that therapists will now find the time to amend already completed reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26708/22]

Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the timeframe for finalising a scoping report into the death of a person (details supplied); if progress has been made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26134/22]

An Garda Síochána

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the details of proposals by the Government to reform GSOC; the accountability or oversight by Dáil Éireann or by another body that the current structure allows for; the mechanism that is available to revisit previous commission investigations that may have failed to discover facts or wrongdoing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26135/22]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

431. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the lack of autism classes in secondary schools in the Dublin 12 area; her plans to increase the number of available places for autistic young people in post-primary education; the expected timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26259/22]

Parental Leave

Bríd Smith

487. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the extension of parent’s leave from five to seven weeks scheduled for July 2022; when this will commence; if the details will be provided in order that parents can start to make plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26454/22]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will clarify the progress made to date or planned in enacting legislation to protect workers in cases of mass redundancies including a recent case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25208/22]

Health and Safety

Bríd Smith

82. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will clarify the progress made in enacting the workplace ventilation Bill and its provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25209/22]

Further and Higher Education

Bríd Smith

120. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine the threshold of incomes that apply to SUSI applications; his plans to reverse recent changes which may exclude more students from accessing the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25207/22]

Further and Higher Education

Bríd Smith

171. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will detail any work his Department is undertaking to analyse the reason the numbers qualifying for SUSI grants has fallen over recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25206/22]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

337. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the reason that was used by her Department in 2000 when the decision was taken to commence the direct provision system; the studies, risk assessments and policy deliberations and so on that were conducted by her Department at the time; the advice that the advisors Government and external advisors relied upon to support the decision to set-up and extend the direct provision system (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25508/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Bríd Smith

142. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients receiving the household benefit package and the fuel allowance; the number who are in receipt of both payments; when the last rise in the fuel element of the household benefit package took place; and if there are plans to raise the amount in the coming period. [25299/22]

Employment Support Services

Bríd Smith

91. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the position in relation to the current JobBridge scheme and the current contracts with SeeTec and Turas Nua; when this contact expires; if there is a new proposed tendering process for the services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24562/22]

Employment Support Services

Bríd Smith

118. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify what if any provisions her Department has made for dealing or absorbing current LES staff who may lose their positions as a result of the tendering process for those services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24561/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

267. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of including those who work in the homeless sector (details supplied) in the Covid-19 recognition scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24246/22]

Departmental Reports

Bríd Smith

326. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe in which the working group to examine defects in housing report on defective apartments will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24835/22]

Departmental Reports

Bríd Smith

327. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position in relation to defective apartments which have failed fire regulation standards; the scheme that he will establish to deal with the matter; if the mica scheme provides a blueprint for future schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24836/22]

Departmental Reports

Bríd Smith

328. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the number of apartments that were purchased by local authorities which have defective elements such as fire standards and so on; if they can be included as part of any defective apartments scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24837/22]

Immigration Status

Bríd Smith

618. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will automatically extend stamp 2 visa permissions due to expire on 31 May until 30 September 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24799/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

661. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the plans there are to extend the Covid-19 recognition scheme to those homeless sector front-line workers who meet all the criteria publicly announced and who work in identical clinical and residential settings to sections 38 and 39 organisations already included in the recognition payment scheme; if he will acknowledge that the Government and HSE have recognised homeless staff as front-line healthcare workers who were prioritised in sequential vaccination groups 1 and 2 and who to this day continue to operate in Covid-19 infection prevention and control environments, identical to nursing homes and residential disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24245/22]

Medical Cards

Bríd Smith

696. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that medical card holders are often asked to pay at least €20 for a sick note from a general practitioner; if there are plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24469/22]

Equality Issues

Bríd Smith

154. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the position of her Department in relation to the rights of gay and trans students to be respected and recognised in their school by staff and principals; if her Department approved or was informed of a decision to invite a person (details supplied) that engages in conversion therapy as a key speaker to a conference and is on record as wishing to deny rights to trans persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23810/22]

Schools Building Projects

Bríd Smith

155. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to fund additional primary or secondary facilities in Ballyfermot, specifically on a site (details supplied); and if her Department has had discussions with the developer of the site on the proposed plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23811/22]