Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Child Protection

Réada Cronin

1390. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many section 16 interviews took place in 2022; how many were conducted jointly by members of An Garda Síochána with a Tusla social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37788/23]

Child and Family Agency

Réada Cronin

1391. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many fully-trained specialist interviewers there are within Tusla at present, in the context of the Barnahus Model; the areas in which they are located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37789/23]

Child Protection

Réada Cronin

1392. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many specialist interviewers have been trained through An Garda Síochána’s training programme since 2020; how many are gardaí and how many are social workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37791/23]

Child Protection

Réada Cronin

1393. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the strategic plan for joint training and implementation of the section 16 interview process by both agencies to minimise trauma to child victims and increase conviction rates for perpetrators; to what extent the strategic plan addresses the issues of joint training, capacity building and operational collaboration between both agencies; the third party oversight and accreditation for the training of specialist interviewers and their ongoing continual professional development; the operational integration by both AGS and Tusla of the specialist interview process with the Barnahus model; the interdepartmental oversight of implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37793/23]

Trade Relations

Réada Cronin

367. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the Russian Federation remains by far the biggest market for Irish-refined alumina, in light of the fact that such exports are capable of assisting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine and its ongoing war on that territory. [35232/23]

Trade Relations

Réada Cronin

368. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether, by continuing to supply the Russian Federation with alumina (figures to end March 2023), the State is in breach of its political commitment to its EU partners in both the matter of the war on Ukraine and global security. [35233/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Réada Cronin

187. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the plans his Department has to communicate to the public the importance of micro-generation such as solar panels on dwellings to citizen and societal resilience in the event of a cyberattack on the State’s energy facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35223/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Réada Cronin

188. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether his Department is, as a matter of urgency, prioritising solar for all dwellings, given its capacity to provide resilience in the event of a cyberattack on the energy system; such plans to include easy-to-apply-for interest-free loans or generous grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35224/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

213. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the plans of his Department to rebuild and equip the Defence Forces so they are in the proper position to patrol our territorial waters effectively and defend our neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35221/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

214. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the plans his Department has to build the cyber-security aspect of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35222/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

215. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether his Department is satisfied that the Defence Forces are currently staffed and equipped to a sufficient level in order to fulfil their various functions - military, surveillance, peacekeeping and civil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35229/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

216. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the various mechanisms by which his Department is working to reach agreement with the Women of Honour on all outstanding issues; the number and grade of staff allotted to this task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35230/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

346. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department will outline the enhanced expenditure necessary to bring the Defence Forces up to their full complement and capability in order to defend our neutrality, patrol our waters and airspace and fulfil their international obligations such as peacekeeping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35228/23]

School Curriculum

Réada Cronin

376. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether her Department will make a new commitment to the position of history on the curriculum, such subject being critical to giving a student a necessary level of continuum and context vis-à-vis current and emerging situations, globally, therefore facilitate a citizen in making a deeper and more reflective response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35220/23]

School Transport

Réada Cronin

377. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether her Department is taking a necessary new approach to the school-transport situation, to make it work for children’s/parents’ needs, given the system extant has little or no bearing on how schools are functioning, spatially in the community, and how families are forced to use them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35231/23]

Childcare Services

Réada Cronin

606. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he is taking to liaise with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the warnings issued by certain childcare providers on their possible need to withdraw from core funding, given its insufficiency, such action having a knock-on impact on workers and their employment, and especially on women workers who face a particular barrier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35226/23]

Childcare Services

Réada Cronin

629. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will move with all alacrity to address the situation whereby certain childcare providers are warning parents of their need to withdraw from core funding given its insufficiency, and so have to increase fees to those parents who are already under major financial pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35225/23]

Health Service Executive

Réada Cronin

652. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the actions his Department is taking to address and urgently the HSE spend of €458 million of external consultants in 2022; whether he will publish his investigations and analysis into that spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35227/23]

School Transport

Réada Cronin

115. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the average number of buses in the Bus Éireann school transport fleet for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34520/23]

School Transport

Réada Cronin

116. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the average number of buses in the Bus Éireann school transport fleet for Kildare, specifically, for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34521/23]

School Transport

Réada Cronin

117. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education for an update from her Department on the state of plans for the recruitment and/or deployment of sufficient drivers for school-bus transport and the guaranteed provision of sufficient vehicles for same, State-wide and in Kildare in particular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34522/23]

Pension Provisions

Réada Cronin

135. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine, with urgency, a situation (details supplied). [33069/23]

Pharmacy Services

Réada Cronin

638. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health whether, given the criticality of our pharmacies to community health, he has or will conduct a review of pharmacy dispensing fees and the extent of service provision by community pharmacists; if he has or will engage with an organisaion (details supplied) on the matter, and the dates on which he has or will engage; if he will establish a review which encompasses the scope of services provided or which could be provided by community pharmacy; if he will include scoping of a minor ailments or minor illness scheme in community pharmacy in the terms of reference of the aforementioned review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32511/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Réada Cronin

67. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether his Department is developing a financial strategy to deal with the impact of long Covid on society in the medium to long term; if so, the details of same; whether it is earmarking funds for use by the relevant Departments such as the Departments of Health and Education, to assist public servants who contracted Covid in the line of duty (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30796/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

152. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department will examine an issue in relation to persons working as civilians within the Defence Forces (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31168/23]

Air Services

Réada Cronin

171. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Transport if his Department can assess any flight-path changes and frequency of same in aircraft using Dublin Airport, given the new aircraft noise-pollution problems reported by persons in residential areas of north Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31148/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Réada Cronin

267. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a case (details supplied). [30316/23]

Trade Data

Réada Cronin

79. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a list of the countries to which alumina refined at Aughinish is exported; the proportion of same to each country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29952/23]

School Accommodation

Réada Cronin

83. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will move with all alacrity on the matter of a school (details supplied), given the long delays are having a major, negative impact on the school itself, the students attending and the position of An Ghaeilge culturally and linguistically within society and the education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29873/23]

Special Educational Needs

Réada Cronin

84. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether a school (details supplied) has applied for and been approved-sanctioned for two special needs classes; if so, when this was done; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29888/23]

School Accommodation

Réada Cronin

85. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) has asked for the DES section dealing with school capital appraisals to assist it; if so, if she will provide a copy of any report issued to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29889/23]

Special Educational Needs

Réada Cronin

86. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether a school (details supplied) has applied for relevant training, accommodation and IT grants for special classes; if so, when and if these have been approved by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29890/23]

Special Educational Needs

Réada Cronin

87. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether a section 37A notice has been issued to a school (details supplied); if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29891/23]

School Accommodation

Réada Cronin

88. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether her Department or its agencies have provided any advice on how to deliver classrooms for a school (details supplied) without the need for additional land, given the school is citing the need for additional land to build special needs classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29892/23]

School Accommodation

Réada Cronin

89. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she can confirm that no building can proceed on land zoned as amenity and the provision of such zoned land will not allow the immediate provision of special needs classes at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29893/23]

School Accommodation

Réada Cronin

97. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the reasons her Department cannot supply two prefabs for use by a school (details supplied) in time for the new school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30101/23]

School Accommodation

Réada Cronin

98. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will provide six prefabs on a greenfield site to prevent the temporary split campus involved in a school (details supplied), which is highly inconvenient for parents and extremely difficult for staff to operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30102/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

69. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is willing to apply the terms of reference provided by the Women of Honour group to the planned statutory inquiry into abuse and bullying in the Defence Forces. [29859/23]

Overseas Development Aid

Réada Cronin

237. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the specifics of how Ireland 'positively influences' the IMF in the context of overseas aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29075/23]

Overseas Development Aid

Réada Cronin

238. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline how Ireland challenges any conditionality in IMF programmes that undermines our own, stated commitment to public services, our own aid programme and those concerning women's rights in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29076/23]

Overseas Development Aid

Réada Cronin

239. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Finance if Ireland will conduct an assessment of the impact of IMF programmes in the context of both gender and human rights; if Ireland will examine whether or how they undermine Irish Overseas Aid objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29077/23]

Office of Public Works

Réada Cronin

278. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is satisfied that the proposed development of the lands immediately surrounding Castletown House will not impact negatively on the structure and its historical, aesthetic, architectural and cultural integrity; if he will publish the expert basis for that satisfaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29679/23]

Office of Public Works

Réada Cronin

279. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the reason the State did not purchase the lands adjoining Castletown House; if the purchase was ever a consideration; if so, the reason it was not concluded by and for the State; if he will publish the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29680/23]

Office of Public Works

Réada Cronin

280. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the State has conducted an environmental and wildlife assessment of development of the lands adjoining Castletown House; if so, if he will publish the results of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29681/23]

Schools Building Projects

Réada Cronin

312. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education for an update on the long-awaited Celbridge schools’ project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29418/23]

Cybersecurity Policy

Réada Cronin

110. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is satisfied that the State is at a proper preparedness level to counteract any possible cyberattacks on the national grid and other essential services by bad actors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22807/23]

School Transport

Réada Cronin

210. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will examine and act upon the information outlined in correspondence from a person (details supplied), in relation to their experience regarding the nearest available school, to ensure that in this coming academic year, children are guaranteed the bus places they need on the basis of eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29007/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Réada Cronin

402. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether his Department will commit to extending the SLWP scheme for HCWs and other public servants, who have developed and are seriously debilitated by long-Covid from infection caught in the line of duty, this having a profound impact on their career and financial security, to the degree they are unable to work as normal, or at all, some now depending of walking aids for mobility even at a young age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27379/23]

Departmental Data

Réada Cronin

573. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if all the children awaiting school places in Kilcock have now been accommodated there, such children being the subject of previous Parliamentary Questions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27947/23]

Health Services Staff

Réada Cronin

1069. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will commit to entering into a formal agreement to address the pay disparity of Section 39 organisations; if he will develop a multi-annual, sustainable funding model for voluntary organisations; if he will conduct a review of the out-of-date Health Act (2004) which does not reflect the reality and essential nature of services provided by Section 39; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27895/23]