Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

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]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

176. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of journeys that were cancelled by a provider (details supplied) on a route in both directions since this company won the tender from the NTA. [23982/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

177. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if a provider (details supplied) is currently operating a full service on a route; if not, if the company is providing a reduced service for example, a Saturday schedule service from Monday to Friday; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23983/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

178. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the NTA intends to take action or issue fines for the ongoing failure of a provider (details supplied) to meet service targets on a route; the reason provided by the company for these failures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23984/22]

Departmental Reports

Bríd Smith

194. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on his plans to further the recommendations of the report commissioned by his Department from a person (details supplied); the funding that will be made available on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23956/22]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

314. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if, he will request the HSE to lift the current ban on water birth in Ireland immediately and to restore this choice of labour and delivery to women given the evidence of the safety of water birth internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23901/22]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Bríd Smith

340. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the approximate waiting times for patients who, following cataract surgery develop issues and require further laser surgery (details supplied); the number of persons who are currently waiting for this procedure in the public system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24002/22]