Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Planning Issues

Bríd Smith

91. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to his Department`s circular (Housing 09/2023 - PL 01/2023) to all local authorities regarding his mandatory moratorium on Part 8 planning approvals, if he will clarify what monitoring procedures his Department has put in place to ensure that this moratorium and its circular will be treated as mandatory by local authorities; how many Traveller-specific developments are being pursued under the terms of the circular; if he will provide a breakdown, per local authority, on the Traveller developments pursued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50053/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

410. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify why there is currently only one part-time social worker at the children’s disability network team on Armagh Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12; if he is aware that this situation is causing a serious backlog for children with special needs requiring services; if he will clarify what the staffing level should be and when this will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49312/23]

Child and Family Agency

Bríd Smith

440. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on progress in the extraction of information on St. Gerard's home from the larger Saint Patrick's Guild file received by Tusla in 2017 following a statement in January 2021 that St Gerard's records were 'not fully processed' at that time; if he confirm if the extraction of records relating to St. Gerard's is still ongoing; what proportion of the larger St Patrick's Guild file has now been processed; what has been discovered to date; what the projected timeframe is for completion of this work, when a full disclosure of the results of this work is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49655/23]

Mental Health Services

Bríd Smith

578. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health to outline what is currently being done to address discrimination against autistic children in mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49855/23]

Mental Health Services

Bríd Smith

579. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm if the current approach to launching the CAMHS hubs pilot be amended so that autistic children with a moderate to severe mental health issue will also have access on a par with their neurotypical peers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49856/23]

Mental Health Services

Bríd Smith

580. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to the implementation of the Mental Health Commission’s 49 recommendations and take immediate action to address the discrimination against neurodivergent children and lack of service for children with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49857/23]

Wildlife Protection

Bríd Smith

119. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what action is being taken by Government to combat the mass decline of insects and wildlife in Ireland; and how the Government plans to prevent their extinction. [34759/23]

Military Aircraft

Bríd Smith

243. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number permits his Department has issued to the US for transport of weapons via the Irish State in the years 2019 to 2023 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47996/23]

Insurance Coverage

Bríd Smith

295. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider establishing a national insurance company to cover the costs of flooding damage and other associated costs, especially when so many are currently unable to obtain insurance to protect against flooding damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47431/23]

Flood Risk Management

Bríd Smith

342. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will outline all policies and plans currently in train to deal with the inevitable and increasing impacts of flooding as a result of climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47436/23]

School Funding

Bríd Smith

475. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify when schools can expect to receive the schedule of grant payments; if she is aware that some schools are struggling to cover regular outgoings currently and are awaiting grant payments to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47679/23]

Further and Higher Education

Bríd Smith

1377. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he agrees that adult education tutors do the same work as their permanent colleagues in the Further Education and Training Sector and should therefore have the same terms and conditions; if he will clarify when his Department will award a contract that offers adult education tutors parity with their permanent co-workers to reflect the importance of the work they do in communities across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47274/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

208. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a disability allowance, which was submitted at the end of June 2023; if she will consider that the applicant cannot get a GP appointment or avail of services until the application is approved, and will ensure that a decision is delivered at the earliest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47079/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

222. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many of the 12,483 non-coursing greyhounds born and registered with the Irish Coursing Club between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 were registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland only (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47059/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

223. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many of the 11,698 non-coursing greyhounds born and registered with the Irish Coursing Club between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022 were registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland only (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47060/23]

Departmental Functions

Bríd Smith

224. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason responsibility for the horse and greyhound racing industries transferred from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as provided for by Section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939 and Statutory Instrument No. 179 of 2010 - Horse and Greyhound Racing (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2010 - Statutory Instrument (S I) 179 of 2010 which came into operation on 1 May 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47061/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

225. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain the discrepancy in figures given by Rásaíocht Con Éireann in relation to the number of non-coursing greyhounds registered at microchipping stage on the RCETS whose year of birth was 2022 (details supplied), bearing in mind that under existing legislation, all non-coursing greyhounds must be microchipped upon reaching 12 weeks of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47062/23]

Energy Usage

Bríd Smith

131. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide the total amount of gas supplied to data centres for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46216/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Bríd Smith

242. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify whether the Teaching Council and the Department of Education have decided upon an alternative degree programme to substitute the BA in Montessori education from St. Nicholas Montessori College that currently enables teachers who do not have Irish to register under route 4 and take up permanent positions as special class and special education teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46697/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Bríd Smith

305. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the reason that the Teaching Council of Ireland will no longer recognise BA Honours graduates from St. Nicholas Montessori, prohibiting them from registering under route 4 of the Teaching Council from December 2023 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46696/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

471. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of a person (details supplied) with a disability who had been placed in a nursing home for a convalescent short-term stay, but who remains there 14-weeks later due to the lack of funding at their original residence to provide for a necessary member of night staff; if he will acknowledge that placing people in inappropriate settings at which their needs are not and cannot be met is in contravention of Article 19 of the UNCRPD; if he will commit to authorising the necessary funding in order that the person can return to their original community setting appropriate to their needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46202/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

494. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) with developmental delays and speech and language difficulties will be seen at a particular clinic, given the urgency of their needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46722/23]

Education Policy

Bríd Smith

640. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the decision was made to stop Leaving Certificate programmes in VTOS centres throughout Ireland; the reason for the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46296/23]

Housing Schemes

Bríd Smith

163. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the reason the purchase of second-hand homes by first-time buyers was not included in the help to buy scheme in Budget 2024; if he will commit to re-examining this position with a view to widening first-time buyers' opportunities to own their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45002/23]

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Bríd Smith

589. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if, in light of the shortage of nurses, if the granting of NMBI nursing registration will be considered, after the successful completion of adaptation training or RCSI aptitude test, to those healthcare assistants with a nursing degree/diploma from their home country and who have been working in Ireland for at least two years; if he will acknowledge that most of those working as carers will qualify for Irish nursing registration if the NMBI accepts the English language qualifications prescribed by the UK's Nursing Authority for foreign nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45164/23]

Legislative Process

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason he has referred the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021 to the Department of Social Protection, despite it being within his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44424/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

32. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the lack of progress to date on the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021, and the lack of alternative wording from his Department that would support the progression of the proposed Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44422/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

48. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason he has referred the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021 to the Department of Social Protection; the particular areas he is seeking clarification on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44425/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

64. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will expedite progression of the proposed the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44423/23]

Primary Care Centres

Bríd Smith

194. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that due to a lack of staff that the Limekiln Lane Health Centre in Dublin 12 has cancelled all two-year-old developmental checks; if he will acknowledge the upset and distress this has caused to parents (details supplied); the steps that are being taken to restore these checks; the timeframe for their resumption; if he will provide an alternative option for parents to access these important developmental checks during this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44627/23]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

207. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to trial the use of curved paddles (details supplied) in the carrying out of mammograms given the high number of women who report pain and/or discomfort during breast screening; if he will consider that this may help improve the numbers returning for subsequent mammograms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44251/23]

Tax Code

Bríd Smith

124. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he can detail the consultations his Department has had with GP representative groups regarding proposed changes to the tax treatment of GMS income, specifically the proposal to have this income declared as income by individual GPs who at present are in partnerships or have such income mandated to employers; if he can detail any research on the possible impact of this proposal in terms of tax revenue and impact on GP partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43975/23]

Tax Code

Bríd Smith

125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has a proposal to change the tax treatment of GP partnerships and their income from the GMS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43976/23]

Fuel Poverty

Bríd Smith

316. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to extend the fuel allowance to jobs initiative scheme participants in Budget 2024, given their very low income and struggles with spiralling cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43468/23]

Departmental Funding

Bríd Smith

459. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will review an application for funding under the Cross Border Directive and-or HSE reimbursement scheme (details supplied) with a view to granting the costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43470/23]

General Practitioner Services

Bríd Smith

553. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he, his Department and the HSE are aware of proposals to change the tax treatment of GMS income for GP partnerships (details supplied); if he or his Department was consulted on these proposed changes; if the HSE has examined the potential impact of these changes to the provision of GP care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43974/23]

Waterways Issues

Bríd Smith

131. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houseboats currently moored on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Barrow navigation; if, in the event the revisions currently proposed to the canals by-laws by Waterways Ireland are adopted, he will outline the projected number of houseboats that will be permitted to moor on these canals; the projected number of current houseboat residents who will lose their homes; the contingency plans that have been made to provide housing for any existing houseboat residents rendered homeless under the new canal by-laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42858/23]

Waterways Issues

Bríd Smith

132. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current mooring fees levied on houseboats moored on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Barrow navigation under the existing canals by-laws; if he will outline, in the event that the revisions currently proposed to the canals by-laws by Waterways Ireland are adopted, the mooring or houseboat permit fees that will be levied on houseboats; the percentage increase which this represents in mooring fees for individual houseboats; the justification for the introduction of such an unprecedented increase in fees under the new canal by-laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42859/23]

Waterways Issues

Bríd Smith

133. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider commissioning a new consultation process in line with the Government’s Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making regarding Waterway Ireland’s proposed revisions to the canals by-laws, in light of the profound and highly disruptive changes which these revisions will effect to the housing security of existing houseboat dwellers, ranging from exponential increases in mooring and-or houseboat permit fees to eviction and homelessness on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Barrow navigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42860/23]

Social Welfare Code

Bríd Smith

147. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will commit to increasing the carer’s allowance income disregard from €750 to €1,000 for couples and from €350 to €500 for single carers, with subsequent increases in the following years. [42872/23]

Social Welfare Code

Bríd Smith

150. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify if there are plans to provide an additional payment to those diagnosed with coeliac disease who have to follow a strict gluten free diet as prescribed by their doctor, and the substantial extra costs that entails when in receipt of a social welfare payment; if she will provide advice as to what those on State benefits/low incomes should do in these situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43170/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Bríd Smith

193. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate funding in budget 2024 to extend the national treatment purchase fund to include timely assessment for both child and adult psychological services, as committed to in the programme for Government, and extend it to include occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy until backlogs are cleared; if he will fully fund the carer’s guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42872/23]

Departmental Projects

Bríd Smith

314. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of how the €500,000 funding that was made available in 2009 for a memorial to honour all survivors of all State-run industrial schools is to be used; if she will outline details of the proposed memorial; to provide a timescale for when it will be in place; if she will acknowledge that survivors are eager to see the plans for a memorial brought to fruition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42459/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

549. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a company (details supplied) has signed up to the core funding model for childcare, and in doing so, agreed to freeze fees at 2021 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42571/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

550. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if recent moves by a childcare provider (details supplied) are a breach of any undertaking given not to increase child care fees under the core funding model; if the attempt by the company to increase childcare fees for 2023/2024 by designating the previous year's (2022/2023) fees as an introductory fee represents a back-door way to increase fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42572/23]

Offshore Exploration

Bríd Smith

100. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he or his officials in his Department have held any meetings with a company (details supplied) or any other individuals or companies representing another company in relation to the prospect off Corrib, also referred to as the Inishkea gas prospect since January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38747/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

146. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he can clarify what changes are proposed for the bus services in Crumlin, specifically routes 83, 17 and 18, and when they will be implemented; if he can detail the proposed replacement routes that the NTA is currently planning to introduce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41446/23]

Tax Data

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance to provide details of the costs to the Exchequer each year, in tabular form for the diesel rebate scheme since its inception in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41141/23]

Financial Services

Bríd Smith

185. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if there are any current schemes or plans to introduce schemes to help people who, due to serious medical illness and history of same, have failed to obtain mortgages from banks and other lending institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41326/23]

Courts Service

Bríd Smith

404. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1391 of 27 July 2021, if she will provide an update on the parental alienation research mentioned; if she will clarify how far advanced the research is; when the results will be published, given the urgency and number of families affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41133/23]

Medical Cards

Bríd Smith

571. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will agree to the automatic provision of medical cards to people with a spinal cord injury based on certified medical needs, rather than means; if he will extend the review cycle for medical card holders with a spinal cord injury to ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41385/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Bríd Smith

19. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that there does not appear to be a way for Members of the Oireachtas to contact the foreign births register section to make queries on behalf of their constituents; the contact phone number is for general queries but does not allow for specific application queries; if he is aware that there are applications submitted in early 2021 that still have not been dealt with fully; if he will provide an update on one such application (details supplied) and ensure that a pathway for public representatives to receive updates for constituents is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37392/23]

Bord na Móna

Bríd Smith

85. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will pursue the purchase by the State of the former briquette factory at Derrinlough and to allow for a full consultation with all stakeholders as to the future of the site, especially the Bord na Móna workers who were promised a just transition following the ending of production at this plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37591/23]

Bord na Móna

Bríd Smith

86. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will undertake to immediately halt the sale of the former Bord na Móna briquette factory and its 44.5 acre site in Derrinlough, County Offaly, in the interests of allowing time for a public consultation with all local and national stakeholders about how the site’s potential to deliver a Just Transition towards a low-carbon future in the midlands can be best realised; if he will undertake to launch such a public consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37618/23]

Bord na Móna

Bríd Smith

87. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will undertake to purchase the former Bord na Móna briquette factory and its 44.5 acre site in Derrinlough, County Offaly, in the interests of ensuring that both building and site remain in public ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37619/23]

Bord na Móna

Bríd Smith

88. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail his precise plans to ensure that the Government honours its commitment to deliver a Just Transition for the former employees of the Bord na Móna briquette factory in Derrinlough, County Offaly; the timescale for the delivery of this Just Transition plan; the budget allocated to its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37620/23]

Bord na Móna

Bríd Smith

90. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is in agreement with calls to immediately halt the sale of the former Bord na Móna briquette factory and its 44.5 acre site in Derrinlough, County Offaly, in the interests of allowing time for a public consultation with all local and national stakeholders about how the distinct social, economic and cultural significance of this key site in Ireland’s industrial heritage and economic history can best be honoured and safeguarded for the future, and how the site’s potential to deliver a Just Transition towards a low-carbon future in the midlands can best be realised; if he will undertake to launch such a public consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37652/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

556. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in recognition of the significant delays with the security ERO and the recent lifting of the High Court injunction, he will commit to getting the new ERO signed off as soon as possible; if he will provide an indication of when this will be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37576/23]

Heritage Sites

Bríd Smith

856. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and/or the NPWS is considering purchasing the Conor Pass site (details supplied) for the purposes of transforming it into a national park, which would be held in public ownership for the benefit of all; the precise status of plans to acquire the Conor Pass site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37695/23]

Local Authorities

Bríd Smith

890. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the number of applicants who have been removed from all local authority housing lists in the past 12 months; the number that were removed from all local authority housing lists because they began a HAP tenancy; the number that were removed without being added to the transfer list; how housing waiting list applicants are informed that they need to request the addition of their names to the transfer list following the acceptance of a HAP tenancy in order to remain on the housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37884/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bríd Smith

992. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to alter the provisions governing the free travel scheme as it applies to the provision of free travel passes to parents who are acting as joint carers for children with special needs; if she has any specific plans to introduce a shared travel pass scheme which would allow parents acting as joint carers to share the use of that travel pass in light of the day-to-day exigencies of their shared care responsibilities and the significant financial hardship that carers are already grappling with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37568/23]

State Pensions

Bríd Smith

1029. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can clarify her plans in relation to the proposed introduction of the total contributions approach (TCA) method of assessment for the State pension (contributory) as the only method of assessing an individual for the State pension (contributory); if she will consider retaining indefinitely the use of both the average assessment method and the TCA to assess D class (PRSI) public service workers for the State pension (contributory) in the interests of not disincentivising the valuable contribution which retired D class public service workers can make to the Irish economy and society as part-time workers in other sectors up to the age of 66; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38370/23]

Humanitarian Access

Bríd Smith

1197. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she has responded to a plea for compassionate and humanitarian support addressed to her from a Sudanese refugee who is now an Irish citizen (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38636/23]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Bríd Smith

1644. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify following the roll-out of the pilot medical cannabis access programme the number of patients who have gained access to medical cannabis through the programme; the number who have been reimbursed; the number who have been prescribed Epidyolex; the number who have gained access to medical cannabis during the same period via the ministerial licence route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37885/23]

Energy Conservation

Bríd Smith

137. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify matters in relation to the SEAI fully-funded energy upgrades formerly the warmer homes scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36975/23]

Exploration Industry

Bríd Smith

138. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number and type of applications received by his Department under the Petroleum And Other Minerals Development Act 1960 for authorisations from existing licence holders for retention or renewal or the next stage progression of their licence in relation to petroleum exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36976/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

202. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will detail the steps to be taken by the NTA to address the serious failures of bus route 60 to provide a reliable or sufficient bus service through lower Ballyfermot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35866/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

203. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details and timelines for BusConnects plans for Kildare Road, Dublin 12; if there are plans to liaise with local residents; if an opportunity to meet with concerned residents will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35885/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

374. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail his proposals in relation to the rights of retired workers' representatives to have greater access to the WRC or similar State arbitration bodies in the event of disputes relating to their occupational pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35865/23]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

441. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of places in secondary schools currently located in the Dublin 8 area; if she has plans to increase the current number of secondary school places in the area; the number of children resident in the area projected to progress from primary to secondary schools in 2023, 2024 and 2025; her plans to cater for all children unable to find a secondary school place in the area; her position on what constitutes an acceptable commuting distance and commuting time for school children obliged to travel outside Dublin 8 to attend secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36017/23]

School Textbooks

Bríd Smith

499. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the free primary schoolbook scheme grant given to schools covers the costs of all schoolbooks; if parents can be asked to donate or pay any additional fee towards the costs of their child's schoolbooks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36977/23]

Departmental Funding

Bríd Smith

910. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail any funding or grant aid provided to the Dairy Council of Ireland since 2015 to date from his Department or the Government; the amounts spent by his Department or the Government in support of the processing and marketing of agricultural products, such as capital investment schemes since 2015; the amount of funding provided to Bord Bia since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35864/23]

Departmental Funding

Bríd Smith

926. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the funding to the Dairy Council since 2015, in tabular form; to outline under the specific headings that this funding was dispersed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36345/23]

Departmental Policies

Bríd Smith

937. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how he intends to interpret the text of Amendment 74 as adopted by the European Parliament on 12 July 2023 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration; if Amendment 74’s references to making the best use of market-based instruments and green budgeting tools will result in the approval of further sitka spruce plantations and the granting of further dairy subsidies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36531/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

992. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the list of successful applicants for the most recent strand B of the building blocks grant will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35888/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

1045. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will take steps to ensure that funding is released to provide full-time residential placement for a person with disabilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36538/23]

Milk Supply

Bríd Smith

2. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has funded campaigns by the National Dairy Council and Bord Bia about the supposed "sustainability" of Irish milk (details supplied); and whether he has concerns around these campaigns regarding climate disinformation or greenwashing, given the state of the climate and biodiversity crises. [35135/23]

Bord Bia

Bríd Smith

14. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether Bord Bia should be funding climate disinformation about the supposed 'sustainability' of Irish milk, given the state of the climate and biodiversity crises (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34761/23]

Hare Coursing

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he will support a ban on coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34760/23]

Climate Change Policy

Bríd Smith

23. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action is being taken by Government to reduce emissions and prevent even further biodiversity loss in the context of extreme sea temperatures that have been seen this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34758/23]

Water Quality

Bríd Smith

26. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action is being taken by Government to tackle the continued extreme deterioration of our water quality driven by increased nitrates and our industrial agriculture model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34757/23]

Asylum Seekers

Bríd Smith

532. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to scrap the detaining of asylum seekers in Cloverhill Prison, or any prison, prior to deportation as soon as possible given that they have not committed a crime; her views on the criticism of this practice by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) and on two occasions by the UN Committee against Torture which found that a prison is by definition not a suitable place in which to detain someone who is neither suspected nor convicted of a criminal offence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34839/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

574. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds who were microchipped and registered in the Irish Stud Book whose year of birth was 2021, reminding him that Rásaiocht Con Éireann has the power to request this information from the lrish Coursing Club under Section 26 (1) of the Greyhound lndustry Act 1958; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35284/23]

European Council

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach for a report on his attendance at the European Council on 29 and 30 June 2023. [34014/23]

Public Inquiries

Bríd Smith

23. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach to report on the progress of the public inquiry into nursing home deaths during Covid 19, which he promised in January 2023. [32555/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

170. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will clarify if there are plans to amend section 19A of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 as amended by section 39 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 so that a sexually abused child or adult will not have their private counselling or therapy records made available to the accused abuser; if she will clarify the rationale for this section of the Act and outline the implications for victims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34453/23]

Nursing Homes

Bríd Smith

280. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he intends to undertake a review of the fair deal scheme; if he will detail the precise terms of reference that would underwrite such a review; if he intends either within the context of such a review or independently of such a review to establish the level of charges that nursing home residents are incurring from their disposable income for daily service charges, medical services, transport to medical appointments, prescription fees and other daily incidentals; if he agrees that the depletion of the 20% of the assessable income retained by nursing homes residents after paying 80% of their assessable income for their nursing home care in this manner is placing an insupportable financial burden on nursing home residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34729/23]

Ukraine War

Bríd Smith

80. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants for international protection who have applied from Ukraine since the Russian invasion; if applicants who were not in Ukraine at the time of the invasion are accepted into the temporary protection to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25934/23]

Housing Schemes

Bríd Smith

363. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify if an older couple with medical issues (details supplied) who have rented a three-bedroom property for the past ten years which the landlord has offered to Dublin City Council to purchase under the tenant in situ scheme can be approved for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33661/23]

Housing Schemes

Bríd Smith

373. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify whether the tenant in situ scheme includes properties in which tenants are considered overaccommodated (details supplied); if not, if he will provide details of the number of properties local authorities have refused to purchase on this basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33674/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

433. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person has been receiving jobseekers' allowance for 18 months then applies for disability allowance, whether their jobseekers' allowance payment cease immediately; if not, if it continues until a decision regarding the disability allowance is issued; if there is a requirement for the person to apply for supplementary welfare allowance in the interim; if the disability allowance application is unsuccessful, the payment that the person reverts back to; if a person is awarded disability allowance and transitions from jobseekers' allowance, if this changes their eligibility for the Christmas bonus associated with long-term social welfare payments; if a person receiving disability allowance is permitted to participate in a part-time Springboard course or other ETB training options; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33575/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

660. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) has been approved for the €1,000 pandemic payment; when they will receive same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33481/23]

Emergency Accommodation

Bríd Smith

78. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can detail the number of people currently in emergency accommodation; the numbers who have been there for over 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33038/23]

Housing Schemes

Bríd Smith

90. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can detail the number of purchases of properties by local authorities and approved housing bodies under the tenant-in-situ scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33068/23]

School Meals Programme

Bríd Smith

130. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children who will receive a hot school meal in the new school term from September; and the number planned for the following year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31600/23]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

249. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason there is such a delay in providing Dublin City Council with the funds to complete the upgrade work that is so urgently needed in the Labre Park halting site; the reason there is a delay in providing the funds required to commence the regeneration of the Labre Park halting site; the cause of the delays in providing Dublin City Council with outstanding funds for work already carried out in respect of Traveller accommodation by Dublin City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33356/23]

Women's Resource Centres

Bríd Smith

287. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will clarify if any of the 98 further women's refuge centres announced in priority locations by 2025 will be located in Carlow (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33253/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [32548/23]

Taoiseach's Communications

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach to list the total number of State apologies issued by his Department since 2011. [32546/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

11. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with health will next meet. [32547/23]