Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Disability Support Services

Brendan Smith

343. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to have an orderly resumption of day services for persons with a disability in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43993/20]

Disability Support Services

Brendan Smith

344. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there will be no costs on persons with a disability availing of transport to day services or training centres in any region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43994/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brendan Smith

346. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if additional resources and increased hospital capacity will be provided to reduce waiting times for patients in counties Cavan and Monaghan awaiting orthopaedic assessments and procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44001/20]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

63. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to enhance co-operation between colleges of further education and colleges of a similar status in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43181/20]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

67. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the discussions he has had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland in relation to the opportunities to enhance and intensify co-operation on an all-Ireland basis in further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43182/20]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

464. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 10 September 2020, if she will ensure further investigations are carried out into the Belturbet bombing of December 1972 following the submission of a report to her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43504/20]

Crime Data

Brendan Smith

45. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the scale of drug offences committed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42508/20]

Legislative Measures

Brendan Smith

66. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in implementing legislation to meet the commitments made under the Stormont House Agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42507/20]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Brendan Smith

172. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the discussions he has had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland in relation to the potential of expanding the remit of Co-operation and Working Together Partnership regarding the delivery of health services and additional cross-Border projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42439/20]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Brendan Smith

197. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the outcome of the most recent discussions that have been held with the Departments of Health in Northern Ireland and in the UK concerning the EU Cross Border Healthcare Directive post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42215/20]

Health Services Provision

Brendan Smith

443. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional services will be provided at a healthcare facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42784/20]

Garda Deployment

Brendan Smith

188. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if additional resources will be provided in 2021 for An Garda Síochána in the Border region in view of the unique policing demands in Garda divisions in the region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42519/20]

Garda Deployment

Brendan Smith

189. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if adequate resources will be provided for Garda divisions in the Border region in view of the unique policing demands in Border areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42520/20]

Medicinal Products

Brendan Smith

195. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if medication (details supplied) will be made available for patients through the HSE as this treatment has been available for some years in Northern Ireland through the NHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42221/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Brendan Smith

76. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she will introduce to ensure that the free travel scheme will be available on all bus routes that are publicly licensed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40000/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Brendan Smith

81. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if the free travel scheme will be applicable to more bus routes that are publicly licensed in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40079/20]

Childcare Services

Brendan Smith

103. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capital funding provided in 2020 towards the provision of new and upgraded childcare accommodation; the level of funding that will be provided in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40770/20]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Smith

31. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when approval will issue in respect of a building project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40010/20]

School Funding

Brendan Smith

86. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education her plans to improve capitation funding for voluntary second level schools in view of the differential in the level of funding provided for such schools and other second level schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40009/20]

Electricity Transmission Network

Brendan Smith

156. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the 400 kV Celtic interconnector will be placed underground along public roads in its entirety when this connection from France reaches Ireland in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40099/20]

School Accommodation

Brendan Smith

426. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when an application for additional permanent accommodation at a school (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage in view of the urgent need to upgrade existing accommodation and provide new accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40178/20]

Higher Education Institutions

Brendan Smith

549. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a student living in a direct provision centre awaiting a decision on a residency application and at present attending second level is entitled to apply through the CAO for a course in further or higher education; if successful, if the student is entitled to apply for a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39676/20]

Emigrant Support Services

Brendan Smith

33. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total financial allocation for the emigrant support programme in 2020; the funding to be allocated for 2021; if this allocation will enable additional programmes to be supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38292/20]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

56. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding proposed immigration reform in the United States with particular reference to the difficulties facing the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38291/20]

Banking Sector

Brendan Smith

129. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will convey again to a bank (details supplied) the need to retain its business network which is important for many rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39167/20]

Banking Sector

Brendan Smith

144. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the outcome of his discussions with a bank (details supplied) in relation to the need to retain a bank, its network of branches and the protection of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39166/20]

North-South Interconnector

Brendan Smith

168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason procurement is proceeding by the ESB in relation to the proposed North-South interconnector before a project agreement is in place with EirGrid as specified in the European Union infrastructure agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39520/20]

Community Banking

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance his plans to advance proposals for community banking, with particular reference to the role of the post office network in the further development of financial services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39253/20]

Emergency Departments

Brendan Smith

265. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when a project (details supplied) at a healthcare facility will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39177/20]

Local Authority Housing

Brendan Smith

64. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that the review of income eligibility limits for social housing is finalised and published without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38279/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Brendan Smith

109. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will improve income eligibility limits for social housing for areas such as Cavan and Monaghan where the existing limits are low at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38280/20]

Post Office Network

Brendan Smith

178. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to put in place a five year plan for the post office network to ensure its sustainability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38824/20]

Post Office Network

Brendan Smith

202. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to implement a sustainability plan for the post office network with particular reference to the provision of new products, additional Government services for the network and capital investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38823/20]

Rural Recreation Policy

Brendan Smith

336. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if further consideration will be given to a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37853/20]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

24. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the capital funding provided for 2021 for the development of heritage and cultural attractions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37342/20]

Tourism Funding

Brendan Smith

59. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the capital funding provided for 2021 for the further development of the tourism product throughout the country; the specific sectors, if any, identified for further development in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37341/20]

Domestic Violence Services

Brendan Smith

263. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure a substantial increase in funding for domestic violence services for 2021 in view of the increase in domestic violence since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and taking into account the report by an organisation from (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37725/20]

Domestic Violence Services

Brendan Smith

264. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total funding provided in 2020 for domestic violence services; the planned allocation for such services in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37726/20]

Domestic Violence Services

Brendan Smith

265. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress to date in developing a national services development plan to deal with domestic abuse and coercive control; if it is planned to have such plan commenced in 2020; the role of an organisation (details supplied) and its 38 frontline member services in developing a comprehensive national response to domestic abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37727/20]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Brendan Smith

327. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure that the EU cross-border directive on health-care remains in place post-Brexit with particular reference to Northern Ireland and the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37698/20]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Brendan Smith

328. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the outcome of discussions if any that have been held with the Departments of Health in Northern Ireland and the UK on the EU cross-border directive on health-care post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37699/20]

Hospital Facilities

Brendan Smith

335. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the proposed capital investment at a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37735/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Smith

340. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in implementing measures on an all-island basis to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic following the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Departments of Health, North and South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37744/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Smith

341. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures agreed at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting on health in October 2020 to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic on an all-island basis; the progress to date in implementing such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37745/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Smith

342. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to utilise the co-operation and working together framework to intensify co-operation on a cross-Border basis in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37746/20]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Brendan Smith

124. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she will implement to reduce substantially the delays in processing and finalising applications for personal public service numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37333/20]

Defence Forces Strength

Brendan Smith

47. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the number of new recruits that have enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36623/20]

Budget 2021

Brendan Smith

61. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the estimated allocation for defence in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36624/20]

EU Funding

Brendan Smith

116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding committed to date for the INTERREG and PEACE plus programmes post 2020; the level of funding to be provided by the Irish and UK Governments and the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36666/20]

EU Funding

Brendan Smith

131. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the INTERREG and PEACE plus programmes post Brexit with particular reference to cross-Border projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36667/20]