Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

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]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

341. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the policy in relation to CervicalCheck services; if the system is changing in relation to the use of HPV testing; if so, the locations in which this testing will be carried out; if a competitive tendering will be arranged for this service; if he has plans to build up the university courses and qualification standards necessary to ensure that this service is conducted in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24003/22]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

14. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach the membership and terms of reference of the climate action delivery board co-chaired by the Secretary General of his Department. [21860/22]

Passport Services

Bríd Smith

135. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to increase the number of staff answering passport telephone queries from members of the Houses of the Oireachtas in advance of the summer 2022 season given that it is already extremely difficult to get through to obtain information for persons who are experiencing delays in obtaining passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23540/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

249. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will acknowledge how severely ill those who develop long Covid can become; if the matter will be addressed; if he will offer protection from reinfection by providing access to treatments (details supplied); if he will increase access to new diagnostic testing which is available in parts of Europe and South Africa; if he will provide the most up-to-date treatments in order that this cohort can begin to recover from this debilitating condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23590/22]

Foreign Conflicts

Bríd Smith

100. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a recent report in the media (details supplied) regarding a massacre and crime against humanity by Syrian military against civilians at Tadamon, Syria in 2013; if he will support efforts to raise the matter at international fora; if Ireland will use its position at the United Nations to highlight the massacre and support a campaign for justice for the victims of the massacre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22889/22]

Shannon Airport Facilities

Bríd Smith

138. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the issue of the ongoing use of Shannon Airport with United States authorities in view of recent court proceedings; and his views on the assertion expressed recently in court that the facilitation of the United States military at Shannon and the failure to inspect such traffic constitutes a breach of Ireland's obligations and status as a neutral country. [22890/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bríd Smith

192. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of disability and living alone allowances can access any additional help from the State given the current cost of living issues; if a person will be eligible for help in relation to management fees for their apartment and the local property tax; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22440/22]

National Parks

Bríd Smith

213. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to extend the boundaries of national parks; if such a process can be imitated by local authorities or other bodies; the method or legislation needed to be amended to extend current boundaries; if mineral exploration licences can be issued for areas covered by national parks; the environmental protections that are specific to national parks areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22278/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

35. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if the employment wage subsidy scheme will end for all recipients on 30 April 2022; the supports that will be available for any sector that continues to be affected by a downturn as a result of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21408/22]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

236. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of childcare costs for each provider (details supplied), in tabular form. [21632/22]

Data Protection

Bríd Smith

255. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if her Department or officials have had any discussion with the Data Protection Commission on the implication of new technology such as smart glasses for data protection; her views on whether new legislation is necessary to protect individual rights in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21553/22]

Industrial Relations

Bríd Smith

57. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is his intention to support the industrial relations provisions in respect of pension entitlements referral of the retired workers 2021 (amendment) Bill at the relevant committee after the public consultation on the Bill is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21349/22]

Wind Energy Generation

Bríd Smith

82. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the persons and companies that have received licences for potential offshore wind development, specifically the relevant projects; the dates on which the original licences were issued; the dates on which the rights to develop granted under these licences to develop offshore energy prior to the passing of any recent legislation; the changes to the ownership of the licences of which his Department has been notified of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21305/22]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

101. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the demand for school places for autistic children in the Dublin 12 area; her views on the lack of places in local schools (details supplied); her plans to provide and or increase places for autistic children in local schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21312/22]

Social Dialogue

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit of his Department. [14284/22]

Statutory Instruments

Bríd Smith

88. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reasons for the ongoing delay in signing the statutory instrument to give effect to changes in the regular wages scheme for CIÉ workers; when the signing of this statutory instrument will be finalised; if he can give reassurances to CIÉ workers that have retired since June 2020 or will retire shortly that any improvements agreed will be backdated and paid to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20970/22]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

98. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will raise with the Minister for Social Protection and the National Transport Authority the difficulties faced by those with free travel passes in using privately operated bus services, especially in rural areas in regions in which Bus Éireann has withdrawn or curtailed its services; if he will support the extension of free travel to all bus services licensed by the National Transport Authority regardless of whether they receive public service obligation, PSO, funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20975/22]

Ferry Services

Bríd Smith

106. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the actions that his Department has taken in view of dismissal of staff by a company (details supplied); if his Department has undertaken or plans to inspect these ferries to ensure new working arrangements are compliant with Ireland's safety regulations; the meetings that his Department has had with the International Maritime Organisation to ensure the protection of seafarers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20971/22]

Aviation Industry

Bríd Smith

123. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will detail the outcome of any discussion that he or his officials have had with a company (details supplied) in relation to allegations of price gouging and profiteering on its routes from eastern Europe as a result of the increase in Ukrainian refugees coming to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20972/22]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

131. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether the estimated €98 million spent to date on the Dublin BusConnects project that relates to planning, surveys and various consultation fees represents good value for money given the limited introduction of new routes; the oversight that his Department has of National Transport Authority operations in relation to the spending involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20973/22]