Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

256. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the case of four workers (details supplied) who have been dismissed by a company for trade union activity; if he will meet with these workers and their representatives; if he has plans to introduce legislation to protect workers in these situations and strengthen the right to collective bargaining and trade union representation within the lifetime of the current Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32185/23]

Industrial Relations

Bríd Smith

28. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail any proposals or plans to deal with the issues regarding the representative rights of retired workers; if he will support the passage to Committee stage of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31601/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

54. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will bring forward or support new legislation in view of events at a company (details supplied) recently that will protect workers; his views on whether current legislation is sufficient to prevent abuses of workers in cases of examinership and so on; if his Department is investigating the actions of management at the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31602/23]

School Equipment

Bríd Smith

118. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will provide additional supports for parents who must purchase devices such as a tablets and so on, for the new school year; if her Department has plans to purchase centrally such devises on behalf of schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31599/23]

Departmental Funding

Bríd Smith

161. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can detail the funding streams under the remit of his Department that can be used or are available to local authorities for the retrofitting of social housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31734/23]

Departmental Funding

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the funding from his Department for the retrofitting of local authority housing units in each of the years since 2016; and the number of units affected, in tabular form. [31735/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

179. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of journeys lost / failed to operate on the 150 Dublin Bus service as a result of driver shortages, failure to show or other reasons over the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31830/23]

Departmental Funding

Bríd Smith

300. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the funding granted to local authorities from his Department for the retrofitting of local authority housing in each of the years since 2016; and the number of units affected, in tabular form. [31736/23]

Regeneration Projects

Bríd Smith

301. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding given by his Department to Dublin City Council for stage 1 capital appraisal approval for the regeneration of Oliver Bond House; the total amount of funding made available to DCC for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31737/23]

Regeneration Projects

Bríd Smith

302. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding from his Department for the regeneration of Oliver Bond House can be used to take intermediate measures to deal with damp and mould issues, including the replacement of single glazing in units there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31738/23]

Gender Recognition

Bríd Smith

319. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that the 2018 review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 made several recommendations around the development of non-binary legal recognition; if she is further aware that in her report on the review, dated 26 November 2019, then-Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (details supplied) stated that her Department had carried out an initial scoping exercise on the implications of non-binary recognition, that an interdepartmental group had been established to progress this issue, and that the group was due to complete its work by the end of 2020; if she will provide an update on the work of her Department towards non-binary legal recognition, or on the work of this interdepartmental group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31753/23]

Workplace Discrimination

Bríd Smith

57. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of cases taken under disability grounds for discrimination under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 to the Workplace Relations Commission in each of the years since 2015, in tabular form; the number of these cases that were adjudicated in favour of the complainant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31462/23]

Workplace Discrimination

Bríd Smith

58. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if complainants taking cases under the grounds of discrimination in the workplace have access to any additional resources or supports in these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31464/23]

Workplace Discrimination

Bríd Smith

125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to hold any review of the workings of the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 or the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015, specifically in relation to the rights of people with disabilities to take cases relating to workplace discrimination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31465/23]

Passport Services

Bríd Smith

95. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to change the system in relation to the witnessing of signatures on passport applications by a member of An Garda Síochána at local Garda stations; if he is aware that the process includes the recording of witnessing gardaí’s details in a log, which is then called upon by the Passport Office for verification; if he is also aware that it is not uncommon for an omission or a mistake to happen at this point, resulting in an often significant delay for the passport applicant through no fault of their own; if he will acknowledge the archaic and inconsistent nature of this step in the process; if he will provide details of the number of passport applications that are held up as a result of omissions or mistakes in witnessing signatures by members of An Garda Síochána; if he will outline any plans to update and/or streamline the signature witness process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30817/23]

Schools Building Projects

Bríd Smith

305. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the status of the new school build for a school (details supplied) works for which you indicated in a previous Parliamentary Question reply to commence at the end of June 2023; the date for the commencement of this new build and the completion timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30946/23]

Data Protection

Bríd Smith

450. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person participating in the JobPath programme who declines to sign a consent form allowing Seetec to make contact with employers of perspective employers on their behalf, will be sanctioned or penalised in any way; how programme participants' personal data is stored, processed and shared; how this complies with Irish and EU data protection laws; if their data will be transferred out of Ireland to servers or software located in the UK or any other third-party entities; the safeguards that are in place to protect participants' data; what a participant is agreeing to when asked to sign the induction booklet; if this is mandatory under legislation; if it constitutes any form of a contract with Seetec that may affect their rights; if the participant will be sanctioned or penalised for refusing to sign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31298/23]

Prison Service

Bríd Smith

484. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice when a prisoner is due for a release under the community return scheme as a result of a Ministerial order; if such an order can be delayed or stopped by the intervention of a third party as appears to have happened in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31154/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

520. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds named on the RCETS to date who were born in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31370/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

521. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds born in 2021 who were exported un-named to the UK or elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31371/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

522. 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31372/23]

Grant Payments

Bríd Smith

600. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the names and addresses of all successful and unsuccessful applicants, respectively in relation to the operation of the building block grant strand B for childcare providers; the number of unsuccessful applicants within Dublin broken down into postal code areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31146/23]

Dublin Airport Authority

Bríd Smith

36. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of and supports plans by the DAA to extend its operations; if his Department has had any discussion with the DAA about planned expansions and increases in aviation travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30117/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

45. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he can detail the average number of passengers who have travelled on the new BusConnects route 60 since its introduction, per week or month; the passenger numbers for route 79 in the past three months of its operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30121/23]

Transport Policy

Bríd Smith

62. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has examined any proposals around the use and possible banning of SUV private vehicles in city and urban areas; if he would support such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30120/23]

Rail Network

Bríd Smith

72. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he can clarify the position of the Government in relation to investment in the western rail corridor; if he supports further investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30119/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

287. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the successful applicants from childcare facilities for the blocks grant strand B, by company name and geographical area, that is, either country or Dublin postal code, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30252/23]

Climate Action Plan

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the first progress report for the first quarter of 2023 of the climate action plan. [29546/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on economy and investment will next meet. [29547/23]

Official Engagements

Bríd Smith

30. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the meeting of the European Political Community on 1 June 2023. [29548/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

50. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can detail what progress has been made on signing off on the promised pension increase for An Post workers; if he can further clarify the timeframe for same, given the length of time retired workers have been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30007/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

81. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he can detail the position in relation to the implementation of the security sector ERO, specifically, when the case will be heard in the High Court; the State's position on the current injunction against the ERO by some employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30008/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

82. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he can clarify whether his officials will attend the next hearing of the High Court into the injunction taken by employers against the security sector ERO; if he has discussed this issue with his officials or legal team; if he has sought the advice of the Attorney General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30124/23]

Abortion Services

Bríd Smith

177. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of protesters currently outside Limerick maternity hospital that are causing distress to people going to medical appointments, workers, local residents and so on; if he will clarify when exactly the safe access zone legislation will be in place; if he will respond immediately to the urgent need expressed by people trying to access healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29913/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet [29537/23]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the well-being framework for Ireland, overseen by his Department [29538/23]

Equality Issues

Bríd Smith

26. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his Department’s public sector duty equality and human rights assessment. [29539/23]

Social Welfare Code

Bríd Smith

420. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify if a social welfare claimant selected for participation in a programme (details supplied) is obliged to sign a PPP; if they do not, if there can be any sanctions applied by her Department; if the claimant has the right to appeal such sanctions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29640/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bríd Smith

422. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can clarify if Seetec have been awarded the contract for operating the JobPath programme; the costs of this award; the length of time the company will operate it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29665/23]

Grant Payments

Bríd Smith

554. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Pobal will provide details on the reasons a grant application was refused for a child care facility (details supplied) in Dublin 10; if an application for this grant can be made again or when it can be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29739/23]

Climate Action Plan

Bríd Smith

85. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can detail the actions that the Climate Action Plan for 2024 will take that will address the projected overshoot in the first carbon budget identified in the Environmental Protection Agency projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28757/23]

Energy Prices

Bríd Smith

90. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has plans to ensure the Commission for Regulation of Utilities will regulate the prices charged to consumers on district heating systems; if he has plans to change the current charging system that apply to district heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28759/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

103. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify when his Department will issue a money message or a reasoned response for the Petroleum and other Minerals Development (Climate Emergency) Amendment Bill; if he can clarify why this has taken his Department this length of time to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28758/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

253. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will investigate the reason that an autistic person's home support hours have been reduced by an autism support service (details supplied); what process to appeal this reduction is open to the person affected; if this person's care plan can be unilaterally changed like this; if the HSE will ensure that their hours are reinstated with appropriate and necessary home support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28933/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

19. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Health is next due to meet. [28609/23]

Council of Europe

Bríd Smith

8. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the Council of Europe. [26170/23]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Bríd Smith

25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the Shared Island Dialogue all-island women's forum civic initiative. [28610/23]

Overseas Development Aid

Bríd Smith

159. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will detail the progress made on reaching SDGs and on international aid; what the target is; and where we are at specifically in relation to, a Voluntary National Review on the SDGs, reaching 0.7% ODA/GNI with high-quality, poverty-focused overseas aid and climate financing; if the Government will address Irish civil society's five key recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28114/23]

Insurance Coverage

Bríd Smith

339. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his Department is aware of insurers writing to consumers on the issue of the danger of having homes underinsured, and so on; if the companies are now using the issue of potential underinsurance as a mechanism to reduce potential pay-outs to tenants for certain claims; if any regulatory authority under his Department has received any complaints or notification of this practice [27081/23]

Tax Code

Bríd Smith

379. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he can clarify (details supplied) in relation to the residential zoned land tax. [27918/23]

Housing Schemes

Bríd Smith

646. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if changes made by his Department now require a tenant to have resided in their home for ten years before accessing this scheme in relation to the tenant purchase scheme for local authority tenants, or if years previously spent on social housing supports, and so on, count towards this ten-year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27059/23]

Water Pollution

Bríd Smith

650. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he or his Department have had any correspondence or discussion with officials from Northern Ireland in relation to defective slurry/effluent tanks built and operated in Northern Ireland which discharge into waterways feeding into the South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27109/23]

Water Pollution

Bríd Smith

651. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can detail how compliance with EU nitrates directives and other environmental protection regulations are enforced or monitored along the Border counties when potential harmful discharges into waterways may be occurring in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27111/23]

Water Pollution

Bríd Smith

652. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can detail in the event of pollution and damage being caused to waterways in the Republic of Ireland from effluent originating in Northern Ireland the actions his Department or the State can take at EU level or with UK authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27113/23]

Housing Schemes

Bríd Smith

761. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a series of matters (details supplied) will be clarified in relation to the tenant in situ purchase scheme in cases in which a local authority is interested in purchasing a house that is for sale with tenants on social housing supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28105/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

792. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify if there is a limit on the amount of savings a person can have if they are to be successful in obtaining an additional needs payment; if she will clarify what this limit is; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27254/23]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

1082. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can detail the procedures and systems in place in the Citywest centre for IPO applicants, specifically in relation to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28078/23]

Healthcare Policy

Bríd Smith

1242. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to establish a formal agreement to address the following: the pay disparity of Section 39 organisations; a multi-annual, sustainable funding model for voluntary organisations; a review of the out-of-date Health Act 2004, which does not reflect the reality and essential nature of services provided by Section 39 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28132/23]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he can clarify the position in relation to a person carrying prescribed medicinal cannabis products from an another state, specifically in relation to Article 75 of the Schengen Implementing Convention, which states that it is permissible to transport drugs and psychotropic substances needed as part of medical treatment if the person concerned has a certificate issued by a competent authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26688/23]

Medical Cards

Bríd Smith

37. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he can detail any plans to review the criteria for medical card eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26687/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

33. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers that participated in the core funding scheme but have subsequently raised fees for services despite the commitment in the scheme not to (details supplied); if his Department has received any complaints about this practice; if any service provider has done so; if so, the penalties his Department apply to that provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26324/23]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of refugees who have not been provided with accommodation since the change of policy announced on 24 January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26001/23]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

62. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that are available for people currently seeking international protection who are unaccommodated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25933/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

136. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will authorise the payment of pension increases due to postal workers since January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25658/23]

Energy Conservation

Bríd Smith

141. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the supports available for apartment complexes in terms of energy-efficiency upgrades, or access to the installation of solar panels and any other energy efficiency supports. [25764/23]

Energy Conservation

Bríd Smith

142. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can clarify whether the one stop shop system of retrofitting supports is applicable to apartment complexes or individual apartment owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25765/23]

Road Safety

Bríd Smith

186. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify the guidelines or regulations, if any, that are issued by his Department or the National Transport Authority when liaising with schools involved in the ‘safe routes to school’ programme around the use of cargo bikes by parents to transport children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25842/23]

Public Sector Staff

Bríd Smith

231. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he can clarify in relation to a public sector worker (details supplied) who has suffered a critical illness and having returned to work, is diagnosed with a second, separate critical illness within months. [25609/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

446. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can detail the supports that are available for a public sector employee diagnosed with a serious illness (details supplied) who does not qualify for any payments from their employer, the HSE, because of previous use of critical illness benefit, and who has paid PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25610/23]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

610. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will change policy to ensure that all refugees will in future be provided with accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26002/23]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

611. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current position in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to end the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26005/23]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

612. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current position in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to end the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26005/23]

Regulatory Bodies

Bríd Smith

642. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to include athletic therapy in the CORU regulation process and in the provision of HSE care services; when this will happen; the rationale for its exclusion to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25550/23]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

663. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the current status of the drug vyepti (details supplied), following its completion of the approval process; if he will acknowledge that there are many migraine sufferers who are resistant to current drugs available and who are desperate to access this new drug in an effort to relieve their pain; the proposed timeline for the drug to be available to those who need it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25684/23]

Third Level Fees

Bríd Smith

788. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the HEA contribution towards graduate entry medicine tuition fees by €5,000 and €10,000 per student, respectively based on the latest available student numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25552/23]

Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell

Bríd Smith

31. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); the status and expected date for publication of the scoping report; the actions he intends to take; if he will clarify the reason for the ongoing delays in acting on the wishes of the person's family for a full public inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25243/23]

Construction Industry

Bríd Smith

108. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department or any agency under the aegis of his Department has any responsibility to ensure the safety or environmental integrity of residents from the effects of construction works in their area; if the EPA has any statutory or legal role in ensuring construction works operate in a safe and environmentally appropriate manner (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25394/23]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

182. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify his Department’s position on four housing issues (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25393/23]

Defence Forces

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the high-level action plan for the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [24735/23]

Departmental Strategies

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department’s Strategy Statement 2021-2023; and if he plans to update those goals. [24733/23]

An Garda Síochána

Bríd Smith

28. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the work of the policing reform implementation programme office in his Department. [24734/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will next meet. [22823/23]

Economic Policy

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [22824/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

33. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on a humanitarian response to Ukraine will next meet. [22825/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

102. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers of applicants to date in 2023 for exceptional needs payments, by category of the exceptional need (for example, energy bills, and so on); the number of those that were successful in receiving a payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24651/23]

Energy Prices

Bríd Smith

122. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are or will be available for older people facing higher energy bills, in particular, high gas bills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24650/23]

Energy Prices

Bríd Smith

179. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify the responsibilities and duties of energy providers when dealing with and identifying vulnerable customers, including four particular aspects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24600/23]

Cost of Living Issues

Bríd Smith

483. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that people dependent on disability benefit are living significantly below the poverty line; the measures she will take to protect them against increases in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15768/23]

Departmental Reviews

Bríd Smith

561. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he will clarify when the familicide and domestic homicide review commissioned by the Government will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24765/23]

Health Services Staff

Bríd Smith

761. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the promised return of nursing staff to Curlew Road health centre; if he will clarify whether staffing levels have increased; when the health centre will have a full complement of staff back to deliver much-needed health services to the population of Drimnagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24253/23]

Housing Schemes

Bríd Smith

155. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can clarify the measures that he intends to take in situations where a landlord or property owner is refusing to engage with councils or approved housing bodies on the sale of a property with in-situ tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23479/23]

Rental Sector

Bríd Smith

172. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can outline his plans to address the crisis in elderly accommodation in the private rental market in light of a recent reports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23480/23]

After-School Support Services

Bríd Smith

419. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 532 and 533 of 9 May 2023, if he can detail the steps his Department takes in cases where a service provider has beached the terms of the core funding agreement; If a company (details supplied) has broken the terms of core funding by imposing a charge on parents for afterschool/out-of-term services, regardless of whether parents use this service and by making payment of this charge a condition of the continued use of the regular service, where previously parents who did not avail of out-of-term afterschool hours were not charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23771/23]

Abortion Services

Bríd Smith

456. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he can clarify when legislation will be in place to ensure there are safe zones to protect women and medical staff in health settings facilities to ensure they can access or provide abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23807/23]

Education Policy

Bríd Smith

256. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on a report (details supplied) which highlighted that one in four employees stating they suffered from moderate levels of burnout, vicarious trauma and moderate or high levels of “compassion fatigue”; if he will acknowledge the disparity between contracts for teachers and coordinators and managers of the organisation, with the former having clearly defined roles in terms of time, pay and conditions, while the organisation’s coordinators’ work is not specified in their contracts and their pay is lower; if he plans to examine this with a view to recognising the diversity of work that the organisation’s workers carry out; if he will consider establishing equivalent levels of pay, conditions and status as their secondary education, further education and training sector colleagues; if he will outline a timeframe for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23383/23]

Schools Building Projects

Bríd Smith

69. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she can clarify, in relation to delays with certain school building projects, when a project is at the stage where a tender report is under review by her Department; if consideration is given during this review of the possibility of builders or other contractors pulling out of the project because of protracted delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22846/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

181. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide clarity on three issues concerning legislation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23131/23]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

254. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he can clarify whether the TFI Real Time information app will have the same coverage and scope as the current Dublin Bus app; if he will further clarify whether route-60 will have real-time information on the TFI app; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23140/23]

Defective Building Materials

Bríd Smith

393. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the position on defective building materials; the agency responsible for oversight in this area; if he will further clarify the protections that are available to new homeowners in terms of current house building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22424/23]

Employment Schemes

Bríd Smith

468. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to increase the rate of pay for those working on jobs initiative schemes in light of significant increases in the cost of living, given that most of these workers are doing substantial work in their communities and are struggling to make ends meet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23082/23]