Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Public Sector Pay

Duncan Smith

393. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection when employees in the Citizens Information Centre will receive approved pay rises given that its sister service, MABS, has had pay rises in place since 2022, even though both are funded by the same organisation, the Citizens Information Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8043/24]

Home Help Service

Duncan Smith

621. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) is provided home care supports again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8017/24]

Home Help Service

Duncan Smith

622. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if his Department could examine the circumstances surrounding the removal of home care support for persons (details supplied); if he will provide the details behind why these supports were stopped;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8018/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

149. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will review Circular 0011/2024, the Circular to the Management Authorities of Primary Schools, as schools (details supplied) are currently set to experience a reduction in their SET allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6831/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

150. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to ensure that (details supplied) will not experience a reduction in their SET allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6832/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

154. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Swords provide ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6854/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

155. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Portmarnock provide ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6855/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

156. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Malahide provide ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6856/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

157. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Donabate/Portrane provide ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6857/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

158. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Kinsealy provide ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6858/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

159. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how long waiting lists are for ASD units in Swords; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6859/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

160. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how long waiting lists are for ASD units in Portmarnock; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6860/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

161. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how long waiting lists are for ASD units in Malahide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6861/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

162. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how long waiting lists are for ASD units in Donabate/Portrane; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6862/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

163. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how long waiting lists are for ASD units in Kinsealy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6863/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

164. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many active applications there are for ASD units in Swords; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6864/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

165. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many active applications there are for ASD units in Portmarnock; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6865/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

166. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many active applications there are for ASD units in Malahide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6866/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

167. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many active applications there are for ASD units in Donabate/Portrane; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6867/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

168. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many active applications there are for ASD units in Kinsealy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6868/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

169. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education what plans she has to improve the provision of ASD units in schools in Dublin Fingal east, and countrywide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6869/24]

Middle East

Duncan Smith

143. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who is in possession of an Irish residence permit and is trapped in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6409/24]

Bus Services

Duncan Smith

213. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of bus drivers that have left the service, including retirees, in each county since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6489/24]

Taxi Licences

Duncan Smith

214. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of taxi drivers who have left the service, by month, since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6490/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

215. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of train drivers who have left the service since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6491/24]

Pension Provisions

Duncan Smith

236. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if the annual pension double payment is subject to tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6422/24]

Pension Provisions

Duncan Smith

237. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if there are any proposals to treat the annual pension double payment as a non-taxable payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6423/24]

State Pensions

Duncan Smith

236. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for the old age pension (contributory) by a person (details supplied) has been processed and awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5902/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Duncan Smith

237. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is in receipt of an old age pension (contributory) and is now aged 67 years, but who continued in employment, which is now about to cease, is entitled to receive a redundancy payment, in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5903/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Duncan Smith

292. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update following the commitment by the Minister of State at the Department of Health to cover assessments of needs for children with disabilities due to the continued delay of the six planned regional assessment teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5991/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

301. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health whether any or all of the 80+ recommendations made in the report of the Covid-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel published in August 2020 have been accepted; the progress made in implementing any of the recommendations to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5845/24]

Departmental Data

Duncan Smith

306. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the total number of stepdown beds available in County Longford. [5852/24]

Hospital Staff

Duncan Smith

307. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant in respiratory medicine based at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda in the years of 2021, 2022 and 2023 in tabular form. [5853/24]

Primary Care Centres

Duncan Smith

308. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to refurbish Raheny Health Centre, Dublin 5; and the current services being provided at this health centre. [5854/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Duncan Smith

309. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the current repair times in place for wheelchair users when repairs are required to their wheelchairs in the Limerick City area; and the recommended and average timeframe for repairs to take place at present. [5855/24]

Hospital Staff

Duncan Smith

310. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant radiologist based in Portiuncula Hospital in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [5856/24]

Mental Health Services

Duncan Smith

311. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the locations outside of Dublin where inpatient peri-natal mental health units are located, in tabular form. [5857/24]

Hospital Staff

Duncan Smith

312. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of orthopaedic registrars at Tallaght University Hospital in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [5858/24]

Hospital Procedures

Duncan Smith

313. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of chest x-rays carried out at Louth County Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5859/24]

Hospital Staff

Duncan Smith

314. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE physiotherapists working in Wexford General Hospital in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [5860/24]

Hospital Staff

Duncan Smith

315. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE speech and language therapists working in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, in the years of 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [5861/24]

Hospital Staff

Duncan Smith

316. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of national and international health recruitment fairs staff from CHI Temple Street were in attendance to seek to recruit additional nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, etc. in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and the number of recruitment fairs where staff were present the number of jobs offered per fair. [5862/24]

Care Services

Duncan Smith

317. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Kerry who have requested additional home care hours; and the average waiting times for receiving additional care. [5863/24]

Departmental Data

Duncan Smith

318. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who visited the neurofibromatosis clinic at CHI Tallaght in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5864/24]

Hospital Services

Duncan Smith

319. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the capital investment and refurbishment by the HSE at St Joseph's Hospital, Stranorlar, County Donegal in each of the years 2020 to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5865/24]

Hospital Services

Duncan Smith

320. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the chronic disease management hub in Ennis in respect of services currently provided; and the roll-out of additional services and staffing details of the hub. [5866/24]

Hospital Staff

Duncan Smith

321. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultants in intensive care at St. James's Hospital, Dublin in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5867/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

324. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have availed of emergency contraception under the free contraception scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5878/24]

Airport Policy

Duncan Smith

90. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of installing noise reflecting ridges in Dublin airport to combat aircraft noise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5545/24]

Medicinal Products

Duncan Smith

480. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the current shortage in the medicine victoza; what measures are being taken to address this shortage; what alternative medicine can be prescribed to people due to this shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4979/24]

Health Services Staff

Duncan Smith

496. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if HSE members currently on a career break are not able to return to work due to the HSE recruitment embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5083/24]

Community Care

Duncan Smith

498. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Cashel community nursing unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5088/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

177. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport how many DART carriages have been ordered over the past three years; how many have been ordered to date for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4738/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

178. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport how many train carriages have been ordered over the past three years; how many have been ordered to date for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4739/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

179. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport what the previously announced €300 million earmarked for the Luas in September 2023 will be used for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4740/24]

Bus Services

Duncan Smith

186. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport to prioritise the delivery of the Bus Connects local routes services in Portrane and Donabate given the census figures from 2022 on bus travel are concerning (details supplied) in regard to our climate targets of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 by improving public transport travel and reducing car journeys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4849/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

252. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to provide special classes for children with additional needs in a school (details supplied) as these are urgently required to meet the local education requirements of pupils with autism or learning disabilities who currently have to travel to St. Margaret 's and beyond for their education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4742/24]

Schools Amalgamation

Duncan Smith

253. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education his Department's policy with regard to requests from parents who wish to have their single-sex primary schools amalgamated into fully gender-integrated schools; to outline the procedure for processing such a request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4743/24]

EU Regulations

Duncan Smith

355. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the way in which Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 on infant formula and follow-on formula is policed and enforced in the State; whether offences are committed in the event of its breach or other sanctions apply; his views on whether retailers breach the regulation by including formula among items covered by a loyalty or voucher or discount scheme that applies to most other goods sold in a store; if so, the basis of that understanding; to outline any correspondence with the EU Commission on the interpretation of Article 10 (2) of the regulation as it applies to general supermarket discount or voucher schemes that are not aimed at promoting the sale of formula in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4748/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

165. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how long someone referred to the National Gender Service today would be expected to wait for their first assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4422/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

166. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health why the National Gender Service chose not to close its waiting list in 2023, as was discussed in late 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4423/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

167. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how many trans patient support and advocacy organisations such as (details supplied) the National Gender Service met with in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4424/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

168. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how the National Gender Service defines the term gender affirming care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4425/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

279. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the reason SNAs with ten years of experience (details supplied) in private pre-schools are unable to apply for incremental credits, particularly when those who have worked in community pre-schools are eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4050/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Duncan Smith

463. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline any regulations in regard to ECCE supports that would prevent providers from refusing to offer half-day sessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3832/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Duncan Smith

464. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline any regulations in regard to ECCE supports that would ensure that parents who received an ECCE place for half-day sessions cannot, at a later date, be told that the provider will no longer offer half-day sessions in favour of full-time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3833/24]

Hospital Services

Duncan Smith

499. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of open beds in each HSE and voluntary hospital on 15 January in each of the years 2023 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3655/24]

Health Promotion

Duncan Smith

513. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are any proposals to provide one day of annual leave to workers for health screenings such as mammograms, cholesterol screening and colonoscopies; if his Department would consider such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3848/24]

Hospital Facilities

Duncan Smith

522. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that disabled parking at St. Vincent's Hospital has a four hour time limit for the length of time a person can occupy a disabled parking space; if he will liaise with St. Vincent’s to remove this time limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3889/24]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

81. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the delays in providing contact digital payments for Dublin Bus, the Luas, the Dart and Irish Rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3149/24]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

82. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the cost of a new contactless payment system for public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3147/24]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

83. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the delays in rolling out a contactless payment system for public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3148/24]

Bus Services

Duncan Smith

85. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport to provide assurances that the BusConnects project will not result in the removal of the 33 bus route, which serves as a direct bus from Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk to the city centre, in favour of a bus that will go from Balbriggan/Skerries to the Airport where a connection will be available from the airport into the city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3202/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

204. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of rapid reviews and health technology applications received in 2023; the number completed in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3198/24]

Departmental Data

Duncan Smith

205. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings of the HSE drugs group that took place in 2023; the number of medicines considered for recommendation at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3199/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

499. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to set up a community neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO9; if he could provide a timeline for the establishment of a neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2554/24]

Cancer Services

Duncan Smith

2. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on the impact on a number of cancer care programmes arising from the decision not to award any new development funding to the national cancer strategy in budget 2024, specifically the planned centralisation of surgical cancer services, the new model of patient follow-up and survivorship and plans for acute oncology nursing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2015/24]

Departmental Meetings

Duncan Smith

5. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to meeting transgender advocacy groups to discuss the provision of transgender healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1975/24]

Medicinal Products

Duncan Smith

26. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the €20 million committed for new medicine funding in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1974/24]

Vaccination Programme

Duncan Smith

39. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are plans for the chicken pox vaccine to be included in the national immunisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1976/24]

Primary Care Centres

Duncan Smith

40. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of a primary care centre for Swords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1973/24]

Commemorative Medals

Duncan Smith

166. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there is a provision available to re-issue medals for persons who fought and were awarded medals in both conflicts and whose medals have been lost or mislaid due to the passage of time; if there is a list available of all who were awarded medals for service during the conflicts regardless of what side they fought on or gender; and if it is not possible to have medals re-issued is there some other way that service can be acknowledged by way of an official letter or parchment and can these be provided on request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1875/24]

Official Travel

Duncan Smith

193. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the airmiles spent by the Government since 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56784/23]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

194. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport how many additional Luas carriages will be purchased in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56785/23]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

195. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of people using public transport, that is bus, Dart, Luas, train since 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56786/23]

Taxi Licences

Duncan Smith

196. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of new taxi drivers, by month, since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56787/23]

Bus Services

Duncan Smith

197. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of new bus drivers in each county since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56788/23]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

198. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of new train drivers since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56789/23]

Road Safety Authority

Duncan Smith

242. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that the RSA has informed seven driving testers that their temporary contracts will not be renewed next month despite driving test waiting times remaining unacceptably high; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1211/24]

Road Safety Authority

Duncan Smith

243. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will sanction a new permanent contract competition for driver testers for the Road Safety Authority in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1212/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

244. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the outcome of the 2019 order for 41 rail carriages which was to deliver a 10% increase in capacity in the morning and evenings for commuters on the Northern Line; how this has been achieved to date; the status of the delivery of 95 Dart + carriages; how the delivery of the carriages will increase capacity on the Northern Line; the projected time scale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1235/24]

Bus Services

Duncan Smith

273. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reason the Transport For Ireland Live app does not process the Nightlink bus information; if there is a plan to process this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1350/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

279. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport for an updated timetable on the completion of works at Portmarnock train station; when these works will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1509/24]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Duncan Smith

280. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the final number of car parking spaces that will be available at Portmarnock train station upon the completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1510/24]

School Facilities

Duncan Smith

469. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to outline future plans for the provision of additional primary school facilities within schools (details supplied) to alleviate the waiting lists for children looking to be accepted into third and fourth classes, such as prefabs and additional teaching staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56338/23]

Health and Safety

Duncan Smith

534. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she aware of the health and safety issues in relation to the standard of a school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57175/23]

Health and Safety

Duncan Smith

535. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education what actions she has taken since receiving evidence of the health and safety issues at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57176/23]

Schools Building Projects

Duncan Smith

536. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will expedite the provision of a much-needed new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57177/23]

School Transport

Duncan Smith

600. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will meet with a delegation of parents from Swords, in regard to the provision of a bus to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1158/24]

School Funding

Duncan Smith

681. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the steps that may be forthcoming to alter the process for allocations for the STEM learning grant for schools that was recently allotted, given that almost 2,200 school were unsuccessful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1881/24]