Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Contracts

Réada Cronin

1408. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department engages a company (details supplied); if so, the duration and nature of the work; the cost of same to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48013/23]

Departmental Contracts

Réada Cronin

1460. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department engages a company (details supplied); if so, the duration and nature of the work; the cost of same to the Exchequer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48018/23]

Children in Care

Réada Cronin

162. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what improved and specific help will be given to emergency foster carers for their contingent need, for example, in the provision of packs of emergency supplies, appropriate to the various age groups, so they can begin, with the necessary ease and equipment, the wrap-around care of highly vulnerable children at a crisis time in their young lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46869/23]

Children in Care

Réada Cronin

163. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what actions his Department has taken to satisfy itself as to the quality and cleanliness of hostels used by Tusla as emergency accommodation for vulnerable teens; and if such actions have not been undertaken, whether his Department will now commit to doing so and as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46870/23]

Budget 2024

Réada Cronin

267. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in recognition of financial need and the critical social value of the work they undertake, the additional Budget 2024 provisions for foster carers could be paid in full in January, without a delay of several months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45933/23]

Pension Provisions

Réada Cronin

268. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when foster care will come within pension provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45934/23]

Children in Care

Réada Cronin

269. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth why foster care payments are not index-linked and whether and when provision will be made to do so, given the criticality of the service provided and the fact foster care can be financially dynamic according the needs of a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45935/23]

Children in Care

Réada Cronin

270. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline what is being done within his Department to future-proof foster care as a critical component within the care system, so that in-home family care is the primary option, and available to as many children as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45936/23]

Education Schemes

Réada Cronin

157. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the number of children without a school place who were forced to avail of home tuition in each year over the past five years, in tabular form for both primary and secondary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45610/23]

Education Schemes

Réada Cronin

158. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the length of time each child who was without a school place availed of the home tuition scheme in each year of the last five years, in tabular form both at primary and secondary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45611/23]

Education Schemes

Réada Cronin

159. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the number of children without a school place forced to rely on home tuition who successfully went into the school system thereafter in each year of the past five years, including how many did not, both at primary and secondary level, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45612/23]

Education Schemes

Réada Cronin

160. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education to outline the Department policy on assisting children without a school place who need home tuition beyond the 12 weeks maximum cited in an earlier reply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45613/23]

Education Schemes

Réada Cronin

161. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education to outline the Department policy and practice on assessment of the effectiveness and quality of home tuition for those children without a school place; when they return to or enter the school system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45614/23]

School Enrolments

Réada Cronin

120. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education to publish the formal policy/procedure for assistance given by her Department to parents/guardians of children without a school place to assist them in getting an appropriate tutor for their child, given parents/guardians themselves report serious, unassisted effort is necessary in such regard, and that not every child requiring a tutor might have parents/guardians with the necessary capacity and tenacity; whether she is satisfied, in those circumstances, that every child’s educational access and needs are sufficiently catered for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44582/23]

Education Welfare Service

Réada Cronin

121. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education to publish the hours and subjects offered to children in secondary school, but currently without a school place; whether her Department is satisfied these hours and subjects are sufficient for such children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44583/23]

Child and Family Agency

Réada Cronin

167. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Section 3 investigations conducted by Tusla in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023, outlining the number in each geographical/educational area; and indicating whether primary school or secondary school, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44516/23]

Child and Family Agency

Réada Cronin

168. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of the Section 3 Investigations carried out in each of the years 2019 to 2023, inclusive, how many involved allegations in each of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect or multiple type of abuse in each year, in tabular form, and delineating whether primary or secondary and the geographical/educational areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44517/23]

Disability Services

Réada Cronin

169. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action he intends to take to ensure that those people working in Section 39 organisations (details supplied) will achieve pay parity with their counterparts in Section 38 organisations or the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44518/23]

School Transport

Réada Cronin

233. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a solution to a situation regarding a school bus (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44066/23]

Teacher Training

Réada Cronin

118. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether, given the shortage of primary teachers, and to assist those anxious to work in the area, she will liaise with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on reducing the length of the current PME postgraduate teacher training courses to perhaps one year; to remove from those who are already fluent in Irish, some holding a master's degree in same, the compulsion to attend the Gaeltacht, thereby removing yet another financial barrier to eager candidates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42996/23]

Teacher Training

Réada Cronin

119. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether, for those graduates anxious to enter primary teacher training, she will reduce the term of the current PME postgraduate teacher training courses to perhaps one year; to remove from those who are already fluent in Irish, some holding a master's degree in same, the compulsion to attend the Gaeltacht, both initiatives removing financial barriers to eager candidates, and so, easing the shortage of primary teachers. [42997/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

74. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will prioritise, as a matter of urgency, the retention of the fire station at the Curragh, its services being critical not only to our Defence Forces on-site, but also to the wider community, where frequently they are the sole fire service available, with such services being staffed and provided by highly skilled, committed, valuable personnel who need to be retained within our Defence Forces. [42776/23]

Departmental Reports

Réada Cronin

84. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when the report on the Consultative Forum on International Security will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42552/23]

Departmental Bodies

Réada Cronin

123. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide details on the structure and operations of the Civil-Military Defence Women's Network set up in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42553/23]

Naval Service

Réada Cronin

160. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current establishment figure of the Naval Service and that proposed under Level of Ambition 2 of the Report on the Commission of the Defence Forces; the current strength of the Naval Service; the current strength of the naval fleet and if he will report on the fleet replacement programme. [42851/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

166. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline his investment plans for the adequate funding of the Defence Forces, that is, the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, to meet the State’s defence and security needs in the 21st century and the capacity to provide appropriate intervention and assistance State-wide in situations of extreme weather and disruption caused by global warming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30795/23]

Departmental Schemes

Réada Cronin

547. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department can clarify the situation, whereby some persons funded for a 24/7 residential service, are still funded to attend a day service, while others are informed they cannot, on the basis they cannot be "double-funded" (details supplied); whether his Department will move immediately to correct any existing anomalies in the funding criteria and parameters for a day service for those already funded for residential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42561/23]

Health Services

Réada Cronin

696. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health to examine the case of a person (details supplied). [42746/23]

School Admissions

Réada Cronin

174. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the number of children in north Kildare who are without a designated secondary school place at present and in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41932/23]

School Admissions

Réada Cronin

182. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education what can be done to assist a child (details supplied) in finding a designated place in secondary school in north Kildare, as this child is missing out so much of the vital social aspect of school and learning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42036/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Réada Cronin

256. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he can confirm whether children were automatically tested for SARSCoV2 on their arrival to ED and for admission at Crumlin Children's Hospital, Tallaght Children's Hospital and Temple Street in the past eight weeks; if so, the positivity rate for both sectors; how many children have been hospitalised for Covid-19; how many subsequently became Covid-positive in hospital; how many, if any, are in ICU or other high dependency; how many outbreaks of Covid-19 there have been in each facility; to provide all information in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41891/23]

Hospital Facilities

Réada Cronin

257. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if his Department is satisfied that all hospitals and public-health facilities are operating to the required statutory standard of ventilation; to publish the audits his Department has undertaken to establish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41892/23]

Hospital Equipment

Réada Cronin

143. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health whether it is the policy of his Department that a patient who has been on long-term palliative care and whose fragility puts them at particular risk of bedsores and dermatological breakdown, cannot have access to an airbed in hospital, despite relying on one at home; the reason, given that such a bed would need to be rented by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41883/23]

Heritage Sites

Réada Cronin

197. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to publish all the documentation relating to contacts between his Department, the Departments of Finance and the owners past and present in the matter of lands at Castletown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40963/23]

Heritage Sites

Réada Cronin

198. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department will sanction the acquisition of the lands around Castletown House for the public and in the public interest, given these lands are not simply an amenity but regarded by the wider community as a cultural, social and environmental inheritance that is to be held in trust for future generations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40964/23]

Heritage Sites

Réada Cronin

201. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will liaise with his counterparts in OPW, Arts, Finance and Public Expenditure to secure the lands adjoining Castletown House for the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41226/23]

Heritage Sites

Réada Cronin

202. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will liaise with his counterparts in OPW, Finance and Heritage to secure for the public, the cultural inheritance that are the Castletown Lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41227/23]

Air Quality

Réada Cronin

228. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether her Department has undertaken an audit of HEPA filters introduced in schools, including those provided privately by parents, if the schools themselves is able to provide such detail; if not, why not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40962/23]

Industrial Disputes

Réada Cronin

321. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what interventions his Department have made in the matter of FORSA and its industrial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40966/23]

Domestic Violence

Réada Cronin

424. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice to outline the supports in Kildare for men who are victims of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41454/23]

International Protection

Réada Cronin

470. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide all documents and relevant information on the timing and pathway to the designation and development of the Waterways Sallins, as a centre for those seeking international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40961/23]

International Protection

Réada Cronin

493. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide information on a matter (details supplied). [41434/23]

Disability Services

Réada Cronin

268. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to accommodate, locally, children who have been informed there will no longer be speech and language therapy available to them in Kilcock from October due to staffing issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40840/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Réada Cronin

1024. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for carer’s allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38214/23]

An Garda Síochána

Réada Cronin

1119. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice how many fully-trained specialist interviewers there are within An Garda Síochána at present, in the context of the Barnahus Model of child welfare and abuse; the Garda divisions they are located in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37786/23]

An Garda Síochána

Réada Cronin

1120. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice how many section 16 interviews took place in 2022; how many were conducted jointly by members of An Garda Síochána with a Tusla social worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37787/23]

An Garda Síochána

Réada Cronin

1121. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice how many specialist interviewers have been trained through An Garda Síochána’s training programme since 2020; how many are gardaí and how many are social workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37790/23]

Child Protection

Réada Cronin

1122. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice to outline the strategic plan for joint training and implementation of the section 16 interview process by both agencies to minimise trauma to child victims and increase conviction rates for perpetrators; to what extent the strategic plan addresses the issues of joint training, capacity building and operational collaboration between both agencies; the third party oversight and accreditation for the training of specialist interviewers and their ongoing continual professional development; operational integration by both An Garda Síochána and Tusla of the specialist interview process with the Barnahus model; the interdepartmental oversight of implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37792/23]

Child Protection

Réada Cronin

1390. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many section 16 interviews took place in 2022; how many were conducted jointly by members of An Garda Síochána with a Tusla social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37788/23]

Child and Family Agency

Réada Cronin

1391. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many fully-trained specialist interviewers there are within Tusla at present, in the context of the Barnahus Model; the areas in which they are located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37789/23]