Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

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]

Child Protection

Réada Cronin

1392. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [37791/23]

Child Protection

Réada Cronin

1393. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 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; the operational integration by both AGS and Tusla of the specialist interview process with the Barnahus model; the interdepartmental oversight of implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37793/23]

Trade Relations

Réada Cronin

367. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the Russian Federation remains by far the biggest market for Irish-refined alumina, in light of the fact that such exports are capable of assisting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine and its ongoing war on that territory. [35232/23]

Trade Relations

Réada Cronin

368. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether, by continuing to supply the Russian Federation with alumina (figures to end March 2023), the State is in breach of its political commitment to its EU partners in both the matter of the war on Ukraine and global security. [35233/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Réada Cronin

187. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the plans his Department has to communicate to the public the importance of micro-generation such as solar panels on dwellings to citizen and societal resilience in the event of a cyberattack on the State’s energy facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35223/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Réada Cronin

188. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether his Department is, as a matter of urgency, prioritising solar for all dwellings, given its capacity to provide resilience in the event of a cyberattack on the energy system; such plans to include easy-to-apply-for interest-free loans or generous grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35224/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

213. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the plans of his Department to rebuild and equip the Defence Forces so they are in the proper position to patrol our territorial waters effectively and defend our neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35221/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

214. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the plans his Department has to build the cyber-security aspect of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35222/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

215. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether his Department is satisfied that the Defence Forces are currently staffed and equipped to a sufficient level in order to fulfil their various functions - military, surveillance, peacekeeping and civil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35229/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

216. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the various mechanisms by which his Department is working to reach agreement with the Women of Honour on all outstanding issues; the number and grade of staff allotted to this task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35230/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

346. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department will outline the enhanced expenditure necessary to bring the Defence Forces up to their full complement and capability in order to defend our neutrality, patrol our waters and airspace and fulfil their international obligations such as peacekeeping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35228/23]

School Curriculum

Réada Cronin

376. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether her Department will make a new commitment to the position of history on the curriculum, such subject being critical to giving a student a necessary level of continuum and context vis-à-vis current and emerging situations, globally, therefore facilitate a citizen in making a deeper and more reflective response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35220/23]

School Transport

Réada Cronin

377. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether her Department is taking a necessary new approach to the school-transport situation, to make it work for children’s/parents’ needs, given the system extant has little or no bearing on how schools are functioning, spatially in the community, and how families are forced to use them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35231/23]

Childcare Services

Réada Cronin

606. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he is taking to liaise with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the warnings issued by certain childcare providers on their possible need to withdraw from core funding, given its insufficiency, such action having a knock-on impact on workers and their employment, and especially on women workers who face a particular barrier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35226/23]

Childcare Services

Réada Cronin

629. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will move with all alacrity to address the situation whereby certain childcare providers are warning parents of their need to withdraw from core funding given its insufficiency, and so have to increase fees to those parents who are already under major financial pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35225/23]

Health Service Executive

Réada Cronin

652. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the actions his Department is taking to address and urgently the HSE spend of €458 million of external consultants in 2022; whether he will publish his investigations and analysis into that spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35227/23]

School Transport

Réada Cronin

115. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the average number of buses in the Bus Éireann school transport fleet for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34520/23]

School Transport

Réada Cronin

116. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the average number of buses in the Bus Éireann school transport fleet for Kildare, specifically, for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34521/23]

School Transport

Réada Cronin

117. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education for an update from her Department on the state of plans for the recruitment and/or deployment of sufficient drivers for school-bus transport and the guaranteed provision of sufficient vehicles for same, State-wide and in Kildare in particular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34522/23]

Pension Provisions

Réada Cronin

135. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine, with urgency, a situation (details supplied). [33069/23]

Pharmacy Services

Réada Cronin

638. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health whether, given the criticality of our pharmacies to community health, he has or will conduct a review of pharmacy dispensing fees and the extent of service provision by community pharmacists; if he has or will engage with an organisaion (details supplied) on the matter, and the dates on which he has or will engage; if he will establish a review which encompasses the scope of services provided or which could be provided by community pharmacy; if he will include scoping of a minor ailments or minor illness scheme in community pharmacy in the terms of reference of the aforementioned review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32511/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Réada Cronin

67. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether his Department is developing a financial strategy to deal with the impact of long Covid on society in the medium to long term; if so, the details of same; whether it is earmarking funds for use by the relevant Departments such as the Departments of Health and Education, to assist public servants who contracted Covid in the line of duty (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30796/23]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

152. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department will examine an issue in relation to persons working as civilians within the Defence Forces (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31168/23]

Air Services

Réada Cronin

171. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Transport if his Department can assess any flight-path changes and frequency of same in aircraft using Dublin Airport, given the new aircraft noise-pollution problems reported by persons in residential areas of north Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31148/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Réada Cronin

267. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a case (details supplied). [30316/23]