Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Properties

Bríd Smith

20. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his Department's resource-efficiency action plan. [15156/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

24. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. [15157/23]

Domestic Violence

Bríd Smith

158. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if Carlow will have a women's refuge in place as promised in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15577/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the most recent meeting of the Cabinet committee on health took place. [12867/23]

Departmental Offices

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international division of his Department. [11607/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Bríd Smith

78. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to increase welfare rates for those on disability payments in light of additional costs and rising cost-of-living pressures; if any consideration is being given to the provision of a universal non means-tested payment for those suffering from long-term disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15453/23]

Social Welfare Code

Bríd Smith

98. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has made any provision for an increased budget for additional needs’ payments in light of the ending of the eviction ban and the likelihood of additional expenses being faced by people made homeless; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15160/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Bríd Smith

112. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to change the eligibility criteria for CE schemes to include persons in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15164/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

134. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify that people in district heating systems who have faced large increases in their energy bills can access additional needs’ payments; if any instruction has been issued from her Department to community welfare officers in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15162/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Bríd Smith

146. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the last occasion when there was an increase in the energy part of the household benefit package; if she has any plans to raise this allowance in light of the ongoing energy crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15163/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

216. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide the cost of installing an electronic timetable with real-time arrival times at bus stops that currently only have a sign; the estimated cost of installing a roofed shelter at bus stops that currently only have a sign; if he will clarify the process for applying for both, for a particular bus stop; if he will outline his Department’s and Dublin Bus’s plans to install both across Dublin city and county over the coming year; if Dublin Bus will consider installing both at stop 2380, Cork Street and Ardee Street servicing routes towards the city, in the same fashion as the stop directly opposite going in the opposite direction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15133/23]

Housing Policy

Bríd Smith

312. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 494 of 21 March 2023, if he will provide more specific information on the existing internal complaints and appeals systems within local authorities, particularly in relation to appealing decisions regarding medical priority for housing applications; if he will consider implementing a standardised and transparent appeal mechanism at the national level to ensure consistency and fairness for all applicants seeking medical priority for housing support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15248/23]

Education Policy

Bríd Smith

365. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify why the procurement process for a contractor for a school (details supplied) has been halted; if she will acknowledge the need for an ETSS in this area to accommodate the significant number of children who want to continue their education in an ETSS; if she will reconsider the stoppage on the procurement process and allow this necessary secondary school be progressed as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14659/23]

Register of Electors

Bríd Smith

466. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will acknowledge the importance of encouraging young people to participate in the democratic process by becoming a registered voter; if she is aware of some of the difficulties young people have in trying to become a registered voter for the first time (details supplied); if there are plans to streamline the process to make it more accessible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15262/23]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

658. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has listened to and consulted with the trans community in relation to their healthcare needs and the provision of that care currently; if he will consider reviewing the National Gender Service in terms of international best practice and how it is currently working from the trans community’s perspective; if he will listen to the trans community’s call for an informed consent model that is led by GPs in local communities and respond accordingly; if he will consult with the trans community, in addition to consulting with medical professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14817/23]

Church-State Relations

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent engagements with church leaders. [12860/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [12866/23]

Departmental Inquiries

Bríd Smith

171. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that the scoping inquiry into historical sex abuse in schools will not be restricted to Roman Catholic religious orders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14180/23]

Northern Ireland

Bríd Smith

11. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [12858/23]

Departmental Meetings

Bríd Smith

17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the climate action delivery board, co-chaired by his Department. [12859/23]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

99. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he had any discussions on the impacts of Israel’s continued aggression and illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and its destabilising effects on the region during his recent trip to Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5133/23]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

182. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he expects to approve a proposed increase in the pension entitlements of An Post workers; if the S.I. to give effect to this will be ready soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12951/23]

Legislative Process

Bríd Smith

211. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason his Department has not issued a money message or a reasoned response in relation to the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 despite being requested to do so by the Bills Office in May 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13602/23]

Electric Vehicles

Bríd Smith

221. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide clarification in relation to the scheme aimed at encouraging taxi drivers to convert to EV vehicles; if the unintended consequence (details supplied) of extending licences for some vehicles as a Covid-related measure, is that vehicles and drivers that would have qualified for the EV grant may now lose out as a result of both of the Covid extension together with ongoing delays in getting EVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12235/23]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

372. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he can clarify in relation to retired OPW workers, if these retired workers will receive a due pension increase; when this increase will be paid and the categories of retired workers affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13901/23]

Housing Provision

Bríd Smith

494. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the reason there is no appeal mechanism for a parent to query a decision by their local authority to refuse an application for medical priority for housing as a result of a medical condition of their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13731/23]

School Funding

Bríd Smith

761. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the proposed funding of two schools (details supplied) in Dublin 4 and Dublin 6; when these facilities will be developed given that primary school children in the wider area may have no options to locate to co-educational multi-denominational facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13610/23]

Ukraine War

Bríd Smith

906. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will acknowledge the huge work, support and solidarity shown by communities around the country in welcoming Ukrainians into their homes and wider communities; if he will listen to these voices of support and, in particular, a community group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12638/23]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

907. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in light of the recent announcement that one in ten asylum seekers has no accommodation, there are plans to allow members of the public to offer a place to stay to those applying for asylum; if he envisages a payment to homeowners who provide accommodation similar to the accommodation recognition payment currently offered to people who provide a place for Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12679/23]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

990. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if IPAS has decided that current applicants for international protection staying in accommodation in rooms on their own will now be roomed with at least one other, regardless of Covid or other health concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13942/23]

International Agreements

Bríd Smith

1044. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he can clarify when and if Ireland will ratify the UNCRC second optional protocol on children, child prostitution and child pornography; when and if the State will act on Article 19A, the provision dealing private counselling therapy records in relation to a victim of sexual abuse; if these are made available to the accused abuser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12326/23]

Citizenship Applications

Bríd Smith

1097. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the average processing times for citizenship applications (details supplied) in each of the years 2015 to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13617/23]

Citizenship Applications

Bríd Smith

1098. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if applications for all stages of citizenships are dealt with in chronological order in relation to when applications are made; if he will clarify that no recent applications have been acknowledged or have been processed to the e-vetting stage ahead of older applications made previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13618/23]

Home Help Service

Bríd Smith

1386. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if this HSE-mandated training for home helps is mandatory for all persons working as home helps in private companies; if this training is exclusively online; if workers taking this training do so as part of their working day; if the HSE requires private companies who employ these workers, to pay them for the hours spent doing this training; if the HSE that contracts these companies to provide home help hours, has set any minimum number of hours to be worked by their employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13225/23]

Emergency Accommodation

Bríd Smith

147. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can clarify the additional supports or arrangements that he has in place in terms of emergency provision of beds and accommodation for those persons who face eviction in April 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11881/23]

Departmental Contracts

Bríd Smith

115. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm whether a contract for security work at 90 North King Street from his Department has been awarded to a firm (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11971/23]

State Pensions

Bríd Smith

165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify in relation to periods spent on illness benefit, or on Covid supports, such as the temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme and Covid illness benefit whether such periods count in terms of paid contributions in relation to calculating a person's contributory record for the purposes of the State pension and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11963/23]

Social Welfare Code

Bríd Smith

166. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify, where a dispute exists between an employee and an employer as to the status of the person regarding being self-employed or an employee, how such a dispute impacts the person's contributory record if it is subsequently found that the person has been incorrectly categorised as self-employed; if the period spent is calculated as a period of paid reckonable contributions for the purpose of calculating future benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11965/23]

Departmental Priorities

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [11363/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on immigration will next meet. [11364/23]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

475. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can clarify in relation to the operation of Ireland's community sponsorship programme for refugees led by the Irish refugee protection programme, the reason communities seeking to welcome refugees via this programme must first fundraise €10,000; if any consideration has been given to ensuring that such funding is provided by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11290/23]

National Car Test

Bríd Smith

18. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport If he will examine the way the contracts for the national car testing system are awarded in light of the recent crisis at the NCT centres and the ongoing industrial relations issues at an organisation (details supplied) and the inability to retain and recruit suitably skilled staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10460/23]

Transport Costs

Bríd Smith

20. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the Government intends to continue to implement reduced fares on public transport across the State; if any consideration has been given to extending that reduction or moving to providing fare-free public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10461/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

37. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he can clarify the proposed progressing of the BusConnects scheme for Dublin in the coming year, specifically if the NTA intends to push ahead with existing dates for implementation, given the difficulty transport companies concerned have in recruiting and retaining staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10458/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

40. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will intervene with the NTA in relation to the ongoing deterioration of bus services in Ballyfermot as a result of the introduction of the new BusConnects routes, specifically the collapse of services in Lower Ballyfermot as a result of the introduction of the new 60 route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10457/23]

Public Sector Pay

Bríd Smith

68. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he or his officials have been briefed on industrial relations issues at a company (details supplied) and proposed industrial action at the company; if he has any proposals to ensure disputes at the company do not arise as a result of lower levels of pay or conditions being imposed on drivers as a result of the way the NTA awards routes under the competitive tendering system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10459/23]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

304. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason melatonin and propranolol are not covered by a student medical card while venlafex, which has been prescribed as part of a trio of medication, is; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that having to pay for these two medications is having a significant financial impact, especially when other college costs are also factored in; if there are any other supports or schemes a student can access to cover the cost of their medications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10748/23]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the total number of scheduled weekly departures that will be provided as a result of the recently announced improvements in rural transport links; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10466/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the proposed amendment to the Planning and Development Act 2020, currently before Dáil Éireann, will impact in any way on current regulations and provisions that deal with allotments and the provision of allotments by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10304/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clearly outline the rationale for the stopping of child benefit at the age of 18 years; if she will acknowledge that many children are still in full-time secondary education at this age and that their parents or guardians still rely on the payment to help with costs; if she will further acknowledge that in the current cost-of-living crisis, this presents significant financial difficulties for parents with schoolgoing children of 18 years and above; if there are plans to legislate for an increase in the age at which child benefit will cease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10523/23]

European Council

Bríd Smith

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent special European Council meeting. [9962/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [9963/23]

Constitutional Amendments

Bríd Smith

28. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his plans for referendums, including the referendum on housing committed to in the programme for Government. [9964/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bríd Smith

57. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can clarify the Government’s plan to deal with recent Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, figures that show increases in CO2 emissions in the State, and that Ireland is the worst performer in the EU, according to EUROSTAT data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10335/23]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify the total amount of carbon credits purchased by the State since 2019 to date; the planned purchase for the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9970/23]

Data Centres

Bríd Smith

73. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has any concerns about the impact on the State’s climate targets from the recently announced plans by a major company to build another hyper-scale data centre in Dublin; if he has any plans to introduce a moratorium on such centres, given that this is additional to 16 confirmed cases of new data centres approved for connection to the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9971/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bríd Smith

106. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, in light of a recent report (details supplied) on global methane emissions, he has any plans to seek to reduce the State’s methane emissions from dairy and beef herds or from the potential impact from the recently approved gas-fired emergency generators or any future LNG proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9968/23]

Pensions Reform

Bríd Smith

71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will support the progress to Committee Stage of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; the proposals his Department has to enhance the representative rights of retired workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9411/23]

Inflation Rate

Bríd Smith

92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a recent survey (details supplied) showing that the vast majority of workers have not received wage rises in line with inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9251/23]

Legislative Measures

Bríd Smith

95. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will amend the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018 to prevent employers from treating the upper range of banded hours as a cap when additional hours are being distributed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9249/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

126. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on non-compliance by private security firms with the Employment Regulation Order for the security industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9252/23]

National Minimum Wage

Bríd Smith

143. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will abolish sub-minimum rates of pay for young workers and ensure that all workers receive at least the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9250/23]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

144. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will meet with representatives of workers of a supermarket chain (details supplied) who have been employed there since before 1998 and who have faced numerous attacks on their status by the company, including the refusal by the company to award them pay rises given to other staff; if he can clarify the protections that are presently in place or are planned by his Department to stop employers like the aforementioned company from targeting senior staff in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9248/23]

Nursing Homes

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he has met with the Attorney General following publication of his report on nursing home charges and the disabled persons maintenance allowance. [8834/23]

Transport Costs

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify the position of holders of free travel cards when using train services; the reason Irish Rail imposes a booking fee on some services; when this practice was first introduced; if the imposition of such fees undermines the concept of the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8995/23]

Departmental Bodies

Bríd Smith

32. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit of his Department. [8580/23]

Energy Prices

Bríd Smith

161. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 93, 100, 107, and 108 of 15 December 2022 in relation to the regulation of district heating schemes and prices paid by residents, if the commercial tariff he mentioned is the reason that residents of DHS have faced such enormous rises in their energy bills; if this tariff is collected by the State, and if he can provide figures for the amounts collected by this tariff since 2019 to date; when the proposals to regulate the DHS sector will be enacted and if this will see controls on the prices of heat/energy for residents in such complexes; if such regulations are not imminent; if any action can be taken in relation to the commercial tariffs imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8389/23]

Energy Prices

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the passing of SI. 350/2022, and the new role the Commission of Regulation of Utilities in regulating district heating systems, will mean that the current commercial tariff levied on residents of such systems will be removed and a standard residential rate tariff applied instead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8391/23]

Energy Prices

Bríd Smith

163. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the commercial tariff applied to district heating systems; and the current standard residential tariff that is applied to gas users.
[8392/23]

Local Authorities

Bríd Smith

312. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a homeowner (details supplied), whose property is rented to a local authority with a HAP tenant and who now wishes to sell the property and is willing to sell to the local authority concerned, has been told that the council cannot purchase the home; if this is in contradiction to the Government’s stated policy; and if his Department will contact the authority concerned to ascertain the reason it will not purchase the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8539/23]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

446. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of women currently receiving State pension (contributory) but whose years out of the workforce as a homemaker prior to 1994 are not disregarded when working out the yearly average contributions for the pension. [8088/23]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

447. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of affected persons who, due to their years as a homemaker prior to 1994, have not qualified for a State pension (contributory). [8089/23]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

448. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection her proposals to remedy the discrimination suffered by homemakers whose time out of the workforce prior to 1994 is not taken into account, and who have not qualified for a State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8090/23]

Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to meet with the family of a person (details supplied) to discuss their concerns; if he can detail the progress on the scoping inquiry; if he will support a full independent inquiry into this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7654/23]

Asylum Applications

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of concerns expressed by advocates and human rights campaigners about the dangers of “fast tracking” asylum applications from supposedly “safe countries”, and that such procedures can lead to applicants being denied proper legal advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7655/23]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

111. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the following in relation to cervical check screening, the percentage of tests currently carried out abroad as a percentage of the overall programme by year since 2020; the date on which he expects the Coombe facility to be fully staffed and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7626/23]

Nursing Homes

Bríd Smith

173. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of his plans to address the crisis in the provision of nursing home beds for the elderly; if he intends to increase the provision of public nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7625/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Bríd Smith

360. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the actions his Department intends to take following the recent RTÉ Investigates report that showed that up to 12,000 vulnerable people were denied their disability allowances by State actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6069/23]

Wind Energy Generation

Bríd Smith

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide the timeframe for the publication of the revised wind energy development guidelines and the reason for the significant delay in publishing it; if the regulations will bring us up to EU norms with regard to distance to turbines and noise levels; whether the Government will continue to outsource the provision of renewable energy to foreign multinationals if it will establish a State-led, nationalised model of provision for wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7488/23]

Period Poverty

Bríd Smith

107. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she can clarify the policy of her Department in relation to the provision of free period products in secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7487/23]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

130. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will mandate his Department to examine the introduction of public provision of childcare, as recommended by the expert group report Partnership for the Public Good; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7705/23]

Period Poverty

Bríd Smith

165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he can clarify Government policy in relation to tackling period poverty; if they are supporting the passing of the legislation currently at Seanad Committee stage; if they intend to provide free products at secondary levels as well as third levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7486/23]

Energy Policy

Bríd Smith

125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if current or proposed protections from disconnections to heating and lighting supplies are applied in relation to district heating system residents; if the CRU will have any regulatory control over district heating systems in the near future; the number of residents and homes presently covered and supplied by district heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6994/23]

Departmental Funding

Bríd Smith

226. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funds are available for local authorities from his Department to refurbish social housing units, specifically to install double glazed windows in housing units such as Emmet Building, Dublin 8, in response to ongoing concerns over mould and damp and also as measures to reduce energy consumption and emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7280/23]

Local Authorities

Bríd Smith

276. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure funding is made available to Dublin City Council in order to renovate the Iveagh building in the Liberties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7281/23]

Wind Energy Generation

Bríd Smith

283. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is binging any proposals to permit the automatic granting of permission for wind energy projects that have been waiting for over two years for planning approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7359/23]

Abortion Services

Bríd Smith

831. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the report on the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7279/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

837. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of health workers entitled to the €1,000 pandemic bonus who remain unpaid; the position of staff in private nursing homes; the number of these who have received the bonus to date; the number of those who have not received the payment; if home help and care providers who continued to look after persons in their homes during the pandemic are eligible for the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7293/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

13. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the total allocation of extra funding to community welfare officers to deal with applicants for additional needs' payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6073/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Bríd Smith

46. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for additional needs payments to date in 2023; if she can clarify the number of these that have been rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6074/23]

Housing Provision

Bríd Smith

67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he is taking to ensure that adequate accommodation is available for refugees arriving in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6070/23]

Anti-Racism Measures

Bríd Smith

72. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the long overdue national action plan against racism will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6071/23]

Direct Provision System

Bríd Smith

81. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can clarify the position with regard to the programme for Government commitment to end the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6072/23]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

100. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can clarify his Department's recent communication on accommodation and support for refugees; the reason that it discriminates between different refugees and specifically offers less support to international protection refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6068/23]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

301. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clearly outline the process through which pregnant women experiencing extreme nausea and vomiting can obtain cariban under the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6374/23]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

302. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the reason exactly a GP cannot prescribe cariban on the drugs payment scheme; if he will acknowledge that the majority of women do not see a consultant until after 12 weeks of pregnancy and it is the case that a GP would be qualified to prescribe the drug and be automatically covered on the DPS; if he will clarify the reason that a GP would not be qualified to do so if this is not permissible; if he will clarify the standard practice of the prescription of the drug that exists in other EU member states; if he will further outline his Department’s recommendations to help with extreme nausea and vomiting for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy or until the drug can be accessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6375/23]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

303. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the number of cariban prescriptions that have been processed through the drugs payment scheme to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6376/23]

Gender Equality

Bríd Smith

1. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the gender pay gap report from his Department. [4421/23]

Programme for Government

Bríd Smith

7. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [3412/23]

School Enrolments

Bríd Smith

189. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the State, which funds private schools, has any input or control over their enrolment policy; if the practices reported at a school (details supplied) constitute a breach of State guidelines or are in keeping with present rules and criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5604/23]