Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

White Papers

Brendan Smith

118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when the security environment analysis arising from the White Paper on Defence will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42551/23]

School Funding

Brendan Smith

327. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when the next IT grant will be issued to primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42674/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

43. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Foreign Secretary concerning legacy issues, with particular reference to the totally unacceptable legacy Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41854/23]

British-Irish Co-operation

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the next meeting of the British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place; the issues to be discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41855/23]

Litter Pollution

Brendan Smith

99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the additional measures, if any, that will be introduced to deal with littering problems throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41859/23]

Litter Pollution

Brendan Smith

110. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the proposals, if any, there are to have additional publicity programmes regarding the need to deal with the proliferation of littering problems throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41858/23]

Industrial Relations

Brendan Smith

165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that the concerns of a trade union in relation to the retention of jobs and terms and conditions are given detailed and urgent consideration (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41951/23]

Mental Health Services

Brendan Smith

48. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in recruiting additional personnel for CAMHS teams in areas such as Cavan/Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40707/23]

Addiction Treatment Services

Brendan Smith

55. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if it is proposed to increase the level of funding for the North-East Drug Task Force, in view of the increased demand for services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40708/23]

Third Level Fees

Brendan Smith

95. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in view of the particular cost-of-living pressures at present, he will ensure that additional financial support will be provided to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees for this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40698/23]

Third Level Fees

Brendan Smith

100. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if measures are to be introduced to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees this academic year; if he will ensure that students studying outside of the State will receive such supports, as requested previously by this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40699/23]

International Protection

Brendan Smith

247. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the widespread concerns in relation to the proposed provision of services and the concerns of the local community, as outlined in representations to his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40886/23]

Election Monitoring Missions

Brendan Smith

54. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of members of the current roster of election monitors, which is due to end in December 2023; the number of short-term observers monitoring requests sent by his Department to roster members since this roster came into effect; the number of first-time members of this roster; the number of first-time members of this roster who were accepted to serve as short-term observers on monitoring missions; the number of first-time roster members who have not been invited to serve as short-term observers, or other missions so far during this roster; the number of roster members who have served as short-term observers on two or more missions during this roster; the number of roster members who have quit the roster during its term; if he accepts that the length of this roster should have been extended by at least one year to allow for the impact of Covid-19; and his plans to amend, improve and reform the future operation of the Irish election monitoring panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38752/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

66. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Foreign Secretary concerning legacy issues with particular reference to the totally unacceptable Legacy Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39304/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

67. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the next meeting of the British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place; the issues to be discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39310/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

68. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his most recent meetings with the political parties in Northern Ireland concerning the need to have the Assembly and Executive restored without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39311/23]

Road Network

Brendan Smith

412. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport his views on the commitment in the Programme for Government to maintain the existing road network to a high standard and fund safety improvements; if he will ensure that much needed additional funding will be provided, without further delay, for the non-national road network this year taking into account the urgent requirement for additional investment due to the very substantial increase in costs that have arisen over the past two years in road maintenance products and construction work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39298/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Brendan Smith

452. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to establish the disabled drivers medical board of appeal; when the criteria for this scheme will be amended in view of the widespread dissatisfaction in relation to the workings of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38167/23]

School Transport

Brendan Smith

773. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when the distance requirement will be reduced in respect of eligibility for school transport at primary and second level, taking into account road safety concerns for pupils in view of increased traffic levels on the road network, and also the difficulties for parents working outside the home and having to make arrangements for children to be left at and collected at pick-up points some distance from their homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39299/23]

School Transport

Brendan Smith

774. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when the review of school transport will be finalised and the expected timeline for publication of this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39300/23]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Smith

785. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage, in view of the urgent need to provide this much-needed accommodation due to an increased enrolment at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39419/23]

Departmental Programmes

Brendan Smith

787. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, there are to expand the school completion programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39424/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Brendan Smith

1043. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason applications under the exceptional needs scheme are not being processed locally; if she agrees that this scheme has been of critical importance to many families when emergencies arose and the swift response of Department officials at local level has been essential in assisting such families through difficult situations; if she will revert the centralisation of such decision making in the best interests of administering the scheme efficiently and helping people for whom it is intended in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38751/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Brendan Smith

1044. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a hub has been established in Galway to process applications under the exceptional needs scheme for areas such as Cavan and Monaghan; if she will revert the decision making to local level to ensure the scheme is administered efficiently and in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38756/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Brendan Smith

1045. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the status and remit of the hub that has been established in Galway to administer the exceptional needs scheme; if other responsibilities have been centralised to that office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38757/23]

An Garda Síochána

Brendan Smith

1242. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the reason delays have arisen in the resumption of Garda services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39303/23]

Drug Dealing

Brendan Smith

1243. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if additional measures will be introduced to deal with the scourge of drugs throughout the country, impacting on every community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39435/23]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

1488. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will give urgent consideration to the issues raised by a national organisation (details supplied); if he will ensure that extra supports are provided for this sector at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39158/23]

Childcare Services

Brendan Smith

1496. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will amend the conditions applicable to the core funding programme for childcare services to enable service providers obtain the relevant payment in respect of all children where services expand the number of children provided for during the course of the year, rather than payment being capped at the enrolment level at the end of August each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39352/23]

Healthcare Policy

Brendan Smith

1805. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures he will implement to regulate aesthetic medicine and have proper regulatory controls in place, in view of the concerns by healthcare professionals outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38697/23]

Health Services

Brendan Smith

2016. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that an existing healthcare service is not reduced (details supplied), in view of its importance to a large area and population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39420/23]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

2019. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to introduce additional financial support for private nursing home providers, in view of increased costs over recent years and the financial challenges facing some providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39427/23]

Third Level Fees

Brendan Smith

2081. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that additional financial support will be provided to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees for this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39412/23]

Third Level Fees

Brendan Smith

2082. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if measures are to be introduced to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees this year; if he will ensure that students studying outside of the State will receive such support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39413/23]

Men's Sheds

Brendan Smith

2100. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will give urgent consideration to the request of a national representative organisation (details supplied) for assistance towards its work; if she will examine the request for assistance, that comes within the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39169/23]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Smith

10. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; and if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by e-mail. [36704/23]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by e-mail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36696/23]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

61. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there have been any recent discussions with the United States authorities in relation to immigration reform, with particular reference to the need to regularise the status of the undocumented Irish. [37118/23]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Smith

109. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by e-mail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36694/23]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Smith

172. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by email; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36691/23]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Smith

244. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by e-mail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36706/23]

National Car Test

Brendan Smith

264. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the projected timeline for the establishment of a new centre (details provided); if there any particular issues causing the delay in the provision of this new service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36989/23]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Smith

321. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by e-mail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36695/23]

Insurance Industry

Brendan Smith

325. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he has had recent contact with insurance companies regarding the widespread concerns of homeowners in relation to the escalating costs of home insurance premiums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36978/23]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Smith

328. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance when appeal hearings will commence again for applicants under the drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme 1994; if he will ensure that such appeals can resume without further delay taking into account the very large number of appellants waiting for an appeal hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37041/23]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Smith

356. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by e-mail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36701/23]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Smith

399. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by e-mail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36693/23]

Enterprise Support Services

Brendan Smith

407. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when specific additional financial supports will be introduced to assist local authorities and community development organisations in the development of enterprise centres, in view of their importance in providing workspace for start-up businesses and small enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37062/23]

School Textbooks

Brendan Smith

432. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the estimated number of children who will benefit from the free schoolbooks scheme in primary schools in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Donegal, respectively for 2023-2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35892/23]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Smith

492. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by e-mail; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36692/23]