Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

332. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of substantive protection interviews under section 35 of the International Protection Act 2015 that have taken place to date in 2021; the number of international protection applicants that are currently on the IPO's interview schedule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30333/21]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

333. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the status of the commitment in the White Paper to End Direct Provision to reduce processing times of both first instance decisions and appeals to six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30334/21]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

334. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1492 of 21 April 2021, the status of the end-to-end review of processes to guide enhanced processing times of first instance international protection decisions and appeals to six months; when the review will be completed and published; the person or body undertaking the review; the terms of reference of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30335/21]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Connolly

78. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement he has had to date with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at the local government level on climate action, particularly in relation to County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29388/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

74. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the report by the Collaborative Forum of Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes and Related Institutions will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28724/21]

Emergency Accommodation

Catherine Connolly

93. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1208 of 21 April 2021, the status of the review by Tusla of emergency accommodation nationwide; when the review will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28723/21]

Middle East

Catherine Connolly

177. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to consult with EU partners concerning the implementation of the differentiation principle between Israel within its internationally recognised pre-1967 borders and the illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; if he is satisfied that Ireland and the EU are completely fulfilling their legal obligations based on non-recognition of Israeli sovereignty over these territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28965/21]

Middle East

Catherine Connolly

178. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in efforts to ensure that the UN database of all business enterprises involved in activities relating to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory is regularly maintained and updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28966/21]

Departmental Data

Catherine Connolly

180. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 857 of 21 April 2021, if the pre-2015 data can now be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29021/21]

Grant Payments

Catherine Connolly

209. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the review of the SUSI scheme; the timeline for the completion of the review; the timeline for the implementation of recommendations of the review; if changes to the SUSI scheme on foot of the review will take place in advance of the 2021-2022 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28627/21]

Grant Payments

Catherine Connolly

210. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to reverse the Budget 2011 decision to increase the SUSI non-adjacent distance criterion from 24km to 45km; the analysis his Department has carried out or commissioned into the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28628/21]

Harbours and Piers

Catherine Connolly

44. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of Caladh Mór pier on Inis Meáin; the status of the preparation of a simulation model of the harbour by the National Maritime College of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27958/21]

Driver Licences

Catherine Connolly

170. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport , further to Parliamentary Question No. 399 of 21 April, the reason the Road Safety Authority has not responded to this question; the action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28528/21]

Visa Applications

Catherine Connolly

501. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for transfer from overseas into Ireland received to date in 2021; the number of applications for inward transfer under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27938/21]

Departmental Reviews

Catherine Connolly

58. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the review of the potential demand in international markets for wool-based products; the terms of reference of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26985/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Catherine Connolly

100. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to clear the backlog of persons on waiting lists for off-the-job apprenticeship training; when he expects the backlog to be cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27000/21]

Further and Higher Education

Catherine Connolly

144. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the analysis his Department has carried out or commissioned into the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the further education sector particularly with regard to the reduction in participation across the sector since the onset of the pandemic; his plans to develop a strategy to address the impact of Covid-19 on engagement, retention and progression in the further education sector as recommended in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26999/21]

Culture Policy

Catherine Connolly

226. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans for a full independent audit of the finances and operation of Galway 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27312/21]

Human Rights

Catherine Connolly

251. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No 521 of 28 April 2021, the discussions he has had with European and international partners in relation to the detention of a person (details supplied) by the National Investigation Agency of India for alleged Maoist links; his plans to call on the Indian Government to safeguard the health and well-being of the person and to call for the release of same; the discussions he has had with the Indian Government in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27130/21]

Departmental Reviews

Catherine Connolly

81. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the cost of disability study commissioned by her Department as part of budget 2019; when the research is expected to be completed; the analysis her Department has carried out into increasing the disability allowance by €20 as an interim measure while the research is being completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26220/21]

Departmental Reports

Catherine Connolly

92. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1106 of 21 April 2021, when the report on the public employment service by an organisation (details supplied) will be published; when the response her Department received from the Labour Market Advisory Council to the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26221/21]

Protected Disclosures

Catherine Connolly

330. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the drafting of legislation to transpose the EU whistleblowing directive into law; his plans to ensure that local elected representatives will be covered by protections for whistleblowers under the new legislation; his further plans to ensure that all public and private workers and volunteers will be covered by protections for whistleblowers under the new legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26061/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

601. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 127 of 6 May 2021, the number completed and the number outstanding of the 158 subject access requests received by the Department relating to the archive; the number completed within one month; the number informed that a two month extension is required; the number completed within the three month period; the number outstanding for more than three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26159/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

602. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 127 of 6 May 2021, if he will confirm that the audio and transcript record of interviews will be released to those making a subject access request for all personal data relating to the archive held by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26160/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

603. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of 6 May 2021, if he will provide a copy of the guidelines and training received by the relevant 27 officials and to which they are operating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26161/21]

Coroners Service

Catherine Connolly

642. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the changes implemented in the coronial system on foot of the review of the coroner service report of the working group published in 2000 by her Department; the extent to and date by which each of the 110 recommendations has been implemented to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25836/21]

Coroners Service

Catherine Connolly

643. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice her views on a report (details supplied); her plans to implement each of the 52 recommendations of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25837/21]

Common Security and Defence Policy

Catherine Connolly

58. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Defence the analysis his Department has carried out into the expected cost to the Exchequer associated with Ireland’s involvement in the European Defence Fund; if he has raised any concerns with his EU counterparts over the spending of EU funding through the EDF on military research and development projects, and the implications of same for Ireland’s stated policy of neutrality; the checks and balances that are in place at EU level with regard to ensuring transparency in decisions on financial allocations under the EDF; the role, if any, his Department will play in the functioning or administration of the EDF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25091/21]

Educational Disadvantage

Catherine Connolly

156. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the analysis her Department has carried out to date into the cost of introducing a paid or discounted postage scheme for a purpose (details supplied) for DEIS schools in case of future school closures; the engagement she has had to date with DEIS schools in regard to this situation; her plans to provide a compensatory payment for DEIS schools that incurred these additional costs during previous school closures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25122/21]

Proposed Legislation

Catherine Connolly

162. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to introduce legislation to amend the Education Act 1998 to remove the role of individual school’s ethos in the curricula and teaching of relationships and sexual education and social, personal and health education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25121/21]

Special Educational Needs

Catherine Connolly

322. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 92 of 6 May 2021, the status of plans to run an expanded July provision summer scheme in 2021; the details of the planned expansion of the summer scheme; if in-school provision will be available on the summer scheme to all children attending special schools and classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25394/21]

Hospital Facilities

Catherine Connolly

430. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for the replacement of the second operating theatre in Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway which has been unavailable since September 2017; the timeline for when the new operating theatre will be fully operational; the analysis his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department have carried out into the impact of the delay in providing a second operating theatre on orthopaedic waiting lists at Merlin Park Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25295/21]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Catherine Connolly

431. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of cross-border directive orthopaedic surgery referrals made in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the details of the countries to which these referrals were made; the number of cross-border directive orthopaedic referrals made in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 in respect of patients from University Hospital Galway; the details of the countries to which these referrals were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25296/21]

Hospital Facilities

Catherine Connolly

432. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans for accessing capacity for orthopaedic surgery in private hospitals in order to clear the ongoing backlog of patients on orthopaedic waiting lists in Merlin Park Hospital Galway, which according to a website (details supplied) as of March 2021 stood at 1,329 inpatients and 7,055 outpatients; the analysis his Department has carried out into the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25297/21]

Hospital Facilities

Catherine Connolly

433. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 347 of 1 April 2021, if construction work has started to date on the temporary emergency department in Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25298/21]

Hospital Facilities

Catherine Connolly

434. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 347 of 1 April 2021, the status of the feasibility report by the design team for the construction of a permanent emergency department and women and children’s block at University Hospital Galway; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25299/21]

Hospital Facilities

Catherine Connolly

435. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if an application for planning permission for an emergency department at University Hospital Galway has been lodged to date; if this is the case, if planning permission has been granted to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25300/21]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Catherine Connolly

436. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for new elective ambulatory facilities in Galway; if a site has been selected to date for same; if planning permission has been sought or granted for same; the timeline for when construction is expected to commence on these facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25301/21]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Catherine Connolly

437. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 10 December 2020, the status of the business case for elective hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25302/21]

Maternity Services

Catherine Connolly

455. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the extent to which each of the recommendations of the National Maternity Strategy have been implemented in full, in part or yet to be implemented; the date by which each recommendation not implemented in full will be implemented in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25403/21]

Maternity Services

Catherine Connolly

456. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of alongside birth centres established pursuant to the National Maternity Strategy; the location of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25404/21]

Wildlife Conservation

Catherine Connolly

477. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1949 of 24 March 2021, if he will urgently take steps at a national level to give legal protection to the native Irish honey bee also known as apis mellifera mellifera and to take the necessary conservation measures to protect the species given confirmation by the European Commission that such national measures may be taken by the Government outside of the confines of the habitats directive (details supplied). [25417/21]

Defence Forces

Catherine Connolly

146. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Defence the number of females who were recruited to the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service in 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of females currently in training in each branch of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25124/21]

Special Educational Needs

Catherine Connolly

167. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 173 of 18 February 2021, her plans to carry out a review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; the timeline for the review; the person or body that will carry out the review; the terms of reference for the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25104/21]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

182. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the Minister for Health on healthcare workers ordinarily residing in direct provision and who are availing of the temporary accommodation scheme being requested to move to unsuitable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24836/21]

Middle East

Catherine Connolly

94. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to raise the findings of a report (details supplied) which stated that the ongoing treatment of Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories amounts to apartheid at the next meeting of the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24212/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Catherine Connolly

101. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the implementation of the recommendations in the March 2021 Report by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries; the engagement he has had to date with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment with regard to the recommendation of the easing of intellectual property rights with regard to the Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24213/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Catherine Connolly

877. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the reason drugs manufactured by a company (details supplied) are not funded at source under the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24495/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Catherine Connolly

878. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to fund drugs manufactured by a company (details supplied) at source under the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24496/21]

Culture Policy

Catherine Connolly

56. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 76 of 28 April 2021, the legacy initiative plans under consideration by the board of Galway 2020, Galway city and county councils and her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23557/21]