Parliamentary questions

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

476. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how a greyhound (details supplied) is accounted for in RCETS considering that their last race in Ireland was 31 March 2023 at Shelbourne greyhound track; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2606/24]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

477. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how an Irish greyhound (details supplied) is accounted for in RCETS considering that their last race in Ireland was 15 September 2023 at Tralee greyhound track; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2607/24]

State Examinations

Bríd Smith

189. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will consider reinstating the adjustments given to students completing the Leaving Certificate politics and society examination until 2022 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2282/24]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

16. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason Ireland is not submitting the names and details of the families of Palestinian-Irish citizens for exit from Gaza as other countries have done, including the USA, Canada, Australia, Norway, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, and many others; if he will acknowledge that while these family members are not Irish citizens, their lives are endangered by lack of medication, food and clean water in addition to relentless bombing; if he will acknowledge that they will be accommodated by their family members here, and will not be a burden on the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56429/23]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

24. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will intervene to help secure the release of three persons (details supplied) who were kidnapped by the Israeli army on 13 December 2023; if he will acknowledge their work with traumatised children living in the Jenin refugee camp and how necessary their work is; if he is aware that the IDF took 100 persons from the camp and killed four young people on the same day and that three of the hospitals in Jenin were surrounded by Israeli tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56695/23]

Tax Credits

Bríd Smith

337. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if renters in unregistered tenancies will remain ineligible for the rent tax credit; if he will acknowledge that those in precarious rental arrangements may risk losing their tenancy if they challenge their landlord; if he will recognise that those in this position often are on low incomes and would particularly benefit from the scheme, yet based on eligibility criteria remain locked out of the scheme; if he plans to address this, in order that those who need the credit most will be included in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57330/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

383. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if any decision has been made or if any discussions have taken place with his Department that would see the current linkage between the salaries of serving members of An Garda Síochána and retired members being altered in any way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56855/23]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

779. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 392 and 393 of 12 December 2023, if he will confirm that Dublin City Council has provided the additional information sought in relation to a funding application for temporary improvement works previously carried out in response to the hepatitis A outbreak to his Department on 5 December 2023; if he will confirm that funding will now be furnished to Dublin City Council in respect of this work; when a decision will be made in respect of funding for the additional temporary work that is to be carried out in response to the outbreak of hepatitis A; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57230/23]

Healthcare Policy

Bríd Smith

1592. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of ministerial licence applications and MCAP applications have been made by clinics (details supplied); what products are available from these clinics; which products are available under MCAP and covered for reimbursement; when the MCAP review report is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57098/23]

Exports Growth

Bríd Smith

37. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any consideration or study was undertaken by his Department or any other Department in relation to his recent trip to Korea and the proposed expansion of beef exports, in reference to the climate impact of such an expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51600/23]

General Practitioner Services

Bríd Smith

509. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information regarding the talks between his Department and the Revenue Commissioners to rectify the problematic issues caused by proposed changes to tax laws for GP group practices; (details supplied); if he will outline the outcome of these talks; if GPs concerns will be allayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56189/23]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

214. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the much-needed therapists for ASD children at a school (details supplied) will be in place; when a nurse will be recruited for the school, given that some children cannot attend a full day at school due to the lack of a nurse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55674/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

228. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of recent changes to bus routes in the Dublin 12 area and the cancellation of some routes; whether there has been an increase in scheduled bus departures and in bus-carrying capacity as a result of these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55252/23]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

229. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will seek an explanation from the NTA for the decision to remove services from parts of Crumlin under the new BusConnects plans, and the decision to leave residents in Ballyfermot with no direct link to the Rathmines area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55253/23]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

392. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm when a decision about supplying Dublin City Council with funding for the upgrade of the bays in Labre Park will be made; if he will acknowledge that this upgrade has been promised since the outbreak of Hepatitis A on the site in January 2021 and that after this outbreak in which numerous children and adults were hospitalised, the HSE and the Ombudsman for children were given a commitment that the work to address the poor living conditions would be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54629/23]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

393. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that although some work was carried out in Labre Park, half the site is still living in conditions akin to that experienced in developing countries and that this negates the work that has been carried out, as everyone living in Labre Park is still exposed to the risk of Hepatitis A and many other viruses; if he will outline the steps he will take in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54630/23]

Industrial Disputes

Bríd Smith

485. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the reason tripartite talks between her Department, ILDN and Tús co-ordinators have been cancelled repeatedly by a principal officer (details supplied); when urgently needed talks will resume to address the 15% disparity in pay between Tús and CE supervisors, who have been eager to resolve this disparity for the past 18 months; if she will acknowledge the work that Tús supervisors do in supporting essential community services and its similarity to the work of CE supervisors; if she will recognise that a proposed deadline of 8 December 2023 is imminent and that further industrial action is likely in the event of a failure to engage immediately and fully; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54867/23]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

118. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice what schemes are available to Palestinians who are now Irish citizens for their families in Gaza to be evacuated to join them in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53927/23]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

119. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to assist families in Gaza to be evacuated from the region to join their families already living here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53928/23]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

156. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently on the waiting list to be seen by the Children’s Disability Network team in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the length of time they have been waiting; the number of vacancies on the CDNT currently; if the recent HSE staff embargo means that these vacancies are not being advertised to be filled and/or will not be filled until the embargo is lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54198/23]

Property Management Companies

Bríd Smith

376. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will clarify what exactly "a reasonable timeframe" means in the context of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 (Minimum Standards) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 564 of 2020) (details supplied); what a client should do in the event that their communications are not being replied to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53385/23]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

482. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify why there is a shortage of the ADHD treatment medication tyvense; if he will acknowledge the impact the scarcity of this medication is having on people who are prescribed it, especially children with autism and ADHD, who without the drug are unable to go to school, function at home or have quality of life; if he will outline the steps he is taking to secure a regular and consistent supply of the medication and indicate when this will happen so that patients and parents do not have to make huge efforts every month to try to obtain it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52969/23]

Pension Provisions

Bríd Smith

42. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to bring forward any proposals that address the rights of retired workers in relation to having representation rights concerning their occupational pensions in light of his recent rejection of the proposal to grant retired workers the right to take cases to the WRC in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51599/23]

Trade Data

Bríd Smith

43. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he can detail the total volume and value in euro of Ireland's exports to and imports from the state of Israel; the categories of products exported and imported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51602/23]

Trade Relations

Bríd Smith

47. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on proposals to restrict and ban goods originating from illegal settlements in the West Bank; if his Department can provide any figures for the volume of such goods and their value of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51603/23]

Trade Missions

Bríd Smith

67. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to his recent trip to Korea and proposals for further data centres in this State, if he or his Department officials discussed the State’s energy crisis with his Korean counterparts; if the drain on the State’s energy system from the current number of data centres here was outlined or discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51601/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Bríd Smith

224. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the significant delay at CHI Crumlin’s nephrology/urology department in responding to a GP’s repeated request for an appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50304/23]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

236. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify if HIQA has ordered an urgent evacuation of 68 elderly patients from Cherry Orchard hospital; if he is aware that there was no consultation with families in advance of a decision that will impact on 68 people and their families; if alternative accommodation can be arranged on campus to minimise disruption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50368/23]

Departmental Policies

Bríd Smith

237. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if it would be considered a conflict of interest if an ex-HIQA inspector became a director of a private nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50369/23]

Traveller Accommodation

Bríd Smith

90. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to summarise his Department`s actions on exploring difficulties Travellers might have in opening and retaining social housing applications; if he acknowledges that his Department has given a commitment on this matter as part of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy/NTRIS (Action 130); the steps his Department has undertaken on this matter since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50052/23]

Planning Issues

Bríd Smith

91. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to his Department`s circular (Housing 09/2023 - PL 01/2023) to all local authorities regarding his mandatory moratorium on Part 8 planning approvals, if he will clarify what monitoring procedures his Department has put in place to ensure that this moratorium and its circular will be treated as mandatory by local authorities; how many Traveller-specific developments are being pursued under the terms of the circular; if he will provide a breakdown, per local authority, on the Traveller developments pursued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50053/23]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

410. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify why there is currently only one part-time social worker at the children’s disability network team on Armagh Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12; if he is aware that this situation is causing a serious backlog for children with special needs requiring services; if he will clarify what the staffing level should be and when this will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49312/23]

Child and Family Agency

Bríd Smith

440. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on progress in the extraction of information on St. Gerard's home from the larger Saint Patrick's Guild file received by Tusla in 2017 following a statement in January 2021 that St Gerard's records were 'not fully processed' at that time; if he confirm if the extraction of records relating to St. Gerard's is still ongoing; what proportion of the larger St Patrick's Guild file has now been processed; what has been discovered to date; what the projected timeframe is for completion of this work, when a full disclosure of the results of this work is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49655/23]

Mental Health Services

Bríd Smith

578. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health to outline what is currently being done to address discrimination against autistic children in mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49855/23]

Mental Health Services

Bríd Smith

579. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm if the current approach to launching the CAMHS hubs pilot be amended so that autistic children with a moderate to severe mental health issue will also have access on a par with their neurotypical peers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49856/23]

Mental Health Services

Bríd Smith

580. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to the implementation of the Mental Health Commission’s 49 recommendations and take immediate action to address the discrimination against neurodivergent children and lack of service for children with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49857/23]

Wildlife Protection

Bríd Smith

119. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what action is being taken by Government to combat the mass decline of insects and wildlife in Ireland; and how the Government plans to prevent their extinction. [34759/23]

Military Aircraft

Bríd Smith

243. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number permits his Department has issued to the US for transport of weapons via the Irish State in the years 2019 to 2023 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47996/23]

Insurance Coverage

Bríd Smith

295. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider establishing a national insurance company to cover the costs of flooding damage and other associated costs, especially when so many are currently unable to obtain insurance to protect against flooding damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47431/23]

Flood Risk Management

Bríd Smith

342. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will outline all policies and plans currently in train to deal with the inevitable and increasing impacts of flooding as a result of climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47436/23]

School Funding

Bríd Smith

475. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify when schools can expect to receive the schedule of grant payments; if she is aware that some schools are struggling to cover regular outgoings currently and are awaiting grant payments to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47679/23]

Further and Higher Education

Bríd Smith

1377. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he agrees that adult education tutors do the same work as their permanent colleagues in the Further Education and Training Sector and should therefore have the same terms and conditions; if he will clarify when his Department will award a contract that offers adult education tutors parity with their permanent co-workers to reflect the importance of the work they do in communities across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47274/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

208. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a disability allowance, which was submitted at the end of June 2023; if she will consider that the applicant cannot get a GP appointment or avail of services until the application is approved, and will ensure that a decision is delivered at the earliest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47079/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

222. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many of the 12,483 non-coursing greyhounds born and registered with the Irish Coursing Club between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 were registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland only (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47059/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

223. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many of the 11,698 non-coursing greyhounds born and registered with the Irish Coursing Club between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022 were registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland only (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47060/23]

Departmental Functions

Bríd Smith

224. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason responsibility for the horse and greyhound racing industries transferred from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as provided for by Section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939 and Statutory Instrument No. 179 of 2010 - Horse and Greyhound Racing (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2010 - Statutory Instrument (S I) 179 of 2010 which came into operation on 1 May 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47061/23]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

225. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain the discrepancy in figures given by Rásaíocht Con Éireann in relation to the number of non-coursing greyhounds registered at microchipping stage on the RCETS whose year of birth was 2022 (details supplied), bearing in mind that under existing legislation, all non-coursing greyhounds must be microchipped upon reaching 12 weeks of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47062/23]

Energy Usage

Bríd Smith

131. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide the total amount of gas supplied to data centres for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46216/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Bríd Smith

242. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify whether the Teaching Council and the Department of Education have decided upon an alternative degree programme to substitute the BA in Montessori education from St. Nicholas Montessori College that currently enables teachers who do not have Irish to register under route 4 and take up permanent positions as special class and special education teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46697/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Bríd Smith

305. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the reason that the Teaching Council of Ireland will no longer recognise BA Honours graduates from St. Nicholas Montessori, prohibiting them from registering under route 4 of the Teaching Council from December 2023 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46696/23]