Parliamentary questions

School Curriculum

Holly Cairns

373. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to support the roll-out of computer science as a leaving certificate subject. [57391/21]

Driver Licences

Holly Cairns

374. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will address the discrepancy by which persons over 70 years of age cannot drive school buses but the same persons are permitted to drive private coaches. [57397/21]

Departmental Data

Holly Cairns

412. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of appeals made monthly by schools who were refused the number of SNA or resource hours applied for regarding children and young persons with special needs between 1 September 2020 and 30 October 2021; the number of appeals which were successful; the number of appeals which were upheld; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57614/21]

Legislative Measures

Holly Cairns

490. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if persons who do not register their seaweed harvesting rights established by long usage will lose those rights if they are not registered under the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 by 30 November 2021. [57617/21]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

645. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that a stroke discharge plan is put in place for each person who has suffered a stroke leaving an acute hospital setting. [57393/21]

Ambulance Service

Holly Cairns

646. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the recommendations of the National Ambulance Service emergency service baseline and capacity review. [57394/21]

Forestry Sector

Holly Cairns

738. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the support available to landowners who have suspected or confirmed Dutch elm disease. [57387/21]

Forestry Sector

Holly Cairns

739. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the support available to landowners who have suspected or confirmed ash dieback disease on their land. [57388/21]

Fishing Industry

Holly Cairns

740. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that inshore fishers are eligible for the tie-up scheme. [57389/21]

Forestry Sector

Holly Cairns

745. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of approvals for forest road licences that have issued to date in 2021; the number of those licences that issued to Coillte; the number that issued to private owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57612/21]

Common Agricultural Policy

Holly Cairns

746. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that the final version of CAP payments include recognition of hedgerow quality as a potent means of capitalising on the carbon and biodiversity values of these landscape features. [57613/21]

Defence Forces

Holly Cairns

130. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Defence the steps he is taking to improve reporting mechanisms for Defence Forces personnel experiencing sexual abuse, harassment and bullying. [56513/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Holly Cairns

46. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a broadband connection at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56522/21]

Climate Change Policy

Holly Cairns

47. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the 2020 annual transition statement will be published as required by section 14(1) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56523/21]

Programme for Government

Holly Cairns

66. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to fulfil the programme for Government commitment to run a pilot to examine the potential for ride-sharing applications to improve rural connectivity. [56528/21]

Electoral Process

Holly Cairns

93. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the Electoral Acts to repeal the prohibition on a person of unsound mind from standing for election to the national Parliament and the European Parliament. [56526/21]

Legislative Measures

Holly Cairns

132. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is planned to reinstate the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 which lapsed with the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil Éireann; and if so, the timeframe in which this will be implemented. [56527/21]

Legislative Measures

Holly Cairns

145. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the communication regarding the certain institutional burials (authorised interventions) Bill from eight United Nations bodies (details supplied). [56521/21]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Holly Cairns

266. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the findings of a pilot service offering free at-home test kits for STI screening to Dublin, Cork and Kerry; and his plans to make this a permanent nationwide service. [56524/21]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

267. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will make the My Options unplanned pregnancy support services webpage available in the ten most common languages spoken in Ireland. [56525/21]

Flood Risk Management

Holly Cairns

98. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the flood relief scheme in Skibbereen, County Cork will be officially completed. [55905/21]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

109. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on providing fully accessible changing places and toilet facilities in all publicly accessible Departmental buildings to offer persons with disabilities and carers a network of equipped spaces to take care of personal hygiene in safety and comfort. [55906/21]

Driver Licences

Holly Cairns

196. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if it will be ensured asylum seekers are permitted to apply for a driving licence. [55964/21]

Direct Provision System

Holly Cairns

414. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of deaths of persons within the direct provision system annually since 2015; and the steps he is taking in response to such. [55959/21]

Direct Provision System

Holly Cairns

415. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of inspections concerning child and vulnerable person’s safety that are conducted annually in direct provision centres; and the actions he has taken as a result of said inspections. [55960/21]

Direct Provision System

Holly Cairns

416. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of inspections concerning food preparation safety that are conducted annually in direct provision centres; and the actions he has taken as a result of said inspections. [55957/21]

Abortion Services

Holly Cairns

612. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the details of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 which is due to take not later than three years after its commencement under section 7 of the Act; the format the review will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55958/21]

Health Promotion

Holly Cairns

613. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to promote an increase in the number of new mothers breastfeeding by increasing support in maternity hospitals and primary care centres through access to lactation specialists and public health nurses. [55961/21]

Electoral Process

Holly Cairns

56. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on extending the voting franchise for general elections to all persons who qualify to vote in local elections. [55159/21]

Housing Provision

Holly Cairns

67. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to provide persons with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder suitable social or affordable housing. [55160/21]

Tourism Promotion

Holly Cairns

123. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to promote the tourism and hospitality sector in 2022. [55161/21]

Tourism Policy

Holly Cairns

186. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans for eco-tourism infrastructure in rural areas. [55162/21]

Waste Management

Holly Cairns

56. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking in relation to persons having to pay a visible environmental management charge on used tyres which were used in silage storage even though the levy was already paid on the tyres when they were originally purchased; and his views on whether this is a disincentive to responsible disposal. [55172/21]

Waste Management

Holly Cairns

64. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on providing a scheme to help remove historic waste tyres from farms. [55169/21]

Waste Management

Holly Cairns

65. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way his Department will support persons with long-term incontinence with respect to the disposal of medical incontinence wear; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55170/21]

Tax Collection

Holly Cairns

73. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the tax deadline by three weeks to enable accountancy firms to deal with delays caused by Covid-19 and the local property tax deadline falling so close. [55173/21]

Wildlife Protection

Holly Cairns

116. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the establishment of a wildlife crime unit. [55183/21]

Wastewater Treatment

Holly Cairns

117. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking in response to the EPA Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2020 report finding that treatment at 12 large towns and cities failed to comply with EU standards set to protect the environment. [55184/21]

Wastewater Treatment

Holly Cairns

118. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking in response to the EPA’s Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2020 report finding that treatment 34 towns and villages release untreated sewage into the environment every day due to the fact that they are not connected to treatment plants. [55185/21]

Consular Services

Holly Cairns

130. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to address the shortage of consular appointments in the New York consulate. [55174/21]

Health Strategies

Holly Cairns

214. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the new national stroke strategy and its associated implementation plan. [55181/21]

Ambulance Service

Holly Cairns

256. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the shortages of ambulances in south-west County Cork. [55175/21]

Ambulance Service

Holly Cairns

257. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the average response time of ambulances in west County Cork; the number of ambulances ordinarily based at each location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55176/21]

Ambulance Service

Holly Cairns

258. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of paramedics assigned to ambulance services in west County Cork; and the optimum number of paramedics that should serve that area. [55177/21]

Medical Register

Holly Cairns

259. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking in relation to the waiting lists for CORU to register health and social care professionals. [55178/21]

Medical Register

Holly Cairns

260. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the application fees for health and social care professionals registering with CORU. [55179/21]

Health Services Staff

Holly Cairns

261. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the shortage of neurology nurse specialists in the south-west regional centre for neurology. [55180/21]

Fisheries Protection

Holly Cairns

274. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the major fish kill of farmed salmon in west County Cork including the threat to wild salmon (details supplied). [55167/21]

Animal Welfare

Holly Cairns

275. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking in response to the inspectorate team report from an organisation (details supplied) examining animal cruelty. [55168/21]

Banking Sector

Holly Cairns

91. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance if he will direct banks to provide customers with written banking statements on a monthly basis if requested by the customer. [54421/21]

Credit Unions

Holly Cairns

92. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to enable the credit union movement to grow as a key provider of community banking in the country. [54422/21]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

428. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure that the national training programme for SNAs is a fully accredited programme on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54447/21]

Mental Health Services

Holly Cairns

614. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will consider putting in place mental health teams dedicated to supporting expectant and bereaved mothers, and families. [54444/21]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

615. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the progress made on recommendation 4 of HIQA Overview report of the HIQA monitoring programme against the National Standards for Safer Better Maternity Services (details supplied). [54445/21]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

616. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the progress made on recommendation 4 of HIQA Overview report of the HIQA monitoring programme against the National Standards for Safer Better Maternity Services (details supplied). [54446/21]

Public Service Obligation

Holly Cairns

41. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on introducing a public service obligation of approximately €17 million per annum for the post office network. [53596/21]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Holly Cairns

50. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking in response to the EPA finding that Ireland’s 2020 greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 3.6% compared with 2019 levels. [53595/21]

Road Traffic Accidents

Holly Cairns

138. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the actions he is taking to address serious and fatal road accidents at accident black spots. [53597/21]

Bus Services

Holly Cairns

153. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the progress made in making the Local Link service more accessible to persons with disabilities, including expanding the geographical and temporal span of services and ensuring all services are fully wheelchair accessible. [53598/21]

Enterprise Policy

Holly Cairns

27. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the development of the South-West Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024; when the plan will be completed and published; and the analysis his Department carried out in the preparation of the plan into the potential of community-focused, indigenous industries in providing sustainable employment opportunities in the future particularly in view of job losses due to Covid-19. [53172/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

45. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to ensure that Covid-19 vaccine trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights waiver is addressed through the WTO TRIPS Agreement. [53171/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

120. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of his engagement with regard to pursuing existing flexibilities in the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, TRIPS, to allow for a waiver of intellectual property rights concerning Covid-19 vaccines to facilitate the universal and equitable access to said vaccines. [46660/21]

National Broadband Plan

Holly Cairns

154. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a broadband connection at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52806/21]

National Broadband Plan

Holly Cairns

155. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a broadband connection at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52807/21]

Energy Policy

Holly Cairns

167. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce a feed-in tariff for homes that produce their own energy. [53355/21]

Bus Services

Holly Cairns

207. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will run a trial extension of the 220 Cork bus route to Kinsale, County Cork. [52811/21]

Parking Provision

Holly Cairns

241. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport his views on removing the €35 application fee for the disabled person's parking card. [53375/21]

Insurance Coverage

Holly Cairns

301. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to ensure that life insurance policies provide cover in the case of stillborn children. [53354/21]

Departmental Schemes

Holly Cairns

389. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the schemes or funding streams that are available to communities that wish to engage in small scale tree planting. [52808/21]

Departmental Policies

Holly Cairns

390. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way his Department is meeting the Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)4 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the participation of citizens in local public life. [52809/21]

School Staff

Holly Cairns

539. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the status of pay equalisation for all teachers and all teaching support staff. [52802/21]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

540. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of ASD spaces there are at primary and post-primary level in an area (details supplied) for the academic year 2021-2022. [52803/21]

School Admissions

Holly Cairns

541. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools that give admissions priority to students based on their religious affiliation. [52804/21]

Education Policy

Holly Cairns

542. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the way her Department is meeting the Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)4 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the participation of citizens in local public life. [52805/21]

School Transport

Holly Cairns

543. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of sheltered bus stops for Belgooly and Riverstick, County Cork. [52810/21]

National Educational Psychological Service

Holly Cairns

557. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of referrals a school can make to the National Educational Psychological Service in an academic year. [53146/21]

National Educational Psychological Service

Holly Cairns

566. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of referrals an individual school can make to the National Educational Psychological Service in an academic year. [53351/21]

School Facilities

Holly Cairns

567. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that all special classes are provided with CO2 monitors in addition to each school's standard allocation. [53352/21]

Schools Administration

Holly Cairns

568. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the protocols that are in place to prioritise special classes and schools in the event that schools need to be closed for public health reasons in the context of future rises in the number of Covid-19 cases. [53353/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Holly Cairns

619. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the requirements of the supplementary welfare allowance assistance towards funeral expenses to ensure that the parents of stillborn children are given financial support. [53368/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Holly Cairns

620. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on introducing a scheme that would cover the cost of burials and cremations for the families of deceased children, including still-born children similar to a model in the UK (details supplied). [53369/21]

Registration of Deaths

Holly Cairns

621. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to amend the legislation concerning the stillbirth register to enable bereaved parents opt out of the privacy requirement if they so wish. [53370/21]

Registration of Deaths

Holly Cairns

622. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to amend the legislation concerning the stillbirth register to enable bereaved parents whose deceased child or children that are currently listed on the stillbirth register to be given the opportunity to have their child or children placed on the birth and death register instead and to receive a birth and death certificate for their children. [53371/21]

Registration of Deaths

Holly Cairns

623. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to amend the legislation to enable bereaved parents whose pre-born child died before 24 weeks' gestation or who weighed below 500g be registered and issued with a death certificate. [53372/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Holly Cairns

624. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on increasing the amount of capital excluded in the calculation of eligibility for the fuel allowance for persons on qualifying social assistance payments. [53374/21]

Legislative Measures

Holly Cairns

630. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to amend maternity leave and paternity leave for parents whose child born showing no signs of life or is deceased when delivered before the 24th week of pregnancy or weighs under 500g. [53373/21]

General Practitioner Services

Holly Cairns

1134. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the guidance that has been offered to general practitioners concerning the in-person consultation for infants and young children who may be exhibiting some symptoms of Covid-19. [53356/21]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

1135. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the resumption of chiropody services for public patients in Bantry, County Cork. [53357/21]

Dental Services

Holly Cairns

1136. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to provide public dental services in Bantry, County Cork. [53358/21]

Substance Misuse

Holly Cairns

1137. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the amount of the additional €6 million announced in budget 2022 for the drugs strategy that will go to the local and regional drug and alcohol task forces drug projects. [53359/21]

Dental Services

Holly Cairns

1138. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 871 of 10 March 2021, the status of improving funding of dental healthcare through the medical card system. [53360/21]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Holly Cairns

1139. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 as a result of the Special Rapporteur's report entitled A Review of Children's Rights and Best Interests in the Context of Assisted Human Reproduction and Surrogacy in Irish Law. [53361/21]

Healthcare Policy

Holly Cairns

1140. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will set a national ambition to reduce the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths. [53362/21]

Healthcare Policy

Holly Cairns

1141. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will establish a committee unit to study stillbirth and neonatal death as a public health issue and to make recommendations for reducing the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, including testing and screening for group B strep, vasa praevia, pre-eclampsia and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. [53363/21]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

1142. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the progress made in regard to a report recommendation (details supplied). [53364/21]

Health Strategies

Holly Cairns

1143. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the progress made on developing a comprehensive, time-bound and fully costed national maternity strategy implementation plan which spans the remaining timeframe of the strategy. [53365/21]

Health Strategies

Holly Cairns

1144. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the revision of the HSE national clinical practice guideline for the management of multiple pregnancy; and if the process will include a public consultation. [53366/21]

Health Strategies

Holly Cairns

1145. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will put in place a strategy on mental health for bereavement care for families who have suffered pregnancy or infant loss or the loss of a child. [53367/21]

Eating Disorders

Holly Cairns

132. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the details of progress made in addressing the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders Goals 2021. [50794/21]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

223. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address children waiting for initial contact with children’s disability network teams in the west Cork network [50795/21]