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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
1497. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development 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. [36702/23]
1440. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 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. [36697/23]
1389. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when measures will be introduced to ban the sale of vaping products to children, both in store and through online shopping platforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36994/23]
1347. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health 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. [36698/23]
1061. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 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 not everybody is in a position to correspond by email; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36690/23]
1006. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when additional places will be provided in a training centre (details supplied) due to increased demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36069/23]
940. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [36689/23]
895. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in providing a refuge centre in counties Cavan and Monaghan for victims of domestic abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37107/23]
893. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, to extend CCTV coverage to towns in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37064/23]
869. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice 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. [36700/23]
735. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection 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. [36703/23]
668. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection when she expects the Government to finalise its approach to benchmarking and indexation of pension payments, as committed to in the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025; the reasons for the delays in finalising this approach to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35526/23]
643. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [36699/23]
550. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media 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. [36705/23]
495. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of an application for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied); if she will ensure that this proposal is advanced to the next stage at an early date in view of the urgent need to provide this much needed accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36938/23]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]