333. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports that are available for community halls and clubs from her Department, especially in relation to energy costs and the current high energy costs incurred by many clubs and halls in keeping their facilities heated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3753/23]
247. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure that young persons, especially in schools and colleges, are not exposed to indirect advertising by drinks companies; if she will ensure that an organisation (details supplied) is not permitted in secondary schools; if she will ensure that there is a prohibition on alcohol industry funded programmes in Irish secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3751/23]
198. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if community clubs and halls are eligible to apply for the temporary business energy support scheme; if he plans to provide specific supports for such facilities in dealing with the current energy price crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3752/23]
144. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can detail the reason that social housing targets were missed in 2022; the actions he intends to take to ensure targets are met for the coming period; the estimated time it will take to provide social housing units to meet current and predicted demand in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3716/23]
104. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can detail, the expected increase in social housing applicants as a result of the recent changes to the income thresholds; the measures his Department is taking to deal with any increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3717/23]
113. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if clarification will be provided in relation to the proposed amalgamation of three secondary schools into one complex (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3633/23]
482. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ever-rising costs of nursing home care, with relatives reporting significant extra costs in addition to the basic contribution they make in addition to the fair deal scheme contribution; the Government’s plans to reduce this burden on relatives of nursing home patients; if the Government plans to increase support to relatives and nursing homes; if there are plans to increase the level of State provision of nursing home beds for those who cannot afford these significant costs; if he will acknowledge that there are people who require nursing homecare but who cannot avail of it due to the prohibitive costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2704/23]
404. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will immediately arrange a date to meet the WRC in relation to the pay claim that community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors have submitted through their respective unions; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there have been no wage increases for these workers since 2008 and in view of the substantial increases in cost-of-living, these workers need an urgent wage increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3171/23]
161. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will re-examine the proposal for a wealth tax in Ireland in light of a recent export on wealth and inequality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3105/23]
96. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance his views on the growth in the number of millionaires in the State, identified in a recent report that showed the two richest people in the State have more wealth than the poorest 50% of the population; and his views on whether Government policy has driven or is responsible for this trend. [3106/23]
17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach the total number of actions in the 2021 climate action plan which have not been enacted to date; the numbers of high-impact actions which have failed to be enacted or that are delayed; the high-impact actions that remain to be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62712/22]
171. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the Government has formally abandoned targets for 1 million private electric vehicles on the roads by 2030; if so, the way he plans to reach the targets for cuts to emissions in transport; if he will re-examine proposals for free public transport in view of such a change in Government transport climate policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62711/22]
94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure the NTA does not award routes to companies on the basis of lower labour costs in the future under its competitive tendering processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2378/23]
62. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will examine the impact current driver schedules, pay and rosters are having in the retention and recruitment of drivers in Dublin Bus, a company (details supplied) and Bus Éireann, which is resulting in frequent cancellation of services across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2377/23]
29. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the BusConnects proposals due to be introduced in Dublin in 2023 will face delays as a result of driver shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2374/23]
5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will instruct the NTA to meet with residents and representatives in the Ballyfermot area to discuss the service on the new G spine and specifically the collapse of services in the lower Ballyfermot area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2375/23]
1896. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she intends to commit to the plans for a long-awaited community centre on the Tullow Road, Carlow; if her attention has been drawn to reports that the plans have been designed by the local authority and that a community consultation has taken place in an area that has one of the largest population densities in Carlow town and urgently requires proper amenities; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the plans have been ready for almost a year; when the Government will commit to matching the necessary funding; when the funding will be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63353/22]
1834. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that are taken by his Department on foot of complaints or allegations around damage caused by herbicide or pesticide spraying on farms; if inspectors routinely take soil or water samples to test for the presence of chemical following such complaints; if this does not occur at present, if it would be considered in the future; the actions that are taken on foot of a specific allegation of crop and insect damage from spraying activities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1277/23]
1350. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the amounts paid from his Department or other bodies funded by his Department to a company (details supplied) for services in the past two years; if these contracts have any provision for extra payments based on performances and so on; the way that an employee who is assessed as fit to work by the company can appeal or seek alternative opinions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63903/22]
1177. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the services that are currently available to those diagnosed with foetal valproate spectrum disorder; the way that families can access these services within their communities following a diagnosis; if he will provide an update on discussions between the HSE and his Department to improve access to services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63263/22]
1176. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the establishment of the promised inquiry on the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; when he expects that the inquiry will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63262/22]
1175. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details in relation to the recruitment drive by the National Ambulance Service for qualified paramedics (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63261/22]
1041. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will clarify in relation to the draft code of practice proposed for the ELE sector; if his Department or QQI will meet with private providers in advance of implementing any proposals (details supplied); if they will clarify any areas that may require explanation; and if he will clarify issues (details supplied). [1283/23]
981. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has any plans to include education as a future ground for discrimination in the Employment Equality and Discrimination Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1255/23]
735. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the amounts paid from her Department or other bodies funded by her Department to a company (details supplied) for services in the past two years; if these contracts have any provision for extra payments based on performances and so on; the way an employee who is assessed as fit to work by the company can appeal or seek alternative opinions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63902/22]
731. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the tender process for the new build at a school (details supplied) has been delayed as a result of lowest bids being unable to fulfil their quotations; if her Department will speed-up the process following the acceptance of the third bid; the timeframe to move to the next phase of the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63885/22]
626. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that he is taking to stop the imminent expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians, including 500 children, by the Israeli Government in clear violation of international law; if will he acknowledge that the forcible transfer of such people in Occupied Territories is a war crime under international law and that the UN and international, Israeli and Palestinian human rights organisation have called this a grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2088/23]
523. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the way accommodation standards in tenancies that are supported by HAP/RAS payments are enforced; the number of payments to landlords that have been stopped in the past two years due to the accommodation being judged as not suitable for the tenant; the number of tenants who were refused HAP/RAS support prior to commencing a tenancy due to the accommodation being judged as inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63966/22]
457. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has met with representatives of artists affected by proposed development plans for Merrion Square which will severely impact their ability to display and show their works on the square. [2004/23]
407. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if current employment practices of the PAS may be discriminating against highly educated non-Irish nationals in attaining employment opportunities in the public service, specifically in relation to the treatment of graduates from abroad without an Irish education background; if these practices are compatible with EU equality principles; if his Department has any plans to amend current employment practices in the PAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1258/23]
406. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the PAS compiles any statistics on the recruitment levels of non-Irish nationals in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1257/23]
405. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Public Appointments Service can adequately evaluate non-nationals applying for jobs in the public service who may have higher level qualifications such as level 9 and but not have an Irish Leaving Certificate; if any weight or account is presently taking by the PAS when looking at such applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1256/23]
237. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the steps that his Department is taking to reduce the waiting time for driving tests; if he will acknowledge the difficulty that this is causing for those who need a full driving licence for work and or family reasons; if he will commit to ensuring that resources are deployed to bring down the waiting time for a test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1314/23]
328. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on implementing the recommendations from the McHugh report on the conditions and allowances of student nurses and midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62945/22]
301. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to the prescription of a medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62848/22]
117. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Government supports the siting and building of LNG facilities in this State, specifically in Shannon and Cork in cases in which such facilities specify they will not use fracked gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62709/22]
563. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the rights of persons to appeal or seek a review of a decision by HSE disability services to refuse to fund an application for sheltered accommodation as in the case of a person (details supplied); if an appeal is possible for such decisions; if so, the criteria used in deciding such appeals; if such decisions are reviewed prior to any appeal; if such decisions can be referred to any third party; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61798/22]
562. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason that HSE disability services have refused to fund a person (details supplied) for access to sheltered accommodation; the criteria that the disability services look for when accessing such requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61797/22]
346. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the way that she will ensure that her Department's funds remain targeted on the best educational outcomes for all young people if TESS is disbanded under Tusla restructuring proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61677/22]
345. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the way that her Department can ensure that the focus of educational welfare services remains on attendance, participation, retention if proposed restructuring by Tusla services goes ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61676/22]
344. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she has been consulted about proposed restructuring of educational welfare services within Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61675/22]
343. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she supports the proposed restructuring of Tusla given the policy and finance remit of education welfare services sits in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61674/22]
299. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if clarification will be provided regarding a situation of domestic violence in cases in which a person can have their violent partner removed from the tenancy agreement with their local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61730/22]
298. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the situation in relation to a couple who are named tenants in a social housing house but who become separated; if it is possible to have one named tenant removed from the tenancy agreement; if so, the way that this is done; if each local authority operates in a different manner; and if this situation is covered by national regulations or by statutory instruments. [61729/22]
289. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to the standards in rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61640/22]
255. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the number of complaints to the Ombudsman for Financial Services in the past three years; the number of these that were deemed ineligible for being out of date or time; if he can clarify whether complaints regarding the actions of banks and financial institutions to the Ombudsman are constrained by the date at which the incident and-or complaint arose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62266/22]