172. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will expedite the implementation of measures identified in the Report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5411/22]
129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will make the changes sought by survivors to the Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme to include all survivors within the scheme with no minimum time provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5412/22]
117. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of progress that has been made in installing high-efficiency particulate air, HEPA, filters in childcare centres, preschools and crèches; his plans to complete the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5410/22]
615. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will address a series of matters in relation to the regularisation scheme application process for asylum seekers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4909/22]
10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if his Department has commissioned any polling of the general public related to possible or existing policies within the remit of his Department for the period 1 January 2021 to date; if so, if he will provide details of the policies; and the costs incurred for each individual poll. [2223/22]
346. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason that general practice nurses have been excluded from the €1,000 payment announced recently; if his attention has been drawn to the significant role they have played in being the steadfast backbone in health screening, vaccination, disease management, triage and much more in addition to their role in the management of the public health emergency; if he will include such nurses in the recognition payment that many of their nursing colleagues will rightfully receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4060/22]
319. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason that general practice nurses have been excluded from the €1,000 payment announced recently; if his attention has been drawn to the significant role they have played (details supplied); if he will include such nurses in the recognition payment that many of their nursing colleagues will rightfully receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4076/22]
91. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the time the event in Iveagh House on 17 June 2020 finished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3925/22]
90. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the means by which invitations were issued to attend the event in Iveagh House on 17 June 2020 to celebrate winning a seat on the United Nations Security Council; if there were children in attendance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3924/22]
117. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if social care workers who have provided essential frontline care at considerable risk to their own health during the pandemic to children, persons with disabilities and those at risk (details supplied) will be included in the recently announced €1,000 bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3797/22]
102. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence the status of the inclusion of a person (details supplied) in the formation of the terms of reference for the review on Army sex abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3952/22]
200. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the sell-off in late 2021 by Shannon Development of the entire Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank (details supplied) in County Kerry to the privately-owned company which at the time of the sale had applied for planning permission for an LNG terminal was completed without any preconditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3116/22]
173. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if Government approval in the November 2021 Policy statement on Electricity Supply (details supplied) does not include LNG terminals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2985/22]
285. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are plans for the State to provide comprehensive therapy and counselling services given the growing demand during and post-Covid-19 especially for persons who cannot afford to access therapy privately; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons on State payments are having to spend up to €100 per week on such services (details supplied); the steps he will take to address this demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2741/22]
76. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the role her Department can play in ensuring that a vital aspect of Dublin city's culture is preserved, restored and utilised for the benefit of the city and tourism in saving the Iveagh Market, Francis Street, from being totally destroyed due to neglect and legal interventions between Dublin City Council and persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2481/22]
1961. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the tourism of paid trophy shooting of sheep, goats and deer in County Wicklow and possibly elsewhere; the steps he will take to outlaw this barbaric practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63236/21]
1545. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if there is currently a practice of asking healthcare workers recruited by the HSE on fixed term contracts that are ending in December 2021 being advised to register with private homecare providers (details supplied) if they want to retain their positions; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if these workers commence employment with these private agencies, they will experience wage cuts of 23%, zero hour contracts and inferior working conditions; if this development means that the HSE is effectively a recruitment service for private care providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63552/21]
1455. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason for the retraction of initial Covid-19 vaccination advice to pharmacists to vaccinate persons over the age of 16 years; his views on whether pharmacists who have worked tirelessly to play a vital role in expediting the administration of boosters are now faced with having to spend time explaining the u-turn to patients instead of vaccinating them; if his attention has been further drawn to the mixed messages this presents during a critical period of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63305/21]
1446. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the new omicron variant of Covid-19, those who have recovered from infection with the delta variant will now be vulnerable to reinfection and as such be eligible for immediate vaccination, including booster, without having to wait six months as is currently the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63285/21]
1084. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is mandatory for all childcare providers to register with Tusla in advance of opening their doors for business; if it is mandatory for Tusla to carry out a health and safety inspection of the premises in advance of opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63491/21]
1083. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the instructions given to childcare providers in relation to dealing with restrictions, procedures and reporting concerning Covid-19 cases in their workplaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63490/21]
1080. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether the redress scheme proposed for the mother and baby homes survivors and victims is adequate and robust given that it is based on an admitted flawed report as its reference point in view of the recent High Court settlement; if he will now consider a full review of the redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63460/21]
832. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that leaving certificate students at a school (details supplied) have been without a physics and chemistry teacher since mid-October 2021 as a result of maternity leave and inability to fill the position; her views on the negative impact this continues to have on students expected to sit this subject in the leaving certificate in 2022; the steps her Department will take to remedy this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2137/22]
631. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will take immediate steps to send urgent food aid to Afghanistan as eight million people currently face starvation; if he will, in view of the urgency of the situation, inform the Houses of the Oireachtas of the steps he will take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63335/21]
496. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will issue an order for FFP2-standard face masks to be made available free for all passengers using public transport while Covid-19 infection rates are at high levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62354/21]
467. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position in relation to exams in NUI Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that students are being forced to sit exams in venues without social distancing or ventilation; if his further attention has been drawn to the added stress and anxiety caused to students and staff that are fearful of catching and spreading the virus in exam situations without proper social distancing and ventilation measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62429/21]
465. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rationale for not extending similar pay and conditions to Youthreach education providers as other teachers; his views on whether Youthreach students are entitled to fully qualified teachers receiving the same pay and conditions and opportunities for career progression as their peers teaching in secondary schools; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the recent crisis in substitute teachers makes it impossible to fill resource and substitute positions in Youthreach with appropriately qualified persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62452/21]
464. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason Youthreach resource workers and co-ordinators are not paid as teachers even though they have the same duties and responsibilities, plus additional work in re-engaging those most in danger of being left behind educationally; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the provision of this education is carried out over 226 days in comparison to normal school terms which amount to 167 days and that there is little opportunity for career or pay progression within the Youthreach sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62451/21]
463. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to resource Youthreach education amid a staffing crisis that is leaving the most vulnerable young persons at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62450/21]
79. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin Bus has informed drivers on certain routes that the NTA may tender out their route as a result of the failure of that route to reach NTA-determined criteria and that such criteria, as laid down in the contracts with Dublin Bus, seem incapable of reflecting or adapting to prevailing traffic congestion issues in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62353/21]
44. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if a commitment will be made to the implementation of the full plan on BusConnects and in particular the infrastructure for connectivity of Chapelizod Village, Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62350/21]
25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result of criteria laid down by the NTA, bus drivers on some routes in the Dublin Bus network are being instructed to wait at specific locations en route and to drive at reduced speeds, regardless of the prevailing traffic volumes, and that this is resulting in delays for passengers and other road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62352/21]
13. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if assurances can be provided to CIÉ workers in the regular wages scheme who have retired since June 2020 that the delay in his signing the statutory instrument to give effect to changes in the regular wages pension scheme will not result in them losing any of the improved benefits or lump sums once the statutory instrument is signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62351/21]
240. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of a tender issued for the provision of chairpersons of Government initiated reviews or bodies. [61700/21]
198. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if a commitment will be made to implement the full plan on BusConnects and in particular the infrastructure for connectivity of Chapelizod village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61933/21]
35. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the recently published Teagasc report on farm sustainability which found that greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farming rose in 2020 largely due to an increase in the average herd size; the way he plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61542/21]
28. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way the addition of 2 GW of gas-fired power will affect Ireland’s carbon emissions and reduction targets; if the policy is driven by the needs of energy intensive industry, such as data centres, as suggested by the CEO of EirGrid in recent comments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61539/21]
300. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if a Covid-19 PCR testing centre can be provided in the Dublin 8 area as a matter of urgency; his views on whether those who do not drive may put others at risk if they have to use public transport to travel to testing centres outside of the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60909/21]
200. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current Covid-19 surge and the cancellation of social events including travel have impacted heavily on many businesses and workers and that the reduction of wage supports recently has plunged many into extremely difficult financial situations; if he plans to fully restore these payments; if not, his plans to support those who will have dramatically reduced incomes as a result of public health advice and guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60993/21]
191. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he has signed or plans to sign the Statutory Instrument to sanction the changes to the CIÉ regular wages scheme agreed in June 2020; if not, when it will be signed; the reason for the ongoing delay given that he indicated that it would be signed in the third quarter of 2021; if changes to the scheme including higher pensions payments and lump sums will be retrospectively awarded to workers that have retired since the scheme was agreed in June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60524/21]
168. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the responsible State regulatory body with oversight for the safe operation of all ferry companies providing services in the State subsidised or otherwise to island communities; the inspections and checks such a body undertakes to ensure that safety measures of such operators are fully compliant with the regulations including the accurate accounting for passenger numbers on each ferry trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59925/21]
167. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the State regulatory body that is responsible for ensuring that companies operating services on behalf of the State in relation to air, sea rescue operations have fully qualified personnel to operate aircraft and other emergency vehicles; the oversights and safeguards this body has over the persons operating such contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59924/21]
166. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify the situation in relation to the awarding of a State contract for the provision of air sea rescue cover; the companies currently tendering for such contracts; the cost of the full contract; the body and the persons responsible for deciding the winning bid; the criteria being used; if a company (details supplied) remains in the process; if minimum standards of staffing, aircraft and so on are stipulated in the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59923/21]
164. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to breaches in a protocol (details supplied); the oversight on reporting; the body that has responsibility for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59823/21]
163. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the protocols for ferry services from the mainland to the islands when reporting by radio to the Irish Coast Guard stations the numbers of passengers being carried by passage prior to departure. [59822/21]
151. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projected amount of CO2 emissions in metric ton equivalent to come from the additional the planned gas fired generators that he recently announced on an annual basis when the generators are at full capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60169/21]
199. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will make a compulsory purchase order on the land owned by an organisation (details supplied) in which the new National Maternity Hospital is to be located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59468/21]
125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if an independent expert has been appointed to lead the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; when the review will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59469/21]
41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres that have been closed since the publication of the White Paper for Ending Direct Provision. [59475/21]