667. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if new regulations pertaining to the protection of wild birds and derogations therefrom, specifically in the interests of public health and safety under the 1979 Birds Directive, are currently being drafted, with engagement with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government; if so, when such new regulations will be published for scrutiny; and when they will be implemented. [27279/23]
666. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that new regulations (details supplied) were not ready for the 2023-2024 declarations that were due on 1 May 2023; and the reason it has apparently been necessary for him to continue to sign advisedly legally non-compliant regulations, which have a specific role in protection of public health and safety, for a number of years now. [27278/23]
665. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a copy of all recommendations, briefing notes and supporting documents including legal advices, external and/or internal, provided to him by his Department in relation to the extension for eight months, to 31 December 2023 of the 2020-2023 general State-wide wild birds derogation declarations signed by him on 28 April 2023 (details supplied), with copies of all associated legally compliant regulations. [27277/23]
495. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will outline what the process is for an Irish exemption for an 11-year-old child (details supplied) diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder, anxiety, autism, dyslexia and dyscalculia, who has been refused an exemption despite a report from an educational psychologist stating that they meet the criteria and despite an appeal by the parents due to the overwhelming stress the child is encountering; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27272/23]
222. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process for allocating cost rental properties managed by approved housing associations, given concerns raised by the general public in Donabate regarding a number of cost-rental properties managed by an organisation (details supplied) which have already been allocated without any local people being afforded an opportunity to apply for same; how he proposes to ensure fairness and transparency in any future cost-rental applications process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26948/23]
78. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the actions he can take to ensure that a residential treatment and rehabilitation centre (details supplied) in Athenry, County Galway, remains open and operational, following fears of the closure of the only addiction treatment centre in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26664/23]
77. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of procedures that have been cancelled at Beaumont Hospital to date in 2023; the reasons for the cancellations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26665/23]
60. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to ensure the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Review of Role and Functions for Health Care Assistants, published in December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26662/23]
24. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the pay claims by section 39 organisation workers following the meeting of officials from his Department, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla with union representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26663/23]
11. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress made with regard to the pay parity claim by medical scientists, one year after they suspended their industrial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26661/23]
2. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed update on his plans to end hospital overcrowding and accident and emergency wait times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26950/23]
776. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position with the provision of a health care facility (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26257/23]
775. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position with the provision of a new healthcare facility (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26256/23]
729. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if all homeless services workers who worked throughout the pandemic in homeless support roles will be paid the pandemic payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26045/23]
423. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the shortage of beach lifeguards in Fingal; if he will raise the rate of pay for beach lifeguards; if his Department will invest in full-time professional year-round core lifeguard services for Dublin and other local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26290/23]
419. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with the provision of infrastructure (details supplied) in County Kildare; the current status of it; the scheduled finish date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26255/23]
418. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with the provision of social housing at a location (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26254/23]
417. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with the provision of social housing at a site (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26253/23]
312. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position with the extension of secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26262/23]
311. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position with the provision of an extension to a primary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26261/23]
310. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position with the provision of an extension to a primary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26260/23]
309. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the current and up-to-date position with the provision of secondary school places in the Newbridge/Kildare town area for September 2023; the plans she and her Department are putting in place to deal with the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26259/23]
308. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position with the provision of a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26258/23]
118. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport his plans regarding the 50% discount on the young adult card and student leap card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25446/23]
825. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how many people between 20 and 65 years of age living in nursing homes in Ireland are in private homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24779/23]
824. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how many people between 20 and 65 years of age living in nursing homes in Ireland are in public nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24778/23]
823. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how many people between 20 and 65 years of age living in nursing homes in Ireland are in the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24777/23]
822. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how many people between 20 and 65 years of age are living in nursing homes in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24776/23]
637. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department's policy for people between 20-65 years of age currently in nursing homes to transition to independent living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24780/23]
378. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 44 housing units at a location (details supplied) approved to be acquired by Fingal County Council in January 2016 have been acquired; if so, the date; the final cost of the acquisition; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the acquisition not proceeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24038/23]
377. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 27 local authority housing units approved for construction at a location (details supplied) have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24037/23]
376. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 32 local authority housing units approved for construction at a location (details supplied) have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24036/23]
254. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position with assistance for the Junior Certificate for a candidate (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23918/23]
253. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm whether plans, drawings, or both, have been drawn up for the provision of a primary school at lands in Corballis, Donabate; if so, if she will provide a copy of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23916/23]
627. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the scheme for GP-only cards for households earning under €46,000 per year will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22577/23]
427. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the process for allocating cost rental properties managed by approved housing associations, in particular, given concerns raised by the general public in Donabate regarding a number of cost rental properties managed by an organisation (details supplied) which have already been allocated without any local people being afforded an opportunity to apply for same; how he proposes to ensure fairness and transparency in any future cost rental applications process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22984/23]
420. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the four AHB housing units (details supplied) approved for construction in College Street, Baldoyle, Fingal, in July 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22949/23]
419. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the eight local authority housing units approved for construction in The Grange, Ballyboughal, Fingal, in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22948/23]
418. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 15 AHB housing units (details supplied) approved for construction in Ballyglass Road, Howth, Fingal, in July 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22947/23]
245. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the amount invested in the Waterford to Limerick rail line for improvement and safety works, including the laying of continuous welded rail since 2010; the lack of a speedier service and increased frequency since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22981/23]
244. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a timeline for repair and when the bridge will be operational again for the Barrow Bridge on the Wexford-Waterford railway, the costings related to the repair of the bridge, as the Barrow Bridge on the Wexford-Waterford railway line has been out of service since 2022 due to a bridge strike while awaiting repair pending the outcome of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22980/23]
243. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport what plans there are to implement the improvements stated in the Rail Alternative Assessment Report prepared by a company (details supplied) as part of the N24 Waterford to Cahir and N24 Cahir to Limerick Junction project, which states that minor upgrades to the Limerick-Waterford railway line can deliver an end to end journey time of 1 hour 50 minutes, while full route modernisation delivers a Waterford-Limerick journey time of 1 hour 30 minutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22979/23]
242. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the Wexford-Waterford rail line will be in operation in time for Fleadh Cheoil 2024 to give passengers from Waterford, Cork, Limerick, and Galway a direct sustainable transport option to attend the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22978/23]
241. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if there is a timeframe of an assessment on increasing capacity as per the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042 states in section 12.4.11 regional and intercity services that the NTA, in conjunction with Irish Rail, will undertake an assessment of the need for further infrastructural enhancements on the northern and south east lines to facilitate the combination of intercity and commuter services”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22977/23]
273. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position on 24/7 cardiac care in Waterford University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22244/23]
195. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if funding will be provided to a person (details supplied) who is representing Ireland at the World Powerlifting Championships in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in August and September 2023. [22287/23]
166. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on how Irish patients can access every European Reference Network for Rare Diseases; if Ireland is a full member of each ERN; if not, the steps that need to be taken to get access for Ireland to these networks; the timeline for these actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21881/23]
152. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of creche workers supervising children who do not hold qualifications; how many non-compliance issues relating to unqualified workers in creches have not been addressed through the Corrective and Preventative Action process by TUSLA to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21912/23]
124. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 24 local authority housing units approved for construction in an area (details supplied) in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22127/23]