Results 2,081-2,100 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: 101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the demand for school places for autistic children in the Dublin 12 area; her views on the lack of places in local schools (details supplied); her plans to provide and or increase places for autistic children in local schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21312/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: I thank our guests for their presentations. What jumps out at me is the sense we are almost back to where we were when we started with the eighth amendment. Dr. Henchion stated that 90% of doctors do not provide care. Rather than saying that 10% do, the fact that 90% do not demonstrates the lack of services for women in this country. Moreover, there is a lack of mandatory provision in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: 98. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will raise with the Minister for Social Protection and the National Transport Authority the difficulties faced by those with free travel passes in using privately operated bus services, especially in rural areas in regions in which Bus Éireann has withdrawn or curtailed its services; if he will support the extension of free...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: We have had much discussion about rural Ireland today, but my question concerns bus services in rural areas run by private operators and how accessible they are to users of the free travel scheme. About five years ago, the National Bus and Rail Union, NBRU, warned that the significant cuts then being made to services would lead to many areas being neglected and there are now many areas where...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: This is exactly my question. I wish to know if the Minister will raise this issue "with the Minister for Social Protection and the National Transport Authority". People in rural Ireland are facing difficulties in respect of their free travel passes not being accepted by some private bus companies. To reiterate, this is more disadvantaging of the people of rural Ireland. Those who live in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: There is a degree of discrimination here because in parts of rural Ireland people have no choice but to avail of privately-run public transport not supported by the PSO levy. Many people find they cannot access this great scheme providing free travel for people aged 66 and over, and others, as the Minister outlined, such as carers or those with disabilities, etc. The problem is they cannot...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Statutory Instruments (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: I acknowledge that the ballot took place in June 2020 and that the changes were agreed by the workers, but this is the end of April 2022. Why is this important? It is because it says a lot about how, at senior levels, the Department and the State view bus drivers, train drivers and transport workers generally and about the priority they are afforded. They will get an increase of €30...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Statutory Instruments (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: I am sorry for labouring the point but it needs to be laboured. In early 2021, the Minister told me, and it is on the record, that he hoped to have this statutory instrument signed by the third quarter of 2021. It is now the second quarter of 2022 and there is no sign of it being signed. I hope I do not have to explain to the Minister or to anybody else who has any sense of how workers...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Statutory Instruments (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: 88. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reasons for the ongoing delay in signing the statutory instrument to give effect to changes in the regular wages scheme for CIÉ workers; when the signing of this statutory instrument will be finalised; if he can give reassurances to CIÉ workers that have retired since June 2020 or will retire shortly that any improvements...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Statutory Instruments (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: In June 2020, CIÉ workers in the regular wages pension scheme voted to accept changes to that scheme. Since then, I have asked the Minister and his Department the same question on at least a dozen occasions that I am asking today. When will the Minister sign the statutory instrument to give effect to those changes in their pensions?

Home Heating Fuels: Motion [Private Members] (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: The glaring visual tonight is the absence of the Minister, Deputy Ryan. That is a big mistake on his part. Most of the measures listed in the motion are to do with the Department of the Minister, Deputy McGrath. However, the question the whole country is discussing is that of ending turf cutting. We will be talking about carbon tax again tomorrow. It is a massive issue that my party...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: 17. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit of his Department. [14284/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: New Retrofitting Plan and the Built Environment: Discussion (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: I thank the Chairman. I am in my office on the campus. It has probably been asked in many different ways but I wanted to ask again about the SEAI and the oversight and standards we need to have to ensure we meet the standards required in retrofitting. When I asked a question of SEAI representatives some weeks ago I was assured its rating system after retrofitting was up to scratch. Maybe...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ferry Services (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: 106. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions that his Department has taken in view of dismissal of staff by a company (details supplied); if his Department has undertaken or plans to inspect these ferries to ensure new working arrangements are compliant with Ireland's safety regulations; the meetings that his Department has had with the International Maritime...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: 123. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will detail the outcome of any discussion that he or his officials have had with a company (details supplied) in relation to allegations of price gouging and profiteering on its routes from eastern Europe as a result of the increase in Ukrainian refugees coming to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20972/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: 131. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the estimated €98 million spent to date on the Dublin BusConnects project that relates to planning, surveys and various consultation fees represents good value for money given the limited introduction of new routes; the oversight that his Department has of National Transport Authority operations in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: 161. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his officials will examine the impact of a pilot scheme for fare free transport in Boston and its benefits for all commuters, especially poorer minorities and general climate goals; if he will reconsider his policy in relation to the possible future provision of fare free public transport; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: 305. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the complete range of energy efficiency grants available from the SEAI for home improvements and retrofits under the one stop shop scheme; if certain grants available under this system are not available to individual home owners applying directly to the SEAI; the reason that this is the case; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (26 Apr 2022)

Bríd Smith: 306. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of households that use pre-pay meters for their energy requirements; the number of these that are older meters which have to avail of the €200 grant by topping up on three separate occasions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20617/22]