1. This Week in the Oireachtas (11-15 November 2013) 2

Oireachtas Monitor Published: 11 November 2013 Contents

1. This Week in the Houses of the Oireachtas 11-15 November 2013 2. Oireachtas Questions and Debate 04-08 November 2013 Children’s Rights Education: including special needs, ECCE, minorities, disadvantage, literacy and numeracy, school staffing, school buildings, school patronage, curriculum Asylum/Immigration Child Services/ Children in Care: including foster care and social work services, HSE staffing, youth services Child Abuse/Child Protection: including vetting, child abduction Family: including adoption Health and Wellbeing: including disability, mental health, substance misuse, primary care, health services, hospital services, obesity, sports facilities Child Benefit/Social Welfare/Poverty Justice Issues/Human Rights/Equality

1. This week in the Oireachtas (11-15 November 2013) http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=24678&&CatID=60 2. Oireachtas Questions and Debate (04-08 November 2013) Children’s Rights Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: UN Convention on Children's Rights (5 Nov 2013) Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the third and fourth State reports have been finalised and sent to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child; and, if not, when the reports will be finalised. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2469

Education: including special needs, ECCE, minorities, disadvantage, literacy and numeracy, school staffing, school buildings, school patronage, curriculum Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (5 Nov 2013) http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.604

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Provision (5 Nov 2013) Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael) To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider the decision to restrict the home tuition grant to tuition provided by teachers registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland, specifically where intervention is required for preschool children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.627

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Availability (5 Nov 2013) Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put all school bus routes online.

Topical Issue Debate: School Inspection Reports (6 Nov 2013) http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2013-11-06a.452

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology Issues (5 Nov 2013) Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the work of extending the use of ITC into the classroom; and if his Department is engaging with the private sector in developing e-learning tools such as educational apps. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.640

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Levels (5 Nov 2013) Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour) To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any studies have been conducted by his Department on the reading habits of children under 12 years of age, outside of reading required for school; if he will provide the results of these studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.738

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (5 Nov 2013) Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the number of special needs assistants currently employed in primary schools across the State; and indicate if the cap on SNA appointments will be breached by the end of this year. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.610

Asylum/Immigration

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (5 Nov 2013) Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if, in the context of the positive result in the children’s rights referendum, there will be a change in immigration policy to reflect the Zambrano case where the EU court held that the parent of an EU citizen child who is dependent on the parent must be allowed to stay in the EU. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.1896

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Missing Children (6 Nov 2013) Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of minors that have been reported missing that were engaged in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service process nationally in 2011, 2012; and to date in 2013; the number that were found and re- entered the system; the age profile and country of origin of each of these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-06a.301

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Missing Children (5 Nov 2013) Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 254 of 27 March 2013, when she will supply the requested figures of missing unaccompanied asylum seekers' minors. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2447

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Reports (5 Nov 2013) Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the recently published report of the child care law reporting project in cases of children in direct provision; if he will consider allowing families in direct provision to live in the community in the interests of the children and families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2013-11-05a.53

Child Services/ Children in Care: including foster care and social work services, HSE staffing, youth services Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (5 Nov 2013) Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 26 September 2013, the number of young persons who left care on reaching their 18th birthday during 2012 or during the nearest 12 month reporting period; the number of such young persons who began aftercare programmes; the number of such young persons who did not begin aftercare programmes; the number of such young persons who began aftercare programmes who subsequently disengaged from them; if she will provide any other statistical information available on aftercare, to include breakdown by type of aftercare package, by geography, by educational or employment attainment, for example the number of young persons in aftercare currently pursing third level education; the annual spend on aftercare; the average cost of an aftercare package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2495

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (5 Nov 2013) Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide, in tabular form for the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013, the number of children in the care of the State; and if she will provide a breakdown of the care orders which underpinned the first placement of these children in care in each of those years, including voluntary care orders, emergency care orders, interim care orders and special care orders. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2513 Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2013) Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide in tabular form the partial year and the full year monetary effect of her Department's budget 2014 reductions to expenditure. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2531

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Work Staff (5 Nov 2013) Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 26 September 2013, the total number of social workers in the area of family support and child care services, or in relevant units, Departments or teams, however they may have been organised and named, for each of the years 2008 to 2012. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2489

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (5 Nov 2013) Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is any grant scheme available through her Department to assist youth clubs with ongoing running costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2507

Child Abuse/Child Protection: including vetting, child abduction Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Child Protection Services (7 Nov 2013) http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-11-07a.304

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Issues (7 Nov 2013) Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the fact that a number of concerns have been raised about the State funded groups which claim to represent institutional abuse victims, not actually reflecting the views of survivors, if he will facilitate and attend a national meeting with the survivors of abuse in relation to the statutory fund, the idea of a memorial and the way their files will be dealt with. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-07a.253

Cyberbullying Bill 2013: First Stage (6 Nov 2013) http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2013-11-06a.330

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection Issues (5 Nov 2013) Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the completion and publication of the investigation into the removal of two children from members of an ethnic minority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2013-11-05a.8

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (5 Nov 2013) Pádraig MacLochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of extra staff that will be recruited to the Garda Vetting Unit arising from the announcement made in Budget 2014; when he expects the full staff compliment to be in place; how quickly applications will be processed; the date on which the National Vetting Bureau Act will be fully commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.1827

Family: including adoption

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2013: First Stage (5 Nov 2013) http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2013-11-05a.510

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Issues (5 Nov 2013) http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2450

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (5 Nov 2013) Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the event of an adopted person successfully tracing their birth mother and the identity is known to them, the reason they cannot be given a copy of their adoption file; and if she will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2501

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Issues (5 Nov 2013) Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if legislation will be amended retrospectively to allow the number of families who hold declarations of eligibility and suitability to adopt which were issued to them prior to 31 October 2010 and already have referrals of children in the Russian Federation to proceed with their stalled Russian adoptions, as previously indicated. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2525

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Issues (5 Nov 2013) Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress that has been made regarding an adoption agreement between Ireland and India; and if she will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11- 05a.2453

Health and Wellbeing: including disability, mental health, substance misuse, primary care, health services, hospital services, obesity, sports facilities

Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of People with Disabilities (5 Nov 2013) Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps taken since 2011 to implement the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.1892

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (5 Nov 2013) Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay for the Health Service Executive paediatric psychology service (detail supplied); the reason families are being told they will have to wait for four years for an appointment; the steps being taken to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2653

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (5 Nov 2013) Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) To ask the Minister for Health the reason the occupational therapy needs of children are being limited to two OT reviews per year, but there is no actual entitlement to therapy sessions which is a vital necessity for special needs children particularly in the early years; if he plans to change this system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2729

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Funding (5 Nov 2013) Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Independent) To ask the Minister for Health in reference to the statement (details supplied) which referenced the allocation of €20 million for investment in mental health in 2014, where she said, we, the mental health service, are getting €20 million this year and I have guaranteed that the additional €15 million will be available next year, if he will confirm that his Department has made this guarantee; if so, if he will restate that guarantee in response to this question; if this €15 million will be on top of the €35 million per year that the Programme for Government committed to be ringfenced each year for investment in mental health; if he will state the conditionality attached to this guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2600

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Provision (5 Nov 2013) Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) To ask the Minister for Health further to parliamentary Question No.177 of 16 October 2013, in the cases of self harm presented to emergency units in 2011 with particular reference to the 316 boys and 588 girls between the ages of 10 and 17 years, the extent to which specific trends were established in the context of stabilisation following counselling and-or hospitalisation; whether any particular cause was identified as to the reason a disproportionately high number of girls relative to boys presented; whether any specific reason for this was identified or information gleaned from those presenting to emergency treatment centres on more than one occasion and the outcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2732

Written Answers — Department of Health: Suicide Prevention (5 Nov 2013) Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent) To ask the Minister for Health the measures his Department are taking to help solve the suicide epidemic here particularly among young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11- 05a.2914

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (5 Nov 2013) Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) To ask the Minister for Health the progress being made by the special action group on obesity; when a final report from the group is expected; if consultations will be held on any recommendations from the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Report of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications: Motion (8 Nov 2013) Re. sponsorship by alcohol drinks companies of sports organisations. http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2013-11-08a.77

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health and Social Services (5 Nov 2013) Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) To ask the Minister for Health the assessment he has made, as a result of the implications of population or census results and analyses for Cork city, regarding the provision of health and social services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.3042

Child Benefit/Social Welfare/Poverty/Housing

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Nov 2013) http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2013-11-07a.345

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Support Services (6 Nov 2013) Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) To ask the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements available to a person as a single, separated parent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-06a.175

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013) http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-11-05a.220

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (5 Nov 2013) http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2013-11-05a.174

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (5 Nov 2013) Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael) To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the following case in relation to submissions to the area based response to child poverty initiative (details supplied). http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.2473

Order of Business (5 Nov 2013) Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent) When will the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill be introduced and will it deal with the frightening situation relating to homelessness in cities throughout the country? The position in respect of the latter is particularly bad in Dublin, where there has been an 88% increase in the level of homelessness during the past 12 months. I am sure the Taoiseach is aware that not far from the gates of Leinster House one can see homeless people sleeping rough. In view of the fact that harsh weather conditions will soon be upon us, might it be possible to expedite the introduction of the Bill to which I refer? http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2013-11-05a.461#g489

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (5 Nov 2013) Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) from Focus Ireland regarding young persons on social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11- 05a.1157

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Funding (5 Nov 2013) Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour) To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the allocation of the homelessness budget for each of the years from 2010 to date in 2013 with specific reference to levels of funding allocated to each of the nine regional authorities and voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (5 Nov 2013) Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered extending eligibility for family income supplement to families where parents cannot work by reason of disability or invalidity or in cases whereby one parent is in receipt of carer's allowance for the other parent; the number of families that would benefit from such an extension of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.964

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Support Services (6 Nov 2013) Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) To ask the Minister for Social Protection in respect of one parent families, if she will support implementing 10 Solutions for Smarter Futures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Budgets (5 Nov 2013) Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality where the €70 million cut to the justice budget will take effect. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.96

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2013) Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff in the social inclusion unit in her Department for each of the following years 2008, 2009, 2010,2011, 2012 and 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.1053 Justice Issues/ Human Rights/Equality Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (5 Nov 2013) Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form, the number of investigations into suspected trafficking crimes for 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; if he will also publish in tabular form the number of convictions in relation to trafficking offences; if he will provide details of the countries where persons being trafficked here originated from via percentage breakdown; his views on the main trafficking routes and means of travel to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.1811

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (5 Nov 2013) Micheál Martin (Leader of the Opposition; Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reform family law to ensure equal status and protections for children being raised by lesbian or gay parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.106

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (5 Nov 2013) Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the inclusion of automatic guardianship rights for both parents is being considered as part of the Family Relationships and Children's Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.1804

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (5 Nov 2013) Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the progress of the Spent Convictions Bill which has been delayed on account of a relevant legal case from the UK; and when the Bill will be re-introduced into Dáil Éireann. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.49

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (7 Nov 2013) Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the constitutional and legislative provisions that protect against discrimination and incitement and hate crimes; his plans to strengthen the law in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter . http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-07a.416

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Proofing of Budgets (5 Nov 2013) Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on introducing equality impact assessment procedures and equality proofing into the Irish budgetary process as a means of gauging the impact of budgetary measures from a human rights and equality perspective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.53

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (5 Nov 2013) Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that our laws are being implemented in a fair manner in respect of all ethnic minorities. http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-11-05a.1985

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