Written answers
Wednesday, 16 September 2020
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Cabinet Committees
10. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Housing will next meet. [22652/20]
- Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
19. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment if supports are available for students who have to undertake placement in healthcare settings nursing, midwifery and medical students...
- Apprenticeship Programmes
20. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the supports and grants available to a construction business taking on new apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Renewable Energy Generation
21. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the photovoltaic pilot grant scheme will be continued (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Road Projects
22. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is receipt of a funding request from a local authority (details supplied). [24224/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
23. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Limerick City Council will be granted an additional three month extension in regard to the July stimulus funding provided to it by the...
- Driver Test
24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if plans will be put in place to allow a person (details supplied) who passed their driver theory test in March 2020 but did not receive...
- Transport Policy
25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the steps taken to legislate for e-scooters in accordance with the Programme for Government; his plans to recognise the role...
- Road Projects
26. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the funding for the proposed Narrow Water bridge between counties Louth Down; and if he will make a statement on...
- Transport Policy
28. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for legislation on electronic scooters and bicycles. [24362/20]
- Department of Finance
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
29. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the uptake of the wage subsidy scheme; the number of refusals; the reasons for refusals; the number of successful appeals; and if he will make a...
- Illicit Trade
30. To ask the Minister for Finance the measures in place to counteract cross-Border smuggling and illicit trade in products such as tobacco, alcohol and fuel products and to ensure smugglers do...
- Tax Data
31. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons with annual income levels by category (details supplied) in the most recent year for which full data is available, in tabular form. [24213/20]
- Tax Credits
38. To ask the Minister for Finance the workers eligible for a tax credit for a work uniform; if childcare providers qualify for this tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
39. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to extend the Covid-19-related pension abatement waiver for HSE rehires beyond 30 September 2020; and if he will make a...
- Flood Relief Schemes
41. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be made available for the Blackpool flood relief scheme in view of the fact that the work required is outstanding for a...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
42. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the restart plus grant will be extended to bed and breakfast operators that have deferred their opening until 2021; and if she...
- Creative Ireland Programme
43. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the budget allocation for the Creative Ireland programme in 2019 and 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
44. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a limited number of spectators will be allowed at sporting events in line with local evaluation of the number who can be safely...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
45. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will bring forward the distribution of funding for swimming pools announced as part of the July Stimulus Package to avoid...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Animal Culls
47. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is considerable concern among licensed deer hunters and expert groups...
- Constitutional Amendments
50. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the plans and timelines he in mind with regard to the holding of a referendum on the public ownership of water. [24204/20]
- National Monuments
51. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps he will take to intervene and protect the national monument at 40 Herbert Park by preservation order as a monument,...
- Disability Support Services
52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the DPG scheme is a separate funding stream to the housing adaptation grant funding; the way in which the criteria for the...
- Fire Safety
53. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of call-outs from the fire brigade in relation to the illegal use of fireworks in each of the past five years by...
- Weather Events
55. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the weather warning issued to Galway County Council in relation to the severe rainfall in the Connemara area on...
- Disability Support Services
57. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the allocation by each local authority for housing adaptation grant for people with a disability in each of the years 2013 to...
- Fire Service
58. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if membership of the retained fire service is a breach of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. [24299/20]
- Planning Issues
59. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the promoters of a development (details supplied) in Warrenpoint, County Down were obliged to notify Louth County Council of...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Foreign Birth Registration
60. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the processing of foreign birth registrations, which was ceased due to Covid-19 has resumed; and if not, when processing will recommence;...
- Brexit Issues
61. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the most recent discussion he has had with his British counterpart in relation to the Withdrawal Agreement with particular...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces Reports
63. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the commission on the Defence Forces will be ready by the end of 2020 as agreed in the Programme for Partnership Government; if he will...
- Defence Forces Personnel
64. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to recruit an additional full-time clinical psychologist for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24236/20]
- Defence Forces Remuneration
65. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his strategy to increase funding for the salaries of members of the Defence Forces. [24276/20]
- Defence Forces Personnel
66. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has concerns regarding the recruitment and retention of trained medical personnel for the Defence Forces. [24364/20]
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Transport
67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when refunds will issue to parents who applied and paid for concessionary school transport tickets in circumstances in which no seats are...
- State Examinations
68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the basis of appeal of grades in the leaving certificate; if the deviation of the results of a school from a pattern in previous years can be a...
- School Curriculum
69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the guidelines for the teaching of the practical aspects of geography, including field work; when she plans to publish guidelines relating to the...
- School Transport
70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a review will be carried out regarding the provision of a bus escort for a child (details supplied) travelling to and from school; and if she...
- School Funding
72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in County Carlow receiving an ancillary services grant, in tabular form. [24253/20]
- Special Educational Needs Staff
73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of requests received for additional special needs assistants from schools in County Carlow; and the number of requests that have been...
- School Facilities
74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and secondary schools in County Carlow without hot water facilities; and the steps taken to rectify such issues in view of...
- Minor Works Scheme
75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the qualifying criteria for schools to be eligible to receive the minor works grant; the schools in receipt of the grant in County Carlow; the...
- School Accommodation
76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of installing portacabins for the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 school year by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if provisions are being made in cases of children in direct provision and the potential interruption to their education if there are further...
- Special Educational Needs
78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is now policy for high functioning students with autism not to be integrated into mainstream classes (details supplied); and if she will...
- School Transport
79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the new school transport allowance which is payable to parents of children who are eligible for school transport but do not use...
- School Curriculum
82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will add CPR and first aid to the senior school curriculum. [24360/20]
- Schools Building Projects
83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the tendering, constructing and opening of the new school on Harcourt Terrace, Dublin 2. [24361/20]
- State Examinations
84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the statistical standardisation process used for leaving certificate results in 2020; if she will publish the data used in the standardisation...
- Schools Site Acquisitions
85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been selected for a school (details supplied); when planning will be sought for the site; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Schools Building Projects
86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school development (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24392/20]
- State Examinations
87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will introduce an appeals system for the 2020 leaving certificate students which allows the calculated grades given to be challenged; and...
- School Facilities
88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties reported by a school (details supplied) in getting increased broadband capacity; if funding is...
- Schools Building Projects
89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a tender (details supplied) will be published on e-tenders. [24404/20]
- School Transport
90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if parents can access the new allowance for driving their children to school if in receipt of a concessionary bus ticket; and if she will make a...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Low Pay Commission
91. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has requested the Low Pay Commission to examine universal basic income; the current plans for the design,...
- Employment Rights
92. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has met or plans to meet with meat factory owners to address the concerns that have come to light due to Covid-19...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
93. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the closing date of 17 September 2020 for pandemic unemployment payment applications will be extended to allow seasonal...
- Social Welfare Benefits
95. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the different social insurance benefits payees of each of the different PRSI class are entitled to, in tabular form. [24259/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
96. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the anomalies affecting a number of Aer Lingus employees (details supplied) will be addressed; and if she will make a...
- Departmental Data
99. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current HEO vacancies within her Department; the location and business units of such vacancies; and if she will make a...
- Pensions Reform
100. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the need for some persons who work physically demanding jobs to retire at 65 years of age; and if she is...
- Back to Education Allowance
101. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24383/20]
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Foster Care
102. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if additional supports for foster parents are available (details supplied); his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Third Level Admissions
103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the approach he will take to equalise the position of students who sat their leaving certificate in 2019 and deferred their CAO application until...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Naturalisation Applications
106. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and...
- Immigration Status
107. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application for residency status in the case of a person (details supplied);...
- Naturalisation Certificates
109. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases in which naturalisation has been granted using section 16(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act...
- Garda Operations
110. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who are part of Operation Tombola in relation to the use of illegal fireworks; and if she will make a...
- Fire Safety
111. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has recently reviewed the legislative provisions in relation to the illegal use of fireworks; if such a...
- Cross-Border Co-operation
112. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the formal or informal arrangements for co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in relation to the use of...
- Crime Prevention
113. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if regulatory checks are carried out of licensed sellers and importers of fireworks to ensure that fireworks are sold only in...
- Crime Data
114. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of reports received by An Garda Síochána in relation to the use of illegal fireworks in each of the past...
- Crime Prevention
116. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the resources allocated to the public safety campaign in relation to illegal fireworks conducted by her Department in each of...
- Refugee Resettlement Programme
117. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of UNHCR resettlement proposals that were received to date in 2020; the number of final decisions that have been...
- Parental Leave
119. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter regarding an additional three weeks of parental leave (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Department of Health
- Addiction Treatment Services
120. To ask the Minister for Health if communication was made between him or his office, with the Minister of State Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and...
- National Drugs Strategy
122. To ask the Minister for Health if a publication date for the 2019 end of year review of Supporting Recovery, Reducing Harm has been published [24222/20]
- Hospital Services
124. To ask the Minister for Health if a doctor will be assigned to carry out assessments at a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24228/20]
- Covid-19 Tests
125. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to locate a Covid-19 testing centre in Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24233/20]
- Hospital Staff
127. To ask the Minister for Health the staffing budget for Portlaoise Hospital in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Abortion Services Provision
128. To ask the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision by his predecessor to alter the model of care for abortion provision (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
129. To ask the Minister for Health when pharmacies will receive the PPE, in particular surgical masks, that was promised by the HSE to keep pharmacy staff and their vulnerable customers safe...
- Covid-19 Tests
133. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE has ceased testing staff for Covid-19 at a company (details supplied) despite the fact that a number of night shift workers previously tested...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
134. To ask the Minister for Health if funding is available for a community group (details supplied) to set up a visitation, phone call service for isolated and elderly persons in the community;...
- Paediatric Services
135. To ask the Minister for Health if the newborn bloodspot screening test will be expanded from identifying eight rare treatable illnesses to 40 which is the current practice in Italy; and if...
- Disability Services Funding
137. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a fund available to finance long-term care for a person (details supplied) with an intellectual disability in a facility in the UK in which...
- Covid-19 Tests
138. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the urgent need for same-day Covid-19 testing for teachers to enable schools to remain and to allow for the continuity of care for children by...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
141. To ask the Minister for Health the number of inspectors from the Health Service Executive, Health and Safety Authority and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine deployed to monitor...
- Covid-19 Tests
142. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider fast-tracking Covid-19 tests for schoolchildren and teachers to enable quick tests and results; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Disability Services Provision
143. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reintroduce full disability care services, including respite care in special needs facilities (details supplied); the measures taken to give...
- National Drugs Strategy
144. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made on the National Drugs Strategy 2017-2025 in 2019 [24382/20]
- Hospital Equipment
145. To ask the Minister for Health when the CT scanner at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe will be replaced; the number of times that it has not been functioning in the past 12 months; the...
- Hospital Data
147. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons and waiting times for an urgent and non-urgent CT scan at each public hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24386/20]
- Hospital Facilities
148. To ask the Minister for Health when the development of the new 50-bed long-stay facility at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Covid-19 Pandemic
149. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department, in conjunction with NPHET will consider revising or removing current Covid-19 restrictions at maternity hospitals that prevent spouses and...
- Emergency Departments
150. To ask the Minister for Health if the practice within emergency department units for next of kin or a chosen person to act on behalf of patients will be reinstated (details supplied); if a...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
151. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review correspondence (details supplied) from the Health and Safety Authority regarding a business; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- EU Regulations
153. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the concerns of agricultural merchants who fear that their ability to prescribe and dispense veterinary medicines will be...
- Animal Diseases
154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if mandatory testing of Connemara ponies and cross breeds will be introduced to eliminate the threat of hoof wall separation disease....
- Animal Carcase Disposal
155. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of fallen animals notified to his Department in each year since 2016; the role of his Department in monitoring the...
- Basic Payment Scheme
156. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the information previously submitted and accepted showing grazing rights for a 2019 basic payment scheme application by a...
- Proposed Legislation
157. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce the Forestry Appeals Bill; the main provisions of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Animal Breeding Regulations
158. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his priorities for improving the breeding and production of sports horses within Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Brexit Preparations
159. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to make contingency plans to meet new exigencies arising from the ongoing situation of Brexit; and...
- Agriculture Industry
160. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he receives opportunities for economic growth arising from further development of agri-business; and if he will...
- Dairy Sector
161. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he expects further economic beneficial opportunities to arise from the further development of the dairy sector;...
- Agriculture Industry
162. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects to be in a position to maximise opportunities for the dairy and beef sectors while being mindful of...
- Tuberculosis Eradication Programme
166. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the bovine TB eradication programme continues satisfactorily; whether the industry is getting closer to...
- Tuberculosis Incidence
167. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which various contributory factors have been identified in outbreaks of bovine TB nationwide; the extent to which the...
- Agriculture Industry
168. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects markets for agricultural exports to grow throughout the EU or elsewhere with particular reference to...
- Farm Household Incomes
170. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which farm incomes have fluctuated over the past ten years; the way in which fluctuations have been manifested itself...
- Agriculture Industry
171. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he continues to explore ways and means to maximise the value of products from the agricultural sector with...
- Equine Industry
173. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the equine industry might be negatively impacted by Brexit; the measures in place or anticipated to address such...
- Fishing Industry
174. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he sees opportunities to develop the fishing industry in the various areas throughout the country that are...
- Agrifood Sector
175. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the food sector in general and the artisan food sector in particular have been negatively impacted by Covid-19;...
- Brexit Issues
176. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he continues to monitor and engage with the various bodies involved in the fishing industry with particular...
- Forestry Sector
177. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter regarding forestry applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24427/20]
- Agrifood Sector
178. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has met with the banking sector or farmers organisations regarding the interest rates being charged by banks here on farm...
