Written answers
Wednesday, 9 September 2020
- Department of Education and Skills
- Apprenticeship Programmes
33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements that have been made for the college sections of apprenticeship programmes due to the effect of Covid-19; and if he will make a...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
34. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when laptops ordered to assist students with online and blended learning will be available to students in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he...
- Student Universal Support Ireland
35. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider changing the criteria for calculating SUSI grant eligibility to include whether a parent is in receipt of the working family...
- Third Level Examinations
36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement he has had with the president of NUI Galway on waiving the €295 repeat exam fee in view of the difficulties faced by...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
37. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional funding provided to third-level sector in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; the number of additional places made available...
- Oireachtas Joint Committee Recommendations
38. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the recommendations of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation report entitled, The Case for Irish Membership of...
- Third Level Institutions
39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the response that has been put in place to deal with the issue of sexual harassment and gender-based violence on third-level campuses in view of a...
- Third Level Fees
40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the continuation of the full €3,000 student contribution fees can be justified in the context of the Covid-19 crisis, the...
- Student Universal Support Ireland
41. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the current thresholds for SUSI grant eligibility are set at an appropriate level to provide real equality of access to third...
- Third Level Fees
42. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if asylum seekers will be exempted from non-EU and EEA university fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22642/20]
- Institutes of Technology
44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the completion of the recently approved STEM building for Athlone IT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22631/20]
- Apprenticeship Programmes
46. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reform the apprenticeship system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22605/20]
- Technological Universities
47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Connacht, Ulster Alliance Technological University application. [22643/20]
- Research and Development
48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he plans to take to improve the interface between the wider research community and the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a...
- Third Level Fees
49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if student college contributions will be reduced for the 2020/2021 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22603/20]
- Research and Development
50. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to support the development of new career pathways for early-career researchers. [22634/20]
- Technological Universities
52. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of all current technological university applications. [22656/20]
- Third Level Institutions
53. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a research project has been commissioned on sexual harassment in third-level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22604/20]
- Further and Higher Education
54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the funding requirement for a new X-ray machine for the Waterford Institute of Technology SEAM Technology gateway will be reviewed (details...
- Civil Service
56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will establish a science and technology policy fellowship within the Civil Service to provide opportunities to scientists and engineers to...
- Student Support Schemes
57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when laptops ordered to assist students with online and blended learning will be available to UCC students; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Technological Universities
58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new Wexford campus as part of the Technological University for the South-East Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Student Universal Support Ireland
59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the anxiety the delay in the issuing of SUSI is causing to students approved for the 2020/2021 academic year;...
- Mental Health Policy
60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the contingency plan in place to respond to the expected rise in students presenting with mental health issues on their return to the classroom;...
- Third Level Institutions
62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place to progress a university of the north-west involving Letterkenny IT and Magee College, Derry; and the way in which such plans...
- Third Level Admissions
63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he remains satisfied that adequate third-level places remain available for students seeking such places in 2020; if he...
- Student Grant Scheme
64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to instances in which mature and postgraduate students are being denied grants due to the fact they are being...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will engage with educational institutions, representatives of students and student accommodation providers as colleges and universities...
- Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
- Construction Contracts
66. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if construction works on a new advanced technology building in Dundalk, County Louth, have commenced; if not, the date on which...
- IDA Ireland
67. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if IDA Ireland plans to open a new office in Melbourne, Australia. [22747/20]
- Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
68. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated cost in 2021 if the budget for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission were to increase by 12%. [22759/20]
- Trade Fairs
69. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if urgent consideration will be given to issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) on trade fairs and exhibitions; and if he...
- Departmental Expenditure
70. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the breakdown of capital spending in his Department to date for 2020; if he will outline spending in each new programme relevant to the...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Environmental Policy
71. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount manufacturers pay per tonne of plastic produced here; how this compares internationally; and if he will make...
- Telecommunications Infrastructure
72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when fibre broadband will be available for residents on a road (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Search and Rescue Service Provision
73. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on the search and rescue carried out for two paddleboarders on 13 August 2020 (details supplied); and if he...
- Air Accident Investigations
74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the review of the final air accident investigation unit report into the Rescue 116 helicopter crash which claimed the life of four air...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
75. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding for outdoor sports amenities will be significantly increased in view of the importance of such facilities during and after the...
- Statutory Instruments
76. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the statutory instrument will be signed for the recent acceptance by ballot of the wages grade pension with Iarnród...
- Sports Events
77. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by sports clubs and supporters as a result of the ban on spectators at sporting...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional public funding provided to Bus Éireann, Irish Rail and Dublin Bus in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if...
- Sport and Recreational Development
79. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has carried out or has plans to conduct an investigation into the development of horseriding trails here that may...
- Driver Licences
80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he has taken to continue recognition of driver licences from the UK and Northern Ireland to the end of 2020 and post Brexit....
- Traffic Management
81. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the operation of heavy vehicles - for example, bin trucks - will be limited in urban areas to off-peak traffic times in order to...
- Road Safety
82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the availability of free high-visibility vests for cyclists and pedestrians from the Road Safety Authority will be advertised; and if...
- Appointments to State Boards
83. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a chairperson will be appointed to the Dublin Port Company. [22754/20]
- Travel Trade Sector
84. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider correspondence (details supplied) from the retail travel sector; the supports that will be considered for the...
- Aviation Industry
85. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take with Irish airlines that have yet to issue refunds to their customers despite their waiting a number of months for...
- Road Projects
86. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 875 of 3 June 2020, if further progress has been made in respect of the Meath County Council draft...
- Driver Test
87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps being taken to ensure that drivers who are on a provisional driver licence can get driver tests in circumstances in which they...
- Department of Finance
- Wage Subsidy Scheme
88. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of recipients of the wage subsidy scheme at the end of August 2020; the number who will be in receipt of the new employment subsidy scheme; the...
- EU Funding
90. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount borrowed by the State to date from the European Commission under the SURE initiative; the way in which the funds will be distributed here; and if he...
- Ministerial Meetings
91. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has met formally with each of the CEOs of banks based here since 1 June 2020; and if so, the dates of each meeting in tabular form. [22760/20]
- Help-To-Buy Scheme
92. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the help-to-buy scheme to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22847/20]
- Wage Subsidy Scheme
93. To ask the Minister for Finance if there are dates by which a new hire must have been hired by a company to avail of the employment wage subsidy scheme. [22860/20]
- Ministerial Meetings
95. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has spoken directly with his Australian counterpart in the past six months. [22883/20]
- Exchequer Deficit
96. To ask the Minister for Finance the projected deficit for 2020 on the basis of revenue receipts to date based on the Exchequer returns for August 2020; if he will provide updated projections...
- Wage Subsidy Scheme
97. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of the temporary wage subsidy scheme in 2020; the projected cost if it had been retained for the rest of the year; the number of employers...
- Research and Development
99. To ask the Minister for Finance the projected yield in 2021 from ending the refundable aspect of the research and development tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22930/20]
- Tax Reliefs
100. To ask the Minister for Finance the projected yield from abolishing relief under section 604A; the cost to date to the Exchequer annually of this relief; and if he will make a statement on...
- Carbon Tax Yield
101. To ask the Minister for Finance the projected yield from every €1 per tonne increase in the carbon tax; the estimated yield if there were a €10 increase in 2021; and if he will...
- Cycle to Work Scheme
102. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons who availed of the cycle to work scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the cost of the scheme in each of the...
- Tax Reliefs
104. To ask the Minister for Finance the tax reliefs exempted from the high-income individual restriction; the estimated additional yield if those reliefs were not exempted; and if he will make a...
- Pensions Data
106. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated yield to the Exchequer from reducing pension relief to the standard rate in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22940/20]
- Wage Subsidy Scheme
109. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will clarify matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the employment wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Public Sector Pensions
110. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if public sector pensions will be increased in line with public sector pay increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Flood Prevention Measures
111. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the cost of the flood defence system installed in Clifden, County Galway, in 2014; if he will provide a copy of the...
- Flood Relief Schemes
112. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be made available for flood defences for Tawin Island, County Galway; if so, when such funding will be available; if a...
- Garda Stations
114. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Garda stations within Dublin the OPW plans to refurbish over the next two years; the level of renovation for each station that will...
- Flood Relief Schemes
115. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW has a policy and strategy for dealing with family homes that become permanently uninhabitable due to flooding or coastal...
- Office of Public Works
116. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all sites under the remit of the Office of Public Works have admission fees and the capacity to accept bookings online. [22763/20]
- Traffic Management
117. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expected start date and completion date of the proposed consultation process on a Phoenix Park traffic management strategy. [22895/20]
- Departmental Budgets
118. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an updated projection for spending by each Department on the basis of the Exchequer figures for August 2020; and if...
- Flood Relief Schemes
119. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding flooding in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23000/20]
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Clár Éire Ildánach
120. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht conas a chuireann scéim na Scoileanna Ildánacha an Ghaeilge agus na healaíona teanga-bhunaithe chun cinn. [22796/20]
- Maoiniú d'Fhoras na Gaeilge
122. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cad é a barúil maidir leis an maoiniú do Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge a bheith laghdaithe faoina leath ó...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Residential Tenancies Board
123. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of eviction notices registered with the Residential Tenancies Board since 1 August 2020; the breakdown of reasons...
- Tenant Purchase Scheme
124. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the report into the tenant purchase scheme will be published; if the issues relating to income from social welfare and...
- Housing Data
125. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average cost of turnkey social housing units per unit by local authority in each of the years 2017 to 2019, in tabular...
- Approved Housing Bodies
127. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the establishment of an approved housing body SPV for the purposes of drawing down funding from bodies such as...
- Irish Water
130. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of negotiations between Irish Water, a committee (details supplied) and his Department on the creation of a single...
- Homeless Persons Data
131. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his response to the recent spike in deaths of persons accessing homeless services; and his plans to address the growing human...
- Homelessness Strategy
132. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the minutes of his weekly meetings with homeless service providers will be published. [22826/20]
- Local Authority Funding
133. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the projected shortfall in rates and non-rates funding for local authorities by council for 2019; the estimated additional...
- Departmental Functions
134. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the functions transferred to his Department as part of the reconfiguration of the Department to include issues pertaining to...
- Proposed Legislation
135. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeline for the publication of the final general scheme of the marine planning and development Bill. [22835/20]
- National Parks and Wildlife Service
136. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeline and draft terms of reference for the review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service; and if the Committee will...
- Social and Affordable Housing
137. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average cost of Part V social housing units by local authority for 2017, 2018 and 2019. [22837/20]
- Planning Issues
138. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when funding for a development (details supplied) will be approved. [22877/20]
- Land Development Agency
139. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the statutory basis on which the Land Development Agency is engaged in masterplanning exercises on lands in Limerick city and...
- Coastal Erosion
140. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will give urgent consideration to a national buy-out scheme for families whose family homes are in imminent danger of...
- Ministerial Meetings
141. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has met lobbyists or representatives of residential developers or investment funds to discuss the introduction of a...
- Middle East
143. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to ensure that Ireland uses its international influence, especially among the EU Foreign Affairs Council, to end a blockade of...
- Middle East Peace Process
144. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps taken since the formation of the Government to advance a Middle East peace process and build a consensus at EU level to take a...
- United Nations
147. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the commitment by Ireland to fund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees; and if he...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces Transport
148. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount spent by the Defence Forces on replacing motorcycles in the escort of honour in 2019. [22740/20]
- Air Corps
149. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the full-year cost of recruiting ten additional aircraft technicians in the helicopter wing of the Air Corps. [22741/20]
- Defence Forces Equipment
150. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount spent on purchasing new fire appliances for the Defence Forces fire services in 2019 and to date in 2020; and the frequency with...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Brexit Issues
151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that students from Northern Ireland will not be requested to pay non-EU fees to study here regardless of ongoing Brexit...
- Student Universal Support Ireland
152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on setting SUSI grant eligibility at an appropriate level to provide real equality of access to third level education. [22555/20]
- School Staff
153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a review will be undertaken of the case of a teacher (details supplied) in County Louth who recently underwent major surgery; and if she will...
- Special Educational Needs
154. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the SNA exceptional review process will be expedited in respect of the case of a child (details supplied) in County Louth; if it will be...
- School Staff
155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if reductions in teacher numbers will be frozen until such time that schools (details supplied) in County Louth have managed the Covid-19...
- School Accommodation
156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a detailed design stage application submitted by a school (details supplied) will be approved to allow the additional accommodation approved...
- Summer Works Scheme
157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to an application for summer works by a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; if the application will be...
- School Transport
158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for concessionary tickets for school transport refused in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be awarded funding to help with the extra costs of reopening to ensure the students and staff are as safe as...
- School Staff
160. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the appeals board has considered an application for the appointment of a mainstream class teacher for a school (details supplied) in County...
- School Transport
161. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport will be provided to pupils (details supplied) in view of the fact that they are medical card holders and entitled to school...
- Schools Building Projects
162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied). [22866/20]
- School Transport
163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that have been refused school bus tickets in 2020; the number of appeals submitted against decisions to refuse school bus...
- Special Educational Needs Staff
165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that have appealed their special needs assistant and special education teaching allocations by county. [22966/20]
- School Transport
166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport will be provided to a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22986/20]
- Supervision and Substitution Scheme
167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to set up a teacher supply panel for the primary schools for the area of north-west Connemara, County Galway in view of the fact that...
- Question Heading for question(s) 168
168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has received an application from residents of Inisbofin Island, County Galway to set up a post-primary school; if so, when a...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the advice, support and guidelines in relation to school reopening that have been established for parents that have serious underlying conditions...
- Schools Building Projects
170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when planning permission will be submitted for the new Dún Laoghaire Educate Together; the timeline she envisages for this school to be...
- School Enrolments
171. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated number of children enrolled in primary schools for the 2020-2021 school year; the number of children enrolled at post-primary...
- School Staff
172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of ending pay inequality in the education system; the estimated cost of introducing a single tier pay scale for all teachers...
- Capitation Grants
173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full year and first year cost in 2021 of increasing the capitation grant per pupil for primary schools to €200 and the rate...
- DEIS Scheme
174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional supports provided to DEIS schools by type; the overall cost of the scheme; the estimated cost to provide a 50% increase in...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of each one point reduction in class size at primary level; the staffing schedule at primary level; the national pupil teacher ratio;...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount of additional funding drawn as part of the plan to reopen schools; if the full €75 million was used for minor capital...
- School Accommodation
179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional prefab classrooms that were funded as part of the plan to reopen schools; the cost and average cost for the additional...
- School Staff
180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional secondary school teachers hired as part of package for reopening schools; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Summer Works Scheme
182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent on the summer works scheme in each of the years 2018 to 2020 by primary and post-primary level; the number of schools grant...
- Physical Education
183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of secondary schools without a PE hall or requiring a new purpose built PE hall; her plans to provide same; the amount projected for...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Benefits
185. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the financial assistance available to persons affected by severe flooding in the Clifden area of County Galway on 1 and 2...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
187. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reclassify the pandemic unemployment payment as a permanent payment as with the jobseeker’s scheme and...
- Back to Education Allowance
188. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a change of strategy in respect of back to education allowance eligibility criteria has been deployed in respect of...
- Disability Allowance
190. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing disability allowance from €203 to €209 per week. [22745/20]
- Free Travel Scheme
191. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in 2021 if the budget for free travel scheme increased by 5%; and the estimated cost in 2021. [22762/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
192. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if those on the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment are eligible for the springboard conversion programme; and if she will...
- Free Travel Scheme
193. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the free travel scheme to all children under 18 years of age and all students in higher level...
- Community Employment Schemes
194. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 329 of 20 November 2019, when the outcome of the discussions between her Department and...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
195. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the legal framework for persons that were made redundant during the Covid-19 pandemic and have to date been unable to access...
- State Pensions
196. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the qualifying age for the State pension will not rise to 67 in 2021 as per the programme for Government commitment; and...
- Carer's Allowance
197. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address the case of a person (details supplied). [22898/20]
- Flexible Work Practices
198. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has undertaken an analysis of whether a German-style short-time working scheme based on the kurzarbeit model could be...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
199. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she plans to end the temporary suspension of certain redundancy provisions in order that persons that are laid off...
- Carer's Allowance
200. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if assistance can be offered to expedite a carer’s allowance review for a person (details supplied); and if she will...
- Public Services Card
201. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when full appointments will be available for those applying for the public services card; the reason for the continued delay...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
202. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports in place for parents of children that are sent home from school as a result of Covid-19 and that therefore have...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Covid-19 Pandemic
204. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding for playgrounds will be significantly increased in view of the importance of such facilities during and post the Covid-19...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Cúram agus Oideachas na Luath-Óige
205. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality cad iad na pleananna atá ag a Roinn chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i measc an aosa óig lasmuigh de...
- Department of Education and Skills
- State Examinations
206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the analysis his Department has carried out with regard to the 20,000 CAO reapplicants whose college places could be jeopardised by inflated...
- Student Universal Support Ireland
207. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the impact on families in receipt of pandemic unemployment payment that will not be eligible for the...
- National Training Fund
209. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected yield from a 0.1% increase in 2021 in the national training fund levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22931/20]
- Third Level Fees
211. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will elaborate on his recent statement that student contribution fees are too high; and the timeline for the reduction of these fees. [22806/20]
- Third Level Education
212. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timetable for third level students due to graduate in 2020 but awaiting the completion of their practicum placements; the way in which the...
- Student Universal Support Ireland
213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the issue of eligibility for fee support via SUSI grants in cases in which the pandemic unemployment payment...
- Third Level Education
214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which third level students can access financial support to buy laptops for online learning; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Springboard Programme
215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment cannot be accepted for the Springboard programme; and if he will make a statement on...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional supports he plans to provide for mature students and others that are returning or commencing third level and further education...
- Departmental Priorities
218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his vision for the further and higher education, research, innovation and science sector with particular reference to the need to compete on the...
- Third Level Education
219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the development of an enhanced polytechnic equivalent here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22972/20]
- Departmental Priorities
220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the role he sees for the further and higher education, research, innovation and science sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Third Level Education
221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his ambition for the development of a ready supply of graduates specialising in research in the future; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which challenges arising in the course of the Covid-19 crisis have identified the need for specific educational response at third...
- Higher Education Institutions
223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which the higher level education sector is in discussion with business and enterprise with a view to matching requirements in the...
- Third Level Education
228. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated number of students that will be enrolled in higher education in the 2020/2021 academic year; the number enrolled at further...
- Technological Universities
229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that Dundalk Institute of Technology is the only institute of technology not to have formally linked into a consortium to...
- Student Accommodation
230. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the discussions that have taken place with the private purpose-built student accommodation providers regarding the provision of flexible...
- Apprenticeship Programmes
231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing apprentice fees by 20%, 50% and 100%, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23023/20]
- Student Universal Support Ireland
232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to decrease the qualifying criteria for the non-adjacent rate of the SUSI grant from 45km to 24km; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service
234. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address concerns raised that persons trying to obtain an appointment with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration...
- Residency Permits
235. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the processing time for a residency extension application and the return of passports will be shortened in order that...
- Naturalisation Applications
236. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for significant delays to applications for naturalisation; the process generally; and if she will make a statement...
- Liquor Licences
237. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of licensed premises prosecuted for offences under section 17(3) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 in 2018, 2019...
- Garda Transport Provision
238. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars and vans attached to each Garda district in Dublin as of 2 September 2020, in tabular form. [22749/20]
- Direct Provision System
240. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of single rooms provided within the direct provision system; the criteria for allocation of single rooms; and if she...
- International Protection
242. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the waiting period for labour market access for those in the international protection process will be shortened from nine...
- Citizenship Applications
243. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for citizenship by a person (details supplied) will be progressed to decision stage; and if she will make a...
- International Protection
244. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a person (details supplied) having links to anti-migrant groups; her views on whether this...
- Garda Operations
245. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the scoping exercise for Drogheda, County Louth announced on 21 August 2020; the date of commencement and other...
- Proposed Legislation
246. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to update Public Dance Halls Act 1935. [22884/20]
- Closed-Circuit Television Systems
247. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community-based CCTV applications in Cork awaiting approval; when such applications will be finalised; and if she...
- Department of Health
- Covid-19 Pandemic
249. To ask the Minister for Health if other alternatives were examined to ensure that non-compliant businesses were more effectively targeted rather than increasing the cost and administrative...
- Hospital Appointments Status
251. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment. [22712/20]
- Paediatric Services
253. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the paediatric diabetes nurse service in Tullamore and Mullingar hospitals (details supplied); and when this service will resume in either...
- Counselling Services
254. To ask the Minister for Health the number of addiction counsellors and family support counsellors that have been hired to date with regard to the promised alcohol addiction treatment service...
- Hospital Facilities
256. To ask the Minister for Health the increase in the number of spaces available in intensive care units since 1 January 2020. [22725/20]
- Hospital Equipment
257. To ask the Minister for Health the increase in individual ventilator units available in hospitals since 1 January 2020. [22726/20]
- Hospital Appointments Status
258. To ask the Minister for Health the reason services are not being scheduled for a child with special needs (details supplied); the reason for the delay in view of the fact that they...
- Hospital Procedures
259. To ask the Minister for Health the number of kidney transplant surgeries carried out at CHI, Crumlin in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [22751/20]
- Ophthalmology Services
260. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to support the expansion of community ophthalmology in each CHO. [22752/20]
- Maternity Services
261. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated additional cost of ensuring each maternity hospital has access to foetal anomaly screening; and the breakdown in terms of equipment and staff....
- Autism Support Services
262. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which the additional €2 million allocation was spent in 2020 to improve autism health services. [22758/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
263. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department and the HSE will review and relax their admissions policy for maternity hospitals and wards to allow new fathers attend the postnatal ward to...
- Nursing Education
264. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department and the HSE will review their policy for student nurses renumeration and show regard to frontline workers that worked at the height of the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
265. To ask the Minister for Health if a special provision will be made available for school principals to contact in relation to health-related queries and concerns in the school setting similar...
- General Practitioner Services
266. To ask the Minister for Health when the expansion of general practitioner care without charges to all children aged 12 years of age and under will come into effect. [22816/20]
- Medical Cards
267. To ask the Minister for Health when the increase to gross income limits for medical card eligibility for persons aged 70 years of age or older will come into effect. [22817/20]
- Hospital Appointments Status
268. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22838/20]
- Trade Fairs
270. To ask the Minister for Health when business to business trade fairs will be permitted to recommence. [22840/20]
- Hospital Services
271. To ask the Minister for Health the rationale behind the decision to relocate acute services for children in the national children’s hospital to other hospitals; if this is a permanent...
- Disability Services Provision
272. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) will no longer be provided funding for care from 30 September 2020 despite the fact that they have severe disabilities...
- Occupational Therapy
273. To ask the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists hired from each university by the HSE in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the number of graduates in...
- Dental Services
274. To ask the Minister for Health if an alternative dental appointment can be provided by the HSE in respect of a person (details supplied) who has been refused care in a number of DTSS...
- Medicinal Products
275. To ask the Minister for Health the date his Department received the final report by a company (details supplied) into its independent external review of the HSE medicine reimbursement...
- Rare Diseases Strategy
277. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to publish an updated national rare disease plan as per the Programme for Government; when he expects to publish the plan; and if he will make a...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
278. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for the rheumatology department in University Hospital Kerry; and the length of time persons are awaiting an...
- Rare Diseases Strategy
279. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the work of the rare diseases technology review committee of the HSE; the meetings it has held to date in 2020, in tabular form; the meetings and...
- Medicinal Products
280. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the reimbursement of the drug osimertinib for lung cancer in a first line setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22874/20]
- Health Services Staff
281. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the recruitment shortfall in the medical science profession; the reason for staff shortages in hospital laboratories; and if he has had...
- Commencement of Legislation
282. To ask the Minister for Health when he will commence the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Vaccination Programme
283. To ask the Minister for Health if the HPV vaccine is available under the drugs payment scheme for an adult that has gone through a colposcopy and that has received a prescription for the HPV...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
285. To ask the Minister for Health if a toddler group or play café can continue to operate in a parish hall or community centre for more than six persons; and if he will make a statement on...
- Health Services Staff
287. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the restoration of pay for staff in outstanding section 39 funded organisations; the funding that has allocated for this in 2020 and 2021; the...
- Prescriptions Charges
290. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the planned reduction in prescription charges from budget 2020; when it will be implemented; the additional funding that was provided to his...
- Health Services
291. To ask the Minister for Health the status of plans for a free contraception service, as recommended by the Oireachtas Committee on the Eight Amendment to the Constitution; his plans to...
- Prescriptions Charges
292. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2021 of reducing prescription charges for all persons to €1 per item with a cap of €10 and to €1.50 per item with a...
- Hospital Charges
293. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2021 of removing all inpatient hospital charges, all out patient hospital charges, all emergency hospital charges, all long-term stay...
- Medical Cards
294. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing medical cards in 2021 to all terminally ill patients and those diagnosed with cancer, respectively; and if he will make a...
- Home Care Packages
296. To ask the Minister for Health the funding provided for the home support service in 2020; the number of home care packages funded; the projected additional cost of providing a home care...
- Vaccination Programme
297. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of the 'flu vaccine programme in 2020; the additional costs arising from the recently announced measures; the number of doses expected to be provided...
- General Practitioner Services
298. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing free general practitioner care to all children under 18; the status of the current roll-out programme; the additional funding...
- Vaccination Programme
299. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing the HPV vaccine for free to adults who have not received it but want to access it through their general practitioner; and if he...
- Hospital Funding
300. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address the current funding imbalance for University Hospital Limerick compared to other model 4 national hospitals to bring it to the national...
- Data Protection
302. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a data protection impact assessment was not carried out prior to the public consultation on recommendations for the implementation of a national...
- Patient Files
303. To ask the Minister for Health the proposed parameters for access to health data on the national electronic patient summary; if all healthcare professionals will have access to a patient's...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Timber Supply
309. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a biotic threat potential may be posed by the proposal to import de-barked timber...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
310. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if supports are available for local resource centres and community halls which have not had significant room hire income for most of...
- LEADER Programmes
311. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a group (details supplied) can expect further allocations for LEADER funding to advance expression of interest applications on...
