Written answers
Thursday, 1 October 2020
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Pleanáil Teanga
12. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht maidir le ceist uimhir 310 ar an 28ú Iúil 2020, an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar stádas Phlean Teanga...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
14. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extra supports that have been made available for athletes whose participation in the 2020 Summer Olympics and Summer...
- Arts Policy
15. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the actions taken to date to support the events industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27378/20]
- Irish Language
16. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports that have been put in place to support and encourage Irish-speaking communities outside the Gaeltacht and increase...
- Ministerial Meetings
17. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of her recent meetings with sporting organisations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Craoltóirí Seirbhíse Poiblí
19. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cé na céimeanna a ghlacfaidh sí chun a chinntiú go ndéanfaidh RTÉ agus craoltóirí...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
20. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if supports will be made available to the tourism sector in view of the July stimulus package (details supplied); and if he will...
- Island Communities
22. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made on the ionad pobail on Inis Meáin, which was approved under the national development plan; the...
- Stadium Projects
23. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the redevelopment of Dalymount Park; and the timeline and funds allocated. [27428/20]
- Sports Funding
24. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the suggested €3.5 million will be allocated to clubs (details supplied) to keep them functioning into 2021 and...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
25. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports available to the tourist industry, including tour operators and guides, in view of the extent of Covid-19; and if she...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
29. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress of the arts and culture recovery task force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27359/20]
- Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta
30. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cé na pleananna atá beartaithe ag an Rialtas maidir le tithíocht agus pleanáil tí sa Ghaeltacht, chun...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
31. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports for artistic venues and enterprises that are not supported through the Arts Council and which face closures without...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
32. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of bed and breakfasts that have availed of the restart grant since she announced that bed and breakfasts could avail of...
- Sports Events
33. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to extending an invitation to the organisers of the Tour de France (details supplied) for future...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
34. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the recommendations she has made for budget 2021 that will provide additional supports to performers, artists and arts workers...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
36. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the actions taken to date to promote continued participation in sport during Covid-19. [27522/20]
- Sports Capital Programme
37. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when sports capital grants will be released in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27519/20]
- Film Industry
38. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if it is a condition of being granted a film certificate that a producer company, together with the qualifying company, is required...
- Departmental Strategies
39. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the mission statement of her Department in respect of media, tourism, arts, culture, sport and the Gaeltacht, with particular...
- Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta
40. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht céard iad na tosaíochtaí beartais atá aici i leith na Gaeilge don bhliain seo romhainn; cá mhéad...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
42. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has increased the funding available to disability groups to provide sporting opportunities to those with a disability during...
- Fostaíocht sa Ghaeltacht
43. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht céard atá déanta ag a Roinn chun cuideachtaí a mhealladh go hEastát Tionscail na Tulaí i mBaile na...
- Údarás na Gaeltachta
44. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht maidir le cliantchomhlachtaí Údarás na Gaeltachta, an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar líon na...
- Tourism Promotion
45. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to further promote and expand the tourism offering of the midlands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27382/20]
- Pleanáil Teanga
47. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil coinníollacha teanga i bpleanáil tithíochta agus forbartha sna ceantair Ghaeltachta pléite aici leis...
- Arts Funding
48. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will keep to the aim of the previous Government of doubling the arts budget by 2025; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Tourist Accommodation
49. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a financial scheme will be introduced to assist local authorities to develop areas for use by motorhome and camper van owners....
- Gaelcholáistí Issues
50. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she envisages the Irish-language summer schools in the Gaeltacht proceeding in 2021 as they are a vital resource for rural...
- Irish Language
51. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to restoring pre-recession funding to the development scheme for Irish run by an organisation...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
53. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the actions taken to date to support high-performance athletes during Covid-19 restrictions. [27521/20]
- Film Industry
54. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that two of the major film producer companies here currently engaged in co-productions...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
55. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to support cultural events in line with the recently published Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with...
- Sports Funding
56. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timeline for the reopening of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund; the amount of funding to be allocated to the next...
- Tourism Promotion
57. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress of plans to promote areas such as the Lee valley as being near the Wild Atlantic Way; and if she will make a statement...
- Film Industry
58. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has engaged with the Minister for Finance ahead of budget 2021 on the ongoing need to ensure that the tax regime here...
- Culture Policy
59. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 22 July 2020, the status of the performance delivery agreement with Galway 2020; if the...
- Tourism Policy
60. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of consideration of the report by the tourism recovery task force. [27379/20]
- Toghcháin d'Údarás na Gaeltachta
61. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil an t-athbhreithniú arna ghealladh ar struchtúr Údarás na Gaeltachta tosaithe go fóill; an...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
63. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of safety guidelines for the events and music sector to continue their trade in bars and music venues. [26591/20]
- Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla
64. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cá bhfuil na dréacht-chaighdeáin teanga do Bhille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a gealladh sa Chlár Rialtais...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
65. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports in place for sporting organisations whose running costs remain the same but have lost income as a result of reduced...
- Sports Organisations
67. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an association (details supplied) will be encouraged to roll out pay equality for the senior Irish women's football team with...
- Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla
68. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cén dáta a fhoilseofar Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [27094/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
69. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which she can assist the events, tourism and sport sectors which have been severely and negatively hit by the...
- Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment
- Enterprise Ireland
70. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the case of a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27831/20]
- Youth Unemployment
71. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment if he has reviewed the detailed report written by a person (details supplied) regarding the threat to 114,000 jobs, many among younger...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Legislative Measures
72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if legislation will be introduced requiring companies to offer customers an email contact for purposes such as...
- Air Pollution
73. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position on banning smoky coal fuel; and if provisions will be made for exemptions for certain vintage machinery...
- Air Quality
74. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the Environmental Protection Agency air quality report; the steps he...
- Climate Action Plan
75. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the category and weighting used for consideration of projects under the climate action fund; and if he will make a...
- Air Pollution
76. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to ensure that smoky coal cannot be imported from Northern Ireland after 31 December 2020; and if...
- EU Legislation
77. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration is being given to the need to ensure compliance with EU legislation in the context of a review of...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Bus Services
78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that drivers (details supplied) are being asked to work hours in contravention of the road...
- Airport Policy
80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the monitoring or oversight that occurs of aircraft arriving from abroad into airports owned by private persons or companies here; and if...
- Taxi Licences
83. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be a review of the changes to requirements for renewing PSV licences introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, which are...
- Transport Policy
84. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a proposal (details supplied) to use Covid-19 medical detention dogs at airports and ports, following the roll-out of the testing...
- Rail Network
85. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make Irish Rail carriage numbers more visible to assist persons identifying the carriages they are on in order to report...
- Driver Licences
86. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to extending driver licences due to expire in the coming months to reflect the significant backlog in...
- Driver Test
87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a significant waiting list for driver theory tests for the C licence which is...
- Departmental Correspondence
88. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28017/20]
- Department of Finance
- Insurance Coverage
89. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the issue of the inability of small tourism companies such as a company (details supplied) to attain insurance; if the...
- Tax Reliefs
90. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated full-year cost of uncollected tax revenue as a result of persons offsetting their private health insurance costs against tax liabilities [27804/20]
- EU Funding
91. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount the State has drawn down under the European Commission instrument named temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency; and if he...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
92. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider reviewing the 30% cap on the employment wage subsidy scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28019/20]
- Tax Reliefs
93. To ask the Minister for Finance if the young trained farmer stamp duty relief age limit will be increased to 40 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27701/20]
- Tax Code
94. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of the various business tax deferral schemes in place as a result of Covid-19; if the schemes will be extended beyond 2021; his views on...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
95. To ask the Minister for Finance the instructions and correspondence he issued to the Revenue Commissioners regarding the way in which the treatment of tax liabilities by Revenue for...
- Tax Collection
96. To ask the Minister for Finance the taxes levied on aviation fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27850/20]
- Carbon Tax Yield
97. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to increase carbon tax on solid fuel products in Budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27949/20]
- Tax Reliefs
98. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing an increase in tax relief on intracytoplasmic sperm treatment costs for young couples that at present face costs of anything...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
99. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners will be instructed to conduct an audit and review of the operation of the temporary wage subsidy and employment wage subsidy...
- Tax Clearance Certificates
100. To ask the Minister for Finance if the case of a person (details supplied) will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28000/20]
- Exchequer Deficit
101. To ask the Minister for Finance the expected deficit in 2021 in nominal and percentage GDP terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28039/20]
- Carbon Tax Yield
102. To ask the Minister for Finance if an increase in the carbon tax in 2021 is already included within the base for 2021; if so, if it will be a discretionary tax measure; and if no further...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
103. To ask the Minister for Finance if and when Covid-19 support payments are likely to be made in the case of employee directors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28062/20]
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Flood Risk Management
104. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the dates since 2016 the Shannon flood risk State agency co-ordination working group has met, either in person or virtually. [27738/20]
- Budget Targets
105. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the projected additional expenditure for 2021 in comparison with 2020 disaggregated by precommitted, Covid-19-related and Brexit-related...
- Public Sector Pensions
106. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of employees across the entire public sector with accumulated pensions in excess of €1.2 million and €1.5...
- Flood Prevention Measures
108. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of applications received via CFRAM for river management works in 2017, 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, by local authority in...
- Flood Relief Schemes
112. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of applications received under flood compensation schemes from 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020, by local authority in...
- Flood Prevention Measures
115. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of flood defence works by local authority in tabular form. [27737/20]
- Public Procurement Contracts
116. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures being put in place to expedite public works contract tendering (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Garda Stations
117. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the new Garda headquarters at Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8; the estimated initial cost of the project; the updated...
- Departmental Properties
118. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the transfer value of a site from the OPW portfolio to the Courts Service portfolio for the Family Court complex at Hammond Lane, Dublin...
- River Basin Management Plans
120. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to the decision of December 2019 to invest €7 million to advance a maintenance programme on the River Shannon; the...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Sports Funding
122. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the importance of investment in sport as set out in the national sports policy; if she will continue to increase...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
123. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific support she plans to put in place to help operators of an event (details supplied) whose business has crashed due to...
- Legislative Process
124. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the progression of the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019. [27520/20]
- Swimming Pool Programme
125. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a subvention scheme will be reintroduced for public and community-run swimming pools in budget 2021 in order to sustain open...
- Corporate Governance
126. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the oversight in place within her Department to monitor the spending of State funds and governance matters in an organisation...
- Sport Ireland
127. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the involvement and-or engagement of a person (details supplied) with Sport Ireland and an organisation; the amount...
- Garda Deployment
128. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if An Garda Síochána will be requested to appoint or assign to Gaeltacht areas gardaí who are fluent in the Irish...
- Sports Capital Programme
129. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the procedure for the disposal or distribution of assets and equipment funded by the sports capital scheme in the event of the...
- Radio Broadcasting
130. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of all State funding for local radio stations in 2019 and 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Social Media Regulation
131. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether there is a need for adherence to certain standards in social media thereby ensuring customer confidence and...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
133. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which the tourism sector can be further assisted in the short and medium term given the severe impact of Covid-19 on...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
139. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she can take to promote and develop the recovery of sport in Ireland with particular reference to the restrictions...
- Irish Language
141. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her vision for the promotion of the Irish language in all areas throughout the country in the future; and if she will make a...
- Island Communities
142. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she foresees opportunities to improve the conditions of life on the islands with particular reference to...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Weather Events
143. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of flood events from 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020, by local authority in tabular form. [27735/20]
- Licence Applications
144. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of deer hunting licences waiting to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27741/20]
- Property Registration Authority
146. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the waiting times for the key functions of the Land Registry including the stamping of deeds, registering of conveyances; and...
- Local Authority Funding
147. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the breakdown of the local authority funding provided from central Government in each of the years 2010 to 2019, inclusive, in...
- Waterways Ireland
148. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the protocol for the closure of sluice gates in Athlone and the dates in July 2020 that the ESB closed sluice gates in...
- Heritage Promotion
149. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the heritage in schools programme will return. [27725/20]
- Waterways Issues
151. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the works carried out by local authorities in respect of maintenance work on the River Shannon; and the cost of each project...
- Pyrite Remediation Programme
152. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of a remediation scheme for those who have been affected by pyrite in their homes, including those who have not...
- Local Authority Housing
153. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the making of a differential rents scheme will be moved from an executive function to a reserved function of local...
- Local Authority Functions
155. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on issues in the Part 8 process since the amalgamation of north and south Tipperary county councils in circumstances...
- Legislative Programme
157. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he plans to bring forward the referendum on the right to housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27782/20]
- Local Authority Housing
159. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated funding that will be needed to bring all vacant local authority housing up to a liveable standard in counties...
- Irish Water
160. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of staff directly employed by Irish Water; the number of staff employed through contracted services; the cost of...
- Social and Affordable Housing
161. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the provisions in place to avoid persons who are on the housing list as joint applicants being penalised when as a result of...
- Local Authority Functions
162. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the local authority supersedes the management agency in a housing estate after the taking-in-charge process has commenced;...
- Local Authority Funding
164. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if local authorities will receive additional funding from Government in view of significant losses due to Covid-19; the...
- Flood Prevention Measures
167. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding dredging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28018/20]
- Local Authority Functions
168. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the SHD legislation, which has removed the statutory role of the planning authorities and their members and...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Foreign Conflicts
169. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the military attack by Azerbaijani forces on the Armenian territories of Nagorno-Karabakh which occurred at the end of September 2020 and...
- Department of Defence
- Military Honours
170. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a 1916 centenary medal will be awarded to a person (details supplied) who served for 45 years in the Reserve Defence Force until they retired...
- Residential Institutions Redress Scheme
171. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of redress of wrongs for which a decision is outstanding; the date of submission of each; when a decision will be made; and if he...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Covid-19 Pandemic
172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an entire class must isolate in the event of one positive case of Covid-19, even if the close contacts of the student test negative. [27749/20]
- State Examinations
173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will direct the calculated grades executive office for its most rapid response to students who appealed their calculated grades via the...
- Speech and Language Therapy
175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if external services to schools such as speech and language therapists during Covid-19 will be allowed to resume; if not, when the services will...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio from 1:27 to 1:15. [27811/20]
- School Staff
177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of bringing all currently employed school secretaries under the direct employment of her Department. [27812/20]
- Schools Building Projects
178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to develop the permanent school site for a school (details supplied); the reason the development of the site has been delayed; and if...
- State Examinations
180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the principles that underpinned the standardisation approach that was used to adjust the calculated grades made by teachers; the protections that...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the lack of teacher-student interaction in circumstances in which remote learning is required due to the...
- School Transport
182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision made by the school transport scheme will be reviewed; if a ticket for a child (details supplied) will be allocated on...
- School Equipment
183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a grant or scheme is available to schools to help with the purchase of yard equipment, for example, playground equipment; if funding is...
- Covid-19 Tests
184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school children who have tested positive for Covid-19 since school resumption up to 25 September 2020; and the number of...
- Special Educational Needs
186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for additional ASD capacity in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28014/20]
- School Transport
188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Bus Éireann will supply a school bus service to a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter regarding the lack of masks and social distancing on school transport for a school (details supplied); and if she will make...
- School Transport
190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if access to a concessionary school bus seat can be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- State Examinations
191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a standardisation process will be applied to the marking of the small group of students sitting the leaving certificate exams in November...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Civil Registration Service
192. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the public registrations office in Longford will reopen. [27705/20]
- Social Welfare Payments Administration
193. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she plans to return any social welfare payments to a weekly basis. [27706/20]
- Fuel Allowance
194. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the fuel allowance eligibility criteria will be reviewed for those in receipt of the full-rate carer's allowance. [27707/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
195. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when pandemic unemployment payment arrears will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- Social Insurance
196. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons who were paid the pandemic unemployment payment will receive a PRSI credit for their time on the payment similar...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
197. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if taxable income as verified by the Revenue Commissioners' tax returns is used as the basis for calculations for pandemic...
- Respite Care Grant
198. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of restoring the respite grant to its highest historical level. [27809/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
199. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of the pandemic unemployment payment at current levels from now until the end of 2021. [27810/20]
- Employment Support Services
201. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of the additional 3,000 places for employment support schemes announced in July 2020 that will be allocated to...
- Community Employment Schemes
202. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will remove the requirement for community scheme participants aged 55 years and over who have completed three years on...
- Employment Support Services
203. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of places approved nationwide for Tús schemes; the number of participants on such schemes; and if she will...
- Youth Work Supports
204. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of places approved nationwide for the youth employment support scheme; the number of participants on the scheme;...
- Community Employment Schemes
205. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for community employment supervisors...
- Departmental Staff
208. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of social welfare inspectors in her Department. [27953/20]
- Social Welfare Inspections
209. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of inspections carried out by social welfare inspectors in each of the years 2012 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the...
- Invalidity Pension
212. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- Fuel Allowance
213. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the fuel allowance will be paid to those in receipt of the State pension paid every second week; the way in which those...
- Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme
214. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who previously received the back to school clothing and footwear allowance automatically but did not in...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
215. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons on each of the three payment rates of the pandemic unemployment payment; the number of new applications...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
216. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can be provided with a payment from her Department while they are undertaking an unpaid...
- Community Employment Schemes
217. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the interdepartmental review into community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
218. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the payments of arrears will be processed for persons who have been in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment...
- Social Welfare Inspections
219. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of complaints made in respect of social welfare inspectors by year from when records commenced by area office in...
- Fuel Allowance
220. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if and when the free fuel allowance will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Widow's Pension
222. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when consideration for a widow's pension will be concluded and the pension awarded in the case of a person (details...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
223. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if and when Covid-19 support payments are likely to be made in the case of employee directors; and if she will make a...
- JobPath Programme
224. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in each county that engaged with JobPath in each year since it began; and the number whose employment...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Early Childhood Care and Education
225. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding an exemption for a preschool place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27950/20]
- Child and Family Agency
226. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of referrals made to Tusla that were investigated in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, by county in tabular form. [27716/20]
- Social Workers Register
231. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of complaints made to CORU in respect of social workers by county in tabular form. [27721/20]
- Childcare Costs
232. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding available in the childminding development grant; the number of applications received to date in 2020; the amount of funding...
- Youth Services
233. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to increase funding to youth services in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27835/20]
- Asylum Seekers
234. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding provided to his Department to support the work of the dedicated separated children seeking asylum team in Tusla in each year...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Student Universal Support Ireland
235. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether it is right that persons in receipt of a SUSI grant who live 45 km or more from the college they attend are being refused...
- Third Level Admissions
236. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a mechanism to address a person's situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27838/20]
- Student Universal Support Ireland
237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the support available to students of families who would qualify for SUSI grants if it were not for the residency condition. [27777/20]
- Third Level Staff (1 comment)
238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the use of postgraduates in precarious positions for teaching and other duties is increasing in...
- Apprenticeship Programmes
239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27957/20]
- Third Level Fees
240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it will be ensured that college registration fees are reduced in line with the reduction in face-to-face contact with students by lecturers...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Citizenship Applications
241. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which the six-week absence rule is calculated in view of the fact that applicants are being given conflicting...
- State Pardons
242. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of efforts to pardon a person (details supplied); if the continuation of the process initiated by her immediate...
- Child and Family Agency
243. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of referrals made by gardaí to Tusla by county in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [27722/20]
- Probate Data
245. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the waiting times for the granting of probate in the Probate Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27764/20]
- Rights of People with Disabilities
246. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the first report to the United Nations on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with...
- Irish Prison Service
248. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a recruitment moratorium is in place for the Irish Prison Service at present; if so, when new recruits will fill their...
- Garda Districts
250. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the situation in which policing in an area (details supplied) is delivered by Garda stations...
- Prisoner Welfare
251. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has expressed concern to the Irish Prison Service about conditions in the Dóchas Centre for female prisoners in...
- Judicial Council
252. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the Judicial Council Act 2019 will be fully commenced; and the reason for the delay in implementing its provisions. [27998/20]
- Closed-Circuit Television Systems
253. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce legislation to allow An Garda Síochána and county councils to become joint data controllers of...
- Garda Information and Communications Technology
254. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the measures taken by An Garda Síochána to upgrade the PULSE system to capture hate-related motivations...
- Deportation Orders
255. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the humanitarian grounds already listed in the case of a person (details supplied) can be used as a sufficient case for the...
- Asylum Seekers
256. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of minors who have sought asylum after they arrived unannounced at ports or airports from 2011 to date; the ages of...
- Department of Health
- Prescriptions Charges
257. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the reduction in prescription charges in budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services Staff
258. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the roadmap for returning staff redeployed to Covid-19 duties back to their previous positions; and if he will make a statement...
- Covid-19 Tests
259. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for recruiting persons to perform swabbing duties in testing centres. [27710/20]
- Home Care Packages
262. To ask the Minister for Health the average duration spent on the waiting list in counties Longford and Westmeath from when a client or his or her representative or family submits an...
- Abortion Services Provision
265. To ask the Minister for Health if the three-day waiting period with respect to termination of pregnancy services remains in place; if there are no plans to amend or abolish same; and if he...
- Covid-19 Tests
267. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a regional breakdown of testing timelines by county from a request by a general practitioner to receipt of results by the patient [27762/20]
- Medical Cards
268. To ask the Minister for Health when the threshold for over-70s medical card applications will increase from €500 to €550 for a single person and from €900 to...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
269. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for allowing couples from County Donegal to have weddings outside the county but not to allow couples from outside the county to have their wedding...
- Disability Services Data
271. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities who were entitled to day services in 2019; the number of persons who availed of day services in 2019; the number of...
- Respite Care Services
272. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who were entitled to respite services in 2019; the number of persons who availed of respite services in 2019; the number of persons who...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
273. To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe in which he plans to lift Covid-19 restrictions for trade fairs and exhibitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27793/20]
- Respite Care Services
274. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons with a disability who have been provided with respite care by county and by month to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
275. To ask the Minister for Health the date on which and the correspondence in which NPHET advised him that the lack of sick pay in some organisations and work settings was a concern with regard...
- Hospital Data
276. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of permanently increasing and staffing fully and on a permanent basis the number of acute beds to obtain 85% occupancy in the...
- Health Services Expenditure
278. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of the current levels of nursing home care provided through the public health system. [27800/20]
- Hospital Data
281. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of subsidies paid to the private hospital network. [27803/20]
- Covid-19 Tests
282. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of conducting 200,000 Covid-19 tests per week through the existing network of State-owned and operated medical laboratories. [27805/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
284. To ask the Minister for Health the manner in which the Covid-19 pen-and-paper tracking and tracing system is currently configured; the estimated full-year cost of operating the system; if...
- Health Services Staff
285. To ask the Minister for Health the number of public health consultants in the employ of the public health service; and the estimated full-year cost of employing them. [27808/20]
- Carer's Allowance
286. To ask the Minister for Health the reason carer's allowance is taken into account as income in assessing the means for medical card applicants over 70 years of age; and if he will make a...
- Mental Health Services
287. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the need for additional investment in mental health services in budget 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Cannabis for Medicinal Use
288. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements that were made while Covid-19 restrictions on travel were in place to accommodate persons using medicinal cannabis preparations under licence;...
- Departmental Expenditure
289. To ask the Minister for Health the amount his Department has paid to a company (details supplied) in 2020; and the projects the spend was for in tabular form. [27853/20]
- Health Screening Programmes
290. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the clearing of the CervicalCheck backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27854/20]
- HSE Staff
291. To ask the Minister for Health the changes that will be made to staffing recruitment under the winter plan 2020-21; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27855/20]
- Emergency Departments
292. To ask the Minister for Health the average patient experience time in Beaumont Hospital emergency department during the period September 2019 to February 2020; and if he will make a...
- Health Services Provision
352. To ask the Minister for Health the modular units due to open under the HSE winter plan 2020-21, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27920/20]
- National Treatment Purchase Fund
353. To ask the Minister for Health the amount drawn down from the National Treatment Purchase Fund by month in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on...
- Covid-19 Tests
355. To ask the Minister for Health if more pedestrian access Covid-19 testing facilities will be made available in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Galway and Limerick; and if he will make a statement...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
356. To ask the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department on PPE in each the months of January to September 2020; the amount his Department is expected to spend until year end 2020;...
- Ministerial Meetings
357. To ask the Minister for Health the number of engagements, either in person or by virtual platform, he has had with a union (details supplied) since taking office; and if he will make a...
- HSE Staff
363. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the decentralisation of staffing recruitment within the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27931/20]
- Nursing Staff
364. To ask the Minister for Health the number of nursing staff recruited on full-time contracts in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Consultancy Contracts
367. To ask the Minister for Health the number of hospital consultants recruited on full-time contracts in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Hospital Staff
368. To ask the Minister for Health the spend on agency staff in each HSE hospital from January to September 2020, by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27936/20]
- Disability Services Provision
371. To ask the Minister for Health the supports his Department has made available for persons with dementia or Alzheimer’s since the start of March 2020; and the supports planned for the...
- General Practitioner Services
373. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the practice of general practitioners charging medical card holders for blood tests, routine and otherwise, with some charges as high...
- Assisted Human Reproduction
376. To ask the Minister for Health if a plan will be put forward to regulate the intracytoplasmic sperm medical sector taking into account the high cost and the high differential charges that...
- Covid-19 Tests
378. To ask the Minister for Health the number of primary school children who have tested positive for Covid-19 since school resumption up to 25 September 2020; and the number of secondary school...
- Medical Cards
382. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27994/20]
- Maternity Services
383. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to ensure partners can attend appointments and births with women who are expecting babies to provide them with support at this very important time...
- Medical Cards
384. To ask the Minister for Health the quantity of MSUD covered under the medical card for persons who have been diagnosed with maple syrup disorder (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Vaccination Programme
385. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide clarity on the availability of adequate supplies of flu vaccine for the coming months. [28008/20]
- Health Services Staff
386. To ask the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department and the HSE using a recruitment firm (details supplied) to hire additional staff for the health service since the onset of...
- Hospital Appointments Status
388. To ask the Minister for Health when an appointment will be arranged for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28032/20]
- Medical Aids and Appliances
389. To ask the Minister for Health the reason dexcom G6 glucose monitoring systems are only available for those of certain ages through the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Dental Services
390. To ask the Minister for Health when the dental clinic will resume at Roscommon University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28034/20]
- Medical Aids and Appliances
391. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to extend the free use of FreeStyle Libre diabetes technology to those above 21 years of age who are on the long-term illness scheme. [28041/20]
- Hospital Appointments Status
392. To ask the Minister for Health if he will activate all necessary means of attention and support for a person (details supplied); if the case will be immediately examined with a view to...
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme
393. To ask the Minister for Health when applications for the fair deal scheme will be completed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28065/20]
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Fishing Communities
394. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27822/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
395. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the restrictions in place due to Covid-19 in respect of the importation of domestic animals and pets through Dublin Airport for...
- Forestry Sector
396. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the governing authority over the protection of the forest estate here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27758/20]
- Timber Supply
397. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to a ban on the importation of logs and timber from countries that have an infestation of the bark...
- Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme
398. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has not received an ANC payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27836/20]
- Tuberculosis Eradication Programme
399. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of Departmental spending on the tuberculosis eradication initiatives in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in...
- Agriculture Scheme Appeals
400. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers (details supplied) can appeal a decision on land eligibility to the independent agriculture appeals office; if they will...
- Na hOileáin amach ón gCósta
401. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine an bhfuil i gceist aige ardú a chu ar an íocaiocht ANC do na hoileáin amach ón gcosta i mbliana de bharr an...
- Fisheries Protection
402. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-registered Irish boats that were inspected by the SFPA within the past four years; and the number that received...
- Fishing Industry
405. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of the CFP allocated to training fishermen; the breakdown of the amount allocated to the SFPA, Board Iascaigh Mhara...
- Meat Processing Plants
406. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a company (details supplied) offering advice or representing persons or bodies from the meat...
- Teagasc Activities
407. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Teagasc has verified and qualified the science involved in the Bord Bia approved grass-fed standard; the tests Teagasc carried out...
- Bord Bia
408. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the correspondence or consultation that has taken place between An Bord Bia and the retailers, a group (details supplied) and the...
- Beef Industry
409. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the retailers have been invited to participate in the beef market task force regarding the PGI application; and if he will make a...
- Immigrant Investor Programme
410. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the doubts his Department reportedly expressed to the immigrant investor programme evaluation committee over the strategic value of a...
- Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme
412. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ANC payments held up as a result of satellite inspections by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Agriculture Schemes
413. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers can be notified after satellite inspections are carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28028/20]
- Agriculture Scheme Appeals
415. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding an appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28031/20]
- Agriculture Schemes
416. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) is entitled to an allocation from the national reserve and young farmers scheme; and if he will make a...
- Legislative Process
417. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an index of the submissions made to his Department with respect to the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill...
