Written answers
Thursday, 3 December 2020
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Community Employment Schemes
13. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider to community employment scheme participants nationwide that have missed out on four to five months on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
14. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if dependents of pandemic unemployment payment applicants can be added to their claim. [39988/20]
- Community Employment Schemes
15. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress made in providing community employment supervisors access to pensions in line with the 2008 Labour Court...
- Pensions Reform
16. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider requests to include representatives from organisations (details supplied) on the Pensions Commission....
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
17. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider provision for payment of the pandemic unemployment payment to high-risk childcare workers who have been...
- School Meals Programme
18. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39722/20]
- Social Welfare Benefits
19. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the means-testing arrangements for the State pension qualified adult payment; and if she will make a...
- Parental Leave
21. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the engagement she has had with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to progress the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
22. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the guidelines that Intreo offices have been issued in relation to the sanitisation of electronic signing equipment used by...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
23. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of self-employed persons who have benefited from the enterprise support grant to date; and if she will make a...
- Pensions Reform
24. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of legislation to stop the increase in the pension age. [39992/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
25. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of payments issued under the pandemic unemployment payment to date; the value of these payments; and if she will...
- Poverty Reduction
26. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which it is envisaged the poverty targets in the social inclusion roadmap will be achieved. [39664/20]
- Pensions Reform
27. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that persons who have worked all their lives and who are required by their employer to...
- Student Grant Scheme
28. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has met with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on the status of Covid-19...
- JobPath Programme
29. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for the future of the JobPath programme. [30676/20]
- Community Employment Schemes
30. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the number of places on community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Child Poverty
31. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on child poverty measures in Budget 2021 to increase social welfare payments by €2 per child under 12 and...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
32. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. [40081/20]
- Social Welfare Inspections
33. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of inspections carried out by inspectors by county since the start of public health restrictions. [39989/20]
- Domestic Violence Policy
35. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce paid leave from employment for those experiencing domestic violence. [40023/20]
- Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme
36. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider including the PCP in the WSS scheme administered by her Department (details supplied); and if she will...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
37. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the new €1,000 enterprise support grant for the self-employed;...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
39. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of pandemic unemployment payment recipients who are due arrears; and the date when payment on these arrears can be...
- Living Alone Allowance
40. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the increase to the living alone allowance as announced in budget 2021 will take effect; the number of persons in County...
- Community Employment Schemes
41. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if approval will be given to extend the duration of the community employment scheme without requiring additional qualifying...
- Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times
43. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting time for carer’s payments applications and for a review of decisions relating to same; and if she will make...
- Child Poverty
44. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress made in reaching the 2020 target to reduce by 66% from 2011 levels the number of children in consistent poverty...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
45. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the pandemic unemployment payment to persons over 66 years of age in the workforce; the estimated cost of...
- Living Alone Allowance
46. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the increase in the living alone allowance and the fuel allowance will take effect; the number of persons who will...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
47. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount of the funding issued through the restart grant plus scheme which has been sought back; and if there have been...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
48. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the impact of the move to level 5 on the budget of her Department for 2020. [40166/20]
- Post Office Network
49. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the engagement her Department has had with An Post in regard to expanding existing relationships with it; and if she will make...
- Pensions Reform
50. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the establishment of the Commission on Pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39998/20]
- Disability Allowance
54. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of disability study; if the disability allowance will be increased by €20 as a temporary measure...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
55. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if cuts made to the pandemic unemployment payment in September 2020 will be reversed in view of the increased restrictions...
- Public Employment Services
56. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has received the report carried out by external consultants to review all current contracted public employment...
- Carer's Support Grant
59. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who will benefit from the carer’s support grant in 2021; if this payment was increased in budget...
- Poverty Reduction
60. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the social inclusion roadmap; and the status of its implementation. [39663/20]
- School Meals Programme
61. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider a review of the current criteria for school meals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39856/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
63. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by artists and creatives in accessing the pandemic unemployment...
- Qualified Child Allowance
65. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the increases to the qualified child payments as announced in budget 2021 will take effect; the number of families that...
- Working Family Payment
66. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the review of working family payments and one parent family payments ahead of setting targets for 2021 following...
- Carer's Benefit
67. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will amend the PRSI contribution conditions for carer’s benefit to include class S self-employed contributions...
- Social Welfare Benefits
68. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase supports to family carers including amending eligibility criteria, increasing payment rates and...
- Poverty Reduction
72. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which she will address inequalities relating to poverty during 2021; the specific improvements she will make in...
- Social Welfare Benefits
73. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the Christmas bonus will be paid; the number of persons in County Wexford who will benefit from the bonus; and if she...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
74. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will ensure that all workers from the performing arts and live entertainments industries including those who by the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
75. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to support persons back to education and back to work in response to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on...
- Free Travel Scheme
76. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures she will introduce to ensure that the free travel scheme will be available on all bus routes that are publicly...
- Community Employment Schemes
77. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider extending the time that a person aged 55 years and over can remain on a community employment scheme; and...
- Personal Public Service Numbers
79. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures being examined to reduce the current delays experienced in processing PPS numbers; if a fast track system is...
- Carbon Tax
80. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the report on the impact assessment of the current and projected future increases in carbon tax on low income...
- Free Travel Scheme
81. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the free travel scheme will be applicable to more bus routes that are publicly licensed in 2021; and if she will make a...
- Fuel Allowance
82. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the increase to the fuel allowance payment will take effect; the number of persons in County Mayo who will benefit; and...
- Community Employment Schemes
83. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a reduction in the minimum threshold for which a person must be in receipt of social welfare in order to gain access to a...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Early Childhood Care and Education
97. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress in meeting the ambitious but important target of doubling public investment in early learning and care and school-age childcare...
- Domestic Violence Refuges Provision
99. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when he plans to publish a review of domestic violence accommodation provision. [40750/20]
- Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
101. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the preparations his Department is making to enable provision of personal data to survivors of mother and baby homes in 2021; and if he...
- Domestic Violence Services
102. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports offered to males by Tusla who are survivors of domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40767/20]
- Childcare Services
103. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the capital funding provided in 2020 towards the provision of new and upgraded childcare accommodation; the level of funding that will be...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
104. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will report on the consultation events with early years’ service providers and practitioners which his Department undertook in...
- Direct Provision System
107. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the use of approved housing bodies to deliver housing for international protection applicants. [40187/20]
- Youth Services
108. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions he has taken to date to ensure the commented operation of Comhairle na nÓg in the context of Covid-19 restrictions. [40752/20]
- Equality Issues
109. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress in examining the introduction of a new ground of discrimination, based on socioeconomic disadvantaged status to the Employment...
- Direct Provision System
110. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to bring forward a white paper on the future of accommodation for persons in the international protection system; and if he will...
- Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
112. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the report into the mother and baby homes is expected to published; the preparations being made for the report in terms of support for...
- Food Poverty
114. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he has read the report by an organisation (details supplied) that 100,000 children in Ireland are going to bed hungry; and if he will...
- Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
115. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which he has developed the necessary structures to reassure victims of mother and baby homes that their interests are fully...
- Direct Provision System
116. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the guidelines with regard to in-person inspections in direct provision centres at every level of restriction under the Covid-19 framework;...
- Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
117. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made in the past month in relation to making information available from the evidence collected in the preparation of the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
121. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports he is providing to childcare facilities to support them through the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Child and Family Agency
122. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to facilitate the reorganisation of Tusla in view of comments made by the Tusla CEO to the Oireachtas Committee on Children...
- Parental Leave
123. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress in providing a right to force majeure leave to workers in the context of the pandemic. [35096/20]
- Direct Provision System
124. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the dates on which inspections have been carried out at a direct provision centre (details supplied) since 2016; and the outcomes of the...
- Domestic Violence Services
125. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding allocated for 2021 to services providing domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence services. [40775/20]
- Childcare Services
127. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childcare facilities that had to apply for planning permission due to Covid-19; the number of applications approved and...
- Family Resource Centres
128. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of the expansion plan to increase the number of family resource centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40502/20]
- Early Childhood Care and Education
129. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which he plans to support the early years sector in County Meath, particularly in relation to staff, pay and capitation grants...
- Children in Care
130. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children formally taken into care to date in 2020, compared to 2019 in total; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- International Protection
131. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of vulnerability assessments carried out on persons in the international protection process for each of the years 2018, 2019 and...
- Youth Services
132. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports his Department has put in place to ensure the sustainability of youth services in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Direct Provision System
133. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he is taking to take children out of the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40439/20]
- Asylum Seekers
135. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he is taking to ensure that vulnerable refugees receive the necessary medical care if they experience psychological difficulties...
- Child Protection
136. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which his Department has been alerted to increased numbers of children at risk during the Covid-19 restrictions; if he has...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
137. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to provide for additional capital funding towards the development and expansion of community childcare centres. [40655/20]
- National Childcare Scheme
141. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the take-up in the national childcare scheme; his plans to increase and enhance support to families in this area; and if he will make a...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Electric Vehicles
162. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the local authorities which have requested applications for the public charge point scheme; the local authorities that...
- Communications Market Regulation
163. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of greater powers of enforcement to the Commission for Communications Regulation with a...
- Waste Management
164. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding waste services; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Post Codes
165. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a new Eircode will be expedited for a person (details supplied) [41020/20]
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Tourism Industry
166. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of the announced €2.6 million of funding for Shannon Heritage Group sites that has been remitted to the group; the...
- Data Protection
167. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of specific...
- Proposed Legislation
168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeline for his introduction of e-scooter related legislation. [40833/20]
- Cycling Policy
169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he has taken to ensure an increased take-up of cycling by females; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40834/20]
- Bus Services
170. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount expended by the NTA to date on the BusConnects project since its inception. [40843/20]
- Public Transport
171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the commuter numbers for 2019 and to date in 2020 using all public transport modes in Dublin, including LUAS and trains or DART; and if...
- Driver Licences
172. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider immediately extending the renewal period for driver licences by an additional six months to allow for more capacity...
- National Transport Authority
173. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there is no rail representative on the National Transport Authority; his plans to address this shortcoming; his views on the...
- Irish Aviation Authority
174. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the terms of the Irish Aviation Authority 1996 pension scheme were amended in 2012 without a collective agreement of the staff...
- Public Transport
181. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress of the DART underground; the benefits it would bring to the greater Dublin area; the timeline to progression; if a decision...
- Bus Services
182. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the rerouting of Bus Éireann route 225 will take place. [40914/20]
- Cycling Facilities
183. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the N62 between Loughmore Cross and Templemore, County Tipperary that was recently resurfaced could have funds provided for a cycle...
- Air Pollution
184. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has received recommendations to address traffic air pollution from the working group on urban transport-related air...
- Air Quality
185. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a local air quality monitor can be installed in an area (details supplied). [40941/20]
- Driver Test
186. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person attending a scheduled driver test in a vehicle with a valid NCT by virtue of the fact of the NCT extension will be failed or...
- Light Rail Projects
187. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has commissioned a study on the feasibility of a light rail system for Galway city; if so, when it is expected this...
- Driver Licences
188. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 3 November 2020, if persons who obtained a manual driver licence in category B prior to 2013...
- Department of Finance
- Primary Medical Certificates
189. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the processing of primary medical certificates (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40951/20]
- Data Protection
190. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of specific investigations underway...
- Credit Availability
191. To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which a personal or business customers Covid-19 payment break is recorded on the Central Credit Register; if the recording of a payment break on...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Data Protection
195. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of specific...
- Public Sector Pay
196. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to follow through on the commitment given by the previous Government to resolve the pay inequality issue for teachers and...
- Flood Relief Schemes
197. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans the OPW put in place for flood relief in the Shannon Callows for 2020. [40965/20]
- Flood Risk Management
200. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of works on sluice gates in a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40979/20]
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Covid-19 Pandemic
201. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if art galleries will be allowed open with health and safety precautions in place when the public health restrictions change....
- Data Protection
206. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
207. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the cancellation of the basketball season; and if she will make a statement on...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Social and Affordable Housing
208. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the current review of income eligibility for social housing supports as per his email of 16 November 2020 includes a review...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
209. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding excluding commercial rates waiver funding that will be provided to each local authority to make up the loss of...
- Social and Affordable Housing
210. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason a person (details supplied) is being informed by Meath County Council that medical reports from their general...
- Data Protection
211. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of...
- Building Regulations
212. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the Safe as Houses report will be implemented in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40884/20]
- Heritage Promotion
213. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the heritage grants for restoration projects across the State which have been agreed in 2020; the details of the projects; and...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Data Protection
215. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of specific...
- Foreign Policy
216. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his Department’s assessment of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40852/20]
- Human Rights
217. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the response to police brutality in Nigeria and the recent shooting of peaceful protesters there and the operations...
- Rights of People with Disabilities
218. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to participate in a United Nations election to fill vacancies on the disability committee (details supplied); and if he will...
- Department of Defence
- Data Protection
219. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of specific...
- State Examinations
221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties facing students such as the case of a student (details supplied) who wishes to repeat the...
- School Places
222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that there will be enough post-primary school places available generally to meet demand in the Donaghmede, Howth and Dublin...
- Schools Site Acquisitions
223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a deadline for identifying, acquisition of and planning permission for a new site and building for a school (details supplied); if...
- Pension Provisions
224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when retired teachers will receive their 2% increase which was due to them since October 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Special Educational Needs
225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps taken to date in the establishment of a new special school in Cork and additional ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the...
- State Examinations
226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been denied a scribe, room and extra time for their exams; and if she will make a statement on the...
- School Transport
227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school transport appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40953/20]
- School Accommodation
229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an additional school accommodation application by a school (details supplied). [40972/20]
- School Transport
230. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of requests for another school bus to be provided to cover an area servicing a school (details supplied). [40973/20]
- Schools Site Acquisitions
231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date in providing permanent accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- School Staff
232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to end the pay inequality for teachers who joined the profession post-2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40988/20]
- Legislative Measures
233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the Traveller History and Culture in Education Bill 2018; the steps she will take to see the progression of this Bill in the Houses...
- Special Educational Needs
234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to address the shortage of ASD units in west County Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
235. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to enhance financial supports for carers in view of the ongoing Covid-19 situation; and if she will make a...
- Data Protection
236. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of...
- Social Welfare Appeals
237. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40881/20]
- State Pension (Contributory)
238. 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...
- Carer's Allowance
239. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of application for carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
240. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason workers on the pandemic unemployment payment cannot receive the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement...
- Social Welfare Benefits
242. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if disability benefit will be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied). [40959/20]
- Disability Support Services
243. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of allocations for each programme under her Department’s expenditure estimate for 2021 sub-heading A.29...
- Exceptional Needs Payment
244. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an enhanced exceptional needs payment will be made available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
245. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the maximum weekly rates of payments applying to the pandemic unemployment payment at various dates in 2021 further to her...
- Personal Public Service Numbers
246. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a PPS number will issue to a person (details supplied) considering that their application was submitted in September...
- Carer's Allowance
247. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will increase the rate of carer’s allowance to the full pandemic unemployment payment rate for the duration of...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- City and County Child Care Committees
248. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department will make the necessary funding available for the implementation of the Workplace Relations Commission agreement of...
- Direct Provision System
249. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to open additional direct provision centres in the country; and the planned geographical location of such centres. [40885/20]
- Child Protection
251. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he has taken to address the high number of children in counties Carlow and Kilkenny without an allocated social worker; and if he...
- Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
252. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the level of consultation his Department carried out with survivors before, during and after publication of the mother and baby homes...
- Direct Provision System
253. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will report on the inspection carried out in September 2020 of a direct provision centre (details supplied) by the International...
- Assisted Decision-Making
254. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the adequacy of 1,250 persons taken into wardship under the Lunacy Regulation Act 1871 although the Assisted Decision-Making...
- Data Protection
255. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of specific...
- Direct Provision System
256. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department is planning to open accommodation for asylum seekers in Letterkenny, County Donegal; the number of asylum seekers the...
- Rights of People with Disabilities
257. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he plans to participate in a United Nations election to fill vacancies on the disability committee (details supplied); if he will detail...
- Child Protection
258. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which a comprehensive response has been made available in respect of children at risk who have been increasingly vulnerable...
- Equality Issues
260. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which he and his Department have received requests for equality-related changes in legislation since the formation of the...
- Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
261. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps taken or that are ongoing to reassure the victims of mother and baby homes in respect of their recently expressed concerns; if he...
- Rights of People with Disabilities
262. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which he continues to monitor the disability sector with a view to ensuring the removal of arbitrary obstacles deemed to...
- Immigration Support Services
265. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the full extent of proposed investment in integration over the next five years; the progress to date in this regard; and if he will make a...
- Youth Services
266. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which he and his Department continue to liaise with the various youth organisations throughout the country including an...
- National Childcare Scheme
268. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which he and his Department continue to meet in full or in part childcare support applications from crèches and parents;...
- Child and Family Agency
269. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which counselling or placement services by Tusla have adequate provision in terms of funding, staffing or other supports; and...
- Bullying of Children
270. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which his Department is conscious of the concerns of parents whose children have been the victims of cyber or other forms of...
- After-School Support Services
271. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which he remains satisfied regarding the availability of community child support services including the provision of support...
- Child Protection
272. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which a comprehensive follow-up response becomes available to victims of bullying or child abuse; if adequate provision in...
- Child Abuse
274. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of reports of abuse of children in care, residential or fosterage, in 2020 to date; the action taken or pending; and if he will...
- Children in Care
275. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provision made for children in care who have reached the age to transition to alternative services; the extent to which such provisions...
- Immigration Support Services
276. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons and families in respect of whom integration supports have been provided in the past 12 months; and if he will make a...
- Children in Care
277. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of residential care units for children provided by NGOs or charitable organisations; the number of such organisations providing...
- Education Welfare Service
279. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the breakdown of funding provided to Tusla resulting from Budget 2021 being allocated towards the education support service; the amount in...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
280. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when his Department will finish compiling school data that will identify the number of children who did not return to school after the...
- Education Welfare Service
281. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of education welfare officers; if this number has increased; if he will consider increasing the number of education welfare...
- Proposed Legislation
282. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the proposed changes he will make regarding outstanding issues in relation to the guardian ad litem service in the proposed scheme of Bill...
- National Childcare Scheme
283. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will disclose the research, often cited by Department officials that withholds access to any SAC hours during term-time unless the...
- Childcare Services
284. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of SAC children granted zero hours term-time since September 2020; and the number under NCS. [41044/20]
- National Childcare Scheme
285. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the percentage increase and-or decrease in NCS registrations compared since September 2020 to 2019. [41045/20]
- Community Childcare Subvention Programme
286. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the percentage increase and or decrease in CCSP registrations compared since September 2020 to 2019. [41046/20]
- Early Childhood Care and Education
287. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the percentage increase and or decrease in ECCE registrations compared to 2019. [41047/20]
- Childcare Services
288. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of services, both early years and after-school that have changed the type of service they offer from full day to part-time...
- Domestic Violence Refuges Provision
291. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the capital grants for the provision of domestic violence and abuse refuges between 1 January 2016 and 1 January 2020 as a percentage of...
- Domestic Violence Services
292. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that staff in domestic violence and abuse services are on different pay scales and working...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
293. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports made available from his Department to students as a consequence of Covid-19, its impact on their studies and additional costs...
- Third Level Fees
294. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the restrictions that exist to prevent universities unilaterally without prior notice or agreement increasing fees for students who have already...
- Data Protection
295. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of specific...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
296. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason students who do not receive a SUSI grant will not receive an immediate €250 payment before Christmas similar to SUSI students;...
- Technological Universities
297. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a further eligibility criteria sample process review report was prepared by auditors for the Munster Technological University consortium after...
- Third Level Staff
299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff members of UCD, TCD and DCU who availed of fee waivers remissions for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in their...
- Third Level Fees
300. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40982/20]
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Citizenship Applications
301. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if it would be possible to waiver or reduce the fee applicable for those seeking to achieve Irish citizenship if applicants,...
- Immigration Data
302. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of times for the period from 2004 to date UK immigration officials have been present in Irish airports or ports...
- Data Protection
303. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of...
- Legislative Measures
304. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consultation will take place with stakeholders before the commencement date of the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act...
- Judicial Appointments
307. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if and the number of times she discussed or communicated with the former Attorney General; the status of the person’s...
- Closed-Circuit Television Systems
311. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the names of communities, groups and local authorities that have been awarded funding under the CCTV community grant scheme;...
- Cyberbullying Issues
312. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has reviewed the outcomes of recent court judgements relating to digital and cyberbullying; her views on whether much of...
- Deportation Orders
313. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider reversing a deportation order on a person (details supplied). [40935/20]
- Immigration Policy
314. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the Chenchooliah ruling will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40986/20]
- Visa Applications
315. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a temporary visa will be issued to a person (details supplied) while they await the finalisation of the Chenchooliah ruling;...
- Judicial Appointments
316. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of expressions of interest and or applications she received through the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, the...
- Immigration Status
317. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the provision to be made whereby stamp 4 can be updated in the case of a person (details supplied); if the case can be urgently...
- Naturalisation Applications
318. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for Irish citizenship; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Department of Health
- Health Services
319. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40838/20]
- Proposed Legislation
320. To ask the Minister for Health the status or progress of a Bill (details supplied); when it is expected that this legislation will be passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services Staff
321. To ask the Minister for Health if pay will be restored to a cohort of workers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40961/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
322. To ask the Minister for Health if childcare professionals will be some of the first recipients of a Covid-19 vaccine; if there will be a cost for childcare professionals; his plans to ensure...
- Covid-19 Tests
323. To ask the Minister for Health the way testing for Covid-19 is being carried out in meat processing plants; the number of tests carried out; the number of plants in which tests have been...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
325. To ask the Minister for Health when restrictions on birthing partners and fathers supporting women through labour in maternity settings are due to be lifted. [40799/20]
- Data Protection
326. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of specific investigations underway...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
327. To ask the Minister for Health if trade shows are permitted under level 2 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40824/20]
- Cannabis for Medicinal Use
328. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to permanently extending the temporary delivery arrangement for cannabidiol oil and tetrahydrocannabinol oil. [40826/20]
- General Practitioner Services
331. To ask the Minister for Health the funding provided to SouthDoc by facility under the GMS scheme from 2016 to date, in tabular form. [40831/20]
- Medicinal Products
333. To ask the Minister for Health if xolair is available under the drugs payment scheme; if not, the cost of a 450mg injection dose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40839/20]
- Covid-19 Tests
334. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the alleged redeployment of speech and language therapists by the HSE for Covid-19 testing. [40846/20]
- Nursing Staff
335. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reopen the rolling recruitment campaign for staff nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40849/20]
- Hospital Waiting Lists
336. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are many Down's syndrome children on a three year waiting list to be treated for arthritis; if his...
- Respite Care Services
337. To ask the Minister for Health if the funding needed for residential care for a person (details supplied) will be provided given that a respite centre they currently attend is planning to...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
338. To ask the Minister for Health the contact tracing and follow-up situation for a person who is normally resident in Ireland, but flies into Belfast airport and travels across the Border; if...
- Hospital Appointments Status
342. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40889/20]
- Covid-19 Tests
343. To ask the Minister for Health if he will introduce Covid-19 testing for hospital inpatients upon discharge from hospital in view of the risk of introducing Covid-19 into a private...
- Medicinal Products
344. To ask the Minister for Health if the drug patisiran will continue to be made available in the case of a person (details supplied). [40907/20]
- Hospital Waiting Lists
345. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review correspondence (details supplied); the position regarding the points raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40910/20]
- Addiction Treatment Services
346. To ask the Minister for Health the organisations other than the HSE that have been operating within the HSE Keltoi residential facility in the Phoenix Park since March 2020; the reason for...
- Disability Services Provision
352. To ask the Minister for Health if access to early intervention including required occupational therapy and speech and language therapy will be facilitated at an early date in the case of a...
- Dental Services
353. To ask the Minister for Health the status of his work to improve the long waiting lists for public dental care. [40924/20]
- General Practitioner Services
354. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding reduced hours for ShannonDoc services in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40929/20]
- Hospital Staff
355. To ask the Minister for Health the number of paediatric rheumatologists who are currently employed here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40939/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
356. To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place for the treatment and management of long Covid and its acknowledgement as a medical condition; if he will establish multidisciplinary...
- Addiction Treatment Services
359. To ask the Minister for Health if urgent detox services can be made available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40946/20]
- Disability Services Provision
361. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the application for a service by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40950/20]
- Hospital Appointments Status
362. To ask the Minister for Health if an immediate appointment will be arranged at Beaumont Hospital for a person (details supplied). [40958/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
363. To ask the Minister for Health the reason ballet, Irish dance and other dance classes are not going to be permitted under the new level 3 lockdown being introduced; if there is...
- General Practitioner Services
365. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 373 of 1 October 2020, the status of discussions between his officials and the HSE on the possible solutions which could...
- Hospital Services
366. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to roll out the Sligo scheme in terms of cataract treatment to other areas of the country; the financial benefits which would apply if this...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
367. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects the third national paediatric rheumatologist position currently open for applications to be filled; if children with Down's syndrome face a...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
369. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1378 of 3 November 2020, the number of the targeted 700 new contact tracing staff that have been successfully onboarded...
- Covid-19 Tests
370. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1378 of 3 November 2020, the number of persons engaged in swabbing duties who are redeployed from other areas of the HSE...
- Counselling Services
371. To ask the Minister for Health if counselling services can be facilitated once again to the daughter of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41011/20]
- Health Services Funding
372. To ask the Minister for Health the status of funding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41016/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
373. To ask the Minister for Health the number of NFO1 forms that were submitted late by a nursing home in April 2020; if this amounted to 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41027/20]
- Community Care
374. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the HSE’s enhanced community care plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41028/20]
- HSE Reviews
375. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the national review of specialist cardiac services; the workplan for the remainder of 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
376. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department will give advice to those who are working in the artistic education field (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Ambulance Service
377. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which response times for HSE ambulance services are calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41055/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
378. To ask the Minister for Health the mechanism by which the close contacts of a person who has tested positive for Covid-19 are informed of same; the time frame it takes for close contacts to...
- Contraceptive Services
380. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to provide free contraception starting with women aged 17 to 25 years; and if he will make a...
- Mental Health Services
382. To ask the Minister for Health the number of consultant psychiatrist posts that exist in the HSE; the number that are vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41068/20]
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
383. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting outpatient CAMHS appointments when compared to this time in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41069/20]
- Mental Health Services
384. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting all other outpatient psychiatric appointments when compared to this time in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Data Protection
385. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of...
- Agriculture Schemes
386. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an exemption will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Clare who missed the closing date for the beef finisher...
- Aquaculture Regulation
387. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is correct in stating that the 1.65 million wild wrasse recorded as taken from Irish waters to eat the lice on...
- Horticulture Sector
390. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the grant assistance is available for purchasing equipment for the processing of potatoes; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Forestry Sector
392. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a felling licence application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40926/20]
- Forestry Management
393. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of commercial use of the Ballyhoura Mountains, County Limerick; his views on protecting recreational status in this area;...
- Pigmeat Sector
394. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding his Department’s programme of inspections with the aim of progressing compliance towards rearing pigs...
- Live Exports
395. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to reports (details supplied) that unweaned calves being transported from Ireland to continental...
- Animal Diseases
398. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has considered a compensation package for farmers affected by outbreaks of TB; his views on whether it is unfair...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Data Protection
399. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of specific...
- Town and Village Renewal Scheme
400. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a decision has been made on a towns and villages funding application (details supplied) for the provision of a footpath; and if she...
