Written answers
Thursday, 11 February 2021
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Credit Guarantee Scheme
1. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he plans to take to ensure that the credit guarantee scheme can be amended to examine if there will be significant...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
2. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of plans to assist businesses such as takeaway food services from restaurants and businesses that are already registered...
- Trade Union Recognition
4. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the demands by an association (details supplied) of front-line paramedics who want to be represented by another...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Sustainable Development Goals
5. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a new national implementation plan on the sustainable development goals will be produced; when the associated...
- Turf Cutting
8. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national clean air Strategy; if this strategy will contain a ban on the cutting, selling or burning of...
- National Broadband Plan
10. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if representatives of the national broadband scheme will engage with a community group (details supplied) in County...
- Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
11. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the hiring process by which he made the recent appointments to the CCAC. [7683/21]
- Bord na Móna
12. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if local stakeholders and local authorities will be given an opportunity to apply for possible sites for the proposed...
- Waste Management
13. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the work his Department is undertaking to co-operate with local authorities in the roll-out of segregated waste bins by...
- Energy Efficiency
14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the work his Department is undertaking to prioritise homes for retrofitting and insulation upgrades that are in receipt...
- Warmer Homes Scheme
15. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applicants awaiting the installation of SEAI warmer homes scheme upgrades by county; the national average...
- Climate Change Policy
16. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he plans to raise the borrowing limits of semi-State companies under his remit to permit higher borrowing for...
- Telecommunications Services
17. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to support Wi-Fi access for students without access while school buildings are closed; and if he will make a...
- National Broadband Plan
18. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a detailed map and timeline for the roll-out of the national broadband scheme will be provided; and if he will make a...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- National Development Plan
19. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if new environmental criteria are to be applied to existing or new transport projects as part of the review of the national development...
- Road Safety Authority
20. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 134 of 27 January 2021, the number of tenders submitted for both contracts (details supplied). [7718/21]
- Programme for Government
21. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions that have been taken to carry through on the commitment in the programme for Government that each local authority will be...
- Bus Éireann
22. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has engaged with Bus Éireann following its decision to end discounted travel rates for passengers with epilepsy; and if he will...
- Bus Services
24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 3 February 2021, the details of the increase in frequency of services in County Tipperary; the...
- Roads Maintenance
26. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the funding provided to local authorities for roads maintenance will be kept at or increased from the 2020 allocation; and if he will...
- Driver Test
28. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting so long for a driver theory test. [7566/21]
- Driver Licences
29. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting over two months for their C licence application to be processed by the NDLS,...
- Penalty Points System
30. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting over two months for a vital statement from the NDLS on the non-existence of...
- National Driver Licensing Service
31. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take to address the ongoing issues with members of the public contacting the NDLS regarding documentation necessary to...
- Road Projects
32. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the project to construct a northern bridge and road infrastructure in Kilkenny city linking the N77 to the R693, given that...
- Bus Services
33. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the provision of an adequate bus stop pole (details supplied) at Fernslough, Killickaweeny, Kilcock, County Kildare; and if...
- Road Projects
34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the review of the national development plan will not result in existing road infrastructure projects contained in the plan being...
- Driver Test
35. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason driver theory tests have not been added to the online options; and the reason cancelled tests have not been given dates over...
- Road Network
36. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there is a delay in providing funding for local authority regional and local roads budgets. [7677/21]
- National Transport Authority
37. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the projects to be funded out of the fund of €50 million announced for cycling and walking projects on 4 December 2020 will be...
- Airport Policy
39. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional measures that will be introduced to reduce the number of passengers using Dublin Airport as a transit to other...
- Departmental Expenditure
40. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the carry-over of unspent capital from 2020 to 2021 approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for his Department; the...
- Driver Test
41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of driver theory tests during level 5 lockdown; if extra appointments are planned due to the backlog; the number waiting by...
- Rail Network
42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the freight rail projects he is currently examining with a view to reducing emissions from the heavy- and light-duty freight sector; and...
- Light Rail Projects
43. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the MetroLink project; the latest cost estimate for the project; the construction timeline; if he is considering extending...
- Transport Policy
45. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which his Department plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector, which made up 20.3% of total emissions...
- Rail Network
46. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Irish Rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7774/21]
- Electric Vehicles
47. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if concerns raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Driver Licences
48. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a delay in the processing of driver licence renewals for both full and provisional licence holders; the average delay; the...
- Bus Éireann
49. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the largest population centres in County Meath currently without a Bus Éireann service; and if he will make a...
- Public Transport
50. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public transport services available in Kentstown, County Meath; the frequency of these services; his plans to improve these services;...
- Road Network
55. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to make the allocations to local authorities in respect of the 2021 non-national roads programme; if he will ensure a...
- Department of Finance
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
56. To ask the Minister for Finance if the CRSS will be extended beyond 31 March 2021 if Covid restrictions remain in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7490/21]
- Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme
60. To ask the Minister for Finance if a grant is available to the family of special needs children (details supplied) in County Kerry who cannot afford to purchase a vehicle; and if he will make...
- Ports Facilities
61. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 21 January 2021, if urgent consideration will be given to concerns expressed by companies trading through Dublin...
- Banking Sector
62. To ask the Minister for Finance if clarity will be provided regarding a bank (details supplied) and its plan to continue operations in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
64. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to supports for businesses that began trading in 2020 but which, as a result of level 5 restrictions, are not able to show...
- Ireland Strategic Investment Fund
67. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration is being given to the impact of housing affordability when the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund decides to invest in residential property; if...
- Value Added Tax
69. To ask the Minister for Finance if plans for VAT rates for businesses to revert to 23% will be postponed given ongoing difficulties being experienced by businesses at this time due to...
- Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme
70. To ask the Minister for Finance the changes that have been made to the medical criteria to allow the reopening of the primary medical certificate application scheme; and if he will make a...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
73. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications received for the Covid restrictions support scheme; the number of applications awarded; the amount issued to date; and if he will...
- Property Tax
75. To ask the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) qualifies for exemption from residential property tax, having regard to the various illnesses from which they suffer; and if he...
- Home Loan Scheme
76. To ask the Minister for Finance if there are circumstances under which the 70% loan-to-value ratio of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan will be reviewed for applicants whose incomes have been...
- Legislative Reviews
77. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act 2018 is achieving the objective intended by the legislation to provide greater protection...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
80. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason civil and public servants cannot avail of the working-from-home allowance of €3.20 per week. [7545/21]
- State Pensions
81. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to address the anomaly of increases under the national wage agreement which have arisen in respect of civil servants who...
- Departmental Expenditure
82. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the capital expenditure provided for in the 2021 Revised Estimates volume; the carry-over of capital from 2020 into 2021 approved for...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Pleanáil Teanga
83. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil sé i gceist aici cur i gníomh an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, mar a bhaineann sé le Pleananna...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
84. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the situation faced by coach operators (details supplied) who are concerned that the funding...
- Grant Payments
86. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if grant aid is available to renovate old farm buildings into holiday homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7659/21]
- Maoiniú d'Eagrais Ghaeilge
87. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht na hionaid Gaeilge, ceannáras eagraíochta ina measc, timpeall na tíre, laistigh agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht, a...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
88. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she plans to introduce another scheme to support those with a turnover of less than €50,000, many of whom operate in...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Waterways Issues
90. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the actions that can be taken to allow Waterways Ireland to carry out standard maintenance works on canal and river tracks to...
- Public Parks
91. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to encourage local authorities to provide communities with temporary access to publicly owned land that is lying idle...
- Local Authority Funding
92. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the new funding model for local authorities will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7489/21]
- Commercial Rates
93. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Housing Provision
94. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the percentage of affordable, social and private houses, respectively, to be built on the St. Kevin's site in Cork city. [7543/21]
- Local Authority Funding
95. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the analytical mechanism used to ensure a fair distribution of resources and funding to each county; if he will provide this...
- Departmental Funding
97. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding schemes available from his Department in respect of local authority housing; the payments that were made to each...
- Housing Assistance Payment
107. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he plans to carry out a review of the HAP rent thresholds nationally in view of the fact that the present thresholds do not...
- Quarrying Sector
108. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the requirements placed on local councils to ensure that the stone and sand and other similar materials that the council or...
- Social and Affordable Housing
109. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average cost to councils for social housing; the range by the lowest to the highest amount spent by each council on social...
- Housing Provision
110. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the housing construction permitted during Covid-19, in particular one-off rural housing; and if he will make a statement on...
- Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme
111. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if any persons in receipt of moneys from the cessation of the turf cutting compensation scheme have been offered a lump sum...
- Planning Issues
112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide details of his Department's review of siting and size conditions for rooftop solar panels on homes and its...
- Local Authority Housing
113. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he plans to legislate to encourage the uptake of life cycle assessment and-or to promote such assessments through green...
- Housing Policy
114. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the new rural housing guidelines will issue, particularly in view of the EU Court of Justice ruling in the case of the...
- Urban Regeneration and Development Fund
115. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the next tranche of projects to be announced under the second call of the urban regeneration and development fund 2020...
- Vacant Sites
116. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount collected by each local authority in vacant site levies in 2019 and 2020, respectively; and the number of sites...
- Legislative Programme
117. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the marine planning and development management Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Local Authority Housing
118. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure substantial funding for a voids programme in 2021 in view of the success of the voids programme in 2020; if...
- Local Authority Staff
119. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position on access officers in local authorities as provided for under the Disability Act 2005; if each role is filled in...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Common Security and Defence Policy
120. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the end goal of the commitment in Ireland's civilian CSDP national implementation plan to develop relationship and support training provided...
- Departmental Staff
124. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the estimated full-year cost of recruiting eight additional full-time principal development specialists for his Department; and if he will...
- Diplomatic Representation
125. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if it is necessary for his Department to agree to foreign embassies operating polling stations in Dublin for electoral events in their...
- Consular Services
126. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of times consular assistance has been provided in circumstances in which an issue has arisen at an airport or other point of...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
127. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to prevent travellers from Dubai, Portugal and other locations from using Dublin Airport as a back door to the UK;...
- Department of Defence
- Civil Defence
128. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if online training has been carried out for members of the Civil Defence during 2020; his plans for such online training in 2021; and if he will...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Transport
129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 402 of 17 December 2020, the progress to date in increasing school bus capacity in view of the need to...
- Special Educational Needs Staff
130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SNAs employed in September 2019 in special classes in secondary schools. [7497/21]
- School Catchment Areas
136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the secondary school catchment areas into which housing estates (details supplied) in County Dublin fall; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
137. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when revised guidelines on the reopening of special schools and special classes will issue to school principals; and if she will make a statement...
- State Examinations
138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she will make an announcement on the plans for the leaving certificate examination in 2021. [7541/21]
- School Transport
139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Bus Éireann made a profit from school transport in 2014 and entered this profit in the annual audited profit and loss account and balance...
- Local Authority Funding
140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the non-grant payments made to local authorities for the variety of services provided by them by county; the amount awarded under each stream in...
- Schools Amalgamation
141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the work ongoing within her Department to support the amalgamation of two post-primary schools (details supplied); the timeline for the...
- School Attendance
142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average attendance and login record for students in counties Meath and Westmeath during the period primary and secondary schools have been...
- School Staff
143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which many teachers have been unavailable to participate due to sick days or Covid-19-related issues during the periods primary and...
- Irish Sign Language
144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if it will be ensured that Irish Sign Language teachers will be...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 136 and 290 of 20 January 2021, the analysis her Department has carried out into the efficacy of the...
- Departmental Funding
146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding allocated in each of the years 2017 to 2020 towards assistive technology; the percentage of the funding that was...
- Summer Works Scheme
147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount allocated to schools in County Monaghan for the summer works scheme in 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a...
- Departmental Funding
149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount it would cost annually to increase the schools services support fund by €5 per pupil; and if she will make a...
- Irish Sign Language
150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her current and proposed plans for the provision of services for Irish Sign Language (details supplied); if the deployment of Irish Sign Language...
- Oideachas trí Ghaeilge
151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills an bhfuil aon soiléiriú ann faoi chinneadh an Aire sa Dáil deiridh cás eisceachtúil agus píolótach a...
- Schools Building Projects
153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made, relative to the funding required, on a building project at a school (details supplied); if the additional costs caused...
- School Curriculum
154. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will introduce education on the ancient Kingdom of Mide and east County Meath into the history curriculum at both junior...
- State Examinations
155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a copy of any recommendations made to her, her Department or Ministers of State in her Department by the advisory group on the leaving...
- Special Educational Needs
158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the two new SEN classrooms at a school (details supplied) will be operational. [7719/21]
- Teaching Council of Ireland
159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a Teaching Council registration number by a person (details supplied). [7790/21]
- DEIS Scheme
160. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the non-DEIS status of a school (details supplied) in view of the high number of other DEIS status schools in the area serving...
- State Examinations
161. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the minutes from the first meeting of the advisory group on planning for State examinations 2021, which took place on 25 November 2020, will...
- School Staff
163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent on continuing professional development for guidance counsellors in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and the budget allocation for...
- School Accommodation
165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the ongoing progress in meeting the requirement of schools (details supplied); the extent to which logistical issues in respect of traffic...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Benefits
166. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she and her Department are taking to ensure that older persons can access affordable broadband (details supplied);...
- Disability Support Services
167. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if additional funding will be provided to continue the ability programme beyond June 2021 (details supplied); and if she will...
- Fuel Allowance
168. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review in respect of eligibility for the fuel allowance will be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied);...
- Ministerial Correspondence
169. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Disability Allowance
170. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an assessment will be carried out to progress a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
171. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of UP38 forms that have been received relating to the temporary wage subsidy scheme and a company (details...
- Fuel Allowance
172. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who received the fuel allowance in counties Meath and Westmeath in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in...
- Carer's Allowance
173. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the review of a carer’s allowance claim in the name of a person (details supplied) will be expedited and approved;...
- Labour Activation Programmes
174. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who recently turned 62 years of age will be removed from her...
- Carer's Allowance
175. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an appeal by a person (details supplied) for a carer’s allowance will be expedited. [7671/21]
- Social Welfare Benefits
176. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a worker on a banded-hours contract whose contract is formally such that he or she would earn less than €151 per...
- Registration of Births
178. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a PPS number is required by a parent to register the birth of a child; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance
179. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants for and total payments of the supplementary welfare allowance made in 2019, 2020 and to date in...
- Disability Allowance
181. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount an increase by €5 in the disability allowance would cost the State; and if she will make a...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Direct Provision System
182. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken by his Department to end the system of direct provision; and his views on whether health...
- Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
184. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the manner by which persons who gave testimony to the confidential committee of the commission of investigation...
- Local Authority Funding
190. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the payments to local authorities under programmes for Traveller support initiatives and migrant integration by...
- Childcare Services
191. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if childcare providers are permitted to continue to charge fees for parents who cannot avail of their services...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
193. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports in place to protect childcare workers such as enhanced PPE, mass Covid-19 testing and so on; his...
- Childcare Services
194. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether remuneration for childcare providers is satisfactory; the steps he has taken to engage with...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
195. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when children with additional needs who avail of the ECCE scheme will be permitted to return to crèches;...
- Childcare Services
196. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the return of children with additional needs to crèches is a priority for his Department; and if he will...
- National Childcare Scheme
199. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if parents applying for the national childcare scheme should be permitted to apply with their 2019 tax return as...
- Childcare Services
200. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an attempt has been made to improve lines of communication between his Department and childcare providers in...
- Childcare Costs
203. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken to ensure that childcare is affordable to parents; if he will ensure that one parent does...
- Childcare Services
204. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with childcare providers to encourage them to take in young children aged one to two years to...
- Children First Guidelines
211. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will urgently review and amend the Children First national guidelines for the protection and welfare of...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
212. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to invite service providers to provide their feedback and observations as part of the current review...
- Childcare Services
215. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to make terms of pay and conditions a condition of receipt of funding in the preschool crèche...
- Child and Family Agency
217. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the proposals to extend a programme (details supplied) to other areas; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Direct Provision System
218. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if detailed consideration will be given to a report (details supplied) on direct provision; and if he will make...
- Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
219. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be given further consideration; and if he will make a...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Technological Universities
220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the workstreams activity agreed regarding the new technological university for the south east development (details supplied); and if he will make...
- Student Support Schemes
223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department can assist a student (details supplied) who is having difficulties in securing student finance in the UK due to confusion about...
- Third Level Fees
224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if pro rata refunds of registration fees for student services will be issued by third level institutions to students who have not been on campus...
- Student Accommodation
225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he or his Department has had discussions with University of Limerick on its policy of not offering refunds to students who cannot use their...
- Apprenticeship Programmes
226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the action plan for apprenticeships will be published. [7811/21]
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Legislative Measures
232. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will amend the Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill to take account of the recommendations of the Chief Justice that arose...
- Asylum Seekers
233. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she has taken to ensure that persons arriving at Irish ports and airports and who are seeking asylum are not arrested...
- Departmental Staff
234. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 4 February 2021, if the situation regarding persons who are placed on transfer...
- Visa Applications
235. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, in a context in which many English language students have made a significant contribution to Irish society by working...
- Courts Service
236. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who were sentenced in the courts in 2020 for sexual offences; the particulars of the offence in each...
- Garda Investigations
237. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the 2014 review of all investigations and complaints made against a person (details supplied) will be published; the dates...
- Visa Applications
238. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a visa application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7598/21]
- Closed-Circuit Television Systems
239. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are impediments to installing cameras in a local authority housing estate under the community-based CCTV scheme; and...
- International Protection
240. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who sought international protection in 2020; the number of applications for international protection on...
- Closed-Circuit Television Systems
241. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when legislation will be brought forward by her Department to deal with the difficulties being encountered by local authorities...
- Citizenship Applications
242. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of a citizenship application in the case of a person (details supplied); when the...
- Deportation Orders
243. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if an appeal will be reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied) notwithstanding the most recent decision in their...
- Probate Applications
244. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps being taken to address the current slow processing times for probate applications in Dublin; and if she will make a...
- Department of Health
- Health Services Staff
245. To ask the Minister for Health further to correspondence from the Minister of State with responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy (details supplied), when...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
246. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether childcare workers should receive the vaccine alongside key workers according to the vaccine roll-out plan; and if he will make a statement...
- Covid-19 Tests
247. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for mass testing in childcare settings; the frequency at which these tests are carried out; the way in which the facilities are chosen for testing;...
- Disability Support Services
248. To ask the Minister for Health the number of day services for persons with disabilities which have reopened; the capacity at which these services are operating; and if he will make a...
- Maternity Services
249. To ask the Minister for Health the inpatient perinatal facilities available for mothers and babies for mental health supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7463/21]
- Epilepsy Incidence
250. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to implementing an awareness campaign on epilepsy and the way to address seizures due to the prevalence of epilepsy in Ireland;...
- Mental Health Services
251. To ask the Minister for Health when the HSE will commence specialist mental health services for the deaf community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7469/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
254. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the request by a union (details supplied) to have access to a vaccine for community pharmacists to enable them to vaccinate front-line...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
255. To ask the Minister for Health the average waiting time and number of persons waiting for a primary care clinical psychology appointment nationally and by CHO region; and if he will make a...
- Health Services Staff
256. To ask the Minister for Health the number of clinical staff employed in primary care clinical psychology by CHO region in each of the years 2010 to date in tabular form; and if he will make...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
257. To ask the Minister for Health if dental hygienists are included in the proposed roll-out of vaccines to dentists, reported to be commencing on 8 February 2021 (details supplied). [7494/21]
- Health Services
259. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for mental health and disability services in south Dublin (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7503/21]
- Ophthalmology Services
260. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to expand the provision of glasses for children under the medical card system (details supplied). [7524/21]
- Ministerial Correspondence
261. To ask the Minister for Health his views on matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding advance notice of any new safety requirements reflected in the tourism...
- Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
262. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 749 of 3 February 2021, the basis or agreed service schedule on which this decision was made (details supplied); if the...
- A Vision for Change
263. To ask the Minister for Health if the minutes of meetings of the two independent monitoring groups for A Vision for Change which were held between 2006 and 2012 were published; if he will...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
264. To ask the Minister for Health the locations identified to vaccinate persons over 70 years of age in counties Tipperary and Limerick. [7539/21]
- Drugs Payment Scheme
266. To ask the Minister for Health if the drug patisiran, or Onpattro, which was recently reviewed by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, will be available under the drugs payment scheme...
- Rare Diseases
268. To ask the Minister for Health if a list of the rare disease technology review committee recommendations in 2020 will be made available in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on...
- Medicinal Products
270. To ask the Minister for Health when the processes required to implement the managed access programme regarding formalising the approval for reimbursement of dupilumab is expected to be...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
271. To ask the Minister for Health the mechanism for a person to travel who has recovered from Covid-19 but who would still test positive to a PCR test; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
274. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the three- to four-year waiting list for Down's syndrome children to see a paediatric rheumatologist nationally; the details...
- Trade Union Recognition
275. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the demands by an association (details supplied) of front-line paramedics who want to be represented by another association; his plans in regard...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
276. To ask the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that nuns living in congregated settings are catered for appropriately in the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out plan. [7655/21]
- Nursing Home Accommodation
278. To ask the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on whether funding for a new nursing home (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be included in the new national development...
- Cancer Services
279. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the BreastCheck screening programme; the number of women who have been screened in each month since May 2020, in tabular form; and if he will...
- Medicinal Products
280. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing frustration of a group (details supplied) not to recommend in favour of reimbursement of patisiran for the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
281. To ask the Minister for Health the position of pharmacists and pharmacy staff under the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7691/21]
- Alcohol Pricing
282. To ask the Minister for Health the details of analysis carried out for his Department on the introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol products given his concerns that its introduction...
- Dental Services
283. To ask the Minister for Health the reason medical card patients are currently not being seen for emergency medical dental treatment; when emergency dental treatment will be available for...
- Medical Cards
284. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is being asked to provide a notice of assessment of form 11 tax return in order to process their medical card...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
285. To ask the Minister for Health if a matter (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7713/21]
- Legislative Programme
287. To ask the Minister for Health when the nursing home support (amendment) Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7722/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
288. To ask the Minister for Health if all dentists will be eligible to participate in the roll-out of the Covid 19 vaccine or if it will be limited to dentists with a contract with the HSE or...
- Health Services Provision
291. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he expects the health services to be in a position to maintain normal services while at the same time meeting the challenge of vaccination...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
292. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the availability of sufficient hospital beds to meet the ongoing challenges of Covid-19 and at the same time...
- Health Services Provision
293. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he remains satisfied that non-Covid hospital procedures continue in sufficient scale to meet the demand; and if he will make a statement on...
- Medical Cards
297. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which the issue of medical cards has been streamlined to minimise delays given the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact the...
- Health Services Provision
298. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which dental and optical services have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic; if plans are in hand to address any issues arising; and if he will...
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
299. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which child and adult mental health services can be improved in the short to medium term given the serious shortcomings that have existed for...
- Mental Health Services
300. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether a special task force might address the shortcomings in the mental health services, with particular reference to the need to provide for...
- Diabetes Strategy
301. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which diabetes remains an issue of concern to his Department, with particular reference to the need to co-ordinate and enhance the availability...
- Mental Health Services
302. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which provision is being made to cater for mental health patients who may also have an addiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
303. To ask the Minister for Health if additional personnel will be provided for child and adolescent mental health services in view of the increasing number of children presenting for assessment...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
304. To ask the Minister for Health the locations for the over-85s vaccination centres in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7773/21]
- Disability Services Provision
305. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 834 and 835 of 27 January 2021, the process for getting onto the list for assessment; the first steps for those being...
- Legislative Reviews
308. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 176 of 10 December 2020, the status of the upcoming review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act...
- Health Services Funding
309. To ask the Minister for Health the amount allocated to the health service since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic for building additional hospital capacity in beds, ICU beds and staff...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
310. To ask the Minister for Health the achievements in the ten months since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in terms of additional hospital beds and staff that are actually operational; and...
- Hospital Facilities
311. To ask the Minister for Health the number of ICU beds that existed in public hospitals in February 2020; the number that currently exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7782/21]
- Covid-19 Tests
312. To ask the Minister for Health the length of time healthcare staff are off work waiting for a Covid-19 test result on average; the proportion of current staff shortages which are due to...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
313. To ask the Minister for Health the contingency plans in place to ensure that the over-70s receive vaccines in a prompt manner if Covid-19 vaccines are deemed not suitable for over-70s. [7784/21]
- Disability Services Data
314. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children nationwide and in the Dublin region who availed of early intervention from the HSE by category (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- General Practitioner Services
315. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the practice of general practitioner clinics that are accepting new patients but are refusing to take new patients with general practitioner visit...
- Health Services Staff
316. To ask the Minister for Health the status of talks with public health doctors; if agreement has been reached to upgrade all existing public health specialists to consultant in line with all...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
317. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the issue of travellers from Dubai, Portugal and other locations using Dublin Airport as a back door into the UK; and if he...
- Medical Cards
319. To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in the determination of an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); if a medical card will be considered...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
320. To ask the Minister for Health when all front-line health staff in County Kildare received and will receive the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7829/21]
- Epilepsy Incidence
321. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he can offer support or draw attention to the needs of epilepsy sufferers as set out by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will...
- Tuberculosis Eradication Programme
322. To ask the Minister for Health if the National Immunisation Advisory Committee has recommenced its deliberations regarding the BCG immunisation programme; and when his Department expects...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
323. To ask the Minister for Health if the definition of a support bubble has changed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7832/21]
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Organic Farming Scheme
326. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7484/21]
- Agriculture Schemes
327. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to ensure that all grants for struggling small to medium-sized farms are prioritised over larger and more...
- Animal Diseases
328. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the loss of animals from TB by a farmer (details supplied) can be used as a stock rate reduction under force majeure with regard...
- Covid-19 Tests
329. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of meat processing factories at which serial testing has taken place since its introduction; the frequency with which...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
330. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the closure due to Covid-19 and the resumption of point-to-point racing (details supplied); and if he will make...
- Ministerial Correspondence
331. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied); if he will contact the correspondents; and his plans to deal...
- Biodiversity Strategy
332. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is in possession of any assessment on the impact that the EU farm-to-fork biodiversity strategies will have on production costs...
- Land Issues
333. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding folios (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7706/21]
- Young Farmers Scheme
334. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the discrepancies affecting the category known as the forgotten farmers, that is, those young farmers who have been denied top-up...
- Beef Exceptional Aid Measure
335. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to allow flexibility in the implementation of the BEAM 5% nitrogen reduction criteria in view of the response...
- Brexit Issues
336. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the fishing industry has been affected by Brexit; the actions taken or in hand to address these issues; and if he...
- Brexit Supports
338. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which his Department can avail of opportunities to assist families dependent on the fishing industry who are being...
- Animal Diseases
339. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which bovine tuberculosis continues to be eradicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7750/21]
- Animal Welfare
341. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which breaches of animal health regulations continue to be brought to the attention of his Department; if specific...
- Veterinary Services
342. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has examined the impact of the purchase of veterinary practices by vulture funds; his plans for specific provisions...
- Agrifood Sector
343. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has identified the most salient issues affecting the agrifood sector arising from Brexit to date; his plans to...
- Beef Industry
344. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current strength of the national beef herd; the degree to which the numbers have fluctuated in the past ten years to date; and if...
- Dairy Sector
345. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current strength of the dairy herd; the extent to which numbers have fluctuated in the past ten years to date; if he remains...
- Brexit Issues
346. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which markets for Irish-produced beef, lamb and pig meat and poultry remain positive or are threatened in the future...
- Laboratory Facilities
347. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which sufficient laboratory facilities exist or, if not available, can be provided here, with particular reference to...
- Dairy Sector
348. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which strong markets remain available for all Irish dairy products notwithstanding the challenges arising from various...
- Rural Environment Protection Scheme
350. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if organic farmers will be permitted to join the new REPS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7771/21]
- Goat Census
351. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of goats reared in Ireland; the number of goat farms and average herd size; the way in which these farms are regulated and...
- Animal Welfare
352. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the standards in place for dog shelters, pounds and facilities; the evidence on which these standards are based; and if he will make...
- Animal Sales
354. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent by his Department in 2020 on communication and education for rules on the sale or supply of pet animals which came...
- Fishing Industry
356. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he plans to take in EU fishery discussions now and into the future to ensure that Ireland gets a proper and equitable share...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Community Development Projects
357. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding opportunities within her Department for an organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
358. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the additional funding of €10 million announced before Christmas 2020 for the Covid-19 emergency fund for community and...
- Departmental Expenditure
359. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the carry-over of unspent capital from 2020 to 2021 approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for her Department;...
