Parliamentary questions

Land Development Agency

Gino Kenny

45. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which the LDA will address the housing crisis; if representatives of NGOs or bodies that have campaigned on behalf of the homeless or on the housing crisis will be represented on the board of the LDA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17626/20]

Housing Issues

Gino Kenny

62. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will re-examine the policy on co-living accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17625/20]

Employment Rights

Gino Kenny

72. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 14 July 2020, the way in which migrant workers who do not hold valid permits can access the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, in view of a recent court case which found the definition of civil proceedings in one particular case excluded the findings of the WRC and Labour Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17234/20]

Immigration Policy

Gino Kenny

565. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide clarity in relation to the process of stamp 4 renewal for persons living outside of Dublin in particular; if she will address the issue of access to locally-based immigration officers which is difficult and or sporadic as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the pressure this is placing on employees that need renewals urgently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16492/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

170. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that disability service providers have not received extra funding to cover the costs of deep cleaning, sanitising and other associated Covid-19 hygiene protocols as they begin to resume their services for persons with disabilities; if extra funding will be provided in the interest of public health to organisations providing these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16371/20]

Medical Cards

Gino Kenny

172. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the income threshold level for medical card eligibility is to be raised; the details of the new levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16380/20]

Proposed Legislation

Gino Kenny

26. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he expects to move legislation to ban oil and gas exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15995/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Gino Kenny

166. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the availability of Covid-19 antibody tests, that is, post-infection blood tests, for persons going for private surgeries in private hospitals and for those who can pay amounts varying from €79 to €250; if he will consider providing this test free of charge in the first instance to persons who have been shielding and cocooning to enable them to improve their mental and physical health and restore confidence; his plans to roll out the Covid-19 antibody test to all who require it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16270/20]

Legislative Measures

Gino Kenny

29. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation his priority legislation in the area of workers’ rights and employment legislation; if the Employment Permits Act will be amended for migrant workers to make it possible to access the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court; if legislation regarding SEOs and collective agreements will be strengthened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15814/20]

Legislative Measures

Gino Kenny

33. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the amending of employment legislation and the Companies Act 2014 will be made a priority in view of a dispute at a company (details supplied) and the past failure to legislate and in further view of the Duffy Cahill report; if the passage of the Protection of Employees (Collective Redundancies) Bill 2017 will be supported, which passed Second Stage in the Thirty-second Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15813/20]

Schools Building Projects

Gino Kenny

520. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision to locate new temporary Educate Together facilities and buildings on a site adjacent to a school (details supplied) that has been earmarked for a long-awaited extension to the school that had been agreed by her predecessor; if she will ensure the redevelopment of the school on the earmarked site and identify another location for the school, which is needed to bolster school places in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14670/20]

Medicinal Products

Gino Kenny

1154. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of children with spinal muscular atrophy eligible for treatment with the approved drug Spinraza; the number of those receiving the treatment; the reason for the delay in treatment for some of these children such as a child (details supplied); the way in which and when these issues will be addressed in order that all children can receive this vital treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15427/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1293. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the health impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on persons living with dementia and their family carers; his further views on the lack of consideration and strategy in terms of addressing the unique needs of this group during the pandemic; if the omission of the group will be addressed by specifically including it in current and future discussions and debate in relation to Covid-19 and other public health strategies and policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15944/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1294. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on a recently published report (details supplied); his further views on the conclusion in the report that policy and practice needs to focus on the way in which persons living with dementia and their informal and formal carers can be optimally supported; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15945/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1295. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the concerns of health professionals and organisations working with persons with dementia and their families that dementia has not been included specifically in data collection related to Covid-19 mortality or in the public messaging being issued will be addressed; the way in which he will address the lack of emphasis placed on the complex needs of those impacted by dementia in the community and in residential settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15946/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1296. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on whether persons with dementia and their family carers have been rendered invisible during the Covid-19 crisis; the way in which he will ensure that dementia is given high priority in terms of public health policy, research into its impact and future planning with regard to Covid-19; if the issuing of guidelines for the reopening of services and supports for persons and their families will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15947/20]

Homeless Accommodation

Gino Kenny

276. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on providing accommodation for homeless families and persons in hotels and bed and breakfasts in each local authority area from June 2017 up to and including June 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13878/20]

State Bodies

Gino Kenny

480. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reasons the Citizens Information Board and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, restructuring plan has commenced in the south Dublin area despite the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s production of a report in June 2017 (details supplied); the rationale, process and evidence of decision-making that has led to the commencement of the restructuring plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13751/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

489. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if care workers visiting the homes of sick, elderly or disabled persons will be tested fortnightly for Covid-19 in line with the testing of care workers in nursing homes every two weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13206/20]

Human Rights

Gino Kenny

24. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will convey Ireland’s opposition to the Australian ambassador to Ireland of the proposed destruction of 40 to 86 significant Aboriginal sites in the central Pilbara region by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11973/20]