Parliamentary questions

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Thomas Pringle

432. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the Mother and Baby Home Collaborative Forum; when a chair will be appointed; the number of members that have resigned; if all places have been refilled; the last communication between his office and the forum; when the report of the forum will be published; when he will next meet with the forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22698/21]

Direct Provision System

Thomas Pringle

446. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the statutory remit of HIQA under section 8(4) of the Health Act 2007 will be extended to allow it to carry out independent inspections in direct provision centres; if the envisaged role of HIQA will be advisory in nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23205/21]

Third Level Education

Thomas Pringle

448. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the situation in cases in which a person who has an immigration stamp 3 visa in relation to attendance in education can apply for and go on to third-level education on the same basis as an Irish child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22624/21]

Naturalisation Applications

Thomas Pringle

461. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the current turnaround time on applications for Irish citizenship via naturalisation through marriage to an Irish citizen from the time of application to citizenship being granted or denied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22691/21]

Naturalisation Applications

Thomas Pringle

462. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the current turnaround time on applications for Irish citizenship via naturalisation generally from the time of application to citizenship being granted or denied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22692/21]

Citizenship Applications

Thomas Pringle

477. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice if the citizenship applications of healthcare workers will be prioritised given their importance during the Covid-19 pandemic; the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22998/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Thomas Pringle

496. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting over four months for a scoliosis operation; the number of children waiting over 12 months for a scoliosis operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23237/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Pringle

653. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the criteria used to confirm whether persons in group 9 who are living or working in crowded settings includes prisons; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23204/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Thomas Pringle

656. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting for an appointment for an initial referral with a scoliosis consultant, scoliosis assessment and a scoliosis operation. [23236/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Thomas Pringle

89. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the specific supports that will be available for County Donegal under the Tourism Recovery Plan 2020-2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21492/21]

Online Safety

Thomas Pringle

103. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020; if recent increases in conspiracy theory content is being taken into consideration for any such Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21493/21]

Postal Services

Thomas Pringle

188. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) who has renovated a new home but cannot get an Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22351/21]

Road Projects

Thomas Pringle

238. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport when the realignment works project on the N56 Inver to Killybegs currently design phase 0/1 (feasibility and scoping) will be progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21784/21]

Trans European Transport Network Programme

Thomas Pringle

239. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport if funding has been committed through to construction by his Department for the Ten-T priority improvement project for County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21787/21]

Budget Process

Thomas Pringle

293. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance if he has set a date for the announcement of Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22125/21]

Programme for Government

Thomas Pringle

294. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the measures taken to implement the commitment in the Programme for Government to strengthen current mechanisms such as the national economic dialogue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22126/21]

Insurance Coverage

Thomas Pringle

295. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have applied under the declined cases agreement in each of the years 2017 to 2020; the number who have successfully secured insurance under the agreement in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22127/21]

Housing Assistance Payment

Thomas Pringle

434. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason local authorities are not provided with discretion on eligibility for those marginally above the income threshold when applying for social housing or applying for HAP even when the applicant has a severe medical issue; if a review of income eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority area has been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21274/21]

Youth Homelessness Strategy

Thomas Pringle

495. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to develop and implement a national youth homelessness strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22128/21]

Programme for Government

Thomas Pringle

496. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to increase funding to political parties to support youth, gender and diversity programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22129/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Thomas Pringle

669. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy with regard to the continuation and payment of the pandemic unemployment payment after 30 June 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22155/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Thomas Pringle

670. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment by county. [22156/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Thomas Pringle

671. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age on the pandemic unemployment payment who have self-certified as students. [22157/21]

Youth Unemployment

Thomas Pringle

672. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions taken by her Department to date to implement EU Council Recommendation, A Bridge to Jobs, Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee dated 30 October 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22158/21]

Pensions Reform

Thomas Pringle

673. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the implementation of the pensions auto enrolment system; the expected commencement date for the implementation of the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22159/21]

Lobbying Regulation

Thomas Pringle

674. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the bodies and advisory structures under the aegis of her Department which are subject to the transparency code; if all such bodies and advisory structures are abiding by the provisions of the code; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22160/21]

Youth Work Supports

Thomas Pringle

722. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the allocations to the individual funding lines and schemes (details supplied) arising from the additional €5 million announced for youth work services in Budget 2021; and the current allocation to these funding lines and schemes in 2021. [22162/21]

Youth Services

Thomas Pringle

723. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the allocation of €1 million for six new projects under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme in Budget 2021; if the location of the new projects has been decided; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22163/21]

Youth Services

Thomas Pringle

724. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a new youth strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22164/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Thomas Pringle

768. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of participants who are registered on craft apprenticeship pre-apprenticeship programmes; the number of these participants who are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds; and the number of these participants who are male and female, respectively in tabular form. [22150/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Thomas Pringle

769. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of participants who have completed a craft apprenticeship pre-apprenticeship programme since 2018; the number who have progressed to a undertake a craft apprenticeship; and the number who have progressed to higher education following completion of the programme in tabular form. [22151/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Thomas Pringle

770. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of participants who have completed a craft apprenticeship pre-apprenticeship programme since 2018; and the number who have completed the programme who were male and female, respectively in tabular form. [22152/21]

Student Grant Scheme

Thomas Pringle

771. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the work of the student grants appeals board in 2019 and 2020; the number of meetings held by the board; the number of appeals heard; the number of appeals upheld, partially upheld and not upheld, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22153/21]

Lobbying Regulation

Thomas Pringle

772. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of the bodies and advisory structures under the aegis of his Department which are subject to the transparency code; if all such bodies and advisory structures are abiding by the provisions of the code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22154/21]

Legal Aid Service

Thomas Pringle

818. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the actions being taken to address lengthy waiting lists for mediation services provided by the Legal Aid Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21700/21]

Legal Aid Service

Thomas Pringle

819. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons on waiting lists for mediation services provided by the Legal Aid Board in County Donegal; the average length of time waiting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21701/21]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Thomas Pringle

879. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the status of the upcoming legislation on the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21250/21]

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Thomas Pringle

1070. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government to examine the way to support local drugs and alcohol taskforces in identifying local need in communities and support targeted initiatives addressing drug and alcohol misuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22130/21]

Court Judgments

Thomas Pringle

1071. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if his Department has undertaken an analysis to determine if the recent Zalewski judgment by the Supreme Court has any implications for those regulatory bodies under the aegis of his Department which make determinations of a quasi-judicial nature particularly in circumstances in which fitness to practice hearings are not held in public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22131/21]

Mica Redress Scheme

Thomas Pringle

61. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a scheme that will allow householders to raise the 10% matching funding for the MICA support scheme to enable them to avail of the scheme given that many householders cannot raise the required funding on their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21027/21]

Secretaries General

Thomas Pringle

72. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the process for approval of the new salary for the Secretary General of the Department of Health which is said to be deemed to be commensurate with the scale of the responsibilities, including the vaccine roll-out in the immediate term and the challenges of implementing the Government’s ambition for the roll-out of Sláintecare and the budget of €21 billion for health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20148/21]

Fiscal Data

Thomas Pringle

84. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will commence publishing statements of Ireland's net worth along with State assets and liabilities; the timeframe for the implementation of this OECD recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20149/21]

Climate Action Plan

Thomas Pringle

89. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the phase 1 review report by the National Investment Office focusing specifically on the climate action measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20152/21]

Workplace Relations Commission

Thomas Pringle

112. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a representative of his Department was sent to the WRC Conciliation Conference with staff from a union (details supplied) regarding staff claims on 20 April 2021; if he will send a representative to future WRC conferences given that HR has to defer to his Department for any decisions regarding pay and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20150/21]

Driver Test

Thomas Pringle

411. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport when the licensed portal for NDI approved driver instructors will be opened again to allow instructors to upload lessons completed by persons awaiting a driving test and for persons who require medical assessment lessons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19906/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Pringle

412. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport the reason the licensed portal for NDI approved driving instructors is closed while it is still allowing the portal for essential workers to request an invitation for a driver test through the RSA website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19907/21]

Credit Unions

Thomas Pringle

484. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the number of credit unions that have been permitted by the Central Bank to pay a dividend to members for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18590/21]

Scoláireachtaí Gaeltachta

Thomas Pringle

639. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Thomas Pringle den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an mbeidh cead ag na cúrsaí Gaeilge a bhíonn ar siúl i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill a bheith oscailte i mbliana; an mbeidh teagmháil dhíreach aici le soláthróirí na gcúrsaí agus leis na heagraíochtaí cuí eile le tacaíocht a chur ar fáil don earnáil a thugann maoiniú isteach atá ríthábhachtach do phobail faoin tuath i nGaeltacht iarthar Dhún na nGall; an dtabharfar aon chúiteamh do na mná ‘tí nó do na coláistí a bheas thíos i mbliana muna mbeidh na cúrsaí ar siúl; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [19244/21]

Electoral Commission

Thomas Pringle

674. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the recruitment process of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission; the location of the advertisement; the way in which the selection process is undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18290/21]

Housing Policy

Thomas Pringle

677. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which a single person can purchase a property in Dublin or other urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18310/21]