Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the procedures will be clarified in cases in which a school incurs multiple losses of teaching and other staff as a result of Covid-19 infections or needing to isolate as a result of close contact with infected persons; the procedure in cases in which as a result of such losses the staff-pupil ratio falls below the legal requirement as outlined on page 9 of the HPSC's Covid pathway for schools, which quotes the legal requirement for the staff-pupil ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27445/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

150. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the circumstances under which a primary school may be closed as a result of Covid-19 safety guidelines and multiple cases of illness and-or suspected cases of illness; the authority that makes such a decision; if her Department has oversight of or a final say in such decisions and the role public health officials play in making such decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27688/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

151. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that have had to shut down or close specific classes since reopening as a result of either a Covid-19 outbreak or illness among staff or pupils or insufficient staff-pupil ratios; the number of teachers her Department's attention has been drawn to as having contracted Covid-19 since the reopening of schools; and the number of pupils, parents and guardians her Department's attention has been drawn to as having contracted Covid-19. [27689/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Bríd Smith

255. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the details of the road passenger transport operators based in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, Leitrim and Longford that received payment from his Department in respect of the carriage of free travel pass holders in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and the individual routes in respect of which payment was made. [27274/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

477. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 15 September 2020, if the school appealed a staff reduction as a result of a fall in pupil numbers in Spring 2020 under section D - English as an additional language, EAL; if this appeal was refused; if it is now open to the school to appeal the staff reduction under a different category as a result of difficulties experienced as a result of implementing the Covid-19 guidelines from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26930/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

566. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an applicant for the pandemic unemployment payment who has been made unemployed as a result of a lay-off due to the Covid-19 crisis and recent restrictions can be assessed on his or her income for 2020 or the period post January and February 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26893/20]

Citizenship Status

Bríd Smith

730. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if the citizenship requirement will be clarified with regard to the reckonable residency calculation; the consequence in the event a person has been absent from the State for more than six weeks in a year; if six-week absences are deducted in their entirety from the reckonable residency calculation; if not, if it is solely the excess days over six weeks that are deducted from reckonable residency calculation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27102/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

774. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the impact of level 3 Covid-10 restrictions and possible further restrictions on businesses (details supplied) in the Dublin area; and the guidance available to owners and operators of such facilities [26325/20]

Care of the Elderly

Bríd Smith

784. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when the change to the presence on-site of a gerontologist and a registered nurse took place; the person or body responsible for the change in regulations relating to the care of the elderly in long-term residential care identified by the expert panel report on page 96; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26368/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Bríd Smith

854. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the contracts and services that have been put in place with the network of 46 laboratories contracted by the State or by its agents to provide Covid-19 testing services; the names and addresses of the laboratories; if they are public or private; the amount expended to date on the contracts; the estimated amount that will be spent on same; the services that will be provided under the contracts; the duration of same; the indemnity arrangements that have been made in respect of the laboratories; if there is one template contract or more in use; and if a copy of the contracts will be released [26645/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Bríd Smith

855. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the logistics provider whose contract has been extended to include Covid-19 testing; the address of the company; the testing services the company has been contracted to provide; the identity of the contracting party; the duration of the contract; the amount expended to date on the contract; the estimated amount to be spent on same; and the indemnity arrangements that have been made in this regard [26646/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Bríd Smith

60. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of HSA inspections of airport terminals or airline operations to ensure they are complying with workplace safety measures in relation to Covid-19; if the authority is aware of or adheres to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, guidelines for airports and airlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26085/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

62. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will bring forward legislation to ensure workers in meat plants have access to a sick scheme as a safety measure in view of Covid-19 outbreaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26176/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

63. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of meat processing plants inspected by the HSA to date since the Covid-19 crisis began; the number of facilities found to be in breach of Covid-19 workplace guidelines; and the penalties that have been or will be levied. [26177/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

74. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his plans to transpose the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, guidelines on safe air travel into enforceable regulations here; if the IAA or other authority has sought to ensure that airports and airlines are operating to these guidelines; if airlines based here are adhering to Covid-19 safety protocols (details supplied) for their workforce and passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26079/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

96. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if a company (details supplied) is in receipt of the new employment subsidy scheme for its workforce; if so, the reason; the oversight and safeguards in place to ensure all companies in receipt of the subsidies are dispensing the funds to their employees; the number of employees that are topping up their employees’ wages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26001/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

136. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 15 September 2020, if a school, having previously appealed a reduction in staff under grounds contained in circular 0018/2020, can now appeal this reduction under different grounds or grounds not captured in the circular but connected to new difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 crisis and taking the necessary public health measures advice by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26046/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

262. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his Department was notified by a company (details supplied) of a Covid-19 outbreak; if so, when; the actions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26174/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

294. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department was notified by a company (details supplied) of a Covid-19 outbreak; if so, when; the actions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26173/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

30. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons, in complying with public health advice to refrain from travelling to particular countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, have incurred substantial losses as a result of airline companies’ refusal to refund them by stating that their flights are still departing; if he has had meetings with airlines to address the matter; his plans to compel airlines and or hotels to refund customers that cannot travel as a result of public health advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25832/20]