Parliamentary questions

Crisis Pregnancy Services

Emer Higgins

924. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to regulate rogue crisis pregnancy agencies that seek to delay and misinform those seeking information on abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21408/21]

Primary Care Centres

Emer Higgins

995. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans for a primary care centre in Clondalkin, Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21708/21]

Primary Care Centres

Emer Higgins

996. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans for a primary care centre in Lucan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21709/21]

Health Services Provision

Emer Higgins

997. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans for a service (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21710/21]

Greenways Provision

Emer Higgins

18. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the status of the development and provision of funding of the Hazelhatch greenway; if additional funding will be made available for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20923/21]

Commencement of Legislation

Emer Higgins

157. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health when the sections of the Health Identifiers Act 2014 which have not been commenced will commence; the current impediments stopping the progress of the sections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20999/21]

National Development Plan

Emer Higgins

103. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if common themes were identified in the consultation process which has formed part of phase 1 of the review to renew examination of the national development plan; when the updated national development plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20405/21]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Emer Higgins

114. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the mechanism to ensure the responsible and most effective spend of the potential €10.8 billion available to Departments and agencies for capital expenditure in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20406/21]

National Broadband Plan

Emer Higgins

257. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the broadband roll-out in rural towns (details supplied) in County Dublin. [19522/21]

National Broadband Plan

Emer Higgins

285. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the townlands in which surveying has been completed in relation to the National Broadband Plan; the townlands in which surveying is underway currently; the townlands in which it is planned to conduct surveying before the end of 2021, by county in tabular form; if he will report on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20469/21]

National Broadband Plan

Emer Higgins

286. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the townlands in which the construction or build out phase has started in relation to the National Broadband Plan; the townlands in which construction will commence before the end of 2021; the number of premises that have been connected; the percentage that these comprise of the total number in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20470/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

357. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the current Covid-19 restrictions on aviation training; if flight lessons are permitted to go ahead; the capacity in which they are allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19216/21]

Electric Vehicles

Emer Higgins

360. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider allowing SEAI electric vehicle grants to be paid directly to the garage from which a taxi driver wishes to purchase an electric vehicle to facilitate more taxi drivers purchasing electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19247/21]

Proposed Legislation

Emer Higgins

403. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the status of the legislation for e-scooter regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19806/21]

Pension Provisions

Emer Higgins

544. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be provided for pensions for community employment scheme supervisors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18359/21]

Arts Policy

Emer Higgins

646. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the initiatives in place to scout for local talent in the arts space. [19787/21]

Arts Policy

Emer Higgins

647. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the level of talent-spotting engagement that takes place between RTÉ and the Arts Council regarding, for example, actors, screenwriters, comedy writers or playwrights. [19790/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

650. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if outdoor drama practice for children can recommence in line with the proposed reopening of outdoor training for under 18s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19828/21]

Housing Data

Emer Higgins

688. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost rental targets in each of the years 2021 to 2025, inclusive. [18477/21]

Teaching Qualifications

Emer Higgins

915. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education her plans to give incremental credit to teachers returning to Ireland who have previously worked as post-primary teachers in private schools outside of the EU in order to encourage more teachers to return to work in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18167/21]

Gender Recognition

Emer Higgins

1144. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that is being made to give non-binary persons legal recognition on legal documents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19159/21]

Vaccination Programme

Emer Higgins

1515. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the way in which high risk persons such as those with a BMI over 40 who are under general practitioner care and do not have a hospital team will be contacted for their Covid-19 vaccination. [18118/21]

General Practitioner Services

Emer Higgins

1869. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if there are training schemes available to general practitioners regarding the care of transgender patients especially following gender confirmation surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19183/21]

Speech and Language Therapy

Emer Higgins

1934. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the details of the way in which alternative therapies used to treat speech and language difficulties such as music and equine therapies are certified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19341/21]

Vaccination Programme

Emer Higgins

2080. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will issue a directive requesting the HSE to ensure that patients from a general optician practice (details supplied) receive their overdue vaccines as soon as possible. [19767/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

2321. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if a person returning to Ireland from one of the designated mandatory hotel quarantine countries who was receiving essential medical treatment abroad and will require immediate follow-up medical treatment in Ireland upon returning will have to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20584/21]

Animal Welfare

Emer Higgins

2431. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to enforce the issuing of equine identifications given the critical situation in relation to horse neglect and cruelty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18111/21]

Animal Sales

Emer Higgins

2432. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider adapting change of ownership laws in relation to equine purchasing in order that the onus is on the seller to change ownership and not the purchaser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18112/21]

School Enrolments

Emer Higgins

224. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to the creation of a database of open school places to assist both parents and schools that cannot accurately predict their waiting lists due to parents applying to multiple schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17922/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

91. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if steps can be taken to prevent mortgage approval from being withdrawn from persons due to the fact they are in receipt of the employment wage subsidy scheme or Covid restrictions support scheme. [17149/21]

Insurance Industry

Emer Higgins

105. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the progress of his Department in tackling the high cost of insurance and the competitiveness of the insurance market here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17150/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Emer Higgins

183. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports available to private coach and bus operators who do not have a premises and do not pay rates to their local council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16711/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Emer Higgins

184. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports available for microbusinesses that do not pay rates to their local council but still have fixed costs to meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16778/21]

Taxi Regulations

Emer Higgins

250. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his plans to extend the ten-year rule for taxi drivers with vehicles registered in 2012 given the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16312/21]

Electric Vehicles

Emer Higgins

251. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the assistance that is available to taxi drivers wishing to replace their vehicle with electric models. [16313/21]

Value Added Tax

Emer Higgins

382. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the operation of the VAT refund scheme for charities; his views on the uptake of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17228/21]

Homeless Persons Supports

Emer Higgins

476. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which contracts are awarded for the running of homelessness services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16779/21]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Emer Higgins

569. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education her plans to officially accredit the first ever national training programme for SNAs in UCD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16504/21]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Emer Higgins

570. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education her plans to officially accredit the first ever national training programme for SNAs in UCD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16507/21]

Special Educational Needs

Emer Higgins

623. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if the HSE will respond to the request by South Dublin County Council for an update on the school inclusion model pilot in Lucan, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17348/21]

Carer's Allowance

Emer Higgins

681. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if a moratorium will be considered on routine reviews of the carer's allowance until the pandemic is over; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17344/21]

Departmental Funding

Emer Higgins

738. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider the request by an organisation (details supplied) for additional funding to support young members impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17576/21]

Vaccination Programme

Emer Higgins

909. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff working from home who have received a vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16501/21]

Health Promotion

Emer Higgins

918. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the current public health information campaigns available on accessing mental health support. [16569/21]

Health Promotion

Emer Higgins

919. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will implement a public health campaign on accessing suitable therapy services for mental health treatment. [16570/21]

Health Promotion

Emer Higgins

920. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will implement a public health campaign on caring for mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. [16571/21]

Vaccination Programme

Emer Higgins

990. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if members of An Garda Síochána will be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16756/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Emer Higgins

1098. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the waiting list for over 3,000 gynaecological appointments in Tallaght University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17250/21]

Maternity Services

Emer Higgins

1231. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that pregnant women can be joined by their partners during prenatal scans and childbirth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17590/21]

Asylum Seekers

Emer Higgins

122. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to extending the number of asylum seekers accepted by Ireland from the Greek islands to beyond the proposed 50 persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16020/21]

Driver Test

Emer Higgins

80. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to use driving instructors from semi-State bodies, for example Dublin Bus, to help clear the backlog of driving lessons and driver tests. [14199/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

206. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the payment options available to persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16290/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

228. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason the largest circulated newspapers that are delivered free to homes in areas (details supplied) are not receiving Government advertising in the form of Covid-19 public health advertising. [14457/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

413. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16300/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

507. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [15854/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

553. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16292/21]

Home Loan Scheme

Emer Higgins

609. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Rebuilding Ireland home loan is excluding persons whose divorces have not been finalised. [14018/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

737. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16296/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

786. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16297/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

816. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16298/21]

Departmental Properties

Emer Higgins

821. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the future plans for her Department's land in Newcastle, County Dublin which may be large enough to accommodate a post-primary school adjacent to the existing national school. [13935/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

881. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if special education is classed as an essential service; and if these schools will remain open irrespective of Covid-19 numbers to align them with the EU and the UK. [14757/21]

Special Educational Needs

Emer Higgins

882. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if consideration is being given to extending the special education school term to the end of July 2021 to align it with the EU and the UK. [14758/21]

Special Educational Needs

Emer Higgins

883. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education her plans for summer supports for 2021; and the eligibility criteria for same. [14759/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

956. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by her Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16293/21]

Disability Support Services

Emer Higgins

1068. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a directory will be compiled of access officers for local authorities and Departments. [14139/21]

Parental Leave

Emer Higgins

1100. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the provisions being made to allow parents using surrogacy to avail of leave and parental pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15755/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

1176. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16294/21]

Legal Services Regulation

Emer Higgins

1288. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice her plans to implement a wills register for Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15860/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

1291. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by her Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16291/21]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Emer Higgins

1348. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the current status of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2019; the provision being made within the Bill for those receiving income support to access assisted human reproduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14014/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

1503. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the reason the largest circulated newspapers that are delivered free to homes in areas (details supplied) are not receiving Government advertising in the form of Covid-19 public health advertising. [14455/21]

Dental Services

Emer Higgins

1628. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will consider outsourcing public dental services to private practices in order to lessen waiting times of over seven years for youth orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14858/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

1880. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the various Covid-19-related public information campaigns run by his Department to date; and the number that relate specifically on the way to properly wear a face covering and to dispose and wash face masks appropriately. [15764/21]

HSE Waiting Lists

Emer Higgins

1906. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting for assessment for speech and language services in CHO7. [15857/21]

Speech and Language Therapy

Emer Higgins

1907. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have received assessments for speech and language services and are currently waiting for intervention in CHO7. [15858/21]

Speech and Language Therapy

Emer Higgins

1908. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have received sporadic speech and language intervention but require further sessions in CHO7. [15859/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

1909. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to publish the modal age with regard to Covid-19 cases as part of the daily figures to enable further insights into Covid-19 transmission trends here. [15861/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

1934. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills issued by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16295/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

2053. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16289/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

2099. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the payment options available for persons to pay fines, charges or bills by her Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16299/21]

Mental Health Services

Emer Higgins

222. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of CHO7 funding by local team level for psychology services. [13701/21]

Mental Health Services

Emer Higgins

223. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of CHO7 funding by local team level for mental health services. [13702/21]

Disability Services Funding

Emer Higgins

224. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of CHO7 funding by local team level for disability services. [13703/21]

Vaccination Programme

Emer Higgins

237. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the way that very high risk persons such as those with Down syndrome who are under general practitioner care and do not have a hospital team will be contacted for their vaccination. [13758/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Emer Higgins

143. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the development of a remote working hub in Adamstown, County Dublin. [13374/21]

Aviation Policy

Emer Higgins

259. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the way in which the recently adopted European Union Aviation Safety Agency rules in relation to flying drones will impact on the older regulations; and if it will be possible to retrospectively classify drones with a CE class mark. [13418/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

445. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the Ireland Fellows Programme for 2021; the way it has been adapted in the wake of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13360/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

446. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress being made on the implantation of Ireland’s Better World strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13361/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

447. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way the Irish embassy in Ethiopia is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13362/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

448. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in Liberia is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13363/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

449. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in Kenya is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13364/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

450. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in Malawi is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13365/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

451. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in Mozambique is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13366/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

452. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in Sierra Leone is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13367/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

453. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in South Africa is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13368/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

454. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in Tanzania is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13369/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

455. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in Uganda is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13370/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

456. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in Vietnam is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13371/21]

Irish Aid

Emer Higgins

457. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish Embassy in Zambia is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13372/21]