Parliamentary questions

Legal Aid

Brendan Howlin

903. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if the relocation of the Legal Aid Board office in County Waterford has been brought to her attention; if discussions have taken place with staff of that office concerning the move; if she has given formal consent under section 3(2) of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 for this new premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42170/21]

Home Care Packages

Brendan Howlin

1252. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the recruitment crisis in the homecare sector; if he is satisfied that his Department’s policy on this sector will deliver on policy to allow all persons who wish to remain living in their own homes to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42218/21]

Visa Applications

Brendan Howlin

297. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the reason that visas are required for Colombian nationals visiting or studying in Ireland; if the cost of such visas is greater than the cost of visas for other nationals; the reason that the proof of economic solvency for Colombian applicants is much greater than for other South American applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36981/21]

Citizenship Applications

Brendan Howlin

336. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when an application for citizenship by a person (details supplied) will be determined. [35429/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Howlin

408. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if matters raised by a person (details supplied) in hotel quarantine will be addressed; his views on whether the experience is acceptable; if a survey will be carried out of all persons who have used quarantine hotels to determine if they had similar experiences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28823/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Howlin

410. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the temporary assistance payment scheme available to nursing homes will continue beyond 30 June 2021, having regard to the ongoing risk from Covid-19 and the consequent need for nursing homes to have extensive infection-prevention control measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28825/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brendan Howlin

237. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable that a person (details supplied) on a waiting list to see a consultant neurologist in St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin has been given an appointment for 1 January 2024; if this is in keeping with policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27762/21]

Vaccination Programme

Brendan Howlin

238. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 525 of 5 May 2021, his understanding of the effectiveness of each vaccine authorised for use in Ireland against each identified variant of Covid-19 in tabular form; his understanding of the relative effectiveness of first dose and two doses against each variant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27763/21]

Heritage Projects

Brendan Howlin

190. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will identify a source of funding to assist the restoration of an historic musical organ (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34254/21]

Driver Test

Brendan Howlin

190. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons awaiting a driving test in the RSA Wexford driving test centre in each category (details supplied); the number of weeks candidates are on a waiting list for a test date broken into four weeks tranches in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34129/21]

Driver Test

Brendan Howlin

191. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons awaiting a driver test in the RSA Gorey driving test centre in each test category (details supplied); the number of weeks candidates are on a waiting list for a test date by four four-week tranches in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34130/21]

Hospital Services

Brendan Howlin

196. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2,315 of 21 April 2021, the reason only two of the three MRI projects namely Mullingar and Kilkenny set out in the 2020 capital plan have advanced to date; the reason the MRI for Wexford General Hospital was removed; the person that made this decision; when this was decision made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25871/21]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Howlin

571. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) in which a follow-up consultation is required with their surgeon under the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25664/21]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Howlin

618. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a total area of 902,000 hectares excluding areas of LPIS under linear and point features is the total area under the GLAS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32852/21]

Rail Network

Brendan Howlin

61. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if the reopening of the Wexford to Waterford rail line is to be considered as part of the Strategic Rail Review now underway; his views pending the outcome of this strategic review of the decision of Irish Rail to secure the Barrow Bridge in a permanently open position; his views on whether this action has implications for any future use of the bridge for rail or as part of a potential greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32168/21]

Driver Licences

Brendan Howlin

106. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the situation pertaining to the swapping of EU to Irish driver licences in cases in which the originating country is outside the EU; if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28814/21]

Energy Conservation

Brendan Howlin

151. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that are available to persons building new homes in order to encourage non-carbon heating systems; if grants offered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to convert existing homes by installing PV panels are also available to new house builds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28799/21]

Air Corps

Brendan Howlin

187. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the reason a US military aircraft landed at Baldonnel on 18 May 2021; the purposes of the US military aircraft; if any other airforce or air corps have accessed Baldonnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28797/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

180. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the repayment of the employment wage subsidy scheme to a person (details supplied); his views on whether this was a bona fide application that would have serious knock-on effects for apprenticeships if the payment was disallowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27524/21]

Visa Applications

Brendan Howlin

489. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a visa application (details supplied) under the EU Directive 2004/38/EC will be determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27674/21]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Howlin

378. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the total forestry licences issued by his Department has declined in recent weeks; the reason the significant reduction in Coillte licences has not lead to an increase in the number of private licenses issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27310/21]

Driver Test

Brendan Howlin

89. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if driver theory tests remain suspended; if appointments for tests in the coming weeks are being cancelled; if these cancelled appointment slots are being made available for others to book and pay for; when he envisages that theory tests will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27076/21]

Bus Services

Brendan Howlin

254. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if the number of bus routes serving Wexford town by Bus Éireann is being reduced; the number of services still operating between Wexford town and Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25860/21]

Visa Agreements

Brendan Howlin

679. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when the recently amended visa requirements for visitors previously visa exempt and the restrictions imposed on the making of visa applications other than priority, emergency applications will be reversed; if visa applications from family members of Irish residents including spouses, partners and dependent children are currently being accepted and processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26423/21]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Howlin

697. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any Coillte felling licences approved since January 2021 lack any information or are below the standard required in private sector licence applications for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25620/21]

Foreign Conflicts

Brendan Howlin

48. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the situation in the area Sheikh Jarrah used to resettle expelled Palestinian refugees in 1956, that 28 Palestinian families long promised legal titles to their homes are now the target of eviction proceedings by the Israeli authorities and new settlers there; the action he has taken at EU and UN level to highlight this injustice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23901/21]

Artists' Remuneration

Brendan Howlin

292. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress made to date on the proposal for a three-year pilot scheme of a universal income for artists, writers and musicians; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24069/21]

School Staff

Brendan Howlin

467. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will review the proposed removal of a teacher from a school (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this school serves a very disadvantaged community including a large number of students of whom 21% are from the Traveller community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24279/21]

Special Educational Needs

Brendan Howlin

488. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will review the allocation of special education teaching hours at a school (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the allocation has remained unchanged for the past six years despite the growth in pupil numbers in the school; if she will discuss the allocation with the NCSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24308/21]

Dental Services

Brendan Howlin

694. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a dental practice (details supplied) is withdrawing its service for medical card holders from June 2021; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that other practices are taking the same action; the way he plans to provide a dental service for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23679/21]

Sustainable Energy Communities

Brendan Howlin

153. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has received a letter from a company (details supplied) in relation to changes to the SEAI communities grant scheme; if the issues set out in same will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23151/21]

Foreign Conflicts

Brendan Howlin

342. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions that Ireland and the European Union have taken regarding Ethiopia in the view of the activities of the Ethiopian and Eritrean forces in the province of Tigray in which many have lost their lives or in the case of women have been sexually assaulted; it the matter has impacted on trade or aid programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22846/21]

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

Brendan Howlin

447. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the remaining sections of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019 will be commenced; when section 23 in particular will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23155/21]

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

Brendan Howlin

450. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when section 34 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019 will be commenced; if he will ensure that a waiver scheme for fees is introduced for those providers required to engage with QQI on a process to re-establish quality assurance and programme validation given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on training and education providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22844/21]

Naturalisation Applications

Brendan Howlin

458. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the status of the application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22592/21]

Jury Service

Brendan Howlin

460. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the progress made by the Working Group on Jury Service; when this work is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22668/21]

Vaccination Programme

Brendan Howlin

525. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the relative accepted efficacy rate of the authorised vaccines for Ireland (details supplied); the understood effectiveness of each of these vaccines for new variants of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22688/21]

Vaccination Programme

Brendan Howlin

526. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the recommended time interval between first and second doses as advised by the vaccine manufacturers for vaccines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22689/21]

Vaccination Programme

Brendan Howlin

527. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health further to his response during a debate in Dáil Éireann on 22 April 2021, if he has re-examined the time interval between doses of a vaccine (details supplied); his views on whether it is contrary to health policy to have less vulnerable groups fully vaccinated before more vulnerable cohorts; his plans to ensure that persons are vaccinated with their first and second doses of the vaccine in accordance with the schedule published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22690/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Howlin

980. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if it is possible for a pregnant Irish citizen working in Dubai who plans to travel from Dubai in June 2021 and has been advised by their medical team not to have a vaccine to avoid the mandatory hotel quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21667/21]

Foreign Policy

Brendan Howlin

840. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had a conversation with the new administration in the United States of America in relation to ongoing US sanctions against Cuba; if the ban on contributions to Cuba via third countries has been discussed; his views on this ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18361/21]

Employment Support Services

Brendan Howlin

1113. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to change the funding mechanism for the local employment services from a cost met model to a cost bid model; the implication of this change on guidance counsellor mediation services provided by local employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18360/21]

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

Brendan Howlin

1306. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has received a request from a centre (details supplied) for a waiver of the QQ1 regarding the engagement fee based on section 80 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012; his views on this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19115/21]

Public Sector Pensions

Brendan Howlin

1421. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if she has reviewed the pension entitlement of a person (details supplied); if she will arrange to have a fresh medical examination in this case; if consideration has been made as to whether this person could serve again as a garda under the pensions order of 1925; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19135/21]

Dental Services

Brendan Howlin

1634. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18507/21]

Hospital Services

Brendan Howlin

2315. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when a public MRI facility will be provided on a permanent basis at Wexford General Hospital as was announced in the 2019 Health Capital Plan; if he will publish the terms of agreement between the HSE and an organisation (details supplied) for the private facility currently in place there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20566/21]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Brendan Howlin

2317. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when the announced capital works for a 75-bed unit at Wexford General Hospital will commence; the allocated funding for this unit for 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20568/21]

Mental Health Services

Brendan Howlin

2318. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if it is planned to provide acute psychiatric beds at Wexford General Hospital; the arrangements for acute psychiatric treatment currently available for the persons in each area of County Wexford; if these arrangements are in acceptance with the A Vision for Change plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20570/21]

Equine Industry

Brendan Howlin

2508. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when under-18 pony and equestrian competitions can recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19478/21]

Forestry Data

Brendan Howlin

2517. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the approximate tonnage of CO2 sequestered per hectare of afforestation over its lifetime at 70% conifer and 30% broadleaf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19675/21]