Parliamentary questions

Taxi Licences

Martin Browne

154. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether the penalties that are imposed on those operating as taxis or small public service vehicle operators without an SPSV licence are sufficient to deter those illegal operators from resuming these illegal practices afterwards; if he is satisfied with the system in its current form; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that registered and legal operators are unhappy with the system which they say does not work for them and that their operating costs increase significantly as a result of illegal operators; his plans to improve the system to ensure compliance with SPSV legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4296/21]

Culture Ireland

Martin Browne

286. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding allocated to Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts globally in 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [4208/21]

Commercial Rates

Martin Browne

309. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if businesses whose ability to trade effectively are reduced due to local roadworks projects have an entitlement to seek a discount in commercial rates; his views on local authorities being facilitated by central Government for such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3631/21]

Fire Safety

Martin Browne

349. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a matter in regard to a fire safety issue for a person (details supplied) will be addressed. [4262/21]

EU Meetings

Martin Browne

402. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if EU security and defence issues were discussed at the December 2020 EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. [4209/21]

Schools Building Projects

Martin Browne

466. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the status of the educate together school in Clonmel, County Tipperary, which was promised in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4124/21]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Martin Browne

519. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who applied for hearing aids under the treatment benefit scheme in 2018, 2019 and 2020; the cost in each year; and when the hearing aid grant was last reviewed. [4205/21]

Vaccination Programme

Martin Browne

775. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the stage at which, in the vaccine roll-out plan, volunteers in community groups who are providing services to vulnerable persons, such as meals on wheels, are included. [4008/21]

Hospital Data

Martin Browne

803. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of cataract surgeries that were carried out at Nenagh Hospital in 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [4210/21]

Horticulture Sector

Martin Browne

898. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department has taken to facilitate the horticulture industry to move away from peat use (details supplied); and the measures that have been put in place before the end of horticultural peat harvesting. [4003/21]

Horticulture Sector

Martin Browne

899. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a reduction in peat use in the commercial horticulture sector is envisaged for 2021-2022. [4005/21]

Departmental Staff

Martin Browne

908. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated full-year cost of recruiting three extra full-time archaeologists to deal with forestry applications within his Department. [4206/21]

Beef Exports

Martin Browne

909. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the exports of beef to the USA in volume and value in 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [4207/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

172. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the supports in place for those families with inadequate Internet access or devices for their children to engage with learning from home fully while schools are closed (details supplied). [3023/21]

Carer's Allowance

Martin Browne

225. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the length of time an applicant can be expected to wait for a decision regarding carer's allowance; and if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person who has been waiting since July 2020 for a decision regarding the allowance and is in financial difficulty as a result. [3022/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

820. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the position of family carers in the vaccination allocation sequencing under the national Covid-19 vaccination programme; and if for the purposes of the of the roll-out of the vaccine programme, family carers fall under the category of healthcare workers or a particular grade of key workers. [44925/20]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Martin Browne

843. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the amount spent annually on medical devices and products that are purchased from the UK; if arrangements are in place to continue purchasing such items and products; if his attention has been drawn to potential issues with such purchases that may arise due to Brexit; the consequences of these impacts for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45011/20]

Health Services Funding

Martin Browne

914. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the amount allocated towards eating disorder treatment in the HSE in each of the past five years; the amount that was spent in each year; his views on the adequacy of the funding and the supports and treatments available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1055/21]

Rural Development Plan

Martin Browne

18. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on the need for rural communities to have an appropriate range of services of all kinds available locally to ensure their needs can be met in their local communities; her views on whether communities that can provide for themselves are happier communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44157/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

88. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on the way in which the operators of community services centres are facing considerable fees for water at a time when their ability to generate income has been limited; if she will consider addressing the issue; her further views on the supports that are needed for community councils and organisations given the impact of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43335/20]