Parliamentary questions

Health Services

Martin Browne

1416. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of scoliosis surgeries carried out on children to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33698/20]

Health and Social Care Professionals

Martin Browne

1417. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2021 of increasing the annual general practitioner training intake to 280 places. [33699/20]

Health Services Staff

Martin Browne

1418. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists working in the public health services within County Tipperary in each of years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [33700/20]

Domestic Violence Services

Martin Browne

14. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice her views on whether an additional €400,000 in additional funding will be sufficient for organisations and groups responding to increased service demands from persons impacted by domestic abuse Covid-19 restrictions; if consideration is being given to tailoring the methods used to prevent and to deal with instances of domestic crime now that additional funding has been allocated to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32027/20]

Garda Strength

Martin Browne

21. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice if community Gardaí will be increased in view of the additional budgetary allocation for her Department; the methodology that would be used to do so in view of the fact that the incidence rates of particular types of crime can vary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32026/20]

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Martin Browne

33. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes in County Tipperary that have been awarded funding as part of the SEAI warmer homes scheme in 2020. [32258/20]

Domestic Violence Services

Martin Browne

28. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration his plans to improve the services for victims of domestic violence; his views on increasing the roll-out of these services in view of the increase in instances of this crime during the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22889/20]

School Transport

Martin Browne

309. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to cases in which children have been denied school bus places despite living distances up to 20 kilometres from the school (details supplied); and the supports in place to find spaces on school buses for these children. [30931/20]

School Transport

Martin Browne

63. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education her views on the value for money to the State in issuing payments to parents to take their children to and from school due to the fact a school bus service is not available to them; her views on the loss of revenue to families and parents who have to miss work to do this; her views on the loss of tax revenue to the State due to this; her views on whether it would be better value for money for the State to provide additional buses or reroute local buses that have space on them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27368/20]

School Staff

Martin Browne

69. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education her views on the fairness of putting some secondary school secretaries on short-term contracts; her views on the low salary scale they are on and the issues they face regarding pension entitlements; if she will clarify her position to those due to engage in industrial action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30283/20]

School Transport

Martin Browne

153. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education her views on the adequacy of the school transport system to cater for schoolchildren and the ability to social distance adequately on school buses; her further views on the adequacy of the preparations made to deal with the demand; her further views on the inability of some families to get access for children to local school buses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25851/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

133. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason for cancelling dance classes for children as part of level 3 restrictions; the reason drama and singing classes can go ahead but dance classes cannot; if her attention has been drawn to the stress that many children are experiencing and the stress-relieving properties of dance; the supports available to assist persons running dance classes during level 3 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30167/20]

Naval Service

Martin Browne

9. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Defence his views on reports that personnel are leaving the Naval Service to join the Army due to issues related to pay and conditions; his views on the impact this will have on the Naval Service; his further views on pay levels throughout the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29259/20]

Housing Policy

Martin Browne

75. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the way in which the commitment in the programme for Government to make housing a social and economic imperative is possible with a lack of services such as public transport in some areas; his plans to provide the communities under his remit with access to such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28462/20]

Foreign Policy

Martin Browne

131. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the removal from office of the Catalan President for the crime of disobedience to the Spanish state; his views on the fact that he is the third successive Catalan president to be removed from office by the Spanish authorities; and the steps the Government has taken and will take to support democratic politics in Catalonia. [28467/20]

Irish Language

Martin Browne

51. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to restoring pre-recession funding to the development scheme for Irish run by an organisation (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that funding for an officer to run the scheme was cut from five days per week to four when the economic crisis hit; her views on the valued contribution the organisation at its branch in Nenagh, County Tipperary, makes towards the use and promotion of the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27361/20]

Irish Water

Martin Browne

160. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff directly employed by Irish Water; the number of staff employed through contracted services; the cost of subcontracted and directly employed employees; and the breakdown of services which are subcontracted. [27943/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Martin Browne

161. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provisions in place to avoid persons who are on the housing list as joint applicants being penalised when as a result of relationship breakdown they have to reapply as single persons; and if there is a provision in place such that such persons are not treated as new applicants. [27944/20]

Citizenship Applications

Martin Browne

241. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice the way in which the six-week absence rule is calculated in view of the fact that applicants are being given conflicting information as to whether it is the entire period that is counted once it is over six weeks or just the number of days over the six weeks. [27796/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Martin Browne

288. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the arrangements that were made while Covid-19 restrictions on travel were in place to accommodate persons using medicinal cannabis preparations under licence; the length of time such arrangements will continue; and his views on making such arrangements permanent. [27845/20]