Parliamentary questions

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]

Disability Services Provision

Martin Browne

371. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the supports his Department has made available for persons with dementia or Alzheimer’s since the start of March 2020; and the supports planned for the coming months. [27945/20]

Currency Circulation

Martin Browne

86. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance his views on the concerns in rural Ireland of the emergence of a cashless society; the accessibility issues that would give rise for some persons; his views on the way in which those that have traditionally only dealt in cash can be facilitated; his plans to address the concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24433/20]

Driver Test

Martin Browne

253. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport his views on the way in which the backlog in driver tests is affecting third-level students that opt to travel to college on the days they are required on campus; the number of additional staff that have been recruited to deal with the backlog; if the staff members have reduced the backlog; his plans to increase the number of additional driver testers; and his views on the need of third-level students to sit their driver tests as quickly as possible. [27240/20]

Housing Issues

Martin Browne

407. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the problems being experienced in the taking-in-charge of developer-led developments (details supplied). [27298/20]

Schools Building Projects

Martin Browne

440. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the progress of a school (details supplied), which was first agreed in 2013; and if progress has been made towards the opening of the school. [26305/20]

Peace Commissioners

Martin Browne

716. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice if the number of peace commissioners for the district of Thurles, County Tipperary is sufficient. [26869/20]

Long-Term Illness Scheme

Martin Browne

873. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to make the FreeStyle Libre device available for type 1 through the long-term illness scheme (details supplied). [26755/20]

Hospital Admissions

Martin Browne

987. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an instance in which a frontline worker who had a broken bone had to wait a number of days to be treated; his views on the way in which the worker tested negative for Covid-19 but could not get treatment for a number of days at two hospitals due to the fact no isolation beds were available; his views on the prevalence of the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27299/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Martin Browne

990. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if arrangements have been made whilst Covid-19 restrictions on travel are in place to accommodate persons using medicinal cannabis preparations under licence; the length of time such arrangements are envisaged to remain; and if consideration has been given to such arrangements being made permanent. [27325/20]

Water Charges

Martin Browne

123. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will request Irish Water to give an exemption from water charges to community councils and voluntary groups which provide meals on wheels services and other services for those in need; if his attention has been drawn to organisations that have been billed for thousands of euro in the space of a few months; if his attention has been further drawn to the difficulties such organisations have in paying charges due to low income and the recent fall in funds due to Covid-19 restrictions; if his attention has been further drawn to the high water charges they are faced with regularly; his views on the way in which such organisations have been heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic; his views on recognising their efforts by providing such exemptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26200/20]

Hospital Services

Martin Browne

195. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to persons in north County Tipperary being referred to University Hospital Limerick due to a lack of capacity in Nenagh, County Tipperary; if he will make local testing facilities available; if those that incur additional expense in order to travel from Nenagh to Limerick will be compensated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25784/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

205. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 16 September 2020, if students on placement in a healthcare setting that have part-time employment are expected to continue to go out to work in a wide range of settings while also working on placement thus vastly increasing the risk of transmission; the position regarding those students that work in caring or other related positions; and if they are expected to complete their placement in a hospital and then go to work in a nursing home or other similar setting despite certain employers, third-level institutions and trade unions (details supplied) advising against same. [25834/20]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Martin Browne

59. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on workers at a company (details supplied) not being able to receive their full social protection entitlements due to the fact the company will not sign their dockets for the days they are not working; her further views on negotiations that have taken place between her Department and the company; her views on the appropriateness of such negotiations; her further views on the impact this has had on workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25095/20]