Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Code

Martin Browne

109. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons who turn 66 years of age before the completion of the review by the commission on pensions will be entitled to receive a State pension under the policy; and if it will be the case that once awarded a pension these persons will not be affected by a change to the pension age. [16175/20]

Bus Services

Martin Browne

219. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to an instance in which a parent and a child with autism who had attended a hospital appointment were prevented from boarding a bus from Limerick to Dublin due to the fact they were only destined for Roscrea, County Tipperary, and not Dublin; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that parent has also encountered in getting a seat on a Dublin to Limerick bus at Roscrea; if there is a policy to give preference to passengers travelling the full journey of a bus service; and his plans to give parents of children with special needs priority access to transport services. [15256/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

248. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many hoteliers that have not met the criteria for the restart grant find themselves in a situation in which they have no access to supports other than Covid-19-related loan schemes, which would put them into more debt; his plans to address this problem that affects many in the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15607/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

739. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures her Department has taken to provide supports to seasonal workers, such as those employed in summer camps, who have lost income due to Covid-19 but are not covered by the pandemic unemployment payment. [15250/20]

Human Rights

Martin Browne

970. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the challenges faced by LGBTQ parents due to the lack of legal recognition for both parents; his plans to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14677/20]

National Broadband Plan

Martin Browne

62. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to a number of households just outside the reach of national broadband coverage (details supplied); the steps being taken to expedite broadband connection; and if those households within 500 metres of the existing roll out will be treated as priorities in cases in which a clear need for connection exists. [14109/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

77. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider providing a local authority fund to assist small, non-profit sports clubs when they struggle to meet their running costs during difficult times such as the lockdown (details supplied). [14152/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Martin Browne

166. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance the supports available for tourism businesses which are seasonal and would normally be operating at full capacity (details supplied); his views on whether a seasonal average would be fairer for tourism businesses; and if plans are in place to make allowances for the seasonality of businesses in the tourism sector. [14108/20]

Local Authority Rates

Martin Browne

293. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that small, non-profit sports clubs are having in securing an exemption from local authority rates. [14152/20]

Education Standards

Martin Browne

452. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions she will take to address the concerns being expressed by fifth year students concerning the next year of their education in view of the setbacks they have suffered to date in 2020; the steps she will take to address the concerns of sixth year students regarding progressing on to post-secondary school education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14342/20]

Departmental Funding

Martin Browne

543. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if resource centres that are not in receipt of core funding will have their funding streams improved from the phased roll-out of projects similar in approach to community development plans as outlined in the programme for Government; and if the introduction of a five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector as outlined in the programme for Government will also result in improved funding streams for resource centres not in receipt of core funding. [14344/20]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Martin Browne

597. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of young persons involved in youth organisations due to the loss of the youth affairs title in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14343/20]

Misuse of Drugs

Martin Browne

740. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the additional supports in place for communities affected by the increasing intimidation from drug dealers that has coincided with the significant increase in drugs seizures in County Tipperary; if a plan is in place to provide increased addiction treatment services in line with the increased Garda resources; and his views on the lack of co-ordination between the policing and addiction services sides of drug policy. [14106/20]

Misuse of Drugs

Martin Browne

741. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the measures he has taken to develop a more comprehensive approach to tackling the drug problem at a community level in view of the fact this necessitates close work between the Department of Justice and his Department; and the structures in place and the resources available to communities in this regard. [14107/20]

Disability Services Provision

Martin Browne

753. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health when adult day services for persons with disabilities will reopen in view of the fact the HSE framework for the resumption of adult disability day services offers no clarity on the reopening of services; and the procedures his Department has put in place to ensure persons with disabilities and carers are not left behind as the country reopens. [14151/20]

IDA Ireland

Martin Browne

354. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the case of an IDA property (details supplied) in County Tipperary which has been left idle for a number of years with no effort to bring to market by the IDA; his views on whether the IDA has some responsibility for the future of the site in view of the fact as a leasehold property the IDA still holds the title on the land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13301/20]

Health Services Staff

Martin Browne

432. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the vacancy for registrar position in St. Mary’s Health Centre, Thurles; and his plans for the position to be filled. [12954/20]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

476. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the funding supports available for community-based mental health charities which provide counselling services and are operated by local volunteers. [13162/20]

Sports Funding

Martin Browne

706. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding sources available for sports clubs for measures such as CCTV to combat antisocial behaviour and vandalism. [13161/20]

EU Programmes

Martin Browne

105. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has examined if other European supports such as the European Globalisation Fund are available to provide support staff of a company (details supplied) that may be laid off in Shannon Airport. [12433/20]