Parliamentary questions

Social and Affordable Housing

Mick Barry

57. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the number of houses built through direct build local authority construction in view of the large difference in the cost between local authority direct builds and so called turn-key purchases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38333/20]

Homelessness Strategy

Mick Barry

61. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he plans to take to reduce homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38334/20]

Future of Media Commission

Mick Barry

132. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the inaugural meeting of the Future of Media Commission. [38332/20]

Departmental Reports

Mick Barry

708. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice the status of the O’Malley report into the reform of sexual assault judicial processes; her plans regarding this report, which was received by her in August 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37966/20]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

1. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with transport will next meet. [35074/20]

Fur Farming

Mick Barry

895. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if plans will be accelerated to end fur farming given the outbreak of Covid-19 on mink farms in Europe and the move by other European states to accelerate their plans to prohibit the practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36799/20]

Fur Farming

Mick Barry

896. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the drafting of legislation to prohibit the practice of fur farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36800/20]

Driver Test

Mick Barry

10. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport the steps he will take to ensure that all driving instructors will be given access to shelter and handwashing and toilet facilities at RSA driving test centres in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35520/20]

Driver Test

Mick Barry

88. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport if support will be given to the suspension of all check tests in driver tests during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic in the interests of ensuring the safety of driving instructors and others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35521/20]

Fishing Industry

Mick Barry

140. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport the number of annual referrals made to the Marine Survey Office by the Workplace Relations Commission under the agreement made between those agencies on 3 April 2019; the number of referrals that led to inspections of fishing vessels by the office; the number of inspections that were unannounced; the number that involved a review by Marine Survey Office surveyors of records of work and rest maintained under statutory instruments (details supplied); the number of these reviews that identified violations of the regulations; the action the office took in respect of the violations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36057/20]

Fishing Industry

Mick Barry

141. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport the number of unannounced inspections of Irish fishing vessels made by surveyors of the Marine Survey Office annually since 1 January 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36058/20]

Legislative Measures

Mick Barry

142. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport his plans to amend the European Union (International Labour Organisation Work in Fishing Convention) (Working Hours) Regulations 2019 SI 672 of 2019 to include a method for calculating, in particular cases, the reference period for use in calculating average weekly hours as required by Council Directive (EU) 2017/159 of 19 December 2016 implementing the agreement regarding the implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention 2007 of the International Labour Organisation, concluded on 21 May 2012 between organisations (details supplied), in particular Article 11 of the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36059/20]

Fishing Industry

Mick Barry

143. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport the Irish-flagged fishing vessels over 15 m in length that have been inspected by the Marine Survey Office annually since 1 January 2018; the number of vessels that had returned the official log book to the office as required by sections 239 to 242 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, as amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36060/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Mick Barry

239. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Defence the estimated projections for the increased expenditure in order to participate in the European peace facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36121/20]

Commissions of Investigation

Mick Barry

293. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he plans to publish the final report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36031/20]

Work Permits

Mick Barry

311. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has issued permissions to reside and work in the State since 1 January 2020 to non-EEA, Swiss nationals on stamp 1 conditions subject to the general requirement that the person in question be in employment rather than the usual requirement that they be employed by a named employer; if so, the number of such permissions issued; her plans to grant such permissions in future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36055/20]

Work Permits

Mick Barry

312. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice the number of letters of notification sent in 2019 and to date in 2020 by her Department to participants in the atypical working scheme to non-EEA, Swiss crew in the fishing fleet here notifying them that their contract of employment has ceased and that they should furnish details of their new contract of employment under the scheme within 28 days of the issue of the letter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36056/20]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

2. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the President of the European Council. [35072/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mick Barry

8. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Covid-19 will next meet. [35073/20]

Company Liquidations

Mick Barry

64. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the convening of a multi-stakeholder forum on the issues regarding employee's rights in the cases of liquidation of companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35070/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mick Barry

91. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures in place to ensure that companies availing of Covid-19 subsidies and schemes are using the funds to protect the income and rights of their employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35071/20]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

158. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with education will next meet. [35075/20]

Departmental Functions

Mick Barry

4. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the housing, infrastructure and digital unit of his Department. [33501/20]

Departmental Staff

Mick Barry

3. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach the number of additional staff recruited or seconded to his Department to assist with the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. [33500/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mick Barry

137. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to ensure that all contacts are traced within the 3 day recommended timeframe of a positive diagnosis; the measures he undertook to ensure all contact tracing operations have adequate resources including telecommunications and IT equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33480/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mick Barry

149. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health his plans for the distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine when it is available including the procurement of refrigeration equipment, the training of staff and administration support; the policies of prioritisation for the vaccine that will be implemented; if the vaccine will be delivered exclusively by the public sector; if private patients will be able to pay for prioritised access to the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33481/20]

Taxi Licences

Mick Barry

329. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider waiving or reducing fees for the renewal of a five-year taxi licence and the annual PSV licences in view of the difficulties faced by the taxi industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33090/20]

Driver Test

Mick Barry

335. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport the measures in place to ensure that those who have had driver theory tests cancelled due to level 5 restriction can have a new appointment at the earliest available opportunity; the policy for rebooking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33198/20]

Driver Test

Mick Barry

348. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport if the RSA is asking driver test applicants who are booking a driver test during the level 5 Covid-19 restrictions if they are essential workers under those restrictions; if RSA testers or the RSA will be liable for a breach of the regulations if they carry out a driver test with a non-essential worker; if driver instructors will be deemed to have breached the regulations if they unknowingly bring a non-essential worker to a driver test; if the RSA has a policy on rebooking tests if a garda stops a person en route to a test and that person is then is unable to satisfy the garda that he or she is an essential worker and is requested to return home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33416/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Mick Barry

909. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the pandemic unemployment payment to workers in an airline that are out of work due to the Covid-19 pandemic but are receiving a standard €203 weekly payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33124/20]

Legislative Measures

Mick Barry

6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice the date on which the transfer of functions will take place from her Department of matters relating to discrimination in accessing third level education, public services and employment by minors and young persons who were born here or are long-term residents here but who are not Irish, EEA, UK or Swiss citizens; the steps that will be taken following the transfer of functions to ensure access to these services for these persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30629/20]

Legislative Measures

Mick Barry

7. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if she supports legislative change to ensure that persons born here and-or have been resident here long-term as minors but who are not Irish, EEA, UK or Swiss nationals will be able to access work, third level education and other public services on the same basis as persons with one of those nationalities; if she will review the situation facing these persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32028/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mick Barry

223. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will publish information in relation to the terms and conditions of persons employed as contact tracers including the rates of pay, the length of the contracts, the number of hours work guaranteed per week, pension entitlements, holiday and sick pay arrangements; if the recruitment and ongoing HR issues are managed by an outsourced firm; if a copy of a template contract or contracts will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31779/20]

National Economic and Social Council

Mick Barry

5. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of his Department with the National Economic and Social Council. [31710/20]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with housing last met. [28811/20]

Deportation Orders

Mick Barry

42. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration his views on whether a policy change is required in the interests of the safeguarding of minors in cases in which Tusla is notified that a deportation order is issued against a minor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30628/20]

Student Support Schemes

Mick Barry

74. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether legislative change is required to ensure that all students who are long-term residents and or born here but who are not Irish, EEA, Swiss or UK nationals will be eligible for the free fees scheme to apply for SUSI grants and to be considered EU students in relation to fees; if he will undertake a review of the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31318/20]

Third Level Fees

Mick Barry

79. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the abolition of the student contribution to fees for third level due to it being a barrier to access to education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31321/20]

Third Level Admissions

Mick Barry

82. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he will take to increase further the number of places in third level to account for demographic changes to ensure that the CAO 2021 intake will not be adversely impacted by issues regarding the intake for 2020 and to ensure a third-level place for all who want it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31320/20]

Student Grant Scheme

Mick Barry

84. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether a significant increase in funding is required to ensure that the SUSI grant covers the genuine costs related to access third level and further training; and if this will be addressed as part of the review of the SUSI grant scheme. [31323/20]

Third Level Staff

Mick Barry

94. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the practice of postgraduate students not being paid for teaching that they do; if he will investigate the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31319/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mick Barry

116. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures, protections and oversights that will be in place for those taking up apprenticeships and training to ensure the quality of the training and the protection of their rights in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31322/20]

Industrial Disputes

Mick Barry

57. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the contacts he has had with a company (details supplied) and trade unions regarding an ongoing dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29994/20]

School Staff

Mick Barry

177. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure that the staff numbers for a school (details supplied) in County Cork will not be reduced in view of a marginal and temporary decline in enrolment numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30670/20]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Mick Barry

210. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy regarding welfare payments for persons with no fixed abode; if claimants are permitted to use An Post’s address point as an address; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30668/20]

Visa Applications

Mick Barry

238. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice the average waiting times for the processing of visa applications; if the waiting times have increased during the Covid-19 pandemic; the measures that will be taken to increase staff numbers in her Department to bring waiting times down; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30669/20]

State Examinations

Mick Barry

34. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education the testing process to the calculated grade system prior to it being used; her views on whether the tests were robust enough; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29991/20]

State Examinations

Mick Barry

52. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education the number of leaving certificate students that have had their leaving certificate grades upgraded as a result of a review to the calculated grade system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29992/20]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Mick Barry

4. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [28555/20]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

11. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee which addresses the economy will next meet. [26731/20]