Parliamentary questions

Student Assistance Fund

Rose Conway-Walsh

117. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the mechanism or criteria for distributing the student hardship fund announced as part of budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31361/20]

Haulage Industry

Rose Conway-Walsh

163. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport his plans to provide grant aid to support and stimulate the growth of rail freight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31128/20]

Haulage Industry

Rose Conway-Walsh

164. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport his plans to reduce the current track access charges for rail freight, which are currently the highest in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31129/20]

Haulage Industry

Rose Conway-Walsh

165. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at the end of August 2020 the French Prime Minister announced that France would waive track access charges for rail freight for the remainder of 2020 and cut them in half for all of 2021, EU regulations permitting; his plans to support the regulation to reduce, waive or defer track access charges and ask the railway undertaking to follow the regulation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31130/20]

Haulage Industry

Rose Conway-Walsh

166. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport if financial supports are planned to allow Iarnród Éireann to modernise and expand its rail freight rolling stock fleet as the current limited stock will not allow for business expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31131/20]

Local Authority Housing

Rose Conway-Walsh

280. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the maximum net income a couple with two children can earn and still quality for local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31551/20]

Invalidity Pension

Rose Conway-Walsh

420. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers of persons receiving invalidity payments by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31538/20]

Employment Support Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

421. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the details on the training, upskilling and reskilling available for those on invalidity payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31539/20]

State Examinations

Rose Conway-Walsh

486. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason no specific plan was put in place to address the disadvantage faced by the 8,000 students who sat the leaving certificate prior to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30256/20]

Brexit Preparations

Rose Conway-Walsh

16. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department expects Brexit to have a disproportionate impact on employment and business in rural Ireland; the specific mitigation strategy in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30602/20]

School Funding

Rose Conway-Walsh

190. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 459 of 29 September 2020, the way in which she expects schools to be able to continue to pay the wages of secretaries and caretakers, which were increased between 2016 and 2019; if she is withdrawing the financial support that made the increases possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30751/20]

State Examinations

Rose Conway-Walsh

80. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the action being taken to account for the students who were not directly affected in terms of upgrades and downgrades but were nevertheless squeezed out of places and preferred courses due to the errors in the algorithm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30255/20]

School Transport

Rose Conway-Walsh

154. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the number of students that have been left without school transport; the number of applications pending for both concessionary and eligible categories; the actions being taken to address the situation; when students currently excluded will access transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25687/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Rose Conway-Walsh

155. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the percentage of additional capital allocation of €75 million for primary and post-primary schools to carry out necessary reconfiguration works to support the reopening of schools in late August 2020 that has been allocated and spent to date; if all schools received their grants for 2020 in view of the fact many schools also cover cleaning costs using ancillary services grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26809/20]

Third Level Institutions

Rose Conway-Walsh

236. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is monitoring the debt levels of publicly funded universities and technological universities; the total amount and by each publicly funded university and technological university; the anticipated impact on levels of debt held by universities due to Covid-related disruption to the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26804/20]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Rose Conway-Walsh

316. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait times for a PPS number by county in tabular form; the steps she is taking to reduce wait times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30091/20]

Health Insurance

Rose Conway-Walsh

360. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the substantial increase in health insurance costs resulting from the Health Insurance Authority decision to categorise non-EEA students studying here on courses of more than one academic year as ordinarily resident for the purposes of the health insurance Acts; the impact this will have on the ability of third-level institutions to attract international students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29855/20]

European Defence Action Plan

Rose Conway-Walsh

34. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Defence if the proposed European defence fund constitutes funding from the EU budget being spent in a manner that has military or defence implications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29130/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Rose Conway-Walsh

71. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether businesses which were denied funding as part of the restart grant due to the fact it was oversubscribed prior to the deadline date should not be able to avail of the original €2,000 in view of the fact additional funding has been made available in the form of the restart plus grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25958/20]

Research and Development

Rose Conway-Walsh

72. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether Ireland is adequately investing in research and development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25959/20]

Water Quality

Rose Conway-Walsh

56. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the role of the EPA in ensuring water quality on Achill Island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25165/20]

Housing Provision

Rose Conway-Walsh

64. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the acute housing shortage in County Mayo; the steps that will be taken in 2020 to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28465/20]

Brexit Issues

Rose Conway-Walsh

119. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of securing the movement of higher education students, staff and research funding between the two jurisdictions on the island of Ireland in the wake of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28466/20]

Programme for Government

Rose Conway-Walsh

137. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that will be taken in 2020 and the resources that will be made available to deliver on the commitment in the programme for Government to develop third-level opportunities at Ulster University's Magee campus, County Derry. [25615/20]

Northern Ireland

Rose Conway-Walsh

390. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role of his Department in expanding university places in Derry. [26807/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Rose Conway-Walsh

580. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 29 September 2020, if he will provide the total amount of additional Covid-19-related Exchequer expenditure for 2021 for his Department and a breakdown by line items of this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28682/20]

Student Support Schemes

Rose Conway-Walsh

582. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the provision in place or that will be put in place for students who have limited or no access to Internet connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28891/20]

Home Help Service

Rose Conway-Walsh

666. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the home help waiting list in County Mayo as of 29 September 2020; the number of persons awaiting homecare packages in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28329/20]

Fishing Communities

Rose Conway-Walsh

394. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27822/20]

Student Support Schemes

Rose Conway-Walsh

195. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the eligibility criteria for applying for laptops funded by his Department in response to the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27510/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Rose Conway-Walsh

196. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of taking account for the interaction between increasing the income threshold for SUSI grants by 10%, increasing the SUSI maintenance grant by 10% and reducing student contribution charges by €500, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27511/20]

Shared Island Unit

Rose Conway-Walsh

3. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach the financial and staff resources that will be made available to the shared island unit. [25179/20]

Shared Island Unit

Rose Conway-Walsh

7. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach the specific role of the shared island unit. [26807/20]

Legislative Measures

Rose Conway-Walsh

85. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019 has not yet been fully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26805/20]

Civil Service

Rose Conway-Walsh

127. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants that are paid less than the living wage of €12.30 per hour; the number paid the minimum wage of €10.10 per hour; the percentage of public sector workers on less than the living wage of €12.30 per hour by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26808/20]

School Funding

Rose Conway-Walsh

459. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) is still awaiting the reinstatement of the €5,000 additional ancillary grant that was expected in June 2020; when the school can expect to receive the grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26506/20]

Rail Network

Rose Conway-Walsh

6. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport the steps that will be taken in 2020 and the resources that will be made available for the development of the western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25686/20]

Transport Policy

Rose Conway-Walsh

78. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the current situation of transport services for persons with disabilities in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26217/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Rose Conway-Walsh

228. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health when the Covid-19 related restrictions that mean physiotherapists cannot have trainees in the room while they are seeing placement will be reviewed and change to allow for practical third level training to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26025/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Rose Conway-Walsh

234. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for consultations with audiologists in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26039/20]

Mental Health Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

239. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health when the mental health service in County Mayo will reopen, specifically a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26052/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Rose Conway-Walsh

162. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has reviewed the plans for the safe return of students to third-level education produced by individual institutions; if he is satisfied that these plans are in line with his Department guidelines published in July 2020, the HSE approval guidelines from an association (details supplied) in addition to the Living with Covid plan published in September 2020; if he is satisfied that the institutions have accurately interpreted the two metre social distancing rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25766/20]

Citizenship Applications

Rose Conway-Walsh

165. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Justice if she will address a matter regarding the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25692/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Rose Conway-Walsh

54. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will continue for third-level students after they enrol for college and university in view of the fact they will still have lost their jobs due to the pandemic; if so, if this will affect a grant they may be receiving; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22607/20]

State Examinations

Rose Conway-Walsh

610. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of the approximately 8,000 students that sat the leaving certificate in 2019 or before that were directly affected by the increase in entry points received and CAO offer; the number that accepted their CAO offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24727/20]

Third Level Admissions

Rose Conway-Walsh

612. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the specific courses given extra places from the 2,225 additional third-level places; the number of courses that had unfilled places in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24780/20]

State Examinations

Rose Conway-Walsh

614. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students accepted to study medicine here from 2008 to 2020; the number that came through the CAO application system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24860/20]

Occupational Therapy

Rose Conway-Walsh

690. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive occupational and speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24706/20]

Mental Health Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

694. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of the guidelines for the reopening of mental health day services and training centres; when the guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24722/20]

Autism Support Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

698. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) can expect to get an assessment for autism for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24730/20]

Medicinal Products

Rose Conway-Walsh

707. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the availability of fluphenazine decanoate as a treatment for schizophrenia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24787/20]

Third Level Admissions

Rose Conway-Walsh

104. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department predicts a decline in the number of students travelling to abroad to study at third-level; the estimated increase in students accepting CAO offers as a result of a predicted decline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24369/20]

Third Level Admissions

Rose Conway-Walsh

105. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of new university places made available as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24388/20]

Hospital Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

40. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the protocols being put in place in order that patients may be admitted directly to Belmullet community hospital having full regard for Covid-19 screening prior to admission in view of the fact they have to be sent to the accident and emergency department of Mayo University Hospital before they can be transferred to Belmullet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23698/20]

Hospital Equipment

Rose Conway-Walsh

77. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will liaise with the HSE to ensure flexibility for the procurement of catheters from a company (details supplied) as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23699/20]

Regional Development

Rose Conway-Walsh

294. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to publish the review conducted in 2019 of the European regional development funding in Ireland known as the Crowe review; his position on the management of the funds as to whether he plans centralising European regional development funds in a Department or agency and removing the management authority role from the regional assemblies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23338/20]

Gaelcholáistí Issues

Rose Conway-Walsh

320. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if she views certain conditions of the stabilisation package for Gaeltacht Irish colleges as contradicting the stated initiative, specifically plans to deduct from the per capita payment students who transferred to 2021 and students who transferred onto online courses in addition to boarding accommodation only receiving 50% of the payment boarding houses will receive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23904/20]

Residential Tenancies Board

Rose Conway-Walsh

353. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Residential Tenancies Board has a role to play in helping students and their families attempting to receive refunds from student accommodation providers for the unused months of lockdown; the avenues available to students and parents in such a situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23987/20]

School Transport

Rose Conway-Walsh

443. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the way in which secondary school transport for special needs schools will be delivered specifically in terms of face coverings, social distancing, mixing of different isolation groups and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23924/20]

Student Accommodation

Rose Conway-Walsh

543. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to take action to assist students and their families that are trying to receive refunds for rent paid for student accommodation that was not used from mid-March 2020 due to the lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23986/20]

Third Level Admissions

Rose Conway-Walsh

545. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will share the legal advice he has received that has led to him deciding not to ring-fence places for CAO applicants who sat the leaving certificate before 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23498/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Rose Conway-Walsh

548. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial supports and-or increased funding that has been made available to the further and higher education sectors to deal with the knock-on impact of Covid-19; the increased places in third level to help prospective students excluding planned investments that were already in place to improve or expand further and higher education to deal with demographic changes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23592/20]

Third Level Institutions

Rose Conway-Walsh

549. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address a matter regarding accusations of serious misconduct alleged against students and staff at Maynooth University (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23603/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

553. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships that have been furloughed; the number that have been made redundant as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23717/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Rose Conway-Walsh

556. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of third level students who receive each level of SUSI support such as full maintenance grants, full fees, 50% fees and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23842/20]

Student Accommodation

Rose Conway-Walsh

558. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are special allocations or preferences given to persons with specific or special needs such as autism in the application for on-campus student accommodation in University of Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23921/20]

Student Accommodation

Rose Conway-Walsh

559. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the public health advice and justification for students living on campus to not be allowed visitors in their residence for the duration of the 2020-21 academic year; his views on whether it is fair to expect students to pay the full amount for accommodation in view of the fact they are being asked to live under such restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24013/20]

Third Level Fees

Rose Conway-Walsh

562. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure that students from Northern Ireland will not be requested to pay non-EU fees to study here regardless of ongoing Brexit negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24117/20]

Suicide Incidence

Rose Conway-Walsh

654. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to releasing suicide figures on a county basis in order for NGOs and charities working in this field to target support and respond to geographic trends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23334/20]

Disability Support Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

670. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of the motorised transport grant; when it will be reopened to applicants; if there is an alternative scheme being prepared; when it can be expected to be open to applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23395/20]

Disability Support Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

671. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of the mobility allowance; if and when it will be reopened to applicants; if there is an alternative scheme being prepared; when it can be expect to be open to applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23396/20]

Primary Care Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

750. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health when each of the primary care services, such as X-ray, chiropody services and physiotherapy services, at Belmullet Community Hospital that were ceased in response to the Covid-19 outbreak will be restarted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23823/20]

Hospital Admissions

Rose Conway-Walsh

751. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the protocols being put in place in order that patients may be admitted directly to Belmullet Community Hospital having full regard for Covid-19 screening prior to admission in view of the fact that they have to be sent to the emergency department of Mayo University Hospital before they can be transferred to Belmullet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23824/20]

Maternity Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

771. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health his plans to assess the current restrictions on partners being present during the entirety of childbirth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23886/20]

Food Industry

Rose Conway-Walsh

902. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the food ombudsman will be set up; when farmers will feel the effects in terms of prices for produce; and if he has a strategy for the interim period. [24156/20]

Seaweed Harvesting

Rose Conway-Walsh

903. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to regularise the seaweed harvesting industry in a manner that protects traditional techniques of harvesting and supports the individual that harvests seaweed in this manner. [24157/20]

Teacher Training

Rose Conway-Walsh

104. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the guidelines for student teachers for completing their placements in primary schools; if placements will go ahead in October and November 2020; if not, if the placements will be delayed until after January 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23100/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Rose Conway-Walsh

151. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost to the Exchequer if SUSI grant eligibility was calculated on gross income rather than net income if the income threshold remained at the same numerical value; the cost if SUSI grant eligibility was calculated on gross income rather than net income if the numerical value of income thresholds were increased by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23062/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Rose Conway-Walsh

153. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are persons with severe medical condition that are in the high risk categories such as those with cystic fibrosis that are denied SUSI grants on the grounds that they are online; the steps he will take to address the situation in view of the risk to these persons from Covid-19 and the fact that many traditional courses are now online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23064/20]

Third Level Fees

Rose Conway-Walsh

20. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether it is fair to expect students to pay the highest fees in the EU at a time when many students have lost work and many households have seen a drop in their income, particularly if courses are to be conducted partially or completely online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22244/20]

Third Level Admissions

Rose Conway-Walsh

22. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether it is fair to expect students to pay the highest fees in the European Union at a time when many students have lost work and many households have seen a drop in their income, particularly if courses are to be conducted partially or completely online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22596/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Rose Conway-Walsh

41. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether the current thresholds for SUSI grant eligibility are set at an appropriate level to provide real equality of access to third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22245/20]

Third Level Admissions

Rose Conway-Walsh

51. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the Central Applications Office, CAO, will ensure that students who sat the leaving certificate in 2019 are not disadvantaged by the model used to produce predicted grades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22597/20]

Brexit Issues

Rose Conway-Walsh

151. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure that students from Northern Ireland will not be requested to pay non-EU fees to study here regardless of ongoing Brexit negotiations. [22554/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Rose Conway-Walsh

152. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education her views on setting SUSI grant eligibility at an appropriate level to provide real equality of access to third level education. [22555/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Rose Conway-Walsh

48. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if childcare providers have been given adequate support to reopen and manage the safe return of children (details supplied); the number of childcare providers that have not reopened since closing due to Covid-19; the number of childcare providers operating on reduced hours; and the number operating at reduced capacity. [22360/20]

Childcare Costs

Rose Conway-Walsh

58. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if he agrees that the cost of childcare is one of the main barriers for mothers accessing third-level education; and the steps he will take to help support mothers in third-level or who wish to enter third-level to cope with the burden of high childcare costs. [22359/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Rose Conway-Walsh

88. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether businesses that were denied funding as part of the restart grant due to the fact it was oversubscribed prior to the deadline date should be able to avail of the original €2,000 in view of the fact that there has been additional funding made available in the form of the restart plus grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22040/20]

Insurance Industry

Rose Conway-Walsh

280. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that emergency medical technicians who are fully registered with the pre-hospital emergency care council and in possession of unendorsed C1 licences are unable to obtain insurance cover for driving ambulances in the private network in cases in which they are under 23 years of age even though they are able to do so in the national ambulance service; the actions that will be taken to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21365/20]

Rental Sector

Rose Conway-Walsh

423. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that residents in Westport, County Mayo are facing an increase in rent as high as 18%; his views on whether there is need for rent pressure zones in Westport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21780/20]

Rental Sector

Rose Conway-Walsh

429. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that residents in Westport, County Mayo are facing rent increases as high as 18%; his views on whether there is a need for rent pressure zones in Westport; the alternative other strategies he views as necessary to address rent increases such as these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22079/20]

Education and Training Boards

Rose Conway-Walsh

478. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if the newly appointed general secretary of Education and Training Board Ireland has accepted the permanent post while maintaining their previous permanent post as chief executive of the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board; and the reason she is standing over the decision taken to facilitate the newly appointed general secretary in holding two permanent posts (details supplied) in view of the fact the holding of two permanent posts in the public service is unheard of. [21298/20]

School Transport

Rose Conway-Walsh

481. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education when the payment system for school transport will reopen to allow students to purchase school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22564/20]

School Transport

Rose Conway-Walsh

482. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if additional school transport will be provided to cover the 50% capacity currently on school transport; if so, when Bus Éireann will communicate same to the school bus operators in view of the fact schools have already resumed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22565/20]

School Staff

Rose Conway-Walsh

527. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the measures she has put in place to fund the salaries of ancillary staff for schools that were subject to the independent arbitration process which granted them a 10% increase between 2016 and 2019; and the status of discussions for a follow-on claim from the 2015 pay agreement between her Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, school management bodies and a union (details supplied) under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. [21774/20]

Student Grant Scheme

Rose Conway-Walsh

845. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of expanding eligibility for mature independents maintenance grants to include all mature applicants that have been forced to live with their parents for financial reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22674/20]

Further Education and Training Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

854. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of the 35,000 further and higher education places announced in the July stimulus package; the estimated cost of each place; the breakdown of the number of places between further and higher education; when the first additional new place will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21739/20]

Departmental Functions

Rose Conway-Walsh

855. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the role his Department will play in terms of direct research funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21740/20]

Third Level Reform

Rose Conway-Walsh

856. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the Cassells report has been sent to the European Commission for review; when he expects the Commission to respond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21741/20]

Third Level Costs

Rose Conway-Walsh

858. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of each student enrolled as an undergraduate full-time, part-time, remote and FETAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21744/20]