Parliamentary questions

Banking Sector

Seán Canney

174. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance his views on the competitive nature of retail banking; his further views on the impact the closure of a bank (details supplied) would have on banking in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41157/20]

Banking Sector

Seán Canney

175. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the impact of the closure of a bank (details supplied) on small businesses, farmers and communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41158/20]

Public Procurement Contracts

Seán Canney

204. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to reform the procurement rules for public work contracts to allow the criteria for award to be the most economically advantageous; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41089/20]

Planning Issues

Seán Canney

267. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce legislation to streamline the planning and judicial review process to ensure the full planning process can give statutory timelines and certainty to investors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41088/20]

Back to Education Allowance

Seán Canney

397. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the back to education allowance scheme, BTEA, in relation to the cost of education allowance to allow two members of the same household to receive the payment; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that students returning to college under the scheme had done so in the belief that they would each receive the allowance but were informed that in cases in which the primary customer and qualified adult are engaged with BTEA, the maximum rate of payment is €500 per academic year; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that this household limitation is not well advertised (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41776/20]

Assisted Decision-Making

Seán Canney

457. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to introduce legislative reform of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41765/20]

Proposed Legislation

Seán Canney

543. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce legislation to reform the Mental Health Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41764/20]

Veterinary Medicines

Seán Canney

819. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a proposal by the forum of a group (details supplied) to conduct an economic impact assessment in advance of the implementation of EU Regulation No. 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products which is due to come into effect in January 2022; if his attention has been drawn to the financial hardship that it will cause to farmers, particularly small farmers who are the economic bedrock of many rural areas and also to their farm suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41525/20]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Seán Canney

840. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers ruled out of the ANC scheme due to not meeting stocking density criteria in each of the years 2015 to 2020, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41834/20]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Seán Canney

841. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the active herd numbers that were eligible under the ANC in each of the years 2015 to 2020, by county; the active herd numbers that received payments in the same period by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41837/20]

School Staff

Seán Canney

232. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education her plans to end the pay inequality for teachers who joined the profession post-2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40988/20]

Audiology Services

Seán Canney

167. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the unacceptable waiting time of 82 weeks for an audiology appointment from the date of referral in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40658/20]

Global Footprint Initiative

Seán Canney

12. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Taoiseach the status in relation to the Global Ireland Strategy; and when the next progress report is due. [38206/20]

Waste Tyre Disposal

Seán Canney

148. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to bring forward a second round of the amnesty for the collection of old tyres dumped illegally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39690/20]

Value Added Tax

Seán Canney

209. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to lower the threshold on tax free sales by non-EU tourists; and if so, the proposed lowest threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39668/20]

School Transport

Seán Canney

374. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the bar on bus drivers over the age of 70 who are medically fit for work is discriminatory on age grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40285/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

398. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficult situation that pregnant teachers are experiencing due to differing advice from organisations (details supplied); the steps she will take to rectify the situation these teachers are in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39859/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Seán Canney

649. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the reason for the excessive delay in assessing children under the genetics team in Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39670/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

683. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE is advising that women who are 28 weeks pregnant continue to work as teachers in situations in which they cannot socially distance when organisations (details supplied) advise against doing so; if the HSE has updated its guidelines to take into account recent research on the subject; if his attention has been drawn to the quandary that this is placing teachers in at the end of their pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39860/20]

Dental Services

Seán Canney

691. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when a vacant position for a dentist for the school dentistry service based in Tuam, County Galway, will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39890/20]

Nursing Staff

Seán Canney

737. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans to pay student nurses for their work in hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40225/20]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Seán Canney

814. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers that were ruled out of the ANC scheme due to the fact they did not meet the stocking density criteria in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40360/20]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Seán Canney

815. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of active herd numbers that were eligible under the ANC in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the number of active herd numbers that received payments in those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40361/20]

Forestry Sector

Seán Canney

819. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties facing forest owners with ask dieback disease (details supplied); his plans to introduce a scheme by which persons replacing diseased ash plantations with other tree species can get new long-term leases from his Department to ensure that they have ongoing incomes from the forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40419/20]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Seán Canney

13. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to enter discussions with the President-elect of the United States of America, Mr. Joe Biden, on the issue of the difficulties facing undocumented Irish persons in the United States and in particular the progression of the E3 visa Bill through Congress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38205/20]

Value Added Tax

Seán Canney

113. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance his views on the impact on Irish tourism and the retail sector of the proposed changes in the retail export scheme in the Brexit omnibus Bill. [38204/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

191. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans for the recognition of the long-term effects of Covid-19; his plans to introduce support for patients affected by the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38926/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Seán Canney

271. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a problem being faced by education and training board part-time tutors seeking to access the temporary wage subsidy scheme (details supplied); his views on whether the current situation is unfair on part-time employees of ETBs; his plans to address the inequality in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37972/20]

Tax Credits

Seán Canney

280. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if the four-year rule for claiming tax credits has been revised in view of the fact that many business persons face large fines and penalties from the Revenue Commissioners relating to multiple years and there is a large discrepancy between the Revenue Commissioners' willingness to provide repayments limited only to four years while seeking to recoup taxes, interest and penalties from taxpayers going back for much longer periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38359/20]

Regional Development

Seán Canney

290. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to put in place the programme for Government commitments to regional development (details supplied); the way in which he plans to address regional inequality; if a commitment will be given to a policy of positive discrimination in the upcoming review of the National Development Plan 2018-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38753/20]

Rural Recreation Policy

Seán Canney

345. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views in relation to a request by an organisation (details supplied) for an extension to the pheasant shooting season into February 2021 due to the current Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38091/20]

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Seán Canney

347. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the long-term impact of the charge of €30 per square metre that Transport Infrastructure Ireland has introduced for each square metre of road carriageway opened; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this cost does not qualify for grant assistance from his Department; if his attention has been further drawn to the significant financial burden that this is placing on group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38240/20]

Disability Allowance

Seán Canney

536. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the current means-tested disability allowance regime to allow persons with a disability to access payments in their own right (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38345/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Seán Canney

563. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the current implementation of the saver clause in community employment schemes which states that participants who commenced on community employment prior to 3 July 2017 will be entitled to remain under their existing community employment eligibility rules in which this is to their advantage; if it is more advantageous to the person the current criteria can be applied; if this saver clause is being applied across the country uniformly, especially in relation to persons aged 55 years and over; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38210/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Seán Canney

589. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to cut off new applicants for the pandemic unemployment payment from 1 January 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38802/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Seán Canney

668. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to a problem that has arisen for veterinary students studying in Poland trying to access SUSI grants for the final one and a half years of their degree course; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the five and a half year course is a degree programme comprised of 330 ECTS and is being treated as if it was an integrated masters course by SUSI; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact is that the current interpretation by SUSI, which deems the first four years of the course as undergraduate and the final one and a half years as masters is placing Irish students studying in Poland at a disadvantage compared to those studying for a veterinary degree in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38348/20]

Health Services

Seán Canney

800. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his views on making the drug dupilumab available for persons living with severe atopic eczema; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the drug has been available in Northern Ireland and throughout Europe for over two years but is not yet available to the 150 to 200 persons that suffer with this type of eczema in Ireland; when a decision will be made on availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37977/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Seán Canney

845. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the longest time that a child has been waiting for a MRI scan in UHG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38343/20]

Psychological Assessments

Seán Canney

853. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when a psychology assessment will take place for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38356/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

944. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his views on the call by an association (details supplied) to be included in the modifications to restrictions to allow it to commence its activities in a controlled safe manner for the wellbeing of all participants. [38801/20]

Vacant Properties

Seán Canney

992. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to introduce a scheme of supports to incentivise young persons to purchase vacant properties in towns and villages as their first homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37979/20]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Seán Canney

246. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport his views on the fact that TII is reported to have turned off public lights on national roads in order to meet its 20% reduction in usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37034/20]

Road Network

Seán Canney

247. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if he will request TII to examine the public lighting and barriers in place on the junction of the M17-M18 at Rathmorrissy, Athenry, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37049/20]

Local Government Fund

Seán Canney

357. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Galway County Council receives one of the lowest revenue allocations; if the matrix by which the Local Government Fund is calculated in each local authority will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36193/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Seán Canney

560. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that changes introduced in 2016 in relation to length of service on community employment schemes are being applied retrospectively to those that commenced under the previous regime; if her attention has been further drawn to the difficulty this is causing to community employment scheme participants that were of the view that the terms they signed up to would continue to pertain; if those that commenced on schemes prior to June 2016 can continue on the schemes for six years in view of the current economic downturn and the value of community employment schemes to local communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36185/20]

State Pension (Contributory)

Seán Canney

578. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the legislation with regard to the State pension (contributory) as pensioners often lose out on weeks of payment due to the fact they were unaware that a small sum of money is owing to the Revenue Commissioners and by the time this discovery is made and rectified they are left weeks without payment; if she will consider amending the legislation in order that amounts up to €1,000 can be withheld as pertains to overpayments against amounts of pension due as pensioners regularly lose out on six to eight weeks of pension due to the fact sums of €200 or less are owing to the Revenue Commissioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36510/20]

General Medical Services Scheme

Seán Canney

691. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the options open to medical card holders who are being charged for blood tests by their general practitioners; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty and additional costs being placed on many medical card holders; his plans to change the current regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36142/20]

Nursing Staff

Seán Canney

726. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide proper remuneration to student nurses who are working on the front line of the fight against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36296/20]

Warmer Homes Scheme

Seán Canney

98. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the warmer homes scheme and its effectiveness in view of the fact there is a two-year delay in Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, inspectors visiting homes approved by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35282/20]

Energy Efficiency

Seán Canney

194. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his plans for the introduction of a simpler application process for homeowners in accessing home energy grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35283/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Canney

355. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she plans to take to assist the chauffeur drive sector which has been badly affected by the downturn in tourism numbers and in view of the fact that many are unable to avail of the various schemes such as the Covid-19 adaptation fund, the coach tourism business continuity grant and the Covid-19 credit guarantee scheme; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the sector plays a vital role in the tourism industry particularly in the west of Ireland and is an important link between various tourism services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34798/20]

Hen Harriers

Seán Canney

383. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of the €50,000 fund for the hen harrier local action fund in 2020 which has been allocated; the number of groups or farmers that benefited; the breakdown of funding allocated by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34920/20]

Back to Work Allowance

Seán Canney

535. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if the duration of the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme will be extended to facilitate participants who could not fulfil the two-year programme due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35379/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

666. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will review the current level 5 restrictions in relation to public religious worship as the inability to attend religious worship is a cause of distress to many persons across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34623/20]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Seán Canney

701. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when legislation will be reintroduced to amend the current criteria for the nursing home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34803/20]

Dental Services

Seán Canney

702. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the length of time it will take to provide treatment to the 1,784 persons on the waiting list for orthodontics in County Galway; if the unfilled specialist orthodontist position has been filled; the plans that exist to fill the position of orthodontists on maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34822/20]

Livestock Issues

Seán Canney

788. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to change to current level 5 restrictions to allow buyers and farmers attend mart rings in order to purchase cattle and sheep as the current restrictions are having a negative impact on the prices being received by farmers at a crucial juncture in the farming calendar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34550/20]

Basic Payment Scheme

Seán Canney

789. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to change the basic payment scheme, BPS, under which some young trained farmers receive very low payments based on a situation that pertained approximately 20 years ago in terms of historic stocking density; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34552/20]

Land Transfers

Seán Canney

808. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a reply will issue from the legal services division in relation to an issue regarding transfer of freehold title (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34804/20]

Forestry Sector

Seán Canney

813. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if priority will be given to tree felling applications in forests in which ash dieback has been identified as a problem and trees have to be felled in view of the fact delays in felling these trees will result in the spread of the disease and increase the risk to a tree species which is at the heart of culture and heritage here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34914/20]

Flood Relief Schemes

Seán Canney

825. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the feasibility study undertaken by his Department in 2019 to determine the feasibility of future once-off targeted schemes for a voluntary farm building relocation scheme as a result of flooding will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35366/20]

Retail Sector

Seán Canney

382. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance his views on the proposed introduction of a minimum spend restriction for all tourists of €175 under the retail export scheme, the highest possible level permitted; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland is alone in introducing such a regressive step at a time when EU members are opening up their schemes to further attract tourist shoppers; if his further attention has been drawn to the hugely negative impact this move will have particularly on the west of Ireland which is heavily dependent on tourist spend; his views on whether this has the potential to discourage future tourists from visiting Ireland in favour of other EU markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32481/20]

Ministerial Meetings

Seán Canney

436. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he has received an update from a bank (details supplied) following his meeting; if the group will commit to the future of a bank in Ireland for the customers, staff and competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33374/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

438. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the date for filing returns for tax and CRO to the end of February 2021 in view of the current lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33388/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

512. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will amend the lockdown regulations to allow persons to attend gyms and golf clubs while adhering to all Covid-19 requirements and social distancing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33356/20]

DEIS Scheme

Seán Canney

721. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if the recent announcement in budget 2021 in relation to the reduction in class sizes relates to DEIS band 1 senior schools only; if this decision ignores DEIS band one junior and vertical schools; if all disadvantaged schools will receive this reduction; if her attention has been drawn to the strong evidence that exists to support smaller class sizes for younger children and those suffering disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32517/20]

State Examinations

Seán Canney

794. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if she is making a contingency plan to allow 2020 leaving certificate students to sit their exams in June 2021 if they cannot go ahead in November 2020 due to the Covid-19 situation; her views on the commitment already made to hold the exams in November 2020; if these exams are going ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33357/20]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Canney

846. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an extension of parental leave is not available until April 2021; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many women who gave birth since the onset of Covid-19 restrictions in March 2020 are struggling due to the lack of available childcare and will be negatively impacted by having to take a further three weeks' unpaid leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32476/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Seán Canney

923. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the time on the scheme for all community employment scheme participants for a period during the current Covid-19 crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33355/20]

Third Level Institutions

Seán Canney

1004. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on third level institutions failing to offer a reduction in fees to students at a time when classes are online and many of the on-campus services offered to students are no longer available; if his attention has been drawn to the financial pressure this is placing on third-level students and their families during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32571/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

1361. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will consider using the Reserve Defence Force to help with contact tracing for Covid-19 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33354/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Seán Canney

136. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the fact that fees for Irish students studying elsewhere in the EU are not paid by SUSI, as a maintenance grant alone is payable; his further views on whether this is discriminatory against such students studying in other EU countries as both fees and maintenance grants are available for students studying here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32120/20]

Teacher Training

Seán Canney

362. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education her plans to deliver Irish courses for teachers who have trained in the UK but are now back in Ireland; if there are plans to deliver courses online due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31544/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Seán Canney

407. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending free travel to include children who are being cared for by a carer receiving the carer’s allowance in view of the fact that at present the carers receive free travel but the children do not; if her attention has been drawn to the burden this places on low-income families in which children have medical conditions and often have multiple medical appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31512/20]

Pensions Reform

Seán Canney

414. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the reintroduction of the debt on the employer concept in social welfare and pension legislation to ensure effective protection for pensioners in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31520/20]

General Practitioner Services

Seán Canney

708. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the reason medical graduates from India are unable to register in Ireland as general practitioners even if they have completed the required registration exams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31511/20]

Dental Services

Seán Canney

717. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on the orthodontic assessment waiting list in County Galway; the current waiting time for assessment; the number of patients on the orthodontic treatment waiting list; the current waiting time for orthodontic treatment; if there are unfilled clinical positions; the plans in place to reduce the treatment waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31541/20]

Departmental Bodies

Seán Canney

800. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the need to re-establish the Irish wool council to address a series of matters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31501/20]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Seán Canney

801. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers that inadvertently lost out on an ANC payment in the past five years as they did not tick the ANC box on their SPS application form; the number that appealed this to his Department; the number that appealed this to the agriculture appeals office; the percentage of each of the respective appeals which were successful; his plans to improve the application process in order that the ANC question is more readily apparent; if the SPS application form has been assessed in terms of plain English; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31503/20]

Land Ownership

Seán Canney

803. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the inordinate delay in processing freehold title queries relating to the Land Commission within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31542/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Canney

68. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to provide specific support to the taxi industry in circumstances in which many taxi owners cannot trade and their revenue streams are depleted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25989/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Canney

103. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce specific supports for travel agencies operating through Covid-19 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25988/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Canney

137. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to introduce specific grants and supports for the live events section of the economy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25985/20]

Industrial Development

Seán Canney

296. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the development of the wool industry in line with the programme for Government commitment; if he will consider supporting a scouring plant for wool, which is currently exported to the UK for this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25986/20]

Industrial Development

Seán Canney

297. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to support the potential of the wool industry to develop projects and increase the return to farmers and create jobs in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25987/20]

Primary Medical Certificates

Seán Canney

96. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he has suspended the applications process for primary medical certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29821/20]

Mortgage Schemes

Seán Canney

98. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance the recourse available for lenders that have disputes with financial institutions in circumstances in which loans have been sold off on a number of occasions and there is a dispute as to who owns the loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29844/20]

Waterways Issues

Seán Canney

114. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a single authority to manage the River Shannon will be appointed to address issues including water level and maintenance of channels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29952/20]

School Management

Seán Canney

230. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education the status of members of boards of management members for both primary and secondary schools in view of the escalation of restrictions to level 3; if boards can meet during the current level 3 restrictions; the supports her Department will give to these boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29826/20]

School Staff

Seán Canney

241. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education the progress being made in regard to the issue of school secretaries pay inequality; the date on which an acceptable proposal will be put forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29852/20]

Third Level Institutions

Seán Canney

353. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the provisions that are being made to assist the 20,000 leaving certificate CAO applicants who sat their exams in previous years and are now at a disadvantage as a result of the 2020 points inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29857/20]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Seán Canney

433. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans to support amputees with the financial cost of prosthetics in view of the fact that they are not included on the long-term illness scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29603/20]

Export Credit Insurance

Seán Canney

57. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to introduce an export credit insurance scheme for exporters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29379/20]

Tax Reliefs

Seán Canney

118. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the existing research and development tax incentive scheme to make it more streamlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29384/20]

Home Loan Scheme

Seán Canney

62. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to expand the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme to include the refurbishment costs in addition to the capital costs of the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26864/20]

State Examinations

Seán Canney

437. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if an example will be published of the way in which the algorithm used in calculating leaving certificate grades works; the measures taken to preserve accuracy and fairness in the results; the way in which the algorithm was validated; the parameters used to ensure that the marks generated by the system reflected student performance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28121/20]

State Examinations

Seán Canney

470. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education the reason so many students were downgraded from H1 to H2 in the recent leaving certificate examination, especially when those students were identified as among the school’s highest achievers in that subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28680/20]

Public Procurement Contracts

Seán Canney

116. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures being put in place to expedite public works contract tendering (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27746/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Canney

123. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the specific support she plans to put in place to help operators of an event (details supplied) whose business has crashed due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27825/20]

Carer's Allowance

Seán Canney

286. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the reason carer's allowance is taken into account as income in assessing the means for medical card applicants over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27823/20]