Parliamentary questions

Obesity Strategy

David Stanton

195. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the status of the Healthy Weight for Ireland Obesity Policy and Action Plan given the impact of Covid-19 public health measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41918/20]

Road Network

David Stanton

213. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if he has received a request from Cork County Council to upgrade the R624 access road to Cobh and the Great Island to national road status; if so, when he will be in a position to make a decision on the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42581/20]

National Broadband Plan

David Stanton

118. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress of the roll out of the national broadband plan in east County Cork with particular refence to intervention areas located in predominantly commercially serviced towns (details supplied); the timescale for the delivery of the plan to these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41923/20]

Community Employment Schemes

David Stanton

30. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the number of places on community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40148/20]

Living Alone Allowance

David Stanton

46. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection when the increase in the living alone allowance and the fuel allowance will take effect; the number of persons who will benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40147/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

David Stanton

360. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the health and safety leave advice being given to women in the teaching profession who are pregnant at a stage of 28 weeks or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40947/20]

Third Level Fees

David Stanton

562. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the intentions of institutions (details supplied) to address the concerns of students in both college-provided and private accommodation in view of current circumstances further to his request to higher education institutions to show flexibility with regard to student accommodation cancellations and refunds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39880/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

David Stanton

686. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that there is sufficient personal protective equipment in stock and currently available to the HSE; the amount of stock available at present; the amount ordered and delivered each month to the end of July 2020; the further amounts ordered and delivered since; the associated costs involved; the procurement and tendering methods used in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39869/20]

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

David Stanton

720. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses and midwives who qualified outside of Ireland that applied for registration in each of the respective divisions G1, G2 and G3 of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland for each month of 2020 to date; the number of these applications that have been registered; the average time taken from initial application to final decision for each division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40107/20]

Forestry Sector

David Stanton

816. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made on the issuing of forestry licences in his Department; the situation regarding the key performance indicators in the project plan; the efforts he is taking to ensure that these key performance indicators are being met and even exceeded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40398/20]

Forestry Sector

David Stanton

817. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to restructure the Forestry Service in view of the implementation of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40414/20]

Forestry Sector

David Stanton

818. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licences currently awaiting processing by his Department by licence type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40417/20]

Foreign Conflicts

David Stanton

35. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the current situation in South Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38191/20]

Foreign Conflicts

David Stanton

45. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the reason for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38190/20]

Tax Rebates

David Stanton

112. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to expand the start-up relief for entrepreneurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30100/20]

Housing Policy

David Stanton

104. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the fact that mandatory high-density housing requirements in rural towns are acting as a disincentive for the provision of housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38188/20]

Schools Building Projects

David Stanton

483. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education the projected timeline for the issuing of the tender and appointment of a contractor for the development of schools (details supplied); the anticipated timeline for the construction of the schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37950/20]

Special Educational Needs

David Stanton

484. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education the efforts made by her Department between 2015 and 2017 to construct a special school in the east Cork area; the reason this proposal was not developed further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37962/20]

Pension Provisions

David Stanton

273. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to lift restrictions on accessing approved minimum retirement funds for persons with limited retirement income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36766/20]

Help-To-Buy Scheme

David Stanton

274. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to consider separated or divorced persons that have previously owned a share in a property but satisfy all other qualify criteria as first-time buyers under the help to buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36767/20]

Legislative Measures

David Stanton

506. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education the sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 that have been implemented to date; the sections that have not; her plans to bring these into force; the projected dates for such implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36553/20]

Co-operative Sector

David Stanton

891. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding made available to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the scheme under which an allocation of funding was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36757/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

David Stanton

322. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the status of the purchasing of PPE; if he and the HSE are prioritising the purchase of PPE from Irish suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35843/20]

Dairy Sector

David Stanton

63. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine The investment his Department is making in research through Moorepark, County Cork; the benefits this will have for farmers and agri-food businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33535/20]

Farm Safety

David Stanton

74. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives his Department is undertaking to improve farm safety and to promote better mental health and well-being amongst farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33534/20]

Victim Support Services

David Stanton

958. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 340 of 13 October 2020, the approximate waiting times for victims of sexual abuse to receive specialist counselling at each of the crisis centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32597/20]

Proposed Legislation

David Stanton

176. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the status of legislation for the regulation of the removal, retention, storage, use and disposal of human tissue from deceased persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32126/20]

Special Educational Needs

David Stanton

134. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that a school (details supplied) has sufficient special needs support in view of the enrolment of additional students with special needs at the school since the review took place in May 2020; if she will request an examination of the situation to be carried out as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31857/20]

Further Education and Training Programmes

David Stanton

95. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 159 of 10 September 2020, his plans for the further development and expansion of local training initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31344/20]

Special Educational Needs

David Stanton

327. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 396 of 15 September 2020, if her attention has been drawn to a person (details supplied) who is without a special school place; if she will ensure that an appropriate school place to meet the person’s additional school needs will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31049/20]

School Transport

David Stanton

360. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education if she will make resources available to Bus Éireann for a child with additional needs to attend a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31540/20]

Garda Recruitment

David Stanton

532. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice her plans to amend the upper age limit for new recruits to An Garda Síochána in view of the increased recruitment drive announced in budget 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31490/20]

Enterprise Support Services

David Stanton

58. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to establish a national agency for small businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30101/20]

Special Educational Needs

David Stanton

50. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education her plans to establish a special school in east County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30099/20]

Derelict Sites

David Stanton

144. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 7 October 2020, the 88 projects that have been approved for urban regeneration and development fund funding; the amount allocated to each; the financial assistance provided to and drawn down by respective local authority under the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy 2018-2021; the local authorities that have to date established a vacant homes office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30603/20]

Departmental Data

David Stanton

145. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount expended each year to date under the repair and lease scheme and the buy and repair scheme introduced by his Department; the number of vacant stock brought back into use each year under each scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30605/20]

Victim Support Services

David Stanton

340. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration his plans to expand the counselling services and supports available for victims of sexual abuse following court proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29931/20]

Childcare Services

David Stanton

342. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the capital supports available to private childcare providers that need assistance in developing premises for early childhood education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29935/20]

Alcohol Pricing

David Stanton

492. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the date on which minimum unit pricing for the sale of alcohol will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29956/20]

Derelict Sites

David Stanton

87. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to put in place incentives to return to use, unused buildings and shops in towns and villages; his further plans to deal with dereliction in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28994/20]

Energy Policy

David Stanton

181. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the review by his Department of the security of supply of natural gas and electricity networks here; if he is satisfied with the security of supply arrangements in view of the potential implications caused by Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28270/20]

Culture Policy

David Stanton

412. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the embassies in which cultural officers for Ireland have been appointed; the date of each respective appointment; the number of applications that were received for each respective post; the further embassies in which cultural officers have yet to be appointed; when such appointments will be made; the role of the cultural officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28871/20]

Vaccination Programme

David Stanton

197. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the number of flu vaccines available ahead of the winter flu season; the timescale for the delivery and distribution of these vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25791/20]

Grant Payments

David Stanton

53. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks further to Parliamentary Question No. 129 of 8 September 2020, the types of biomass boilers and anaerobic digestion heating systems eligible under the support scheme for renewable heat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24473/20]

Grant Payments

David Stanton

54. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks further to Parliamentary Question No. 129 of 8 September 2020, the targets outlined for the support scheme for renewable heat in 2020 and for each future year under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24477/20]

Grant Payments

David Stanton

55. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks further to Parliamentary Question No. 129 of 8 September 2020, the reason so few applications to the support scheme for renewable heat have been made and are being processed to date; his plans to review the operation of the scheme to ensure more applications are processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24479/20]

Maternity Leave

David Stanton

141. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility of those on maternity leave and in receipt of a maternity benefit payment to end maternity leave early to enable them to submit an application for the pandemic unemployment payment ahead of the upcoming application deadline of 17 September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24599/20]

Proposed Legislation

David Stanton

223. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline for implementation of the Agricultural Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24492/20]

Forestry Sector

David Stanton

224. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration is being given to the reform of the Forestry #Appeals Committee in view of the crisis in the forestry industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24493/20]

Hospital Facilities

David Stanton

49. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a community nursing and residential care unit at Midleton Community Hospital, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23691/20]