Parliamentary questions

Na hOileáin amach ón gCósta

Catherine Connolly

315. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Meán, Turasóireachta, Ealaíon, Cultúir, Spóirt agus Gaeltachta faoi stádas an iarratais (sonraí tugtha) atá ós comhair na Roinne ó Chomhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin; cén dáta a dhéanfar cinneadh ina thaobh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [23529/20]

School Staff

Catherine Connolly

407. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to establish a supply teacher panel for the north west of Connemara, County Galway; her further plans for teacher absences for the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23530/20]

Pensions Reform

Catherine Connolly

504. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection when the commission on pensions will be established; the terms of reference and membership of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23587/20]

International Agreements

Catherine Connolly

586. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the progress made towards Ireland signing up to the optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and the associated establishment of the national preventive mechanism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23585/20]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Catherine Connolly

702. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the annual funding provided to a mental health charity (details supplied) in County Kildare since its inception; his plans to fund the charity in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23525/20]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

16. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has formally identified a body to fulfil the role of independent inspectorate for direct provision centres; if this body will be empowered to carry out unannounced inspections of direct provision centres and emergency accommodation; and the criteria for the inspections. [22378/20]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

18. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the engagement she has had on the planning and roll out of vulnerability assessments to asylum seekers within 30 days of application as required under EU law and as identified for fast-tracking in the June 2020 briefing note of the advisory group on direct provision; and the number of vulnerability assessments excluding physical health screenings that have been carried out in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020. [22377/20]

Third Level Examinations

Catherine Connolly

36. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had with the president of NUI Galway on waiving the €295 repeat exam fee in view of the difficulties faced by students as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22641/20]

Third Level Fees

Catherine Connolly

42. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if asylum seekers will be exempted from non-EU and EEA university fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22642/20]

Search and Rescue Service Provision

Catherine Connolly

73. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details on the search and rescue carried out for two paddleboarders on 13 August 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22703/20]

Air Accident Investigations

Catherine Connolly

74. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if the review of the final air accident investigation unit report into the Rescue 116 helicopter crash which claimed the life of four air crew at Blacksod, County Mayo, on 14 March 2017 has been completed; if the review board has submitted its findings; his plans to publish the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22721/20]

Flood Prevention Measures

Catherine Connolly

111. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the cost of the flood defence system installed in Clifden, County Galway, in 2014; if he will provide a copy of the Natura 2000 impact statement completed for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22719/20]

Flood Relief Schemes

Catherine Connolly

112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be made available for flood defences for Tawin Island, County Galway; if so, when such funding will be available; if a Natura 2000 impact statement has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22720/20]

Social Welfare Benefits

Catherine Connolly

185. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial assistance available to persons affected by severe flooding in the Clifden area of County Galway on 1 and 2 September 2020; the way in which such supports can be accessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22717/20]

State Examinations

Catherine Connolly

206. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the analysis his Department has carried out with regard to the 20,000 CAO reapplicants whose college places could be jeopardised by inflated leaving certificate grades and the potential knock-on effect of inflated points requirements in 2020; if research has been carried out into inflating reapplicants’ grades to match the bell curve of 2020 leaving certificate grades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22710/20]

Third Level Education

Catherine Connolly

214. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which third level students can access financial support to buy laptops for online learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22755/20]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

240. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of single rooms provided within the direct provision system; the criteria for allocation of single rooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22813/20]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

241. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons in direct provision housed in single, double, twin and triple rooms, in four-bed, five-bed and in rooms with more than five beds respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22814/20]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

242. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if the waiting period for labour market access for those in the international protection process will be shortened from nine months to three months, as recommended by the advisory group on direct provision in June 2020; if the validity for permission to work will be extended to one year at a time renewable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22815/20]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

244. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to a person (details supplied) having links to anti-migrant groups; her views on whether this is compatible with their role as a member of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal; if she will authorise a review of all IPAT decisions made by the person particularly in relation to deportation orders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22861/20]