Parliamentary questions

National Broadband Plan

Darren O'Rourke

32. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which high-speed broadband will be provided to areas not covered under the national broadband plan and in which commercial operators are reluctant or refuse to extend existing lines even by a few metres to other homes and businesses in need of high-speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1583/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

55. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons that arrived into the airports here in December 2020, by country of departure; the number that completed a passenger locator form in December 2020 and received a follow-up by phone call; his views on whether stricter testing and quarantine restrictions are needed on all international arrivals at ports and airports here to try to prevent further importations of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2122/21]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

56. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons currently waiting for driver tests and driver theory tests; the waiting times in each test centre; the way in which these figures compare with those for January 2020; if his attention has been drawn to the pressure these backlogs are putting on persons who need driver licences for family or work reasons; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2123/21]

Brexit Issues

Darren O'Rourke

57. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the way in which he plans to address the transport and logistics challenges faced by hauliers at ports in the first two weeks of 2021 (details supplied); if he is concerned the disruption will worsen in the coming weeks and months as trade levels increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2124/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

108. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 13 January 2021, the supports available for arts, entertainment and events companies, particularly for those dependent on weddings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2973/21]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Darren O'Rourke

244. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of State funding provided to children’s charities in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and projected for 2021 by year, charity name and funding allocation in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2976/21]

Air Services Provision

Darren O'Rourke

104. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his views on the loss of air connectivity by Ireland in the wake of Covid-19; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that services are being transferred abroad (details supplied); and the measures he will take to address the matter. [2770/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

158. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that a company (details supplied) operated the temporary wage subsidy scheme correctly; if the national employer unit at the Revenue Commissioners has been contacted by employees of the company regarding its operation of the scheme; if so, the number of occasions; the investigations that have been carried out on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2769/21]

Customs and Excise

Darren O'Rourke

161. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff employed to deal with customs checks at ports and airports in January 2020 and January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2835/21]

Health Services Staff

Darren O'Rourke

476. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the training of emergency medical technicians and paramedics is being delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions applying to the prometric system; the rationale behind these restrictions; the number of students who have been affected; his plans to address these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2278/21]

Customs and Excise

Darren O'Rourke

714. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff employed by his Department to deal with customs checks at ports and airports in January 2020 and January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2839/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

35. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available for arts, entertainment and events companies, particularly for those dependent on weddings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1070/21]

International Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

63. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the work of the Climate Action Forum (details supplied); the number of times the forum has met since its creation; the Ministers who have met under the forum since its creation; the projects that have been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44763/20]

Local Authority Functions

Darren O'Rourke

64. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the existing climate action responsibilities of local authorities; the devolved powers local authorities have in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44766/20]

Postal Services

Darren O'Rourke

84. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 26 November 2020, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is estimated that approximately 30,000 new and corrected Eircodes are currently missing from a service (details supplied) and that some members of the public have been reporting that due to the fact that their code is missing they have not been able to avail of some commercial services; if he will invoke his specific oversight authority under the Communications Regulation (Postal Services Act) 2011 to consider specific non-postal services related uses of the national postcode in order to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45074/20]

Postal Services

Darren O'Rourke

86. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 26 November 2020, his plans to instruct his Department to immediately proceed with the well-resourced national campaign to raise awareness regarding privacy dangers associated with the use of Eircode as recommended in the Privacy Impact Assessment for Eircode that was carried out by a company (details supplied) in 2015 under contract to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45103/20]

Railway Stations

Darren O'Rourke

169. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount the NTA and Iarnród Éireann have spent on refurbishment and maintenance on Heuston and Connolly train stations in 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [1202/21]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

170. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the provision of wheelchair-accessible public transport in County Meath, specifically the Bus Éireann services. [1203/21]

Irish Aviation Authority

Darren O'Rourke

171. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport when the post of chairperson of the Irish Aviation Authority will be filled. [1204/21]

Free Travel Scheme

Darren O'Rourke

181. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if it is the case that free travel pass holders are unable to book bus places with Bus Éireann online; the reason for same; if it will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1446/21]