Parliamentary questions

Schools Data

Gary Gannon

466. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the 280 primary and 125 post-primary schools using, or partially using, rented accommodation by area and patronage. [14504/20]

School Staff

Gary Gannon

467. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the teacher allocation will be brought forward for new primary schools due to open in September 2020 (details supplied). [14505/20]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Gary Gannon

604. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the removal of youth affairs from the title of his Department; his further views on whether this will result in a lack of focus on young persons under 25 years of age who will bear a considerable burden of Covid-19 in particular those from disadvantaged communities(details supplied) [14499/20]

Youth Services

Gary Gannon

605. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the evidence for the commitment to support youth, that is, young persons between ten and 25 years of age who are most marginalised in society when Covid-19 passes (details supplied) [14500/20]

Maternity Benefit

Gary Gannon

654. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if maternity leave will be extended for women due to the Covid-19 crisis. [14503/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Gary Gannon

75. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Finance if a temporary wage subsidy scheme application by a person (details supplied) will be re-examined due to an error. [13624/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

247. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the type of PPE provision (details supplied) that will be provided to schools for the reopening; if the cost of same will be covered by her Department; and if so, if the budget will be allocated based on geography and size of school or enrolment numbers. [13659/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

248. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the protocol for school staff and students that are at high risk to Covid-19 or living with a family member at high risk when schools reopen. [13660/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

249. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if students with Down's syndrome entering mainstream primary school or in mainstream post-primary schools are eligible for the July provision; and if not, the reason the matter was not made clear in the announcement of 5 June 2020. [13661/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

250. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the recommendations for families and students that cannot secure a tutor and their school is not participating in the July provision. [13662/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

251. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of children deemed eligible for July provision in past years; and the percentage of these children that were able to avail of the July provision. [13663/20]

State Examinations

Gary Gannon

252. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to replace the leaving certificate examinations for the class of 2021; the type of assessment the class of 2021 can expect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13664/20]

School Accommodation

Gary Gannon

253. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a video by parents and guardians raising issues and problems concerning the move of a school (details supplied) out of the community to Citywest; the alternative measures that can be taken in order to keep the school within the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13665/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

254. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if students have been involved in the process for schools reopening; and if not, if they will be included in the process. [13666/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

255. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a budget will be made available to schools to rent nearby facilities such as youth clubs, churches, sports halls and so on to provide space for students for non-contact teaching days if a hybrid model is adopted to provide space outside of the home and enable parents and guardians to work. [13667/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

256. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to change the absence system for students and teaching staff when schools reopen in view of the fact students will need to stay home if they have symptoms. [13668/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

257. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will there be an increase in allocation to hire more teachers or rehire retired teachers necessary for student to teacher ratio. [13669/20]

School Accommodation

Gary Gannon

258. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to move the two tier pay scales for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13670/20]

School Transport

Gary Gannon

259. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the school transport that will be available for students in September 2020; and the guidelines for transport for students with additional needs. [13671/20]

School Meals Programme

Gary Gannon

861. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to continuing the school meals programme during the summer months to keep providing food parcels to children who are at risk of food poverty in view of the fact many summer projects are not operating as normal in 2020 due the Covid-19 emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13620/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

862. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to proposals by an organisation (details supplied) for a temporary top-up payment to the poorest children during the Covid-19 emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13621/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Gary Gannon

863. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if third-level students that had paid internships for the summer and contracts signed prior to 13 March 2020 are entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment if they have proof of a contract; and if not, her views on the steps that would remedy their financial situation and that of their families. [13622/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

904. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the rent freeze and ban on evictions beyond July 2020 will be extended until the end of January 2021 to provide stability and security for renters that will be disproportionately affected by Covid-19 and the financial aftermath of same. [13625/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

906. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if rent arrears accrued by tenants during the lockdown period of Covid-19 will be cancelled. [13658/20]

Arts Funding

Gary Gannon

928. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to correspondence addressed to An Taoiseach regarding arts and culture funding from a fund (details supplied); if the issues and concerns addressed in same will receive a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13623/20]

School Accommodation

Gary Gannon

291. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools experiencing accommodation issues for the new school year in September 2020; the number experiencing issues by primary and post-primary; the patronage of each school; and his plans to resolve this accommodation crisis. [12641/20]

School Accommodation

Gary Gannon

292. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools currently in or partially in temporary accommodation by primary and post-primary. [12642/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

293. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to meet the diverse and complex needs of students with disabilities and at risk of educational disadvantage with the one programme as they return from three months of schooling from home (details supplied). [12643/20]

National Educational Psychological Service

Gary Gannon

294. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of emotional and well-being supports for students in addition to teachers dealing with complex emotional and behavioural issues when schools return. [12644/20]

School Equipment

Gary Gannon

295. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide training for students who have been provided with new digital devices in view of the fact they were previously working off their phones. [12645/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

296. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funds will be made available to enhance students learning as part of the summer programme (details supplied). [12646/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

297. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes made to the July provision scheme in 2020 to tackle the disadvantage faced by special needs students in view of the pandemic; and the provisions put in place in 2020 to enable more students avail of the programme. [12647/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Gary Gannon

566. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the average current Covid-19 testing capacity available per day; and the current testing level in view of the fact that it is reported that approximately 10,000 additional tests could be carried out per day. [12635/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Gary Gannon

567. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if he will consider allowing incoming and returning visitors and or citizens to avail of and pay for the spare Covid-19 testing capacity to confirm if these persons have the virus; and if the test is negative can they dispense with the 14-day isolation requirement. [12636/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Gary Gannon

568. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if he will extend Covid-19 testing to all community-based health officials, community care workers and their clients and each user of primary care centre facilities. [12637/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

569. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number for persons considered to be in the vulnerable group within the population; and if he will consider providing this group with appropriate masks. [12638/20]

National Maternity Hospital

Gary Gannon

570. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if the State will automatically retain full ownership of and access to any maternity hospital built on the site leased from a registered charity (details supplied) after the 99-year lease has expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12639/20]

National Maternity Hospital

Gary Gannon

571. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if the Comptroller and Auditor General has been consulted in respect of the terms of the proposed 99 year lease of land from a registered charity (details supplied) and the building of a national maternity hospital; if a business case been prepared in respect of the lease as required under the public spending code; if so, if it includes a cost effectiveness analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12640/20]

Motor Tax

Gary Gannon

740. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider providing all car owners over 70 years of age three months credit or a three-month free period on their next car tax renewal to reflect the fact that they were unable to use their cars during the period they were cocooning. [12648/20]

Driver Licences

Gary Gannon

741. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of registered car owners over 70 years of age. [12649/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Gary Gannon

283. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay by the National Council for Special Education regarding the SNA allocation review; and when a date for the review will be published. [11394/20]

Student Grant Scheme

Gary Gannon

284. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the SUSI requirement will be reduced for students who have applied for asylum, subsidiary protection or leave to remain here from three years in a school here to two years reflecting the duration of the leaving certificate. [11399/20]

National Advocacy Service

Gary Gannon

389. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will act urgently regarding Magdalen survivors who are still institutionalised particularly those in a nursing home (details supplied) which is due to close; if survivors in the care of religious congregations will be referred to the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities as requested by a group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11395/20]

Back to Education Allowance

Gary Gannon

958. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be made a qualifying payment for the back to education allowance. [11398/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

1016. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports that will be provided for family members who have lost a loved one from Covid-19. [11400/20]

Inland Waterways

Gary Gannon

1106. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a designated walk and cycleway will be created on the Grand Canal between Ongar and Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. [11396/20]

Inland Waterways

Gary Gannon

1107. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if toilets will be installed for public health and hygiene along the Grand Canal. [11397/20]

State Examinations

Gary Gannon

103. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills when examination fees will be refunded. [9654/20]

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes

Gary Gannon

196. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills when safe pass courses will be permitted to commence again in view of the fact that construction workers have returned to work and new entrants to the sector have not had a safe pass certificate before; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10349/20]

School Transport

Gary Gannon

197. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the status of bus route D520 Enfield to Maynooth remains the same; and if it has been revised or has been considered for revision to more formally accommodate Enfield-based students attending schools (details supplied). [10351/20]