Parliamentary questions

School Attendance

Gary Gannon

855. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to waive compulsory attendance with regard to primary, secondary and third-level courses (details supplied). [8219/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

1018. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which a person that requires a verified MyGovID account can set one up during the current Covid-19 emergency in view of the fact that a person must attend the social welfare office as part of setting up a verified account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8216/20]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Gary Gannon

1019. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the uptake of rent supplement; the number of claims received; the speed with which claims are being processed; the level of approval rates; and the reasons for being refused and so on. [8229/20]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Gary Gannon

1020. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason rent supplement applicants that are eligible under the rent supplement scheme as prescribed but not seeking nor eligible for the Covid-19 payment are being refused rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8230/20]

Housing Assistance Payment

Gary Gannon

1021. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of deposits issued in respect of HAP tenancies since the commencement of the Covid-19 crisis. [8231/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

1022. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the provisions that have been made for self-employed persons experiencing reductions in their gross income that are now operating at a loss when operating expenses are taken into account and have no income at present; if self-employed persons will be allowed to avail of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment support; and if not, the support available to them. [8233/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

1023. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown by profession of working age persons diagnosed with Covid-19. [8235/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

1024. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to temporary extensions for those on social welfare payments other than the pandemic unemployment payment which are due to cease in view of the global crisis; and if a freeze on the cessation of illness payments will be considered in view of the Covid-19 crisis (details supplied). [8236/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

405. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the July provision will be going ahead in 2020; and if so, the timeframe and manner for same in order to provide clarity to students, parents and teachers that are due to take part in the scheme. [7004/20]

Third Level Admissions

Gary Gannon

406. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being put forward to protect post-leaving certificate students similar to the leaving certificate in view of the fact that students have had their learning significantly interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if it will be recommended to higher level institutions that places be dedicated to students coming from post-leaving certificate routes in view of the expected reduction in the number of international students. [7005/20]

Speech and Language Therapy

Gary Gannon

808. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if the measures for PPE for clinical speech and language therapists will be confirmed in view of the fact the lack of full recognition of elements of their work, for example, dysphagia and swallowing disorders are not recognised as an aerosol generating procedure placing them at an increased risk in their work. [7006/20]

National Maternity Hospital

Gary Gannon

814. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health his views in relation to the ownership of the proposed site for the new national maternity hospital; if the site will be brought into full public ownership in view of the announcement by a religious order (details supplied) that it is to divest itself of St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group which in turn is to transfer to St. Vincent’s Holdings CLG; the information in his possession regarding the structure of the new entity; the principles involved; the proposed governance structure for the new hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7028/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Gary Gannon

1192. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Covid-19 payment will be prolonged beyond the current timeframe for artists and freelance technicians involved in the artistic industry (details supplied). [7003/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

1429. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a detailed set of guidelines will be presented on the way in which artistic spaces and venues, be they large or small, should re-open when the appropriate time is announced; and the way in which venues should appropriately enact social distancing measures while maintaining the commercial viability of their venue. [7001/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

1430. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if capital costs will be offered to artistic and cultural spaces to support the re-opening of these amenities. [7002/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

1431. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if announcements of financial supports will be made to assist freelance technicians who could not be classified as artists but are essential to the functioning of the industry and have been equally as affected by the Covid-19 crisis. [7007/20]

Addiction Treatment Services

Gary Gannon

720. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if reassurance will be provided to the staff at a facility (details supplied) that once the current health emergency has alleviated they will be permitted to return to their place of work. [4995/20]

One-Parent Family Payment Payments

Gary Gannon

1194. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if provisions have been made to financially support lone parents unable to work due to lack of childcare during mandatory school and childcare closures. [4983/20]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Gary Gannon

1195. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if regular social welfare payments will be advanced in order to reduce the need for persons to attend post and social welfare offices. [4990/20]

Fuel Allowance Payments

Gary Gannon

1196. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending the fuel allowance period to the end of April 2020 to help persons with additional heating costs associated with self-isolation and illness. [4991/20]