Parliamentary questions

Schools Building Projects

Gino Kenny

520. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision to locate new temporary Educate Together facilities and buildings on a site adjacent to a school (details supplied) that has been earmarked for a long-awaited extension to the school that had been agreed by her predecessor; if she will ensure the redevelopment of the school on the earmarked site and identify another location for the school, which is needed to bolster school places in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14670/20]

Medicinal Products

Gino Kenny

1154. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of children with spinal muscular atrophy eligible for treatment with the approved drug Spinraza; the number of those receiving the treatment; the reason for the delay in treatment for some of these children such as a child (details supplied); the way in which and when these issues will be addressed in order that all children can receive this vital treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15427/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1293. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the health impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on persons living with dementia and their family carers; his further views on the lack of consideration and strategy in terms of addressing the unique needs of this group during the pandemic; if the omission of the group will be addressed by specifically including it in current and future discussions and debate in relation to Covid-19 and other public health strategies and policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15944/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1294. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on a recently published report (details supplied); his further views on the conclusion in the report that policy and practice needs to focus on the way in which persons living with dementia and their informal and formal carers can be optimally supported; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15945/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1295. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the concerns of health professionals and organisations working with persons with dementia and their families that dementia has not been included specifically in data collection related to Covid-19 mortality or in the public messaging being issued will be addressed; the way in which he will address the lack of emphasis placed on the complex needs of those impacted by dementia in the community and in residential settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15946/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1296. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on whether persons with dementia and their family carers have been rendered invisible during the Covid-19 crisis; the way in which he will ensure that dementia is given high priority in terms of public health policy, research into its impact and future planning with regard to Covid-19; if the issuing of guidelines for the reopening of services and supports for persons and their families will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15947/20]

Homeless Accommodation

Gino Kenny

276. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on providing accommodation for homeless families and persons in hotels and bed and breakfasts in each local authority area from June 2017 up to and including June 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13878/20]

State Bodies

Gino Kenny

480. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reasons the Citizens Information Board and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, restructuring plan has commenced in the south Dublin area despite the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s production of a report in June 2017 (details supplied); the rationale, process and evidence of decision-making that has led to the commencement of the restructuring plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13751/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

489. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if care workers visiting the homes of sick, elderly or disabled persons will be tested fortnightly for Covid-19 in line with the testing of care workers in nursing homes every two weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13206/20]

Human Rights

Gino Kenny

24. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will convey Ireland’s opposition to the Australian ambassador to Ireland of the proposed destruction of 40 to 86 significant Aboriginal sites in the central Pilbara region by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11973/20]

Revenue Commissioners

Gino Kenny

56. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners’ customs service has ever intercepted the poppy seed imports of retailers and food businesses that use poppy seed in the manufacture of their products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11998/20]

Mortgage Lending

Gino Kenny

61. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that couples that were approved for a mortgage prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, one of whom has had to avail of the temporary wage subsidy scheme but will return to employment, have had the mortgage offer suspended; the reason for same; if a solution will be introduced in order that prospective buyers can proceed with a home purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12057/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gino Kenny

130. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of his recent announcement of a summer programme for children with additional needs; the way in which the programme will operate in schools or areas if teachers or SNAs cannot make themselves available in that particular area; the contingency plans in such cases; if the school in question is not available due to remediation works, the commencement date and the duration of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11729/20]

Enterprise Ireland

Gino Kenny

373. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if Enterprise Ireland support is being made available to companies that sell poppy seed or that have poppy seeds in their products; if not, when it was revoked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11997/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

457. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in the rolling out of the medicinal cannabis access programme; the measures that remain to be implemented to commence the programme; if there are outstanding barriers to its commencement; the proposed commencement date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12079/20]

Agriculture Industry

Gino Kenny

592. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to protect the rights of hemp farmers to have access to the market for products resulting from the first stage processing of their crops, if not, the details of the scientific evidence that warrants such a position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11996/20]

Health Screening Programmes

Gino Kenny

321. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons are experiencing anxiety and stress while waiting for cancer screening services to resume; if a date will be committed to for their earliest resumption; if a guarantee will be given that extra resources will be deployed to ensure that waiting lists for the services are cleared as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9712/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

364. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the possibility will be explored of allowing families to visit their loved ones that are end-of-life in hospices but that are not actively dying (details supplied); if a range of options that would allow same including the wearing of appropriate PPE and or outdoor visits with social distancing will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9960/20]

English Language Training Organisations

Gino Kenny

185. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will include teacher-led representation in addition to full involvement in the Covid-19 working group for the English language education sector; his views on whether it is vital that every stakeholder including teachers, students and unions is given a place on the working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8626/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Gino Kenny

447. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to lift the policy ban on enterprise support for the hemp industry in view of a European Court of Justice ruling (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8799/20]