Parliamentary questions

Felling Licences

Martin Browne

1265. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the way only 48% of private license applications with ecology input targeted for completion between July 2020 and February 2020 inclusive was achieved; and his plans to make up for the shortfall through the ecology section. [16744/21]

Horse Racing Ireland

Martin Browne

1267. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has spoken virtually with the CEO of Horse Racing Ireland to date in 2021. [16886/21]

School Staff

Martin Browne

97. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to schools that are experiencing difficulties in teaching effectively given the number of staff who are absent due to Covid-19 concerns; if her further attention has been drawn to insufficient numbers of qualified substitute teachers to fill in the gaps; if her attention has been drawn to the way fourth year teaching students who are supporting classes are restricted in the assistance they can provide by the five-day teaching rule; the contingency measures she has devised to deal with these issues; if she will endeavour to deal with the matter in order that principals can staff their classrooms after the Easter break; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16021/21]

Road Projects

Martin Browne

104. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport the details of giving priority status to Tipperary town in respect of traffic alleviation on the N24; the details of his comments on addressing shorter sections of 6 km, 7 km or 8 km of the routes, including a bypass of Tipperary town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15470/21]

Departmental Strategies

Martin Browne

118. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport his views on developing a strategy that focuses on improvements to the road and rail networks in County Tipperary and in the larger mid-west and south-east regions; the action he plans to take to make proper use of the Limerick-Limerick Junction-Waterford and Limerick-Ballybrophy rail corridors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15471/21]

Intellectual Property

Martin Browne

179. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the recent discussions on intellectual property waivers for vaccines at the WTO (details supplied); his position on the issue; and if the Irish ambassador to the WTO has clarified the position of Ireland on the proposal. [15179/21]

Driver Test

Martin Browne

345. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport his plans to lift the restrictions on essential driver training driving lessons in April 2021 given that many learners have had to stop in the middle or near the end of their 12 lessons due to Covid-19 which will create further delays for driver tests post-Covid-19. [15439/21]

Driver Test

Martin Browne

356. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport his views on the ongoing suspension of the theory test service; and if his Department has considered allowing the return of professional categories such as for taxi drivers and heavy goods vehicle drivers. [15564/21]

Tax Code

Martin Browne

416. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance his views on farmers having to pay carbon tax while fishing boat operators do not have to do so; the reason for same; his views on this discrepancy given the technologically advanced tractors and other machinery farmers are investing in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15616/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

466. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance the supports in place to reimburse businesses for stock they have had to dispose of as a result of stock going out of date or for other reasons that relate to the closure of their premises due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14968/21]

Insurance Costs

Martin Browne

479. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance his views on the amounts in personal injuries insurance guidelines as set by the Judicial Council; and his views on whether the level of payment for damages is a contributor to the excessive costs of insurance premiums. [15177/21]

School Curriculum

Martin Browne

931. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the guidelines that have been issued to schools for junior certificate students for assessing students in view of the significant number of months missed due to Covid-19. [15541/21]

Hospital Staff

Martin Browne

1299. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if South Tipperary General Hospital is to lose ten of its current 19 intern doctors; if he will consider reversing the decision; his views on the way the failure to employ graduating doctors will lead to forced emigration; his views on the impact this will have on the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13878/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

1397. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in County Tipperary participating in the dental medical card scheme; and his plans to address the number of dentists leaving the scheme, which has left medical card patients in many areas with no access to dental treatment. [14122/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

1398. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the inflated running costs for dental practices, which are a significant factor in forcing many dentists out of the medical card scheme. [14123/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

1399. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the dental medical card scheme in the lifetime of the Thirty-third Dáil. [14124/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

1554. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in County Tipperary registered as participating in the dental medical card scheme over the past five years in tabular form. [14637/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

1555. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, due to a perceived inadequate dental medical card scheme, dentists are leaving the scheme and are refusing to take on additional patents under the scheme; when a review of the scheme will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14638/21]

Health Services Staff

Martin Browne

1577. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to qualify persons in the area of mental health given that the availability of skilled staff is a significant issue; the reason for much of the potential workforce availing of employment opportunities outside of Ireland; the additional cost in each of the past three years incurred through the filling of staff shortages through the work of locums, agency workers and overtime comparative to the cost of employing staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14725/21]

Occupational Therapy

Martin Browne

1676. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the way children that are receiving CAMHS services in north County Tipperary but are unable to access occupational therapy services due to a lack of a physical room; his views on whether such a situation is acceptable; the waiting times for same in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; his views on the lack of a physical room for occupational therapy services at CAMHS in Nenagh, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15099/21]