Parliamentary questions

Crime Prevention

Mattie McGrath

261. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a newspaper article (details supplied); when the audit by her Department referred to in the article was carried out; the findings of same; if the report will be published; whether public funds were used to pay the award of €43,470 as outlined in the article; the steps she will take to carry out a further audit to clarify the issue in view of the fact that the audit was carried out before the payments were made; if she will continue funding the organisation to manage the community alert and text alert rebate programmes; if not, if she will consider opening the programmes to a competitive tender process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19251/20]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

180. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 251 of 14 July 2020, the reason it has been necessary to resume driver test centres on a gradual basis; the reason all centres could not have been re-opened in view of the essential nature of the service; when driver tests and driver theory tests will resume in Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18656/20]

Driver Licences

Mattie McGrath

181. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being encountered by those with driver licences due to expire, to obtain an appointment to renew their licence due to the number of persons trying to obtain appointments as a result of the extension to their licences up to July 2020; the measures in place to ensure that persons that cannot obtain an appointment in a timely manner will have their licence extended in view of the fact they cannot drive while waiting for an appointment in cases where the appointment date is later than the expiry date; if the matter will receive urgent attention to ensure that those with expired or expiring licenses are given priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18657/20]

EU Budget Contribution

Mattie McGrath

219. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the planned contribution by Ireland to the EU Budget over the next seven years; the justification for Ireland being the second highest contributor per capita to the EU Budget, second only to Luxembourg; the efforts that were made to seek a write down and reduction of the contribution in view of the write down received by Germany, Holland, Sweden and others; if efforts will be made to seek a reduction in the contribution by Ireland in view of the financial difficulties facing Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19028/20]

Mental Health Services

Mattie McGrath

1007. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if an analysis has been carried out on the further cost of carrying out upgrade works on the former St. Michael's unit at South Tipperary General Hospital to bring it up to sufficient standard for the provision of acute psychiatric beds; the difference in standard required between standard acute beds and acute psychiatric beds; the estimated cost of returning the unit to a psychiatric unit in a post Covid-19 environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18653/20]

Mental Health Services

Mattie McGrath

1008. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of acute mental health beds in County Tipperary; his views on same; his plans to provide such beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18654/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

1009. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 821 of 7 July 2020, the nature of the works carried out at St. Brigid's Hospital, Carrick on Suir following the allocation of €20,000 for such works; when the hospital will reopen for the provision of convalescence and palliative care in view of the fact that the hospital continues to remain empty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18655/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Mattie McGrath

1010. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 tests that have been carried out to date here; the cost of such testing; if he will provide a breakdown of the beneficiaries of such costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18658/20]

Marine Casualty Investigations Board

Mattie McGrath

97. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will establish a public enquiry into investigations carried out by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board following the European Court of Justice ruling recently that Ireland is not fulfilling its obligations under Article 8(1) of Directive 2009/18 governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector. [17262/20]

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Mattie McGrath

95. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he will take to reduce the current waiting time for applications under the warmer homes scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the current backlogs of up to 18 months from time of application to being appointed to a contractor by the SEAI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16995/20]

Marine Casualty Investigations Board

Mattie McGrath

146. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will amend the composition of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board to ensure that its membership is both impartial and has sufficient maritime competency to carry out its duties in view of the European Court of Justice ruling against Ireland regarding failures to ensure the independence of the board; if he will establish a public enquiry into its previous investigations in view of the concerns of whistle-blowers, victims' families and the ECJ ruling; if he will accept and support the reintroduction of the Merchant Shipping (Marine Casualty Investigation Board) (Amendment) Bill 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16648/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

320. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extra supports that will be provided to local authority leisure centres to allow them to reopen and operate fully without being at a financial loss as a result of the extra requirements placed on them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17059/20]

Commercial Rates

Mattie McGrath

321. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the details of the implementation of the commercial rates waiver have been finalised and issued to local authorities; the reason for the delay in finalising the scheme; the funding that has been provided to local authorities to offset the financial losses as a result of the waiver; if the waiver will be extended beyond three months particularly for businesses that remain closed and have suffered huge financial losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17060/20]

School Uniforms

Mattie McGrath

399. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position on school uniforms in view of the fact that parents are in the process of purchasing uniforms and in further view of reports that schools will have no uniforms for infection control reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16959/20]

School Curriculum

Mattie McGrath

400. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) or an organisation to which they are linked has been party to or had influence on the development of sex education programmes in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17006/20]

Student Accommodation

Mattie McGrath

418. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures she will introduce to provide protections for third level students in circumstances in which many are expected to pay accommodation deposits and a number of months' rent up front when it is not clear whether they will be attending their colleges for classes in the coming term; if she will ensure that legislative protections are introduced to ensure that those providing student accommodation cannot take advantage of students in view of the current circumstances; if her attention has been drawn to the large demands being placed on students for payments up front despite the fact that many received no refunds for last term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17127/20]

Electronic Cigarettes

Mattie McGrath

770. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if guidelines will be put in place regarding the use of e-cigarettes in public houses (details supplied). [17425/20]

Rental Sector

Mattie McGrath

98. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the blanket ban on landlords will be lifted with regard to the eviction of tenants (details supplied). [16433/20]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

251. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when driver tests will resume in Clonmel, County Tipperary; the reason for the delay in resuming tests at the test centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15661/20]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

252. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if theory tests have resumed in Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15662/20]