Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Benefits

Neasa Hourigan

425. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the timeframe beyond the first year of a child’s birth or adoption during which parent’s benefit is paid in order to take into account the parents whose child was born during the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31605/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Neasa Hourigan

550. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to examine the regulations and legislation that apply to cannabis use for medical conditions and palliative care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31610/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Neasa Hourigan

738. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to examine the regulations and legislation that apply to cannabis use for medical conditions and palliative care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31608/20]

Road Projects

Neasa Hourigan

105. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport the cost of the proposed road widening of the R605 between Kinsale and Innishannon by Cork County Council; his views on same in view of the shortfalls in local government budgets; if an environmental impact assessment has been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30424/20]

Parking Regulations

Neasa Hourigan

95. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address the dangers to pedestrians and cyclists caused by dangerous parking; his plans to use his power under SI 135 of 2006 to increase the fixed charge penalty notice for illegal parking from €40 to €100; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29369/20]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Neasa Hourigan

200. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice when she will publish the report on compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 for 2018 and 2019 respectively; the number of employees with a disability in each Department in 2018 and 2019 respectively; the criteria by which employees identify themselves as having a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28987/20]

Rail Network

Neasa Hourigan

194. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to install continuous welded rail along Stoney Road, North Strand, Dublin 3, as part of the DART expansion programme. [28099/20]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

725. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to publish a Traveller and Roma mental health action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28687/20]

Abortion Services Provision

Neasa Hourigan

266. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a number of persons who have had to travel to the UK to access follow-up abortion care after the abortion pills they took failed; his plans to ensure that anyone whose abortion procedure was legally initiated in good faith is able to terminate their pregnancy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27744/20]

Land Development Agency

Neasa Hourigan

109. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff employed by the Land Development Agency transferred from the National Asset Management Agency. [27470/20]

Education Policy

Neasa Hourigan

502. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to clarify the practice of reduced timetables taking into consideration time limits, recording, reporting, alternative educational provision during exclusions and greater consultation between the school, parent and appeals process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27199/20]

Education Policy

Neasa Hourigan

503. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to conduct an audit of the application of limited or reduced timetables for Traveller children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27200/20]

Education Data

Neasa Hourigan

504. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to publish disaggregated data on the basis of gender, disability, socio-economic background and ethnicity in secondary schools to monitor participation and outcomes of Traveller and Roma students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27201/20]

Traveller Education

Neasa Hourigan

505. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide additional ring-fenced educational supports for Traveller pupils; her plans to provide funding to independent Traveller organisations to advocate for Traveller education needs and address educational inequalities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27202/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Neasa Hourigan

864. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of staff from mental health services that have been seconded to work in the Covid-19 testing and tracing regime; and the number of community mental health staff that have been seconded to work in the Covid-19 testing and tracing regime. [26700/20]

Litter Pollution

Neasa Hourigan

64. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the supports, funding schemes and grants which are available to schools participating in An Taisce green schools programme; the supports available to schools to ensure environmentally friendly waste disposal given increased waste production due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26057/20]

Litter Pollution

Neasa Hourigan

66. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the supports, funding schemes and grants which are available to schools participating in An Taisce’s Green Schools programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26058/20]

Health Professions Admission Test

Neasa Hourigan

194. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to those who sat the 2020 health professions admissions test, HPAT, exam to use their 2020 HPAT results to gain entry into medicine and health professions degree programs in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26069/20]

Environmental Impact Assessments

Neasa Hourigan

102. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delay in carrying out an environmental impact assessment at the Derrybrien wind farm as required under a 2008 Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in case C-215/06; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25820/20]

State Examinations

Neasa Hourigan

128. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on the sitting of the leaving certificate for the class of 2021 taking into consideration that traditional exam settings may not be suitable in view of social distancing requirements; if predicted grades will be used during the leaving certificate for the class of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25838/20]

Cycling Policy

Neasa Hourigan

201. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport the number of organisations which wrote to either him or his predecessors or the National Transport Authority in support of the implementation of the Greater Dublin Area Cycling Network of the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24828/20]

Public Appointments Service

Neasa Hourigan

276. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has conducted a review of the employment practices and interview processes of the civil service in relation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24733/20]

Foreign Conflicts

Neasa Hourigan

367. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts being made to bring an end to the long-running conflict in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24926/20]

Asylum Applications

Neasa Hourigan

628. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice the number of Syrians granted asylum to date in 2020; his plans to increase the number of Syrians being granted asylum here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24925/20]

Value Added Tax

Neasa Hourigan

92. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider applying for an exemption under EU legislation to levy a 0% VAT rate on cups, period underwear and reusable pads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24685/20]

Dental Services

Neasa Hourigan

183. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure the oral healthcare of children and special needs patients are not being neglected due to Covid-19 restrictions in view of reports that young children are being prescribed antibiotics instead of having much-needed extractions; when a full resumption of community oral healthcare services will take place in Dublin north city CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24490/20]

Fire Service

Neasa Hourigan

58. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if membership of the retained fire service is a breach of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. [24299/20]

Low Pay Commission

Neasa Hourigan

91. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has requested the Low Pay Commission to examine universal basic income; the current plans for the design, implementation and evaluation of a universal basic income project; the way in which external bodies and individuals can contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24357/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Neasa Hourigan

787. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the percentage of Covid-19 tests in which the swab taken to lab result time exceeded 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours, respectively in July and August 2020, by community and hospital settings nationwide and specifically in the South/Southwest Hospital Group [23983/20]

Female Genital Mutilation

Neasa Hourigan

168. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice her plans to develop and implement a national action plan to end the practice of female genital mutilation here by 2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23107/20]

Drugs Payment Scheme

Neasa Hourigan

217. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when the monthly drugs payment scheme threshold will be reduced to €114 as provided for in budget 2020; when a commencement order will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23098/20]

Traffic Management

Neasa Hourigan

117. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expected start date and completion date of the proposed consultation process on a Phoenix Park traffic management strategy. [22895/20]

Tax Code

Neasa Hourigan

300. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the deemed disposal rule which was introduced in the Finance Act 2006; his plans to revise same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22141/20]

Proposed Legislation

Neasa Hourigan

923. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice her plans to prevent and detect the importation and sale of illegal fireworks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21614/20]

Disease Management

Neasa Hourigan

1378. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the timeline of the review of the epidemiology of tuberculosis here considering the public health impact of having no BCG vaccination since April 2015; when this review will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22492/20]

Live Exports

Neasa Hourigan

922. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the views of a number of animal welfare groups that an upcoming shipment of live animals from Ireland to Libya could contravene EU rules on protecting transported live animals to third countries; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19925/20]

Nursing Staff

Neasa Hourigan

1146. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of Parkinson’s disease nurse specialists in view of the shortage here with three in Dublin and none elsewhere in Leinster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19898/20]

Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

1147. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve access to essential services for those with Parkinson’s disease such as to neurologists, physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and dietetics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19899/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

87. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to publish specific guidelines for the reopening of pubs; when he last met with representatives of an organisation (details supplied); the supports available to pubs which have been unable to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18925/20]

Living City Initiative

Neasa Hourigan

226. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to expand the living city initiative to include all inner-city areas of Dublin city rather than just those designated special regeneration areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18327/20]

Special Educational Needs

Neasa Hourigan

487. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure the July provision is extended to include post-primary blind and visually impaired students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18679/20]

Special Educational Needs

Neasa Hourigan

488. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to prioritise the return to in-person teaching of blind and visually impaired children in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18680/20]

Special Educational Needs

Neasa Hourigan

489. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a report by an organisation (details supplied) on the implications of Covid-19 on the education of pupils that are blind and visually impaired; her views on same;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18681/20]

School Accommodation

Neasa Hourigan

490. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of planning permission (details supplied) being sought for a college to retain the existing five classroom prefabricated building on their site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18696/20]

School Accommodation

Neasa Hourigan

491. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of planning permission (details supplied) being sought by a college for the provision of a suite of additional prefabricated specialist classrooms that will be required to accommodate the existing cohort of students in September 2020 to include science, art, home economics and woodwork rooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18697/20]

School Accommodation

Neasa Hourigan

492. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to the fast tracking of an application by a college (details supplied) for inclusion on the building list of her Department to accommodate a new school and its growing population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18698/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

1042. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if it is safe for blind persons to use a sighted guide in view of Covid-19 health restrictions; his plans to issue guidance on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18889/20]

National Parks

Neasa Hourigan

109. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will partially close Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park at weekends for the summer as per previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17712/20]

Traffic Management

Neasa Hourigan

229. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will publish a recent study on the effects of the closure of the peripheral gates of the Phoenix Park on traffic volumes in the surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17183/20]

Traffic Management

Neasa Hourigan

84. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the rationale for the decision by the Office of Public Works to reverse the closure of the peripheral gates of the Phoenix Park; when a public consultation process will take place on the future of the perimeter gates of the Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16322/20]