Parliamentary questions

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

299. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the proposals in respect of increases proposed for An Post pensioners have been considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28621/20]

Wildlife Protection

Richard Bruton

322. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a proposal to initiate a cull of seals has been considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28743/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

172. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if an entire class must isolate in the event of one positive case of Covid-19, even if the close contacts of the student test negative. [27749/20]

State Examinations

Richard Bruton

180. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the principles that underpinned the standardisation approach that was used to adjust the calculated grades made by teachers; the protections that were in place to ensure that in cases in which downgrades were to occur each pupil was treated equally regardless of the school in which the grade was awarded; and if stress tests were applied to demonstrate its robustness. [27843/20]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

172. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if progress has been possible on the request by community employment supervisors for an occupational pension scheme. [27622/20]

Broadcasting Sector

Richard Bruton

9. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he is in a position to finalise the membership of the Media Commission. [16500/20]

Irish Fiscal Advisory Council

Richard Bruton

32. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has assessed the advice of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council on the shape of the future budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26405/20]

Irish Fiscal Advisory Council

Richard Bruton

35. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has assessed the advice of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council on the shape of the future budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26522/20]

Public Expenditure Policy

Richard Bruton

119. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the scope for accelerating the delivery of important public investment priorities at a time when private investment is likely to fall sharply and a demand stimulus will be needed has been examined. [26413/20]

State Examinations

Richard Bruton

470. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the safeguards being put in place to ensure the 2021 leaving certificate exams will take place in June 2021; and the adjustments to ensure fairness in examination for students that have had disrupted schooling. [26758/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

471. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that the appropriate supports are in place to allow for online learning in schools, including the appropriate provision of laptops and other devices to students; if sufficient technical supports to teachers and students are available to best use the facility and access to the best online tools. [26759/20]

School Curriculum

Richard Bruton

472. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if the review of RSE in schools has been completed; and when the changes will be introduced in schools. [26760/20]

Jobseeker's Benefit

Richard Bruton

536. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if short-time working under jobseeker’s benefit was claimable at the same time as the employer was claiming the recently closed temporary wage subsidy scheme from the Revenue Commissioners. [26353/20]

Child Benefit

Richard Bruton

558. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if an additional allowance will be given to students from low income families and an extension of child benefit beyond 18 years of age to encourage continuation in education after their junior certificate. [26761/20]

School Admissions

Richard Bruton

118. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the decision to remove from admission policies a preference for siblings in Dublin Catholic schools; if her Department was consulted on this move; and if this is regarded as a source of difficultly in achieving equitable admission in view of the considerable inconvenience for parents affected. [25734/20]

Speech and Language Therapy

Richard Bruton

183. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that diverting speech and language therapists risks disrupting service at a critical time and disrupting the pipeline of work experience for graduates. [25737/20]

Travel Trade Sector

Richard Bruton

202. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if capacity of the travel agent industry to survive the Covid-19 crisis has been assessed; and if a special range of supports will be developed in view of the particular circumstances of the sector.. [24900/20]

Cycling Policy

Richard Bruton

220. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered making the wearing of helmets by cyclists mandatory; and his plans to update legislation regarding cycling in view of the big uptake in use and the hazard posed by some practices on the roads at present. [25418/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Richard Bruton

240. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if the extension of employment wage subsidy scheme to proprietors and executive directors of small businesses will be considered. [24901/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

246. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if additional Covid-19 supports are being considered for sectors whose revenue throughout the period of the new Covid-19 Roadmap are likely to be impacted to a far greater extent than 30% which has featured to date in the design of supports of general application. [25269/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

302. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if her Department is working on the design of initiatives to support the various elements of the events sector which are unlikely return to generating more than a fraction of former revenue at any point in the new Covid-19 Roadmap; and the options under consideration. [25267/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

514. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if special supports for proprietors and executive directors of small businesses for the duration of Covid-19 restrictions has been considered such as short time working payments and so on. [24902/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Richard Bruton

785. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the status of testing and tracing capacity here; the extent to which demand is pressing on available resources; the planned additional resources anticipated to be allocated as part of development planning; the extent to which resources are deployed for precautionary testing as opposed to testing in cases in which suspected symptoms have been identified; and the level of such precautionary capacity that will be needed as travel and other activities open with appropriate safety protocols [25233/20]

State Examinations

Richard Bruton

68. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the basis of appeal of grades in the leaving certificate; if the deviation of the results of a school from a pattern in previous years can be a basis for appeal; if there is consideration being given to reserving some of the extra college places for late entry for persons who choose to sit the exam in November 2020 rather than accept calculated grades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24205/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

58. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the key indicators relating to Covid-19 are tracked relative to comparable countries such as the UK, Denmark and Austria and the EU as a whole covering such matters as testing rate per hundred thousand, hospital admissions per hundred thousand, reproduction rate of the virus, indicators of levels of social contact and so on; if so, if the indicators will be published on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23273/20]

Airport Policy

Richard Bruton

225. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if the airport authority has the legal entitlement to charge persons who drop off passengers to the airport; the public benefit that will arise from such a charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23882/20]

Motor Insurance

Richard Bruton

286. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some insurers are unfairly seeking to take advantage of the benefit-in-kind concession granted to encourage company car fleets to go electric and that some insurers are refusing to recognise no-claim bonuses accumulated by drivers on their private policies, thereby overcharging for the risk of cover. [23894/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Richard Bruton

724. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the protocol for arranging a test for a person who does not have access to a car to drive himself or herself; if there is a backlog or delay in handling such tests; and if he is satisfied that there is a satisfactory clearing house for persons experiencing difficulties in this regard. [23706/20]

Medical Cards

Richard Bruton

727. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the extension of general practitioner only cards to those up to eight years of age is going ahead in September 2020 as originally planned. [23710/20]

Medical Cards

Richard Bruton

728. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the increased means test for those over 70 years of age has been implemented. [23711/20]

Proposed Legislation

Richard Bruton

242. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the status of legislation in preparation to provide a legal framework for the use of e-scooters; the work that has been done to date on that legislation; when it is scheduled to be presented; and his views on whether an opportunity for safe transport in a Covid-19 world is being lost through this gap in legislation. [22269/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

251. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the supports available to families that book holidays in destinations that were not on the green list and that opted not to travel even though the flight went ahead. [22520/20]

School Funding

Richard Bruton

503. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the significant gap in funding between voluntary secondary schools and those which are run by the ETB sector; and her plans to close the funding gap. [21358/20]

Educational Disadvantage

Richard Bruton

504. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that many schools in disadvantaged inner city areas do not get the sort of supports needed to even up educational opportunity; her plans to assess the scale of the gap in educational opportunity; and if proposals are being developed to close the gap. [21359/20]

Teacher Training

Richard Bruton

65. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the spend by her Department on improving school leadership and in delivering in-service training to teachers; the proportion of teacher payroll which it represents; and her plans to increase that ratio over her term in office in a significant manner. [17962/20]

State Examinations

Richard Bruton

82. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the planned reform of the leaving certificate will be accelerated in view of the changes which are necessary to the conventional curriculum and examination system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17961/20]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

991. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to establish childcare Ireland; when he expects to have the agency established in order to provide greater support to the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19744/20]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

992. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to his statement to provide financial supports for parents who opt to look after their children themselves, if he will provide further details on the proposals; if this will be pursued through the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19745/20]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

993. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to reform the childcare system to create one that brings together the best of community and private childcare provision; if terms of reference have been drawn up; if stakeholders will be included; the time frame for establishing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19746/20]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

994. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to set a cap on parental fees irrespective of income and publish a policy, legal and economic analysis in 2020 as set out in the Programme for Government; if terms of reference and tenders for this report have been initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19747/20]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

995. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to examine options to increase flexibility within centre based care in addition to options to accelerate access to subsidies for non-relative childminders as set out in the Programme for Government; if terms of reference and tenders for this examination have been initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19748/20]

Social Insurance

Richard Bruton

53. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the ratio of persons aged 65 years of age and over in 2016 to the numbers aged between 25 and 64 years of age and to the numbers at work; her projection for these ratios in ten and twenty years’ time, respectively; and the implications for projected pension costs and the balance between spending and revenue in the social insurance fund. [17965/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

189. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider increasing hours and or posts supported in schools for guidance counselling in view of the increased pressures on students as a result of Covid-19; and if supports will be particularly focused on children that may be at a disadvantage. [19396/20]

Climate Change Policy

Richard Bruton

31. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his preparations for the climate conference which has been postponed until 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17964/20]

Human Rights

Richard Bruton

34. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the way in which new legislation designating political protest as a criminal offence with huge penalties was introduced and the new security apparatus has been installed in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17963/20]

Greyhound Industry

Richard Bruton

638. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to improve animal welfare in the greyhound industry here and in countries to which they are exported; and if he will report on the progress being made. [18338/20]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

11. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of finalising the criteria under which affordable purchase and cost-rental will be made available to applicants; and the national elements such as income limits and guidance on local elements in cases in which local authorities have discretion. [16636/20]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

15. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the initiatives to accelerate affordable housing schemes such as in a case (details supplied) in circumstances where the development of such homes has been the subject of numerous proposals and is long anticipated. [16637/20]

Drugs Payment Scheme

Richard Bruton

202. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if spinraza has been evaluated for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17698/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

64. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to delays in some Dublin authorities in processing applications for the restart grant; and if steps can be taken to rectify this. [17535/20]

Energy Efficiency

Richard Bruton

69. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of projects completed under the deep retrofit scheme; the expenditure involved; the number of outstanding projects to be completed; the estimated cost of each; and the number that will not go ahead. [17522/20]

Parental Leave

Richard Bruton

188. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of extending parental leave by three weeks; and if primary legislation is required to introduce the extension. [17664/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

230. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that private hospitals are seeking cash contributions over and above the insurance cover of patients to cover PPE costs; and if he will consider that seeking insurers and hospitals ensure that these costs are included in cover in order that patients are not prevented from receiving the needed treatments by unexpected cost barriers. [17594/20]

Public Procurement Contracts

Richard Bruton

36. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he has taken to conduct an audit of public procurement to identify the extent to which it can demonstrate the integration of environmental sustainability into each category of procurement; his plans to set requirements immediately in areas such as vehicle and equipment procurement, heating, lighting and power options and controls, building materials and waste management; and his further plans to introduce accurate monitoring across each State body. [16498/20]

Budget Process

Richard Bruton

40. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to structure the service improvement and reform plans across each Department. [16499/20]

Driver Licences

Richard Bruton

168. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of arrangements to extend the driver licences of persons whose licences are expiring due to the large backlog for renewals and unavailability of appointments in addition to the fact that online renewals require a person to have a public services card, for which there is also a backlog. [17177/20]

Economic Data

Richard Bruton

192. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the estimate for the level of private sector investment in 2021 compared with projections made in the pre-Covid-19 period; and the scope for filling the shortfall by accelerated public activity in direct investment or by the development of sectoral strategies. [16577/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

197. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the data his Department is tracking in respect of landlord and bank dealings with enterprises impacted by Covid-19; and the policy initiatives under consideration to ensure that the appraisal of such bodies does not hamper the successful reopening of enterprises which can be made viable in the medium term. [16798/20]

Heritage Schemes

Richard Bruton

245. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding streams available for projects such as 15 Henrietta Street to develop their existing premises to their original state. [16489/20]

Rental Sector

Richard Bruton

292. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to extend the freeze on evictions and on rent increases beyond 20 July 2020 in view of the vulnerable position of many still out of employment. [16705/20]

Jobseeker's Benefit

Richard Bruton

463. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the duration of jobseeker’s benefit will be extended temporarily in order that persons who lost their jobs before Covid-19 can continue their claims at least until the period while special supports continue. [16710/20]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

554. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the fact little or no childcare is now available for children under one year of age; and if he will assist parents still unable to get childcare in order to return from parental leave. [17236/20]

Parental Leave

Richard Bruton

561. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents whose baby was born before the extension of parental leave at the end of 2019 are not eligible for the extension of parental leave announced recently. [17236/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

645. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a new policy to take account of the Covid-19 experience in long stay residential settings; if a consultative process is planned with key stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16711/20]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

723. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to restore leave to frontline workers who had to use it to provide childcare, particularly for couples who both worked on the frontline and used their leave to ensure one parent was always available to provide childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17095/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

729. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the distinct protections, advice and oversight of tourist and non-tourist arrivals from countries deemed to have a safe level of Covid-19 infections to those with an unsafe level; if the effectiveness of the proposed approaches are evaluated either by way of international experience or domestic trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17135/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

46. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation his plans as part of the recovery fund to create space for new initiatives within the regional enterprise strategies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16360/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

47. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the options under consideration for viable businesses to achieve a work out of debts or rents that might overwhelm them during the slow restart phase. [16361/20]

Flood Prevention Measures

Richard Bruton

85. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress on the recommended works on the River Santry between Raheny village, Dublin 5, and the sea in order to alleviate the flood risk; and the detailed phases in the planning, design and implementation of works proposed both in respect of dredging and of the needed increase in culvert capacity. [16343/20]

School Transport

Richard Bruton

105. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of school transport services for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16340/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Richard Bruton

141. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of Covid-19 income support for seasonal workers, such as multilingual tour guides, whose season from April to October 2020 has been completely disrupted; if she will consider extending the support to seasonal workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16455/20]

Maternity Leave

Richard Bruton

155. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of maternity leave for mothers; the costs of extending maternity leave as a temporary expedient while infant childcare options are so impaired due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16377/20]

Dental Services

Richard Bruton

184. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the number on the orthodontic waiting lists in Dublin across each category of need; the number of patients treated from each category in the most recent year for which data is available; and the position regarding the scope of speeding up access to care. [16438/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

232. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the distinct protections, advice and oversight of tourist and non-tourist arrivals from countries deemed to have a safe level of Covid-19 infections to those with an unsafe level; if the effectiveness of the proposed approaches are evaluated by way of either international experience or domestic trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15458/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

272. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce enforcement powers to make the wearing of masks on public transport mandatory; and if so, when the powers will be introduced. [16119/20]

State Examinations

Richard Bruton

629. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the preparations being made to ensure the leaving certificate examinations will take place in 2021; her plans to introduce an additional element of continuous assessment from the start of the 2020-2021 academic year; if more question choice will be introduced on exam papers; when students can expect clarity on the 2021 leaving certificate and its format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15432/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Richard Bruton

792. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the inclusion of persons over 66 years of age who were at work when the Covid-19 pandemic struck within the pandemic unemployment payment in recognition of their sudden loss of earnings. [16120/20]

Health Information and Quality Authority

Richard Bruton

1157. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if requests to investigate allegations of ill treatment in a nursing home (details supplied) have been received; if the matter is being investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15433/20]

Medical Cards

Richard Bruton

1179. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the revised income limits due to come into force in July 2020 for medical cards; and if the HSE is now processing applications under these new guidelines. [15468/20]