Parliamentary questions

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

22. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied that there are adequate frameworks in place to assist enterprises to undertake restructuring necessitated by Covid-19 or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29713/20]

Teacher Training

Richard Bruton

86. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she has undertaken a recent review of the excellence of the delivery of in-service upskilling for teachers; and if she plans to reform. [29734/20]

Teacher Training

Richard Bruton

93. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she has undertaken a recent review of the excellence of the delivery of in-service upskilling for teachers; and if she plans to reform. [29735/20]

Climate Action Fund

Richard Bruton

104. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications when a fresh call will be made for projects under the Climate Action Fund; and if the criteria will be different than the last occasion. [30508/20]

Housing Agency

Richard Bruton

156. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the duration of time it takes the underwriter of the Housing Agency to adjudicate on loans can be reduced as it can hamper timely options for first-time buyers. [29796/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

279. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if enforced absences of teachers due to children going into isolation has been factored into allowed absences under the sickness absences circular; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this may not have been adequately factored in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30258/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

324. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons returning to work after Covid-19 have a period during which secondary benefits are retained and in particular, the length of time rent supplement can be retained. [30293/20]

Work Placement Programmes

Richard Bruton

325. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the rate of payment to participants in the work placement scheme. [30294/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Richard Bruton

348. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if allowance has been made for an increase in the income thresholds for the national childcare scheme; and the thresholds of proposed increases. [30295/20]

Health Services Provision

Richard Bruton

504. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if provision has been made to provide transport to persons suspected of having Covid-19 who do not have means of transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30053/20]

Home Care Packages

Richard Bruton

558. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the status of the home care pilot scheme; and his plans to roll out the scheme further. [30292/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Bruton

144. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes for affordable purchase in the known pipeline; the number of homes for cost rental in the pipeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29332/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Bruton

145. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposed selection criteria for homes being allocated for cost rental; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29333/20]

School Accommodation

Richard Bruton

198. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will consider expanding the capacity of a school (details supplied). [29426/20]

School Equipment

Richard Bruton

199. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if the provision of personal computers and WiFi in the homes of students at a particular disadvantage such as Traveller children will be supported; and if so, if such support will be provided through individual schools or another intermediary. [29427/20]

Schools Extra Curricular Activities

Richard Bruton

200. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the supports provided by her Department to support homework clubs for children at a particular disadvantage. [29428/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

24. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports which an enterprise can receive for reopening; and the way in which it varies for enterprises in areas in which level 3 restrictions have been applied. [29161/20]

Warmer Homes Scheme

Richard Bruton

35. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the grant levels available for works under the various SEAI schemes for householders that is warmer homes, better energy homes, solar grants and so on; the impact on the take up of these schemes as a result of Covid-19; and his plans to increase the payment levels for particular works in order to stimulate activity In the months ahead. [29166/20]

Tax Code

Richard Bruton

62. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the tax liability that may arise under income tax, USC and PRSI as a result of persons having received support from the temporary wage subsidy scheme; the way in which the Revenue Commissioners will inform persons of their liability; and if the Revenue Commissioners phase the recovery of taxes due. [29126/20]

Tax Code

Richard Bruton

63. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the reliefs made available to enterprises in respect of tax liabilities arising during the Covid-19 crisis; the periods covered; and the way in which it is planned to recover the warehoused liabilities in the situation in which many enterprises will remain vulnerable for some considerable time. [29129/20]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Bruton

64. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the tax reliefs available to persons who are working from home; and the conditions under which the reliefs can be claimed. [29156/20]

Help-To-Buy Scheme

Richard Bruton

65. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the possibility that the abrupt reversion of help-to-buy terms to those which applied before the July stimulus package might create a distortion in the housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29183/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Bruton

91. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the means tests that applied to determine eligibility for social housing schemes; and if he recognises a gap between this income level and the threshold of income that would be needed to participate in the various other purchase schemes which might justify a rise in the social housing income thresholds. [29164/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Bruton

92. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans issuing guidelines on the eligible income thresholds and other national criteria for affordable purchase and for cost rental schemes in respect of which many councils have already set the other criteria for prioritising applicants. [29165/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Bruton

93. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to make changes in the limits on the price of the house on which an affordable loan can be obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29167/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Richard Bruton

94. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the present rate of interest which is charged on an affordable loan; what this represents in monthly payments per €1,000 borrowed on a 25 and 30 year mortgage; if there are additional charges added for insurance and so on; and if he anticipates the potential for the reduction in these charges in the coming months. [29168/20]

Planning Guidelines

Richard Bruton

95. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he plans to implement to speed up the planning delays affecting the development of onshore and offshore renewable energy; and if a clear schedule for specific changes to regulations concerning solar, wind and offshore development will be provided. [29184/20]

Brexit Preparations

Richard Bruton

102. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the schedule for decision making on Brexit over the coming weeks. [29185/20]

Low Pay Commission

Richard Bruton

151. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has received a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission in respect of increases which should apply from January 2021. [29174/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

164. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms under which self-employed persons can claim a payment to assist with restarting their business which has been affected by Covid-19. [29162/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Richard Bruton

165. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many student nurses who were supporting themselves through part-time health assistant work have been told that combining such work with their standard placements would pose a Covid-19 risk and as a consequence her Department has deemed such persons not available for work and, therefore, ineligible for the pandemic unemployment payment; and if relief can be provided in such cases. [29163/20]

Parental Leave

Richard Bruton

166. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the dates for extension of paid parental leave and of unpaid parental leave over the next fifteen months. [29173/20]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

167. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to bring forward an auto-enrolment pension during the course of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29178/20]

Illness Benefit

Richard Bruton

168. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the short-term illness benefit can be claimed by the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29179/20]

Working Family Payment

Richard Bruton

169. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the higher rate of child dependent allowance for children of 12 years of age and over will be reflected in the rates for the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29180/20]

Back to Education Allowance

Richard Bruton

170. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the back to education allowance can be claimed without a waiting time for all traditional welfare payments and for the pandemic unemployment payment; and if the exact relaxation in rules which have been permitted relating to duration on welfare payments will be clarified. [29181/20]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Richard Bruton

171. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new claimants of rent supplement which have come into payment since the Covid-19 pandemic commenced; and her plans to relax the stringent rules for withdrawal of the payment for persons considering returning to work by comparison with those that have been put on a housing assistance payment. [29182/20]

Work Placement Programmes

Richard Bruton

173. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms and conditions which will apply to the Work Experience Programme which was announced as part of the July Stimulus; the revised terms of the JobsPlus scheme outlined under the July Stimulus; and if a time limit has been set for the scheme. [29196/20]

Back to Education Allowance

Richard Bruton

174. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the changes in the criteria for the back to education allowance under the July stimulus; and the duration for which the revised criteria will apply. [29197/20]

Childcare Costs

Richard Bruton

181. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of children for whom the basic €20 per week is paid; and the number for whom enhanced payments are made. [29169/20]

Childcare Costs

Richard Bruton

182. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the distribution of payments under childcare schemes according to the age of the child and the hours claimed. [29170/20]

Childcare Costs

Richard Bruton

183. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the distribution of payments under childcare schemes according to the reckonable earnings of the parents. [29171/20]

Childcare Costs

Richard Bruton

184. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the distribution of payments under the AIM schemes according to the categories of supports made available. [29172/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Richard Bruton

196. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the take-up to date of the subsidy to employers for enrolling apprentices; the breakdown by sector; and if consideration will be given to extending the closing date of the scheme. [29254/20]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Richard Bruton

197. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the take-up to date of the subsidy to employers for enrolling apprentices; the break down by sector; and if he will consider extending the closing date of the scheme. [29255/20]

Springboard Programme

Richard Bruton

198. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the changes in the eligibility criteria for Springboard opportunities for support for postgraduate participation. [29256/20]

Further Education and Training Programmes

Richard Bruton

199. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the conditions under which persons can participate in the skills to compete programme announced as part of the July stimulus; and the duration for which the additional supports will remain in place. [29257/20]

Health Services Charges

Richard Bruton

242. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in a full year of each of charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29175/20]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Richard Bruton

243. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has concluded discussions on the possibility of encouraging the renting out of vacant homes of persons availing of the fair deal scheme by applying a lower rate of contribution to nursing home costs from this source or by other means; and if he has assessed the number of homes that might fall into this category. [29176/20]

Health Services Charges

Richard Bruton

244. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the charges that are made to private patients who are using public hospital facilities in either public wards, semi-private or private wards; and the proportion of beds in public hospitals for which such payments are received. [29177/20]