Parliamentary questions

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]