Parliamentary questions

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]