Parliamentary questions

Energy Conservation

Éamon Ó Cuív

194. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to provide extra resources to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to enable it to reduce the current timeline for the processing of applications under the better energy warmer homes scheme which is currently approximately 24 months; if his attention has been drawn to the amount of unnecessary burning of fossil fuel this is causing and the physical and financial distress that the delay in processing the warmer home scheme applications is having on applicants who require urgent insulation works carried out to their properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43361/21]

Tax Forms

Éamon Ó Cuív

238. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the reason that residents of islands who have island rate car tax on their island-based cars cannot renew the tax online given that they are not allocated a pin number with their renewal notice; if he plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43465/21]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

356. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he plans to take to ensure the efficient turnaround of online passport applications especially first-time applications which is targeted as 40 working days (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some applicants who apply for such passports in order to travel abroad for essential reasons are not even receiving passports in that timeframe; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that in cases in which there are queries on such passports that there can be a delay of over 40 days before queries are raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43473/21]

Civil Marriages

Éamon Ó Cuív

465. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason State registry offices are only allowing ten guests at civil ceremonies in view of the current health guidelines allowing 100 guests at weddings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43285/21]

Oideachas Tríú Leibhéal

Éamon Ó Cuív

516. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta an bhfuil i gceist aige aon rud a dhéanamh lena chinntiú go mbeidh comhionannas ann do mhic léinn atá ag dul ar an gColáiste i mbliana bunaithe ar thorthaí Ardteistiméireacht 2019 seachas 2021, ag cur san áireamh leibhéal i bhfad níos airde na marcanna a bronnadh ar an meán don Ardteistiméireacht i mbliana; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [43464/21]

Hospital Appointments Status

Éamon Ó Cuív

632. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for a knee operation in Galway University Hospital taking into account the exceptional circumstances in this case; if the person will be considered for the surgery under the National Treatment Purchase Fund given the severity of their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43469/21]

Company Registration

Éamon Ó Cuív

11. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to defer the latest date for filing returns to the Companies Registration Office due to the difficulties businesses and accountants have had due to Covid-19 restrictions in which many of their staff are working remotely and also where response times from departments and State agencies are often delayed also affecting the ability of businesses and their accountants to access necessary information for returns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41859/21]

Rail Network

Éamon Ó Cuív

128. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the terms of reference of the Strategic Rail Review which is being commissioned in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland; the estimated timeframe for the completion of the review; the projects that will continue to be developed while this review is ongoing; the basis on which these were selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42269/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

184. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if a business which is only open to the public for a fixed period of time each year can claim the Covid restrictions support scheme during any other part of the year in cases in which there is ongoing storage, maintenance and preparations involved that can be proven; if not, the reason for the refusal to cover these ongoing overheads while operational but not open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41839/21]

Tax Forms

Éamon Ó Cuív

185. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to defer the latest date for filing self-employed and corporate tax returns for 2020 this year due to the difficulties businesses and accountants have had due to Covid-19 restrictions in which many of their staff have been working remotely and also where response times from departments and State agencies are often delayed also affecting the ability of businesses and their accountants to access necessary information for tax returns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41858/21]

Sports Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

287. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when decisions will be made on the 2021 applications under the capital sports grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42872/21]

Vaccination Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

414. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had with the authorities the USA in relation to allowing Irish citizens and residents visit the USA if fully vaccinated with a European Medicines Agency approved vaccine including a vaccine (details supplied) or who have had a pre-journey PCR test; the result of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41838/21]

Foreign Birth Registration

Éamon Ó Cuív

438. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the processing of foreign birth registrations will recommence for new passport applications; the reason processing of foreign birth registrations continues to be paused; if his attention has been drawn to the frustration the closure of this service is having on parents who wish to apply for a foreign birth registration for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42270/21]

School Staff

Éamon Ó Cuív

519. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education her plans to regularise pay, conditions and pension entitlements for all school secretaries and to end the situation in which school secretaries have different pay and conditions for carrying out similar work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41837/21]

State Examinations

Éamon Ó Cuív

559. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if any representations were made to her or by either of (details supplied) in relation to the possibility of running predictive grades for the leaving certificate in 2022 as well as a written examination in view of the amount of time schools had to remain closed and work online in the past two years; if these bodies favour such an approach; her response to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42319/21]

School Transport

Éamon Ó Cuív

626. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the number of concessionary post primary cycle school bus ticket applications refused in 2021 on the basis of the reduced capacity allowed on school buses; if these applicants will be provided with school bus tickets when the capacity allowed on each bus increases; when she anticipates that full capacity will be allowed on school buses for post primary school children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42867/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

692. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to grant passes under the free travel scheme to persons who suffer from epilepsy, and who are not eligible for driving licences due to their disability, to aid their mobility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42271/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Éamon Ó Cuív

696. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in view of the continuing regulations restraining various industries and businesses from reopening completely or even in some cases partially, it is planned to re-instate the full rates of the pandemic unemployment payment to employees or former employees in the industries affected until the full reopening of society is possible, in view of the significant difference this would make to the persons affected and the reducing number of these persons and the limited duration that will be involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42317/21]

Public Procurement Contracts

Éamon Ó Cuív

723. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the tendering processes that were followed in respect of the allocation of contracts under the JobPath programme in 2021; the number of applications received under each tender; the process by which they were evaluated; the areas tenders allocated in 2021 cover; the length of each successful new contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42866/21]

Departmental Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

740. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications received from communities under the community sponsorship Ireland scheme for refugees each year since it was incepted; the number of these applications that have been completed; the number of families accommodated each year under this scheme; the total number of refugees involved; the locations that have been successful with their applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43083/21]