Parliamentary questions

International Protection

Michael Creed

125. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will endeavour to ensure insofar as possible that those persons seeking international protection who are approved for housing here will have housing offers made in locations reasonably proximate to the location they have been receiving emergency accommodation provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5134/22]

International Protection

Michael Creed

177. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vulnerability assessments of international protection applicants undertaken in 2021; the most common vulnerabilities identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5136/22]

Departmental Inquiries

Michael Creed

263. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the circumstances surrounding an investment by a number of Irish citizens in a beach resort in Morocco; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the developer having procured substantial deposits from Irish investors has never proceeded with the resort and has failed to refund investors in this project over the past 14 years; if his Department has had contact either with the UK or the Moroccan authorities on this matter; if he will arrange for the Irish Ambassador to liaise with his UK counterpart in terms of increasing diplomatic pressure on the Moroccan authorities to resolve this issue given that Moroccan courts have in recent times sanctioned the sale of the lands involved back to the bank on the premise of refunding investor deposits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5539/22]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Creed

306. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding eligibility for carer’s benefit with regard to the number of PRSI contributions required to trigger eligibility; the category of PRSI contributions that qualify in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5565/22]

Dental Services

Michael Creed

423. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in negotiations with an association (details supplied) with regard to a new dental scheme for medical card patients; the concessions he could make ahead of formal negotiations as a gesture of goodwill given the fact that fees under the scheme were set in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5572/22]

Social Welfare Schemes

Michael Creed

98. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the anticipated number of families who will benefit from the extension of the period from thirteen weeks to six months that payment of the domiciliary care allowance can be paid with regard to children in hospital. [5253/22]

Animal Welfare

Michael Creed

168. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details regarding the equine census currently being conducted by his Department; the obligation on horse owners in respect of this census; if he is satisfied with regard to efforts made by his Department to facilitate engagement in this process by equine owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5252/22]

State Examinations

Michael Creed

114. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of her engagement with education partners including students on the matter of leaving certificate examinations 2022; if in particular, she will outline her detailed engagement with the State Examination Commission on this matter including any instruction or direction she has given the Commission regarding the format of examinations for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4661/22]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Creed

131. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a progress report on her most recent efforts to provide certainty regarding enrolment in September 2022 for ASD pupils at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; the position regarding acquisition of a site for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4660/22]

Revenue Commissioners

Michael Creed

292. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance if he has received an explanation or reason from the Revenue Commissioners with regard to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5025/22]

Defence Forces

Michael Creed

446. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Defence if he has received a report from the Chief of Staff regarding his recent engagement with the Russian ambassador; if he sanctioned this high level contact in advance; the subject matters discussed; his views on the appropriateness of this engagement at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4801/22]

Departmental Programmes

Michael Creed

453. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the details of the operation of the ADAPT building programme of her Department; the way it operates in respect of taking projects from approval in principle to the construction stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4239/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Creed

559. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if partial capacity benefit is available to self-employed persons who have been ineligible for illness benefit or invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5066/22]

Dental Services

Michael Creed

769. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health his views on the number of dentists participating in the dental treatment service scheme for medical card patients; his views on the sharp decline in number of dentists participating in the scheme since 2019; the number of contracted dentists participating in the scheme who have not carried out activity under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4991/22]

Dental Services

Michael Creed

770. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists that contracted under the dental treatment service scheme for medical card holders in each of the years since 2016; the range of payments made to participating individual dentists for each of those years; the total cost to the Exchequer of the scheme for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4992/22]

Dental Services

Michael Creed

788. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm receipt of correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) with regard to the 23% VAT rate being applied to payments from associates to principal dentists; if he has received an explanation regarding the rationale for introducing the charge at this point; the reason payments to date were exempt from such charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5024/22]

Dental Services

Michael Creed

798. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the number of practices that hold dental treatment scheme contracts with the HSE by county; the number of notifications which the HSE has received in 2021 of dentists seeking to resign from the dental treatment service scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5067/22]

Work Permits

Michael Creed

155. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will clarify the situation regarding the availability of visas and work permits for persons in the construction industry; the policy approach by his Department in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4117/22]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Creed

277. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the plans by her Department for the introduction of minimum education standards and qualifications for appointment as special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4119/22]

School Accommodation

Michael Creed

280. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if an application for additional school accommodation has been received in regard to a school (details supplied); and the next steps with regard to this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4126/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Creed

166. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to issue in hard copy format the Covid-19 booster certificate to persons (details supplied) in County Cork. [3716/22]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Creed

242. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the progress being made in conjunction with Cork City Council regarding the provision of a site for a school at a location (details supplied) in County Cork; the interim arrangements being considered for additional enrolment in September 2022 and in particular the arrangements for ASD provision on that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2731/22]

Artists' Remuneration

Michael Creed

426. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of the proposed artist basic income guarantee scheme; the persons or bodies that are eligible for this scheme; if applications are currently being accepted; if all eligible applicants will be approved, the level of financial support on offer to approved applicants; the means test that will apply for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1219/22]

Sports Funding

Michael Creed

437. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of funding now available in 2022 for allocation to applications currently in hand by her Department under the sports capital scheme; when she expects to allocate funds to these applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2002/22]

State Examinations

Michael Creed

783. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if the option of predicted grades will be available this academic year in view of the level of disruption to classroom preparations by the cohort of students intending on sitting their leaving certificate examinations in June 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1274/22]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Creed

827. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the next and subsequent steps involved in taking the proposed new school at a location (details supplied) to construction stage; the timelines envisaged for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2036/22]

State Examinations

Michael Creed

858. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the number of students who have registered for the leaving certificate in 2022; the number of these students who sat their junior certificate in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2523/22]

Prescriptions Charges

Michael Creed

1653. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the requirement to renew prescriptions for long-term medical conditions every six months under the medical card and drug refund scheme; if he will consider extending this period for lifelong conditions such as asthma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1220/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Creed

1672. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if his Department, its medical advisors or NPHET have given consideration to T cell immunity in the context of Covid-19; the tests available for measuring the level of individual T cell immunity; the way in which this might assist with dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1300/22]

Qualifications Recognition

Michael Creed

1673. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the position regarding recognition and registration of UK qualifications by CORU; if he is satisfied that CORU has the required resources to complete these processes in a timely fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1301/22]

Pigmeat Sector

Michael Creed

1971. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives he plans to assist the pig production sector given the collapse in prices and the significant increase in input costs; the discussions he has had with the sector in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1221/22]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Creed

455. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection when it is expected that a decision will issue on a review in relation to a working family payment for a person (details supplied). [61851/21]

Common Agricultural Policy

Michael Creed

810. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the reformed Common Agricultural Policy and in particular the draft CAP strategic plan will focus on the necessity for rewarding greenhouse gas efficiency and reductions on individual farms; the way such gains will be protected within the overall agricultural emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61993/21]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Creed

243. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the level of pre-planning consultation that was carried out by her Department in respect of a planning application (details supplied); if this pre-planning consultation was conducted by permanent staff of the building unit in her Department or by agents acting on her behalf; if following this pre-planning consultation her Department was confident given the pre-planning consultation outcomes that planning permission would issue; the persons in the local authority her Department consulted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60997/21]

School Curriculum

Michael Creed

74. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if she will take steps in respect of a certificate of exemption from studying Irish for a student (details supplied). [60681/21]

Sports Funding

Michael Creed

224. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if applications under the sports capital grant scheme will be announced before the end of 2021; the amount available for distribution as allocated in the estimates for 2021; if the decision has been taken to defer the allocations to 2022; if this will enable additional funding being available to the current tranche of applicants as announced in Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59883/21]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Michael Creed

360. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will expedite a response to correspondence (details supplied) with regard to the issue of a PPSN reference number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59884/21]

Departmental Funding

Michael Creed

662. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider paying the balance outstanding on a farm partnership application in the case of persons (details provided) in circumstances in which the elder partner in the partnership died; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60107/21]

School Funding

Michael Creed

117. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the funding streams available for the running of primary schools; the dates in which these funds are forwarded to individual schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59326/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Creed

124. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements available for a person who has class S self-employment contributions who is medically certified as currently unavailable for work due to a work related injury; the entitlements under the social welfare code for this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59293/21]

Health Services

Michael Creed

189. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 178 of 24 November 2021, if he has raised with HIQA the issue of the challenge facing health service providers including in particular disability services in reopening facilities given the difficulty in complying with HIQA standards particularly around staffing levels; his views on whether there are grounds for reconsidering these on an interim basis given that the alternative is a total denial of service which is causing severe difficulty in many individual service user cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59266/21]

Legislative Measures

Michael Creed

148. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consultations in respect of proposed legislation have taken place with relevant parties (details provided) as previously committed to. [58925/21]

Energy Conservation

Michael Creed

164. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when his Department will proceed with the introduction of low-cost loans to compliment the energy efficiency grant scheme; if there will be universal eligibility for this loan scheme; the level of subsidy envisaged on the interest rate; the timeline for the introduction of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58800/21]

Consular Services

Michael Creed

267. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance that can be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58354/21]

International Bodies

Michael Creed

276. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he and his Department took to seek agreement on convening the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, Human Dimension Implementation Meeting; if he is attending the OSCE Ministerial Council on 2 and 3 December 2021 in Stockholm; if he will address this issue at that venue; the mechanism he plans to use to hold organisation member states to account for human rights commitments agreed through the organisation and other international agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58699/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Creed

396. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) has applied and is entitled to a State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58700/21]

Social Insurance

Michael Creed

407. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can get a copy of their social insurance contributions with regard to determining eligibility for a State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58926/21]

Departmental Schemes

Michael Creed

488. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice when her consideration of greater transparency in the Immigrant Investment Programme will conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58927/21]

Brexit Supports

Michael Creed

756. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of take-up of the Brexit tie-up scheme in the fisheries sector; the financial support that will be available to domestic retailers who will be without supply in many instances due to the tie-up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58701/21]

Social Insurance

Michael Creed

26. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the outcome of the most recent actuarial review of the social insurance fund; when the next review is planned; the sustainability and eligibility issuesit raises given the current level of PRSI contributions to the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57406/21]