Parliamentary questions

Vaccination Programme

Michael Creed

216. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the number of front-line healthcare workers who have declined vaccination for medical reasons. [13675/21]

Vaccination Programme

Michael Creed

217. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the number of front-line healthcare workers who have been vaccinated; the number who have declined vaccination; the number still awaiting vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13676/21]

Taxi Licences

Michael Creed

208. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify the situation regarding taxi licences that have vehicle capacity for wheelchairs; if such licences can be sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12541/21]

Taxi Licences

Michael Creed

209. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Transport the supports available from his Department to the taxi industry. [12542/21]

Taxi Regulations

Michael Creed

210. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Transport if he will engage with the Taxi Regulator with regard to the requirement to ensure that vehicles for taxi purposes are under a certain age in view of the impact of Covid-19 on the business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12543/21]

Rights of Way

Michael Creed

362. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the November deadline for the registration of rights of way with the Land Registry in view of the fact that many of the technical engineering and legal staff required for the registration of such rights of way are not in a position to do this work due to the present restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13454/21]

Social Welfare Schemes Data

Michael Creed

618. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of the support payments to her Department for those seeking international protection as provided for in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13426/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

626. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he plans to establish the new international protection support service to deal with applicants for international protection; the staff complement that will be seconded to this new organisation; the structure and budget of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13398/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

627. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has requested an association (details supplied) to develop the national settlement pattern as per the contents of the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13403/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

628. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost to the State of the direct provision system in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13405/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

653. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will identify the resettlement workers referred to in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service who will oversee and link applicants for international protection with supports and services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13396/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

654. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres that already offer own door or own room accommodation in their facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13399/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

656. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the relevant Departments, agencies and NGOs that will constitute the programme board to oversee the governance and implementation of the new regime to replace the direct provision model for applicants for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13425/21]

Third Level Education

Michael Creed

659. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is tracking the number of first year dropouts from third-level courses in the academic year 2020-2021; the consequences of this rate of dropout for the academic year 2021-2022; the CAO application process for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12501/21]

International Protection

Michael Creed

724. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons seeking international protection in each of the past ten years by country of origin for this period. [13395/21]

International Protection

Michael Creed

725. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for international protection which were decided definitively in each of the past ten years; the number of applications which were declined international protection in each of the past ten years; and the country of origin of these applicants. [13397/21]

International Protection

Michael Creed

726. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice if the State operates a system of safe countries in which applicants for international protection from such countries are deemed to be inadmissible due to the satisfaction of the State with the rule of law, human rights, the independence of the court system and the treatment of minorities in such jurisdictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13401/21]

International Protection

Michael Creed

727. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants for international protection whose applications were declined in each of the past ten years who were subsequently deported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13404/21]

International Protection

Michael Creed

728. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice the breakdown of the circumstances in relation to applicants for international protection over the past ten years with regard to unaccompanied minors, single adults, couples and couples with extended families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13406/21]

International Protection

Michael Creed

730. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice the breakdown of applicants for international protection over the past ten years by the number of unaccompanied minors, single adults, couples and couples with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13422/21]

Asylum Seekers

Michael Creed

731. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice if Ireland is a signatory to the Dublin Convention and compliant with the provisions of same (details supplied); the position regarding the operation of the directive here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13427/21]

Vaccination Programme

Michael Creed

826. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the process established to deal with difficult cases concerning the Covid-19 vaccination, in particular a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12845/21]

LEADER Programmes

Michael Creed

1055. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of demand for grant aid applications received under the LEADER food initiative for artisan, micro and small-food enterprises to date funded under the Rural Development Programme regulation number 1305/2013; the funding allocated for this initiative; the draw down of funding to date; and if applications are still being accepted. [13141/21]

Córas Iompair Éireann

Michael Creed

24. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding retired wage staff of the CIÉ group with regard to pension increases pro-rata with staff wage increases within the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12317/21]

Banking Sector

Michael Creed

177. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the proposed sale of a loan book by a bank (details supplied) which includes loans which the bank had previously agreed to sell to a voluntary housing body in which the owners of the properties involved would revert to a tenancy agreement with the voluntary housing body; if he will intervene to ensure that this particular cohort of the loan book is sold as previously agreed to the voluntary housing body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12019/21]

Third Level Fees

Michael Creed

505. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the role her Department played in respect of setting fees for the online courses provided by an organisation (details supplied) to student teachers; her views on whether relative to the previous agreed costs for attending these courses in the Gaeltacht and the associated costs for accommodation and so on that this charge for an online course is excessive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12037/21]

Fuel Allowance

Michael Creed

541. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection when a fuel allowance payment will issue to a person (details supplied) who made an application in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11368/21]

Invalidity Pension

Michael Creed

551. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to an invalidity pension. [11644/21]

Medicinal Products

Michael Creed

877. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health his views on the gene therapy treatment known as luxturna for the treatment of the early onset of severe retinal dystrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11627/21]

Medicinal Products

Michael Creed

878. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the treatments available in the public health service for persons diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis and early onset of severe retinal dystrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11630/21]

Medicinal Products

Michael Creed

879. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he plans to establish a national medicines agency; and if so, the way in which it will interact with the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. [11631/21]

Rare Diseases Strategy

Michael Creed

880. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the status of the commitment in the programme for Government to update the national rare diseases plan. [11632/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Creed

37. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the entitlement of a person (details supplied) to the temporary wage subsidy scheme and employment wage subsidy scheme. [10705/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Michael Creed

43. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) who has recently returned to work and who was previously on the pandemic unemployment payment now appears to be paying an excessive amount of income tax. [10706/21]

Banking Sector

Michael Creed

211. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a proposed loan sale by a bank (details supplied); and if he will take steps to ensure that those home loans within this proposal that were the subject of an agreed sale previously to an organisation will be excluded from the sale in order that the holders of these loans can retain their security of tenure in their homes while transferring to a mortgage-to-rent option. [10223/21]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Creed

219. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the general issue regarding negative interest rates being imposed by the pillar banks on monies held on deposit; if his attention has been further drawn to the way in which it relates to solicitor client accounts; his views on whether it is inappropriate to have these charges on such accounts in the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10399/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Michael Creed

552. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of negotiations with community employment supervisors regarding pension and gratuity payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9732/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Creed

11. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the situation regarding dual purpose stores (details supplied) will be clarified; and the entitlement of dual purpose stores and their continued trade in non-essential items to the detriment of stores already closed by level 5 regulations. [8007/21]

Work Permits

Michael Creed

14. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the further issue of work permits for the dairy sector; if existing holders of dairy work permits are entitled to move after a period of 12 months from one employer to another dairy operator in cases in which the original employer has ceased farming; if so, the person obliged to organise the further employment; the persons who are required to be notified; if the permit holder can secure further employment to their satisfaction if they are entitled to organise employment themselves; if agents who organised the original work permit can charge fees for reallocation of workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8180/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Creed

199. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will engage with an organisation (details supplied) in advance of the 5 March 2021 review of Covid-19 restrictions. [8683/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Creed

673. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he has considered monitoring the presence of Covid-19 in wastewater streams thereby securing significant data on emerging incidences of Covid-19 within the population or a region (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is being carried out in several other European Union jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7969/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Creed

996. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a forestry licence application by a person (details supplied); if the application requires an ecology report; if the report will be provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8006/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Creed

137. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education when revised guidelines on the reopening of special schools and special classes will issue to school principals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7522/21]

Departmental Staff

Michael Creed

234. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 4 February 2021, if the situation regarding persons who are placed on transfer panels will be clarified; the priority attached to such panels when filling internal vacancies; the way the HR function of agencies within the remit of her Department, including An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board and so on, interact with the panels when vacancies at the grade for which the panel is in existence arise within their agencies; if there are internal mobility panels within these agencies which may supersede her Department's own panels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7523/21]

National Broadband Plan

Michael Creed

47. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a location (details supplied) in County Cork will be connected under the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6437/21]

State Pensions

Michael Creed

195. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the situation regarding the restricted entitlement for pensioners to drawdown funding from private pension investments which appear to discriminate against persons that have a reduced rate of State pension relative to those that are in receipt of the full State pension (contributory); the reason the State, through its financial regulations, would make it more difficult on persons in receipt of a smaller income to withdraw funds from their own private pension investments than it is for those that have larger pensions and perhaps other income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6513/21]

Tax Code

Michael Creed

221. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance the arrangements put in place in March 2020 by his Department and the Revenue Commissioners with regard to benefit-in-kind and the Covid-19 pandemic; the reason these changes were reversed in January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6992/21]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Michael Creed

439. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if SNAs will be invited to take part in the 2021 home-based summer scheme called the July Provision 2021 thus enabling them to provide home tuition to students. [6871/21]

Disability Allowance

Michael Creed

504. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection when it is expected a decision will be made on a disability allowance review for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [6840/21]

Invalidity Pension

Michael Creed

518. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [7304/21]