Parliamentary questions

Human Rights

Richard Boyd Barrett

71. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has discussed the recent uprising in Kazakhstan with his counterparts in Europe; if he will report on his discussions in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3927/22]

Bus Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

162. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he will consult with the National Transport Authority and a company (details supplied) to review the bus timetables of the services 59 and 111 serving Dalkey, Loughlinstown, Killiney and Dún Laoghaire to include a service that caters for school children attending schools, in view of the fact that there is currently no timetabled service that coincides with the finishing times of these schools resulting in many more cars on the road impacting traffic and emissions unnecessarily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3980/22]

Third Level Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

126. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the full report, details and responses to the University College Dublin attitudes to forestry survey for counties Wicklow and Kerry conducted by a person (details supplied). [3739/22]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

209. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of kilometres of riparian native woodlands that have been planted under the woodlands for water funding to remove exotic conifers that were planted too close to rivers and streams and replaced with native woodlands. [3723/22]

Brexit Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

210. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been spent to rent or buy warehousing space in the UK and in general to mitigate against the negative effects of Brexit; the status of a partnership with a company (details supplied) in relation to a project; the costs the partnership has incurred; and the breakdown of the chemical composition of tricoya boards. [3725/22]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

211. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the continued clear-felling and replanting of 90% to 95% sitka spruce on sensitive and vulnerable upland bog sites in contradiction with current science (details supplied); and his views on same. [3726/22]

Coillte Teoranta

Richard Boyd Barrett

212. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of land sold by his Department since 1989; the amount of forward selling of future Coillte forest harvests that have been sold; the person or body to which harvests have been sold; and if any of these sales have been subject to public tendering processes. [3727/22]

Coillte Teoranta

Richard Boyd Barrett

213. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Coillte farm forestry partnerships that have been and are currently subject to arbitration; and his views on same in relation to seeking to encourage farmers to plant trees on farms. [3729/22]

Coillte Teoranta

Richard Boyd Barrett

214. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department last supplied the ESB, Eircom or other companies with utility and transmission poles; the reason the companies are no longer supplied with poles given that the ESB imports wooden poles with an average annual value of approximately €30 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3730/22]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

215. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of the 27,000 hectares of old woodland sites (details supplied) identified in 2001 that have been transitioned to native woodlands; the amount of hardwood Coillte has harvested since 2001, by firewood, sawn planks and saw logs; the value of each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3731/22]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

216. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the current forest policy review process, Project Woodland, has no provision to examine reforestation, the main forestry activity conducted by Coillte given that this is a continuation of a failed forestry policy that involves clear-felling and replanting of 90 to 95% sitka spruce impacting on approximately 50% of the total forest area; the reason that the review has no remit or focus on the remaining 0.2% of ancient woodland fragments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3737/22]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

217. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the University College of Dublin attitudes to forestry survey focused on counties Wicklow and Kerry conducted by a person (details supplied) will feed into Project Woodland and the current forestry review process; his views on a statement by the person encouraging the public to respond to the survey; the average value of one hectare of sitka spruce across all yield classes and for each yield class; if he will provide the most up-to-date cost benefit analysis for public spending on forestry; if this includes current forestry issues relating to water quality; and if damage to water by current forestry practices is being taken into account in cost benefit analysis for public funding. [3738/22]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

218. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that no records exist or cannot be found by his Department in relation to public access to information under the provisions of the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 to 2018 pertaining to stakeholder meetings involving his Department and the Forestry Appeals Committee including recorded meetings on 20 November 2019, 10 January 2020 and 6 October 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3740/22]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

219. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average time taken for his Department to issue a statement of facts on an appeal of a forestry licence after a request for the same from the Forestry Appeals Committee between the three schemes, that is, felling, forest roads and afforestation and Coillte licences and private licences, respectively. [3741/22]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

220. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the processes or procedures followed by the Forest Service Inspectorate when carrying out a post licence monitoring inspection of the felling licence in respect of tree felling licences that have been subject to an appropriate assessment under Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive; the criteria or details that are routinely assessed; and the number and proportion of licences that have been subject to an appropriate assessment that involve categories (details supplied). [3742/22]

National Risk Assessment

Richard Boyd Barrett

7. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the national risk assessment published by his Department. [3608/22]

Northern Ireland

Richard Boyd Barrett

18. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the first year of the shared island initiative. [3609/22]

Taoiseach's Communications

Richard Boyd Barrett

29. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent meeting of the European Council. [3610/22]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

67. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has reviewed or plans to review staffing levels in the local authorities in view of the changes to the strategic housing development and large-scale residential developments legislation; if he will sanction extra posts to ensure that staff increases needed in the planning sections of the local authorities will not pull away from other sections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2455/22]

Covid-19 Tests

Richard Boyd Barrett

267. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider the use of an antigen test to allow access to a leisure facility in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin for a child with special needs who cannot attend swimming therapy as their mother does not have a vaccine passport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3152/22]

Asylum Seekers

Richard Boyd Barrett

449. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the arrangements he is making for refugees in a centre (details supplied) having fled Afghanistan to have family members reunited with them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3206/22]

Asylum Seekers

Richard Boyd Barrett

450. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to move Afghan refugees out of direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3207/22]

Vaccination Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

546. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will remedy the lack of options available to a person (details supplied). [3016/22]

Hospital Transfers

Richard Boyd Barrett

548. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the transfer of a child (details supplied) from Sligo University Hospital to Temple Street Hospital as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3018/22]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

682. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Coillte road licences issued on the forestry licensing dashboard on week 2 January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3000/22]

Public Sector Pay

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is planning to review public sector pay in view of the current inflation rate of 5.3%; if he has had discussions with the Minister for Finance as to the way that private sector workers could also be compensated for the effect that this rate of inflation is having on the cost of living for workers nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2458/22]

Public Sector Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

46. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the actions he plans to take in relation to the recommendation from the Independent Body Examining Additional Working Hours that public service hours should be returned to pre-Haddington Road Agreement levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2456/22]

Public Sector Pay

Richard Boyd Barrett

51. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether public sector pay increases of 1% to 2% will be wiped out and public servants will essentially be taking a pay cut in 2022 with inflation running at 5.3%; the actions he plans to take in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2457/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

109. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the request by a committee (details supplied) to meet with her and her officials to discuss the Covid-19 supports they need given the impact of public health measures on their ability to earn income over recent months; if she will respond positively to the request for a meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2529/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

115. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has engaged with the Minister for Social Protection and the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment in relation to ensuring and maintaining income and grant supports for musicians and performers; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties and lack of supports being encountered by grassroots self-employed musicians performers and workers in this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2528/22]

Arts Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

130. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the basic income pilot scheme for arts and culture workers is limited to 2,000 persons rather than including all arts, entertainment and music workers; if she will reconsider this number; the way she plans to choose the participants in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2525/22]

Driver Test

Richard Boyd Barrett

166. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport when the backlog in driving test waiting lists will be cleared. [2704/22]

Departmental Offices

Richard Boyd Barrett

1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the parliamentary liaison unit of his Department. [60209/21]

Driver Licences

Richard Boyd Barrett

217. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the reason a learner driver permit application by a person (details supplied) is taking several months to process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63425/21]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

483. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person who is in full-time education with an allowance from a relative of €160 per week but has a housing need is entitled to housing assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63424/21]

Homeless Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

598. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options available in the immediate term for persons living in homeless accommodation whose income goes slightly above the income limit for social housing; which is currently resulting in these homeless persons being asked to leave their homeless accommodation but they have no capability on their low incomes to provide a home for themselves and their family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2257/22]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

599. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of strategic housing development applications awaiting a decision by An Bord Pleanála by local authority; the number of strategic housing development applications that have already received a pre-planning opinion from An Bord Pleanála by the deadline of 17 December 2021, by local authority; the number that had applied to An Bord Pleanála by the deadline of 17 December 2021 for a pre-planning meeting by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2259/22]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

600. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of strategic housing development applications in the lifetime of the legislation by local authority; the number of these applications that were refused, granted permission and withdrawn, respectively by local authority; the number that were the subject of a judicial review by local authority; the number of these reviews that were successful by local authority; the number of the applications that were granted that have been completed by local authority; the number of the developments that are being actively built by local authority; the number that have one or more commencement notices on the site by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2260/22]

Diplomatic Representation

Richard Boyd Barrett

673. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of correspondence he has had with his Chinese or European counterparts with regard to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2337/22]

State Examinations

Richard Boyd Barrett

786. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she plans to offer predicted grades for leaving certificate students in 2022 or other measures for exam year students that may compensate for the loss of education they have experienced over the previous two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1302/22]

Departmental Policies

Richard Boyd Barrett

1054. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason many persons who were on the pandemic unemployment payment and being transitioned to the jobseeker’s allowance before 7 December 2021, even though their industry had not returned to pre-pandemic levels and were then unable to return due to the 7 December 2021 restrictions meant their industry would not return, are still being pushed onto jobseeker’s allowance and not being returned to the pandemic unemployment payment given that the only reason they are not working is due the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2262/22]

Immigration Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

1211. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 516 of 14 December 2021, the number of applications that are going to multiple applications and the number going to individuals, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63233/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

1588. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health when the EU Digital COVID Certificates will be updated to reflect the booster vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1046/22]

Medicinal Products

Richard Boyd Barrett

1802. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to shortages of certain medications in Ireland in particular some brands of HRT; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that these shortages are creating an inequality between those on medical cards who are restricted to ordering one month's supply at a time and persons with private prescriptions who can order six months medication at a time, disadvantaging those on medical cards in circumstances in which there are shortages; if this inequality will be rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1872/22]

Health Service Executive

Richard Boyd Barrett

1940. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the total cost to the Exchequer from the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to date of arrangements made with private hospitals and private health providers for use of private hospitals and healthcare capacity to deal with Covid-19 and non-Covid care during the pandemic; if he will provide as much detail as possible in relation to the conditions of these various deals; the projected cost during the coming period while these arrangements continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2633/22]

Consumer Prices

Richard Boyd Barrett

104. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the measures he plans to take to curb inflation and the impact it is having on the cost of living for those on low and middle incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62402/21]

Consumer Prices

Richard Boyd Barrett

107. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the measures he is taking to deal with the increasing cost of living and the impact this is having on low and middle-income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62405/21]

Tax Credits

Richard Boyd Barrett

109. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the single-parent tax credit given the increases in the cost of living and the disproportionate effect this can have on single-parent families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62403/21]

Fuel Prices

Richard Boyd Barrett

153. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering other measures within his remit notwithstanding the €100 grant being paid to every household towards energy costs in 2022 to offset the increases in energy prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62404/21]

Census of Population

Richard Boyd Barrett

1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on discussions with the Central Statistics Office, CSO, with regard to the 2022 census. [60670/21]

Economic Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the newly published response to Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2021. [60208/21]

Waste Management

Richard Boyd Barrett

41. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way he plans to respond to the recent EPA Report on Waste 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61540/21]

Legislative Process

Richard Boyd Barrett

47. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the involvement he or his Department has had in the development of planned legislation in relation to marine protected areas; his views on the progress of maritime planning in the absence of these protected areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61541/21]

Planning Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

262. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a county council must erect site notices, display pending documents and applications on their websites for section 254 licences and allow observations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61313/21]

School Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

406. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the reason very few of the 467 teachers on secondment that would be available for substitute work have become available to schools (details supplied); if these teachers have been deployed temporarily to the substitute panels across the country; if not, if she will ensure they are added to the substitute panel and that this panel is made available to all schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61650/21]

School Management

Richard Boyd Barrett

407. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the decision of the patron body of a school (details supplied) to disband the board and put a single individual in charge, despite the fact that four persons were willing to serve on the board; if she has requested an explanation for this decision; if she will request the patron body to restore the board with the members that are available to serve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61651/21]

Immigration Support Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

516. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if the approximately 1,000 appointments being made available each week at the immigration services at Burgh Quay are all being made available for persons on the appointment booking system; if not, if some appointments are taken up by institutions that are looking to process multiple applications; if so, the number that are going to multiple applications and the number going to individuals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61649/21]

Immigration Support Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

517. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 470 of 23 November 2021, and in view of remarks made by the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann on 8 December 2021 (details supplied) the international issues that are causing delays at the INIS office, Burgh Quay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61693/21]

Coillte Teoranta

Richard Boyd Barrett

22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the mandate of Coillte needs to be changed in view of the climate and biodiversity emergency and the critical role of afforestation in addressing both of these crises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60848/21]

Coillte Teoranta

Richard Boyd Barrett

53. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the procedures and protocols in place between his Department and Coillte in relation to the sale of Coillte lands and forests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60849/21]

International Protection

Richard Boyd Barrett

283. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if there are programmes available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60915/21]

Vaccination Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

341. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the way a person (details supplied) can get a booster vaccine administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61102/21]

Departmental Functions

Richard Boyd Barrett

9. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the public service, justice and police reform division of his Department [60203/21]

Departmental Functions

Richard Boyd Barrett

15. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit of his Department. [60207/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality will next meet. [58592/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

14. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent discussions with the President of the United States. [60201/21]

British-Irish Co-operation

Richard Boyd Barrett

21. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent exchange with the UK Prime Minister. [60202/21]

Health and Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

128. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the average time for an official complaint to the Health and Safety Authority to be processed and acted upon. [59964/21]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Boyd Barrett

288. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the expected date for the completion of the permanent school building for a school (details supplied). [59769/21]

Disability Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

453. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if a tender for a respite service for young adults with autism in community healthcare east has been completed; if so, the details of the successful tender; the location of the service; the type of respite that will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59797/21]

Disabilities Assessments

Richard Boyd Barrett

527. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and remedy the delay in the assessment of need and diagnosis which is the legal right of a person (details supplied) within the prescribed time period of six months. [60015/21]

National Economic and Social Council

Richard Boyd Barrett

120. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he has read the recent NESC publication Building a New Relationship between Voluntary Organisations and the State in the Health and Social Care Sectors. [54564/21]

Health Services Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

213. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that all student nurses are paid properly for their placements particularly considering the current health crisis many of them are expected to fill in for fully qualified nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58590/21]

National Economic and Social Council

Richard Boyd Barrett

3. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council.. [57556/21]

Economic Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the public conversation on the well-being framework for Ireland. [57557/21]

Economic Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress made on the economic recovery plan published by his Department in May 2021. [57558/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [58591/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

4. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Education will next meet. [57325/21]

Student Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

58. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to deal with the issue of student poverty and, in particular, the chronic shortage of affordable student specific accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58585/21]

Student Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

102. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he will put in place to alleviate immediately the pressures that students are under in view of the chronic shortage of student accommodation which has resulted in students living in hotels, couch surfing and travelling long distances to attend lectures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58587/21]

Third Level Costs

Richard Boyd Barrett

106. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine the challenges facing students of psychology who need to study for up to eight years before they are fully qualified for many disciplines within psychology; if he will consider a particular subvention for these students considering the urgent need for psychologists in both the health and education systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58589/21]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

112. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase access to further education; if he is considering increasing places to have an open access model that would eliminate the need for CAO and leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58586/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Richard Boyd Barrett

127. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will abolish all fees for apprenticeship courses in view of the skills shortage in many trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58588/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Boyd Barrett

36. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure the immediate application of all fuel allowance changes announced in budget 2022 that have not been implemented to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57930/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

77. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reopen the pandemic unemployment payment to new applicants in view of the fourth wave of the pandemic. [57928/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

82. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will restore the pandemic unemployment payment to its original rate in view of the fourth wave of the pandemic. [57927/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

86. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will halt further reductions in the pandemic unemployment payment in view of the situation regarding Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57929/21]

Employment Support Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

97. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the roll-out of the Work Placement Experience Programme. [57931/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [57323/21]

Departmental Programmes

Richard Boyd Barrett

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the key policy achievements of his Department since June 2020. [57324/21]

Air Quality

Richard Boyd Barrett

118. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct her Department to arrange supply of ventilation and HEPA filtration equipment to ensure safe air quality standards in every school classroom and staff room; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58055/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Richard Boyd Barrett

200. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his views on the impact of the current Covid-19 surge on outpatient waiting lists; and the way he plans to tackle same. [57806/21]

Equality Proofing

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the details of the social impact assessments carried out by his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit since 1 January 2016. [55796/21]

Departmental Functions

Richard Boyd Barrett

9. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the international and European Union division of his Department. [55797/21]

Official Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference. [55798/21]

Programme for Government

Richard Boyd Barrett

38. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a progress report on the Programme for Government. [55795/21]

Educational Reform

Richard Boyd Barrett

57. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will give a full report on the recent discussions her Department has been having on reform of the leaving certificate; the timeline for changes to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57644/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

83. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct her Department to immediately re-establish contact tracing in Covid-19 cases in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57333/21]

School Facilities

Richard Boyd Barrett

106. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will work with a school and trust (details supplied) to ensure that the pitches traditionally used by the school remain available to both the school and the community into the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57332/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

135. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct her Department to arrange weekly mass-testing for Covid-19 across school settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57329/21]