Parliamentary questions

Post Office Network

Cathal Crowe

620. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration will be given to the measures outlined by a group (details supplied) to save the post office network. [12928/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

674. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when driver instruction can take place once again. [12846/20]

National Car Test

Cathal Crowe

710. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the charges for NCT tests at the test centre in Ennis will be waived at the time of next testing to reflect the fact that the undercarriages and chassis of many vehicles have not been inspected in recent months due to a non-working vehicle lift at the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13194/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

806. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider measures (details supplied) to inject life into the events and arts industries post Covid-19. [12875/20]

Local Authority Functions

Cathal Crowe

910. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his officials have considered a notice of motion passed by the Shannon Municipal District of Clare County Council in March 2019 subsequently referred to his Department, calling for town status to be granted to the densely populated cluster of Westbury, Shannon Banks and Carraid Midhe in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13698/20]

Public Appointments Service

Cathal Crowe

90. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider the difficulties facing some of those seeking employment via the Public Appointments Service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11962/20]

Education Policy

Cathal Crowe

173. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to a proposal by a person (details supplied). [12000/20]

Special Educational Needs

Cathal Crowe

222. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will issue a direct communication to all schools preparing for the July provision in view of the fact that a number of principals and staff are unsure as to the steps they should be taking at present. [12313/20]

Dental Services

Cathal Crowe

410. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the issue of long-term waits for orthodontic treatment in view of the negative mental and physical health impacts on young persons that are in the higher stages of orthodontic needs [11705/20]

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services

Cathal Crowe

489. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the supports being considered for those living with Parkinson’s disease in view of the extraordinarily low number of dedicated nurses for such patients nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12265/20]

Airport Development Projects

Cathal Crowe

685. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will intervene in the decision by an airline (details supplied) to withdraw from Shannon Airport by writing directly to the management and urging it to reconsider in addition to asking it not to focus the airline's future development plans on Dublin Airport alone. [12164/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

844. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider putting temporary measures in place to help those who have invisible and-or underlying health conditions, been in self-imposed isolation and are unable to continue in their jobs in the current climate. [12347/20]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Cathal Crowe

50. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if provisions are being made for those who have bought vehicles in the United Kingdom and must inform the national car test, NCT, service within a week of it arriving here in which they are facing a backlog in trying to communicate with NCT centres. [11139/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

51. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if he will give consideration to introducing a 0% VAT rate as an interim measure for the tourism and recreation sectors to give them a much needed boost post Covid-19 restrictions. [11150/20]

Special Educational Needs

Cathal Crowe

199. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions being made for early intervention support in the home for children with additional needs who will be missing out on essential services, including the July provision, due to the fact they are preschool aged. [10675/20]

English Language Training Organisations

Cathal Crowe

239. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to the recovery document prepared by representatives of the English language industry here (details supplied). [11064/20]

Court Procedures

Cathal Crowe

350. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider changes to the restrictions relating to court affidavits (details supplied) in view of the fact that the current system is restrictive. [10995/20]

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Cathal Crowe

744. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) and address the issues raised directly. [10777/20]

Print Media

Cathal Crowe

788. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funding will be ring-fenced to support local newspapers at this difficult time in view of the sound and vision funding announced for local radio. [10774/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

793. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a newspaper (details supplied) and other similar freesheet newspapers will be financially supported during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11010/20]

Tourism Promotion

Cathal Crowe

812. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a ring-fenced marketing fund will be considered for Shannon Airport to allow similar initiatives such as visit Dublin and pure Cork be rolled out in order to boost the airport, the mid-west region post-Covid-19 and increase traffic through the airport. [10526/20]

Aviation Industry

Cathal Crowe

871. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will appoint persons (details supplied) to the task force for aviation recovery that his Department is constituting. [11209/20]

Banking Sector

Cathal Crowe

80. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance the plans for the reopening of closed branches of a bank (details supplied) in County Clare and nationally. [10333/20]

Garda Stations

Cathal Crowe

91. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to sell the obsolete Garda station building in Broadford, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9946/20]

Medicinal Products

Cathal Crowe

429. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take in relation to the need to access a drug by a person (details supplied). [10413/20]

Value Added Tax

Cathal Crowe

50. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance the reason recycled plastic materials which have been subject to 23% VAT in their first lives are subject to VAT once again when it comes to recycling only to again be charged VAT at the point of resale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8374/20]

Departmental Staff

Cathal Crowe

79. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending panels for Departmental jobs which are valid for a two-year period in view of the fact that the hiring process is at a halt at present and therefore those high up on the list on the panel may lose out as the period will have lapsed. [8876/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

194. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department and the Teaching Council will make allowances for school days lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic for those that in the 2019/2020 academic year were in the process of completing the Droichead framework process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8685/20]

Special Educational Needs

Cathal Crowe

242. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering the re-opening of small schools that offer tailored programmes for autistic children and children with other special needs prior to September 2020 in order that structured face-to-face learning for these children can recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8996/20]

Special Educational Needs

Cathal Crowe

243. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will permit the July provision to take place in a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that the school building and teacher-pupil ratio would enable social distancing guidance to be followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8997/20]

Information and Communications Technology

Cathal Crowe

244. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the €10 million information technology equipment fund announced by his Department will be available to special schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8998/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Cathal Crowe

247. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if special needs assistants will be sanctioned to carry out the July provision in 2020 to assist teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9001/20]

Special Educational Needs

Cathal Crowe

248. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider extending the July provision into August 2020 in order that children with special needs are eased back into the new school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9002/20]

State Examinations

Cathal Crowe

253. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions being made for pupils who are finishing fifth year of secondary school and will sit the leaving certificate in 2021 but have lost vital class time due to Covid-19 restrictions. [9058/20]

Direct Provision System

Cathal Crowe

363. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will respond to concerns raised by residents (details supplied) regarding direct provision accommodation. [8914/20]

Garda College

Cathal Crowe

364. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will clarify with the Garda Commissioner, the plans for the reopening of the Garda Training College, Templemore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9007/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

502. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to a company (details supplied) for the transportation of personal protective equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic. [8925/20]

Departmental Staff

Cathal Crowe

771. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider extending panels for departmental jobs which are valid for a two-year period in view of the fact that the hiring process is at a halt at present and therefore those high up on the panel may lose out as the period will have lapsed. [8877/20]

Aer Lingus

Cathal Crowe

845. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had direct engagement with the management of a company (details supplied) concerning the restructuring of the company which was announced unilaterally without consultation or communication with the trade unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8928/20]

Driver Test

Cathal Crowe

878. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a guidance document is being prepared for the resumption of driving lessons and driver licence tests; if a date for the resumption of driving lessons and driver licence tests has been set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8473/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

902. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the provisions which will be in place for campsites and caravan parks when they reopen that have shared washing and catering facilities; and when operators of these sites will be able to access the latest information available in view of the fact that they need to prepare for opening. [8738/20]

National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Cathal Crowe

916. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of national lottery funding for an association (details supplied) to construct a new workshop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8810/20]

Aviation Policy

Cathal Crowe

965. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will give consideration to establishing a task force to examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation sector and its spin-off industries; if he will consider examining the impact on Shannon Airport and its hinterlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9350/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

1243. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures in place or planned measures to aid Clare County Council in view of its loss of €19.7 million in commercial rates owing to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9394/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

36. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider rolling out the temporary wage subsidy scheme to all limousine SPSV owners and staff. [7271/20]

Tourism Industry

Cathal Crowe

45. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider measures (details supplied) to bolster the tourism sector. [8026/20]

Flood Relief Schemes

Cathal Crowe

93. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of flood protection works at Springfield, Clonlara, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8068/20]

School Transport

Cathal Crowe

115. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the school transport scheme for pupils will be reassessed in view of the difficulties facing parents in getting their children accepted into their nearest school (details supplied). [7077/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Cathal Crowe

117. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an additional teacher will be appointed at a school (details supplied) to improve the pupil-teacher ratio at the school; and the status of the application for additional accommodation, including a purpose built special class at the school. [7104/20]

State Examinations

Cathal Crowe

163. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the leaving certificate for external candidates (details supplied). [7361/20]

Student Accommodation

Cathal Crowe

173. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will intervene in the ongoing dispute at the University of Limerick regarding refunds for students that have paid for campus accommodation and have not been able to use it for the past number of months. [7478/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

219. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will be issuing guidelines pertaining to the safe reopening of primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7745/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

220. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if adjustments will be made on health and safety grounds to the pupil-teacher ratio operational in primary schools for the 2020/2021 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7746/20]

School Guidelines on Mental Health

Cathal Crowe

262. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provisions are being made for children who are struggling with the lack of closure to finish out their schooling as per correspondence (details supplied). [7954/20]

Maternity Leave

Cathal Crowe

304. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to a temporary extension of maternity leave and maternity benefit in view of the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied). [7084/20]

Garda Data

Cathal Crowe

374. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of the Garda fleet of vehicles within the Clare division that are less than one, one to three, four to six, six to ten and more than ten years' old, in tabular form. [8147/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

548. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the owners of a location (details supplied) to explore its potential as a use for pharmaceutical firms in their efforts to research treatment for Covid-19 [7479/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

573. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when speech and language services for paediatrics and school aged children are allowed to recommence. [7701/20]

General Practitioner Services

Cathal Crowe

587. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the long-running general practitioner vacancy in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare. [7808/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

755. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider rolling out extra measures in addition to a moratorium on business debt beyond the measures currently in place to ensure that transport companies in the tourism sector that are vital to same can survive. [7271/20]

Driver Test

Cathal Crowe

781. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (details supplied) who is on the emergency list for a driver test appointment can expect to receive same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7510/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

979. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the entitlements students that had signed contracts for summer internships which have now been cancelled have in terms of social welfare payments; and her plans to assist students in summer 2020 that are out of work due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [7803/20]

Local Authority Rates

Cathal Crowe

1030. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider measures (details supplied) to bolster the tourism sector. [8026/20]

Local Authority Funding

Cathal Crowe

1074. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason a loan was denied to Clare County Council to develop a mixed housing development comprising of social and affordable housing in Meelick, County Clare. [8069/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

1081. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if tourist travel to the offshore islands may be considered under phase 4 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business (details supplied). [7087/20]

Wildlife Control

Cathal Crowe

1095. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if correspondence circulated from an organisation (details supplied) will receive a response. [7458/20]

Arts Funding

Cathal Crowe

1106. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding committed to festivals due to take place in County Clare in 2020, in tabular form; if the funding commitments will be honoured in view of the outlays incurred by festival committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8146/20]

Help-To-Buy Scheme

Cathal Crowe

47. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if homes built for a number of years but never lived in or finished can be included in the help to buy scheme for first-time buyers; and if not, the reason therefor. [5710/20]

Mortgage Applications Approvals

Cathal Crowe

67. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if banks are refusing mortgages to customers that are still employed but on the temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme (details supplied). [5689/20]

School Accommodation Provision

Cathal Crowe

174. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to arrange a meeting or discussion on additional accommodation for a school (details supplied). [5705/20]

Special Educational Needs

Cathal Crowe

185. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the 2020 July provision in view of the fact parents have been left in limbo as a result of the correspondence to date. [5769/20]

State Examinations

Cathal Crowe

186. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions in place for leaving certificate students that may contract Covid-19 before or during the expected exam period; and if a predicted points system is being considered. [5782/20]

State Examinations

Cathal Crowe

228. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the predicted points system for those repeating the leaving certificate in a different school than their first sitting of the exams (details supplied). [6108/20]

Third Level Education

Cathal Crowe

273. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are provisions in place for leaving certificate students that had been approved or would have expected approval for third-level scholarships for the upcoming term that now look likely to be postponing this step up in education. [6363/20]

Deportation Orders

Cathal Crowe

444. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of persons (details supplied) who have been issued with a deportation order dated 26 June 2020. [6127/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

606. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when a business (details supplied) will be able to be reopen under the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6416/20]

Garda Vetting

Cathal Crowe

654. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the provisions being considered to speed up the process of vetting special needs assistants for redeployment (details supplied). [5587/20]

Hospital Services

Cathal Crowe

674. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the status of outpatient healthcare appointments in particular colposcopies (details supplied). [5759/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

697. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place for supports for children with special needs and or disabilities during the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if support will be provided in the home [5817/20]

Tourism Policy

Cathal Crowe

981. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if clarity will be provided for tourism providers on whether overseas visitors can be expected by the end of the year (details supplied). [5783/20]

State Airports

Cathal Crowe

982. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if provisions are being made to support Shannon Airport post-Covid-19 (details supplied). [5788/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cathal Crowe

1017. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the protocol for tourism operators in caravan parks, holiday parks and so on (details supplied) once they are permitted to re-open. [6417/20]

Domestic Violence

Cathal Crowe

1179. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the person with lead responsibility for the co-ordination of the emergency Covid-19 response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence to put in place a short-term emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to access safe housing for a period of three months or for the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency. [6315/20]

Domestic Violence

Cathal Crowe

1180. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the plans in place to progress short-term emergency rent supplement which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to access safe housing for a period of three months or for the duration of the Covid-19 national emergency (details supplied). [6316/20]

Domestic Violence

Cathal Crowe

1251. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the decision not to facilitate access to emergency rent supplement will be reconsidered which would enable women and children in need of immediate relocation due to domestic violence to secure safe housing for a period of three months or for the duration of Covid-19 national emergency. [6313/20]

Commercial Rates

Cathal Crowe

1304. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of commercial rates for businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied). [5876/20]