Parliamentary questions

Health Services

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

712. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been added to the waiting list for occupational therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43874/21]

Tax Data

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

213. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a series of matters concerning refunded exit taxes (details supplied). [42857/21]

An Maolú i leith na Gaeilge san Aontas Eorpach

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

270. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cur síos a dhéanamh ar cén comhordanú atá déanta ag a Roinn leis an Aontas Eorpach chun an tionscadal píolóta a ligeann d’aistritheoirí na Gaeilge a bheith lonnaithe san Aonad i gContae na Mí a leathnú, agus chun a chinntiú go dtiocfaidh méadú ar líon na n-aistritheoirí le Gaeilge in AE in áit díreach athlonnú ón mBruiséil go dtí an Mhí a spreagadh. [41898/21]

Digital Hubs

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

134. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it will be ensured that section 15(6)(c) of the Digital Hub Development Agency Act 2003 be observed and that a representative of the local community will be appointed by him with immediate effect to replace the previous representative whose term expired on 2 June 2021 (details supplied). [40883/21]

Driver Test

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

283. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the reason some learner drivers going for a driving test were refused due to the fact that the insurance disk they had printed out as a consequence of working from home due to Covid-19 was deemed to have a faded colour or wrong colour by the tester and that this then imposed an additional test fee and a further delay for many learner drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41325/21]

Commercial Vehicle Testing

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

284. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the reason the commercial vehicles vehicle test which have been carried out in recent months were backdated and vehicle tested at the time did not get a year-long certificate of road worthiness (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41326/21]

Tax Code

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

405. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance the reason performers of live music at functions, dances and in venues including pubs are subject to the standard VAT rate of 23% for their hiring service or admission charges while performers of live music in theatres and other venues with or without food or drink are subject to a much lower VAT rate of 9% or no VAT; and if he will consider lowering the rate for those workers and businesses who provide the service of live music currently charged 23% to assist in the recovery of the music and entertainment sector following the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions. [40720/21]

School Funding

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

495. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of schools that currently benefit from the creative schools programme; the funding allocated to each school under the programme; and the overall costs to the State. [40730/21]

Cúrsaí Gaeilge

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

515. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an ndéanfaidh sí an taifead iomlán den Daonáireamh Ginearálta Speisialta ar Cheantair ina Labhraítear Gaeilge a rinne An Garda Síochána sa bhliain 1925, agus a cuireadh, de réir comhfhreagras a fuaireamar ón Aire Dlí agus Cirt, go Brainse Staidrimh na Roinne Tionscail agus Tráchtála a bhí ann ag an am, a fhoilsiú go luath agus sinn ag teacht suas go dtí céad bliain ó tugadh aitheantas Stáit don Ghaeltacht; cá bhfuil an taifead sin lonnaithe, agus an bhfuil aon chaomhnú, digitiú nó staidéar á dhéanamh ar na sonraí ann cheana féin. [39277/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

549. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason minimum business costs are required of applicants for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme despite not being a requirement for the new event sector Covid support scheme, small business assistance scheme for Covid-19 or the business continuity schemes from Fáilte Ireland. [40701/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

550. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason a step-by-step online video guide or explanatory webinar was not provided to assist in explaining the music and entertainment business assistance scheme application form to potential applicants, in particular the more technical questions in the form. [40702/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

551. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the music and entertainment business assistance scheme includes a commitment to publishing the names of successful grantees, despite this not being a requirement in other schemes such as the event sector Covid support scheme which only states names may be published.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40703/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

552. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason grant payments for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme have not yet been issued, despite applications having opened over six weeks ago on 9 June 2021. [40704/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

553. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the wait time between applying and approval for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme is inconsistent; if her attention has been drawn to some applicants being approved within days of applying while others who had applied before them are left waiting for weeks for a decision; and the reason for the apparent random order in which applications are approved. [40705/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

554. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the process an application for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme goes through between the submission of the application to approval or refusal of the application; if applications are processed chronologically in the order in which they are submitted in a first-come-first-served manner; if there is a procedure by which it is decided to process certain applications as a priority over others previously submitted; and if so, the person charged with making such decisions. [40706/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

555. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of applications made by the original deadline of 7 July 2021, the first extended deadline of 21 July 2021 and in total to date for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme; and the number of applications her Department had anticipated or estimated when it announced the €14 million allocation for the scheme. [40707/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

556. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason her Department understands to be the cause of the music and entertainment business assistance scheme receiving such a low uptake; the additional measures that were undertaken to address these reasons and increase awareness and uptake when the deadline was extended to 21 July 2021 and then again to 3 August 2021; the reason the scheme was not modified in the interim to attract a higher number of applications or ease access to the scheme; and if her Department gave any consideration to modifying the scheme. [40708/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

557. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department is of the view that the unnecessary extra criteria not applicable to other Covid-19 supports for businesses, such as the minimum business costs and publishing of grantee names, that the application not being sufficiently simple or properly explained, or that a lack of awareness about the grant and the way it applies to the cohort it intends to assist, contributed to the low uptake of the music and entertainment business assistance scheme and caused the need to extend the deadline for applications. [40709/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

558. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the music and entertainment business assistance scheme was created under de minimis aid regulations as opposed to the European Union’s Temporary Framework for State Aid under which other schemes, including the small business assistance scheme for Covid-19, live performance support scheme and business continuity schemes under Fáilte Ireland, were created with the same rationale as MEBAS; and if this difference imply a difference in the degree to which the commitment to spend the allocated funding promised under the scheme must be adhered to or require the extra obstacles not involved in the temporary framework schemes, such as the minimum business costs and publishing of grantee names. [40710/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

559. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason a lower threshold for turnover, such as €15,000, was not used for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme, especially given the sector being known to have a below average income and some of the lowest paid workers in precarious employment without minimum wage conditions to rely on; and if she will consider lowering the turnover threshold. [40711/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

560. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to continue to extend and if a commitment will be given to extending the deadline for application to the music and entertainment business assistance scheme until such time as the allocated funding is delivered to those for whom it was intended. [40712/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

561. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she had made or will make representations to the Minister for Social Protection to alert the Department to the potential damage that the recategorisation of pandemic unemployment payment recipients in the music and entertainment sectors as jobseeker's payments and the cutting of their supports will have on the sector; if she was consulted on the proposed cuts and changes; and the measures she plans to take to mitigate this damage. [40716/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

562. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the potential for workers in the music and entertainment sector who receive a few days' work through the live performance support scheme being expected or required to give up their only guaranteed stable support of the pandemic unemployment payment, if the funds they receive through the live performance support scheme results in them earning more than the allowed €960 over an eight week period was factored into the design of the live performance support scheme; if she has raised this with the Minister for Social Protection; and the measures she plans to take to stop workers in the sector from being discouraged from taking up opportunities under the live performance support scheme as a result. [40718/21]

National Orchestras

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

563. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the heads of the proposed Bill to transfer ownership of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to the National Concert Hall have been agreed; when these will be published; and the timeframe in which the Bill is expected to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny and be brought forward to the Houses of the Oireachtas. [40722/21]

Departmental Communications

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

564. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a ministerial brief was produced to provide a high-level introduction to her Department and a selection of the issues that can be expected to require ministerial attention, providing information on an overview of the Department, agencies under the Department, issues and engagements, departmental priorities, sectoral issues and priorities and the structure, key roles and responsibilities of individuals in management within her Department, as was produced for other Departments following the formation of the Government in 2020; and if so, when such a brief will be published. [40723/21]

Coimisiún Logainmneacha

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

565. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén dáta a rinneadh an barántas faoinar bunaíodh an Coimisiún Logainmneacha a chúlghairm, an soláthróidh sí cóip den ordú cúlghairme seo, agus an bhfoilseoidh sí an t-ordú seo don phobal. [40724/21]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

566. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé mhéad a caitheadh ar dheontais do choláistí cónaithe agus do bhrúnna a bhaineann le coláistí samhraidh Gaeltachta gach bliain le cúig bliana anuas, agus go ndéanfaidh sí idirdhealú idir an maoiniú seo agus an maoiniú a cuireadh ar fáil do mhná agus d’fhir tí faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge sa tréimhse chéanna. [40725/21]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

567. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén fo-theideal sna meastacháin faoina dtagann an maoiniú a cuireadh ar fáil le haghaidh scoláireachtaí Gaeltachta do dhaltaí i scoileanna DEIS, faoina dtagann an maoiniú a cuireadh ar fáil le haghaidh Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, faoina dtagann deontais a cuireadh ar fáil do mhná agus d’fhir tí, agus faoina dtagann deontais a cuireadh ar fáil do choláistí cónaithe agus do bhrúnna. [40726/21]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

568. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad é méid an chaiteachais a leithroinneadh chun ionaid pobail Gaeilge agus Cultúrlanna a bhunú agus a reáchtáil sa stát, cé mhéad ionad atá bunaithe agus atá le bunú, cé mhéad Cultúrlann atá bunaithe agus atá le bunú, agus an ndéanfaidh sí miondealú a ar an maoiniú atá tugtha do gach ionad nó Cultúrlann le cúig bliana anuas. [40727/21]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

569. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán miondealú a dhéanamh ar na nithe ar ar caitheadh an maoiniú €16,363 a fógraíodh le haghaidh comhoibriú thuaidh-theas sna meastacháin athbhreithnithe. [40728/21]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

570. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad é méid an chaiteachais a leithroinneadhle haghaidh líonraí gnó Gaeilge sa stát, agus an ndéanfaidh sí miondealú de réir líonra nó eagraíochta, lena n-áirítear Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Gael-Taca, Gnó Mhaigh Eo, agus Cill Dara le Gaeilge. [40729/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

571. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason for the decision to change to use of the term working age payment in the Pathways to Work 2021-2025 Strategy to describe that which had previously been described as a universal basic income pilot scheme for artists; the way this will affect other welfare payments; if this change means that the proposal plans to revive previous attempts to introduce a single working age payment as was put forward by former Ministers for Social Protection as part of austerity measures to replace other welfare supports and encourage the transition to work as described in the Pathways to Work document; and if the statement in the Pathways to Work Strategy that a person in employment will always receive more than they would if reliant on welfare alone under the proposal means that it is no longer intended for the basic income to involve providing the same unconditional payment regardless of means or income to artists, as had been previously suggested. [40731/21]

Flood Risk Management

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

657. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the back-up system for Dublin drainage in the event the pumping station in Ringsend failing or being overloaded in view of recent flooding in Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg; if his attention has been drawn to plans to upgrade or improve existing flooding drainage contingencies; and the funding which has been applied for such works in past ten years by the Dublin authorities or Irish Water. [39731/21]

Legislative Programme

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

734. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the heads of the proposed national monuments and archaeological heritage Bill have been agreed; when they will be published; the timeframe in which the Bill is expected to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny and be brought forward to the Houses of the Oireachtas. [40721/21]

School Funding

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1079. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education when a reimbursement payment from her Department will be received by a school (details supplied) for removing trees which cost over €7,000; when the payment will be made; and the cause of the delay. [41317/21]

School Accommodation

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1080. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some classes in a school (details supplied) are prefabs which are not fit for purpose and which cost tens of thousands of euro annually to rent; and the reason for the delay in replacing them and in the interim having them repaired. [41318/21]

School Accommodation

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1081. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the amount her Department contributes annually to the renting of prefabs for a school (details supplied); and the length of the rental agreement. [41319/21]

Educational Disadvantage

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1082. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if a review of the DEIS grading system and the payments scheme associated with identified schools which have needs far and above the threshold for DEIS 1 or 2, which would require specific and more targeted funding to help address deeply ingrained underlying educational issues will be undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41320/21]

Schools Building Projects

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1083. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in having the new build project for a school (details supplied); the timetable of works for same; and when the school community and the wider community will receive a new school building as promised. [41321/21]

Schools Building Projects

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1084. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to matters in relation to a school (details supplied); the interventions that can be made to assist the school address minor and major maintenance problems as it awaits the commencement and completion of the planned new-build and will she comment on the issue. [41322/21]

Schools Building Projects

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1085. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the reason the new build for a school (details supplied) has been delayed; if the school is to frontload the ASD unit which was included in the full new build programme; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that by separating the ASD unit out, the full-build and ASD unit build project are both being delayed. [41323/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1151. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is fair to cut from September 2021 onwards the only financial support for workers in the music and entertainment sector who remain without a roadmap, date or plan for getting back to work and whose work is prohibited because of Government restrictions; and if she will reconsider reducing their only source of income the pandemic unemployment payment by €100 per person in the lead up to Christmas. [40713/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1152. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the fairness and legality of her plans to transition workers in the music and entertainment industry from September 2021 from being pandemic unemployment payment recipients to jobseeker’s, despite them having jobs already that they are not allowed to do due to Government restrictions; if these workers will be targeted by job activation schemes once jobseeker's; if this change in status will mean music and entertainment workers will be required to seek employment outside of that sector and leave those jobs in order to receive basic income supports; and the research that has been conducted into the devastating harm this move could have on Ireland’s music and entertainment sector in the medium and long- term. [40714/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1153. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exemption will be made to the planned pandemic unemployment payment cuts for sectors such as the music and entertainment sector that remain under restrictions to the point that their workers cannot work. [40715/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1154. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if workers in the music and entertainment sector fortunate enough to receive a few days' work through the live performance support scheme will be expected or required to give up their only guaranteed support of the pandemic unemployment payment if the funds they receive through the scheme results in them earning more than the allowed €960 over an eight week period. [40717/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1155. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which her Department requires workers who receive funding under the live performance support scheme to come off the pandemic unemployment payment if the scheme brings them above the threshold of €960 over an eight week period, despite other Government supports such as the small business assistance scheme for Covid-19, music and entertainment business assistance scheme and Covid recovery support scheme not affecting a person’s eligibility for the pandemic unemployment payment; if it is not the longstanding Government practice to view business expenses over an annual period rather than in eight week period instalments; and her views on whether self-employed workers in the music and entertainment sector in particular are unfairly disadvantaged and discouraged from accepting live performance support scheme funding due to this eight week rule. [40719/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1184. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason school secretaries are awaiting payment three-weeks after the closure of primary schools; the reason for the delay; and if she will ensure school secretaries that they will receive their full and due payment during the weeks that schools are closed for summer holidays in 2021. [41324/21]

Home Help Service

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1569. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the assistance that can be given to a person (details supplied); and if night-time care will be allocated to them given the circumstances. [34339/21]

Care of the Elderly

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1570. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment with the geriatric nurse. [34340/21]

Medicinal Products

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1911. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason the promised speedy inquiry into epilim sodium valproate which was announced in November 2021 has not commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35839/21]