Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for Dáil or Seanad term
Page 25 of 27
Thu, 5 Nov 2020
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Student Unions
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
182. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding engagement with student unions regarding refunds or potential tax rebates for private and or on-campus who have been unable to avail of student accommodation in the context of the pandemic; his position regarding providing tax credits for proven unnecessary college accommodation expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34492/20]
Tue, 3 Nov 2020
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Cancer Screening Programmes
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
114. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the action he has taken to address the backlog in BreastCheck screenings as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter [33569/20]
Tue, 3 Nov 2020
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Wildlife Control
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
588. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider including deer management as an essential service under the updated Covid-19 guidelines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32583/20]
Tue, 3 Nov 2020
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Wildlife Control
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
589. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will meet an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the review of the legislative and administrative arrangements in relation to deer licensing with a view to securing improvements for customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32584/20]
Wed, 21 Oct 2020
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School Textbooks
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
132. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost in 2021 of increasing the book grant by €4 per pupil at primary level and by €7.50 per pupil at post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31811/20]
Wed, 21 Oct 2020
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Domestic Violence Services
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
169. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the amount of funding provided to the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence sector in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31810/20]
Wed, 21 Oct 2020
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Health Services Staff
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
225. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of optometrists recruited by the HSE for CHO area 5 in each of the years 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; if there are plans to roll out enhanced eyesight testing for children between 8 and 12 years of age in schools to assist in early diagnosis of any degeneration which may be missed in the absence of such a programme for free especially in low income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31812/20]
Wed, 21 Oct 2020
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Hospital Facilities
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
226. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the additional theatre capacity that was provided in St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny in each of the years 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form [31813/20]
Tue, 20 Oct 2020
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Hospital Appointments Status
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
770. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will access a doctor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31757/20]
Wed, 14 Oct 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
41. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if protection is being put in place for schools that integrate children into mainstream classes to indemnify them against litigation in the event of a Covid-19 case causing the death or long-term injury to a pupil resulting from that integration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30159/20]
Tue, 13 Oct 2020
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Local Enterprise Offices
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
32. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if the criteria for the local enterprise office trading online voucher will be broadened to include social media (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29613/20]
Tue, 13 Oct 2020
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Electricity Transmission Network
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
49. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if the provision of electricity connection for a business (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30248/20]
Tue, 13 Oct 2020
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Wage Subsidy Scheme
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
89. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance his plans to address concerns raised by employers that the delay of up to six weeks to receive subsidy payments under the employment wage subsidy scheme could cause cashflow problems; if he will adjust the employment wage subsidy scheme to enable access for lower paid and seasonal workers who primarily work within the hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29611/20]
Tue, 13 Oct 2020
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Grant Payments
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
90. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance if the threshold for voucher bonuses from employer to employer will be increased from €500 to €1,000; if it will be made available across at least two payments over 12 months (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29614/20]
Tue, 13 Oct 2020
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Help-To-Buy Scheme
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
110. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to price increases on new developments being imposed on first-time buyers availing of the help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30158/20]
Tue, 13 Oct 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
293. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if the criteria for the white van grant (details supplied) will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29612/20]
Tue, 13 Oct 2020
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Community Employment Schemes
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
317. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate the possibility of reducing the minimum threshold a person must be in receipt of social welfare in order to gain access to a community employment scheme in the context of the pandemic (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30105/20]
Tue, 6 Oct 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
166. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a county-specific list is to be published of all establishments that will participate in the spend and save scheme; if this list is to be made available and easily accessible for persons who wish to support their local businesses while also benefitting from the scheme; if the information will be provided by the Government or Fáilte Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28870/20]
Tue, 6 Oct 2020
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Health Services
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
660. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when a service (details supplied) in County Carlow will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28273/20]
Tue, 6 Oct 2020
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Hospital Appointments Status
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
730. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28712/20]
Tue, 6 Oct 2020
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Hospital Appointments Status
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
731. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28713/20]
Tue, 6 Oct 2020
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Hospital Appointments Status
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
753. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a health appointment for person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28787/20]
Tue, 6 Oct 2020
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Health Services
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
754. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if plans are being considered to make eye tests outside of school testing at high street opticians free for children under 12 years of age who are on medical cards; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many children experience sight deterioration outside of school tests and the cost of the test can be an impediment to low income families accessing such diagnostics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28788/20]
Tue, 6 Oct 2020
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Health Services Staff
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
755. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if carers employed by the HSE who are required to travel on official business will be paid the travel and subsistence rates approved by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28789/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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School Staff
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
488. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if a teacher is paid only for contracted teaching time; if not, if payment also includes additional tasks required of a teacher that is open to inspection by the Department that cannot be done in contracted time, such as long term plans, assessments and cuntas míosiúil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27163/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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School Staff
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
489. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if teachers are paid by the hour for their contracted time; if they are paid a salary to remunerate them for all duties required of them by both their employer and her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27164/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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Apprenticeship Programmes
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
675. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the inclusion of bakers within apprenticeship programmes offered by education and training boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26566/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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Tobacco Control Measures
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
802. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if standardised format price lists for display in shops are to be implemented for the sale of tobacco products to consumers under the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts to dissuade the promotion of cheap cigarettes to young persons; if his attention has been drawn to the dangers of cheap cigarette advertising to young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26440/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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Ambulance Service
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
803. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when the €350,000 allocated to the ambulance base in County Carlow which was committed to by the previous Government will be provided; when he expects works to begin; when County Carlow will have an ambulance base which is fit for purpose; his views on whether it is acceptable for a town the size of Carlow not to have its own ambulance base and not to receive communication from the HSE in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26441/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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Medical Cards
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
804. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reason medical card patients are being charged €20 for a flu vaccine, which is meant to be free in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26442/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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Occupational Therapy
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
805. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when progress will be made on reducing waiting times in counties Carlow and Kilkenny for occupational therapy assessments, especially for those in routine and non-urgent categories; the reason for the current backlog of up to a full year for a visit to a person's home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26443/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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Covid-19 Tests
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
806. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address increased demand for Covid-19 tests and facilitating those who do not have transportation; if the current demand on the ambulance service to support this service is under pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26444/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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Vaccination Programme
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
807. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if the flu vaccine is being added to the school vaccination programme in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26445/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
808. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if funding is being allocated to a service (details supplied) to cover extra costs involved in the recruitment of cleaners to comply with Covid-19 public health recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26446/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
809. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if community swimming pools and leisure centres will be permitted to hold swimming classes for children in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26447/20]
Tue, 29 Sep 2020
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Speech and Language Therapy
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
810. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when progress will be made on reducing waiting times in early intervention speech and language therapy in counties Carlow and Kilkenny for assessments; if a timeline can be provided for the reduction of the current backlog of three years; if a speech and language therapy vacancy (details supplied) has been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26448/20]
Tue, 22 Sep 2020
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Community Employment Schemes
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
35. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if an extension to time limits for workers on community employment schemes in community organisations in rural areas will be applied to retrospectively replace time lost in suspended jobs under public health restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24300/20]
Tue, 22 Sep 2020
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Waste Management
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
143. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the position regarding the classification of agricultural waste plastic in view of the costs and restrictions on export imposed by an office (details supplied) as a result of hipping agricultural films and plastics as amber; his plans to investigate the possibility of reclassifying agricultural waste plastic from amber to green as is the case in several other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25450/20]
Tue, 22 Sep 2020
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Waste Management
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
144. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the position regarding the agricultural waste plastic levy with respect to independent contractors (details supplied); if he is satisfied that the current arrangement ensures parity within the industry for all collectors; his plans to investigate the possibility of amending the current arrangement to ensure that the funds raised through the levy follow the plastic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25451/20]
Tue, 22 Sep 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
250. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance his plans to fast track finance for SMEs to enable them to reopen to the levels required to reintegrate staff and reduce figures nationally of those in receipt of pandemic unemployment payment; his further plans to address the issues being experienced by SMEs, and in particular publicans, by which they are being refused credit by lending institutions due to a lack of repayment capacity with no consideration being afforded to the fact that many still cannot trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25449/20]
Tue, 22 Sep 2020
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Social Welfare Eligibility
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
543. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding employees of airline (details supplied) who are struggling to gain access to casual jobseeker payments and short-time work supports while their employer is claiming the employment wage subsidy scheme; the position regarding application lodged in respect of persons; the reason for the delay in processing same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25452/20]
Tue, 22 Sep 2020
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Tax Code
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
680. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding the official State recognition of partners that have been long-term cohabiters; the position regarding financial assistance and tax credits available to a person in such a situation upon the death of partner; her plans to examine the issue further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25447/20]
Tue, 22 Sep 2020
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Health and Safety Inspections
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
681. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding the health and safety concerns expressed by the managing solicitor and staff at a law centre (details supplied) in respect of proposed relocation of premises which have been communicated to her Department previously; if she is satisfied that the proposed relocation does not warrant further and detailed examination in view of the severity of the issues highlighted with her Department previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25448/20]
Thu, 17 Sep 2020
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National Broadband Plan
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
36. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the status of the roll out of broadband connection points in counties Carlow and Kilkenny. [16079/20]
Wed, 16 Sep 2020
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Animal Culls
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
47. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is considerable concern among licensed deer hunters and expert groups such as an organisation (details supplied) over the delay in issuing permits under section 29 of the Wildlife Acts for the 2020/2021 open season for deer (details supplied); the number of applications processed to date; the number outstanding; the expected timeline to process the applications; his plans to address the delays caused by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24250/20]
Wed, 16 Sep 2020
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Animal Culls
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
48. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that expert groups such as an organisation (details supplied) have made recommendations to address the backlog under section 29 of the Wildlife Acts for the 2020/2021 open season for deer in line with other Departments such as the Department of Transport extension of NCT certificates and driver licences; if his attention has been further drawn to a detailed recommendation which was made in December 2015 regarding the implementation of an online licensing system by the Irish Deer Management Forum to streamline and bring Ireland into line with other countries regarding the issuing of wildlife licensing permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24251/20]
Wed, 16 Sep 2020
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Animal Culls
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
49. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will meet an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the issues relating to the delays and proposed solutions to avoid future delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24252/20]
Wed, 16 Sep 2020
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School Funding
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
72. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Carlow receiving an ancillary services grant, in tabular form. [24253/20]
Wed, 16 Sep 2020
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Special Educational Needs Staff
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
73. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the number of requests received for additional special needs assistants from schools in County Carlow; and the number of requests that have been approved. [24254/20]
Wed, 16 Sep 2020
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School Facilities
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
74. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the number of primary and secondary schools in County Carlow without hot water facilities; and the steps taken to rectify such issues in view of the fact children have returned to school. [24255/20]