Parliamentary questions

Mortgage Lending

Mattie McGrath

55. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if provisions will be made for mortgage applicants who were mortgage approved prior to Covid-19 and have subsequently become unemployed and are now not permitted to draw down their mortgage by their bank (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8499/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

212. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he plans to financially support schools and education centres to put in place social distancing facilities and sanitation units ahead of their reopening in autumn 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8827/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Mattie McGrath

273. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he will implement particularly in rural schools to reduce class sizes; if extra teachers will be provided to allow for one class one teacher to minimise educational and social disruption for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9218/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

506. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the extended emergency powers given to An Garda Síochána will be rescinded; the plans in place for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9255/20]

Alcohol Sales

Mattie McGrath

552. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he is considering a delay in the implementation of the enforcement of structural separation within off-licences as part of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. [8493/20]

Mental Health Services

Mattie McGrath

587. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters regarding the provision of funding to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

673. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason Covid-19 notices in some hospitals request a social distance of one metre while all other public signs are two metres; if one metre is acceptable in a hospital setting, the reason is it not permitted in public and business settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9221/20]

Hospital Services

Mattie McGrath

676. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters relating to the agreement with private hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9239/20]

Disability Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

677. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when early intervention and disability services will be resumed; his plans to deal with the huge backlogs that will have built up during the period of lockdown; the reason it is not possible to have speech and language therapy and so on when such appointments can be held while maintaining a two metre distance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9240/20]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

949. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason it is not possible to carry out a driver test in view of the fact that two persons can share a taxi; if it is possible for both driver and tester to wear a mask, sit in the back seat or introduce other simple measures to allow driver tests resume; the reason his Department continues to ignore young drivers that now need to obtain a full licence to get to work; the supports that are being proposed to give these young drivers that have to give up or refuse job offers due to the fact they have no way to get to work without a full licence; the reason motorcycle tests cannot be immediately resumed in view of the fact there is no need to share a vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9241/20]

National Car Test

Mattie McGrath

950. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason it is possible to hold CVRT testing but not possible to hold NCT testing; if all NCT test centre lifts have been repaired to allow full testing to resume; if a person that failed a NCT test prior to shutdown and had to return for a visual without charge will still be allowed to present for their visual without charge; if they will now have to apply for a full retest and pay subsequent charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9243/20]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

951. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when theory test centres will reopen; the reason it is not possible to operate these centres maintaining a two metre social distance in view of the fact these centres have sufficient space to do so by reducing the number of tests at any one time; when NDLS centres will reopen; the reason it is not possible to reopen the NDLS centres by appointment only to ensure that social distance can be maintained in view of the fact their staff operate behind a screen and waiting rooms can be managed by operating an appointment only rather than walk-in service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9244/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

955. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports he will introduce to support the bus and coach sector to help it through the difficult period forecast for the sector; if he will consider proposals (details supplied) from the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9256/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

1050. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports which will be provided to community, social and tourism enterprises that have lost large levels of revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9254/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

1051. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the timeframe will be extended to allow for delays and inevitable changes in circumstances as a result of Covid-19 in circumstances in which community facilities were previously awarded funding under the town and renewal scheme for specific works which must be completed by mid-2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9265/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

403. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will work with the Minister for Health to formulate an action plan to safeguard the future of the dental profession and introduce measures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7150/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

420. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the qualifying criteria will be reconsidered for the Covid-19 restart grant for small businesses (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7441/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

492. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason Ireland is enforcing a 2 m social distancing limit for restaurants, cafés, pubs and so on while reopening in view of the fact the World Health Organization suggest a 1.5 m distance and many European countries such as France and Italy are able to proceed with only 1 m distancing between consumers and Germany and Norway are enforcing 1.5 m distancing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7723/20]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Mattie McGrath

521. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will make the FreeStyle Libre device available to all type 1 diabetics under the long term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7148/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

522. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will work with the Ministers for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Finance and Employment Affairs and Social Protection to formulate an action plan to safeguard the future of the dental profession and introduce measures (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7149/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

654. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason horse racing will be permitted from 8 June 2020 behind closed doors but greyhound racing will not be permitted; the difference between the industries; the risks found in greyhound racing that do not exist in horse racing to prevent the same treatment; the risk assessment that has been carried out to inform the decision; if the risk assessment will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7455/20]

National Broadband Plan

Mattie McGrath

730. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the specific details on the deployment of fibre broadband in County Tipperary; the number of properties in the county supplied with broadband to date in 2020; the number of properties in the county which will be supplied with broadband from now until the end of 2020; and the date the deployment plan will be made available by NBI. [7998/20]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

752. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will urgently implement a plan to ensure that driver tests will resume without delay to avoid undue discrimination on drivers in rural areas with no other forms of transport; if he cannot implement a plan to recommence driver tests, if he will allow leniency for drivers that are awaiting a test and have completed their essential driver training to allow them travel to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7203/20]

Wildlife Control

Mattie McGrath

1094. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a decision to lift the summer derogation on wood pigeon shooting will be reversed in view of the fact that affected stakeholders were not consulted and the derogation was introduced at a time when there is limited opportunity for scrutiny by Dáil Éireann of the decision; if the scientific evidence used in making the decision will be published; if a consultation process will be held with all stakeholders on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7445/20]

Tourism Funding

Mattie McGrath

152. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports being given to educational-based tourism groups and companies which are suffering a financial loss as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6595/20]

Special Educational Needs

Mattie McGrath

329. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the July provision programme for children with additional needs; if extra supports are being considered for them in the absence of their school and daily routine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6596/20]

State Examinations

Mattie McGrath

330. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the protocols for schools to grade leaving certificate students studying a subject outside school such as agricultural science, music, Polish and so on; the person or body that grades the students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6600/20]

Departmental Correspondence

Mattie McGrath

331. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Leaving Certificate student studies a subject outside of the school such as music and so on, if they will they have to be included in the internal class ranking order by school teachers and principals in cases in which that subject is also offered by the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6601/20]

Departmental Correspondence

Mattie McGrath

332. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if clarity will be provided on the issue of project work which was submitted to the State Examinations Commission in anticipation of the normal leaving certificate; if the projects can be returned to the teachers; and when this might happen particularly in relation to physical projects such as art, design and communication graphics and so on in cases in which a scan or photograph would not give a proper idea of the grade necessary to award a student. [6602/20]

Departmental Correspondence

Mattie McGrath

333. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider providing an opportunity for principals of schools to explain the profile of a school and particulars relating to the 2020 leaving certificate class in cases in which it might be seen as different to previous years and provide the data of the school such as CAT scores, STEN and junior certificate results and so on to backup such particulars in order to inform his Department when processing the school level data as referred to in part 10.3 of the Guidelines for Predicted Grading in order that individual years will not be negatively affected by the results of previous or less academic years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6603/20]

Departmental Correspondence

Mattie McGrath

334. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a timetable will be published for each stage of the leaving certificate predicted grading process; if reports that work needs to be received, ideally by the end of May 2020, will be clarified in light of the many issues that arise in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6604/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

627. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of dog grooming businesses; the position or phase they come under with regard to reopening in view of the fact that many dog groomers work alone in an isolated environment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6599/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

772. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the 14 day self-isolating guidelines will be lifted for persons coming here in order to provide guidance to companies and groups which operate educational based tourism activities and had anticipated the arrival of students on exchange from Spain in the summer and for the 2020-2021 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6597/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

773. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on the claim by the NPHET that following the introduction of guidelines, patients are not discharged from hospitals into nursing homes unless they test negative twice for Covid-19 before being moved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6598/20]

Vehicle Testing

Mattie McGrath

1038. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has given instructions to the NDLS, NCTS, CVRT or theory test centres regarding their re-opening plan; if he will consider the possibility of having them re-open as soon as possible while allowing for social distancing measures to deal with a growing backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6594/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Mattie McGrath

1379. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of capital grants provided to Tipperary County Council in 2018 and 2019, respectively, under the social housing investment programme to assist in the construction and renewal of social rented accommodation for persons and families who have been assessed as in need of housing support under categories (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6870/20]

Carbon Tax

Mattie McGrath

107. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the carbon tax which was due to increase in May 2020 will be postponed in order to alleviate the financial burden on persons in view of current circumstances. [5443/20]

Schools Amalgamation

Mattie McGrath

173. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the amalgamation of national schools in Cahir, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4061/20]

Consultancy Contracts Data

Mattie McGrath

125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of consultants appointed to assist with CFRAM studies from 2011 to date; the cost of each consultancy contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2979/20]

Maternity Services

Mattie McGrath

623. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if it will be made mandatory for clinics and services providing non-invasive prenatal tests to ensure that websites belonging to such clinics and services properly inform persons of the positive predictive values of the tests they offer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2972/20]

Hospital Staff Data

Mattie McGrath

624. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of staff recruited and the number of staff who have signed contracts for work at the modular unit located at South Tipperary General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2973/20]

Maternity Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

625. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to address the safety and capacity issues within the maternity hospital network in view of recent HIQA reports that identified serious failings in maternity care and significant service deficits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2974/20]

Ministerial Meetings

Mattie McGrath

626. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number and date of the meetings he has had with organisations (details supplied) with respect to the delivery of termination-of-pregnancy services from 2018 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2975/20]

Health Strategies

Mattie McGrath

627. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of Sláintecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2976/20]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

628. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the measures he is taking to address the lack of access to general practitioner services in rural locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2977/20]

General Practitioner Data

Mattie McGrath

629. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his Department is notified of the number of general practitioner practices that are not in a position to accept new patients to their patient list; if so, if the information will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2978/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

630. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the latest measures being adopted to tackle the spread of Covid-19 and to increase preparedness here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2982/20]

Fishing Industry

Mattie McGrath

942. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the use of super trawlers in fishing waters here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2980/20]

Animal Welfare

Mattie McGrath

943. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost and location of educational courses provided by his Department to encourage animal welfare among the sulky racing population from 2018 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2981/20]