Parliamentary questions

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

230. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that private hospitals are seeking cash contributions over and above the insurance cover of patients to cover PPE costs; and if he will consider that seeking insurers and hospitals ensure that these costs are included in cover in order that patients are not prevented from receiving the needed treatments by unexpected cost barriers. [17594/20]

Public Procurement Contracts

Richard Bruton

36. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he has taken to conduct an audit of public procurement to identify the extent to which it can demonstrate the integration of environmental sustainability into each category of procurement; his plans to set requirements immediately in areas such as vehicle and equipment procurement, heating, lighting and power options and controls, building materials and waste management; and his further plans to introduce accurate monitoring across each State body. [16498/20]

Budget Process

Richard Bruton

40. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to structure the service improvement and reform plans across each Department. [16499/20]

Driver Licences

Richard Bruton

168. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of arrangements to extend the driver licences of persons whose licences are expiring due to the large backlog for renewals and unavailability of appointments in addition to the fact that online renewals require a person to have a public services card, for which there is also a backlog. [17177/20]

Economic Data

Richard Bruton

192. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the estimate for the level of private sector investment in 2021 compared with projections made in the pre-Covid-19 period; and the scope for filling the shortfall by accelerated public activity in direct investment or by the development of sectoral strategies. [16577/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

197. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the data his Department is tracking in respect of landlord and bank dealings with enterprises impacted by Covid-19; and the policy initiatives under consideration to ensure that the appraisal of such bodies does not hamper the successful reopening of enterprises which can be made viable in the medium term. [16798/20]

Heritage Schemes

Richard Bruton

245. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding streams available for projects such as 15 Henrietta Street to develop their existing premises to their original state. [16489/20]

Rental Sector

Richard Bruton

292. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to extend the freeze on evictions and on rent increases beyond 20 July 2020 in view of the vulnerable position of many still out of employment. [16705/20]

Jobseeker's Benefit

Richard Bruton

463. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the duration of jobseeker’s benefit will be extended temporarily in order that persons who lost their jobs before Covid-19 can continue their claims at least until the period while special supports continue. [16710/20]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

554. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the fact little or no childcare is now available for children under one year of age; and if he will assist parents still unable to get childcare in order to return from parental leave. [17236/20]

Parental Leave

Richard Bruton

561. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents whose baby was born before the extension of parental leave at the end of 2019 are not eligible for the extension of parental leave announced recently. [17236/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

645. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a new policy to take account of the Covid-19 experience in long stay residential settings; if a consultative process is planned with key stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16711/20]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

723. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to restore leave to frontline workers who had to use it to provide childcare, particularly for couples who both worked on the frontline and used their leave to ensure one parent was always available to provide childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17095/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

729. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the distinct protections, advice and oversight of tourist and non-tourist arrivals from countries deemed to have a safe level of Covid-19 infections to those with an unsafe level; if the effectiveness of the proposed approaches are evaluated either by way of international experience or domestic trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17135/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

46. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation his plans as part of the recovery fund to create space for new initiatives within the regional enterprise strategies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16360/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

47. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the options under consideration for viable businesses to achieve a work out of debts or rents that might overwhelm them during the slow restart phase. [16361/20]

Flood Prevention Measures

Richard Bruton

85. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress on the recommended works on the River Santry between Raheny village, Dublin 5, and the sea in order to alleviate the flood risk; and the detailed phases in the planning, design and implementation of works proposed both in respect of dredging and of the needed increase in culvert capacity. [16343/20]

School Transport

Richard Bruton

105. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of school transport services for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16340/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Richard Bruton

141. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of Covid-19 income support for seasonal workers, such as multilingual tour guides, whose season from April to October 2020 has been completely disrupted; if she will consider extending the support to seasonal workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16455/20]

Maternity Leave

Richard Bruton

155. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of maternity leave for mothers; the costs of extending maternity leave as a temporary expedient while infant childcare options are so impaired due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16377/20]

Dental Services

Richard Bruton

184. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the number on the orthodontic waiting lists in Dublin across each category of need; the number of patients treated from each category in the most recent year for which data is available; and the position regarding the scope of speeding up access to care. [16438/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

232. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the distinct protections, advice and oversight of tourist and non-tourist arrivals from countries deemed to have a safe level of Covid-19 infections to those with an unsafe level; if the effectiveness of the proposed approaches are evaluated by way of either international experience or domestic trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15458/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

272. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce enforcement powers to make the wearing of masks on public transport mandatory; and if so, when the powers will be introduced. [16119/20]

State Examinations

Richard Bruton

629. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the preparations being made to ensure the leaving certificate examinations will take place in 2021; her plans to introduce an additional element of continuous assessment from the start of the 2020-2021 academic year; if more question choice will be introduced on exam papers; when students can expect clarity on the 2021 leaving certificate and its format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15432/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Richard Bruton

792. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the inclusion of persons over 66 years of age who were at work when the Covid-19 pandemic struck within the pandemic unemployment payment in recognition of their sudden loss of earnings. [16120/20]

Health Information and Quality Authority

Richard Bruton

1157. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if requests to investigate allegations of ill treatment in a nursing home (details supplied) have been received; if the matter is being investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15433/20]

Medical Cards

Richard Bruton

1179. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the revised income limits due to come into force in July 2020 for medical cards; and if the HSE is now processing applications under these new guidelines. [15468/20]