Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Payments

John Paul Phelan

18. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57543/21]

Domestic Violence

John Paul Phelan

164. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice her views on the introduction of new criminal legislation to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. [57821/21]

Domestic Violence

John Paul Phelan

189. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the status of her plans to introduce an offence of non-fatal strangulation. [57820/21]

Commemorative Events

John Paul Phelan

228. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport if a request has been received from the Decade of Centenaries committee of Carlow County Council to name the new footbridge at Carlow town train station after a person (details supplied) to mark the centenary of their execution; when a decision can be expected on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55291/21]

Nursing Homes

John Paul Phelan

357. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the reason the nursing home support scheme costs for a person (details supplied) are so excessive; the measures which can be taken to put on hold the excessive costs to family members until the person’s power of attorney is finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55290/21]

Public Transport

John Paul Phelan

80. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to include private bus operators in the new young adult travel card scheme that was recently announced as part of Budget 2022; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53520/21]

Agriculture Industry

John Paul Phelan

322. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the Food Vision 2030 target to increase tillage production will be supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51626/21]

Food Industry

John Paul Phelan

323. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the Programme for Government commitment to review the role, structures, and strategic focus of State agencies in the food sector and to ensure that their programme of work is fully aligned with future Government and emerging EU policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51627/21]

Water Services

John Paul Phelan

487. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated by the State to Irish Water under both capital and current expenditures in each year since its establishment up to and including the budgeted allocation for 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51218/21]

Water Services

John Paul Phelan

488. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to reintroduce the grant aid scheme for the provision and maintenance of private water wells for individual houses following on from the decision by the previous Government to remove water charges and thus ensure a levelling of costs for all householders with regard to the provision of potable water to dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51221/21]

Schools Building Projects

John Paul Phelan

561. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if she plans to pay the minor works grant to primary schools for the 2021-2022 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50670/21]

Schools Building Projects

John Paul Phelan

562. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the status of a school extension plan (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50671/21]

Special Educational Needs

John Paul Phelan

602. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if a person (details supplied) who is now currently employed by her Department as an SNA is only entitled to scale 1 on her Department's pay scale; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51219/21]

Hospital Facilities

John Paul Phelan

778. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the current status and projected timeframe for a new build hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50672/21]

Health Services

John Paul Phelan

599. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the new supports that will be forthcoming from his Department in 2021 and 2022 for the 40,000 persons with epilepsy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49647/21]

Medicinal Products

John Paul Phelan

600. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health when the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate to epilepsy patients will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49648/21]

Housing Policy

John Paul Phelan

217. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the four joint local area plans that were promised for the largest population centres that cross county boundaries (details supplied) have been completed or started; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48794/21]

Fines Administration

John Paul Phelan

520. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the number of fines that have been issued for non-essential travel by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47790/21]

Fines Administration

John Paul Phelan

521. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice if an appeals process exists for fines issued for non-essential travel during the Covid-19 lockdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47791/21]

Proposed Legislation

John Paul Phelan

595. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the current timeframe for the passage of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination, and Public Display) Bill through the Houses of Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43282/21]

Commissioners for Oaths

John Paul Phelan

902. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide this Deputy with a list (details supplied). [42155/21]

Health Services

John Paul Phelan

469. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the new supports that will be forthcoming from his Department in 2021 and 2022 for the 40,000 persons living with epilepsy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29176/21]

Medicinal Products

John Paul Phelan

470. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health when the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate to epilepsy patients will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29177/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

John Paul Phelan

908. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of artists that have qualified to date for State supports under the various Covid-19 pandemic support schemes; the full breakdown of those qualifying by heading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31602/21]

Probate Applications

John Paul Phelan

1107. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the reason the fees imposed on personal applicants in respect of probate applications is far greater than the amount which solicitors are charged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30677/21]

Electricity Grid

John Paul Phelan

158. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the guidelines of his Department for the erection of electricity infrastructure; the policy on establishing new pylon routes versus upgrading existing routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29196/21]

Housing Policy

John Paul Phelan

315. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a national policy to support downsizing domestic residences as family size decreases once children have left the family home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29197/21]

Housing Policy

John Paul Phelan

316. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration has been given to devising new guidelines for the construction of structures in the back gardens of residences for the purpose of home offices in view of the changes that have already happened and are likely to occur in the development of home working options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29198/21]

State Examinations

John Paul Phelan

511. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if a leaving certificate 2021 student who has signed up to the online portal to sit the exam but cannot or does not attend on the day will receive the accredited grade for this subject or a no grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26392/21]

Probate Applications

John Paul Phelan

657. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the delay in the processing of applications submitted by either a solicitor or a private individual for grants of probate and administration particularly in the Probate Office in Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24432/21]

Passport Services

John Paul Phelan

66. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when it is planned to reopen the passport office to deal with ongoing cases and the large volume of backlog cases that have built up while it has been closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20998/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John Paul Phelan

206. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Government plans to reintroduce the click and collect system of retail currently suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [20319/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John Paul Phelan

207. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason for the stated policy to introduce a phased reopening of retail as part of the reopening of society generally as temporary pandemic measures are removed from society. [20320/21]

National Broadband Plan

John Paul Phelan

280. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration is being given to introducing more flexibility in the National Broadband Plan to allow National Broadband Ireland to connect commercial premises that may already have a limited broadband connection to connect to the new fibre optic cables that in many cases pass adjacent to these existing industrial locations but cannot be connected despite existing broadband options for such facilities failing to meet the capacities required for such industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20321/21]

Departmental Schemes

John Paul Phelan

366. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to have another round of funding under the active travel grants in 2021; if so, if he will provide the application timings for such a process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19338/21]

Tax Data

John Paul Phelan

526. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the cost of the key employee engagement programme in the most recent reporting period arising from figures compiled up to 31 March 2021; the number of persons and companies and size of the companies that availed of same in that reporting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20292/21]

Tax Data

John Paul Phelan

527. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the cost of the employee share incentive schemes for the most recent period arising from figures compiled up to 31 March 2021 including save as you earn, RSS, approved profit-sharing schemes, the key employee engagement programme and employee share ownership trusts; the number of persons and companies that availed of same in that reporting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20293/21]

Mortgage Insurance

John Paul Phelan

529. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if the insurance section of his Department has conducted an analysis of issues in relation to the complications for persons seeking mortgage protection cover who have underlying but completely controlled medical conditions in accessing this vital protection; if his Department has proposals or suggestions for these persons to be able to access such cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20315/21]

Housing Policy

John Paul Phelan

797. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to be able to introduce the new streamlined local authority funding model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20317/21]

Urban Renewal Schemes

John Paul Phelan

798. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the financial supports he plans to introduce to promote the town centre first policy which aims to see redevelopment and renewal of often vacant or underused town centre buildings for new dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20318/21]

Schools Amalgamation

John Paul Phelan

1025. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 11 February 2021, if she will provide details of any contact that has taken place in 2021 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19339/21]

Vaccination Programme

John Paul Phelan

1773. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the additional costs incurred by the HSE in being forced to reschedule vaccination appointments as a result of the error that saw messages informing patients of their vaccination appointment delivered the day after the appointment date, that is, messages delivered on 2 April 2021 for appointments scheduled for 1 April 2021 at the a vaccination centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18941/21]

Library Projects

John Paul Phelan

2589. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current progress and eventual timeline for the provision of grant support for a library (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20322/21]

Proposed Legislation

John Paul Phelan

300. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport the expected timeframe for the drafting of the proposed primary and secondary legislation to allow local authorities to regulate e-scooters. [17239/21]

Timber Supply

John Paul Phelan

1277. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of timber imported to Ireland in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17054/21]

Timber Supply

John Paul Phelan

1278. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has carried out an analysis on the additional timber imported to Ireland as a result of the ongoing forestry licensing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17055/21]

Forestry Sector

John Paul Phelan

254. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the forestry licensing backlog will be cleared with reference to a specific date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16131/21]

Forestry Sector

John Paul Phelan

255. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of days on which divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the forestry appeals committee are sitting weekly in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16132/21]

Forestry Sector

John Paul Phelan

256. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts he is making to increase the issuing of private licences for afforestation, felling and forest roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16133/21]

Driver Licences

John Paul Phelan

268. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport if he will address a matter regarding the online renewal of driver licences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13969/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John Paul Phelan

825. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if a child who is deemed to be a high risk of contracting Covid-19 and is being home-schooled will be marked absent from school; if the authorities will be contacted to investigate the reason for absences in cases in which there are too many absences in the school year. [13967/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John Paul Phelan

826. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding protections for parents deemed high risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13968/21]

Education Policy

John Paul Phelan

117. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the definition of the title of a junior national school; the primary schools with such a title currently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13752/21]

Passport Services

John Paul Phelan

434. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects the online passport application and renewal process to be back up and running (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12808/21]

State Examinations

John Paul Phelan

498. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if students repeating their leaving certificate in 2021 will be eligible to submit their practical projects for grading in the 2021 exam which were not graded in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12813/21]

State Examinations

John Paul Phelan

499. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if measures will be taken for the leaving certificate 2021 to accommodate the needs of students repeating the exams from 2020 that take cognisance of the fact that the 2020 and 2021 academic years have been extraordinary in the context of all previous academic years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12814/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

John Paul Phelan

468. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if there is a facility available to parents and their school going children to remain learning from home once schools reopen in order to avoid Covid-19 infection, particularly in situations in which children have underlying medical conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11669/21]

Vaccination Programme

John Paul Phelan

469. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if there is scope to advance the schedule of vaccination against Covid-19 for schoolteachers, special needs assistants and all school staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11670/21]

Credit Guarantee Scheme

John Paul Phelan

1. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he plans to take to ensure that the credit guarantee scheme can be amended to examine if there will be significant increases in the current rate of successful applications to ensure that post-Covid viable businesses have sufficient access to funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7491/21]

Roads Maintenance

John Paul Phelan

26. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport if the funding provided to local authorities for roads maintenance will be kept at or increased from the 2020 allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7492/21]

Road Projects

John Paul Phelan

32. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport the status of the project to construct a northern bridge and road infrastructure in Kilkenny city linking the N77 to the R693, given that this is a long-standing priority for the local authority and TII; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7581/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

John Paul Phelan

56. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if the CRSS will be extended beyond 31 March 2021 if Covid restrictions remain in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7490/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

John Paul Phelan

57. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the stay and spend scheme into 2021 to support the hospitality sector once Covid restrictions are lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7507/21]

Waterways Issues

John Paul Phelan

90. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions that can be taken to allow Waterways Ireland to carry out standard maintenance works on canal and river tracks to ensure that public access to these amenities is protected despite recent prohibitions by the National Parks and Wildlife Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7506/21]

Local Authority Funding

John Paul Phelan

92. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new funding model for local authorities will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7489/21]

Schools Amalgamation

John Paul Phelan

141. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the work ongoing within her Department to support the amalgamation of two post-primary schools (details supplied); the timeline for the completion of the process; if funding is available for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7580/21]

Licence Applications

John Paul Phelan

1001. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the total number of licences, including felling, afforestation and roads which are required by the forestry and timber industry here on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6767/21]

Licence Applications

John Paul Phelan

1002. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific number of licences including felling, afforestation and roads which his Department plans to issue in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6768/21]

Forestry Sector

John Paul Phelan

1003. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has given or will give consideration to the issue of wholescale regulatory reform in view of the current crisis facing the forest and timber industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6769/21]

Vaccination Programme

John Paul Phelan

795. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health when County Carlow based paramedics will get the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4097/21]

Bus Services

John Paul Phelan

133. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport the time-frame for the provision of funding and for the commencement of services for the Carlow town bus service project, which now sits at the top of the list of recommended projects for funding by the NTA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44858/20]

Road Projects

John Paul Phelan

135. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport if he or his officials have engaged with TII with a view to maximising the potential for native tree planting on existing TII lands adjacent to national road routes in circumstances in which such planting would comply with all relevant road safety demands (details supplied) and provide the State with an additional capacity for increasing biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44898/20]

Planning Issues

John Paul Phelan

336. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to engage with local authorities throughout the country on introducing new designated biodiversity locations to replace existing paved and asphalted spaces in which such existing spaces are underutilised; if a funding stream will be secured for such works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44899/20]

Human Rights

John Paul Phelan

377. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the recent execution of a journalist (details supplied) and other recent civil rights abuses by the Islamic Republic of Iran; the actions his Department and the EU has taken or will take in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45082/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

John Paul Phelan

556. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will address the delay in relation to the provision of paediatric rheumatology services for children and particularly children with Down's syndrome (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41130/20]

Forestry Sector

John Paul Phelan

194. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he and his Department officials became aware that 4,600 forestry licence applications are backlogged in the Forestry Service; the specific dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40675/20]

Forestry Sector

John Paul Phelan

195. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department concluded that there were circa 2,000 forestry licence applications backlogged in the Forestry Service; the developments that led to the determination that the correct number of backlogged licence applications is 4,600; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40676/20]

Forestry Sector

John Paul Phelan

196. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether it is appropriate that An Taisce is appealing applications for forestry licences in view of the ongoing crisis in the forestry and timber sector rather than consulting directly with his Department and in view of the fact that An Taisce receives significant public funding. [40679/20]

Forestry Sector

John Paul Phelan

197. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of days each of the four divisions of the Forestry Appeals Committee is sitting; the number of hearings each division has heard since it has operated in four divisions since 9 November 2020; the number of hearings each division will hold between now and the end of 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40674/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

John Paul Phelan

656. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of persons who have availed of SUSI grants in 2020; the percentage this is in relation to the student population at large; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38130/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

John Paul Phelan

657. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to reform the SUSI support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38131/20]

State Examinations

John Paul Phelan

103. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education when the repeat leaving certificate exams will take place; the contingency plans that will come into force if Covid-19 restrictions come into force which preclude the current intended course of action from taking place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32191/20]

Court Sittings

John Paul Phelan

144. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the current process by which court proceedings can take place in a manner that is open to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic; when restrictions on the movements of the public are curtailed or prohibited as a matter of public health policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32188/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John Paul Phelan

162. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if such legislation in relation to further legislative proposals to limit the general movements of the population owing to the current Covid-19 pandemic takes into account the essential movements which will be required by those that live in or adjacent to urban areas that cross county boundaries for essential services in healthcare and education and that such movements will not be prohibited by law and therefore subject to possible sanction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32189/20]

Hospital Facilities

John Paul Phelan

190. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the completion of construction and the entrance into full operation of the new second cath lab at UHW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32190/20]

Tax Reliefs

John Paul Phelan

214. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if a distinction is made across the various enterprise tax schemes such as employee investment incentive, EII, key employee engagement programme, KEEP, and capital gains tax, CGT, entrepreneur relief for high risk and high potential innovation start-ups as opposed to more traditional asset-backed enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31109/20]

Electoral Process

John Paul Phelan

267. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the decision to use personal public service or PPS numbers in the compilation of the electoral register; when he expects the project to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31105/20]

Electoral Commission

John Paul Phelan

268. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current progress on the establishment of an electoral commission; when he plans to introduce necessary legislation concerning its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31106/20]

Commercial Rates

John Paul Phelan

269. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to release funds to local authorities for the commercial rates waiver scheme that applied up to the end of September 2020; his plans to extend the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31107/20]

Land Development Agency

John Paul Phelan

270. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the Land Development Agency, LDA, and its capacity to accept freedom of information, FOI, requests in view of recent remarks in which it seems the LDA will now be subject to FOI. [31110/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John Paul Phelan

331. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if it is the responsibility of her Department or each individual management board to ensure adequate PPE is supplied to teachers, staff and students of each primary and post-primary school in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31111/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John Paul Phelan

332. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the plans that have been put in place by her Department to ensure access to online education for all students if the State returns again to a lockdown situation if Covid-19 infection rates continue to rise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31112/20]

Teaching Qualifications

John Paul Phelan

377. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if there is still a commitment to develop a mechanism to allow certain qualified post-primary teachers to register as mathematics teachers following the completion of a course of studies; when these courses will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31722/20]

State Pensions

John Paul Phelan

432. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce legislation to change the age eligibility criteria for the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31723/20]

State Pensions

John Paul Phelan

433. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering proposals to reintroduce the transition payment for those eligible for the State pension from the period they turn 65 years of age until they start to draw down the State pension, rather than the current position in which such persons must go on jobseeker’s allowance for the transition period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31724/20]

Dental Services Provision

John Paul Phelan

241. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be made for the provision of a dental surgeon to the health centre in Bagenalstown to provide services to persons in the vicinity rather than travelling to counties Kilkenny or Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26240/17]

Agrifood Sector

John Paul Phelan

517. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase food exports to Israel; if he is providing support and information to businesses seeking to gain kosher certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25346/17]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

John Paul Phelan

113. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the submission for funding for the Aghancon and Clareen group water scheme in County Offaly to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25052/17]

Naval Service Operations

John Paul Phelan

49. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to deploy the Naval Service on a humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23092/17]

Defence Forces Operations

John Paul Phelan

57. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has given consideration to Defence Forces participation in EU efforts to counteract illegal person trafficking and to disrupt the business model of criminal elements involved in such activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23093/17]