Parliamentary questions

Dental Services

Neasa Hourigan

183. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure the oral healthcare of children and special needs patients are not being neglected due to Covid-19 restrictions in view of reports that young children are being prescribed antibiotics instead of having much-needed extractions; when a full resumption of community oral healthcare services will take place in Dublin north city CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24490/20]

Fire Service

Neasa Hourigan

58. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if membership of the retained fire service is a breach of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. [24299/20]

Low Pay Commission

Neasa Hourigan

91. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has requested the Low Pay Commission to examine universal basic income; the current plans for the design, implementation and evaluation of a universal basic income project; the way in which external bodies and individuals can contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24357/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Neasa Hourigan

787. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the percentage of Covid-19 tests in which the swab taken to lab result time exceeded 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours, respectively in July and August 2020, by community and hospital settings nationwide and specifically in the South/Southwest Hospital Group [23983/20]

Female Genital Mutilation

Neasa Hourigan

168. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice her plans to develop and implement a national action plan to end the practice of female genital mutilation here by 2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23107/20]

Drugs Payment Scheme

Neasa Hourigan

217. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when the monthly drugs payment scheme threshold will be reduced to €114 as provided for in budget 2020; when a commencement order will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23098/20]

Traffic Management

Neasa Hourigan

117. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expected start date and completion date of the proposed consultation process on a Phoenix Park traffic management strategy. [22895/20]

Tax Code

Neasa Hourigan

300. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the deemed disposal rule which was introduced in the Finance Act 2006; his plans to revise same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22141/20]

Proposed Legislation

Neasa Hourigan

923. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice her plans to prevent and detect the importation and sale of illegal fireworks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21614/20]

Disease Management

Neasa Hourigan

1378. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the timeline of the review of the epidemiology of tuberculosis here considering the public health impact of having no BCG vaccination since April 2015; when this review will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22492/20]

Live Exports

Neasa Hourigan

922. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the views of a number of animal welfare groups that an upcoming shipment of live animals from Ireland to Libya could contravene EU rules on protecting transported live animals to third countries; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19925/20]

Nursing Staff

Neasa Hourigan

1146. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of Parkinson’s disease nurse specialists in view of the shortage here with three in Dublin and none elsewhere in Leinster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19898/20]

Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

1147. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve access to essential services for those with Parkinson’s disease such as to neurologists, physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and dietetics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19899/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

87. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to publish specific guidelines for the reopening of pubs; when he last met with representatives of an organisation (details supplied); the supports available to pubs which have been unable to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18925/20]

Living City Initiative

Neasa Hourigan

226. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to expand the living city initiative to include all inner-city areas of Dublin city rather than just those designated special regeneration areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18327/20]

Special Educational Needs

Neasa Hourigan

487. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure the July provision is extended to include post-primary blind and visually impaired students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18679/20]

Special Educational Needs

Neasa Hourigan

488. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to prioritise the return to in-person teaching of blind and visually impaired children in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18680/20]

Special Educational Needs

Neasa Hourigan

489. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a report by an organisation (details supplied) on the implications of Covid-19 on the education of pupils that are blind and visually impaired; her views on same;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18681/20]

School Accommodation

Neasa Hourigan

490. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of planning permission (details supplied) being sought for a college to retain the existing five classroom prefabricated building on their site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18696/20]

School Accommodation

Neasa Hourigan

491. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of planning permission (details supplied) being sought by a college for the provision of a suite of additional prefabricated specialist classrooms that will be required to accommodate the existing cohort of students in September 2020 to include science, art, home economics and woodwork rooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18697/20]

School Accommodation

Neasa Hourigan

492. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to the fast tracking of an application by a college (details supplied) for inclusion on the building list of her Department to accommodate a new school and its growing population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18698/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

1042. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if it is safe for blind persons to use a sighted guide in view of Covid-19 health restrictions; his plans to issue guidance on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18889/20]

National Parks

Neasa Hourigan

109. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will partially close Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park at weekends for the summer as per previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17712/20]

Traffic Management

Neasa Hourigan

229. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will publish a recent study on the effects of the closure of the peripheral gates of the Phoenix Park on traffic volumes in the surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17183/20]

Traffic Management

Neasa Hourigan

84. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the rationale for the decision by the Office of Public Works to reverse the closure of the peripheral gates of the Phoenix Park; when a public consultation process will take place on the future of the perimeter gates of the Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16322/20]

Energy Efficiency

Neasa Hourigan

99. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the timeline for the roll-out of a national retrofitting programme; the quarter in which the roll-out will commence; his plans to finance local authority retrofit programmes and grants for owners of private properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16462/20]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Neasa Hourigan

174. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recently published review (details supplied); his views on the recommendations of the report; his plans to conduct a similar independent inquiry into the reported ill effects of the use of uro-gynaecological mesh in the surgical treatment of women based here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16383/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

76. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the sanctions for employers that do not follow the published return to work safely protocol, for example, failure to provide masks or to facilitate social distancing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15372/20]

Railway Stations

Neasa Hourigan

146. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to conduct an impact assessment on the future limitations to capacity at Connolly Station that the proposed planning application at 115 Amiens Street will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15017/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

166. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure the enforcement of compulsory face coverings on all public transport services; when he expects enforcement to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14705/20]

Pensions Data

Neasa Hourigan

329. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to reconsider the position of his Department in respect of releasing to the public, information on the pension payments of individual former taoisigh and Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15070/20]

Foreign Conflicts

Neasa Hourigan

455. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent steps taken by Ireland, the EU and the international community to address the ongoing instability in Yemen; his plans to increase Irish Aid funding in view of the looming food insecurity crisis in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14680/20]

Human Rights

Neasa Hourigan

477. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent steps taken by Ireland, the EU and the international community to address the arbitrary arrests of peaceful demonstrators and issues regarding forcibly disappeared persons by the Assad regime in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15457/20]

School Transport

Neasa Hourigan

502. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to review whether the age of vehicles operating school transport services can be safely extended to 25 years subject to six monthly CVRT testing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15005/20]

School Transport

Neasa Hourigan

503. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to review whether the age limit for drivers within the school transport system can be safely increased to 75 years of age in line with other drivers on other services subject to medical certification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15006/20]

Residential Institutions

Neasa Hourigan

593. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to present an action plan to execute the judgment in a case (details supplied); her further plans to ensure a formal scheme of redress to survivors of day school abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15215/20]

School Transport

Neasa Hourigan

446. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to reopen and extend the April 2020 deadline for school transport applications in view of the announcement from Dublin Bus in June 2020 to cancel all of its school bus contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14310/20]

School Meals Programme

Neasa Hourigan

492. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the school meals scheme during July and August 2020 to assist families on low incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13884/20]

School Meals Programme

Neasa Hourigan

493. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the operation and funding for the school meals scheme during July and August 2020 to assist families on low incomes; her plans to extend the remit of the school meals scheme to include youth and community services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13885/20]

Traffic Management

Neasa Hourigan

672. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the locations in Dublin city that have cameras to catch motorists breaking red lights as a result of the NTA trial; the number of prosecutions in the post-trial period issued as a result of these cameras; if no cameras are operational, his plans to introduce same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12841/20]

Passport Services

Neasa Hourigan

18. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the passport service will reopen to issue emergency passports for newborn children; the timescale for the delivery of such passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11739/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

391. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when guidance in respect of small wedding sizes under phase 4 starting 20 July 2020 and larger weddings under phase 5 starting 10 August 2020 will be provided in view of the planning required for a typical wedding and the fact that guidance on increased funeral sizes has already been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11861/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

414. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his views on a hospital (details supplied) failing to give its nurses the same sick leave entitlements as those in the public service in which Covid-19 sick leave is not deducted from the normal sick leave record of a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11761/20]

Cycle to Work Scheme

Neasa Hourigan

62. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to roll out the bike to work scheme to the self-employed in view of Covid-19 related increase in cycling; the estimated cost of extending the bike to work scheme to the self-employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9993/20]

Drugs in Prisons

Neasa Hourigan

213. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps, for example, replacing netting and Garda presence during yard time, he is taking to reduce the incidence of drugs being thrown into Mountjoy Prison from the surrounding streets especially Glengarriff Parade. [9683/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Neasa Hourigan

61. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance if temporary wage subsidy scheme supports will be extended to businesses reopening following restrictions which are forced to hire an equivalent number of new staff as their previous employees are unable to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8590/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

426. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to meet with an association (details supplied) to discuss measures to maintain public health compliance; her plans to reopen the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8348/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Neasa Hourigan

1180. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to cover the shortfall in funding that will be experienced by local authorities as a result of the non-payment of commercial rates due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8577/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

22. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made to prevent the outbreak of Covid-19 in Syria; the accountability mechanisms through which his Department ensures funding to the World Health Organization results in resources being allocated to those in Syria most in need and is not politically influenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7362/20]

Dublin Bus

Neasa Hourigan

782. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of complaints by cyclists that have been made to Dublin Bus in the past three years; and the actions that resulted from these complaints. [7511/20]