Parliamentary questions

Banking Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

66. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the measures he will take to ensure that banks which offered term extensions to loans, including mortgages, will not add penalties or recapitalisation or accruals but will resume the exact same repayments pre-Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7665/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

89. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some employers in receipt of the wage subsidy scheme are making the employees continue to work full-time but for substantially reduced salary; if he will address this matter immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8274/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

90. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he has checked or will check the number of companies that are registered offshore but are operating here that are in receipt of the wage subsidy scheme or other special Covid-19 financial supports; the number of companies in this category; the amount of public funds they are receiving in total and on average; his views on whether companies avoiding tax here by being registered offshore is acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8275/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

91. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if in the interests of supporting a fair economic recovery, he will continue to provide full income supports to workers in sectors particularly hard hit by the impact of Covid-19 and the public health measures (details supplied); if he will establish specific tailor-made financial packages of support for these workers and sectors and urgently engage with these workers sectors in a suitable forum to discuss with them the way in which such supports can best be designed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8276/20]

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

Richard Boyd Barrett

177. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if students of social care will be given clarity with regard to their placements; if they will not be held up from graduating as a result of placements being cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7501/20]

National Council for Special Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

199. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional resources and budget increase being considered for the NCSE to deal with the substantial increase in the needs of children that are being very negatively affected by school closures due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7639/20]

Legal Aid Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

341. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amounts spent by the Legal Aid Board on solicitors, barristers and personal insolvency practitioners for applications under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7541/20]

Legal Aid Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

360. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amounts paid by the Legal Aid Board to personal insolvency practitioners, solicitors and barristers under the PIA Review Legal Aid Service since its inception; the details of these payments; the companies and persons that received same; the amount received by each company and person; the amounts that have been incurred but are unpaid by the Legal Aid Board to personal insolvency practitioners, solicitors and barristers under the PIA Review Legal Aid Service since its inception; the details of these liabilities; the companies and persons to which they are owed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7950/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

641. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of Covid-19 deaths by age, profession, socio-economic class, gender and details of underlying illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8280/20]

Health Services Staff Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

642. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of staff recruited to the health service since the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis; the status of the contracts for these staff including the formal employer of these staff; if these contracts are permanent or temporary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8281/20]

Health Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

643. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his plans and timeline to permanently increase the capacity in the health service in order that it can run at 80% capacity rather than near to 100% as it was prior to outbreak of Covid-19 to ensure public health physical distancing rules and safe staffing levels can be complied with and extra capacity for crises in addition to tackling the waiting lists and accident and emergency overcrowding; his views on whether this requires permanently retaining all private hospital capacity under the control of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8282/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

699. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of visits his Department paid for or were directly carried out by vets, public or private, or other inspectors or representatives to meat plants since the outbreak of Covid-19; the reports provided regarding hygiene, health and safety and compliance with public health guidelines; the details of those reports; if those reports indicated concerns in respect of hygiene and health and safety in the context of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8278/20]

Broadcasting Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

704. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider enacting airplay legislation to ensure a requirement that between 30% and 40% of music played would be music produced here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8269/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

760. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the guidelines for driving instructors with regard to returning to work; when they will be able to return to work; the precautions they will need to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7345/20]

Taxi Licences Renewals

Richard Boyd Barrett

780. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which a taxi driver can renew their taxi licence during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7507/20]

Driver Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

802. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if essential and front-line workers that are learner drivers will be allowed to drive on their own without a qualified driver (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7637/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

852. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to not require taxi drivers who cancel their PSV car insurance during the Covid-19 crisis to have to put their cars through suitability and NCT tests or have to send back their plates to the NTA while their insurance is suspended in order that they can quickly return to work when the industry recovers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8277/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

880. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for reopening childcare facilities under the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; and the way in which this will be managed safely. [7712/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Richard Boyd Barrett

918. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if Covid-19 payments will be extended to specific industries in relation to the timeframe in which they are permitted to return to work, that is, the live events industry which was the first to close down and will be the last to reopen; if it will be ensured that if the Covid-19 payments become industry specific that the event industry is given recognition for being one of the last industries to return to work in view of the fact it is vital to ensure skill retention in the industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7652/20]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Richard Boyd Barrett

959. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of pensions, disability allowance, jobseeker's allowance and benefit that do not have access to contactless payment methods (details supplied); the measures or actions she is taking to provide persons with a contactless payment option; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7640/20]

Local Authority Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

1055. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of capital grants provided to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in 2018 and 2019 under the Social Housing Investment Programme to assist in the construction and renewal of social-rented accommodation for persons and families assessed as in need of housing support under categories (details supplied). [7544/20]

Mental Health Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1077. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of plans for the development of the Central Mental Hospital; the involvement of the Land Development Agency in this development; the stage the development is at; the breakdown for social and affordable housing planned for the land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8270/20]

Land Development Agency

Richard Boyd Barrett

1078. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the Shanganagh Castle development; if the lack of the enactment of the legislation for the Land Development Agency is holding up the progress of this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8271/20]

Housing Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

1079. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing units he is expecting to be delivered from the Cherrywood SDZ; the timeline for these homes; the number of these homes that are already included in a granted planning permission; the number of these planning permissions that already have commencement notices on the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8272/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

1080. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will revise guidelines in relation to co-living and ensure that these kind of developments will not be allowed in view of the fact that Covid-19 has highlighted the dangers of overcrowded living conditions and the role congregated living plays in transmission of diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8273/20]

Arts Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

1110. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will reconsider in the interests of the income and welfare of the recipients, reversing her decision that the dance artist residency scheme 2020 will not go ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8268/20]

Cycle to Work Scheme

Richard Boyd Barrett

135. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if the cycle-to-work scheme will be amended to eliminate the five year limit in order that those who have had bikes stolen can get a new bike, even if they have not reached the five year limit in the interest of public health and climate change and to encourage the increase of cycling as a preferred mode of transport; if those in receipt of social welfare payments including the Covid-19 payment will be allowed to access a similar scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7016/20]

State Examinations

Richard Boyd Barrett

247. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that the system for calculating grades in the leaving certificate is anonymised in the interests of fairness for both teachers and pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6231/20]

State Examinations

Richard Boyd Barrett

248. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that the appeals process for calculated grades for leaving certificate students will be transparent and that details of the way in which the determination is reached will be made available to the pupil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6232/20]

Maternity Leave

Richard Boyd Barrett

426. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if maternity benefit will be extended for those that have had children born between January and March 2020 by three months in the interest of the healthy development of the children that have spent their first months amidst the Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7013/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

635. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when betting shops can re-open in view of the fact there is no guideline in the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business relating to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6684/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

651. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to provide supports for the live entertainment industry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7021/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Richard Boyd Barrett

652. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the additional staffing and resources that will be made available to the HSA to ensure that it can carry out widespread inspections of workplaces to ensure compliance with public health measures and social distancing, provision of PPE and sanitiser and to ensure prompt responses to reported breaches of public health guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7022/20]

Health Services Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

809. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the details of the deal with a company (details supplied) and other recruitment agencies to recruit healthcare workers to deal with the Covid-19 crisis; the amount the company or other such agencies are being paid; the number of healthcare workers which have been recruited; the reason this method to recruit has been chosen rather than recruiting directly to the HSE in view of the fact a permanent increase in capacity across the health service will be needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7023/20]

Health Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

810. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7024/20]

Hospital Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

811. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the details of the deal with the private hospitals and plans for maintaining the capacity to deal with non-Covid-19 related issues over the coming months; his plans for non-Covid hospitals; his views on whether all private healthcare and hospital capacity should be taken permanently under public control in view of the need for permanent increases in capacity needed to deal with Covid and non-Covid healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7025/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

1093. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide supports for the live entertainment industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7015/20]

Taxi Licences

Richard Boyd Barrett

1094. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to support taxi drivers in an industry that has been devastated by the collapse in tourism, air travel, pubs and restaurants, live entertainment and sports (details supplied); if a financial support package will be established for these drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7017/20]

Taxi Licences

Richard Boyd Barrett

1095. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if supports for new drivers entering the taxi industry will be ceased in view of the fact the industry is oversupplied; if a buy back scheme will be established in which taxi drivers exiting the industry can recover the cost they paid for their licences and, hand the licence on to a family member or both as an incentive for those exiting the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7018/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

1096. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a scheme will be established to financially support taxi drivers to install partitions in their taxis to protect their health and that of their passengers or possibly charge the NTA with installing such partitions in all taxis; if disinfecting and cleaning bays with sanitiser and disinfectant sprays will be established in towns and cities to ensure drivers can disinfect regularly in view of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7019/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

1097. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if drivers and passengers with Bus Éireann will be kept safe as the restrictions are relaxed over the next weeks; if protective screens will be put in place between the driver and passengers on all buses; if a system of payment will be put in place that does not involve the exchange of money between driver and passenger; if the mobile cleaning units promised on 27 March 2020 will be established to ensure all buses are regularly disinfected; if a cleaning regime for all depots will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7020/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Richard Boyd Barrett

1301. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be extended to persons over 66 and under 18 years of age who were working prior to the pandemic, to those in the gig economy and involved in precarious work who are ineligible due to not having worked on 6 March 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7012/20]

Local Authority Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

1397. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a commitment will be given to each local authority that all funds lost to the authorities due to the pandemic will be covered by central Government and not impact on other grants and local authority funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7014/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

1432. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to provide supports for the live entertainment industry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7008/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

1433. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will seek supports from Coronavirus response investment initiative to specifically support live entertainment performers whose industry has collapsed as a result of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7009/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

1434. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will discuss with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection a new mechanism to ensure that all artists, musicians, performers and technical support staff whose work is precarious by nature and have lost their income due to Covid-19, are eligible for the Covid-19 payment, even if they were not working on the date required by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7010/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

1435. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if additional funds will be made available to the Covid-19 crisis response award by the Arts Council in order to support artists that have lost income as a result of the health crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7011/20]

Revenue Commissioners Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

42. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the payments made by the Revenue Commissioners to law firms in 2018 and 2019. [3945/20]

NAMA Legal Fees

Richard Boyd Barrett

43. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the payments made by NAMA to law firms in 2018 and 2019. [3946/20]

Central Bank of Ireland Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

44. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the payments made by the Central Bank to accountancy firms in 2018 and 2019. [3947/20]