Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs

Anne Rabbitte

182. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if one-to-one tutor time under the July provision programme will be provided to children in 2020, particularly one with a dual diagnosis of Down's syndrome and autism and serious medical heart and lung underlying issues, meaning they cannot attend a school for the programme; if there are additional supports in place to support such children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13148/20]

Special Educational Needs

Anne Rabbitte

213. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to extend the July provision to children in the junior cycle of secondary school including children with Down syndrome; if there are such supports in place to help parents and children make up for the lost time in school due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13369/20]

English Language Training Organisations

Anne Rabbitte

293. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a document (details supplied); if she is considering introducing the measures outlined; her plans to engage with the groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12972/20]

Child Abuse

Anne Rabbitte

321. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a retrospective child abuse case deemed founded by Tusla is normally then investigated by An Garda Síochána or the DPP regardless of whether they investigated it previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13373/20]

Medical Cards

Anne Rabbitte

433. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health when he will be increasing the medical card gross income limits for those over 70 years of age which were due to be introduced in July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12963/20]

Home Help Service

Anne Rabbitte

462. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has had their home help hours reduced from ten to five hours and then to three hours; if the hours will be increased again; the reason there has been such a delay in commencing the home help; when a person will be assigned to provide the home help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13111/20]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Anne Rabbitte

463. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be provided with the special bed for their home due to their long-term illness; when it will be delivered to the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13112/20]

Child Safety

Anne Rabbitte

746. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will be requesting a review of child safety measures and welfare in an organisation (details supplied) in view of an allegation of retrospective child abuse within the organisation being deemed founded by Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13374/20]

Childcare Services

Anne Rabbitte

757. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if childminders can still apply for the childminding development grant; if so, the deadline for applications for the grant; if the grant has been replaced by the childminder reopening grant which is half the value; if other additional grants will be made available to childminders to help further develop or alter their service in view of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12907/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Anne Rabbitte

758. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 904 of 16 June 2020, the spending which may be found to be in breach of spending rules under the Covid-19 subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12926/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Anne Rabbitte

759. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the verification process under the temporary wage subsidy childcare scheme; the number of childcare providers that have been engaged with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12927/20]

Child Abuse

Anne Rabbitte

771. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of current and retrospective child abuse cases that have been deemed founded and unfounded, respectively by Tusla between May 2016 and June 2020, in tabular form; the number of the founded cases that have been notified to either him, An Garda Síochána or the Minister for Justice and Equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13376/20]

Child Safety

Anne Rabbitte

772. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a review of child safety measures and welfare in an organisation is requested if an allegation of retrospective child abuse within an organisation is deemed founded by Tusla; the evidence that would need to emerge to warrant such an investigation or review to be called for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13377/20]

Child Safety

Anne Rabbitte

773. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will be requesting a review of child safety measures and welfare in an organisation (details supplied) in view of an allegation of retrospective child abuse within the organisation being deemed founded by Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13378/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Anne Rabbitte

795. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if childcare providers that normally close their service during the summer months in view of the fact that they are ECCE-only should remain on the pandemic unemployment payment or revert to jobseeker's until they reopen in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13089/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Anne Rabbitte

832. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if childcare providers that normally close their service during the summer months and are doing so again in 2020 should remain on the pandemic unemployment payment or revert to jobseekers until they reopen in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13090/20]

Public Services Card

Anne Rabbitte

835. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when face-to-face meetings for the public services card will resume for those applying for SUSI but do not have a card and cannot organise the face-to-face meeting to receive one; if there is an alternative in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13129/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Anne Rabbitte

44. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Finance if crèches will be able to add additional employees to the temporary wage subsidy scheme either for the purposes of increasing staff numbers to meet public health requirements or to substitute for members of staff who are not prepared to recommence work. [11748/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Anne Rabbitte

142. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has had its SNA allocation reduced by 0.5 of a post in view of his statement on 2 April 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11809/20]

Student Accommodation

Anne Rabbitte

153. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has held discussions with Athlone Institute of Technology regarding refunds for student accommodation; if students can access a mechanism to access refunds for accommodation at the institute that were paid in full to private landlords that are now not issuing refunds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11912/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Anne Rabbitte

226. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the HEA has not issued guidance to NCAD, Dublin, on the running of the MSc in medical device design, which normally runs through the summer until 20 August; the return date for students on the course; if they will be provided a refund in view of them being unable to fulfil in-class practical work; when summer courses are expected to commence more generally; the public health advice for running such courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12355/20]

Maternity Leave

Anne Rabbitte

332. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 3 June 2020, when the information will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12320/20]

Brexit Preparations

Anne Rabbitte

454. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the steps he and agencies under his remit are taking to minimise the impact of Brexit on the supply of medicines to patients here; the engagement he has had on the matter with the European Union; the details of discussions he is having on the matter with his ministerial colleagues in the UK Government; the measures he plans to put in place to help protect the medicines and pharmaceutical export sector in the event of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12043/20]

Medicinal Products

Anne Rabbitte

455. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on medicines by the State; the amount or percentage that related to generics and biosimilars, respectively; his plans to increase the use of generics and biosimilars; the saving achieved in biosimilars and generics in each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12044/20]

Medicinal Products

Anne Rabbitte

456. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the preparations undertaken to prepare for a new national pricing and supply of medicines agreement in view of the fact that the current agreement expires in July 2020; the estimated savings that will be generated from the new agreement; the engagement he has had in the past 12 months with industry and other stakeholders on the matter; when negotiations will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12045/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Anne Rabbitte

700. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to help support an association (details supplied); if he or his officials are planning on holding meetings with the group; his further plans to help support the chauffeur sector more generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12315/20]

Tourism Industry

Anne Rabbitte

701. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an association (details supplied) will be invited to contribute to the tourism recovery task force; if the association will be invited to contribute to the taskforce for aviation recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12316/20]

Motor Tax

Anne Rabbitte

702. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if persons told to cocoon will have their car tax extended in view of the fact they were unable to leave their home due to the Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12321/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Anne Rabbitte

713. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to support bed and breakfasts at such an important time for these businesses; if there are specific supports in place to help bed and breakfasts that are suffering a loss of business due to the curtailment of tourism in recent months and in the months ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12375/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Anne Rabbitte

750. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if guidance will be provided to childcare providers that wish to make structural amendments or additions to their premises to meet Covid-19 health guidelines; and if these providers will need to reapply for fire certificates and planning permission. [11750/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Anne Rabbitte

751. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether PPE should be provided to staff in childcare settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11751/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Anne Rabbitte

752. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if childcare providers that make structural or other alterations to their premises to meet Covid-19 guidelines will need to reapply to Tusla for registration. [11752/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Anne Rabbitte

762. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if sessional services are allowed open to offer childcare from 29 June 2020 even though they will not be offering ECCE; if such services can apply for the reopening and capital grants announced on 10 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12082/20]

Departmental Funding

Anne Rabbitte

770. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the availability of capital grants for non-Covid-19-related works that need to be carried out urgently; if emergency funding of €20,000 will be made be available for a service that is provided through a prefab to update its facilities in order that the service will not be forced to close in August 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12371/20]

Social Welfare Appeals

Anne Rabbitte

803. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the Social Welfare Appeals Office will start providing updates again to persons whose cases are in the appeals system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11713/20]

School Transport

Anne Rabbitte

270. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has an input into whether drivers over 70 years of age can operate Bus Éireann school contracts on routes which are operated by contractors; his plans to extend the age limit to 75 years of age; if the issue has been raised with his Department to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11238/20]

School Staff

Anne Rabbitte

304. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is the school that is deemed the employer of a teacher as opposed to his Department; if his Department is deemed the paymaster as opposed to the employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11622/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Anne Rabbitte

312. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if post mortems have been suspended during the Covid-19 crisis; if so, the date on which post mortems ceased; when they will recommence; if persons can request a post mortem to be carried out on a family member who has been buried; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11147/20]

Domestic Violence

Anne Rabbitte

357. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases of domestic violence that have been reported to An Garda Síochána each month in 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11148/20]

Domestic Violence

Anne Rabbitte

358. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the additional resources made available by his Department in tackling the increase in cases of domestic violence by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11152/20]

Animal Diseases

Anne Rabbitte

740. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the epidemiological report into the discovery of atypical BSE in a cow in County Tipperary will be finalised; when his attention was drawn to the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10631/20]

Beef Exports

Anne Rabbitte

741. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when beef exports to China will recommence; the estimated financial loss due to the suspension of exports; the discussions he has had with Chinese officials regarding the suspension of exports; if he has meetings scheduled with Chinese officials about the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10632/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Anne Rabbitte

904. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which the verification processes will be implemented as outlined in the temporary wage subsidy childcare scheme; the estimated amount that will be recouped from same; the reason the guidelines regarding verification were updated; the purpose for which the funds will be used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10520/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Anne Rabbitte

973. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to support those working in the photography and videography industry whose businesses have been wiped out due to Covid-19 restrictions and numerous cancelled events as a result; if she will extend supports to such sectors in view of the fact they will be slow to recover to return to some sense of normal business; if her officials have had discussions with representatives from this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10581/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Anne Rabbitte

1008. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of farmers who have been granted the pandemic unemployment payment since it was introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11149/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Anne Rabbitte

39. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Finance the expenditure on the temporary wage subsidy scheme in respect of childcare providers and staff in each week since its establishment in tabular form. [9872/20]

Education Policy

Anne Rabbitte

137. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for blended learning for primary school and secondary school pupils for the recommencement of the 2020/2021 academic year in September 2020; the ratio of days in school to online learning at home there will be; if children with special educational needs that are better suited to the in-school routine will be given preference to attend school instead of using online learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9942/20]

Brexit Preparations

Anne Rabbitte

280. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans and the plans of the agencies under her remit to minimise the impact of Brexit on the supply of medicines; the engagement she has had on the matter with the European Union; the details of discussions she is having on the matter with her counterparts in the UK Government; the measures she plans to put in place to help protect the medicines and pharmaceutical export sector in the event of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9829/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Anne Rabbitte

292. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason applications made by companies (supplied supplied) for business continuity vouchers were rejected; if the applications can be reassessed; if there is scope for the preferred option of vouchers over mentoring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10099/20]

Medicinal Products

Anne Rabbitte

308. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if his attention was drawn to the report by an organisation (details supplied); his views on whether greater reforms are possible to achieve more sustainable and affordable medicines for patients here; the engagement he or his officials have had on the matter with the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9830/20]