Parliamentary questions

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service

Seán Crowe

528. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 595 of 1 December 2020, the additional resources that will be provided to the naturalisation service to clear the backlog in cases arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and the High Court ruling of 2019; when her Department will consider the pandemic over given the advice not to submit applications during that time; and her views on whether it is acceptable that applicants are left in the dark regarding the length of time their passport will be held, given the high importance of the document in question. [42036/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

22. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines that Intreo offices have been issued in relation to the sanitisation of electronic signing equipment used by the public; and the number of persons currently required to sign on for any social protection service or payment. [39924/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Seán Crowe

367. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when he expects the third national paediatric rheumatologist position currently open for applications to be filled; if children with Down's syndrome face a four-year waiting list to be assessed for arthritis; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents of children with Down's syndrome were promised a reduction in this referral time to three months under the previous Government; his plans to increase the number of paediatric rheumatologists further; the status of the planned information campaign for general practitioners and other healthcare professionals on Down's syndrome-related arthritis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40976/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

480. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines that Intreo offices have been issued in relation to the sanitisation of electronic signing equipment used by the public. [39884/20]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service

Seán Crowe

595. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the average time it takes for a naturalisation applicant’s passport to be returned after receipt by the INIS. [39883/20]

Patient Transfers

Seán Crowe

766. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if the protocols for transferring patients from acute beds to nursing homes have been revised since March 2020; if all patients are Covid-19 tested before being transferred to a nursing home; the number of such tests that have been performed; and if single room accommodation is provided for all such patients for at least 14 days after transfer. [37766/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Seán Crowe

138. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the specific type of testing that will be used at airports; the locations the testing staff will be seconded from; if they will be hired for the purpose; the testing capacity that will be in place by 1 December 2020; the desired optimal testing capacity; the procedures to be put in place for those who fail testing in the airport; and the Department or agency that will have responsibility for the administering of tests. [36035/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

205. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if window cleaners are allowed to operate under the current level 5 restrictions in view of the lack of social contact in their work. [32350/20]

Planning Issues

Seán Crowe

578. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if under the latest level 5 restrictions the statutory time frames for the planning process and judicial review process will be suspended or extended, as was the case during the last lockdown. [32383/20]

Disability Support Services

Seán Crowe

1096. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will address the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if he will address the current situation for children with profound needs in the catchment area; when supports and services will resume; the number of children that are currently awaiting such supports in all CHO areas in tabular form; the estimated time it will take to address the backlog; and the new measures he proposes to introduce to address the issue. [32313/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Seán Crowe

271. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education her plans to reverse the decision to remove a teacher from a school (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the school is asking for the temporary retention of the teacher until June 2021; her views on whether the removal of the teacher will make it more difficult to maintain social distancing in view of the fact that it will result in four classes of 24 students becoming three classes of 32 students; her further views on whether the disruption caused by the removal of the teacher will have a negative impact on the progress of the students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30178/20]

Schools Building Projects

Seán Crowe

192. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education when construction of the new permanent school building will begin at a school (details supplied); and when she expects the project to be completed. [29331/20]

Energy Efficiency

Seán Crowe

183. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if the guidelines which led to a cessation of works relating to the warmth and wellbeing scheme carried out by the SEAI in homes will be clarified; his views on whether the completion of works that have commenced and are now stalled is a priority in view of the approach of winter; if new guidance will be issued that will allow works to recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26491/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Crowe

192. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if flexibility will be shown to a person (details supplied) who has missed out on an EECE scheme place by three days. [26102/20]

Disability Services Provision

Seán Crowe

226. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of children (details supplied); if his Department can investigate this case and others with a view to resolving this lack of supports and services in south western areas of Dublin; and the position regarding the matter of delays to interventions by children’s disability services and the resulting regression seen in many cases. [26022/20]

Disability Support Services

Seán Crowe

718. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties and cuts in supports for the disability care sector due to Covid-19 and the resulting social distance guidelines, particularly but not exclusively, in the south-west Dublin area; his plans to support these vulnerable citizens; the contact his Department has had with various support organisations; if plans are being rolled out to move from part-time to full-time supports; if respite supports are being discussed or planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24832/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

823. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1150 of 30 July 2020, the status of the compensation scheme for the families of the frontline healthcare workers that died as a result of contracting Covid-19 in the workplace; when he expects to bring it to Cabinet; when he expects to formally announce the scheme; and when he expects the scheme to commence delivery. [25431/20]

School Accommodation

Seán Crowe

711. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has been in recent contact with a group (details supplied); her views on whether moving the school to Citywest is inappropriate in view of the high proportion of students with special needs; if her attention has been drawn to the major disruption this will have on parents’ and children’s lives; if specific consideration has been given to cancelling or postponing the move; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20729/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

1150. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he has considered compensation measures for the families of healthcare workers who die as a result of contracting Covid-19 [19910/20]

Health Services Provision

Seán Crowe

1415. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason his Department is preparing to auction a nursing home (details supplied); his views on whether this is contrary to the purpose for which the land was donated in the 19th century; his further views on whether the rapid sale of a home in which 17 residents recently died as a result of Covid-19 is in poor taste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20728/20]

Visa Applications

Seán Crowe

592. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a C visa will be granted on compassionate grounds to a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that the short stay visa system remains closed due to Covid-19 restrictions. [17090/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

718. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of overseas visitors who have been found to be in breach of the 14-day self-isolation guidelines as set out by SI 181 of 2020. [17086/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

719. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of overseas visitors who have refused to give all the necessary information upon entry here as set out by SI 181 of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17087/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

720. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health his plans to amend SI 181 of 2020 to make it a legal requirement to observe the 14-day period of self-isolation [17088/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

721. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health his plans to recommend a temporary ban on non-essential travel from the United States of America on the grounds of safeguarding public health [17089/20]

Pharmacy Services

Seán Crowe

722. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when the HSE guidelines to pharmacists discouraging the sale of multiple months' worth of medication to patients to prevent stockpiling will be rescinded; if his attention has been drawn to the lack of ability to buy 3 or 6 months means that patients are liable to more handling charges by pharmacists which creates a financial burden; and his views on whether this unfairly impacts those patients that are not holders of medical cards. [17094/20]

Recycling Policy

Seán Crowe

130. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the recent report carried out by UL and NUIG, headed by a person (details supplied), which has found that as much as 31% of plastic exported from Ireland for recycling is not recycled; his views on whether such a practice could harm public confidence in recycling; his plans to decrease this figure to zero; his further views on whether Ireland cannot adopt an out of sight, out of mind mentality when it comes to the disposal of plastic waste; his further plans to improve downstream traceability to ensure plastic exported from Ireland for recycling is actually recycled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15776/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Crowe

256. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a stimulus package or other forms of support for the taxi sector are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15780/20]

Diplomatic Representation

Seán Crowe

454. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the diplomatic missions, such as embassies and consulates, that were closed and not reopened as part of cost saving measures in the past ten years; if a cost analysis has been carried out on reopening the missions; and if so, the cost. [14660/20]

School Accommodation

Seán Crowe

659. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the consultation that was held with the management and board of a school (details supplied) prior to the announcement of its relocation to Citywest, County Dublin. [15777/20]

School Accommodation

Seán Crowe

660. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the high number of children with special needs attending a school (details supplied) was taken into consideration before the decision was taken to relocate the school to Citywest, County Dublin. [15778/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Seán Crowe

695. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the reduction of the pandemic unemployment payment to taxi drivers in view of the serious continuing impact on passenger numbers as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15780/20]

State Pensions

Seán Crowe

713. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the provisions in place to ensure that those who have lost out due to the change in pension rate bands in 2012 will be given funds owed to them. [14923/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Seán Crowe

777. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the reduction of the pandemic unemployment payment to taxi drivers in view of the serious continuing impact on passenger numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15781/20]

Springboard Programme

Seán Crowe

778. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position of those in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment in accessing Springboard courses; the reason some who have applied in recent days have been told that their employment status is unknown, including those whose sectors are still closed down due to Covid-19 restrictions but are still employed by their respective companies or businesses; the reason these persons are being told to refer to their local case workers when they have not been assigned such a case worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15782/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Seán Crowe

1263. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that private hospitals are charging as much as €275 for Covid-19 testing before patients can access treatment; if this will be the case for patients referred under the NTPF; his views on whether this is appropriate in view of the fact that while these hospitals were in public hands patients were not previously charged for tests; his plans to cover the costs for testing for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15779/20]

Middle East Peace Process

Seán Crowe

20. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he and his officials have taken to prevent the proposed annexation of territory in the Palestinian West Bank on 1 July 2020; the contact he has had with his Israeli counterpart and authorities, the American administration that is backing this move and his European colleagues in this regard; and his views on whether further annexation of Palestinian lands will irreparably damage a chance at a peaceful two-state solution. [13616/20]

United Nations

Seán Crowe

21. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his priorities and the difference in approach and policy his Department and representatives hope to introduce and address following the successful election to the UN Security Council. [13617/20]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Crowe

242. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the preparation and guidelines her Department has issued to schools for the summer scheme; the number of children it is expected to facilitate; and the schools that have confirmed they will take part by county in tabular form. [13618/20]

Courts Service

Seán Crowe

331. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedures and steps that a person must take to get emergency access to the family law courts in view of the ongoing difficulties being experienced by family court applicants trying to get access to their children following previous court orders. [13614/20]

Departmental Policy Functions

Seán Crowe

332. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she considers An Garda Síochána as falling under the aegis of his Department in respect of Government policy. [13615/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

513. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if the roll-out of instructions supposedly being given to drivers on public transport by management to allow family groupings to sit together on buses creates health concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13375/20]

National Children's Hospital

Seán Crowe

558. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he has a concern that work on the National Children’s Hospital site beside St. James’s Hospital has all but ceased and that scaffolding is being removed by contractors; the updated position regarding this flagship project aside from the Covid-19 restrictions; the reason for the delay; and if these continuous problems will impact on the final cost of the project. [13619/20]

Middle East Peace Process

Seán Crowe

14. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to recognise formally the state of Palestine in view of a cross-party Dáil Éireann motion in support and a commitment in the programme for Government; and his views on whether the impending annexation of the West Bank by Israel highlights the need for that to occur as a matter of some urgency. [11658/20]

Foreign Birth Registration

Seán Crowe

30. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the average waiting time for processing individuals on the foreign births register; the number of cases waiting to be processed; and when he expects the service to resume. [12584/20]

Fuel Prices

Seán Crowe

37. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Finance the way in which he has responded to the collapse in the price of oil on the world market; and his views on whether it is unfair to consumers and commuters that a marked decrease has not been seen on the price of petrol and diesel at pumps as a result of imposed charges, such as excise, VAT and carbon tax, particularly during the Covid-19 crisis during which persons are wary of using public transport. [11659/20]

Revenue Commissioners

Seán Crowe

80. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if guidance has been issued to the Revenue Commissioners custom service on the importation of large quantities of nitrous oxide containers; if so, if this guidance is based on the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010; and if not or not entirely, if he will provide information on the Act or Acts the guidance is based upon. [12588/20]

Financial Services Regulation

Seán Crowe

81. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering plans to address the high interest rates some legal moneylenders charge; and if there are plans to introduce a cap on excessively high interest rates. [12589/20]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Crowe

107. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deal with the chronic shortage of ASD places for students at primary and secondary schools in south-western areas of Dublin; if his attention has been drawn to the challenges facing parents trying to locate places for their children in the 2020-21 school year; the number of places per school; and the advice that will be given to parents who cannot source a place in the new school year. [11649/20]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Crowe

108. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deal with the chronic shortage of ASD places for students at primary and secondary schools in Dublin; if his attention has been drawn to the challenges facing parents trying to locate places for their children in the 2020-21 school year; the number of places per school; and the advice that will be given to parents that cannot source a place in the new school year. [11650/20]