Parliamentary questions

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

149. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the airlines that have in 2020 and 2021 sought financial support as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; the amount of financial support sought by each airline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6004/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

150. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the additional and specific supports he will put in place for workers in the aviation sector in response to the increased restrictions on international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6005/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

151. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the way in which he plans to use the proceeds of the sale of the State's shares in a company (details supplied) now contained in the connectivity fund to protect and enhance Ireland's air connectivity given the damage the pandemic will do in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6006/21]

Turf Cutting

Darren O'Rourke

255. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has estimated the number of persons who continue to cut turf on bogs here for domestic heating or the number of individual private holdings on bogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5375/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Darren O'Rourke

454. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if self-employed persons will receive PRSI credits while in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5929/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

607. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the definition of "essential international travel" under the current Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5670/21]

Vaccination Programme

Darren O'Rourke

795. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when search and rescue crew can expect to receive the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5604/21]

Ministerial Communications

Darren O'Rourke

28. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of times he has spoken with or written to his counterpart in the UK Government and in the Stormont Executive in relation to co-ordinating international travel restrictions to combat Covid-19; the date of each physical and virtual meeting, phone call or letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4538/21]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

31. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered a further extension of TaxSaver tickets due to the severe Covid-19 travel restrictions currently in place; the cost to date of the existing extension; the estimated cost of a further extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4729/21]

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

66. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which commitment four of the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018 to enhance citizen engagement in policy making has been achieved in his Department and agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4806/21]

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

68. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the review of the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4803/21]

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

69. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which commitment four of the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018 to enhance citizen engagement in policy making has been achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4804/21]

Ministerial Communications

Darren O'Rourke

221. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of times he has spoken with or written to his counterpart in the UK Government and in the Stormont Executive in relation to coordinating international travel restrictions to combat Covid-19; the date of each physical and virtual meeting, phone call or letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4539/21]

Health Services

Darren O'Rourke

268. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the commitments he and the HSE have made to include patient, service user and public opinions in the design, planning and delivery of health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4805/21]

Energy Efficiency

Darren O'Rourke

30. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of State-owned buildings that will require retrofitting by county; the number that have been completed to date; the estimated investment that will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3584/21]

National Broadband Plan

Darren O'Rourke

40. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated number of homes that will remain without access to high-speed broadband after the national broadband plan is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3701/21]

Departmental Funding

Darren O'Rourke

41. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which it is ensured that State retrofitting funding is directed to areas it is most needed, that is, to the lowest income, coldest and most vulnerable households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3702/21]

Bituminous Fuel Ban

Darren O'Rourke

70. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding introducing a nationwide smoky coal ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4380/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

89. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his plans to support the chauffeur and coach industries whose sectors have been severely hit by the ongoing pandemic and travel restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4742/21]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

91. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of diesel, petrol, hybrid and electric vehicles registered in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3582/21]

Greenways Provision

Darren O'Rourke

98. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocated by county for greenways in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3700/21]

Departmental Schemes

Darren O'Rourke

184. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who availed of the stay and spend scheme up to 31 December 2020; the value of receipts uploaded to the scheme; the expected cost to the State of the scheme in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3583/21]

Local Authority Housing

Darren O'Rourke

313. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority homes that have been retrofitted in 2019 and 2020, by each local authority area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3703/21]

EU Directives

Darren O'Rourke

14. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the transposition of the EU electronic communications code; if the directive will be transposed prior to a temporary derogation that is currently subject to a rapid agreement at trilogue on a final text; his views on the concerns expressed by persons (details supplied) in regard to a lack of derogation and its consequences on the production and circulation of child sexual abuse material; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3024/21]

Grant Payments

Darren O'Rourke

25. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the State-funded retrofitting grants available in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3338/21]

Grant Payments

Darren O'Rourke

26. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total funding provided by SEAI in retrofitting grants in 2019 and 2020 by the total funding provided in each local authority area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3339/21]

Grant Payments

Darren O'Rourke

27. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if equality impact assessments have been conducted on retrofitting schemes; if so, the findings of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3340/21]

Grant Payments

Darren O'Rourke

28. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of persons on waiting lists for each SEAI grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3341/21]

Grant Payments

Darren O'Rourke

31. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the uptake of SEAI grants particularly in relation to persons on lower incomes due to the high cost of energy efficiency works that are not covered by existing grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1582/21]

National Broadband Plan

Darren O'Rourke

32. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which high-speed broadband will be provided to areas not covered under the national broadband plan and in which commercial operators are reluctant or refuse to extend existing lines even by a few metres to other homes and businesses in need of high-speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1583/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

55. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons that arrived into the airports here in December 2020, by country of departure; the number that completed a passenger locator form in December 2020 and received a follow-up by phone call; his views on whether stricter testing and quarantine restrictions are needed on all international arrivals at ports and airports here to try to prevent further importations of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2122/21]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

56. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons currently waiting for driver tests and driver theory tests; the waiting times in each test centre; the way in which these figures compare with those for January 2020; if his attention has been drawn to the pressure these backlogs are putting on persons who need driver licences for family or work reasons; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2123/21]

Brexit Issues

Darren O'Rourke

57. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the way in which he plans to address the transport and logistics challenges faced by hauliers at ports in the first two weeks of 2021 (details supplied); if he is concerned the disruption will worsen in the coming weeks and months as trade levels increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2124/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

108. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 13 January 2021, the supports available for arts, entertainment and events companies, particularly for those dependent on weddings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2973/21]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Darren O'Rourke

244. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of State funding provided to children’s charities in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and projected for 2021 by year, charity name and funding allocation in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2976/21]

Air Services Provision

Darren O'Rourke

104. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his views on the loss of air connectivity by Ireland in the wake of Covid-19; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that services are being transferred abroad (details supplied); and the measures he will take to address the matter. [2770/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

158. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that a company (details supplied) operated the temporary wage subsidy scheme correctly; if the national employer unit at the Revenue Commissioners has been contacted by employees of the company regarding its operation of the scheme; if so, the number of occasions; the investigations that have been carried out on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2769/21]

Customs and Excise

Darren O'Rourke

161. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff employed to deal with customs checks at ports and airports in January 2020 and January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2835/21]

Health Services Staff

Darren O'Rourke

476. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the training of emergency medical technicians and paramedics is being delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions applying to the prometric system; the rationale behind these restrictions; the number of students who have been affected; his plans to address these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2278/21]

Customs and Excise

Darren O'Rourke

714. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff employed by his Department to deal with customs checks at ports and airports in January 2020 and January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2839/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

35. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available for arts, entertainment and events companies, particularly for those dependent on weddings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1070/21]

International Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

63. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the work of the Climate Action Forum (details supplied); the number of times the forum has met since its creation; the Ministers who have met under the forum since its creation; the projects that have been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44763/20]

Local Authority Functions

Darren O'Rourke

64. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the existing climate action responsibilities of local authorities; the devolved powers local authorities have in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44766/20]

Postal Services

Darren O'Rourke

84. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 26 November 2020, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is estimated that approximately 30,000 new and corrected Eircodes are currently missing from a service (details supplied) and that some members of the public have been reporting that due to the fact that their code is missing they have not been able to avail of some commercial services; if he will invoke his specific oversight authority under the Communications Regulation (Postal Services Act) 2011 to consider specific non-postal services related uses of the national postcode in order to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45074/20]

Postal Services

Darren O'Rourke

86. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 26 November 2020, his plans to instruct his Department to immediately proceed with the well-resourced national campaign to raise awareness regarding privacy dangers associated with the use of Eircode as recommended in the Privacy Impact Assessment for Eircode that was carried out by a company (details supplied) in 2015 under contract to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45103/20]

Railway Stations

Darren O'Rourke

169. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount the NTA and Iarnród Éireann have spent on refurbishment and maintenance on Heuston and Connolly train stations in 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [1202/21]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

170. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the provision of wheelchair-accessible public transport in County Meath, specifically the Bus Éireann services. [1203/21]

Irish Aviation Authority

Darren O'Rourke

171. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport when the post of chairperson of the Irish Aviation Authority will be filled. [1204/21]

Free Travel Scheme

Darren O'Rourke

181. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if it is the case that free travel pass holders are unable to book bus places with Bus Éireann online; the reason for same; if it will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1446/21]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

182. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if the option of extending the remote online theory test for bus, lorry, CPC and ADI categories to all vehicle and driver categories, such as car and motorcycle, will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1447/21]