Parliamentary questions

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]

School Staff

Seán Crowe

109. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision to reduce the teaching staff by one teacher at a school (details supplied) will be reviewed in view of the impact of Covid-19 to date on junior infants and their schooling. [11656/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Crowe

110. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if clarity will be provided to school principals and school boards outlining the requirements and the financial support they will be given in terms of additional demands and costs on schools returning post-Covid-19 lockdown, particularly the additional cost of cleaning and hygiene measures. [11657/20]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Crowe

272. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if teachers and SNAs will be given an additional payment for the proposed programme to be carried out with children with special needs over the summer; and the estimated timeframe for this proposed programme to start and finish. [12598/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

273. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he plans to inform schools and other education providers of the time frame for reopening in 2020. [12599/20]

Misuse of Drugs

Seán Crowe

352. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the surge in recreational use of nitrous oxide in the form of whippets; and if his Department has provided guidance to An Garda Síochána on its control. [12587/20]

Health Screening Programmes

Seán Crowe

403. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health his views on a series of issues highlighted by a society (details supplied) regarding prostate cancer; his further views on whether it is an appropriate time to raise the prospect of a screening programme for prostate cancer; and the medical arguments against the introduction of such a programme for men. [11653/20]

Alcohol Treatment Services

Seán Crowe

404. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of organisations dealing with and supporting those with alcohol addiction issues regarding the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on mental health and the difficulties in holding one-to-one and group supports at present; and if there has been a new assessment regarding holding of such meetings, which many are of the view are essential for their health and well-being. [11654/20]

Misuse of Drugs

Seán Crowe

405. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the strategy being developed by his Department and other organisations in conjunction with parents and others to discourage the usage of nitrous oxide (details supplied) in view of the widespread availability among young users. [11655/20]

Misuse of Drugs

Seán Crowe

557. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including nitrous oxide use in their surveys conducted by his Department on recreational drug use in Ireland in view of the increasing unauthorised use and dangers it presents to those that use it recreationally. [12590/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

558. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his Department has issued guidance on the resumption of dance classes in view of the physical and mental health benefits it provides to its patrons which includes the elderly that may be in need of a resumption of exercise and social interaction following their period of cocooning. [12591/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Seán Crowe

559. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will he provide details of the specific measures or changes he has introduced in the past 12 months to reduce the waiting lists for the removal of cataracts; the number of people on the current waiting list; the estimated waiting time for an individual to get an assessment; and the estimated waiting time for an individual to get an operation. [12592/20]

Home Care Packages

Seán Crowe

560. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons waiting for home care packages in CHO 7; and the number that were on the waiting list at this time in 2019. [12593/20]

Motorised Transport Grant

Seán Crowe

561. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health his plans to work with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to address the gap in supports following the withdrawal of the motorised transport grant and the mobility allowance particularly for drivers with a physical impairment. [12594/20]

Bus Services

Seán Crowe

649. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the confusion regarding instructions supposedly being given to drivers on public transport by management to allow family groupings to sit together on buses; if his attention has been further drawn to the difficulty this is causing drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12595/20]

Consumer Rights

Seán Crowe

650. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if supports are available to persons that have booked airline fares with carriers and are still awaiting their entitled refunds; his views on whether this is acceptable behaviour from carriers; and if his Department has been in contact with the airlines involved regarding the issue. [12597/20]

Consumer Rights

Seán Crowe

651. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the challenges facing persons trying to obtain cash returns from airlines; and the advice or supports being provided to such persons. [11660/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Crowe

736. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the challenges facing taxis resuming work post Covid-19 lockdown; and if his Department is reviewing and working on new supports that will help alleviate the hardship they are currently enduring. [12596/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Crowe

737. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is considering a solidarity support package for clubs (details supplied) following the negative impact of Covid-19. [12600/20]

Housing Adaptation Grant

Seán Crowe

869. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding being made available for housing adaption grants by local authority; the uptake of the grants by each local authority; the number of applicants and waiting time for the grant by each local authority, in tabular form. [11651/20]

Housing Adaptation Grant

Seán Crowe

870. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the advice being given to applicants in cases in which housing adaption funding is no longer available. [11652/20]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

34. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the continued targeting of human rights and labour activists in Columbia resulting in hundreds of murders. [10307/20]

Human Rights

Seán Crowe

35. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent influx of US special forces into Columbia; his views on whether this will only ratchet tensions in a fragile peace higher, while also having a further destabilising impact on the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10308/20]

Road Traffic Offences

Seán Crowe

249. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the problem in many communities in which it is unwise and not safe to walk due to the use of scramblers, mopeds and quads in parks and greens; if his attention has further been drawn to the different approaches to this problem in different Garda divisions; and if there is a code or best practice being used in different areas. [10301/20]

Health Screening Programmes

Seán Crowe

417. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when the cervical smear test screening programme will be resumed; his views on whether other life-saving elements of the health service cannot be neglected during the crisis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10300/20]

Trading Online Voucher Scheme

Seán Crowe

504. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the trading online scheme under south Dublin LEO is oversubscribed; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the scheme is currently paused; if this is the case in other LEO areas; his views on whether the projected funding allocated is insufficient; and his plans to increase funding and meet the demand from businesses impacted by the fallout from the lockdown and other responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. [10305/20]

Telecommunications Services

Seán Crowe

522. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the fact that Eir remains under the universal service obligation (details supplied); and if the terms and conditions of the obligation will be reviewed before June 2021 in view of the fact some conditions such as minimum data speed are outdated. [10306/20]

Proposed Legislation

Seán Crowe

530. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is examining or proposing new legislation in the area of the use of scramblers, mopeds and quads in parks and greens. [10301/20]

Arts Funding

Seán Crowe

736. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views regarding a potential cut in the arts allocation in the budgets of local authorities following a downturn in the economy post the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. [10302/20]

Arts Funding

Seán Crowe

737. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the loss in income for many artists due to Covid-19; and the supports in place or being prepared for a post-lockdown scenario. [10303/20]

Architectural Heritage

Seán Crowe

738. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the local and national campaign to save the remains of a cottage (details supplied); and if her Department has raised specific concerns with the local authority regarding the building, particularly its historical significance and the fact that many of the 1916 leaders and other historical figures had visited and stayed in the cottage. [10304/20]

School Accommodation

Seán Crowe

314. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans and proposals for when the prefabs in a school (details supplied) will be replaced. [9524/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

631. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health his plans or the proposals being discussed to temperature test passengers arriving at airports and seaports as part of the Covid-19 response. [7072/20]

Disabilities Assessments

Seán Crowe

716. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 707 of 13 May 2020, the proposals he plans to implement to lower the 59 month waiting list for school age team and 30 month waiting list for early intervention team support for children with special needs in south west Dublin; his views on whether this is inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9476/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

727. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the location and name of the private hospitals that were taken in charge during the Covid-19 pandemic; the number of beds that this entailed by hospital in tabular form; the number of beds per day that were used for public patients on a daily basis by hospital since the Covid-19 pandemic in tabular form; when the contract is proposed to end; and the estimated eventual cost in this regard. [9525/20]

Organ Transplant Services

Seán Crowe

728. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of organ transplants carried out in each of the past five years; if over 450 organ donations have been declined due to the fact the next of kin were unsure of their relatives wishes; his plans to change end of life protocols in relation to organ harvesting and donations; and if he has new plans to increase transplant capacity in the health system. [9526/20]

National Children's Hospital

Seán Crowe

729. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to works being carried out or when work will resume on the new National Children’s Hospital. [9527/20]

Passport Data

Seán Crowe

34. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the waiting time for a new passport, a renewed passport online and offline, respectively; if the demand is still high from Irish citizens based in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in view of Brexit; and the impact Covid-19 restrictions has had on the waiting times. [8248/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Crowe

35. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish citizens that are still abroad and seeking support for repatriation following the outbreak of Covid-19; the number of persons that were in financial difficulties that have received supports; and the supports received in funding from Europe for same. [8249/20]

National Educational Psychological Service

Seán Crowe

114. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the recommendations and written instructions from NEPS to students and schools during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly for those preparing for cancelled examinations. [7074/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Crowe

301. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if specific advice or information has been given to the bus fleet including private bus operators which provide students with transport to and from schools nationwide regarding future plans in relation to spacing, safety and the possible lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. [8259/20]

State Examinations

Seán Crowe

302. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the calculated grades system will apply to students sitting the leaving certificate outside of a secondary school setting and are being facilitated by schools or further education colleges while studying independently; and if these students will have no option but to sit the exam at a later date yet to be announced and will be unable to take up third-level education in the 2020/2021 academic year. [8260/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Seán Crowe

394. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of health and safety officers employed nationwide; where they are located; if additional staff are being recruited or brought in to support inspections; her plans to support this important element in returning to work in view of the challenges for persons returning to work in terms of health and safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8261/20]

Disability Services Data

Seán Crowe

634. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for early years disability services for HSE in south western areas of Dublin; if the waiting time is 29 months from the date the referral was received (details supplied); the reason for the long delays in the area which predate Covid-19; if some children will miss out on supports in view of the fact they will be too old for early years intervention; the number of children on the list; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this will impact the current lists; if waiting times vary dependent on resources; and the additional resources that will be provided to the area to reduce numbers and waiting times in order to comply with the Disability Act 2005, in view of the lengthening waiting lists [8244/20]

Home Help Service

Seán Crowe

635. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists and the demand for home help nationwide by CHO area, in tabular form. [8245/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

636. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if there have been unusually high clusters of deaths or cases of Covid-19 in public or private nursing homes in south western areas of Dublin [8246/20]

Inland Fisheries

Seán Crowe

703. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 is not being enforced at the Bohernabreena reservoir, despite representations on the matter from various fishing organisations; and the details of the difficulties being experienced in enforcement of the Act. [8264/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

741. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a response will issue to the safety requests from bus and rail unions regarding the compulsory use of masks on public transport as the lockdown resulting from Covid-19 continues. [7071/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

742. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the response rate and failure to fill in self-quarantine documentation of those arriving at air and seaports; and the way in which he plans to respond to these failures and minimalist measures that are being ignored. [7073/20]