Parliamentary questions

Consumer Rights

Darren O'Rourke

275. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the legislative protections in place to ensure customers who are having difficulties with the customer service received from their broadband or phone provider are properly addressed; the recourse consumers have if they are unsatisfied with the way in which their complaint is handled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33759/20]

Commission for Communications Regulation

Darren O'Rourke

277. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of complaints made to the Commission for Communications Regulation in 2019 by the name of the company in respect of which the complaint was lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33901/20]

Commission for Communications Regulation

Darren O'Rourke

278. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of complaints made to the Commission for Communications Regulation in 2019 by the type of complaint lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33902/20]

Commission for Regulation of Utilities

Darren O'Rourke

279. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of complaints made to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in 2019 by the name of the company in respect of which the complaint was lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33903/20]

Commission for Regulation of Utilities

Darren O'Rourke

280. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of complaints made to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in 2019 by the type of complaint lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33904/20]

National Car Test

Darren O'Rourke

361. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the reason NCT certificates were backdated to the original date of an appointment when two appointments were necessary due to faults with NCT testing equipment and the second appointment was delayed due to the closure of testing centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33760/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

362. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the reason driver theory tests have been suspended under level 5 restrictions when many theory test centres are already well equipped to deal with applicants in a safe manner given the separation of desks and individual cubicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33761/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

363. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting for a driver theory test by the number of weeks waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33762/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

364. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the waiting times per driver test centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33763/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

365. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting on a driver test by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33764/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

366. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver testers that are currently employed; the number employed in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33765/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

367. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver instructors currently operating; the number that were operating in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33766/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

368. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has introduced legislation that makes it mandatory to wear face coverings in taxis as a safety precaution against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33767/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

394. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if he will make the CRSS scheme available to private bus operators; if he has had discussions with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33768/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

1173. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of Covid-19 transmission that have been identified as having taken place in gyms and swimming pools in each month to date 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32522/20]

Mental Health Policy

Darren O'Rourke

1433. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the way in which the additional funding announced in budget 2021 for mental health will be allocated in tabular form; the amount that will be provided to organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33758/20]

Employment Rights

Darren O'Rourke

17. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the redundancy situation regarding travel agency workers whose employer may not be insolvent, but in view of the cash flow problems in the sector may have to make some staff redundant; the impact workers who have been placed on various State income support schemes or who have already been temporarily laid off earlier in 2020 could have on this; if he will provide clarity in this area for workers in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31888/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

40. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if driver instructors are considered essential workers under level 4 of the Plan for Living with Covid-19; if driver tests can take place under level 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31889/20]

Child Detention Centres

Darren O'Rourke

194. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if he is satisfied that Oberstown Children Detention Campus is implementing and adhering to the best Covid-19 practices; the procedures in place to protect children and staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31965/20]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Darren O'Rourke

141. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the distinct characteristics of biogenic methane as mentioned in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31154/20]

Budget 2021

Darren O'Rourke

147. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the retrofit plans announced in budget 2021 including the target completions, the total budget, the source of this funding and the cost per house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31480/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

405. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the weekly income taxi drivers can earn in addition to claiming the pandemic unemployment payment, in light of the collapse of their industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31478/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

406. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the income support schemes of which taxi drivers can avail; the new schemes that were announced in budget 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31479/20]

Road Traffic Offences

Darren O'Rourke

531. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 15 September 2020, the number of cases prosecuted and e-scooters confiscated in each of the years 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 for illegal use of e-scooters on public roads and in public places; if she will provide a breakdown of same on a six-month basis, that is, January to June and July to December 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31456/20]

Warmer Homes Scheme

Darren O'Rourke

101. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 6 October 2020, if he will provide a breakdown of the over 8,000 homes on the scheme waiting list by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30843/20]

School Transport

Darren O'Rourke

201. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of applicants for the school bus transport scheme for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, by the categories of concessionary and eligible. [30844/20]

Early Years Sector

Darren O'Rourke

228. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if his attention has been drawn to the staffing crisis in the early years sector in County Meath; the steps he is taking to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30845/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Darren O'Rourke

288. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the date on which a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [30849/20]

Energy Prices

Darren O'Rourke

44. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if he has contacted electricity and gas providers in relation to proposed increases in prices during the Covid-19 pandemic; the providers he has made contact with; the outcome of these discussions; his views on not increasing energy prices during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29962/20]

Public Service Obligation Levy

Darren O'Rourke

45. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the impact the large increase in the PSO will have on electricity customers during the Covid-19 pandemic in view of the fact hundreds of thousands of persons are already struggling financially. [29963/20]

Irish Language

Darren O'Rourke

117. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the findings of a study (details supplied) and its follow-up reports; the steps she is taking to address the linguistic emergency in intergenerational transmission of Irish and its use in social networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30284/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

175. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied that local authorities are compliant with the statutory imperative pursuant to a section of an Act (details supplied) that county development plans for counties containing a Gaeltacht area must include objectives for the promotion of Irish as the community language of the Gaeltacht; if this objective is assessed; if so, the way in which it is assessed; the results of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30285/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

176. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to direct local authorities containing Gaeltacht areas to prohibit the building of housing estates in areas in which Irish is a community language, that is, areas designated A and B in a study pursuant to a section of an Act (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30286/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

177. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to provide by regulation under a section of an Act (details supplied) that each planning application for planning permission affecting land in the Gaeltacht be accompanied by a linguistic impact assessment prepared by an independent expert in sociolinguistics, language planning or both that must objectively prove that the proposed development will increase the use of Irish relative to English locally; his views in respect of the assertion that the use of letters of support by current or former elected representatives for assessment by planning consultants with no language planning qualifications are insufficient and unsatisfactory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30287/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

178. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans pursuant to section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to direct that in the case of a person with long-established links to a part of an electoral division within a Gaeltacht area, the linguistic impact assessment not be determinative for a one-off house on land in that electoral division to which that person has had the freehold title for over five years, but that planning permission granted contain a condition to prevent the occupation of the house by non-Irish speaking household other than the person to whom permission was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30288/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

179. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans pursuant to section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to direct that persons who establish by means of assessment under the objective of a university a B2 level of fluency in spoken Irish be deemed to have local housing needs for the purpose of a planning permission application in a Gaeltacht area and that this be the sole measure of language ability used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30289/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

180. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans pursuant to section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to direct that the percentage of holiday homes in an electoral division within a Gaeltacht area not exceed 10% of the housing stock of that electoral division and in cases in which it does exceed 10%, that planning permission applications that would increase the number of holiday homes be refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30290/20]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

87. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if the initial studies as agreed in the NDP on the proposed railway line from Derry to Dublin have been commissioned; if he has spoken to the Department of Infrastructure in Northern Ireland in relation to any potential proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29301/20]

Bus Services

Darren O'Rourke

88. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will work with his counterparts in the Stormont Executive to develop sustainable and fair pricing structures for cross-Border bus services; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that bus ticket offers vary significantly depending on the place of departure, between Derry and Dublin for example; his views on whether the price should be the same regardless of the location a bus departs from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29304/20]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

89. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether an all-island approach to future rail provision is essential; if he has engaged with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland to discuss this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29305/20]

Brexit Negotiations

Darren O'Rourke

155. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the latest discussions that have taken place with the UK Government on the ongoing dispute over the ownership of Lough Foyle; the discussions that have taken place recently in this regard in terms of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29302/20]

Harbours and Piers

Darren O'Rourke

321. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to continue to work with Donegal County Council and Foyle Port on their proposals to develop the Greencastle Harbour; if he has spoken with his counterpart in the Stormont Executive regarding collaboration in terms of developing Lough Foyle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29303/20]

Warmer Homes Scheme

Darren O'Rourke

191. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if it is the case that works on the SEAI warmer home scheme were suspended or are suspended due to Covid-19; the number of homes affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28793/20]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

195. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount of current Exchequer funding provided for 2019 and forecast to be provided for 2020 and 2021 for the provision of public transport via the National Transport Authority, NTA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28124/20]

Public Service Obligation Services

Darren O'Rourke

196. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if the emergency designation of five strategic maritime routes as PSO routes for a period of three months will be extended; if so, the Exchequer funding provided for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28125/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Darren O'Rourke

231. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 29 September 2020, the total amount of additional Covid-related Exchequer expenditure for 2021 for his Department; if he will provide a breakdown by line items of this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28701/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

338. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria which apply regarding the sale and allocation of new houses and housing developments in Gaeltacht areas to ensure the Irish language is maintained and protected in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28360/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

339. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is compulsory in all Gaeltacht areas that a language impact assessment accompany planning applications for new housing developments; the way in which such an impact assessment should be prepared; the legislation, regulations and guidelines which informs same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28361/20]

Agriculture Industry

Darren O'Rourke

795. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial supports available for farmers that wish to start snail farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28506/20]

Airport Policy

Darren O'Rourke

80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the monitoring or oversight that occurs of aircraft arriving from abroad into airports owned by private persons or companies here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27848/20]