Parliamentary questions

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

881. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when driver lessons can resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11364/20]

Tax Exemptions

Mattie McGrath

88. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider a once-off measure that each PRSA holder will be allowed to take a once-off withdrawal of €7,500 from their PRSA irrespective of other drawings they may or may not have made in the past (details supplied) in an effort to kickstart the economy following the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10448/20]

Hospital Services

Mattie McGrath

436. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when St. Brigid's Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary will be returned to its normal operations; the reason the hospital has been kept idle when the numbers of cases in County Tipperary no longer justify this approach; if he will give a written commitment regarding the future of the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10451/20]

Greyhound Industry

Mattie McGrath

466. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a resolution will be found to a situation (details supplied) regarding the greyhound industry in County Tipperary; if an independent mediator will be appointed to review the historic debt and find a resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9932/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

598. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is considering to support the bus and coach sector to ensure the survival of the industry in a post-Covid-19 environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10450/20]

Mortgage Lending

Mattie McGrath

55. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if provisions will be made for mortgage applicants who were mortgage approved prior to Covid-19 and have subsequently become unemployed and are now not permitted to draw down their mortgage by their bank (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8499/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

212. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he plans to financially support schools and education centres to put in place social distancing facilities and sanitation units ahead of their reopening in autumn 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8827/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Mattie McGrath

273. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he will implement particularly in rural schools to reduce class sizes; if extra teachers will be provided to allow for one class one teacher to minimise educational and social disruption for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9218/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

506. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the extended emergency powers given to An Garda Síochána will be rescinded; the plans in place for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9255/20]

Alcohol Sales

Mattie McGrath

552. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he is considering a delay in the implementation of the enforcement of structural separation within off-licences as part of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. [8493/20]

Mental Health Services

Mattie McGrath

587. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters regarding the provision of funding to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

673. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason Covid-19 notices in some hospitals request a social distance of one metre while all other public signs are two metres; if one metre is acceptable in a hospital setting, the reason is it not permitted in public and business settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9221/20]

Hospital Services

Mattie McGrath

676. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters relating to the agreement with private hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9239/20]

Disability Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

677. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when early intervention and disability services will be resumed; his plans to deal with the huge backlogs that will have built up during the period of lockdown; the reason it is not possible to have speech and language therapy and so on when such appointments can be held while maintaining a two metre distance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9240/20]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

949. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason it is not possible to carry out a driver test in view of the fact that two persons can share a taxi; if it is possible for both driver and tester to wear a mask, sit in the back seat or introduce other simple measures to allow driver tests resume; the reason his Department continues to ignore young drivers that now need to obtain a full licence to get to work; the supports that are being proposed to give these young drivers that have to give up or refuse job offers due to the fact they have no way to get to work without a full licence; the reason motorcycle tests cannot be immediately resumed in view of the fact there is no need to share a vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9241/20]

National Car Test

Mattie McGrath

950. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason it is possible to hold CVRT testing but not possible to hold NCT testing; if all NCT test centre lifts have been repaired to allow full testing to resume; if a person that failed a NCT test prior to shutdown and had to return for a visual without charge will still be allowed to present for their visual without charge; if they will now have to apply for a full retest and pay subsequent charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9243/20]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

951. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when theory test centres will reopen; the reason it is not possible to operate these centres maintaining a two metre social distance in view of the fact these centres have sufficient space to do so by reducing the number of tests at any one time; when NDLS centres will reopen; the reason it is not possible to reopen the NDLS centres by appointment only to ensure that social distance can be maintained in view of the fact their staff operate behind a screen and waiting rooms can be managed by operating an appointment only rather than walk-in service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9244/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

955. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports he will introduce to support the bus and coach sector to help it through the difficult period forecast for the sector; if he will consider proposals (details supplied) from the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9256/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

1050. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports which will be provided to community, social and tourism enterprises that have lost large levels of revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9254/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

1051. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the timeframe will be extended to allow for delays and inevitable changes in circumstances as a result of Covid-19 in circumstances in which community facilities were previously awarded funding under the town and renewal scheme for specific works which must be completed by mid-2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9265/20]