Parliamentary questions

Schools Data

Jennifer Whitmore

244. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average class size by county in each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12479/20]

School Accommodation

Jennifer Whitmore

245. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the repair schemes for schools found to have structural defects; if repairs have been delayed by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12480/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Jennifer Whitmore

246. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills if socially distanced graduations for sixth class students can or cannot be held in summer 2020 in view of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12481/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Jennifer Whitmore

247. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills if training will be provided for one member of the in-school management team taking on the responsibility of being a Covid-19 link person; if so, if the training will include the use of PPE items for subsequent staff training; if indemnity will be provided for the staff member taking on the role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12482/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Jennifer Whitmore

248. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills if materials (details supplied) will be provided to schools to help them with the costs associated with implementing the necessary health and safety measures required under Covid-19 when schooling recommences; if so, if the supplies will be funded by his Department; if the materials will be provided through a centralised procurement process rather than schools having to source them individually in order to enable better pricing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12483/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Jennifer Whitmore

249. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills if templates (details supplied) for Covid-19 response will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12484/20]

Special Educational Needs

Jennifer Whitmore

250. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills if plans are in place during Covid-19 to address the educational needs of young persons with autism attending day services; if young persons will be included in the July provision 2020; the supports that will be provided to facilitate young persons with additional educational needs leaving secondary school and going into adult services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12485/20]

Sex Offenders Treatment Programme

Jennifer Whitmore

353. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures being implemented to address the rate of sexual offences carried out by children as referenced by a CSO report that revealed children were responsible for one fifth of all sexual offences reported by An Garda Síochána in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12603/20]

Mental Health Services

Jennifer Whitmore

563. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the status of the Jigsaw mental health service for County Wicklow announced in 2019 and due for 2019 or 2020; if there will be delays due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12604/20]

Pesticide Use

Jennifer Whitmore

613. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if plans are under way separate to the EU reapproval process to examine reducing the use of glyphosate use here except in circumstances in which it is required for specific purposes (details supplied); his plans to examine the potential ban of the substance at wholesale and retail levels with a licensing regime in place to limit and monitor use of the chemical taking into account the potential damage the substance is causing to local flora and fauna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12488/20]

Childcare Services

Jennifer Whitmore

773. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of vulnerable children, including those sponsored under the national childcare scheme, for example, children who are homeless and children funded through legacy childcare schemes, that are experiencing poverty, disadvantage or child welfare issues that will be availing of childcare services when childcare reopens on 29 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12487/20]

National Biodiversity Plan

Jennifer Whitmore

949. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of each of the Seeds for Nature commitments; the outstanding actions that need to be carried out; the timeframe for completion of the commitments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12486/20]

Special Educational Needs

Jennifer Whitmore

279. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific changes and improvements his Department has made to the July provision scheme in 2020 in view of the Covid-19 pandemic to tackle the educational and social disadvantage faced by students with special needs; the provisions being put in place which are different to previous years and which will enable more students avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11375/20]

Special Educational Needs

Jennifer Whitmore

280. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to assess the accessibility of the July provision scheme with a view to improving its reach and outcomes into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11376/20]

Patient Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

671. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the way in which persons living in County Wicklow who have hospital appointments after 1 p.m., at which time the hospital travel scheme ends, are expected to travel with limited public transport available and family assistance might not be available also; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11372/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Jennifer Whitmore

672. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the way in which access to sexual and reproductive healthcare including cervical screening, STI testing and treatment, abortion and contraceptive services have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11373/20]

A Vision for Change

Jennifer Whitmore

673. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if the revised national mental health policy, A Vision for Change, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11374/20]

Pesticide Use

Jennifer Whitmore

765. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration at EU level has begun with regard to the further renewal of approval of glyphosate which was due to begin in December 2019; if Ireland has submitted a full dossier to the member states’ assessment group on glyphosate which was due mid-June 2020; when he envisages a public consultation will be carried out on the use of glyphosate here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11371/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Jennifer Whitmore

918. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports available to business owners operating a childcare facility for those not on payroll and who are currently on the Covid-19 pandemic payment and in receipt of €300 to use towards business expenses once the pandemic payment ends; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11377/20]

House Sales

Jennifer Whitmore

1080. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will engage with developers holding onto deposits by potential homeowners in circumstances in which due to Covid-19 potential homeowners cannot draw down a mortgage due to job insecurity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11370/20]