Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Direct Provision System

Emer Higgins

323. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reform the direct provision system and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10697/20]

Driver Test

Emer Higgins

825. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons require driver licences in order to begin jobs; his plans to recommence driver tests in a manner that protects from the dangers of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10690/20]

Aviation Industry

Emer Higgins

826. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the task force for aviation recovery which he announced in Dáil Éireann on 3 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10693/20]

Tourism Industry

Emer Higgins

862. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his long-term plans to support the tourism industry in view of the fact that many companies are unlikely to have substantial income until spring 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11052/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Emer Higgins

910. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to reinstate ECCE for those attending school in September 2020 in view of the fact they have missed three months of learning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11055/20]

Teaching Qualifications

Emer Higgins

112. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the distanced teaching work newly qualified teachers are doing online at home will qualify towards their probation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9707/20]

School Accommodation

Emer Higgins

113. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be operating at a temporary location on a greenfield site in Ballycullen, Dublin 24 in September 2020 and will not be operating in its current location in another school for the 2020/2021 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9708/20]

Schools Building Projects

Emer Higgins

150. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the land behind the temporary classrooms for a school (details supplied) will now be used for temporary classrooms for a new educate together school; the reason the land is not being used for a permanent building for the school; the reason there has been no communication with the school on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10061/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

310. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if an exemption will be made to the requirement for passengers to self-isolate for a passenger that has recently tested negative for Covid-19 by the public health authorities in Germany and the purpose of the trip is to see their children for a few days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9856/20]

Medicinal Products

Emer Higgins

362. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the penetration rate of generic medicines in 2010 and in the most recent year for which figures are available; the penetration rate of biosimilar medicines; the amount which would be saved if the penetration rate of biosimilar medicines matched that of generic medicines; his plans to increase the penetration rate of biosimilar medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9951/20]

Dental Services

Emer Higgins

369. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the supports available to dentists under financial pressures due to the requirement to restructure their practice due to Covid-19 and additional costs for PPE and the safe disposal of PPE as clinical waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9089/20]

Rent Pressure Zones

Emer Higgins

702. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for rent pressure zones and the exemptions that exist enabling landlords to increase the rent by more than 4%; if improving the energy efficiency of a house is considered an acceptable reason for an exemption; his views on whether these exemptions need to be tightened to protect tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10054/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Emer Higgins

44. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by businesses when an employee receiving the pandemic unemployment payment leaves their job due to the fact their replacement will not be eligible for the Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme; if he will amend the scheme in order that businesses are entitled to the wage subsidy scheme for the number of employees working in the organisation in February 2020 rather than for specific employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9087/20]

Insurance Industry

Emer Higgins

45. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that insurers are increasing premiums to customers despite no claims by the customer during the Covid-19 crisis and that they are demanding 25% of the premium to continue policies in suspended mode during the crisis by which cover is reduced; his plans to intervene to ensure fairness for business owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9091/20]

Schools Building Projects

Emer Higgins

156. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the application to extend a college (details supplied) has been at stage 2B for five years and that the original planning application will expire soon; the reason for numerous requests for revised stage 2B reports on this project; the status of this application; the date by which the school will be allocated funding to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8371/20]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Emer Higgins

157. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of applications for school buildings (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8372/20]

Schools Building Projects

Emer Higgins

258. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new Citywest and Saggart post-primary school; the details of objections made; when the school will be built; the status of the sports grounds promised by the ETB; if these sports grounds will facilitate the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9095/20]

Departmental Correspondence

Emer Higgins

428. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has received and read correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) dated 7 May 2020; her views on the proposals contained in the correspondence; when it can expect a detailed response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8373/20]

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Emer Higgins

431. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the role the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission can play in circumstances in which an airline is refusing to provide compensation or vouchers to passengers that cannot catch their flight due to the fact they are obeying advice on non-essential travel and the flight is still operating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8462/20]

Credit Guarantee Scheme

Emer Higgins

462. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available for persons who have been discharged from bankruptcy, were running profitable companies for over two years until the outbreak of Covid-19 but are ineligible for loans under the credit guarantee scheme for Covid-19 due to previous bankruptcy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9090/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Emer Higgins

545. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the circumstances under which a person can acquire cannabis-based products (details supplied); the details of the clinical guidance required; the Department responsible for international controlled drug export licensing requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8463/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

649. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he has received advice from the Chief Medical Officer regarding the risk posed by the requirements in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 that segregates alcohol from other shops due to the requirement to open additional doors to purchase alcohol; if plans to implement this measure will be delayed due to the disruption caused to retailers by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9083/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

650. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if public houses that serve food can reopen similar to restaurants under phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; if not, the public houses which can reopen similar to restaurants at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9085/20]

Dental Services

Emer Higgins

651. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the provision of PPE to dentists that treat patients with sufficient PRSI payments under the treatment benefit scheme; if additional support will be provided to dentists to help with the cost of safely disposing of used PPE as clinical waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9088/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

652. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the recourse available to families when a member of the family has symptoms of Covid-19 or has tested positive for Covid-19 but refuses to self-isolate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9093/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

653. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the protocol in place in a nursing home (details supplied) for the isolation of patients that test positive for Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9094/20]

National Broadband Plan

Emer Higgins

825. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason a provider (details supplied) is refusing to provide broadband at an address, when this area is eligible for broadband under the national broadband plan; the actions the owner of the property should take to get access to broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9092/20]

Cycling Facilities

Emer Higgins

865. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide cycle lanes on the N7 to and from Rathcoole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8368/20]

Road Safety

Emer Higgins

866. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a location (details supplied) will be reviewed for safety for both cyclists and motorists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8369/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

867. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to protect taxi drivers during the Covid-19 crisis; the advice his Department is providing on adapting vehicles; the financial and non-financial supports that will be put in place to help taxi drivers with this transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8370/20]

Aviation Industry

Emer Higgins

876. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that airlines are refusing to provide compensation or vouchers to passengers who cannot catch their flights due to the fact that while the flight is still operating passengers cannot catch the flight because they are obeying advice on non-essential travel; his plans to ensure these passengers receive compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8461/20]

Aviation Industry

Emer Higgins

937. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to force an airline (details supplied) to provide a refund or a voucher to a pensioner that cannot catch a flight on 10 July 2020 due to the fact they are adhering to the guidelines on Covid-19 in order that they can take the journey in summer 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9096/20]

Local Employment Service

Emer Higgins

1115. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the review by external consultants of all contracted public employment services; the outcome of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9097/20]

Local Employment Service

Emer Higgins

1116. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of contracts with local employment services and jobs clubs to provide activation services and public employment services; when a decision will be made to extend these contracts; the criteria on which the decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9098/20]

Maternity Leave

Emer Higgins

332. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is flexibility by which maternity leave payments can be extended due to exceptional circumstances during the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7202/20]

Job Losses

Emer Higgins

405. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the support other than statutory redundancy that can be provided to workers of a company (details supplied) that has gone into liquidation; if she will invite the company to reconsider its approach and treat its staff fairly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7200/20]

Redundancy Payments

Emer Higgins

933. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports available to help workers (details supplied) in south western areas of Dublin that are facing redundancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7201/20]