Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Driver Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

117. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to suspend temporarily the requirement to have a medical certificate for the renewal of a C or E licence or, alternatively, if he plans to extend the duration of these licences in view of the pressure on general practitioners at present due to the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2858/21]

Commencement of Legislation

Éamon Ó Cuív

572. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when he plans making an order activating the provisions in the existing Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 relating to the unit pricing for alcohol in view of the success of similar legislation in Scotland, which has a land border with England; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2612/21]

Medicinal Products

Éamon Ó Cuív

574. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when it is planned to approve a drug (details supplied), which would be life changing for many persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2616/21]

Seirbhísí Farantóireachta

Éamon Ó Cuív

723. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cén plé a bhí ag a Roinn leis na soláthraithe seirbhíse farantóireachta atá ar conradh ag a Roinn chun seirbhís paisinéirí a chur ar fáil do na hoileáin, leis na húdaráis áitiúla iomchuí, leis an Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara agus leis An nGarda Síochána chun a chinntiú go bhfuil siad ag cloí go hiomlán leis na rialacháin agus leis an gcomhairle sláinte poiblí i dtaobh Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2418/21]

Tax Code

Éamon Ó Cuív

55. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to amend the law on benefit-in-kind for having a company car for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic in view of the Government's requests and restrictions limiting travel which, unless the law is amended, will put a large financial burden on those who have the use of a company car; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2041/21]

Special Educational Needs

Éamon Ó Cuív

130. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if she will have a virtual meeting in January 2021 with the management and parents representatives of a special school (details supplied) that caters for pupils with severe and profound disabilities as they have requested regarding prioritising the reopening of the school as a matter of extreme urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2068/21]

Special Educational Needs

Éamon Ó Cuív

131. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure on campus education is available as soon as possible for children with disabilities and those attending special schools and classes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2069/21]

Child Protection

Éamon Ó Cuív

162. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the protections in place to prevent a parent leaving the country with a young child born here who has dual citizenship without the permission of the other parent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1991/21]

Medicinal Products

Éamon Ó Cuív

213. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the consideration being given to making a therapy (details supplied) available to those for whom this therapy is the best hope of their retaining vision; the stage the process is at; the estimated number of persons in Ireland that would benefit from the therapy each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2043/21]

GLAS Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

241. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when outstanding GLAS payments will be made to a farmer (details supplied) in County Galway; if the delay in payments is as a result of a problem with his Department’s IT system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1942/21]

Local Improvement Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

251. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason the local improvement scheme for 2021 requires that one of the applicants is a farmer at a time when a smaller proportion of the rural population is engaged in farming and that many rural dwellers live on roads that have never been taken in charge by the local authority in their area; the reason if two or more landholders have land adjacent to an existing non-council road and there is at least one house on this section of road is not eligible for the scheme; the consultations she has had with local authority and members of Dáil Éireann in rural Ireland on this stipulation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2040/21]

Driver Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

196. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if it is planned to give a further exemption to persons over 70 years of age renewing their driving licences in relation to the need to have a medical certificate with the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1708/21]

Special Educational Needs

Éamon Ó Cuív

474. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) for children with a severe profound intellectual disability will be allowed open irrespective of decisions made for other mainstream schools in view of the dependence of the students and their parents on the school services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1119/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Éamon Ó Cuív

501. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the arrangements made to ensure all primary and secondary school pupils and particularly all pupils sitting State examinations in 2021 will have access to full-time online tuition by their teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1389/21]

Childcare Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

605. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the arrangements being made to ensure childcare for preschool and school-age children is available to front-line staff in the health services and other essential services while schools remain closed and many childcare centres are not in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1666/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Éamon Ó Cuív

878. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for orthopaedic appointments in University Hospital Galway; the measures being taken to reduce the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45134/20]

Aquaculture Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

1137. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for aquaculture licences on hand at present; the number of these applied for in each of the past ten years; the average time for processing licence applications at present; the steps he will take to ensure all applications are dealt with expeditiously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1180/21]

Ceadúnú Báid Iascaireachta Mara

Éamon Ó Cuív

1149. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara céard iad na céimeanna atá i gceist aige a thógáil chun an stoc portán agus gliomach a chaomhnú timpeall an chósta de bharr an mhéid iascach atá a dhéanamh orthu; an bhfuil sé i gceist aige srian a chur ar iascach gliomach an t-am seo den bhliain amach ó na hoileáin chun an stoc a chaomhnú do na báid bheaga nach bhfuil in ann cur chun farraige go sabháilte an t-am seo den bhliain; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [1369/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1168. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the Brexit fishing deal; the amount of quota that has been forfeited by each of the remaining EU members as part of the deal in absolute terms and as a proportion of their total EU fishing quota; the impact this will have on the Irish fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1558/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1169. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the objective basis or criteria by which boats were selected for the revised list sought by the European Union for permission to access and fish in UK waters; the processes that were followed in drawing up this list; if these consultations involved bodies outside of his Department; the timeframe involved in this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1559/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1170. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the producer and other groups that were consulted when the revised list was been drawn up to be submitted by the EU for permission to fish in UK waters; the consideration that was given to boats that are not members of producer groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1560/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1171. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if compensation will be given to boats that traditionally fished in UK waters and have not been given this permission since 1 January 2021, in view of the serious loss of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1561/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1172. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the percentage of EU fishing waters that were made up of Irish fishing waters around our coast prior to 1 January 2021, in tabular form; the percentage of EU fishing waters that are now, after Brexit, made up of Irish fishing waters around our coast; the effect this will have on our fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1562/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1173. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the percentage of the EU catch of fish allocated to Ireland by way of quota or otherwise in 2020, in tabular form; the percentage that will now be available to Ireland in 2021, after Brexit; the estimated volume and value in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1563/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1174. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek an immediate review of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, post Brexit, to better reflect the percentage of each remaining member states contribution to the EU fishing waters and to address the historic wrong done to Ireland in the Common Fisheries Policy to date, particularly as an island nation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1564/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1175. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in view of the changes brought about by Brexit, he plans designating extra ports for landing fish from boats registered outside the EU to facilitate boats owned by Irish fishermen, North and South, but registered in Northern Ireland land at ports other than Killybegs and Castletownbere, which are the only ports designated for this purpose at this point in time; if he has considered the risk of not having extra ports designated in the context of smaller boats having to steam numerous hours at sea to land at a designated port; the analysis that has been done on the possible carbon footprint saving on designating extra ports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1565/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1176. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if boats registered in Northern Ireland are categorised as non-EU boats in relation to the requirement for non-EU boats to land fish at designated ports; if he will outline his reply in the context of the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland protocol in terms of citizenship rights of persons living on this island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1566/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1177. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of registered boats in the Irish fishing register; the number of these also registered with a producer group; the method by which consultation is carried out with boat owners not registered with a producer group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1567/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1178. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of boats recommended by his Department for permission to fish for prawns in the revised list sought by the EU for this purpose, by port of origin; the total number of Irish registered boats that traditionally fished for prawns in UK waters, broken down on the same basis; the method by which they were selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1568/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1179. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Brexit has brought about changes in the Voisinage fishing arrangement that existed up to now between Ireland and Northern Ireland; the details of these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1569/21]

Forbairt Calaí agus Céanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

1197. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cén uair atá sé i gceist aici go mbeidh deis ag ionadaithe ó Phobal Inis Meáin scrúdu a dhéanamh ar an obair atá déanta ar riachtanais na hoibre ar Ché an Chalaidh Mhóir in Inis Meáin ag comhairleoirí i gCorcaigh, cibé acu go fisiciúil nó go fíorúil, de bharr na práinne a bhaineann le dul ar aghaidh le hobair phleanála ar an gCé seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [1368/21]

Forbairt Calaí agus Céanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

1198. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cén dul chun cinn atá déanta go dtí seo maidir le forbairt na cé in Inis Oírr; an bhfuil cás gnó maidir leis an gcé curtha chuig an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe agus, más amhlaidh go bhfuil, cathain a cuireadh ar aghaidh é; cad iad na staidéir a chaithfear a dhéanamh fós sula mbeidh tairiscintí á lorg don togra; cén staid ag a bhfuil na staidéir sin agus cén uair a mheastar go mbeidh siad ar fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [1661/21]

CLÁR Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

82. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to develop and diversify the CLÁR programme in 2021 which focuses on the areas of highest population decrease since 1926; the measures approved under the CLÁR programme in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43080/20]

Industrial Relations

Éamon Ó Cuív

112. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the involvement of his Department in talks to try resolve the issue regarding a company (details supplied) and to ensure such occurrences do not happen again; if it is intended to implement the Duffy-Cahill report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43082/20]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Éamon Ó Cuív

151. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding made available from his Department in 2020 to Údarás na Gaeltachta; the programmes involved in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43081/20]

Bus Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

279. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on providing assistance to the bus and coach industry particularly companies that provide tourist coach services; the results of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44353/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

280. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the support that has been made available since the foreign tourism industry virtually closed down in March 2020 to support the chauffeur drive and limousine industry; if further supports are planned in view of the large overheads in terms of borrowing many in the industry face; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44354/20]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Éamon Ó Cuív

296. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if persons who import motor vehicles before the end of 2020 will pay the pre-1 January 2021 rates of Vehicle Registration Tax, VRT, and be exempt from VAT and customs duty, in the case of a hybrid car will get the current VRT relief that ends on 31 December 2020, in the event that none of the National Car Testing centres that operate registration on behalf of the Road Safety Authority and the State cannot give an appointment before 31 December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44338/20]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Éamon Ó Cuív

298. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if there is a reciprocal arrangement with the UK authorities for the transfer from them of the registration book of a second-hand car to this jurisdiction in cases in which the book is held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea, as this is needed to register a car here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44357/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

299. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the reason public houses that serve food seasonally cannot continue to avail of the Covid restrictions support scheme if they choose not to open for the Christmas and the winter season in view of the unviability of opening such premises in many rural areas at this time of year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44359/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

302. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if the applications received for the Covid restrictions support scheme prior to the new guidelines for the scheme being issued in December 2020 will be assessed on the guidelines in place at the time of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44403/20]

Departmental Offices

Éamon Ó Cuív

310. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the use being made of a building (details supplied); if it is planned to move further sections of his Department to this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44355/20]

Home Loan Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

342. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reduce the requirement to have 30% savings to qualify for a Rebuilding Ireland home loan as many persons find it difficult to save due to the excessive rents they have to pay; the number of loans approved to date by county and year; the number drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44349/20]

Foreshore Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

343. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department received an application for a foreshore licence for coastal protection works between Blackrock and Silverstrand in Galway city; if so, the status of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44360/20]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

344. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if discussions have taken place between Galway County Council and the NPWS in relation to the method statements that are required to be agreed with the NPWS as part of the planning conditions for the upgrade of the N59 road from Oughterard to Bunakill; the progress made in agreeing method statements to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44392/20]

School Enrolments

Éamon Ó Cuív

385. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if she plans to increase the number of students at a college (details supplied) that will be permitted to be admitted into first year in September 2021 to accommodate all students in the catchment area who wish to attend it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44330/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Éamon Ó Cuív

387. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the reason special needs assistants only get three days of compassionate leave when a parent or other close relatives dies and other staff such a teachers get five days; her plans to address this inequality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44340/20]

Scéim na nOibreacha Samhraidh

Éamon Ó Cuív

389. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil aon deontas nó cúnamh ar fáil ón a Roinn le láthair súgartha riachtanach a fhorbairt ag scoil (sonraí tugtha), go mór do na scoláirí atá faoi mhíchumas, is scoil a bhfuil leathnú mór agus feabhas á chur uirthi; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44361/20]

Carer's Allowance

Éamon Ó Cuív

420. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer's allowance review for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44185/20]

Local Employment Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

428. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to ensure there is delivery of a local employment service in County Galway by a company located in County Galway; when tenders will issue for such a service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44341/20]