Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Prisoner Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

491. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners in the prison system; the number of these sharing cells; the reduction in the number of prisoners sharing cells since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic; and the further steps proposed to be taken to reduce this number in order to reduce the risk of a large scale outbreak of Covid-19 in the prison system. [6808/20]

Prisoner Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

492. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners let out on temporary release or on community return since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic compared to the same period in 2019; the number of prisoners currently in prison serving sentences that have less than six months left to run; if consideration has been given to giving these temporary release to reduce the overcrowding in prisons in view of the experience with this disease to date in congregated settings and the risk it poses to prisoners and staff alike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6809/20]

Departmental Correspondence

Éamon Ó Cuív

493. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied) sent to him on 25 April 2020 in view of the urgent need for a detailed reply before a certain date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6810/20]

Proposed Legislation

Éamon Ó Cuív

638. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if legislation prepared by her Department will be required to implement the new measures announced recently to help businesses recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic; the progress made to date in drafting this legislation; when it is hoped to publish same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6806/20]

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Éamon Ó Cuív

837. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a review lodged by a person (details supplied) in County Galway in respect of an overclaim assessed against them is under consideration; if so, when a decision will be made on this review in view of the serious effect Covid-19 is having on the person's income and the importance of farm payments being issued to farmers in a timely manner as a result of the impact Covid-19 is having on livestock prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5569/20]

Felling Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

856. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be issued on a felling licence application submitted in May 2018 by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in making a decision in relation to the application despite assertions made by them that they expected the new procedures being put in place early in the year to process such applications would impact positively on the current backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5898/20]

Agriculture Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

883. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the overclaim assessed against a farmer (details supplied) in County Galway; the penalty imposed by scheme and scheme years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6180/20]

Legislative Measures

Éamon Ó Cuív

1187. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a new Bill must be passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas to facilitate the continued payment of social welfare payments at their current rates of payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6804/20]

Maternity Benefit

Éamon Ó Cuív

1280. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the benefits for which a person (details supplied) who is due to go on maternity leave in July 2020 and is at present on jobseeker's allowance can apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6732/20]

Maternity Benefit

Éamon Ó Cuív

1282. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the benefits available to mothers who are due to go on maternity leave and will not be entitled to maternity benefit due to the fact they work seasonally and will not be in insurable employment up to the day of their maternity leave due to Covid-19 and who are not entitled to the Covid-19 payment as a result of not being working on the relevant dates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6773/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Éamon Ó Cuív

1311. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason a family (details supplied) is deemed ineligible to be included on the housing waiting list with Galway County Council; his plans to address the anomaly by increasing the social housing eligibility income limits in Galway County Council to ensure that all families in receipt of social welfare payments are eligible to be considered for social house supports in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5555/20]

Commercial Rates

Éamon Ó Cuív

1377. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to give a full moratorium from commercial rates to those businesses that are likely to be seriously impacted for at least a year such as hospitality, tourism and certain personal services such as hairdressers and so on to enable them to survive and rebuild their businesses after Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6807/20]

Revenue Commissioners

Éamon Ó Cuív

75. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance when a reply will issue to correspondence sent to the Revenue Commissioners on 11 of December 2019 (details supplied); the reason for the delay in replying to this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4636/20]

Mortgage Interest Relief Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

76. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of tax foregone that would arise if mortgage interest relief was to be introduced on house purchases and renovations for new mortgages and existing mortgages up to a value of €400,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4637/20]

Coastal Erosion

Éamon Ó Cuív

131. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Office of Public Works will finish consideration of an application from Galway County Council for funding to appoint a consultant to propose works to deal with coastal erosion in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4631/20]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Éamon Ó Cuív

132. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he plans to eliminate the reduced starting pay scales for civil and public servants introduced as an emergency measure in 2011 and 2012; the reason for continuing with this perceived unfair and discriminatory salary regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4644/20]

Public Sector Pensions

Éamon Ó Cuív

133. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the discussions that have taken place on ensuring that Garda pensioners receive increases in their pensions in line with Garda pay increases and that such pensioners are represented at talks on pay and conditions in An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4655/20]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

224. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide funding for urgent repairs to the roof of a school (details supplied) in view of the refusal of an application for emergency repairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4630/20]

Scéim na nOibreacha Samhraidh

Éamon Ó Cuív

225. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a bheidh athbhreithniú déanta ar an iarratas ó scoil ar dheontas faoi Scéim na nOibreacha Samhraidh (sonraí tugtha) de bharr na práinne maidir leis an obair a theastaíonn; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4639/20]

Summer Works Scheme Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

226. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools approved for works under the summer works scheme 2020; the number of applications received in each year since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4640/20]

Stádas Scoile

Éamon Ó Cuív

227. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén fáth nach bhfuil stádas Scoileanna Beaga ag na meánscoileanna ar na hoileáin amach ón gcósta; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4649/20]

Student Grant Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

228. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes he will make to the scheme for higher education grants to ensure that pharmacy students have access to the full undergraduate rate of SUSI grant for their final year of mandatory study to qualify as pharmacists, which is now designated as a master's degree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4658/20]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Éamon Ó Cuív

265. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a primary school teacher who is on a fixed term contract for eight hours a week and is also is employed in a Gaeltacht school as a language support teacher under the OLCS system (details supplied) will continue to get paid during the closure of schools to 29 March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4957/20]

Departmental Communications

Éamon Ó Cuív

330. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a reply will issue to a request submitted to his Department (details supplied) by the Galway West county coroner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3932/20]

Refugee Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

368. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons assisted under the community sponsorship Ireland scheme for refugees; the number of applications on hand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4635/20]

Proposed Legislation

Éamon Ó Cuív

369. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he plans to introduce legislation to amend the personal insolvency legislation in line with recommendations arising from the section 141 consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4660/20]

Disability Services Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

457. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps taken by the HSE to provide a comprehensive care plan for a person (details supplied) involving the relevant disability and educational organisations providing for them; if such a plan will be fully funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3952/20]

Disability Services Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

489. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be transferred from the ASD services in Mervue, County Galway to the ASD services in Briarhill, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4154/20]

Disabilities Assessments

Éamon Ó Cuív

570. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be issued with an appointment for an assessment with the ASD services in counties Galway and Roscommon; the reason for the delay in issuing them with an appointment in view of the fact that they have been on the waiting list for a significant period of time; his plans to reduce the waiting times experienced by children and families waiting for ASD assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4466/20]

Primary Care Centres Staff

Éamon Ó Cuív

632. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if, between 2019 and 2020, 153 posts will be supressed in CHO2 the primary care unit that has responsibility for primary care in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon; the steps he plans to take to reverse same in view of the vital services being withdrawn in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4628/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Éamon Ó Cuív

633. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure adequate care for persons with an intellectual disability who may be impacted by Covid-19 either directly or indirectly in view of their vulnerability to change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4629/20]

Foireann Seirbhíse Sláinte

Éamon Ó Cuív

634. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Sláinte cén fáth nach bhfuil ach conradh bliana á thairiscint maidir le post an dochtúra ar Inis Oírr; cé na socruithe atá i bhfeidhm chun locum a chur ar fáil don dochtúir atá ag obair ar an oileán; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4650/20]

Healthcare Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

635. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in implementing the special island health policy published in the past year; the health services that have been or are proposed to be withdrawn from the islands since the publication of this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4652/20]

Disability Services Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

636. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his plans to reverse the cuts of €20 million announced for the intellectual disability sector in January 2020; his further plans to provide extra funding to service unmet needs in this sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4653/20]

Water Fluoridation

Éamon Ó Cuív

637. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reviews carried out over the past nine years into the use of fluoride in water to ascertain the advantages and possible risk from same; the discussions that have taken place at EU level on the issue; the number of other EU countries that have the same policy as Ireland in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4654/20]

HSE Staff Recruitment

Éamon Ó Cuív

638. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person offered a job (details supplied) with the HSE in January 2019 will receive their work contract to commence work; the reason the person has not been employed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4656/20]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

705. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will cover the weekly nursing home care cost in respect of a person (details supplied) who was recently admitted to a nursing home from a recent respite stay while an application for the nursing home support scheme is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4898/20]

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

909. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the large number of reviews of land eligibility in respect of agriculture schemes on the Aran Islands, County Galway, will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4131/20]

Agriculture Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

918. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a replacement payment will be provided for an agricultural payment made some time ago to a person (details supplied) which was never cashed; when the payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4645/20]

National Broadband Plan

Éamon Ó Cuív

991. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when connections will be made to houses and businesses under the national broadband plan; the number of houses and businesses contracted to be connected each year until the completion of the plan; when information will be available to consumers based on Eircode as to when they can expect to receive a broadband service under the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4633/20]

Energy Efficiency

Éamon Ó Cuív

992. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discussions he has had with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, to ensure that its grants for houses have a 50% top-up for work carried out on the offshore islands in view of the extra cost of carrying out such work on islands and the need to use the offshore islands as a model of best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4657/20]

Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

1176. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reintroduce mortgage interest supplement to assist those that may become redundant or be absent from work due to Covid-19 to ensure they can pay the interest part of their mortgages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4638/20]

Property Registration Authority

Éamon Ó Cuív

1263. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are a large number of issues arising with folios due to errors that occurred during digitisation by the Property Registration Authority and that there are long delays in getting these corrected, which is holding up land and property transactions; the steps he plans to take to deal with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4634/20]

Seaweed Harvesting

Éamon Ó Cuív

1264. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there is a time limit in place as to when seaweed harvesters can lodge claims for title to cut seaweed in certain areas based on long usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4641/20]

Seaweed Harvesting Potential

Éamon Ó Cuív

1265. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress made to date in developing proposals to amend the Foreshore Acts as they relate to seaweed harvesting to protect the small traditional seaweed harvesters around the coast and to ensure protection of the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4642/20]

Seaweed Harvesting Potential

Éamon Ó Cuív

1266. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of seaweed harvesting licences granted in the past five years; the tonnage involved; the average length of each licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4643/20]

Local Authority Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

1267. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he plans to take to address the funding shortfall in funding for Galway County Council and Galway City Council as identified in the report of the expert group to examine the amalgamation of Galway city and county councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4647/20]

House Purchase Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

1280. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department issued a directive to Galway City Council to only purchase one-bedroom houses and apartments for social housing; if so, when this directive was issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4862/20]

House Purchase Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

1282. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the cut that has taken place in the acquisition programme of individual existing properties by Galway City Council for 2020 as compared to 2019; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4869/20]

Calafoirt agus Céanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

1307. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le forbairt na Cé in Inis Oírr; cén uair atá súil aici deontas a cheadú don obair riachtanach ar an gCé a bhfuarthas cead pleanála di i 2008; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [3949/20]