Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Health Services

Bríd Smith

660. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the healthcare providers with whom contracts or service level agreements were signed between 2014 and 2016 by the HSE or his Department or health services of any form in which funding came from the State by year and company in tabular form. [34580/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

690. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if definitive clarity will be provided regarding the term support bubble; the details of that which is and is not permissible for those that form a support bubble with another person who is living alone; the action taken if a person is stopped at a Garda checkpoint on their way to visit their nominated support bubble person who lives in another county; the guidelines associated with all aspects of the formation and practice of support bubbles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34751/20]

Driver Licences

Bríd Smith

78. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the renewal of a driver licence in circumstances (details supplied). [34362/20]

Driver Licences

Bríd Smith

81. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his plans ensure that driving licences due to expire over the coming weeks during level 5 restrictions will be extended until these measures are lifted given that the NDLS has advised that appointments for non-essential workers should be cancelled by applicants and that many will be unable to avail of online or postal renewals for various reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34371/20]

Schools Health and Safety

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the introduction of a no blame occupational injury scheme has been considered for teachers and workers in the education sector; if not, her plans for the introduction of a scheme in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34421/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

64. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the restrictions and advice to persons that must travel to England and that return to Ireland via Belfast; the obligations in relation to travel locator forms and recommended isolation times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34065/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the average number of close contacts a positive case of Covid-19 has in a school setting (details supplied). [33996/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the criteria and procedures used in schools to define a close contact of a Covid-19 positive person (details supplied); the persons the public health risk assessment team consult in deciding who might be a close contact; the person or body that has the final say on what a close contact is in each case; the rationale for departing from the ECDC definitions for schools settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33997/20]

Tribunals of Inquiry

Bríd Smith

100. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of his discussions with the 221+ patient support group in relation to the CervicalCheck Tribunal; the steps he is taking to ensure the concerns of the group are dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33547/20]

Health Services Staff

Bríd Smith

105. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with a number of industrial relations disputes in the health service including those involving public health doctors and medical laboratory scientists; the steps he is taken to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33548/20]

Health and Safety Inspections

Bríd Smith

197. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of onsite inspections by HSA personnel of construction sites since the announcement of level 5 restrictions; the findings of these onsite inspections in relation to Covid-19 protocols and guidelines; the number of complaints to the HSA regarding workplaces and breaches of Covid-19 guidelines since level 5 restrictions were put in place [33317/20]

Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

268. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number, categories and expected expiration date of all existing licences in relation to current licences issued by his Department for oil and gas exploration; the number of applications currently with his Department for renewal of any of these licences; the number of applications with his Department for a progression from one type of licence to another; and if, under the terms and conditions of these licences, the Government has the right to refuse extensions or progression of existing licences in the public good or on other environmental grounds. [33299/20]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

338. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if public transport providers can cope with demand in the next six weeks while operating at only 25% of capacity; if there are plans to provide additional services on train, DART, Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33220/20]

Semi-State Bodies

Bríd Smith

459. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has plans in relation to the pension provisions for retirees of some categories of semi-State pension funds such as RTÉ that have not had a pension increase for 12 years and do not qualify for the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32474/20]

Broadcasting Sector

Bríd Smith

490. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to change the rules of the RTÉ pension scheme or similar schemes in view of fears that there may be an effective €30 million or €500,000 per annum raid of assets of the pension savings of retired RTÉ employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32473/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

798. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if a chief executive of an ETB can make a discretionary referral to the occupational health service of an employee who has been certified fit by a doctor citing the condition from which the employee has recovered. [33398/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

799. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if a chief executive of an ETB can demand that a doctor who has certified an employee as fit for work should certify that employee as unfit for work while awaiting an appointment arranged for the employee with the occupational health service; and if this is an breach of the protocols issued by her Department. [33399/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

800. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the chief executive of an ETB can refuse an employee who has been certified fit for work by a doctor access to their workplace following a judgment of medical unfitness made by the chief executive in breach of the occupational health service protocols issued by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33400/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

801. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the chief executive of an ETB can arrange an appointment for an employee with the occupational health service when such is in breach of the protocols issued by her Department. [33401/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

802. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if ETBs can impose different conditions of work on teachers who teach students in mainstream post-primary classes as against colleagues on the same contact of employment who teach students pursuing further education courses in relation, for instance, to availability of online teaching and staggered lessons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33402/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

921. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to a person over 66 years of age who is impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and self-employed but cannot currently avail of the PUP payment due to current age limits. [33344/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

922. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person over 66 years of age who runs a business as a self-employed person and currently does not qualify for a PUP payment can avail of the employment support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33345/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

1097. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the definition of a close contact for the purposes of Covid-19 tracing in primary and secondary schools; if this definition used by the HSE is in line with WHO and ECDC guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32325/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

1129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a definition of a close contact for the purposes of Covid-19 tracing; if this definition used by the HSE is in line with WHO and ECDC guidelines; if this definition is applied in primary and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32324/20]

Approved Housing Bodies

Bríd Smith

1266. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE is handing over the governance, care and accommodation needs of vulnerable persons in sheltered accommodation to an approved housing body; and if he will further clarify issues (details supplied). [32840/20]

Medicinal Products

Bríd Smith

1343. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to a medical card holder that is prescribed a drug (details supplied) prior to undertaking a colonoscopy; the actions a medical card holder should take in these circumstances; if there are alternative drugs available under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33298/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

1362. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if any HSE staff currently working on contract tracing have been redeployed from other services, specifically those involving speech and language assessments for children, occupational therapist services and NEPS psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33360/20]

Meat Processing Plants

Bríd Smith

1558. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the views of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on the issue of the placing of barriers to new entrants to the meat processing sector; his views on whether a submission from his Department to the immigrant investor programme evaluation committee in relation to a proposed facility in Banagher represents such a barrier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33837/20]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

1576. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the action she has taken in relation to whistle-blower disclosures made to and regarding a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32393/20]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

1577. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an audit of an area (details supplied) took place in March 2020; and the actions that have been taken by the relevant authorities on foot of its findings. [32394/20]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

1578. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the appointment by the local authority of an external person to work with a body (details supplied) in relation to ongoing issues there has taken place; and the cost of this external assistance. [32395/20]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

1579. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a body (details supplied) was fined in 2015 by Pobal; the reason for this; and the actions taken by relevant bodies since to avoid a repetition of the actions that resulted in this fine. [32396/20]

Legislative Reviews

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will commission a review of the effects of changes in the law regarding the offence of prostitution and specifically the effects of this change on vulnerable women; the number of women who have been charged with the offence of brothel keeping since the change to the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32021/20]

Public Inquiries

Bríd Smith

10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice her views on the demand for a public inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32020/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

64. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance when he will publish the list of companies that availed of the temporary wage subsidy scheme; if this list will detail the amount of funds claimed in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32231/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

105. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the procedures followed by schools in relation to tracing close contacts of a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the school when a member of staff or student tests positive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32229/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

106. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if there have been changes to the tracing of close contacts, including the definition of a close contact in the case of a positive case of Covid-19 in both primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32230/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

122. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if those in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment can participate in a full-time training course and retain the payment; if not, if there are plans to allow claimants to take up full-time training to improve their employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32128/20]

School Transport

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the supports available from her Department to a primary school student whose lone parent is recently blind and unable to ensure her child safely reaches school each morning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30249/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the circumstances under which a school should close as a result of staff testing positive for Covid 19; if her Department has been notified by principals of the numbers of confirmed positive cases among teachers in their school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30250/20]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

222. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to pay a Christmas bonus to recipients of social protection payments in 2020; and the date on which this will happen. [30444/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bríd Smith

230. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the steps to be taken by the parent of a child in order to secure an additional year of preschool learning under the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme (details supplied); and the body to which such an application should be made. [30394/20]

Immigrant Investor Programme

Bríd Smith

286. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 323 of 8 October 2020, the reason he has not provided a copy of the submission as requested; and if he is not in a position to do same, the reason. [30492/20]

Foras na Gaeilge

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if after ten years of reduced funding for Foras na Gaeilge she will provide an additional €4.5 million in budget 2021 to Foras na Gaeilge to fund the projects agreed by 80 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29910/20]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an additional €6 million will be provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta in its line budget to create jobs and contribute to language planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29911/20]

Foras na Gaeilge

Bríd Smith

130. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an additional €910,000 will be provided for the Irish language community scheme, SPG, organised by Foras na Gaeilge to guarantee that groups have sufficient funding to coordinate the Irish language in their areas under the scheme and that other groups in various constituencies have the opportunity to join the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29912/20]

Gaeltacht Scholarships

Bríd Smith

131. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will establish a scholarship scheme as recommended in the investment plan agreed by 80 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups to assist disadvantaged school pupils to attend summer college courses in the Gaeltacht; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29913/20]

Irish Language

Bríd Smith

132. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether investment should be made in Irish language centres in towns and cities nationally as has been done in Northern Ireland to give the language a focus in the community; if she will establish a fund to assist these centres to operate as recommended in the investment plan agreed by 80 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups; if the appropriate funding to fund such centres is included in budget 2021 for Foras na Gaeilge to distribute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29914/20]

Bullying in the Workplace

Bríd Smith

207. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence the steps he is taking to deal with issues in the Defence Forces concerning allegations of sexual abuse, bullying and harassment of personnel; his plans to implement safeguards; his plans to establish investigations or inquiries into the allegations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30192/20]

Social Insurance

Bríd Smith

311. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person’s time on maternity leave is credited as a contributory period, either paid, credited, reckonable contribution and so on for the purposes of the social insurance fund and access to certain benefits; if such a period on maternity leave is not treated as a credited period for their contributions record, her plans to change the regulation governing this for persons on maternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29953/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

436. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the HSE policy for remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic, in particular for hospital employees whose work can be done from home; if a forum is available for workers to contact should they feel they are being put under pressure to return to the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29638/20]

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence his views on the issue of formal recognition of an organisation (details supplied) in order to represent the interests of Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29109/20]

Defence Forces Review

Bríd Smith

23. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the commission for the future of the Defence Forces; the persons who will be on the board; if representatives of the Defence Forces personnel such as an organisation (details supplied) will be on the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29106/20]

Defence Forces Equipment

Bríd Smith

38. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence the value of all contracts for goods or services, including drone technology, purchased by the Defence Forces from Israel and Israeli-based firms to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29108/20]

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Bríd Smith

51. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence his views on the proposal that an organisation (details supplied) join a union as an affiliate body; if the affiliation will be supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29107/20]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Bríd Smith

52. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence the number of persons recruited to the Defence Forces under the re-enlistment scheme announced in March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29105/20]

Immigrant Investor Programme

Bríd Smith

323. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a copy of his Department’s submissions to the immigrant investor programme evaluation committee on the application for proposed development of a meat processing facility in Banagher, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29335/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Bríd Smith

155. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace inspectors in the employ of the HSA; the estimated full year cost of their employment; and the number of businesses inspected by them in 2019 and to date in 2020. [28192/20]

Workplace Relations Commission

Bríd Smith

156. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace inspectors employed by the Workplace Relations Commission; the estimated full-year cost of their employment; and the number of businesses inspected by them in 2019 and to date in 2020. [28195/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Bríd Smith

539. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the road passenger transport operators based in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, Leitrim and Longford that received payment from her Department in respect of the carriage of free travel pass holders in each of the years 2015 to 2019; and the individual routes in respect of which payment was made. [28669/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

540. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants accepted for payment of the pandemic unemployment payment in August 2020 and separately in September 2020; and the number of these who have been placed on each category of payment, that is, €203, €250 and €300, in tabular form. [28676/20]

Departmental Bodies

Bríd Smith

651. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of disease control workplace inspectors in the employ of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC; the estimated full-year cost of their employment; and the number of businesses inspected by them in 2019 and to date in 2020. [28193/20]

Meat Processing Plants

Bríd Smith

789. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspectors in his Department employed as inspectors at meat processing and food processing facilities; and the full-year cost of their employment. [28196/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the procedures will be clarified in cases in which a school incurs multiple losses of teaching and other staff as a result of Covid-19 infections or needing to isolate as a result of close contact with infected persons; the procedure in cases in which as a result of such losses the staff-pupil ratio falls below the legal requirement as outlined on page 9 of the HPSC's Covid pathway for schools, which quotes the legal requirement for the staff-pupil ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27445/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

150. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the circumstances under which a primary school may be closed as a result of Covid-19 safety guidelines and multiple cases of illness and-or suspected cases of illness; the authority that makes such a decision; if her Department has oversight of or a final say in such decisions and the role public health officials play in making such decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27688/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

151. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that have had to shut down or close specific classes since reopening as a result of either a Covid-19 outbreak or illness among staff or pupils or insufficient staff-pupil ratios; the number of teachers her Department's attention has been drawn to as having contracted Covid-19 since the reopening of schools; and the number of pupils, parents and guardians her Department's attention has been drawn to as having contracted Covid-19. [27689/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Bríd Smith

255. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the details of the road passenger transport operators based in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, Leitrim and Longford that received payment from his Department in respect of the carriage of free travel pass holders in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and the individual routes in respect of which payment was made. [27274/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

477. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 15 September 2020, if the school appealed a staff reduction as a result of a fall in pupil numbers in Spring 2020 under section D - English as an additional language, EAL; if this appeal was refused; if it is now open to the school to appeal the staff reduction under a different category as a result of difficulties experienced as a result of implementing the Covid-19 guidelines from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26930/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

566. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an applicant for the pandemic unemployment payment who has been made unemployed as a result of a lay-off due to the Covid-19 crisis and recent restrictions can be assessed on his or her income for 2020 or the period post January and February 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26893/20]

Citizenship Status

Bríd Smith

730. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if the citizenship requirement will be clarified with regard to the reckonable residency calculation; the consequence in the event a person has been absent from the State for more than six weeks in a year; if six-week absences are deducted in their entirety from the reckonable residency calculation; if not, if it is solely the excess days over six weeks that are deducted from reckonable residency calculation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27102/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

774. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the impact of level 3 Covid-10 restrictions and possible further restrictions on businesses (details supplied) in the Dublin area; and the guidance available to owners and operators of such facilities [26325/20]

Care of the Elderly

Bríd Smith

784. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when the change to the presence on-site of a gerontologist and a registered nurse took place; the person or body responsible for the change in regulations relating to the care of the elderly in long-term residential care identified by the expert panel report on page 96; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26368/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Bríd Smith

854. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the contracts and services that have been put in place with the network of 46 laboratories contracted by the State or by its agents to provide Covid-19 testing services; the names and addresses of the laboratories; if they are public or private; the amount expended to date on the contracts; the estimated amount that will be spent on same; the services that will be provided under the contracts; the duration of same; the indemnity arrangements that have been made in respect of the laboratories; if there is one template contract or more in use; and if a copy of the contracts will be released [26645/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Bríd Smith

855. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the logistics provider whose contract has been extended to include Covid-19 testing; the address of the company; the testing services the company has been contracted to provide; the identity of the contracting party; the duration of the contract; the amount expended to date on the contract; the estimated amount to be spent on same; and the indemnity arrangements that have been made in this regard [26646/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Bríd Smith

60. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of HSA inspections of airport terminals or airline operations to ensure they are complying with workplace safety measures in relation to Covid-19; if the authority is aware of or adheres to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, guidelines for airports and airlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26085/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

62. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will bring forward legislation to ensure workers in meat plants have access to a sick scheme as a safety measure in view of Covid-19 outbreaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26176/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

63. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of meat processing plants inspected by the HSA to date since the Covid-19 crisis began; the number of facilities found to be in breach of Covid-19 workplace guidelines; and the penalties that have been or will be levied. [26177/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

74. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his plans to transpose the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, guidelines on safe air travel into enforceable regulations here; if the IAA or other authority has sought to ensure that airports and airlines are operating to these guidelines; if airlines based here are adhering to Covid-19 safety protocols (details supplied) for their workforce and passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26079/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

96. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if a company (details supplied) is in receipt of the new employment subsidy scheme for its workforce; if so, the reason; the oversight and safeguards in place to ensure all companies in receipt of the subsidies are dispensing the funds to their employees; the number of employees that are topping up their employees’ wages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26001/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

136. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 15 September 2020, if a school, having previously appealed a reduction in staff under grounds contained in circular 0018/2020, can now appeal this reduction under different grounds or grounds not captured in the circular but connected to new difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 crisis and taking the necessary public health measures advice by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26046/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

262. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his Department was notified by a company (details supplied) of a Covid-19 outbreak; if so, when; the actions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26174/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

294. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department was notified by a company (details supplied) of a Covid-19 outbreak; if so, when; the actions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26173/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

30. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons, in complying with public health advice to refrain from travelling to particular countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, have incurred substantial losses as a result of airline companies’ refusal to refund them by stating that their flights are still departing; if he has had meetings with airlines to address the matter; his plans to compel airlines and or hotels to refund customers that cannot travel as a result of public health advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25832/20]

Work Permits

Bríd Smith

138. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the operation of the employment permit scheme; and the number of employment permits by category including general permit and skills shortage permits that have been issued since 2010 to or on behalf of or following an application from a third party such as an employment agency that is not the employer involved or the employee. [25597/20]

Work Permits

Bríd Smith

139. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of general employment permits issued since 2010 to the meat processing sector. [25598/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

229. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if the employment wage subsidy scheme will be reinstated at the full rate per week for the highly skilled staff and businesses working in the live events sector that are anxious to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24906/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

272. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the number of workers in receipt of the employment subsidy scheme; the number of workers that received a top-up payment from their employer; the breakdown of the levels and top- ups provided by employers; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that employer top-ups have risen as a response to the reduction in the employment subsidies provided by the State. [25595/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

273. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance when he will publish a list of the companies that availed of the wage subsidy scheme; the amounts given to the companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25596/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

275. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the provisions for workers that have left or were in their final year of service in the public sector when the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 was passed to continue working in their positions; if workers aged 66 years of age and that were still working in their positions when this legislation was enacted can continue working in line with the new age limits in the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24716/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

295. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress the Covid-19 restrictions have caused to those previously working in the live events sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24906/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

296. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if she will consider granting funding to the live events sector proportionate to the funds allocated to the Arts Council in 2020 in recognition of the fact that the sector accounts for 90% of all tickets sold here; if the critical lack of grant funding to the sector will be acknowledged; if a commitment will be given to a ringfenced fund for businesses in the sector that can remain viable until restrictions are lifted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24907/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

297. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if a voice will be given to the commercial live events sector in the recently announced task force in order to represent the substantial needs of the live events community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24908/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

493. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be reinstated at the full rate per week for the highly skilled staff and businesses working in the live events sector that are anxious to return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24906/20]

Beef Industry

Bríd Smith

241. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is policy not to pursue additional capacity within the beef sector as stated by the Immigration Investor Programme Evaluation Committee; the details of the members of the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24675/20]

Beef Industry

Bríd Smith

242. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the policy to not to pursue additional capacity denies farmers access to markets and creates barriers to trade for consumers and farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24676/20]

Proposed Legislation

Bríd Smith

243. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to providing a money message for the Island Fisheries Heritage Licence Bill 2017 if it is reintroduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24677/20]

Agriculture Industry

Bríd Smith

244. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to change the industrialised business-led model of agriculture here which has led to a biodiversity, climate and water quality crisis, in addition to a substantial decline of small family farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24678/20]

Trade Agreements

Bríd Smith

107. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the Mercosur deal and the way in which it will impact farming here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24346/20]

Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the status of the commitment on page 36 of the programme for Government to end the issuing of new licences for exploration and extraction of gas on the same basis as the recent decision on oil exploration and extraction; the legislation that will be put forward in this regard; and the form it will take. [23788/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Bríd Smith

424. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 30 July 2020, if the school appealed the reduction of staff ratio allocated for the 2020-21 school year; the outcome of the appeal; the additional resources allocated to help the school deal with class sizes of 35 from different years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23789/20]