Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Jobseeker's Allowance

Bríd Smith

519. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to those in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance that must complete a course in advance of commencing employment (details supplied); her views on whether required pre-employment course costs are often prohibitive to those that want to work but cannot due to the fact they are unable to fund the necessary course; her plans to provide funding to ensure such costs do not remain as barriers to employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24023/20]

Legislative Process

Bríd Smith

33. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if a commitment will be given that new regulations that are to become criminal offences by section 13 of the new Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 will be debated and voted on by Dáil Éireann prior to the regulations becoming law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22923/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

88. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the number of recipients of the wage subsidy scheme at the end of August 2020; the number who will be in receipt of the new employment subsidy scheme; the number who receive top-ups from their employers; the average amount of these top-ups; and the number on the new scheme who are receiving less from this support than the current jobseeker's allowance. [22961/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

89. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the measures his Department has in place to ensure that workers who remain on the employment subsidy scheme with their employers and who are working a specified number of hours per week are not receiving less than the statutory minimum wage or their former hourly pay rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22962/20]

Springboard Programme

Bríd Smith

215. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment cannot be accepted for the Springboard programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22968/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

216. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional supports he plans to provide for mature students and others that are returning or commencing third level and further education courses in 2020 in view of the fact that many will be unable to access an income from employment or casual work in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22969/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

217. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine providing additional supports to those commencing third level and further education in 2020 that are currently on the pandemic unemployment payment or the wage subsidy scheme and are faced with the difficulty of trying to commence the courses with inadequate income supports; if the back to education scheme can be extended to those currently on employment supports that have little if any prospect of returning to normal employment in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22970/20]

Departmental Contracts

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach the payments for services or goods by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 2015. [20783/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Bríd Smith

484. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if changes will be made to the teacher-pupil ratio or resources allocated to allow schools to recruit additional teachers beyond that ratio on contracts of at least six months duration in view of the Covid-19 crisis and in order to reduce reliance on and pressure on substitute teachers. [21105/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional resources that will be provided to schools such as a school (details supplied) which will lose one teacher as a result of a slight reduction in pupil numbers in September 2019 which now face arranging a return to school with at least two 35 pupil classes each from a variety of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19298/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

39. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a moratorium will be placed on proposed reductions in teacher numbers in schools as a result of changes in the number of pupils registered in September 2019 in view of the pressures that the Covid-19 crisis will have on schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19297/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the payments for services or goods by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 2015. [20769/20]

Sustainable Development Goals

Bríd Smith

148. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which commitment to the sustainable development goals will be reflected in the 2020-25 strategy and work plan of his Department; his plans to monitor and report annually on the progress towards achieving the goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19699/20]

Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

150. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a decision will be made on the five existing applications relating to licensing options and conversions to exploration licences under consideration by his Department in terms of oil and gas exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19738/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Bríd Smith

153. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of progress in respect of the Just Transition Commissioner's progress reports' aim to develop community engagement through community workshops, which had been scheduled for April 2020 but was delayed due to the national and international restrictions due to Covid-19. [19986/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Bríd Smith

165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the payments for services or goods by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 2015. [20771/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Bríd Smith

177. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the community and worker engagement process as set out for the midlands region, Bord na Móna workers and communities; the way in which the process is operating in view of Covid-19; his plans to advance community and worker engagement in respect of Bord na Móna and the just transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20976/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Bríd Smith

178. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether the community engagement aspect of a just transition has been applied successfully in other jurisdictions; his plans to instigate some of the measures in the just transition plan for the midlands region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20977/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Bríd Smith

179. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the work of the midlands regional transition team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20978/20]

Climate Action Plan

Bríd Smith

180. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the new citizens’ engagement model as mentioned in chapter 15 of the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20979/20]