Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

School Transport

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

288. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount that will be allocated on school transport grants for students taking part in the July provision; the provision put in place to ensure social distancing is maintained on the transport; and if additional funding will be allocated to ensure that buses and so on will be cleaned each day. [12623/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

289. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider allowing retired teachers and student teachers to provide the July provision. [12630/20]

School Staff

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

290. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the situation in a school (details supplied) that will soon lose a teacher, leaving three classes to be taught in one classroom; and if he will consider maintaining the current number of teachers in the school in view of the pressures that will be on schools when they return and the need to maintain social distancing within classrooms. [12632/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

401. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if he will provide further details on the HSE-led July programme, including when this programme will take place; the timeframe of the programme; and the person or body that will be given priority in the allocation of a place on the programme. [12631/20]

Health Screening Programmes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

564. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the reason HSE cervical screening services remain paused (details supplied); when he plans to resume essential cervical screening appointments. [12605/20]

School Meals Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

860. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on the school meals programme per annum; and the amount this equates to per child. [12633/20]

School Meals Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

861. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider extending the school meals programme over the summer months. [12634/20]

Ministerial Communications

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

24. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has or will communicate to the President of the United States of America the alarm and anger regarding incidents of racist police brutality and killings, the use of violent force and plastic bullets against protesters, threats to use the military against protestors and at the use of force against members of the press; and his views on whether several fundamental human rights have been and are being broken by the actions of the US. [10117/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

170. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be an additional budget provided for schools to ensure that the increased hygiene needs of schools when they reopen will be met, including greater cleaning, sanitiser and so on; and if he will provide for the deep cleaning of schools. [10182/20]

School Curriculum

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

171. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional provision will be made for online access and access to devices for teachers and students; if an element of schooling will take place remotely after September 2020; and the strategies he has for tackling the digital divide beyond the additional funding already provided (details supplied). [10183/20]

Education Policy

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

172. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the strategies he is putting in place for ensuring that educational disadvantage is not exacerbated during this time. [10184/20]

Third Level Education

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

173. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to, and his views on a document (details supplied); if he will be in a position to provide additional funding to the third-level sector; if this will include additional funding to ensure places through SUSI, HEAR and DARE spaces; and if it will increase the number of university places overall and increase funding to ensure that sustainability and innovation within the sector is safeguarded. [10185/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

174. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the situation many students face due to the lack of income and employment available to them over the summer months which may otherwise have been available; if he is considering income supports for such students; and if he has had discussions with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection in connection with the issue. [10186/20]

Direct Provision System

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

236. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is examining the abolition of the direct provision system and the replacement of same with a form of international protection and reception which can better respect human rights and dignity and to ensure own door accommodation for asylum seekers; and if an improved system of decision making in relation to applications will be ensured. [10176/20]

Sports Organisations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

581. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the steps he is taking to ensure that an organisation (details supplied) and its clubs are sustainable. [10187/20]

School Meals Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

667. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the fact that schools may now be running out of budget for school meals for the final month of the primary school year; and if she will consider examining the extension of budgets for schools that are affected in this manner to ensure that no child loses out on nutrition that their families might also rely upon. [10178/20]

School Meals Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

668. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider taking action to ensure that children receive adequate nutrition during the summer months; and if she will consider a holiday hunger scheme. [10179/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

669. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports that exist for persons whose jobs are reopening as their workplaces reopen but that are medically vulnerable or need to cocoon and as a result, do not feel able to retake these jobs; and the appropriate payment, that is, the pandemic unemployment payment, illness benefit or other payment available in such circumstances. [10180/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

670. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the situation many students face due to the lack of income and employment available to them over the summer months which may otherwise have been available; if she is considering income supports for such students; and if she has had discussions with the Minister for Education and Skills in connection with this issue. [10181/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

278. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exact statistical methods which will be used for the standardisation of results submitted by schools in the context of the calculation of grades within the leaving certificate. [9296/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

279. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who would have sat the leaving certificate this summer who will now not be entitled to a calculated grades due to a lack of evidence or lack of access to a registered teacher for a given subject or several subjects [9297/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

280. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider arranging an alternative examination for potential leaving certificate students that will now not receive a calculated grade such as, for example, an online oral [9298/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

281. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills when it will be possible to arrange a written leaving certificate examination [9299/20]

Third Level Admissions

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

282. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that post-leaving certificate students from 2020 will be in a position to attend third-level in 2020. [9300/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

283. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if work undertaken after 12 March 2020 can be taken into consideration in the calculation of calculated grades. [9301/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

284. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage junior certificate will be factored in view of his comments that junior certificate results can be used as a safeguard to protect a strong cohort from suffering under the standardisation part of the calculated grades model; and the role it plays in the statistical model being used for standardisation [9302/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

285. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps his Department and the SEC are undertaking with regard to the leaving certificate of 2021 in view of the fact that the 2020 fifth year cohort have also suffered significantly from the lack of building-based schooling in recent times [9303/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

286. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the latest details regarding the July provision scheme. [9304/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

287. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish the current draft of plans for school buildings re-opening; his plans for schools or units to be open for teaching before summer 2020; his further plans for a combination of remote learning and in school learning when schools reopen; if an additional budget will be provided for school cleaning; if an additional budget will be provided for information technology; and if he will publish a roadmap for education to give a clear basis for schools to begin preparation for the next school year [9305/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

288. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the SIM model for SNA and special needs allocations does not allow for significant shifts within a class cohort within a year; and if he will examine this further [9306/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

289. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to ensure the significant shortfall of school places in ASD units and in special schools in County Cork is addressed. [9307/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

290. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the re-opening of schools will be on a phased basis; if it will still involve remote learning; and if he will consider additional funding to ensure access to remote learning for all primary and secondary children [9308/20]

Hospitals Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

718. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of appointments that have been cancelled by month in Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital, Cork since February 2020. [9482/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

719. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for outpatient and inpatient appointments in Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital, Cork. [9483/20]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

720. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed in May 2018, 2019 and 2020 in community psychiatry, community psychology and community CAMHS areas in County Cork by area; and the positions recruited since October 2019 in County Cork in these sectors. [9484/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

721. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if all CHO areas are providing the same advice to home helps in terms of provision of PPE and sanitiser; if all areas have the same access; and his plans to ensure that home helps in CHO areas in counties Cork and Kerry have access to PPE and sanitiser. [9485/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

722. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will consider the provision of face coverings as distinct from medical grade PPE to the public by way of large scale procurement or a scheme to ensure persons on low incomes that desire face coverings may obtain them in view of findings (details supplied) that persons living in poverty that cannot afford face coverings is problematic. [9486/20]

Road Projects

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

963. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the L2455 road upgrade: his plans to fund it; if the NTA has submitted each of its observations to Cork City Council; and if the NTA is awaiting further information from Cork City Council. [9323/20]

Tax Reliefs Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

50. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 17 December 2019, if further consideration has been given to enhanced or expanded tax relief or other forms of incentives on teleconferencing equipment with the objective of reducing emissions by minimising unnecessary travel to meetings in view of recent developments and changes in the way in which society works in terms of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7062/20]

Student Grant Scheme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

274. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the situation that applies to students that are not classed as independent for the purposes of the SUSI grant whose parents are temporarily unemployed due to Covid-19-related circumstances but do not know if they will be taken on again such as, for example, in the bar or retail trade; and if persons in these circumstances will qualify for the change of circumstances clause in SUSI. [8025/20]

English Language Training Organisations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

282. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the work being done to support English language students here; and if he has had discussions with the Minister for Justice and Equality regarding suspension of student visas until September 2020 or such point when face-to-face classes can be resumed. [8085/20]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

289. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to ensure 2020 post-leaving certificate courses are completed and-or accredited; and the way in which he will ensure that students coming from post-leaving certificate courses will be in a position to attend higher education or further courses on the strength of their course. [8120/20]

Student Visas

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

368. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the work being carried out to support English language students here; if he has considered the suspension of student visas until September 2020 or such a point when face-to-face classes can be resumed; if he has considered a guarantee that time lost due to school closures will not count towards the total number of months permitted under a student visa; and if attendance at online classes will not be a visa requirement. [8090/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

856. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration has been given to the need for a sustainability fund in view of the fact that many early years providers are under severe pressure and may not reopen after restrictions have been lifted and the fact that this is having a major impact on workers and their incomes. [7045/20]

Departmental Correspondence

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

279. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the guidance which will be given to teachers regarding the evidence they are expected to use in the calculation of grades; and the extent to which discretion will be given. [6396/20]

Departmental Correspondence

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

280. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if mock exams, junior certificate and Christmas exams will be taken account of for calculated grades; and if so, the weighting of each. [6397/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

281. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the safeguards which will be put in place to minimise the impact of school profiling; and if it is the case that school results will be adjusted upwards or downwards depending on said profile. [6398/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

282. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the approach his Department is expecting to take to provide calculated grades for students that are repeating the leaving certificate or a particular subject or that are taking a subject outside a traditional school setting in view of the fact that there may not be the same knowledge of the student or may not be the same evidence basis; and the guidance to ensure they are given a calculated grade. [6399/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

283. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria that will be used to decide whether to proceed with the leaving certificate in the coming months; the circumstances in which he will be satisfied that it is safe to run the leaving certificate; and his plans to ensure that notice will be given in order to allow for study. [6400/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

284. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if those that are home schooled will get a calculated grade. [6401/20]