Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pearse Doherty

377. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she is considering financial support packages for those in the music industry, including artists and producers, whose livelihoods have been severely impacted by Covid-19; if she will provide clarity as to when live music in venues can recommence in particular small gigs in local bars; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12060/20]

Early School Leavers

Pearse Doherty

389. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the allocation of funding for the establishment of a school leavers disability hub in the Gweedore area of County Donegal; the plans in place to progress such a facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11767/20]

National Broadband Plan

Pearse Doherty

637. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the time frame for the roll-out of at least 30 Mbps broadband speeds to a location (details supplied) in County Donegal as part of the National Broadband Plan; if such areas with poor or no broadband coverage will be prioritised during the roll out phase of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12064/20]

Driver Licences

Pearse Doherty

677. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if medical reports issued for driver licence renewal appointments cancelled due to Covid-19 will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12055/20]

Driver Licences

Pearse Doherty

678. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a medical report for a person (details supplied) was not accepted for a rebooked driver licence renewal appointment at an NDLS centre in County Donegal in which an initial appointment was cancelled due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12056/20]

Sports Funding

Pearse Doherty

679. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the funding application by a club (details supplied) for a new stadium; if the research and analysis into the project has been completed; the findings of such research and analysis; if there has been consultation with the club in respect of the project; and when a decision on the funding will be made. [12059/20]

Fire Service

Pearse Doherty

886. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the mandatory retirement age for members of the fire service; if the retirement age may be extended for certain persons; if this dispensation is made at the discretion of the local authority concerned; if such an exemption exists, the maximum age at which fire personnel may remain in their role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12139/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Pearse Doherty

941. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is considering financial support packages for those in the music industry, including artists and producers whose livelihoods have been severely impacted by Covid-19; if she will provide clarity as to when live music in venues can recommence in particular small gigs in local bars; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12061/20]

Scéimeanna Tacaíochta

Pearse Doherty

942. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil tacaíocht á cur ar fáil ag a Roinn do na hIonaid Pobail sa Ghaeltacht, go háirithe na cinn sin ina mbíonn na coláistí Gaeilge lonnaithe agus atá ag cailleadh amach mar gheall ar na coláistí sin a bheith curtha ar ceal i mbliana. [12072/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Pearse Doherty

480. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has been referred from Letterkenny University Hospital to Galway University Hospital for heart surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10524/20]

Aquaculture Licences

Pearse Doherty

737. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of oyster farm licences granted to persons for such activity in Redcastle foreshore in Lough Foyle, County Donegal; if further licences have been applied for; the consultation period relating to same; the steps being taken to ensure that such licensing applications are commensurate to the local environs; if decision makers are mindful of the threat such marine-based activities pose to the tourism potential of scenic locations such as along the Wild Atlantic Way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10556/20]

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Pearse Doherty

743. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a decision on an application for a targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, grant for young farmers. [10726/20]

Mortgage Schemes

Pearse Doherty

85. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered legislation, as has been implemented in other EU jurisdictions, that would prohibit the accrual of debt for the period of moratorium for those availing of a mortgage moratorium or payment break; the way in which it would interact with European Banking Authority guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10395/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Pearse Doherty

86. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the engagement he has had with the insurance industry in relation to business interruption caused by Covid-19 and in the event of further outbreaks of Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021; the impact the UK High Court test case on business interruption by the UK Financial Conduct Authority will have on businesses here but with insurance policies provided or underwritten by UK companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10396/20]

Institutes of Technology

Pearse Doherty

181. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the decision to downgrade the LYIT school of tourism to a department within the school of business; the plans in relation to the future of the LYIT Killybegs campus; if there are plans to facilitate other courses from other departments in LYIT within the campus; his plans to ensure that the Killybegs campus will have a representative at the governing board of LYIT in the future that will represent the interests of the Killybegs campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10265/20]

Enterprise Data

Pearse Doherty

296. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications, loans or grants approved under the Covid-19 working capital scheme, the credit guarantee scheme, the Covid-19 loan through Microfinance Ireland and the €250 million restart grant for small businesses since 23 March 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10257/20]

Enterprise Data

Pearse Doherty

297. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the value of applications, loans or grants approved under the Covid-19 working capital scheme, the credit guarantee scheme, the Covid-19 loan through Microfinance Ireland and the €250 million restart grant for small businesses since 23 March 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10258/20]

Employment Rights

Pearse Doherty

632. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the annual leave entitlements childcare professionals and workers are entitled to during the current Covid-19 pandemic period in which they are not working; if employers can insist such workers take annual leave during the period in which they are not working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10087/20]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Pearse Doherty

51. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when vehicle registration tax offices will reopen. [8375/20]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pearse Doherty

569. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment date in the ENT clinic in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8583/20]

Health Services

Pearse Doherty

697. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of residents of nursing homes disaggregated by the number or percentage of residents in private and voluntary nursing homes and in public nursing homes. [9353/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Pearse Doherty

698. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of residents of nursing homes who died from Covid-19 related illnesses disaggregated by the number or percentage of those residents in private and voluntary nursing homes and in public nursing homes. [9354/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Pearse Doherty

699. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of residents as a proportion of all nursing home residents living in nursing homes reported by HIQA to the HSE as those centres with poor compliance with key regulations, as those services were at increased risk of Covid-19 outbreaks as per HIQA evidence at the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response on 26 May 2020; and the proportion of this cohort of residents living in private and voluntary settings compared to public settings. [9355/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Pearse Doherty

700. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of residents living in nursing homes reported by HIQA to the HSE as those centres with poor compliance with key regulations, as those services were at increased risk of Covid-19 outbreaks as per HIQA evidence before the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response on 26 May 2020 who died from Covid-19 related illnesses as a proportion of all those nursing home residents who died from Covid-19 related illnesses. [9356/20]

Hospital Services

Pearse Doherty

723. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 10 October 2019, the progress made with the review; when the review will conclude; if the findings of the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9490/20]

Primary Medical Certificates

Pearse Doherty

578. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has been refused a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7729/20]

Hospital Services

Pearse Doherty

770. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to have an operation on their back carried out in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6495/20]

Vehicle Testing

Pearse Doherty

1037. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of NCT tests due between 1 and 28 March 2020 but were unable to take place due to no available dates for testing before 28 March 2020. [6592/20]

Working Family Payment

Pearse Doherty

1241. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was refused the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6146/20]

VAT Payments

Pearse Doherty

84. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider VAT deferrals for a prescribed period of time for SMEs and certain sectors affected by a loss of trade as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak in the coming weeks and months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5012/20]

Bank Charges

Pearse Doherty

85. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider banning all card transaction charges on contactless and chip-and-pin payments in order to encourage non-cash payments as a measure to reduce hand contact in the coming weeks and months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5014/20]

Bank Charges

Pearse Doherty

86. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider abolishing all card transaction charges on contactless and chip-and-pin payments recently introduced by a bank (details supplied) in order to encourage non-cash payments as a measure to reduce hand contact in the coming weeks and months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5015/20]

Exchequer Returns

Pearse Doherty

87. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the projected impact on the public finances as a result of a loss of trade and economic activity due to the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 and 2021 including impact to revenue, expenditure and the General Government Balance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5016/20]

Public Expenditure Policy

Pearse Doherty

88. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the sources of revenue and or funding which will be utilised in the event of an economic shock to implement expenditure commitments as outlined in the Revised Estimates 2020 and the most recent stimulus package in response to the Covid-19 outbreak including but not limited to borrowing and utilising resources from the NAMA surplus and the social insurance fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5017/20]

Commencement of Legislation

Pearse Doherty

89. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when each section of the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019 will be commenced; when it will be commenced in its entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5019/20]

NAMA Operations

Pearse Doherty

90. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the way in which the expected surplus to be transferred from NAMA to the Exchequer will be utilised in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5020/20]

Financial Services Sector

Pearse Doherty

97. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the correspondence he has had with an organisation (details supplied) regarding the application of additional interest on mortgage loans by banks and non-banks in circumstances in which the mortgage holder has availed of a three month mortgage break as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5286/20]

Financial Services Sector

Pearse Doherty

98. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the correspondence he has had with the five retail banks regarding the application of additional interest on mortgage loans by banks and non-banks in circumstances in which the mortgage holder has availed of a three month mortgage break as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5287/20]

Financial Services Sector

Pearse Doherty

99. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the correspondence he has had with the Central Bank regarding the application of additional interest on mortgage loans by banks and non-banks in circumstances in which the mortgage-holder has availed of a three month mortgage break as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5288/20]

Financial Services Sector

Pearse Doherty

100. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the correspondence he has had with a bank (details supplied) regarding the application of additional interest on mortgage loans in circumstances in which the mortgage holder has availed of a three month mortgage break as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5289/20]

Banking Sector

Pearse Doherty

101. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the correspondence he has had with a bank (details supplied) regarding its refusal to offer full three month mortgage breaks for mortgage holders who are in mortgage arrears but have lost income as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5290/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Pearse Doherty

102. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the measures he has or will take to ensure that those who had net weekly pay of less than €500 before the introduction of the temporary wage subsidy scheme do not receive less than €350 per week if their employer has applied for the temporary wage subsidy scheme; if a minimum weekly payment of €350 per week to the scheme will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5291/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Pearse Doherty

103. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of employers who have applied to the temporary wage subsidy scheme; and the number of employees who applied in this regard. [5292/20]

Commercial Rates

Pearse Doherty

1293. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider a deferral period or a prescribed period of time in which commercial rates are lifted for SMEs and certain sectors affected by a loss of trade as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak in the coming weeks and months, with the Exchequer replacing the shortfall in revenue for local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5013/20]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Pearse Doherty

533. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 26 November 2019, when a reply will issue. [2674/20]

Services for People with Disabilities

Pearse Doherty

534. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 20 November 2019, when a reply will issue. [2675/20]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pearse Doherty

535. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 11 December 2019, when a reply from the HSE will issue. [2676/20]