Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Gorse Burning

Steven Matthews

1194. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 2 June 2021, the membership of the inter-agency gorse fire group; the number of times the group has met in tabular form; if any reports were produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31206/21]

Gorse Burning

Steven Matthews

1195. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 2 June 2021 (details supplied), if he will outline the basis for the inter-agency gorse fire group being disbanded; if he proposes a similar group to be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31208/21]

Animal Welfare

Steven Matthews

1196. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 212 of 2 June 2021, if he plans to conduct an up-to-date report on deer management in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31217/21]

Fire Safety

Steven Matthews

106. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 27 June 2017, if he will provide an update on the establishment of the inter-agency gorse fire group; if the group still operates; if so, if the membership of this group will be outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29890/21]

National Parks

Steven Matthews

107. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding an official centrally held map of the Wicklow National Park boundaries; if a copy of same will be provided; if such a mapping project has been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29891/21]

School Curriculum

Steven Matthews

140. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 459 of 18 May 2021, if her attention has been drawn to an issue in a number of schools whereby parents are seeking to object to the teaching of a programme (details supplied) by opting out of these lessons leaving their children to feel excluded; her views in relation to the merits of this programme.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30107/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Steven Matthews

144. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the campaign led by an organisation (details supplied) that is calling for free travel passes to be provided for all those not permitted to drive due to their epilepsy diagnosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30127/21]

Animal Welfare

Steven Matthews

212. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request that an up-to-date report on deer management in the Wicklow mountains is carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29996/21]

Environmental Policy

Steven Matthews

90. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the role his Department plays in ensuring that mineral exploration and mining in Ireland supports the economy and protects the national environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29431/21]

Environmental Policy

Steven Matthews

125. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the efforts he plans to make to promote the international phasing out of fracked gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29432/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

263. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance the details of the uptake of the stay and spend scheme to date; if he plans to reintroduce a similar scheme to incentivise domestic travel and spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29531/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

305. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will investigate the case of drive in movies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29709/21]

Direct Provision System

Steven Matthews

11. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details regarding in-person inspections of direct provision centres during level 5 public health restrictions in the first five months of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26715/21]

Direct Provision System

Steven Matthews

92. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding in-person inspections of direct provision centres given that public health guidelines have been reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26716/21]

Rail Network

Steven Matthews

78. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to matters in relation to the Barrow bridge (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28437/21]

Rail Network

Steven Matthews

97. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the maintenance of the Wexford to Waterford railway line; if he plans to maintain the previous maintenance schedule that had been in place in recent years; if it will be ensured that this section is included in the strategic rail review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27573/21]

Driver Test

Steven Matthews

135. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons currently on the waiting list for the standard driver theory test; the mechanisms being put in place to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27871/21]

Product Labelling

Steven Matthews

106. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to a campaign in Wales that seeks to require both Welsh and English labelling on all products for sale in that jurisdiction; if such an initiative could be considered in Ireland to encourage the use of the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26736/21]

School Curriculum

Steven Matthews

459. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a programme (details supplied); if opt out mechanisms are in place for teachers or parents who are opposed to the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25584/21]

Care Services

Steven Matthews

798. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing closure of HSE day services and respite services for those in need of round-the-clock care and the damaging impact it is having on their carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24150/21]

Climate Change Policy

Steven Matthews

145. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the basis for microgeneration not being included in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021, a concept previously referenced in the Climate Action Plan 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22805/21]

Driver Licences

Steven Matthews

159. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding a previous commitment that if implemented would allow asylum seekers to apply for Irish driver licenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22953/21]

Building Regulations

Steven Matthews

321. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the Departmental working group that was set up to investigate potential amendments to building regulations to require changing places (details supplied) in suitable public buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23213/21]

Planning Guidelines

Steven Matthews

322. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the roll-out of a nationwide e-planning system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23214/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

408. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide details of the music entertainment business assistance scheme; and the timeline for the roll-out of same. [22315/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

409. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the mechanisms her Department has put in place to ensure an open competition for project tendering with regard to the recent grant funding allocated to local authorities to fund live performances in summer 2021. [22316/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

620. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the use of outside facilities (details supplied) by schools under current Covid-19 restrictions; and if guidance has been offered to schools in this regard. [22186/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

1076. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the public Covid-19 guidelines with respect to outdoor holiday campsites that cater for self-contained vehicles only; and if clear information will be provided to this sector regarding when it will be permitted to reopen. [22187/21]

Medicinal Products

Steven Matthews

1082. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the campaign led by an organisation (details supplied) regarding access for all persons with type 1 diabetes to the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22224/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

1083. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding Irish citizens returning home after residing abroad who received a non-EMA approved Covid-19 vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22226/21]

Housing Policy

Steven Matthews

752. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the referendum on the right to housing as set out in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19544/21]

Health Services

Steven Matthews

2307. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the resources he is providing to assist persons with Prader-Willi syndrome and their carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20541/21]

Health Services

Steven Matthews

2308. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding Departmental reviews of existing services available for those with Prader-Willi syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20543/21]

Aviation Industry

Steven Matthews

299. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if he has had the opportunity to meet with representative bodies for cabin crew, ground staff and airline cargo employees as part of the broader engagement of his Department with the airline industry regarding the recovery of the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17123/21]

State Examinations

Steven Matthews

565. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the State Examinations Commission guidelines with regard to the leaving certificate oral examinations which state that face masks must not be worn by either the teacher or the student during the exam; if provisions are being made for teachers and students who are in a high risk category or live with a person in this category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16436/21]

Student Support Schemes

Steven Matthews

758. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he will take to assist those on lower incomes in accessing level 9 college courses; if his attention has been drawn to the need to address existing barriers to this level of education which is the required minimum standard in some industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17118/21]

Hospital Car Parks

Steven Matthews

893. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if a mechanism will be investigated that would allow for free parking in public hospitals and healthcare facilities for patients with specified diagnosed long-term illnesses who require frequent visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16435/21]

Electric Vehicles

Steven Matthews

81. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric vehicle stations installed across the country by local authority since August 2019, when his predecessor launched the five-year plan for increasing public electric vehicle charging points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13106/21]

Driver Licences

Steven Matthews

321. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to driver test applicants who have full licences from non-EU countries currently waiting to be allowed to take an Irish test; and if consideration has been given to extending the existing 12-month allowance by which they can drive on Irish roads without a new Irish licence to account for Covid-19-related delays in obtaining lessons and-or tests. [15020/21]

Maternity Services

Steven Matthews

1885. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the spend on the HSE breastfeeding action plan for 2019 and 2020; and the way in which this compares to that which had been budgeted for this area. [15789/21]

Proposed Legislation

Steven Matthews

24. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the status of the draft legislation to legalise the use of e-scooters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13625/21]

Coillte Teoranta

Steven Matthews

1026. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the existing policy that offers indemnity to private land owners, whose land is crossed by a registered horse trail, if there is an accident; and if a similar policy will be considered that would allow indemnity on public land that would include land owned by Coillte to allow for the expansion of horse trails. [13189/21]

Banking Sector

Steven Matthews

44. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a number of banks issuing notices to customers regarding the introduction of negative interest rates including solicitor client accounts which will have knock-on charges for mortgage applicants who will see charges for transferring their deposit through this transactional account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12302/21]

Energy Efficiency

Steven Matthews

93. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will review the reports on the 2017-2018 pilot programme that was run through the SEAI that sought to increase the energy efficiency of schools; and if such a scheme will be reintroduced and include grant funding for improvements such as installing LED lights to replace existing fittings. [12002/21]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

502. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the status of a permanent building for a school (details supplied); if a feasibility study has been carried out; if the proposed site is in the ownership of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12004/21]

Health Services Funding

Steven Matthews

982. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to meet the previously committed funding requirements of a facility (details supplied) in order to alleviate the concerns of staff, patients and families connected to this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12007/21]

Special Educational Needs

Steven Matthews

162. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the number of places available for the new ASD unit in a school (details supplied) due to open in September 2021; and her views on the need for more ASD units in the wider Greystones area of County Wicklow. [10653/21]

Environmental Policy

Steven Matthews

41. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a potential mechanism that would encourage businesses that operate online under an Irish domain name to indicate the provenance of items for sale, which could assist customers in making informed choices regarding the environmental impact of their purchase due to air miles and to support Irish producers. [10522/21]

Teacher Training

Steven Matthews

393. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the case of students in a college (details supplied); and if she will engage with the course directors and student representatives to alleviate their concerns. [10519/21]

Parental Leave

Steven Matthews

620. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the extended paid parental leave commitment in Budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10033/21]