Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Direct Provision System

Steven Matthews

647. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the independent monitoring of direct provision centres that was due to commence in January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10517/21]

Sport and Recreational Development

Steven Matthews

223. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if his attention has been drawn to a public liability scheme that has been adopted in the UK that offers insurance to those involved in horse walking trails on public and private land that indemnifies land owners against potential liabilities; and if he will consider engaging with Sport Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland and other relevant bodies to discuss the merits of implementing a similar scheme here. [8411/21]

School Staff

Steven Matthews

434. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing concerns of staff in a school (details supplied); and the steps she will take to alleviate these concerns at the school. [8522/21]

School Accommodation

Steven Matthews

435. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a capacity issue at a school (details supplied); and the steps she will take to alleviate the issue. [8524/21]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

436. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the status of the new school building for a school (details supplied). [8526/21]

Third Level Education

Steven Matthews

574. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he will take with regard to one-year masters courses that have practical laboratory work at their core that have not held in-person classes; if these classes will be facilitated outside the formal academic year when it is safe to do so; and if the inability to complete essential aspects of these courses will be acknowledged. [8412/21]

Value Added Tax

Steven Matthews

210. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance his views on the classification of fruit juices produced in Ireland for VAT purposes, which entails the standard 21% VAT rate being applied; if the position can be reviewed in view of the programme for Government commitment to encourage greater expansion and growth in the Irish horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6766/21]

Vacant Properties

Steven Matthews

318. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the level of funding remaining to bring further social housing voids back into the housing stock following the announcement at the end of January 2021 on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6765/21]

Vacant Properties

Steven Matthews

320. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the number of remaining voids reported by Wicklow County Council that have not been returned to the public housing stock to date; and if the local authority has estimated the approximate cost for returning these remaining units. [6781/21]

Planning Issues

Steven Matthews

346. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the roll-out of a nationwide e-planning system. [7347/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

234. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to business owners in the tourist sector who do not own rateable premises that are facing into a second peak season under Covid-19 restrictions; and if further financial supports are being considered. [5386/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

483. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if having an elderly and high-risk person in the household is considered for force majeure permission with regard to the non-reopening of a childcare centre that is also a primary residence given the ongoing pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5385/21]

Animal Welfare

Steven Matthews

939. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding that is to be made available for animal welfare organisations in 2021; and if this reflects the agreed doubling of funding for such organisations in the programme for Government. [5395/21]

Fisheries Protection

Steven Matthews

940. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage of sprat landed per port in Ireland from October to December 2020; and the amount of sprat exported to other jurisdictions including Northern Ireland in the same time period in tabular form. [5396/21]

Fur Farming

Steven Matthews

941. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to introduce a draft Bill to outlaw fur farming given it is specified as a priority in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5399/21]

Dog Breeding Industry

Steven Matthews

983. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she will take to ensure the robust and consistent enforcement of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 to reduce the prevalence of puppy farms. [5394/21]

Departmental Schemes

Steven Matthews

225. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance the details regarding the uptake of the stay and spend scheme to date; and his plans to extend the existing deadline for the scheme or reintroduce a similar one to incentivise domestic travel and spending once it is safe to do so. [4290/21]

Third Level Education

Steven Matthews

598. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he will take to engage with course directors in third-level institutions to discuss ongoing concerns particularly in relation to practical aspects of course work that has either been restricted or completely cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. [4152/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Steven Matthews

223. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate the situation faced by a small cohort of workers who have been out of work since March 2020 (details supplied); and if their case will be reviewed. [3072/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

249. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are negative implications with regard to State supports for crèche and play school owners that decide not to reopen in January 2021 due to personal concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic but plan to reopen once they feel it is safe to do so. [3077/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

250. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to hold further meetings with representatives from the early childhood care sector to discuss its concerns with regard to reopening play schools and crèches in view of the ongoing public health crisis. [3078/21]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

530. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the reason home carers who do not fall into other priority categories in the provisional vaccine groups are not prioritised, given that the knock-on impacts for the health service are clear if they become a positive test case. [2468/21]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

655. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if the staff in a general practice surgery are considered to be front-line staff; and if they will be prioritised in the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out. [2844/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

195. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding mandatory face mask use in banks and other financial institutions; and if the mandatory wearing of facemasks has been considered in circumstances in which all relevant security measures are taken into account to reflect the concerns of front-line branch workers. [1984/21]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

858. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if discussions are expected regarding the existing roll-out plan for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if consideration has been given to prioritising other frontline workers such as teachers or essential retail workers who have worked throughout the pandemic. [45058/20]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

1028. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the partial postponement of the primary school immunisation programme 2020-2021; and if this will be prioritised when sufficient staffing levels are available to accommodate this vaccination programme. [1478/21]

Hospital Staff

Steven Matthews

1078. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign led by student radiographers seeking greater supports similar to those provided to student nurses to reflect their ongoing care of the Covid-19 patients and front-line status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1746/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

111. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering reopening the restart grants to new applications that would include businesses that may not have qualified under the previous criteria. [43718/20]

Local Enterprise Offices

Steven Matthews

182. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans regarding the introduction of sustainability indicators for enterprises in receipt of support from their local enterprise office given that this would highlight businesses that have made a conscious effort with regard to sustainability goals and this is not considered at present as part of a grant application. [43326/20]

Recycling Data

Steven Matthews

145. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if plastic processed through pyrolysis infrastructure will be considered as recycled plastic for the purposes of national statistics collection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43136/20]

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Steven Matthews

553. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a campaign led by nurses that seeks to have the annual retention fee paid to the NMBI waived for 2020 to reflect their service during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43224/20]

Post Office Network

Steven Matthews

36. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on whether the existing post office network is viable; and his plans to increase State funding to the service or to engage with representatives from the sector to discuss their ongoing concerns. [42284/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

181. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the steps being taken to ensure family contact for prisoners continues during all levels of the Covid-19 plan. [42286/20]

Human Rights

Steven Matthews

182. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to concerns recently reported by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. [42287/20]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Steven Matthews

341. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the acquisition of a site for a school (details supplied) for its new school building. [41554/20]

Direct Provision System

Steven Matthews

116. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the guidelines with regard to in-person inspections in direct provision centres at every level of restriction under the Covid-19 framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39702/20]

Direct Provision System

Steven Matthews

138. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that persons being moved from direct provision are provided sufficient notice and adequate translation services to ensure this transition is as seamless as possible (details supplied). [39271/20]

School Enrolments

Steven Matthews

382. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her Department will consider carrying out a feasibility study for a new secondary school in an area (details supplied) that would take into account the growing population and series of new housing developments in the area. [39700/20]

Medicinal Products

Steven Matthews

657. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign seeking to have a drug (details supplied) permitted for use in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39701/20]

Special Educational Needs

Steven Matthews

267. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if a new ASD unit in a school (details supplied) is on track to open for September 2021; and if so, if the new unit will operate at full capacity in its first year. [39372/20]

Special Educational Needs

Steven Matthews

268. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if the new ASD unit in a school (details supplied) will be offering places exclusively to children already in the school; and if applications will be accepted for new students. [39373/20]

Special Educational Needs

Steven Matthews

269. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the number of students currently on waiting lists for an ASD unit place in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39374/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

420. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are further plans to provide funding for volunteer community groups that have seen their fundraising efforts largely cease as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. [39375/20]

Electric Vehicles

Steven Matthews

32. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a number of pilot programmes in several EU countries that replaced standard streetlights with ones that included an electric vehicle charging point; and if a similar pilot programme could be considered here. [38961/20]

Counselling Services

Steven Matthews

162. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if any recent assessment has been carried out by his Department to examine the capacity of counselling services offered by third level institutions in view of ongoing remote learning. [38962/20]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Steven Matthews

247. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report regarding meetings he or his officials have held with the board or management of a facility (details supplied) to seek to alleviate concerns for a vital community service; and his views on the ongoing funding concerns. [39097/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

269. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to expanding the Covid restrictions support scheme to businesses that do not currently meet the qualifying criteria (details supplied) but can demonstrate a significant reduction in income as a direct result of the pandemic. [37951/20]

Building Regulations

Steven Matthews

367. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the Departmental working group being set up to investigate the possible amendments to building regulations to require changing places (details supplied) in suitable public buildings. [38641/20]

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Steven Matthews

368. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he has taken to date to implement a town centres first strategy that was committed to in the programme for Government. [38642/20]

Electric Vehicles

Steven Matthews

369. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the way in which local authorities are implementing the rollout of electric vehicle charging stations. [38643/20]