Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

494. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if provisions are being considered with regard to sole traders and the provision of redundancy to staff if they are to face closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied). [28883/20]

Driver Licences

Steven Matthews

86. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to extending driver licences due to expire in the coming months to reflect the significant backlog in available appointments nationally created by Covid-19 for those in situations that will not allow them to renew online, such as residents who were born outside of the EU. [27839/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

126. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if clarity will be provided on the guidelines to playschools and primary schools on the prohibition of the use of plastic lunch boxes (details supplied); and if the reason for the issuing of such guidance will be provided. [27463/20]

Cycle to Work Scheme

Steven Matthews

220. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to amending the cycle to work scheme in order to remove the potential barrier to accessing it, whereby employers can choose not to participate, and to facilitate an applicant in applying in circumstances in which an employer is not willing to participate. [26499/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

457. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to ongoing issues at a school (details supplied) directly related to increased space requirements due to Covid-19. [26500/20]

School Accommodation

Steven Matthews

475. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the status of a new building for a school (details supplied); and if her attention has been drawn to the fact the temporary accommodation currently in use is providing serious challenges for staff and students. [26873/20]

Mental Health Policy

Steven Matthews

798. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by a group (details supplied) regarding the discrepancies in funding for different avenues of third-level education within the wider psychological sphere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26432/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

953. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if the restrictions will be reviewed and amended with regard to chosen partners being allowed accompany and offer support to women in labour in maternity hospitals (details supplied). [27157/20]

Speech and Language Therapy

Steven Matthews

193. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if he will request that his Department carry out a review of adult speech and language services available in County Wicklow (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25765/20]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Steven Matthews

432. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if a permanent site for a school (details supplied) has been selected; and the status of the project. [24905/20]

Home Schooling

Steven Matthews

479. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position of students that live in communal residential centres; if there is to be an outbreak of Covid-19 in that setting; and if there are provisions available to the students for remote learning or other means to lessen the disruption as much as possible to their education. [25437/20]

Social Welfare Schemes

Steven Matthews

505. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the proposed universal basic income pilot that was set out in the Programme for Government. [24713/20]

Redundancy Payments

Steven Matthews

562. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been made permanently redundant in recent months in circumstances unrelated to Covid-19 and in cases in which the business has not yet paid its former staff redundancy payments (details supplied). [25572/20]

Medicinal Products

Steven Matthews

693. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if he will consider ordering an enquiry into the use of the drug epilim by pregnant women to ascertain the number of families impacted by negative side effects during pregnancy in the last decade (details supplied) [24714/20]

HSE Funding

Steven Matthews

709. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if a funding review of a school (details supplied) will be carried out following a recent visit as there is a large deficit between the HSE funding and the very high level and excellence of care provided [24792/20]

Driver Test

Steven Matthews

64. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if the position regarding the provision of emergency driver tests will be reviewed (details supplied). [24472/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

115. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if the roll out of a national information campaign will be considered targeted at parents of primary school children with regard to Covid-19 symptoms and the necessary steps in cases in which a parent identifies potential symptoms (details supplied). [24470/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

77. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if provisions are being made in cases of children in direct provision and the potential interruption to their education if there are further outbreaks of Covid-19 in centres in view of the fact that if there is an outbreak the child must be removed from school. [24287/20]

Driver Test

Steven Matthews

231. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the substantial waiting lists for driver tests due to the necessary cancellation of service during the Covid-19 pandemic; if he has met with representatives of the RSA to discuss ways in which this can be expedited; and if provision can be made for those that could be classified as urgent in terms of requiring a test. [23925/20]

Mortgage Lending

Steven Matthews

261. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to entering further negotiations with the lending banks regarding a possible extension of mortgage breaks for those who continue to suffer significant drops in salary as a direct result of Covid-19. [23609/20]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

431. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position on the provision of a new school building for a school (details supplied); the timeline for same; the status of the application; and if the application will be prioritised. [23832/20]

Disability Services Data

Steven Matthews

717. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the number of adult speech and language therapists operating in County Wicklow; and the services available to adults in need of such care in cases in which access to a therapist is not available. [23608/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

729. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if clarity can be provided with regard to the most recent Covid-19 regulations and the way in which they apply to holiday caravan parks (details supplied); and if a collection of mobile homes in a designated caravan site constitutes a gathering; and if this activity can continue in circumstances in which all other precautions are observed [23713/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

75. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if clarity will be provided on foreign travel advice (details supplied). [23056/20]

Office of Public Works

Steven Matthews

82. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will carry out a report and assessment of repairs required for two public sites (details supplied) under the control of the OPW in Bray, County Wicklow, that have been damaged by antisocial behaviour. [23075/20]

School Accommodation

Steven Matthews

111. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if it is expected that the school extension for a school (details supplied) is expected to be completed on time; and the contingency plans in place to accommodate the school’s accommodation needs. [23066/20]

Sport and Recreational Development

Steven Matthews

79. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has carried out or has plans to conduct an investigation into the development of horseriding trails here that may consider their feasibility in various locations across the country, the potential benefits of same and the potential financial costs. [22865/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Steven Matthews

94. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to allowing sole traders to access the employment wage subsidy scheme, as they would be entitled to if they were listed as a company director in circumstances in which all other qualifying criteria for the scheme are met. [22871/20]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

162. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied). [22866/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

195. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection the legal framework for persons that were made redundant during the Covid-19 pandemic and have to date been unable to access redundancy payments from their employers due to amendments in legislation on 13 March 2020 but can provide evidence that the layoff is not a temporary move due to Covid-19 and in fact a permanent one. [22875/20]

Employment Data

Steven Matthews

293. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance the number of self-employed persons registered with the Revenue Commissioners who list their profession as musician, sound engineer, lighting engineer and stage production or other related titles within the music industry. [21966/20]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Steven Matthews

663. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to historic cases by which women were given PPS numbers linked directly to that of their husband and who required the approval of their husband in order to attain social benefit payments (details supplied). [21200/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Steven Matthews

766. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if clarity can be provided to self-employed persons particularly in the arts sector with regard to the pandemic unemployment payment (details supplied); and if it will be necessary for persons to turn down those one off offers of temporary work in order to continue to receive the pandemic unemployment payment. [20327/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Steven Matthews

867. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if clarity can be provided to self-employed persons particularly in the arts sector with regard to the pandemic unemployment payment (details supplied); and if it will be necessary for persons to turn down those one off offers of temporary work in order to continue to receive the pandemic unemployment payment. [20326/20]

State Examinations

Steven Matthews

449. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding leaving certificate students that are studying individual subjects externally in order to qualify for specific course requirements (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to concerns among students that the recent announcement indicating a delay in the results being announced will negatively impact on them potentially forcing them to miss the start of their course. [18216/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

450. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding social distancing in secondary schools if they are to return in September 2020; the timeline for her Department to provide return to work and school protocols to students and teachers that will offer assurances with regards to their safety. [18219/20]

Direct Provision System

Steven Matthews

766. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding inspections of direct provision centres in County Wicklow (details supplied); and if inspections have recommenced. [18215/20]

Driver Licences

Steven Matthews

80. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to persons that do not have public services cards are having difficulty in renewing their driver licence; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons whose licence expired since 1 July are in a difficult situation as NDLS offices remain closed to the public; his plans to provide an extension in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17710/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Steven Matthews

170. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to amending the qualifying criteria for the pandemic unemployment payment in particular in relation to the year that income is reviewed to calculate the payment rate (details supplied). [17700/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

56. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to situations in which a business pays rates to multiple local authorities under a single trading name; and if the qualification for the restart grant is based on the overall turnover nationally for the business (details supplied). [17241/20]

Value Added Tax

Steven Matthews

189. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the campaign by yoga studio owners about their existing VAT rate; and his views on the matter. [17330/20]

Wastewater Treatment

Steven Matthews

275. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding has been secured for the Arklow wastewater treatment plant (details supplied). [16507/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

445. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if assurances will be given to persons who work in the events industry in cases in which their business is continuously impacted by cancellations and-or reduced capacity; and if there is a provision to allow for the continuation of the pandemic unemployment payment in this regard. [17327/20]

Proposed Legislation

Steven Matthews

603. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the policing and community safety Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17324/20]

School Closures

Steven Matthews

106. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if assurances will be provided to parents and staff of four special schools, in particular a school (details supplied) that caters exclusively for children with specific reading difficulties such as dyslexia. [16239/20]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Steven Matthews

159. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the report published recently in the UK titled, First Do No Harm; if so, if he has considered the findings of the report; and if similar measures are being considered here. [16240/20]

Public Transport

Steven Matthews

151. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Irish Rail Rosslare line service (details supplied); and when the normal schedule will return. [15343/20]

Sports Events

Steven Matthews

153. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide the reports conducted by his Department into the return to play protocols for contact sports, including medical advice from the Chief Medical Officer among other public documents. [15629/20]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Steven Matthews

569. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review an ongoing issue regarding a school (details supplied); and the duration of the lease agreed on the temporary site. [15034/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

643. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the possibility of creating a Covid-19 officer in schools to manage and oversee best practice has been investigated and considered; if so, if this role would be covered by existing staff; and if it would require external staff recruitment. [15630/20]