Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

256. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén fhoireann bhreise agus cén maoiniú breise atá curtha ar fáil cheana féin don Aonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta chun beartas maidir le hoideachas trí Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt; cén fhoireann agus cén maoiniú breise a chuirfear ar fáil ina leith sin in 2022; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56735/21]

Employment Support Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

266. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if there will be a provision in the request for tenders for the provision of regional employment services to ensure that full employment services will be available in the medium of the Irish including written and oral contact with the services themselves; if there will be a further requirement for all tenders to outline the way they propose delivering on such a provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56722/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Éamon Ó Cuív

274. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when excavations will be carried out at the burial site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam; the reason for the delay in commencing same; if An Garda Síochána will be involved in the supervision of the excavation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56731/21]

Departmental Priorities

Éamon Ó Cuív

283. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the reports that she has received from the Independent Reporting Commission to date in relation to its work of building a peaceful Northern Ireland; the actions taken on foot of these reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56480/21]

General Practitioner Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

334. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the total number of general practitioner practices in the country; the number of general practitioner practices at the moment that are awaiting the appointment of a permanent general practitioner to them by urban and rural areas; the steps he plans to take to address this issue though additional targeted incentives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56724/21]

General Practitioner Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

335. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the total number of general practitioner practices located in areas in which the Irish language is used as a common daily means of communication; the number of these that can provide patient services in the Irish language; the steps he plans to take to attract Irish speakers to such positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56725/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Éamon Ó Cuív

336. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he plans to extend the opening hours of the Covid-19 testing centre in the National University of Ireland Galway by keeping it open seven days a week rather than five days as at present in view of its accessibility to persons particularly on the west side of the city and from Connemara and in order to increase testing capacity in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56734/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

348. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outlook for the fishing industry and for fish processors in the coming six months given the new control plan in relation to weighing fish has not yet been approved by the European Commission and is not likely to be approved for some time; the steps he plans taking to mitigate the negative effects this will have on the fishing industry including alternative supports for the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56728/21]

Animal Welfare

Éamon Ó Cuív

349. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to classify donkeys as heritage animals in view of their historic role in Irish society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56733/21]

Community Development Projects

Éamon Ó Cuív

357. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the proposed changes to the Community Services Programme will be announced following on from the review carried out by a company (details supplied); the mechanism by which existing community groups and Community Service Programme companies can have an input into the ongoing consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56730/21]

Civil Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

238. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the preparatory work that has been done by his Department to ensure that the Civil Service will be able to provide the services as outlined in the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 which is likely to be enacted before the end of 2021 which will place extra responsibilities on the civil service in relation to providing services through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55928/21]

Departmental Staff

Éamon Ó Cuív

239. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants in his Department that are able to do their business through Irish, by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55929/21]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

32. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expenditure each year for the past ten years, including to date in 2021, on Traveller-specific housing; the total number of Travellers on housing lists across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54327/21]

Housing Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

45. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a new amended tenant purchase housing scheme will be finalised and local authority tenants can apply for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54328/21]

Oideachas Gaeltachta

Éamon Ó Cuív

140. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán céard iad na pleananna atá aici do na Coláistí Gaeilge don bhliain seo chugainn; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [54330/21]

Tourism Promotion

Éamon Ó Cuív

163. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans for inward international tourism in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54329/21]

Direct Provision System

Éamon Ó Cuív

168. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans he has to end non-front door direct provision in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54818/21]

Direct Provision System

Éamon Ó Cuív

169. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his office has received allegations of poor food delivered in plastic bags, children living in fear and of families being bullied and intimidated in a direct provision centre (details supplied); the steps taken to ensure a high standard of food, security and accommodation in all direct provision centres; if any investigation has been carried out recently in relation to the standards in this centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54819/21]

Tax Code

Éamon Ó Cuív

80. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the last time the threshold was increased of the gift a parent can give to a child for them not to be liable to have it assessed as part of their life gifts or inheritance from a parent; if he plans to increase the tax-free ceiling of the annual gift a parent can give a child from €3,000 in the forthcoming Finance Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54332/21]

Tax Exemptions

Éamon Ó Cuív

141. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to increase the threshold on the small benefit exemption scheme on a once-off basis in 2021 in the Finance Bill to allow employers show appreciation to their staff for their commitment during Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54331/21]

Tax Rebates

Éamon Ó Cuív

243. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to increase the ceilings of repayment of VRT and VAT on the purchase of vehicles for disabled persons with a primary medical certificate (details supplied) in view of the increase in VRT on vehicles recently and the increase in the price of vehicles and subsequently on the VAT element of the purchase of vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54092/21]

Cúrsaí Gaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

301. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén uair a bhfuil sí ag súil le fios a bheith aici faoin leagan amach a bheidh ar na coláistí Gaeilge an bhliain seo chugainn; cén próiseas a leanfar le cinneadh a dhéanamh faoi sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [54091/21]

Commemorative Events

Éamon Ó Cuív

307. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation made to each local authority in 2020 and 2021 for commemorating the Decade of Commemorations; the amount drawn down by each local authority in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54486/21]

Water Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

335. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grants available from his Department for group sewerage schemes; if he plans to increase the grants; the arrangements in place to enable new group sewerage schemes tie into the Irish Water sewerage network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54304/21]

Local Authorities

Éamon Ó Cuív

352. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is planned to allocate additional funding resources to Galway County Council housing department to implement the government's ambitious programme Housing for All in view of the current staff deficit in the council and the lack of resources to fund additional staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54752/21]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

371. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applications in which no queries have been raised yet that are on hand for more than two months and three months, respectively; the reason for the delay in processing these passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54145/21]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

372. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applications on hand in the Passport Office at present; the steps being taken to clear this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54146/21]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

373. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason this passport application has not been processed within the date indicated on the Department website; the reason for the inordinate delay in processing this passport application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54147/21]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

379. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for the delay in the processing of a passport application by a person (details supplied) despite the fact that there is an emergency travel case involved and despite the fact that the indicated date of issue was 10 June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54271/21]

National Educational Psychological Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

405. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the reason a NEPS psychologist (details supplied) will not be replaced while they are out on maternity leave; if it is planned to review this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54094/21]

School Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

449. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the policy of her Department in relation to classroom size in primary schools; the minimum size of class that is allowed under the rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54672/21]

School Facilities

Éamon Ó Cuív

450. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the policy of her Department in relation to having en-suite toilets in classrooms in primary schools; if there is a policy to ensure all primary school classrooms will have such a facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54673/21]

School Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

451. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the minimum standard of accommodation laid down for special education teacher and multi-purpose rooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54674/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Éamon Ó Cuív

462. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to increase the savings exemption limit of €5,000 for persons with a disability in receipt of rent allowance in line with the cost of living increase since it was last raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54093/21]

Immigration Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

529. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice when a new process will be developed in the State to deal with the cases of third-country national persons who have been deemed to come within the scope of the EU Free Movement Directive following a ruling of the European Court of Justice in the Chenchooliah case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54206/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Éamon Ó Cuív

645. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if it is planned to set up a Covid-19 test centre in Connemara given the upsurge in cases in view of the long distances that persons from Connemara have to travel at present for a Covid-19 test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54550/21]

Mental Health Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

679. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the additional provision made for mental health in budget 2022; the additional services this will provide in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54635/21]

Transport Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

228. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the reason it was decided to have a review of the Galway Transport Strategy less than five years after this 20 year strategy was published; if this will cause delays to projects already in planning or already commenced in the formal planning process; the terms of reference of the new review; when will they be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53823/21]

Transport Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

229. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the way the terms of reference of the review of the Galway Transport Study to be commenced in 2022 will incorporate an examination of light rail for Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53824/21]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Éamon Ó Cuív

264. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date that the existing planning regulations for wind farms were introduced; when it is intended to publish new wind farm planning regulations on the basis that the height and span of wind turbines have increased dramatically in size since the original regulations were introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53746/21]

Planning Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

265. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a decision will be made on an IROPI planning application by an organisation (details supplied) that was referred to him for his approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53747/21]

Foreign Conflicts

Éamon Ó Cuív

279. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland has raised the ongoing Tigrayan genocide in Ethiopia in the UN Security Council and in the EU; if the concern that the genocide is being aided by a company (details supplied) which is allowing genocidal posts on its platform from prominent Ethiopians has also been raised; if so, the response received; the further actions being proposed by Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53825/21]

Food Poverty

Éamon Ó Cuív

303. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the schemes that are in place to distribute food to persons living in areas of high social deprivation and who are suffering significantly from food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53826/21]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

386. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to assist farmers and other small forestry operators to achieve the highest independent certification of the sustainability of their forest product (details supplied) in order to promote the sustainability and the marketability of Irish forest products; if he will consider introducing grant assistance to encourage this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53801/21]

Tax Exemptions

Éamon Ó Cuív

89. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to remove the condition that a person must be a dependent relative of the person making a gift of a house to another person as long as all the other conditions are met for the purposes of the gift being exempt from capital acquisitions tax; the reason the law provides at present that the receiver must be a dependent relative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53442/21]

Departmental Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

111. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when the new scheme for compensation of persons historically abused in primary schools became operational; the details of the scheme; the location in which applications can be lodged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53450/21]

Public Transport

Éamon Ó Cuív

122. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to extend the free travel scheme to cover ferry boats (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53472/21]

Seirbhísí Cúram Leanaí

Éamon Ó Cuív

134. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige an bhfuil i gceist aige scéim cistíochta faoi léith ar chur ar fáil mar thacaíocht d’ionaid cúram leanaí ar na hoileáin, ag cur san áireamh na gcostas breise a bhaineann leis na seirbhísí seo a chur ar fáil ar oileáin agus na n-uimhreacha beaga a bhíonn i gceist i ngach cás; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [53582/21]

Irish Language

Éamon Ó Cuív

135. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans in consultation with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to carry out an audit to ascertain the likely requirement for graduates with an ability to do their daily work through Irish in the future in order that the State will be able to comply with its legal obligations and in view of the imminent enactment of the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 and its implication for the demand for well- educated graduates with an ability to do their daily work through the medium of Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53420/21]

Irish Language

Éamon Ó Cuív

136. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans carrying out an audit of the present Irish language provision at third-level education, in both output and financial terms in view of the imminent enactment of the Official Language (Amendment) Bill 2019 and the demands this will create for third-level education in Irish and through Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53421/21]