Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

52. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to extend the wage subsidy scheme to the end of 2021 in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the effect it is having particularly on the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4824/21]

Insurance Costs

Éamon Ó Cuív

54. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to reduce the overall cost of insurance particularly liability insurance both employers and public; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, for example, the quotes for insurance of jarveys of tourist horse and traps has gone up by over 200% in the past two years making it prohibitively expensive for persons in this line of business to insure their seasonal businesses; when the effect of the steps he is taking to create more competition in the market and reduce prices will be seen on the ground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4865/21]

Tax Treaties

Éamon Ó Cuív

61. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the details of the procedures and inspections in place with regard to the double taxation treaty of 1995 between Ireland and Israel since 1967 to ensure that companies established in illegal settlements, persons residing in illegal settlements occupied by Israel since 1967, all economic activities being carried out there and persons living elsewhere but earning income from these settlements, cannot benefit in any way from the provisions of this treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4926/21]

Mortgage Lending

Éamon Ó Cuív

64. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he has discussed the issue of banks refusing to allow the drawdown of approved mortgage home loans of persons who have an approved contract with a developer because some of their income is coming from the employment wage subsidy scheme with either the banks or the Central Bank ; the result of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4967/21]

Proposed Legislation

Éamon Ó Cuív

90. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the planning and development and nature conservation (heritage) functions Bill will be published; if it will contain provisions dealing with substitute consent rising from a recent Supreme Court case that urgently needs addressing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4647/21]

Local Authority Boundaries

Éamon Ó Cuív

101. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the city council boundaries to include part or all the area at present in the County Council functional area covered by the Galway Metropolitan Strategic Plan in view of the rejection by the Houses of the Oireachtas of the plan to initiate a plan to eventually amalgamate Galway City Council and Galway County Council; if he plans to progress with this matter before the adoption of these plans in view of the ongoing review of both the Galway City plan and Galway County; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4813/21]

Commercial Rates

Éamon Ó Cuív

102. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the moratorium on rates for businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic to the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4825/21]

Building Regulations

Éamon Ó Cuív

106. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he has taken to ensure that all cladding materials used in the building industry for insulation and so no, do not pose a fire risk particularly in the context of the retrofit programmes being pursued here in view of the Grenfell disaster in the UK; the discussions he has had with the Minister for Communications, Climate and Environment on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4898/21]

Planning Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

108. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to provide an interim solution to the long delay in granting exempted status to the installation of solar photovoltaic rooftop panels on schools and community buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4910/21]

Planning Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

109. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to amend the regulations pertaining to the installation of solar photovoltaic rooftop panels on houses and businesses; if so, when he plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4911/21]

Home Loan Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

116. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take to ensure that applicants for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme are not being stopped from drawing down approved loans due to the fact they are temporarily on the employment wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4966/21]

Foreign Birth Registration

Éamon Ó Cuív

132. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of applications for citizenship currently being processed by his Department; the number of applications that have been finalised in 2020; the reason for the long delays in processing citizenship applications; his plans to speed up this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4864/21]

Commemorative Medals

Éamon Ó Cuív

137. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence if a War of Independence medal was issued in relation to a person (details supplied); if so, the person to whom was it issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4845/21]

Oideachas Gaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

154. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén uair atá i gceist aici Beartas Náisiúnta um Oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a fhoilsiú mar atá geallta i gClár an Rialtais; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [4821/21]

Parental Leave

Éamon Ó Cuív

188. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when it is planned to introduce the increase in parental leave from two to five weeks promised in Budget 2021; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4844/21]

Prisoner Welfare

Éamon Ó Cuív

211. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice when the terms of reference and the structure of a cross-agency taskforce to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those in prison following on from the Council of Europe committee on the prevention of torture report, will be finalised and the task force will be set up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4815/21]

Prisoner Welfare

Éamon Ó Cuív

212. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if the proposed cross-agency taskforce to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those in prison will be engaging in a public consultation as part of their work; the proposed nature of the consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4816/21]

Prisoner Welfare

Éamon Ó Cuív

213. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if there has been a change of policy since 2019 in relation to the prison regime in the Dóchas Centre in Dublin; if there is a policy to align the regime there with the regime in men’s prisons; if so, the reason for this given Ireland voted along with 192 other nations to unanimously pass the Bangkok Rules at the United Nations relating to the need to respect and meet the special characteristics and needs of women in the criminal justice system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4817/21]

Medical Cards

Éamon Ó Cuív

272. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of persons covered under the GMS for a medical card and general practitioner card, respectively, including dependents between those under 70 years of age and those over 70 years of age; the estimated annual cost of the provision of these services by those under 70 and over 70 years of age, respectively and by general practitioner cards and medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4827/21]

Medical Cards

Éamon Ó Cuív

273. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of doubling the income limit for eligibility for both the full medical card and the general practitioner card for those under 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4828/21]

Aquaculture Development

Éamon Ó Cuív

340. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consideration he is giving to providing further and substantial assistance to the oyster shell fish industry in view of the collapse of the market for oysters due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4818/21]

Calafoirt agus Céanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

341. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén dul chun cinn atá déanta le trí mhí anuas maidir leis an réamhobair i dtaobh calafort domhain a fhorbairt i Ros a’Mhíl; cén uair a bhfuiltear ag súil leis an réamhobair sin ar fad a bheith críochnaithe agus cead a bheith faighte tairiscintí a lorg le haghaidh na hoibre; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4820/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

114. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the support given by his Department or the agencies under the remit of his Department to the chauffeur and small luxury coach industry due to the challenges faced by the sector due to Covid-19; if the details of planned additional measures to assist the sector will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3823/21]

Driver Test

Éamon Ó Cuív

115. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the average wait for a driver test at present from the time applicants submit an application; the action he plans to take to reduce this waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3827/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

189. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with the Central Bank in relation to the renewal of the loan moratorium for businesses affected by the renewed lockdowns due to Covid-19, particularly in the hospitality industry, similar to that implemented in March 2020; the result of these discussions; if such a moratorium will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3707/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

190. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with the financial institutions to ensure that credit arrangements agreed with commercial banks by businesses affected by the Covid-19 restrictions will not affect the credit rating of those businesses in the future; the result of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3708/21]

Tourism Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

275. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when Fáilte Ireland will announce its plan to disburse the funding of €50 million made available by her Department to aid inter alia activity tourism and other tourism businesses that were not eligible for the Covid restrictions support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3577/21]

Departmental Reviews

Éamon Ó Cuív

329. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is planned to publish the review of the tenant purchase incremental scheme 2016; when the review was completed; when it is planned to reform the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3949/21]

Passport Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

371. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the processing of an application for a passport in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be finalised; the reason for the delay in processing this application; if his attention has been drawn to the financial and future employment implications that will be imposed on the family who are moving abroad permanently if they are forced to cancel their flight on 5 February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3711/21]

Social Insurance Fund

Éamon Ó Cuív

492. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason funding was transferred from the Social Insurance Fund to the Exchequer in 2020; if the funding will be repaid over time to the fund to fund a future shortfall in PRSI receipts as against expenditure that might arise in the social welfare contributory system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3683/21]

Vaccination Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

758. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the priority that will be given to recovering cancer patients in the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine; when it is likely they will receive the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3950/21]

Cancer Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

759. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to ensure there will be no reduction in the level of cancer diagnosis, care and necessary surgery during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3951/21]

Hospital Car Parks

Éamon Ó Cuív

760. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to issuing a directive to each public hospital group to cease charging parking charges for cancer patients as these can become a considerable financial burden for them during such a vulnerable period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3952/21]

Ports Traffic

Éamon Ó Cuív

82. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the number of lorries that have entered each port from the UK since the 1 January 2021; the number that have been physically inspected for compliance with the new Brexit rules; the number destined for Northern Ireland; the number of trucks that must be inspected based on the EU-UK Brexit agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3419/21]

Ports Traffic

Éamon Ó Cuív

83. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the number of lorries that have entered each port from the UK since the 1 January 2021; the number and percentage of lorries with their paperwork in order and compliant with the new rules on arrival; the number that had minor errors leading to a delay of less than three hours; the number subject to a longer delay broken down between trucks whose final destination is Northern Ireland and Ireland in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3420/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

493. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for recognition as a producer group will be granted to an association (details supplied); the details of outstanding issues that need to be resolved in order to process the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3215/21]

Felling Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

498. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry felling licence applications that were on hand on 1 October 2020; the number on hand at present; the total amount in terms of volume of timber and hectares licensed for felling since 1 October; the amount of this appealed to the Forestry Appeals Committee; the further steps he plans to take to expedite the processing of licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3410/21]

Felling Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

499. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of felling licence applications that were on hand by the Forestry Appeals Committee on 1 October 2020; the number on hand at present; the total in terms of volume of timber and hectares approved in that period; the number remitted back to his Department; the number refused; if further steps are being contemplated to expedite decisions in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3411/21]

Felling Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

500. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry road licences that were on hand on 1 October 2020; the number on hand at present; the number of roads licensed since 1 October; the number of these appealed to the Forestry Appeals Committee; the further steps he plans to take to expedite the processing of licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3412/21]

Felling Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

501. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry road applications that were on hand by the Forestry Appeals Committee on 1 October 2020; the number on hand at present; the number of roads licence applications approved by the committee in that period; the number remitted back to his Department; the number refused; the further steps being taken to expedite decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3413/21]

Felling Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

502. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree planting licence applications that were on hand on 1 October 2020; the number on hand at present; the number in hectares licensed for planting since 1 October 2020; the amount of this appealed to the Forestry Appeals Committee; the further steps he plans to take to expedite the processing of licence applications [3414/21]

Felling Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

503. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree planting licence applications that were on hand by the Forestry Appeals Committee on 1 October 2020; the number on hand at present; the total volume in hectares approved by the committee in that time; the amount remitted back to his Department; the amount refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3415/21]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

504. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated total annual timber requirement in cubic metres of the timber industry in Ireland at present; the estimated volume of timber on hand for licensing at present with either his Department or the Forestry Appeals Committee; if he is satisfied with the ability of the Department and the committee to license the required volume of timber needed to satisfy industry demands for timber; the steps he plans to take to ensure this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3416/21]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

505. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the national target for planting of forestry in 2021; the estimated number of hectares of land on hand for planting licences either with his Department or the Forestry Appeals Committee; if he is satisfied with the capacity of the Department and the committee to licence the required hectarage of planting needed to reach these planting targets; the steps he plans to take to ensure this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3417/21]

Livestock Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

506. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements made to ensure that horses exported to the Continent by road using the land bridge through the UK can have feeding and rest periods on their journeys at pre-notified premises; the additional paperwork that has to be complied with as a result of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3418/21]

Imports Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

507. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of trucks that entered ports here in 2020 that were inspected physically for compliance with the animal and plant all-Ireland rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3421/21]

Imports Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

508. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of trucks entering Ireland from the UK that have been inspected physically in relation to compliance with the new EU-UK Brexit agreement rules on food, animal and plant safety to date in 2021; the total number of such trucks that entered Ireland; the requirement for same as laid down in the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3422/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

509. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the immediate actions he took after his Department received the notice to stakeholders from the European Commission on 17 August 2020 regarding the withdrawal of the United Kingdom and EU rules relevant for landing of fishery products in the EU; if proposals were considered so that fishermen from this jurisdiction with boats registered in Northern Ireland could land their catches at the nearest port to them and thus continue to use the ports they traditionally used; the reason his Department was not ready to designate these as ports where these fishermen could land at from the 1 January 2021 in addition to Killybegs and Castletownbere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3426/21]

National Development Plan

Éamon Ó Cuív

74. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the total planned investment in heavy and light rail in the current national development plan, NDP; the major projects involved; the estimated cost and completion date of each; if he will be proposing extra rail investment in the forthcoming review of the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2295/21]

Driver Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

117. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to suspend temporarily the requirement to have a medical certificate for the renewal of a C or E licence or, alternatively, if he plans to extend the duration of these licences in view of the pressure on general practitioners at present due to the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2858/21]