Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

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]

Commencement of Legislation

Éamon Ó Cuív

572. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when he plans making an order activating the provisions in the existing Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 relating to the unit pricing for alcohol in view of the success of similar legislation in Scotland, which has a land border with England; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2612/21]

Medicinal Products

Éamon Ó Cuív

574. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when it is planned to approve a drug (details supplied), which would be life changing for many persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2616/21]

Seirbhísí Farantóireachta

Éamon Ó Cuív

723. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cén plé a bhí ag a Roinn leis na soláthraithe seirbhíse farantóireachta atá ar conradh ag a Roinn chun seirbhís paisinéirí a chur ar fáil do na hoileáin, leis na húdaráis áitiúla iomchuí, leis an Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara agus leis An nGarda Síochána chun a chinntiú go bhfuil siad ag cloí go hiomlán leis na rialacháin agus leis an gcomhairle sláinte poiblí i dtaobh Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2418/21]

Tax Code

Éamon Ó Cuív

55. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to amend the law on benefit-in-kind for having a company car for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic in view of the Government's requests and restrictions limiting travel which, unless the law is amended, will put a large financial burden on those who have the use of a company car; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2041/21]

Special Educational Needs

Éamon Ó Cuív

130. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if she will have a virtual meeting in January 2021 with the management and parents representatives of a special school (details supplied) that caters for pupils with severe and profound disabilities as they have requested regarding prioritising the reopening of the school as a matter of extreme urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2068/21]

Special Educational Needs

Éamon Ó Cuív

131. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure on campus education is available as soon as possible for children with disabilities and those attending special schools and classes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2069/21]

Child Protection

Éamon Ó Cuív

162. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the protections in place to prevent a parent leaving the country with a young child born here who has dual citizenship without the permission of the other parent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1991/21]

Medicinal Products

Éamon Ó Cuív

213. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the consideration being given to making a therapy (details supplied) available to those for whom this therapy is the best hope of their retaining vision; the stage the process is at; the estimated number of persons in Ireland that would benefit from the therapy each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2043/21]

GLAS Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

241. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when outstanding GLAS payments will be made to a farmer (details supplied) in County Galway; if the delay in payments is as a result of a problem with his Department’s IT system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1942/21]

Local Improvement Scheme

Éamon Ó Cuív

251. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason the local improvement scheme for 2021 requires that one of the applicants is a farmer at a time when a smaller proportion of the rural population is engaged in farming and that many rural dwellers live on roads that have never been taken in charge by the local authority in their area; the reason if two or more landholders have land adjacent to an existing non-council road and there is at least one house on this section of road is not eligible for the scheme; the consultations she has had with local authority and members of Dáil Éireann in rural Ireland on this stipulation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2040/21]

Driver Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

196. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if it is planned to give a further exemption to persons over 70 years of age renewing their driving licences in relation to the need to have a medical certificate with the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1708/21]

Special Educational Needs

Éamon Ó Cuív

474. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) for children with a severe profound intellectual disability will be allowed open irrespective of decisions made for other mainstream schools in view of the dependence of the students and their parents on the school services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1119/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Éamon Ó Cuív

501. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the arrangements made to ensure all primary and secondary school pupils and particularly all pupils sitting State examinations in 2021 will have access to full-time online tuition by their teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1389/21]

Childcare Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

605. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the arrangements being made to ensure childcare for preschool and school-age children is available to front-line staff in the health services and other essential services while schools remain closed and many childcare centres are not in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1666/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Éamon Ó Cuív

878. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for orthopaedic appointments in University Hospital Galway; the measures being taken to reduce the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45134/20]

Aquaculture Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

1137. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for aquaculture licences on hand at present; the number of these applied for in each of the past ten years; the average time for processing licence applications at present; the steps he will take to ensure all applications are dealt with expeditiously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1180/21]

Ceadúnú Báid Iascaireachta Mara

Éamon Ó Cuív

1149. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara céard iad na céimeanna atá i gceist aige a thógáil chun an stoc portán agus gliomach a chaomhnú timpeall an chósta de bharr an mhéid iascach atá a dhéanamh orthu; an bhfuil sé i gceist aige srian a chur ar iascach gliomach an t-am seo den bhliain amach ó na hoileáin chun an stoc a chaomhnú do na báid bheaga nach bhfuil in ann cur chun farraige go sabháilte an t-am seo den bhliain; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [1369/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1168. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the Brexit fishing deal; the amount of quota that has been forfeited by each of the remaining EU members as part of the deal in absolute terms and as a proportion of their total EU fishing quota; the impact this will have on the Irish fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1558/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1169. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the objective basis or criteria by which boats were selected for the revised list sought by the European Union for permission to access and fish in UK waters; the processes that were followed in drawing up this list; if these consultations involved bodies outside of his Department; the timeframe involved in this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1559/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1170. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the producer and other groups that were consulted when the revised list was been drawn up to be submitted by the EU for permission to fish in UK waters; the consideration that was given to boats that are not members of producer groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1560/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1171. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if compensation will be given to boats that traditionally fished in UK waters and have not been given this permission since 1 January 2021, in view of the serious loss of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1561/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1172. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the percentage of EU fishing waters that were made up of Irish fishing waters around our coast prior to 1 January 2021, in tabular form; the percentage of EU fishing waters that are now, after Brexit, made up of Irish fishing waters around our coast; the effect this will have on our fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1562/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1173. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the percentage of the EU catch of fish allocated to Ireland by way of quota or otherwise in 2020, in tabular form; the percentage that will now be available to Ireland in 2021, after Brexit; the estimated volume and value in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1563/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1174. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek an immediate review of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, post Brexit, to better reflect the percentage of each remaining member states contribution to the EU fishing waters and to address the historic wrong done to Ireland in the Common Fisheries Policy to date, particularly as an island nation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1564/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1175. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in view of the changes brought about by Brexit, he plans designating extra ports for landing fish from boats registered outside the EU to facilitate boats owned by Irish fishermen, North and South, but registered in Northern Ireland land at ports other than Killybegs and Castletownbere, which are the only ports designated for this purpose at this point in time; if he has considered the risk of not having extra ports designated in the context of smaller boats having to steam numerous hours at sea to land at a designated port; the analysis that has been done on the possible carbon footprint saving on designating extra ports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1565/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1176. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if boats registered in Northern Ireland are categorised as non-EU boats in relation to the requirement for non-EU boats to land fish at designated ports; if he will outline his reply in the context of the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland protocol in terms of citizenship rights of persons living on this island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1566/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1177. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of registered boats in the Irish fishing register; the number of these also registered with a producer group; the method by which consultation is carried out with boat owners not registered with a producer group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1567/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

1178. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of boats recommended by his Department for permission to fish for prawns in the revised list sought by the EU for this purpose, by port of origin; the total number of Irish registered boats that traditionally fished for prawns in UK waters, broken down on the same basis; the method by which they were selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1568/21]