Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Health Professions Admission Test

Richard Bruton

649. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is an opportunity for students who sat the leaving certificate in November 2020 to undertake the HPAT assessment, which is needed for access to certain courses and without which a further loss of a year before enrolment would arise. [10098/21]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Richard Bruton

960. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the work of the interdepartmental group looking at relaxing rules under the fair deal scheme to facilitate the rental or sale of vacant homes has reached agreement on any changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10085/21]

Health Services

Richard Bruton

1012. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the plans for transgender health services have been implemented; and his views on reports of confusion in relation to the locations to which persons should be referred. [10393/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

71. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if a relative can travel to a European country to provide care support to a daughter during recuperation from a serious operation; and if so, the person or body to which an application for travel should be submitted. [9177/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

91. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if a mechanism exists within the scope of the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, to suspend, pause or cease receipt of payment of the direct support in order to make an application without penalty for support under the tourism business continuity scheme administered by Fáilte Ireland in the case of a business affiliated with an organisation (details supplied) that was not eligible for a full Covid restrictions support scheme payment but is in receipt of a partial payment towards sustaining their business costs during Covid restrictions; if no such mechanism exists, if he will request that officials in his Department contact the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and Fáilte Ireland to facilitate this mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9046/21]

Tourism Funding

Richard Bruton

107. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to an issue affecting some businesses affiliated to an organisation with regard to the tourism business continuity fund scheme administered by Fáilte Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9045/21]

Land Development Agency

Richard Bruton

133. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his estimate of the total area of public lands owned by public bodies listed in schedule 1 and 2 of the draft Land Development Agency; the amount that may be suitable for housing; the projected acreage which can be activated for consideration of development master planning by the agency over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9302/21]

School Enrolments

Richard Bruton

183. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if her Department can assist a new primary school in receiving feeder school status in an area when it faces difficulty in securing places for those graduating, as in the case of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9142/21]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Bruton

219. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students who received results from the November 2020 leaving certificate will have the opportunity to qualify for courses in autumn 2021 which have a health professions admission test, HPAT, entry requirement or a CAO process; and if a necessary change in closing dates can be made to accommodate same. [9145/21]

Vaccination Programme

Richard Bruton

288. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some large community general practitioner practices have arranged safe use of community halls for administering vaccines to those over 85 years of age (details supplied); and if arrangements will be made for this model to be used which has made considerable arrangements for the safety of patients. [9193/21]

National Car Test

Richard Bruton

84. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if there are facilities for persons to postpone national car tests, NCTs, while they are trying to avoid all risky situations from a Covid-19 perspective. [8091/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

166. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if the banks can extend a mortgage break to borrowers during the present severe restrictions on economic activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8739/21]

Human Rights Cases

Richard Bruton

328. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has assessed the treatment of Uighur minorities and whether this conforms with international standards of human rights; and the latest initiatives in which the Government has been involved at European or international level on the question. [7922/21]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Bruton

378. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the number of special classes at primary level available in a school planning area (details supplied); if an assessment of under provision has been undertaken by the NCSE; the extent to which new special units have been included in any of the existing school development plans for the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8122/21]

Energy Efficiency

Richard Bruton

448. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the actions planned to improve the energy performance of schools in view of the adoption of a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2050; if there will be new options for older buildings to adopt phased improvements; and her plans to become a partner in initiatives, for example, better energy communities in which a co-ordinated approach to a range of public and private buildings can be taken. [8732/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

838. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to use community pharmacists in the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme given their experience in rapid and effective vaccination. [8531/21]

Driver Licences

Richard Bruton

142. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if plans are in train to make it mandatory for learner permit holders to sit a test and demonstrate proof they have failed before they apply for a successive learner permit. [6751/21]

National Driver Licensing Service

Richard Bruton

143. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the number of times drivers have failed to attend for a scheduled driver test at NDLS centres in 2019 and 2020; the impact this had on waiting times; if the system for scheduling tests is robust enough to minimise waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6752/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Richard Bruton

241. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the support services the public service has put in place to support remote workers and in particular access to professional support for injury, stress and so on which may arise; and if these supports are done through in-house human resources or contracted out to outside professionals. [6479/21]

DEIS Scheme

Richard Bruton

440. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education her plans to consider admitting new schools to DEIS status based on the new model developed by her Department; if so, when same will be scheduled; and if her attention has been drawn to the anomalous exclusion of a school (details supplied) from the scheme. [6872/21]

Crime Data

Richard Bruton

631. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if the theft of bikes under threat of violence with or without offensive weapons is becoming a growing pattern of crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6873/21]

Long-Term Illness Scheme

Richard Bruton

737. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will consider extending long-term illness cover to HCU, that is, homocystinuria. [6469/21]

Vaccination Programme

Richard Bruton

748. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the items in the general practitioner vaccination contract over and above that which nurses do for less than a quarter of the hourly rate of doctors. [6498/21]

Vaccination Programme

Richard Bruton

750. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the vaccination category Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics are in; and when vaccinations are likely to be scheduled. [6524/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

760. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if there are guidelines for the type of masks which ought to be used in different settings; and if the possibility of the design of masks with a see-through panel would have advantages in allowing a more congenial form of protection. [6576/21]

Departmental Equipment

Richard Bruton

1035. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current applications of alcohol-based hand sanitiser to the pesticide control division for biocidal product registration awaiting approval by date of application. [7386/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

104. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the guidelines for the substitution of teachers who are within vulnerable groups from a Covid-19 perspective; and the way in which an individual teacher can activate the process. [6052/21]

School Closures

Richard Bruton

362. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if the option to extend the school year has been considered as an alternative to the challenging efforts to deliver remote learning over an extended period of temporary closures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5134/21]

Vaccination Programme

Richard Bruton

641. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if staff and patients in hospice settings are in the top categories for vaccination; and if they have all been included in a first round of vaccinations at this stage. [5136/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Richard Bruton

748. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the role he envisages for antigen testing in his strategy for managing the Covid-19 crisis. [5483/21]

Market Access

Richard Bruton

94. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether it is necessary to undertake a fundamental re-evaluation of Ireland’s connectivity to markets of the remaining EU members in view of the conclusion of the Brexit decision. [3636/21]

Ports Policy

Richard Bruton

95. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if Rosslare Port offers an opportunity to connect into the Trans European Transport Network; and if a new strategic plan for the Port needs to be put in place as part of the new Economic Plan under development. [3637/21]

Road Safety Authority

Richard Bruton

151. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will undertake a campaign with the RSA to step-up attention to safe cycling, particularly lights and high visibility clothing in view of the big increase in leisure cycling. [4195/21]

Help-To-Buy Scheme

Richard Bruton

200. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider relaxing the terms on the clawback under the help-to-buy scheme in which a family’s need for space has outgrown the original home. [3868/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

220. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that childcare providers that have charitable status cannot avail of the Covid restrictions support scheme; and if he has considered any alternative support for such providers. [4161/21]

Proposed Legislation

Richard Bruton

318. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered the extent of persistent offenders under landlord and tenant legislation; and his views on whether a system of escalating penalties for repeat offences would encourage greater compliance. [3749/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

440. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education her plans to find a way to make up for the interruption to studies caused by the suspension of in-person education in schools. [3633/21]

Education Schemes

Richard Bruton

449. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been draw to the decision of an organisation (details supplied) to close its services due to financial difficulties; the estimated savings accruing to her Department; the outcome of her Department's recent assessment of the programmes; and the way in which new programmes within the community can now be developed in co-operation with other Departments to meet a recognised need. [3765/21]

Property Services Regulatory Authority

Richard Bruton

629. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she is satisfied that companies that have acquired a number of leases for onward rental should be treated as letting agents in order to require them to have a protection fund and to be supervised by the PSRA. [3748/21]

Electric Vehicles

Richard Bruton

37. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the current range of electric vehicles that can be considered as taxis; and if there is a case for expanding same to allow the more cost-effective smaller vehicle participate. [3115/21]

Electric Vehicles

Richard Bruton

38. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if support for longer term finance packages have been considered as an alternative to grants to encourage the take up of electric vehicles since the profile of savings from electric driving can make such schemes more attractive than upfront purchase. [3116/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

109. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has met representatives of the commercial live events sector to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on operations; if the current supports from the Government need modification in order to sustain the underlying core of the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2974/21]

Repair and Leasing Scheme

Richard Bruton

193. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes introduced through the repair and leasing scheme; and the amount of funding allocated across each local authority in each of the years 2017 to 2020, in tabular form. [2208/21]

Minor Works Scheme

Richard Bruton

122. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the amount in minor grant scheme funding allocated to each county; and the number of primary, secondary and special schools that benefited from the scheme in 2020, in tabular form. [1960/21]

Primary Care Centres

Richard Bruton

189. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the number of operational primary care centres by county; the year each came into operation since 2011; and the number of primary care centres in development by county in tabular form. [1959/21]

Census of Population

Richard Bruton

3. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach the expected timeline for the publication of the preliminary results of Census 2022; and the expected timelines for the publication of the final results of Census 2022. [1038/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

167. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered the safety arrangements being put in place by driving schools; if this important service can be fitted into the roadmap of levels for safe activities as an essential service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1167/21]

Census of Population

Richard Bruton

348. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the anticipated timelines for the establishment and reporting of the Dáil Constituency Commission, the European Elections Constituency Commission and Local Elections Constituency Commission given that with the Statistics (Census of Population) Order 2020 the next census will take place in April 2022. [1035/21]

Census of Population

Richard Bruton

349. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the next constituency commissions for the next Dáil Éireann, European and local elections will take place under the existing legislative provisions; and if not, if this function will be taken over the by the electoral commission. [1036/21]

Electoral Commission

Richard Bruton

350. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected timeline for the establishment of the electoral commission. [1037/21]