Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

995. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to examine options to increase flexibility within centre based care in addition to options to accelerate access to subsidies for non-relative childminders as set out in the Programme for Government; if terms of reference and tenders for this examination have been initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19748/20]

Social Insurance

Richard Bruton

53. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the ratio of persons aged 65 years of age and over in 2016 to the numbers aged between 25 and 64 years of age and to the numbers at work; her projection for these ratios in ten and twenty years’ time, respectively; and the implications for projected pension costs and the balance between spending and revenue in the social insurance fund. [17965/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

189. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider increasing hours and or posts supported in schools for guidance counselling in view of the increased pressures on students as a result of Covid-19; and if supports will be particularly focused on children that may be at a disadvantage. [19396/20]

Climate Change Policy

Richard Bruton

31. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his preparations for the climate conference which has been postponed until 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17964/20]

Human Rights

Richard Bruton

34. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the way in which new legislation designating political protest as a criminal offence with huge penalties was introduced and the new security apparatus has been installed in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17963/20]

Greyhound Industry

Richard Bruton

638. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to improve animal welfare in the greyhound industry here and in countries to which they are exported; and if he will report on the progress being made. [18338/20]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

11. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of finalising the criteria under which affordable purchase and cost-rental will be made available to applicants; and the national elements such as income limits and guidance on local elements in cases in which local authorities have discretion. [16636/20]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

15. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the initiatives to accelerate affordable housing schemes such as in a case (details supplied) in circumstances where the development of such homes has been the subject of numerous proposals and is long anticipated. [16637/20]

Drugs Payment Scheme

Richard Bruton

202. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if spinraza has been evaluated for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17698/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

64. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to delays in some Dublin authorities in processing applications for the restart grant; and if steps can be taken to rectify this. [17535/20]

Energy Efficiency

Richard Bruton

69. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of projects completed under the deep retrofit scheme; the expenditure involved; the number of outstanding projects to be completed; the estimated cost of each; and the number that will not go ahead. [17522/20]

Parental Leave

Richard Bruton

188. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of extending parental leave by three weeks; and if primary legislation is required to introduce the extension. [17664/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

230. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that private hospitals are seeking cash contributions over and above the insurance cover of patients to cover PPE costs; and if he will consider that seeking insurers and hospitals ensure that these costs are included in cover in order that patients are not prevented from receiving the needed treatments by unexpected cost barriers. [17594/20]

Public Procurement Contracts

Richard Bruton

36. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he has taken to conduct an audit of public procurement to identify the extent to which it can demonstrate the integration of environmental sustainability into each category of procurement; his plans to set requirements immediately in areas such as vehicle and equipment procurement, heating, lighting and power options and controls, building materials and waste management; and his further plans to introduce accurate monitoring across each State body. [16498/20]

Budget Process

Richard Bruton

40. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to structure the service improvement and reform plans across each Department. [16499/20]

Driver Licences

Richard Bruton

168. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of arrangements to extend the driver licences of persons whose licences are expiring due to the large backlog for renewals and unavailability of appointments in addition to the fact that online renewals require a person to have a public services card, for which there is also a backlog. [17177/20]

Economic Data

Richard Bruton

192. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the estimate for the level of private sector investment in 2021 compared with projections made in the pre-Covid-19 period; and the scope for filling the shortfall by accelerated public activity in direct investment or by the development of sectoral strategies. [16577/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

197. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the data his Department is tracking in respect of landlord and bank dealings with enterprises impacted by Covid-19; and the policy initiatives under consideration to ensure that the appraisal of such bodies does not hamper the successful reopening of enterprises which can be made viable in the medium term. [16798/20]

Heritage Schemes

Richard Bruton

245. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding streams available for projects such as 15 Henrietta Street to develop their existing premises to their original state. [16489/20]

Rental Sector

Richard Bruton

292. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to extend the freeze on evictions and on rent increases beyond 20 July 2020 in view of the vulnerable position of many still out of employment. [16705/20]