Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

School Transport

Thomas Byrne

438. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) will receive a refund of school transport fees. [14238/20]

School Staff

Thomas Byrne

129. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will lose a teacher for the school year commencing in September 2020. [12810/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Thomas Byrne

657. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if financial assistance will be put in place for self-employed taxi drivers in view of the impact of Covid-19. [12699/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Thomas Byrne

38. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the status of an application by a person (details supplied) made to the Revenue Commissioners for the temporary wage subsidy scheme. [11672/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Thomas Byrne

39. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the status of an application by a business (details supplied) for the temporary wage subsidy scheme. [11674/20]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Byrne

148. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the July provision in 2020 will be available for children due to start school in September 2020. [11874/20]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Byrne

161. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SNAs, teachers and schools that have expressed an interest in taking part in the July provision scheme to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11974/20]

State Examinations

Thomas Byrne

162. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that have not applied for a calculated grade online due to take the leaving certificate in 2020; if his officials have examined the reasons for these students not applying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11977/20]

National Training Fund

Thomas Byrne

163. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the funding provided through the National Training Fund for the human capital initiative was included in the overall annual expenditure ceiling of his Department. [11978/20]

Language Schools

Thomas Byrne

164. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the consultations to date with English language schools on plans to reopen. [11979/20]

Third Level Admissions

Thomas Byrne

165. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the national co-ordination group for tertiary education has identified additional places for CAO applications for the 2020 year in its consultation with higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11980/20]

School Equipment

Thomas Byrne

166. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of laptops provided to schools to date through a procurement process undertaken for information communications technology equipment. [11981/20]

Departmental Schemes

Thomas Byrne

167. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made regarding a review of an ex gratia scheme announced in December 2019. [11982/20]

Summer Works Scheme

Thomas Byrne

168. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if issues related to Covid-19 have resulted in delays to works to be carried out under the summer works scheme; if so, the schools impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11983/20]

Teaching Qualifications

Thomas Byrne

169. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a review undertaken of the conditions under which Droichead days are to be considered valid following the closure of schools. [11984/20]

DEIS Scheme

Thomas Byrne

170. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of a new DEIS identification model. [11985/20]

Education Policy

Thomas Byrne

171. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if mechanisms are in place to encourage minorities to consider a career in education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11986/20]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Byrne

189. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of building works at a school (details supplied). [12088/20]

Third Level Fees

Thomas Byrne

201. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a review of third level fees will occur further to the impact of Covid-19. [12163/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

390. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if clear advice will be provided to pubs on the way to safely reopen with regard to plastic screens, social distancing and other practical arrangements. [11779/20]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Byrne

394. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the role played by his Department in delivering a scheme to replace the July provision scheme. [11987/20]

Medicinal Products

Thomas Byrne

459. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of the reimbursement of osimertinib. [12087/20]

Back to Education Allowance

Thomas Byrne

787. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the application process will open for the back to education allowance. [11671/20]

Back to Education Allowance

Thomas Byrne

827. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for the back to education allowance received from 1 March 2020 to 1 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11975/20]

Back to Education Allowance

Thomas Byrne

828. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on conducting a review of the back to education allowance with a view to removing qualifying time criteria for those in receipt of Covid-19 related payments. [11976/20]

School Equipment

Thomas Byrne

188. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the two mechanisms for aggregate purchase orders for laptops for schools under centralised bulk provisioning processes under way in his Department; if schools have received equipment through this process to date; the number and type of equipment received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10647/20]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Byrne

189. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the scheme being developed to replace the July provision in 2020; if it will commence in July; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10648/20]

Third Level Education

Thomas Byrne

190. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated loss in funding for higher education institutions, research funding through institutions and loss in income from student accommodation likely in 2020 and 2021 for universities, institutes of technology, further education colleges and English language schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10649/20]

English Language Training Organisations

Thomas Byrne

191. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the method by which teachers and students are being consulted on plans to reopen English language schools; his views on whether they should be consulted with regarding plans for reopening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10650/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

192. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current health advice received by his Department on the need to provide two metres of social distancing in school settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10651/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

193. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that in circumstances in which there is limited capacity within schools to facilitate a full cohort of students within the classroom, published plans will provide for the grouping of students by household within those that attend school on specific days (details supplied). [10652/20]

School Accommodation

Thomas Byrne

194. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if court actions reported on recently which relate to schools constructed by a company (details supplied) which have already been identified within the 42 schools previously identified relate to newly identified issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10653/20]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Byrne

195. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of remediation works at schools built by a company (details supplied); if remediation works had been scheduled over the summer months; if works have been cancelled as a result of Covid-19; the projects cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10654/20]

School Staff

Thomas Byrne

196. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on reductions in teacher numbers in certain schools in the context of the plan to reopen schools currently under development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10655/20]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Byrne

275. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to offer special education classes to children from Ashbourne, County Meath that cannot avail of them despite there being six primary schools in the town. [11286/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

331. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if extensions will be given in respect of public dancing licences due to the Covid-19 crisis particularly due to the crisis that pubs are undergoing and the fact that annual licensing courts are traditionally held during this time of year. [10776/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Thomas Byrne

433. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when local authorities can expect to receive funding for the purposes of the business restart grants as announced in May 2020. [11213/20]

Home Care Packages

Thomas Byrne

705. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for a person to receive home care support hours in County Meath. [11505/20]

Home Care Packages

Thomas Byrne

706. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting to receive a home care package in County Meath. [11506/20]

Driver Test

Thomas Byrne

867. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects driver tests to resume; and the measures which will be in place for social distancing. [11156/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Thomas Byrne

997. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who is cocooning for medical reasons is entitled to the full pandemic unemployment payment. [10980/20]

Wildlife Protection

Thomas Byrne

1099. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to bird kills involving the banned insecticide carbofuran; and the steps she plans to undertake to prevent bird kills involving insecticide products. [11191/20]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Byrne

123. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new building school for a school (details supplied). [9817/20]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Byrne

124. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the agreed new building for a school (details supplied). [9818/20]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Byrne

125. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the agreed new school to replace a school (details supplied) in order to provide needed spaces for Newbridge, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9819/20]

School Admissions

Thomas Byrne

162. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a section 29 appeal by a person (details supplied). [8393/20]

National Broadband Plan

Thomas Byrne

804. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a person (details supplied) can expect good quality broadband. [8394/20]

Passport Applications

Thomas Byrne

26. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the passport offices will recommence the processing of day-to-day passport applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7861/20]

Special Education Review

Thomas Byrne

130. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the ongoing review of the July provision scheme; if the potential for the scheme to run in August 2020 has been examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7179/20]

School Equipment

Thomas Byrne

131. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the procurement of information technology equipment through his Department following an announcement of top-up funding on 22 April 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7180/20]

Third Level Admissions

Thomas Byrne

132. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the consultation which has taken place to date on the provision of additional spaces at third-level institutions for the coming term; if agreement has been reached that these places will be made available to current leaving certificate students; if additional supports will be provided to third-level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7181/20]

State Examinations

Thomas Byrne

133. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure the involvement of independent expert advice in the development of the model which will be used within his Department to adjust calculated grades; if such a consultation has already taken place, the nature of the consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7182/20]

State Examinations

Thomas Byrne

134. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process by which a calculated grade will be provided to students that study a subject independently of a school. [7183/20]

State Examinations

Thomas Byrne

135. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the planning underway for students that will take leaving certificate exams in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7184/20]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Byrne

136. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional supports which have been provided through his Department to pupils with special educational needs; if additional supports are being developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7185/20]

School Closures

Thomas Byrne

137. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has undertaken an examination of the ongoing closure of schools on educational attainment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7186/20]

Departmental Websites

Thomas Byrne

138. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if answers to non-individual specific queries submitted to his Department on calculated grades for the leaving certificate will be published on the Departmental website. [7187/20]

Third Level Education

Thomas Byrne

139. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an additional deadline to CAO applicants for 2020 applications (details supplied). [7189/20]

State Examinations Commission

Thomas Byrne

140. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if staff from the State Examinations Commission have been seconded to the unit of his Department tasked with the adjustment of calculated grades. [7190/20]

School Staff

Thomas Byrne

141. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the powers available to his Department to protect teachers from canvassing without primary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7191/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Thomas Byrne

142. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has reviewed the recent advice considerations for school-related public health measures in the context of Covid-19 by the WHO; the implications of this advice in the Irish context for preparations for the reopening of schools in September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7192/20]

Special Education Review

Thomas Byrne

143. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the provision of further educational resources to children with special educational needs over the summer months outside of the July provision scheme is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7193/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Thomas Byrne

144. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans to allow SNAs to provide a service through their existing schools in view of issues identified with the HSE vetting process. [7196/20]

Education Policy

Thomas Byrne

147. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will develop a single web platform for online skills learning in line with the recently established skills toolkit in the United Kingdom. [7224/20]

Departmental Data

Thomas Byrne

148. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the units in his Department currently working remotely; the units still in situ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7225/20]

Departmental Data

Thomas Byrne

149. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the activities of his Department which have been curtailed as a result of the transition to working from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7226/20]

School Curriculum

Thomas Byrne

150. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he accepts the findings of a recent report by the OECD (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7227/20]

School Curriculum

Thomas Byrne

151. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the monitoring undertaken by his Department of the number of children that do not have access to broadband or to high enough quality broadband to engage in digital learning initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7228/20]

Special Education Review

Thomas Byrne

152. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has examined the potential for additional distance learning supports over the summer months; if so, the findings of the examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7229/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

153. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the meetings that have taken place to date on the reopening of schools in September 2020. [7230/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

154. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent statement that the reopening of schools is one of the safest things that can be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7231/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

155. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will commission a report on the short, medium and long-term impact of school closures on the educational development of young persons. [7232/20]

State Examinations

Thomas Byrne

187. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a practical project will be examined as part of the grading for results in relation to the leaving certificate. [7548/20]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Byrne

203. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the need for more ASD places in Ashbourne, County Meath; and his plans to introduce more ASD places in the town. [7685/20]

State Examinations

Thomas Byrne

239. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date for a written leaving certificate to take place in 2020. [7873/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

240. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if special schools and special classes are being considered in the context of plans to reopen schools in September 2020. [7874/20]

Special Education Review

Thomas Byrne

241. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the July provision scheme. [7875/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

242. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the bodies consulted in a consultation carried out by his Department on the reopening of schools in September 2020. [7876/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Thomas Byrne

243. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a reduction in class sizes is being considered to aid social distancing when schools reopen. [7877/20]

School Equipment

Thomas Byrne

244. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of funds for information communications technology equipment to schools including the procurement of equipment via his Department. [7878/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

245. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a specific plan is being developed to support the reopening of special schools and special classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7879/20]

Ombudsman for Children

Thomas Byrne

246. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on inviting the Ombudsman for Children to participate in discussions regarding the safe reopening of schools on a phased basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7880/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

247. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional supports are being considered to support DEIS schools in reopening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7881/20]

Third Level Admissions

Thomas Byrne

248. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of additional places at third-level institutions in 2020; the additional supports that will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7882/20]

Student Accommodation

Thomas Byrne

249. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will engage with third-level institutions to ensure that no student in student accommodation will be made homeless in the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7883/20]

Student Accommodation

Thomas Byrne

250. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will develop in conjunction with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, specific guidance for providers of student specific accommodation to allow students to collect their belongings safely at the end of a lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7884/20]

School Curriculum

Thomas Byrne

251. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the ongoing review of the senior cycle. [7885/20]

Technological Universities

Thomas Byrne

252. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status the development of each of the proposed technological universities. [7886/20]

Technological Universities

Thomas Byrne

253. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department or the HEA have conducted a review of the operation of Dublin Technological University in the context of the development of further technological universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7887/20]

Maternity Leave

Thomas Byrne

357. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to extend paid maternity leave and benefit due to the Covid-19 crisis. [7863/20]

Peace Commissioners

Thomas Byrne

358. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an up-to-date list of peace commissioners and commissioners of oaths in County Meath will be provided. [7864/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

391. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the guidance and advice she will provide to gym operators for reopening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7492/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

493. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the UK Government has recently announced it is making travel from Ireland exempt from the 14-day quarantine requirement after travelling by air; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7823/20]

National Broadband Plan

Thomas Byrne

705. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be available in an area (details supplied). [7089/20]

Rural Transport Services

Thomas Byrne

778. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to a recent request by the National Transport Authority to review a number of rural transport services being provided by LocalLink in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7494/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

884. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has engaged substantially with an organisation (details supplied) in reference to the Covid-19 crisis. [7819/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

901. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will introduce a special grant scheme for community and voluntary organisations that are members of the PPN nationwide in view of the Covid-19 crisis and the considerable financial loss they have experienced. [7842/20]

Property Registration

Thomas Byrne

1063. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a backlog in registrations in the Land Registry; the remote working arrangements if such a delay is holding up the sale of a property; if there is a system of expediting a particular case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7822/20]

An Bord Pleanála

Thomas Byrne

1064. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he envisages a backlog in planning applications and appeals to An Bord Pleanála; and the steps his Department has taken to ensure that An Bord Pleanála has the adequate resources to deal with such a backlog should it arise. [7839/20]

County Development Plans

Thomas Byrne

1065. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the specific guidance he will provide to local authorities that are required to hold statutory meetings that are open to members of the public to consider their proposed county development plans, which are currently under review. [7841/20]