Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Post Office Network

Brendan Smith

17. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to introduce a public service obligation and associated funding to support the post office network in view of its importance to communities throughout Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3171/21]

Ferry Services

Brendan Smith

53. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the additional ferry capacity that will be available in the first half of 2021 to other EU ports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3481/21]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

94. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to concerns of businesses trading through Dublin Port regarding delays that have occurred since the start of 2021; the measures to be implemented at an early date to eliminate such delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3480/21]

Fáilte Ireland

Brendan Smith

111. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the level funding to be provided in 2021 for Fáilte Ireland's platform for growth programme; when the next round of projects will be approved under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3486/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Brendan Smith

140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income eligibility limits for social housing will be increased; if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concerns in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan in which the existing income limits are much too low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3484/21]

Emigrant Support Services

Brendan Smith

165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funding allocated under the emigrant support programme in 2020; the level of funding to be provided in 2021; if this will enable the expansion of existing programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3487/21]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Brendan Smith

270. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a refuge centre for victims of domestic abuse will be established in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3483/21]

Special Educational Needs

Brendan Smith

138. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if additional supports will be provided for children with special education needs as requested in correspondence from parents (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2148/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Smith

235. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the additional measures that will be implemented to restrict travel into this State during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2136/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Smith

236. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the present restrictions on travel within this State are applicable to persons who are ordinarily resident outside the jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2137/21]

Vaccination Programme

Brendan Smith

239. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if essential workers (details supplied) will be prioritised along with other front-line workers in the vaccine roll-out programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2151/21]

European Arrest Warrant

Brendan Smith

738. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the systems in place with the UK to replace the European arrest warrant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1815/21]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Brendan Smith

1099. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place to continue a scheme with Northern Ireland and Britain similar to the EU cross-border healthcare directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1816/21]

LEADER Programmes

Brendan Smith

21. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timescale for the commencement of an interim LEADER programme in 2021; if this programme will be funded through the national Exchequer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43926/20]

LEADER Programmes

Brendan Smith

79. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding provision for an extension in 2021 of the existing LEADER programme and the proposals to fund the work of local development companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43925/20]

Brexit Preparations

Brendan Smith

158. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which his Department is continuing to support the development of new markets for Irish exports in the current Covid-19 and Brexit environment; his plans for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43848/20]

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Brendan Smith

189. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the implementation of the recommendations made in the Action Plan for Insurance Reform in relation to the Personal Injury Assessment Board; the number of recommendations that have not been implemented to date; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43849/20]

National Broadband Plan

Brendan Smith

252. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress expected in rolling out the national broadband plan in 2021 throughout County Cavan; the areas that will benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44411/20]

National Broadband Plan

Brendan Smith

253. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress expected in rolling out the national broadband plan in 2021 throughout County Monaghan; the areas that will benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44412/20]

Mobile Telephony Services

Brendan Smith

254. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has had discussions with telecommunications providers and the communications regulator on the need to improve mobile telephone coverage in different parts of the country, including areas in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44413/20]

Mobile Telephony Services

Brendan Smith

257. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an agreement is in place with the UK authorities to ensure there will be no imposition of mobile telephone roaming charges from 1 January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44440/20]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

268. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure a substantial financial allocation under the road works programme to Cavan County Council in 2021 for the further planning and design of a route (details supplied) in view of its strategic importance for the Border region and the need to upgrade this road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44461/20]

Local Improvement Scheme

Brendan Smith

283. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will give further consideration to the provision of funding to local authorities in 2021 for the local improvement scheme due to the long waiting lists in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan and the unacceptable delays for households in rural areas having laneways accessing their homes brought up to an acceptable standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44554/20]

Customs and Excise

Brendan Smith

300. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the additional measures he will implement to counteract the illegal and cross-Border trade in tobacco and drink products and household fuel products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44401/20]

Customs and Excise

Brendan Smith

301. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the measures he will introduce to protect and support legitimate businesses trading in household fuel products due to the difficulties they face with illegal cross-Border trade in such products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44402/20]

Banking Sector

Brendan Smith

304. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the outcome of the most recent discussions with a bank (details supplied) in relation to the need to retain a banking service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44425/20]

Flood Relief Schemes

Brendan Smith

315. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure an increase in funding to Cavan County Council in 2021 for flood alleviation measures in view of increasing problems with flooding due to heavy rainfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44415/20]

Flood Relief Schemes

Brendan Smith

316. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure an increase in funding to Monaghan County Council in 2021 for flood alleviation measures in view of increasing problems with flooding due to heavy rainfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44416/20]

Office of Public Works

Brendan Smith

317. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expected timeline for each stage in the provision of new public service accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44424/20]

Tourism Project Funding

Brendan Smith

324. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding available from the Exchequer and EU sources for tourism projects in 2021 under a scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44462/20]

Tenant Purchase Scheme

Brendan Smith

345. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to amend the tenant purchase scheme to enable persons who are in receipt of a pension and have the financial resources to buy out their council home avail of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44433/20]

Local Authority Housing

Brendan Smith

346. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if income eligibility limits will be improved for social housing for areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan in which the existing limits are very low and causing difficulties for many families who have little hope of obtaining a mortgage or home loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44434/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Brendan Smith

357. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units built directly by local authorities in 2019 and 2020; the projected number of such units for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44539/20]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Smith

398. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a planned building project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44471/20]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Smith

400. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a building project application by a school (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44485/20]

School Transport

Brendan Smith

402. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if school bus capacity will be increased without further delay in light of the large number of students unable to access transport at present due to a much reduced capacity in the 2020-21 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44510/20]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Brendan Smith

458. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding will be provided in 2021 to ensure the provision of a refuge centre in counties Cavan and Monaghan for victims of domestic abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44480/20]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Brendan Smith

486. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the improvements she plans to implement to the closed-circuit television, CCTV, scheme due to difficulties encountered by community groups in availing of it as structured at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44469/20]

Garda Deployment

Brendan Smith

487. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will ensure that adequate policing resources are provided in the Border region to deal with cross-Border criminal activity by persons and organised gangs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44522/20]

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Brendan Smith

593. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if increased funding will be made available in 2021 to the drug task forces in view of the increased demand for services in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44463/20]

Beef Industry

Brendan Smith

639. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the issues discussed at the most recent meeting of the beef forum; the date and agenda for the next meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44395/20]

Veterinary Medicines

Brendan Smith

640. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in ensuring that approved merchant stores will continue to sell veterinary medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44396/20]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Smith

641. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in reducing the delays in processing forestry felling applications which have adversely affected the supply of timber products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44397/20]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Smith

642. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated acreage of forestry affected by ash dieback disease; the costs incurred in implementing measures to counteract the spread of this disease; the further measures to be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44398/20]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

145. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the parties in the Northern Ireland Executive and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland about the need to implement the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44037/20]

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Brendan Smith

146. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the UK Foreign Secretary about the unanimous motions passed in Dáil Éireann on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44038/20]

Peace and Reconciliation Programme

Brendan Smith

147. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funding allocated in 2020 for peace and reconciliation projects; the expected expenditure at the end of 2020; the funding provided for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44039/20]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

148. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the parties in the Northern Ireland Executive and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland about the introduction of a bill of rights in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44040/20]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

153. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if a person or persons with detailed knowledge of the work of and demands on the Defence Forces over the years in the Border region and the unique security issues in that area will be appointed to the commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44076/20]

Disability Support Services

Brendan Smith

341. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number on waiting lists for assessments of need in counties Cavan and Monaghan to date; the proposals to reduce the waiting lists and provide more timely appointments for children in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43991/20]