Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

International Protection

Gino Kenny

57. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the steps she plans to take in cases in relation to several health care workers who have been given notice that they may face deportation as their applications for international protection have failed in view of the considerable service these applicants have given to the State during the Covid-19 crisis. [42531/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

78. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the way in which the Covid-19 vaccine will be rolled out across the country; if a new database will be developed to ensure a professional tracking system for both shots of the vaccine; if the programme will be rolled out by the public health regions; the role that general practitioners will play in this roll-out; if there will be a prioritisation of vulnerable groups; if so, the order of this prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42359/20]

Nursing Education

Gino Kenny

88. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that all student nurses receive payment for the work they have put in across the health service during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42363/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

107. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will provide full details of the first deal with the private hospitals in the fight against Covid-19; if there has been a value for money analysis of this deal; his plans to permanently increase the public healthcare capacity in order to not risk the overwhelming of the service in another wave of Covid-19 and do not have to buy services from the private hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42364/20]

Health Services Provision

Gino Kenny

139. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that no child in need of scoliosis surgery is left waiting while the condition worsens and results in serious pain for the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42362/20]

Legislative Measures

Gino Kenny

350. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if the decision will be reconsidered to disallow the inclusion of Coco’s Law in some form in the title of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 given the significant contribution of the family of a person (details supplied) in drafting the legislation; if the work done by a person in addressing the issue of youth suicide in schools, colleges and communities throughout the country and the association of the person will be acknowledged with the legislation and the important work done in their name; if the importance of the societal and cultural impact of this legislation among young persons and the importance of using an easily remembered title to ensure it gains the necessary prevalence and traction among specific groups and cohorts in society will further be acknowledged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42629/20]

Israeli Settlements

Gino Kenny

8. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will re-examine the proposed legislation to ban the import of goods from illegal settlements in Palestine in view of recent attacks by the Israeli state there on human rights and the ongoing demolition of homes by the Israeli state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38339/20]

Human Rights

Gino Kenny

11. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the matter relating to a person (details supplied) with his EU counterparts at upcoming EU-wide meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38338/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

823. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of ministerial medical cannabis licences that have been issued; the number of licence holders currently being reimbursed under the licensing system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38150/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

824. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the commencement of the medical cannabis access programme; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38151/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

942. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his Department acknowledges that there is a significant cohort who have not recovered following Covid-19 infection and who are experiencing long Covid; if multidisciplinary post Covid-19 countrywide clinics will be established which will include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nutritionists and counsellors; if it will be ensured that best practice, guidelines, guidance and training are provided to general practitioners and consultants in relation to long Covid ensuring consistency and compassionate treatment of patients with the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38795/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

943. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that information, guidance and guidelines will be made available to employers in relation to the management of workers with long Covid; if clarity will be provided with regard to the medical and financial entitlements of those with long Covid; if accurate and up-to-date information will be provided on the HSE website in regard to Covid-19 contraction and recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38796/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gino Kenny

518. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if reading schools will be affected by the findings in the NCSE report; if so, the way in which children with severe dyslexia below 10th percentile standardised literacy rate will be accommodated in mainstream education with full-time education using a method of learning (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36746/20]

Primary Care Centres

Gino Kenny

745. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of proposed primary care centres in Lucan, County Dublin; the stage of the process they are in; and if there is funding allocated. [36450/20]

Primary Care Centres

Gino Kenny

746. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of proposed primary care centres in Clondalkin, Dublin 22; the stage of the process they are in; and if there is funding allocated. [36451/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

26. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport his plans to meet with the CEO of the IAA regarding policy on the aviation industry and the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35774/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

38. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given by his Department to increasing the numbers of buses on specific routes in Dublin city to cope with current demands during level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35775/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

372. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the powers the CEOs of city and county councils have to determine whether to raise the amount of rent charged to local authority tenants; his views on whether it is a matter for councillors to decide by way of approving the budgets of the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35280/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Gino Kenny

388. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review of income eligibility by his Department for social housing supports in each local authority as part of social housing reform will be completed; and if all the criteria and decisions will be published when the report is completed. [35273/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gino Kenny

451. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education her future plans for special educational schools and also the six reading schools; the extra resources she will provide for mainstream schools to accommodate children with more significant additional needs especially in the context of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34895/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

564. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when and the way in which the additional payment of €250 for students at third-level colleges will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35284/20]

Data Protection

Gino Kenny

592. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if the Irish Prison Service will cease using and processing employee biometric data; if her attention has been drawn to a recent decision by the Data Protection Commission on this issue; if no breaches of employees biometric data are currently taking place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34643/20]

Vaccination Programme

Gino Kenny

657. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if there is evidence of a general lack of awareness of the pneumococcal vaccination in the at-risk population and, if so, if there are plans to address this with a public health awareness campaign similar to that addressing the availability and importance of the flu vaccine for these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34546/20]

Health Promotion

Gino Kenny

88. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of the women’s health task force that was established over a year ago; the actions taken or achieved in the intervening period; the plans in the area of women’s health over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33543/20]

Nursing Education

Gino Kenny

89. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the position of student nurses in the health service; if they have been offered healthcare assistants' contracts and work; if while on placement they will be offered similar payments as in March 2020; the supports that will be in place on an ongoing basis for student nurses serving in the public service given the risks of Covid-19 infection; if he will increase the current allowance of €50.79 a week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33542/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

144. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the details of his negotiations with the private hospital sector to ensure increased capacity as the country enters the second wave of Covid-19; the cost per bed of an agreement by ICU and acute bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33541/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Gino Kenny

153. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans for further investment in testing tracing infrastructure and public health tracing teams in the coming weeks; the number of whole-time equivalents employed in this service since April 2020, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33540/20]

Mental Health Services

Gino Kenny

155. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the perinatal mental health services available for women; his plans to improve or add to these services in the near future; the perinatal mental health services available in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33544/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

620. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the person or body that sets the income threshold for persons to apply for local authority housing; and if the income threshold is set by his Department or the local authorities. [33145/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

621. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the year the current income threshold for applicants on local authority housing list was set. [33146/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

622. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department allows local authorities to set their own income threshold for persons applying for local authority housing; if his Department monitors each authority; the way in which this is monitored; and the year each local authority set their current income threshold for the local authority housing list. [33147/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

623. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria and factors taken into consideration to determine the income threshold for persons applying for local authority housing. [33148/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

624. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if national average wage increases, minimum wage increases and increases in the private rental market are taken into consideration when setting income thresholds for persons applying for local authority housing. [33149/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

625. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to increase the income threshold for persons applying for local authority housing. [33150/20]

Social Welfare Offices

Gino Kenny

918. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection when her Department plans to centralise and gather information from INTREO offices to obtain a national picture regarding complaints made by persons applying for a social welfare payment or persons in receipt of a social welfare payment in order that her Department gathers all complaints to her Department relating to the process of applications, reviews, appeals, inspections or other complaints to INTREO offices. [33314/20]

Social Welfare Offices

Gino Kenny

919. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department does not, to date, centrally gather information from INTREO offices relating to complaints made by persons applying for a social welfare payment or persons in receipt of a social welfare payment to her Department in order that her Department can monitor application processes, review processes, appeal processes or inspections carried out in order that her Department can monitor complaints nationally or to determine if there are local problems with a particular INTREO office. [33315/20]

Legislative Measures

Gino Kenny

13. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to introduce legislation to allow for a mechanism for workers to be prioritised as creditors in the event of a liquidation in the future; if legislation that stops workers seeking redundancy in certain circumstances will be ended or extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30568/20]

Industrial Disputes

Gino Kenny

62. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has discussed a dispute (details supplied) with the Minister for Finance; if so, if he has discussed the proposal that the State and the Revenue Commissioners stand aside as creditors to allow the liquidators prioritise former workers in order to achieve a resolution of the dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30567/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

71. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will respond positively to calls from nurses and other healthcare professionals to reinsert the requirement that infectious diseases, including Covid-19, are reported by employers to the Health and Safety Authority as infectious diseases in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23678/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

33. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education the number of staff in secondary and primary schools confirmed as having contracted Covid-19 since schools reopened; the procedures for their return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30252/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Gino Kenny

95. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if schools that have lost a teacher as a result of a reduction in the September 2019 numbers of pupils can apply to her Department for support in recruiting a replacement teacher if they find it difficult to enforce Covid-19 safety guidelines in their school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30251/20]

Defence Forces Operations

Gino Kenny

191. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Defence if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29569/20]

Maternity Leave

Gino Kenny

371. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she will commit to increasing maternity leave and benefit to nine weeks in acknowledgement of the difficult situation parents of new babies are in as a result of the public health emergency; the amount that current legislation permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29865/20]

Medicinal Products

Gino Kenny

537. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if there is an appeals process for those who have been refused reimbursement by the HSE for the use of the breast cancer drug pertuzumab despite a consultant oncologist’s opinion that it would be beneficial to use as treatment in a particular case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30191/20]

Departmental Reviews

Gino Kenny

154. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria selection for the child maintenance review group. [27435/20]

Taxi Licences

Gino Kenny

16. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if the demands of representative groups of taxi drivers will be agreed to, namely to dissolve the taxi advisory committee and instead establish a national transport forum with strong representation from these representative groups, to extend the 10 year rule for replacing taxis to 12 years, to instigate an immediate moratorium on the issues of licence, and to establish a licence buy back scheme for taxi drivers wishing to exit the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25892/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

34. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure that public transport is available to all those that need it during the Covid-19 crisis in view of the fact that most transport is running at 50% capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25891/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Gino Kenny

222. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if some maternity hospitals have the facilities to carry out quick turnaround Covid-19 testing; if this facility can be extended to cover partners of pregnant persons in order that they can be present for scans and other maternity services and resume the much-needed support of their partners during hospital maternity visits and labour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26012/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

53. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport when Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann will resume full services in view of the pressures on existing services with reduced capacity due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15994/20]

Hospital Services

Gino Kenny

95. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase capacity in hospitals permanently; his further plans to increase the current 45 ICU beds in view of the worrying recent increase in the number of Covid-19 infections and in anticipation of another wave of the virus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23677/20]