Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

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]

Visa Applications

Gino Kenny

612. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she will address a series of matters (details supplied) regarding visa applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23940/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

707. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the medical cannabis access programme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23551/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

708. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the details of the budgetary constraints stated by his Department as the reason for the delay in the roll-out of the medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23552/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

709. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a date has been established for the commencement of the medicinal access programme; the concerns and obstacles to the roll-out of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23553/20]

Legislative Process

Gino Kenny

24. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the role her Department will play in overseeing new regulations being brought in by the Minister for Health that will be made into criminal offences under section 13 of the new Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018; if there will be a vote taken in Dáil Éireann prior to the regulations becoming law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22926/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

184. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if provision has been made for children returning to school that have parents and or siblings with serious and or a terminal illness that have been cocooning for the past six months and are at critical risk should children bring the Covid-19 virus home; the provisions that have been made in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23026/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Gino Kenny

172. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the community and worker engagement process as set out for the midlands region, Bord na Móna workers and communities; the way in which the process is operating in view of Covid-19; his plans to advance community and worker engagement in respect of Bord na Móna and the just transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20971/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Gino Kenny

173. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether the community engagement aspect of just transition has been applied successfully in other jurisdictions; his plans to instigate some of the measures in the just transition plan for the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20972/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Gino Kenny

174. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the work of the midlands regional transition team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20973/20]

Climate Action Plan

Gino Kenny

175. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the new citizens’ engagement model mentioned in chapter 15 of the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20974/20]

Bord na Móna

Gino Kenny

176. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for job creation and redeployment of Bord na Móna workers in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20975/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

326. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of households that each local authority has removed from the housing list as a result of not responding to the housing needs assessment in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18006/20]

Land Development Agency

Gino Kenny

45. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which the LDA will address the housing crisis; if representatives of NGOs or bodies that have campaigned on behalf of the homeless or on the housing crisis will be represented on the board of the LDA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17626/20]

Housing Issues

Gino Kenny

62. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will re-examine the policy on co-living accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17625/20]

Employment Rights

Gino Kenny

72. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 14 July 2020, the way in which migrant workers who do not hold valid permits can access the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, in view of a recent court case which found the definition of civil proceedings in one particular case excluded the findings of the WRC and Labour Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17234/20]

Immigration Policy

Gino Kenny

565. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide clarity in relation to the process of stamp 4 renewal for persons living outside of Dublin in particular; if she will address the issue of access to locally-based immigration officers which is difficult and or sporadic as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the pressure this is placing on employees that need renewals urgently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16492/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

170. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that disability service providers have not received extra funding to cover the costs of deep cleaning, sanitising and other associated Covid-19 hygiene protocols as they begin to resume their services for persons with disabilities; if extra funding will be provided in the interest of public health to organisations providing these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16371/20]

Medical Cards

Gino Kenny

172. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the income threshold level for medical card eligibility is to be raised; the details of the new levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16380/20]

Proposed Legislation

Gino Kenny

26. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he expects to move legislation to ban oil and gas exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15995/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Gino Kenny

166. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the availability of Covid-19 antibody tests, that is, post-infection blood tests, for persons going for private surgeries in private hospitals and for those who can pay amounts varying from €79 to €250; if he will consider providing this test free of charge in the first instance to persons who have been shielding and cocooning to enable them to improve their mental and physical health and restore confidence; his plans to roll out the Covid-19 antibody test to all who require it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16270/20]

Legislative Measures

Gino Kenny

29. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation his priority legislation in the area of workers’ rights and employment legislation; if the Employment Permits Act will be amended for migrant workers to make it possible to access the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court; if legislation regarding SEOs and collective agreements will be strengthened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15814/20]

Legislative Measures

Gino Kenny

33. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the amending of employment legislation and the Companies Act 2014 will be made a priority in view of a dispute at a company (details supplied) and the past failure to legislate and in further view of the Duffy Cahill report; if the passage of the Protection of Employees (Collective Redundancies) Bill 2017 will be supported, which passed Second Stage in the Thirty-second Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15813/20]

Schools Building Projects

Gino Kenny

520. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision to locate new temporary Educate Together facilities and buildings on a site adjacent to a school (details supplied) that has been earmarked for a long-awaited extension to the school that had been agreed by her predecessor; if she will ensure the redevelopment of the school on the earmarked site and identify another location for the school, which is needed to bolster school places in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14670/20]

Medicinal Products

Gino Kenny

1154. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of children with spinal muscular atrophy eligible for treatment with the approved drug Spinraza; the number of those receiving the treatment; the reason for the delay in treatment for some of these children such as a child (details supplied); the way in which and when these issues will be addressed in order that all children can receive this vital treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15427/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1293. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the health impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on persons living with dementia and their family carers; his further views on the lack of consideration and strategy in terms of addressing the unique needs of this group during the pandemic; if the omission of the group will be addressed by specifically including it in current and future discussions and debate in relation to Covid-19 and other public health strategies and policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15944/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1294. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on a recently published report (details supplied); his further views on the conclusion in the report that policy and practice needs to focus on the way in which persons living with dementia and their informal and formal carers can be optimally supported; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15945/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1295. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the concerns of health professionals and organisations working with persons with dementia and their families that dementia has not been included specifically in data collection related to Covid-19 mortality or in the public messaging being issued will be addressed; the way in which he will address the lack of emphasis placed on the complex needs of those impacted by dementia in the community and in residential settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15946/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1296. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on whether persons with dementia and their family carers have been rendered invisible during the Covid-19 crisis; the way in which he will ensure that dementia is given high priority in terms of public health policy, research into its impact and future planning with regard to Covid-19; if the issuing of guidelines for the reopening of services and supports for persons and their families will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15947/20]

Homeless Accommodation

Gino Kenny

276. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on providing accommodation for homeless families and persons in hotels and bed and breakfasts in each local authority area from June 2017 up to and including June 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13878/20]

State Bodies

Gino Kenny

480. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reasons the Citizens Information Board and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, restructuring plan has commenced in the south Dublin area despite the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s production of a report in June 2017 (details supplied); the rationale, process and evidence of decision-making that has led to the commencement of the restructuring plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13751/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

489. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if care workers visiting the homes of sick, elderly or disabled persons will be tested fortnightly for Covid-19 in line with the testing of care workers in nursing homes every two weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13206/20]

Human Rights

Gino Kenny

24. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will convey Ireland’s opposition to the Australian ambassador to Ireland of the proposed destruction of 40 to 86 significant Aboriginal sites in the central Pilbara region by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11973/20]

Revenue Commissioners

Gino Kenny

56. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners’ customs service has ever intercepted the poppy seed imports of retailers and food businesses that use poppy seed in the manufacture of their products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11998/20]

Mortgage Lending

Gino Kenny

61. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that couples that were approved for a mortgage prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, one of whom has had to avail of the temporary wage subsidy scheme but will return to employment, have had the mortgage offer suspended; the reason for same; if a solution will be introduced in order that prospective buyers can proceed with a home purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12057/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gino Kenny

130. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of his recent announcement of a summer programme for children with additional needs; the way in which the programme will operate in schools or areas if teachers or SNAs cannot make themselves available in that particular area; the contingency plans in such cases; if the school in question is not available due to remediation works, the commencement date and the duration of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11729/20]

Enterprise Ireland

Gino Kenny

373. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if Enterprise Ireland support is being made available to companies that sell poppy seed or that have poppy seeds in their products; if not, when it was revoked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11997/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

457. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in the rolling out of the medicinal cannabis access programme; the measures that remain to be implemented to commence the programme; if there are outstanding barriers to its commencement; the proposed commencement date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12079/20]

Agriculture Industry

Gino Kenny

592. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to protect the rights of hemp farmers to have access to the market for products resulting from the first stage processing of their crops, if not, the details of the scientific evidence that warrants such a position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11996/20]

Health Screening Programmes

Gino Kenny

321. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons are experiencing anxiety and stress while waiting for cancer screening services to resume; if a date will be committed to for their earliest resumption; if a guarantee will be given that extra resources will be deployed to ensure that waiting lists for the services are cleared as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9712/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

364. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the possibility will be explored of allowing families to visit their loved ones that are end-of-life in hospices but that are not actively dying (details supplied); if a range of options that would allow same including the wearing of appropriate PPE and or outdoor visits with social distancing will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9960/20]

English Language Training Organisations

Gino Kenny

185. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will include teacher-led representation in addition to full involvement in the Covid-19 working group for the English language education sector; his views on whether it is vital that every stakeholder including teachers, students and unions is given a place on the working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8626/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Gino Kenny

447. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to lift the policy ban on enterprise support for the hemp industry in view of a European Court of Justice ruling (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8799/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Gino Kenny

448. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has ever consulted with the hemp stakeholder body; her plans to consult with it following the recent European Court of Justice ruling (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8800/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

528. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason epidiolex that is a cannabis-based medicine for the treatment of epilepsy and been approved by the EMA and FDA, has not be approved for reimbursement by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8389/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

640. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when nursing homes can allow visitors once they have outdoor space while visitors would observe physical distancing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8279/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

909. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the school meals programme into the summer holiday months will be extended in order that families that have lost jobs or are temporarily laid off as a result of the public health emergency can continue to access food during these exceptional times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7146/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gino Kenny

322. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be an increase in the number of special education teachers and SNAs provided to all schools in the 2020-21 school year in order to ameliorate the loss of in-school teaching time for these students in view of the fact that young persons in special educational needs, SEN, and DEIS settings are most likely to have experienced difficulties engaging in remote learning; if class sizes will be reduced in DEIS schools, special schools and mainstream schools in line with the demands of unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6583/20]