Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Meat Processing Plants

Bríd Smith

1558. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the views of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on the issue of the placing of barriers to new entrants to the meat processing sector; his views on whether a submission from his Department to the immigrant investor programme evaluation committee in relation to a proposed facility in Banagher represents such a barrier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33837/20]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

1576. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the action she has taken in relation to whistle-blower disclosures made to and regarding a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32393/20]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

1577. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an audit of an area (details supplied) took place in March 2020; and the actions that have been taken by the relevant authorities on foot of its findings. [32394/20]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

1578. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the appointment by the local authority of an external person to work with a body (details supplied) in relation to ongoing issues there has taken place; and the cost of this external assistance. [32395/20]

Protected Disclosures

Bríd Smith

1579. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a body (details supplied) was fined in 2015 by Pobal; the reason for this; and the actions taken by relevant bodies since to avoid a repetition of the actions that resulted in this fine. [32396/20]

Legislative Reviews

Bríd Smith

5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will commission a review of the effects of changes in the law regarding the offence of prostitution and specifically the effects of this change on vulnerable women; the number of women who have been charged with the offence of brothel keeping since the change to the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32021/20]

Public Inquiries

Bríd Smith

10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice her views on the demand for a public inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32020/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

64. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance when he will publish the list of companies that availed of the temporary wage subsidy scheme; if this list will detail the amount of funds claimed in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32231/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

105. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the procedures followed by schools in relation to tracing close contacts of a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the school when a member of staff or student tests positive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32229/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

106. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if there have been changes to the tracing of close contacts, including the definition of a close contact in the case of a positive case of Covid-19 in both primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32230/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

122. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if those in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment can participate in a full-time training course and retain the payment; if not, if there are plans to allow claimants to take up full-time training to improve their employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32128/20]

School Transport

Bríd Smith

53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the supports available from her Department to a primary school student whose lone parent is recently blind and unable to ensure her child safely reaches school each morning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30249/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the circumstances under which a school should close as a result of staff testing positive for Covid 19; if her Department has been notified by principals of the numbers of confirmed positive cases among teachers in their school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30250/20]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bríd Smith

222. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to pay a Christmas bonus to recipients of social protection payments in 2020; and the date on which this will happen. [30444/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bríd Smith

230. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the steps to be taken by the parent of a child in order to secure an additional year of preschool learning under the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme (details supplied); and the body to which such an application should be made. [30394/20]

Immigrant Investor Programme

Bríd Smith

286. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 323 of 8 October 2020, the reason he has not provided a copy of the submission as requested; and if he is not in a position to do same, the reason. [30492/20]

Foras na Gaeilge

Bríd Smith

128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if after ten years of reduced funding for Foras na Gaeilge she will provide an additional €4.5 million in budget 2021 to Foras na Gaeilge to fund the projects agreed by 80 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29910/20]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an additional €6 million will be provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta in its line budget to create jobs and contribute to language planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29911/20]

Foras na Gaeilge

Bríd Smith

130. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an additional €910,000 will be provided for the Irish language community scheme, SPG, organised by Foras na Gaeilge to guarantee that groups have sufficient funding to coordinate the Irish language in their areas under the scheme and that other groups in various constituencies have the opportunity to join the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29912/20]

Gaeltacht Scholarships

Bríd Smith

131. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will establish a scholarship scheme as recommended in the investment plan agreed by 80 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups to assist disadvantaged school pupils to attend summer college courses in the Gaeltacht; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29913/20]

Irish Language

Bríd Smith

132. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether investment should be made in Irish language centres in towns and cities nationally as has been done in Northern Ireland to give the language a focus in the community; if she will establish a fund to assist these centres to operate as recommended in the investment plan agreed by 80 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups; if the appropriate funding to fund such centres is included in budget 2021 for Foras na Gaeilge to distribute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29914/20]

Bullying in the Workplace

Bríd Smith

207. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence the steps he is taking to deal with issues in the Defence Forces concerning allegations of sexual abuse, bullying and harassment of personnel; his plans to implement safeguards; his plans to establish investigations or inquiries into the allegations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30192/20]

Social Insurance

Bríd Smith

311. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person’s time on maternity leave is credited as a contributory period, either paid, credited, reckonable contribution and so on for the purposes of the social insurance fund and access to certain benefits; if such a period on maternity leave is not treated as a credited period for their contributions record, her plans to change the regulation governing this for persons on maternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29953/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

436. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the HSE policy for remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic, in particular for hospital employees whose work can be done from home; if a forum is available for workers to contact should they feel they are being put under pressure to return to the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29638/20]

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence his views on the issue of formal recognition of an organisation (details supplied) in order to represent the interests of Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29109/20]

Defence Forces Review

Bríd Smith

23. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the commission for the future of the Defence Forces; the persons who will be on the board; if representatives of the Defence Forces personnel such as an organisation (details supplied) will be on the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29106/20]

Defence Forces Equipment

Bríd Smith

38. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence the value of all contracts for goods or services, including drone technology, purchased by the Defence Forces from Israel and Israeli-based firms to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29108/20]

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Bríd Smith

51. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence his views on the proposal that an organisation (details supplied) join a union as an affiliate body; if the affiliation will be supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29107/20]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Bríd Smith

52. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence the number of persons recruited to the Defence Forces under the re-enlistment scheme announced in March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29105/20]

Immigrant Investor Programme

Bríd Smith

323. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a copy of his Department’s submissions to the immigrant investor programme evaluation committee on the application for proposed development of a meat processing facility in Banagher, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29335/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Bríd Smith

155. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace inspectors in the employ of the HSA; the estimated full year cost of their employment; and the number of businesses inspected by them in 2019 and to date in 2020. [28192/20]

Workplace Relations Commission

Bríd Smith

156. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace inspectors employed by the Workplace Relations Commission; the estimated full-year cost of their employment; and the number of businesses inspected by them in 2019 and to date in 2020. [28195/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Bríd Smith

539. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the road passenger transport operators based in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, Leitrim and Longford that received payment from her Department in respect of the carriage of free travel pass holders in each of the years 2015 to 2019; and the individual routes in respect of which payment was made. [28669/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

540. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants accepted for payment of the pandemic unemployment payment in August 2020 and separately in September 2020; and the number of these who have been placed on each category of payment, that is, €203, €250 and €300, in tabular form. [28676/20]

Departmental Bodies

Bríd Smith

651. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of disease control workplace inspectors in the employ of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC; the estimated full-year cost of their employment; and the number of businesses inspected by them in 2019 and to date in 2020. [28193/20]

Meat Processing Plants

Bríd Smith

789. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspectors in his Department employed as inspectors at meat processing and food processing facilities; and the full-year cost of their employment. [28196/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the procedures will be clarified in cases in which a school incurs multiple losses of teaching and other staff as a result of Covid-19 infections or needing to isolate as a result of close contact with infected persons; the procedure in cases in which as a result of such losses the staff-pupil ratio falls below the legal requirement as outlined on page 9 of the HPSC's Covid pathway for schools, which quotes the legal requirement for the staff-pupil ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27445/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

150. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the circumstances under which a primary school may be closed as a result of Covid-19 safety guidelines and multiple cases of illness and-or suspected cases of illness; the authority that makes such a decision; if her Department has oversight of or a final say in such decisions and the role public health officials play in making such decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27688/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

151. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that have had to shut down or close specific classes since reopening as a result of either a Covid-19 outbreak or illness among staff or pupils or insufficient staff-pupil ratios; the number of teachers her Department's attention has been drawn to as having contracted Covid-19 since the reopening of schools; and the number of pupils, parents and guardians her Department's attention has been drawn to as having contracted Covid-19. [27689/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Bríd Smith

255. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the details of the road passenger transport operators based in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, Leitrim and Longford that received payment from his Department in respect of the carriage of free travel pass holders in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and the individual routes in respect of which payment was made. [27274/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

477. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 15 September 2020, if the school appealed a staff reduction as a result of a fall in pupil numbers in Spring 2020 under section D - English as an additional language, EAL; if this appeal was refused; if it is now open to the school to appeal the staff reduction under a different category as a result of difficulties experienced as a result of implementing the Covid-19 guidelines from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26930/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

566. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an applicant for the pandemic unemployment payment who has been made unemployed as a result of a lay-off due to the Covid-19 crisis and recent restrictions can be assessed on his or her income for 2020 or the period post January and February 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26893/20]

Citizenship Status

Bríd Smith

730. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if the citizenship requirement will be clarified with regard to the reckonable residency calculation; the consequence in the event a person has been absent from the State for more than six weeks in a year; if six-week absences are deducted in their entirety from the reckonable residency calculation; if not, if it is solely the excess days over six weeks that are deducted from reckonable residency calculation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27102/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

774. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the impact of level 3 Covid-10 restrictions and possible further restrictions on businesses (details supplied) in the Dublin area; and the guidance available to owners and operators of such facilities [26325/20]

Care of the Elderly

Bríd Smith

784. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when the change to the presence on-site of a gerontologist and a registered nurse took place; the person or body responsible for the change in regulations relating to the care of the elderly in long-term residential care identified by the expert panel report on page 96; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26368/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Bríd Smith

854. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the contracts and services that have been put in place with the network of 46 laboratories contracted by the State or by its agents to provide Covid-19 testing services; the names and addresses of the laboratories; if they are public or private; the amount expended to date on the contracts; the estimated amount that will be spent on same; the services that will be provided under the contracts; the duration of same; the indemnity arrangements that have been made in respect of the laboratories; if there is one template contract or more in use; and if a copy of the contracts will be released [26645/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Bríd Smith

855. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the logistics provider whose contract has been extended to include Covid-19 testing; the address of the company; the testing services the company has been contracted to provide; the identity of the contracting party; the duration of the contract; the amount expended to date on the contract; the estimated amount to be spent on same; and the indemnity arrangements that have been made in this regard [26646/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Bríd Smith

60. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of HSA inspections of airport terminals or airline operations to ensure they are complying with workplace safety measures in relation to Covid-19; if the authority is aware of or adheres to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, guidelines for airports and airlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26085/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

62. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will bring forward legislation to ensure workers in meat plants have access to a sick scheme as a safety measure in view of Covid-19 outbreaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26176/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

63. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of meat processing plants inspected by the HSA to date since the Covid-19 crisis began; the number of facilities found to be in breach of Covid-19 workplace guidelines; and the penalties that have been or will be levied. [26177/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

74. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his plans to transpose the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, guidelines on safe air travel into enforceable regulations here; if the IAA or other authority has sought to ensure that airports and airlines are operating to these guidelines; if airlines based here are adhering to Covid-19 safety protocols (details supplied) for their workforce and passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26079/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

96. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if a company (details supplied) is in receipt of the new employment subsidy scheme for its workforce; if so, the reason; the oversight and safeguards in place to ensure all companies in receipt of the subsidies are dispensing the funds to their employees; the number of employees that are topping up their employees’ wages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26001/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

136. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 15 September 2020, if a school, having previously appealed a reduction in staff under grounds contained in circular 0018/2020, can now appeal this reduction under different grounds or grounds not captured in the circular but connected to new difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 crisis and taking the necessary public health measures advice by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26046/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

262. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his Department was notified by a company (details supplied) of a Covid-19 outbreak; if so, when; the actions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26174/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

294. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department was notified by a company (details supplied) of a Covid-19 outbreak; if so, when; the actions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26173/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

30. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons, in complying with public health advice to refrain from travelling to particular countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, have incurred substantial losses as a result of airline companies’ refusal to refund them by stating that their flights are still departing; if he has had meetings with airlines to address the matter; his plans to compel airlines and or hotels to refund customers that cannot travel as a result of public health advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25832/20]

Work Permits

Bríd Smith

138. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the operation of the employment permit scheme; and the number of employment permits by category including general permit and skills shortage permits that have been issued since 2010 to or on behalf of or following an application from a third party such as an employment agency that is not the employer involved or the employee. [25597/20]

Work Permits

Bríd Smith

139. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of general employment permits issued since 2010 to the meat processing sector. [25598/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

229. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if the employment wage subsidy scheme will be reinstated at the full rate per week for the highly skilled staff and businesses working in the live events sector that are anxious to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24906/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

272. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the number of workers in receipt of the employment subsidy scheme; the number of workers that received a top-up payment from their employer; the breakdown of the levels and top- ups provided by employers; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that employer top-ups have risen as a response to the reduction in the employment subsidies provided by the State. [25595/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

273. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance when he will publish a list of the companies that availed of the wage subsidy scheme; the amounts given to the companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25596/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

275. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the provisions for workers that have left or were in their final year of service in the public sector when the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 was passed to continue working in their positions; if workers aged 66 years of age and that were still working in their positions when this legislation was enacted can continue working in line with the new age limits in the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24716/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

295. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress the Covid-19 restrictions have caused to those previously working in the live events sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24906/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

296. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if she will consider granting funding to the live events sector proportionate to the funds allocated to the Arts Council in 2020 in recognition of the fact that the sector accounts for 90% of all tickets sold here; if the critical lack of grant funding to the sector will be acknowledged; if a commitment will be given to a ringfenced fund for businesses in the sector that can remain viable until restrictions are lifted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24907/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

297. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if a voice will be given to the commercial live events sector in the recently announced task force in order to represent the substantial needs of the live events community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24908/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

493. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be reinstated at the full rate per week for the highly skilled staff and businesses working in the live events sector that are anxious to return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24906/20]

Beef Industry

Bríd Smith

241. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is policy not to pursue additional capacity within the beef sector as stated by the Immigration Investor Programme Evaluation Committee; the details of the members of the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24675/20]

Beef Industry

Bríd Smith

242. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the policy to not to pursue additional capacity denies farmers access to markets and creates barriers to trade for consumers and farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24676/20]

Proposed Legislation

Bríd Smith

243. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to providing a money message for the Island Fisheries Heritage Licence Bill 2017 if it is reintroduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24677/20]

Agriculture Industry

Bríd Smith

244. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to change the industrialised business-led model of agriculture here which has led to a biodiversity, climate and water quality crisis, in addition to a substantial decline of small family farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24678/20]

Trade Agreements

Bríd Smith

107. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the Mercosur deal and the way in which it will impact farming here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24346/20]

Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

162. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the status of the commitment on page 36 of the programme for Government to end the issuing of new licences for exploration and extraction of gas on the same basis as the recent decision on oil exploration and extraction; the legislation that will be put forward in this regard; and the form it will take. [23788/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Bríd Smith

424. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 30 July 2020, if the school appealed the reduction of staff ratio allocated for the 2020-21 school year; the outcome of the appeal; the additional resources allocated to help the school deal with class sizes of 35 from different years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23789/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Bríd Smith

425. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the number and locations of schools that faced a reduction of staff ratios for this coming school term; the number that appealed the decision; and the number of successful appeals. [23790/20]

Jobseeker's Allowance

Bríd Smith

519. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to those in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance that must complete a course in advance of commencing employment (details supplied); her views on whether required pre-employment course costs are often prohibitive to those that want to work but cannot due to the fact they are unable to fund the necessary course; her plans to provide funding to ensure such costs do not remain as barriers to employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24023/20]

Legislative Process

Bríd Smith

33. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if a commitment will be given that new regulations that are to become criminal offences by section 13 of the new Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 will be debated and voted on by Dáil Éireann prior to the regulations becoming law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22923/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

88. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the number of recipients of the wage subsidy scheme at the end of August 2020; the number who will be in receipt of the new employment subsidy scheme; the number who receive top-ups from their employers; the average amount of these top-ups; and the number on the new scheme who are receiving less from this support than the current jobseeker's allowance. [22961/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Bríd Smith

89. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the measures his Department has in place to ensure that workers who remain on the employment subsidy scheme with their employers and who are working a specified number of hours per week are not receiving less than the statutory minimum wage or their former hourly pay rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22962/20]

Springboard Programme

Bríd Smith

215. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment cannot be accepted for the Springboard programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22968/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

216. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional supports he plans to provide for mature students and others that are returning or commencing third level and further education courses in 2020 in view of the fact that many will be unable to access an income from employment or casual work in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22969/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

217. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine providing additional supports to those commencing third level and further education in 2020 that are currently on the pandemic unemployment payment or the wage subsidy scheme and are faced with the difficulty of trying to commence the courses with inadequate income supports; if the back to education scheme can be extended to those currently on employment supports that have little if any prospect of returning to normal employment in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22970/20]

Departmental Contracts

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach the payments for services or goods by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 2015. [20783/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Bríd Smith

484. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if changes will be made to the teacher-pupil ratio or resources allocated to allow schools to recruit additional teachers beyond that ratio on contracts of at least six months duration in view of the Covid-19 crisis and in order to reduce reliance on and pressure on substitute teachers. [21105/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

6. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional resources that will be provided to schools such as a school (details supplied) which will lose one teacher as a result of a slight reduction in pupil numbers in September 2019 which now face arranging a return to school with at least two 35 pupil classes each from a variety of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19298/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

39. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a moratorium will be placed on proposed reductions in teacher numbers in schools as a result of changes in the number of pupils registered in September 2019 in view of the pressures that the Covid-19 crisis will have on schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19297/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the payments for services or goods by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 2015. [20769/20]

Sustainable Development Goals

Bríd Smith

148. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which commitment to the sustainable development goals will be reflected in the 2020-25 strategy and work plan of his Department; his plans to monitor and report annually on the progress towards achieving the goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19699/20]

Exploration Licences

Bríd Smith

150. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a decision will be made on the five existing applications relating to licensing options and conversions to exploration licences under consideration by his Department in terms of oil and gas exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19738/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Bríd Smith

153. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of progress in respect of the Just Transition Commissioner's progress reports' aim to develop community engagement through community workshops, which had been scheduled for April 2020 but was delayed due to the national and international restrictions due to Covid-19. [19986/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Bríd Smith

165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the payments for services or goods by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 2015. [20771/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Bríd Smith

177. Deputy Bríd Smith 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. [20976/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Bríd Smith

178. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether the community engagement aspect of a 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 region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20977/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Bríd Smith

179. Deputy Bríd Smith 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. [20978/20]

Climate Action Plan

Bríd Smith

180. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the new citizens’ engagement model as mentioned in chapter 15 of the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20979/20]

Bord na Móna

Bríd Smith

181. Deputy Bríd Smith 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. [20980/20]

Driver Test

Bríd Smith

262. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will encourage the Road Safety Authority to meet with representatives of driving instructors to resolve issues in relation to test centres and the difficulties that instructors have in not been allowed access the main buildings during tests; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that similar issues in the UK have been resolved; if the matter of mandatory wearing of masks and provision of hand sanitiser will be addressed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20604/20]

Departmental Contracts

Bríd Smith

273. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the payments for services or goods by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 2015. [20784/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Bríd Smith

361. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the payments for services or goods by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 2015. [20776/20]

Departmental Contracts

Bríd Smith

397. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the payments for services or goods by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 2015. [20781/20]

Sustainable Development Goals

Bríd Smith

417. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which commitment to the sustainable development goals will be reflected in the Strategy and Work Plan 2020-2025 of her Department; her plans to monitor and report annually on the progress towards achieving the goals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19700/20]