Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Neale Richmond

251. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance the status of the review of the employment wage subsidy scheme as it relates to cash flow issues for businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23297/20]

Legislative Programme

Neale Richmond

284. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reintroduce the Investment Limited Partnership (Amendment) Bill 2019; when he expects to have it enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23829/20]

International Agreements

Neale Richmond

364. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps taken in response to the withdrawal of Poland from the Istanbul Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23300/20]

EU Issues

Neale Richmond

365. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps Ireland is taking to reinforce the commitment to the rule of law throughout the EU in view of the worrying developments in some member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23301/20]

EU Issues

Neale Richmond

366. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether European Union member states that do not respect the rule of law should be banned from receiving aid from the EU coronavirus recovery fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23302/20]

EU Issues

Neale Richmond

367. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps Ireland is taking to promote democracy and the rule of law in Hungary following revelations from an organisation (details supplied) that Hungary is no longer a democratic state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23303/20]

International Relations

Neale Richmond

368. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has voiced concerns about the ongoing violence and unrest in the United States of America over previous months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23304/20]

Permanent Structured Co-operation

Neale Richmond

376. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence the contributions by Ireland to PESCO since joining in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23305/20]

Common Security and Defence Policy

Neale Richmond

377. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence the involvement by Ireland in EU Common Security and Defence Policy missions over the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23326/20]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Neale Richmond

476. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe for personal public service number applications; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23327/20]

Third Level Admissions

Neale Richmond

552. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a decision not to award an eligible student (details supplied) a place on the HEAR CAO programme will reviewed based on the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23705/20]

Legislative Programme

Neale Richmond

573. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice her plans to propose amendments to the Personal Insolvency Act 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23367/20]

National Maternity Hospital

Neale Richmond

629. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status of the transfer of the National Maternity Hospital from Holles Street to St. Vincent’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23287/20]

Medical Cards

Neale Richmond

630. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status of the increase in income threshold for those over 70 years of age to access medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23288/20]

Mental Health Services

Neale Richmond

631. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the supports that will be implemented to support those whose mental health has suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23289/20]

Health Screening Programmes

Neale Richmond

632. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to clear the backlog of cancer screening checks that have built up due to the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23290/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neale Richmond

715. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status for those working in contact tracing in University College Dublin regarding the offering of pay and contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23595/20]

School Transport

Neale Richmond

74. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the additional facilities being provided for students who are taking public transport to school this academic year, bearing in mind social distancing and issues of capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23052/20]

School Transport

Neale Richmond

103. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if additional funding has been provided to the private bus operators that are taking children to school and are burdened with additional costs related to reduced capacity in running extra buses and hiring extra staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23053/20]

Schools Building Projects

Neale Richmond

483. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the status of the construction of the amalgamated community school in Ennistymon, County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21091/20]

Hospital Services

Neale Richmond

996. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status of the planning and development of a community hospital in Ennis, County Clare to replace the existing St. Joseph’s facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21119/20]

Hospital Services

Neale Richmond

997. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the future capital plans for a community hospital in Ennistymon, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21120/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neale Richmond

999. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the number of times the Covid-19 tracker app has been used to alert persons that they are a close contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19; the number of additional cases detected as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21124/20]

Medical Cards

Neale Richmond

1392. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if the decision to request further information will be reviewed view of the difficult circumstances in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22553/20]

School Curriculum

Neale Richmond

56. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the importance of implementing a scheme on teaching European foreign languages in primary schools to ensure that young persons have the skills necessary in an outward looking workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18116/20]

Special Educational Needs

Neale Richmond

74. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce additional supports for students with special needs when they return to school in view of the fact that many did not qualify for summer provision and have not had the necessary supports for many months now; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18117/20]

Television Licence Fee

Neale Richmond

141. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of fines that have been issued in respect of the non-payment of television licences from 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19697/20]

Electric Vehicles

Neale Richmond

147. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of public electric car charging points in operation around the country; the details of the location of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19693/20]

Olympic Games

Neale Richmond

202. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures that are being undertaken to prepare Irish athletes for the 2021 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19698/20]

House Prices

Neale Richmond

293. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance his plans to deal with developers increasing the price of new build houses in recent days in view of the recent increase in the help to buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19607/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Neale Richmond

436. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the roll out of a new affordable housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19689/20]

Diplomatic Representation

Neale Richmond

569. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a breakdown of diplomatic personnel from Ireland currently posted overseas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19687/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neale Richmond

587. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a report on the role played by the Defence Forces in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19690/20]

School Staff

Neale Richmond

649. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teaching posts that remain unfilled around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19694/20]

Departmental Reports

Neale Richmond

650. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the forward planning section of her Department will produce a report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19695/20]

School Staff

Neale Richmond

651. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of principal teacher positions that remain unfilled around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19696/20]

Carer's Allowance

Neale Richmond

780. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the delay in assessing applications for carer’s allowance; the result of the appeal of a person (details supplied) that has been without income for over 33 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19623/20]

Animal Welfare

Neale Richmond

921. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to prevent puppy farming and the trafficking of animals and pets in and out of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19818/20]

Garda Transport Provision

Neale Richmond

1024. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of 4x4 vehicles currently used by An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19692/20]

European Health Insurance Card

Neale Richmond

1079. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the number of persons here that have a European Health Insurance Card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/20]

Health Services Funding

Neale Richmond

1298. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when section 39 charities and companies will receive funding allocated to them by Pobal and currently being processed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20516/20]

Hospital Facilities

Neale Richmond

1299. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status of the 60 bed modular unit under construction at University Hospital Limerick; if a date for completion can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20517/20]

Hospital Services

Neale Richmond

1300. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health his plans for Ennis General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20518/20]

Hospital Services

Neale Richmond

1301. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if venesection procedures will be made available free of charge to persons with haemochromatosis who are not eligible for a medical card or GP visit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20519/20]

Long-Term Illness Scheme

Neale Richmond

1302. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if persons diagnosed with haemochromatosis will be able to avail of the long-term illness scheme in view of the fact that it is a hereditary lifelong disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20520/20]

Medicinal Products

Neale Richmond

1303. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when the asthma drug benralizumab will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20534/20]

State Examinations

Neale Richmond

187. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills the appeal process for students that are not satisfied with their calculated leaving certificate grades on 7 September 2020 in view of recent clarification for those applying for the UCAS system on 11 September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19382/20]

Disability Services Provision

Neale Richmond

269. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if an emergency helpline can be set up for carers of those with physical and intellectual disabilities to receive help in emergency situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19376/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neale Richmond

276. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will consider adding individual nations such as Scotland, Wales or dependencies such as the Isle of Man to the green list in view of the differing infection rates within the United Kingdom and the numerous transport links; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19234/20]

Respite Care Services

Neale Richmond

301. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if residential care will be granted to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19378/20]

Nursing Staff

Neale Richmond

357. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when extra Parkinson’s nurses will be recruited in Leinster in view of the fact there is one nurse per 1,760 persons with the condition which is significantly less than in Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19534/20]

Human Rights

Neale Richmond

32. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to suspending the extradition agreement with Hong Kong following the imposition of a new national security law by Beijing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18114/20]

Brexit Issues

Neale Richmond

64. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the strategy to maintain and expand the special relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom in the post-Brexit relationship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18113/20]

Departmental Policy Functions

Neale Richmond

72. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach the status of the plan to establish a shared island unit in his Department. [19137/20]

Enterprise Ireland

Neale Richmond

91. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the opening of an Enterprise Ireland office in Lyon, France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19145/20]

Electricity Grid

Neale Richmond

117. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the Celtic interconnector project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19158/20]

EU Bodies

Neale Richmond

367. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the preparation that has been undertaken to prepare for the Conference on the Future of Europe. [19133/20]

Diplomatic Representation

Neale Richmond

379. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of new embassies and consulates that have opened over the past 12 months; if Covid-19 has delayed the opening of planned embassies and consulates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18333/20]

Brexit Preparations

Neale Richmond

380. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the ongoing work to prepare for Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18334/20]

Foreign Policy

Neale Richmond

400. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the concerning activities relating to the murder of an investigate journalist (details supplied) in Malta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19129/20]

EU Issues

Neale Richmond

401. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the commitment to forge alliances with other EU Member States with which Ireland shares common goals and interests as set out in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19138/20]

Human Rights

Neale Richmond

402. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of supports provided to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19139/20]

Diplomatic Representation

Neale Richmond

403. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a comprehensive overview will be provided of the proposed Ireland house strategy for diplomatic missions abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19140/20]

Foreign Policy

Neale Richmond

404. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details on the role and activity of Ireland as an observer of L’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19141/20]

Diaspora Issues

Neale Richmond

405. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a progress report on the 2020 diaspora policy will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19142/20]

Constitutional Amendments

Neale Richmond

406. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the planned referendum on extending the franchise at Presidential elections to Irish citizens living abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19143/20]

Foreign Policy

Neale Richmond

407. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to Ireland joining the Arctic Council as an observer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19144/20]

DEIS Scheme

Neale Richmond

472. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional supports will be granted to DEIS schools to ensure that the students there do not suffer from the time away from school due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18434/20]

School Staff

Neale Richmond

473. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to recruit additional teachers ahead of the reopening of schools in autumn 2020; when they will be recruited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18435/20]

School Curriculum

Neale Richmond

549. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which school sport will resume in the 2020-21 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19134/20]

School Curriculum

Neale Richmond

550. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills the preparations that have taken place to re-establish school sport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19135/20]

Education Policy

Neale Richmond

551. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of a new modern languages initiative for primary school level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19146/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Neale Richmond

574. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment can be extended for those working in the tourism industry that are unlikely to see a return to previous levels of income in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18096/20]

Criminal Assets Bureau

Neale Richmond

817. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the value of items seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19130/20]

Criminal Assets Bureau

Neale Richmond

818. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which the proceeds and items seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau are disposed of; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19131/20]

Proposed Legislation

Neale Richmond

819. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when hate speech legislation will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19132/20]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Neale Richmond

821. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to relocating a family (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19159/20]

Home Help Service

Neale Richmond

937. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if an increased allocation of home help hours from 17.5 hours a week will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18167/20]

Proposed Legislation

Neale Richmond

1092. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status of the enactment of the human tissue (transplantation, post-mortem, anatomical examination, and public display) Bill 2018 which provides the legal basis for an opt-out system of organ donation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19147/20]

Travel Trade Sector

Neale Richmond

83. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if travel agencies are obliged to provide cash refunds as opposed to credit notes under the refund credit note scheme in circumstances in which they are still solvent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17786/20]

Mental Health Services

Neale Richmond

198. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the breakdown of funding and resources for mental health services in An Garda Síochána over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17787/20]

Disability Support Services

Neale Richmond

230. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health his plans to reopen adult disability services to support those with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17788/20]

Disability Support Services

Neale Richmond

231. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to expand the eligibility for adult day services to persons with intellectual disabilities that are excluded from applying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17789/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neale Richmond

232. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide extra funding to adult disability services to see them through the Covid-19 crisis and beyond while still supplying a high level of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17790/20]

Overseas Missions

Neale Richmond

146. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of peacekeeping defence missions over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17567/20]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

181. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he has received information from a crèche (details supplied) regarding the closure of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17516/20]

Garda Transport Provision

Neale Richmond

187. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown of Garda vehicle resources in the Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17565/20]

Medical Cards

Neale Richmond

195. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when the planned increase in the thresholds for medical cards from €900 to €1,050 will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17456/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neale Richmond

232. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have downloaded the Covid-19 tracker application; the average number of check-ins per day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17605/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neale Richmond

233. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have downloaded the Covid-19 tracker application in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17606/20]

Proposed Legislation

Neale Richmond

106. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to publish a general scheme of a Bill to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to legislate for e-scooters and e-bikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16528/20]

Cycling Facilities

Neale Richmond

107. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of and timeline for delivery of proposed segregated cycle routes (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16529/20]

Local Authority Housing

Neale Richmond

276. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the month in 2020 section 53 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 will be commenced; if it will be commenced before November 2020 when local authorities will be proposing their annual budgets for approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16526/20]

Local Authority Rates

Neale Richmond

277. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if local authorities can rely upon section 9 of the Local Government Rates and other Matters Act 2019 in the absence of regulations made pursuant to section 9(3) of the Act; if he plans to make regulations pursuant to section 9(3) of the Act; and if so, if the regulations will be made before November 2020 when local authorities will be proposing their annual budgets for approval. [16527/20]

Passport Applications

Neale Richmond

348. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be processed and supplied in view of a delay of almost five months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17316/20]

After-School Support Services

Neale Richmond

359. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being taken in view of the cancellation of after-school programmes that are of the view they cannot take children due to the pod system that will be introduced in primary schools in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16876/20]

Felling Licences

Neale Richmond

491. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to implementing a solution to address the backlog of felling licences waiting to be processed; if staff numbers will be increased to manage the processing of same; his views on whether the process is too onerous on both applicants and officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16522/20]

Felling Licences

Neale Richmond

492. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average turnaround time for the processing of felling licences; if this is in line with target times set out in the Forestry Act 2014; the average turnaround time for the processing of appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16523/20]

Felling Licences

Neale Richmond

493. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to reform the forestry and agricultural appeals regulation; if he will consider setting up a technical group to review possible improvements which could be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16524/20]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

547. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports considered to allow crèches to care for children under one in view of the fact many are refusing to take them as they require extra staffing which leaves parents returning to the workplace without childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16867/20]