Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Planning Issues

Bríd Smith

277. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will clarify the situation regarding a housing complex (details supplied); if his Department has received an application for funding for a redevelopment of some apartments there; the status of the proposed development; and the funding stream which is available for the complex and its development. [13882/20]

State Pensions

Bríd Smith

491. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an applicant will automatically receive the greater of the two pensions in circumstances in which they received the details of their entitlements to both a non-contributory and contributory pension; and if they must specify which pension they will to avail of (details supplied). [13883/20]

State Pension (Contributory)

Bríd Smith

841. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which a person (details supplied) that has total combined contributions here and in Germany that would yield a maximum State pension contributory here can lose out to the extent detailed; and her plans to alter the method of calculating such contributions to ensure such persons do not lose out in the future. [13193/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

84. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance when he plans to publish the list of companies and firms that have availed of the temporary wage subsidy scheme; if the information will be available before the end of this current term of Dáil Éireann; if it will contain details of the numbers of employees on the scheme and the amount of employer top-ups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12672/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

194. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that will lose teachers as a result of a decrease in their pupil numbers in 2020, by county in tabular form; the number and location of schools which will see an increase in their allocation of teachers as a result of an increase in pupil numbers; and the number of teachers in the primary sector working as whole-time equivalents. [12118/20]

School Staff

Bríd Smith

195. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools thath appealed a reduction in their allocation of teachers in 2019; and the number of appeals which were successful. [12119/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

461. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the provisions that have been made or resources allocated regarding the availability or enhancement of public toilets and associated sanitary facilities such as handwashing stations as the country reopens; the guidance being given regarding access to public and private sector toilet facilities for those with a no waiting card that have conditions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12109/20]

Nursing Home Accommodation

Bríd Smith

476. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the proposed closure of a centre (details supplied); the reason given by the board for the closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12195/20]

Nursing Home Accommodation

Bríd Smith

477. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the funding required by the board of a nursing home to remain open and to comply with all statutory requirements will be examined (details supplied); and if the HSE has considered funding requests from the board of the home. [12196/20]

Nursing Home Accommodation

Bríd Smith

478. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if a proposal to take a nursing home (details supplied) into the control of the HSE will be examined in order to insure it continues to provide care for a vulnerable cohort of residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12197/20]

Nursing Home Accommodation

Bríd Smith

576. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of correspondence between his Department, the HSE and the management of a centre on plans to close the centre; when his Department and the HSE were notified of plans to close the centre; and if the HSE has plans to insure the centre continues to operate its services for the current residents.
[12673/20]

Aer Lingus

Bríd Smith

743. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the decision by Aer Lingus to cut wages, staff numbers and conditions of its employers; and if he or his officials has had discussions with the company on its plans. [12674/20]

Job Losses

Bríd Smith

864. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has been notified by a company (details supplied) of plans to make workers redundant; when her Department was notified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12675/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

74. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance his views on the difficulties faced by persons in receipt of social welfare payments and others who do not have access to debit or credit cards and who are being refused service at some retail outlets as a result of Covid-19 measures which see some outlets refusing cash; his plans to address the difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10838/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by persons on social welfare who do not have debit or credit card facilities and use cash only in the Covid-19 crisis in view of the fact many shops are refusing cash payments and will only take card payments; and his plans to deal with the situation. [11486/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Bríd Smith

310. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of securing the residence of the ambassador of the United States of America in the Phoenix Park; and the contribution to the costs made by the authorities of the United States of America. [10884/20]

Maternity Leave

Bríd Smith

339. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will address the request by women to have maternity leave legislation extended for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10836/20]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

340. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a South African citizen visiting Ireland to meet the person's spouse and family and that having applied for a 90 day visa, will not be certain if it is granted until the assessment of the immigration official at Dublin Airport on the day of the person's arrival; the steps the person can take in advance of arrival to ensure the person is granted the full duration of the visa; and the criteria applied by immigration officers in making a determination on same. [10851/20]

Garda Recruitment

Bríd Smith

343. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the ethnic diversity of An Garda Síochána, specifically the policy of recruitment of persons from Middle Eastern and Arabic backgrounds; and the number of such persons currently in the force. [10887/20]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Bríd Smith

651. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the publicly-funded asset with respect to the 2004 grant from the Eastern Regional Health Authority to a group (details supplied) for a clinic and science building was secured in favour of the State; if so, the way in which this security was underpinned; if there is a legal agreement in place to this end; if so, if he will provide a copy of the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11227/20]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

652. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will address the proposed closure of a centre (details supplied); and the reasons given by the board for closure. [11228/20]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

653. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the funding required by the board of a nursing home (details supplied) to remain open and to comply with all statutory requirements; and if the HSE has considered funding requests from the board of the home. [11229/20]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

654. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the possibility of taking a nursing home (details supplied) into the control of the HSE in order to ensure the home continues to provide care for a vulnerable cohort of residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11230/20]

Health Services

Bríd Smith

655. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a home (details supplied) is one of the few residential care homes in the Dublin area which managed to ensure no residents fell victim to Covid-19 and that many residents there are long-term with specific needs in relation to visual impairment; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that HIQA reports quoted in recent media reports found issues only regarding governance matters and not in terms of the quality and standard of residential care; and his plans to ensure that the dedicated staff and environment at the centre are allowed to continue to provide the high levels of services for the elderly by examining the HSE funding of the centre and providing additional funds if necessary. [11231/20]

Trading Online Voucher Scheme

Bríd Smith

791. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding allocated and available for the online voucher trading scheme for small businesses; his plans to increase available funding; if his attention has been drawn to problems in Dublin City Council areas with administering the scheme with businesses being refused or told the scheme is oversubscribed after they have completed the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10879/20]

Aviation Industry

Bríd Smith

840. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the decision by a company (details supplied) to make its workforce here redundant; his further views on the announcement by the company that persons made redundant will be paid only statutory entitlements and that having laid off all employees based here it will operate from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10900/20]

Job Losses

Bríd Smith

955. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the decision by a company (details supplied) to lay off all its employees based here while continuing to operate in Ireland with employees based outside the State; her further views on its announcement that redundancy paid to employees will be only statutory entitlements; her further views on the lack of consultation with employees regarding the plans; if the company contacted or informed her of its plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10902/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

991. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the difficulties faced by persons in receipt of social welfare payments who do not have access to debit or credit cards and who are being refused service at some retail outlets as a result of Covid-19 measures which see some outlets refusing cash; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10837/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

1021. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to deal with the situation of persons on low incomes who have no debit or credit card facilities and use cash only in the Covid-19 crisis in view of the fact many retailers are refusing to accept cash payment; if those on social protection payments will be facilitated with some form of access to cashless methods without incurring the costs associated with such banking facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11487/20]

Residential Tenancies Board

Bríd Smith

1066. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1190 of 3 June 2020, if the role of the Residential Tenancies Board includes ensuring that landlords and so on abide by the temporary measures of the emergency legislation such as the temporary ban on all evictions even in situations in which the tenancy would not be covered by the 2004 Act; and if the RTB is obliged to have cognisance of the provisions and consequences of the emergency legislation. [10885/20]

Memoranda of Understanding

Bríd Smith

577. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a memorandum of understanding signed between the Port of Cork and a company (details supplied) to develop Cork LNG specifically; if the memorandum is still operating; if his Department has had communication from the Port of Cork on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10128/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the supports in place or that are planned to be implemented to aid small businesses (details supplied) that in attempting to reopen their business, find that employees previously availing of the temporary wage subsidy scheme are unable to return to work, leaving many small businesses with no option but to recruit new employees that they cannot avail of the temporary wage subsidy scheme for. [8707/20]

Special Educational Needs

Bríd Smith

154. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the campaign by parents in Crumlin, Dublin 12, for the re-opening of a school (details supplied) as an ASD specific school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8362/20]

English Language Training Organisations

Bríd Smith

199. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that representatives of teachers in English language teaching colleges are represented and heard at the Covid-19 working group for the English language education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8732/20]

English Language Training Organisations

Bríd Smith

200. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the Department responsible for the Covid-19 working group for the English language education sector has sought or will seek the opinions and input of teachers in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8733/20]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

444. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the WRC or other body will take action or investigate employers that are implementing unilateral pay cuts often while availing of the temporary wage subsidy scheme but insisting their employers work normal weekly hours, as a result of which is resulting in new hourly rates that are below the national minimum wage or agreed sectoral hourly rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8713/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

690. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on calls to facilitate visits by relatives and loved ones to the elderly in residential settings, for example, by using outdoor areas and timetabled visits with at least one or two family members per week; if he will request that nursing home managers prioritise planning to allow for such visits in the immediate future in view of the trauma inflicted on residents during the lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9326/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

691. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the date on which his Department received the HIQA report containing a list of nursing homes which it was of the view might struggle with the Covid-19 crisis; the actions taken on foot of this; if direct contact was made with these residential settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9327/20]

National Public Health Emergency Team

Bríd Smith

692. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the membership of the NPHET committee from its first meetings on Covid-19 in January 2020 to date; the persons added to the committee and when in each case; the reason for their inclusion; and the record of attendance of such persons at subsequent meetings of the committee. [9328/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

693. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure nursing homes, especially those in which there were clusters of Covid-19 cases and deaths, will meet HIQA standards, for example, in infection control in the coming months; the steps which will be taken to ensure adequate staffing levels, trained personnel and medical care are in place before the winter and a possible second wave or flu virus arrives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9329/20]

Private Rented Accommodation

Bríd Smith

1190. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1342 of 20 May 2020, if he will clarify the role and function of the RTB in enforcing the emergency legislation that sought to provide protection for all tenants from eviction during the period of the Covid-19 crisis; and the reason the RTB is refusing to support tenants facing evictions or the withholdings of deposits during the Covid-19 crisis due to the fact their tenancies are not covered by the 2004 Act, when such evictions are in clear breach of the emergency legislation which a previous response made clear extended to all tenancies even those not covered by the 2004 Act. [8731/20]

Visa Applications

Bríd Smith

330. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the impact on applicants that need or seek a new or renewed visa application after 20 May 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7197/20]

National Maternity Hospital

Bríd Smith

519. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on the recent transfer of land earmarked for the development of the new national maternity hospital by an organisation (details supplied); if the land will be owned by the State or owned by an organisation and leased by the State; if it is leased, the terms and duration of the lease; and if the organisation will have a mandate or influence in respect of the ethos of the hospital. [7140/20]

Health and Safety Inspections

Bríd Smith

630. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the interventions made by his Department and the HSE in meat processing plants in relation to the Covid-19 outbreak; and the inspections undertaken by public health bodies in these plants [8197/20]

Hospitals Data

Bríd Smith

631. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of patients released from acute hospitals to residential nursing homes since January 2020; if a protocol was in place in relation to Covid-19 in the transfer of these patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8198/20]

Free Travel Scheme

Bríd Smith

915. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide the details of road passenger transport operators that received payments in respect of the acceptance of the free travel pass on their bus services; and the list of routes for which these operators received payment for 2019. [7432/20]

Maternity Benefit

Bríd Smith

1008. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending maternity leave to all women currently on leave or who were on leave prior to the passing of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 for three months or until that legislation is revoked [8122/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bríd Smith

1009. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for stopping the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment to residents in direct provision centres who lost their jobs as a result of the crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8123/20]

Company Closures

Bríd Smith

1010. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actions she plans to take regarding the closure of a business (details supplied); and if changes in legislation are planned to prevent employers taking similar actions in the months ahead specifically in respect of redundancy legislation and the provisions of the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003. [8124/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bríd Smith

57. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the number of workers on the WSS whose earnings are below €205 and €350, respectively. [6156/20]