Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

State Examinations

Cian O'Callaghan

404. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that will be taken to ensure that students are not unfairly awarded marked down grades due to their school expected data with respect to the arrangements for predictive grades to replace the leaving certificate exams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6999/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

407. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7279/20]

Direct Provision System

Cian O'Callaghan

502. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if safe alternative accommodation will be provided for persons living in direct provision centres; if urgent action will be taken to protect the health and well-being of the residents of the direct provision centre in Cahersiveen, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6971/20]

National LGBTI+ Strategy

Cian O'Callaghan

503. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of additional funding that has been made available to LGBTI+ community services for 2020 in line with action 6.2 of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019–2021 (details supplied); the breakdown of the additional funding provided to each LGBTI+ community service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6975/20]

National LGBTI+ Strategy

Cian O'Callaghan

504. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a progress report on action 21.1 of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019–2021 will be provided (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6976/20]

Child Abuse

Cian O'Callaghan

505. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of child sexual abuse referrals received by An Garda Síochána from Tusla in each of the years 2016 to 2019; the number investigated; the number deemed to be unfounded and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6983/20]

Naturalisation Applications

Cian O'Callaghan

506. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for naturalisation being processed; the number that are over 24 months in process since the application was first submitted; the way in which the statutory requirement that the applicant be of good character differs in substance from the vetting process carried out by An Garda Síochána here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6986/20]

Direct Provision System

Cian O'Callaghan

507. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when State owned direct provision centres will be converted to independent living centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6994/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

508. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7285/20]

Brexit Data

Cian O'Callaghan

528. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the projected cost to trade in the event of a failure to agree a trade agreement between the European Union and the UK; the projected cost by sector; if she will provide a comparison of the projected cost of no trade agreement compared to an agreement with no tariffs and quotas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6722/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

653. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount spent on external consultants by her Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7275/20]

Mental Health Services Data

Cian O'Callaghan

820. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies that exist in mental health services for persons that are homeless in Dublin; when he expects these posts to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7037/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cian O'Callaghan

821. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if Covid-19 deaths are higher in areas of deprivation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7038/20]

Departmental Strategies

Cian O'Callaghan

822. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the National Strategy and Policy for the Provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland; if the targets for 2019 have been met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7039/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

830. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7283/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

915. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7274/20]

Energy Efficiency

Cian O'Callaghan

950. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he is taking to ensure better home energy savings from investment in home energy efficiency schemes; the measures being implemented on foot of the report from the European Court of Auditors on the use of EU finance for energy efficiency programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7000/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

951. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7276/20]

Motor Tax

Cian O'Callaghan

979. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if motor tax will be temporarily suspended or reduced for persons aged 70 years of age and over (details supplied). [5779/20]

Electric Vehicles

Cian O'Callaghan

1090. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the consultation on powered personal transporters will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6987/20]

Electric Vehicles

Cian O'Callaghan

1091. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the regulation of personal powered transports will be expedited in view of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6988/20]

Road Network

Cian O'Callaghan

1092. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional funding will be provided to facilitate measures to support additional space and social distancing for cycling and walking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6997/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

1098. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7288/20]

Child and Family Agency

Cian O'Callaghan

1164. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason Tusla does not have a record of the number of child sex abuse cases that were referred to An Garda Síochána for 2016 to 2019; the reason Tusla does not have a record of the outcome of the cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6984/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

1175. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7287/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Cian O'Callaghan

1211. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the cut-off age of 66 for Covid-19 pandemic payments will be reconsidered (details supplied). [5778/20]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Data

Cian O'Callaghan

1298. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average percentage of applications for domiciliary care allowance which are refused; the percentage of refusals appealed; the percentage subsequently granted based on the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6979/20]

Pension Provisions

Cian O'Callaghan

1299. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the home carer's scheme will be extended to those born before 1 September 1946; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6982/20]

Student Support Schemes

Cian O'Callaghan

1300. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the number of Irish students completing masters and other post-third level education abroad who have returned home due to Covid-19 and find themselves without access to Covid-19 pandemic payments due to having been abroad prior to the 13 March cut-off or access to unemployment benefit due to their student status; if her attention has been further drawn to the financial duress they are experiencing as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6985/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

1302. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on external consultants by her Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7280/20]

Private Rented Accommodation

Cian O'Callaghan

1374. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will introduce tougher sanctions for landlords who breach the legislation governing the private rented residential sector on multiple occasions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6721/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cian O'Callaghan

1388. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the co-living policy has been reviewed in view of the new Covid-19 public health guidelines on social distancing and self-isolation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6969/20]

Rental Sector

Cian O'Callaghan

1389. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to regulate online platforms that provide short-term lets; the goal of the proposed regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6970/20]

Defective Building Materials

Cian O'Callaghan

1390. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has considered the proposals from organisations (details supplied) regarding the way in which to deal with the serious structural defects of many Celtic Tiger era apartments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6972/20]

Local Authority Funding

Cian O'Callaghan

1391. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures being taken to provide funding for local authorities for lost income from commercial rates, parking charges and other sources of income due to the current Covid-19 crisis; the length of time the measures will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6991/20]

Approved Housing Bodies

Cian O'Callaghan

1392. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the action he is taking to assist the reclassification of approved housing bodies as off-balance sheet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6992/20]

Rental Sector

Cian O'Callaghan

1393. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce a national affordable rental scheme to facilitate the roll-out of cost rental housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6993/20]

Land Development Agency

Cian O'Callaghan

1394. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures in place to ensure transparency in the actions of the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6995/20]

House Prices

Cian O'Callaghan

1395. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an analysis of the differences in housing construction costs between homes delivered under a fixed price development agreement and homes delivered under public works contracts is being undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6996/20]

House Prices

Cian O'Callaghan

1396. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the constraints to fixed price development agreements being used for the construction of homes on publicly owned land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6989/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

1398. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7284/20]

Departmental Contracts

Cian O'Callaghan

1436. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount spent on external consultants by her Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7277/20]

Pension Levy

Cian O'Callaghan

95. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding levies on ESB pensions; if his attention has been drawn to the duration that this levy is applied to recipients and a surviving spouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5212/20]

Pension Levy

Cian O'Callaghan

96. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the pension levy introduced in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5216/20]

Gender Balance

Cian O'Callaghan

149. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the impact longer working hours and the restricting of flexible working patterns under the Haddington Road agreement is having on childcare costs and the promotion of women in the public service in view of persisting gender imbalance in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5223/20]

School Funding

Cian O'Callaghan

291. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for additional classrooms, staffing and funding for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5185/20]

School Admissions

Cian O'Callaghan

292. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of notices served under section 37A of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 since it was commenced; the number of classrooms and school places created as a result of such notices; the areas in which places been created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5187/20]

School Admissions

Cian O'Callaghan

293. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the National Council for Special Education has provided notice of its view that there is insufficient capacity in areas for the 2020-21 academic year; if so, the areas; if he will exercise his power under section 37A of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act in advance of the academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5188/20]

School Accommodation Provision

Cian O'Callaghan

294. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the allocation of funding to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5193/20]

School Patronage

Cian O'Callaghan

295. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of non-denominational schools in Dublin 5; the number of students applying and accepted to non-denominational schools in Dublin 5; his plans to increase the provision of non-denominational schools in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5196/20]