Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Personal Public Service Numbers

Claire Kerrane

300. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of PPS number applications to be decided upon. [29762/20]

Company Closures

Claire Kerrane

58. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions that have been taken since a company (details supplied) announced that it is to cease production; the engagements that have been held on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29284/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Claire Kerrane

151. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review on household income limits in order to apply for social housing will be completed; the stage at which this review is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29417/20]

HSE Properties

Claire Kerrane

249. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if plans are being considered for a disused building (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29283/20]

Housing Provision

Claire Kerrane

54. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a housing needs analysis will be commissioned for the offshore islands in view of the fact that housing has been identified as a major issue by many living on the islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24323/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

545. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to a previous parliamentary question please provide the total amount of additional Covid-19 related Exchequer expenditure for 2021 for her Department; and the breakdown by line items of the additional expenditure. [28795/20]

Animal Diseases

Claire Kerrane

788. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of cattle that go down with TB and are actually that are found to have it when slaughtered in the factory; and the uses made of the meat from those animals. [28190/20]

Local Authority Funding

Claire Kerrane

147. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the local authority funding provided from central Government in each of the years 2010 to 2019, inclusive, in tabular form. [27967/20]

Local Authority Funding

Claire Kerrane

164. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities will receive additional funding from Government in view of significant losses due to Covid-19; the matters examined by his Department in respect of this issue; his plans in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27965/20]

Local Authority Funding

Claire Kerrane

165. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1185 of 5 March 2020, the details of the way in which those differences apply in determining the funding allocation precisely when it comes to the various factors considered and local authority funding amounts as referred to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27966/20]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

208. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare inspectors in her Department. [27953/20]

Social Welfare Inspections

Claire Kerrane

209. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of inspections carried out by social welfare inspectors in each of the years 2012 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the nature of the inspections carried out; and the number of the inspections which were house visits. [27954/20]

Social Welfare Inspections

Claire Kerrane

210. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the types of inspections carried out by social welfare inspectors; and the procedures for such inspections. [27955/20]

Social Welfare Inspections

Claire Kerrane

211. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of complaints made in respect of social welfare inspectors in each of the years 2012 to 2019 and to date in 2020. [27956/20]

Fuel Allowance

Claire Kerrane

213. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the fuel allowance will be paid to those in receipt of the State pension paid every second week; the way in which those receiving the fuel allowance as a weekly payment will receive it when they are not receiving their State pension weekly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27962/20]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme

Claire Kerrane

214. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who previously received the back to school clothing and footwear allowance automatically but did not in 2020 as their Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment put them over the threshold; the number of back to school clothing and footwear allowance applicants who were subsequently reviewed following the change to the payment rates of the pandemic unemployment payment; the number who were awarded the payment following the review; and when payments will be made. [27963/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

215. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on each of the three payment rates of the pandemic unemployment payment; the number of new applications for the pandemic unemployment payment since restrictions were introduced in counties Dublin and Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27964/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

217. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the interdepartmental review into community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27988/20]

General Practitioner Services

Claire Kerrane

373. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the practice of general practitioners charging medical card holders for blood tests, routine and otherwise, with some charges as high as €40; if the HSE will be requested to review the practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27968/20]

General Practitioner Services

Claire Kerrane

374. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the cost of carrying out a blood test including all associated costs per test. [27969/20]

General Practitioner Services

Claire Kerrane

375. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the process in which medical card holders charged for blood tests by their general practitioner can apply to the HSE for reimbursement; the length of time this process takes for persons; the number of applications received for reimbursement in 2017, 2018 and 2019; if he is satisfied with the current process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27970/20]

EU Funding

Claire Kerrane

80. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of plans by Ireland to maximise the European Structural and Investment Funds for the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27672/20]

EU Funding

Claire Kerrane

81. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of co-financing that will be available under the next round of the European Structural and Investment Funds for each region in Ireland. [27673/20]

EU Programmes

Claire Kerrane

82. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the PEACE programme for the next seven years. [27674/20]

EU Funding

Claire Kerrane

83. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated European Structural and Investment Funds that will be available to Ireland over the coming period; and the grounds on which funding will be distributed among the regions. [27675/20]

EU Funding

Claire Kerrane

84. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the European Structural and Investment Funds are best operated and implemented at a level as close as possible to the grassroots; the consideration he has given to using an integrated territorial investment to ensure that regions can effectively implement the spending in their own areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27676/20]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Claire Kerrane

104. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a large number of phone masts have been erected in an area (details supplied); if the erection of such masts is communicated beforehand with local residents; if there is a requirement for such communication to be made beforehand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27403/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

159. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost to reinstate the pre-17 September 2020 payment rates of €203 and €350 for the pandemic unemployment payment for the time period of 1 January to 31 March 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27459/20]

EU Funding

Claire Kerrane

138. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to plans being considered by his Department to centralise funding under the European Regional Development Fund, taking it away from being managed by the regions and the impact that such plans would have in view of the need for such funding in rural areas across the northern and western region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24459/20]

Commercial Property

Claire Kerrane

58. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the rights a commercial tenant (details supplied) has in circumstances in which a landlord goes into receivership and the tenant took out a lease in good faith, paid all rent due and have spent their own money on the building meaning they will be at a major financial loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26153/20]

EU Funding

Claire Kerrane

107. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason for considering centralising funding from the European Regional Development Fund in Dublin rather than being used in the regions for the regions as has been the case up to now; when a decision will be made on the plans being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26151/20]

EU Funding

Claire Kerrane

108. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will meet with and engage with the Northern and Western Regional Assembly on plans to change the way in which the European Regional Development Fund is managed in view of the downgrading of the region by the European Commission and in further view of the unique challenges the region faces as a region in transition and the urgent need to take advantage of the status while EU co-funding will be at 60%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26152/20]

School Staff

Claire Kerrane

140. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education her plans to introduce a permanent voluntary redeployment scheme for post-primary teachers to allow for an option for relocation similar to that which is in place for many other public sector workers; if such proposals will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26075/20]

State Examinations

Claire Kerrane

146. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if there is an appeals process for leaving certificate students unsatisfied with their predicted grade to appeal the grade rather than the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26138/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

189. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the process undertaken to issue arrears due to recipients and former recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment; the length of time the process will take; if additional staff will be employed to assist with the task; when the first payments of arrears will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26136/20]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

249. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health his views on delays to developmental checks for young children; if he has concerns in this regard; when these developmental checks by public health nurses will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26143/20]

Speech and Language Therapy

Claire Kerrane

250. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on waiting lists for all types of assessments, including speech and language per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26144/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

251. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if therapists employed by the HSE have been redeployed to Covid-19 testing centres; if so, the number; if further redeployment of therapists is continuing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26145/20]

Health Services Staff

Claire Kerrane

252. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that strike action by public health specialists is avoided; his further plans for these specialists in their request for consultant status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26147/20]

Audiology Services

Claire Kerrane

253. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of audiologists in each CHO area; the number of vacancies in each CHO; if audiologists are being redeployed to Covid-19 testing; if so, the number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26148/20]

Audiology Services

Claire Kerrane

254. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number on the waiting lists for audiology for children and adults in each CHO area; the average waiting time in each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26149/20]

GLAS Issues

Claire Kerrane

287. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers are given an opportunity to rectify works uncompleted before being penalised under the rules of the GLAS scheme in cases in which the criteria of the scheme have not been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26139/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

302. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands when libraries will reopen to the public under current NPHET recommendations; if plans are in place for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26137/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

308. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the funding an organisation (details supplied) can apply for to assist it to remain open in view of the effect of Covid-19 on its organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26150/20]

Housing Issues

Claire Kerrane

105. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of ongoing or planned housing developments in County Roscommon; the location and the make-up of the developments; the estimated completion time for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25915/20]

Pensions Reform

Claire Kerrane

23. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of plans to legislate for the State pension age increase to be deferred and remain at 66 years of age; the timeframe for the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25248/20]

Social Welfare Rates

Claire Kerrane

25. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider moving towards linking social welfare rates with the minimum essential standard of living to ensure that all households relying on social welfare supports receive an amount that is adequate to meet their needs; the steps she will take in Budget 2021 in relation to the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25249/20]

Fuel Poverty

Claire Kerrane

27. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the prevalence of energy poverty here, the increased energy costs faced by families due to more time being spent at home in recent months and rising energy costs; the steps she will take to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25250/20]

Public Services Card

Claire Kerrane

46. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons waiting for a public services card in order to access their entitlements, including the free travel card; the number of persons who turned 66 years of age who became entitled to the free travel card since March 2020 who cannot access the card as they were not SAFE registered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25034/20]

Poverty Data

Claire Kerrane

49. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the CSO report on Enforced Deprivation published on 2 September 2020; her views on the findings of the report; the steps she plans to take to tackle deprivation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25031/20]