Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

708. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make face masks mandatory on public transport; his further plans to increase the frequency of buses to ensure sufficient capacity while the numbers on buses are limited to comply with social distancing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12354/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Emer Higgins

767. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the ECCE will restart in September 2020; if so, the notice that will be given to childcare providers in advance of it restarting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12300/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Emer Higgins

845. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has not received backdated pandemic unemployment payments from the date he or she was made unemployed; the reason the local Intreo office is unable to facilitate this; if the person is entitled to such back payments; the process for claiming the back payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12353/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

81. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if the announcement by the Revenue Commissioners that there will be no VAT on PPE applies to dental practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11049/20]

Third Level Institutions

Emer Higgins

238. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the substantial loss in revenue that universities face as a result of the reduction in numbers of international students; his plans to provide additional financial support to universities to overcome same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11060/20]

Direct Provision System

Emer Higgins

323. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reform the direct provision system and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10697/20]

Driver Test

Emer Higgins

825. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons require driver licences in order to begin jobs; his plans to recommence driver tests in a manner that protects from the dangers of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10690/20]

Aviation Industry

Emer Higgins

826. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the task force for aviation recovery which he announced in Dáil Éireann on 3 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10693/20]

Tourism Industry

Emer Higgins

862. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his long-term plans to support the tourism industry in view of the fact that many companies are unlikely to have substantial income until spring 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11052/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Emer Higgins

910. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to reinstate ECCE for those attending school in September 2020 in view of the fact they have missed three months of learning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11055/20]

Teaching Qualifications

Emer Higgins

112. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the distanced teaching work newly qualified teachers are doing online at home will qualify towards their probation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9707/20]

School Accommodation

Emer Higgins

113. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be operating at a temporary location on a greenfield site in Ballycullen, Dublin 24 in September 2020 and will not be operating in its current location in another school for the 2020/2021 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9708/20]

Schools Building Projects

Emer Higgins

150. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the land behind the temporary classrooms for a school (details supplied) will now be used for temporary classrooms for a new educate together school; the reason the land is not being used for a permanent building for the school; the reason there has been no communication with the school on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10061/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Emer Higgins

310. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if an exemption will be made to the requirement for passengers to self-isolate for a passenger that has recently tested negative for Covid-19 by the public health authorities in Germany and the purpose of the trip is to see their children for a few days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9856/20]

Medicinal Products

Emer Higgins

362. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the penetration rate of generic medicines in 2010 and in the most recent year for which figures are available; the penetration rate of biosimilar medicines; the amount which would be saved if the penetration rate of biosimilar medicines matched that of generic medicines; his plans to increase the penetration rate of biosimilar medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9951/20]

Dental Services

Emer Higgins

369. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the supports available to dentists under financial pressures due to the requirement to restructure their practice due to Covid-19 and additional costs for PPE and the safe disposal of PPE as clinical waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9089/20]

Rent Pressure Zones

Emer Higgins

702. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for rent pressure zones and the exemptions that exist enabling landlords to increase the rent by more than 4%; if improving the energy efficiency of a house is considered an acceptable reason for an exemption; his views on whether these exemptions need to be tightened to protect tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10054/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Emer Higgins

44. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by businesses when an employee receiving the pandemic unemployment payment leaves their job due to the fact their replacement will not be eligible for the Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme; if he will amend the scheme in order that businesses are entitled to the wage subsidy scheme for the number of employees working in the organisation in February 2020 rather than for specific employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9087/20]

Insurance Industry

Emer Higgins

45. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that insurers are increasing premiums to customers despite no claims by the customer during the Covid-19 crisis and that they are demanding 25% of the premium to continue policies in suspended mode during the crisis by which cover is reduced; his plans to intervene to ensure fairness for business owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9091/20]

Schools Building Projects

Emer Higgins

156. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the application to extend a college (details supplied) has been at stage 2B for five years and that the original planning application will expire soon; the reason for numerous requests for revised stage 2B reports on this project; the status of this application; the date by which the school will be allocated funding to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8371/20]