Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

International Protection

Gino Kenny

57. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the steps she plans to take in cases in relation to several health care workers who have been given notice that they may face deportation as their applications for international protection have failed in view of the considerable service these applicants have given to the State during the Covid-19 crisis. [42531/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

78. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the way in which the Covid-19 vaccine will be rolled out across the country; if a new database will be developed to ensure a professional tracking system for both shots of the vaccine; if the programme will be rolled out by the public health regions; the role that general practitioners will play in this roll-out; if there will be a prioritisation of vulnerable groups; if so, the order of this prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42359/20]

Nursing Education

Gino Kenny

88. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that all student nurses receive payment for the work they have put in across the health service during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42363/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

107. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will provide full details of the first deal with the private hospitals in the fight against Covid-19; if there has been a value for money analysis of this deal; his plans to permanently increase the public healthcare capacity in order to not risk the overwhelming of the service in another wave of Covid-19 and do not have to buy services from the private hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42364/20]

Health Services Provision

Gino Kenny

139. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that no child in need of scoliosis surgery is left waiting while the condition worsens and results in serious pain for the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42362/20]

Legislative Measures

Gino Kenny

350. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if the decision will be reconsidered to disallow the inclusion of Coco’s Law in some form in the title of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 given the significant contribution of the family of a person (details supplied) in drafting the legislation; if the work done by a person in addressing the issue of youth suicide in schools, colleges and communities throughout the country and the association of the person will be acknowledged with the legislation and the important work done in their name; if the importance of the societal and cultural impact of this legislation among young persons and the importance of using an easily remembered title to ensure it gains the necessary prevalence and traction among specific groups and cohorts in society will further be acknowledged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42629/20]

Israeli Settlements

Gino Kenny

8. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will re-examine the proposed legislation to ban the import of goods from illegal settlements in Palestine in view of recent attacks by the Israeli state there on human rights and the ongoing demolition of homes by the Israeli state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38339/20]

Human Rights

Gino Kenny

11. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the matter relating to a person (details supplied) with his EU counterparts at upcoming EU-wide meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38338/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

823. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of ministerial medical cannabis licences that have been issued; the number of licence holders currently being reimbursed under the licensing system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38150/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

824. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the commencement of the medical cannabis access programme; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38151/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

942. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his Department acknowledges that there is a significant cohort who have not recovered following Covid-19 infection and who are experiencing long Covid; if multidisciplinary post Covid-19 countrywide clinics will be established which will include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nutritionists and counsellors; if it will be ensured that best practice, guidelines, guidance and training are provided to general practitioners and consultants in relation to long Covid ensuring consistency and compassionate treatment of patients with the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38795/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

943. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that information, guidance and guidelines will be made available to employers in relation to the management of workers with long Covid; if clarity will be provided with regard to the medical and financial entitlements of those with long Covid; if accurate and up-to-date information will be provided on the HSE website in regard to Covid-19 contraction and recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38796/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gino Kenny

518. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if reading schools will be affected by the findings in the NCSE report; if so, the way in which children with severe dyslexia below 10th percentile standardised literacy rate will be accommodated in mainstream education with full-time education using a method of learning (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36746/20]

Primary Care Centres

Gino Kenny

745. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of proposed primary care centres in Lucan, County Dublin; the stage of the process they are in; and if there is funding allocated. [36450/20]

Primary Care Centres

Gino Kenny

746. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of proposed primary care centres in Clondalkin, Dublin 22; the stage of the process they are in; and if there is funding allocated. [36451/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

26. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport his plans to meet with the CEO of the IAA regarding policy on the aviation industry and the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35774/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

38. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given by his Department to increasing the numbers of buses on specific routes in Dublin city to cope with current demands during level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35775/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

372. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the powers the CEOs of city and county councils have to determine whether to raise the amount of rent charged to local authority tenants; his views on whether it is a matter for councillors to decide by way of approving the budgets of the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35280/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Gino Kenny

388. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review of income eligibility by his Department for social housing supports in each local authority as part of social housing reform will be completed; and if all the criteria and decisions will be published when the report is completed. [35273/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gino Kenny

451. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education her future plans for special educational schools and also the six reading schools; the extra resources she will provide for mainstream schools to accommodate children with more significant additional needs especially in the context of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34895/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

564. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when and the way in which the additional payment of €250 for students at third-level colleges will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35284/20]

Data Protection

Gino Kenny

592. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if the Irish Prison Service will cease using and processing employee biometric data; if her attention has been drawn to a recent decision by the Data Protection Commission on this issue; if no breaches of employees biometric data are currently taking place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34643/20]

Vaccination Programme

Gino Kenny

657. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if there is evidence of a general lack of awareness of the pneumococcal vaccination in the at-risk population and, if so, if there are plans to address this with a public health awareness campaign similar to that addressing the availability and importance of the flu vaccine for these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34546/20]

Health Promotion

Gino Kenny

88. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of the women’s health task force that was established over a year ago; the actions taken or achieved in the intervening period; the plans in the area of women’s health over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33543/20]

Nursing Education

Gino Kenny

89. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the position of student nurses in the health service; if they have been offered healthcare assistants' contracts and work; if while on placement they will be offered similar payments as in March 2020; the supports that will be in place on an ongoing basis for student nurses serving in the public service given the risks of Covid-19 infection; if he will increase the current allowance of €50.79 a week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33542/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

144. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the details of his negotiations with the private hospital sector to ensure increased capacity as the country enters the second wave of Covid-19; the cost per bed of an agreement by ICU and acute bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33541/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Gino Kenny

153. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans for further investment in testing tracing infrastructure and public health tracing teams in the coming weeks; the number of whole-time equivalents employed in this service since April 2020, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33540/20]

Mental Health Services

Gino Kenny

155. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the perinatal mental health services available for women; his plans to improve or add to these services in the near future; the perinatal mental health services available in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33544/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

620. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the person or body that sets the income threshold for persons to apply for local authority housing; and if the income threshold is set by his Department or the local authorities. [33145/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

621. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the year the current income threshold for applicants on local authority housing list was set. [33146/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

622. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department allows local authorities to set their own income threshold for persons applying for local authority housing; if his Department monitors each authority; the way in which this is monitored; and the year each local authority set their current income threshold for the local authority housing list. [33147/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

623. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria and factors taken into consideration to determine the income threshold for persons applying for local authority housing. [33148/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

624. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if national average wage increases, minimum wage increases and increases in the private rental market are taken into consideration when setting income thresholds for persons applying for local authority housing. [33149/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

625. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to increase the income threshold for persons applying for local authority housing. [33150/20]

Social Welfare Offices

Gino Kenny

918. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection when her Department plans to centralise and gather information from INTREO offices to obtain a national picture regarding complaints made by persons applying for a social welfare payment or persons in receipt of a social welfare payment in order that her Department gathers all complaints to her Department relating to the process of applications, reviews, appeals, inspections or other complaints to INTREO offices. [33314/20]

Social Welfare Offices

Gino Kenny

919. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department does not, to date, centrally gather information from INTREO offices relating to complaints made by persons applying for a social welfare payment or persons in receipt of a social welfare payment to her Department in order that her Department can monitor application processes, review processes, appeal processes or inspections carried out in order that her Department can monitor complaints nationally or to determine if there are local problems with a particular INTREO office. [33315/20]

Legislative Measures

Gino Kenny

13. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to introduce legislation to allow for a mechanism for workers to be prioritised as creditors in the event of a liquidation in the future; if legislation that stops workers seeking redundancy in certain circumstances will be ended or extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30568/20]

Industrial Disputes

Gino Kenny

62. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has discussed a dispute (details supplied) with the Minister for Finance; if so, if he has discussed the proposal that the State and the Revenue Commissioners stand aside as creditors to allow the liquidators prioritise former workers in order to achieve a resolution of the dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30567/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

71. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will respond positively to calls from nurses and other healthcare professionals to reinsert the requirement that infectious diseases, including Covid-19, are reported by employers to the Health and Safety Authority as infectious diseases in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23678/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

33. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education the number of staff in secondary and primary schools confirmed as having contracted Covid-19 since schools reopened; the procedures for their return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30252/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Gino Kenny

95. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if schools that have lost a teacher as a result of a reduction in the September 2019 numbers of pupils can apply to her Department for support in recruiting a replacement teacher if they find it difficult to enforce Covid-19 safety guidelines in their school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30251/20]

Defence Forces Operations

Gino Kenny

191. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Defence if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29569/20]

Maternity Leave

Gino Kenny

371. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she will commit to increasing maternity leave and benefit to nine weeks in acknowledgement of the difficult situation parents of new babies are in as a result of the public health emergency; the amount that current legislation permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29865/20]

Medicinal Products

Gino Kenny

537. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if there is an appeals process for those who have been refused reimbursement by the HSE for the use of the breast cancer drug pertuzumab despite a consultant oncologist’s opinion that it would be beneficial to use as treatment in a particular case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30191/20]

Departmental Reviews

Gino Kenny

154. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria selection for the child maintenance review group. [27435/20]

Taxi Licences

Gino Kenny

16. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if the demands of representative groups of taxi drivers will be agreed to, namely to dissolve the taxi advisory committee and instead establish a national transport forum with strong representation from these representative groups, to extend the 10 year rule for replacing taxis to 12 years, to instigate an immediate moratorium on the issues of licence, and to establish a licence buy back scheme for taxi drivers wishing to exit the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25892/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

34. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure that public transport is available to all those that need it during the Covid-19 crisis in view of the fact that most transport is running at 50% capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25891/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Gino Kenny

222. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if some maternity hospitals have the facilities to carry out quick turnaround Covid-19 testing; if this facility can be extended to cover partners of pregnant persons in order that they can be present for scans and other maternity services and resume the much-needed support of their partners during hospital maternity visits and labour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26012/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

53. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport when Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann will resume full services in view of the pressures on existing services with reduced capacity due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15994/20]

Hospital Services

Gino Kenny

95. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase capacity in hospitals permanently; his further plans to increase the current 45 ICU beds in view of the worrying recent increase in the number of Covid-19 infections and in anticipation of another wave of the virus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23677/20]

Visa Applications

Gino Kenny

612. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she will address a series of matters (details supplied) regarding visa applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23940/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

707. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the medical cannabis access programme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23551/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

708. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the details of the budgetary constraints stated by his Department as the reason for the delay in the roll-out of the medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23552/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

709. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a date has been established for the commencement of the medicinal access programme; the concerns and obstacles to the roll-out of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23553/20]

Legislative Process

Gino Kenny

24. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the role her Department will play in overseeing new regulations being brought in by the Minister for Health that will be made into criminal offences under section 13 of the new Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018; if there will be a vote taken in Dáil Éireann prior to the regulations becoming law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22926/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

184. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if provision has been made for children returning to school that have parents and or siblings with serious and or a terminal illness that have been cocooning for the past six months and are at critical risk should children bring the Covid-19 virus home; the provisions that have been made in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23026/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Gino Kenny

172. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the community and worker engagement process as set out for the midlands region, Bord na Móna workers and communities; the way in which the process is operating in view of Covid-19; his plans to advance community and worker engagement in respect of Bord na Móna and the just transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20971/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Gino Kenny

173. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether the community engagement aspect of just transition has been applied successfully in other jurisdictions; his plans to instigate some of the measures in the just transition plan for the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20972/20]

Just Transition Commissioner

Gino Kenny

174. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the work of the midlands regional transition team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20973/20]

Climate Action Plan

Gino Kenny

175. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the new citizens’ engagement model mentioned in chapter 15 of the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20974/20]

Bord na Móna

Gino Kenny

176. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for job creation and redeployment of Bord na Móna workers in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20975/20]

Local Authority Housing

Gino Kenny

326. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of households that each local authority has removed from the housing list as a result of not responding to the housing needs assessment in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18006/20]

Land Development Agency

Gino Kenny

45. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which the LDA will address the housing crisis; if representatives of NGOs or bodies that have campaigned on behalf of the homeless or on the housing crisis will be represented on the board of the LDA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17626/20]

Housing Issues

Gino Kenny

62. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will re-examine the policy on co-living accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17625/20]

Employment Rights

Gino Kenny

72. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 14 July 2020, the way in which migrant workers who do not hold valid permits can access the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, in view of a recent court case which found the definition of civil proceedings in one particular case excluded the findings of the WRC and Labour Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17234/20]

Immigration Policy

Gino Kenny

565. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide clarity in relation to the process of stamp 4 renewal for persons living outside of Dublin in particular; if she will address the issue of access to locally-based immigration officers which is difficult and or sporadic as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the pressure this is placing on employees that need renewals urgently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16492/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

170. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that disability service providers have not received extra funding to cover the costs of deep cleaning, sanitising and other associated Covid-19 hygiene protocols as they begin to resume their services for persons with disabilities; if extra funding will be provided in the interest of public health to organisations providing these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16371/20]

Medical Cards

Gino Kenny

172. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the income threshold level for medical card eligibility is to be raised; the details of the new levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16380/20]

Proposed Legislation

Gino Kenny

26. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he expects to move legislation to ban oil and gas exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15995/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Gino Kenny

166. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the availability of Covid-19 antibody tests, that is, post-infection blood tests, for persons going for private surgeries in private hospitals and for those who can pay amounts varying from €79 to €250; if he will consider providing this test free of charge in the first instance to persons who have been shielding and cocooning to enable them to improve their mental and physical health and restore confidence; his plans to roll out the Covid-19 antibody test to all who require it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16270/20]

Legislative Measures

Gino Kenny

29. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation his priority legislation in the area of workers’ rights and employment legislation; if the Employment Permits Act will be amended for migrant workers to make it possible to access the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court; if legislation regarding SEOs and collective agreements will be strengthened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15814/20]

Legislative Measures

Gino Kenny

33. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the amending of employment legislation and the Companies Act 2014 will be made a priority in view of a dispute at a company (details supplied) and the past failure to legislate and in further view of the Duffy Cahill report; if the passage of the Protection of Employees (Collective Redundancies) Bill 2017 will be supported, which passed Second Stage in the Thirty-second Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15813/20]

Schools Building Projects

Gino Kenny

520. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision to locate new temporary Educate Together facilities and buildings on a site adjacent to a school (details supplied) that has been earmarked for a long-awaited extension to the school that had been agreed by her predecessor; if she will ensure the redevelopment of the school on the earmarked site and identify another location for the school, which is needed to bolster school places in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14670/20]

Medicinal Products

Gino Kenny

1154. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of children with spinal muscular atrophy eligible for treatment with the approved drug Spinraza; the number of those receiving the treatment; the reason for the delay in treatment for some of these children such as a child (details supplied); the way in which and when these issues will be addressed in order that all children can receive this vital treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15427/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1293. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the health impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on persons living with dementia and their family carers; his further views on the lack of consideration and strategy in terms of addressing the unique needs of this group during the pandemic; if the omission of the group will be addressed by specifically including it in current and future discussions and debate in relation to Covid-19 and other public health strategies and policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15944/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1294. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on a recently published report (details supplied); his further views on the conclusion in the report that policy and practice needs to focus on the way in which persons living with dementia and their informal and formal carers can be optimally supported; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15945/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1295. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the concerns of health professionals and organisations working with persons with dementia and their families that dementia has not been included specifically in data collection related to Covid-19 mortality or in the public messaging being issued will be addressed; the way in which he will address the lack of emphasis placed on the complex needs of those impacted by dementia in the community and in residential settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15946/20]

National Dementia Strategy

Gino Kenny

1296. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on whether persons with dementia and their family carers have been rendered invisible during the Covid-19 crisis; the way in which he will ensure that dementia is given high priority in terms of public health policy, research into its impact and future planning with regard to Covid-19; if the issuing of guidelines for the reopening of services and supports for persons and their families will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15947/20]

Homeless Accommodation

Gino Kenny

276. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on providing accommodation for homeless families and persons in hotels and bed and breakfasts in each local authority area from June 2017 up to and including June 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13878/20]

State Bodies

Gino Kenny

480. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reasons the Citizens Information Board and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, restructuring plan has commenced in the south Dublin area despite the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s production of a report in June 2017 (details supplied); the rationale, process and evidence of decision-making that has led to the commencement of the restructuring plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13751/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

489. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if care workers visiting the homes of sick, elderly or disabled persons will be tested fortnightly for Covid-19 in line with the testing of care workers in nursing homes every two weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13206/20]

Human Rights

Gino Kenny

24. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will convey Ireland’s opposition to the Australian ambassador to Ireland of the proposed destruction of 40 to 86 significant Aboriginal sites in the central Pilbara region by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11973/20]

Revenue Commissioners

Gino Kenny

56. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners’ customs service has ever intercepted the poppy seed imports of retailers and food businesses that use poppy seed in the manufacture of their products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11998/20]

Mortgage Lending

Gino Kenny

61. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that couples that were approved for a mortgage prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, one of whom has had to avail of the temporary wage subsidy scheme but will return to employment, have had the mortgage offer suspended; the reason for same; if a solution will be introduced in order that prospective buyers can proceed with a home purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12057/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gino Kenny

130. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of his recent announcement of a summer programme for children with additional needs; the way in which the programme will operate in schools or areas if teachers or SNAs cannot make themselves available in that particular area; the contingency plans in such cases; if the school in question is not available due to remediation works, the commencement date and the duration of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11729/20]

Enterprise Ireland

Gino Kenny

373. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if Enterprise Ireland support is being made available to companies that sell poppy seed or that have poppy seeds in their products; if not, when it was revoked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11997/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

457. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in the rolling out of the medicinal cannabis access programme; the measures that remain to be implemented to commence the programme; if there are outstanding barriers to its commencement; the proposed commencement date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12079/20]

Agriculture Industry

Gino Kenny

592. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to protect the rights of hemp farmers to have access to the market for products resulting from the first stage processing of their crops, if not, the details of the scientific evidence that warrants such a position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11996/20]

Health Screening Programmes

Gino Kenny

321. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons are experiencing anxiety and stress while waiting for cancer screening services to resume; if a date will be committed to for their earliest resumption; if a guarantee will be given that extra resources will be deployed to ensure that waiting lists for the services are cleared as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9712/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

364. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the possibility will be explored of allowing families to visit their loved ones that are end-of-life in hospices but that are not actively dying (details supplied); if a range of options that would allow same including the wearing of appropriate PPE and or outdoor visits with social distancing will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9960/20]

English Language Training Organisations

Gino Kenny

185. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will include teacher-led representation in addition to full involvement in the Covid-19 working group for the English language education sector; his views on whether it is vital that every stakeholder including teachers, students and unions is given a place on the working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8626/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Gino Kenny

447. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to lift the policy ban on enterprise support for the hemp industry in view of a European Court of Justice ruling (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8799/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Gino Kenny

448. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has ever consulted with the hemp stakeholder body; her plans to consult with it following the recent European Court of Justice ruling (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8800/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

528. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason epidiolex that is a cannabis-based medicine for the treatment of epilepsy and been approved by the EMA and FDA, has not be approved for reimbursement by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8389/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

640. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when nursing homes can allow visitors once they have outdoor space while visitors would observe physical distancing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8279/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gino Kenny

909. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the school meals programme into the summer holiday months will be extended in order that families that have lost jobs or are temporarily laid off as a result of the public health emergency can continue to access food during these exceptional times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7146/20]

Special Educational Needs

Gino Kenny

322. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be an increase in the number of special education teachers and SNAs provided to all schools in the 2020-21 school year in order to ameliorate the loss of in-school teaching time for these students in view of the fact that young persons in special educational needs, SEN, and DEIS settings are most likely to have experienced difficulties engaging in remote learning; if class sizes will be reduced in DEIS schools, special schools and mainstream schools in line with the demands of unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6583/20]

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Gino Kenny

323. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reinstate the sick leave entitlements of teachers that existed prior to 2010 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6584/20]

School Accommodation

Gino Kenny

324. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an audit of all school buildings will be carried out with a view to ascertaining the works needed to be completed to allow the safe return of students and staff; if special additional funding will be made available to schools to facilitate, among other actions, the hiring of cleaning staff to work throughout the school day, the installation of handwashing and sanitising stations, the erection of appropriate signage and the rearrangement of school layout and the acquisition of temporary additional accommodation and or the building of additional classrooms as appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6585/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

325. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the school system is fit for purpose to facilitate social distancing norms in view of the fact Ireland has the largest class sizes in Europe and one of the lowest levels of funding per student in the OECD; the number of additional class teachers that would be required in the forthcoming school year to reduce class sizes to average EU levels; the estimated cost and the way in which it could be achieved; the additional funding required to bring funding for education at primary, secondary and third level in line with that of average OECD levels for 2020-21; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6586/20]