DÁIL ÉIREANN

Dé Céadaoin, 17 Feabhra, 2021 Wednesday, 17th February, 2021

CEISTEANNA QUESTIONS

11 DÁIL ÉIREANN 613 Dé Céadaoin, 17 Feabhra, 2021 Wednesday, 17th February, 2021

CEISTEANNA LE hAGHAIDH FREAGRAÍ SCRÍOFA QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

Chun an Taoisigh: To the Taoiseach.

*1. To ask the Taoiseach the number of times and the dates that the senior officials group on the Sustainable Development Goals, which is chaired by his Department has met in 2019, 2020 and 2021; and the Sustainable Development Goals addressed in each of the meetings of the Group in tabular form. — . [7727/21]

*2. To ask the Taoiseach the amount of peat products imported in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. — . [8117/21]

*3. To ask the Taoiseach the amount of peat products exported in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. — Carol Nolan. [8118/21]

*4. To ask the Taoiseach if it will be ensured that local newspapers receive their fair share of advertising in relation to the national Covid-19 campaigns. — Seán Canney. [8438/21]

*5. To ask the Taoiseach the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8900/21]

*6. To ask the Taoiseach if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the administration of the United States. — Sean Sherlock. [8920/21]

Chun an Tánaiste agus Aire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta: To the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

*7. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the additional supports he plans to introduce to assist small and medium enterprises to develop online businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [7850/21]

*8. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the safeguards in place to uphold Ireland’s responsibilities under the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to prevent Ireland being party to or becoming entangled in a supply chain dispute on labour given the status of the State as a hub for global supply chains (details supplied). — Réada Cronin. [7875/21]

*9. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a derogation for flour coming from the UK to Ireland can be issued for a company (details supplied). — Paul McAuliffe. [7925/21]

P.T.O 614

*10. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the post-Brexit reality of the application of the rules of origin laws that sees Irish bread producers facing higher production costs than their UK counterparts due to having to import flour that is not being milled domestically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patrick Costello. [7976/21]

*11. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the situation in relation to dual purpose stores (details supplied) will be clarified; and the entitlement of dual purpose stores and their continued trade in non-essential items to the detriment of stores already closed by level 5 regulations. — . [8007/21]

*12. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the important role that wedding planners play in the wedding industry in Ireland; his views on whether wedding planning is a standalone business; if he will consider introducing financial assistance for wedding planners to mitigate the severe impact of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8095/21]

*13. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports available to a business (details supplied). — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [8138/21]

*14. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the further issue of work permits for the dairy sector; if existing holders of dairy work permits are entitled to move after a period of twelve months from one employer to another dairy operator in cases in which the original employer has ceased farming; if so, the person obliged to organise the further employment; the persons who are required to be notified; if the permit holder can secure further employment to their satisfaction if they are entitled to organise employment themselves; if agents who organised the original work permit can charge fees for reallocation of workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Creed. [8180/21]

*15. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has considered sending the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement to the relevant committee for proper scrutiny of its provisions prior to a final vote in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8209/21]

*16. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is a financial scheme open to taxi drivers to help them with the cost of insurance in view of the fact that their revenue stream has been eradicated due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. — . [8257/21]

*17. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has engaged with his UK counterpart on the decision of the UK Government not to publish an impact assessment of the UK-EU trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8306/21]

*18. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the sectors that stand to benefit most and least, respectively from the EU-UK trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8307/21]

*19. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason clubs (details supplied) have been excluded from Covid-19 support schemes; if there is a plan to include them in a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8334/21] 615

*20. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that several local authorities including Cork City Council have passed motions seeking Houses of the Oireachtas scrutiny of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement before a potential ratification; if he will consider these motions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8367/21]

*21. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a tailored support package available to the weddings industry in Scotland; his plans to introduce a similar package here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8368/21]

*22. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Covid-19 supports available to businesses which do not fall into either the established relevant business activity or new relevant business activity under the Covid restrictions support scheme and as such cannot avail of its supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8433/21]

*23. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if front-facing businesses that do not qualify for the Covid restrictions support scheme as they are neither an established relevant business activity or a new relevant business activity as they began trading in December 2020 will be eligible for the forthcoming Covid-19 business aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8434/21]

*24. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications that have been received for the restart fund for micro and small businesses by Cavan County Council; the amount of funding that has been allocated to the authority; the number of businesses that have received funding under the fund in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8552/21]

*25. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications that have been received for the restart fund for micro and small businesses by Monaghan County Council; the funding that has been allocated to the authority; the number of businesses that have received funding under the fund in ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8553/21]

*26. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications for supports under the various schemes for businesses impacted by Covid-19 that have been received from businesses in County Cavan; the number that have been processed to date; the number that have been successful; the amount allocated to these businesses; the amount that was sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8556/21]

*27. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications for supports under the various schemes for businesses impacted by Covid-19 that have been received from businesses in County Monaghan; the number that have been processed to date; the number that have been successful; the amount that has been allocated to these businesses; the amount that was sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8557/21]

*28. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of foreign direct investment supported companies that have been set up in County Kerry in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8595/21]

P.T.O 616

*29. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on allowing the resumption of click and collect services for clothing and footwear retailers to facilitate the sale of winter stock to make space and develop cash flow for the purchase of summer stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8631/21]

*30. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to address the 25% tariff on steel imports into Northern Ireland ultimately destined for Ireland and the feedback from the sector that this could have a potentially detrimental effect on construction costs here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. [8740/21]

*31. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contracts; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8889/21]

*32. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States’ administration. — Sean Sherlock. [8909/21]

Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide: To the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.

*33. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a progress report on the celtic interconnector; if it is on track to be delivered by 2026; if the cost of the project has changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8376/21]

*34. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has communicated directly with the ESB regarding the potential loss of the Georgian House Museum; if efforts will be made to try and save the popular amenity in Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8377/21]

*35. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the strategy in relation to single use plastics; and the way the strategy has been affected by the pandemic and changes in behaviour resulting from same. — Eoghan Murphy. [8074/21]

*36. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if enforcement action has commenced in relation to the European Union (Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Calculation Methods and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2017 (as amended) (details supplied); if an application has been made to the High Court as envisaged; if so, the outcome; if the maximum penalty appears to be fit for purpose when compared to the turnover of oil companies; if steps have been taken to ensure that the national carrier is compliant; the plans in place to increase enforcement, compliance and penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8130/21]

*37. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the expiration date of all existing licences and leases issued by his Department for oil and fossil gas exploration and drilling in tabular form; the details of applications for renewals and progressions of same under consideration by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Whitmore. [8156/21] 617

*38. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the terms and conditions which must be met by applicants in order to extend or renew existing exploration and drilling licences and leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Whitmore. [8157/21]

*39. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent of flaring of hydrocarbons by offshore undertakings; the terms and conditions regarding flaring by current and prospective offshore undertakings; the initiatives in place to prevent and end non- emergency flaring; the assessments of GHG emissions and environmental impacts associated with all flaring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Whitmore. [8158/21]

*40. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if GHG emissions associated with exploration, drilling, flaring, expected future operations and future fossil fuel supplies of applicants are reviewed and assessed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Whitmore. [8159/21]

*41. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an analysis has been carried out on raising the national broadband speed cut-off mark of 30mbps. — Sean Sherlock. [8192/21]

*42. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an analysis is being carried out regarding the entry of a provider (details supplied) to the Irish market. — Sean Sherlock. [8193/21]

*43. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of consultation that has taken place regarding the proposed peatlands climate action scheme with local residents of the affected areas. — . [8204/21]

*44. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason a property (details supplied) is not included in the intervention area for the roll-out of fibre optic cables even though the area is currently being surveyed and cables are being laid to service the neighbouring homes. — . [8219/21]

*45. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will examine the broadband connectivity issues that are occurring in Blackhall, Clane, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — James Lawless. [8233/21]

*46. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when access to high speed broadband will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8266/21]

*47. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he has taken to fulfil his commitment on post offices and community banking as outlined in the Programme for Government (details supplied); the measures that have been taken to establish the feasibility of offering a better range of financial services and e-commerce in post offices; if he has established a working group to identify the potential for local post offices to act as hubs and as a one-stop-shop for State services; if he will report on the digital assist scheme and Offline Services Group Report carried out to meet these commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8297/21]

P.T.O 618

*48. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of recent engagement his Department has had with An Post in relation to Prio Eco and the transformation of An Post corporate centre and business service areas and the impact these two projects will have on the workforce and post office network of An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8299/21]

*49. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises in Carrigaline, County Cork that can access a fibre broadband connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8369/21]

*50. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the adoption and implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code which was due to take effect in December 2018; the penalties that have been applied to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8422/21]

*51. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which premises not in the intervention area of the National Broadband Plan without access to speeds of at least 30mbps can contact his Department; and the supports available to them. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [8505/21]

*52. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if wireless broadband services are available at an airport (details supplied) using its metropolitan area network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [8506/21]

*53. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if local authorities are allowed to access databases (details supplied); if not, if legislation is required to do same; his plans to progress such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8509/21]

*54. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to reduce the amount of palm oil consumed in Ireland in view of the negative social and environmental impacts of palm cultivation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8589/21]

*55. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has received a judgement from the Data Protection Commissioner regarding the use of CCTV and illegal dumping. — Sean Sherlock. [8599/21]

*56. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work that has been carried out by his Department to date with respect to the introduction of a beverage container deposit and refund scheme; if there are plans to introduce such a scheme in the near future; if so, the details and timelines of such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Stanton. [8630/21]

*57. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes on the warmer homes scheme work programme; the waiting time for upgrades to commence; the steps his Department is taking to address the waiting list; when the changes to the scheme will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8647/21] 619

*58. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will sanction a deferral of payment for a community energy grid connection fee (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael McNamara. [8724/21]

*59. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the methods used to collect data on solid fuel volumes sold nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8760/21]

*60. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has received proposals on a project (details supplied) for a floating LNG terminal; the status of such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8769/21]

*61. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce grant funding for sport centres interested in installing solar panels to reduce running costs and the carbon footprints of the centres given the current SEAI grant does not fully meet the requirements of sports centres. — Martin Browne. [8779/21]

*62. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the proportion of the Just Transition Fund to be allocated to each NUTS 3 region; the basis on which this is calculated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8842/21]

*63. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to difficulties being posed to local authorities in pursuing prosecutions for illegal dumping due to difficulties regarding the use of CCTV due to GDPR; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8882/21]

*64. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will have regard to correspondence on whether a system can be devised to remove a person (details supplied) from an intervention area if they so wish. — Sean Sherlock. [8884/21]

*65. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8890/21]

*66. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8910/21]

*67. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of fibre broadband at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8969/21]

*68. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider a system to mitigate weight for waste providers for families with disabilities and incontinence issues. — Sean Sherlock. [8998/21]

Chun an Aire Iompair: To the Minister for Transport.

*69. To ask the Minister for Transport if consideration is being given to a reduction or refund in motor tax during the Covid-19 pandemic such as the reduction or refund given by insurance companies (details supplied). — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [7857/21]

P.T.O 620

*70. To ask the Minister for Transport if exceptions can be made for an essential worker who needs a motorbike for travel to and from work to complete motorbike IBT training given that due to the lockdown the RSA has stated IBT training cannot go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [7862/21]

*71. To ask the Minister for Transport if an assessment will be carried out to ascertain if hospital and nursing home staff could use public transport without charge during Covid-19 restrictions. — Jim O’Callaghan. [7864/21]

*72. To ask the Minister for Transport the way in which the use of e-scooters on public pathways used by pedestrians can be monitored and policed in terms of space and speed and the safety of pedestrians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [7874/21]

*73. To ask the Minister for Transport the number of persons awaiting a driver test per centre; the age and gender of those awaiting a test; and the number of testers currently available per centre in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [7920/21]

*74. To ask the Minister for Transport if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [7932/21]

*75. To ask the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 4 November 2020, the status relating to the provision of the Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and the R494 improvement scheme; the expected construction date for this vital project for south-east County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [7966/21]

*76. To ask the Minister for Transport if airline staff who are residents in Ireland but working in the UK for UK or US airlines can use the valid annex three certificate in accordance with the communication from the European Commission on green lanes when travelling between the UK and Ireland and internally in both jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cian O’Callaghan. [7985/21]

*77. To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on his engagement with his European counterparts on 8 December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [7993/21]

*78. To ask the Minister for Transport the system in place to deal with the backlog of driver theory test appointments due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8001/21]

*79. To ask the Minister for Transport if it is the policy of the RSA that if a driver theory test is cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions that the student is not refunded for their test fee and is not given another test date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8002/21]

*80. To ask the Minister for Transport the plans in place to allow essential workers to take the driver theory test during the current round of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8003/21]

*81. To ask the Minister for Transport when the driver theory tests will resume for non-essential workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8004/21] 621

*82. To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties persons are experiencing having their driver licences printed and issued; if the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be investigated who successfully applied for the renewal of their driver licence on 30 December 2020 in the NDLS office in Clonmel and is still waiting for the delivery of same; if he will engage with the NDLS to have this licence and others printed and issued without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8076/21]

*83. To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties persons are experiencing having their driver licences printed and issued; if the case of a person (details supplied) will be investigated who successfully applied for their driver licence which is urgently required for work; if he will engage with the NDLS to have this licence issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Lowry. [8085/21]

*84. To ask the Minister for Transport if there are facilities for persons to postpone NCT tests in which they are trying to avoid all risky situations from a Covid-19 perspective. — . [8091/21]

*85. To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties persons are experiencing with having their driver licences printed and issued; if he will investigate a 12- week delay in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who successfully applied for their driver licence in the NDLS office, Nenagh, County Tipperary on 11 November 2020; if he will engage with the NDLS to have the licence issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Lowry. [8105/21]

*86. To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to restore the block grants previously allocated to town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8121/21]

*87. To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the need of a person (details supplied) for the recognition of a course completed in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — James Browne. [8218/21]

*88. To ask the Minister for Transport the steps taken to ensure proper public access and consultation in respect to infrastructure projects during restrictions related to Covid-19; the steps taken to ensure those with limited digital skills or a lack of internet connectivity are not disadvantaged in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway- Walsh. [8240/21]

*89. To ask the Minister for Transport if he has considered a further extension for SPSV vehicles given that taxi drivers will face a second year of no earnings or using their taxis but will need to change cars post-December 2021 as per the permitted extensions of age of cars; if so, the new date for vehicle renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Boyd Barrett. [8254/21]

*90. To ask the Minister for Transport if he has considered the submission made to him by a group (details supplied) in December 2020 in relation to the terms of reference for the feasibility study on the continuation of the MetroLink to south west Dublin; his views on the concerns raised by the group in relation to the terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Murphy. [8268/21]

*91. To ask the Minister for Transport the status of the construction of the N5 Westport to Turlough dual carriageway, County Mayo; if the project is progressing on schedule and within

P.T.O 622 budget; the earliest anticipated date of completion and opening of phases of the project; the overall completion timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8295/21]

*92. To ask the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to have artificial noise installed in electric vehicles including e-scooters to ensure the safety of pedestrians and other road users especially the visually impaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8370/21]

*93. To ask the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 223 of 6 October 2020, the status of stage 2 of the N11-M11 junction 4 to 14 improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8375/21]

*94. To ask the Minister for Transport if he supports the proposed orbital bus routes which would link towns and villages across Dublin; the status of the roll-out of the services as envisaged in the BusConnects Network Redesign Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8379/21]

*95. To ask the Minister for Transport the regional and local road grant allocations to all four Dublin local authorities by grant and local authority in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and the provisional allocation for 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8421/21]

*96. To ask the Minister for Transport the number of persons on the waiting list for a driver test at the Finglas test centre; and his plans to deal with the backlog due to Covid-19. — Paul McAuliffe. [8443/21]

*97. To ask the Minister for Transport if there are circumstances under which his Department would consider granting an electric vehicle SEAI grant to a person who has imported a new vehicle from Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Kehoe. [8493/21]

*98. To ask the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to changing a bus route (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8512/21]

*99. To ask the Minister for Transport the costs borne by the National Transport Authority to date in relation to the Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Options Study; and the estimated further cost in respect of same. — Neasa Hourigan. [8520/21]

*100. To ask the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 20 January 2021, if funding being allocated to the NTA will be brought forward for the roll-out of TFI branded signage and updated timetable information across counties Limerick and Tipperary in the current phase (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Kieran O’Donnell. [8523/21]

*101. To ask the Minister for Transport if a person is entitled to arrange an alternative NCT appointment free of cancellation or rearrangement fees as a result of required self-isolation due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8537/21]

*102. To ask the Minister for Transport the progress to date in relation to the Narrow Water Bridge project; the progress to date with the North South Ministerial Transport Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [8541/21] 623

*103. To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made in relation to the review of the rail network across both jurisdictions on the island of Ireland; the progress that has taken place regarding the development of the terms of reference for the review with a view to launching the tender process in the first quarter of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [8542/21]

*104. To ask the Minister for Transport the estimated full year cost of increasing funding to the secondary roads improvement scheme by 5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pat Buckley. [8624/21]

*105. To ask the Minister for Transport if a free travel scheme on public transport can be introduced during the pandemic restrictions for front-line healthcare workers. — Jim O’Callaghan. [8636/21]

*106. To ask the Minister for Transport if he will put refund protections in place for consumers who postponed holidays from 2020 to 2021 but still cannot travel due to the public health restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [8664/21]

*107. To ask the Minister for Transport the plans in place to manage the backlog of theory and driver tests that have built up as a result of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Kehoe. [8682/21]

*108. To ask the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting to sit the driver theory test by centre in tabular form. — . [8695/21]

*109. To ask the Minister for Transport the progress with regard to the N14 road between Letterkenny and Lifford, the Bonagee bypass and the Ballybofey and Stranorlar bypass, County Donegal which were all committed to in the National Development Plan 2018-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe McHugh. [8721/21]

*110. To ask the Minister for Transport when he plans to implement changes to the pension plan for Irish Rail workers which was voted upon by the workers in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Murphy. [8725/21]

*111. To ask the Minister for Transport the number of car driver tests cancelled due to bad weather in 2019 and 2020; the number of car driver tests cancelled with no reason given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [8726/21]

*112. To ask the Minister for Transport the number of electric vehicle charging points in each county in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [8727/21]

*113. To ask the Minister for Transport the funding allocated in 2020 to fund the construction of electric vehicle charging points; the budget and target number of completions for each of the years 2021 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [8728/21]

*114. To ask the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of converting public transport vehicles including buses and trains from fossil fuels to greener alternatives for each of the years 2021 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [8729/21]

*115. To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that essential worker learner drivers cannot complete their mandatory EDT lessons if they do not have a driver

P.T.O 624 test date booked and cannot book a driver test without the 12 mandatory EDT lessons complete; if he will address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [8730/21]

*116. To ask the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in relation to the driver licence application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — James Lawless. [8733/21]

*117. To ask the Minister for Transport if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8737/21]

*118. To ask the Minister for Transport if he will meet representatives of a group (details supplied) in order to discuss the limitations and flaws in the terms of reference generated by the NTA for the purpose of conducting a feasibility study into whether the MetroLink should continue to south west Dublin. — Jim O’Callaghan. [8767/21]

*119. To ask the Minister for Transport the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8902/21]

*120. To ask the Minister for Transport if an application has been made for the expansion of the public bike scheme in Cork, Galway and Limerick in 2021. — Sean Sherlock. [8903/21]

*121. To ask the Minister for Transport if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8922/21]

*122. To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that companies that are doing contract work for Iarnród Éireann are refusing to recognise trade unions that represent their workers and may be in breach of the suppliers covenants with Iarnród Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brian Stanley. [8939/21]

*123. To ask the Minister for Transport if local authorities applied for funding for specific projects under the sustainable transport fund; if these submissions are to be published; the projects submitted by Cork City Council; and the outcome of each in tabular form. — Thomas Gould. [8947/21]

*124. To ask the Minister for Transport the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has been informed by the RSA that they need to complete three further tests before they are issued with their CPC driver qualification card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8954/21]

*125. To ask the Minister for Transport the number of applications for a sustainable transport allocation received by his Department from a local authority (details supplied). — Sean Sherlock. [8991/21]

*126. To ask the Minister for Transport the engagement he has had with insurance companies and representatives regarding the legislation on e-scooters and e-bikes. — Sean Sherlock. [8992/21]

*127. To ask the Minister for Transport if he is in receipt of plans from the RSA to resolve the driver test backlog; and if so, the funding required. — Sean Sherlock. [8993/21] 625

*128. To ask the Minister for Transport if he is in receipt of correspondence regarding a project (details supplied). — Sean Sherlock. [8994/21]

*129. To ask the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with a local authority on a road issue (details supplied). — Sean Sherlock. [8997/21]

Chun an Aire Airgeadais: To the Minister for Finance.

*130. To ask the Minister for Finance if the employees at the Revenue Commissioners are considered an essential service to allow parents to avail of childcare. — Sean Sherlock. [8199/21]

*131. To ask the Minister for Finance the value of tax incentive measures provided to purpose built student accommodation providers since 2011, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8709/21]

*132. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered providing tax relief for counselling and psychotherapy services on the same basis as is provided for other medical expenses. — . [8762/21]

*133. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of times the automated import system operated by the Revenue Commissioners has crashed since 23 November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [7866/21]

*134. To ask the Minister for Finance the reasons the automated import system operated by the Revenue Commissioners has crashed on several occasion since 23 November 2020; the remedial actions taken to address the crashes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cathal Crowe. [7867/21]

*135. To ask the Minister for Finance the measures in place to prevent the circulation of counterfeit cash; if the Central Bank has an estimated value of counterfeit cash currently in circulation and the damage this is causing for Irish businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [7887/21]

*136. To ask the Minister for Finance if data is available on the amount of illegal drugs seized from persons entering and leaving the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [7888/21]

*137. To ask the Minister for Finance if concerns will be addressed that new Irish customs arrangements regarding the importation of goods from the UK have considerably increased the levels of bureaucratisation in relation to the importation process; if he will work to simplify the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [7890/21]

*138. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff assigned to the Revenue Commissioners’ enforcement units at all airports here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [7891/21]

*139. To ask the Minister for Finance if concerns raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [7929/21]

P.T.O 626

*140. To ask the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) can be facilitated for the full payment of their AMRF pension; if the case can be fully and favourably investigated given their current circumstances; if the policy entails a death benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [7979/21]

*141. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to assist the wedding industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [8047/21]

*142. To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which Ireland’s recovery and resilience plan will deal with the outstanding country specific recommendations including, specifically, the recommendations to step up action to address features of the tax system that facilitate aggressive tax planning, including on outbound payments and to broaden the tax base. — Pearse Doherty. [8056/21]

*143. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the new strategy statement for his Department; the way that his Department will make climate action a core pillar of its new strategies as stated in the Programme for Government; if he has directed each of the agencies and offices under his remit to adopt a climate mandate under which those bodies will seek to support climate action within their own operations and among their clients and suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ged Nash. [8058/21]

*144. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount invested in the National Treasury Management Agency prize bonds on 31 December 2020; and the percentage breakdown of this amount which was invested in 2020 and in each of the preceding calendar years. — Mattie McGrath. [8061/21]

*145. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of prize money paid out on behalf of the National Treasury Management Agency prize bonds in 2020; and the percentage breakdown of this amount which was paid in respect of bonds purchased in 2020 and in each of the preceding calendar years. — Mattie McGrath. [8062/21]

*146. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of financial support provided by the State to private enterprises engaged in the collection of genetic data in Ireland; if the Government will have free access to this data in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8301/21]

*147. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners have the resources and manpower to investigate and prosecute the black market business in the barber, hairdressing and beauty industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8332/21]

*148. To ask the Minister for Finance the average number of investigations the Revenue Commissioners have taken and the return to the Exchequer over the past five years in fines and interest payments from the barber, hairdressing and beauty industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jackie Cahill. [8333/21]

*149. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will extend eligibility under the Covid restrictions support scheme to wedding suppliers given the severe impact of the Covid-19 restrictions on this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8341/21]

*150. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on negative interest rates being imposed by banks (details supplied) and its impact on businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niall Collins. [8407/21] 627

*151. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the stay and spend tax credit initiative beyond April 2021. — Catherine Murphy. [8409/21]

*152. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 27 January 2021, the reason County Roscommon is not carrying out assessments; when the county will carry out assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Fitzmaurice. [8429/21]

*153. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will engage with banks to request them to extend approval in principle for the duration of the level 5 lockdown and the ban on house visiting. — Thomas Gould. [8445/21]

*154. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter regarding the wage subsidy scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [8463/21]

*155. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider a proposal (details supplied) on the charging of negative interest rates and the impact of same on solicitor’s client accounts. — Cathal Crowe. [8467/21]

*156. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason employees are taxed on the temporary wage subsidy scheme and or the employee wage subsidy scheme element of their wages and salaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [8527/21]

*157. To ask the Minister for Finance if local property tax will be reduced for apartment owners who pay large service charges to their management companies but receive no direct services from their local authority; if the tax will also be reduced in cases in which the property has been for sale for a lengthy period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [8530/21]

*158. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the employment wage subsidy scheme; and if it has an end date. — Sean Sherlock. [8596/21]

*159. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide information on the stay and spend scheme; the number of businesses registered; the total stay and spend receipt uploads for accommodation, food and accommodation and for food only; the value accrued on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8638/21]

*160. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on the way in which communications were made to the public relative to taxation on the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment scheme for recipients in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8668/21]

*161. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to prevent recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment that return to work in 2021 becoming liable in 2021 for the tax due (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8704/21]

*162. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason persons are being taxed on a week one basis for more than a one-week period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway- Walsh. [8710/21]

P.T.O 628

*163. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the tax on the pandemic unemployment payment is taken from the entire gross wage while the top-up by the employer was already taxed during 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8711/21]

*164. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the rate band reductions were applied on tax credit certificates issued on 4 February 2021 when underpayments were not meant to be paid until 2022 commencing over a five year period; the reason no notification was given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8712/21]

*165. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the tax credits of workers coming off the pandemic unemployment payment and starting back to work were deleted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8713/21]

*166. To ask the Minister for Finance if the banks can extend a mortgage break to borrowers during the present severe restrictions on economic activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Bruton. [8739/21]

*167. To ask the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) can drive a UK registered car here for longer than 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy- Rae. [8742/21]

*168. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention or that of his officials has been drawn to a proposal by banks (details supplied) to introduce charges on transaction monies held in solicitor client accounts for and on behalf of clients and or customers consumers; and if he has engaged with or plans to engage with the banks and or the Central Bank on this matter. — Catherine Murphy. [8751/21]

*169. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in 2000 in relation to section 12 Part 4 of the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001 given in Irish pounds and in terms of Euro according to the official conversion rate from punts to euro for 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8781/21]

*170. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in 2001 in relation to section 12 Part 4 of the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001 given in Irish pounds and in terms of Euro according to the official conversion rate from punts to euro for 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8782/21]

*171. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in relation to section 12, Part 4 of the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001 for each of the years 2002 to 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8783/21]

*172. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount that was determined for the years 2002 to 2019 to be equivalent to the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in 2000 in relation to section 12, Part 4 the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001 as increased by reference to the consumer price index for each of those years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8784/21] 629

*173. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of the excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in 2020 in relation to section 12, Part 4 of the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8785/21]

*174. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department receives information as to the proportion of the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer each year in relation to section 12, Part 4 of the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001 that is due to betting on the greyhound industry, betting on the horseracing industry and betting on other sports or outcomes; if he will investigate whether such information is collected at the off-course betting sources and could be made available to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8786/21]

*175. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter regarding the operations of the Revenue Commissioners in a case (details supplied). — . [8810/21]

*176. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department will request the banks not to impose a penalty charge on solicitors’ practices who are holding monies for clients in their client account on trust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8813/21]

*177. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will request the Revenue Commissioners to waive taxation arising out of the pandemic unemployment payment given the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic and the consequent sacrifice and financial suffering endured by persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [8832/21]

*178. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners will extend over a suitably long period the amount of extra taxation due over pandemic unemployment payments to assist workers and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [8833/21]

*179. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will engage with the banks to discuss the matter of mortgage approval expiration dates given that there is a six month expiration on mortgage approvals and currently there are no in-person viewings of properties for sale; if he will request the banks to extend approval periods in cases in which there has been no change of circumstance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8848/21]

*180. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered implementing a tax incentive scheme on gym memberships or exercise classes when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8866/21]

*181. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered financial supports for the exercise industry to aid in its recovery from Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8867/21]

*182. To ask the Minister for Finance the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8891/21]

*183. To ask the Minister for Finance if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8911/21]

P.T.O 630

*184. To ask the Minister for Finance the actions he will take to protect consumers in relation to the matter of banks (details supplied) giving notice that negative interest rate charges are to apply to solicitor client accounts in conveyancing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [8929/21]

*185. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised by a society (details supplied) in relation to the charging of negative interest rates in respect of moneys held in solicitors’ clients’ accounts; if he will consider establishing a national scheme or introduce legislation to protect consumer deposits held in solicitors’ clients’ accounts from negative interest rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Lowry. [8933/21]

*186. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider keeping the VAT rate below 23% after February 2021 to assist businesses trying to get back on their feet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Christopher O’Sullivan. [8976/21]

Chun an Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe: To the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

*187. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the review of the National Development Plan 2018-2027 will be completed. — . [7848/21]

*188. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the State’s resilience and recovery plan; and the way in which the plan will be democratically scrutinised. — Pearse Doherty. [8055/21]

*189. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the new strategy statement for his Department; the way his Department will make climate action a core pillar of its new strategies as stated in the Programme for Government; if he has directed each of the agencies and offices under his remit to adopt a climate mandate under which those bodies will seek to support climate action within their own operations and among their clients and suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ged Nash. [8059/21]

*190. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of coastal flood defences in Dublin Bay; and the amount that has been allocated to improving coastal defences over the next five years. — Eoghan Murphy. [8073/21]

*191. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will open consultation or hold an online briefing with residents affected by the construction of new flood defences on both the east side and the west side of the River Shannon in Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sorca Clarke. [8202/21]

*192. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will provide a timeline for completion of the flood defence projects on the east and west sides of the Shannon in Athlone, County Westmeath. — Sorca Clarke. [8203/21]

*193. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the pay bill for the Defence Forces as a percentage of the gross Exchequer civil and public service pay bill from 2013 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; the amount returned to the Exchequer from the Defence budget in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ged Nash. [8746/21] 631

*194. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of pre-committed capital expenditure for each of the years 2021 to 2026, disaggregated by Department outlining the amount of spending allocated in tabular form. — Mairéad Farrell. [8773/21]

*195. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the percentage of the European Regional Development Fund allocated to each NUTS 3 region in Ireland across each of its priority areas, that is, the digital agenda, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, environment and the net-zero-carbon economy during the 2014 to 2020 period; and the proposed allocations for the 2021-2027 programmes (details supplied). — Marian Harkin. [8839/21]

*196. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the proportion of the European Regional Development Fund allocated to each NUTS 3 region in Ireland during the 2014-2020 programme; the proposed allocation to each NUTS 3 region during the 2021-2027 programme; if the European Commission’s downgrading of the northern and western region has been taken into account in his Department’s planning for the 2021-2027 programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Marian Harkin. [8840/21]

*197. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8897/21]

*198. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8917/21]

Chun an Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán: To the Minister for Tourism, Culture; Arts; Gaeltacht; Sport and Media.

*199. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will engage with an organisation (details supplied) in advance of the 5 March 2021 review of Covid-19 restrictions. — Michael Creed. [8683/21]

*200. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount in annual funding given to the media in Ireland inclusive of the TV licence; the breakdown of the recipients of this funding; the amount they receive; and the items on which the funding is spent. — Peadar Tóibín. [7906/21]

*201. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has conducted a risk assessment and or received updated advice regarding the resumption of outdoor non-contact training and non-contact outdoor sports and or activities for amateur teams and persons. — Catherine Murphy. [7960/21]

*202. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has conducted a risk assessment and or received updated advice regarding the resumption of indoor non-contact training and non-contact indoor sports and or activities and dancing classes for amateur teams and persons. — Catherine Murphy. [7961/21]

*203. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has engaged with Sport Ireland and Irish NGBs in respect of plans to resume sports matches and training here for amateur teams and persons. — Catherine Murphy. [7962/21]

P.T.O 632

*204. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to correspondence from an association (details supplied); and if she has consulted with the Minister for Health and NPHET regarding same. — Catherine Murphy. [7963/21]

*205. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the administration costs payable to a maximum of €83,000 for the management of the music industry support package is in addition to or to be included within the €1.7 million allocated to the package. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8012/21]

*206. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the criteria used to select a body to manage the music industry support package. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8013/21]

*207. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount paid to an organisation (details supplied) for administration costs relating to the management of the music industry support scheme; and the breakdown of the money spent. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8014/21]

*208. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 248 of 15 December 2020, the process by which an organisation (details supplied) was selected. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8015/21]

*209. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an organisation (details supplied) is wholly owned and funded by the State; and the position regarding and status of its legal relationship is with the Arts Council, Culture Ireland and her Department. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8016/21]

*210. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason a body with experience in the international showcasing of Irish musicians was given the responsibility of managing an entirely domestic €1.7 million package instead of a body with experience distributing grants domestically or with a statutory role to do so, such as the Arts Council. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8017/21]

*211. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 248 of 15 December 2020, if other bodies were considered for the management of the €1.7 million music industry support package before an organisation (details supplied) was selected. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8018/21]

*212. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 248 on 15 December 2020, if the review of the pilot music industry support package schemes promised in her response is currently underway; when it is due to be completed; and if she will publish the results of the review before deciding to continue the pilot. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8019/21]

*213. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if measures were taken beyond requesting a voluntary declaration by panellists to ensure no conflict of interest when adjudicating the music industry support package. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8020/21]

*214. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of each music industry support package scheme that was paid respectively to a company and an 633 organisation (details supplied) to public relations or communications companies and to artists. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8021/21]

*215. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 15 December 2020, the definition of administrative error in her response; the way it was allowed to occur; the way the matter was investigated; and if she will publish the results of the investigation. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8022/21]

*216. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason no open competition took place to select a body to manage the music industry support package. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8023/21]

*217. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to parliamentary Question No. 248 of 15 December 2020, the definition of administration costs referred to. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8024/21]

*218. Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán ar labhair sí nó an tAire Stáit don Ghaeltacht agus Spórt, a bhfuil cúram orthu beirt i leith Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003, riamh leis an Taoiseach, atá freagrach as an bPlean maidir le Maireachtáil le Covid-19 agus na treoirlínte lena mbaineann, nó leis an Aire Sláinte, faoin moill dhíomách a bhaineann le faisnéis faoi shrianta agus comhairle Covid-19 trí Ghaeilge a cheartú. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8103/21]

*219. Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil aon phlean curtha i bhfeidhm nó á ullmhú aici nó ag an Aire Stáit don Ghaeltacht agus Spórt, a bhfuil cúram orthu beirt i leith Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003, chun a chinntiú go bhfoilseoidh an Rialtas eolas faisnéise faoin bpaindéim agus faoi shrianta faoin bPlean maidir le Maireachtáil le Covid-19 go comhuaineach trí Ghaeilge agus Béarla amach anseo ar líne agus i gcló. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8104/21]

*220. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the financial supports available to a business (details supplied). — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [8139/21]

*221. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if grant aid will be offered to a group (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8390/21]

*222. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if sports clubs and groups that are eligible for commercial rates are included in the Covid-19 business aid scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8392/21]

*223. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if his attention has been drawn to a public liability scheme that has been adopted in the UK that offers insurance to those involved in horse walking trails on public and private land that indemnifies land owners against potential liabilities; and if he will consider engaging with Sport Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland and other relevant bodies to discuss the merits of implementing a similar scheme here. — . [8411/21]

*224. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will put in place a Covid funding scheme for local newspapers similar to the scheme for local radio stations

P.T.O 634 administered by the Broadcast Authority of Ireland sound and vision scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [8437/21]

*225. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there will be a further round of a support scheme (details supplied); if so, when it is likely to open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8440/21]

*226. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will examine allowing the television licence to be paid in instalments even for those just paying online in order that it could be an option in supporting persons in paying for the licence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8501/21]

*227. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she met with representatives of the wedding industry to discuss the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on weddings and the supports needed for businesses involved in the sector; and if not, when she plans to do so. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8516/21]

*228. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to introduce funding supports for local newspapers; if further supports will be granted to local radio stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8532/21]

*229. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if consideration will be given to a special one off support for new businesses (details supplied) that were still developing their product at the onset of Covid-19 and were expecting to trade in early 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Joe McHugh. [8616/21]

*230. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a local authority can submit multiple applications up to the maximum of €250,000 or just one single application to that value in relation to the reimagining our outdoor public spaces scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [8629/21]

*231. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the breakdown of the Fáilte Ireland adaption grant; the number of applicants that applied by county; the number of grants that were successfully processed; the number that were declined; the number that are still outstanding pending further information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8639/21]

*232. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider a real-time voucher scheme as an alternative to the stay and spend scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8640/21]

*233. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps taken by her Department regarding each recommendation reported in the report of the Tourism Recovery Task Force in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8641/21]

*234. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when Fáilte Ireland will announce its plan to disburse funding of €55 million in business continuity funding to support strategic tourism businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8642/21] 635

*235. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the decision was made not to use the €15 million proposed for the two-year outdoor public space scheme to pay artists and performers who are without work for almost a year and need funding to survive and to perform in existing cultural spaces. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8822/21]

*236. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the stage of each of the recommendations of the Report of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce by recommendation; the progress to date; and her plans and the timeline for the delivery of each recommendation. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8823/21]

*237. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if funding for the outdoor public space scheme is entirely new funding; if not, if funding will come from an existing budgetary allocation under the vote for her Department; and if so, the budgetary allocation concerned. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8824/21]

*238. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the features of the outdoor public space scheme will require local authorities to consult with Fáilte Ireland on the proposed project but includes no requirement to consult with the local community in the case of each project before it is developed to ensure local imagination and the local creative and cultural needs are at the heart the scheme; and if local consultation will be included as a feature. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8825/21]

*239. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason for the decision in February 2021 to announce funding only for reimagining outdoor public spaces at a time when existing indoor venues are struggling; and her views on whether supporting existing venues and events workers should be a priority. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8826/21]

*240. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the features of the outdoor public space scheme will require local authorities to consult with Fáilte Ireland on the proposed project but includes no requirement to consult with experts and professionals from the events industry; and if a commitment will be given to ensuring events industry professionals are consulted in all projects aimed at making public spaces more suitable for holding events. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8827/21]

*241. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a cost-benefit analysis was conducted into the outdoor public space scheme before funding was announced; and if so, if the result of such analysis will be published. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8828/21]

*242. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the decision was made to respond to recommendation 9 of the Report of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce by ignoring its recommendations to also provide support to indoor cultural spaces and to establish a regional project fund and privately operated venues fund; and if she also plans to deliver on these recommendations. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8829/21]

*243. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by her Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8901/21]

*244. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of times the Night-time Economy Taskforce has met. — Sean Sherlock. [8904/21]

P.T.O 636

*245. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will ensure that all areas of the country will receive equal treatment in relation to the roll-out of the outdoor diving scheme and that it will not be confined to the major urban centres alone; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [8966/21]

Chun an Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta: To the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

*246. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce grants for rainwater harvesting systems in sports centres given that such a scheme would allow centres to significantly reduce their water usage. — Martin Browne. [8778/21]

*247. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the referendum on the right to housing will be held in accordance with the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patrick Costello. [7851/21]

*248. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an estate (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [7852/21]

*249. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the Vacant Homes Strategy; the number of vacant homes that have been registered since the start of the strategy; the number that have been refurbished; the number that have been put back in circulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [7853/21]

*250. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the Vacant Homes Strategy; the number of vacant homes that have been registered in each county since the start of the strategy; the number have been refurbished in each county; the number that have been put back in circulation in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [7854/21]

*251. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address matters (details supplied) in relation to building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patrick O’Donovan. [7863/21]

*252. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for the establishment of a new unified Galway authority; the process and timeline for this merger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [7878/21]

*253. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which persons who have engaged the services of a building contractor to build a house which has not yet been completed can prove in practice that their case involves overcrowding or a threat to the spread of Covid-19 with regard to the measures set out in SI No. 29 of 2021 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [7928/21]

*254. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the 390 cost rental units announced on 8 February 2021; the location of the units; the typologies of the units; the rent to be charged on the units; if these units are in turnkey developments that were already in the respective approved housing bodies social housing pipeline; and if not, if they are additional units to that pipeline. — Eoin Ó Broin. [7954/21] 637

*255. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the completion of the various phases of the development with respect to the Land Development Agency and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council development in Shanganagh, Shankill, County Dublin; the commencement date for the development; the expected sales price of the affordable purchase units; the total cost of the development; the types of finance being accessed by the LDA to undertake the development; and if further information which he deems relevant will be provided. — Eoin Ó Broin. [7964/21]

*256. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the council housing list for County by town or village area, by one, two or three bedroom facilities; and the year applicants went on the list. — . [7983/21]

*257. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the council housing list for County Carlow by town or village area, by one, two or three bedroom facilities; and the year applicants went on the list (details supplied). — Kathleen Funchion. [7984/21]

*258. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the hen harrier threat response plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [7986/21]

*259. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of a report (details supplied); if a detailed breakdown of all the specific costs incurred will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Ring. [7999/21]

*260. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding allocated under the developer provided infrastructure scheme has been returned unspent to his Department due to the fact that Irish Water has failed to provide the necessary connections to allow the sewerage to be connected to two housing estates (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [8005/21]

*261. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the availability of childcare services for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul McAuliffe. [8029/21]

*262. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress of the working group on latent defects in apartment buildings set up in 2020; the interim findings of the group; if the group will be inviting submissions from affected apartment owners and others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8030/21]

*263. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will support a State redress body to fund remedial works for defective apartments built in recent decades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8031/21]

*264. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to address weaknesses in the building regulations regime here including the enforcement of standards in relation to fire safety and other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8032/21]

*265. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing tenure mix for a Land Development Agency development (details supplied); the breakdown of private and

P.T.O 638 affordable purchase, affordable, cost rental and social homes; the model of the Agency for contracts with tenants; the way these tenancies are allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8051/21]

*266. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of land the Land Development Agency is expected to purchase from local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Francis Noel Duffy. [8052/21]

*267. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current zoning regulations and restrictions on tiny homes; if he has considered easing restrictions on the minimum dwelling space requirements for tiny homes and one-off or small groups of low-impact tiny house developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Francis Noel Duffy. [8053/21]

*268. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will further extend the approval period for a Rebuilding Ireland home loan in view of difficulties buying properties due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Francis Noel Duffy. [8054/21]

*269. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projects funded by the social intervention fund in County Limerick in each of the years 2008 to 2020; the amount of funding awarded to each project in these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8102/21]

*270. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the survey of the pearl mussel which is found in the Munster Blackwater. — Sean Sherlock. [8124/21]

*271. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to amend the capital assistance scheme funding to facilitate approved housing bodies to apply for funding for certain projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8125/21]

*272. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of annual regulatory returns submitted to the Regulation Office at the Housing Agency for 2020; if significant compliance issues were identified; if there have been notifiable events made to the Regulation Office for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8126/21]

*273. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available for householders that live in thatched homes; if his attention has been drawn to the additional cost of the roofing and the additional insurance costs that accrue; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that only one insurance company offers insurance for these homes and many householders cannot afford this insurance; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of retaining this element of Ireland’s built heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [8160/21]

*274. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to fund further and more extensive research on the issue of LGBTI+ homelessness further to the publication of research by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8207/21]

*275. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to review the costs of lodging observations to planning applications to local authorities and An Bord Pleanála; if his Department has examined the impact of these fees on low-income households and inability to 639 pay and access to the planning system; his plans to carry out such research; if he has conducted a comparative analysis with other EU countries on the cost of access; if he plans to examine this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8208/21]

*276. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for the provision of wastewater infrastructure in unsewered towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe Carey. [8239/21]

*277. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a possible famine site (details supplied); if she will authorise a site investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John Brady. [8258/21]

*278. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it will be ensured that the 2020 funding process is factored into an increased allocation in 2021 for the disabled person grant funding scheme for the local authorities (details supplied). — Joe Flaherty. [8274/21]

*279. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the €15,000 reckonable income condition for the tenant purchase scheme (details supplied); and if not, if he will consider removing the reckonable income condition for a one-year period in the counties in which there was a significant concentration of ESB or Bord na Móna employees in order to facilitate them to access the scheme. — Joe Flaherty. [8276/21]

*280. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the salary expectations for persons to be able to access the affordable housing scheme which he plans to roll-out in summer 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8326/21]

*281. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of all applications that have been made under the current foreshore licence including survey and exploration requests or any other activity to his Department for 2016 to 2020 for the area north of Arklow, south of Howth and in and around the Kish Bank; the status of each application; when it is due to expire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8378/21]

*282. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of level 5 construction exemptions for residential properties almost completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8386/21]

*283. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of level 5 construction exemptions for the refurbishment of vacant residential properties that are required to prevent a family falling into homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8387/21]

*284. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he envisages changes to the upper limits of the mica scheme for counties Donegal and Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe McHugh. [8398/21]

*285. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authority housing is included in the mica remediation scheme in counties Donegal and Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe McHugh. [8402/21]

*286. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the next round of the built heritage investment scheme and historic structures fund is due to reopen; if the overall

P.T.O 640 funding for the grant will be increased and the conditions of the grant expanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8426/21]

*287. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a copy of all minutes of meetings of the board of the Land Development Agency since January 2020. — Alan Kelly. [8451/21]

*288. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Land Development Agency has completed an assessment of the suitability of the State-owned site at Thornton Hall, Kilsallaghan, County Dublin for housing; if so, if it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Eoin Ó Broin. [8469/21]

*289. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidelines that local authorities must follow when contacted by a person who has had to leave their local authority home to escape domestic violence; if there are clear guidelines on their entitlement to a HAP package; if there are clear guidelines on whether they are deemed as having given up a local authority house thereby removing them from the housing list; if there are guidelines on whether the spouse should remain at home while the victim has been forced to leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Martin Browne. [8492/21]

*290. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to financial support for those who have carried out renovations or have incurred delays in housebuilding due to Covid-19 restrictions and have incurred additional financial delays due to same such as extended renting. — Thomas Gould. [8519/21]

*291. Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta cé na comhairlí condae agus cathrach atá ag cur ranganna Gaeilge ar fáil dá bhfoireann agus cé acu nach bhfuil ag déanamh amhlaidh; agus an gcreideann sé gur cheart go mbeadh ranganna Gaeilge á gcur ar fáil don fhoireann ag comhairlí áitiúla uile an Stáit. — Mairéad Farrell. [8540/21]

*292. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes that have been built in County Cavan in each of the past five years; the number planned for 2021; the funding allocated each year to the local authority to supply affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8558/21]

*293. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes that have been built in County Monaghan in each of the past five years; the total amount planned for 2021; the total funding allocated each year to the local authority to supply affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8559/21]

*294. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time spent on the social housing list in County Cavan; the plans to reduce these times; the number on the social housing list for each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8560/21]

*295. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time spent on the social housing list in County Monaghan; the plans to reduce these times; the number on the social housing list for each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8561/21] 641

*296. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants for Rebuilding Ireland home loans from County Cavan; the number that have been successful; the number that have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8562/21]

*297. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants for Rebuilding Ireland home loans from County Monaghan; the number that have been successful; the number that have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8563/21]

*298. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated to each local authority under the COVID-19 support scheme for local authorities; the deficit expected for each local authority in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8564/21]

*299. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has invited Cavan County Council to make an application for the vacant properties voids programme; if such an application has been submitted; the amount of funding his Department plans to allocate to the authority; the expected timeframe for release of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8565/21]

*300. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has invited Monaghan County Council to make an application for the vacant properties voids programme; if such an application has been submitted; the amount of funding his Department plans to allocate to the authority; the expected timeframe for release of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8566/21]

*301. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of businesses in the Cavan County Council area that have had their commercial rates waived; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8567/21]

*302. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of businesses in the Monaghan County Council area that have had their commercial rates waived; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8568/21]

*303. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he last met with the chief executive of each local authority; and the dates of the meetings. — Sean Sherlock. [8600/21]

*304. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria businesses must meet to be eligible for a commercial rates waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Denise Mitchell. [8620/21]

*305. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in Dublin City Council area B on the housing waiting list. — Denise Mitchell. [8621/21]

*306. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in Dublin City Council area B on the housing transfer list. — Denise Mitchell. [8622/21]

P.T.O 642

*307. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants on the RAS and HAP housing lists respectively in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8645/21]

*308. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing developments under construction, at design phase or approved by Mayo County Council; the number of units, location and expected completion date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8646/21]

*309. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Ministerial consent will be granted for the Arklow wastewater treatment plant to go ahead given that consent was sought in December 2020; if he will expedite this process to enable construction to take place as soon as possible given the significant environmental implications if this project is delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Whitmore. [8670/21]

*310. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will establish a single electoral commission to oversee the compilation and maintenance of the electoral register; if the voter registration process will be simplified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8696/21]

*311. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that county councils are disregarding general practitioners letters relating to the health conditions of housing applicants, that they are insisting on consultants letters which are either expensive to procure or require appointments for which there are long waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8697/21]

*312. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will meet virtually with residents of a location (details supplied) to discuss their concerns in relation to corporate governance at their approved housing body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8705/21]

*313. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to appoint members to the working group arising from the Peat Moss in Horticultural Industry Review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [8754/21]

*314. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the necessary review of HAP rates will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [8830/21]

*315. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if special interpersonal or other relevant training has been given to staff and ancillary agency staff dealing with the public in the context of the stress of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [8831/21]

*316. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8895/21]

*317. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8915/21] 643

*318. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Galway City Council only has the discretion to exceed the maximum rent limit for HAP by 20% despite the challenge of homelessness and the pressure on rents in the city, given that local authorities in Dublin have a 50% discretion; and if he will make a statement on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [8943/21]

*319. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of 21 January 2021, if a copy of circular 38/2020 will be provided. — Pearse Doherty. [8955/21]

*320. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that will be implemented to progress the proposal to extend the Shannon navigation from Lough Allen, County Leitrim to Dowra, County Cavan in view of the substantial preparatory work carried out on the project some years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [8962/21]

*321. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the income thresholds for inclusion on the social housing list per local authority; the breakdown of each local authority that includes family income supplement as reckonable income for assessing eligibility of applicants in tabular form; his views on policy with regard to which income is assessed for inclusion on the social housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8980/21]

*322. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he received a request from Dublin City Council to meet with councillors of the south east area committee in respect of a motion passed regarding the development of a site (details supplied); and if he will meet with the councillors of that area committee in addition to relevant officials from Dublin City Council to discuss the development. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8981/21]

*323. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8996/21]

Chun an Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha: To the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

*324. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken in relation the case of a person (details supplied) detained by the authorities in China. — Joan Collins. [8968/21]

*325. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to ensure an Irish citizen (details supplied) returns home given they are banned from exiting China despite there being no charges against them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cian O’Callaghan. [9187/21]

*326. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to offer assistance to citizens of Myanmar; and the level of engagement he has had with EU counterparts on the issues in Myanmar over the past five days. — Catherine Murphy. [7861/21]

*327. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if delays in foreign birth registrations due to Covid-19 will be taken into account for future applications in cases in which the delay to completing the registration of a person could impact the rights of their children to claim citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [7899/21]

P.T.O 644

*328. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has assessed the treatment of Uighur minorities and whether this conforms with international standards of human rights; and the latest initiatives in which the Government has been involved at European or international level on the question. — Richard Bruton. [7922/21]

*329. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will provide advice supports to Irish citizens living abroad that may be offered vaccines not yet approved by the WHO or the EMA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8027/21]

*330. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the ongoing lack of Covid-19 vaccines in areas of Palestine under Israeli occupation; his views on whether this situation will affect the operation of the EU-Israel trade agreement, particularly with regard to article 2 of the treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe O’Brien. [8064/21]

*331. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the deployment of passport processing staff as part of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pa Daly. [8088/21]

*332. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports in the backlog as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic noting the effect of the most recent level 5 lockdown in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pa Daly. [8089/21]

*333. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if additional staff or resources will be provided to expedite the processing of passports once the level 5 lockdown ends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pa Daly. [8090/21]

*334. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the need for an Irish Magnitsky act (details supplied); if he plans to legislate for such an act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8169/21]

*335. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will raise the continuing conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia at the UN Security Council; if the Council will be appraised by Ireland of the need for urgent international action in respect of this regional conflict and to call for an end to ongoing military operations in Tigray; if the Council can also be requested to call for the withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Ethiopian territory and to establish an international investigation into potential war crimes committed in Tigray during the conflict; if he will support full access for humanitarian assistance for Tigray; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [8197/21]

*336. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions he has taken with regard to the political policing that has been delivered by the PSNI most especially on the Ormeau Road, Belfast, County Antrim (details supplied); if he has raised it with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; if so, the response; if he has raised the issue with other persons; and his views on whether it is time for root and branch reform of the PSNI. — Peadar Tóibín. [8215/21]

*337. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contact he has made with the authorities in Northern Ireland in relation to the disappearance and death of a person (details supplied) in 2020; if he plans to make further representations; and if he will assist the family in getting answers in relation to same. — Thomas Pringle. [8289/21] 645

*338. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the circumstances concerning an aircraft (details supplied) that arrived at Shannon Airport on 8 February 2021; the number of passengers and crew members who were travelling on the aircraft; the local hotels in which the passengers and crew were accommodated overnight; if Covid-19 tests were carried out in respect of these passengers and crew before they were allowed to enter Shannon Airport and to enter Ireland; the checks that were carried out to ascertain if weapons or munitions were being carried on the aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [8304/21]

*339. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which those who need to travel for essential work but are not classed as essential workers can have their passport renewed at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8339/21]

*340. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if an application by a person (details supplied) will be approved. — Pa Daly. [8515/21]

*341. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland’s seat on the UN Security Council and reputation on international aid will be used to secure the health of the interconnected world by spearheading and championing the swift distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine to poorer countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [8834/21]

*342. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8859/21]

*343. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8892/21]

*344. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8912/21]

Chun an Aire Cosanta: To the Minister for Defence.

*345. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of maintenance and technician vacancies in 2019 and 2020; the number of applications received; the number of positions filled in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Duncan Smith. [7909/21]

*346. To ask the Minister for Defence the amount spent on purchasing specialist fire service vehicles for the Air Corps fire services in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Richard O’Donoghue. [8144/21]

*347. To ask the Minister for Defence the status of the Irish veterans’ charter; and the number of meetings held between the Defence Forces, his Department and the two nominated veterans’ organisations (details supplied). — Mark Ward. [8300/21]

*348. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to increase the compulsory Army retirement age to 60 given the current drive to re-enlist retired servicemen and women. — . [8324/21]

*349. To ask the Minister for Defence if his Department will engage with Kildare County Council with a view to resolving the investigation into the dumping of material in the vicinity of Donnelly’s Hollow on the Curragh in order to prevent unnecessary wasting of funds should Kildare

P.T.O 646

County Council progress the matter through the courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8699/21]

*350. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel deployed in private and public nursing homes by county over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8706/21]

*351. To ask the Minister for Defence the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8887/21]

*352. To ask the Minister for Defence if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8907/21]

Chun an Aire Oideachais: To the Minister for Education.

*353. To ask the Minister for Education if concerns raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) will receive a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [7855/21]

*354. To ask the Minister for Education if there are plans to improve the work and pay conditions of caretakers working in primary and post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Marc MacSharry. [7856/21]

*355. To ask the Minister for Education the details of the plan to open a school (details supplied) as an autism specific school for the 2021-2022 school year; and if a safe, socially distanced access to the building will be provided for a group in order to evaluate the building. — Joan Collins. [7870/21]

*356. To ask the Minister for Education the way in which mainstream schools can apply for a support programme for special classes in order that pupils can access five hours of special education per week for four weeks given the application cannot be found on the website of her Department and has not been sent to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [7871/21]

*357. To ask the Minister for Education when section 5 of the Irish Sign Language Act, 2017 will be implemented to provide Irish sign language support for children and young persons’ attending recognised schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Lowry. [7880/21]

*358. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the timing and format of the leaving certificate examination 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [7886/21]

*359. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the ASD unit for a school (details supplied); the date the first child will take up their place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Louise O’Reilly. [7900/21]

*360. To ask the Minister for Education the amount her Department paid in fees to a company (details supplied) to manage public relations following the errors found in the leaving certificate 2020 calculated grades system. — Peadar Tóibín. [7907/21] 647

*361. To ask the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that there are enough special schools and classes for primary school children with additional educational needs including autism in the Howth, Dublin 13, area which is in the Donaghmede, Howth, Dublin 13 school planning area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [7916/21]

*362. To ask the Minister for Education the expenditure by her Department excluding salaries for teachers and other staff but including site development works, school buildings, annual cost of lease, consultants and so on, for a school (details supplied); the provision in the current financial year for funding to purchase a site for the permanent school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [7927/21]

*363. To ask the Minister for Education if alternative results regarding the leaving certificate will be issued first which would allow students to select papers on the traditional paper; and if the bell curve will match the 2020 result. — Kathleen Funchion. [7935/21]

*364. To ask the Minister for Education if school profiling will not be applied in 2021. — Kathleen Funchion. [7936/21]

*365. To ask the Minister for Education if she plans to include oral examinations and project work for the alternative section of the State examinations; and if it will be ensured that there is ample preparation time for completion. — Kathleen Funchion. [7937/21]

*366. To ask the Minister for Education the requirements and precautions for traditional exams. — Kathleen Funchion. [7938/21]

*367. To ask the Minister for Education if allegations of bullying have been investigated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [7965/21]

*368. To ask the Minister for Education the date by which all MLL inspections completed prior to school closures in March 2020 will be published on the website of her Department. — John Lahart. [7972/21]

*369. To ask the Minister for Education the steps she is taking in response to instances in which students with additional needs attending mainstream schools will not currently be able to return to school on 22 February 2021 due to their school not having a special needs class; the plans in place to ensure that these students will be able to return to school in February 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [7987/21]

*370. To ask the Minister for Education if she has considered moving the two-week Easter break forward to reduce the amount of time that children spend learning remotely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [8011/21]

*371. To ask the Minister for Education the reason her Department did not inform a special school (details supplied) of the decisions made on the reopening of schools including the reopening dates; if she will resolve the communication issue between her Department and the management of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Francis Noel Duffy. [8049/21]

*372. To ask the Minister for Education when students in special classes in secondary schools will return to school buildings. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8063/21]

P.T.O 648

*373. To ask the Minister for Education when schools will be informed regarding their SNA allocation for September 2021. — Claire Kerrane. [8077/21]

*374. To ask the Minister for Education her plans to introduce the front-loaded system for SNAs from September 2021; and the way this will impact on the present allocation to schools. — Claire Kerrane. [8078/21]

*375. To ask the Minister for Education if the new front-loaded system for SNAs will not be introduced in September 2021, if special education teachers will have their position extended beyond the initial two years; and if current clusters will need to be reconfigured. — Claire Kerrane. [8079/21]

*376. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the review of the school transport scheme; the terms of reference, scope of analysis, programme and schedule of work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [8093/21]

*377. To ask the Minister for Education the progress that has been made on the acquisition of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if the lease on the current site will be extended. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8100/21]

*378. To ask the Minister for Education the number of special classes at primary level available in a school planning area (details supplied); if an assessment of under provision has been undertaken by the NCSE; the extent to which new special units have been included in any of the existing school development plans for the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Bruton. [8122/21]

*379. To ask the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 715 of 3 November 2020, the progress to date of the Programme for Government commitment to expand and prioritise the transfer of viable schools to community national schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Paul McAuliffe. [8134/21]

*380. To ask the Minister for Education if provisions are being are considered to supplement school transport with concessionary tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [8149/21]

*381. To ask the Minister for Education the steps she will take to ensure that students in exam years will not be penalised in their exam grading for loss of teaching hours and the potential drop in performance due to the stress and anxiety of living through a pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Boyd Barrett. [8151/21]

*382. To ask the Minister for Education her plans for the reopening of schools safely; the advice NPHET has given on the subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Boyd Barrett. [8152/21]

*383. To ask the Minister for Education the amount her Department has spent on legal costs arising from litigation involving children with special educational needs in each of the years 2010 to 2020, respectively. — Sean Sherlock. [8166/21]

*384. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated costs of implementing sections (details supplied) of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8167/21] 649

*385. To ask the Minister for Education if her Department has considered the introduction of a dedicated scheme to ensure that children and young persons who have missed out on educational and related benefits are enabled to catch up after the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic has subsided; her plans to target supports at vulnerable children and young persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8172/21]

*386. To ask the Minister for Education the accreditation level that special needs assistants will receive upon completion of the national training programme certificate in inclusive school support in UCD, for example, level 5, 6, or 7. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8190/21]

*387. To ask the Minister for Education the position regarding the ongoing discussions between South Dublin County Council and her Department in relation to the building of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8210/21]

*388. To ask the Minister for Education her plans to liaise with An Garda Síochána to implement an Operation Encompass-style support for children that have experienced domestic abuse as exists in the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8211/21]

*389. To ask the Minister for Education when a permanent building for a school (details supplied) will be provided to alleviate the crisis in school places in the locality; if the tender for this school has been issued; if not, the timescale for issuing this tender; when the temporary accommodation for the school previously promised for September 2020 will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8212/21]

*390. To ask the Minister for Education if the rule that dictates teachers returning to school can only avail of the special amendment to take parental leave in which their child is under 13 years of age and they do not have childcare can be changed in view of the fact that some parents have children with special needs in their teenage years and cannot find appropriate care for them. — Cathal Crowe. [8222/21]

*391. To ask the Minister for Education if she has established the estimated costs of fully implementing section 13 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; if so, the estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8223/21]

*392. To ask the Minister for Education if she has established the estimated costs of fully implementing sections 10 and 17 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; if so, the estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8224/21]

*393. To ask the Minister for Education if she has established the estimated costs of fully implementing section 14 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; if so, the estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8226/21]

*394. To ask the Minister for Education if she has established the estimated costs of fully implementing section 8 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; if so, the estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8227/21]

*395. To ask the Minister for Education if she has established the estimated costs of fully implementing section 39 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; if so, the estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8229/21]

P.T.O 650

*396. To ask the Minister for Education the provisions that have been made for the special needs students who will not return to school on 11 February 2021 given that they attend mainstream schools (details supplied). — Martin Browne. [8230/21]

*397. To ask the Minister for Education if she has established the estimated costs of fully implementing sections 3 to 7, 9 and 18 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; if so, the estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8231/21]

*398. To ask the Minister for Education if she has established the estimated costs of fully implementing sections 11, 12, 15, 16 and 38 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; if so, the estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8232/21]

*399. To ask the Minister for Education if an additional special needs class will be provided for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cian O’Callaghan. [8234/21]

*400. To ask the Minister for Education the amount her Department has spent on legal costs arising from litigation involving children with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8235/21]

*401. To ask the Minister for Education the plans of her Department to provide additional facilities to a school (details supplied). — Joan Collins. [8245/21]

*402. To ask the Minister for Education the provisions being put in place for special needs assistants due back to school on 22 February 2021 as part of the provision of special education in circumstances in which they cannot access childcare for their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8263/21]

*403. To ask the Minister for Education the plans in place for the reopening of ASD units at post-primary level; if talks are taking place on the reopening of special education for second-level students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8264/21]

*404. To ask the Minister for Education if an application for a psychological assessment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). — Robert Troy. [8275/21]

*405. To ask the Minister for Education if leaving certificate 2021 students will be permitted to sit select papers on the traditional paper following the release of predicted grades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. [8283/21]

*406. To ask the Minister for Education if all aspects of the 2021 leaving certificate examination including projects and oral examinations are to be omitted in the event of a predicted grade choice; if not, if students can choose a combined approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. [8285/21]

*407. To ask the Minister for Education if school profiling will be applied to the 2021 leaving certificate arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. [8286/21] 651

*408. To ask the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to provide a new primary school for an area (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the conditions in the existing facility and capacity issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8296/21]

*409. Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais cén tacaíocht bhreise idir múinteoirí agus tacaíochtaí eile atá ar fáil do scoileanna dara leibhéal atá aitheanta mar scoileanna Gaeltachta faoin bPolasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta a thionscain an Roinn le blianta beaga anuas; cé mhéid scoil atá ag fáil buntáiste as na tacaíochtaí seo, agus iad briste síos de réir ainm na scoile, an chontae in a bhfuil siad agus na dtacaíochtaí atá siad ag fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [8310/21]

*410. Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais cén tacaíochtaí nó deontais atá ar fáil do scoileanna dara leibhéal le forbairt a dhéanamh ar shaoráidí spóirt agus aclaíochta taobh amuigh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [8311/21]

*411. To ask the Minister for Education her views on the provision of reasonable accommodations during State examinations for students with epilepsy who may experience a seizure during their exams that would allow them to complete their examinations at a later date (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Lowry. [8329/21]

*412. To ask the Minister for Education the status of school project works at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Joe McHugh. [8331/21]

*413. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated costs of fully implementing sections (details supplied) of the National Council for Special Education Implementation Report Plan for the Phased Implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8349/21]

*414. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing sections (details supplied) of the National Council for Special Education Implementation Report Plan for the Phased Implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8360/21]

*415. To ask the Minister for Education the amount her Department has spent on legal costs arising from litigation involving children with special educational needs on an annual basis since 1 January 2010; the number of cases involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8361/21]

*416. To ask the Minister for Education when clauses (details supplied) of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 will be commenced; the reason for the delays in commencement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8362/21]

*417. To ask the Minister for Education the correspondence and engagement she has had with primary school and secondary school boards of management regarding the operating of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic since 1 August 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8363/21]

*418. To ask the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 153 of 17 September 2020 and 780 of 3 November 2020, if the briefing document provided to her on her appointment as Minister has been published on the website of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8364/21]

P.T.O 652

*419. To ask the Minister for Education the progress she has made to ensure that all survivors of institutional abuse receive the Health Amendment Act card. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8430/21]

*420. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the provision of both the temporary accommodation and the new school building for a school (details supplied); and the timelines for commencement and completion of both projects. — Eoin Ó Broin. [8441/21]

*421. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing sections (details supplied) of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8449/21]

*422. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated amount her Department has spent on legal costs arising from litigation involving children with special educational needs; the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8450/21]

*423. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the review of the current school transport scheme; and when a result can be expected from the review. — Cathal Crowe. [8476/21]

*424. To ask the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8495/21]

*425. To ask the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8496/21]

*426. To ask the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8497/21]

*427. To ask the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8498/21]

*428. To ask the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8499/21]

*429. To ask the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8500/21]

*430. To ask the Minister for Education if a school is excluded from applying for assistive technology as outlined under circular 0010/2013 for a student in a special class or an ASD unit when the assistive technology is deemed necessary on the basis of a professional report and the teachers concerned and in circumstances in which it is clear that existing equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child’s needs without unduly depriving other children of access to the equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8502/21]

*431. To ask the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) has been refused the grant for assistive technology even though it is deemed necessary by their teachers and occupational therapist and signed off by the SENO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8503/21]

*432. To ask the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) has been refused the grant for assistive technology even though it is deemed necessary by their teachers and occupational 653 therapist and signed off by the SENO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8504/21]

*433. To ask the Minister for Education if dyslexia assessments will continue to run for children referred by their school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8511/21]

*434. To ask the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing concerns of staff in a school (details supplied); and the steps she will take to alleviate these concerns at the school. — Steven Matthews. [8522/21]

*435. To ask the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a capacity issue at a school (details supplied); and the steps she will take to alleviate the issue. — Steven Matthews. [8524/21]

*436. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the new school building for a school (details supplied). — Steven Matthews. [8526/21]

*437. To ask the Minister for Education the number of those eligible for school transport applicants that had or have not yet secured a place on a bus due to late payment of fees by county and month from September 2020 to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8536/21]

*438. To ask the Minister for Education the number of children in each county that are awaiting an appointment with a NEPS psychologist; the number that are waiting less than 6, 6 to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8569/21]

*439. To ask the Minister for Education the status of a tender process for a school (details supplied). — Sean Sherlock. [8584/21]

*440. To ask the Minister for Education the status of a tender process for a school (details supplied). — Sean Sherlock. [8585/21]

*441. To ask the Minister for Education if a small class in a school (details supplied) will be permitted to return when other special needs classes are returning. — Mark Ward. [8594/21]

*442. To ask the Minister for Education if she has received the 2019 audit financial statement and audited 2019 annual report from each State agency under the remit of her Department; if not, the State agency that has yet to provide its financial statement and or annual report to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pat Buckley. [8633/21]

*443. To ask the Minister for Education the current retirement age for bus drivers on school contracts (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — James Lawless. [8680/21]

*444. To ask the Minister for Education if her Department has examined the proposals from some schools to facilitate an alternative to the in-person supplementary programme to support the education and or care needs of pupils with complex needs scheme in the homes of children with additional needs (details supplied); if schools will be allowed to proceed with these alternative

P.T.O 654 plans while waiting for the reopening of schools fully; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Boyd Barrett. [8691/21]

*445. To ask the Minister for Education the reason a suitable school placement cannot be found for a person (details supplied). — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8719/21]

*446. To ask the Minister for Education the status of capital investment in schools (details supplied) which were all sanctioned funding under the previous Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Joe McHugh. [8720/21]

*447. To ask the Minister for Education if the decision will be reversed to move the site of a school (detail supplied) without prior consultation with teachers, board of management or parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8723/21]

*448. To ask the Minister for Education the actions planned to improve the energy performance of schools in view of the adoption of a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2050; if there will be new options for older buildings to adopt phased improvements; and her plans to become a partner in initiatives, for example, better energy communities in which a coordinated approach to a range of public and private buildings can be taken. — Richard Bruton. [8732/21]

*449. To ask the Minister for Education if she has considered increasing access for children to therapeutic mental health supports via the introduction of a counselling support service for second- level schools. — Mark Ward. [8765/21]

*450. To ask the Minister for Education the position regarding the development of a new school building for two schools (details supplied); the reason the process has been delayed; if progress has been made in relation to car parking solutions on the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Ged Nash. [8770/21]

*451. To ask the Minister for Education the amount her Department has spent on legal costs arising from litigation involving children with special educational needs. — Robert Troy. [8776/21]

*452. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the return to classrooms for children with complex and additional needs in mainstream settings. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8796/21]

*453. To ask the Minister for Education if she will consider giving schools autonomy in circumstances in which they feel prepared to reopen with the consent of staff and parents to reopen for children with special educational needs in mainstream classes. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8797/21]

*454. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing section 13 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8814/21]

*455. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing sections 10 and 17 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8815/21]

*456. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing section 14 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8816/21] 655

*457. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing section 8 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8817/21]

*458. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing section 39 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8818/21]

*459. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing sections 3 to 7, 9 and 18 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8819/21]

*460. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing sections 11, 12, 15, 16 and 38 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8820/21]

*461. To ask the Minister for Education the amount her Department has spent on legal costs arising from litigation involving children with special educational needs in each year since 2004. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8821/21]

*462. To ask the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to schools minimising their midterm break but opting for extended breaks later in the spring; if this decision is supported by her Department; her views on whether schools should ensure that when children return to the classroom that any additional interruptions should be kept to a minimum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8860/21]

*463. To ask the Minister for Education the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by her Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8888/21]

*464. To ask the Minister for Education if there has been any contact with her counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8908/21]

*465. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the design for works at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the design phase of the works is expected to be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pearse Doherty. [8953/21]

*466. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing sections (details supplied) of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, in tabular form. — Robert Troy. [8958/21]

*467. To ask the Minister for Education the progress made in the past six months to provide new accommodation for a school (details supplied) in view of the poor accommodation in the school at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [8959/21]

Chun an Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí: To the Minister for Social Protection.

*468. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered extending the benefits under the PRSI system to include counselling and psychotherapy. — Mark Ward. [8764/21]

P.T.O 656

*469. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of entitlement of a jobseeker’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) that was made redundant in May 2019 and has received no assistance from her Department in the interim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [7882/21]

*470. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date of the child maintenance review group; when the public consultation process will begin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Peadar Tóibín. [7955/21]

*471. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which a person (details supplied) qualifies for maternity benefit or other payment; if other entitlements may exist in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [7967/21]

*472. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if optical benefit is available for a person (details supplied) and their spouse through the Department of Health or her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [7974/21]

*473. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the fuel allowance will be made payable to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [7975/21]

*474. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to address the issue of jobseeker’s benefit expiring for workers in the aviation industry who have been put on short time for the duration of the pandemic; if an allowance will be made to extend jobseeker’s benefit for these workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [7988/21]

*475. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter raised in correspondence in relation to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cian O’Callaghan. [7995/21]

*476. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the availability of a diabetic diet allowance; if it is available to persons with diabetes that require a specialised diet; the criteria for receiving it; if it is closed to new applications; if the allowance can be granted in special circumstances at the discretion of a community welfare officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [8025/21]

*477. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the approximate prior earnings of recipients of schemes (details supplied) by NACE sector and using administrative data on the distribution of earnings across NACE sectors where available in tabular form. — Claire Kerrane. [8057/21]

*478. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8127/21]

*479. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans for a company (details supplied) to reduce the level of in-person services it provides. — Sean Sherlock. [8173/21]

*480. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of early years professionals availing of the enhanced illness benefit. — Sean Sherlock. [8174/21]

*481. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in relation to an application for a domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); when the application will 657 be brought to a conclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8183/21]

*482. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can qualify for a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8184/21]

*483. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); if all documentation has been received; when the application will be concluded with a view to granting of payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8185/21]

*484. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a part carer’s allowance will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8186/21]

*485. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8187/21]

*486. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8188/21]

*487. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal for a carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8189/21]

*488. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if additional state aid will be provided to employees of companies (details supplied) at Shannon Airport. — Cathal Crowe. [8198/21]

*489. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures taken for an applicant to be eligible for the transitional payment before a State pension. — Sean Sherlock. [8213/21]

*490. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to extend child benefit to cover the period in which the child remains in full-time education even in cases in which the child is over 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — James Lawless. [8303/21]

*491. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate the provision of making free travel passes available to persons with epilepsy who are temporarily barred from driving for one year due to having a breakthrough seizure; if she will consider uncoupling the free travel pass from other qualifying payments to ensure that there is a direct application process for a free travel pass (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Lowry. [8328/21]

*492. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a report on the IT issue impacting the repayment of pandemic unemployment payment arrears owed by her Department; the volume and value of outstanding arrears by month from March 2020 to January 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8428/21]

P.T.O 658

*493. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the record of contributions made by a person (details supplied); and if they qualify for an invalidity pension based on their contributions and credits. — John McGuinness. [8435/21]

*494. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an initiative (details supplied); when it will come into effect; the details of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [8507/21]

*495. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been affected by the technical issue within the IT system of her Department which has resulted in significant delays in the payment of arrears owed following a pandemic unemployment payment re-rate review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — John Brady. [8521/21]

*496. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications and refusals from 2015 to date for an exceptional needs payment on the grounds of parents incurring additional costs as a result of having a child in hospital; the average timeframe for a decision on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [8533/21]

*497. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the additional cost of expanding the income disregard for carer’s allowance in order that those on an average industrial income qualify (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8549/21]

*498. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare payment for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8551/21]

*499. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in County Cavan; the number that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8554/21]

*500. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in County Monaghan; the number that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8555/21]

*501. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if eligibility for the fuel allowance will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8637/21]

*502. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied); if the situation will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8649/21]

*503. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance to recipients of a public service pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [8661/21]

*504. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance to recipients of public service pension in circumstances (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [8662/21] 659

*505. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the eligibility of a person (details supplied) to an interim payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — James Lawless. [8671/21]

*506. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be assisted to obtain a State pension payment; if they are entitled to any other payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8702/21]

*507. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of workers who transferred from the pandemic unemployment payment to employment in January 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8714/21]

*508. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason the new benefit payment paid to persons at 65 years of age is not paid to persons who retired early and are not in receipt of a social welfare payment whilst having paid ample contributions over the years which enables them to qualify for the contributory pension at 66 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Duncan Smith. [8731/21]

*509. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid and the number of persons on the pandemic unemployment payment to date; the amount that has been overpaid; the number of persons who have been overpaid; the systems in place to assist persons to repay possible overpayments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [8837/21]

*510. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if special interpersonal or other relevant training has been given to staff dealing with the public in the context of the stress of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [8838/21]

*511. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a jobseeker’s claim for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8846/21]

*512. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by her Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8899/21]

*513. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there has been any contact with her counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8919/21]

*514. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [8935/21]

*515. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the changing of a PPS number of a person (details attached); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — James Lawless. [8965/21]

P.T.O 660

Chun an Aire Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige: To the Minister for Children, Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth.

*516. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of a direct provision centre (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the first families will be moving in following the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [7859/21]

*517. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if residents in a direct provision centre (details supplied) in County Donegal will be provided with vouchers for food instead of the points system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [7860/21]

*518. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if English as a second language students in a school (details supplied) can benefit from a lower ratio setting. — Niamh Smyth. [7934/21]

*519. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he had discussions with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8075/21]

*520. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Tusla funded refuge places available in Limerick in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Richard O’Donoghue. [8140/21]

*521. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation destroyed audio recordings of 550 interviews given to its Confidential Committee; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that section 43(2) of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 provides that before the dissolution of a commission, the chairperson or if the commission consists of only one member, the sole member shall deposit with the specified Minister all evidence received by and all documents created by or for the commission; if he has clarified if the destroyed audio files can be recovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mary Lou McDonald. [8145/21]

*522. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early childhood education and care facilities that have closed permanently since March 2020. — Sean Sherlock. [8170/21]

*523. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a child who is over the eligibility age for the early childhood care and education scheme but cannot get a place in a local primary school reclaim the missed months over the past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic for the coming year; his plans to address children in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cian O’Callaghan. [8200/21]

*524. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the agency to which the service, wait list, files and records of the Here2Help information and tracing service have been transferred to following its closure in June 2020. — Mary Lou McDonald. [8217/21]

*525. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the international protection procurement services have renewed the accommodation centre contract with a company (details supplied); the status of the accommodation centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [8241/21] 661

*526. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if emergency accommodation outlets have been sourced in County Louth for accommodation services for protection applicants; if so, the location of these outlets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [8242/21]

*527. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the existing accommodation centres for international protection applicants; and if further offers were accessed by the international protection procurement service in County Louth. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [8243/21]

*528. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the board basis for international protection applicants in reception and accommodation centres specifically self-catering accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [8244/21]

*529. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is a requirement of childcare providers to offer fee credits to parents for weeks in which the childcare provider setting is closed due to a Covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8321/21]

*530. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of his engagement throughout 2020 and to date in 2021 with au pair organisations in relation to the childcare duties many participants provide to parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8322/21]

*531. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department considers au pair participants to be essential workers; if so, if specific provisions are in place to allow them to enter the country through essential travel provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8323/21]

*532. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to reports from a direct provision centre (details supplied) that it is allegedly serving expired food to children in the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8338/21]

*533. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the confidential freephone support service for residents in direct provision has been shared with all residents; if so, the way in which it has been shared; and if not, if he will correspond with each resident with details of the freephone number. — Patrick Costello. [8416/21]

*534. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a statutory redress or other compensation scheme will be made available to the mother and baby home former residents; if so, the timeline for such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — James Lawless. [8442/21]

*535. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the investigation into the leak of the Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation to a newspaper (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [8444/21]

P.T.O 662

*536. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years providers that have closed permanently in January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Denise Mitchell. [8617/21]

*537. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be an application process for additional agencies to become members of the family resource centre programme in 2021 to allow for applications to address the need for a family resource centre in Erris, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8635/21]

*538. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons waiting to partake in the preparation course in relation to adoption services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8685/21]

*539. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the number of preparation courses currently being delivered remotely in relation to adoption services will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8686/21]

*540. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8687/21]

*541. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider enshrining independent advocacy services in legislation to help protect children and young persons in care from abuse and poor practice further to over 20 investigations or reports over the past three decades into the State’s ability to adequately protect children in care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patrick Costello. [8692/21]

*542. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider extending the age of aftercare to 26 years of age on a needs assessed basis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patrick Costello. [8693/21]

*543. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the recommendation made over 12 years ago by the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse that a longitudinal study be carried out over ten years which would follow young persons who leave care in order to map their transition into adulthood will be implemented given that a working group has been set up in his Department to advise on this objective but with no clear timeline for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patrick Costello. [8694/21]

*544. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if level 5 Covid-19 restrictions will impede or stop the family reunification process and court ordered access (details supplied). — Kathleen Funchion. [8738/21]

*545. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the ECCE scheme; and if flexibility will be permitted in such circumstances. — Sean Sherlock. [8766/21]

*546. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8886/21] 663

*547. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8906/21]

*548. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 432 of 8 December 2020, the progress being made on providing adoptive leave and removing the lacuna in the legislation which discriminates against same sex couples in view of the commitment given by the previous Government. — Brian Stanley. [8967/21]

*549. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on encouraging the use of more inclusive face masks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8982/21]

Chun an Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta: To the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research; Innovation and Science.

*550. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount drawn down from the EU youth guarantee scheme in each of the years 2015 to 2020, respectively in tabular form. — Denise Mitchell. [8619/21]

*551. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the value of direct financial supports provided to purpose built student accommodation providers since 2011, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8709/21]

*552. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if leaving certificate 2020 students who have been awarded an upgraded college course having received a higher leaving certificate after sitting the examination will be liable for the student contribution fee of €3,000 when they transfer to year one of their upgraded course in 2021; if such students are liable, his views on whether it is unfair to charge twice for year one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [7873/21]

*553. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the CAO and HPAT closing dates can be extended for students who sat the leaving certificate in November 2020 in order that any improved grades obtained by them can be taken into account which could allow them commence undergraduate courses requiring higher points in September and October 2021; if their change of mind with regard to inclusion of courses can be facilitated given that they performed better than they expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [7921/21]

*554. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to deal with the high number of CAO applications. — Kathleen Funchion. [7939/21]

*555. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the most recent data his Department has on the breakdown between purpose built student accommodation in the private market and on-campus is from 2014; his plans to update this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [7981/21]

*556. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of persons that accepted an offer of a place through the CAO in 2019 and 2020, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [7982/21]

P.T.O 664

*557. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices working across the public sector; the percentage this has on the total number of registered apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway- Walsh. [8026/21]

*558. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices that have been employed across the public sector for each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8033/21]

*559. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is an opportunity for Safepass courses to be run online during level 5 restrictions. — Eoghan Murphy. [8072/21]

*560. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if international travel for foreign third-level students is deemed essential travel. — Sorca Clarke. [8205/21]

*561. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of international students arriving for study that have entered Ireland in each week since the beginning of the year in tabular form. — Sorca Clarke. [8206/21]

*562. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if courses of a facility (details supplied) will be included on the list of approved courses for tax relief on tuition fees; and the criteria for private colleges to be included on the approved list. — Paul McAuliffe. [8220/21]

*563. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with third-level institutions to ensure that they are providing sufficient mental health supports to students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8251/21]

*564. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has taken steps to ensure that all third-level students have access to mental health supports in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8255/21]

*565. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether mental health facilities in third-level education are sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8256/21]

*566. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure fair competition for college places due to record CAO applications from the 2021 cohort, deferred students from 2020 and those students who were awarded higher points on review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. [8284/21]

*567. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure place availability for the leaving certificate class of 2021 at higher education; if his attention has been drawn to record CAO applications; the engagement his Department has had with higher level institutions to ensure sufficient places for such record demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. [8287/21] 665

*568. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has instructed higher education institutes not to encourage international student to travel into the State for the second semester of the 2020-2021 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8305/21]

*569. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the short length of time for the public consultation on the Statement of Strategy 2021- 2023 for his Department given both the time of year and Covid-19 context; if he will consider extending the consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8365/21]

*570. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of submissions made to the public consultation on the Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8366/21]

*571. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to direct SUSI to change its guidelines regarding course progression (details supplied). — Robert Troy. [8374/21]

*572. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and percentage of craft apprentices who have been temporarily laid-off at some stage throughout the pandemic; the current figures for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8403/21]

*573. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and percentage of craft apprentices have had their off-the-job training postponed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8406/21]

*574. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he will take with regard to one-year masters courses that have practical laboratory work at their core that have not held in-person classes; if these classes will be facilitated outside the formal academic year when it is safe to do so; and if the inability to complete essential aspects of these courses will be acknowledged. — Steven Matthews. [8412/21]

*575. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding in third-level institutions by student; the way it compares to 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8453/21]

*576. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown between expenditure on training for those seeking employment and in employment training; the way in which apprenticeships are categorised; the percentage spent on funding apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8462/21]

*577. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 589 of 10 February 2021, if by taking the step to support students from Northern Ireland and maintain the number of students accessing Erasmus+ from the island of Ireland while simultaneously losing the capacity of universities in Northern Ireland to host incoming students from across the EU will require HEIs in this jurisdiction to host additional Erasmus students from elsewhere in the EU; if this will have financial implication for HEIs; if so, the funding that will be available to ensure HEIs can facilitate this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8634/21]

P.T.O 666

*578. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to matters raised (details supplied) concerning unemployment and skills upgrading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — James Lawless. [8679/21]

*579. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of progress of capital works at Letterkenny Institute of Technology which were secured under the previous Government; the progress in relation to university status for the institute which also received a commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe McHugh. [8722/21]

*580. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proportion of the European Social Fund allocated to each NUTS 3 region in Ireland during the 2014-2020 programme; the proposed allocation to each NUTS 3 region during the 2021- 2027 programme; if the European Commission’s downgrading of the northern and western region has been taken into account in his Department’s planning for the 2021-2027 programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Marian Harkin. [8841/21]

*581. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8893/21]

Chun an Aire Dlí agus Cirt: To the Minister for Justice.

*582. To ask the Minister for Justice if an appointment for registration can be offered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [7902/21]

*583. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of convictions for sexual assault, sexual violence or rape since 2011 in each county; and the sentences attached to each conviction. — Peadar Tóibín. [7904/21]

*584. To ask the Minister for Justice if the report in relation to the difficulties experienced by a person (details supplied) in a prison will be published; if the Director General of the Irish Prison Service has issued recommendations on the basis of the report; if she actioned these recommendations; if so, the recommendations actioned; and the actions that were taken. — Peadar Tóibín. [7910/21]

*585. To ask the Minister for Justice the progress of the review into the operation of the Special Criminal Court and the Offenses Against the State Act 1939 promised by her predecessor; the person or body the review is being carried out by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael McNamara. [7911/21]

*586. To ask the Minister for Justice the status of the protected disclosures that have been made in relation to Portlaoise Prison and the Irish Prison Service; and if she will meet the author of the protected disclosure. — Peadar Tóibín. [7951/21]

*587. To ask the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [7968/21] 667

*588. To ask the Minister for Justice if she will review the naturalisation and citizenship application process and timelines for front-line workers following several reports from front-line workers who have been waiting a year and a half to two years for their naturalisation applications to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [8092/21]

*589. To ask the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 9 September 2020, if she has considered the report of the Chairperson of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal in relation to the matter; the actions taken on foot of the report; if the report will be published; if a review of all IPAT decisions made by the person will be undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [8096/21]

*590. To ask the Minister for Justice if changes have been made with respect to the way rural crime is recorded and classified following the recommendation of the March 2019 Report on Community Policing and Rural Crime from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8112/21]

*591. To ask the Minister for Justice the status of the work her Department has undertaken with respect to the recommendations on community policing contained in the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing: The Future of Policing in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8113/21]

*592. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of Garda interventions involving persons self- harming or harming others due to mental health issues; the resources that have been made available to ensure that members of An Garda Síochána are adequately trained to deal with these complex situations and that they have 24/7 access to the supports of appropriate specialist services when required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8114/21]

*593. To ask the Minister for Justice the naturalisation process for persons that were married to Irish citizens for over ten years but have now faced bereavement. — Mark Ward. [8128/21]

*594. To ask the Minister for Justice if a naturalisation application is unnecessary after a period of time which has passed if a person is married to an Irish citizen for over that extended period of time. — Mark Ward. [8129/21]

*595. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of GSOC officers who have availed of accredited education, further education and or training since taking up their posts since GSOC was established; and her plans to provide links to further accredited training and education through equivalents in other jurisdictions. — Catherine Murphy. [8131/21]

*596. To ask the Minister for Justice the reason for the legislative arrangement of having Garda superintendents investigate complaints from members of the public given GSOC is now obliged to carry out same under the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007. — Catherine Murphy. [8132/21]

*597. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of protected disclosures made to GSOC since its establishment; the number that required the engagement of a third-party consultant in order to process them; and the costs of same. — Catherine Murphy. [8133/21]

*598. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of persons arrested and charged with possession of drugs for sale or supply within Limerick Garda division in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Richard O’Donoghue. [8141/21]

P.T.O 668

*599. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of cars, jeeps and motorcycles attached to the Limerick roads policing unit as of 31 December 2019 and 8 February 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Richard O’Donoghue. [8142/21]

*600. To ask the Minister for Justice when the report which she received from a person (details supplied) on 3 November, 2020 will be shared with the family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael McNamara. [8161/21]

*601. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of persons that have been deported in 2021 to date. — Sean Sherlock. [8168/21]

*602. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of districts and divisions of An Garda Síochána that have protective services units; and the number of personnel assigned to each in tabular form. — Patrick Costello. [8228/21]

*603. To ask the Minister for Justice if she will request the appointment of a court messenger to the Sheriff’s Court attached to Longford Courthouse (details supplied). — Joe Flaherty. [8277/21]

*604. To ask the Minister for Justice the status of an application by a person (details supplied); when they can expect a response on their status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [8330/21]

*605. To ask the Minister for Justice the investigations, reviews and actions that have commenced in relation to the fatal shooting of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8335/21]

*606. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of instances of officials in her Department requesting conscience based refusal in dealing with legislation or the administration of areas of Departmental responsibility that have occurred since 1 January 2017; the legislation or areas concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8336/21]

*607. To ask the Minister for Justice the additional resources, training and reporting mechanisms she is putting in place to support the commencement of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8337/21]

*608. To ask the Minister for Justice the current or expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8373/21]

*609. To ask the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to persons (details supplied) who are in the process of purchasing a new residential home; if the case will be reviewed and the appropriate action taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8385/21]

*610. To ask the Minister for Justice if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and the appropriate action taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8388/21] 669

*611. To ask the Minister for Justice if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and the appropriate action taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8389/21]

*612. To ask the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the current guidelines (details supplied) issued by the Property Services Regulatory Authority in relation to a property that is for sale has essentially shut off viewings to the public given that there is no need for further viewings once the property is sale agreed; her plans to ease restrictions in relation to the viewing of property that is for sale; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [8405/21]

*613. To ask the Minister for Justice the status of the citizenship application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8413/21]

*614. To ask the Minister for Justice the process for appointing peace commissioners; when the next round of applications for same will be held; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8418/21]

*615. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of reports of physical assaults, sexual assaults, harassment, intimidation and public order breaches on public transport in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8419/21]

*616. To ask the Minister for Justice the Garda numbers by rank in all Garda stations in Dublin Metropolitan Region in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8420/21]

*617. To ask the Minister for Justice when the promised sexual offences unit in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will be established and fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [8439/21]

*618. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of persons granted stamp 4 permission to remain who at the time they were granted permission had a protection application pending in each of the years 2015 to 2020 inclusive; the number of persons in the protection process who were granted a stamp 4 permission to remain after their protection application was refused under four categories (details supplied) in each of the years 2015 to 2020 inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [8446/21]

*619. To ask the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8448/21]

*620. To ask the Minister for Justice if the evidence base from the Irish Prison Service report will be published which proposes that an increase in the Irish population requires the creation of additional prison spaces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Eoin Ó Broin. [8470/21]

*621. To ask the Minister for Justice if the framework agreements for potential new prison infrastructure in Thornton Hall are based on low security open prisons or high security closed prisons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Eoin Ó Broin. [8471/21]

P.T.O 670

*622. To ask the Minister for Justice if the appropriate work visa will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8482/21]

*623. To ask the Minister for Justice the current waiting time for cases in relation to small claims until hearing by the District Court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8535/21]

*624. To ask the Minister for Justice if funding will be provided for the purchase of additional four-wheel drive vehicles for An Garda Síochána. — Pat Buckley. [8625/21]

*625. To ask the Minister for Justice the estimated cost of increasing the number of community Gardaí by 25% in 2021. — Pat Buckley. [8626/21]

*626. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí stationed at each station in County Kildare and Portarlington, ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8700/21]

*627. To ask the Minister for Justice the average and longest waiting time in each probate office for applications by solicitors and personal applicants, respectively; the number of applications on hand in each office; if the e-probate system is fully live in each office; the effect that the e-probate system has had on average waiting times to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8849/21]

*628. To ask the Minister for Justice the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by her Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8896/21]

*629. To ask the Minister for Justice if there has been any contact with her counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8916/21]

*630. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of incidents of fraudulent insurance claims reported by the insurance industry to An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021 by the insurance industry. — Pearse Doherty. [8932/21]

*631. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí in the Henry Street and Roxboro Road district of Limerick in each of the years 2006 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. — Maurice Quinlivan. [8946/21]

*632. To ask the Minister for Justice the details of changes to the visa requirements for citizens of other jurisdictions made since 1 January 2021; the rationale for these changes; if sunset clauses are included in the changes related to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8983/21]

Chun an Aire Sláinte: To the Minister for Health.

*633. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to introduce emergency contingency plans on international travel within the European Union should the South African variant of Covid-19 become the dominant strain of Covid-19 infections in most European Union member states and the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [7992/21] 671

*634. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for and details of the scheduled review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 as required under the Act; the way in which he plans to collect evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [9071/21]

*635. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has published guidelines for behaviour for persons employed by the State in the health services on the use of social media; the regulations in place; the way in which they are enforced with regard to use of offensive or racist language on online platforms by current staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [7865/21]

*636. To ask the Minister for Health the reason nurses who retired post-2012 are not receiving all their pension increases under the Public Service Agreement 2018-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [7869/21]

*637. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which persons over 70 years of age who do not hold a doctor visit card will be included in the plans for roll-out the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jim O’Callaghan. [7872/21]

*638. To ask the Minister for Health when the vacant role of diabetic nurse at Mullingar Hospital will be filled (details supplied). — Joe Flaherty. [7876/21]

*639. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [7877/21]

*640. To ask the Minister for Health the options available to a person (details supplied) who has been referred to primary care psychology services in the Tallaght south area, only to receive a subsequent letter from the HSE informing them that there are no such services in the area. — Seán Crowe. [7883/21]

*641. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons with type 1 and 2 diabetes in Ireland by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [7892/21]

*642. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons with type 1 diabetes who have been approved to use either the dexcom or FreestyleLibre continuous glucose monitors under the long-term illness scheme; if CGMs will be rolled out to all type 1 diabetics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [7893/21]

*643. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons in each county awaiting insulin pump training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [7894/21]

*644. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons in each county waiting to participate in a DAFNE course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [7895/21]

*645. To ask the Minister for Health the number of diabetes treatment related positions, that is, endocrinologists, diabetes nurses, dietitians and podiatrists in Our Lady’s Hospital Navan and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda; the number of positions that are vacant; the length of time these positions have been vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [7896/21]

P.T.O 672

*646. To ask the Minister for Health if a facility (details supplied) is being prioritised for vaccinations. — Sean Sherlock. [7897/21]

*647. To ask the Minister for Health when persons who provide assistance for those attending educational services and have additional needs (details supplied) will be vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — James O’Connor. [7898/21]

*648. To ask the Minister for Health when nurses in intellectual disability centres will be vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — James O’Connor. [7901/21]

*649. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of an orthopaedic bed for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Duncan Smith. [7908/21]

*650. To ask the Minister for Health the locations of the Covid-19 community vaccination centres in counties Louth and Meath; when they will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ged Nash. [7915/21]

*651. To ask the Minister for Health when front-line staff in section 39 organisations such as front-line emergency homeless services will receive the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Kelly. [7917/21]

*652. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to increase the funding of a task force (details supplied); if he will provide a separate strand of funding to allow for it to carry out an updated community analysis to get a fuller picture of trends in the catchment area and adapt the necessary services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Kelly. [7918/21]

*653. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of all section 39 organisations and workers that have received pay restoration ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to date; the organisations that have yet to receive pay restoration; when all section 39 workers will receive pay restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Kelly. [7919/21]

*654. To ask the Minister for Health if An Garda Síochána has the powers to implement the regulation which requires persons who travel from another state into Ireland via Northern Ireland to have a not-detected PCR test result and to observe the statutory quarantine regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [7923/21]

*655. To ask the Minister for Health if An Garda Síochána has the powers to prevent persons travelling from Ireland travelling to Belfast International Airport with a view to travelling abroad for non-essential purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [7924/21]

*656. To ask the Minister for Health if he will request the Irish Nursing and Midwifery Board to reduce the €350 registration fee for retired nurses who wish to assist in the vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [7931/21]

*657. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacant mental health staff posts in County Mayo in child mental health services; the details of each vacant post; the length of time each post has been vacant; the actions being taken to address issues with workforce planning in mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [7940/21] 673

*658. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacant mental health staff posts in County Mayo in adult mental health services per sector; the details of each vacant post; the length of time each post has been vacant; the actions being taken to address issues with workforce planning in mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [7941/21]

*659. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children on primary care psychology waiting lists in County Mayo and CHO 2, respectively in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and the length of time each child has been waiting. — Alan Dillon. [7942/21]

*660. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children on CAMHS waiting lists in County Mayo and CHO 2, respectively in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and the length of time each child has been waiting. — Alan Dillon. [7943/21]

*661. To ask the Minister for Health the number of mental health presentations to the accident and emergency department at Mayo University Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2020, by whether the presentation was out of hours or not, age and gender in tabular form. — Alan Dillon. [7944/21]

*662. To ask the Minister for Health the progress of the recommendations reported by the national taskforce on youth mental health in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [7945/21]

*663. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Mayo awaiting homecare support at 1 February 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [7946/21]

*664. To ask the Minister for Health if home help hours will be reviewed with a view to increasing them in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jackie Cahill. [7947/21]

*665. To ask the Minister for Health if home help hours will be reviewed with a view to increasing them in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jackie Cahill. [7948/21]

*666. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE has cancelled all vaginal mesh procedures in its hospitals or hospitals under its management; if no private hospitals or clinics provide such vaginal mesh procedures in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [7949/21]

*667. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the recovery pathway for women recovering from vaginal mesh procedures which has left them debilitated in a myriad of ways; if a review of the HSE pathway for such patients has been undertaken to assess its effectiveness in terms of returning women to full health; if such procedures are carried out successfully in Ireland; if the HSE has investigated the sharing of information from UK and USA clinicians who have become specialist and recognised as such internationally; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish patients who undertake the pathway to recovery in Ireland often feel that they are moved around in circles and often end up back with the clinician who told them in the first place that their symptoms were all in their mind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [7950/21]

P.T.O 674

*668. To ask the Minister for Health the steps taken in Ireland with regard to the Baroness Cumberledge report into the vaginal mesh issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [7952/21]

*669. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [7953/21]

*670. To ask the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to progress the objectives set out in Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland, Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021; the progress made to date on meeting these objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mary Lou McDonald. [7956/21]

*671. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement he has had to date with the National Breastfeeding Coordinator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mary Lou McDonald. [7957/21]

*672. To ask the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to progress the objectives set out in the Healthy Ireland Framework and the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026; the progress made to date on meeting these objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mary Lou McDonald. [7958/21]

*673. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered monitoring the presence of Covid-19 in wastewater streams thereby securing significant data on emerging incidences of Covid-19 within the population or a region (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is being carried out in several other European Union jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Creed. [7969/21]

*674. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department has examined the vaping industry with a view to ensuring the highest possible health standards and the application of regulations deemed necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [7971/21]

*675. To ask the Minister for Health the current waiting time for orthodontic assessments in County Galway; the number of patients waiting for an assessment; the number of patients on the orthodontic treatment waiting list; the waiting time for treatment; and if there are currently unfilled clinical positions in the service. — Seán Canney. [7977/21]

*676. To ask the Minister for Health if audiology services have reopened and if clinics have recommenced in Tuam, County Galway; the status of a tender application for audiology testing facility in Tuam primary care centre, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [7978/21]

*677. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider extending medical cards to cancer patients; the cost of doing so to all cancer patients without medical cards and all cancer party ends without medical cards and private health insurance. — Eoin Ó Broin. [7990/21]

*678. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider introducing a scheme to waive hospital car parking fees for cancer patients. — Eoin Ó Broin. [7991/21] 675

*679. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce emergency travel measures if a new and more deadly strain of the Covid-19 virus were to appear in the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [7994/21]

*680. To ask the Minister for Health when a service (details supplied) will reopen and resume its regular services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [7997/21]

*681. To ask the Minister for Health if additional funding has been provided for 2021 for a service (details supplied) in County Mayo. — Michael Ring. [7998/21]

*682. To ask the Minister for Health the approval process in place to permit a private provider to administer Covid-19 tests; the oversight in place to monitor private providers of Covid-19 tests and ensure they comply with health standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8008/21]

*683. To ask the Minister for Health if a company (details supplied) has been approved to administer Covid-19 tests; the oversight in place to ensure the company complies with health standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8009/21]

*684. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to prevent profiteering from privately provided Covid-19 tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8010/21]

*685. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements in place for patients to avail of healthcare in Northern Ireland under the same conditions as the EU Cross Border Healthcare Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8028/21]

*686. To ask the Minister for Health the details of all services available in County Roscommon for occupational and speech and language therapy. — Claire Kerrane. [8034/21]

*687. To ask the Minister for Health the funding for a service (details supplied); the level of funding to be provided in 2021 and each year thereafter for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8038/21]

*688. To ask the Minister for Health if information (details supplied) in relation to vaccination centres will be provided. — Sean Sherlock. [8045/21]

*689. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the increased deductions from the pension of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [8046/21]

*690. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements that will be made to provide Covid-19 vaccination centres to the wider population in County Louth by location, including in Drogheda, Dundalk and Ardee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [8048/21]

*691. To ask the Minister for Health if the terminal prognosis threshold will be increased for terminal illness medical cards to 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Francis Noel Duffy. [8050/21]

*692. To ask the Minister for Health when persons under 70 years of age living with cancer will receive the Covid-19 vaccine. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [8060/21]

P.T.O 676

*693. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which visitors coming into Ireland are expected to travel from the airport to their place of quarantine; and if he plans to arrange safe transport for this purpose as has been done in the UK and other countries. — Eoghan Murphy. [8071/21]

*694. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent EU ruling in a case (details supplied) in which the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that CBD is not a narcotic under EU law the 1961 UN Convention as it does not have any psychotropic or harmful effects on human health on the basis of available scientific data; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the court also ruled that EU states cannot ban the marketing of CBD legally produced in another member state; the measures in progress to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to reflect this ruling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8080/21]

*695. To ask the Minister for Health the measures in progress to raise the THC levels permitted in CBD products to 0.3% as is currently legally permitted in the rest of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Gino Kenny. [8081/21]

*696. To ask the Minister for Health the measures in progress to ensure that a full range of CBD products will be available to Irish consumers, including oils, pastes, flowers, teas and other products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Gino Kenny. [8082/21]

*697. To ask the Minister for Health the reason so many women are forced to take court proceeding to elicit satisfaction from the State in respect of the CervicalCheck vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [8084/21]

*698. To ask the Minister for Health if travel to a new residence is deemed essential in cases in which the rental lease of a person has expired and they must move while current level 5 restrictions are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Duncan Smith. [8086/21]

*699. To ask the Minister for Health the protocols in place for sports commentators and journalists going to international matches; the quarantine arrangements being put in place for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [8087/21]

*700. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the process undertaken by the HSE to tender for general practitioner services for the Bandon primary health centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8097/21]

*701. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the National Youth Mental Health Taskforce in particular the youth mental health pathfinder project; if a pathfinder team is now in place; if so, the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8098/21]

*702. To ask the Minister for Health if progress has been achieved in appointing a national lead for youth mental health; if there has been progress with appointing leads for youth mental health in each community health organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8099/21]

*703. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to extend the exemptions under level 5 restrictions for construction work to allow for construction of crèches already underway to continue similar to the exemptions currently available for primary and secondary school projects. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [8101/21] 677

*704. To ask the Minister for Health if arrangements and funding have been put in place for an adult insulin pump clinic to be provided at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8106/21]

*705. To ask the Minister for Health the number of ventilators the HSE has in each hospital by CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8107/21]

*706. To ask the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent general practitioners operating in in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8108/21]

*707. To ask the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent general practitioners operating in County Laois in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8109/21]

*708. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the commitment to deliver a primary care centre in Birr, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8110/21]

*709. To ask the Minister for Health if a review has been carried out of the storage capacity of bulk medical liquid oxygen across all acute hospital sites; if there is sufficient oxygen storage capacity to meet the projected Covid-19 demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8111/21]

*710. To ask the Minister for Health if a company (details supplied) can be requested to approve high-tech surgical theatres as approved facilities for the purpose of carrying out skin treatments in view of the growing incidence of skin cancer and the need for immediate surgical treatment. — Jim O’Callaghan. [8123/21]

*711. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 838 of 27 January 2021, the number of applicants on each of the panels referenced; and the number on panels for hospitals and hospital groups. — David Cullinane. [8136/21]

*712. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts across the health service; the average length of time that posts are vacant across existing vacancies by occupation category; the number of applicants for each occupation category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8137/21]

*713. To ask the Minister for Health the number of neck surgeries carried out in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; the public hospitals that carry out these procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Richard O’Donoghue. [8143/21]

*714. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the business case for a second diabetes CNSp post which was approved locally was rejected by the Ireland East Hospital Group in relation to Mullingar Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sorca Clarke. [8146/21]

*715. To ask the Minister for Health if front-line prison officers will be included in the priority list for the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine; the overall strategy for the roll-out of vaccines across prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8147/21]

P.T.O 678

*716. To ask the Minister for Health the urgent steps he is taking to address the vacancy levels as of 1 February 2021 of over 75 whole-time equivalent staff at Mullingar Regional Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sorca Clarke. [8148/21]

*717. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the legal costs incurred by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board in challenging claims brought against it by contractors associated with the National Children’s Hospital from 2017 to date; the anticipated legal costs until 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8150/21]

*718. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the costs associated with implementing the recommendations contained within the New Children’s Hospital Independent Review of the escalation in costs prepared by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8153/21]

*719. To ask the Minister for Health if the development of the housing coordinator role within the HSE has developed pathways to housing for those with mental health disabilities; if he expects these housing coordinators to continue their work after the current proposed end date of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Duncan Smith. [8155/21]

*720. To ask the Minister for Health the number of business cases submitted for each acute hospital for additional capacity or beds which have not been funded or approved; the stage at which these applications are at; the proposed capacity these would add to the health system if approved in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8163/21]

*721. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE has received applications in the thirteen months from January 2020 to January 2021 for rapid modular units or new physical space projects; the number submitted and approved, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8164/21]

*722. To ask the Minister for Health the number of applications made for capital funding by hospitals and hospital groups in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8165/21]

*723. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which his Department plans to address the emergence of new mental health difficulties among the population in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. — Sean Sherlock. [8175/21]

*724. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the health budget provision for 2021 to employ 16,000 additional healthcare staff; the details of the positions to be filled and the proposed recruitment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [8176/21]

*725. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE is not using the temporary accommodation system to accommodate HSE workers that are Covid-19 positive countrywide (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8177/21]

*726. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 896 of 3 February 2021, if he has been vaccinated against Covid-19; and if members of the Cabinet have been vaccinated (details supplied). — Joan Collins. [8178/21] 679

*727. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 897 of 3 February 2021, if a person (details supplied) and other persons in his Department have been vaccinated. — Joan Collins. [8179/21]

*728. To ask the Minister for Health when free general practitioner care will be extended to all children under 12 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mark Ward. [8181/21]

*729. To ask the Minister for Health if a homecare package will be reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8182/21]

*730. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 275, 276, 283 and 284 of 16 December 2020, if the situation (details supplied) will be clarified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Peadar Tóibín. [8191/21]

*731. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 895 of 3 February 2021, if the CEO of the HSE has been vaccinated against Covid-19; if other members of HSE management have been vaccinated in particular those who form part of the HSE senior leadership team and those who are members of the HSE board; and if staff members at the HSE headquarters at Dr. Stevens’ Hospital building have been vaccinated (details supplied). — Joan Collins. [8194/21]

*732. To ask the Minister for Health the options available to a student (details supplied) who was unable to avail of the HPV vaccine but now wishes to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8201/21]

*733. To ask the Minister for Health if mop-up clinics are currently underway in nursing homes that will enable residents to receive a second vaccine (details supplied); when every nursing home resident will receive the second vaccine; the process if a nursing home resident cannot receive the vaccine within the recommended 21-day period; if they will have to start the vaccination process again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8214/21]

*734. To ask the Minister for Health the position of persons with chronic kidney disease on the Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy priority list of groups for vaccination. — Mary Lou McDonald. [8216/21]

*735. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacant nursing positions by grade in Wexford General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8221/21]

*736. To ask the Minister for Health if family carers will be vaccinated as a specific group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8246/21]

*737. To ask the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the National Immunisation Advisory Committee on the vaccination of family carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8247/21]

*738. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered introducing psychological and mental health supports for family carers to ease their burden; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8248/21]

P.T.O 680

*739. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of incoming passengers who declared an essential reason for travel in each week in January 2021 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8249/21]

*740. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to ensure that all those who need mental health supports have access to them in an affordable and timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8250/21]

*741. To ask the Minister for Health when in-person counselling services will be permitted to resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8252/21]

*742. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered declaring counselling services an essential service that can be conducted face-to-face with the necessary precautions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8253/21]

*743. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of parents as a result of the cancellation of the 4:1 booster and MMR as part of the primary school immunisation programme 2020-2021; when it is likely that the vaccination programme will recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John Brady. [8259/21]

*744. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered revisiting the renumeration for dentists who treat patients with medical cards to ensure that they are not at a loss for treating such patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8260/21]

*745. To ask the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking to encourage dentists to provide treatment under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8261/21]

*746. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered revisiting the terms of the medical card scheme for dentists to ensure that the scheme is beneficial to both patients and dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8262/21]

*747. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider putting in place a refund scheme for parents who have no option but to source eye testing for their children privately (details supplied). — Joe Flaherty. [8265/21]

*748. To ask the Minister for Health the level of logistical and transport expertise his Department will engage with to ensure a prompt and well managed Covid-19 vaccine roll-out is guaranteed when vaccine supplies increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8269/21]

*749. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to a Covid-19 vaccination centre in New Ross, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Verona Murphy. [8270/21]

*750. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to a Covid-19 vaccination centre in Gorey, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Verona Murphy. [8271/21] 681

*751. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to a Covid-19 vaccination centre in south County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Verona Murphy. [8272/21]

*752. To ask the Minister for Health if front-line mental healthcare staff will be included in Covid-19 vaccine allocation plans for front-line healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Verona Murphy. [8273/21]

*753. To ask the Minister for Health if a drug (details supplied) has been approved by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Louise O’Reilly. [8278/21]

*754. To ask the Minister for Health the number of staff employed directly and currently in post excluding any persons on maternity or other leave in the primary care service for north County Dublin by grade and area covered; the number that work directly with individuals under 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Louise O’Reilly. [8279/21]

*755. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the growing waiting list to access CAMHS from the north County and City of Dublin CAMHS service based in Swords; the number employed by grade and whole-time equivalent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Louise O’Reilly. [8280/21]

*756. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need for additional staffing for the CAMHS service based in Swords, County Dublin; the details of the planned recruitment by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Louise O’Reilly. [8281/21]

*757. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the members of the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group; the members of the two sub-groups of the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group on reformulation and healthy eating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Louise O’Reilly. [8282/21]

*758. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine to residents of the Aran Islands and other offshore islands; the provisions planned to allow island residents many of whom are elderly and vulnerable to access the vaccine without being required to take the boat to the mainland, which would involve the risk of transmission of the virus and the dangers posed by inclement winter weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [8302/21]

*759. To ask the Minister for Health the status and details of the maternity budget specifically perinatal mental health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8312/21]

*760. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the comprehensive mental health assessment within the perinatal mental health integrated care pathway; the circumstances in which one is administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8313/21]

*761. To ask the Minister for Health the number of mental health midwives; the training they receive; the role of mental health midwives with the perinatal mental health integrated care pathway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8314/21]

P.T.O 682

*762. To ask the Minister for Health the performance indicators of mental health referrals within the maternity services; if information will be provided on the effectiveness of the perinatal mental health pathway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8315/21]

*763. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the perinatal mental health integrated care pathway; the performance indicators of this pathway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8316/21]

*764. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of actions 19 to 25 outlined in the National Maternity Strategy Implementation Plan; the action being taken to address those not fully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8317/21]

*765. To ask the Minister for Health the status of and information on specialist perinatal mental health model of care, particularly the evaluation of the implementation of this model of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8318/21]

*766. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the programme metrics and evaluation of the specialist perinatal mental health services; if they use the patient outcomes and experience tool measures; if he will provide information on service user engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8319/21]

*767. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the National Women and Infant Health Programme; if he will provide performance indicators in this regard; the actions being taken regarding maternal mental health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8320/21]

*768. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to bring amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to ensure that plants containing CBD with a THC of less than 0.2% can be grown without fear of prosecution and to align Irish law with EU legislation on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mick Barry. [8325/21]

*769. To ask the Minister for Health if there are issues with the manufacturing of the pneumonia vaccine given that there appears to be a shortage in supply in recent months (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe McHugh. [8327/21]

*770. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that the State Claims Agency will not include or bring in external laboratories in relation to cases regarding the CervicalCheck scandal given the outcome of a High Court case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8340/21]

*771. To ask the Minister for Health if each Irish resident is entitled to attend a general practitioner; the recourse available to a person if a general practitioner practice refuses to engage with them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8342/21]

*772. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 304 of 28 January 2021, the actions he or his officials have taken since he took office to ensure the development of eating disorder treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8343/21] 683

*773. To ask the Minister for Health the number of women currently involved in court cases, litigation and negotiation with the HSE regarding the alleged misreading of their smear tests from the CervicalCheck screening programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8344/21]

*774. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the provisions in the CervicalCheck Tribunal for settlement amounts for the potential future recurrence of cancer; the pathways and terms on which those affected can return to the tribunal for redress in that event as provided for in the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8346/21]

*775. To ask the Minister for Health his views on extending the statute of limitations for those individuals affected by the CervicalCheck scandal to lodge a High Court case given the complications of both Covid-19 and the delay in establishing the CervicalCheck Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8347/21]

*776. To ask the Minister for Health his views on establishing a mediation process for those affected by the CervicalCheck scandal as an alternative to either the courts systems or the tribunal given the sensitivities of the cases and the health of those concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8348/21]

*777. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 which is due to take place not later than three years after its commencement under section 7 of the Act; the format this review will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8350/21]

*778. To ask the Minister for Health the locations of paediatric diabetes clinic services; the number of children each service supports annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8351/21]

*779. To ask the Minister for Health the location of the two adult ADHD teams recruited under the ADHD in Adults National Clinical Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8352/21]

*780. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to confusing wording regarding self-isolation on the HSELive website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8353/21]

*781. To ask the Minister for Health the reason 800 persons outside the top two priority groups of nursing home residents and staff and front-line healthcare workers currently being inoculated have received Covid-19 vaccines; the location and reasons given for inoculation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [8371/21]

*782. To ask the Minister for Health the reason persons providing homecare services to the elderly, vulnerable and those with underlying conditions are not being prioritised for vaccination; if he will seek to amend this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8372/21]

*783. To ask the Minister for Health the status of public usage of the Covid-19 tracker application by month in tabular form; if there are plans to include vaccination information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8380/21]

P.T.O 684

*784. To ask the Minister for Health if he will request the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to consider if carers of very vulnerable persons can be treated as the same cohort given these carers provide full-time care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8381/21]

*785. To ask the Minister for Health the number of subsequent meetings that took place following the April 2019 New Children’s Hospital Independent Review of Escalation of Costs report and its 11 recommendations between his Department, the Departments of the Taoiseach and Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, Children’s Health Ireland and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board including meeting dates in 2019 and 2020 and other participating Departments; the structures that were put in place to progress and implement these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8382/21]

*786. To ask the Minister for Health the strategy in place regarding testing of all residents and staff of nursing homes along with patients returning from hospital visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8383/21]

*787. To ask the Minister for Health the protocol for patients in which their general practitioner opts out of the Covid-19 vaccinating programme and is not providing details to the HSE; the way in which these patients will be informed of their vaccination date and location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8384/21]

*788. To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place under the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group to progress action 1.8 of the Obesity Policy and Action Plan; if a timeline will be developed for progressing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8393/21]

*789. To ask the Minister for Health the evidence aside from that on the impact of the sugar sweetened tax that has been or will be reviewed on the effectiveness on the implementation for fiscal measures on HFSS products to reduce their consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8394/21]

*790. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the next steps being taken by the Physical Activity Group and Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group following the November 2018 stakeholder forum on the built environment undertaken as part of action 2.1 of the Obesity Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8395/21]

*791. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the scoping work that was underway with the Institute of Public Health and the WHO to develop and implement a nutrition policy and action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8396/21]

*792. To ask the Minister for Health if those providing HSE home support services are being vaccinated for Covid-19 as part of group 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8397/21]

*793. To ask the Minister for Health when HSE home support services workers in the St. Johnston area of County Donegal will be vaccinated for Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8399/21]

*794. To ask the Minister for Health if gastrology posts will be created outside of Dublin. — Sean Sherlock. [8400/21] 685

*795. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the treatment available for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. — Sean Sherlock. [8401/21]

*796. To ask the Minister for Health the drugs which were considered at the January HSE drugs group meeting; the stage at which each are at in their application; the actions emerging from the meeting in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8410/21]

*797. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the ozempic insulin pen is not covered under the drugs repayment scheme; if he will consider including this medication on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Marian Harkin. [8414/21]

*798. To ask the Minister for Health if a device (details supplied) will be included for reimbursement under the drugs repayment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Marian Harkin. [8415/21]

*799. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for cooperation with other EU member states which have a surplus of radiologists and in which scans can be reported upon very efficiently and quickly given the shortage of consultant radiologists in Ireland and the delays caused in diagnosis as a result of the time taken to read scans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [8417/21]

*800. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a property (details supplied); if the issue will be investigated and the appropriate action taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cormac Devlin. [8424/21]

*801. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for occupational therapy and physiotherapy following their assessment of needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [8432/21]

*802. To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe a person (details supplied) may wait for an assessment of needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [8436/21]

*803. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); when they can expect an appointment with a surgeon; and if they will be considered for surgery under the winter initiative scheme. — . [8447/21]

*804. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter in relation to the vaccination of renal patients (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8455/21]

*805. To ask the Minister for Health if PCRS fees apply to general practitioners who partake in a pilot project (details supplied) to test and treat hepatitis C patients; if not, the alternative fees that apply to general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8456/21]

*806. To ask the Minister for Health if PCRS fees apply to the pharmacy that supplies hepatitis C medication to patients (details supplied); if not, the alternative fees that apply to the pharmacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8457/21]

P.T.O 686

*807. To ask the Minister for Health the number of outpatient consultant appointments by hospital group which were postponed in January 2021 due to the Covid-19 outbreak; the number that have been rescheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8458/21]

*808. To ask the Minister for Health if he will investigate the reason and the way in which a nursing home (details supplied) placed two staff members who tested positive for Covid-19 in a local hotel instead of ensuring that they went to the dedicated accommodation provided by the HSE under the healthcare workers temporary accommodation scheme; the action the HSE is taking as a result; the public health follow-up that was carried out to ensure that other hotel residents and workers who may have been exposed to Covid-19 were contacted and tested in relation to the increased risk of contracting Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [8459/21]

*809. To ask the Minister for Health if a HSE worker will lose some of their employment sick day entitlement for the period of restricted movement in cases in which they are informed by the HSE to restrict their movements and remain home from work as a result of being identified as a close contact with a work colleague who had Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8460/21]

*810. To ask the Minister for Health if community halls and other suitable larger venues will be used for Covid-19 vaccination to ensure better compliance with social distancing and ventilation requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cian O’Callaghan. [8461/21]

*811. To ask the Minister for Health when carers will receive the Covid-19 vaccine (details supplied). — Joe Flaherty. [8465/21]

*812. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a provision for general practitioners to prioritise Covid-19 vaccination for patients who are high risk but not over 85 years of age (details supplied). — Joe Flaherty. [8466/21]

*813. To ask the Minister for Health the number of healthcare workers who tested positive for Covid-19 and were subsequently placed in accommodation provided by that healthcare facility and not placed into dedicated accommodation provided by the HSE under the healthcare workers temporary accommodation scheme; the subsequent actions carried out by public health bodies to ensure that any worker or resident in such accommodation was tested for a possible exposure to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [8468/21]

*814. To ask the Minister for Health if prisoners are included in group 8 residents of long- term care facilities aged 18-64 of the provisional vaccine allocation groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Eoin Ó Broin. [8472/21]

*815. To ask the Minister for Health if older prisoners and those with medical conditions will receive vaccinations on the same schedule as older persons in the community based on the principle of equity of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Eoin Ó Broin. [8473/21]

*816. To ask the Minister for Health the recommended replacement period of a mirena coil; if it can work effectively beyond this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8474/21] 687

*817. To ask the Minister for Health if contraceptive services are considered an essential service; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8475/21]

*818. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider a degree of flexibility for those with particular health vulnerabilities who may not meet the chronological criteria set out in the Covid-19 vaccination plan given an abundance of supply comes on stream in quarter two (details supplied). — John Lahart. [8478/21]

*819. To ask the Minister for Health the operational status of STI screening, vaccination and PrEP services; when these services will fully resume; if they will be deemed essential; his plans for expanding these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8479/21]

*820. To ask the Minister for Health the operational status of the gay men’s health service; when these services will fully resume; his plans for expanding these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8480/21]

*821. To ask the Minister for Health the current resources allocated to STI home testing kits; his plans to increase same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8481/21]

*822. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1089 of 13 January 2021, if he will provide further clarity on the matter in view of the additional information provided (details supplied). — Kathleen Funchion. [8483/21]

*823. To ask the Minister for Health when the processing of primary medical certificates will recommence such as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Peter Fitzpatrick. [8484/21]

*824. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to clear the BreastCheck backlog due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8485/21]

*825. To ask the Minister for Health if the BreastCheck service is permitted to run for public health patients during level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8486/21]

*826. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to prioritise BreastCheck appointments for patients who had their appointments cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8487/21]

*827. To ask the Minister for Health if he will waive the need for a general practitioner referral letter for patients who choose to get their BreastCheck appointment privately due to a cancelled appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8488/21]

*828. To ask the Minister for Health the current length of the backlog for BreastCheck screening appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8489/21]

*829. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the World Health Organisation’s determination that Ireland has been in breach of its international health regulations on contagious disease control by failing to designate a competent authority at ports and airports; the reason Ireland has been non-

P.T.O 688 compliant for approximately a decade; the progress being made to address this in the long term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Martin Browne. [8491/21]

*830. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made on the commitment in the Programme for Government which pledges to implement the recommendations of the Working Group to Consider Alternative Approaches to the Possession of Drugs for Personal Use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8494/21]

*831. To ask the Minister for Health his proposals with regard to the vaccination of the 70 plus age group who do not have a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8508/21]

*832. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which an organisation (details supplied) can draw down funding committed by his Department for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [8510/21]

*833. To ask the Minister for Health when the extension of the access to medical cards for persons with terminal illness will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [8513/21]

*834. To ask the Minister for Health if the details and protocols for the orthodontics treatment aspect of the planned Northern Ireland healthcare scheme have been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [8514/21]

*835. To ask the Minister for Health the protocols and process in place in respect of the administration of vaccinations with particular reference for MMR and hepatitis B in direct provision centres throughout the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8525/21]

*836. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the long waiting lists and difficulty in accessing general practitioner services in New Ross, County Wexford for persons with medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Johnny Mythen. [8528/21]

*837. To ask the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to conduct a review of general practitioner services capacity issues in New Ross, County Wexford. — Johnny Mythen. [8529/21]

*838. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to use community pharmacists in the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme given their experience in rapid and effective vaccination. — Richard Bruton. [8531/21]

*839. To ask the Minister for Health if the practice will be examined by which general practitioners in the HSE mid-west region are responsible for the financial cost of disposing of clinical waste such as needles, syringes and used PPE while this cost is not borne by general practitioners in other HSE regions (details supplied); if the matter will be corrected in order to cover the cost incurred by general practitioners in the mid-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jackie Cahill. [8534/21]

*840. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niall Collins. [8543/21] 689

*841. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 635 of 8 December 2020, when the gay men’s health service will reopen; the reason Ireland’s only dedicated sexual health and well-being service for gay and bisexual men, men who have sex with men and the transgender community remains closed despite assurances that a phased reopening would commence early in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8544/21]

*842. To ask the Minister for Health if staff from the gay men’s health service are still redeployed to Covid-19 services; and if so, the services in which they are redeployed in tabular form. — Róisín Shortall. [8545/21]

*843. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to resume the pilot home test STI screening service recently launched by the HSE; the steps his Department is taking to fund and resource this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8546/21]

*844. To ask the Minister for Health if private providers of Covid-19 tests are required to report their results to the Chief Medical Officer; the way these tests are accounted for in daily case figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8547/21]

*845. To ask the Minister for Health if beauty clinics offering botox and other injectable treatments are deemed essential under level 5 restrictions; if travel to a botox clinic is considered an essential journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8548/21]

*846. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on a situation (details supplied) in which Covid-19 vaccines had to be discarded due to not being stored properly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8550/21]

*847. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the dental appointment waiting list in each county; the average waiting times for appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8570/21]

*848. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the orthodontic waiting lists in each county; the average waiting times for appointments; the number waiting more than six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8571/21]

*849. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on the CAMHS waiting list in each county; the average waiting time; the number waiting more than six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8572/21]

*850. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for homecare support in each county; the total number of hours allocated in each of the past 12 months in each county; the average number of hours granted to each successful applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8573/21]

*851. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting for a colonoscopy in Cavan General Hospital; the number that have been waiting up to 30, 30 to 60, 60 to 90 and more than 90 days, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8574/21]

*852. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an endoscopy in Cavan General Hospital; the number that have been waiting up to 30, 30 to 60, 60 to 90 and more than 90

P.T.O 690 days, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8575/21]

*853. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacancies at Cavan General Hospital; the grade of each vacancy; the length of time of the vacancy in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8576/21]

*854. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting a needs assessment in each CHO area; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3 to 6, 6 to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8577/21]

*855. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting a speech and language appointment in each CHO area; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3 to 6, 6 to12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8578/21]

*856. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an occupational therapy appointment in each CHO area; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3 to 6, 6 to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8579/21]

*857. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting a speech and language appointment in each CHO area; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3 to 6, 6 to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8580/21]

*858. To ask the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided to families in each county over each of the past 12 months in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8581/21]

*859. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for ophthalmology in each county; the average waiting time for appointment in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8582/21]

*860. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons in each county that are currently waiting an appointment for early intervention by therapy; the number that are waiting less than six, six to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [8583/21]

*861. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that published data indicates a Covid-19 mortality rate amongst kidney patients similar to that of residents of long-term facilities; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that expert medical opinion both here and internationally makes a strong case on medical and ethical grounds for the need for all kidney patients to be vaccinated earlier than currently planned; if this extremely at risk group will be moved to the top of the vaccination schedule as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8586/21]

*862. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the vaccination of kidney patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [8587/21] 691

*863. To ask the Minister for Health when the HSPC will resume publishing underlying conditions in Covid-19 cases data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8588/21]

*864. To ask the Minister for Health his plans regarding the expansion of terminal illness medical cards; when this will be operationalised; the way in which it can be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8591/21]

*865. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the published data indicating a Covid-19 case mortality rate amongst kidney patients similar to that of residents of long-term care facilities; if he will take into account the particular vulnerability of kidney patients such as persons on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients and move them into cohort 1 for Covid-19 vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Barry Cowen. [8592/21]

*866. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the HSE’s national renal office statement that in-centre haemodialysis patients should be considered similar to persons aged 65 and older who are residents of long-term care facilities in terms of prioritisation for the first wave of Covid-19 vaccination and that such patients are extremely medically vulnerable and have a very high mortality risk; and if he will place these patients in cohort 1 for vaccination against Covid-19. — Niamh Smyth. [8593/21]

*867. To ask the Minister for Health the location of all testing centres and vaccination centres proposed by county in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8597/21]

*868. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of a contract (details supplied). — Sean Sherlock. [8601/21]

*869. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an assessment of need in CHO9; and the number waiting more than six, 12, 18 and 24 months, respectively in tabular form. — Denise Mitchell. [8618/21]

*870. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of capital funding that has been allocated to the National Forensic Mental Health Hospital in 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pat Buckley. [8623/21]

*871. To ask the Minister for Health if he will engage with a group (details supplied) regarding the Covid-19 vaccine plan; his views on the skills, assets and local presence the group can bring to the roll-out of the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [8627/21]

*872. To ask the Minister for Health the sources of funding available within his Department for voluntary response groups to assist in the purchase of assets such as ambulances and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [8628/21]

*873. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the establishment and locations of facilities (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8643/21]

*874. To ask the Minister for Health the steps his Department and the HSE are taking to introduce a cost-effective flexible car parking plan for all public hospitals groups for patients and visitors in

P.T.O 692 order to cap the maximum daily charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [8644/21]

*875. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the vaccine plan and have kidney patients in group one of the programme due to their particular vulnerability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [8648/21]

*876. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the disproportionate mortality rates from Covid-19 among kidney patients which is similar to that of residents of long- term care facilities; if the vaccination allocation sequencing has been reviewed with this in mind; if he has engaged with advocates of kidney patients such as an organisation (details supplied) or with the HSE national renal office on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8650/21]

*877. To ask the Minister for Health if a strategy has been announced regarding the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccinations on the offshore islands; if on-island vaccination clinics will be set up to ensure the protection of vulnerable persons within these communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8651/21]

*878. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of the categories of essential inward travel into the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [8663/21]

*879. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide assurances that a health centre (details supplied) is not being closed and that existing services are not being transferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8665/21]

*880. To ask the Minister for Health the supports and multidisciplinary gender-identity service the HSE has in place for persons needing assessment for gender-identity related issues; his plans to put in place the necessary services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8666/21]

*881. To ask the Minister for Health if referrals are continuing to the gender identity development services in the UK (details supplied); if the service is referring persons back to the HSE; if the service will be in place to deal with persons caught on waiting lists for the UK service which is not accepting new referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8667/21]

*882. To ask the Minister for Health the number of approved consultant posts by hospital group and hospital respectively filled by tenure, permanent, temporary, locum, agency and vacant consultant posts by discipline and specialty in tabular form; the length of time the vacant posts have remained vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8669/21]

*883. To ask the Minister for Health the number of international board-certified lactation consultants employed by the HSE in each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8672/21]

*884. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to expand the number of international board- certified lactation consultants employed in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8673/21] 693

*885. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made in meeting the objectives contained within the Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Health Service Executive Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8674/21]

*886. To ask the Minister for Health the number of locations and practitioners that publicly provide frenotomy services for babies with tongue tie issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8675/21]

*887. To ask the Minister for Health the volume of supports that go into breastfeeding support within the HSE; if he will detail each of these supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8676/21]

*888. To ask the Minister for Health the progress in encouraging the option of breastfeeding including through the Healthy Ireland Framework as of February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8677/21]

*889. To ask the Minister for Health if the WHO International Code of Marketing on Breastmilk Substitutes is implemented and enforced across every maternity unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [8678/21]

*890. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to hire additional clinical nurse specialists in order to support social work and psychology supports at Mullingar Regional Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8681/21]

*891. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to drive-in vaccination centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [8684/21]

*892. To ask the Minister for Health if staff working in the learning and care and school age childcare services will be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Lowry. [8688/21]

*893. To ask the Minister for Health if persons working in childcare as key and essential workers will be included under category four of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jackie Cahill. [8689/21]

*894. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which persons in group 7 of the vaccine roll-out will be identified for vaccination; if this will be done by identification based on medical records or if it will require self-identification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8690/21]

*895. To ask the Minister for Health if he will advertise for a general practitioner for Monasterevin, County Kildare given the current general practitioner is no longer accepting medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8698/21]

*896. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to expedite funding for gene-silencing treatment for amyloidosis such as a drug and equivalent drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8701/21]

*897. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who died by suicide in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8707/21]

P.T.O 694

*898. To ask the Minister for Health the venues or type of venues which will be used for the mass roll-out of Covid 19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [8708/21]

*899. To ask the Minister for Health if he will discuss with the National Immunisation Advisory Committee when kidney patients should receive the Covid-19 vaccination and to determine if they and other vulnerable groups should be included in category 3. — Emer Higgins. [8715/21]

*900. To ask the Minister for Health if he will discuss with the National Immunisation Advisory Committee when childcare staff should receive their Covid-19 vaccination given that they have been attending work during level 5 and cannot social distance from the children they mind. — Emer Higgins. [8716/21]

*901. To ask the Minister for Health the reason christenings and baptisms are not currently permitted under the public health emergency restrictions but weddings with potentially more persons attending are. — Pádraig Mac Lochlainn. [8717/21]

*902. To ask the Minister for Health when the citizens’ assembly on drugs will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8718/21]

*903. To ask the Minister for Health the number of unborn babies aborted under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 during 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mattie McGrath. [8734/21]

*904. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can obtain access to a vaccine based on compassionate grounds. — James Lawless. [8735/21]

*905. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider reviewing and categorising kidney transplant recipients and those on kidney transplant waiting lists as a distinct cohort to be considered for a higher priority grouping under the national Covid-19 vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Thomas Pringle. [8736/21]

*906. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the situation regarding kidney patients and the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [8741/21]

*907. To ask the Minister for Health the status of approval for a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [8747/21]

*908. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule of the cumulative number of vaccine doses that have arrived in Ireland on a daily basis since 25 December 2020. — Catherine Murphy. [8748/21]

*909. To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify the actual accuracy of daily vaccination figures in the context of the lag in adding numbers to the tracker (details supplied). — Catherine Murphy. [8749/21]

*910. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the HSE’s National Renal Office statement that in-centre haemodialysis patients should be considered similar to persons aged 65 and older who are residents of long-term care facilities in terms of prioritisation for the first wave of Covid-19 vaccination and those patients are extremely medically vulnerable and have 695 a very high mortality risk; if he will consider placing these patients in cohort 1 for vaccination against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jackie Cahill. [8752/21]

*911. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to published data indicating a Covid-19 case mortality rate amongst kidney patients similar to that of residents of long-term care facilities; if he will move them into cohort 1 for Covid-19 vaccination in view of the particular vulnerability of kidney patients such as persons on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jackie Cahill. [8753/21]

*912. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that published data indicates a Covid-19 case mortality rate amongst kidney patients similar to that of residents of long-term care facilities; if kidney patients will be moved into cohort 1 for Covid-19 vaccination given their particular vulnerability, that is, persons on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cathal Crowe. [8756/21]

*913. To ask the Minister for Health if a long-term care plan will be expedited for a person (details supplied). — John McGuinness. [8757/21]

*914. To ask the Minister for Health if a person can travel to Ireland from the United States of America to reunite with their partner during level 5 restrictions once the person obeys the requirement for OCR test and guaranteeing; if the advice is that such a journey is non-essential; if so, if it carries a potential fine or legal enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [8761/21]

*915. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered extending medical card services to include counsellors and physiotherapists. — Mark Ward. [8763/21]

*916. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [8768/21]

*917. To ask the Minister for Health if he will add the daily breakdown of Covid-19 vaccine figures to the Covid-19 tracker application as opposed to the cumulative figure to give the public specific daily figures akin to the diagnosed case numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8771/21]

*918. To ask the Minister for Health when an operation will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Kehoe. [8772/21]

*919. To ask the Minister for Health the services in place or planned for those persons suffering with long Covid. — Thomas Gould. [8774/21]

*920. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding payment of patient fees incurred when a patient with a medical card is sent to a private hospital on an inpatient or outpatient basis as part of the private hospital arrangement with the HSE as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pa Daly. [8775/21]

*921. To ask the Minister for Health if persons travelling to Ireland from Brazil will be required to pay for their hotel quarantine. — Martin Browne. [8777/21]

P.T.O 696

*922. To ask the Minister for Health when outstanding vacancies will be filled at a service (details supplied) to enable it to continue to provide a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Fitzmaurice. [8793/21]

*923. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the HSE’s national renal office statement that in-centre haemodialysis patients should be considered similar to persons aged 65 and older who are residents of long-term care facilities in terms of prioritisation for the first wave of Covid-19 vaccination given that such patients are extremely medically vulnerable and have a very high mortality risk; if he will place these patients in cohort 1 for vaccination against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8794/21]

*924. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to published data indicating a Covid-19 case mortality rate amongst kidney patients similar to that of residents of long-term care facilities; if on account of the particular vulnerability of kidney patients such as persons on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients will be moved into cohort 1 for Covid-19 vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [8795/21]

*925. To ask the Minister for Health his plans regarding expanding the medicinal cannabis access programme; his plans for operationalising the programme and regarding delivery of medicinal products; the way in which he envisages the programme functioning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8798/21]

*926. To ask the Minister for Health the number of exemptions for cannabis products given under the Ministerial licence; the products which have been made available by licence; his plans to harmonise this with the medicinal cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8799/21]

*927. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the work underway to review and revise difficulties with the medicinal cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8800/21]

*928. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be assessed for a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Fitzmaurice. [8801/21]

*929. To ask the Minister for Health the non-Covid-19 related hospital activity currently taking place in hospitals nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8802/21]

*930. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of specialties of urgent care which is taking place according to medical speciality in hospitals nationally in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8803/21]

*931. To ask the Minister for Health the diagnostic scans and examinations which are currently taking place for cancers, cardiovascular conditions and diabetes in hospitals and medical centres nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8804/21]

*932. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting nationally for their first outpatient hospital appointment by periods (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8805/21] 697

*933. To ask the Minister for Health the number of elective or planned procedures that have been suspended nationally from 2020 to date as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8806/21]

*934. To ask the Minister for Health the routine non-Covid-19 medical care that has been suspended due to the pandemic; the length of time they have been suspended since 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8807/21]

*935. To ask the Minister for Health the number of urgent and non-urgent surgical procedures that have been carried out in hospitals in 2020; the breakdown of those procedures according to medical specialty in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8808/21]

*936. To ask the Minister for Health when it is envisaged that non-Covid-19 routine medical care will resume in line with the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8809/21]

*937. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for advancing an inquiry into the use of mesh implants and sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [8811/21]

*938. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider reviewing the current categorisation of persons who are under 70 years of age but who are receiving treatment for cancer or dialysis and are required to attend hospital on a weekly basis in order that they would be moved forward on the priority list on the Covid-19 vaccination programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [8812/21]

*939. To ask the Minister for Health further to his statement in Dáil Eireann on 11 February 2021, the status of his review of the vaccine priority list for those with very serious underlying medical conditions and transplant patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8845/21]

*940. To ask the Minister for Health the status of children’s diabetes services in the Regional Hospital Mullingar; the details on the current staffing levels and approval for further positions; the steps he will take to ensure the service can remain open with sufficient safe staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8847/21]

*941. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to vaccinate members of the Defence Forces who are serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8857/21]

*942. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to providing dialysis to patients at Roscommon University Hospital to reduce travelling times; if the matter has been examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8858/21]

*943. To ask the Minister for Health the status of HSE open disclosure training as committed to on foot of the Scally Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8861/21]

*944. To ask the Minister for Health the steps taken to date and the forthcoming plans to introduce a statutory duty of candour on individual healthcare professionals and the groups in

P.T.O 698 which they work which was a key recommendation of the Scally Report in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8862/21]

*945. To ask the Minister for Health the number of follow-up calls made to incoming passengers on a weekly basis since 1 February 2021; the number of calls which were successfully answered on a weekly basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [8863/21]

*946. To ask the Minister for Health the level of compliance in filling out the passenger locator forms on a weekly basis from 1 February 2021; the number of forms which were correctly and incorrectly completed on a weekly basis, respectively; and the number of persons that refused to fill out the form on a weekly basis in tabular form. — Róisín Shortall. [8864/21]

*947. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered promoting physical activity as a way to improve mental health during the Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [8865/21]

*948. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the HSE national renal office statement that in-centre haemodialysis patients should be considered similar to persons aged 65 and older who are residents of long-term care facilities in terms of prioritisation for the first wave of the Covid-19 vaccination given patients are extremely medically vulnerable and have a very high mortality risk; if this information has been made available to NIAC; if these patients will be placed in cohort 1 for vaccination against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [8868/21]

*949. To ask the Minister for Health if he has consulted with NIAC in relation to published data indicating a Covid-19 case mortality rate amongst kidney patients similar to that of residents of long-term care facilities; his views on whether NIAC should move such persons into cohort 1 for Covid-19 vaccination given the particular vulnerability of kidney patients, that is, persons on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [8869/21]

*950. To ask the Minister for Health the number of consultations he has had with NIAC regarding the issue of persons who are immunosuppressed and their wish to receive Covid-19 vaccines sooner than planned; if he has outlined the stress that many of these patients are under as a consequence of nearly a full year of cocooning; and his plans to assist this cohort of persons. — Dara Calleary. [8870/21]

*951. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE gender identity development services have taken note of the Tavistock Judgement in the United Kingdom particularly with respect to the finding that children under 16 years of age considering gender reassignment are unlikely to be sufficiently mature enough to provide informed consent to be prescribed puberty-blocking drugs and medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8880/21]

*952. To ask the Minister for Health if he will establish the position of the HSE with respect to the reversibility of hormone suppressants and puberty-blocking medication for children under 16 years of age considering gender reassignment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8881/21]

*953. To ask the Minister for Health the position of counsellors and psychotherapists in Covid-19 vaccine roll-out plans (details supplied). — Joe Flaherty. [8883/21] 699

*954. To ask the Minister for Health the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8894/21]

*955. To ask the Minister for Health if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States’. — Sean Sherlock. [8914/21]

*956. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the HSE long-term illness scheme does not include the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system for persons with diabetes over 21 years of age but does include two other glucose sensor monitors which cost more than €1,200 per person per year. — Sean Sherlock. [8923/21]

*957. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who were funded for the dexcom continuous glucose monitoring sensors by the HSE long-term Illness scheme and the primary care reimbursement service; and the number of such persons over 21 years of age by county in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8924/21]

*958. To ask the Minister for Health when it is planned to vaccinate kidney patients between 18 and 64 years of age; if it is planned to give this group a high priority in view of the high risk of Covid-19 to kidney patients of all ages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [8925/21]

*959. To ask the Minister for Health the target date by which persons in category 7 for vaccination, that is, aged 18 to 64 years of age with a medical condition will all have received their first dose of Covid 19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [8926/21]

*960. To ask the Minister for Health if all those living on offshore islands who normally receive their general practitioner services on the islands will receive the Covid-19 vaccine on the islands in view of the difficulty for islanders accessing clinics on the main land; if all islanders over 65 years of age will be vaccinated at the same time rather than by five-year age cohorts given the relatively small population and the logistical difficulties in providing the vaccines for over 65 year olds on the islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [8927/21]

*961. To ask the Minister for Health if institutions (detailed supplied) will be vaccinated in the category, residents of long-term facilities aged 18 to 64 years of age, in view of the high risk of infection in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [8928/21]

*962. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons employed as speech and language therapists in services located in the north inner city, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8930/21]

*963. To ask the Minister for Health the length of the waiting list to access early years supports from Tusla early intervention teams in the north inner city, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [8931/21]

*964. To ask the Minister for Health if a clear roadmap for summer 2021 will be outlined at the earliest opportunity for those planning a wedding (details supplied); when these details are likely to be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [8934/21]

*965. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the HSE national renal office statement that in-centre haemodialysis patients should be considered similar to persons aged

P.T.O 700

65 and older who are residents of long-term care facilities in terms of prioritisation for the first wave of Covid-19 vaccination; if he will place these patients in cohort 1 for vaccination against Covid-19 given such patients are extremely medically vulnerable and have a very high mortality risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Moynihan. [8936/21]

*966. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to published data indicating a Covid-19 case mortality rate amongst kidney patients similar to that of residents of long-term care facilities; if he will move them into cohort 1 for Covid-19 vaccination given the particular vulnerability of kidney patients, that is, persons on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Moynihan. [8937/21]

*967. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the payment of an approved fair deal application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [8938/21]

*968. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the additional funding of €50 million provided for new medicines as part of Budget 2021, with specific reference to the way in which the funding is being allocated and spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [8940/21]

*969. To ask the Minister for Health the position in relation to promised legislation to cap the assessments of assets for the fair deal scheme; and when such legislation will be enacted. — Brian Stanley. [8941/21]

*970. To ask the Minister for Health if the additional funding of €50 million for new medicines as part of Budget 2021 will be used to fund medicines for the treatment of rare diseases and access to orphan medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [8942/21]

*971. To ask the Minister for Health the spending on orphan medicines in each of the years 2010 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [8945/21]

*972. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of the annual HSE drugs spending that orphan medicinal products account for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [8948/21]

*973. To ask the Minister for Health the key findings of the review by a company (details supplied) on the HSE drug reimbursement process as it relates to orphan medicines and rare diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [8949/21]

*974. To ask the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an orthodontic assessment at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pearse Doherty. [8950/21]

*975. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment by each grade and length of time waiting in Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pearse Doherty. [8951/21]

*976. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for orthodontic assessment and the waiting times in Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal in 2018, 701

2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pearse Doherty. [8952/21]

*977. To ask the Minister for Health when officials in his Department plan to re-engage with the workstream related to the review by a company (details supplied) on the HSE drug reimbursement process given the temporary suspension of this workstream in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [8956/21]

*978. To ask the Minister for Health if all possible steps will be taken to acquire more vaccines for the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine in particular for persons over 70 years of age (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Danny Healy-Rae. [8957/21]

*979. To ask the Minister for Health the facilities and services in place for patients suffering with long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mark Ward. [8960/21]

*980. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Danny Healy-Rae. [8961/21]

*981. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for the IVF scheme announced in February 2021; the details of the funding model for the scheme; the way in which couples will be assisted financially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Christopher O’Sullivan. [8964/21]

*982. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding designated quarantine centres for healthcare workers who test positive for Covid-19; the number of such centres; when they commenced operation; the location of each; the number of persons who have been quarantined in such centres to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [8970/21]

*983. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to prioritise kidney patients of all ages in the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out plan given the higher death rates among Covid-19 patients with kidney disease than Covid-19 patients in the general population and the fact that over 2,000 in-centre haemodialysis patients must attend hospital care facilities for treatment three times a week which places them at risk of Covid-19 transmission and also renders them unable to self-isolate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [8977/21]

*984. To ask the Minister for Health the number of HSE bills for cancer patients outsourced to debt collectors in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Emer Higgins. [8978/21]

*985. To ask the Minister for Health the support available to cancer patients who cannot pay their HSE bills; and if help through MABS is offered. — Emer Higgins. [8979/21]

*986. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to research (details supplied) that nearly half of the Irish population admit to having little to no knowledge of epilepsy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8984/21]

*987. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a pathway to be recruited as a vaccinator without registering with an agency (details supplied) for employees of the HSE who wish to register as a vaccinator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8985/21]

*988. To ask the Minister for Health the number of the recommendations of the Scally Report that have been implemented; if an itemised list will be provided of the recommendations that have

P.T.O 702 been completed and the expected completion date of recommendations yet to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Kelly. [8987/21]

*989. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department is still retaining the services of a person (details supplied) to oversee work on the recommendations of the Scally Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Kelly. [8988/21]

Chun an Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara: To the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

*990. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the trade assurance scheme for combinable crops scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe Flaherty. [8743/21]

*991. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the scheme to provide marts with up to €5,000 to assist with the installation of online bidding equipment is operational; the number of marts that have applied for support under the proposed scheme; the number of applications that have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [7885/21]

*992. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if concerns that Coillte forestry licensing applications are being prioritised ahead of private sector licensing applications will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [7889/21]

*993. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [7912/21]

*994. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which assistance will be given to Horse Sport Ireland which may be in a position to locate its headquarters (details supplied); if negotiations have taken place or are in the course thereof to assist the organisation with relocation which would be of major benefit to the horse sport industry and its future development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [7970/21]

*995. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost per green cert place; the additional cost of increasing places to meet the currently level of demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [7980/21]

*996. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a forestry licence application by a person (details supplied); if the application requires an ecology report; if the report will be provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Creed. [8006/21]

*997. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree felling licences awaiting a decision that require a Natura Impact Statement. — Sean Sherlock. [8036/21]

*998. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Natura Impact Statements requested from tree felling applicants by county in 2020, in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8037/21]

*999. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department monitors advertisements for the sale of puppies on websites such as a website (details supplied) or other 703 advertising websites to check that dog and puppy vendors are licensed as a registered breeding establishment or that the puppies offered for sale are from a licensed registered breeding establishment; if his Department has received reports in the past two years of unlicensed breeders or vendors offering puppies for sale; if so, the number of such reports; the number of inspections; and the number of prosecutions carried out by inspectors of his Department or other inspectors since 1 January 2019 of unlicensed breeders or vendors who are offering puppies for sale. — Paul Murphy. [8039/21]

*1000. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that organisations (details supplied) are presenting misleading information on their websites to the effect that greyhounds exported to China are still owned by persons in Ireland; if such sales or transfers of ownership from Ireland to China have been recorded in line with section 10 of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011; if prosecutions and or penalties have been imposed on persons who failed to comply with section 10 of the Act; if he will cease such exports to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Murphy. [8040/21]

*1001. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a TAMS application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jackie Cahill. [8065/21]

*1002. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a meeting will be arranged with a person (details supplied) to discuss the issuing of fishing licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [8067/21]

*1003. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 483 dated 21 January 2021, when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael McNamara. [8069/21]

*1004. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a review of a nitrates’ penalty in respect of a farmer (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [8070/21]

*1005. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address concerns that proposals for increasing co-financing for the second pillar of the CAP would most disadvantage the poorest farmers, less developed regions and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8115/21]

*1006. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has conducted an analysis of the trend of rural depopulation specifically with respect to the idea that the future of farming may involve the concentration of job creation around urban centres with resulting declines in rural service provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [8116/21]

*1007. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a TAMS grant application by a person (details supplied) submitted in summer 2020 will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Niall Collins. [8119/21]

*1008. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is confident that every foal is being issued with an equine passport; the checks and regulations being made to ensure that this is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — James Lawless. [8225/21]

P.T.O 704

*1009. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Rásaíocht Con Éireann covers the cost of vaccination, neutering and a pet passport before the greyhound is rehomed as part of the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust and funded through the Greyhound Care Fund. — Eoin Ó Broin. [8236/21]

*1010. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average age of a greyhound entering into the greyhound care centre under the Greyhound Care Fund; the measures in place to identify greyhounds that will not make racing grade; and the protocols in place to move them out of the industry and into the welfare area as soon as possible. — Eoin Ó Broin. [8237/21]

*1011. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Rásaíocht Con Éireann doping strategy continues to be non-intelligence led; the improvements made to the testing equipment and to the laboratory facilities following on from the Irish Greyhound Board anti-doping and medication review carried out by a person (details supplied) in 2015; and the protocols in place regarding transparency and reporting procedures for adverse analytical findings. — Eoin Ó Broin. [8238/21]

*1012. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to introduce grants for those farmers wishing to transition away from animal agriculture. — Paul Murphy. [8267/21]

*1013. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the preparations and actions his Department and all relevant agencies under his remit have taken to date to ensure the smooth introduction of regulation given the recent agreement by the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament on a proposal to update the control regulation for fishing activities in the EU and in particular relating to the geolocation and electronic logbook mandatory for small boats aspect of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8354/21]

*1014. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consult in an extensive and meaningful manner with industry well in advance of the implementation of regulations resulting from the proposal to update the control regulation for fishing activities in the EU given that recent agreement by the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament on a proposal to update the control regulation for fishing activities in the EU will impact hundreds of operators in the inshore sector and the potential challenges it presents for them including possessing the digital capacity to comply with such regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8355/21]

*1015. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to support the inshore sector in meeting challenges complying with the EU Fisheries Committee proposal to update the control regulation for fishing activities in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8356/21]

*1016. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the European Committee of the Regions proposal to promote the development of short supply chains and small- scale processing of agricultural products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8357/21]

*1017. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the European Committee of the Regions proposal for a gradual shift from a basic CAP payment per hectare to a basic payment linked to the number of active persons and for direct payments to be funnelled as a matter of priority to small and medium sized agroecological farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8358/21] 705

*1018. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on reopening the beef environmental efficiency programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [8359/21]

*1019. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a refund of a penalty for commonage will issue following an appeal by a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that the matter has been ongoing for several months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Ring. [8404/21]

*1020. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the refusal of Covid-19 assistance for shellfish operators (details supplied) will be examined; if funding will be expedited for the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [8408/21]

*1021. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of private forestry licences within the licensing system that have been screened out, in and completed ecological assessment; and if screened in, by type and county in tabular form. — Matt Carthy. [8538/21]

*1022. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of private forestry licences within the licensing system by licence type and county in tabular form. — Matt Carthy. [8539/21]

*1023. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will end the 30-month rule, the 70-day residency rule, the four-movement rule and break the cartel oligopoly in the beef sector. — Peadar Tóibín. [8652/21]

*1024. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent on the testing for and the eradication of TB in agriculture for each of the past ten years; the number of animals that have been killed as a result of TB for each of the past ten years; the number of these animals that were subsequently found to have TB or lesions for each of the past ten years; the reason it has not been sought to completely eradicate TB; and the estimated cost on farmers of the policy of testing and eradication of TB in each year. — Peadar Tóibín. [8653/21]

*1025. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the sale of cattle dosing products will not be taken off the agricultural merchants; and if he has estimated the economic damage to agricultural merchants of this proposed step in terms of jobs and turnover. — Peadar Tóibín. [8654/21]

*1026. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the proposed food ombudsman office will be established and operational; the number of staff the Food Ombudsman Office will have; the enforcement ability this office will have; and if this office will tackle the cartel that exists in the beef sector. — Peadar Tóibín. [8655/21]

*1027. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the carbon tax being charged on agriculture is being spent (details supplied); and if he will ensure that farmers have an alternative in order to reduce exposure to carbon taxes otherwise the tax is purely punitive. — Peadar Tóibín. [8656/21]

*1028. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that CAP payments are focused on productive farmers rather than non-active landowners. — Peadar Tóibín. [8657/21]

P.T.O 706

*1029. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that the revised REPS scheme reflects the value today of the initial reps scheme that existed in 1994; and if he will include reseeding for beef farms in this scheme. — Peadar Tóibín. [8658/21]

*1030. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that any financial aid to the beef sector does not have the outcome of reducing the price to the farmer (details supplied). — Peadar Tóibín. [8659/21]

*1031. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports that will be put in place to ensure there is targeted help for suckler farmers. — Peadar Tóibín. [8660/21]

*1032. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if matters will be addressed in relation to the sheep welfare scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [8745/21]

*1033. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide funding and other supports to the horse industry relative to the cost of vets and transport arising from Brexit as stock is moved to or through the UK adding up to 75% costs on transactions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John McGuinness. [8750/21]

*1034. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Government requested that point-to-point racing be discontinued under current regulations relating to Covid-19; if he will outline the specific risk profile associated with the sport compared to horse racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [8758/21]

*1035. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proportion of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development allocated to each NUTS 3 region in Ireland during the 2014-2020 programme; the proposed allocation to each NUTS 3 region during the 2021-2027 programme; and if the European Commission’s downgrading of the northern and western region has been taken into account in his Department’s planning for the 2021-2027 programme (details supplied). — Marian Harkin. [8843/21]

*1036. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proportion of the European Marine and Fisheries Fund allocated to each NUTS 3 region in Ireland during the 2014-2020 programme; the proposed allocation to each NUTS 3 region during the 2021-2027 programme; if the European Commission’s downgrading of the northern and western region has been taken into account in his Department’s planning for the 2021-2027 programme (details supplied). — Marian Harkin. [8844/21]

*1037. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he plans to take in response to recent media revelations outlining the current ease of which veterinary antimicrobial products may be improperly acquired in both the north and south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8850/21]

*1038. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the safeguards in place to ensure that veterinary practices adhere to all regulations when dispensing antimicrobial products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8851/21]

*1039. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of investigations carried out by the special investigations unit or its successor investigations division within his Department with regard to the supply of veterinary antimicrobial products in each of the years 707

2011 to date in 2021, by county in tabular form; the number of prosecutions carried out as a result of those investigations by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8852/21]

*1040. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time equivalent staff assigned to the special investigations unit or its successor investigations division within his Department in each of the years 2011 to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8853/21]

*1041. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the safeguards in place to ensure that veterinary prescriptions are only issued by vets to animals that are under their care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8854/21]

*1042. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine he communication he has had with his counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive with regard to ensuring regulations pertaining to the dispensing anti-microbial products are adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Matt Carthy. [8855/21]

*1043. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of entitlements under the basic payment scheme that are leased for a consecutive period of three, four and five years or greater; and the value in each of these cases. — Matt Carthy. [8856/21]

*1044. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of times the Beef Taskforce has met since it was established; the achievements of the Taskforce to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8871/21]

*1045. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the 30-month rule and four-movement rule for beef farmers and in particular the fact that the first of the four- movement rule is the birth of the calf; his views on whether this is fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8872/21]

*1046. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the 30-month rule imposed on beef farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8873/21]

*1047. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a review of an association (details supplied) will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8874/21]

*1048. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the powers the proposed food ombudsman will have and specifically in the case of beef production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8875/21]

*1049. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered setting up a beef regulator given the issues raised by farmers regarding beef prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8876/21]

*1050. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of beef imported into Ireland and the country of origin in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8877/21]

P.T.O 708

*1051. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider flexibility regarding the dates for the BEEP scheme given farmers are under pressure to have animals weighed in time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [8878/21]

*1052. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8885/21]

*1053. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States administration. — Sean Sherlock. [8905/21]

*1054. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the proposed location for a centre of excellence representing Horse Sport Ireland; his views on the necessity for its location in a prominent horse industry location in which it can visibly develop as required (details supplied); if he will encourage the use of such prominent and established locations as the location for the onward development of the industry; if he has received a request for funding in this regard; his views and plans in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8963/21]

*1055. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that will be implemented to address the difficulties for the mushroom, horticulture and nursery sectors due to the difficulties arising from the cessation of peat production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [8989/21]

*1056. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next meeting of the Beef Taskforce will take place; the agenda for the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [8990/21]

Chun an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail: To the Minister for Rural and Community Development.

*1057. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding the local improvements scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — James Browne. [7914/21]

*1058. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the procedures available for persons who wish to complain about standards operating in puppy farms. — Jim O’Callaghan. [7926/21]

*1059. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of dog licences that have issued in each of the past five years by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Ring. [8000/21]

*1060. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when funding for the local improvement scheme will be allocated to local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [8044/21]

*1061. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department continues to monitor urban and rural community activity with a view to addressing 709 issues arising from Covid-19, Brexit or other reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8602/21]

*1062. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has received applications for various forms of support available from her Department in respect of urban and or rural communities; the extent of the assistance offered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8603/21]

*1063. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if, in the course of discussions with urban and rural communities, her Department has devised a means of addressing issues arising such as isolation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8604/21]

*1064. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the full extent of funding approved by her Department in respect of applications from community urban or rural groups; if she expects to be in a position to offer support to potential applicants in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8605/21]

*1065. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications on hand in respect of the community enhancement programme; the extent to which she expects to be in a position to respond positively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8606/21]

*1066. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent of support from her Department through the public participation network for various groups and communities around the country over the past 12 months; her future proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8607/21]

*1067. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which she and her Department can interface with various community groups to address issues of IT deficiency and connectivity; her future plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8608/21]

*1068. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has engaged with local authorities in the context of delivery of community-based services or requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8609/21]

*1069. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department have interacted with the voluntary sector in the past 12 months; her proposals for the future in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8610/21]

*1070. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department continue to address issues of social inclusion and isolation in every sense; her Department’s programme of activity for the future in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8611/21]

*1071. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has supported various communities throughout the country through the Leader programme in the past year; her current engagements and future proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8612/21]

P.T.O 710

*1072. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which applications under the town and village renewal scheme originating in County Kildare have been submitted to her Department for consideration in 2021; if adequate resources remain available to her to address the subject adequately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8613/21]

*1073. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which applications under the town and village renewal scheme have been submitted to her Department for consideration in 2021; if adequate resources remain available to her to address the subject adequately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8614/21]

*1074. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to address issues affecting island inhabitants and their quality of life on the islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [8615/21]

*1075. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by her Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [8898/21]

*1076. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there has been any contact with her counterpart in the United States administration. — Sean Sherlock. [8918/21]

Wt. ___. 255. 2/21. Essentra. (86546). Gr. 30-15 Printed on re-cycled paper.