DÁIL ÉIREANN

Déardaoin, 1 Iúil, 2021 Thursday, 1st July, 2021

CEISTEANNA QUESTIONS

49 DÁIL ÉIREANN 2989 Déardaoin, 1 Iúil, 2021 Thursday, 1st July, 2021

CEISTEANNA I gCOMHAIR FREAGRA Ó BHÉAL QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

CEISTEANNA AR SONRAÍODH UAIN DÓIBH QUESTIONS NOMINATED FOR PRIORITY

Chun an Aire Oideachais: To the Minister for Education.

1. To ask the Minister for Education the way she will address the longstanding shortage of school transport places across the State; if she has engaged in capacity planning; and her views on whether it will be possible that each child who wants a place on a bus will receive a place. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [35282/21]

2. To ask the Minister for Education the steps she has taken to achieve pay equality and pension entitlements for school secretaries in accordance with the commitments given by Government. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [35283/21]

3. To ask the Minister for Education if she will include the CHO1 area in the extension of the pilot of the school inclusion model. — . [35291/21]

CEISTEANNA EILE OTHER QUESTIONS

Chun an Aire Oideachais: To the Minister for Education.

4. To ask the Minister for Education her plans to increase the provision of multi-use sports halls in primary and post-primary schools; the annual allocations approved nationally for multiuse sports halls, general purpose halls and physical education facilities from 2019; the details of similar projects in County Mayo currently under consideration by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35173/21]

5. To ask the Minister for Education the status of a school development (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — James O’Connor. [35270/21]

6. To ask the Minister for Education if the consultation process in relation to the DEIS programme will be completed at an early date in view of the need to give further consideration to the applications from schools for inclusion in the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [35308/21]

7. To ask the Minister for Education the progress of a permanent building for a school (details supplied). — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [35382/21]

8. To ask the Minister for Education the number of engagements that have taken place with the landowner of a proposed new school site (details supplied), if there has been engagement

P.T.O 2990 with Council planners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35347/21]

9. To ask the Minister for Education if she will consider a review of the structure of the leaving certificate examinations to look at the longer term changes that can be made to lessen the stress of the examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Mick Barry. [34793/21]

10. To ask the Minister for Education if it will be possible for school recreation facilities to be used for community purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [35257/21]

11. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019; her plans to proceed with the Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [34788/21]

12. To ask the Minister for Education the reason a person (details supplied) cannot get assistive technology assistance to help with their education going forward. — . [35110/21]

13. To ask the Minister for Education her plans to further support digital online learning for primary and secondary schools including to develop a new digital strategy for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Niamh Smyth. [35401/21]

14. To ask the Minister for Education the expected capacity on buses within the school transport service in September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35167/21]

15. To ask the Minister for Education her position on the choice of devices selected by secondary schools for students; and if guidelines around type, costs and usage of same will be further developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [34945/21]

16. To ask the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the loss of a teaching post in a school (details supplied) since the 2019-2020 school year that resulted in an increase in class size due to the amalgamation of classes; if she will review this decision in view of the Programme for Government commitment to reduce class sizes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35174/21]

17. To ask the Minister for Education if she will consider extending the current flexible grading for future leaving certificate students up to at least 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35281/21]

18. To ask the Minister for Education her plans to provide additional education facilities at both primary and post primary level in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Paul McAuliffe. [35329/21]

19. To ask the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 824 of 15 June 2021, the status of the promised review of the policy on reading classes and schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35376/21]

20. Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais céard é an próiséas ar faoi a dhéanfar cinneadh maidir leis an moladh atá ann dhá shonraíocht éagsúla T1 agus T2 a bheith ann do shiollabas Ghaeilge na 2991 hArdteistiméireachta; cén uair a dhéanfar an cinneadh sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [34176/21]

21. To ask the Minister for Education if a decision and plan will be put in place in relation to the way that leaving certificate 2022 will be held over the coming weeks in order that teachers, students and parents will know the position when they return to school in September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [34787/21]

22. To ask the Minister for Education if plans for the delivery of a school (details supplied) can be expedited given the pressing need for additional school places in Rush, County Dublin. — Louise O’Reilly. [35272/21]

23. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the progression of capital building works that are currently underway and those that are applied for in County Clare. — . [35275/21]

24. To ask the Minister for Education the options available to the board of a school (details supplied) to retain its fourth classroom teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [34568/21]

25. To ask the Minister for Education the protection of grade inflation that is anticipated in 2021, if any in leaving certificate results; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [35408/21]

26. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the commencement of a school building project (details supplied) which is due to commence on 1 July 2021; if this is the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35116/21]

27. Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais cad iad na céimeanna a ghlacfaidh sí chun a chinntiú go mbeidh go leor múinteoirí nua-cháilithe ann a mbeidh Gaeilge den chaighdeán is gá acu chun gur féidir leo freastal ar riachtanais bhunscoileanna an Stáit. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [35286/21]

28. To ask the Minister for Education the reason that quotas on primary school teacher training are applied to public institutes of higher education but not private colleges; the steps she is taking to rectify the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [35407/21]

29. To ask the Minister for Education the progress to date in finalising the consultation process in relation to the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [35307/21]

30. To ask the Minister for Education her Department’s plans for the leaving certificate 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [35294/21]

31. To ask the Minister for Education if she will report on plans to restructure the leaving certificate examinations given the substantial loss in face to face teaching time in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Mick Barry. [34792/21]

32. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the strands of the summer provision programme in 2021; the details of measures to increase participation on account of exceptional

P.T.O 2992 challenges posed by Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [35108/21]

33. To ask the Minister for Education the supports provided to Irish language schools to promote the use of Irish, including strengthening of partnerships between schools and Gaeltacht communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35400/21]

34. To ask the Minister for Education if clarity will be provided on the future of the leaving certificate grading process; and if the practice of school profiling will resume post-pandemic. — Peadar Tóibín. [34498/21]

35. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the school transport review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Moynihan. [35406/21]

36. To ask the Minister for Education the policy on mental health support services in primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [35171/21]

37. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the building of a new school building for a school (details supplied). — Thomas Gould. [35258/21]

38. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated total cost and capital being made available for the construction of a school (details supplied). — Brian Stanley. [34715/21]

39. To ask the Minister for Education her plans to address the shortage of secondary school places for children in the catchment area surrounding Milltown, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [35295/21]

40. To ask the Minister for Education the efforts she has made in respect of implementing a review of the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; if this will be a full legislative review; if it will update all of the provisions within the Act to better reflect the contemporary understanding of disability and best practice for inclusive education as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; if the review will investigate the underlying rationale as to the reason outstanding provisions were not implemented; if she will establish a working roadmap to fully implement and update the Act which will include appropriate resourcing and costings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35352/21]

41. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the school bus transport scheme issue that has been repeatedly identified in County Clare in particular the concessionary ticket issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Violet-Anne Wynne. [35349/21]

42. Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais cén uair a chomhlíonfaidh sí an gealltanas a tugadh do scoileanna Uíbh Ráthach go mbronnfar stádas eisceachtúil orthu mar chosaint in aghaidh a ndúnta agus deis a thabhairt don cheantar Gaeltachta seo chun fáis agus teaghlaigh a bhfuil páistí óga acu a mhealladh chuig an gceantar. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [35285/21]

43. To ask the Minister for Education the policy on mental health support services in post- primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [35170/21]

44. To ask the Minister for Education if confirmation will be given to a school (details supplied) of the location of its temporary school in September 2021; if she will ensure that the 2993 temporary school will be in the catchment area of the school; the location of the permanent site; when the permanent site will be ready; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35267/21]

45. To ask the Minister for Education if she will review the DEIS band classification of a school (details supplied); if she will allow for a reassessment of this particular school; and if this has been an issue for other schools nationally. — Violet-Anne Wynne. [35350/21]

46. To ask the Minister for Education if she will issue a circular to schools to allow the live broadcast of lessons to leaving certificate students outside the school building who will not be able to physically return to school with their peers due to the need to cocoon due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [35169/21]

47. To ask the Minister for Education her views on whether students who are forced to apply for a concessionary place on school transportation should have to pay for these places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [32413/21]

48. To ask the Minister for Education the scale of programmes supported by the education excellence fund; and if she has plans to expand this method of funding of innovation. — . [34507/21]

49. To ask the Minister for Education the status of an application for a new school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — James O’Connor. [35269/21]

50. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the provision of ASD units and multi- disability classrooms in County Clare. — Cathal Crowe. [35276/21]

51. To ask the Minister for Education status of the new permanent build for a college (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Paul McAuliffe. [35330/21]

52. To ask the Minister for Education if she will authorise the establishment of a school (details supplied) to restore the choice of parents and pupils to continue second-level education in the Irish language, a facility that existed in west County Cork for some 14-15 years from 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Christopher O’Sullivan. [35289/21]

53. To ask the Minister for Education the steps her Department is taking to combat the scam telephone calls and text messages that are being received in relation to her Department’s services. — . [35384/21]

54. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which special needs requirements as set out by the relevant school authorities continue to be met in full at primary and second-level schools throughout the country including County Kildare; if any particular delays are being experienced in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35278/21]

55. To ask the Minister for Education the outcome of discussion with representatives of school secretaries; if further discussion is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [34946/21]

56. To ask the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 343 of 13 June 2021, the status of the workshops on the promotion of wellbeing and resilience in schools which

P.T.O 2994 includes trauma informed approaches; and if a national roll-out of these workshops are still planned for the next academic year. — . [35389/21]

57. To ask the Minister for Education the number of schools that have signed up for the enhanced summer July provision programme for children with additional educational needs; the reason her Department did not announce the details of the programme until mid-May impacting on the time for school planning and parents’ ability to source tutors; if she will consider implementing a review of the programme with a view to incorporating long-term planning which avoids schemes being developed and announced last minute as is the case at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [35353/21]

58. To ask the Minister for Education if it will be ensured that a primary school (details supplied) is provided with a SNA allocation and SET hours to meet its needs in September 2021. — . [35177/21]

59. To ask the Minister for Education if she will reconsider the criteria for places on school transportation in which the student is unable to avail of their closest school due to special needs or due to the fact that the closest school is oversubscribed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pa Daly. [32412/21]

60. To ask the Minister for Education if she will meet with parents and teacher representatives in the Clondalkin area of Dublin 22 to discuss the crisis in secondary school places for the coming academic year; her plans to accommodate children from the area who cannot access any of the secondary schools in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [34947/21]

61. To ask the Minister for Education the status of proposed building works for a school (details supplied); the stage of capital appraisal the school is at; the likely timeline to progress; the status of the teacher allocation appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [35172/21]

62. To ask the Minister for Education if she will consider taking action to reduce class sizes in primary schools in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Peadar Tóibín. [34499/21]

63. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the installation of prefabs in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [34833/21]

64. To ask the Minister for Education the progress that has been made on the promised review of the impact of the provision of section 62(10)(b) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 in November 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [34786/21]

65. To ask the Minister for Education the additional and total number of SNAs allocated to schools in the Clondalkin and Lucan catchment area for the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Gino Kenny. [34948/21]

66. To ask the Minister for Education the number of engagements that have taken place with the landowner of a proposed new school site (details supplied), if there has been engagement with the council planners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Aindrias Moynihan. [35346/21] 2995

67. To ask the Minister for Education the timeline for the expected beginning and completion of construction work at a school (details supplied). — Brian Stanley. [34714/21]

68. To ask the Minister for Education if she plans to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [35414/21]

69. To ask the Minister for Education the extent of the delay in planning for the transfer of a school (details supplied) to the existing building of another school for the start of the new academic year in September 2021; and the extent of the delay in planning for the transfer of the school to the existing building of the other school. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [34790/21]

70. To ask the Minister for Education the actions she will take regarding the scale of the issues with the leaving certificate oral exams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [35413/21]

71. To ask the Minister for Education if she will work with a school (details supplied) to ensure the acquisition by her Department of a building for a specific ASD unit and as a school hall; if not, if confirmation will be given that the school will have an ASD unit and will be allowed to rent the building for same while a deal is worked out between her Department and the parish to purchase the building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Boyd Barrett. [35266/21]

72. To ask the Minister for Education if she will consider a demand-based school transport scheme rather than a geographical based scheme to allow for all students to be catered for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [35262/21]

73. To ask the Minister for Education if children with special educational needs in special schools who traditionally availed of two weeks’ school provision and 20 hours home tuition as part of the summer provision programme will retain this level of support in 2021. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [35381/21]

74. To ask the Minister for Education the steps she has taken to address the challenges facing teaching principals in smaller schools who manage special classes. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [35378/21]

75. Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais cén cúnamh atá ann do mhúinteoirí i meánscoileanna Ghaeltacht na nOileán, idir mheantóir, liúntas agus araile. — Mairéad Farrell. [33303/21]

76. To ask the Minister for Education if students completing State examinations in 2022 have the option of bereavement leave or exceptional circumstances during their written exams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Gary Gannon. [35394/21]

77. To ask the Minister for Education if she will provide clarity on the accreditation of the national training programme for SNAs at UCD. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [35380/21]

78. To ask the Minister for Education the preparations that are been made to progress children with special needs from primary schools to secondary schools. — Joan Collins. [35385/21]

79. To ask the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 156 of 13 May 2021, the engagement she has had in the 2020-2021 academic year with representatives of DEIS schools who, while the schools were closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, incurred considerable

P.T.O 2996 costs due to the necessity to regularly post hard-copy educational materials to students who had little or no access to online learning; the analysis her Department has carried out to-date into providing compensation to these schools for the posts costs incurred; the plans that are in place to prevent similar costs being borne by schools, in the case of any future school closures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [35290/21]

80. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the review of the senior cycle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. [35402/21]

81. To ask the Minister for Education if she will intervene to ensure that a school (details supplied) does not lose a teacher in the next academic year due to being one pupil short of the retention figure. — Gary Gannon. [35387/21]

82. To ask the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the serious challenges related to the provision of secondary school places for September 2021 in Greystones, County Wicklow; the steps she will take to ensure that the solutions offered are future proofed to avoid the same issues in the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Steven Matthews. [35175/21]

83. To ask the Minister for Education the timeline for the publication of the new relationship and sexual educations programme; the status of same versus any other relationship and sexual education programme; if it will be a mandatory curriculum as opposed to a discretionary one in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [35107/21]

84. To ask the Minister for Education the policy of her Department in relation the requirements of national school children with severe dyslexia with regard to extra reading class groups and SET hours in the classroom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Joe Carey. [34569/21]

85. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the school meals and hot school meals programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35405/21]

86. To ask the Minister for Education if SENOs are required to make a visit to schools in September 2021 as part of the SNA exceptional reviews for post-secondary schools; if there will be a knock-on effect in relation to when schools will be able to hire SNAs resulting in resources not being present in schools at the time students enter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Gary Gannon. [35386/21]

87. To ask the Minister for Education if there has been any update in relation to the provision of funding for the construction of a PE hall for which planning permission has already been granted for a school (details supplied). — Louise O’Reilly. [35271/21]

88. To ask the Minister for Education if she has plans to accelerate the delivery of senior cycle reform. — Richard Bruton. [34506/21]

89. To ask the Minister for Education when her Department will initiate its review of reading classes and reading schools for children and young persons with special needs; what the terms of reference will be; when she estimates that the review will be concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Marc Ó Cathasaigh. [35293/21] 2997

90. To ask the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will vacate its temporary site not later than after one year’s duration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [35117/21]

91. To ask the Minister for Education the way she is encouraging active travel to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [35178/21]

92. To ask the Minister for Education her views on the possibility of there being no public single sex secondary education option on the northside of Cork city. — Thomas Gould. [35259/21]

93. To ask the Minister for Education the way in which she will resolve any unfair marking down of students’ grades in their leaving certificate oral examinations. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [35379/21]

94. To ask the Minister for Education if a standard ventilation system is recommended for schools; if schools have been supported by a grant to install pandemic ventilation; and if there are checks by the Health and Safety Authority to ensure these systems are up to standard. — Joan Collins. [35351/21]

95. To ask the Minister for Education the number of persons who have benefited from the parent’s benefit per county since its introduction and since its expansion in April 2021. — Emer Higgins. [35383/21]

96. To ask the Minister for Education the number of primary schools in the State that had only one classroom teacher, that is, the principal of the school during the school year 2020-2021; if she plans adopting a policy that all schools no matter their size will have two classroom teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [34175/21]

97. To ask the Minister for Education the details of the promised catch up fund; the amount that has been put aside for same; the use it will be put to; and when the funds will be available. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [34789/21]

98. To ask the Minister for Education the steps she plans to take to cater for the increasing numbers of special needs pupils at primary level; if she has assessed the impact of the curtailment of supports for such children as a result of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [35168/21]

99. To ask the Minister for Education if all school staff will be vaccinated ahead of the next academic year; if she is communicating with the Department of Health to ensure same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Gary Gannon. [35388/21]

100. To ask the Minister for Education if she will investigate the obstacles facing a qualified teacher (details supplied) who holds qualifications from outside of Ireland but who is unable to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland to teach at post-primary level; if she will engage with the Teaching Council of Ireland to ensure that the teacher registration process is both transparent and efficient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Marc Ó Cathasaigh. [35292/21]

101. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which her Department continues to respond expeditiously to requests for new schools or extensions to existing schools at primary and second- level throughout the country including County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35277/21]

P.T.O 2998

CEISTEANNA AR SONRAÍODH UAIN DÓIBH QUESTIONS NOMINATED FOR PRIORITY

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

102. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason she is proposing a move away from the not-for-profit model which currently exists for contracted employment services, local employment services and job clubs to a payment by results model as per the recent tender launched by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35200/21]

103. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of proposed public tendering of local employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Sean Sherlock. [35630/21]

104. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to issues communities and organisations are facing in filling community employment places; if so, if she will consider removing limitations on the length of time those aged over 55 years can spend on a community employment scheme, especially in cases in which there is no one there to replace them as a solution to the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [35201/21]

105. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of disability for persons and families as committed to in the Programme for Government. — Gary Gannon. [35631/21]

106. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be reviewed as workers return to work; if the payment will remain open beyond 1 July 2021; and if workers who return to work on fewer hours or on a reduced hourly rate of pay will retain their payment level based on their weekly pay pre-March 2020. — Joan Collins. [35754/21]

CEISTEANNA EILE OTHER QUESTIONS

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

107. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to cases whereby persons currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment are offered short-term, temporary work; if they will be allowed return to the payment following the completion of this work; if not, if they will they be required to apply for jobseeker’s allowance; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the latter may act as a disincentive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Steven Matthews. [35268/21]

108. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress on the provision of pensions for community employment scheme supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [35338/21]

109. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated costing of removing the 13-week requalification period for those persons on partial capacity benefit; and the status of removing the 13-week anomaly by early intervention and referral. — Gary Gannon. [35390/21]

110. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to cases whereby full-time musicians who are currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment due to the ongoing closure of their industry are receiving phone calls from social welfare officers to ask if they have considered moving to the jobseeker’s payment; if this is an operational procedure by 2999 her Department; if all persons in receipt of pandemic unemployment payments are likely to receive such a call; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Steven Matthews. [34832/21]

111. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has initiated the drawing up of legislation in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to develop anti-victimisation and blacklisting legislation within six months further to the recommendation in the report of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands entitled, Examination of Bogus Self-Employment, published on 16 June 2021; and if so, when this legislation will be published. — Joan Collins. [35331/21]

112. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if in the event of longer restrictions in the matter of the pandemic, she will commit to increasing expenditure on the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [31891/21]

113. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of pension entitlements for community employment supervisors. — Sean Sherlock. [35357/21]

114. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she plans to publish the poverty impact assessment of the reduced rates of jobseeker’s for young persons in consideration of the serious inadequacy of these rates and the impact of the pandemic on youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [35179/21]

115. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the profit-focused approach set out in a tender for the expansion of local employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [35409/21]

116. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the treatment of seasonal workers who had not returned to work prior to the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020; the way her Department plans to deal with these cases into the future given the severe reduction in contributions made due to their loss of employment due to Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [35297/21]

117. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 489 of 10 February 2020, the steps which she has taken to address the plight of workers as outlined in the correspondence referenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [34172/21]

118. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures being taken to ensure continuance of face to face appointments for the public with community welfare officers given the importance of this service continuing and not being on a virtual office basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Aindrias Moynihan. [35345/21]

119. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider not reducing the pandemic unemployment payment given the level of poverty experienced by those on social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Mick Barry. [34794/21]

120. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she plans to take in order to introduce a cost of disability as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [35181/21]

P.T.O 3000

121. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has examined the estimated number of persons who will remain on the pandemic unemployment payment by September 2021 and who will therefore see a reduction in their payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [35182/21]

122. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has met with or engaged with employers in particular with small business owners who are experiencing difficulties with staff recruitment allegedly due to the fact that persons are reluctant to come off the pandemic unemployment payment. — Peadar Tóibín. [34501/21]

123. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the level of funding allocated to local employment services and jobs clubs in 2019 and 2020. — Brian Stanley. [35008/21]

124. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures she will take to tackle the crisis of youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Mick Barry. [34795/21]

125. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to’ develop a carer’s guarantee proposal that will provide a core basket of services to carer’s across the country regardless of where they live. — Holly Cairns. [35288/21]

126. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person in their 80s who has been in receipt of the State pension (contributory) and a qualified adult increase for nearly 20 years and whose spouse is the qualified adult and is also in their 80s has received a means text request from her Department; if this is a random review; if so, if the procedure will be reviewed that allows those over 80 to be randomly reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Boyd Barrett. [35265/21]

127. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered increasing the role of local employment services and jobs clubs as part of the plan to tackle increased unemployment rates for younger persons. — Brian Stanley. [35009/21]

128. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to extend provision of rent supplement for survivors of domestic abuse beyond 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [35180/21]

129. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the capacity the social insurance fund has to support workers in the face of new challenges in the work, life environment; and the way this can best be harnessed. — Richard Bruton. [34509/21]

130. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing the WALK PEER employment support service model nationally; and her views on the overall use and efficacy of the programme. — Violet-Anne Wynne. [35361/21]

131. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications from airline workers for assistance since April 2021; and the percentage of applications that were successful. — Sean Sherlock. [35360/21]

132. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the thresholds for earnings in relation to qualification for the carer’s allowance can be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [35090/21] 3001

133. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the action she will take to account for the ruling from McDonagh versus the Chief Appeals Officer and the Minister for Social Protection. — Patrick Costello. [34754/21]

134. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps her Department is taking to combat the scam telephone calls and text messages that are being received in relation to her Department’s services. — Emer Higgins. [35417/21]

135. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding requirements to apply a detail-orientated approach to ensure the removal of the pandemic unemployment payment recognising the need to balance potential labour shortages across the services sector and the protection of employees lives and livelihoods; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — James O’Connor. [35273/21]

136. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason Covid-19 support payments for workers are to be cut; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Murphy. [30408/21]

137. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the role labour activation measures can play in the post-Covid recovery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [35296/21]

138. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the latest figures for youth unemployment; the action that is being taken to tackle the unprecedented levels of youth unemployment that have emerged during the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. [29301/21]

139. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for rent supplement for 2020 and to date in 2021. — Sean Sherlock. [35358/21]

140. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has read the recent NESC report on the self-employed. — Denis Naughten. [34171/21]

141. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 15 of 26 May 2021, the timeline for when the report will be made available; her views on whether it will be available in time to inform Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Gary Gannon. [35391/21]

142. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid out in supplementary welfare for 2020 and to date in 2021; and the areas of payment per county in tabular form. — Sean Sherlock. [35359/21]

143. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which her Department continues to respond expeditiously to applications for various social welfare payments some of which may be Covid-related and some otherwise; if she will ensure that the response is in line with the urgency of the particular case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35279/21]

144. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she plans changing the system in which there is a euro per euro deduction in relation to payments of jobseeker’s allowance for those with self- employment outside of farming and fishing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [34174/21]

P.T.O 3002

145. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to meet with representatives of local employment job schemes in relation to the proposed tendering of services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [34949/21]

146. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects appeals against various social welfare decisions to be facilitated in early date including oral hearings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35280/21]

147. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is drafting plans to tackle youth unemployment with specific focus on those not in education, employment or training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Louise O’Reilly. [29937/21]

148. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have benefited from the parent’s benefit since its introduction and since its expansion in April 2021 by county. — Emer Higgins. [35416/21]

149. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of the Total Contributions Approach 2012 review for those effected by the 2012 rate band changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [35334/21]

150. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has initiated the process to establish a dedicated and appropriately resourced employment status unit in the Workplace Relations Commission to examine and provide determinations on employment status regardless of whether they relate to social Insurance, employment or tax obligations as recommended in the report by the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands in its Examination of Bogus Self-Employment of 16 June 2021. — Joan Collins. [35299/21]

151. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to expand the free travel scheme for Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Gary Gannon. [35392/21]

152. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will further extend the domestic violence emergency rent supplement scheme past the end of 2021 and consider continuing the scheme on a permanent basis in a post-Covid Ireland. — Marian Harkin. [35377/21]

153. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the scale of developmental interventions which she views will be necessary in the post-Covid-19 environment; and the innovations she is considering in their delivery. — Richard Bruton. [34508/21]

154. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has initiated the process to amend the Workplace Relations Act 2015 given the publication by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands of its report on the Examination of Bogus Self-Employment report on 16 June 2021 (details supplied). — Joan Collins. [35332/21]

155. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to develop a pension solution for family carers that recognises their important work. — Holly Cairns. [35287/21]

156. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps her Department is taking to combat the scam telephone calls and text messages that are being received in relation to her Department’s services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [35091/21] 3003

157. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the eligibility criteria in the back of education allowance and jobseeker’s allowance and payment in terms of part-time education to ensure persons on part-time courses are not excluded from both; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Rose Conway-Walsh. [35410/21]

158. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the efforts she has made in respect of implementing a total contribution approach to the contributory pension system; when this system will be introduced; if this will include a provision for credited contributions that ensures that persons who take time out of the workforce to care for children and loved ones are not disadvantaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [35355/21]

159. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will continue past September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Christopher O’Sullivan. [30181/21]

160. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her review of the local employment services will include a new tendering process. — Sean Sherlock. [35356/21]

161. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress on the launch and implementation of the Pathways to Work strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cathal Crowe. [35340/21]

162. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way her Department will process applications for various social protection payments that require certificates such as birth or death registration given that the recent cyber-attack seems to be impacting the ability to obtain these documents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [34950/21]

163. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans in ensuring post-pandemic jobs schemes focus on ensuring quality employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Ruairí Ó Murchú. [35415/21]

164. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current number of claimants on the pandemic unemployment payment; the steps she plans taking to ensure that workers in the sectors of the economy that will be slowest to recover from the Covid-19 crisis are protected from a sudden change in the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [34173/21]

165. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if State supports will be extended beyond 19 July 2021 to persons unable to return to work due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [35263/21]

166. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 854 of 15 June 2021, her plans to defer the 13-week requalification period for partial capacity benefit until after the Covid-19 pandemic period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [35304/21]

167. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the hot meals pilot to reach more children and schools that are under the school meals programme.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire. [35284/21]

168. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment whose payment is reduced to the €203 on 7 September 2021 or the subsequent two dates

P.T.O 3004 will be moved to jobseeker’s allowance rather than stay on the payment at the relevant rate; her views on the way this can be justified given the payment is not a jobseeker’s allowance payment but a payment for those whose incomes or jobs continue to be impacted by public health restrictions, such as taxi drivers, musicians and those in the entertainment industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Boyd Barrett. [35264/21]

169. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a gradual tapering of the pandemic unemployment payment will be put in place to protect income if workers are returning to less hours or less pay from their employer than they had before the pandemic in view of the fact that the reopening of workplaces is very precarious especially with the delta variant and potential future variants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Joan Collins. [35348/21]

170. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the cost of disability payment will be introduced as committed to in the Programme for Government; the status on the measurement and implementation of the cost of disability payment generally. — Violet-Anne Wynne. [35362/21]

171. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the plans in place to tackle youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. [35343/21]

172. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of measures to address anomalies in the homemaker’s scheme for those who provided the majority of their caring prior to 1994; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [35333/21]

173. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the outcome of calculations of all new State pension contributory applications from April 2019 who were assessed under all possible rate calculation methods including the new total contributions approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [35335/21]

174. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the marriage requirement in existing legislation in order to qualify for the widow’s pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [35183/21]

175. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the take-up of the enhanced carer’s support grant for 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Moynihan. [35342/21]

176. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the take-up of parent’s leave and parent’s benefit since the extension was announced on 1 April 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [35336/21]

177. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the engagement that has been had with the Minister for Finance to ensure that adult dependant recipients who are 80 years and over an increase for a qualified adult are included for increase of payment which presently is only available to State pension recipients over 80 years and over; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Aindrias Moynihan. [35344/21]

178. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the target processing time for schemes under her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [34170/21]

179. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to acknowledge the phenomenal work done by carers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. — Thomas Gould. [35260/21] 3005

180. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the analysis her Department has carried out into the impact of the change to the new regional employment service model on local employment services and jobs clubs; the details on the second phase of the tender process; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [35305/21]

181. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for the school meals programme over the summer and the extension of the hot school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Paul McAuliffe. [35337/21]

182. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a report (details supplied) which was commissioned in October 2019 and was originally to be submitted to her Department by quarter 1 of 2020 has been submitted; the timeframe for the publication of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pauline Tully. [35354/21]

183. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason no proof of unemployment was required when persons were applying for the pandemic unemployment payment; and the number of instances of fraud or attempted fraud in relation to the payment that were reported to her Department. — Peadar Tóibín. [34500/21]

184. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff in her Department that are working remotely on a permanent basis; the number working from home; the number working from a remote hub; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [34169/21]

CEISTEANNA LE hAGHAIDH FREAGRAÍ SCRÍOFA QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide: To the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.

*185. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if information will be provided on the notifications or directions submitted by his Department to An Bord Pleanála in view of the policy statement on the importation of fracked gas produced on 18 May 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [35425/21]

*186. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the policy statement on the importation of fracked gas, including a current ban on liquefied natural gas terminals pending a security review in view of An Bord Pleanála’s decision to permit an application for planning from a proposed liquefied natural gas development (details supplied) as a strategic infrastructure project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Whitmore. [35427/21]

*187. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the warmer homes scheme will currently consider applications from pensioners that are on qualifying payments, have medical conditions, other than respiratory in nature, but have had previous minor work done under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [35451/21]

*188. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage breakdown of the work done under the energy efficiency schemes administrated by the SEAI between work categorised as shallow, deep and deep heat by the SEAI since 2010, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [35452/21]

P.T.O 3006

*189. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the SEAI can consider a person (details supplied) for inclusion in the warmer home schemes despite having had some minor energy efficiency work completed some years ago; if consideration is given to the health and age of such applicants and the nature and limitations of any previous work done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [35453/21]

*190. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of recent power outages in the Rush and Lusk areas of north County Dublin; the frequency and reason for these outages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [35498/21]

*191. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the provision of an annual support towards the cost of pay by weight bin changes for homes which have a family member using incontinence pads; the options open to families whose waste contractors have never been contacted regarding the annual support of €75 per person to be made available for persons with lifelong or long-term medical incontinence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [35606/21]

*192. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is considering changes to the Electronic Commerce Act 2000 to allow the use of digital signatures on documents in property transactions; and the status of this proposal. — Eoin Ó Broin. [35619/21]

*193. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it is planned to provide incentives such as low interest loans or other incentives to businesses to encourage them to invest in the offshore renewable energy business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35763/21]

Chun an Aire Iompair: To the Minister for Transport.

*194. To ask the Minister for Transport if the full amount allocated under the alternatively fuelled heavy duty vehicle purchase grant scheme has been distributed to applicants; if not, the amount that remains to be distributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [35432/21]

*195. To ask the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will receive a driver test appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [35512/21]

*196. To ask the Minister for Transport if a driver theory test can be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pearse Doherty. [35515/21]

*197. To ask the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will receive a driver test appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pearse Doherty. [35516/21]

*198. To ask the Minister for Transport the reason an area (details supplied) does not have a summer service; if the matter will be re-examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [35616/21]

*199. To ask the Minister for Transport the status of a driver test application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [35623/21] 3007

*200. To ask the Minister for Transport the process for persons to obtain the EU Digital COVID Certificate; if persons will receive their certificate in advance of 19 July 2021; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Darren O’Rourke. [35633/21]

*201. To ask the Minister for Transport the pass rate at each NCT test centre for the most recent annual report; the reason for the variation in pass rates between centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Smith. [35702/21]

*202. To ask the Minister for Transport if he plans to amend the law to allow taxi drivers have licensed taxi vehicles that are up to 12 years old in view of the financial difficulties caused by the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35756/21]

Chun an Aire Airgeadais: To the Minister for Finance.

*203. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of forensic accountants employed by the Revenue Commissioners in 2020; and the associated wage costs. — Mairéad Farrell. [35446/21]

*204. To ask the Minister for Finance the VAT implications for a registered charity building an animal shelter as a new build; if exemptions are available on the VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Boyd Barrett. [35448/21]

*205. To ask the Minister for Finance if a vehicle purchased by an organisation (details supplied) to transport persons to medical appointments and hospitals and so on will be included in the exemptions from VRT and VAT available to ambulances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael McNamara. [35449/21]

*206. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will extend the employment wage subsidy scheme for aviation workers until the return of widespread air travel and incomes of workers in the sector recover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Cian O’Callaghan. [35589/21]

*207. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some travel agents have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under the reopening of non-essential retail that they no longer qualify for the Covid restrictions support scheme despite not being able to trade due to non-essential travel (details supplied); his plans to address this anomaly; if it will be ensured that travel agents under such circumstances will remain eligible for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [35596/21]

*208. To ask the Minister for Finance the volume of SBCI lending to SMEs through the retail banks for each of the years 2015 to 2020, by financial institution in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [35600/21]

*209. To ask the Minister for Finance when a person (details supplied) will receive a response to an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [35701/21]

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

*210. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown by Department of the allocations to be received from the €1.05 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve in tabular form. — Mairéad Farrell. [35526/21]

P.T.O 3008

*211. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the delays experienced by some civil service pensioners who are living abroad in terms of the late payment of pension payments as illustrated in the case of a person (details supplied); his views on whether this is a systemic problem; his plans to resolve the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Ged Nash. [35590/21]

*212. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the pay policy for protected employment in the Office of Public Works increases in line with other public sector pay increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul McAuliffe. [35603/21]

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

*213. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is progress regarding the publication of an updated sports action plan; if she will report on the implementation of the existing Sports Action Plan 2020-2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [35428/21]

*214. To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider introducing a second live performance support scheme in 2021 given that some businesses were not aware that they were eligible to apply for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Marc MacSharry. [35454/21]

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

*215. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the assessment on the imperative reasons of overriding public interest planning for Galway Port recommended by An Bord Pleanála to him and referred by him to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as part of a statutory process for consideration and recommendation will be completed and a response issued to his Department.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35605/21]

*216. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the period of time by which all rights of way must be registered given the disruption caused by Covid-19; if so, when the relevant provision will be made for this; the extension he proposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35761/21]

*217. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of all guidelines and policy directives issued to An Bord Pleanála under sections 28 and 29 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Whitmore. [35426/21]

*218. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 304 of 22 June 2021, the reason the review is only for the first 12 months of the scheme; when the review commenced; when it is expected to conclude; if there are plans to extend the scope of the review from the first 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [35436/21] 3009

*219. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the proposed upcoming changes to the nitrates action programme will be altered to include changes to regulations on the run-off of clear water from dairy hygiene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [35440/21]

*220. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals that are being considered for the upcoming review of the nitrates action programme; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Kehoe. [35441/21]

*221. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action being taken by local authorities to ensure that landlords are complying with minimum standards and current fire safety regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [35581/21]

*222. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a report is available from each local authority in respect of the action that they have taken over the past three years to ensure that landlords are fully compliant with the current fire safety standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [35582/21]

*223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities can use their discretion to look upon a housing applicant’s pandemic unemployment payment as temporary and be in compliance with the terms as set out in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe Carey. [35593/21]

*224. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if grants are available for a person to replace roof tiles on their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jackie Cahill. [35601/21]

*225. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost to date to his Department for the provision of funding to each local authority for the post of vacant homes officers in tabular form; if each such local authority has appointed a vacant homes officer; the date of each appointment; if such appointments are full-time dedicated posts with no other responsibilities attached; if not, the other responsibilities; if he has requested an annual report for each such local authority in relation to the work of each vacant homes officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [35613/21]

*226. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding under the six main headings provided to Carlow County Council and by comparison to three other councils similar in size and profile to Carlow over the past ten years; if Carlow County Council has been underfunded by his Department in this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John McGuinness. [35615/21]

*227. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the monitoring of the RHD2 virus in hares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Whitmore. [35640/21]

*228. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding provided under each of the housing adaptation grants in each of the years since 2010. — Róisín Shortall. [35690/21]

P.T.O 3010

*229. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimate of the respective cost in 2022 of adjusting the income criteria applying to each of the housing adaptation grants for every €1,000 increase in the income criteria. — Róisín Shortall. [35691/21]

*230. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the respective cost in 2022 of adjusting the income criteria applying to each of the housing adaptation grants for every €1,000 increase in the maximum grant amount available under the scheme; and when the last increase occurred under each of the schemes. — Róisín Shortall. [35692/21]

*231. To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding made available under the capital assistance scheme in each of the past three years. — Róisín Shortall. [35693/21]

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

*232. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations that have been made in relation to vaccine supplies in Nepal, especially with regard to the availability of second doses since the Delta variant has become dominant. — Pa Daly. [35438/21]

*233. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the outcome of the recent meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [35525/21]

*234. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will recognise the Holodomor of 1932- 1933 as genocide against Ukrainians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [35591/21]

*235. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the new procedures that will be put in place in circumstances in which a person travels to Ireland from non-EU countries after 19 July 2021 and in which they have clear evidence that they have received a Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [35592/21]

Chun an Aire Cosanta: To the Minister for Defence.

*236. To ask the Minister for Defence the activities Naval Service sea vessels undertook on 27 June 2021 at a nearshore location on the north shore of Galway Bay, east of An Spidéal, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [35612/21]

*237. To ask the Minister for Defence the engagement he has had with the UK Secretary of State to date in 2021 with regard to the defence memorandum of understanding between Ireland and the UK; the number of meetings he has had to date in 2021 on this matter with the UK Secretary of State; the details of the matters discussed at such meetings in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [35621/21]

Chun an Aire Oideachais: To the Minister for Education.

*238. To ask the Minister for Education her plans to progress the recommendations of the special Dáil Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution report specifically its recommendations on sex education in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [28818/21] 3011

*239. To ask the Minister for Education when the citizens’ assembly on education committed to in the Programme for Government is expected to take place. — Gary Gannon. [35001/21]

*240. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the summer programme for 2021 including registrations to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [35398/21]

*241. To ask the Minister for Education the planned measures to support children and young persons who are at risk of the highest levels of educational disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [35399/21]

*242. To ask the Minister for Education the planning in place to support students due to sit the 2022 leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cathal Crowe. [35403/21]

*243. To ask the Minister for Education the status of public health supports available to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cathal Crowe. [35404/21]

*244. To ask the Minister for Education if she will report on the strands of the summer provision programme in 2021; and the measures being implemented or planned to increase participation on account of exceptional challenges posed by Covid-19. — Emer Higgins. [35411/21]

*245. To ask the Minister for Education the details of the expenditure of the over €2 billion in funding for special education as part of Budget 2021; and the way this funding is replacing the one size fits all approach. — Emer Higgins. [35412/21]

*246. To ask the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will be supported in purchasing land to install a safe set down area and carpark for the school which is located on the N17; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Canney. [35499/21]

*247. To ask the Minister for Education if a student (details supplied) in County Kerry who is eligible for free school transport under the medical card scheme to their nearest post-primary school will be made eligible for free transport to the second nearest school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [35504/21]

*248. To ask the Minister for Education the status of plans to reform the leaving certificate exams; her engagement with the State Examinations Commission in respect of same; and if she envisages a blended and or option for continued assessment to become a permanent choice for students. — Catherine Murphy. [35505/21]

*249. To ask the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to instances in which persons due to receive results from the leaving certificate in 2021 may be in a position that they cannot access third-level education abroad as a result of the due date on which results will issue; and if she has and or will give due consideration to releasing the results in a more timely manner in 2021. — Catherine Murphy. [35509/21]

*250. To ask the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to staff shortages affecting the July provision in a school (details supplied); if a solution will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pearse Doherty. [35513/21]

P.T.O 3012

*251. To ask the Minister for Education when funds will be made available to schools (details supplied) to allow them to build permanent accommodation and move to their temporary accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Chris Andrews. [35617/21]

*252. To ask the Minister for Education if her Department is in charge of an old school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [35618/21]

*253. To ask the Minister for Education the status of an application for a new school by a school (details supplied) which was lodged with her Department in March 2020 and for which the school has received no acknowledgement, information or news since; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [35620/21]

*254. To ask the Minister for Education the status of the SNA review for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael McNamara. [35635/21]

*255. To ask the Minister for Education the number of applications processed by the Teaching Council in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. [35638/21]

*256. To ask the Minister for Education the average time elapsed between applications being submitted and the Teaching Council’s decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. [35639/21]

*257. To ask the Minister for Education the estimated cost in 2022 and in a full year of providing career guidance counsellors to the approximately 130 schools who currently do not have this service. — Róisín Shortall. [35696/21]

*258. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of provisions made for children requiring special needs teaching; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35723/21]

*259. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which she remains confident regarding the provisions made to facilitate leaving and junior certificate exams in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35725/21]

*260. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which she has been in a position to respond to requests for upgrading of accommodation at existing primary and second-level schools in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35730/21]

*261. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which she and her Department have been in a position to respond to requests for upgraded additional school accommodation as identified by the various school authorities at primary and post-primary levels in County Kildare; the extent to which she can accelerate this programme with particular reference to the obvious need arising from demographics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35731/21]

*262. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which she and her Department have been in a position to respond to requests for upgraded additional school accommodation as identified by the various school authorities at primary and post-primary levels throughout the country; the extent to which she can accelerate this programme with particular reference to the obvious need arising from demographics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35732/21] 3013

*263. To ask the Minister for Education the total number of teachers currently employed at primary throughout the country; the extent to which this meets requirements at the present time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35733/21]

*264. To ask the Minister for Education the total number of teachers currently employed at second level throughout the country; the extent to which this meets requirements at the present time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35734/21]

*265. To ask the Minister for Education the total number of teachers currently employed at second level throughout County Kildare; the extent to which this meets requirements at the present time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35735/21]

*266. To ask the Minister for Education the total number of teachers currently employed at primary throughout County Kildare; the extent to which this meets requirements at the present time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35736/21]

*267. To ask the Minister for Education the degree to which she expects to be in a position to provide minor improvement works to primary schools throughout County Kildare by way of the summer works scheme or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35737/21]

*268. To ask the Minister for Education the degree to which she expects to be in a position to provide minor improvement works to second-level schools throughout County Kildare by way of the summer works scheme or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35738/21]

*269. To ask the Minister for Education the number and location of primary schools throughout County Kildare with a requirement for improvement and upgrade works of a major or minor nature; the extent to which such works are in hand or currently scheduled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35739/21]

*270. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which she and her Department have agreed to provide new second-level schools at precise locations throughout County Kildare; the extent to which such works are in hand or ongoing; the schedule for the projects concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35740/21]

*271. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which special needs placements remain available at primary and post-primary schools throughout County Kildare; the adequacy of such provision at the present time; the extent to which she anticipates an increase in the level of such places in the course of the next twelve months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35741/21]

*272. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of the number of teachers currently employed at primary and second-level schools throughout County Kildare; if she anticipates improvements resulting in a reduction in the pupil- teacher ratio at both levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35742/21]

*273. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which she anticipates an improvement in the pupil teacher ratio at all primary and post-primary schools throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35743/21]

P.T.O 3014

*274. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which the enrolment process at primary- school level remains amenable to most families throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35744/21]

*275. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which the school transport system is being monitored with a view to ensuring resolution of most argumentative issues that have arisen in respect of primary and post-primary school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35745/21]

*276. To ask the Minister for Education the degree to which provision continues to be made to ensure the viability of smaller and denominational rural or urban schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35746/21]

*277. To ask the Minister for Education the extent to which progress continues to be made towards permanent accommodation for a Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35747/21]

*278. To ask the Minister for Education the time schedule for the provision of new second-level facilities at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35748/21]

*279. To ask the Minister for Education the progress and expected date for the completion of replacement facilities at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35749/21]

*280. To ask the Minister for Education if a behaviour therapist will be provided from its commencement for a school (details supplied). — Joan Collins. [35418/21]

*281. To ask the Minister for Education her plans to look at mainstream and autism classes to expand the pilot scheme for speech and language therapists and occupational therapists for autistic children. — Joan Collins. [35419/21]

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

*282. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is working on plans to combat youth unemployment with specific focus on those not in education, employment or training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Violet-Anne Wynne. [30180/21]

*283. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase expenditure on the pandemic unemployment payment if further Covid-19 restrictions are required. — Violet-Anne Wynne. [32281/21]

*284. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if it will be ensured that all same-sex parents are facilitated in being recognised as the parents of their children, including being permitted to have both their names on birth certificates. — Holly Cairns. [28648/21]

*285. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the period of time a person can receive jobseeker’s benefit before they are means tested for jobseeker’s allowance temporarily until the job market and the economy has recovered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Boyd Barrett. [35442/21] 3015

*286. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [35500/21]

*287. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer’s allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [35507/21]

*288. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will receive a PPS number for their newborn daughter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Cian O’Callaghan. [35508/21]

*289. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the difficult circumstances that workers who are nearing retirement are faced with whereby they cannot obtain an estimated prediction of their State pensions due to time spent working in jurisdictions outside of Ireland; if her Department is in a position to provide such estimates to persons who are close to retiring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Marc Ó Cathasaigh. [35514/21]

*290. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if client identity applications can be expedited for persons (details supplied) to access the Covid-19 vaccination programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pearse Doherty. [35523/21]

*291. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason applicants for the new transitional payment for persons aged 65 years are deemed ineligible to receive this benefit and considered to be self-employed and engaged in insurable self-employment if they are paying class S contributions arising from sole income from a self-funded private pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Seán Haughey. [35531/21]

*292. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the annual spend on the treatment benefit scheme in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [35598/21]

*293. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was refused the wage subsidy scheme to enable them to employ a person with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig Mac Lochlainn. [35599/21]

*294. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are available for single parents with 50% or less custody of their child and or children; if her Department has considered the issue of single parents with significant minority custody time who may be struggling financially to provide for their children while in their care due to their ineligibility for child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [35602/21]

*295. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Kieran O’Donnell. [35604/21]

*296. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the payment of the fuel allowance for the full year will be examined (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [35632/21]

P.T.O 3016

*297. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of the research being carried out in association with an organisation (details supplied) into the cost of bereavement. — Gary Gannon. [35636/21]

*298. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2022 and in a full year for every 1% and every €1 per week increase in basic social welfare rates by each social welfare payment. — Róisín Shortall. [35682/21]

*299. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2022 and in a full year of a €20 per week increase in the basic rate of disability allowance with a proportionate increase for qualified adults and no proportionate increase for qualified adults. — Róisín Shortall. [35683/21]

*300. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2022 and in a full year of every €10 increase in the upper income disregard currently €350 applying to disability allowance. — Róisín Shortall. [35684/21]

*301. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the approximate number of job coaches in whole- time equivalent terms currently funded through EmployAbility; the way in which the number has changed in recent years; and the full year cost of every ten additional job coaches. — Róisín Shortall. [35685/21]

*302. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2022 and in a full year of restoring the subsidy under the wage subsidy scheme for persons with disabilities to 55%, 60% and 65% of the national minimum wage. — Róisín Shortall. [35686/21]

*303. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way in which she plans to meet the commitment in the Programme for Government to expand the Ability Programme; the funding set aside in 2020 and 2021 for this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [35687/21]

*304. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount of funding currently devoted to training for employers in relation to diversity and disability awareness. — Róisín Shortall. [35688/21]

*305. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the funding currently devoted to disability grants and other supports for employers and to the promotion of these amongst employers. — Róisín Shortall. [35689/21]

*306. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the level of Covid-19 related payments has tapered off in recent weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35713/21]

*307. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which there are indications that persons on pandemic unemployment payment have returned to their previous employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35714/21]

*308. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she and her Department have continued to monitor youth unemployment levels; the extent to which such levels have increased or otherwise in recent weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35715/21] 3017

*309. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she foresees an improvement culminating in a drop in unemployment levels in all age cohorts as we approach quarter four in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35716/21]

*310. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which exceptional needs payments have been availed of in the past 12 months by various applicants in terms of age profile; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35717/21]

*311. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which satisfactory provision has been made for those retiring at 65 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35718/21]

*312. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the degree to which cross-Border employment trends and opportunities are being restored as the levels of Covid-19 recede; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35719/21]

*313. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects the budgetary requirements of her Department to fluctuate in the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35720/21]

*314. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the number of applications for various social welfare payments has fluctuated over the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35721/21]

*315. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of State pension (contributory) or State pension (non-contributory) aged 100 years or more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35722/21]

*316. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) will be accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35753/21]

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

*317. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding adequacy of the provision of preschool teaching facilities throughout the country with particular reference to the more densely populated areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35724/21]

*318. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if assistance is available for a community crèche (details supplied) to acquire alternative premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Kehoe. [35444/21]

*319. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the criteria by which Tusla quantifies complex needs in a child; the number of children categorised as such currently and in each of the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [35517/21]

*320. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify the situation whereby out of hours, in the absence of appropriate facilities, children with

P.T.O 3018 complex needs are being accommodated in hotels; the cost of such in 2021 and in each of the past three years; the number of children involved in 2021 and in each of the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [35518/21]

*321. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of money Tusla has paid to external legal advisors in each of the past five years in tabular form; the number and names of the companies and persons involved; the number of cases involved in each year; the longest and shortest case length involved; the average case length involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [35519/21]

*322. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [35704/21]

*323. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will update the document How to Conduct a Disability Impact Assessment Guidelines for Government Departments to reflect legislative and regulatory changes since its publication in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [35705/21]

*324. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to ensure all playgrounds have accessible features for children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [35706/21]

*325. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of crèche facilities throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35727/21]

*326. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of crèche facilities throughout County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35729/21]

*327. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons in direct provision; the number of these living in independent living units with facilities to cook their own food; if an open and fair complaints procedure has been put in place; the other reforms carried out to the system in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35755/21]

*328. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the accommodation arrangements made for applicants for international protection in County Galway who are working as front-line workers during the Covid-19 pandemic; if he is satisfied that this accommodation is suitable to them taking into account the work they are doing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35764/21]

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

*329. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount it costs to run the HEAR and DARE initiatives on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Kehoe. [35433/21] 3019

*330. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount that has been allocated to fund the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2021-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Kehoe. [35434/21]

*331. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the European funds that contribute to higher and further education in Ireland; if any contribute towards improving access to further and or higher education opportunities for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Paul Kehoe. [35435/21]

*332. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to increase the SUSI rates available for postgraduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [35447/21]

*333. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to decrease the cost of college fees if courses continue to be conducted online for the upcoming academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [35583/21]

*334. To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of an additional 100 undergraduate nursing places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [35637/21]

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

*335. To ask the Minister for Justice if she plans to amend section 30 of the Data Protection Act 2018 to prevent targeted advertising to children or to produce a similar piece of legislation with the same purpose and if she will make a statement on the matter. — . [28423/21]

*336. To ask the Minister for Justice when an application for citizenship by a person (details supplied) will be determined. — . [35429/21]

*337. To ask the Minister for Justice if she will respond to correspondence (details supplied) arising under proposals to regularise undocumented migrants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [35431/21]

*338. To ask the Minister for Justice her views on the matter of coroners charging families for reports on their deceased relatives. — Pa Daly. [35437/21]

*339. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of cancelled 999 calls by Garda division and by the subject of the cancelled calls by division in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Martin Browne. [35443/21]

*340. To ask the Minister for Justice the procedure to be followed to regularise status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35506/21]

*341. To ask the Minister for Justice if she has raised with An Garda Síochána, the situation whereby children would have been in the number of 999 calls rejected; the number of children calling 999 in each of the past three years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [35520/21]

P.T.O 3020

*342. To ask the Minister for Justice the cost of the free legal aid scheme for criminal justice in 2021 and in each of the past five year in tabular form; the number of cases involved in each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Réada Cronin. [35522/21]

*343. To ask the Minister for Justice further to section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (details supplied), if she is satisfied that the Garda Commissioner has fulfilled their duty in view of the recent issue with the cancellation of more than 22,000 category 1 999 emergency calls; and if she will provide the reports which she received from the Commissioner in respect of same. — Mairéad Farrell. [35528/21]

*344. To ask the Minister for Justice if there was any additional information relating to the cancellation of category 1 999 emergency calls provided by the Commissioner to her between October 2020 and May 2021. — Mairéad Farrell. [35529/21]

*345. To ask the Minister for Justice her views regarding the longstanding issues related to the timeliness and accuracy of reporting of An Garda Síochána crime statistics data and the steps she has taken to improve the integrity of published crime statistics data that is provided to bodies such as the Central Statistics Office, the Policing Authority, the Oireachtas Justice Committee and other Government agencies. — Mairéad Farrell. [35530/21]

*346. To ask the Minister for Justice if the implementation of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 has made an impact on the issue of online bullying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [35585/21]

*347. To ask the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 365 of 24 June 2021, the number of category A complaints from the Dóchas centre over the past three years to date which were not sustained due to no reasonable grounds in accordance with section 57B (10) (b) of the Prison Rules 2007; the number of category A complaints from the Dóchas centre over the past three years to date where it was not possible to make a determination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Murphy. [35586/21]

*348. To ask the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 365 of 24 June 2021, the number of category A complaints received from prisoners within the Dóchas centre over the past three years to date which were deemed vexatious, without foundation or falling outside the scope for investigation in accordance with section 57B(5)(b) of the Prison Rules 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Murphy. [35587/21]

*349. To ask the Minister for Justice if she can provide detailed information in respect of the treatment of prisoners within the clinic setting in the prison for dealing with hepatitis C and infectious diseases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [35594/21]

*350. To ask the Minister for Justice if her Department will work with the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Prison Service to put in place a comprehensive programme within each prison for the treatment of prisoners who have hepatitis C or any other infectious disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [35595/21]

*351. To ask the Minister for Justice if the circumstances of undocumented persons (detail supplied) is intended to be covered by the provisions of the new regularisation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Ged Nash. [35597/21] 3021

*352. To ask the Minister for Justice if her plans to reform the family law court system can ensure that in future family law cases are held in local courts to facilitate the families concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [35707/21]

*353. To ask the Minister for Justice if she will work with family and victim support organisations to provide an alternative to the planned system of regional family courts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [35708/21]

*354. To ask the Minister for Justice the extent to which harassment on or offline whereby business persons are targeted by way of malice have been reported to An Garda Síochána by county nationwide; the action taken or proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35750/21]

*355. To ask the Minister for Justice when she plans to publish the three-day monitoring report on operations in the Dóchas centre submitted to her office in August 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35758/21]

*356. To ask the Minister for Justice the status of the investigation report under section 31(2) of the Prisons Act 2007 that was due to be submitted to her by the Office of the Prison Inspectorate in December 2020; if she has received this report yet; if so, when it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35759/21]

*357. To ask the Minister for Justice the number of Covid-19 thematic reports received by her office from the Inspector of Prisons; the date she received them; if she intends plans to publish them; if so, when; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35760/21]

*358. To ask the Minister for Justice when she plans to publish the criminal justice (mutual recognition of custodial sentences) Bill which is on the priority legislation list for publishing this term; if this Bill will facilitate the transfer of prisoners to and from the UK as well as to and from the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35762/21]

Chun an Aire Sláinte: To the Minister for Health.

*359. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the University Maternity Hospital Limerick went against a risk assessment carried out by its internal occupational health department which recommended that high-risk pregnant health-care practitioners should not come into contact with Covid-19 suspected patients and therefore are to work from home however to date employees are still expected to work on premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Violet-Anne Wynne. [28416/21]

*360. To ask the Minister for Health the way the deliberate dismissal of recommendation (details supplied) has affected maternity restrictions in terms of birth partner presence; his views on whether having high-risk pregnant health-care workers in maternity hospitals is ill-advised and negatively impacting the lifting of restrictions to allow increased birth partner presence in cases in which the absence of a Covid-19 test, partners fall into the suspected Covid positive patients’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Violet-Anne Wynne. [28417/21]

*361. To ask the Minister for Health if pregnant healthcare workers and high-risk pregnant healthcare workers are being prioritised for Covid-19 vaccinations according to the current priority ordering. — Violet-Anne Wynne. [28418/21]

P.T.O 3022

*362. To ask the Minister for Health if he will designate fibromyalgia as a rare disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [28419/21]

*363. To ask the Minister for Health the number of unborn children known to have been adversely impacted through the prescription of sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [28420/21]

*364. To ask the Minister for Health when respite homes will be able to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Christopher O’Sullivan. [28421/21]

*365. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [28422/21]

*366. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of an inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate and the filling of the four currently unfilled epilepsy nurse specialist posts approved in 2018 to manage the mandatory patient safety requirements for women who are prescribed sodium valproate; if he will also consider establishing a stakeholder group to review safety and risk measures around prescribing and distributing this drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Willie O’Dea. [28431/21]

*367. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of action item 3.13 of the National Breastfeeding Action Plan which pertains to the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Claire Kerrane. [28432/21]

*368. To ask the Minister for Health if information will be provided on egg freezing for women who have had a cancer diagnosis specifically those who will need to have a hysterectomy due to recurrent cancer; and if there are any provisions to assist with the financial cost of same. — . [28433/21]

*369. To ask the Minister for Health his views on an article in the (details supplied) stating that the HSE was planning to provide a new fertility preservation service for both male and female cancer patients and the HSE was seeking information from potential service providers before launching formal procurement; the status of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mark Ward. [28434/21]

*370. To ask the Minister for Health if the situation will be clarified regarding inward travel to Ireland from Canada by Irish citizens who have received one dose of a vaccine (details supplied); if this qualifies as vaccinated; if such persons will be eligible to enter pending provision of a PCR test and without the need to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [28503/21]

*371. To ask the Minister for Health when will the four currently unfilled epilepsy nurse specialist posts approved in 2018 will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Marian Harkin. [28504/21]

*372. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate which he announced in November 2020; the timeline to establish a stakeholder group to review safety and risk measures in relation to the prescribing and distribution of sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Marian Harkin. [28505/21] 3023

*373. To ask the Minister for Health the number of prisoners who have been vaccinated to date against Covid-19; the number vaccinated who are over 60 years of age; the number vaccinated who are medically vulnerable; the timescale for those who have not been vaccinated to receive a vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Richard Boyd Barrett. [28506/21]

*374. To ask the Minister for Health the current turnaround time for applications for physiotherapist registration to an agency (details supplied); the average turnaround time in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form; the plan to reduce this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [28507/21]

*375. To ask the Minister for Health when a report (details supplied) commissioned into Prader- Willi syndrome is due to be published and the recommendations implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [28508/21]

*376. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of action item 3.13 of the National Breastfeeding Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [28509/21]

*377. To ask the Minister for Health the status of Ireland’s implementation of the WHO code of marketing on breast-milk substitutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [28510/21]

*378. To ask the Minister for Health if the classification of services into categories of essential and non-essential work is still being implemented as the restrictions are eased from level 5; the legal basis for such classification, and the place that the categories of what work counts as essential and non-essential can be found. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [28529/21]

*379. To ask the Minister for Health if the permission for persons to attend a wedding in a professional capacity, in the course of their employment or in fulfilment of a contract for services, in addition to the number allowed for guests as outlined in section 9(3)(b) of Statutory Instrument No. 217 of 2021, also known as the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, include those contracted to perform music or provide entertainment at such events and if these service providers are not included, the legal basis for exclusion of same. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [28530/21]

*380. To ask the Minister for Health if the easing of restrictions on 2 June 2021 contain any provisions for music and entertainment to be permitted at social gatherings, weddings or beer gardens. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [28531/21]

*381. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons resident in the State that are known or estimated to live with congenital disabilities as of April 2021. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [28532/21]

*382. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons resident in the State that are known or estimated to live with congenital blindness or visual impairment as of April 2021. — Aengus Ó Snodaigh. [28533/21]

*383. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the provision of swimming lessons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Fergus O’Dowd. [28534/21]

P.T.O 3024

*384. To ask the Minister for Health his Department’s total spend on external professional legal services in 2014, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. — Mairéad Farrell. [28535/21]

*385. To ask the Minister for Health when the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate will be established after it was announced in November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [28536/21]

*386. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered adding a suitable product for those with epilepsy to the Medical Cannabis Access Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [28537/21]

*387. To ask the Minister for Health the current position in relation to persons travelling to Ireland who have been fully vaccinated with any of the WHO and EMA approved vaccines following the agreement by the European Union in relation to fully re-opening to vaccinated visitors from outside the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mattie McGrath. [28660/21]

*388. To ask the Minister for Health the current position in relation to those travelling from Abu Dhabi who have received a vaccine (details supplied); if they will be exempted from MHQ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mattie McGrath. [28661/21]

*389. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to ensure that hospital staff are supported in doing their work during the extraordinary situation in which they find themselves following the cyber-attack. — Martin Browne. [28662/21]

*390. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to address the increased waiting lists that will result from the suspension of many procedures due to the recent cyber-attack. — Martin Browne. [28663/21]

*391. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he plans to take to prevent to the greatest extent possible the reoccurrence of a similar cyber-attack. — Martin Browne. [28664/21]

*392. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the transfer of the National Maternity Hospital from Holles Street to St. Vincent’s Hospital; the timelines for developing the new national maternity hospital at St. Vincent’s Hospital campus; the estimated costs of construction to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [28665/21]

*393. To ask the Minister for Health the status of plans to move four maternity hospitals from their current locations to be co-located with an acute adult hospital: Holles Street, the Coombe, the Rotunda and Limerick Maternity Hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [28666/21]

*394. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 781 of 10 March 2021, the status of the work undertaken by CHO6 to reopen the GMHS; the progress made to date regarding the recruitment of permanent staff , administration staff and IT expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mary Lou McDonald. [28667/21]

*395. To ask the Minister for Health the indicative timeframe for when the GMHS will fully reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mary Lou McDonald. [28668/21]

*396. To ask the Minister for Health the current status of the prospective reimbursement of a drug (details supplied); the status of same following the meetings which were scheduled to take 3025 place in April 2021; when a decision will be made by the HSE on the reimbursement of the drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. [28669/21]

*397. To ask the Minister for Health if the period between the doses of a vaccine (details supplied) can be reduced for those in the over 60 years of age category. — Cathal Crowe. [28670/21]

*398. To ask the Minister for Health if a series of matters in relation to the Covid-19 hub (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [28671/21]

*399. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [28672/21]

*400. To ask the Minister for Health the status update on the inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valporate in Ireland; when the terms of reference will be published; the status of the establishment of a stakeholder group to address ongoing concerns relating to the use of sodium valporate; the membership of the stakeholder group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [28673/21]

*401. To ask the Minister for Health the status update on the development of a registry to record women who have been prescribed sodium valproate during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [28674/21]

*402. To ask the Minister for Health the number of epilepsy specialist nurse posts in the State; the number of these which are unfilled; the location of each epilepsy specialist nurse post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [28675/21]

*403. To ask the Minister for Health the status of his work on the implementation of action Item 3.13 of the National Breastfeeding Action Plan which pertains to the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. — Catherine Murphy. [28788/21]

*404. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE is actively considering the purchase of the drug partisan for use by sufferers of familial amyloidosis; if there is a projected timeframe for the sanctioning of use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [28789/21]

*405. To ask the Minister for Health the details of his plan for a review of the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018; the form this review will take; if it will include hearings or submissions from interested parties; when it will be concluded; if the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health will have a role in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [28817/21]

*406. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to progress the recommendations of the special Dáil Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution report specifically its recommendations on free contraception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bríd Smith. [28818/21]

*407. To ask the Minister for Health the number of guests who will be permitted at wedding ceremonies and receptions over the coming months. — . [28822/21]

*408. To ask the Minister for Health if matters raised by a person (details supplied) in hotel quarantine will be addressed; his views on whether the experience is acceptable; if a survey will be carried out of all persons who have used quarantine hotels to determine if they had similar experiences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Howlin. [28823/21]

P.T.O 3026

*409. To ask the Minister for Health if a matter in relation to the provision of pharmacists (details supplied) in Kenmare Community Hospital will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [28824/21]

*410. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the temporary assistance payment scheme available to nursing homes will continue beyond 30 June 2021 having regard to the ongoing risk from Covid-19 and the consequent need for nursing homes to have extensive infection prevention control measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Howlin. [28825/21]

*411. To ask the Minister for Health if a primary medical certificate will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [28826/21]

*412. To ask the Minister for Health the reason persons in care homes are not allowed indoor or home visits; the HSE guidelines in relation to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [28827/21]

*413. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the nursing home temporary assistance payment scheme; his plans to continue the scheme and support nursing homes in acting to suppress and manage Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [28839/21]

*414. To ask the Minister for Health the vaccination options that are available for those who are housebound and unable to travel to their general practitioner or local vaccination centre and do not meet the age criteria of over 70 years of age in order to receive vaccination by the National Ambulance Service; the steps that will be taken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Jennifer Whitmore. [28840/21]

*415. To ask the Minister for Health when the HSE National Steering Group responsible for implementation of the neurorehabilitation framework will next meet; if meetings will take place on a regular basis for the remainder of 2021 and for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [28874/21]

*416. To ask the Minister for Health if those members of staff who had been transferred from mental health services to supplement Covid-19 services will be returned to mental health services; and if so, when this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [28892/21]

*417. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the commitment made in the Programme for Government to fill positions for consultants, psychiatric nurses and in peer support in mental health services in hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Dessie Ellis. [28893/21]

*418. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons presenting at accident and emergency for Beaumont Hospital, the Mater Hospital and James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown from 1 January 2020, by month in tabular form to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Dessie Ellis. [28894/21]

*419. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the omission of heart valve disease from the list of conditions addressed in the National Heart Programme which includes diabetes, asthma, 3027

COPD and cardiovascular disease; if measures are being taken to address this omission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [28896/21]

*420. To ask the Minister for Health if he will list procedures provided to patients who are covered under the general medical scheme for the treatment of heart valve disease; the proportion of such patients treated using transcatheter aortic valve implantation and surgical aortic valve replacement procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Kelly. [28897/21]

*421. To ask the Minister for Health the number of private patients treated in public hospitals for heart valve disease; the details of the proportion of patients treated using transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Kelly. [28898/21]

*422. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE has taken a position on the HIQA recommendation contained in its Health Technology Assessment of transcatheter aortic valve implementation in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis at low and intermediate risk of surgical complications published in November 2019; if these recommendations will be adopted and implemented; if not, the reason in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Kelly. [28899/21]

*423. To ask the Minister for Health the regional breakdown of transcatheter aortic valve implantation and surgical aortic valve replacement procedures performed throughout the State on a regional and hospital basis.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Kelly. [28900/21]

*424. To ask the Minister for Health the status of antigen testing usage in a return to international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — James O’Connor. [28901/21]

*425. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael McNamara. [28912/21]

*426. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a situation in a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [28913/21]

*427. To ask the Minister for Health if a drug (details supplied) will be included on the drug payment scheme for pregnant women. — Louise O’Reilly. [28930/21]

*428. To ask the Minister for Health if public health nurses will be provided with bilirubin meters for conducting checks on new-born babies in order that the baby does not have to be sent to a general practitioner or hospital to have their reading taken. — Louise O’Reilly. [28932/21]

*429. To ask the Minister for Health when residents of direct provision centres will receive their Covid-19 vaccine given that their need is particular acute due to rules prohibiting re-entry to centres after a resident has spent a night away means that residents are subject to 14-days quarantine; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties this is causing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Louise O’Reilly. [28933/21]

*430. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the planned primary care centre based in Drimnagh, Dublin 12 which was committed to, planning permission granted but never completed under his predecessor Minister James Reilly. — Patrick Costello. [29012/21]

P.T.O 3028

*431. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who is waiting five weeks for the Covid-19 vaccine and has contacted the HSE helpline several times will receive confirmation of a vaccination date and be given an appointment and called for vaccination. — Paul Murphy. [29013/21]

*432. To ask the Minister for Health if he will promptly establish an inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate as announced in November 2020. — Paul Murphy. [29014/21]

*433. To ask the Minister for Health when his Department will be filling the four vacant posts for epilepsy nurse specialist approved in 2018 to manage the mandatory patient safety requirements for women who are prescribed sodium valproate. — Paul Murphy. [29015/21]

*434. To ask the Minister for Health when persons in the health care sector (details supplied) will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [29048/21]

*435. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that residents living on the Kilkenny side of counties and Kilkenny border in Ferrybank are being asked to travel 60 km to a vaccination centre instead of being vaccinated at a location (details supplied) which is on their doorstep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Kathleen Funchion. [29049/21]

*436. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that night nursing staff at a community nursing home (details supplied) in County Mayo are not adequate; the steps being taken to rectify the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Dara Calleary. [29050/21]

*437. To ask the Minister for Health when an operation will be expedited for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [29051/21]

*438. To ask the Minister for Health the way he plans to provide vaccination to the thousands of undocumented persons who are residing in Ireland; the process that will be put in place in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Colm Burke. [29052/21]

*439. To ask the Minister for Health if the temporary assistance payment scheme for nursing homes will be continued beyond June 2021; if any engagement has taken place with nursing home representative organisations regarding the continuance of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Dillon. [29053/21]

*440. To ask the Minister for Health if provisions are in place for an adolescent with very profound sensory issues who has to travel for essential reasons but who is not able to withstand the PCR test due to their sensory issues in view of the requirement for same on re-entry to Ireland. — . [29054/21]

*441. To ask the Minister for Health the criteria that is in place for persons wishing to avail of dupixent (details supplied); his plans to relax the criteria to allow more persons to avail of this drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John Lahart. [29055/21]

*442. To ask the Minister for Health if the two reports of the Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation in Reducing Transmission of Covid-19 sent to NPHET can be made publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [29095/21] 3029

*443. To ask the Minister for Health if the letters from the Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation in Reducing Transmission of Covid-19 sent to the senior officials group, to which it now reports, can be made publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [29096/21]

*444. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of building and fitting out a 20-bedroom public nursing home on a greenfield site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [29097/21]

*445. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons that were treated for a gambling addiction in each of the years 2017 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [29098/21]

*446. To ask the Minister for Health the current extent of public orthodontic services in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [29099/21]

*447. To ask the Minister for Health when day care services will be allowed to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Patricia Ryan. [29102/21]

*448. To ask the Minister for Health if the scheduled three-year review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 will be conducted independently of his Department and the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [29105/21]

*449. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to abide by the commitment provided by a former Minister for Health with respect to the formulation of the terms of reference for the three- year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (details supplied); if he will facilitate the agreement of all Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas on the terms of reference for the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Carol Nolan. [29106/21]

*450. To ask the Minister for Health if the temporary assistance payment will be continued into the future (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [29107/21]

*451. To ask the Minister for Health if advice will be provided on a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — David Cullinane. [29108/21]

*452. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to extend the temporary assistance payment scheme for nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Denis Naughten. [29109/21]

*453. To ask the Minister for Health if the case of a child (details supplied) will be expedited in view of the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Noel Grealish. [29110/21]

*454. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists who are currently providing services under the medical card scheme; the number of dentists who have withdrawn from providing services under the medical card scheme since February 2020; the steps being taken to increase the number of dentists providing medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Noel Grealish. [29111/21]

P.T.O 3030

*455. To ask the Minister for Health if advice and clarification will be provided on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [29112/21]

*456. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable practice across the health service for patients receiving end of life care at a hospital to be moved into a nursing home; if there is an obligation for patients or their families to sign up for the fair deal scheme in order to be moved to a nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Alan Kelly. [29113/21]

*457. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to easing restrictions on nursing home visits to permit fully vaccinated residents to leave their care homes for walks with visitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe O’Brien. [29114/21]

*458. To ask the Minister for Health the status of Ireland’s progress on implementing via legislation the WHO Code of Marketing on Breast-milk Substitutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe O’Brien. [29115/21]

*459. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of action item 3.13 of the National Breastfeeding Action Plan which pertains to the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Joe O’Brien. [29116/21]

*460. To ask the Minister for Health if higher numbers of vaccines will be allocated to local general practitioners in rural areas to facilitate the vaccination of persons who cannot travel to vaccination centres given new data in relation to vaccines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Mairéad Farrell. [29137/21]

*461. To ask the Minister for Health when persons living in direct provision centres are due to be vaccinated given that they are living in places in which persons are in close proximity with each other and mostly in an indoor setting. — Mark Ward. [29139/21]

*462. To ask the Minister for Health when staff working in direct provision centres are due to be vaccinated given that they are living in places in which persons are in close proximity with each other and mostly in an indoor setting. — Mark Ward. [29140/21]

*463. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to meet with his counterpart in Northern Ireland further to his invitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Neale Richmond. [29169/21]

*464. To ask the Minister for Health if he will extend the temporary assistance payment scheme to support the nursing home sector and that no cliff-edge will present with regard to Covid-19 supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Pádraig O’Sullivan. [29170/21]

*465. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements put in place for persons in their 60s who have refused a vaccine (details supplied) to avail of an alternative vaccine; and when are they due to be called to receive this vaccine. — Chris Andrews. [29171/21]

*466. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 538 of 17 December 2020, if HSE Community Healthcare West has signed a lease for an alcohol treatment centre in Galway and will begin taking clients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [29172/21] 3031

*467. To ask the Minister for Health if a measure will be introduced to provide equal treatment to patients (details supplied); and if medical cannabis products will be funded at source the same way as those under the CAP. — Mattie McGrath. [29173/21]

*468. To ask the Minister for Health the number of assistant psychologists currently working in a voluntary capacity within HSE services in relation to the recent advertisement for unpaid assistant psychologist roles within HSE services (details supplied); the HSEs position on the recruitment of assistant psychologists in an unpaid capacity by HSE services; if the results of the review regarding this advertisement will be published; if these positions will be readvertised as paid positions; when HSE will make an announcement on whether the current national pilot assistant psychologist programme will be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Róisín Shortall. [29175/21]

*469. To ask the Minister for Health the new supports that will be forthcoming from his Department in 2021 and 2022 for the 40,000 persons living with epilepsy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [29176/21]

*470. To ask the Minister for Health when the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate to epilepsy patients will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John Paul Phelan. [29177/21]

*471. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to extend the temporary assistance scheme to support private and voluntary nursing homes with additional costs due to coronavirus Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael McNamara. [29178/21]

*472. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider amending the current legislation to allow outdoor drive-in movies and cinemas to operate at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — John Brady. [29179/21]

*473. To ask the Minister for Health the options available to a person (details supplied) in need of urgent surgery. — Cathal Crowe. [29212/21]

*474. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which research has been undertaken or can be undertaken expeditiously with a view to availing of high standard air purification equipment which has the ability to remove and destroy viruses in hotel, hospital, nursing home, schools and workplaces in order to facilitate a safer post-virus situation; if this will include the fitting of such equipment in aircraft thereby giving the best all round protection to persons in the course of their work or studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29221/21]

*475. To ask the Minister for Health if the use of the antigen test will be utilised more readily in order to facilitate international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29222/21]

*476. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which the Minister expects to update the mental health services in line with modern requirements having particular regard to ongoing commentary highlighting deficiencies in the services; the steps he plans to take in early date to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29223/21]

*477. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which projects such as the new children’s hospital, the new national maternity hospital, Naas General Hospital and others such projects

P.T.O 3032 throughout the country are progressing satisfactorily and on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29224/21]

*478. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which the roll-out of vaccines continues at pace in line with expectations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29225/21]

*479. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which rare and orphan drugs are being cleared for use and reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29226/21]

*480. To ask the Minister for Health when it is expected that the standard, quality and accessibility to mental health services is likely to be improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29227/21]

*481. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which the administration of health services is moving towards the provisions set out in Sláintecare; the expenditure to date arising therefrom; the expenditure proposals for the remainder of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29228/21]

*482. To ask the Minister for Health the number of posts remaining to be filled in the Kildare psychology services; the efforts currently in hand to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29229/21]

*483. To ask the Minister for Health when it is expected that modern child and adolescent assessments can be made available to children with such requirements in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29230/21]

*484. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which actions are in hand to minimise the recent cyber-attack on the most sensitive of services provided by the HSE including oncology, cardiovascular, endoscopy, paediatric, neurology and emergency mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29231/21]

*485. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he has examined and approved the plans for the reopening of general hospital services, post-Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29232/21]

*486. To ask the Minister for Health when the appropriate action will be taken to ensure the provision of full-scale orthodontic treatment for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [29233/21]

*487. To ask the Minister for Health when a paediatric service (details supplied) will resume in University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [29262/21]

*488. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the Health Research Board have not conducted an analysis of drug and alcohol deaths since 2017; and when it plans to publish such a study again. — Thomas Gould. [29263/21]

*489. To ask the Minister for Health the location the collated up-to-date information on drug and alcohol death is available. — Thomas Gould. [29264/21] 3033

*490. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the reopening of Southdoc Blackpool. — Thomas Gould. [29265/21]

*491. To ask the Minister for Health if formal steps have been taken by the HSE to penalise Southdoc Blackpool for their continued breach of the service level agreement with Southdoc. — Thomas Gould. [29266/21]

*492. To ask the Minister for Health the number of alcohol-related admittances to hospitals in 2020 and to date in 2021, by month in tabular form. — Thomas Gould. [29267/21]

*493. To ask the Minister for Health the number of drug-related admittances to hospitals in 2020 and to date in 2021, by month in tabular form. — Thomas Gould. [29268/21]

*494. To ask the Minister for Health when an organisation (details supplied) will resume providing services to older persons; the timeline for reopening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [29269/21]

*495. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to recruit more clinical psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [29270/21]

*496. To ask the Minister for Health if he will publish the disability capacity review report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Holly Cairns. [29271/21]

*497. To ask the Minister for Health the date on which the free general practitioner care for under 8’s will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Murphy. [29272/21]

*498. To ask the Minister for Health the date on which the primary school dental programme is set to resume for vital check-ups and follow-up dental care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Murphy. [29273/21]

*499. To ask the Minister for Health the provision for a paediatric emergency department and urgent care facility or outpatient appointments service for children in Naas hospital that is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Murphy. [29274/21]

*500. To ask the Minister for Health the date on which the emergency department unit in Tallaght University Hospital will be wound down and moved to the new children’s hospital as part of CHI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Murphy. [29275/21]

*501. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be offered a date for vaccination; the way in which the person can register given that they have been unable to source a vaccination through their general practitioner and the hospital could not give any time range; if he will address these issues as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Duncan Smith. [29276/21]

Chun an Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara: To the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

*502. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be provided to fund a pilot programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Healy-Rae. [35445/21]

P.T.O 3034

*503. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to visit any ash plantation in the immediate term during the growing season to see first-hand the rate at which ash plantations are dying and rotting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — . [35607/21]

*504. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered issuing a health and safety warning to the public on walking in ash woods which are potentially infected by ash dieback, similar to that which his Department issues regarding fire danger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Lowry. [35608/21]

*505. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 294, 295 and 296 of 27 May 2021, if the Forestry Service district inspectors and Forestry Service ecologists will be involved in the approval and inspection of areas planted along riparian margins which is part of the new scheme to plant trees along rivers and watercourses to act as carbon sinks and interceptors of nutrients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Lowry. [35609/21]

*506. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 294, 295 and 296 of 27 May 2021, the scale of the introduction of a scheme to promote at scale the planting of trees along riparian margins that is anticipated in terms of hectares planted; if it is envisaged that this new scheme will be part of the next CAP; if not, if it will be completely removed from the next CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Michael Lowry. [35610/21]

*507. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on the review of a decision on a BEEP application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Brendan Griffin. [35611/21]

*508. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the change will be clarified of the south east cardinal marker at the Marine Institute’s Offshore Electricity-Generating Station Test Site situated in the north side of Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Catherine Connolly. [35614/21]

*509. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the proposed introduction of veterinary regulation 2019/6 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. — James O’Connor. [35622/21]

*510. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which negotiations are in hand to safeguard jobs at a location (details supplied) in County Kildare which has depended largely on food exports to the UK; if access to its market has been determined in the course of Brexit related negotiations; if not, if additional officious regulations have been introduced to restrict its market access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Bernard J. Durkan. [35752/21]

*511. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to provide extra resources to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board to ensure that appeals are heard expeditiously; the number of appeals at present under consideration by the Board; the number of these that have been on hand by the Board for more than one year; the number on hand for more than six months; the length of time the oldest appeal to the Board is on hand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. — Éamon Ó Cuív. [35757/21]

Wt. 102715. 255. 7/21. Essentra. (88340). Gr. 30-15 Printed on re-cycled paper.