1132. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will ensure that action is taken by her Department to support the new board of an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10188/21]
1131. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will clarify the position regarding the conditions attached to interdepartmental assistance which demands the resignation of the board of an organisation (details supplied); and if a forced resignation is contrary to the protected disclosure legislation and in circumstances in which the whistleblower had been assured covers them by her Department. [10186/21]
910. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if arrangements have been made to vaccinate persons in exceptional cases in advance of scheduled surgery whose surgeons deem them as extremely high mortality risk during and after surgery should they contract Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9951/21]
703. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if it will be ensured that a member of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (details supplied) does not have their membership renewed given their opposition to Covid-19 restrictions and their views on gay rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9586/21]
702. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the outcome of the review into the conduct of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9585/21]
688. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will intervene with the WWETB, Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board, to ensure that help is being provided to the new board of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10192/21]
535. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the plight of students who enrolled in a private college (details supplied) will be examined; if the cost of this online course will be examined and the students granted access to the Gaeltacht grant of €650, which they are at present excluded from; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10505/21]
534. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the plight of students who enrolled in a private college (details supplied) will be examined; if she will examine the cost of this online course; and if assistance will be granted to students to pay the fees given the difficult circumstances of completing the course during the Covid crisis. [10502/21]
401. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that SNAs attending the national training programme for SNAs in UCD, which has been running since January 2021, have yet to be informed as to the type of accreditation they will receive when they complete their studies; if the importance of SNAs being awarded a significant qualification upon completion of the UCD programme will be acknowledged; if so, the nature of such acknowledgement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9403/21]
225. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if the situation of self-employed workers who received either the pandemic unemployment payment or wage subsidy schemes in the past year and who may now face tax demands from the Revenue Commissioners will be clarified (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10504/21]
177. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will arrange to meet urgently with banks and lenders that have operated a moratorium for mortgage holders and other borrowers who have been impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and urge them to ensure there is no subsequent discrimination against those who avail of the moratorium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9574/21]
176. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that banks and lending institutions may be penalising mortgage holders and other borrowers who avail of a moratorium in repayments specifically and that some are subsequently being refused access to certain services, are unable to change lender and are otherwise facing withdrawal of possible services as a result of the moratorium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9573/21]
175. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the discussion he has had with banks and lending institutions on a moratorium for mortgage holders, and other borrowers, affected by the Covid-19 crisis; the details of the outcome of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9572/21]
61. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he or his officials have met with representatives of a company (details supplied) or other industry bodies in relation to the decommissioned infrastructure at the Kinsale gas field and the possible use of this in any field developed at the Barryroe field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10212/21]
Bill entitled an Act to make provision in relation to certain tenants’ obligations to pay rent in respect of dwellings used for accommodation during academic term times, to make provision in relation to the maximum period of notice required by such tenants to terminate a tenancy, to oblige certain landlords to refund relevant payments in certain circumstances relating to Covid-19, for those purposes to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 and to provide for related matters.
914. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if a person can travel to Ireland from the United States of America to reunite with their partner during level 5 restrictions once the person obeys the requirement for OCR test and guaranteeing; if the advice is that such a journey is non-essential; if so, if it carries a potential fine or legal enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8761/21]
861. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that published data indicates a Covid-19 mortality rate amongst kidney patients similar to that of residents of long-term facilities; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that expert medical opinion both here and internationally makes a strong case on medical and ethical grounds for the need for all kidney patients to be vaccinated earlier than currently planned; if this extremely at risk group will be moved to the top of the vaccination schedule as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8586/21]
422. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the estimated amount her Department has spent on legal costs arising from litigation involving children with special educational needs; the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8450/21]
421. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing sections (details supplied) of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8449/21]
264. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to address weaknesses in the building regulations regime here including the enforcement of standards in relation to fire safety and other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8032/21]
263. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will support a State redress body to fund remedial works for defective apartments built in recent decades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8031/21]
262. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress of the working group on latent defects in apartment buildings set up in 2020; the interim findings of the group; if the group will be inviting submissions from affected apartment owners and others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8030/21]
174. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his Department receives information as to the proportion of the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer each year in relation to section 12, Part 4 of the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001 that is due to betting on the greyhound industry, betting on the horseracing industry and betting on other sports or outcomes; if he will investigate whether such information is collected at the off-course betting sources and could be made available to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8786/21]
173. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in 2020 in relation to section 12, Part 4 of the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8785/21]
172. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the amount that was determined for the years 2002 to 2019 to be equivalent to the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in 2000 in relation to section 12, Part 4 the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001 as increased by reference to the consumer price index for each of those years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8784/21]
171. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in relation to section 12, Part 4 of the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001 for each of the years 2002 to 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8783/21]
170. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in 2001 in relation to section 12 Part 4 of the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001 given in Irish pounds and in terms of Euro according to the official conversion rate from punts to euro for 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8782/21]
169. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the revenue from excise duty on off-course betting paid into the Exchequer in 2000 in relation to section 12 Part 4 of the Horse and Greyhound and Racing Act 2001 given in Irish pounds and in terms of Euro according to the official conversion rate from punts to euro for 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8781/21]
286. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the alternatives that are available to a general practice nurse who is 22 weeks pregnant and who under the new guidance issued on 5 January 2021 is scheduled to receive a vaccine (details supplied) and who will be part of the team rolling out a vaccine clinic at their practice; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that NIAC have advised that the vaccine should not be given during pregnancy; his views on the fact that even if this nurse receives the first dose they will be over 33 weeks pregnant by the time the second dose is scheduled to be given 12 weeks later; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7717/21]
177. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an employee who is excluded from the pandemic unemployment payment by virtue of earning less than €151 per week but who is receiving less than his or her normal payment from his or her employer as a top-up can access supports from her Department or has an entitlement to seek jobseeker or other payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7764/21]
176. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a worker on a banded-hours contract whose contract is formally such that he or she would earn less than €151 per week is automatically excluded from the pandemic unemployment payment; if employees in a situation in which employees may routinely have exceeded the €151 per week payment prior to the pandemic will be included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7763/21]
58. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that businesses such as marketing agencies that operate in settings such as colleges and universities are currently not eligible for support under the Covid restrictions support scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that although these companies' premises are not technically closed to the public, the locations in which they operate are significantly affected by Covid-19 restrictions, which has resulted in a substantial decline in revenue turnover; if the impact on these businesses will be examined with a view to extending the scheme to them to sustain them until students return to campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7578/21]
1030. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure consumers use less imported beef products and greater amounts grown locally especially during the recent crisis and delays in imports and the implications that importing and exporting beef has for climate concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7178/21]
951. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the length of the wait time for a woman to avail of a mammogram; if the wait time is improving or worsening; his plans to reduce these waiting times; the reason it is possible to get a mammogram in the private sector with a general practitioner referral letter in a much quicker timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7388/21]
806. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if those who are considered very high risk by the HSE if they contract Covid-19 and have been told to remain home from work following an occupational health assessment are a priority in the vaccine schedule; when persons with sarcoidosis on the lungs with pulmonary fibrosis will be vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6794/21]
609. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if a person (details supplied) will be given permission to work; if the application for a work permit will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6441/21]
562. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to ensure front-line workers can access childcare and crèche facilities in a situation in which their usual provider is unable to offer them a place or the facility is currently closed (details supplied); if his Department or another body can organise alternative places for parents caught in this situation; if a register of facilities with vacancies can be made available in order that front-line workers can find alternative spaces for their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7183/21]
194. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider a write-off of tax liability accruing to workers as a result of the operation of income and wage supports during the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6506/21]
193. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the projected amount of outstanding tax owed by PAYE workers as a result of the operations of the temporary wage subsidy scheme and employment wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6505/21]
192. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance his plans to expand the help-to-buy scheme to include help with the purchase of second-hand homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6499/21]
153. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he has given consideration to a declaration signed by several Ministers for Transport in the EU calling for certain measures to be taken to insure social responsibility in the aviation sector (details supplied); if he will sign this declaration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6991/21]
120. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his plans to lower the cost of road tax in 2021 given the reduction in car and road usage during the Covid-19 pandemic as a result of restrictions on unnecessary travel to work and leisure and intercounty travel; if his attention has been drawn to the refunds made by motor insurance companies to reflect this; if he will make similar road tax adjustments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6504/21]
256. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a specific meat processing plant (details supplied) has provided for workers who have recently arrived here to quarantine in line with public health advice before commencing work at the plant; if inspectors from his Department at the plant have oversight knowledge or any regulatory role in relation to workers who have recently arrived in order to ensure public health advice is being followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6186/21]
221. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the present status of St. Brigid's Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary; if the hospital was used as a stepdown facility for Covid-19 patients in 2020; the cost of repurposing the facility for this purpose; the plans for the facility in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6188/21]
108. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if there will be changes in 2021 to SNA allocations; her views on whether it has been an extremely difficult year for all those working in education; if a commitment will be given to clarify and provide information in relation to SNA allocations for 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6145/21]
79. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons that have sought protection from evictions or notice of termination under measures introduced in December 2020, that is, rent arrears as a result of the Covid-19 crisis; the number who have received assistance and advice from MABS as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6185/21]
49. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to pandemic unemployment payment recipients who are being taxed on incorrect estimates of the payment by the Revenue Commissioners; and the number who have contacted his Department as a result of incorrect figures. [6184/21]
48. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the number of pandemic unemployment payment recipients who have received demands for tax owed as a result of the payment. [6182/21]
25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to retrofit windows on Irish Rail trains given the evidence-based role of fresh air ventilation during the pandemic; if Irish Rail will ensure there is a sufficient number of personnel to monitor the required and correct wearing of face coverings by passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6070/21]