862. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if an EU citizen who is resident in the State for over five years is deemed to meet the habitual residence condition for receipt of a non-contributory pension, as laid down in social welfare legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32650/20]
857. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be reached on the provision of pandemic unemployment payment support to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32580/20]
688. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence the specific constraints (details supplied) that prevent the Air Corps from providing a full 24-hour service to the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33633/20]
613. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the proposed affordable home shared equity scheme will be open for applications; the number of homes that will be made available in year one of the initiative; when the first homes will be available to applicants under the scheme; if he will establish the income thresholds that will be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33018/20]
532. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the impact Covid-19 level 5 restrictions will have on advertising revenue for local newspapers; if her Department will consider developing a specific package of financial supports to address the particular and unique challenges faced by local print media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32827/20]
517. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if clarity will be provided relating to the stated concerns (details supplied) of private and community music and drama schools; his views on their request to parity relating to the Plan for Living with Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33634/20]
442. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance when he last spoke to the Minister for Social Protection with regard to the functioning of the EWSS; if he has spoken to the Minister with regard to the recent Central Bank economic letter (details supplied) which cites the need allow wage-subsidy-supported workers who face a material risk of job loss in the future to engage with active labour market programmes, including retraining and help with job search; his plans to include a training element to the EWSS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33631/20]
441. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent reported comments (details supplied) by the ECB head of banking supervision regarding the payment breaks; his further views the need to return to the payment break arrangement prior to 1 October 2020 in view of the recent level 5 lockdown; his plans to meet the Central Bank and pillar banks to discuss this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33629/20]
437. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence of 23 September 2020 (details supplied) issued to his office; if he will consider introducing measures in the Finance Bill to modify the benefit in kind in terms of use of the small benefit exemption gift card initiative with a current limit of €500 in order that the benefit remains in the State; if he will consider limiting the use of the scheme to those gift card companies that prohibit international spend in the interests of supporting retail jobs and businesses across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33387/20]
435. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence of 23 September 2020 issued to his office; if he will consider introducing measures in the Finance Bill to modify the benefit in kind in terms of use of the small benefit exemption gift card initiative with a current limit of €500 in order that the benefit remains in the State; if he will consider limiting the use of the scheme to those gift card companies that prohibit international spend in the interests of supporting retail jobs and businesses across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33364/20]
429. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the reason the deadline for the completion of a deal with NAMA’s preferred bidder for the development of the former Irish Glass Bottle site in Dublin was allowed to lapse; the reason an extension to complete the deal appears to have been granted to the preferred bidder; if the recent addition of a company (details supplied) as a joint-venture partner with another company is the cause for the delay in the completion of the deal; his views on the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33154/20]
414. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on reports that a company (details supplied) has paid €700 million in tax-free dividends to its parent company in the three years since the acquisition and did not have to pay corporation tax in 2019 despite revenue of €178.7 million and an operating profit of €74.5 million; if he will bring forward plans to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32655/20]
413. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will refrain from signing the commencement order of the Brexit (Omnibus) Act in order to provide an opportunity to review the amendments relating to the retail export scheme and make the necessary adjustments to minimise the impact on the existing tourist base whilst still addressing the concerns raised surrounding UK usage of the scheme; if he will retain the current threshold level at €0.01; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32654/20]
412. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to an independent report (details supplied) detailing the benefit of the existing retail export scheme on supporting tourism in Ireland; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that other EU countries such as Spain and France have been reducing their thresholds for comparable retail export schemes in recent years to better position them to attract shoppers to their markets; his views on whether the proposed changes to the retail export scheme threshold rate in the Brexit (Omnibus) Act will severely diminish the competitiveness of tourist focused retailers nationwide, but particularly those in the tourism regions throughout Ireland with a high dependency on returning the United States, Canadian, Chinese and other established tourists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32653/20]
401. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners will set out the number of employees for whom employers accessed support through the TWSS for the final payment run under the terms of the scheme that were paid weekly, every two weeks and monthly in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32464/20]
400. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners attention was drawn to situations which have arisen for employees that were paid on a fortnightly basis under the TWSS in which the employee has been required to return moneys to their employer due to claims by some employers that the Revenue Commissioners formula as applied to workers paid every two weeks makes the employer pay a higher amount than the employee was entitled to under the terms of the scheme; if this is the case, if the Revenue Commissioners will indicate the number of employees impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32463/20]
399. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners will clarify the formula that was used to calculate the average net weekly pay under the terms of the TWSS for a person paid fortnightly; if the Revenue Commissioners has evidence obtained during its TWSS compliance programme or otherwise that would suggest that the formula artificially inflated the ARNWP compared to an employee who was paid on a weekly or a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32462/20]
291. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the specific constraints (details supplied) that prevent the Irish Coast Guard Service from providing a full 24-hour service to the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33633/20]
290. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the risks to the State with regard to the service delivery options provided for the next generation search and rescue contract; his concerns with regard to potential affordability and deliverability if the service was provided by the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33632/20]
Bill entitled an Act to make further provision in relation to restrictions on the post-term employment of certain persons as lobbyists, for that purpose to amend the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, and to provide for related matters.
94. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when a decision on a school transport case will be finalised (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32149/20]
92. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the date on which the results of the 2020 leaving certificate written exam results will be made available to exam candidates; if her attention has been drawn to the need to have the results available before the 2021 UCAS deadline for candidates that wish to apply to study in third-level in UK institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32124/20]
54. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a bank (details supplied) is requesting information from mortgage applicants to confirm whether or not their salaries are supported through the EWSS; if his attention has further been drawn to the difficulties employees have in obtaining such information from their employer; if employees are entitled to have such information under the terms of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32125/20]
136. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the significant drop in fundraising support for schools as a result of Covid-19; the specific measures available in the Roadmap for the Return to Schools or Budget 2021 to address this funding shortage for schools that have been unable to fundraise; her plans to ensure no school is reliant on future fundraising activity for basic educational resources such as book rentals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31866/20]
484. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if part-time students will have access to the €50 million student assistance fund proposed in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31289/20]
483. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the proposed €50 million student assistance fund proposed in budget 2021 will be administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31288/20]
482. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the necessary legislation will be drafted to remove international student insurance from the remit of health insurance providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31287/20]
322. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when the outcome of the initial appeals in the context of the 2020 leaving certificate results will be available; the expected timeline for the completion of the entire appeals process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31012/20]
231. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of the staycation subsidy grant; if the projected cost of the scheme has changed in view of level 3 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31488/20]
230. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of the compliance programme for the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS; the number of employers that have been inspected; the number of cases requiring further investigation; the number of employers that have been sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31486/20]
229. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of his plans to reform the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31485/20]
228. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number and percentage of employees respectively on the lower and higher rate of employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31484/20]
227. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the percentage and number of employees on the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, receiving a full wage top-up contribution from their employers; the percentage and number of employees on the EWSS receiving a partial wage top-up from their employers; the percentage and number of employees on the EWSS receiving no top-up of their wages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31483/20]
226. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of businesses and employees respectively on the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31482/20]
137. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if a hybrid warfare self-assessment to identify critical State functions and find vulnerabilities within and between critical State functions has been conducted; if so, if effective mechanisms to anticipate, avoid defeat or recover from hybrid attacks have been developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30997/20]
135. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of HSA inspectors hired since the beginning of July 2020; the additional resources that have been provided to the HSA from budget 2021; his plans to hire additional HSA inspectors in 2020 and 2021 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31487/20]
284. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if banks will be added to the list of workplaces in which the wearing of face masks is mandatory (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30818/20]
219. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the date on which a decision will be made on an application made by workers of a company (details supplied) for casual docket jobseekers while they were in receipt of temporary wage subsidy scheme support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30819/20]
151. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legal ownership of open green areas in estates that have been taken over by a respective local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30820/20]
132. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if the recent actions of a bank (details supplied) in closing four branches are in compliance with provision 3.12 of the 2012 consumer protection code; his views that the consumer protection code should be updated to protect staff and consumers that rely on branch banking including consumers in areas with poor broadband connectivity. [30817/20]
131. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank plans to update the code of practice governing bank branch closures (details supplied) that would ensure that, at a minimum, an impact assessment is carried out that would include among other things extending the notice period of branch closures to six months and inserting a 12 month notice of closure for a branch that is the last branch in a particular area. [30816/20]
130. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance outcome of his recent meeting with a bank (details supplied), in particular the outcome of his conversation with the bank regarding the recent statement by its parent company that it was reviewing the position of the bank in the market here; if he has seen the terms of reference for the review; and if he has further meetings planned. [30815/20]
129. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if a bank (details supplied) has been awarded State contracts in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30814/20]
98. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the date on which the home of a person (details supplied) will be connected to high-speed broadband under the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30775/20]
209. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer of an increase of €2.50 per week or €20 to the household benefits package to allay the cost of broadband for persons over 70 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30428/20]
167. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the date on which a response will issue to a query (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30435/20]
545. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the date on which documentation will be issued relating to confirmation of service requested by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30228/20]
196. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her Department will commit to fast-tracking the building of a permanent school building for a school (details supplied); the stage at which the development is; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that applications for places in first year for the 2020-21 school year vastly exceeded the places that were made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29422/20]
141. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to recent turf cutting and removal of same in the Carlingford Mountain special area of conservation, just south of Clermont Cairn on Black Mountain (details supplied); the action he proposes to take to identify those involved; the measures he will put in place to prevent a recurrence of the matter; the restorative steps he proposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29374/20]
716. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if additional resources will be provided to local and regional drugs task forces, in particular to deal with the impact of Covid-19, in budget 2021 and in line with the commitment in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28656/20]