361. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department was not aware of the issues in relation to planning permission when developing and ultimately issuing the RUS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27191/21]
360. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to circular 5 of 2021, clarification regarding ash dieback scheme and planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27190/21]
359. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is planned to get external expertise and registered foresters to assist his staff in developing the scheme to plant trees along rivers and watercourses to act as carbon sinks and interceptors of nutrients currently being prepared by the Minister of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27189/21]
358. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is planned to exclude professional registered foresters from the scheme to plant trees along rivers and watercourses to act as carbon sinks and interceptors of nutrients currently being prepared by the Minister of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27188/21]
210. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, if the board of project woodland is aware of the deviation from the correct consultation process in this instance; if he will bring the matter to the attention of the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27108/21]
209. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, if this deviation from the correct consultation process has occurred in previous consultation processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27107/21]
208. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, the date he informed the specific working group in the project woodland groupings of his requirement in relation to the standards for felling and reforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27106/21]
207. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, the textual changes as referred to in his reply in a manner which will allow comparison with the original text in the standard in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27105/21]
206. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, if he will direct his senior management to issue a circular to the industry clarifying the present position of the consultation process regarding the standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27104/21]
205. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, if he will publish the comments received from stakeholders as referred to in his reply on his Department’s website and make available the link to the published comments in his reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27103/21]
204. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1284, 1285, 1286 and 1287 of 31 March 2021, if his Department followed the Consultation Principles and Guidance as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform dated November 2016 particularly in regard to providing feedback as recommended on page 14 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27101/21]
203. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1015 of 10 March 2021, the length of time it took his Department to approve the licences comprising this 4,500 hectares; the length of time from application to approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27098/21]
202. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1990 and 1993 of 24 March 2021, if his officials have developed proposals to integrate afforestation into organic farming initiatives as part of the CSP in view of his confidence that the interlinkages are very much understood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27097/21]
201. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1990 and 1993 of 24 March 2021, the engagement with the forestry sector to date given that his Department is also engaging bilaterally with the forestry sector on the CAP in tabular form; the persons from his Department and from the forestry sector that have been involved in such bilateral discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27096/21]
200. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1990 and 1993 of 24 March 2021, the stakeholder organisations that have representation on both the CAP post-2020 consultative committee and the forestry policy group in tabular form; the overlap between the representatives on both the CAP post-2020 consultative committee and the forestry policy group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27095/21]
199. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1995 of 24 March 2021, if it is the case that his Department does not know the number of licence and scheme approvals it must issue in order to deliver on Government targets and industry requirements; his views on whether he should task his senior officials to determine these key planning metrics immediately with a short timeframe to revert with actualities rather than base assumptions and soft targets that his officials are incapable of delivering on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27092/21]
198. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1995 of 24 March 2021, the percentage of the private sector licence requirement that has been issued in view of the fact that Coillte has already received nearly 100% of its licensing requirements for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27091/21]
197. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1995 of 24 March 2021, if he will confirm that his reply again only spoke to targets as opposed to the question asked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27090/21]
196. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1989 and 1992 of 24 March 2021 the declared internal changes, training and increased assistance to ecologists in the preparation of files, improved IT resources for ecologists and other system improvements will deliver in files per week and projected percentage increase of output; the date from which this increased output will be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27089/21]
195. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1990 and 1993 of 24 March 2021, the cost-benefit analysis and all other associated studies which led to the decision of his Department that the forestry programme will be delivered entirely separately from the CAP strategic plan and will be subject to new state aid rules rather than the requirements of the CSP regulations; the way in which the private forestry sector including farmers will not be disadvantaged as a result of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27088/21]
194. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1990 and 1993 of 24 March 2021, the percentage of the pillar 1 and pillar 2 funding of the new CAP which must be disbursed on agri-environmental measures; the amount per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27086/21]
193. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1991 of 24 March 2021, if he plans to have a mandatory professional forester involvement in the proposed planting of trees initiative outlined in his response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27085/21]
192. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1991 of 24 March 2021, the number of participants in GLAS that afforested a part of their holding under the afforestation scheme in each year since the launch of the scheme in tabular form; the percentage of participants in the GLAS scheme that afforested a part of their farm under the afforestation scheme in each year since the start of the scheme; if he considers this a satisfactory complementary association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27084/21]
191. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1991 of 24 March 2021, if he regards the GLAS and afforestation schemes as complementary schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27083/21]
466. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he is considering exemptions from mandatory hotel quarantine for persons who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with a vaccine (details supplied); if he will take into account that on 7 May 2021, the World Health Organization approved the vaccine as a suitable and recognized vaccine for protection against Covid-19; if he will discuss this matter at the earliest convenience with the National Public Health Emergency Team and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25485/21]
311. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the position in relation to teachers who are in the very high risk category and have received their Covid-19 vaccination and wish to return to work; the reason an organisation (details supplied) does not take full Covid-19 vaccination into account in the context of its back-to-work strategy for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25233/21]
914. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he is considering exemptions from mandatory hotel quarantine for persons who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with Russian and Chinese manufactured vaccines; if the matter has been discussed with NPHET; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21386/21]
545. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education when the review of the RACE emergency provisions during State examinations will recommence; the number of submissions which were received on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21295/21]
352. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport his plans to provide specific support to the taxi industry in circumstances in which many taxi owners cannot trade and their revenue streams are depleted; if he has considered a waiver of the fee for renewal of a taxi licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/21]
318. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1429 of 24 March 2021, if a guarantee will be provided that student radiographers will be treated the same as student nurses and midwives (details supplied); if student radiographers will receive a standardised travel and accommodation allowances, a pandemic payment grant and internship payment in their fourth year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17740/21]
300. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that the visiting restrictions in place in maternity services in response to the Covid-19 document from the national women and infants health programme in September 2020 will be updated regularly to reflect the changing circumstances of the pandemic and the response including vaccination roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17680/21]
1287. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department take notice or regard of the submissions received during the consultation period in relation to the interim standards for felling and reforestation October 2019 which appear to have been converted to actual standards following a consultation period; the way this notice or regard was translated into the standards that now prevail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17305/21]
1286. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of submissions received by his Department on the interim standards for felling and reforestation October 2019 during the consultation period that pointed out impracticalities and operational impossibilities and unrealistic requirements in the standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17304/21]
1285. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of submissions that were received by his Department during the consultation period on the interim standards for felling and reforestation October 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17303/21]
1284. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the interim standards for felling and reforestation October 2019 were converted to actual standards; when the industry was notified of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17302/21]
1118. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1659 and 1662 of 24 March 2021, if he will answer the substantial part of the question which remains unanswered; if he will prioritise the vaccination of special educational staff and teachers that work in the special education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17292/21]
683. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider the inclusion of a school (details supplied) in the school meals allowance scheme with immediate effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17380/21]
193. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the turnover criteria in relation to funding for small business through the small business assistance scheme for Covid, given that applicants are required to have a minimum turnover of €50,000 for each rateable premises; his views on whether many small businesses that are looking to avail of these supports from the scheme will not be able to fulfil this minimum turnover criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17026/21]
1995. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1015 of 10 March 2021, if he will review the answer provided given that the question did not ask for the departmental target but the number of licence and scheme approvals his Department must issue each year in order to deliver on targets; if he is stating that the target of 4,500 new licences in 2021 is sufficient to meet targets for forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15018/21]
1994. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of weekly full-time equivalent ecologists working in the forest service of his Department since June 2019 including the ecologists who are subcontracted by the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15017/21]
1993. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1016 of 10 March 2021, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that he has excluded the entire private forestry sector and appears to be reliant on his officials who have presided over the demise of the current forestry programme under the current CAP in his reference to all relevant stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15015/21]
1992. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the number of licences issued for afforestation, roads and private felling per week by the forest service of his Department as reflected in the weekly dashboard is the actual capacity output of his Department under its current resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15014/21]
1991. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1014 of 10 March 2021, his views on whether not including afforestation initiatives in the pilot agri-environment scheme will further disincentivise afforestation among the farming community; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the GLAS and afforestation schemes were and remain competing schemes and were not complementary to each other and that this fact contributed significantly to the demise of the afforestation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15013/21]
1990. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1016 of 10 March 2021, if he is stating that the forestry sector is not a relevant stakeholder with regard to the CAP strategic plan; if the forest sector, which is a section of his Department, is not a part of the CAP process regardless of the way in which it is funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15012/21]
1989. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the capacity output if the number of licences issued for afforestation, roads and private felling per week by the forest service of his Department as reflected in the weekly dashboard is not capacity output under its current resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15011/21]
1662. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to expedite the vaccination of special educational staff who work and teach some of the most vulnerable children in the special education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15016/21]
1659. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to expedite the vaccination of special educational staff who work and teach some of the most vulnerable children in the special education sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14996/21]
1627. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to expedite funding and approval for patisiran Onpattro or an equivalent drug used to manage the condition hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14857/21]
1429. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with representatives of student radiographers (details supplied) to allow same to put forward a request for the development of standardised allowances, placement grants and payment for work carried out while on student placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14187/21]
969. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason those in receipt of the carer’s allowance cannot avail of the fuel allowance; if the criteria for receiving the fuel allowance will be reviewed and amended to automatically include persons in receipt of the carer’s allowance as a qualifying payment; if this request will be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14305/21]