Parliamentary questions

Hospital Appointments Status

Bernard Durkan

1260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when appointments will be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21813/20]

School Accommodation

Bernard Durkan

45. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which adequate classroom accommodation remains available at primary and second-level schools nationally with reference to those areas of concentrated population and high pupil-teacher ratios; if she is satisfied that deficiencies in space can be adequately provided for in the short term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19317/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

54. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which comprehensive preparations are in place to facilitate the return of children to the classrooms at primary and second level after the summer break; if issues have arisen that might need further attention; if she is satisfied that the return to the classroom will be nationwide without exception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19315/20]

Banking Sector

Bernard Durkan

368. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that all customers of lending institutions that availed of a Covid-19 related break in their payments are subsequently being treated in accordance with best practice in view of the existence of numerous incidences in which serious penalties have been imposed costing the borrower up to 20% extra; if doubt has been expressed by the lenders as to whether they can facilitate the borrower that is willing to forgo the repayment holiday on foot of upfront cash payment with the response from the lenders that it may not be possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21056/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Bernard Durkan

562. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which he anticipates local authority housing or loan qualification income guidelines and conditions might be relaxed in order to facilitate those in search of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21055/20]

Local Authority Funding

Bernard Durkan

563. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which adequate funding and authority remains available to Kildare County Council to purchase and or build sufficient housing units to meet the demand in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21062/20]

Local Authority Funding

Bernard Durkan

564. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding that has been provided, approved or is available to Kildare County Council to facilitate inner and outer relief roads in Naas, County Kildare to alleviate severe traffic congestion and an alternative to the proposals already put forward by the local authority which did not receive support from the residents directly affected in a negative way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21063/20]

Local Authority Funding

Bernard Durkan

565. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding that has been provided, approved or is available to Kildare County Council to facilitate inner and outer relief road and or second bridge crossing upstream bypass bridge in Celbridge, County Kildare to alleviate severe traffic congestion and an alternative to the proposals already put forward by the local authority which did not receive support from the residents directly affected in a negative way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21064/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

743. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she is satisfied that adequate plans are in place to ensure that all schools, primary and post-primary, throughout northern areas of County Kildare are adequately equipped and prepared for reopening in September 2020; the extent to which the necessary number of teachers, assistants and special needs assistants are being made available; if adequate adaptation of buildings to meet social distancing requirements has been or is being provided; if emergency buildings are in place or are to be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21038/20]

Schools Building Projects

Bernard Durkan

744. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if school building projects currently in progress, such as a project (details supplied) are scheduled for completion as originally anticipated; the extent to which interim arrangements are in place to meet any further unforeseen difficulties; when such schools are likely to open, if on time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21039/20]

Schools Building Projects

Bernard Durkan

745. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school building projects at primary school level throughout northern areas of County Kildare in hand or at planning stage that are likely to continue uninterrupted with a view to meeting anticipated opening dates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21040/20]

School Accommodation

Bernard Durkan

746. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of the extra required accommodation at a school (details supplied); when the project will proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21041/20]

Schools Building Projects

Bernard Durkan

747. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the primary and second level school development and-or replacement projects that are in progress at all primary and second level schools in Naas, County Kildare; the extent to which original timelines are likely to be met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21042/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

748. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any schools at which the extension of facilities and teachers is deemed necessary are proceeding as anticipated; those not included; a revised timeline, if applicable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21043/20]

School Transport

Bernard Durkan

749. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which school transport issues throughout northern areas of County Kildare have been resolved or are likely to be resolved in the near future with particular reference to those in respect of which difficulties arose in the last school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21044/20]

Schools Building Projects

Bernard Durkan

750. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects to meet the necessary school building adaptation requirements as arising from Covid-19 in all schools throughout the country in time for reopening in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21045/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Bernard Durkan

751. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects class sizes and pupil teacher ratios to be affected by Covid-19 provisions in both primary and post-primary schools throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21046/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Bernard Durkan

752. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which an adequate supply of special needs teachers and special needs assistants remain available to all primary and post-primary schools nationwide without exception; her plans to take special action to ensure that best practices and targets are maintained in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21047/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

753. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which it is expected to avail of extra buildings to facilitate primary and second-level schools arising from Covid-19 nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21048/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Bernard Durkan

754. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which special needs primary and second-level school classes throughout the northern areas of County Kildare remain available to students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21049/20]

School Staff

Bernard Durkan

755. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the optimum number of teachers remain available to all schools nationwide in primary and post-primary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21050/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Bernard Durkan

756. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that children with autism whose supports were interrupted by Covid-19 or lack of available teachers are likely to have such supports restored in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21051/20]

Gaelcholáistí Issues

Bernard Durkan

757. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress towards the provision of an Gaelcholáiste in north County Kildare with the purpose of providing second-level education to meet the needs to the numerous Gaelscoileanna throughout the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21065/20]

Disability Allowance

Bernard Durkan

779. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for a disability allowance has been received from a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19620/20]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

873. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all social welfare payments will remain in payment while essential travel for three weeks for health reasons takes place in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20532/20]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

893. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a possible termination of jobseeker’s and disability payments in the case of a person (details supplied) who will suffer considerable hardship in the event of interference with their payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21058/20]

Naturalisation Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

1050. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a person (details supplied) will qualify for naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20603/20]

Naturalisation Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

1057. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a person (details supplied) will be eligible for naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21060/20]

Speech and Language Therapy

Bernard Durkan

1470. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if speech and language and other therapy will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21053/20]

Health Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

1471. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.1085 of 14 July 2020, if the proposed or anticipated use of the land and buildings is in accordance with the wishes of the benefactor and the contract and relevant deeds arising therefrom when the property was originally gifted to the local community for their use and enjoyment; if the response to the parliamentary question carried all the information available in regard to the future or proposed use of the buildings and lands at the time of the composition of the reply; if consideration will to be given to the submission put forward by the local community to the effect that the property might continue to be used as a public nursing home, retirement home, care community support centre or similar use which might have been anticipated by the benefactors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21054/20]

National Children's Hospital

Bernard Durkan

1472. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the national children’s hospital project continues in line with the original contract and specification; the estimated costs associated with the project in the current and subsequent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21059/20]

Hospital Facilities

Bernard Durkan

1473. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the status of the progress in relation to the next development phase of Naas General Hospital with particular reference to oncology and endoscopy and other facilities; if the necessary funding will be made available in the course of the current and future years to meet the cost of the project in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21061/20]

Home Care Packages

Bernard Durkan

1474. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which homecare packages are likely to be enhanced to ensure best possible treatment for vulnerable age groups throughout the winter months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21066/20]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

40. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting times for various appeals in respect of schemes or payments run by her Department; her plans to reduce such waiting times thereby easing the stress on families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19009/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bernard Durkan

75. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the degree to which special Covid-19 related payments are to continue or to be replaced by return to work incentives or other alternatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19008/20]

One-Parent Family Payment

Bernard Durkan

213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for a one-parent family payment in the case of a person (details supplied); when the appeal will conclude; if an oral hearing will be required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19223/20]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Bernard Durkan

214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for rent supplement in the case of a person (details supplied); if the application will be expedited in view of the arrears accrued to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19224/20]

Departmental Budgets

Bernard Durkan

225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of the budget for her Department to meet increased demand arising from Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19494/20]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she remains satisfied that waiting times in respect of appeals against decisions taken by her Department can be sufficiently reduced in order to eliminate potential hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19495/20]

Exceptional Needs Payment

Bernard Durkan

227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which exceptional needs payments remain available to applicants in difficult circumstances that they had not anticipated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19496/20]

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

Bernard Durkan

228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of recipients of the non-contributory old age pension; the number of applications received in the past four years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19497/20]

Carer's Allowance

Bernard Durkan

229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which appeals against the refusal of carer’s allowance can be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19498/20]

Domiciliary Care Allowance

Bernard Durkan

230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; the number of applications on file awaiting a decision; the extent to which the process can be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19499/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Bernard Durkan

231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to community employment scheme participants who may wish to continue for an extra period of time in their employment in the context of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19500/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bernard Durkan

232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which Covid-19-related supports continue to be made available to eligible applicants nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19501/20]

Bereavement Grant

Bernard Durkan

233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which bereavement grants or equivalent continue to be processed expeditiously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19502/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which backlogs in respect of various headings and payments which may have arisen due to Covid-19 are being addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19503/20]

State Pension (Contributory)

Bernard Durkan

235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of applicants for the State pension, contributory, who fall short of the required number of contributions in order to qualify has been examined; if pro rata payments will be considered in such cases in view of the fact that such contributors receive no benefit for their contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19504/20]

Youth Unemployment

Bernard Durkan

236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which youth unemployment continues to be specifically targeted by way of ensuring the availability of the maximum number of training places, internships, apprenticeships or temporary employment opportunities particularly in the context of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19505/20]

Child Benefit

Bernard Durkan

237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review of eligibility for child benefit will be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19517/20]