Parliamentary questions

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

703. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 related deaths reported in August and September 2020 that occurred in a hospital setting; the other settings in which these deaths occurred; the number of deaths that occurred in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28564/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Mattie McGrath

729. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of cycles used in the PCT testing here for the detection of Covid-19; if he has concerns regarding the over-sensitivity of these tests; the steps he is taking to introduce more rapid testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28704/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mattie McGrath

734. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if both Gorey and Thomastown district hospitals had been designated as Covid-19 step-down facilities; if the step-down designation of both Gorey and Thomastown district hospitals has been removed, when this occurred; if the two hospitals have reverted to their pre-Covid-19 operation status and use; the reason St. Brigid's Hospital has not reverted to its pre-Covid-19 status in the same manner as the similar facilities outlined; when St. Brigid's will have its Covid-19 designation removed and begin resumption of normal operation at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28728/20]

Local Authority Housing

Mattie McGrath

153. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the making of a differential rents scheme will be moved from an executive function to a reserved function of local authority members, as proposed in Putting People First, to give members more say in local democracy; the reason for the delay; his plans to prepare a national differential rent scheme; when the proposals will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27772/20]

Local Authority Housing

Mattie McGrath

154. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a directive will be issued to local authorities in respect of exempting carer's allowance and the working family payment from consideration when calculating rent in view of the fact that both payments are targeted as supports for low-income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27773/20]

Local Authority Functions

Mattie McGrath

155. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on issues in the Part 8 process since the amalgamation of north and south Tipperary county councils in circumstances in which county councillors have proposed and seconded social housing projects in parts of a county that they are unfamiliar with and have no local knowledge of; if Part 8 developments should only be proposed and seconded by local authority members within the relevant municipal districts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27774/20]

Local Authority Functions

Mattie McGrath

156. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Irish Water has no input in the Part 8 process when Irish water must be notified by the council of all private developments; his views on whether Irish Water should have input on all Part 8 applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27776/20]

Local Authority Functions

Mattie McGrath

162. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the local authority supersedes the management agency in a housing estate after the taking-in-charge process has commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27946/20]

Local Authority Functions

Mattie McGrath

163. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a management agency for a housing estate is permitted to charge fees for maintenance after an estate has been taken in charge by the local authority and all necessary maintenance is carried out by same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27947/20]

School Transport

Mattie McGrath

182. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education if the decision made by the school transport scheme will be reviewed; if a ticket for a child (details supplied) will be allocated on compassionate grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27951/20]

Water Supply

Mattie McGrath

106. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will meet local opposition groups and a person (details supplied) to be briefed fully on the Shannon pipeline project before proceeding further with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27444/20]

EU Budget Contribution

Mattie McGrath

40. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the net contribution Ireland is expected to make as part of the European recovery fund; his views on the affordability of the contribution; and if Ireland will be expected to contribute the second highest percentage of its national GDP to the EU. [18478/20]

Marine Accidents

Mattie McGrath

216. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport his views on the European Court of Justice ruling recently that Ireland is not fulfilling its obligations under Article 8(1) of Directive 2009/18 governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector; the steps that have been taken by his Department and-or the Marine Casualty Investigation Board to ensure compliance with the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26421/20]

Heritage Sites

Mattie McGrath

338. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will investigate the possibility of keeping a set of flags on Cahir Castle similar to those currently at the site as part of the filming of a film (details supplied) after filming ceases in view of the fact it adds to the colour, history and heritage of the popular tourist town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27242/20]

Electoral Process

Mattie McGrath

386. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to amend section 62 of the Electoral Act 1992, which was found to be incompatible with Article 16.3.2 of the Constitution during the 2020 general election 2020, when the death of a candidate in the Tipperary constituency required the signing of a special difficulty order to allow the election to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26756/20]

Register of Electors

Mattie McGrath

387. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to amend and reform the register of electors to reduce the incidences of duplication on same and to ensure that electors are not incorrectly removed from the register; if he plans to link the register with PPS numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26757/20]

Defence Forces Properties

Mattie McGrath

425. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the steps he is taking to address the dereliction of the military barracks site in Nenagh, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26452/20]

State Examinations

Mattie McGrath

454. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the way in which the junior certificate results data for the class of 2020 were gathered for grind schools. [26496/20]

State Examinations

Mattie McGrath

455. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education if individual junior certificate results were used for grind school students in view of the fact that these students sat the junior certificate at a variety of schools from 2016 to 2018 and were not a cohort in 2017. [26497/20]

State Examinations

Mattie McGrath

456. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason the National Standardisation Group gave low priority to validation of the results in respect of schools recognised by the SEC for the holding of examinations that are not Department-ecognised schools. [26498/20]