Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Richard Boyd Barrett

684. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will maintain the Covid-19 pandemic payment for taxi drivers until the industry recovers but allow drivers to top-up their income by doing some work without losing the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10426/20]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

723. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation of a report (details supplied) that a refuge centre be established in the county; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that during the Covid-19 crisis the incidences of domestic violence have increased; if the necessary funds will be provided to the county council to acquire a suitable building for a refuge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10416/20]

Local Authority Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

724. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be provided to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to acquire the 21 units at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10417/20]

Local Authority Housing

Richard Boyd Barrett

725. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of council house completions across the four Dublin local authorities was 228 in 2019 in comparison to 634 in 2018; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the projections for 2020 are lower again; his plans to improve these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10418/20]

Passport Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

29. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which a person can receive a passport renewal during the Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9014/20]

Job Losses

Richard Boyd Barrett

104. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance his plans to encourage a bank (details supplied) to intervene with a consortium, of which it is a part of, to ensure fair treatment of its workers in view of that fact that employment was terminated by the consortium and it is refusing to provide a fair redundancy package for the employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9600/20]

Maternity Leave

Richard Boyd Barrett

328. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to extend maternity leave by three months for those currently on maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9604/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

487. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if there will be a similar grant to the restart grant available through local councils for SMEs that is not conditional on being registered for commercial rates in view of the fact not all small business have rate registered premises due to the fact so much business is conducted online and many businesses do not require physical premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9491/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

488. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the enterprise boards will facilitate initiatives and training programmes for traders and businesses to upskill and improve during and post-Covid-19 phased reopening that do not require the person or company to pay or to go into debt in the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9492/20]

Workplace Relations Commission

Richard Boyd Barrett

496. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that film production companies have refused to attend the WRC in an industrial relations matter taken by more than 30 employees (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9603/20]

National Public Health Emergency Team

Richard Boyd Barrett

742. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will provide all the minutes of the expert advisory group, the advices and position papers provided to NPHET and the minutes of the vulnerable and elderly subgroup of NPHET as previously requested through the Covid inquiries line and directly with the CMO at the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9589/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Richard Boyd Barrett

743. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his plans for expanding testing into all healthcare settings including regularity with which healthcare workers will be tested and the way in which this will be rolled out to home help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9590/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Richard Boyd Barrett

744. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the new criteria for Covid-19 testing; and if he will provide a report in relation to a number of areas related to testing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9591/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

745. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the details of the investigation by the HSPC and HSE of a beef plant in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan after reports of a possible outbreak at the plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9592/20]

Health Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

746. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed report on the research and trials taking place here into vaccines, therapies and antibody testing and specifically in the area of convalescent plasma therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9593/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

747. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 deaths in hospitals; the number of these patients that were transferred to an intensive care unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9594/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

848. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will meet with representatives of taxi drivers from organisations (details supplied) in view of the difficulties faced by taxi drivers as a result of Covid-19. [9601/20]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

925. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if taxi drivers whose licence expires in mid-June, July or August 2020 will receive an extension to their licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8929/20]

Departmental Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

1083. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff in her Department working in the welfare fraud section; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8563/20]

Fuel Allowance

Richard Boyd Barrett

1144. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will make available grants or extend current grants such as the fuel allowance to those workers aged 66 years of age and over who cannot access Covid-19 but are under serious financial stress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9499/20]

Housing Assistance Payment

Richard Boyd Barrett

1248. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if inter-county HAP transfer lists are operating in some or all local councils to facilitate those with housing needs to seek accommodation in areas in which there is more available housing stock at lower rates of rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9498/20]

Housing Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

1260. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his officials will liaise with a housing association (details supplied) to ensure that all public health guidelines are being adhered to and to ensure there is a health and safety audit of the entire complex including fire safety in view of concerns in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9605/20]

Legislative Measures

Richard Boyd Barrett

1261. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the strategic housing development legislation will be suspended in view of the fact that the current health crisis shows that good quality public and affordable housing is needed which this legislation has not provided but instead has contributed to planning permissions for co-living and overpriced large-scale development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9606/20]

Arts Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

1265. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will engage with arts and arts workers in Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8291/20]

Arts Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

1291. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the percentage of the Arts Council funding programmes in the previous three years pre-Covid-19 emergency awarded to musicians, music projects and music programmes as opposed to other disciplines within the arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9450/20]

Culture Ireland

Richard Boyd Barrett

1292. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding for grants Culture Ireland had available for 2020 before the Covid-19 emergency generally and for music-specific applications; if that same funding for grants will be made available during and post the Covid-19 emergency to artists, acts, touring groups and so on in the absence of international touring and performing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9451/20]

Arts Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

1293. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount available to the touring and dissemination of work scheme; if that funding will now be made available to artists, performers and touring groups that cannot travel abroad or perform due to the Covid-19 emergency measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9452/20]

EU Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

1294. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department is or will receive funding from the EU Coronavirus response investment initiative; if her Department has applied to receive additional funding from this initiative to protect the arts and entertainment sector while shut down during and beyond the phased reopening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9453/20]

EU Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

1295. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports which are being or will be made available through the Creative Europe programme for the island of Ireland; the funding or State mechanism that funding and support will be disseminated through; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9454/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

1296. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will be requesting that all artists, performers, technical and arts workers will be given extended access to the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment and businesses in the sector to have extended access to the temporary wage subsidy scheme in view of the fact that the sector will remain in shutdown beyond the period most other sectors can return to functionality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9455/20]

Arts Promotion

Richard Boyd Barrett

1298. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will organise and fund a series of small scale events in line with public health guidelines and physical distancing across heritage sites to provide work for Irish artists in order to showcase Irish art; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9596/20]

National Monuments

Richard Boyd Barrett

1299. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider purchasing a property (details supplied) to add to the State list of great houses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9597/20]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Richard Boyd Barrett

1300. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action she has taken or will take to address the fact that Irish film production companies making live action films at studios (details supplied) that chose to terminate the employment of all film production crew in response to Covid-19 rather than retain them as employees under the temporary wage subsidy scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9598/20]

Defence Forces Personnel

Richard Boyd Barrett

12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to support the need of members of the Defence Forces for secure long-term housing; if the matter will be addressed through local authority housing or council mortgages or by the Defence Forces directly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7638/20]

Banking Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

66. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the measures he will take to ensure that banks which offered term extensions to loans, including mortgages, will not add penalties or recapitalisation or accruals but will resume the exact same repayments pre-Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7665/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

89. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some employers in receipt of the wage subsidy scheme are making the employees continue to work full-time but for substantially reduced salary; if he will address this matter immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8274/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

90. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he has checked or will check the number of companies that are registered offshore but are operating here that are in receipt of the wage subsidy scheme or other special Covid-19 financial supports; the number of companies in this category; the amount of public funds they are receiving in total and on average; his views on whether companies avoiding tax here by being registered offshore is acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8275/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

91. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if in the interests of supporting a fair economic recovery, he will continue to provide full income supports to workers in sectors particularly hard hit by the impact of Covid-19 and the public health measures (details supplied); if he will establish specific tailor-made financial packages of support for these workers and sectors and urgently engage with these workers sectors in a suitable forum to discuss with them the way in which such supports can best be designed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8276/20]

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

Richard Boyd Barrett

177. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if students of social care will be given clarity with regard to their placements; if they will not be held up from graduating as a result of placements being cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7501/20]

National Council for Special Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

199. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional resources and budget increase being considered for the NCSE to deal with the substantial increase in the needs of children that are being very negatively affected by school closures due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7639/20]

Legal Aid Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

341. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amounts spent by the Legal Aid Board on solicitors, barristers and personal insolvency practitioners for applications under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7541/20]

Legal Aid Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

360. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amounts paid by the Legal Aid Board to personal insolvency practitioners, solicitors and barristers under the PIA Review Legal Aid Service since its inception; the details of these payments; the companies and persons that received same; the amount received by each company and person; the amounts that have been incurred but are unpaid by the Legal Aid Board to personal insolvency practitioners, solicitors and barristers under the PIA Review Legal Aid Service since its inception; the details of these liabilities; the companies and persons to which they are owed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7950/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

641. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of Covid-19 deaths by age, profession, socio-economic class, gender and details of underlying illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8280/20]

Health Services Staff Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

642. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of staff recruited to the health service since the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis; the status of the contracts for these staff including the formal employer of these staff; if these contracts are permanent or temporary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8281/20]

Health Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

643. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his plans and timeline to permanently increase the capacity in the health service in order that it can run at 80% capacity rather than near to 100% as it was prior to outbreak of Covid-19 to ensure public health physical distancing rules and safe staffing levels can be complied with and extra capacity for crises in addition to tackling the waiting lists and accident and emergency overcrowding; his views on whether this requires permanently retaining all private hospital capacity under the control of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8282/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

699. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of visits his Department paid for or were directly carried out by vets, public or private, or other inspectors or representatives to meat plants since the outbreak of Covid-19; the reports provided regarding hygiene, health and safety and compliance with public health guidelines; the details of those reports; if those reports indicated concerns in respect of hygiene and health and safety in the context of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8278/20]

Broadcasting Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

704. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider enacting airplay legislation to ensure a requirement that between 30% and 40% of music played would be music produced here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8269/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

760. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the guidelines for driving instructors with regard to returning to work; when they will be able to return to work; the precautions they will need to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7345/20]

Taxi Licences Renewals

Richard Boyd Barrett

780. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which a taxi driver can renew their taxi licence during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7507/20]

Driver Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

802. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if essential and front-line workers that are learner drivers will be allowed to drive on their own without a qualified driver (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7637/20]