Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

457. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the consideration that has been given to extending self-employed related income disregard of €120 per week in respect of the pandemic unemployment payment for PAYE workers to enable and encourage the safe return to work for workers that are currently in receipt of the payment; the estimated cost for such a proposal in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37534/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

465. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that will be made available to those working on short and freelance contracts in the arts and entertainment sector who cannot receive the pandemic unemployment payment as a result of being considered an employee and who cannot earn a sufficient income whilst their sector is so heavily affected by ongoing public health guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37831/21]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

603. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if concerns have been raised with him in relation to difficulties farmers are experiencing in reducing their herd to comply with the BEAM scheme; if a further extension into 2022 will be considered given the limitations Covid-19 has caused for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37269/21]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

604. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if flexibility will be given to a farmer (details supplied) who was unaware that they could seek a concession under the BEAM scheme given that they had been restricted due to TB and therefore has found it more difficult to meet the conditions of the BEAM scheme with regard to reducing the herd. [37270/21]

Disability Services

Claire Kerrane

267. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans on resuming availability of an application (details supplied) to support persons who are deaf with accessing key interpretation services in recognition of the accessibility the application offers and the commitment in the Programme for Government to equality-proof social protection supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37065/21]

Local Authorities

Claire Kerrane

62. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any local authorities have made the decision to top-up the additional three-weeks parent’s leave and benefit payment since their introduction in April 2021; if so, the authorities that have done so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36616/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

182. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he plans to extend the exemption from mandatory hotel quarantine to persons fully vaccinated with a vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30592/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

222. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority employees who availed of two weeks of parent’s benefit and leave which was topped up by employers; the number of employees who availed of the additional three weeks benefit and leave as of April 2021; if local authorities plan on topping up the benefit payment for employees for the additional weeks moving forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35817/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

334. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of parents who availed of the original two weeks of parent’s benefit and leave; the number who then availed of the additional three weeks as of April 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35816/21]

Pension Provisions

Claire Kerrane

337. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 423 of 22 June 2021, the number of claims made for the blind pension in 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of successful claims versus unsuccessful claims for each year; and the reason for same in tabular form. [35870/21]

Nursing Homes

Claire Kerrane

505. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if she plans to extend the temporary assistance payment scheme for nursing homes beyond the current timeframe of June 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29699/21]

Island Communities

Claire Kerrane

612. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to share a draft copy of the new islands policy with those representing island communities to ensure a high level of consultation as part of the new policy; the stage the policy is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35858/21]

Public Participation Networks

Claire Kerrane

613. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department plans to review the public participation network and local authority participation structures as part of the review set out in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35868/21]

Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

102. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason she is proposing a move away from the not-for-profit model which currently exists for contracted employment services, local employment services and job clubs to a payment-by-results model as per the recent tender launched by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35200/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

104. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to issues communities and organisations are facing in filling community employment places; if so, if she will consider removing limitations on the length of time those aged over 55 years can spend on a community employment scheme, especially in cases in which there is no one there to replace them as a solution to the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35201/21]

Poverty Impact Assessment

Claire Kerrane

114. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when she plans to publish the poverty impact assessment of the reduced rates of jobseeker's payments for young persons in consideration of the serious inadequacy of these rates and the impact of the pandemic on youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35179/21]

Disability Services

Claire Kerrane

120. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she plans to take in order to introduce a cost of disability as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35181/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

121. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has examined the estimated number of persons who will remain on the pandemic unemployment payment by September 2021 and who will therefore see a reduction in their payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35182/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

128. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to extend provision of rent supplement for survivors of domestic abuse beyond 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35180/21]

Pension Provisions

Claire Kerrane

174. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the marriage requirement in existing legislation in order to qualify for the widow’s pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35183/21]

Health Promotion

Claire Kerrane

367. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of action item 3.13 of the National Breastfeeding Action Plan which pertains to the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28432/21]

Driver Test

Claire Kerrane

114. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to issues being experienced by those who have booked their driver theory test before being notified of their appointment being cancelled and rescheduled some up to seven times and the difficulties this poses for those awaiting their theory test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34615/21]

Driver Test

Claire Kerrane

115. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to delays for persons who have passed their theory test in receiving their provisional licence; the current average waiting time for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34616/21]

Driver Test

Claire Kerrane

116. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting for a theory test by county; the number who have applied to take the test online; the number who have since taken the theory test online; and the number of persons waiting for a driving test by county. [34617/21]

Driver Test

Claire Kerrane

117. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the additional resources that have been provided to the RSA in order to assist with the backlog of theory tests and driver tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34618/21]

Driver Licences

Claire Kerrane

139. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to issues concerning Irish citizens abroad who, in cases in which their driver's licence is lost or stolen and they do not have a public services card, can replace their licences only by physically presenting themselves at an NDLS centre in Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty this poses for persons having to travel or being unable to travel due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34936/21]

Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

372. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of referral fees paid to Seetec and Turas Nua since JobPath commenced. [34940/21]

Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

373. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been referred to JobPath since it was introduced; and the number of persons currently engaged with the service. [34941/21]

Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

374. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have completed JobPath and found employment as a result in which the employment has been sustained for over one year. [34942/21]

Grant Payments

Claire Kerrane

402. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration has been given to expanding SUSI grants for postgraduate students in recognition of the cost of study fees and the limitations of low qualifying income thresholds for these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34395/21]

Disability Services

Claire Kerrane

574. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to introduce personalised budgets for persons with a disability; when he will be in a position to introduce same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34084/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Claire Kerrane

610. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a list of all confirmed remote working hubs will be provided; the hubs that are currently operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34237/21]

Local Authorities

Claire Kerrane

32. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Galway County Council is being underfunded compared to counties of a comparable size and with a greater population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32357/21]

Rental Sector

Claire Kerrane

78. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he plans to take to support renters outside of rent pressure zones in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33890/21]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Claire Kerrane

196. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Finance the details of the charges including VRT and VAT placed on a bus hire company purchasing buses from England post-Brexit. [34070/21]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Claire Kerrane

197. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Finance if, given the huge losses experienced by bus operators due to Covid-19, consideration will be given to an exemption on VAT charged to those purchasing buses from England especially for bus drivers who are sole traders and are not registered for VAT and therefore cannot claim VAT back. [34071/21]

Employment Support Services

Claire Kerrane

321. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons employed in the local employment service and job clubs. [34072/21]

Rental Sector

Claire Kerrane

322. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received for rent supplement in 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; the corresponding number approved and rejected for each year; the number of these applications approved on the grounds of domestic abuse; the cost of paying rent supplement in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34076/21]

Pension Provisions

Claire Kerrane

323. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to legislate to provide for annual increases in the State pension to be benchmarked at 34% of earnings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34077/21]

Social Insurance

Claire Kerrane

324. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of plans for the next actuarial review of the social insurance fund. [34078/21]

Childcare Services

Claire Kerrane

325. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to parents who have a baby via surrogacy. [34079/21]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

326. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of departmental staff who are working remotely. [34081/21]

Money Advice and Budgeting Service

Claire Kerrane

327. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the changes in structure to MABS through the recent regionalisation of the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34082/21]

Pension Provisions

Claire Kerrane

328. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that have been taken to date to examine options for a pension solution for carers as committed to in the programme for Government. [34083/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

329. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the report into the poverty impact assessment of reduced rates of jobseeker’s payments for those aged 18 to 25 as committed to in the Social Welfare Act 2019 will be published. [34085/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

330. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when she plans to introduce the cost of a disability payment as committed to in the programme for Government. [34086/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

331. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of persons with a disability in receipt of the wage subsidy scheme and the ability programme. [34087/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

332. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to review the back to education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34088/21]

State Pensions

Claire Kerrane

333. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of plans to introduce auto-enrolment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34089/21]

State Pensions

Claire Kerrane

334. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of work to allow those without a full PRSI contribution record to continue to make contributions beyond pensionable age. [34090/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

335. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if participants on the short-term enterprise allowance require the support of the local development company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34091/21]

Departmental Reviews

Claire Kerrane

336. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of times the Child Maintenance Review Group has met since it was established; the date for the report to be furnished to her; and if she plans to publish the report thereafter. [34092/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

337. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made for the Covid-19 enhanced illness benefit since it was introduced; the corresponding number approved and rejected; the current average processing time; the number of persons who qualified that moved onto illness benefit therefore requiring the support for longer than ten weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34093/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

338. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the commitment in the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to develop and consult on a strawman proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments to simplify the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34094/21]

Departmental Reviews

Claire Kerrane

339. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will publish the review into contracted employment services. [34095/21]

Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

340. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if referrals to JobPath will cease in December 2021 as planned. [34096/21]

Youth Work Supports

Claire Kerrane

341. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons who have been on the youth employment support scheme since it was established; if the findings of the internal review carried out on the scheme will be shared; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34097/21]

Parental Leave

Claire Kerrane

344. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider extending the full ten weeks parent’s leave and benefit to lone parents who are parenting alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34080/21]

An Garda Síochána

Claire Kerrane

370. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice the number of bench warrants outstanding in each Garda division; the number of bench warrants outstanding for a period of over six months in each Garda division; the number of bench warrants outstanding for a period of over 12 months in each Garda division; and the longest outstanding warrant in each Garda division. [34099/21]

Social Welfare Rates

Claire Kerrane

170. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of including carer's allowance as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance. [33648/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

173. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing each weekly social welfare scheme by €1 per week in tabular form. [33663/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

174. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of reintroducing the State pension transition scheme for 65 year olds. [33664/21]

Energy Conservation

Claire Kerrane

157. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes which have been retrofitted since January 2020 to date; and the number of homes that have received funding as part of the retrofitting scheme in this time by month in tabular form. [33180/21]

Flood Risk Management

Claire Kerrane

249. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if €7 million allocated for the maintenance of the River Shannon and specifically the removal of pinch points and constrictions at the Shannon Callows will issue shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33450/21]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Claire Kerrane

399. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made for PPS numbers in 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of applications processed in that time; the number of applications yet to be processed; the current average waiting time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32900/21]

Employment Support Services

Claire Kerrane

404. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for current job clubs in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33058/21]

Pension Provisions

Claire Kerrane

423. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of abolishing the means test for the blind pension. [33518/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

424. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €1 for children under the age of 12 and €1 for children over the age of 12 respectively. [33519/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

425. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing the carer’s support grant to €2,000. [33520/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

426. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of extending the fuel allowance for one additional week. [33521/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

427. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of bringing the current young jobseeker’s rate of €112.70 per week up to the full rate of €203. [33522/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

428. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing the jobseeker’s transitional payment scheme age cut-off to 18 years of age. [33523/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

429. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of providing rent supplement to survivors of domestic violence in 2020. [33524/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

519. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to allowing park run events in counties Roscommon and Longford to return; his plans to allow park runs and other sporting events to return with social distancing guidelines in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25855/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Claire Kerrane

347. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the vote headings and sub-headings for her Department in tabular form. [32544/21]

Pensions Reform

Claire Kerrane

353. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 423 of 5 May 2021, the action that has been taken to ensure that those receiving pension payments overseas are no longer subject to bank charges in recognition of the reduction these charges cause to pension payments as a result of recent charges which were not in place before; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32677/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

367. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for on-campus learning for third-level students for the upcoming academic year; if this will be a matter for each individual college or university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32526/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Claire Kerrane

421. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the vote headings and sub-headings for her Department in tabular form. [32545/21]

National Broadband Plan

Claire Kerrane

44. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 3 June 2021, the number of premises connected and complete under the National Broadband Plan in counties Galway and Roscommon to date in tabular form. [32175/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Claire Kerrane

164. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for persons in receipt of the carer’s allowance and who have been in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment; if there has been consideration for those carers who cannot return to work as yet and who also cannot sign up to jobseeker’s allowance as a result of their part-time employment and means-testing requirement of the carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32210/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Claire Kerrane

246. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated cost of developing the 400 remote working hubs and the requisite support services identified in Our Rural Future and for additional remote working hubs in each of the 31 local authority areas. [32288/21]

Local Authorities

Claire Kerrane

247. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated cost of reviewing the local authority participation structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32289/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

267. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the preparations that have been carried out to prepare for the use of the digital green certificates to allow ease of travel for those wishing to travel abroad in summer 2021; if those who are fully vaccinated will be able to travel without any restrictions or quarantine imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31443/21]

European Court of Justice

Claire Kerrane

607. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a resolution of the 2008 Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in a case (details supplied) is expected; the reason there has not been a public consultation held on the substitute consent application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31261/21]

State Examinations

Claire Kerrane

776. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure students with conditional university offers can receive their leaving certificate results before the outlined date of 3 September 2021 in recognition of different administrative timeframes of universities overseas and to ensure students can access their chosen university courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31250/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Claire Kerrane

847. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for persons who were in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment and had their payments ceased as a result of reaching 66 years of age; if consideration has been given to allowing recipients of the State pension (contributory) to receive the pandemic unemployment payment in circumstances in which their employment continues to be affected as a result of public health guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30588/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

865. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of social welfare payments for April, May and June and to date in 2021; and the number in receipt of each social welfare payment in tabular form. [30858/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

869. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of parent’s leave and benefit by month in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [31085/21]

Pension Provisions

Claire Kerrane

898. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department has in place to address concerns of seconded local employment scheme and community employment scheme employees with regard to their employment particularly in relation pension allowances and unpensioned portions of salary which constitute core pay; if direct engagement and mediation is in place to address pension-related concerns in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31507/21]

Departmental Data

Claire Kerrane

911. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of referrals to each job club by location in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [31644/21]

Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

913. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons accessing employment services through INTREO in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date 2021, in tabular form. [31661/21]

Departmental Strategies

Claire Kerrane

914. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the pathways to work strategy 2021-2024 will be launched; if further information on the announced work placement experience programme will be included in the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31662/21]

Grant Payments

Claire Kerrane

1057. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial support available for students facing difficulty with accessing graduate-entry medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31239/21]

Ferry Services

Claire Kerrane

1214. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it will be ensured that the minimum daily service is amended from two to four crossings per day regarding the tender for Clare Island ferry services; if the tender will be amended in consultation with Clare Island residents to ensure the needs of the community are met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30541/21]

Departmental Investigations

Claire Kerrane

1221. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an investigation (details supplied) underway within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31449/21]

Job Losses

Claire Kerrane

86. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of efforts to replace jobs lost at a factory (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29733/21]

National Broadband Plan

Claire Kerrane

222. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises connected under the National Broadband Plan in counties Galway and Roscommon to date in tabular form. [30278/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Claire Kerrane

305. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons by county in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance and jobseeker’s benefit. [30277/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Claire Kerrane

150. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that are in receipt of part-time and casual jobseeker’s benefit, part-time and casual jobseeker’s allowance and short time work support payments for 1, 2 and 3 days, respectively per payment, per day, in tabular form. [30018/21]

National Broadband Plan

Claire Kerrane

82. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated number of schools that will be connected under the National Broadband Plan by the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29382/21]