Dáil Éireann

Written answers

Some recent written answers

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (27 November 2025)

Paul Lawless:

87. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific, legally-binding mechanisms Ireland is demanding be added to the EU-Mercosur agreement to ensure that imported agricultural products, particularly beef and soy, are demonstrably deforestation-free and meet the same high EU climate standards as Irish-produced goods, in order to resolve the current crisis of climate hypocrisy at the heart of the proposed deal; and if the Government will commit to vetoing the agreement if these non-negotiable standards are not secured. [66667/25]

Department of Justice and Equality: Restorative Justice (27 November 2025)

Malcolm Byrne:

427. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on restorative justice, the extent to which it is used within the Irish justice system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67032/25]

Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (26 November 2025)

John Clendennen:

239. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the case of a school (details supplied); her views on whether on the appropriateness of same; if action can be taken in the short-to-medium term to mitigate this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66552/25]

Department of Finance: Tax Data (2 December 2025)

Malcolm Byrne:

164. To ask the Minister for Finance his Department’s plans to monitor the planned reduction in the VAT rate on hospitality; his expectations and what will he be measuring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67478/25]

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 November 2025)

Sinéad Gibney:

36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagement her Department has had with the Emirati Government in relation to their alleged supply of weapons and support to the RSF in South Sudan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66724/25]

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (2 December 2025)

Grace Boland:

67. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has engaged with Transport Infrastructure Ireland regarding capacity constraints at Junctions 5 and 6 on the M1; if he will provide details of any discussions or agreements on funding or delivery of upgrade works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67346/25]

Department of Culture, Communications and Sport: Broadband Infrastructure (2 December 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae:

303. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport if reliable fast fibre broadband will be provided in Listowel town (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67443/25]

Department of Health: Health Services Waiting Lists (2 December 2025)

Ken O'Flynn:

672. To ask the Minister for Health her Department’s formal targets for reducing occupational therapy waiting times in Cork; and when waiting times in each network are projected to fall below 12-weeks. [68069/25]

Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 December 2025)

Michael Murphy:

199. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of Garda motorcycles currently in the Garda fleet; the number in active operational service; the number undergoing repair or awaiting replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68492/25]

Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (26 November 2025)

Ken O'Flynn:

325. To ask the Minister for Health the current national policy governing the provision of non-medically indicated circumcision procedures in public hospitals, including whether such procedures are authorised, the clinical or administrative basis for any such authorisation, and the responsible decision-making structure within her Department. [66560/25]

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Artificial Intelligence (2 December 2025)

Malcolm Byrne:

8. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the type of training provided to staff within her Department in the use of, or understanding of artificial intelligence; if a programme is planned for all staff on their obligations under the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67463/25]

Department of Health: Health Service Executive (3 December 2025)

Eoin Ó Broin:

263. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a reply has not been provided to a HSE representation submitted in June 2025 (details supplied); and if she will assist in obtaining a response from the HSE at the earliest opportunity. [68381/25]

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (27 November 2025)

Paula Butterly:

151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in light of a recent report of illegal and substandard antibiotics being used in Brazilian beef imports, he will call for a re-examination of the terms and conditions of the Mercosur trade deal to create a level playing field for Irish farmers. [66613/25]

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Schemes (3 December 2025)

Robert Troy:

89. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a homeowner can be reimbursed through the PV solar panel scheme for medically vulnerable households in a case where the homeowners have previously installed PV solar panels from their own resources. [68228/25]

Department of Health: Health Service Executive (2 December 2025)

Peadar Tóibín:

590. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of surgeries carried out by the HSE, outside of the NTPF, in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2025. [67716/25]

Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (26 November 2025)

Darren O'Rourke:

183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the increased capitation grant for primary and post-primary schools announced in Budget 2026 will come into effect. [66619/25]

Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (2 December 2025)

Liam Quaide:

510. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the cost of residential disability services provided by for-profit companies; and for a breakdown of costs for child and adult services separately, for each of the years 2021 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [68110/25]

Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (2 December 2025)

Paul Donnelly:

410. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of each category of Garda driving and motorcycle courses for Garda personnel held in Garda headquarters; the number of Gardaí per class; the length of time each course runs for, in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [67639/25]

Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Budgets (2 December 2025)

Michael Collins:

278. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of the major project at a school (details supplied). [67926/25]

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Production (2 December 2025)

Malcolm Byrne:

20. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the process in place for individual homeowners, businesses or farms who are producing excess energy, for example through solar panels, to be able to supply that energy into the grid; the extent to which it is being done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67300/25]