Written answers
Thursday, 20 February 2025
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Employment Schemes
13. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he will take to increase the employment rate for people with disabilities, considering employment opportunities are vital...
- Job Losses
14. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is monitoring developments in relation to redundancies at a company (details supplied); the supports he will provide...
- Export Controls
16. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of dual-use export licence applications in respect of end-users in Israel approved by his Department in 2024 and to date in...
- Departmental Policies
17. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline how he is preparing for the threatened imposition of tariffs on EU-origin goods and services by the United States;...
- Work Permits
18. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on work his Department has done in relation to reviewing the work permits scheme and its conditions on family reunification;...
- Industrial Development
21. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans in place to expand IDA facilities in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6498/25]
- Flexible Work Practices
22. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he will be taking to ensure that protections are in place for workers who are or want to work remotely; and if he will make...
- Business Supports
24. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his response to storm Éowyn and the supports available to local businesses adversely impacted as a result. [6707/25]
- Departmental Policies
25. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the preparations and scenario planning he is undertaking to deal with the possible implications for the Irish economy of the policies...
- European Union
27. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to proceed with Ireland’s membership of the European Unified Patent Court System and the holding of a referendum on...
- Enterprise Policy
28. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to develop an all-island innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem; and...
- Departmental Policies
29. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a fund exists for businesses impacted by Government-funded construction. [6546/25]
- Employment Rights
30. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he intends to act on the requests made by a campaign (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6619/25]
- Business Supports
31. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in County Offaly that applied for the Power Up grant; the number of the applications that were successful;...
- Job Creation
32. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to expand on the Programme for Government commitment to create 300,000 new jobs by 2030 and to outline the strategic investment...
- Enterprise Policy
33. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the south east regional enterprise plan; if a new plan is being prepared; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Policies
34. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he has engaged with a group (details supplied); and has any progress made on legislation to meet some of their asks. [6601/25]
- Small and Medium Enterprises
36. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he plans to take to support the SME sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6717/25]
- Trade Relations
37. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how he proposes to engage with President Trump’s administration in the United States with regard to mooted tariffs on European...
- Small and Medium Enterprises
38. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether SMEs should be given more favourable treatment in terms of lower taxation and less regulation in comparison to...
- Apprenticeship Programmes
39. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will increase wages for apprentices to at least the national minimum wage where they are below that level; and if he will make a...
- Business Supports
40. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if support will be provided to businesses which suffered losses not covered by insurance during storm Éowyn; if he has engaged...
- Living Wage
41. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline his plans to achieve a living wage for workers in Ireland. [6715/25]
- Departmental Functions
42. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the establishment of a small business unit in his Department, as set out in the Programme for Government; and...
- Artificial Intelligence
45. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline progress on the recommendations of the Government’s response to Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2024 with...
- Trade Agreements
47. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline his efforts to oppose the Mercosur Trade Agreement. [4447/25]
- Business Supports
48. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he intends to expand the Power Up grant to include businesses that are currently excluded; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Enterprise Support Services
49. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs supported by Enterprise Ireland in Kerry in 2024; how this compares to the end of 2020; and if he will make a...
- Work Permits
50. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work visas granted in each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; the average length of time to process such applications, in...
- Business Supports
51. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby businesses that qualify for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant and the Power...
- Work Permits
54. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the work permits scheme for healthcare assistants, to allow healthcare assistants more easily apply for family...
- Job Losses
55. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the prospect of job losses at a company (details supplied) ; to outline the efforts he is making to mitigate job...
- Industrial Development
56. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will engage with the IDA regarding the serious lack of IDA-backed jobs in Laois. [6512/25]
- Business Supports
57. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to consider a support scheme for SME’s that did not qualify under the Power Up Grant; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Work Permits
61. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of critical skills employment permits applications refused in 2024; to detail the reasons provided for the refusal of...
- Enterprise Policy
62. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the specific metrics his Department is using to measure the impact of the digital transition fund on Irish small and medium...
- Business Supports
64. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in Cork city and Cork county that applied for the Power Up grant; the number of applications in each local...
- Enterprise Policy
68. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline his plans for the creation of a National Start Up Hub for entrepreneurs. [6713/25]
- Work Permits
69. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of critical skills employment permits awarded in 2024; to detail the number awarded in each employment category; and...
- Employment Rights
71. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is planning to amend employment legislation to improve employment rights and job security of film workers; and if he will make a...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Wind Energy Generation
78. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for an update on the work of his Department in the development of offshore wind in County Louth. [6798/25]
- Electricity Grid
79. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on his intentions to improve local electricity infrastructure and ensure increased redundancy to...
- Telecommunications Infrastructure
80. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions he will take, along with National Broadband Ireland, to ensure that businesses and residents are not left...
- Electricity Grid
81. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on his engagements with Eirgrid. [6705/25]
- Telecommunications Infrastructure
88. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the restoration of all mobile phone and broadband services to locations affected by service...
- Departmental Contracts
89. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to consider a moratorium on engaging in contracts with a company (details supplied), in light of their anti-union...
- Bord na Móna
90. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will immediately engage with the board and senior management of Bord na Móna to halt its sale to a private...
- Solar Energy Guidelines
91. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment with reference to solar panel farms, that they would be required to locate on un-used marginal land or upland, rather...
- Energy Conservation
92. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes in County Kerry currently on the waiting list for the warmer homes scheme, and the approximate wait...
- Bord na Móna
94. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to enhance the role and capacity of Bord na Móna to play a leading role in the provision of renewable...
- Housing Schemes
95. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to recent changes to the housing aid for older people scheme by the Department of...
- Waste Management
96. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline his Department’s strategy to reduce vape-related waste and pollution issues in Dublin; if he...
- Recycling Policy
97. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline the regulatory system for the recycling of used clothes, the role that clothes...
- Energy Conservation
98. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes in County Kerry that were retrofitted under the warmer homes scheme over the lifetime of the last...
- Energy Policy
99. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures that will be implemented to reduce risks to an essential and sustainable energy supply for this State in...
- Environmental Policy
100. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which his Department is supporting the roll out of water fountains across the country to lessen plastic...
- Recycling Policy
101. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for the up-to-date position on provision of deposit return scheme machines at all civic amenity sites nationally; and...
- Data Centres
102. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to ensure that the roll out of data centres is consistent with the Climate act 2021; and if...
- Energy Policy
103. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps that his Department will be taking to advance district heating schemes; and if he will make a statement on...
- Departmental Policies
104. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the Designated Maritime Area Plans; when they will be published; and if he will make a...
- Electricity Supply Board
105. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagements he has had with the CEO of ESB since he took office; and if so, how often and how recently they met....
- Bord na Móna
107. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will intervene to stop the sale of Bord Na Móna Recycling to a private company; if he is concerned at the...
- Waste Management
108. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the installation and usage of CCTV for litter and waste enforcement purposes in the...
- Climate Change Policy
109. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the work undertaken by his Department to ensure adequate resourcing of lead Departments for climate adaptation-related...
- Electricity Grid
110. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, further to the fallout of Storm Éowyn, he will advance policies to ensure that new powerlines are...
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
111. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the decarbonisation zone in Galway city; the status of the implementation plan; the resources...
- Electricity Grid
112. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the proposed investment in the electricity grid; if there are specific proposals to update the grid particularly in...
- Mining Industry
115. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is concerned about potential transboundary environmental impacts from gold mining in the Sperrins; and if he will...
- Waste Management
116. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline his Department’s plans to reduce waste from disposable cups; if he plans any initiatives to...
- Energy Policy
117. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment given Ireland's immense potential for offshore renewable energy and the production of green hydrogen, the specific...
- Wind Energy Generation
119. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the expansion of the Offshore Wind Energy Taskforce to include IDA Ireland, as set out in the...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Departmental Consultations
121. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions in which he engaged at the Munich Security Conference. [6888/25]
- Passport Services
122. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of adult and children passport renewals currently being processed by the Passport Office in 2025, as of 31 January 2025. [6855/25]
- Economic Data
123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of Ireland’s bilateral economic relationship with China for each year over the past five years with relevant updated...
- Passport Services
124. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position with an application for an Irish passport for a person in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Departmental Strategies
125. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to clarify the Government’s plans to sell Bord na Móna Recycling; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Natural Gas Grid
126. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the potential use of liquefied natural gas as an energy source in Ireland; if he envisions the...
- Departmental Funding
127. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will increase the monetary value of PhD stipends (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Pension Provisions
128. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his awareness or otherwise as to whether An Post has complied with Ministerial authorisations on pension increases, as...
- Departmental Strategies
131. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the guidelines in place for community engagement when a biomethane plant is proposed in an area; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Policies
132. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will amend the Climate Action Plan 2025 to ensure that the actions outlined will meet a 51% reduction in...
- Departmental Reports
133. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Liquefied Natural Gas Report previously commissioned by the previous Minister for Environment; Climate and...
- Departmental Expenditure
134. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason Ireland did not submit a new nationally determined contributions to the UN on 10 February 2025, as required...
- Solar Energy Guidelines
135. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to consider reinstating battery grants for solar panels and expanding the solar electricity grant given recent storms...
- Electricity Supply Board
136. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to specify the agreed or provisionally agreed auction contracts under ORESS 1 and ORESS 2.1, respectively; the number...
- Energy Infrastructure
138. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for the breakdown of the funding provided for community energy grants in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular...
- Solar Energy Guidelines
139. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for the breakdown of the funding provided for domestic solar photovoltaic systems in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025,...
- Renewable Energy Generation
140. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for a breakdown of the funding provided for community solar photovoltaic systems in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in...
- Deposit Return Scheme
141. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the containers returned via the deposit return scheme are being recycled in Ireland; if not, the reason; and if he...
- Sports Events
145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to examine the issue of exclusive broadcasting rights for major sporting events in Ireland, particularly a UK-based...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces
146. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount of unspent defence budget returned to the Exchequer for the years 1989 to 2024, in tabular form. [6821/25]
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- E-scooters
149. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions his Department is taking to address the misuse of E-scooters, specifically actions taken to address speeding, driving on...
- Active Travel
150. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on each of the projects funded under the 2024 active travel scheme within the Fingal County Council area;...
- Departmental Projects
151. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the safe routes to school project will re-open later this year for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Road Network
152. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a breakdown of all measures in relation to roads in Kerry contained within the revised National Development Plan; to provide a...
- Road Projects
153. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will give consideration to concerns regarding the new proposed layout for the N72/L4040 junction at Gap Cross, Killarney (details...
- Departmental Funding
154. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated by the NTA to the R135 cycle network scheme in Ashbourne, County Meath; the schedule of payments for this...
- Road Network
156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to surface dress a road in County Kerry that has in excess of 200 potholes and is currently in an extremely dangerous condition (details...
- Departmental Contracts
157. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in light of the decision to transfer the contract for provision of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter service, when he expects the service...
- Driver Licences
160. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to examine the case for opening a drivers licence office in Dundalk, County Louth (details supplied). [7013/25]
- Bus Services
161. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide clarity on the reasoning for the Airport hopper bus service between Maynooth and Dublin Airport stopping its services...
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland
162. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to replace an infrastructure (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7048/25]
- Artificial Intelligence
163. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department; if any section of his...
- Tax Collection
164. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for charging persons more for periodic payments of motor tax over single payments in full and if he will set out his plans...
- Tax Data
165. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of vehicle owners that paid motor tax in one single payments in 2022, 2023 and 2024 versus those that opted for periodic...
- Tax Collection
166. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide the additional amount derived from the collection of motor tax payments as a result of persons paying the charge by...
- Programme for Government
167. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 5 February 2025, if he will ask the NTA to provide a preliminary written view or report on...
- Flood Relief Schemes
168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 5 February 2025, if the NTA will issue a reply; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Reliefs
169. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the review of the help to buy scheme as set out in the programme for Government; if the level of tax relief is one of the aspects to be...
- Film Industry
170. To ask the Minister for Finance for an update on incentives for unscripted production in the film and television industry. [6919/25]
- Housing Policy
171. To ask the Minister for Finance to reconsider the rule under help to buy that eligibility of a self-build for funding is based on the value of the house post build rather than the cost to...
- Housing Schemes
172. To ask the Minister for Finance if any consideration has been given to carrying out a review of the help-to-buy scheme that would allow couples (details supplied) to qualify for supports;...
- Revenue Commissioners
173. To ask the Minister for Finance if he and his departmental officials have engaged with the Revenue Commissioners on the practical implementation of the new national E-liquid products tax,...
- Housing Schemes
174. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the help to buy scheme threshold; if he has considered increasing this threshold for properties purchased in Dublin; and if he will...
- Social Welfare Payments
175. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit will no longer be subject to taxation; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Tax Reliefs
176. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide an up-to-date report on tax relief for gym membership as outlined in budget 2025 and in the programme for Government; and if he will make a...
- Tax Collection
177. To ask the Minister for Finance the details of the tax initiatives he is putting in place to support farm succession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6922/25]
- Ambulance Service
178. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware that emergency vehicles are being taken off ambulance officers given the importance of these vehicles to response times; the number of times...
- Tax Credits
179. To ask the Minister for Finance the timeline for the review of research and development tax credits; when it will commence; the steps along the review; his views on whether it is a key...
- Tax Residency
180. To ask the Minister for Finance his position on the OECD tax agreement following the statements of President Trump on warning to countries that implement it against US companies; if the...
- Artificial Intelligence
181. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence, AI, within the Department; if any section of his Department currently...
- Insurance Industry
182. To ask the Minister for Finance if he can confirm if the Flood Insurance Bill 2021 has been enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7091/25]
- Tourism Policy
183. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 398 of 5 February 2025, his views in relation to a tourism accommodation levy on short-term stays in paid accommodation...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Fire Service
184. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he plans to address the retention challenges in the fire services, specifically as they relate to pension reforms; if he is...
- Public Appointments Service
185. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his position with the ongoing public sector discussions regarding a potential reversal of the previous financial decision to reduce the...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Business Supports
186. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the supports available to new businesses established in 2024 and not eligible for the increased cost of business...
- Work Permits
188. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of migrant workers on employment permits who have changed employer while remaining on their employment permit since the...
- Electricity Transmission Network
189. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps his Department is taking to safety proof the electricity system from future extreme weather events; the amount spent on...
- Referendum Campaigns
190. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government plans to hold a referendum on the Unified Patents Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6968/25]
- Departmental Data
191. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of new businesses established in 2024; and the number established in rateable and non-rateable premises. [7062/25]
- Artificial Intelligence
192. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how he plans to balance the need for Ireland to be at the forefront of AI innovation while also developing a policy for responsible...
- Business Regulation
193. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has assessed the impact of an organisations effective monopoly on music licensing in Ireland, particularly in...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Departmental Budgets
194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will detail her Department’s capital budget in each of the past five years; and the percentage of that budget spent at 31 December...
- Special Educational Needs
195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the additional needs allocation for a school (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of school...
- EU Funding
197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current and capital projects under the remit of her Department that received EU funding in 2024; and the percentage of the funding that was...
- Special Educational Needs
198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department considers rule 64 (1) of the rules for national schools a barrier that prevents pupils with moderate intellectual disabilities...
- Schools Building Projects
204. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on additional class space for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7006/25]
- Education Policy
205. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on her Department's work to develop a roadmap for inclusive education; and if she will make a statement on the...
- School Facilities
206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make funding available to remove dangerous trees from school grounds, considering the damage that has been caused recently by Storm...
- Special Educational Needs
207. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure for forward planning and identifying the number, type and location of special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary...
- Teaching Qualifications
208. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be a change in rules in the two-year induction period that newly qualified teachers from the UK must do before they can transfer to...
- Home Schooling
210. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children with special educational needs accessing the home tuition grant scheme currently; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Special Educational Needs
213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if more schools in the Crowenstown, Delvin, Collinstown, Castlepollard and Fore areas of Westmeath have been sanctioned to open an ASD class for...
- School Accommodation
214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of an additional accommodation project application by a school (details supplied); when they can proceed to the next phase;...
- Special Educational Needs
215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps her Department will take to ensure that a child (details supplied), who is on a waiting list for their local special school will be...
- Teaching Qualifications
216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if incremental credit will be given to secondary school teachers with teaching experience abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Capitation Grants
217. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the capitation grant will be extended to special schools that do not have a sufficient number of recognised pupils enrolled to qualify for...
- Special Educational Needs
218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the pilot scheme that provides additional speech and language therapy and occupational therapy supports, based on need, to children...
- Departmental Funding
219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding given to special schools in north Kildare in the years 2019 to 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Special Educational Needs
220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to review the case of a child (details supplied) needing a primary school place; the measures being taken to address the shortage of special...
- School Transport
221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a child (details supplied) will receive school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7096/25]
- Schools Building Projects
222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 5 February 2025, if the ‘further analysis’ specified will be provided; if she will...
- Special Educational Needs
223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he would examine the delays in implementing the new model of front-loading SNA support which was announced back in 2020; the reason it has not...
- Schools Building Projects
224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to lay out a timeline for the construction of a new school building at a school (details supplied). [7120/25]
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Post Office Network
225. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will undertake to work with Údarás na Gaeltachta to enable that body to provide support and incentives to ensure...
- Departmental Reports
226. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has received the Interim Report of the Advisory Committee on Restitution and Repatriation of Cultural Heritage; if not, when...
- Exchequer Payments
227. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the annual funding from the State to organisations (details supplied); and the way it has been broken down or ringfenced over the...
- Sport and Recreational Development
228. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when he plans to open applications for the next round of the Community Sports Facilities Fund; and if he will make a statement on...
- Artificial Intelligence
229. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department; if any section of...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Housing Policy
230. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when his Department will complete the definitions for the extent of the 2025 tenant-in-situ scheme; the other options...
- Defective Building Materials
231. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the Housing Agency has submitted its report in relation to the expansion of the defective blocks scheme to additional local...
- Local Authorities
234. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if funding for cost rental tenant-in-situ scheme was suspended to local authorities at any period in October, November and...
- Vacant Properties
236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason for vacancies in private houses; the research that has been carried out to investigate the reasons for vacancies...
- Departmental Data
237. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the exact number of persons on the social housing list in the electoral area in Mayo; the way the waiting list is devised,...
- Wildlife Protection
238. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the additional measures being put in place by his Department to stop the growing problem of illegal wildlife hunting and...
- Housing Schemes
239. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will introduce a low cost sites scheme in County Kerry to assist middle income earners in building a family home; and if...
- Housing Provision
240. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of housing completions in Dublin west from 2019 to 2024, inclusive; and the number of houses versus apartments...
- Defective Building Materials
246. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeline and proposed plans or amendments to the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks...
- Housing Schemes
249. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to detail the applications received by his Department from Waterford City and County Council for social, affordable and cost...
- Fire Service
250. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applications made by each local authority under the fire service capital programme for each year from 2014 to...
- Heritage Projects
252. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the plans he and his Department have in place to address the capacity issues affective storage of priceless historic artefacts...
- Regeneration Projects
253. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeline for when the next round of urban regeneration and development funding or equivalent funding will be announced....
- Housing Schemes
256. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the remediation of defects in apartments and duplexes scheme; and if a pilot scheme is due to...
- Artificial Intelligence
257. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department; if any section...
- Rental Sector
261. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the review being undertaken by his Department of rent pressure zones, specifically the terms of reference of...
- Water Services
264. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if grant aid will be provided for group water schemes to facilitate the installation of generators, in view of the...
- Departmental Schemes
265. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the progress of commitments in the Programme for Government regarding expanding the first home...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- School Meals Programme
266. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 15 May 2024, to provide details of the tender documentation provided; to provide...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
268. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person in receipt of carer’s allowance (details supplied) who works the allowed 18.5 hours per week in the day...
- Social Welfare Benefits
269. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person in receipt of the invalidity pension and approved for partial capacity benefit has their payment reduced...
- Social Welfare Schemes
270. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider amending the free travel scheme to allow persons who have a disability and are in employment to be...
- Social Welfare Appeals
273. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for a person (details supplied). [6873/25]
- Social Welfare Rates
274. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the living alone allowance will be increased given many senior citizens are finding it increasingly difficult to survive;...
- State Pensions
275. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to allocate credits towards a State pension (non-contributory) for carers. [6937/25]
- Social Welfare Fraud
276. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of cases where the Department has found suspected fraudulent activity, for each year over the past five years; the...
- Legislative Process
277. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide a detailed timeline for the enactment of the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2024,...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- International Protection
278. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether current and retired Gardaí used to interview asylum seekers; and the cost of each of these interviews. [7139/25]
- Departmental Bodies
279. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will establish a forum for stakeholder engagement on firearms licensing and related matters, similar to the previous...
- Naturalisation Applications
282. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria that a person who arrived in Ireland as a child under beneficiaries of temporary protection must meet for...
- An Garda Síochána
283. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilian staff recruited under the An Garda Síochána civilianisation programme since 2008; the number...
- Visa Applications
286. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will be made on a visa application (details supplied) for a person who was granted a work permit five months...
- Communications Surveillance
287. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department is aware of and if it has concerns regarding covert listening devices being present in public places...
- Child Protection
288. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to streamline the process of Garda vetting in order that applicants need only apply once and not multiple times for...
- Crime Prevention
289. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of people that have been given the maximum sentence under revised knife crime legislation since it came into effect....
- Prison Service
290. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason an allegation of corruption by an individual (detail supplied) against the Irish Prison Service (IPS) was referred...
- Closed-Circuit Television Systems
292. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the implementation of automatic numberplate recognition CCTV will be completed nationally; and if he will make a statement...
- Official Engagements
293. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the official engagements in his Ministerial diary, and that of any Minister of State in his Department, for...
- Artificial Intelligence
294. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department; if any section...
- Residency Permits
295. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the up-to-date position on the single application procedure for a combined employment and residence permit; and if she will...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Greyhound Industry
296. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of racing greyhounds microchipped between 1 October 2023 and 31 December 2024, in tabular form. [6856/25]
- Food Industry
297. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which new markets continue to be established for Irish food products; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Animal Diseases
298. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a comprehensive statement with regard to avian, bird flu in general; Irelands preparedness for the disease; and cross-Border...
- Live Exports
299. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of plans to export 5000 calves from Waterford to the Netherlands on the MV Alondra in April; the health risks such a...
- Agriculture Schemes
300. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the forgotten farmers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6915/25]
- Artificial Intelligence
302. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department; if any section of his...
- Veterinary Services
303. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of veterinary welfare and identity checks on equine exports at Irish ports that have taken place in the past six months of...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Departmental Schemes
304. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a prohibition on those people availing of the accommodation recognition payment from offering or...
- Disability Services
306. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there has been a change in the past three years in relation to transport entitlements for disability adult...
- International Protection
308. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are IPAS accommodation centres which have vacant rooms...
- Disabilities Assessments
309. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) in County Cork will be provided with an appointment for an autism assessment;...
- Disability Services
310. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will address issues with the reliability and accessibility of disability services in Longford; such as in...
- International Protection
311. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department will undertake a fundamental review of a State contract (details supplied). [6881/25]
- Disability Services
312. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of one-on-one speech and language appointments provided to a child (details supplied) since January...
- Disabilities Assessments
314. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date on which a child (details supplied) was referred for an psychological assessment; the date on which...
- Disability Services
315. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of staffing at Cavan CDNT to include overall established staffing WTE allocation, current WTE...
- Childcare Services
318. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures her Department is taking to ensure that there are enough crèche and afterschool care spaces...
- Departmental Data
319. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department;...
- Childcare Services
320. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers in Dublin that are eligible for core funding; the number that signed up for...
- Employment Support Services
323. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the need for cross departmental coordination with the Department of Social Protection and the Department of...
- Department of Health
- Mental Health Services
324. To ask the Minister for Health if a certain therapy can be offered to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7085/25]
- Health Services Staff
326. To ask the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists in north Kildare in the years 2019 to 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7087/25]
- Health Services
327. To ask the Minister for Health her views on whether audiology services in the south east are inadequate; when an audiologist will be appointed (details supplied); her views on whether...
- Health Strategies
328. To ask the Minister for Health the status and progress of the national endometriosis framework. [6827/25]
- Tobacco Control Measures
329. To ask the Minister for Health if she will outline, in tabular form, the specific results of the public consultation about future regulation of e-cigarettes or vapes, which was launched in...
- Hospital Appointments Status
330. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6842/25]
- Home Care Packages
331. To ask the Minister for Health when the proposed statutory scheme for home support will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6846/25]
- Dental Services
332. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE dental nurses based in each primary care centre in CHO7 as of 31 January 2025, in tabular form. [6853/25]
- Health Services Staff
333. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE audiologists, by grade, employed by the HSE within older persons’ services in CHO7 in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in...
- Hospital Complaints Procedures
334. To ask the Minister for Health for a detailed report regarding the number of claims against the maternity department at University Hospital Kerry for each of the past five years; the amount...
- Medical Inquiries
336. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the epilim inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6864/25]
- Hospital Waiting Lists
337. To ask the Minister for Health the current number of adult inpatient hospital beds, excluding paediatric and/or day-case beds, in Model 3 and Model 4 Hospitals only, on a population basis in...
- Hospital Staff
338. To ask the Minister for Health the number of consultant posts that have been approved by the HSE consultant applications advisory committee (CAAC) for model 3 and model 4 hospitals in each...
- Medicinal Products
339. To ask the Minister for Health if the issue of the soluble solpadeine shortage has been resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6883/25]
- Assisted Human Reproduction
340. To ask the Minister for Health the intended commencement date for the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6895/25]
- Health Services
342. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a mechanism, such as the individual funding request process used in the North of Ireland, to allow the HSE consider requests from clinical...
- Medical Cards
343. To ask the Minister for Health if she will include the cost of doing bloods under the medical card scheme given a number of GPs have recently doubled their charges from €20 to...
- Health Service Executive
344. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the abandoned healthcare building in Camolin, County Wexford. [6920/25]
- Vaccination Programme
345. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider rolling out the shingles vaccine through the National Immunisation Programme to people aged 70 years and over and to those who are...
- Healthcare Policy
346. To ask the Minister for Health her views on whether data in relation to the prevalence and impact of shingles and postherpetic neuralgia in Ireland is robust enough; and if she has plans to...
- Hospital Appointments Status
347. To ask the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6925/25]
- Health Services Staff
348. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to incentivise Irish medical staff back from Australia and Canada to work in the HSE. [6934/25]
- Mental Health Services
354. To ask the Minister for Health the number of mental health liaison nurse positions attached to University Hospital Waterford; the number of these positions that are currently vacant; the...
- Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
356. To ask the Minister for Health if a HSE surgical hub will be introduced at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown (details supplied). [6963/25]
- Ambulance Service
359. To ask the Minister for Health the number of rapid-response vehicles available on a 24-7 basis in County Galway in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; if this number will be...
- Cancer Services
361. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people who attended a lung rapid access clinic; the proportion who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
373. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people waiting more than four weeks for an urgent colonoscopy in 2024. [7003/25]
- Emergency Services
375. To ask the Minister for Health the reason emergency vehicles are being taken off ambulance officers given the importance of these vehicles to response times; the number of times these...
- Departmental Funding
376. To ask the Minister for Health if she will allocate necessary funding to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7022/25]
- Departmental Contracts
377. To ask the Minister for Health the payments made to a company (details supplied) in respect of services to the HSE for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of contracts for...
- Hospital Appointments Status
378. To ask the Minister for Health when an appointment will be offered to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7029/25]
- Hospital Procedures
379. To ask the Minister for Health when urgent surgery for a patient (details supplied) will be arranged at St. James's Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7040/25]
- Hospital Appointments Status
380. To ask the Minister for Health when a patient (details supplied) in St. James's Hospital will receive an ultrasound appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7041/25]
- Health Services
381. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department officials will work with their counterparts in the North of Ireland to examine the potential to deliver a thrombectomy service in the north...
- Cancer Services
382. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1542 of 22 January 2025, to ask the HSE to issue a reply;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7111/25]
- Hospital Appointments Status
383. To ask the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be facilitated for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7113/25]
- Department of Education and Skills
- Departmental Data
384. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of young people emigrating; and the professions from which those emigrating are leaving. [6933/25]
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Control of Dogs
385. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to the €100 thousand allocated to organisations which facilitate the neutering of dogs, this...
- Departmental Administrative Arrangements
386. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to reconfigure his Department; the timeline for completion of this reconfiguration; the title of this Department, if he will...
- Departmental Bodies
387. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to list all the agencies and other bodies under his aegis; and to detail the total budget, or part thereof, funded by the Exchequer in...
- Departmental Funding
389. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will detail his Department's various capital funding schemes, including the total of each fund in 2025, in tabular form; the...
- Departmental Strategies
391. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plan to develop a successor to the Strategy for the Community and Voluntary Sector 2019-2024, and to resourcing that strategy to...
- Community Development Projects
392. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the date the successful applicants to the community centres investment fund will be announced. [7010/25]
