Written answers
Thursday, 1 May 2025
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Job Creation
9. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail jobs supported by Enterprise Ireland between 2020 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21587/25]
- Departmental Bodies
15. 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...
- White Papers
17. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the implementation plan 2025-2026 of the White Paper on Enterprise has been published; the progress made to support indigenous...
- Industrial Relations
18. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps his Department is taking to strengthen the right to collective bargaining in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the...
- State Bodies
19. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the status of IDA land bank acquisitions in County Offaly, particularly in light of his recent visit...
- Living Wage
21. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the decision to delay the introduction of a living wage will be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20784/25]
- Official Engagements
22. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on his recent engagement with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21535/25]
- Industrial Development
23. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs in IDA supported companies in Meath at the end of March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21403/25]
- Business Supports
26. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the schemes in place to encourage businesses to set up in our towns and villages; and if he has plans to introduce more schemes to...
- Weather Events
27. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the creation of an extreme weather event assistance scheme relevant to the business sector; and if he...
- Human Rights
28. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 20 February 2025, if the action plan on business and human rights has now been published;...
- Work Permits
29. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when persons (details supplied) wishing to work for a Cork haulage company will receive their work permits; and if he will make a...
- Joint Labour Committees
30. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps his Department is taking to review and strengthen the effectiveness of the joint labour committees; and if he will make a...
- Regional Development
31. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a new western regional enterprise plan will be published soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21734/25]
- Business Supports
32. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has considered setting up a rainy day fund which may be used in the event of a trade war to support struggling businesses. [20965/25]
- Departmental Policies
33. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to minimise the damage of potential US tariffs. [16672/25]
- Employment Rights
34. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his view on the provision of statutory sick leave in Ireland compared with other European countries; and if he will make a statement...
- Legislative Programme
35. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the legislative priorities for his Department for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21754/25]
- Departmental Schemes
36. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the criteria for the power up scheme given that some applicants were excluded on minor technicalities; and if he...
- Business Supports
37. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the input his Department had in the development of the business energy upgrade scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Research and Development
38. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how his Department and relevant State agencies continue to partner with a company (details supplied) in areas of research and...
- Departmental Strategies
39. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when it is envisaged that a new whole-of-Government action plan on competitiveness and productivity will be finalised in line with the...
- Trade Unions
40. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps his Department is taking to strengthen protections for employees from victimisation due to trade union activity; and if he...
- Employment Rights
41. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the lobbying that has taken place from business interests regarding delaying the introduction of a living wage and additional sick...
- Ticket Booking Fees
42. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the current regulation and enforcement regime in place to ensure that major event ticket selling platforms operate in full...
- Cross-Border Co-operation
43. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on any new all island enterprise initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21681/25]
- Vacant Properties
45. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he is taking to address commercial vacancy. [21367/25]
- Small and Medium Enterprises
46. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what current supports are available to SMEs with the ongoing threat of increased tariffs when trading with the US; what additional...
- Energy Prices
47. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of how electricity costs are impacting SMEs across the country; and if he will...
- Business Supports
48. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the roll out of the power up and increased cost of business grant schemes, including the level of...
- Small and Medium Enterprises
49. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the supports being provided by his Department to aid small and medium-sized businesses; and if he will make a statement on...
- Company Closures
50. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of hospitality businesses that have closed in the past 12 months. [21368/25]
- Company Registration
51. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is a backlog in compliance checks being carried out by the Companies Registration Office; any assessment that the Department...
- Job Creation
53. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs in IDA supported companies in Kerry at the end of March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21417/25]
- Artificial Intelligence
54. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in light of the United Arab Emirates using artificial intelligence to assist in writing legislation, if his Department would consider...
- Business Supports
55. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if supports such as the online retail scheme and the trading online scheme will be subject to review given the increased pressures on...
- Artificial Intelligence
57. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the steps he is taking to cultivate investment in artificial intelligence in the context of his action plan for...
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
59. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on his Department's work with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to develop a CCUS task force...
- Enterprise Support Services
60. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how he is supporting Irish exporters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21585/25]
- Public Procurement Contracts
62. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware if any of the contractors or subcontractors engaged in resolving the failures in the Companies Registration Office IT...
- Diaspora Issues
63. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an overview of measures he is undertaking to ensure that Irish people with critical skills who are domiciled...
- Copyright Infringement
64. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will enact legislation to enforce paying of royalties for musical artists whose compositions are used for training on artificial...
- Enterprise Support Services
66. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will roll out additional resources to support entrepreneurial incubation and innovation in the near future; and if...
- Work Permits
67. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date by his Department in respect of streamlining the employment permit application process, whereby a single...
- Business Supports
68. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to consider including supports for businesses to undertake research and development, to enhance innovation and competitiveness, in his...
- Trade Relations
72. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement that has taken place between his Department, relevant Government agencies and companies regarding the threat of trade...
- Trade Promotion
73. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what new markets are being explored to negate any impact on trade to the US with the ongoing threat of increased tariffs; and if he...
- Departmental Funding
74. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding and the number of projects supported since the launch of the disruptive technologies innovation fund; and if he...
- Industrial Development
75. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs in IDA-supported companies in Kilkenny at the end of March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Business Regulation
77. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to fulfil the programme for Government's commitments to undertake a look-back exercise to identify regulations...
- Job Losses
78. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide targeted supports for workers impacted by job cuts at a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Public Services Card
86. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review the requirement for photo ID when applying for a public service card, as many people do not have a passport or...
- Social Welfare Schemes
90. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of employers currently availing of the wage subsidy scheme, WSS, the number of employees employed in companies that...
- Social Welfare Benefits
92. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider amending the rules of the domiciliary care allowance so that the payment is extended for the care of...
- School Meals Programme
96. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of schools in Meath now eligible to receive hot school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Child Poverty
98. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress against the national target for reducing the number of children experiencing consistent poverty; whether a new...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
100. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the means test for disability allowance will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20504/25]
- School Meals Programme
101. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will report on the review of nutritional standards in the hot school meals programme; and if he will make a statement...
- Social Welfare Benefits
102. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people who have qualified for the full amount of the jobseeker’s pay-related benefit; the proportion of...
- Social Welfare Code
105. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on plans to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment; and if he will make a statement on...
- Social Welfare Schemes
106. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will explore the possibility of reducing the minimum hours of the wage subsidy scheme from 15 hours to ten hours...
- Employment Support Services
107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the financial or in-work incentives currently available to support individuals in County Offaly transitioning from welfare...
- Social Welfare Code
108. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if carer’s benefit could be considered as a scheme to be transformed into a pay-related one; and if he will make a...
- School Meals Programme
109. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of schools in Kerry now eligible to receive hot school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21420/25]
- Social Welfare Eligibility
110. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact the programme for Government commitment to allow parents aged over 66 receiving...
- Departmental Schemes
111. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider removing the means test for the fuel allowance for individuals aged 70 and over, this will also make them...
- Social Welfare Appeals
112. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who have appealed the Department's decision to refuse them the humanitarian assistance payment in light...
- Social Welfare Code
113. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he plans any changes to the qualifying criteria for the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Funding
114. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide an update on the operation of the funding schemes operated by his Department that offer ‘reasonable...
- Community Employment Schemes
115. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to provide increased flexibility to local community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the...
- School Meals Programme
116. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection what engagement his Department had with the Department of Education in relation to additional expenses being incurred by...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
117. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his Department has plans to alter, abolish or change the means test on the carer's allowance; and if so, the date upon...
- Poverty Data
118. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his view on the recent Central Statistics Office statistics which show an increase in the poverty rates among children in...
- Employment Support Services
119. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will outline his plans to introduce targeted employment supports to groups facing additional challenges accessing work,...
- Rural Schemes
121. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the review of the rural social scheme, and when the remaining recommendations of the report will be...
- Departmental Schemes
122. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline if he is considering any revisions to the humanitarian assistance scheme at present, or the possible introduction...
- State Pensions
125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his progress to date in the planned modifications or changes to support women who currently fall outside the existing schemes...
- Social Welfare Benefits
126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if recipients of carer’s allowance will be notified prior to the new household increase in income thresholds provided...
- Departmental Staff
128. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of violent incidents and threats reported by social protection staff in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in...
- Social Welfare Payments
129. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No 160 of 9 April 2025, when the report on benchmarking and indexing working age social...
- Social Welfare Benefits
130. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to comment on the number of domiciliary care allowance applications that have been rejected from 2023; to outline the appeal...
- State Pensions
131. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware that ongoing pension reviews of the over 80’s are causing great anxiety and distress; if he will act to...
- Social Welfare Appeals
132. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current average processing time for a decision by the Social Welfare Appeals Office; the number of appeals currently...
- Social Welfare Benefits
133. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to examine improvements to key ancillary benefits,...
- School Meals Programme
134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of schools in Limerick and the total number of schools in Clare that are now eligible to receive hot school...
- Social Welfare Rates
136. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will review whether current core social welfare rates are meeting people’s basic needs, particularly in areas...
- Departmental Schemes
137. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will outline his Department’s supports and schemes for employing people with disabilities; and if he will make a...
- Social Welfare Benefits
138. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to clarify how the new pay-linked jobseeker's benefit will be applied to someone who is working in the North of Ireland and...
- Social Welfare Code
139. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to reform the disability allowance payment to remove the current means test for the payment, in line with Programme...
- Social Welfare Appeals
140. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting times for disability allowance appeals and the steps being taken to expedite this process for applicants....
- Social Welfare Payments
141. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will act to ensure that there will be no unnecessary reviews undertaken of payments to people with acute disabilities...
- Social Welfare Appeals
144. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to clarify the simplified processes and specified response times under the new appeals regulations effective from April 2025;...
- Social Welfare Payments
145. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will address the significant delays in processing disability allowance, carer’s allowance, and domiciliary care...
- Social Welfare Benefits
146. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline his plans to introduce a targeted child benefit payment during the lifetime of this Government; the work his...
- Social Welfare Payments
148. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average processing time of an additional needs payment in Cork city. [21370/25]
- School Meals Programme
149. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the review of the nutritional requirements and quality of food provided under the hot school meal...
- Social Welfare Benefits
150. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware that qualified surviving cohabitants bereaved before January 22nd 2024 are not entitled to receive...
- Artificial Intelligence
151. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is considering the use of artificial intelligence to improve the processing of claims and payments by his Department;...
- School Meals Programme
152. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of schools in county Kildare that are now eligible to receive hot school meals; and if he will make a statement on...
- Child Poverty
153. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his Department has carried out any research or analysis on implementing a child poverty reduction Act, similar to the Act...
- Pension Provisions
154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will give an update on the pension auto-enrolment scheme; when it will be rolled out; the cause for recent delays; and...
- Social Welfare Benefits
155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware of the hardship endured by adults aged 18-24 who are denied access to the full rate of jobseeker’s...
- Social Welfare Payments
156. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people between the ages of eighteen and sixty six in casual or part-time work in receipt of social welfare...
- Social Welfare Code
157. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will outline his plans for the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a new working age payment; and if he...
- Departmental Policies
159. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps that could be taken to increase the uptake of disability, equality and inclusion awareness training to help make...
- Domestic Violence
160. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the commitment in the Programme for Government to examine how the social protection system can better...
- Employment Schemes
161. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will report on the number of people engaged in work and skills week 2025; and if he will make a statement on the...
- School Meals Programme
162. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of island schools receiving the school meals programme; if he is satisfied with the way in which the programme is...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Trade Relations
163. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position regarding the free trade agreement between the EU and Turkiye. [21792/25]
- Passport Services
165. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if passports can be expedited for persons (details supplied). [21772/25]
- Foreign Policy
166. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the strength of the relationship between Ireland and Australia; and the events planned to mark 80 years of diplomatic relations with same....
- Ukraine War
167. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline any correspondence or communication from the Russian embassy since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022...
- Consular Services
168. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to open a new Irish Consulate General Office in Kuwait. [21800/25]
- EU Directives
170. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the financial penalties, including lump sum payments and daily fines, for failing to transpose EU Directives into national law for each of...
- Diplomatic Representation
171. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the Government's stance on the ongoing conflict in Sudan; the action the Government taking in this regard; and if he...
- Passport Services
173. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current wait times for the processing of a first-time passport application for a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces
179. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of horses that joined the Defence Forces equitation school in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21789/25]
- Naval Service
180. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current strength of the Naval Service reserve; the actions being taken to support recruitment and retention; and to set out the strategy to...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Driver Test
181. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review procedures (details supplied) regarding driving licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21752/25]
- Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge
185. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport cé na céimeanna atá glactha aige chun tabhairt faoin easpa cigirí le Gaeilge chun ligean do Ghaeilgeoirí a...
- Driver Test
186. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the waiting list for driving test in the Tallaght test centre is now 11 months long and growing; the specific problems causing...
- Disability Services
189. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure that Ireland’s entire public transport fleet is accessible to people with disabilities and in particular,...
- Driver Test
191. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No.130 of 10 April 2025, the number of the additional permanent positions for driver testers sanctioned...
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland
192. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Galway County Council has made an application to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for funding for the construction of the Claregalway...
- Bus Services
193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the delay in establishing Oireachtas committees has had any impact on the approval of funding for new Local Link bus services; and if...
- An Garda Síochána
196. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has reviewed the recent increase in unaccompanied learner driver offences in the Dublin Metropolitan Northern region, where Garda...
- Parking Provision
197. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions his Department will take to address the widespread and unacceptable practice of cars and vans parking on footpaths, including...
- Transport Costs
199. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the planned rollout to the nearest month of reduced fares for five to eight year olds as promised in the Programme for...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Code
201. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason that in relation to table 17 of Revenue’s Corporation tax 2023 payments and 2022 returns, it is stated that Section 110 companies...
- Banking Sector
202. To ask the Minister for Finance the total value on an annual basis of banknotes replaced in the past ten years to date in 2025 by the Central Bank; if he will provide a breakdown, by...
- Departmental Schemes
203. To ask the Minister for Finance to include spinal fusion recipients in the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Flood Relief Schemes
204. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) can be urgently addressed; if we will outline and expedite the flood...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Enterprise Support Services
206. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the increased cost of business grant scheme and the Power Up grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Trade Relations
208. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a trade mission to Singapore is likely to take place during Q3 2025. [21793/25]
- Employment Support Services
211. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has made provision to protect the employment of 750 workers in a company (details supplied) in the event of a withdrawal of the...
- Enterprise Support Services
212. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will reopen the increased cost of business grant scheme, as a vital measure for small and medium businesses; and if he will...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Transport
216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of people who are in receipt of the remote area grant. [21821/25]
- State Examinations
218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, as part of the reform of junior certificate grades, she will allow students access to their marked papers and to final percentages; and if...
- Cycling Facilities
219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that are in place to encourage students to cycle to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21779/25]
- Special Educational Needs
220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a child with additional needs in Dublin 9 (details supplied); if she will respond to the details...
- School Transport
221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider establishing a school bus route run by Bus Éireann from Delvin to Mullingar; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Special Educational Needs
223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the specific Government guidelines for SEN places nationwide. [21808/25]
- School Admissions
224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she or her Department are aware that each school has its own subjective criteria for children to be accepted into the school; if there are...
- Special Educational Needs
225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider expanding SNA duties and roles beyond their current ones; and if she plans to recognise that SNAs often go above and beyond...
- Education and Training Boards
227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the current live panel for administrative posts under the Board of Education; and if a person (details supplied) who is...
- Departmental Schemes
228. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her Department’s position on secondary schools requiring parents to purchase iPads or specific digital devices, particularly in light of...
- Education and Training Boards
229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the LMETB headquarters plans for Drogheda; when the project is expected to commence; and if she will make a...
- School Funding
230. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a school (details supplied) is expected to pay for essential caretaking services for the school if this funding is not made...
- Education and Training Boards
231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update in relation to the live panel for administration post for the Board of Education; if a person (details supplied) is number seven on...
- School Staff
232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if plans are being put in place for a school in cases in which a cleaner who is working can be paid during the holiday period instead of applying...
- Special Educational Needs
233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an ASD class at primary school level will be provided in Gort, County Galway and surrounding areas given the lack of any such classes at...
- Departmental Inquiries
234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the contact details in relation to a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21871/25]
- School Staff
235. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the leave that teachers can avail of for reproductive matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21979/25]
- Departmental Inquiries
236. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the development of a new school application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21982/25]
- School Accommodation
237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage without delay in view of the urgent need to have this much...
- School Facilities
238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the present status of an application for new facilities at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21998/25]
- School Transport
240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on school transportation for a person (details supplied). [22008/25]
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Pleanáil Teanga
241. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cad iad na pleananna atá á réiteach ag Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir le pleanáil teanga sna ceantair...
- Cúrsaí Tithíochta
246. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht sonraí iomlána a thabhairt ar aon chruinnithe, comhfhreagras nó idirghníomhaíochtaí idir Rannóg...
- Departmental Reports
248. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his response to the findings of the ESRI Report of 25 April 2025, “Profiling Short-Term Let Usage Across Ireland”;...
- Departmental Strategies
249. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on the national swimming strategy launched in August 2024, in particular progress on participation in...
- Olympic Games
250. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the Government’s strategy for supporting athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics and...
- Sports Facilities
251. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which a community can apply for a piece of infrastructure (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Sport and Recreational Development
252. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for an update on the development of the Corrib Sports & Adventure Centre at the Dyke Road, Terryland, Galway under...
- Departmental Data
253. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of new hotels built and opened outside Dublin since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21958/25]
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- An Ghaeltacht
254. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government cén uair a fhoilseofar Treoirlínte Pleanála don Ghaeltacht, cén fáth a bhfuil moill ar an...
- Housing Schemes
255. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department plans to review or increase the income limits for social housing in the Louth and Meath local authority...
- Defective Building Materials
256. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he expects to bring legislation before the Dáil which will ensure that those who have already been approved for...
- Housing Schemes
258. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the progress of the affordable housing and social housing scheme in Ardmore, County Waterford,...
- An Ghaeltacht
260. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government sonraí a thabhairt maidir le gach teagmháil agus comhoibriú idir a Roinn féin agus Rannóg na...
- Housing Schemes
263. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of affordable purchase units, social housing units, cost rental units and serviced sites delivered in Waterford...
- Departmental Staff
268. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government of the number of staff approval requests made by Galway City Council in 2024; the number of staff approval requests made by...
- Departmental Data
269. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No.149 of 9 April 2025, the timeline for addressing the outstanding issues highlighted in...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Departmental Inquiries
270. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21753/25]
- Departmental Budgets
272. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide a roadmap over the next number of Budgets in which carers in receipt of the carer’s allowance can...
- Public Services Card
273. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason it is necessary for persons to present themselves at a welfare office to have a photo taken for a public service...
- Disability Services
274. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications made for disability allowance, between 2020 and the first quarter of 2025, in tabular form; the...
- Care Services
275. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current status of the proposed abolition of the means test for carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- School Meals Programme
276. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to address concerns regarding the nutritional value of the meals provided under the hot school meals programme; if he is...
- Financial Services
277. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the financial measures the Government is taking to support parents who wish to stay home with their children in light of a...
- Social Welfare Appeals
278. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the date of the Social Welfare Appeals Office decision that a postmaster was an employee and not self-employed, which has...
- Pension Provisions
279. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the PRSI pension contributions recorded for women who are absent from the workforce while caring for children; his proposals...
- Departmental Schemes
280. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received under the humanitarian assistance scheme; the number of appeals received; the number of...
- Social Welfare Appeals
281. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the percentage of social welfare applications, that are first refused and are subsequently granted on appeal; the average...
- Social Welfare Benefits
282. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to support and expedite a carer’s benefit appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Poverty Impact Assessment
283. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he has evaluated the true at-risk-of-poverty rate for people with disabilities when accounting for the extra cost of...
- Social Welfare Application Forms
285. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their jobseeker’s allowance application, given the...
- Pensions Reform
286. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to confirm that consideration will be given to amending the rules surrounding pension entitlements so that women who had to...
- Social Welfare Application Forms
287. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on the application of a person (details supplied) for the humanitarian assistance scheme for Storm Éowyn;...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Citizenship Applications
288. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applicants for Irish citizenship from those holding United States citizenship during each of the years 2023, 2024...
- International Protection
289. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the precise date when the owners of units 64 and 65 on the Palmerstown/SDCC side of Cherry Orchard Industrial Estate were...
- Employment Schemes
292. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality regarding residents of IPAS accommodation employed in roles with companies who have some work outside of the area in which the...
- Departmental Contracts
293. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procurement processes are in place to ensure that Government contracts are not entered into with regard to properties that...
- Deportation Orders
294. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deportation orders issued to non-EEA nationals under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 for 2022, 2023, 2024...
- Departmental Data
297. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons, who having being issued with the Deportation Order or a Section 3 Letter consented to the deportation...
- Deportation Orders
298. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of people who engaged with the voluntary returns unit per annum for 2022 to 2025 inclusive; the number persons that...
- Departmental Funding
299. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the resourcing of immigration services in this State; the number of immigration officers employed by the State; the resources...
- Departmental Data
300. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of non-nationals have applied for stamp 4 residence permission on the basis of their child’s status in each...
- Deportation Orders
304. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deportation orders were revoked under section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 for each of the years 2022,...
- International Protection
305. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the number of people currently residing in IPAS centres that have fled the ongoing conflict in Sudan;...
- Departmental Inquiries
306. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is aware of the recent increase in anti-social behaviour and the consequential public safety concerns at a location...
- Family Reunification
307. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of S.56 family reunification applications on hand at the family reunification unit; the current processing times of...
- Departmental Inquiries
308. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is aware of any concerns in relation to any matter that may have an implication for State security or community safety at...
- Departmental Administrative Arrangements
309. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the competencies that will be transferred to his Department from other departments, and the timeframe within which these...
- Family Reunification
310. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on the review of the family reunion policy, which was due to be completed last year; if consideration will...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Departmental Inquiries
311. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21768/25]
- Forestry Sector
312. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide any updates from his Department’s interaction with the Forestry Forum (details supplied); the progress or...
- Departmental Schemes
313. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the ongoing delays in the issuing of ACRES scheme payments; the number of participants currently awaiting payment; and...
- Fisheries Protection
314. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a detailed update on preparations underway for the next round of fisheries quota negotiations, including stakeholder engagement,...
- Departmental Schemes
315. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will initiate a full review of the funding, performance and regulatory oversight of the local authority marine infrastructure...
- Departmental Data
316. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail all applications made by Waterford City and County Council under the local authority marine infrastructure scheme over the...
- Fisheries Protection
319. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given that it is over a year since the closure of the public consultation on trawling within Ireland's six nautical mile limit, and...
- Forestry Sector
320. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in establishing a compensation package for farmers whose plantations were damaged due to Storm Éowyn; and...
- Nitrates Usage
322. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in ensuring that the State retains the Nitrates Derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22013/25]
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Departmental Schemes
323. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will consider a scheme to financially support early years childcare workers (details supplied) that do...
- Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
324. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for further information on the Brief Project Description contained in the HSE Capital Plan 2025 described as the...
- Childcare Services
325. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware of the prohibitive cost of daycare experienced by parents; and to provide a timeline for the...
- Tax Reliefs
326. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will clarify if there is a position regarding tax relief or other supports available to parents who...
- Childcare Services
327. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when all provisions of the Child Care Amendment Act 2024 will be brought into force. [21773/25]
- Departmental Data
328. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE psychologists, by grade working in south Kildare children's disability network team in 2023,...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
329. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to address the urgent need to increase the wages of early childhood educators (details supplied); and if she...
- Departmental Data
330. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently awaiting an assessment of need, including the duration of their wait times, by...
- Departmental Inquiries
331. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason, despite the statutory requirement under the Disability Act 2005 for assessments of need to be...
- Health Service Executive
333. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the impact of the High Court ruling in March 2022 on the HSE’s assessment processes; and the...
- Departmental Data
334. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide information on the allocation and utilization of funds spent in recent years to address waiting lists...
- Departmental Inquiries
335. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to address the disparities in waiting times for assessments of need across different...
- Mother and Baby Homes
336. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the criteria used to include some institutions in the mother and baby homes institutions payments...
- Family Resource Centres
337. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the engagement by her Department and Tusla with local stakeholders regarding the establishment of a...
- Childcare Services
338. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when meaningful progress will be made on the childcare cost commitments made by all major parties during the...
- Department of Health
- Departmental Inquiries
339. To ask the Minister for Health if a statement of need can be provided to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21746/25]
- Health Services
340. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of the fact that there has been a seven-year pause on the mid-urethral sling for stress urinary incontinence in women; when this pause will be...
- Departmental Funding
341. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of a case (details supplied); if she will instruct her Department to provide adequate funding to this organisation; and if she will make a...
- Health Service Executive
342. To ask the Minister for Health the measures, if any, she intends to put in place to make the HSE more accountable to the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21782/25]
- Departmental Funding
343. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on a funding application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21783/25]
- Departmental Staff
344. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE emergency medicine registrars based at Naas General Hospital in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21795/25]
- Home Help Service
345. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for home support in CHO7 for longer than one month, longer than three months, longer then six months, in tabular form. [21796/25]
- Hospital Facilities
346. To ask the Minister for Health the number of beds which will be available to the paediatric critical care unit in the new National Children's Hospital; and the number of beds currently...
- Departmental Data
347. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of people who attended a pigmented lesion rapid access clinics nationwide including the number who were offered an appointment within the...
- Health Service Executive
348. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE Chefs that are directly employed by HSE and working in each HSE Funded Hospital in the years of 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular...
- Legislative Programme
349. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline and progress of establishing the regulatory authority under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act 2024; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Appointments
350. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21813/25]
- Departmental Policies
351. To ask the Minister for Health the policy for listing party 1 and party 2 on marriage certificate documentation; if this policy differs between same sex and heterosexual couples; and if she...
- General Practitioner Services
352. To ask the Minister for Health the reason chiropody services in general practice for people with diabetes have been discontinued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21851/25]
- Health Service Executive
353. To ask the Minister for Health if an impact assessment was carried out prior to the decision of the HSE to withdraw chiropody services in general practice for people with diabetes; and if...
- Dental Services
354. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentistry positions in Monaghan; the number vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21855/25]
- Health Services Staff
355. To ask the Minister for Health the number of orthodontistry positions in Monaghan; the number vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21856/25]
- Care Services
356. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of the issues faced by staff at a care home (details supplied); the steps her Department is taking to address these issues; and if she will...
- Legislative Process
357. To ask the Minister for Health to give a detailed report in regard to any possible delays to Ireland’s alcohol health information labelling regulations (details supplied); and if she...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
358. To ask the Minister for Health the number of women waiting for outpatient gynaecology services and appointments in the Cork/Kerry region for 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular...
- Health Services
359. To ask the Minister for Health to give favourable consideration to a request from an organisation (details supplied) to mandate for standardised breast density reporting for women who have...
- Health Service Executive
360. To ask the Minister for Health if she will direct HSE Dublin and Midlands to issue an urgent response in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement...
- Primary Care Centres
361. To ask the Minister for Health to expedite the provision of a primary care centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21880/25]
- Health Services
362. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department will engage with a company (details supplied) that has completed a HTA, for the provision of treatment for adults with spinal muscular...
- Primary Care Centres
363. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide an update regarding the location of a primary care centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21936/25]
- Mental Health Services
364. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the engagement by her Department and the HSE regarding the establishment of a Jigsaw youth mental health service in Waterford; and to...
- Health Services Staff
365. To ask the Minister for Health the minimum qualification required by health care assistants employed to work in public hospitals; the number of healthcare assistants employed in our public...
- Healthcare Policy
366. To ask the Minister for Health to seek that CORU will consider introducing regulation of the profession of healthcare assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21944/25]
- Departmental Projects
367. To ask the Minister for Health the updated position on the workings of the design team progressing the development control plan for University Hospital Galway; the detailed timeline for the...
- Health Service Executive
368. To ask the Minister for Health for further information on the brief project description contained in the HSE Capital Plan 2025 described as “Galway City East Purchase and fit out of...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
371. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to reports that chemotherapy procedures for children are being delayed and-or cancelled due to IT failures, specifically WiFi...
- Medical Cards
373. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the rules for the dispensing of prescriptions to medical card holders, including the number of months that can be dispensed at a time; and to...
- Health Service Executive
374. To ask the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the core funding provided by the HSE to each CHO for low vision aids or aids and appliances, and whether any changes are planned to the...
- Departmental Policies
377. To ask the Minister for Health to review the policy of the roll out of the new functional neurological disorder team and expand its roll out to a wider area; and if she will make a statement...
- Health Services Staff
378. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE speech and language therapists employed; the number of approved WTE speech and language therapists positions; the number of children under 18...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Departmental Policies
382. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for expanded access to Irish sign language education in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21996/25]
- Departmental Funding
383. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give further consideration to the request for capital funding due to the expansion needs of a college (details supplied), taking into...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Departmental Reviews
384. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); if she will outline any possibilities for support available; and if he...
- Departmental Programmes
385. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the average processing time for LEADER programme funding applications in each of the past three years; and if he will outline the...
- Departmental Schemes
395. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the breakdown of local improvement scheme funding allocations, by local authority area, for each of the past five years; and if he...
- Departmental Strategies
399. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he accepts that the Our Rural Future rural development strategy failed to adequately prioritise rural housing delivery; the...
