Written answers
Wednesday, 28 May 2025
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Departmental Offices
1. To ask the Taoiseach for a list of all thematic units and programme offices administered by the Department of the Taoiseach (details supplied). [27826/25]
- Central Statistics Office
2. To ask the Taoiseach the cost of establishing a research unit at the CSO consisting of four statisticians based on the starting-point salary of statistician. [28013/25]
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Anti-Racism Measures
3. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 215, 216, 217, 218 and 441 of 29 April 2025, if he is aware of the use of the IHRA definition of...
- International Relations
5. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland fully recognises the Islamic Republic of Iran as a democratic state, with free and fair elections; to outline its current status in...
- United Nations
8. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland has made or will make efforts to activate the snapback mechanism to reinstate the six UN security resolutions against Iran; and if...
- International Relations
9. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he will push collectively at EU level to ensure that Iran’s financing of terrorist groups and warring factions such as...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Local Authorities
12. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the full-year cost to employ a FTE climate action officer employed in a local authority, by year in 2020, 2021, 2022,...
- Energy Conservation
14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to estimate the cost of including properties with HAP tenancies in the SEAI warmer homes scheme. [28274/25]
- Regulatory Bodies
15. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of WTE and HTE staff, by grade working in MARA and the estimated cost of increasing staffing by 50% at each...
- Litter Pollution
19. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the plans in place to tackle the huge amount of litter and environmental damage caused by the practice of tossing...
- Climate Change Policy
21. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment whether his Department has applied for, or will apply for, EU social climate funding before the June 2025 deadline; the...
- Cybersecurity Policy
23. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a public consultation is planned in 2025 on the preparation of a new National Cyber Security Strategy; and if he will...
- Bord na Móna
25. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 328 of 29 April 2025, if he has received a formal Ministerial consent request in...
- Environmental Policy
26. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost to increase the capital funding for the better energy warmer homes scheme by 50%. [28137/25]
- State Bodies
42. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of WTE and HTE staff, by grade, working in the CRU. [28178/25]
- Environmental Policy
43. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding that was available to renewable energy communities in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and...
- State Bodies
49. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of WTE and HTE staff working to support renewable energy communities in the SEAI; and the full-year cost to...
- Environmental Policy
50. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the first and full-year cost of establishing the Just Transition Commissions.; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Environmental Schemes
62. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funding provided for the excellence in efficient design scheme; and the amount drawn down in each of the...
- Illegal Dumping
66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding made available to local authorities to tackle illegal dumping, including prevention and clean-up) in the...
- Environmental Policy
70. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide a breakdown of the budget allocations for each programme under the subhead b4 of the revised estimate the...
- Renewable Energy Generation
74. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to specify the agreed or provisionally agreed auction contracts under RESS 1, RESS 2, RESS 3 and RESS 4 respectively;...
- Environmental Policy
76. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for the breakdown of the funding provided for community energy grants in each of the years 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and...
- Environmental Schemes
85. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applications waiting to be approved under the warmer homes scheme; the current average wait time for...
- Department of Defence
- Naval Service
87. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence in relation to the two new custom made boats/ships purchased by his Department, to clarify what will become of the two older boats they are...
- Defence Forces
89. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28357/25]
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Departmental Priorities
90. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether he intends to bring forward any initiatives to tackle scrambler usage. [27969/25]
- Vehicle Registration Tax
91. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of equalising rates for three and six month motor tax payments with the rate of the twelve month payment. [28114/25]
- Rail Network
92. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether Irish Rail will commence a train service for commuters to arrive in Sligo at 8 a.m. for work or college. [27782/25]
- Airport Policy
93. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the concerns raised by members of the Dublin Airport Environmental Working Group on the use of aqueous film forming foam...
- Active Travel
94. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is engaging with other Government Departments on the potential to draw-down EU social climate funding, or EU structural...
- Driver Test
95. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an additional driving test centre will be opened in Meath west to help combat the 42+ week waiting time for learner drivers to secure...
- Rail Network
98. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the proposed timeline for commissioning an independent feasibility study continuing MetroLink from the city to south-west Dublin; and...
- Departmental Funding
99. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the annual budget his Department allocated to organisations that save lives, for example, the Irish Coast Guard and the Naval Service and...
- Urban Development
100. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the last urban design road manual for urban roads and streets was issued; whether there are any plans to update; and if he will make...
- Qualifications Recognition
102. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm whether all mechanics currently employed or contracted by public bodies, local authorities, or State-funded companies...
- Bus Services
103. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to compensate commercial bus operators affected by the cross-over or duplication of bus service routes provided by...
- Parking Provision
104. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide the number of dedicated parking spaces for coaches introduced across local authority areas in 2022, 2023, 2024; the planned...
- Public Transport
105. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide data on the number of people who have availed of free fares under the various fare reduction schemes; the cost of such...
- Bus Services
106. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the funding availability under the alternatively-fuelled heavy duty vehicle grant purchase scheme specifically made available...
- Driver Test
107. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the use of third-party apps to secure driving test cancellations; the steps being taken to improve the efficiency and...
- Departmental Schemes
108. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the proposed new grant-based scheme to replace the disabled passengers scheme (details supplied); and if he will...
- Public Transport
109. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to a travel issue concerning travel from a Killarney train station to the bus station (details supplied);...
- Rail Network
111. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total funding allocated for the Dublin Metro for 2026 in the expenditure projection in the Annual Progress Report; and if he will...
- Bus Services
112. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reasons Dublin Bus has not added any buses to its fleet in 2025, whether that be diesel, hybrid, or electric; and if he will make a...
- Active Travel
113. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated the cost to end the Dublin bikes contract with a company (details supplied) and provide the funding directly from the...
- Ports Policy
114. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the capital funding that has been provided to prepare Ireland’s ports for ORE in each of the years 2020 to 2024, and to date in...
- Department of Finance
- Departmental Schemes
115. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has examined the report submitted to his office prior to 19 March 2025 from the NDIS transport working group, recommending that the DDS be replaced with...
- Data Protection
116. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 55 of 14 May 2025, the reason the number of unauthorised or unlawful destructions of personal data by the Revenue...
- Departmental Correspondence
119. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27778/25]
- Mortgage Interest Rates
120. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware that insolvency cases have reportedly increased by approximately 20% this year; if he will address the fact that investment funds such as...
- Fines Administration
121. To ask the Minister for Finance that legal mechanisms that need to be enacted to enable the Revenue Commissioners along with the Department of Social Protection to deduct pay or tax free...
- Illicit Trade
122. To ask the Minister for Finance the actions he is planning in response to recent survey findings on the scale of illegal tobacco in circulation in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on...
- Climate Action Plan
123. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will conduct a review of taxsaver commuter schemes in order to enhance flexibility and uptake by commuters in support of the Government’s climate...
- Tax Code
124. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of reducing VAT on bicycles to the lowest possible level. [28103/25]
- Vacant Properties
133. To ask the Minister for Finance if the number of properties declared as vacant is falling, each year for which data is available; the total number of exemptions provided each year; and if he...
- Tax Code
134. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue that would be raised by introducing a tax on residential property owned by a company, at a rate of 10, 20, and 30 times the LPT. [28359/25]
- Financial Services
135. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 21 May 2025, to clarify that credit servicing firms, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, are permitted to...
- Insurance Industry
138. To ask the Minister for Finance if insurance companies providing home insurance under the consumer protection code are required to inform customers of the consequences of being underinsured...
- National Asset Management Agency
139. To ask the Minister for Finance if NTMA would be permitted to maintain the employment of the NAMA CEO at the same terms and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28400/25]
- Tax Credits
140. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of restoring the full 5% regional uplift, as it was previously constituted, for the section 481 tax credit for film. [28929/25]
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Office of Public Works
141. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to estimate the cost of installing solar panels on building owned by OPW where there is an excess of 80 car park spaces. [28149/25]
- Freedom of Information
142. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide copies of documents released under freedom of information to this deputy (details supplied). [27793/25]
- Civil Service
143. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the commitment to review the Civil Service Blended Working Policy Framework; when the review is expected to commence;...
- Office of Public Works
144. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of the recent works carried out by the OPW to the Marino Casino including the new cabin; the purpose of these works; whether...
- Office of the Ombudsman
145. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he can provide the full year cost of funding five additional procurement specialists to establish a new Public Procurement Ombudsman...
- Public Sector Pay
146. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he can provide the cost savings to the State in the year 2026 from a reduction in the salary top up of politicians including an...
- Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General
147. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of hiring five forensic accountants for the Comptroller and Auditor General in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Office of Public Works
148. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total revenue resulting from charges on admission to monuments and heritage sites by the Office of Public Works in each of the past...
- Public Sector Staff
149. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual expenditure on courses for employees of public bodies to learn Irish from an organisation (details supplied) or any other...
- Flood Relief Schemes
150. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Reform if he will report on the measures he is taking to provide flood relief and to guard against future threats in this regard;...
- Public Procurement Contracts
151. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 21 May 2025, if, in his view, the consultancy report by a company (details supplied) into...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- State Bodies
152. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the average time between unannounced searches by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) where files and evidence...
- Artificial Intelligence
153. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason Ireland is not involved the EU AI Factories initiative to date; if, in the context of the new EU AI Continent Action Plan,...
- Haulage Industry
154. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider mainstreaming the criteria required between the various Departments involved when bringing a HGV driver from an...
- Departmental Priorities
155. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated yearly cost of establishing a new annual public holiday. [28011/25]
- EU Directives
156. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the recent statements by the German Chancellor and the French President calling for the entire abolition of the...
- Enterprise Policy
157. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline his Department’s position on supporting the digital advertising sector in Ireland, recognising the economic value...
- Living Wage
165. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current living wage as calculated by the Government’s formula at 60% of the median wage for 2025; the amount this works...
- National Minimum Wage
166. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the report of the Low Pay Commission on sub-minimum, or youth rates of the national minimum wages. [28370/25]
- Legislative Measures
169. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2024; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Corporate Governance
170. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views regarding the EU omnibus simplification package; the engagement his Department has had regarding this package; and if he...
- Departmental Contracts
172. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the awards made, both with and without a tender process, to management consultancy firms by his Department, and bodies under the...
- Departmental Funding
173. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding provided to an organisation (details supplied) in 2023 and 2024 and the projected funding for 2025. [28377/25]
- Workplace Relations Commission
174. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of cases which have come before the WRC regarding the right to request remote working since the publication of the WRC...
- Business Supports
175. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications received for the increased cost of business grant; the number that were successful; and the number which...
- Small and Medium Enterprises
179. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current percentage of Irish SMEs that export services; if exporting by SMEs has increased, decreased, or remained static since...
- Employment Rights
184. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment any new Employment Regulation Orders which are under discussion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28389/25]
- Artificial Intelligence
185. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding allocated to any measure falling under the National AI Strategy for 2025; the projected funding for 2026; and if he will...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Accommodation
186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update regarding an additional school accommodation scheme application made by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- School Transport
187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to ensure that the bus route serving an area (details supplied) will reset the pick-up point; if her Department will...
- Special Educational Needs
188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a request by a school (details supplied) for the establishment of an autism class; and if she will make a statement on...
- School Staff
189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on school secretaries and caretakers not receiving a State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27920/25]
- Postal Services
190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will assist a school (details supplied) in obtaining an Eircode; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27934/25]
- School Transport
191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will give certainty to staff and parents of a school (details supplied) by renewing and funding the private bus that was in operation this...
- Irish Language
192. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to list every application currently being considered for capital funding, and its estimated cost and timeframe, by any Irish medium or Gaeltacht...
- Gaeltacht Policy
194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of adding an additional week of immersion in the Gaeltacht to the programme for trainee teachers. [27994/25]
- School Enrolments
198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students enrolled at each school year through primary school and post-primary school in the State, in tabular form. [28007/25]
- Gaeltacht Policy
199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of restoring the capitation grant for Gaeltacht summer colleges of €52 per student. [28010/25]
- Special Educational Needs
200. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will deliver a special class for a school (details supplied) for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28029/25]
- School Accommodation
202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she can clarify the ownership, leasing or rental arrangements currently in place on the shared campus site (details supplied) which hosts a...
- Departmental Correspondence
203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28097/25]
- School Textbooks
204. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the allocation of funds set aside to provide to primary schools for new books and other required stationary for 2026 set out in the primary...
- School Funding
206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first- and full-year cost of increasing the capitation rates for primary and post primary school pupils, by an additional...
- Special Educational Needs
212. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the annual cost of new entrant special education teacher posts, with the breakdown of the annual cost for new-entrant special education teachers...
- School Funding
213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first- and full-year cost of increasing the guidance counselling funding by 5%, 10% and 20% respectively, in tabular form. [28230/25]
- School Admissions
223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school places for September 2025 can be accommodated for two children at a school (details supplied) to which their mother has applied...
- School Transport
224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to changing a bus route servicing an area to a school (details supplied) to ensure that students can be picked up...
- Qualifications Recognition
225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm whether all mechanics currently employed or contracted by public bodies, local authorities, or State-funded companies to...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- National Cultural Institutions
226. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost of expanding the afterhours funding strand for national cultural institutions on a phased basis over five years...
- School Funding
227. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of schools that applied for ‘creative schools’ funding in the year 2024 and to date in 2025; and the...
- Artists' Remuneration
228. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to continuing the basic income for artists scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Tourism Funding
231. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the next call for applications to the shared island fund for tourism projects will be released; and if he will make a...
- Film Industry
232. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide the additional costs and revenue required on a matter (details supplied). [27983/25]
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Marine Protected Areas
234. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the initiatives that will protect our maritime cultural heritage, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he...
- Environmental Policy
235. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the cost of doubling the funding for the local biodiversity action fund. [28199/25]
- Housing Policy
236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the plans he has to change the regulations for small dwellings, such a portacabins to be built in people’s gardens; and...
- Housing Schemes
237. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to reevaluate the current funding being given to county councils for the tenant-in-situ scheme, increasing the available...
- Planning Issues
238. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide a timeline and expected milestones for the identification and re-zoning of land following his direction to...
- Housing Provision
240. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he intends to raise the income thresholds for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27856/25]
- Renewable Energy Generation
241. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the further steps that are in place to ensure his Department delivers sustainable housing to promote renewable energy; and if...
- Housing Provision
242. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the further steps that his Department is taking to increase the number of social houses built across the country as outlined...
- Housing Policy
243. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government that further steps that his Department is taking to support homeownership for people under the age of 30; and if he will make...
- Housing Provision
244. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline how the targets for the delivery of over 300,000 homes by 2030 will be monitored and enforced; what portion of...
- Rental Sector
245. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to address the 3.4% increase in average national rent prices between January and March this year; and if he will...
- Planning Issues
247. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress made to date on fully resourcing the Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources; and if he will make a...
- Housing Schemes
248. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to consider correspondence (details supplied) regarding the second hand capital assistance scheme and the need for additional...
- Wildlife Protection
249. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide a breakdown of the number of prosecutions for wildlife crimes by county for 2024, in tabular form. [27978/25]
- Housing Schemes
250. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason a person cannot avail of the tenant-in-situ scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Heritage Sites
251. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost of purchasing the remaining ten properties on the historic Moore Street terrace adjacent to the State-owned...
- Heritage Council
252. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost of increasing Heritage Council funding by 5%, by 10%, by 15%, by 20%, and by the cost of inflation since...
- Local Authorities
253. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost of recruiting a full-time professional archaeologist for every local authority in the State. [28009/25]
- Environmental Policy
255. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost to establish a fund for a community led, peer-to-peer farming for nature restoration; and if he will make a...
- Parking Provision
257. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the NPWS will allow lands they own near a beach in Co. Kerry (details supplied) to be used for overflow parking on busy...
- Compulsory Purchase Orders
258. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of CPO initiated against derelict property by each local authority each year since 2020, in tabular form; and if he...
- Water Quality
259. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline if he is considering the introduction of a compensation mechanism for domestic households that continue to be...
- Defective Building Materials
260. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on a matter regarding the defective concrete blocks scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement...
- Energy Policy
261. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the cost to increase the energy efficiency retrofitting programme budget over a five year period, with an increase of 33% per...
- National Parks and Wildlife Service
272. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to estimate the cost of increasing the capital funding to the National Parks and Wildlife service over five years, with an...
- Building Energy Rating
274. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average cost to retrofit a social home to a BER B2 or above. [28282/25]
- Departmental Funding
275. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding that was allocated to local authorities to conduct hedgerow surveys in the years 2020 to 2024, inclusive, and the...
- Building Energy Rating
277. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the 2030 retrofitting targets; to report on the pathway between now and 2030 to reach our 2030 targets; to...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Early Childhood Care and Education
283. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will address delays in social welfare payments for ECCE preschool staff and ensure timely processing; and if he will...
- Social Welfare Benefits
284. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the additional supports or supplementary payments available to individuals on maternity leave, including access to the...
- Social Welfare Appeals
285. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied), if he will consider the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on older...
- Legislative Measures
286. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the stage the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025 is at; the timeframe to have it enacted; and if he will...
- Social Welfare Benefits
287. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline if a reform of the half-rate carer's payment for people receiving a disability payment will be included as part of...
- School Meals Programme
288. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated average cost of providing hot school meals per child in primary school; the cost per child in post primary...
- Fines Administration
289. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection that legal mechanisms that need to be enacted to deduct social welfare or other allowances for non-payment of fines or as...
- Social Welfare Payments
290. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the policy in relation to overpayments; if it is mandatory to repay all social welfare overpayments or if they are...
- Social Welfare Benefits
291. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will supply the number of carers allowance applications received in each years 2020 to 2024; the number of such...
- School Meals Programme
293. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated average cost of providing hot school meals per child in primary school; the cost of providing dinner club per...
- Social Welfare Benefits
294. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on a rent supplement application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry following the...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- International Protection
295. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide full information on its reported plans to purchase a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
- Visa Applications
300. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a visa application (details supplied) urgently needed to visit a very unwell family member undergoing cancer...
- Local Community Safety Partnerships
301. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, in relation to funding awarded to an organisation (details supplied) through the community safety fund, to outline why they...
- Departmental Contracts
302. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will review the process that facilitated the directors of a company (details supplied) paying its directors a combined...
- Departmental Bodies
303. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the membership of the family justice implementation group. [27957/25]
- Visa Applications
304. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a person will receive their visa application decision (details supplied). [27958/25]
- Immigration Policy
305. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which a child (details supplied) can prove at Irish immigration that they should be allowed re-entry to Ireland...
- Seized Property
306. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of scramblers seized in Cork in each of the past 12 months. [27968/25]
- Probation and Welfare Service
307. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of minors who engaged with Young Persons Probation services in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Visa Applications
308. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will intervene to expedite an urgent visa appeal for a person (details supplied). [28327/25]
- An Garda Síochána
309. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total accommodation capacity of the Garda training college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28330/25]
- Domestic Violence
314. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average capital cost of delivering a domestic violence refuge; the average annual cost of running a domestic violence...
- Immigration Policy
315. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the annual spend on reintegration grants for voluntary returns; the numbers who have availed of this in each of the past five...
- International Protection
316. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in tabular form the number of no shows at each stage of the international protection system in each of the past five years; and...
- Departmental Expenditure
323. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of funding provided to the Burren project in the years 2020 to 2024, inclusive. [28284/25]
- Departmental Consultations
340. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 297 of 13 May 2025, to confirm that notwithstanding expertise available in agencies under his...
- Agriculture Schemes
341. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) is not receiving the full acres payment; the reason she is been penalised; and if he will make...
- Fishing Industry
342. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the first and full year-cost of introducing a €0.20/litre fuel aid support scheme for the Irish fishing fleet for a...
- Departmental Expenditure
344. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the funding allocated to local authorities under the local authority marine infrastructure scheme over the past 15 years,...
- Animal Welfare
351. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the review of the Control of Horses Act 1996, and the replacement legislation will be published, in order to address systemic...
- Agriculture Schemes
352. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine The reason a penalty was applied to 2023 ACRES scheme payment in respect of a farmer in Co. Kerry (details supplied); and if he will...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Early Childhood Care and Education
353. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the National Development Plan can be improved to ensure additional funding is allocated to childcare...
- Childcare Services
356. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the assessment of need through the psychology service for a person (details supplied)....
- Early Childhood Care and Education
357. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a response will issue to communications from a parent who urgently requires available childcare spaces in...
- Departmental Contracts
358. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a procurement process was carried out by her Department for awarding a contract to a company carrying out...
- Traveller Community
359. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual capital expenditure on cultural centres focused on Traveller Culture and Identity, from 2015 to 2025,...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
360. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of providing an additional €10,000 to every naíonra in the State. [28001/25]
- Traveller Community
362. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the expenditure on Traveller cultural, educational and heritage projects each year since 2020, in...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
363. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the closure of a childcare centre (details supplied); if her Department is...
- Department of Health
- Healthcare Policy
364. To ask the Minister for Health if she supports the inclusion of Galway University Hospital as a Model 4 Hospital with a regional cancer centre for the north west, in the context of...
- Health Services
365. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider making breast checks free of charge for women over 70 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27758/25]
- Home Care Packages
366. To ask the Minister for Health if home care will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27759/25]
- Health Service Executive
367. To ask the Minister for Health if a review will be carried out to provide additional HSE funding for children with severe vision impairments (details supplied). [27765/25]
- Cancer Services
368. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider approving coverage for a type of treatment (details supplied) as a matter of urgency, given the potentially life-saving impact; whether...
- Disease Management
369. To ask the Minister for Health to considered adding inflammatory bowel disease as a condition which qualifies under the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Health Services Staff
374. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the funding and recruitment of advanced nurse practitioners (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27822/25]
- Question Heading for question(s) 375
375. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); if she will instruct their department to look into this issue; to take waiting times from other...
- Health Strategies
376. To ask the Minister for Health when she expects the free HRT (hormone replacement therapy) scheme to be implemented as the delay is causing women unnecessary distress; and if she will make a...
- Mental Health Commission
378. To ask the Minister for Health her view on emergency mental health services in a hospital in a location separate to a conventional emergency department; her view on the proposed...
- Disease Management
379. To ask the Minister for Health when her Department will publish its review of diabetes care by its diabetes policy and services review steering group; the actions that are likely to be...
- Health Strategies
381. To ask the Minister for Health the reasoning for the shortage of hormone replacement therapy in pharmacies particularly in County Kerry; if there are plans to increase supply; and if she...
- Nursing Homes
383. To ask the Minister for Health the steps her Department will take to ensure a fair deal applicant (details supplied) can receive long-term care in a location that best caters to their needs...
- General Practitioner Services
384. To ask the Minister for Health To outline the number of practising GPs, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27870/25]
- Health Strategies
386. To ask the Minister for Health the plans that are in place regarding free HRT shortages (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27877/25]
- Cancer Services
387. To ask the Minister for Health to allocate funding to all local authorities and Government Departments to install suncream dispensers in all public buildings, including schools and third...
- Hospital Procedures
388. To ask the Minister for Health if she will clarify the position of a person (details provided) that needs a revision hip surgery following an unsuccessful surgery in 2019; if she will take...
- Health Services
389. To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to open the remaining 49 beds in a health and addiction care facility (details supplied); the timeline she is working towards in...
- Nursing Homes
391. To ask the Minister for Health if she will intervene to assist a patient (details supplied) who is in need of an urgent bed in a nursing home in Ennis; and if she will make a statement on...
- Hospital Procedures
393. To ask the Minister for Health if it is the head of orthopaedic surgeons or the Board of CHI who makes a determination on whether a child can receive spinal surgery; and if she will make a...
- Hospital Staff
394. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 720 of 25 March 2025, when a post (details supplied) will be assessed for stage 3 approval; and if she will make a...
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
395. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 980 of 8th April 2025, her views on the United Kingdom’s decision to begin a targeted gonorrhoea vaccine programme...
- Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
396. To ask the Minister for Health if she has engaged with the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) with respect of their plans for Temple Street Hospital following the opening of the...
- Primary Care Centres
397. To ask the Minister for Health to give a detailed progress report in regard to the new Killarney Primary Care Centre; the delivery timeline for this long awaited project for the people of...
- Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
398. To ask the Minister for Health to give a detailed progress report in regard to the new killarney minor injuries unit; the delivery timeline for this long awaited project for the people of...
- State Properties
400. To ask the Minister for Health her plans for the lands-buildings at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28084/25]
- Primary Care Centres
402. To ask the Minister for Health to give a detailed progress report in regard to the new Cahersiveen primary care centre; the delivery timeline for this long awaited project for the people of...
- Healthcare Policy
403. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to deliver a world class Health Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28087/25]
- Health Service Executive
404. To ask the Minister for Health the status on an application for funding for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28089/25]
- Medical Aids and Appliances
406. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which a business can apply for funding (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28101/25]
- Mental Health Services
407. To ask the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the budget allocated to Mental Health in 2025; the amount for adult services and the amount for child and adolescent services; and if she...
- Primary Care Centres
408. To ask the Minister for Health if a local volunteer health and wellbeing group (details supplied) will be able utilise a space in Nenagh Primary Care Centre for their sessions; and if she...
- Hospital Appointments Status
409. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Meath will get an appointment at Beaumont Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28346/25]
- Assisted Decision-Making
410. To ask the Minister for Health in light of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, which was fully commenced on 26 April 2023, to confirm if in cases where an individual is...
- Health Service Executive
412. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the additional funding that has been provided for HSE south west (details supplied); the number of patients this will affect; the...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Artificial Intelligence
413. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on plans for data centre development in light of the AI Continent Action Plan, describing data and computing infrastructure as...
- Youth Services
414. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding allocated to Youthreach services in County Kildare for the past four years to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a...
- Artificial Intelligence
416. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he plans to attract academic expertise in artificial intelligence as part of his plans to attract academics from the United States, in light...
- Third Level Education
417. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a breakdown of third level courses and number of places available for the following roles (details supplied) in tabular form. [27977/25]
- Irish Language
418. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the first and full-year cost of hiring a full-time teacher in every local authority area to provide Irish classes free of charge to members of...
- Third Level Fees
420. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the full cost of phasing out student contribution charge over three years with first cut of 1500 (but netting off 500 euro SUSI support); and if...
- Further and Higher Education
421. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to Improve pay for instructors to increase training capacity in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28037/25]
- International Students
422. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of expanding the student assistance fund to allow international students to avail of it; and if he will make a statement on...
- Apprenticeship Programmes
423. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of abolishing apprenticeship fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28051/25]
- Third Level Education
427. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of extending SUSI to students studying in the north; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28055/25]
- Third Level Fees
429. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of extending the free fees initiative to cover graduate entry medicine students; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Research and Development
431. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the North-South Research Programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28061/25]
- Third Level Fees
432. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of expanding the SUSI bracket 5,000 full fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28062/25]
- Research and Development
434. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the share of Science Foundation Ireland grants for research and the share that is used all other expenses such as administrative costs by Science...
- Further and Higher Education
435. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a breakdown of costs for the ‘fund for student’s with a disability (FSD) for the years 2020 to 2025 across all further...
- Irish Language
436. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the investments planned for funding for Irish language education at third level, supporting the promotion and preservation of the Irish language....
- Third Level Fees
437. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the one-off increase of €5,000 will remain in place in this year’s annual option paper for the post graduate fee; and if he will...
- Third Level Education
438. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what the increase cost of the maintenance grant for post graduate students was, which was effective from January 2024; and if he will make a...
- Further and Higher Education
439. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills given the significant surplus in the National Training Fund, how the Government intends to utilise these funds to address underinvestment in...
- Guardian Status
440. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the exact cost of guardianship payments to non-legal guardians as an eligible payment; the amount the special rate is for this...
- Further and Higher Education
441. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a breakdown of costs for the special rate threshold from €25,000 to €26,200 in 2024-2025; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Rural Schemes
443. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to increase the rural regeneration and development fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27921/25]
