Written answers
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Dublin Bus
21. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current average journey times for people travelling from Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk on the Dublin Bus routes 33 and 33X; and...
- Bus Services
23. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the penalty there is for third party providers who cancel or partially cancel a service on route 33; and if he will make a statement on...
- Dublin Bus
27. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether Dublin Bus drivers have been consulted for their views on the proposed BusConnects plan for bus route 33; if so, what their view...
- Bus Services
28. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the expansion of bus services to and from Dublin Airport; what is included in the proposed expansion of bus...
- Public Transport
30. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the Luas-to-Lucan project; if it will be brought to a stage where planning permission will be sought in the...
- Bus Services
31. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the overall state of progress of the BusConnects scheme nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30608/25]
- Driver Test
32. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown, by centre, of the average driving test waiting list times; to provide a breakdown of the number of...
- Rail Network
33. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for a progress report on the battery-operated DART to Wicklow town; the timeline for its operation; the actions that have to be taken...
- Greenways Provision
34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for a breakdown of the cost for the Dodder greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32995/25]
- Bus Éireann
35. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the funding provided for staffing in Bus Éireann in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [33024/25]
- Dublin Bus
36. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the funding provided for staffing in Dublin Bus in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [33025/25]
- Departmental Policies
37. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the disabled person’s parking card (known as the blue badge) has to be renewed every two years; if he will review this...
- Public Transport
38. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a booking fee of €2.50 is imposed on free travel pass holders; if this fee will be abolished as it is unfair; and if he...
- Rail Network
39. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps being taken to ensure an automatic ramp is on trains to avoid a person using a wheelchair having to call ahead and be assisted...
- Bus Services
40. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a village (details supplied) will be provided a local link service following proof of demand from those living there for a service in...
- Road Network
41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to a proposal for road improvements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Bus Éireann
42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of delayed departure and arrival times for the Bus Éireann Expressway routes (details supplied) for each month in 2025;...
- Driver Test
43. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of learner drivers in 2022, 2023 and 2024 who paid a fee of €85 to receive an invitation from the Road Safety Authority...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Avoidance
46. To ask the Minister for Finance the details of the new proposal of the e-liquid products tax and the way in which he intends to ensure that tax evasion particularly from pop-up vape shops...
- Revenue Commissioners
47. To ask the Minister for Finance when Revenue first became aware it had not received the correct amount of chargeable excess tax and withholding tax from senior civil servants; and if he will...
- Recycling Policy
49. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount added to the Exchequer by the sale by NAMA of what is known as the former Irish Glass bottle and fabrizia sites, in tabular form; and if he will...
- Middle East
50. To ask the Minister for Finance if Irish sovereign wealth and investment funds will divest their holdings in Israel, the illegally occupied territories in Palestine and the Golan Heights, in...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Office of the Attorney General
52. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce the Attorney General into the regime of codes of conduct for office holders that are provided for in the Standards...
- Pension Provisions
53. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any retired civil servant contacted any branch of Government or State to highlight the undercharging of chargeable excess tax and...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- EU Directives
63. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the efforts of the Government to highlight the potential economic impacts of ongoing revisions to the EU's...
- Health and Safety
65. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures HSA are taking in targeting the sea fishing sector to reduce high fatality rates; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Staff
66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the proposed timebound provision for teachers who qualify outside the Republic of Ireland will be introduced; and if she will make a...
- Departmental Projects
67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 125 of 11 June 2025; if a timeline can be provided for the estimated completion date of this project and...
- Home Schooling
68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will engage directly with a school (details supplied) in terms of sanctioning a home school community liaison post for the...
- Departmental Inquiries
69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the application for a new school building (details supplied). [32878/25]
- School Management
70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she proposes to address the administrative burdens that arise in very large primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- School Accommodation
71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the installation of additional accommodation at a school (details supplied). [32909/25]
- Special Educational Needs
72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether she plans to reform admission criteria for entry into specific speech and language disorder special classes attached to primary schools...
- Departmental Policies
77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the procedures for the development and implementation of new policies and materials relating to primary and post-primary...
- Schools Building Projects
78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the emergency works team have completed their review of an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Special Educational Needs
79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SNAs that have retired in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [33006/25]
- Departmental Schemes
81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the merits of amending the existing free schoolbook scheme for students in junior cycle years to include students in private schools;...
- School Funding
82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the capitation grant for primary schools is significantly less than the capitation grant for post-primary schools. [33081/25]
- Departmental Data
83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has carried out any research or analysis in the past twelve months on the increasing costs impacting primary and post-primary...
- Departmental Schemes
84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her rationale for excluding primary schools from the funding scheme for smart phone storage solutions, given that 94% of 8-12-year-olds own a...
- Special Educational Needs
85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to instruct a school (details supplied) to open a special class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33133/25]
- Educational Disadvantage
86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will urgently review and allow the retention of two teachers in a DEIS school (details supplied) in County Kerry as their removal will mean...
- Special Educational Needs
88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the planned closure of an autism class at a school (details supplied), despite sufficient interest in enrolment for the...
- School Staff
89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of a primary school (details supplied) where due to a loss of a teacher, the school will be required to manage three or more class...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Wastewater Treatment
94. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the efforts of the Government to highlight the potential economic impacts of the Urban Wastewater...
- Rental Sector
96. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if landlords who improve BER ratings for existing tenants will continue to be able to seek increases to market level rent rates...
- Legislative Process
97. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider implementing legislation to compel landlords or housing bodies to notify tenants of overpayments and...
- Wastewater Treatment
98. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the €50 million in funding announced in 2022 for wastewater infrastructure in areas without...
- Defective Building Materials
99. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on whether Fingal local authority will be included in the defective block scheme; the timeline as to when the...
- Departmental Data
100. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide updated figures on the installation of heat pumps in new homes, from 2021 to date in 2025; and if he will make a...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Prison Service
121. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on education and training as well as employment provisions in Irish prisons; and his views on how these...
- An Garda Síochána
122. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for a breakdown of the Garda stations to which Gardaí that attested in Templemore on 6 June 2025 were assigned. [33094/25]
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Fishing Industry
123. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will designate Greencastle harbour as a pelagic landing port for catches over ten tonnes. [32919/25]
- Agriculture Schemes
124. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers impacted by the delay in payments under ACRES for 2024, by county; when the issue will be resolved; and if he...
- Common Agricultural Policy
125. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his priorities for the forthcoming EU budgetary negotiations, particularly with regard to the next Common Agricultural...
- Fishery Harbour Centres
126. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a proposal (details supplied) concerning retired fishermen which was submitted to his Department previously;...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Departmental Policies
127. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department plans on publishing its jointly commissioned research into gender recognition for young...
- Departmental Correspondence
128. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will ensure that an application (details supplied) will be approved without further delay; and if she...
- Disabilities Assessments
129. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an autism assessment; and if she will make a...
- Child Poverty
130. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the immediate and measurable actions she will take to reverse the increase of children living in poverty. [32986/25]
- Departmental Policies
131. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will commission an impact assessment of accommodation overcrowding on children. [32987/25]
- Childcare Services
132. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to introduced targeted investments, in childcare, especially in early years education. [32988/25]
- Childcare Qualifications
134. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the requirements for childminders when they are registering with Tusla; if she will outline the details of the...
- Departmental Contracts
135. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department can amend its contracts with childcare providers to include a restriction on the practice of...
- Department of Health
- Health Services
136. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on an ADHD facility (details supplied) in Kildare; whether this facility has been opened yet; the amount of funding that has been received...
- Mental Health Services
137. To ask the Minister for Health the number of young adults 18-30 who have been referred for an ADHD diagnosis in the past three years, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a...
- Medical Aids and Appliances
139. To ask the Minister for Health whether a complaint submitted to the HPRA is being processed (details supplied); and when an outcome is expected. [32871/25]
- Hospital Appointments Status
140. To ask the Minister for Health if she will review correspondence (details supplied); if the appointment will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32872/25]
- Medicinal Products
141. To ask the Minister for Health if she will address concerns outlined in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy; and if she will make a...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
142. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department has any plans to reduce the five-day stay-at-home requirement for those with Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32886/25]
- Medicinal Products
143. To ask the Minister for Health if she will meet members of the group who made a presentation on Duchenne muscular dystrophy on 11 June 2025 in Leinster House as they try to access a new drug...
- Health Services
144. To ask the Minister for Health when the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal will next conduct a clinic in the west of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32912/25]
- Health Services Staff
146. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of ensuring an advanced nurse practitioner post at each recognised asthma centre that specialises in severe asthma. [32918/25]
- Departmental Funding
147. To ask the Minister for Health when funding announced in Budget 2025 for pulmonary fibrosis will be released. [32920/25]
- Departmental Programmes
148. To ask the Minister for Health when a national lung fibrosis clinical programme will be available to deliver structured, standardised and equitable care to people living with lung fibrosis...
- Departmental Budgets
151. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of promised funding in Budget 2025 for lung fibrosis care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32933/25]
- Departmental Strategies
152. To ask the Minister for Health to outline her Department's plans for the delivery of a care strategy for those with lung fibrosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32934/25]
- Medicinal Products
153. To ask the Minister for Health when all adults living with spinal muscular atrophy will be entitled to the same treatments as children living with spinal muscular atrophy in Ireland; and if...
- Nursing Homes
154. To ask the Minister for Health if she will allow for payment of fair deal to a person (details supplied) as the family is very anxious that the person be placed in a Caherciveen hospital;...
- Hospital Staff
155. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to two letters dated 6 February 2025 and 3 June 2025 sent to her by a person (details supplied); the actions she will take to...
- General Practitioner Services
157. To ask the Minister for Health the action she is taking to ensure GPs follow a circular from the HSE regarding charging medical card holders for blood tests; if she agrees with this...
- Medical Cards
158. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists in the State today who provide services to medical card patients under the scheme for free; if she is concerned as to the significant...
- Health Services
159. To ask the Minister for Health to provide further details in relation to the work of the online health taskforce established in September 2024; the date on which she expects the interim...
- Departmental Inquiries
160. To ask the Minister for Health if she will respond to correspondence (details supplied); the steps she has taken since receiving said correspondence; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Schemes
161. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the postnatal supports and services available to new mothers in the community; the steps being taken to ensure that there is a coordinated approach...
- Health Services
162. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the four additional postnatal hubs, which would bring the national network to 13; the timeline for completion and operation of each; and if she...
- Medical Cards
168. To ask the Minister for Health whether the vaccine for shingles will be made available to medical card holders or under the drugs payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Health Services
169. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department is making or will make provisions on continuing and expanding schemes aimed at reducing period poverty at the policy as well as at local...
- Mental Health Services
170. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department has commissioned or plans to commission any specific studies assessing the long-term developmental, educational, and economic impacts of...
- General Practitioner Services
179. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider removing the requirement of a GP prescription for the provision of the HPV vaccine in pharmacies by adding it to the Eighth Schedule of...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Apprenticeship Programmes
180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason phase 2 apprentices in the engineering industry are only paid €202 a week when all other apprentices in other industries are...
- Departmental Schemes
181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make SUSI available to students studying full-time online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33003/25]
- Departmental Data
182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in light of the recent approval of a total economic and academic boycott of Israel by Trinity College Dublin, he plans to discuss this matter...
