Written answers
Thursday, 9 October 2025
- Department of Justice and Equality
- An Garda Síochána
12. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures that have been taken to ensure additional Gardaí enter the system in 2025 and 2026, which will in turn address...
- Legislative Programme
16. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the progress on the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, and specifically, the...
- Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
17. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether the powers available to An Garda Síochána are adequate to address instances of domestic, sexual...
- International Protection
18. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1082 of 10 June 2025, the number of international protection applicants who have not been...
- Drug Dealing
19. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the specific actions his Department intends to take in response to the recent increase in drug-related arrests across Galway;...
- Crime Prevention
20. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will indicate how An Garda Síochána are responding to an apparent increase in vigilantism coordinated through...
- Immigration Policy
21. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in the context of the enhanced voluntary return scheme payments, if he will provide a line by line breakdown of the average...
- An Garda Síochána
22. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions he is taking to tackle Garda recruitment and retention, including Garda numbers; and if he will make a statement on...
- Anti-Racism Measures
23. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he has met with the special rapporteur for the Action Plan Against Racism; if he can provide an update on the implementation...
- An Garda Síochána
24. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average response times to 999 calls; the number of 999 calls which have gone unanswered to date in 2025; the steps his...
- Judicial Reviews
28. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department intends to conduct a full review of the judicial review process and its effects on the delivery of major...
- Local Community Safety Partnerships
29. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if provision will be made for TDs to be part of the new community safety partnerships that are now replacing JPCs; and if he...
- Prison Service
31. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to continue with his plans to reopen the Old Cork Prison site; and the level of engagement he has undertaken with...
- Citizenship Applications
32. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the action his Department will take to resolve issues with the INIS online portal being experienced by visa and citizenship...
- An Garda Síochána
33. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking to increase the number of community Gardaí; the number of community Gardaí at the start of...
- Domestic Violence
38. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions Cuan is taking to prevent the housing crisis from impacting on person’s ability to leave abusive...
- Crime Prevention
39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider legislative reform to strengthen protections for families who are coerced into repaying drug debts or...
- Courts Service
40. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made in developing and delivering a modern courts infrastructure, including the move to digitalisation; and if he...
- International Protection
42. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures he is taking to reduce the spend on IPAS accommodation made to private landlords; and if he will make a statement...
- Youth Services
43. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the youth diversion programmes in place in County Louth. [54054/25]
- An Garda Síochána
44. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality cad iad na hiarrachtaí faoi leith atá ar siúl chun breis Gaeilgoirí mhealladh isteach sna Gardaí; agus...
- Restorative Justice
45. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures he is taking to encourage greater use of restorative justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53689/25]
- Crime Prevention
46. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the retail crime strategy; the timeline for its publication; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Courts Service
47. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures his Department is taking to improve the efficiency of court proceedings, which currently take 1.5 times longer than...
- Asylum Seekers
48. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have applied for asylum in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2025. [53288/25]
- Domestic Violence
49. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of additional refuge units delivered to-date under the zero tolerance strategy; the locations of same; to provide an...
- Northern Ireland
50. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will establish a historical investigations unit to allow for independent police investigation into unresolved deaths and...
- Domestic Violence
51. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the plans to deliver more domestic violence shelters in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54034/25]
- An Garda Síochána
52. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of An Garda Síochána who have protection orders or barring orders against them; and if he will...
- International Protection
53. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a detailed cost breakdown of the modular units delivered at the Haywood site in Clonmel, specifically in...
- Legislative Process
54. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will amend the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 to provide for a complete ban on the use of...
- An Garda Síochána
55. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of promotions to senior ranks which have occurred in An Garda Síochána since he became Minister; and if he...
- Crime Prevention
56. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality following the launch of a new awareness campaign in September 2025 targeting the misuse of illegal fireworks, if he will...
- Departmental Schemes
57. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the changes he will introduce to the accommodation recognition scheme in view of its impact on the private rental market, and...
- Road Safety
58. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the efforts of his Department to address the misuse of e-scooters in residential areas. [54053/25]
- An Garda Síochána
59. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for increasing the Garda training allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54039/25]
- Local Community Safety Partnerships
66. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the establishment and commencement of work of the community safety partnerships; and if he will...
- An Garda Síochána
67. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of successful applicants currently waiting to be called to begin training in Templemore Garda College; and if he will...
- Probation and Welfare Service
68. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality given reports that the probation services worked with 17,000 people last year with about 500 staff, how his Department will...
- Departmental Schemes
69. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the new health diversion scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53734/25]
- Visa Applications
70. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for the up-to-date waiting times for applications for visiting visas from South Africa; and if he will make a statement on the...
- International Protection
71. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if it is his or the Government’s intention to apply the border procedure under the Migration and Asylum Pact to families...
- Data Protection
73. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied with the safeguards contained in the EU's chat control proposal in respect of privacy and data protection;...
- Prison Service
74. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of visits that remand prisoners are entitled per week, due to contradictory information; and if he will make a...
- International Protection
75. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide details of the daily occupancy levels and the possibility of re-opening a hotel (details supplied) for tourists, as...
- Visa Applications
76. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality is there is a way to speed up the application process for short term visit visas, including for academics or for business...
- An Garda Síochána
78. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality regarding the Garda drone evaluation project that concluded in 2023, if he has any plans to address the ‘legislative...
- Drug Dealing
79. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how he intends to address the prevalence of drugs in rural Ireland, and its consequences on community safety and criminality in...
- An Garda Síochána
80. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of An Garda Síochána vehicles taken out of service in each respective year from 2021 to 2024 inclusive, and...
- Domestic Violence
81. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe in which a domestic violence refuge centre will be opened in Cavan and Monaghan. [54044/25]
- Judicial Appointments
82. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his Department’s plans for the further recruitment of judges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54033/25]
- Crime Prevention
83. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the specific measures he is taking as we enter the winter months, given reports in media outlets such as RTÉ that people...
- An Garda Síochána
84. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when Rush Garda Station will open on a full time basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53677/25]
- Courts Service
85. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on the number of convictions within the State for shoplifting in 2024; and if he will make a statement on...
- Domestic Violence
86. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe in which he intends to establish a register of domestic abusers. [54045/25]
- Probation and Welfare Service
87. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality given the Judicial Council noted in 2022 that 23% of community service assessments did not convert into community services...
- Visa Applications
88. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the work being done to improve processing times for visa applications, citizenship applications and stamp applications at his...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Departmental Strategies
89. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made on delivering a strategy to support the delivery of the International Sports Diplomacy Framework; and if he will make a...
- Passport Services
91. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade If he will consider the concerns raised in the correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54256/25]
- Departmental Equipment
92. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to confirm if any staff devices (laptops, phones, USBs) containing departmental information or sensitive data were reported lost or stolen in...
- Departmental Expenditure
93. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail the instances in which software or IT systems procured by his Department or agencies were later deemed unfit for purpose; and the...
- Departmental Appointments
94. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the process by which persons are nominated or appointed by the State to serve as members of the permanent court of arbitration; and if he...
- Departmental Priorities
99. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposed timescale for the implementation of the Legacy Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54529/25]
- Department of Defence
- Departmental Contracts
106. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of external consultancy contracts entered into by his Department in the past five years, including the original estimated cost, the...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Greenways Provision
110. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are Government plans to extend the South Kerry Greenway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54452/25]
- Bus Services
111. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public bus shelters under the remit of his Department or its agencies that have been subject to vandalism in each of the...
- Driver Test
114. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to introduce cash as a payment method in NDLS centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54265/25]
- Public Transport
115. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that international English language students over the age of 25 are being told that they no longer qualify for a student...
- Dublin Bus
117. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total number of cancelled trips on the 37 Dublin Bus route from January 2025 to date, by month; and if he will make a statement on...
- Driver Licences
125. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to review the anomaly in relation to driver licence renewals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54410/25]
- Driver Test
126. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the ongoing issues with the Road Safety Authority’s driving test estimated waiting times; if he will explain why...
- Road Network
127. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a significant increase in funding for the Ring of Kerry N70 road, given its importance to Ireland’s and Kerry’s...
- Driver Test
128. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applicants waiting on a driving test and the number of driving testers in Carlow and Kilkenny. [54473/25]
- Aviation Industry
129. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54505/25]
- Public Transport
130. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has considered expanding the student Leap card (details supplied) to those enrolled in online colleges; and if he will make a...
- Road Projects
131. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress to date in advancing a project (details supplied); when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a...
- Public Transport
132. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54525/25]
- Department of Finance
- Tax Data
135. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has evaluated the sustainability of current expenditure levels in the event of a downturn in multinational corporation tax receipts. [54423/25]
- Tax Reliefs
141. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration would be given to reviewing the mechanism by which individuals with coeliac disease claim tax relief on gluten free products, in light of...
- Departmental Data
142. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide an updated list of all investments held by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund in companies directly or indirectly associated with operations in...
- Departmental Contracts
143. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of external consultancy contracts entered into by his Department in the past five years, including the original estimated cost, the final cost, and...
- Tax Credits
144. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a tax credit for motor costs for rural dwellers, in light of high car dependency through no fault of rural dwellers, and the...
- Revenue Commissioners
145. To ask the Minister for Finance the measures being undertaken by Revenue to combat black market activities from unregistered barbers and hairdressers; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Equipment
146. To ask the Minister for Finance to confirm if any staff devices (laptops, phones, USBs) containing departmental information or sensitive data were reported lost or stolen in the past five...
- Departmental Expenditure
147. To ask the Minister for Finance to detail the instances in which software or IT systems procured by his Department or agencies were later deemed unfit for purpose; and the costs of...
- Tax Data
148. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider reviewing the 1% government levy on life cover policies, mortgage protection policies and on specified illness/disability (details...
- Budget 2026
150. To ask the Minister for Finance the investment reforms being considered in advance of Budget 2026; if consideration will be given to cutting the rate of tax on certain investment funds from...
- Tax Reliefs
152. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will review the taxation treatment of redundancy payments, particularly ex-gratia or enhanced redundancy payments made in cases of involuntary...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Public Expenditure Policy
165. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has conducted an analysis of the amount of the €120bn in spending which is attributable to once-off versus...
- Budget 2025
166. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has assessed the impact of overruns in Budget 2025, from the originally planned €3bn in new expenditure to the...
- Budget 2026
167. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform whether revenue from increased carbon-related motor fuel taxes will be directed towards electric vehicle infrastructure, public...
- Office of Public Works
168. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public works would support and fund the provision of mobility scooters so that those with conditions such as...
- Departmental Contracts
169. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of external consultancy contracts entered into by his Department in the past five years, including the original estimated...
- Departmental Equipment
170. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to confirm if any staff devices (laptops, phones, USBs) containing departmental information or sensitive data were reported lost or...
- Departmental Expenditure
171. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to detail the instances in which software or IT systems procured by his Department or agencies were later deemed unfit for purpose; and...
- Flood Relief Schemes
172. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans in place to invest in the erosion defences and flood defences of the Kerry coastline (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Departmental Contracts
174. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of external consultancy contracts entered into by his Department in the past five years, including the original estimated...
- Departmental Equipment
175. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to confirm if any staff devices (laptops, phones, USBs) containing departmental information or sensitive data were reported lost or...
- Departmental Expenditure
176. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail the instances in which software or IT systems procured by his Department or agencies were later deemed unfit for purpose;...
- Departmental Data
177. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether his Department is tracking capital outflows from Ireland to property investment in the United Kingdom, particularly from...
- Departmental Programmes
179. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the publication of the National Clustering Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Policies
180. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline any plans to reform the Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund evaluation process; and if he will make a...
- Redundancy Payments
181. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the number of taxpayers who received redundancy payments in each of the past five years and the average payment...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Departmental Budgets
182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 24 September 2025, the estimated savings to the Exchequer given that these teaching posts were...
- National Council for Special Education
183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will immediately intervene in the case of a child (details supplied) who has been unable to secure an appropriate place in a secondary...
- Departmental Staff
184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the staffing schedule for primary schools for the 2026/2027 school year to address the inequities in the appointment figures...
- Departmental Policies
185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills Further to Parliamentary Question No. 436 of 30 September 2025, if new applications or proposals will be accepted where they are made by HEIs who...
- Departmental Contracts
186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of external consultancy contracts entered into by her Department in the past five years, including the original estimated cost, the...
- School Enrolments
187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to complete an assessment of enrolment policies in the secondary schools in Dublin Fingal East; to identify geographical areas in the...
- Departmental Funding
188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the situation in a school (details supplied); and if she will commit to funding such repairs either via the ETB or directly...
- Schools Building Projects
189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the time frame for the construction of the new three school campus in a location (details supplied); and if she is satisfied that the intended...
- Departmental Equipment
191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm if any staff devices (laptops, phones, USBs) containing departmental information or sensitive data were reported lost or stolen in the...
- Departmental Expenditure
192. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail the instances in which software or IT systems procured by her Department or agencies were later deemed unfit for purpose; and the costs...
- Special Educational Needs
193. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the fact that in the 2025/2026 SNA Review Guidelines the application window for school led reviews is limited to 15 September...
- Departmental Funding
196. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason parents are required to pay for swimming lessons, pool hire, and transport costs associated with swimming, despite swimming being part...
- Departmental Projects
198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a project will proceed to the next stage (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54468/25]
- Special Educational Needs
199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that the current role of SNA is not diminished in any way and that the behavioural, emotional and sensory needs of the child...
- Departmental Policies
201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures currently in place to ensure compliance with the right of children to opt out of religious instruction, and that suitable...
- Public Procurement Contracts
202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 456 and 457 of 17 September 2025, in which she stated that her Department publishes procurement-related...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Departmental Funding
203. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if in advance of the next round of LSSIF funding, consideration would be given to introducing a time limit for drawing...
- Departmental Contracts
204. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of external consultancy contracts entered into by his Department in the past five years, including the...
- Departmental Policies
205. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment whether he agrees that the international day of famine commemoration and the national famine commemoration should both...
- Departmental Equipment
206. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to confirm if any staff devices (laptops, phones, USBs) containing departmental information or sensitive data were...
- Departmental Expenditure
207. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to detail the instances in which software or IT systems procured by his Department or agencies were later deemed unfit...
- Broadband Infrastructure
208. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when full telephone and broadband reception will be available at Dromid, Waterville, County Kerry; and if he will make...
- Departmental Funding
211. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider a community media fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54526/25]
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Homeless Persons Supports
212. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of people currently registered as homeless in County Kildare; the number of children currently registered as...
- Housing Policy
214. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the plans within his Department to address the current restriction on one-off planning for rural housing across the country;...
- Postal Voting
217. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of a case (details supplied); and if he will instruct his Department to make postal voting more accessible,...
- Departmental Contracts
218. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of external consultancy contracts entered into by his Department in the past five years, including the original...
- Departmental Staff
219. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide the number of ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists, hydrogeologists and environmental scientists,...
- Departmental Consultations
222. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of occasions on which the services of a specialist consultant in ecology, ornithology, hydrology, hydrogeology, or...
- Departmental Data
223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide the number of ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists, hydrogeologists and environmental scientists,...
- Departmental Equipment
226. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to confirm if any staff devices (laptops, phones, USBs) containing departmental information or sensitive data were reported...
- Departmental Expenditure
227. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to detail the instances in which software or IT systems procured by his Department or agencies were later deemed unfit for...
- Rental Sector
228. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps her Department is taking to ensure that the forthcoming amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, due to...
- Wind Energy Guidelines
234. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the guidance provided to planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála to ensure wind turbine noise is properly...
- Grant Payments
235. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the circumstances regarding grant aid for a property (details supplied); if the person is entitled to a vacant...
- Departmental Policies
236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the use of online bidding platforms and countdown clocks in house sales; his views on whether they are a positive...
- Planning Issues
237. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider an exemption from planning permission for the installation of bike sheds in front gardens; and if he will...
- Departmental Correspondence
239. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will address the points raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Wind Energy Guidelines
240. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 465 of 25 March 2025, if he is aware of the EPA’s Pro-Health SEA research (ref....
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- School Meals Programme
241. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures being taken to reduce the level of waste under the hot school meals programme; and if he will make a statement...
- School Funding
242. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to extend the back to school allowance to all children in State care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54309/25]
- Social Welfare Eligibility
243. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to consider allowing older persons with disabilities to access disability allowance along with their pensions; and if he will...
- School Funding
245. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending the back to school allowance to all children in state care (details supplied);...
- Pension Provisions
246. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether a person with a private non-workplace pension can opt-out of the six-month auto enrolment pension. [54346/25]
- Social Welfare Eligibility
247. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for long term carers contributions (details supplied) will be expedited. [54469/25]
- Department of Justice and Equality
- School Funding
249. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department will intervene in the case of the funding of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
- Citizenship Applications
250. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are plans to review the citizenship process in areas such as length of residency immediately prior to application,...
- Refugee Resettlement Programme
251. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of IPAS centres and the number of IPAS residents associated with contracts for which the payment per bed per day are...
- Departmental Data
257. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the international protection applications made in the State between 1 July and 30 September 2025 by applicants from...
- Refugee Resettlement Programme
258. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in relation to international protection applicants that are not given an offer of accommodation upon arrival, the process by...
- Deportation Orders
260. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of individuals detained in the State pending deportation between 24 September and 3 October 2025; and the prisons in...
- Departmental Budgets
264. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount that was originally budgeted for the development and implementation of the bedspace bed management system for...
- Departmental Data
267. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department has estimated the annual fines which Ireland would face under infringement proceedings should the State not...
- Departmental Staff
268. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current average duration of employment of staff in each of the agencies involved in the end-to-end asylum process; and the...
- Common Travel Area
269. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline in detail the discussions he has had with representatives of the British government in relation to the impact on the...
- Departmental Data
270. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to list the powers and responsibilities that will transfer from the Irish State to the European Union once the EU Asylum and...
- Departmental Inquiries
271. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will meet with the family of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54373/25]
- European Court of Justice
272. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take in response to the ruling by the European Court of Justice that the exclusion of compensation for pain...
- Departmental Inquiries
273. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to commence a process (details supplied) in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54405/25]
- Departmental Data
275. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the most recent figures available from the central statistics office or his Department setting out, on a...
- Family Law Cases
277. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps that have been taken to address the lack of a legal definition of parental alienation which has caused confusion and...
- Departmental Data
278. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the complete breakdown of the number of young persons referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, by Garda district within...
- An Garda Síochána
283. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in view of increased recruitment, the plans being considered to train and accommodate trainee Gardaí; and to detail any...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Departmental Inquiries
284. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the merger of the ISPCA and DSPCA into a national SPCA; if he will address concerns (details supplied); and if he will...
- Departmental Funding
286. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will urgently review the allocation of funding under the animal welfare grant programme and the designation of authorised...
- Nitrates Usage
294. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update regarding the enforcement of nitrate pollution related to farming; if his attention has been drawn to algal blooms,...
- Agriculture Industry
296. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if ‘force majeure’ will be accepted in respect of the submission of late sheep census from a farmer in County Kerry...
- Departmental Contracts
297. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of external consultancy contracts entered into by his Department in the past five years, including the original estimated...
- Departmental Equipment
298. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm if any staff devices (laptops, phones, USBs) containing departmental information or sensitive data were reported lost or...
- Departmental Expenditure
299. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the instances in which software or IT systems procured by his Department or agencies were later deemed unfit for purpose;...
- Nitrates Usage
300. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the EU Commission and at the Agriculture Council in relation to the...
- Departmental Correspondence
301. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he could address the concerns raised by hill farmers in correspondence (details supplied) regarding issues with controlled burning...
- Department of Health
- Hospital Appointments Status
313. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding an occupational therapy appointment for child (details supplied) whose mother has been waiting an extensive period of time for...
- Hospital Services
314. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 683 of 11 February 2025, to provide an update regarding a hip operation for a person (details supplied). [54258/25]
- Departmental Correspondence
315. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54264/25]
- Assisted Human Reproduction
316. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department will consider reviewing the HSE assisted human reproductive scheme to allow for reciprocal IVF to be covered under the scheme to ensure that...
- Primary Care Centres
317. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the status of the Glanmire primary healthcare centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54279/25]
- Public Sector Pensions
318. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot receive requested information about her HSE pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54280/25]
- Primary Care Services
319. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of the fact that the South Dublin Primary Care referrals office has no contact details available (details supplied); if she will instruct her...
- Departmental Correspondence
320. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to correspondence sent to her by an organisation (details supplied); the action she will take to address the concerns raised;...
- Budget 2025
321. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the total funding requested by HSE for breastfeeding related supports for Budget 2025; the percentage of the total amount requested that...
- Departmental Funding
322. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of spending by her Department on breastfeeding supports, in tabular form, by year, since 2022; how this funding was distributed by CHO...
- Health Strategies
323. To ask the Minister for Health for a status update on development of the national breastfeeding strategy, the progress and plans for the launch of this; and if she will make a statement on...
- Departmental Strategies
324. To ask the Minister for Health if following the publication of the "Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) on the Island of Ireland: A Guidance Document for Creating an...
- Hospital Appointments Status
325. To ask the Minister for Health if a physiotherapy appointment can be expedited for a person (details supplied). [54338/25]
- Health Services
326. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of a case (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to provide all necessary facilities to allow the person in question to...
- Departmental Data
328. To ask the Minister for Health to provide the current staffing levels for adult ADHD services in each LHO; and the current waiting list for each, in tabular form. [54352/25]
- Hospital Facilities
331. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the promised provision of adult inpatient beds for eating disorder treatment; to provide the current number of adult inpatient beds for...
- Departmental Funding
332. To ask the Minister for Health whether she will consider increasing funding for chiropody appointments for older people, in order to maximise ability to live independently; and whether there...
- Departmental Surveys
333. To ask the Minister for Health when the latest national maternity experience survey will be published. [54413/25]
- Departmental Reviews
334. To ask the Minister for Health if a comprehensive review and/or risk assessment of current maternity care at Portiuncula University Hospital was conducted. [54414/25]
- Departmental Data
335. To ask the Minister for Health the additional resources which have been made available for other hospitals who will see a transfer of maternity care in order to manage additional births....
- Hospital Services
336. To ask the Minister for Health if hospitals (details supplied) have had risk assessments carried out ahead of moving additional births from Portiuncula University Hospital to them. [54416/25]
- Departmental Data
337. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE midwives currently in place in University Hospital Galway and Mullingar Hospital; the number of agency staff employed currently in these...
- Hospital Staff
338. To ask the Minister for Health if there is currently a Director of Midwifery at Mullingar Hospital; and if not, the length of time this position has been vacant. [54418/25]
- Departmental Inquiries
339. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to making certain medications for the treatment of cystitis and urinary tract infections available without prescription, in...
- Health Services
340. To ask the Minister for Health to outline plans for a day centre service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54428/25]
- Hospital Facilities
341. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on bed capacity and occupancy in Macroom Community Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54429/25]
- Departmental Data
342. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on bed capacity and occupancy in Millstreet Community Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54430/25]
- Care of the Elderly
344. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the Integrated Care Programme for Older People in Mallow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54432/25]
- Hospital Services
345. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of attendees who attended and were treated at the local injury unit at Mallow General Hospital for the years 2022–2025...
- Health Services Waiting Lists
348. To ask the Minister for Health for a detailed breakdown of waiting lists for ophthalmology services in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54436/25]
- Primary Care Centres
349. To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in plans to provide the overdue primary care centre in Killarney, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Medicinal Products
350. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the withdrawal of a medication from the Irish market, if other drugs to replace this medication have been approved by the HSE, including (details...
- Health Services
351. To ask the Minister for Health the steps she will take to ensure that an organisation (details supplied) is provided with home base facilities in Shannon and in every area where they require...
- National Children's Hospital
352. To ask the Minister for Health further to the decision to subsume CHI into the HSE, the plans that are being progressed for the buildings and land at Crumlin, Temple Street and Tallaght when...
- Hospital Services
353. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 2223, 2224, 2225 and 2227 of 8 September 2025, the number of staff working the unit who are HSE staff; the total amount...
- Nursing Homes
354. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the increasing payments being requested by most nursing homes outside of the fair deal payment (details supplied); if a...
- Healthcare Policy
355. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 894 of 30 September 2025, if she will consider including a test for prostate cancer in the annual blood test for those...
- Health Services Staff
356. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE or a State agency could hire an instructor and a nurse to assist those with health issues in using the hydro pool at MTU Tralee (details supplied);...
- Cancer Services
357. To ask the Minister for Health the number of mammograms provided at University Hospital Waterford in each of the past 12-months; the average waiting time for mammograms to be read and for...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Departmental Correspondence
358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54504/25]
- Departmental Contracts
359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of external consultancy contracts entered into by his Department in the past five years, including the original estimated cost, the...
- Departmental Equipment
360. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm if any staff devices (laptops, phones, USBs) containing departmental information or sensitive data were reported lost or stolen in the...
- Departmental Expenditure
361. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail the instances in which software or IT systems procured by his Department or agencies were later deemed unfit for purpose; and the costs...
- Public Procurement Contracts
362. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 1405 of 17 September 2025, which stated that his Department’s quarterly procurement-related payment...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Departmental Funding
363. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding available through his Department which could be used to repair, maintain and improve a public playground in urban...
