Written answers
Wednesday, 19 November 2025
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Departmental Functions
40. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the programme plan for his Department's new disability unit for 2025-2027 [56577/25]
- Cabinet Committees
60. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Government Co-ordination will next meet. [56578/25]
- Employment Data
71. To ask the Taoiseach the unemployment rate in Kildare north in November 2025. [64193/25]
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Services
72. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an application can be expedited for a person (details supplied) regarding a passport application; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Middle East
73. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to respond to the findings of a report from a UN special rapporteur (details supplied) that the Irish state continues to permit the transfer...
- Foreign Birth Registration
74. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on foreign birthright applications (details supplied). [64077/25]
- Freedom of Speech
75. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how Ireland engaged with the European Commission during the development of the Democracy Shield; and if he will outline any concerns Ireland...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Electricity Transmission Network
80. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his response to the ESB chief’s warning that emergency measures were needed to increase electricity capacity for new...
- Climate Change Policy
81. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of Ireland’s derogation from ETS2; and the way in which the scheme will be coordinated with the national...
- Energy Conservation
82. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures being taken to accelerate retrofitting supports for households in Kildare north; and if he will make a...
- Energy Prices
83. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the facilities that are in place for persons to ensure that they are getting the best value or are on the best plan for...
- EU Presidency
84. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the likely priorities on renewable energy during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026;...
- Energy Policy
86. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an update on the ‘State run’ LNG facility; to provide a breakdown on progress to date; to update...
- Electricity Transmission Network
87. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his response to the ESB chief’s warning that emergency measures were needed to increase electricity capacity for new...
- Wind Energy Generation
88. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he expects any of the 5GW offshore wind targeted for delivery by 2030 will be energised by 2030, as opposed to being...
- Departmental Schemes
90. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason solar PV is mostly excluded from the warmer home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64275/25]
- Data Centres
91. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if any part of the €3.5 billion investment outlined under the revised national development plan in EirGrid and the...
- Energy Policy
92. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress being made on the commitment in the Programme for Government around the intention to 'explore if legislation...
- Electricity Grid
94. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the total renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the national grid for each of the past...
- Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan
95. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the number of new offshore renewable energy projects currently in the maritime area consent process, in...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces
96. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces are under contract with a company (details supplied); the length of the contract; when it commenced; and the amount paid to...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Driver Test
98. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if first time applicants for a driving test are placed on the same waiting list as those applying to take the test for a second or...
- Parking Provision
113. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has any plans to extend the current legislation to cover the enforcement of disabled parking spaces located in private car parks in...
- Bus Services
114. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the review being carried out on the capacity of the 424 bus; if an additional bus route from Bearna to Galway...
- Driver Licences
115. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the current process of exchanging a non-Irish driving licence for a Irish licence in the case of returning citizens who...
- Department of Finance
- Financial Services
116. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 496 of 4 November 2025, the time period in which the circa 135,000 customers were potentially provided motor finance by...
- EU Agreements
118. To ask the Minister for Finance the total Irish receipts or projected receipts from the EU Multiannual Financial Framework in the years 2019 to 2027, by year, in tabular form; and if he will...
- Tax Code
120. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 12 November 2025, if research has been carried out into the creation of an upper limit cap on the cost of local...
- Driver Licences
123. To ask the Minister for Finance if there are plans to review the National Payments Strategy with a view to ensuring that all Government agencies including the NDLS accept cash payments for...
- Tax Data
124. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the VAT cut on apartment sales to forward-funding deals; the estimated number of apartments this will affect;...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Flood Risk Management
125. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to confirm that the OPW will prioritise the Seapoint Bridge and surrounding flooding zone in Termonfeckin, County Louth for attention in...
- Flood Relief Schemes
126. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date of the Nenagh flood relief scheme; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the estimate budget for this...
- Office of Public Works
127. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of WTE staff, by grade, employed by the OPW that are working at each heritage site under the remit of OPW, as of 12 November...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Departmental Correspondence
128. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will give detailed and urgent consideration to the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) in respect of recent...
- Enterprise Support Services
129. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide details of the number of companies who received an Enterprise Ireland digital marketing capability grant in 2024; the...
- Industrial Development
130. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a full update on the IDA business building, Dublin Road, Carlow; the number of site visits that have taken place in the past 12...
- Enterprise Support Services
131. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office grants awarded to businesses in Kildare north in 2025; and if he will...
- Industrial Development
132. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of positions created and retained in Kildare north through IDA-supported companies in 2025; and if he will make a...
- Job Losses
133. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that will be made available to the one hundred employees who are due to lose their jobs in 2028 (details supplied); and...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Accommodation
134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether prefabs are being added to a school (details supplied) to facilitate the lack of school places; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Schools Building Projects
135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has plans in place for a new community special school for County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64058/25]
- Special Educational Needs
136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional special education places that will be allocated to schools in Kildare north further to Budget 2026, which provided for...
- School Transport
138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the duration of a criminal conviction, and the time since such a conviction, which is taken into account when assessing the suitability of a...
- Residential Institutions
139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on how survivors of historical abuse can go about accessing supports which are included in the Supports for Survivors of...
- School Staff
141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64169/25]
- Residential Institutions
142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the agreement made with the industrial school hunger strikers in recognition of the State’s responsibility for their...
- School Textbooks
143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); if the materials should have been covered under the free schoolbooks scheme. [64185/25]
- Schools Building Projects
144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the application from a school to replace their 50-year-old prefabs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- Irish Language
145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on progress in convening the taskforce on Irish-medium education. [64282/25]
- Departmental Data
147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a breakdown of all primary school provision, per county, for the years 2020–2025, including patronage, co-education and Irish-medium...
- Special Educational Needs
148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a special needs assistant national school redeployment application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and...
- Schools Building Projects
150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the proposed works for a primary school (details supplied) in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Insurance Coverage
151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether schools are licensed to 'shop around' for school insurance cover to ensure the cheapest option available to them; and if she will make a...
- School Uniforms
152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if subsidies could be provided by her Department for schools with school uniforms to lower the cost for parents; and if she will make a statement...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Sports Funding
153. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of sports capital grants awarded to clubs in Kildare north in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Sports Organisations
154. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he supports the decision of a sporting organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Defective Building Materials
157. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when people in Skerries will be able to access a scheme for remediation and compensation for homes built with defective...
- An Ghaeltacht
158. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government an bhfuil sé fós i gceist ag an Rialtas treoirlínte don phleanáil sa Ghaeltacht a fhoilsiú, agus...
- Water Quality
159. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the current allowable chlorine residual threshold in treated drinking water in Ireland; and if there a statutory upper limit...
- Housing Provision
160. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the supports available to people awaiting a division of assets, for example sale of a jointly owned home, through the courts...
- Legislative Measures
161. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will introduce legislation or support the progression of the Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017 which proposes to...
- Rental Sector
162. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will act on issues raised in correspondence regarding private rented properties (details supplied); and if he will make...
- Electoral Process
163. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to report on his request made in July 2023 to An Coimisiún Toghcháin to examine the issue of reducing the voting...
- Energy Conservation
164. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government why solar PV is mostly excluded from the local authority retrofit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64277/25]
- Wind Energy Guidelines
165. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the updated wind energy guidelines will be published; the reasons for the prolonged and ongoing delays; and if he will...
- Housing Policy
166. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the assessments his Department has carried out on the impact of students studying English language courses on housing...
- Approved Housing Bodies
169. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the updated code of practice for local authority approved housing bodies nominations will commence. [64364/25]
- Housing Provision
170. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the supports being provided to local authorities to ensure value for money in delivering social and affordable housing; the...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Payments
171. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an emergency winter payment to offset the withdrawal of once off payments such as the disability cost-of-living payment...
- Social Welfare Schemes
173. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a request (details supplied) can receive consideration in view of the person's medical circumstances; and if he will make...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
174. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to recognising Covid-19 as an occupational illness for social workers, given the support for...
- Employment Schemes
175. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide data by metrics (details supplied) on the wage subsidy scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a...
- Social Welfare Payments
177. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the family of an Irish citizen who had been residing in England up until their death would be eligible to apply for an...
- Fuel Poverty
178. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to clarify his Department's understanding on the position of charities who previously gave funding to support individuals...
- Social Welfare Code
179. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 11 June 2025, whether the review of means testing in the social protection...
- School Meals Programme
180. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of primary schools in the State that do not currently have access to the free school meal scheme, despite being...
- Cross-Border Co-operation
182. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he can provide details of his Department’s involvement in the Letterkenny gift card scheme; if he can also provide...
- Social Welfare Payments
183. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people in County Kerry who will be affected by the changes in budget 2026 to the living alone allowance; the...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Immigration Policy
185. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to allow spouses of non-EU PhD students the right to work in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Naturalisation Applications
186. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on a naturalisation application for a person (details supplied). [64115/25]
- International Protection
187. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons currently accommodated in a facility (details supplied); if the occupants are Ukrainian refugees or...
- National Security
188. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he has been made aware that 40,000 rounds of ammunition have gone missing from a Police Service of Northern Ireland...
- Prison Service
189. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when works will commence for the new prison planned for Thornton Hall, given the record funding of €2.180 billion for An...
- International Protection
190. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department plans to use a location (details supplied) as accommodation for refugees or applicants for international...
- An Garda Síochána
191. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of bike thefts reported to An Garda Síochána, per county, in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form....
- Departmental Data
192. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions for bike theft, per county, in 2024 and so far in 2025, in tabular form. [64269/25]
- Visa Applications
193. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will be made on a “visit a family/friend” visa appeal (details supplied); if new circumstances...
- An Garda Síochána
194. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions he is taking in response to a series of serious assaults and violent incidents reported in the Fairview park area;...
- Immigration Policy
197. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of incidences of students holding an immigration stamp 2 permission that have been found to be in breach of the...
- Private Security Authority
203. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the Government’s position, prior to the enactment of the Private Security Services Act 2004, regarding the...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Animal Diseases
299. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who applied for compensation in relation to TB in the years 2023 to date in 2025; the number of whom received...
- Agriculture Schemes
300. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total allocation to TAMS in the years 2019 to 2026, by year; the indicative allocation for 2027; and if he will make a statement...
- Animal Diseases
301. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the incidence of TB has increased since the introduction of the TB eradication programme in 1962; and if he will make a...
- Trade Missions
308. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to arrange a food-related trade mission to the United Arab Emirates early in 2026. [64297/25]
- Harbours and Piers
309. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when each of the capital works projects, funded under the 2025 fisheries harbour centre and coastal infrastructure development...
- Aquaculture Industry
311. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will make a decision on the re-opening of the mussel seed fishery in the Long Bank for 2025; and if he will make a statement...
- Department of Children, Disability and Equality
- Childcare Services
316. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the efforts her Department is making to address the fact that childcare is a barrier for women taking up apprenticeships; and if she...
- Disabilities Assessments
317. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the latest assessment of needs waiting list figures, by region and nationally. [64025/25]
- Disability Services
318. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in CDNT 11 (south Kildare and west Wicklow) waiting over one year for engagement with children's disability...
- Childcare Services
321. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current locations under consideration for a pilot public childcare scheme to begin in 2026; the number of childcare places that...
- Disability Services
326. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of respite hours available to adults in County Mayo; the type of respite provided; the number who have availed of this...
- Industrial Disputes
329. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of an ongoing industrial relations dispute in a State agency (details supplied); if she is aware that while this...
- Irish Language
330. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the draft strategy for early years Irish-medium education is to be published. [64284/25]
- Disability Services
331. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE administrative staff, by grade, which have been filled in each children's disability network team within CHO5 in...
- Childcare Services
333. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the assessment process for fee increase requests on behalf of childcare facilities participating in core funding will be...
- Department of Health
- Mental Health Services
334. To ask the Minister for Health for an urgent update on the case of a vulnerable young woman with complex mental health needs (details supplied), whose clinical team recently advised that she...
- Medical Aids and Appliances
335. To ask the Minister for Health when the procedure mid-urethral mesh sling will be available in Ireland for patients who currently have to travel abroad for the procedure. [64071/25]
- Hospital Services
336. To ask the Minister for Health if there has been any change to the dermatology services in Monaghan Hospital; if the service has ceased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64073/25]
- Health Services Waiting Lists
337. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any measures planned to combat the long waiting lists for physiotherapy services in the Market Street Wellness Centre, Killorglin, County Kerry...
- Disability Services
338. To ask the Minister for Health given the long waiting times for publicly funded speech and language therapy, what supports or funding are available for families to access private therapy...
- Healthcare Policy
339. To ask the Minister for Health with consideration for the findings of national and international research, the measures that will be implemented to deal with the impact of loneliness on all...
- Hospital Services
342. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1088 of 12 November 2025, the number of such procedures completed from 2023 to date in 2025, by year, in tabular form;...
- Hospital Staff
343. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of whole time equivalent grades providing hernia surgical services at University Hospital Waterford, in tabular form; if there are vacant or...
- Health Promotion
344. To ask the Minister for Health the number of pre-diabetes clinics in each health area; the location and the number of dietitians at each location; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Health Services Staff
346. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1168 on 13 May 2025, to provide an update on the progress of a comprehensive assessment of the physician associate role...
- Health Services
349. To ask the Minister for Health her views on the recent reduction in funding for a company (details supplied); if she is aware that discontinuing the twelve-week introductory programme for...
- Mental Health Services
350. To ask the Minister for Health her views on the planned CORU revised standards of proficiency for the psychotherapy profession; if she will meet with an organisation (details supplied); and...
- Departmental Correspondence
351. To ask the Minister for Health when she will respond to urgent correspondence issued to her by this Deputy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64145/25]
- Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
352. To ask the Minister for Health if training is mandated by the HSE for doctors and nurses on existing contracts to recognise signs of domestic, sexual, gender violence and coercive control in...
- Health Service Executive
353. To ask the Minister for Health if training is mandated by the HSE for student doctors and nurses to recognise signs of domestic, sexual, gender violence and coercive control in patients and...
- Health Services Waiting Lists
354. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients from Kildare north currently on an outpatient waiting list at Naas General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Mental Health Services
355. To ask the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent psychologists, by grade posts that were actually filled within CHO2 primary care psychology services from 2023 to-date in...
- Hospital Staff
356. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant dermatologists and dermatology registrars based at Mayo University Hospital in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if...
- Hospital Services
358. To ask the Minister for Health if she will report on the provision of dermatological services in Monaghan Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64206/25]
- Water Quality
359. To ask the Minister for Health if there are public health risks associated with residual chlorine levels in Irish drinking water, particularly in relation to disinfection by-products such as...
- Hospital Facilities
360. To ask the Minister for Health if HSE estates has received a site survey for telecommunications works at a hospital (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64270/25]
- Hospital Equipment
361. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing a CT scan service in Monaghan Hospital; if a feasibility study has been conducted; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Hospital Staff
362. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant ENT surgeons based at University Hospital Waterford in the years of 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [64295/25]
- Health Services Staff
363. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE occupational therapists, by grade, based at Dungarvan primary care centre in the years of 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [64296/25]
- Health Service Executive
364. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the amount of HSE funding paid to a company (details supplied) from 2020 to 2025 to date; to provide a breakdown of funding per HSE area, per year;...
- Medical Cards
365. To ask the Minister for Health the reason income limits for persons aged over 70 applying for a full medical card have not been revised in recent budgets; if she accepts that the current...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
366. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers affected by long-Covid is due to end on 31 December without a suitable replacement; if she...
- Hospital Services
367. To ask the Minister for Health when the new build at Midleton Community Hospital will be open; if it will be fully staffed from the opening day; if she will provide the opening date; and if...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Apprenticeship Programmes
368. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts his Department is making to address the low uptake of apprenticeship places for the Travelling community; and if he will make a...
- Education and Training Boards
371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts his Department is making to address the shortage of guidance counsellors at ETBs; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Apprenticeship Programmes
373. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progression pathways in place for disabled people who have completed their apprentices and are ready for employment; and if he will make a...
- Further and Higher Education
376. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider measures to improve the parity of esteem for FET level education; if it is possible to introduce higher levels of...
- Third Level Education
377. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount that was spent in each of the past five years, and in 2025 to date, in promoting Ireland as a destination for foreign students to...
- Departmental Data
378. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64320/25]
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Údarás na Gaeltachta
379. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cathain atá sé i gceist aige an Bille um Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú), 2024 a chur ar aghaidh chuig...
- Irish Language
380. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he can provide details of the regulations governing Gael Coláistí, specifically, the procedures for making a...
