Written answers
Wednesday, 3 December 2025
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Northern Ireland
58. To ask the Taoiseach if consideration has been given to developing public information or civic education materials outlining the institutional, economic and constitutional realities...
- Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
59. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with faith and non-confessional groups to discuss a structured dialogue process. [63182/25]
- Cabinet Committees
60. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on EU and International Affairs will next meet. [63507/25]
- Poverty Data
80. To ask the Taoiseach if it would be possible for the CSO, drawing on SILC data, to create a new measurement of ‘consistent poverty (after housing costs)’, which would combine...
- Departmental Priorities
81. To ask the Taoiseach for an update on his Department's plans to coordinate a range of actions aimed at regulatory reform. [67610/25]
- Departmental Projects
82. To ask the Taoiseach the plans there are by Government to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the delivery of...
- Departmental Reports
83. To ask the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in which he confirmed...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Emigrant Support Services
84. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update, in relation to returning and returned Irish, if she will report on the current situation with regard to the...
- Trade Data
85. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide data on trade and investment between Ireland and the Arab states in the Middle East and North Africa; and the measures being taken...
- International Agreements
86. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in relation to Ireland ratifying the UNCRC Second Optional Protocol, the reason the State must be able to meet the obligations it assumes...
- Departmental Projects
87. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the...
- Departmental Reports
88. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Environmental Schemes
89. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a homeowner can be reimbursed through the PV solar panel scheme for medically vulnerable households in a case where the...
- Official Engagements
90. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the dates on which he or his Department officials met with electricity suppliers or their representatives. [68352/25]
- Departmental Reports
91. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research,...
- Defence Forces
93. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current strength of all branches of the Defence Forces as of 28 November 2025 or the latest date available; and if she will make a statement...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Disability Issues
95. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will direct Transport Infrastructure Ireland to review the 2020 changes to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (toll...
- Driver Licences
96. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process by which drivers with epilepsy apply to renew their drivers licence; if the expiry date on their new licence will be based on...
- Taxi Regulations
97. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine the feasibility of introducing an audio fare announcement system in taxis, similar to the Marquay model used in parts...
- Rail Network
98. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing overcrowding and service reliability issues on the DART network, particularly during peak...
- Road Network
99. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the road and footpaths in Cahersiveen town, County Kerry can be upgraded urgently as they are a major health and safety issue; and if...
- Dublin Airport Authority
101. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the Government’s aircraft noise policy and where can it be viewed, as referenced in correspondence to this Deputy on 13 November...
- Departmental Reports
102. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and...
- Dublin Bus
103. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to reintroducing a Dublin Bus service in an area in Kildare North (details supplied); and if he will make...
- Public Transport
104. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the interim measures being considered to improve public transport connectivity between Kilcock and Dublin, given ongoing unreliability in...
- Bus Services
106. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional bus services or route adjustments are planned for Kilcock to address current gaps in connectivity and reduce reliance on...
- Rail Network
107. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans to increase frequency or capacity on rail services serving Kilcock as an interim measure to meet growing commuter demand; and...
- Department of Finance
- Financial Services
108. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent of the involvement of Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) in the financing of the Ringfort development in Rathmolyon, County Meath; if his...
- Revenue Commissioners
109. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners have a role in the investigation of the financial dealings of the companies involved in the Ringfort development in Rathmolyon,...
- Tax Code
111. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department will review the operation of the six year clawback rule under section 89(4) of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003, in...
- Departmental Projects
112. To ask the Minister for Finance the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the delivery of projects...
- Departmental Reports
113. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in which he...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Flood Relief Schemes
114. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a position (details supplied) will be filled; if filling the position will delay the progress of flood relief in East Cork; and if...
- Departmental Meetings
115. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the dates and attendees of all meetings he has had with the Minister for Health since he took office. [68242/25]
- Office of Public Works
116. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date in 2017 on which, and the format in which (email, phone call or other) the request from An Garda Síochána was...
- Departmental Meetings
118. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide the dates, and attendees, of all meetings between his Department and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration...
- State Bodies
120. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe from submissions of forms by candidates in the November 2024 election to the Standard in Public Office Commission to...
- Departmental Projects
121. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow...
- Departmental Reports
122. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Work Permits
123. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when a general permit application (details supplied) will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68252/25]
- National Standards Authority of Ireland
126. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 311 of 25 November 2025, if he will provide a further breakdown of the information supplied...
- Trade Promotion
127. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the approach his Department and State enterprise and tourism agencies have to enhance the trade and investment relationship between...
- Tourism Industry
128. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will liaise with Fáilte Ireland, an organisation (details supplied) and all interested stakeholders to investigate the...
- Departmental Projects
129. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow...
- Aviation Industry
130. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the significant increases in airline ticket prices to Prague following the Irish men’s national football team’s...
- Departmental Reports
132. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Staff
133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made by an organisation (details supplied) regarding the pension entitlements and employment conditions of school secretaries and...
- Schools Building Projects
134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of land available and owned by Cork City Council for new school buildings (details supplied) in Ballincollig, County Cork;...
- School Staff
136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the current assault leave guidelines for teachers in schools across the State. [68217/25]
- School Enrolments
141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if assistance will be granted to parents who missed an application deadline for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on...
- Special Educational Needs
142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if figures provided by her Department, to a newspaper are accurate (details supplied); the methodology her Department used to classify a special...
- Departmental Projects
144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the...
- Departmental Data
145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for data relating to an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68393/25]
- Schools Refurbishment
148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for the climate action summer works scheme, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68412/25]
- Educational Disadvantage
149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that no DEIS Band 1 school in Galway was included in CASWS funding for 2026; if there are any other funding opportunities this year...
- Departmental Reports
150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science...
- Department of Culture, Communications and Sport
- Departmental Projects
151. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in...
- Departmental Reports
152. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research,...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Defective Building Materials
153. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government in view of the ongoing uncertainty faced by homeowners affected by the defective block scheme; if Fingal County Council is to...
- Fire Service
154. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No 263 of 6 November 2025, his views on the concerns raised by Dublin Fire Brigade regarding...
- Housing Schemes
155. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps being taken to monitor and enforce compliance within the housing assistance payment scheme. [68337/25]
- Housing Policy
156. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is a requirement or quota for wheelchair-accessible one/two-bedroom units in new housing developments. [68338/25]
- Departmental Projects
157. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order...
- Housing Provision
158. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure that one of the last remaining ‘ghost estates’ (details supplied) is taken in charge for...
- Departmental Reports
159. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research,...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- School Meals Programme
160. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount the Government has spent on the school meals programme, by year from 2019 to date in 2025; in tabular form; and if...
- Social Welfare Benefits
165. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the assistance available for a person (details supplied) who was refused carer's benefit; and if he will make a statement on...
- Social Welfare Code
166. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to develop a non-means-tested support for audiology equipment such as hearing aids; and if he will make a statement...
- School Meals Programme
167. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if secondary schools that entered the DEIS programme from 2022 onwards are excluded from the school meals scheme; the reason...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
168. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 22 October 2025, if he will review again the case of a person (details supplied);...
- Departmental Projects
169. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order...
- Social Welfare Schemes
170. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will review and expand the level of support provided under the treatment benefit scheme for individuals requiring...
- Departmental Reports
171. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research,...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
172. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the implementation of objectives (details supplied) under the Protection Pillar 2 of the National Strategy on...
- Legislative Process
173. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when he intends to bring forward the necessary statutory regulations or amending legislation to implement the recommendations...
- Emergency Services
181. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of 999 calls made and the number of callouts arising from these calls for each year from 2020 to 2024 and to...
- Child Protection
182. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the protocols in place to ensure the immediate safeguarding of severely disabled, non-verbal, and medically vulnerable children...
- International Protection
186. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason his Department continues to operate an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) contract at a hotel...
- Naturalisation Applications
194. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to complaints that the list of documentation required for a citizenship by naturalisation...
- Office of Public Works
195. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if anyone from his Department ever discussed or communicated with anyone in the OPW between 2016 and 27 November 2025 regarding...
- Courts Service
197. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the length of time the average criminal court case takes in Ireland for each of the past ten years; and the comparative length...
- Departmental Reports
198. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research,...
- An Garda Síochána
199. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of Garda motorcycles currently in the Garda fleet; the number in active operational service; the number...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Agriculture Schemes
208. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next payment run will be made for farmers who are not paid their ACRES first payment for the scheme year 2025, and the...
- Animal Slaughtering
210. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle and sheep slaughtered annually in Ireland under Halal certification without pre-stunning; the names of the...
- Trade Promotion
216. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the approach his Department, Bord Bia and other agencies will take to enhance the trade and investment relationship between Ireland...
- Animal Slaughtering
217. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the practice of non-stun animal slaughter is permitted in Ireland in cases of religious slaughter. [68299/25]
- Departmental Reports
219. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation...
- Department of Children, Disability and Equality
- After-School Support Services
220. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to review the case of an afterschool service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68182/25]
- Childcare Services
221. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to examine a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68251/25]
- Disability Services
222. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children/parents who attended an individual or group intervention in Clonmel CDNT5 to date in 2025, by month, in...
- Special Educational Needs
224. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a child (details supplied) in south Tipperary will receive Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) funding; and if she will make a...
- Departmental Projects
225. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to...
- Disabilities Assessments
226. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average waiting time for assessment of needs through the primary care service in County Wexford; the steps being taken to reduce...
- Departmental Reports
227. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation...
- Childcare Services
228. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to increase the availability of childcare places in Kilcock, County Kildare, where families are facing waiting lists...
- Department of Health
- Care Services
233. To ask the Minister for Health if nursing homes are allowed to place additional mandatory charges on fair deal patients who already pay 80% of their pension to fund their care. [68174/25]
- Local Drugs Task Forces
234. To ask the Minister for Health the total amount of money allocated to the 24 local and regional drugs and alcohol taskforces in each year for the period 2000 –2025; and a breakdown of...
- Hospital Equipment
236. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay with the introduction of a machine (details supplied) coming into commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68181/25]
- Medicinal Products
237. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to a charge being placed on blister packs; and if she will instruct her Department to investigate the matter and reverse the...
- Nursing Homes
238. To ask the Minister for Health to urgently investigate a matter (details supplied) regarding a nursing home move; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68205/25]
- Departmental Correspondence
239. To ask the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68215/25]
- Emergency Departments
240. To ask the Minister for Health if she has concluded her consideration of HIQA's review of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the Mid-West region; if she will announce a decision on...
- Pharmacy Services
241. To ask the Minister for Health the approved list of medications for reimbursement for phased dispensing under the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025; if reimbursement is available to medical...
- Hospital Appointments Status
242. To ask the Minister for Health if it can be ensured that a person (details supplied) is scheduled for treatment at the Brain Injury and Stroke Programme at the National Rehabilitation...
- General Practitioner Services
243. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure GP services are available to residents of Kilcock, County Kildare, given the presence of a primary care centre but lack of GP...
- Health Services
246. To ask the Minister for Health whether there are any supports for women with endometriosis who received treatment privately before the National Endometriosis Framework; and her plans to...
- Hospital Services
248. To ask the Minister for Health if the Government will expand the scheme of medical treatment in Irish hospitals for children from Gaza; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68254/25]
- Hospital Appointments Status
249. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting over nine days in Cavan General Hospital for a scan; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services
250. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department will formally classify endometriosis as a specific, complex chronic disease under the long-term illness scheme or an equivalent support...
- Health Services Waiting Lists
251. To ask the Minister for Health when two children (details supplied) will receive the full respite they were granted over two years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68262/25]
- Primary Care Centres
252. To ask the Minister for Health if she will request the HSE to provide a list of services currently being provided in Terenure health centre; the contact details of the relevant point of...
- Nursing Homes
253. To ask the Minister for Health to urgently investigate the case of a person (details supplied) and assist this family who urgently require suitable nursing home care; and if she will make a...
- Medicinal Products
254. To ask the Minister for Health the progress of licensing the drug luthera, which is required for the treatment of grade 4 neuroendocrine cancer; the expected timeline for approval; and if...
- Health Services
255. To ask the Minister for Health her views on the creation of a non-means tested audiology entitlement for persons born deaf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68281/25]
- Departmental Correspondence
256. To ask the Minister for Health the manner in which a person may engage with her Department regarding a scoping exercise (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Care Services
257. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 343 of 26 November 2025, the date on which she expects the outputs from the National Survey of the Experience of Home...
- Departmental Reviews
258. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the planned review into baby and maternal deaths; if this review has begun; if not, if it will begin before the end of 2025; the timeline for...
- Departmental Projects
262. To ask the Minister for Health the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the delivery of projects...
- Health Service Executive
263. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a reply has not been provided to a HSE representation submitted in June 2025 (details supplied); and if she will assist in obtaining a response from...
- Mortality Rates
266. To ask the Minister for Health the examination and evaluation of the recently published Central Statistics Office figures for medical mortality that are taking place or scheduled to take...
- Traveller Community
267. To ask the Minister for Health the last time the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study was completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68421/25]
- Medical Cards
268. To ask the Minister for Health if she will establish a pathway to ensure that individuals diagnosed with congenital deafness may qualify for a medical card on the basis of their diagnosis...
- Health Services
269. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which the community connect programme will include ethnic minority identifiers and the status of the system configuration phase. [68444/25]
- Departmental Reports
270. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in which he...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Artificial Intelligence
271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the establishment of Ireland’s first AI factory antenna; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Correspondence
272. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to consider the suggestions made in correspondence (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68351/25]
- Departmental Projects
273. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Departmental Reports
274. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research,...
