Written answers
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Human Rights
1. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide details of his engagements with the embassy and government of Bahrain with regard to a human rights defender in custody in that...
- Ukraine War
2. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing construction of a children’s hospital in Ukraine (details supplied); if he will consider...
- Foreign Policy
4. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether the State has recognised any of Northern Cyprus, Kashmir, South Ossetia, Transnistria, or Western Sahara to be "occupied...
- Official Engagements
5. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she has spoken formally with the Dutch ambassador to Ireland since her appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6819/26]
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Environmental Policy
7. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government whether research has been undertaken to assess the anticipated costs to the consumer that will result from the renewable...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Water Pollution
9. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to a small-scale oil slick at a location (details supplied); the actions he will take to ensure that any...
- Road Safety Authority
13. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Gardaí have access to data on the NVDF via their mobility device on whether a disqualified driver surrendered their licence or...
- Taxi Regulations
14. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the cost of the NTA dispatch operator licence is the same for large, corporate taxi apps as it is for individual drivers (details...
- Bus Services
15. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the bus route proposed by the NTA in the Connecting Ireland Mobility Plan, between Nenagh and Clonmel, County Tipperary;...
- Dublin Bus
16. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason that the 33A bus service is frequently cancelled without prior notice on the Transport for Ireland real time information app;...
- Public Transport
17. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the final scheduled bus service from Rush and Lusk train station departs before passengers from the last train service have...
- National Transport Authority
18. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether his Department or the National Transport Authority has considered establishing a dedicated shuttle bus service linking Rush and...
- Bus Services
19. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the 33N night bus service must serve Swords and Dublin Airport despite Swords having access to a separate twenty four hour bus...
- Public Transport
20. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a plan to reduce the number of daily journeys on the M50; the target for daily journeys at the achievement of that plan; the...
- Pension Provisions
21. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the increase of up to 5%, promised in July 2025, will be paid to recipients of the CIÉ pension; and if he will make a statement...
- Rail Network
22. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of all works completed since 2020 and all works planned for the period 2026 to 2030 at all DART stations and platforms on the...
- Departmental Funding
23. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to expedite funding for the main street and footpath through Cahersiveen town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6804/26]
- Rail Network
24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a stop is not being considered in Kilcock, County Kildare under the proposed DART+ Programme; the alternatives that will be...
- Department of Finance
- Vehicle Registration
25. To ask the Minister for Finance the current regulations governing the issuing of vehicle registration plates by motor factors and other suppliers; if controls exist requiring proof of...
- State Assets
26. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that none of the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities will be invested in military or defence focused EFT’s in order to...
- Revenue Commissioners
27. To ask the Minister for Finance if permission will be given to organisations (details supplied) and other funded bodies by the Revenue Commissioners for a stay on the disclosures required by...
- Housing Schemes
28. To ask the Minister for Finance whether his Department will consider increasing the price threshold for the help to buy scheme to match the price ceiling applied to the first home scheme in...
- Tax Data
29. To ask the Minister for Finance if he can examine a taxation matter raised in correspondence (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6884/26]
- Tax Code
30. To ask the Minister for Finance if will consider a grace period, payment plans, or a disregard for the newly discovered liability of income tax accrued by those in receipt of carer's payment...
- Rental Sector
31. To ask the Minister for Finance the additional fiscal supports, the Government is considering addressing concerns expressed by private landlords in advance of forthcoming rental reforms to...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Revenue Commissioners
33. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the capital budget allocation for the Revenue Commissioners in the years 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement...
- Office of Public Works
34. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the Office of Public Works’ engagement in relation to a site (details supplied); the current status of any...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Trade Relations
37. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent of existing economic, trade and investment links between Ireland and a state (details supplied); if he will provide an...
- Industrial Development
38. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies (details supplied) that currently have operations or employment in Ireland; the type and location of these...
- Enterprise Policy
39. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of Irish investment in a location (details supplied), in each of the past five years; the investments supported by...
- Industrial Development
40. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA-supported jobs in each county at the end of 2025, on a county-by-county basis, in tabular form; and if he will make...
- Departmental Bodies
41. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacant posts, by job title, at the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as of 20 January 2026; the estimated...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Special Educational Needs
42. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of an autistic child (details supplied) for whom a school place is not available in September 2026 despite many efforts will be...
- Schools Building Projects
43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding projects (details supplied). [6901/26]
- Special Educational Needs
44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a young child without a special school place (details supplied); the action she will take to ensure...
- Schools Building Projects
47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an extension to a school (details supplied) will be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6668/26]
- Teacher Training
49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to consider creating a required school placement in a special education setting in teacher training courses, that will prepare primary school...
- Education Policy
51. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to change the title of special needs assistant (SNA) in a classroom-to-classroom assistant, given SNAs play a major role in all students...
- School Transport
52. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Bus Éireann will consider extending the upper age limit for school bus drivers from the current cut-off point of 70 years to 75 years or...
- Schools Building Projects
58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the extension and provision of two new SEN classrooms for a school (details supplied); the actions she will take to ensure...
- Educational Disadvantage
62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 487 of 12 November 2025, if the new DEIS strategy has been published; the options now available to a school...
- School Meals Programme
63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will consider developing an educational module to be delivered in conjunction with the Hot School Meals programme (details...
- School Transport
64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a request will be considered for school transport for a person in County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- School Funding
65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether any funding streams exist to address a matter at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6796/26]
- School Staff
66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if guidance can be provided to schools with regard to assignment of teachers to the coordination of special classes; if her Department can provide...
- School Admissions
67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide records in relation to the number of times section 37a of the Schools Admissions Act 2018 has been enforced; and if she will make a...
- Home Schooling
68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason her Department has made the provision of home tuition conditional on a student having a psychological report done within the previous...
- Special Educational Needs
69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given to instructing the NCSE to provide a county-by-county breakdown of special class numbers, separated into primary...
- National Council for Special Education
72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons the NCSE does not provide figures in relation to the number of students in post-primary schools who have a recommendation of requiring...
- Teacher Training
73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if specific continuous personal development training is available on a specific area (details supplied); if her Department has plans to introduce...
- Departmental Correspondence
74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to address matters raised in correspondence (detailed supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6834/26]
- School Accommodation
76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application under the additional accommodation scheme, submitted in May 2025 by a school (details supplied) for the fit-out of a...
- School Transport
77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans to abolish the ‘nearest school’ rule for school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6897/26]
- Special Educational Needs
78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special school places in each primary and secondary school in Dublin 2, 4 and 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- School Funding
79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that adequate and safe working and learning conditions are not provided for all members of the school community in a Limerick...
- School Enrolments
80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will take action to ensure there is an appropriate school place for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- School Accommodation
81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether a lease agreement is currently in place for the prefabs at a school (details supplied); the cost which has been incurred by her Department...
- Department of Culture, Communications and Sport
- Pension Provisions
84. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport when An Post pensioners, will receive their delayed since September 2025 payment; the reasons for the delay; and if he will...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Rental Sector
86. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the research or evidence he has that demonstrates than an increase in high-cost private rental accommodation will, over time,...
- Housing Provision
87. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the new developer provided infrastructure proposal for private residential developments of 40 or less homes will be...
- Property Management Companies
88. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to prohibit the charging of fees for the provision of a reference from a landlord or property management company; and...
- Renewable Energy Generation
89. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider offering interest free loans to local authorities to allow for the installation of solar panels on local...
- Vacant Properties
90. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applicants and amount granted in vacant property refurbishment grants, by county, since the scheme launched to...
- Departmental Schemes
91. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applicants and amount granted in vacant above the shop grants, by county, since the scheme launched to date in...
- Homeless Persons Supports
93. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when a 2026 allocation for acquisitions to prevent homelessness will be made by his Department to Westmeath County Council....
- Housing Schemes
94. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason the price ceiling for the first home scheme has increased by €25,000, while the help-to-buy scheme price...
- Rented Dwellings Register
95. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether data protection and GDPR considerations have been fully addressed in the development of the proposed rent register; the...
- Housing Policy
96. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider allowing local authorities to include attic conversions in their own social housing stock to meet the needs...
- Vacant Properties
97. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the new Department circular concerning the vacant home grant will be amended to allow companies to apply for the grant, as...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- School Meals Programme
98. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the next steps a school (details supplied) should take to access the hot school meals scheme, once it has agreed contractors...
- Departmental Data
99. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of financial support under the Temporary Protection Directive; and if he will make...
- International Protection
100. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of financial support under the international protection system; and if he will...
- Social Welfare Fraud
101. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of fraud cases with social protection payments detected in each of the past five years. [6636/26]
- Departmental Data
103. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the mechanisms in place to ensure that recipients of social welfare are still residing here full-time. [6638/26]
- Pension Provisions
105. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to publish the operational guidelines for the auto-enrolment scheme. [6655/26]
- Departmental Correspondence
113. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will address important matters raised in correspondence from a person in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he...
- Social Welfare Benefits
114. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to implement the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands 2024...
- Pension Provisions
115. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether a person who has had to leave the paid workforce with fewer than 520 paid contributions to become a carer would be...
- Social Welfare Payments
117. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if appeal payments can be accelerated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6783/26]
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Driver Licences
118. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to correspondence (details supplied) confirming that Gardaí now have full access to the NVDF on their mobility...
- Courts Service
120. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way the current court fees regime (S.I. No. 492 of 2014) aligns with the State’s obligation to ensure effective...
- Asylum Applications
122. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider exercising his discretionary powers to grant leave to remain to an asylum applicant (details supplied) on...
- Direct Provision System
123. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality regarding letters issued to people residing in direct provision centres giving them dates by which they have to leave or be...
- Student Visas
124. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of stamp 2 student visas issued in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6824/26]
- An Garda Síochána
125. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to publish the guidelines issued to members of An Garda Síochána in relation to the operation and use...
- International Protection
131. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding any further plans for the development of IPAS centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Agriculture Industry
151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will reply substantively and in detail to a request and concerns raised in correspondence by a person (details...
- Horse Racing Industry
155. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized under the Control Of Horses Act 1996, per county, in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and...
- Department of Children, Disability and Equality
- Health Service Executive
159. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to establish with the HSE the number of current vacancies waiting to be filled with the Louth adult intellectual disability...
- Domestic Violence
160. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in cases in which an employee is on leave from their role as a result of domestic...
- Health Service Executive
161. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the funding situation in terms of pay parity with HSE equivalents and proper funding generally for section...
- Assisted Decision-Making
162. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the length of time it is taking the Decision Support Service to process enduring power of attorney applications; when an application...
- Childcare Services
163. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there is a scheme for grandparents who are minding their grandchildren due to lack of spaces in creches (details supplied); and...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
167. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare providers in County Louth signed up to Government core funding scheme in each of the...
- Health Services Staff
176. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTEs assigned to CDNT8, Chamber House in CHO7 each year since the formation of the team; and the number of those posts...
- Childcare Services
177. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the process by which a childcare facility would apply to be acquired by the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services Staff
178. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTEs assigned to CDNT8 Chamber House in CHO7 each year since the formation of the team; and the number of those posts...
- Disability Services
179. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE physiotherapist posts, by grade, filled within Disability Services in CHO8 as of 20 January 2026, in tabular form;...
- Department of Health
- Health Services Staff
181. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of occupational therapists in County Meath for the period 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Correspondence
183. To ask the Minister for Health to give attention to an issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6654/26]
- Medicinal Products
184. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the new framework agreements on the pricing and supply of medicines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6669/26]
- Health Service Executive
185. To ask the Minister for Health the budget which has been provided to a group (details supplied) for 2026 from the HSE; the difference in funding from 2025 and 2024; and if she will make a...
- Vaccination Programme
186. To ask the Minister for Health if she plans to continue the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme into the future; the way in which the ongoing review by the Health...
- Medical Cards
187. To ask the Minister for Health if she will increase the qualifying income limits for a medical card in respect of those over 70 years, as these limits have not been increased since 2020 with...
- Health Screening Programmes
189. To ask the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the full implementation of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy, following the recommendation of the National Screening...
- Health Services Staff
191. To ask the Minister for Health if, as a result of understaffing in public health nurse services in Dublin, follow-up checks on infants at three months and at nine to 11 months are not being...
- Health Service Executive
193. To ask the Minister for Health if she, her Department, or the Health Service Executive is aware of complaints by a person (details supplied) in relation to understaffing of public health...
- Health Services
194. To ask the Minister for Health if an appointment for surgery will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [6767/26]
- Disabilities Assessments
195. To ask the Minister for Health the supports or services available to persons seeking an assessment for autism in County Louth born before 1 June 2002; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Funding
196. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department has considered the funding of pilot programmes to support volunteer-led or volunteer-supported initiatives within dementia care; and if she...
- Health Services
197. To ask the Minister for Health the primary service provider that a person should attend with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) arising from sensory issues; and if, in the...
- Health Services Staff
198. To ask the Minister for Health the current number of occupational therapists in CAMHS in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6788/26]
- Hospital Overcrowding
199. To ask the Minister for Health if she will address the overcrowding in the accident and emergency department, and the trolley crisis, at University Hospital Kerry as a matter of priority by...
- Medicinal Products
200. To ask the Minister for Health the expenditure cost under the community drug scheme for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors with associated systems for each of the years 2023, 2024...
- Regulatory Bodies
201. To ask the Minister for Health if she will sanction a HIQA review on the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitoring for type 2 diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Reports
202. To ask the Minister for Health when she will launch the ‘Diabetes Services and Policy Review’ report; if new funding will be made available to implement its recommendations;...
- Health Services Staff
203. To ask the Minister for Health which of the new eating disorder teams that are being set up will cover the children of Westmeath. [6795/26]
- Women's Health
204. To ask the Minister for Health the measures being taken to improve diagnosis times, treatment pathways, and specialist supports for women with endometriosis; the steps planned to expand...
- National Treatment Purchase Fund
205. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can be considered under the National Treatment Purchase Fund. [6801/26]
- Hospital Services
206. To ask the Minister for Health to provide details on the services currently provided for adult patients with epilepsy at University Hospital Waterford; the number and grade of staff that are...
- Departmental Funding
207. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the funding situation in terms of pay parity with HSE equivalents and proper funding generally for section 39 organisations, including...
- Hospital Appointments Status
208. To ask the Minister for Health if she will assist in the provision of an appointment for an urgent surgical procedure for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- Addiction Treatment Services
209. To ask the Minister for Health the current provision of staffing in the HSE substance misuse services in Louth; the locations in which clinics or drop-in services operate, and their...
- Hospital Staff
210. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacant consultant posts, by speciality, currently at CHI Temple Street; when each of those consultant posts, by speciality, will be filled, in...
- Official Engagements
211. To ask the Minister for Health the dates in 2025 when she visited Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; the purpose of each visit, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Mental Health Services
212. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE senior counselling psychologist posts filled within CHO8 Mental Health Services in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on...
- Hospital Services
213. To ask the Minister for Health the hospitals that currently use pathfinder services; the hours the service is available, per hospital, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on...
- Hospital Staff
214. To ask the Minister for Health when a psychologist will be in place at St Mary's Mental Health services in Thurles following the departure of a psychologist last year; and if she will make a...
- Medical Cards
215. To ask the Minister for Health the number of ophthalmologists, optometrists and dispensing opticians providing services to medical card patients under the community ophthalmic services...
- Departmental Investigations
216. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the planned statutory inquiry into the care of children with spina bifida and complex scoliosis in Children’s Health Ireland;...
- Medicinal Products
217. To ask the Minister for Health if a new agreement with respect to the pricing and supply of medicines contains any provisions which would see the procurement and use of pharmaceuticals...
- Departmental Reviews
218. To ask the Minister for Health the status of each of the recommendations from the National Review of Adult Specialist Cardiac Services in Ireland; the work carried to date in implementing...
- Healthcare Policy
219. To ask the Minister for Health if she plans to develop a new national cardiovascular health plan following publication of the EU’s Safe Hearts Plan; and if she will make a statement...
- Departmental Reviews
220. To ask the Minister for Health the status of her Department’s review of the Primary Care Centre Programme; the aims of this review; if work has commenced; the timeline she is working...
- Primary Care Centres
221. To ask the Minister for Health if the primary health care centre in Arklow has been leased to the HSE for a 30-year period (details supplied); the process by which primary care providers may...
- Health Services Waiting Lists
222. To ask the Minister for Health he process that is in place to support a woman with a high-risk pregnancy who cannot access a GP due to closed waiting lists; how such an individual can access...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
223. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list in Naas Hospital, County Kildare from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Education and Skills
- Education and Training Provision
225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are free training courses for forklift licenses; if there are arrangements with employers that may permit trainees to obtain free...
- Youth Services
226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on discussions regarding the alignment of the Youthreach calendar year with the second level calendar year; and if he will make a...
- Student Accommodation
227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in Kerry in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form; and if he will...
- Apprenticeship Programmes
228. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentice registrations across all trades from 2020 to 2025, broken down by county, in tabular form. [6809/26]
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Departmental Schemes
230. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the local improvement scheme will be open for applications in 2026; the anticipated timeline for the announcement of funding...
- Departmental Funding
232. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if counties such as Kerry will receive additional LEADER funding than those counties that have underspent their allocation...
- Rural Schemes
233. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to expedite, and give a detailed progress report in respect of, the rural regeneration scheme for Cahersiveen town in County...
