Written answers

Thursday, 23 April 2026

  • Department of Education and Skills
    • Special Educational Needs
      9. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils assessed as requiring special needs assistant support who did not have that support in place at the commencement of the school...
    • School Accommodation
      13. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of schools that now have solar panels on their roofs; the plans to increase this; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Schools Building Projects
      14. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the capital works for a school (details supplied) which has been waiting on ASD classrooms, a sensory room and a general...
    • School Curriculum
      15. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make the national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann a mandatory part of the primary school curriculum; and if she will make a statement...
    • School Transport
      17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional transport to school routes will be considered for Cork east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29171/26]
    • School Staff
      20. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to ensure the stability of special needs assistant allocations in County Clare following the distress caused to schools,...
    • School Funding
      23. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to urgently allow for further funding to schools in Kerry for urgent building repair works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28995/26]
    • Schools Building Projects
      24. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the school building projects for a number of schools in Dublin mid-west (details supplied). [28459/26]
    • Educational Disadvantage
      26. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills given the criteria that has been published for DEIS Plus, the reasoning schools (details supplied) did not qualify for this new scheme; and if she...
    • Teacher Training
      27. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans to provide further training to teachers working with vision impaired pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29027/26]
    • School Accommodation
      28. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on plans to develop new accommodation at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Schools Building Projects
      29. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the planned capital project for a school (details supplied). [29012/26]
    • Education Policy
      30. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if further progress has been made to date in developing a model for smaller schools that, due to their size, do not meet the threshold of six...
    • Special Educational Needs
      31. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the rollout of special classes. [29163/26]
    • Schools Building Projects
      33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will give an update on the application for extra facilities at a school (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Special Educational Needs
      36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the rollout of special classes in Cork east. [29170/26]
    • Mental Health Services
      37. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement her Department has had with a project (details supplied); if she will have a meeting with the group; and if she will make a...
    • Disabilities Assessments
      38. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made to create an alternative to the assessment of needs reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28204/26]
    • School Staff
      39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the SNA redeployment scheme, workforce development plan and review of the 2014 circular; and if she will make a statement...
    • Educational Disadvantage
      40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process for a school to appeal a negative decision in relation to applications for DEIS status. [28419/26]
    • Schools Building Projects
      41. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the revised stage 2A submission for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied); the reason the project has not...
    • Youth Services
      42. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions she is taking to strengthen the local youth club grant scheme, as per the commitment in the Programme for Government; the number of...
    • Schools Building Projects
      43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when national schools in Galway east, including Dunmore and Carrabane among others, can expect their approved building projects to break ground,...
    • Education Costs
      44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her proposals to address the increased costs borne by parents putting through primary and secondary education in the 2026-2027 academic year....
    • School Staff
      45. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to clearly outline where the €19 million for additional SNA’s will come from to allow the current SNA’s remain in their...
    • Schools Building Projects
      46. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the three secondary schools in west Wicklow (details supplied) that are awaiting building projects to proceed; and if she will...
    • Special Educational Needs
      47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify the working definition used by her Department for the term ‘inclusion’ and for the term ‘complex needs...
    • School Transport
      48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the school transport pilot scheme; the number of schools included in the scheme for the 2025/2026 academic year; if there...
    • School Accommodation
      49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the exact date of her visit to a school (details supplied) to view the unacceptable conditions for the children, teachers, and staff at the school...
    • Education Schemes
      50. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether all schools included on the therapist pilot programme will retain therapists going forward. [28235/26]
    • Special Educational Needs
      51. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the provision of special classes in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28167/26]
    • School Curriculum
      52. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to consider introducing AI literacy classes in secondary schools, that will include age-appropriate, curriculum aligned modules at both junior and...
    • School Staff
      53. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the progress being made to agree a new framework for SNAs in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Schools Building Projects
      54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29073/26]
    • Special Educational Needs
      55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views that all the special classes sanctioned for September 2026 will be delivered; if lessons have been learned from the failure to deliver...
    • Commemorative Events
      56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will arrange for her Department to send a framed copy of the 1916 Proclamation to all primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a...
    • School Admissions
      57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department ascertained the number of school places that are available for September in the Portlaoise area at both primary and secondary...
    • Educational Disadvantage
      58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports to be made available to DEIS PLUS schools. [29162/26]
    • Youth Services
      59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department is aware that funding for an organisation (details supplied) has not kept pace with inflation and has only recently returned to...
    • School Funding
      60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her proposals to ensure that primary and secondary schools are adequately funded in the 2026-2027 academic year. [29129/26]
    • Schools Building Projects
      61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of proposals to acquire lands adjacent to a school (details supplied); to confirm whether her Department is engaged in...
    • School Staff
      63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend circular 0030/2014 in line with the alternative circular proposed by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a...
    • State Examinations
      64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision to reinstitute a charge in relation to the junior and leaving certificates. [28420/26]
    • Schools Building Projects
      65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the length of time it will take to complete the designs and full cost planning for the three-school campus in Celbridge to ensure...
    • Special Educational Needs
      66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to fully outline the rationale behind the opening of the special classes/hubs in mainstream schools, which will now allow schools enrol up to 12...
    • Schools Building Projects
      67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the progression to construction of a new school building (details supplied); the current status of the tender assessment process;...
    • School Admissions
      69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the work that has been undertaken to ensure that all children of school going age living within a school catchment area will have access to a...
    • Special Educational Needs
      71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the policy rationale for the introduction of a new category of ‘inclusive special class’; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • State Examinations
      72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the mechanisms in place for families and students that are not able to afford the State exam fees for 2026; and if she will...
    • Special Educational Needs
      73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how the application process for special education teaching hours is administered by her Department, including how allocations to individual...
    • School Staff
      77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to address the precarious employment conditions facing newly qualified teachers; her views on the current contractual...
    • Schools Building Projects
      78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available to a school (details supplied) to progress necessary roof works now assessed as being beyond further patch repair,...
    • School Staff
      79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the current method of teacher allocation for primary schools, given that allocations are based on the previous year’s...
    • Departmental Schemes
      80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps her Department is taking to address period poverty; if she will introduce a scheme to provide free period products in all schools,...
    • Disabilities Assessments
      81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for changes to the assessment of need process to access special education places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27854/26]
    • Schools Building Projects
      82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will visit a school (details supplied) to view the unacceptable conditions for the children, teachers and staff at the school and to advise...
    • Teaching Qualifications
      83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will instigate a review of the Teaching Council’s Registration routes and open a public consultation for feedback from teaching...
    • Special Educational Needs
      84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which her Department is coordinating with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to ensure sufficient school places and...
    • Schools Building Projects
      86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the status of the capital project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28745/26]
    • School Staff
      87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the declaration form in Appendix 1 of Circulars 0037/2026 and 0038/2026 requires teachers to declare union affiliation as a condition...
    • Schools Building Projects
      88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the new school building (details supplied); and the reason the design team have not heard back from her Department since May...
    • Special Educational Needs
      90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the Dublin 15 Special Education Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29033/26]
    • Schools Amalgamation
      91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the proposed amalgamation of schools (details supplied); the current status of discussions with the respective school...
    • Planning Issues
      93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any plans, proposals, or considerations to establish an Educate Together primary school in Dundalk, County Louth, given the growing...
    • Schools Building Projects
      94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be provided for new school buildings (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28992/26]
    • Planning Issues
      95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures in place within her Department that ensures that significant population growth in an area is matched with additional school...
    • School Transport
      96. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current school transport funding provisions for special schools in County Mayo; if she will conduct a funding review to identify any gaps that...
    • Educational Disadvantage
      97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to explain the rationale for Drogheda, the largest town in the country, being overlooked for investment under the new DEIS plus scheme despite...
    • Schools Building Projects
      98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the time spent at each stage of the delivery process for projects under the school building programme; and if she will make a...
    • Special Educational Needs
      99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in north Kildare that are on a waiting list for a local primary ASD place; whether forward planning for ASD provision is...
    • Educational Disadvantage
      100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the criteria for the allocation of DEIS + status, if another round of DEIS+ allocations will be announced; and if she will...
    • Special Educational Needs
      101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on special education provision in Dublin mid-west, including new builds and extensions in mainstream settings; and if she will make...
    • Educational Disadvantage
      102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has reviewed DEIS eligibility for schools in Mayo experiencing disadvantage but not currently included in the programme; the...
    • Departmental Inquiries
      103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether the Interdepartmental Group established to examine historic child sexual abuse in primary and secondary schools has completed its work;...
    • School Staff
      104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the application for an extra teacher for a school (details supplied); and an application for an extra classroom for another school....
    • School Meals Programme
      105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a pathway for a school in Drogheda (details supplied) to retain their current model for hot school meals and ensure they are...
    • State Examinations
      106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the recent reintroduction of State examination fees for leaving certificate and junior cycle students in light of ongoing...
    • School Transport
      107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase capacity on school transport to meet demand/need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27850/26]
    • Special Educational Needs
      108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the response of her Department to concerns raised by disability organisations regarding the rollout of new inclusive special classes for the...
    • Schools Building Projects
      110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a new build (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27849/26]
    • Special Educational Needs
      111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to establish another special school in east Cork, specifically between Carrigtwohill and Youghal; and if she will make a statement on...
    • Educational Disadvantage
      112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans she has to overhaul the criteria used to determine DEIS status for primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on...
    • School Funding
      113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered introducing a mechanism to cover the cost of a consultant’s examination in advance of EWS support; and if she will...
    • Educational Disadvantage
      114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to the Parliamentary Question No. 1345 of 14 April 2026, in reference to the criteria for DEIS Plus, the numerical threshold in each of...
    • Special Educational Needs
      115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the early intervention supports in place for children with dyslexia in classroom settings; when they will be reviewed; and if she will make a...
    • Schools Building Projects
      116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the redevelopment of a college (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29002/26]
    • School Staff
      117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will immediately reinstate the 2.5 SNAs cut from a school (details supplied). [14307/26]
    • Schools Building Projects
      118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update in relation to a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29068/26]
    • School Enrolments
      119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children attending primary school in 2025/2026 in classes of 30 or more children; the number attending in classes of 29 or less;...
  • Department of Children, Disability and Equality
    • Childcare Services
      125. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will examine the dependence on for-profit provision of childcare in delivering childcare; if she will take steps to increase...
    • Disability Services
      126. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for residential respite care for children and young people with disabilities in...
    • Disabilities Assessments
      133. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on waiting lists for assessment of needs in Dublin Mid-West; the average waiting times for assessments in the...
    • Childcare Services
      135. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will take steps to deal with the issue of unused childcare facilities in private residential developments; and if she will...
    • Disability Services
      136. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is satisfied with the delivery of the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026, considering significantly lower levels...
    • Childcare Services
      138. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the building blocks scheme will open for applications in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29097/26]
    • Disability Services
      139. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions being taken to address the issues raised by a group (details supplied) concerning ageing parents who continue to provide...
    • Childcare Services
      140. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if amendments to the national childcare scheme subsidy are being considered to allow parents flexibility in collecting children from...
    • Disability Services
      141. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if equine therapy facilities will be developed at the HSE’s Toghermore campus in Tuam, County Galway; and if she will make a...
    • Early Childhood Care and Education
      142. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and care facilities built as part of large developments that are not utilised for that purpose in...
    • Childcare Services
      143. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on the progress her Department has made in updating the National Childcare Scheme website to include historical fees of...
    • Disability Services
      146. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the status and number of operational respite beds for children with disabilities in Cork; and if she will make a...
    • Artificial Intelligence
      148. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department's use of artificial intelligence in developing policy materials and responding to parliamentary questions. [28591/26]
    • Childcare Services
      149. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures she will take to increase pay and improve conditions for workers in childcare; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Disabilities Assessments
      150. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on assessments of need waiting lists in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28426/26]
    • Childcare Services
      151. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has overspent on the research and development project on a National Childcare Agency; and if she will outline...
    • International Protection
      153. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the mechanism by which it is ensured that unaccompanied minors seeking international protection are not accommodated alongside those...
    • Disability Services
      154. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how her Department is working with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Health, as well as...
    • Childcare Services
      156. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is progressing a plan to provide State-run childcare. [29154/26]
    • Disability Services
      157. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to explain the difference in early years disability support funding between CHO8 Louth/Meath and CHO1 Cavan/Monaghan, particularly...
    • Health Services
      160. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the engagement her Department has had with the Department of Health on the proposed implementation of the single point of access...
    • Disability Services
      161. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made on the issues raised by a group (details supplied) since meeting with the group in January 2026; and if she will...
    • Childcare Services
      162. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a review into childminding regulations will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28750/26]
    • Early Childhood Care and Education
      163. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the review of the 2001 planning guidelines for local authorities on early learning and childcare settings, in order...
    • Employment Support Services
      166. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the action she has taken to improve supports for disabled entrepreneurs and self-employed people. [28233/26]
    • Childcare Services
      167. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the measures being taken to reduce the administrative burden on childcare providers; and if she will make a...
    • Early Childhood Care and Education
      169. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on her engagement regarding possible charges of commercial rates to childminders and ECCE providers; and if she...
    • Childcare Services
      170. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to consider Dublin 15 in the first round of projects under the State-led childcare programme; and if she will make a statement on...
    • Early Childhood Care and Education
      172. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on developing State-led early learning and childcare facilities; the number of project proposals...
    • Disabilities Assessments
      173. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is aware that there is currently a 36 month waiting list for assessment of need in Cork. [28234/26]
    • Childcare Services
      174. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the application by Glanmire, County Cork to the recently announced public childcare fund; and if...
    • Disability Services
      176. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress that has been made on recruiting speech therapists for children with disabilities in Laois; the number of these posts...
    • Childcare Services
      179. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress on the evaluation framework for Core Funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29166/26]
    • Child and Family Agency
      181. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether it is Government policy to phase out, regularise, or continue the use of unregulated special emergency arrangements by...
    • Childcare Services
      182. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding developments towards reaching the commitment to reducing childcare costs to €200 per child, per month,...
    • Disability Services
      183. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will report on the current funding model for disability support groups (details supplied) in relation to the home support...
    • Children in Care
      187. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on her engagement to date with the Irish Foster Care Association; and if she will outline the work her Department has done...
    • Disability Services
      188. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to identify health regions where significant discrepancies in staffing exists between CDNTs; and the recruitment steps she will take...
    • Child and Family Agency
      190. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of complaints made directly by children to Tusla in each of the past five years; the categories of complaints received;...
    • Disability Services
      191. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of additional residential placements for persons with intellectual disabilities that are planned or in development by the...
    • Child and Family Agency
      192. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of allegations or reports of abuse made by or on behalf of children while in the care of Tusla in each of the past five...
    • Early Childhood Care and Education
      194. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to deliver State-led early learning and childcare facilities; if there are specific proposals in County Meath, given the...
    • Disability Services
      195. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if approval has been given to recruit occupational therapists for paediatrics and younger persons with disabilities in Laois; the...
    • Childcare Services
      196. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if childcare costs will be reduced in light of the worsening cost of living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Disabilities Assessments
      197. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in Cavan and Monaghan that received an assessment of need within the statutory timeframe in the years 2024 to...
    • An Ghaeltacht
      199. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoi na deacrachtaí éagsúla a bhaineann le hearcú foirne le haghaidh cúram...
    • Childcare Services
      200. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the work her Department is undertaking to deliver accessible and affordable community childcare for families living in north County...
    • Early Childhood Care and Education
      201. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if priority will be given to sites with plenty of open space for the purchase of premises for State-led early years facilities; and...
    • Childcare Services
      202. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will examine the way to make the large number of unused childcare facilities built as part of housing developments...
    • Departmental Strategies
      204. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on progress in implementing the key commitments set out in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled...
    • Disability Services
      205. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the waiting list in each area for residential care places for adults with disabilities; the average waiting times; and the plan in...
    • Child and Family Agency
      206. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the number of Tusla staff who resigned, retired, or otherwise left employment, broken down by grade, for each year from...
    • Childcare Services
      207. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures she will take to address the issue of staff turnover in childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Disability Services
      209. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on CDNT waiting lists for assessments and therapies in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • Student Accommodation
      210. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide greater legal protections to students living in digs accommodation as more and more students find themselves in this situation...
    • Education and Training Boards
      212. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm that there will be no job losses or loss of courses/classes in education training boards due to changes in the tendering process; the...
    • Departmental Data
      213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department collects or monitors data on the rate of youth emigration; the number of post-graduates who remain in the country after...
    • Education Policy
      214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding his work to make higher education and higher education institutions more accessible for those coming from communities with...
    • Student Accommodation
      215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the way his student accommodation plan will address the question of affordability in the short and medium term to relieve...
    • Departmental Data
      216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which his Department plans to address construction labour force shortfalls and the impact that will have on housing delivery; if he...
    • Student Accommodation
      218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current and projected demand for student accommodation in the Dublin region, as identified by his Department and higher education...
    • Further and Higher Education
      224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline what the fund for students with disabilities covers; the amount that is allocated to each category across all FETs; the amount that is...
    • Third Level Fees
      225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether he has engaged with the Minister for Finance regarding the cost of college fees; the consideration being given, in the context of Budget...
    • Student Accommodation
      226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the implications of a recent decision (details supplied); if the cost of construction is the barrier to the delivery of affordable student...
    • Sudden Infant Deaths
      227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on student accommodation in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29000/26]
    • Student Accommodation
      230. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the recently published National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026-2035; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Further and Higher Education
      231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being taken to address projected construction-sector labour shortages over the coming years, in order to ensure that national...
    • Third Level Costs
      232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to make the cost of third level education more affordable for families. [22103/26]
    • Student Accommodation
      233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase delivery of student accommodation in Thurles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22077/26]
    • Apprenticeship Programmes
      234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in expanding apprenticeship programmes beyond traditional sectors; the targets set for new apprenticeship registrations over...
    • Further and Higher Education
      235. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to consider introducing additional educational supports for learners with special educational needs within Youthreach; and if he will make a...
    • Student Accommodation
      236. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide greater legal protections to students living in digs accommodation as more students find themselves in this situation (details...
    • Further and Higher Education
      237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement that has taken place between his Department and the Department of Health regarding workforce planning for speech and language...
    • Artificial Intelligence
      238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has concerns about negative impacts of AI on further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20375/26]
    • Medical Cards
      239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has engaged with the Department of Health regarding a universal GP visit card for third-level students in order that more...
    • Third Level Admissions
      240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action that will be taken to increase the percentage of places available on the dental training course in UCC given that less than half are...
    • Further and Higher Education
      242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the next phase of the development of the College of the Future project at a location (details supplied) which was...
    • Apprenticeship Programmes
      243. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures being taken to address the ongoing apprenticeship in-class training delays; the number of dropout rates in apprenticeship programmes...
    • Departmental Strategies
      244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to address skills shortages identified in the National Skills Strategy, particularly in the areas of green technologies and...
    • Apprenticeship Programmes
      245. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to increase the accessibility of apprenticeships to the Traveller community; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Research Funding
      246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has sought, or will seek, clarification from Research Ireland regarding the rationale behind the decision to discontinue the Government of...
    • Education Policy
      247. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the imminent loss of employment facing a number of adult educators in east Galway, despite ongoing learner demand and...
    • Research Funding
      248. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount being spent on STEM for the coming academic year in all third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22014/26]
    • Student Accommodation
      249. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline any plans to increase student grants and stipends to meet increasing accommodation costs; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Technological Universities
      250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on progress of the SETU Wexford campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22121/26]
    • Student Accommodation
      252. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his proposals to ensure adequate provision of accommodation for students. [29146/26]
    • Third Level Costs
      253. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans he has to reduce costs for students in light of the affordability crisis they are facing; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Student Accommodation
      254. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of additional student accommodation and costing strategy to ensure that it is affordable for families,...
    • Third Level Admissions
      256. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has carried out any analysis of university courses in which maximum Leaving Certificate points did not guarantee admission due...
    • Further and Higher Education
      257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the establishment of the National Skills Observatory committed to in the National Digital and AI Strategy; and if he will make a...
    • Apprenticeship Programmes
      258. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the work of his Department in establishing new apprenticeships. [29115/26]
    • Further and Higher Education
      260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected number of additional training places planned between 2026 and 2027 and 2027 and 2028 for speech and language therapy, occupational...
    • Student Accommodation
      261. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the new student accommodation strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22097/26]
    • Departmental Data
      262. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department collects or monitors data on the rate of youth emigration; the number of post-graduates who remain in the country after...
    • Student Accommodation
      263. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will remove the barriers that prevent technological universities such a university (details supplied) from building student accommodation;...
    • Education and Training Boards
      264. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm that there will be no job losses or loss of courses/classes in education training boards due to changes in the tendering process; how...
    • Student Accommodation
      265. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on his Department’s work in implementing the national student accommodation strategy. [29114/26]
    • Departmental Strategies
      266. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an outline of the key measures in the Careers in Construction Action Plan that will promote housing construction; and if he will make...
    • Third Level Education
      267. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the necessary funding will be provided to the dental school in UCC who have submitted proposed to the Department for the expansion of their...
    • Further and Higher Education
      270. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding allocated to each institution as part of the Fund for Students with Disabilities in each of the years 2014 to 2025 and to...
    • Student Accommodation
      271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made to address the chronic shortage of accommodation for students in Limerick. [29047/26]
    • Further and Higher Education
      273. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to his comments (details supplied) in relation to courses where there would be two students present and a class of 100 on the roll and...
    • Student Accommodation
      274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the number of student beds in Munster. [22104/26]
    • Apprenticeship Programmes
      275. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the work his Department is doing to expand the number of young people opting to take up an apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Artificial Intelligence
      276. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the grant agreement for Ireland’s first AI factory antenna has been signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22068/26]
    • Education and Training Boards
      277. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale for removing the ringfenced allocation of €20 million for the provision of English language classes (ESOL) across the ETB...
    • Job Creation
      278. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is working alongside multinationals and universities to enable job growth for graduating students; and if he will make a...
    • Third Level Fees
      279. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of third level fees in each of the years 2024, 2025, 2026; his plans to reduce fees; and the timeframe in which such will be delivered....
    • Further and Higher Education
      280. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reinstate and develop in-person courses on the Clermont Campus in Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22111/26]
    • Student Accommodation
      281. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has engaged with the Minister for Transport on the question of student commutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22088/26]
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    • Passport Services
      282. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the Passport Service does not recognise the Irish language when on photographic ID, required for passport application, where the...
    • Consular Services
      283. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the State has advocated for a person in Germany (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29406/26]
  • Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
    • Electricity Grid
      293. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the work and progress of the Future Grid Working Group established in 2024; including its terms of reference, the...
  • Department of Defence
    • Defence Forces
      294. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to ensure that the Defence Forces are adequately staffed and resourced to meet current and emerging security challenges;...
    • Cybersecurity Policy
      298. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures in place to enhance cybersecurity and protect critical national infrastructure from emerging threats, including any role envisaged...
    • Air Corps
      299. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence whether her Department maintains aggregated, non-operationally sensitive performance metrics relating to aircraft availability rates within the...
    • Departmental Data
      309. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if she will provide a schedule of the number and summary of the Aid to the Civil Power requests her Department has received in the past ten...
  • Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
    • National Transport Authority
      310. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to audit the number of Dublin Bus passenger vehicles parked in Monaghan as back up to the electric fleet, instruct the National Transport...
    • Road Safety
      311. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he will take to improve road safety given the increase in road deaths in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • National Car Test
      312. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the methodology in how NCT waiting times are calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29280/26]
    • Road Network
      313. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to consider the introduction of a direct route between Blanchardstown and Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Rail Network
      314. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to consider the introduction of a DART for the Castleknock line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29337/26]
    • Driver Licences
      315. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) must return to Canada with a valid visa to remove the 'on hold' status from their Canadian driving...
    • Road Projects
      316. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for a detailed progress report in regard to the Killarney bypass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29425/26]
    • Bus Services
      317. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to request the National Transport Authority to urgently provide the necessary funding to Local Link Kerry to provide a new service to...
    • Rail Network
      319. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address the concerns of commuters regarding the lack of car parking at a train station (details supplied); and if he will make...
    • Driver Test
      320. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions being taken to reduce driving test waiting times across the State; his views that current waiting times of over 15 weeks in...
    • Driver Licences
      322. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to confirm that learner permit holders who are on their second permit on 1 November 2026 must sit a driver test before they can obtain a...
    • Transport Infrastructure Ireland
      323. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures his Department is taking to facilitate multimodal travel during peak times, including bike-train journeys; and if he will...
    • Taxi Licences
      324. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to having CCTV installed in taxis in the interest of passenger and driver safety; and if he will make a...
    • Legislative Measures
      325. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether existing legislation is sufficient to address specific concerns related to sulky racing on public roads; and if he...
    • Driver Licences
      327. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of learner permit holders who failed to show up for their scheduled driving test appointment in February and March 2026, by...
    • National Transport Authority
      328. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide details on the administrative error by the National Transport Authority in relation to a scheme (details supplied); the total...
  • Department of Finance
    • Fuel Sales
      330. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide the full parameters and process that is necessary to achieve fuel rebates that have been recently announced. [29309/26]
    • Tax Yield
      331. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of tax audits that have been carried out by the State on businesses and citizens for each of the past ten years. [29351/26]
    • Central Bank of Ireland
      332. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline his Department's view of the Central Bank's substantially higher surplus projections; and how he can, in light of these projections, justify not...
    • Tax Reliefs
      333. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider the maximum removal of excise home heating oil given the fact that home heating oil hit its highest price on record; and if he will make a...
    • Banking Sector
      334. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline the rationale for selling PTSB; and the safeguards that will be in place to protect jobs and the bank branch network; and if he will make a...
    • Tax Reliefs
      335. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to extending the Flat Rate Expenses (FRE) allowance to paramedics and EMT’s for uniform related tax relief; and if he...
    • Tax Data
      337. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of tax revenue recouped annually by the Exchequer from carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit payments, including the impact of the...
    • Fuel Prices
      339. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will urgently announce a simplified version of the measures taken to address the fuel crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29428/26]
    • Departmental Data
      340. To ask the Minister for Finance the total amount collected in VAT from online casinos for each of the years 2020 to 2025 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29499/26]
  • Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
    • Departmental Staff
      342. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Unit for Forward Planning; if the staffing of the unit includes redeployment of staff or recruitment of new staff;...
    • Pension Provisions
      343. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform whether his Department has received a proposal from an organisation (details supplied) regarding pension increases; and if so, to...
    • Legislative Programme
      344. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on progress made under the Statute Law Revision Programme following the enactment of the Statute Law Revision Act 2024;...
  • Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
    • Defective Building Materials
      345. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the technical review of IS 465 will be published given the urgency of the situation for affected homeowners; if he will provide...
    • Work Permits
      346. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employment permits issued in each of the past three years to non-EEA workers for roles in the motor industry with a...
    • Employment Rights
      347. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of complaints under the Employment Equality Acts concerning failure to provide reasonable accommodation in employment in...
    • Tourism Promotion
      352. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures being taken to promote tourism in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29395/26]
    • Online Safety
      353. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress to date in ensuring that online platforms put in place appropriate and proportionate measures that provide a high level...
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • Youth Work Supports
      354. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place to provide funding for additional youth work supports in County Kerry, specifically the provision of four full-time universal...
    • Special Educational Needs
      355. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the justification for the lack of therapeutic supports, such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychology within school...
    • School Accommodation
      356. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the additional school accommodation project for a school (details supplied); the timeline for the next stages of delivery;...
    • School Admissions
      357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a plan is in place to ensure all 6th class primary school students with disabilities will have a place in secondary school in September 2026;...
    • Pupil-Teacher Ratio
      358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in Longford and Westmeath that will from September 2026, be forced to have mixed year classes due to loss of a teacher....
    • Special Educational Needs
      359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools in counties Wicklow and Wexford that have had their allocation of SNA hours reduced; the number of schools that...
    • Departmental Priorities
      363. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether orientation and mobility services for the visually impaired and blind fall within the remit of her Department or the Department of...
    • Education Policy
      364. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider replacing the secondment model for visiting teachers with a permanent contract to enhance the professional standing of the...
    • Departmental Correspondence
      365. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which she and Department officials will visit a school site (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29245/26]
    • Education Policy
      366. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria for the appointment of home school liaison resources for schools under new DEIS strategy to 2035; and if she will make a statement...
    • Departmental Data
      367. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown, by county, of the €90 million investment package for the 2026 Climate Action Summer Works announced in November 2025; and...
    • Education Costs
      368. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons for re-introducing the State examination fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29248/26]
    • Departmental Data
      369. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the level of capital funding provided to primary and post-primary schools in County Laois in each of the years 2016-2025, by school, in tabular...
    • Schools Building Projects
      370. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made on a minor/summer works grant application by a national school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement...
    • School Textbooks
      371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 340 and 342 of 18 February 2026, when the free school book scheme funding will become available to schools;...
    • Departmental Data
      372. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the updated position on the availability of primary school places for the coming year in in County Kildare (details supplied); if the number of...
    • School Accommodation
      373. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up to date position with the provision of a new secondary school in county Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on...
    • Special Educational Needs
      374. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether she will be announcing any additional special education classes for the upcoming school year; the consideration being given to...
    • Departmental Funding
      375. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the work her Department is undertaking to ensure that capital funding is keeping pace with rising demographic pressures, inflation in...
    • Schools Building Projects
      376. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to a school (details supplied) for the Emergency Works Grant for roof repairs that is required urgently as they...
    • Education Policy
      377. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether her Department has assessed the level of educational disadvantage in post-primary schools that receive a significant proportion of their...
    • Special Educational Needs
      378. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to urgently examine an application for a special needs assistant in respect of a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on...
    • Ministerial Communications
      380. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will intervene to prevent the proposed closure of a school in Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Departmental Consultations
      381. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has sought a formal security assessment from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration regarding the risk posed to children by...
    • Education Policy
      382. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding her Department’s assessment of the Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026; and if she will make a...
    • Special Educational Needs
      386. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to use Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to progress new special education classes [29472/26]
    • State Examinations
      387. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to keep State exam fees. [29473/26]
    • Education Costs
      388. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to help with the cost of education technology. [29474/26]
    • Departmental Data
      389. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a full publication of the parents survey will be available. [29475/26]
    • School Enrolments
      390. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department is aware that there are six primary schools between the parishes of Leixlip and Confey, and that currently her Department is...
    • Schools Building Projects
      391. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of proposals to acquire lands adjacent to a school (details supplied); if her Department is engaged in discussions regarding...
  • Department of Culture, Communications and Sport
    • Swimming Pools
      392. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport when the next Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) will be open for applications; the way in which clubs can...
    • Information and Communications Technology
      393. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport if there have been delays in any applications for subsea fibre cable applications; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Sports Funding
      395. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport the funding schemes that are currently available, or are planned for the future, to support local sports clubs; if he will...
    • Artists' Remuneration
      396. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport to urgently review the current applications process and guidelines in respect of the basic income for artists scheme...
    • Sports Funding
      397. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport when the capital funding programmes for sport, specifically the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF), will open for...
  • Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
    • An Ghaeltacht
      398. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if, pursuant to section 10(2)(m) of the Planning and Development Act (2000), his Department has given consideration to the...
    • Vacant Properties
      399. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of vacant homes in the State that are valued at more than one million euro; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Property Management Companies
      400. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures residents can take if they are not satisfied with a property managing agent and/or the owners management company...
    • Vacant Properties
      401. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his Department's definition of vacant and dereliction for homes. [29329/26]
    • Housing Schemes
      402. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the housing options available to individuals who have been refused admission to their local authority housing list as their...
    • Housing Policy
      403. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the progress of the working group established by his Department to examine changes to the codes of...
    • Land Issues
      408. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason for delays in the processing of land registration applications, including amendments relating to boundary errors;...
  • Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
    • Social Welfare Payments
      409. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on a request to further backdate a widower's contributory pension award to a person ( details...
  • Department of Justice and Equality
    • An Garda Síochána
      419. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality regarding the provision of land at the state-owned Citywest complex for the promised 24-hour Garda station; if his Department...
    • Residency Permits
      422. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a renewal for an Irish residence permit card will be completed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Departmental Data
      423. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of summonses that have been issued to farmers and protestors who were part of the price of fuel protests. [29286/26]
    • Departmental Investigations
      424. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to hold an investigation into the manner in which the 'price of fuel protests' were policed; and if he will investigate the use...
    • Crime Prevention
      425. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on the establishment of the Local Community Safety Partnership in Fingal, including the date on which...
    • An Garda Síochána
      430. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the proposals he has to increase resources for community Garda policing, which is a very highly regarded policing measure in...
    • Departmental Data
      431. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions and convictions secured under the offence of stalking introduced under the Criminal Justice...
    • An Garda Síochána
      432. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda members who have received specific training in relation to investigating stalking offences, including...
    • Departmental Policies
      434. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which he evaluates the success of the zero tolerance strategy. [29400/26]
    • Citizenship Applications
      435. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when an application (details supplied) will be decided on; and if no timeframe is available, the average processing times for...
    • Courts Service
      436. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to review the current court fees regime, in light of concerns that High Court stamp fees may impede access to justice...
    • Departmental Data
      437. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the rate of recidivism in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29413/26]
    • An Garda Síochána
      438. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will exercise his power under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 to issue a specific directive to the...
    • Visa Applications
      442. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the impact the outsourcing of the AVATS application system has had on individuals booking short stay 'C' visas; and if he will...
    • Departmental Data
      443. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the number of prosecutions in the past five years specifically related to sulky racing and related...
    • An Garda Síochána
      444. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No.119 of 28 January 2026, if all Gardaí now have full access to the same data which has...
    • Departmental Reviews
      445. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the monetary jurisdiction of the small claims procedure, currently set at €2,000 and unchanged...
    • Departmental Data
      447. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases dealt with by the Irish Central Authority within his Department, on a year-on-year basis over the past five...
  • Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
    • Departmental Schemes
      448. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will simplify access for farmers and contractors who need to draw down funding from the €100 million fuel subsidy...
    • Animal Welfare
      458. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the number of puppy farms that have been shut down by agents and agencies of his Department for each of the...
    • Greyhound Industry
      464. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections carried out by agents and agencies of his Department on greyhound racing facilities; and if he will make a...
    • Animal Welfare
      466. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with animal welfare organisations in relation to their specific concerns related to sulky racing on public roads;...
    • Forestry Sector
      472. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent of deforestation in the State over the past five years; the number of hectares of woodland cleared annually; the primary...
    • Aquaculture Industry
      473. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of appeals dealt with by the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board on a year-on-year basis over the past five years; the...
  • Department of Children, Disability and Equality
    • Employment Rights
      474. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has examined the case for placing statutory timeframes on employers for responding to requests for reasonable...
    • Childcare Services
      477. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the cost benefit analysis that has been carried out to determine the benefits of resourcing existing childcare provision facilities...
    • Child Poverty
      479. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures the Government is taking to reduce child poverty in rural areas, such as County Laois, where deprivation may...
    • Mental Health Services
      480. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department is working with Tusla, the HSE, Cuan, and other relevant agencies to support coordinated access to...
    • Disability Services
      481. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the expected impact of the recently announced €1 million in funding for nine digital and assistive technology projects under...
    • Childcare Services
      485. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a national policy framework exists governing the pricing of private residential childcare placements funded by the State;...
    • Childcare Qualifications
      492. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any analysis has been conducted on market concentration within private residential childcare provision; and if so, whether...
    • Childcare Services
      494. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the procurement model used by Tusla in securing private residential childcare placements, including whether competitive tendering...
    • Public Sector Pensions
      495. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the staff of an organisation (details supplied) are entitled to public sector pensions given the funding from Tusla for the...
    • Disability Services
      496. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the population of children aged 0-18 years assigned to each children's disability network team in the Dublin and North East Health...
    • Disabilities Assessments
      502. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the clinical expertise that will be offered to the autism assessment officers, that will decide on the applications that will go...
    • Employment Equality Training
      507. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has assessed the case for mandatory disability and neurodiversity awareness training for managers with...
    • Departmental Policies
      509. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports that are available to separated parents who are required, by virtue of court-ordered access arrangements or the...
  • Department of Health
    • Disability Services
      510. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address staff shortages within the primary care speech and language therapy service; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Disabilities Assessments
      511. To ask the Minister for Health whether any alternative assessment pathways are being offered to children currently waiting for or primary care speech and language therapy an assessment of...
    • Health Services
      512. To ask the Minister for Health whether orientation and mobility services for the visually impaired and blind fall within the remit of her Department or the Department of Education and Youth;...
    • Health Services Staff
      514. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in a CORU registration (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29235/26]
    • Medical Aids and Appliances
      515. To ask the Minister for Health to provide blood glucose monitors to type 2 diabetes patients with particular emergency cases (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Medical Cards
      516. To ask the Minister for Health to provide full medical cards to all diabetes patients who are currently referred to the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Health Services Staff
      517. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that at present paramedics and EMTs do not receive the same level of flat-rate expense allowances as other frontline healthcare professionals, such...
    • Health Service Executive
      518. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of residential properties owned by the Health Service Executive at present; the number of such properties currently vacant; the duration of...
    • Housing Provision
      522. To ask the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive has engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the potential use of...
    • Health Service Executive
      523. To ask the Minister for Health the number of residential properties currently owned by the Health Service Executive which are in the process of being disposed of; whether any of these...
    • Mental Health Services
      526. To ask the Minister for Health for a detailed breakdown in CAMHS waiting times per RHA, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29308/26]
    • Health Services
      527. To ask the Minister for Health whether any formal analysis has been conducted comparing decision-making outcomes across the six Health Regions; if so, to provide the metrics used, the...
    • Health Service Executive
      528. To ask the Minister for Health what formal mechanisms exist to intervene where a Health Region's decisions materially diverge from national policy or from other regions; and whether any such...
    • Health Services
      529. To ask the Minister for Health whether any independent audit or internal review has been conducted on consistency of decision-making across Health Regions since 2022; and to provide the...
    • Health Service Executive
      530. To ask the Minister for Health whether patients have a formal right to review or appeal decisions where similar cases are treated differently across Health Regions; and if so, the structure...
    • Women's Health
      532. To ask the Minister for Health if she accepts that the provision of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to women with type 2 diabetes during pregnancy provides better glycaemic control than...
    • Healthcare Policy
      534. To ask the Minister for Health if she will remove the specific criteria of "insulin initiation from the start" that is preventing 500-700 people with a clinical diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes...
    • Health Services
      535. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2781 of 14 May 2024, the details of the new x-ray service scheduled to open in Balbriggan; if she will share opening...
    • Hospital Services
      537. To ask the Minister for Health the expenditure on third party insourcing by the HSE in 2023, 2024 and 2025, by hospital, in tabular form. [29388/26]
    • National Children's Hospital
      539. To ask the Minister for Health if a new substantial completion date for the new National Children’s Hospital has been provided (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on...
    • Disability Services
      540. To ask the Minister for Health to reverse the decision to cut respite from four to two weeks per annum for elderly patients in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Health Services Staff
      541. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the different pay grades for qualified nurses in Ireland in comparison to agency nurses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29414/26]
    • Primary Care Centres
      543. To ask the Minister for Health to expedite the long overdue Primary Care Centre for Killarney town; when will this facility be ready to open; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Voluntary Hospital Sector
      544. To ask the Minister for Health to confirm exactly when the new Killarney Community Hospital will open; when will it be fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Hospital Facilities
      545. To ask the Minister for Health when will the long overdue Minor Injuries Unit for Killarney town open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29419/26]
    • Hospital Services
      546. To ask the Minister for Health to urgently recruit additional health care staff and open all beds in Kenmare Community Hospital; when will all beds be fully operational; and if she will make...
    • Primary Care Centres
      549. To ask the Minister for Health to expedite the long overdue Primary Care Centre for Cahersiveen town and the Iveragh Peninsula; if the preferred site has been identified; when will works...
    • Hospital Services
      550. To ask the Minister for Health in her efforts to alleviate pressure on the accidend and emergency department at University Hospital Kerry and separate to the provision of the Minor Injuries...
    • Health Services Staff
      551. To ask the Minister for Health the reason paramedics and EMTs do not receive the same level of flat-rate uniform-related tax relief as other frontline healthcare professionals, despite...
    • Health Services
      552. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider adding obstructive sleep apnoea to the long-term illness scheme, considering the ongoing costs associated with diagnosis, treatment and...
    • Departmental Policies
      553. To ask the Minister for Health the consideration and/or scoping of a health literacy initiative that is being undertaken to ensure better health outcomes for patients and enabling the future...
    • Medicinal Products
      554. To ask the Minister for Health the reason drug companies are indemnified if vaccines are presented to the public as being safe and effective. [29477/26]
    • Employment Rights
      555. To ask the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the extent to which failures by employers to provide reasonable accommodation may contribute to deterioration in mental...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      559. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on current waiting lists for outpatient appointments, inpatient and day-case procedures, and diagnostic tests; the number of patients...
    • Health Services Staff
      560. To ask the Minister for Health the number of clinicians currently available in north Kildare under the primary care speech and language therapy service; and if she will make a statement on...
    • Health Services Waiting Lists
      561. To ask the Minister for Health the number of those in north Kildare currently on a waiting list to for the primary care speech and language therapy service; and if she will make a statement...
    • Healthcare Policy
      562. To ask the Minister for Health whether there is a long-term plan to ensure accessible primary care assessment services for children who require assessment and early intervention; and if she...
    • Health Services
      563. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a mechanism by which an individual with chronic spinal cord injury who has benefitted from the use of an exoskeleton could obtain financial...
    • Departmental Funding
      564. To ask the Minister for Health when the next round of the Healthy Ireland Fund for outdoor swimming will be open for applications; the way clubs will engage with this fund in advance of...
    • Medicinal Products
      565. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department has considered the inclusion of skyclarys (omaveloxolone) which is a treatment for Friedreich's ataxia in a reimbursement scheme given the...
    • Health Services
      566. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 885 of 24 March 2026, if governance, supervision, MDT decision-making and system-wide variations are being examined under...
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • Apprenticeship Programmes
      567. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the review by SOLAS of the motor mechanics and heavy vehicle mechanics apprenticeship curricula to incorporate the knowledge and...
    • Student Accommodation
      570. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish his Department’s student accommodation strategy. [22086/26]
    • Medical Research and Training
      571. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of those studying medicine in higher education institutions in the State at present who are non-EU students; and if he will make a...
    • Dental Services
      572. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has taken any action in response to the repeated call in August 2025 by an association (details supplied) for a cap on the number of...
    • Language Schools
      573. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he is taking to ensure enforcement of regulations in a sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Third Level Admissions
      574. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has carried out any analysis of university courses in which maximum Leaving Certificate points did not guarantee admission due...
    • Education and Training Boards
      575. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale for removing the ringfenced allocation of €20 million for the provision of English language classes (ESOL) across the ETB...
    • Student Accommodation
      576. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the new student accommodation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21755/26]
    • Third Level Costs
      577. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the financial supports available to a student (details supplied) to undertake a one year course in London; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Education and Training Provision
      579. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposal for the piloting of an incentivisation scheme by Skillnet Ireland to support business engagement in upskilling; the...
    • Departmental Funding
      580. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the last comprehensive expenditure report on the National Training Fund was published; when his Department plans to publish the...
  • Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
    • Irish Language
      584. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department will consider undertaking a body of research that will outline the socioeconomic impact and value of the Irish...
    • Departmental Funding
      585. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans that are in place to ensure community services which rely on funding from the Creeslough Together Initiative will be...
    • Charitable and Voluntary Organisations
      586. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to an application by a group (details supplied) for charitable status; the actions he will take to...

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