Dún Laoghaire — week of Mon, 17 Nov

What your Dún Laoghaire TDs did this week

Mon, 17 Nov – 23 Nov 2025 · 4 TDs · 5 bills voted on · 101 questions · 2 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024

2025-11-19 · 2 votes · Sinn Féin PMB

A bill to amend the Arts Act 2003 to recognise the art of comedy

A sub-amendment · motion passed 69–83

Voted against 2 Cormac Devlin · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Did not vote 2 Barry Ward · Richard Boyd Barrett

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 83–70

Voted for 2 Cormac Devlin · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Did not vote 2 Barry Ward · Richard Boyd Barrett

Cost of Motoring

2025-11-19 · 1 vote

The motion · motion failed 70–82

Voted against 2 Cormac Devlin · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Did not vote 2 Barry Ward · Richard Boyd Barrett

Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Reduction of Voting Age to Sixteen Years) Bill 2025

2025-11-19 · 1 vote · Social Democrats PMB

A bill to amend the Constitution

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 86–65

Voted for 2 Cormac Devlin · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Did not vote 2 Barry Ward · Richard Boyd Barrett

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil

2025-11-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 83–67

Voted for 2 Cormac Devlin · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Voted against 1 Richard Boyd Barrett

Did not vote 1 Barry Ward

Nomination of Member of Government

2025-11-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 88–69

Voted for 2 Cormac Devlin · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Voted against 1 Richard Boyd Barrett

Did not vote 1 Barry Ward

Barry Ward — Fine Gael 0 votes · 25 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 25 total

Culture 6 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding recommendation 7 of the Budgetary Oversight Committee in its report on the 481 tax credit from 2023 (details supplied); the actions he will take to ensure that this recommendation is implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62856/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the condition of their temporary headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63294/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding the development of new Headquarters for an organisation (details supplied) to be based in Dún Laoghaire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63295/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will agree to meet with the officer board of an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the construction of a new, permanent facility for their headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63296/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his views on the need to develop a new, high-performance headquarters for an organisation (details supplied); his views on weather this will be of benefit for sailors of all ages and abilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63297/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will engage with Sport Ireland in relation to the development of a new headquarters for an organisation (details supplied) to be based in Dún Laoghaire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63298/25]
Foreign 3 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked 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 allocating targeted funding for this project as part of Ireland’s wider financial support for Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62797/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the matter of the ongoing construction of a children’s hospital in Ukraine (details supplied) at an EU level to propose direct funding for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62798/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider facilitating a meeting with an Irish based engineer that is part of the ongoing construction of a children’s hospital in Ukraine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62799/25]
Finance 3 questions
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 12 November 2025, if research has been carried out into the creation of an upper limit cap on the cost of local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64118/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 12 November 2025, if his Department has carried out estimates on the cost to the Exchequer of implementing an upper limit cap on the cost of local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64119/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 12 November 2025, his views on the merits of putting in place an upper limit cap on the cost of local property tax to avoid putting undue financial burden on families and individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64120/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure that public transport is fully accessible to all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62394/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the progress his Department has made with the Road Safety Authority to shorten the waiting lists for driving tests; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Dún Laoghaire/ Deansgrange test centre has one of the longest average wait times in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62395/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to housing support schemes; the actions he will take to address the concerns outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62837/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the position regarding housing supports for persons who fall outside existing schemes, but do not make enough money to compete in the housing market in the context of unprecedented housing prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62838/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the post budget campaign of an organisation (details supplied); the actions he will take to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62836/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the post budget campaign of an organisation (details supplied); the actions he will take to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62835/25]
Justice 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the criminal legal aid fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62958/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the deportation of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64715/25]
Children 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised by members of a representative group (details supplied), specifically in relation to centres that operate out of family homes; the actions she will take to engage with this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63193/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the adequacy of the aspect of the core funding childcare scheme, related to the time thresholds for each band (details supplied); the actions she will take to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63355/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of amending the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 to remove the loophole that allows advertising by alcohol companies to advertise 0.0% versions of their products on TV, radio and sporting events; if her Department has carried out any research into this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62399/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of the National Breastfeeding Strategy; the timeframe for its publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62398/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she will take to address an anomaly related to circular 54/2019; if a teacher has moved schools in the past 12-months, regardless of previous employment status or length of tenure, they cannot qualify for carer’s leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63754/25]

Cormac Devlin — Fianna Fáil 6 votes · 45 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 45 total

Transport 19 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the progress in delivering the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish an electric vehicle strategy; his plans to ensure that public charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65073/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the total level of Exchequer funding allocated and drawn down for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in 2021 to 2025, including specific allocations to zero emission vehicles Ireland and to local authority-led charging projects, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65074/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the number of publicly accessible electric vehicle charge points currently available in the State, by county and by charger type (slow, fast, high power); the equivalent figures for 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65075/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the National Road Network EV Charging Plan; the number of motorway and national road service areas where high power charging hubs are now operational; the number that are in procurement or construction; the expected completion dates for each site, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65076/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the role assigned to local authorities in planning, delivering and operating public electric vehicle charging infrastructure; the formal guidance that has issued to local authorities on this matter; and the supports available to them in terms of funding, technical assistance and data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65077/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if each local authority has prepared or is preparing a regional or local electric vehicle charging plan; the status of these plans by local authority; the way in which they align with national targets under the EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy and the National Road Network EV Charging Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65078/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the agencies and offices with responsibility for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including his Department, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the SEAI and others; the specific remit of each body; the coordination mechanisms in place between them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65079/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the supports available to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure in apartment complexes, multi-unit developments and publicly owned car parks; the number of such projects approved and completed to date, by local authority area; his plans to expand these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65080/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the key performance indicators used by his Department and Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland to measure progress on public electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including chargers per electric vehicle, geographic coverage and reliability or uptime; the way in which current performance compares with national targets and with the State's obligations under the EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65082/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the impact that Circular RW18 and the new regime for exceptional abnormal loads has had on the timing and cost of moving very heavy loads, including for grid and energy project;, if his Department has undertaken or plans to undertake a formal review of the regime in light of stakeholder feedback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65099/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport how the Eirspan bridge management system is currently used to assess the suitability of bridges and structures for abnormal and exceptional abnormal load movements; if promoters and hauliers can access or obtain relevant capacity data to inform route selection in advance of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65101/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if there is a formal protocol, working group or memorandum of understanding between his Department, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, EirGrid and ESB Networks regarding the planning and permitting of very heavy loads associated with strategic energy infrastructure, including transformers, generators and related equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65102/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has assessed the typical costs incurred by promoters in preparing applications for exceptional abnormal loads, including bridge surveys and independent checks; if he will examine options such as a centrally maintained national capacity map or shared survey data to reduce duplication and cost, particularly for repeat routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65103/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he has benchmarked Ireland’s permitting process and timelines for abnormal and exceptional abnormal loads against best practice in other EU member states and the UK, including the use of electronic permitting systems, standardised time limits and designated heavy-load networks, if lessons from that benchmarking exercise have been or will be applied to streamline the Irish regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65104/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport to detail the Christmas and New Year 2025 operating arrangements for DART and Irish Rail commuter and intercity services, including any additional late-night services, last departure times by line and key dates of operation; and if he will direct the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann to publish these details no later than October each year from 2026 to assist public planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65105/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport to detail the Christmas and New Year 2025 Luas service plan, including night Luas operations; dates; first and last tram times; expected frequency and any planned engineering moratoriums; if he will direct Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Luas operator to publish Christmas and New Year schedules no later than October each year from 2026 so that passengers can plan in advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65106/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport to detail the Christmas and New Year 2025 arrangements for Dublin Bus and Go Ahead, including any expanded late-night services, Nitelink routes and frequencies; the resourcing for drivers and fleet availability; if he will direct the National Transport Authority and Dublin Bus to publish these details no later than October each year from 2026 to provide certainty for commuters, late-night patrons and workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65107/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will set targets for punctuality, reliability and customer information during the Christmas and New Year 2025 period across DART, Irish Rail, Luas and Dublin Bus, including measures for accessibility, crowd management, security coordination with An Garda Síochána and contingency plans for outages; if he will require the National Transport Authority to publish a single Christmas travel hub with consolidated timetables and live-updates no later than October each year from 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65108/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport the estimated additional cost of providing Christmas and New Year 2025 late-night and enhanced services across DART, Irish Rail, Luas and Dublin Bus; the source of funding for these operations; the planned fare or ticketing promotions; if he will commit that from 2026 the draft festive service plan and funding allocation will be finalised and published by October each year, with a post-season performance report to the Oireachtas in Q1 the following year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65109/25]
Health 12 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the funding being provided for mental health crisis supports and suicide prevention in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64090/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the plans to provide mental health specialist nursing teams in the emergency departments of all model 4 hospitals out-of-hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64091/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the current estimated numbers of adults and children living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the State, by CHO area and age cohort; how her Department is responding to the 2025 World Diabetes Day focus on diabetes and well-being across life stages and in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65085/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to report on current participation rates in the national diabetic retinopathy screening programme and other structured screening for diabetes-related complications (including foot and kidney disease); to set out any plans to expand eligibility, outreach and capacity to improve early detection and prevention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65086/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the current HSE policy on access to continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pumps and hybrid closed-loop systems for people living with type 1 diabetes, including eligibility criteria for children, adults and pregnancy, her plans to widen access in line with recent international best practice and World Health Organization guidance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65087/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department and the HSE are responding to the World Diabetes Day 2025 theme of diabetes and well-being, particularly in relation to workplace supports, psychological supports for people living with diabetes; the measures she will take to tackle stigma and discrimination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65088/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to report on the engagement to date between her Department, the HSE and the manufacturer of the Omnipod 5 tubeless hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system regarding its introduction to the Irish market; if a pricing and reimbursement application has been submitted under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65089/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE, NCPE or her Department have undertaken, or plan to undertake, a clinical and cost-effectiveness assessment of the Omnipod 5 tubeless hybrid closed-loop insulin pump system, having regard to its availability and funded use in the UK and other EU member states; if so, to outline the status and expected timelines for a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65090/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health her views on the potential role of the Omnipod 5 tubeless hybrid closed-loop insulin system in expanding patient choice for people with type 1 diabetes, including children, people with disabilities, needle or tube aversion, and those with high treatment burden; if she will request the HSE to examine its potential use within the national diabetes technology pathway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65091/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to set out current waiting times by hospital group for first and follow-up appointments at adult and paediatric diabetes clinics; the measures being taken to ensure timely, equitable access to multidisciplinary diabetes care across all regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65092/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health how her Department and the HSE intend to respond to the new World Health Organisation global guidelines on diabetes during pregnancy; to outline current and planned measures to improve screening, management and post-pregnancy follow-up for women with gestational or pre-existing diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65093/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of a national diabetes registry or equivalent data infrastructure; how this will support service planning, prevention and research; the timeframe for full implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65094/25]
Justice 7 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons who applied for international protection in the State from 2015 to date in 2025, by year, by country of origin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63532/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons who have been granted temporary protection in the State from 2015 to date in 2025, by year, by country of origin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63533/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in respect of applicants for international protection who claimed to be under 18 years-of-age, the number in each of the years 2015 to date in 2025, b for whom minor status was accepted, rejected or remained under determination at year end, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63534/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of international protection applicants in each of the years 2015 to date in 2025 whose claimed minor status was referred to, or appealed to, medical or other expert reviewers for the purposes of age assessment; the outcome of those referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63535/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current arrangements in place for assessing the age of persons who claim to be minors when seeking international protection or temporary protection, including the role of his Department, the International Protection Office and Tusla; whether these arrangements are under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63536/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has examined the age-assessment model in operation in Denmark, including the use of medical imaging and other scientific methods, with a view to speeding up age assessments in Ireland; if any analysis, advice or reports have been prepared on this option; if any novel testing methods such as qPCR or droplet digital PCR based techniques for age estimation have been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63537/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a matter (details supplied) has been brought to his attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63546/25]
Children 4 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of beds or placements provided by Tusla for unaccompanied minors and other children in the care of the State who are seeking international protection or are beneficiaries of temporary protection in each of the years from 2015 to 2024 and to date in 2025, and by placement type, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63538/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total gross expenditure by Tusla on accommodation and related services for unaccompanied minors and other children in State care who are seeking international protection or are beneficiaries of temporary protection in the years 2020 to 2025, by programme or subhead, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63539/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of whole-time equivalent Tusla staff assigned to work with separated children seeking international protection, including any staff engaged in age-assessment work, in each of the years from 2020 to 2025, by grade and function, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63540/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the existing protocols and memoranda of understanding between his Department, Tusla and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in respect of age assessment for persons claiming to be minors in the international protection or temporary protection systems; whether these arrangements are currently under review; whether the adoption of models such as the Danish system or any novel testing methods, including qPCR or droplet digital PCR-based age-estimation techniques is being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63541/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Taoiseach for a report on the work of the shared island unit. [50000/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when he will bring forward a medium term fiscal plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60196/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the planning policy and guidance in place to ensure that new residential and commercial developments, including multi-storey and surface car parks, are designed to accommodate electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including any requirements in development plans or parking standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65081/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill — Fine Gael 6 votes · 0 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 2 returns

Irish Dental Association · 2 returns Health
- Letter to the Minister for Health expressing disappointment at the lack of meaningful measures to improve access to dental care in budget 2026
- Invitation by email to attend the IDA National Meeting for General Practitioners Saturday January 31st 2026

Richard Boyd Barrett — People Before Profit-Solidarity 2 votes · 31 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 31 total

Education 12 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth for the trainings that are in place for bus drivers in State-funded bus services for disabled children, including privately contracted bus services, in particular school transport for special schools and special classes contracted through Bus Éireann, with respect to behaviours of concern and the needs of disabled passengers. [63700/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she plans to honour all commitments made to a group of hunger strikers who have recently concluded their strike following agreement with her Department. [63738/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the processing of school transport applications for children with disabilities for the current school year; whether it is the case that the CIE office in Broadstone is processing applications across multiple counties; the number of staff currently assigned to this work; and whether additional resources will be allocated to address the backlog and ensure that all eligible children can access school transport as soon as possible. [64692/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether there is a mandate for the inclusion of special education classes in all new schools sanctioned by her Department; and if so, whether this is an automatic requirement or decided on a case-by-case basis. [64693/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans of the NCSE for the 2026 academic year for the Dublin northwest area, including the number of new special education places needed. [64694/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new special education places that will be provided in the Dublin northwest area, broken down by whether they will be in mainstream settings, special classes, or special schools; and to specify whether any new special schools or classes are due to open by September 2026. [64695/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth how far beyond 2026 the NCSE and the Department have planned regarding the provision of sufficient special education places at primary and post-primary level; and to provide details of any long-term forecasts or capital and workforce planning work currently underway. [64696/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the NCSE’s expression of interest process for 2026 school places for children with special educational needs, given that the online form closed in October 2025 and has since been removed from the NCSE website; and the alternative mechanism has been put in place for parents to express interest beyond that deadline, as was previously indicated in the Minister’s statement of 15 September 2025. [64697/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of parents that have completed the NCSE expression of interest form for 2026; and the number of parents the NCSE had expected or invited to complete it but have not yet done so. [64698/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a school in Dublin 11 (details supplied) has scope for expansion beyond its current size; and whether any such expansion is being planned or funded by the Department or the NCSE. [64699/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated number of children expected to require special education places in second-level settings, including mainstream supported places, special classes, and special schools in the Dublin northwest area over the next five years. [64700/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the availability of early intervention preschool places on the northside of Dublin; the plans to provide new early intervention places in Dublin 11 and Dublin 9, where there is only one setting (details supplied) and some private provision through the home tuition grant. [64701/25]
Health 7 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of including all forms of diabetes on the long-term illness scheme, including the cost of issuing the associated medical cards. [63697/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing glucose monitoring devices to all individuals with diabetes in the State. [63698/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the details of any plans to expand the list of conditions qualifying a person for the long-term illness scheme; and if she will consider including individuals who do not have a qualifying condition, but who have a combination of non-qualifying conditions whose cumulative impact on an individual’s health is equivalent to a qualifying long-term illness. [64597/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if she will consider revising plans in place to modify standards for registration as a counsellor or psychotherapist currently under consideration by CORU, in order to reflect the concerns raised by members of an organisation (details supplied). [64595/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if she will consider the introduction of a free vaccination for shingles; and if she will consider adding coverage for shingles vaccination to the medical card, discretionary medical card, GP visit card or drug payment scheme card. [64594/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to improve staff morale at St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire. [64598/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the age of all 22 linear accelerators for radiotherapy across public facilities in Ireland; the expected lifetime of each machine;the specific dates by which time new linear accelerators operating past their expected lifetime will be replaced and operational; the projected age of each machine when these replacement dates will be reached; when hiring and training of staff to operate any new machines will begin; and for details of all plans in place to manage the increasing rate machine downtime until such time as older machines have been replaced. [64596/25]
Social 5 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that while the Government has spoken about sustainable increases and restraint, the reality is that disabled persons are facing a real and substantial loss of income compared with 2025 (details supplied); if he will commit to introducing an emergency winter payment to offset the extra cost of disability, and bring forward a cost of disability payment without further delay; if he will ensure the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Finance deliver fair, adequate supports that reflect the real costs people with disabilities face; and if his Department will conduct a review of how Budget 2026 will impact disabled households over the winter months, when fuel and living costs peak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63133/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is consistent with national policy to cut off disability allowance payments to persons on the basis of their partners' income, given this has the result of creating a state of poverty for the household (details supplied). [63197/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection whether State and employer contributions towards the My Future Fund pension savings scheme will be reckonable as income for the purposes of determining eligibility for any other public services or schemes. [63244/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection his views that it is appropriate that officials in his Department infer lack of qualifying disability from blank sections of disability allowance paperwork; and if he has satisfied himself that the systems in place to determine eligibility for the allowance are sufficiently accommodating of transient and conditional manifestations of disability, which are medically well-recognised. [63267/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if the maximum rents payable under the rent supplement scheme have remained unchanged since October 2019; his views that rents have risen substantially, by almost 40% in cities and commuter belts, to date; if he will revise maximum rents to reflect current rents and commit to a regular review given the consistent upward trajectory of rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64710/25]
Taoiseach 2 questions
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on water quality will next meet. [61677/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach for a report on the work of the shared island unit. [63463/25]
Culture 2 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider increasing the rates of remuneration for artists who will be chosen to avail of the basic income for the arts scheme. [64593/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider expanding the number of artists who will be chosen to avail of the basic income for the arts scheme. [64592/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the human rights record of the Qatari government; and whether an event organised by the Irish embassy in Abu Dhabi with the Qatari Director of Human Rights is consistent with national policy (details supplied). [63083/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any funding that is made available for retrofitting local authority housing is intended for tenanted social homes; and if not, if it is exclusively for vacant social homes (details supplied). [62918/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) deported from Ireland and subsequently killed; and the steps he will take to reverse the deportation of another individual deported to the same location under similar conditions. [63712/25]