593. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken any review of the operation of contract of indefinite duration, CID, arrangements for primary and post-primary school teachers in recent years; whether concerns have been raised regarding the repeated use of fixed-term contracts preventing progression to permanency for long-serving teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39710/26]
475. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total amount of taxation revenue collected from the mineral exploration and mining sector in each of the past ten years, broken down by corporation tax, royalties, licence fees, employer taxes and any other relevant category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40091/26]
474. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to reforming the taxsaver commuter ticket scheme to allow employees whose employers do not participate in the scheme to claim equivalent tax relief directly through Revenue; whether this could be facilitated through annual tax returns in a similar manner to medical expense claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40086/26]
417. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport whether Iarnród Éireann or the National Transport Authority have undertaken any review of fare structures on the Athenry-Galway rail line in light of concerns regarding disparities between fares charged to commuters on regional rail services and those charged on comparable commuter journeys within the Dublin area; whether consideration is being given to classifying the Athenry-Galway route as a commuter service for fare purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40087/26]
416. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority or Iarnród Éireann will review early morning rail services between Athenry and Galway in light of concerns that existing timetables do not adequately cater for commuters with work start times of 07:00 or 08:00; whether consideration is being given to introducing an additional early morning commuter service from Athenry to Galway at approximately 07:20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40085/26]
310. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current membership of the Minerals Exploration and Mining Advisory Group; the bodies and organisations represented on the group; the number of meetings held since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40092/26]
309. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current status of the proposed geoscience Bill or any successor legislation relating to mineral exploration and mining regulation; the key legislative reforms being considered; the timeline for Government approval and publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40090/26]
306. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 255 of 24 March 2026, for an update on the proposed Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 2025 relating to the incorporation of forestry corridors into legislation; the current status of the Act following the Minister's previous indication that the Bill was due to return to Government shortly; the expected timeline for progressing the legislation through the pre-legislative and legislative process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39705/26]
204. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide an update on the proposed implementation of a personal savings and investment account; the current stage of consideration; the anticipated timeline for decisions or further announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39402/26]
179. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the level of fiscal space currently available to respond to a potential energy-driven cost-of-living shock; whether provision has been made for additional supports if required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26600/26]
380. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is continuing to incur rental costs for portacabins located at Galway Airport that were put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic; if so, to provide a breakdown of all expenditure associated with these units, including rent, maintenance and any related costs, for each of the past six years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38663/26]
288. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of cases that proceeded before the District Court and which involved an accused that had the benefit of criminal legal aid; the total value of criminal legal aid provided in those cases, in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38501/26]
248. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Irish Sign Language specialist classroom support (ISL-SCS) posts that have been, sanctioned, advertised, filled, and remain vacant since the publication of Circular 0072/2025, Enhancement to Irish Sign Language (ISL) Scheme Provision, on 18 November 2025; the number of applications received and approved by the NCSE for ISL-SCS support for pupils attending specialist deaf and hard of hearing units within mainstream primary schools, including in the case of a child in a school (details supplied); the current status of the NCSE recruitment process, including confirmation that interviews are underway; the expected date by which posts will be filled; the steps being taken by her Department and the NCSE to ensure that children in junior and senior infants who require ISL as a primary or essential communication support are not left without appropriate access to the curriculum during key early years of language acquisition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38469/26]
123. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the steps he is taking to address vacancy and dereliction in towns and villages across Galway East, including the expansion of the town and village renewal scheme and support for community-led regeneration projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38279/26]
26. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current average processing times for passport applications, particularly for first-time applicants; the extent of any recent delays being experienced; the measures being implemented to improve turnaround times and ensure applications are processed within target timelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38310/26]
125. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the situation affecting a school (details supplied), where pupils with a mild or moderate learning disability who are enrolled in an NCSE-approved special class designated for autism/ASD are being deemed ineligible for the special class grant under Circular 0066/2025; the reason for this exclusion; if this policy will be reviewed to ensure equitable access to supports for all eligible pupils regardless of class type; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38012/26]
122. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures currently in place to provide training for primary and post-primary teachers in the management of epilepsy in students; if any such training is mandatory or voluntary; if she has plans to introduce mandatory epilepsy awareness and seizure response training for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37966/26]
31. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she is aware of the requirement for widowed parents to repeatedly submit bereavement documentation, including death certificates and sworn affidavits, for each renewal of a child's passport; if she will consider introducing a once-off verification process whereby such documentation would only need to be provided once unless family circumstances change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38366/26]
1182. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the supports currently in place, aside from available tax reliefs, to assist individuals diagnosed with coeliac disease in managing the additional healthcare and dietary costs associated with the condition; whether consideration is being given to further supports, including eligibility for a GP visit card or medical card, for those living with coeliac disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37444/26]
924. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the procedures followed by Tusla when it receives a referral concerning allegations or suspicions of child abuse involving a school employee under the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (2025); the thresholds applied in deciding whether such referrals meet the criteria for child protection or child welfare intervention under Children First (2017); whether she is satisfied that these processes are operating effectively to protect children in school settings, particularly in cases involving multiple referrals relating to the same individual; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37627/26]
637. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current and planned development works at the Martello Tower at Meelick, County Galway; the proposals to extend the existing public walkway to provide safe and direct access to the Martello Tower; the plans to provide an accessible viewing point of the River Shannon from the top of the tower; the current status of design drawings or feasibility studies for these works; the anticipated timelines for delivery of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37637/26]
586. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No.698 of 28 April 2026, if his Department plans to make the Local Authority Regional Homelessness Financial Reports, published on his Department's website, available in future in machine-readable formats (details supplied), in line with open data standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36618/26]
506. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the highest amount of funding approved or issued by her Department for the provision of a modular classroom in 2026; the details of the project or school to which this funding related; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37140/26]
429. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for a further update on the progress being made in relation to the proposed relocation of the Turoe Stone; the current status of the project; the expected timeline for the commencement and completion of the works; when a substantive response will issue from the Office of Public Works, given that in reply to a previous Parliamentary Question it was stated that the OPW would respond directly but no such response has been received to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37082/26]
364. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of cases where long-serving taxi drivers are being refused extensions to the permissible vehicle age limits by the National Transport Authority, including in the case of a person (details supplied); the rationale behind such refusals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37257/26]
235. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when clarity and formal guidance will be provided to local authorities regarding the planning and regulatory treatment of modular and rapid-build housing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37155/26]
772. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which SMS reminder systems are actively utilised across hospitals, including a comparison of usage levels between sites; whether any hospitals with access to such systems are not making full use of them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36441/26]
771. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient appointment reminder SMS messages issued by each hospital or healthcare facility in the past three months; to provide this information on a per-hospital basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36440/26]
770. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the cost per SMS message incurred by each hospital or healthcare facility based on the provider or system in use; the total expenditure on SMS appointment reminders in the most recent twelve-month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36439/26]
769. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health whether the SMS reminder systems in use across hospitals are configured as one-way reminder services or include two-way communication functionality allowing patients to confirm, cancel or reschedule appointments; to provide a breakdown by hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36438/26]
768. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the details of the systems or service providers used by each hospital or healthcare facility for the provision of SMS appointment reminders, including the name of the provider; whether the system is centrally procured or locally arranged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36437/26]
767. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the number and names of hospitals and healthcare facilities within the public health system that are currently using SMS messaging services for outpatient appointment reminders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36436/26]
321. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm when the next tranche of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme will open for applications; to outline the eligibility criteria for schools applying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36442/26]
118. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on if and when negotiations will take place with branch managers of social protection offices regarding the payments for services, and remuneration of same. [35582/26]
1000. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when Ireland will implement the European Union Disability Card Directive; the steps currently being taken by her Department towards its transposition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35162/26]
569. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the drawdown of summer works scheme funding approved for a school (details supplied) in October 2025; the current status of that funding; whether any issues are delaying drawdown; and to indicate when the school can expect to be in a position to draw down the approved funding. [34326/26]
567. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on section 69 of the Government’s Action Plan submitted to the Committee of Ministers on 30 July 2025 in a case (details supplied); to specify the current position in respect of the approximately 40 further letters of claim and/or proceedings received since the June 2024 settlements; and the actions that have been taken to date in response to those claims. [34318/26]
564. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the appeal submitted by the board of management of a school (details supplied), seeking the retention of a mainstream teaching post for the 2026/2027 school year, having regard to the school’s confirmed and projected enrolment growth, increasing pressure at infant level, and its role in meeting local educational and special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34272/26]
459. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to clarify the position regarding the application of a reduced VAT rate to beauty and wellbeing services; the consideration has been given to extending VAT supports similar to those applied to hairdressing services; to indicate whether any further review of VAT policy for the beauty and wellbeing sector is currently underway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34330/26]
1260. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current rates of pay applicable to apprentices across the various apprenticeship phases; whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of how these rates align with the costs faced by apprentices, including accommodation, travel, tools, and education-related expenses; whether he will consider reviewing apprenticeship pay levels as part of ongoing efforts to support and encourage young people to take up and remain in apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32498/26]
838. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that current reimbursement timelines for orphan medicines align with the commitments on timely and equitable access set out in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025–2030; the measures that are being taken to address delays in cases where EMA-approved treatments, including those for Friedreich’s ataxia, remain unavailable to patients in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31882/26]
452. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the school building project for a school (details supplied); the current stage of the project within her Department’s capital programme, the expected timeline for progression to construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33184/26]
379. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the next announcement regarding the identification of schools for DEIS status is expected, having regard to the DEIS Strategy to 2035 and Implementation Plan 2026–2028; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32299/26]