67. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider extending the deposit return scheme to other waste materials, such as glass bottles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15886/25]
623. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the status of Cheeverstown House, Templeogue, Dublin 6W; if it is ultimately planned to wind down and close this facility, or whether it will it continue to be a much-needed centre for people with additional needs in the locality; if there are any plans to re-open the swimming pool and hall; whether the HSE have a long-term plan for the Cheeverstown House site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15772/25]
410. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health when the free HRT scheme, which was committed to in Budget 2025, will commence; if she will arrange for women who should have benefited from the scheme since 1 January 2025 to be reimbursed any expenses accrued up to the formal commencement of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14902/25]
235. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education to outline, in light of a widely-reported funding crisis at a school (details supplied), the number of primary schools which have contacted her Department this school year about serious funding challenges; the number of such schools which are designated as 'DEIS' schools; if her Department has an emergency fund to assist schools in financial crisis; and to further outline, in the absence of such a fund, how the longer-term viability of schools in financial crisis can be addressed. [14784/25]
483. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to address the amount of food waste and single-use disposable plastic packaging under the Hot School Meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13319/25]
482. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is satisfied that providers under the Hot School Meals Programme are not required to provide his Department with details of their preparation methods for meals provided under the programme; his views on whether the Food Safety Authority of Ireland guidelines and regulations (details supplied) are robust enough to ensure that all meals provided to schools under the programme are of good quality and meet a strong nutritional standard; if he is aware of reports or ultra-processed foods being provided under the programme; if he plans to address same; the steps he is taking to improve the nutritional content of the meals being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13318/25]
439. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reduce the significant waste generated by campaign posters and cable ties during election campaigns; if he will consider a reduction in the number of posters a candidate may erect or consider designating certain locations for election posters, or any other similar measures; and if he will consider a colour-coded or tagged system of cable ties to ensure all cable ties are removed and disposed of appropriately post-election. [13700/25]
341. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education if her Department will approve emergency funding for a DEIS Band 1 school (details supplied) which is due to run out of money from 1 April 2025, meaning it will not be able to pay its basic bills and may face closure unless such funding is approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13335/25]
437. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health if the commitments made in the 2020 Programme for Government regarding the implementation of an informed consent model of care for hormone replacement therapy, simplifying the process for 16 and 17 year old trans people to acquire a gender recognition certificate, and ensuring that Government bodies use a trans or non-binary individual’s correct pronouns remain the policy and ambition of the current Government; if the current Government has watered down its commitments towards trans and non-binary people given the lack of attention they are paid in the 2025 Programme for Government when compared with the 2020 Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12966/25]
316. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in Tallaght that were approached by the National Council for Special Education to open a specialist class; the percentage of those schools that declined; and if her Department can provide insight into the reasons given for these refusals. [13106/25]
315. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education the number primary and secondary schools in Tallaght that have expressed an interest in opening a specialist class in the 2024/2025 academic year; the number of these applications that were accepted and refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13105/25]
1900. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to list the academic scholarship programmes available to Palestinian students in each of Ireland’s higher education institutions; the funding available for each programme; the amount of spaces available and occupied in each programme; and the qualifying criteria for each programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10748/25]
1572. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health if given the Labour Court Recommendation 22780 which awarded pay parity for medical scientists with biochemists, and which was implemented with the national wage agreement on the 1 January 2024, including for the pensions of those who retired after that date, she will take steps ensure that parity of pension entitlements is applied to medical scientists who retired prior to that date; if not, why not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11006/25]
1439. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to list the functions, roles and services carried out and delivered by Civil Service or State agency workers; the cost to the State of each contract since the implementation of the Building Momentum public service agreement, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12436/25]
1406. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she has considered amending the childminding services regulations 2024 to allow childminders employ assistants, or have emergency cover, for incidents in which the childminder is unavoidably occupied such as for medical appointments or illness; if not, the reasons why; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11956/25]
1361. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in light of the fact that section 19(1) of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 states that ‘a person who considers that he or she is a relevant person may make an application…to the Chief Deciding Officer’, she will instruct the office of the chief deciding officer to amend the mother and baby institutions payment scheme application portal to allow any person who considers that they are a relevant person to make an application to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11265/25]
1360. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will amend the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023, to allow all applicants to request a review of their notice of determination and to appeal the decision of that review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11264/25]
1359. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have resulted in no change to the outcome of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11263/25]
1358. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have resulted in no change to the notice of determination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11262/25]
1357. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have resulted in a change to the outcome of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11261/25]
1356. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have resulted in a change to the notice of determination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11260/25]
1355. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not entitled to a health support payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11259/25]
1354. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not entitled to a health support payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11258/25]
1353. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not eligible for the provision without charge of health services to him or her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11257/25]
1352. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not eligible for the provision without charge of health services to him or her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11256/25]
1351. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not entitled to a general payment or a work-related payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11255/25]
1350. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not entitled to a general payment or a work related payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11254/25]
1349. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not a relevant person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11253/25]
1348. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not a relevant person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11252/25]
1347. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant has spent insufficient time in an institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11251/25]
1346. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews in respect of applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant has spent insufficient time in an institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11250/25]
1345. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons that have appealed the decision of a review of the notice of determination on their application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme since the launch of the scheme to present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11249/25]
1344. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons that have requested a review of the notice of determination on their application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme since the launch of the scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11248/25]
1343. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications made to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme since the launch of the scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11247/25]
1342. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons who have registered user profiles on the mother and baby institutions payment scheme application portal since the launch of the scheme to date, regardless of whether the user has proceeded with an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11246/25]
949. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list the functions, roles and services that were carried out and delivered by civil service or State agency workers; the cost to the State of each contract since the implementation of the Building Momentum public service agreement, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12445/25]
922. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the means by which he will encourage and incentivise local authorities to deliver a greater focus and budget on nature restoration; and the enforcement measures available should local authorities not comply with their obligations in this regard. [11930/25]
837. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason air pressure tests are not linked to the MPRN, like the BER, to ensure all dwellings are tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11004/25]
836. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the course of action that should be taken by those who have purchased a dwelling that does not comply with Building Regulations regarding air permeability because air pressure testing was not carried out in the first instance despite Part L 1.3.4.4 of the Building Regulations stating it should be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11003/25]
835. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all dwellings built in 2023 and 2024 were tested by certified air pressure testers; if not, the percentage of dwellings tested; the guarantees those who have purchased dwellings that were not tested that air permeability is to the correct levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11002/25]
834. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied that under Part L 1.3.4 of the current Building Regulations, which covers building envelope permeability, and it is stated that air pressure testing “should” be carried out on all dwellings on all development sites rather than “must”, if he believes air pressure testing should be mandatory on all dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11001/25]
738. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education to list the functions, roles and services that were carried out and delivered by civil service or State agency workers; the cost to the State of each contract since the implementation of the Building Momentum public service agreement, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12438/25]
473. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to list the functions, roles and services that were carried out and delivered by civil service or State agency workers; the cost to the State of each contract since the implementation of the Building Momentum public service agreement, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11569/25]
370. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the amount paid by the National Transport Authority in consultancy fees in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12750/25]
369. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that the National Transport Authority is sufficiently staffed to deliver on the numerous transport projects that are deemed necessary for Ireland to meet its transport emissions reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12749/25]
368. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the amount paid in consultancy fees to date by his Department, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland and the National Transport Authority for the Zero Emissions Vehicles Ireland initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12748/25]
367. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the properties owned by Córas Iompair Éireann; their current use status, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12747/25]
362. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport to list the functions, roles and services carried out and delivered by Civil Service or State agency workers; the cost to the State of each contract since the implementation of the Building Momentum public service agreement, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12451/25]
265. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport for an update regarding pension increases for retired CIÉ workers under the 1951 scheme who have received no increases to their pension since 2008; if he intends to discuss the matter with the CIÉ board; if he will meet with the retired CIÉ workers representative organisation [details supplied]; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10607/25]
264. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that the price of a train ticket from Cork to Dublin is double that of a train ticket from Galway to Dublin, despite there only being a difference of around 40 km in the length of the journey; if an assessment of train fares has recently been carried out by his Department; if that assessment will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10606/25]