746. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to confirm when a citizenship application will be completed, in view that it is 19 months since the application (details supplied) was first lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4270/26]
617. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on his Department’s progress to date on the Programme for Government commitment to conduct a nationwide audit of sports facilities in order to address shortages in areas underserved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4153/26]
553. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has secured a permanent site for a school (details supplied) which has been in interim accommodation for approximately 20 years; whether the school is included on any current or forthcoming school building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3913/26]
305. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport to give consideration to the provision of a 24-hour bus service for an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3445/26]
168. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the timeframe for the next round of funding that will be made available under the Community Sports Facilities Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4120/26]
148. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the amount that was spent by his Department in supporting sports clubs and organisations in Cork in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4119/26]
499. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is satisfied that the proposed alignment of services (details supplied) in Cork under Tusla’s reform programme will not reduce accessibility for vulnerable young people aged 15 years and over who are out of home or at risk of homelessness; if these services will continue to be delivered from a visible, community-based location in Cork city; and if she will provide assurances that Tusla’s reforms are consistent with Sláintecare Strategy 2025 commitments to prevention, early intervention and community delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3094/26]
498. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the proposed reorganisation of services (details supplied) in Cork given concerns that the integration of youth homelessness, aftercare and domestic violence services into front door teams may remove specialist, community-based supports from the city centre; how the proposed reforms will ensure that specialist youth homelessness and prevention services are not diluted, displaced or subsumed by child protection pressures within front door teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3093/26]
448. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of an application (details supplied) given that it is 23 months since the application was submitted which is beyond the standard processing timeframe for such application types; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2916/26]
447. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason an application was rejected (details supplied) given that all documentation was lodged for the application and no communication was received by the applicant from his Department advising that there was outstanding documentation required which in turn lead to the application being refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2915/26]
197. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to reducing road deaths and creating safer roads for everyone, in view of the fact that in 2025, there was an 8% increase in road deaths compared to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2785/26]
126. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the drafting of the National Vehicle Driver File Bill 2025; to provide a timeline for when local authorities will have access to relevant data on road traffic collisions to inform road improvements and to expand real time data access for An Garda Síochána to driver and vehicle information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2786/26]
84. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether he engages with the Minister for Health when increases to social protection payments are occurring, particularly with regard to medical card thresholds and payments to older people in order that welcome increases in social protection payments would not have the unintended consequence of disqualifying a person for a medical card as a result of increased means; whether he has done so in light of recent increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2713/26]
35. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the social protection payment increases that came into effect from 1 January 2026; the level of increased spending overall; the amount of people to benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2712/26]
202. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will provide additional finance to University College Cork and Cork Dental Hospital to increase the number of trainee places for dental students in view of the fact that the number of places currently available is the same number as 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2564/26]
201. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will engage with Cork Dental Hospital to increase the number of training places for dental nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2563/26]
200. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will engage with Cork Dental Hospital with a view to increasing the number of training places for dental hygienists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2562/26]
187. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration would be given to the provision of a cancellation list mechanism for marriage notification appointments and interviews of convenience in view of ongoing waitlists and backlogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2802/26]
186. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current number of vacancies in each HSE civil registration office, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2801/26]
185. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action being taken by her Department and the HSE to deal with the backlog in marriage notification appointments and interviews of convenience in civil registration offices across the country, in view of the current waitlists and backlogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2800/26]
184. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action being taken by her Department and the HSE to deal with the backlog in marriage notification appointments and interviews of convenience in Cork civil registration offices in view of the 18 month waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2799/26]
157. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if her Department has entered into discussions with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with a view to opening a new community based outpatient dental centre in Cork city, and that the necessary finance will be provided to establish such a facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2565/26]
153. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the necessary finance will be provided to Cork Dental Hospital to enable it to open a community-based outreach dental centre in Cork city in accordance with the proposals already submitted to the Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2561/26]
2489. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she has engaged with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the potential impact of proposed tenancy reforms (particularly the six-year tenancy requirement) on families participating in the fair deal nursing home loan scheme; if she accepts that the proposed legislation may create unintended financial hardship for such families; the steps being taken to ensure alignment between health and housing policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2206/26]
2451. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if funding for the lymphoedema and lipoedema model was provided for in Budget 2026; if not, whether consideration would be given to providing funding for same, considering that international studies show that the cost to treat patients could be reduced by 87%, if comprehensive lymphedema services were introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1652/26]
2033. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health how she plans to prioritise and implement the EU cardiovascular disease health plan in Ireland and channel EU funds to support this work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73853/25]
2032. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health her priorities for the Irish EU Presidency regarding the EU cardiovascular disease health plan to be published shortly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73852/25]
1627. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of Join Family Visa applications processed and a decision reached in the years 2022 to 2024, and from 1 January 2025 to 30 November 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74060/25]
1626. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the action being taken by his Department to ensure Join Family visa applications are processed along estimated timelines, in view that delays in processing may be experienced by applicants; and the steps which are being taken to improve on these processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74059/25]
1625. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the action being taken by his Department to improve the processing timeline of Join Family Visa applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74058/25]
1542. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to automatically granting invalidity pension to those with a diagnosis of cancer for the duration of their treatment and the time they are unable to work as a result of their cancer, provided they meet the PRSI credits requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74709/25]
1493. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarity on the way in which the proposed six-year tenancy requirement is intended to operate in cases involving fair deal loan repayments and estate administration; if guidance or exemptions will be included in the legislation prior to enactment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2207/26]
1492. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he acknowledges that, in the context of the fair deal scheme, while properties may technically be sold with tenants in situ, doing so may significantly reduce the value of an estate and conflict with executors’ fiduciary duties; if this issue has been considered in the drafting of the proposed six-year tenancy requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2205/26]
1491. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered the impact of the proposed six-year tenancy requirement on executors administering estates under the fair deal nursing home loan scheme; if he accepts that the proposed measure may prevent executors from selling properties in a timely manner in order to discharge debts and distribute estates; if he will consider amending the proposed legislation to allow for short-term tenancies or termination of leases in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2204/26]
1490. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the proposed six-year tenancy requirement contained in forthcoming residential tenancies legislation, particularly in cases where families are availing of the fair deal nursing home loan scheme; if he accepts that the proposed measure may create a conflict with the requirement to repay nursing home loans within one year of a resident’s death; if any exemptions or safeguards are being considered prior to enactment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2203/26]
1299. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if funding will be provided to a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74075/25]
1242. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) will be permitted to progress from stage 2b of the additional accommodation scheme for a new building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1851/26]
1241. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the multiple applications by a school (details supplied) under the emergency works scheme; when decisions will be issued in each case as the works are urgently needed by the school and its pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1850/26]
1240. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the application by a school (details supplied) under the additional accommodation scheme; when a decision will issue; if it can proceed to the next stage, as the works are urgently needed by the school and its pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1849/26]
673. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport when a driving licence exchange application will be completed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1190/26]
357. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has now agreed with the Department of Finance where housing agencies have entered into agreements with building contractors for both the purchase and the building of apartments, that the VAT rate is now reduced to 9% both for the building and the site costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65821/25]
232. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to reviewing and removing the deemed disposal rule for investors as this can be punitive on investors and investment; the reason it has not been removed to date as the final report of the funds review, ‘Funds Sector 2030: A Framework for Open, Resilient and Developing Markets’ was published in October 2024 and included recommendations to support and encourage retail investment, including the removal of deemed disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70854/25]
193. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the reduction of VAT on residential construction from 13.5% to 9% now applies beyond the point of sale and to the point of construction as housing agencies may own the land, and many valuable housing projects would not have benefitted from the change otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70855/25]
136. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress made to date by his Department in relation to the development of centralised planning guidelines for suitable locations for biomethane and biogas plants under the National Biomethane Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73220/25]
127. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to examine community-led ownership models for renewable energy production as an additional income stream for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73219/25]
391. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will provide State funding for the preparation of blister packs in pharmacies to ensure that elderly and vulnerable patients who depend heavily on this service for their health are not impacted financially; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72796/25]
390. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration would be given by her Department to provide funding for the lung health check pilot programme, in view of the fact that lung cancer is responsible for 20% of all cancer deaths in the country which equates to 2,000 deaths per annum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72782/25]
389. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she will give consideration to providing additional specific funding to hospitals to allow for the abolition of parking charges for cancer patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72781/25]
388. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if due consideration will be given to reviewing the current eligibility criteria for medical cards to allow cancer patients to be automatically awarded medical cards when diagnosed and to ensure they have the necessary support post diagnosis and post operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72780/25]