1951. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has examined the accessibility and uptake of the first home scheme among single income first-time buyers; whether consideration is being given to changes which could further assist single applicants facing affordability constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63590/26]
1950. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to ensure that single-income earners can access homes delivered through affordable purchase schemes; whether his Department has examined the affordability gap facing single applicants in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63591/26]
1944. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to increase the supply of homes at price points affordable to single first-time buyers, particularly in Cork; whether specific consideration is being given to the housing needs of people who earn above the thresholds for certain State supports but remain unable to purchase on the private market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63592/26]
1767. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the review of eligibility criteria and the identification of priority areas for grant aid schemes administered by local authorities to upgrade, repair or replace domestic wastewater treatment systems/septic tank systems; the timeframe for these changes to come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61087/26]
3710. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of health related conferences, summits, technical or high level meetings that have been scheduled to be held in Ireland, as part of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union; the number of these that involve the participation of international health organisations such as the WHO and the OECD health committee; the nature of Ireland's participation in such events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62425/26]
3709. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if any conferences dedicated to tobacco control or vaping control will take place during the Irish Presidency of the EU; her views on whether such events can help accelerate the long-awaited tobacco products directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62424/26]
3633. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 223 of 8 July 2026, whether the NTPF procurement opportunity published on eTenders on 10 August 2026 under “Establishment of a Framework of Private Healthcare Providers for the Provision of Additional Healthcare Capacity” is the framework referred to in that response; whether this procurement forms part of her previously outlined plans for the procurement of ophthalmology services or if it is a separate procurement opportunity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62011/26]
3556. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an assessment by the CAMHS intellectual disability, CAMHS ID, team in Blackrock, Cork; whether support will be provided to the family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61621/26]
2877. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is aware of a potential gap in existing childcare capital schemes whereby community organisations seeking to develop new childcare facilities may be ineligible because they are not themselves existing childcare providers; whether this issue will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61076/26]
2876. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a community association which proposes to construct a purpose-built childcare facility, with the service subsequently operated by an independent childcare provider, is eligible for any existing or planned capital funding schemes; and if she will provide details of the funding options available. [61073/26]
2875. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider providing a capital funding mechanism for community associations seeking to construct new childcare facilities where the association would own the facility but lease its operation to a registered childcare provider; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61070/26]
2177. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a person (details supplied) will be considered for the upcoming citizenship ceremony in view that their citizenship application was recently granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60319/26]
2176. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe for the next citizenship ceremony to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60317/26]
1753. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider exempting childcare facilities from rates in the Budget process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61196/26]
1604. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an assessment of the effectiveness to date of measures introduced to combat fraudulent calls and SMS messages, including the SMS Sender ID Registry and number-spoofing protections; the further measures planned in response to fraudsters adapting their methods to circumvent these protections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61172/26]
1603. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on proposals being considered by ComReg to combat large-scale fraudulent SMS campaigns, including limits on unusually high volumes of SMS messages, automated blocking of SIM cards associated with scam activity and measures relating to the activation and use of prepaid SIM cards; the timeframe for the implementation of any such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61171/26]
1602. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether he is concerned at reports of a significant increase in fraudulent SMS campaigns in Ireland during 2026; the additional measures being considered to protect consumers from financial loss arising from SMS fraud; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61170/26]
1601. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department, in conjunction with ComReg, has examined the operation of SMS scam filtering systems in other EU Member States, including Belgium, Denmark and Poland; whether consideration is being given to introducing a comparable system in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61169/26]
1600. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether he intends to introduce legislation to provide a legal basis for the implementation of an SMS scam filter capable of identifying and blocking fraudulent SMS messages before they reach consumers; if so, the anticipated timeframe for such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61168/26]
1520. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department is reviewing the current arrangements governing substitute teaching by job sharing teachers on rostered off days, having regard to ongoing teacher supply needs and the temporary arrangements introduced in recent school years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63586/26]
1511. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the restriction contained in Circular 54/2019, which prevents job sharing teachers from undertaking substitute teaching on rostered-off days will again be lifted for the 2026-2027 school year; when guidance will issue to schools on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63584/26]
1510. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration will be given to permanently amending Circular 54/2019 to allow fully qualified Teaching Council registered job sharing teachers to undertake substitute teaching on their rostered off days, subject to their total working hours not exceeding those of a fulltime teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63585/26]
1508. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a taxi escort service will be put in place without delay on a route (details supplied) given that there is a taxi escort available for the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63597/26]
1505. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to strongly consider an emergency works scheme appeal for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63626/26]
1504. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an additional accommodation scheme application for a school (details supplied; the stage the application currently sits; when it is likely the school will move to the next phase of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63625/26]
1503. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review an appeal lodged in relation to the provision of a grant under the home tuition scheme for 2026/2027 for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63631/26]
857. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether consideration is being given to measures specifically aimed at assisting single income first time buyers who, despite earning above average incomes, are unable to purchase a home due to the gap between incomes and house prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63587/26]
856. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has examined the effectiveness of the help to buy scheme for single applicants; the proportion of beneficiaries who are single income purchasers; whether any changes to the scheme are being considered to improve affordability for such purchasers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63588/26]
855. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has assessed the increasing income levels required by single first time buyers to purchase a home; the measures being taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63589/26]
700. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the current status of the proposed Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill 2026; the timeframe for publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61254/26]
699. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the proposed Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill 2026 will provide for a move from the current specialist banking model for the issuance of covered bonds to a universal banking model; the assessment his Department has made of the benefits and risks of such a change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61255/26]
698. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of reforming the Asset Covered Securities framework on the competitiveness of Ireland’s banking sector, the ability of new entrants to access the Irish covered bond market and the availability and cost of mortgage credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.' [61256/26]
697. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider removing carer’s allowance and benefit as taxable payments for the purposes of PAYE, noting the role carer’s have in caring for loved ones and the service they provide to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61199/26]
242. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Defence whether members of the Permanent Defence Force serving out of engagement are expected to obtain private health insurance to meet the cost of medical investigations or treatment arising from a referral by a Defence Forces medical practitioner; her Department’s policy in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61154/26]
241. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Defence the arrangements that apply where a serving member of the Permanent Defence Force is referred by a Defence Forces medical practitioner to a private hospital or specialist for investigation or treatment; the circumstances in which her Department meets the cost of such treatment; whether different arrangements apply to personnel serving out of engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61153/26]
240. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Defence the healthcare and medical treatment entitlements of members of the Permanent Defence Force who are serving out of engagement; whether these entitlements differ from those of other serving members of the Permanent Defence Force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61151/26]
4278. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the status of an application (details supplied) to the Community Centre Investment Fund; when a decision is likely to be reached; if consideration will be given to awarding the requested funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57780/26]
4212. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a student (details supplied) was awarded a SUSI grant band 4 rather than band 1, that was received in prior years, despite no material increase in income and multiple allowable deductions; if the case will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58467/26]
4163. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a student (details supplied) was awarded a SUSI grant band 4 rather than band 1, that was received in prior years, despite no material increase in income and multiple allowable deductions; if the case will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58466/26]
4114. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to support the adoption of innovative technologies, including digital health and precision medicine, to improve outcomes for people living with neurological conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59313/26]
4113. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to the development of a national neurological registry to improve planning, service delivery and research; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59312/26]
4112. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the initiatives currently under way to improve diagnosis, treatment and multidisciplinary care for persons living with rare neurological diseases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59311/26]
4111. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the measures that are being taken to increase patient access to clinical trials for neurological conditions in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59310/26]
4110. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to address workforce shortages across neurological services, including neurology, neuropsychology, specialist nursing and allied health professions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59309/26]
4109. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the supports currently provided by his Department for collaborative neurological research initiatives (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59308/26]
4108. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the level of State funding provided for neurological and brain health research in each of the past five years; and whether additional funding is being considered to strengthen research capacity in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59307/26]
4107. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for access to community and inpatient neuro-rehabilitation services in each HSE health region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59306/26]
4106. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current number of consultant neurologists employed by the HSE; the recommended number based on population need; the number of vacant posts; and the plans in place to recruit additional consultants [59305/26]
4105. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the implementation of the National Policy and Strategy for the Provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services; the progress made to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59304/26]
3792. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the total number of the 19 maternity hospitals that are fully computerised/digitised, which can operate without paper files; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57718/26]