390. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection when a school (details supplied) which is part of the DEIS programme since 2022 will be entitled to avail of the hot school lunch provision under the school meals scheme; if he accepts a disparity exists between this school and others in the locality which have students from similarly disadvantaged backgrounds but have provision for hot school meals under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68139/25]
494. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans for the establishment of rapid access diagnostic clinics for pancreatic cancer, similar to those which already exist for breast, prostate and lung cancers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66836/25]
446. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason for the delay in the building works for a new ASD classroom (details supplied); if she will engage as a matter of urgency with the school and her Department to ensure the building works are completed as quickly as possible; the provision being made to ensure the children who were due to be in the ASD class in September 2025 are receiving an appropriate education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63079/25]
439. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on the provision of a new emergency department at Beaumont Hospital; when it is envisaged construction will begin; the planned timeline for completion; when the new department will be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62371/25]
279. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will sanction additional autism classes at a school (details supplied); if she will engage with the NCSE to increase the provision of autism classes and supports in the wider north Dublin area to match the increasing demands due to a growing large young population; if she will accept the request of a meeting with the school to discuss the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62551/25]
575. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when he will approve the pension increase that was agreed between An Post and the An Post trustees of the pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61829/25]
524. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth when DEIS Plus resources will be allocated directly to schools; if she will commit to ensure these funds are made available as soon as possible in order for schools to plan, allocate resources and ensure new staff are in place for the new school year in September 2026; when DEIS Plus is proposed to begin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61599/25]
1928. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the progress which has been made to ensure routine testing for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is included in the national newborn screening programme heel-prick test; when it is envisaged that every newborn baby will be screened for SMA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59289/25]
1927. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the timeline as to when the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority will be in a position to oversee and regulate donations of embryos for the purpose of fertility treatment; if any interim measures or guidance for clinics and patients will be issued while the framework is being finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59262/25]
1100. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is his intention to lower the voting age to 16; if there are plans for a referendum on this matter, and the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59261/25]
616. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the status of plans for Ireland’s membership of the European Unified Patent Court System; when it is expected a referendum on the subject will be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59259/25]
118. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made on holding a referendum to extend voting rights in Presidential elections to Irish citizens living in the north of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59260/25]
183. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will immediately intervene in the case of a child (details supplied) who has been unable to secure an appropriate place in a secondary school for this coming year, despite extensive engagement by the parents with the National Council for Special Education and CDNT teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54250/25]
182. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 24 September 2025, the estimated savings to the Exchequer given that these teaching posts were budgeted for with specific reference to schools in the DEIS scheme. [54252/25]
680. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of files referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding individuals involved in the disorder in Dublin city centre on 23 November 2023. [51352/25]
62. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth f the tender process has concluded at a school (details supplied); if so, if sufficient qualifying contractors were identified; if the evaluation of tender submissions has been completed; if so, the outcome; if a preferred contractor has been formally appointed; if not, when this expected will take place; if the project remains on schedule to commence construction in Q1 and Q2 2026, as previously stated by her school visit in May 2025; and if a public or written notice will be issued regarding the appointment of the successful contractor and confirmation of the project timeline. [50619/25]
61. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teaching posts at primary level that were unfilled in the Dublin area, 2024/2025 school year; the number of teaching days where no teacher was appointed in the Dublin area, 2024/2025 school year; the number of these unfilled posts in the Dublin area that were in schools in the DEIS scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50616/25]
250. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the Transport for Ireland decision to not allow third level students to renew their student Leap cards if they have less than six months left in their college or third level term; if he accepts this can disproportionately affect final year students at a time when they are already facing increased living costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48960/25]
249. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on efforts to tackle the issue of long waiting lists at the driving test centres in Killester and Raheny; the current wait times at these centres; the number of additional permanent and temporary staff deployed to these centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48959/25]
2317. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the status of the health technology assessment of the muscular dystrophy drug (details supplied); if she will consider the inclusion of this drug on the drugs payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45581/25]
1625. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the additional steps or measures being taken to reduce the prevalence and circulation of illegal fireworks and bangers in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45828/25]
972. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the engagement she has had with Marino Institute of Education to bring its Bachelor of Science in Education Studies and its Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education courses under the free fees initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46590/25]
936. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she will take in the case of a child (details supplied) who has been unable to secure an appropriate place in a secondary school for September 2025 despite extensive engagement by their parents with the National Council for Special Education and CDNT teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46363/25]
861. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the status of the new permanent building for a school (details supplied); to confirm that it remains on course to go to tender in quarter three of 2025; to confirm if construction will begin in the first half of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45914/25]
521. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the failure of the main Irish banks to pass on successive ECB interest rate cuts to their mortgage customers at a time when these same banks are making record profits; if the Minister will outline the discussions he has had with these banks about passing on these rate cuts to variable rate customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45748/25]
2727. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the alternatives available for workers wishing to register with CORU but find that their employer refuses to complete the necessary forms; if she plans to make it easier for workers to register for CORU in such situations where an employer is unco-operative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41718/25]
2259. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to address the problem of childcare providers exiting the core funding scheme; if a review into the core funding scheme is underway; the number of providers that have exited the scheme in the past twelve months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40821/25]
472. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the engagement his Department has had with retired Aer Lingus and DAA workers over cuts to their pension scheme in 2015; his plans to address the significant reductions which they suffered as a result of the cuts to the Irish airlines superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42313/25]
481. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify when building works for a new autism classroom at a school (details supplied) will be completed; the interim solution in place for children offered a place in this autism class for September but will be unable to start at the school until these building works are complete; the engagement the Department has had with parents of these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39231/25]
855. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to make the meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine available free of charge to older citizens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36177/25]
357. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the status of the independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 from the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35601/25]
338. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify the situation regarding funding that was approved for a school (details supplied) approximately six years ago for the renovation of its science laboratory; the reasons for the delay; when these works will take place; if she will ensure that her Department liaises with the school as a matter of urgency on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35309/25]
187. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health to clarify if it is considered best practice that all pancreatic cancer patients, regardless of family history, receive genetic testing to identify and detect a possible inherited predisposition to such cancer in close family relatives; if she will clarify the timeline between a referral for such testing and the actual test being conducted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34653/25]
428. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the allocation of teaching resources at a school (details supplied) has been reduced; if she is aware that this reduction will result in class sizes of over 35 pupils; to clarify what reductions have been made to the special education teaching resources of the school, and the reasoning why; if these reductions can be reversed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34181/25]
364. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he will approve the proposed Contract Cleaning Joint Labour Committee proposal for an Employment Regulation Order (27th February 2025) to increase pay in the sector to €14.10 per-hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34241/25]
291. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will ensure a school (details supplied) has funding for an extra teacher; if she is aware that two second classes are to be merged into one resulting in a class size of 34 students; the measures she is taking to reduce class sizes to ensure children get the appropriate attention they need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33408/25]
75. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will engage as a matter of urgency with a school (details supplied) in relation to the allocation of an extra special needs assistant, which is required for a student in an ASD class for the coming school year; if there is any cap or freeze on the recruitment of special needs assistants; if so to, the specific criteria being used to make these decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32932/25]
74. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the 1,600 additional special needs assistant posts announced in Budget 2025 have been awarded; if these 1,600 posts are all full-time posts and, if not, to provide a breakdown of the posts and their hours; the status of recruitment to fill these posts; when the SNA allocations for the 2025-2026 school year will be publicly announced by the National Council for Special Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32931/25]
68. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will engage directly with a school (details supplied) in terms of sanctioning a home school community liaison post for the school in order to help increase attendance, retention targets and educational outcomes among students and ease the administrative burden on the principal and staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32877/25]
17. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the status of the scheme committee governing the CIÉ superannuation scheme 1951; if he is satisfied that work is being undertaken to ensure proper governance of the scheme, including a fully functioning scheme committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32880/25]
959. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the commitment to introduce a tuition support scheme for graduate entry medicine; if he accepts the urgent need to deal with the financial costs facing students in light of the discontinuation of Bank of Ireland’s graduate entry medicine loan scheme; if he will ensure a financial support solution is found in time for the 2025 intake of students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32288/25]
573. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available to those workers suffering with effects of long Covid and currently availing of special leave with pay for Covid-19 when this scheme comes to an end on 30 June 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32630/25]
229. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the number of taxis in the Dublin area that are wheelchair accessible; what is being done to increase the number of wheelchair accessible taxis in the fleet; if he is aware of any issues preventing more taxi drivers from operating wheelchair accessible vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32287/25]