4109. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students studying occupational therapy, dietetics, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, psychology and psychotherapy in each higher education institution, for each of the past five years; the number graduating annually from each discipline; the number of funded training places available in each year, in tabular form; whether a shortfall in graduates is contributing to HSE vacancies and extended waiting lists in disability and community services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63573/26]
3990. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that Ireland has only one dedicated specialist HD nurse for the entire national population (details supplied); if she will contrast this lack of resources with the multi-disciplinary clinic networks available to the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) community in Ireland and HD families in Scotland; and if she will provide an immediate, definitive timeline for the establishment of specialist multidisciplinary clinics to ensure Irish HD patients have equal access to clinical trials and co-ordinated lifetime care. [63572/26]
1963. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the structural trap facing middle-income households who earn above the social housing income limits but cannot bridge the deposit gap for new-build homes or access the first home scheme due to rapid market inflation; the measures his Department is taking to provide dedicated housing security and purchase pathways for long-term private renters in this specific bracket who are at risk of displacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63579/26]
1943. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of staffing sanction requests submitted to his Department by each of the 31 local authorities for new or additional posts across all functional areas for the years 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026; the specific number of these requests that were approved, rejected, or are currently awaiting decision by his Department; the specific number of sanctions requested and granted for general outdoor maintenance and parks staff during this same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63581/26]
4008. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the recent High Court judgment by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, which described the total absence of a coordinated care pathway for Huntington's disease (HD) in Ireland as "shameful" and "urgently required"; the reason the comprehensive proposal for a National HD Care Pathway submitted to the HSE by clinical experts and an organisation (details supplied) has not been implemented or funded; and if she will make a statement on this matter. [63571/26]
3114. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons for the shortage of qualified professionals in the areas of occupational therapy, dietetics, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, psychology and psychotherapy; whether she is concerned that these shortages are contributing to long-standing vacancies within Children's Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), including in Gorey CDNT where vacancies have reportedly remained unfilled for over 55 months; the measures being taken to recruit and retain staff in these disciplines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63574/26]
2799. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a full statistical breakdown of the total number of live cattle and calves exported from Ireland to date this year compared to the same period in 2025; the volume of these exports broken down by destination country; if his attention has been drawn to recent industry meetings in Athlone highlighting structural deficits in shipping infrastructure following the withdrawal of a service (details supplied) from transporting live animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63569/26]
2798. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific, measurable actions his Department is taking to identify, inspect and approve alternative vessel capacity ahead of the autumn weanling trade and next spring's calf export season; if he has engaged directly with alternative commercial ferry operators to ensure continuous access to the single market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63570/26]
2792. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason beef prices are reported to be approximately €1.10 per kilogram lower than at the same period last year; the factors contributing to this decline; the engagement his Department has had with meat processors and manufacturers regarding cattle prices; whether he is concerned that the reduction in beef prices, coupled with increased production costs, is placing significant financial pressure on beef farmers; the measures he plans to take to support farm incomes and ensure a fair return for primary producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter [63575/26]
2630. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will intervene following a decision (details supplied) to require all passengers travelling between Ireland and Great Britain to present a valid passport from 28 September 2026 due to changes being introduced to comply with UK Border Force data requirements; whether he has received legal advice on whether this requirement is compatible with the Common Travel Area Agreement; and if he will make a statement on this matter. [63576/26]
2629. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether exemptions will apply to residents of the North of Ireland under the new travel arrangements due to come into effect on 28 September 2026; the categories of persons who will be exempt; and if he will make a statement on the matter [63577/26]
886. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will review the eligibility criteria for the help to buy (HTB) incentive scheme, to address the exclusion of Irish citizens living permanently in the State who operate as cross-border workers, paying income tax in Northern Ireland but residing in the Republic of Ireland, who are currently disqualified from the scheme due to not having paid a minimum threshold of income tax or Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) directly within the jurisdiction over the preceding four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63578/26]
873. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department is reviewing the equity of Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) relationship bands to better reflect modern Irish family structures; if his attention has been drawn to recent advocacy campaigns highlighting the discriminatory impact of the severely depressed Group B (€40,000) and Group C (€20,000) lifetime thresholds on childless individuals who wish to pass family homes or assets down to nieces, nephews, siblings, or cohabiting partners; and the measures his Department will consider ahead of the upcoming Budget to expand tax-free thresholds for non-lineal descendants. [63580/26]
3799. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health if she will consider extending the current state funded IVF scheme to allow who had previous IVF Treatment to be admitted to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57810/26]
2947. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to address the situation whereby 1,209 people under the age of 65 are currently living in nursing homes due to a lack of appropriate community-based support options, including 169 people under the age of 50; her plans to provide suitable alternative accommodation and supports to enable these individuals to live independently within their communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57814/26]
2715. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current processing times for enduring power of attorney, EPA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57794/26]
2616. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish an independent investigation into the enforcement operation that saw a large number of cattle euthanised, with a view to determining whether departmental procedures were followed; whether every reasonable option was considered before the decision was made to destroy the animals; whether the operation was conducted in an appropriate and proportionate manner; if shortcomings or mistakes were identified, if he will ensure that they are acknowledged and addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57791/26]
2444. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he accepts that the Governments assertion that there is 'no evidence to link increased migration with an increase in crime' is contradicted by data and statistics from across the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59190/26]
2443. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he accepts that Ireland is an outlier in the EU in terms of being the only EU country that has a criminal law which specifically prohibits naming asylum seekers who commit crimes; if he plans to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59188/26]
2442. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the extent to which section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015 impacts the reporting of criminal proceedings by the media; if his Department has issued, or intends to issue, updated guidance to media organisations. [59187/26]
2441. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he accepts that the Government's assertion that there is 'no evidence to link increased migration with an increase in crime' is contradicted by data and statistics from across the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59084/26]
2440. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he accepts that Ireland is an outlier in the EU in terms of being the only EU country that has a criminal law which specifically prohibits naming asylum seekers who commit crimes; if he has plans to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59082/26]
2439. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the extent to which section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015 impacts the reporting of criminal proceedings by the media; if his Department has issued, or intends to issue, updated guidance to media organisations to clarify the distinction between protecting an applicant's identity and reporting on public court proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59081/26]
2397. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to examine the insertion of a definition of "good character" in terms of Ireland's naturalisation process, which relies on residency requirements and an assessment of "good character" [58432/26]
2396. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department will consider placing more emphasis on expectations such as working, contributing to society, learning the language and integrating into Irish life at citizenship ceremonies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58431/26]
2395. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason Ireland is the only European Union member state that does not require applicants for naturalised citizenship to demonstrate language proficiency or undergo a civics examination before becoming citizens; if he will consider such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58430/26]
2391. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Government will revisit its Migrant Integration Strategy 2017-2020, and commission the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) to carry out a piece of research to include a review of civics and language testing, and a mapping exercise on international activity and best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58353/26]
2390. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Government will introduce language and civics tests for people seeking naturalised Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58352/26]
2389. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on whether Ireland is an outlier in the EU in terms of the absence of a language requirement for people seeking naturalised Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58350/26]
2388. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the recent revelation that a person (details supplied) convicted over the 2023 Parnell Square stabbing attack, had been granted Irish citizenship despite reportedly not speaking English or Irish and having no work history in Ireland after 25 years, should prompt a wider national debate about immigration, integration and the criteria for Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58347/26]
2387. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on whether, if Ireland wants a sustainable immigration system that retains public confidence, policymakers must be prepared to have an honest conversation about immigration, integration, and citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58345/26]
2338. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will confirm that a singer has been available to sing "Amhrán na bhFiann" at each citizenship ceremony; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57802/26]
2337. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a breakdown of the cost of each citizenship ceremony that has taken place since 2000; the number of new citizens sworn in at each ceremony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57801/26]
2336. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of additional staff recruited to implement the EU Migration pact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57797/26]
2335. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the initial projected implementation cost of the EU Migration Pact between 2026 and 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57796/26]
2126. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to examine the insertion of a definition of "good character" in terms of Ireland's naturalisation process, which relies on residency requirements and an assessment of "good character"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58429/26]
2125. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason Ireland is the only European Union member state that does not require applicants for naturalised citizenship to demonstrate language proficiency or undergo a civics examination before becoming citizens; if he will consider such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58428/26]
2124. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Government will revisit its Migrant Integration Strategy 2017-2020; to commission the Irish naturalisation and immigration service to carry out a piece of research to include a review of civics and language testing; to include a mapping exercise on international activity and best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58427/26]
1936. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to introducing a dedicated re-training and education support scheme for people who have spent significant periods outside the workforce undertaking unpaid caring and homemaking duties and who now wish to return to employment but face financial barriers to accessing education and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57798/26]
1821. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Ireland's habitual residency rule, that allows access to state Housing supports, HAP and other public services after 52 weeks residency, makes us an outlier in the EU; if Ireland has considered increasing the timescale beyond one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58437/26]
1820. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he would be prepared to publish anonymised annual statistics on the nationality of those on the housing and HAP lists in Ireland, that elected reps can access, in terms of numbers of Irish citizens, EU citizens and non-EU citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58436/26]
1819. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he would be prepared to request that local authorities record anonymised annual statistics on the nationality of those on their housing and HAP lists in Ireland, that elected reps can access, in terms of numbers of Irish citizens, EU citizens and non-EU citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58435/26]
1818. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the interest of transparency, objectivity, better-informed policy discussions, and having an evidence-based democracy, if he would accept that the vacuum of information in relation to the nationalities of those on the housing list is contributing to misinformation online around the subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58434/26]
1761. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the training that is being made available to firefighters, in the event of a fire at a solar farm; if funding for future training is being made available to each of the fire stations in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57809/26]
1760. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of residential estates in Wicklow and Wexford where residents have applied to be taken in charge, but have not yet been approved; if he will provide a breakdown, for Wicklow and Wexford and list the timeframe residents have been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57800/26]
1759. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by each of the local authorities on consultants in the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by county. [57795/26]
1757. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with Wicklow County Council regarding the housing adaptation grant for older people and the reported decision to cease accepting new applications; the reasons for this decision; whether additional funding will be provided to allow the scheme to reopen to new applicants; the number of applications currently awaiting assessment or approval in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57787/26]
1756. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated by his Department to Wicklow County Council in each of the last five years; if he will provide a breakdown of this funding on a year-by-year basis, detailing the schemes, programmes and initiatives under which the funding was provided, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57786/26]
1755. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will examine measures to increase the harvesting and storage of rainwater, given growing concerns about water shortages during periods of prolonged high temperatures; whether consideration has been given to a national strategy for rainwater harvesting and water storage infrastructure, recognising that Ireland receives significant rainfall throughout much of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57783/26]
1343. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a schools folklore collection could be re-instated for school children, of primary age, similar to the 1937 and 1939 scheme which stands as one of the largest grassroots oral history projects ever undertaken anywhere and built almost entirely by children simply listening to their elders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57811/26]