1555. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline for the reopening of the building blocks capital grant scheme; if the eligibility criteria will remain the same, or be widened in the next round; if her Department has a strategy to encourage the establishment and expansion of community-based childcare services in areas of high demand where property and rental costs act as a barrier to private provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59365/25]
1554. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of Exchequer funding provided to Pobal in 2025 for early years and childcare programmes; if any part of this allocation may be affected by the current industrial dispute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59364/25]
1553. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the potential operational impact of the work-to-rule action by Pobal early years specialists on the delivery of supports to childcare providers and early-learning settings; the contingency arrangements that are in place to mitigate any disruption to services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59363/25]
1107. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if homeowners who have already undertaken remediation works due to confirmed pyrite damage will be eligible to retrospectively claim support under the defective concrete blocks scheme, once their local authority is included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59367/25]
1029. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm whether the properties in an area sampled by the Housing Agency meet the criteria for inclusion in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; if he will outline the next steps for affected homeowners (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58428/25]
1028. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the Housing Agency's report on defective concrete blocks in Fingal; if he will outline the findings relevant to an area (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58427/25]
688. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of educational psychologists currently employed by NEPS; the number of additional appointments planned to meet increasing demand in schools, nationally and in North County Dublin; and the way in which her Department is ensuring that the SCPA scheme continues to function; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58200/25]
687. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way her Department is addressing the ongoing demand for psychological assessments in schools, particularly in areas where NEPS psychologists are not currently assigned; whether the current SCPA panel and funding levels are sufficient to ensure equitable access to assessment for all students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58199/25]
686. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide details of any recent or planned increases in the number of NEPS psychologists or SCPA panel members to support this work, nationally and in North County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58198/25]
685. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department is ensuring that the scheme for the commissioning of psychological assessments (SCPA) is sufficiently resourced to meet the growing demand for psychological assessments in schools; the current number of psychologists on the SCPA panel nationally and the regional breakdown available for North County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58197/25]
332. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the contingency plans in place to ensure service continuity for affected routes, particularly in areas where the battery-electric fleet was expected to be deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58848/25]
331. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if any issues have been detected with the battery-electric train carriages received to date; and the impact these issues will have on the overall cost and timeline of the fleet’s integration into service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58847/25]
330. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if the delays in deployment of battery-electric train carriages have resulted in any additional costs to the State, including but not limited to operational adjustments, interim fleet measures, or technical remediation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58846/25]
329. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if the supplier of the battery-electric train carriages has offered any form of credit, refund, or contractual compensation to the State due to the delays in deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58845/25]
328. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the continued delay in the deployment of the battery-electric train carriages; and whether these delays are linked to technical or operational issues identified during initial testing or delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58844/25]
327. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the expected timeline for the deployment of the new battery-electric train sets, in view of the further delays reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58843/25]
307. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether the contract with the supplier of electric train carriages for the DART+ Coastal North project includes provisions or penalty clauses that would allow the State to recover costs in the event of delivery delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58473/25]
306. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if the State will have an opportunity to recoup any costs associated with the DART+ Coastal North project, in light of ongoing delays in the delivery of electric train carriages due to supplier issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58472/25]
102. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Taoiseach when the CSO will publish an updated set of the Employment Analysis of Maternity and Paternity Benefits 2019-2022. [58414/25]
70. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will reconsider the expansion of reading classes in Fingal, given the demographic growth and increasing demand for dyslexia-specific supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59753/25]
18. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the review of the assistive technology scheme; if her Department plans to move away from diagnosis-based eligibility criteria; when the new application portal will be launched; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59754/25]
196. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the projected number of patients expected to be treated at the Swords surgical hub on a monthly and annual basis; the estimates for day-case procedures, minor operations and outpatient consultations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57526/25]
195. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the number of operating theatres, endoscopy bays, and associated treatment rooms included in the Swords surgical hub; the breakdown of the clinical infrastructure planned for the facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57525/25]
194. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health when the Swords surgical hub at unit 1, Swords Business Campus will be fully operational; the expected timeline for completion of construction and fit-out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57524/25]
415. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the Teaching Council’s current policy regarding the recognition of teaching qualifications obtained through online programmes from UK universities; if she will ensure that such qualifications are treated equitably in the registration process, particularly where professional placement was completed in an Irish school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57087/25]
414. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will assess the impact of Teaching Council registration delays and route transfer barriers on the availability of qualified teachers in Dublin schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57086/25]
413. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the impact the current barriers to registration and induction are having on teacher supply, particularly in areas experiencing acute shortages such as north County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57085/25]
412. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will intervene to ensure that teachers registered under route 3, who are actively teaching in Irish schools, are not excluded from accessing the Droichead process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57084/25]
411. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the means by which her Department is addressing the situation whereby teachers registered under route 3 are currently prevented from commencing the Droichead process, despite being actively employed in Irish schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57083/25]
410. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will request the Teaching Council to review cases where teachers with comparable qualifications and experience have received inconsistent decisions regarding their registration route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57082/25]
409. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will investigate reported inconsistencies in the Teaching Council’s handling of registration route transfers, particularly in cases where teachers with similar qualifications and experience have received differing outcomes; if she will ensure that all applicants are treated equitably and in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57081/25]
408. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of ongoing communication challenges between the Teaching Council and applicants seeking to transfer their registration routes; the steps being taken to ensure timely, transparent and supportive communication with teachers who are actively employed in schools and awaiting guidance on their registration status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57080/25]
407. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the implementation of the proposed timebound provision for transferring teachers from route 3 to route 1 of the Teaching Council register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57079/25]
405. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress of school building projects in Donabate, including any sites earmarked for schools as part of housing developments currently underway or planned; if she will outline the engagement to date between her Department, Fingal County Council, and relevant developers or construction companies regarding these sites; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57026/25]
372. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department tracks the uptake and impact of professional development programmes related to dyslexia and numeracy support among teachers assigned to special education needs roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56481/25]
371. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the mechanisms in place to monitor the quality and consistency of special education provision in mainstream schools, particularly in relation to literacy and numeracy support for children with dyslexia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56480/25]
370. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has conducted a workforce planning analysis for areas of high population growth such as Fingal, specifically in relation to the availability of teachers with specialist training in dyslexia, literacy and numeracy support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56479/25]
369. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will consider introducing mandatory, accredited training modules in dyslexia support and numeracy intervention for all those assigned to special education needs roles in mainstream settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56478/25]
368. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has assessed the extent to which unqualified or non-registered personnel are currently delivering special education support, including literacy and numeracy interventions, in mainstream schools; the rationale for permitting such practice; the safeguards in place to ensure quality and consistency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56477/25]
367. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department maintains data on the number of teachers currently assigned to special education needs classes who hold specific qualifications or accredited training in dyslexia support, structured literacy instruction, or numeracy interventions; if not, the reason for the absence of such data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56476/25]
240. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm the revised delivery timeline for the DART+ coastal north project; if he will clarify whether the project has been further delayed to Q2 2027; the reasons for any such delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56506/25]
112. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland’s embassy and consulate network is being utilised to promote SME trade opportunities abroad; if he will provide examples of recent initiatives or successes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57069/25]
104. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail the collaborative efforts between his Department and Enterprise Ireland in supporting SMEs to overcome trade barriers and expand internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57070/25]
99. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the implementation of the town and village renewal scheme; the way in which the impact of this scheme is being measured in terms of community wellbeing and economic activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54981/25]
38. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the specific measures being taken to address the underrepresentation of women in certain STEM fields, particularly engineering, computer science and physics at third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54976/25]
33. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is working with the Department of Education and Youth to improve gender balance in STEM subject uptake at second level, with a view to influencing third-level course choices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54977/25]
84. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the lessons which have been learned from the closure of the Charlestown driving test centre; the way in which these will inform future site selection, stakeholder engagement, and contingency planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55654/25]
83. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the communication protocols which exist between the Road Safety Authority and local authorities regarding infrastructure changes near driving test centres; the reason there was a breakdown in communication in the case of Charlestown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55653/25]
82. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the impacts which have been observed in Finglas since the closure of the Charlestown driving test centre, including changes in waiting times, pass rates, or operational pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55652/25]
81. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if the Finglas driving test centre has sufficient capacity to absorb the testers and candidates previously assigned to Charlestown; the assessment which has been carried out to ensure service levels are maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55651/25]