1499. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to ensure that the school transport scheme can accommodate the Programme for Government commitment to provide for an additional 100,000 students by 2030; the projected increase in school transport demand arising from this population growth; and will she make a statement on the matter. [63548/26]
1498. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated capital and current expenditure required to expand the school transport scheme to meet projected student population growth to 2030, for each year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63550/26]
1497. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the additional number of school buses and drivers that will be required to facilitate the expansion of the school transport scheme to 2030; and will she make a statement on the matter. [63551/26]
1496. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a review has been undertaken of the current distance eligibility criteria for school transport; whether proposals to reduce these criteria are under consideration; and will she make a statement on the matter. [63552/26]
1460. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the capacity of the school transport route serving students in an area (details supplied) in view of reports that all available places for the 2026/2027 school year have been allocated, and that pupils who previously travelled on a concessionary basis have been unable to secure tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63135/26]
1459. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has received requests from Bus Éireann for additional capacity on the school transport route serving a school (details supplied); whether an assessment has been undertaken of demand on this route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63136/26]
1458. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration is being given to amending the school transport scheme, to provide greater certainty for students who have previously travelled on a school transport service, on a concessionary basis but subsequently lose access to that service due to capacity constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63137/26]
1457. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department is taking to ensure school transport capacity keeps pace with population growth and increasing school enrolment numbers in rapidly expanding communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63138/26]
1456. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review a school transport application for a student (details supplied), who has travelled on the school transport service for the previous two academic years but was unsuccessful in securing a place for the 2026/2027 school year due to capacity constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63139/26]
1455. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of school transport routes that were oversubscribed for the 2026/2027 school year; the number of eligible and concessionary applicants who were unsuccessful in securing places due to capacity constraints, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63140/26]
1454. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the circumstances of a school transport application for a person (details supplied), whose application for transport for the 2026/2027 school year was unsuccessful due to capacity constraints despite an existing Bus Éireann service operating along the route and passing the students collection point; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63141/26]
913. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he is satisfied that departments and public bodies responsible for major procurement and infrastructure projects retain sufficient internal procurement, commercial, technical, project and contract management expertise to act as informed clients and effectively challenge and manage external consultants and contractors; the way in which the capability is assessed; the minimum capability requirements that apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61157/26]
910. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the findings and recommendations arising from reviews and evaluations of major public projects are collated centrally; if there is a central mechanism to track implementation of recommendations and ensure lessons identified in one department or public body are applied across the public sector; if not, whether he intends to establish such a mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61156/26]
909. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if central monitoring of major public projects includes assessment of whether the benefits and outcomes identified in the original business case are subsequently delivered; the person or body responsible for monitoring benefits realisation following project completion; if this information is reported centrally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61158/26]
469. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the original contracted cost and current forecast total cost of the Next Generation Ticketing programme; whether any additional payments, contract variations, change requests or other additional costs have arisen or are anticipated; the value and reason for each such additional cost; and will he make a statement on the matter. [62086/26]
468. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether the current delivery timetable for the Next Generation Ticketing programme remains achievable; the principal risks to delivery of contactless payments within that timetable; the oversight and reporting arrangements that are in place to monitor cost, milestones and contractor performance; and will he make a statement on the matter. [62089/26]
461. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the current status of the Next Generation Ticketing programme, including the delivery of contactless bank card and mobile device payments across public transport; the key outstanding milestones; the expected date for commencement of contactless payments for passengers; and will he make a statement on the matter. [62078/26]
460. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport to set out the original and current timelines for each key phase of the Next Generation Ticketing programme; whether any milestones or delivery dates have been missed, deferred or revised since the contract was awarded; the reasons for each such change; and will he make a statement on the matter. [62080/26]
459. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the total expenditure on the Next Generation Ticketing programme to date; the total amount paid to the principal contractor to date; the total amount paid to all other contractors, consultants, advisers and third parties; to provide a breakdown of expenditure by category, including technology and systems, hardware and equipment, professional and consultancy services, project management, staffing and other costs; and will he make a statement on the matter. [62083/26]
454. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport in light of the increased numbers of citizens returning to Ireland from abroad whether he has considered new measures to streamline the foreign driver license exchange service offered by the RSA to allow valid foreign license holders from recognised states to drive on these licenses for a limited period while their applications for an Irish license are processed, and if he will make a statement on the matter [61865/26]
3394. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE or her Department has issued national guidance to maternity hospitals regarding overnight access for partners or designated support persons in postnatal settings; if such guidance exists, the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56200/26]
3393. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health whether consideration has been given to allowing overnight partner or support-person stays for women with clinical or support needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56199/26]
2920. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of referrals for an AON that were made to Dublin North County Healthcare over the past three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57627/26]
2919. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children awaiting their AON in Dublin North County Healthcare area (Swords and Balbriggan); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57626/26]
2918. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the frequency with which IFSP reviews are carried out by the CDNT in Swords and Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57625/26]
2917. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children referred to the CDNT in Swords and Balbriggan that are waiting on their review IFSP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57624/26]
2916. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children referred to the CDNT in Swords and Balbriggan that are waiting on their first IFSP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57623/26]
2915. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children listed for the secondary school transition group within the Swords and Balbriggan CDNT; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57616/26]
2914. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any consideration has been given to organising the social sensory group sessions at weekends or evening times to accommodate working parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57615/26]
2913. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of social sensory group sessions arranged by the CDNT in Swords and Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57614/26]
2912. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children that are waiting on an invitation to the social sensory group sessions by the CDNT in Swords and Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57613/26]
2911. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children that have taken up the social sensory group sessions offered by the CDNT in Swords and Balbriggan since it was introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57612/26]
2910. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of psychology assessments that were carried out by the CDNT in Swords and Balbriggan for children transitioning into primary and post primary school in the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57611/26]
2909. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for a psychology assessment within the CDNT in Swords and Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57610/26]
2908. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for therapies who were referred to the CDNT in Swords and Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57609/26]
2907. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures the HSE have undertaken to recruit and retain more staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57608/26]
2906. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the level of staff vacancies across the AON teams and CDNTs in each CHO for Dublin, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57607/26]
2045. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection the format the consultation process will take in relation to the upcoming public consultation paper on pay-related parents leave scheduled for Autumn 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57570/26]
2044. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposed timeline for the publication of the public consultation on pay-related parent's leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57569/26]
1228. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the extent to which verified teaching experience gained overseas is taken into account by the Teaching Council when assessing registration applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56210/26]
1227. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Teaching Council applications from teachers qualified outside the State over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56209/26]
1226. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average processing time for applications for Teaching Council registration from teachers qualified outside the State in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56208/26]
1225. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Teaching Council registration requirements impacts teacher recruitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56207/26]
1224. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to request a review of the Teaching Council's registration process for teachers who obtained their teaching qualifications and professional experience outside Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56206/26]
1181. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if condition surveys have been undertaken at schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55709/26]
912. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the engagement the Office of Public Works has had with Fingal County Council regarding ongoing coastal erosion issues affecting Rush; whether any joint projects are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58010/26]
911. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the funding streams currently available through the Office of Public Works to local authorities for coastal erosion mitigation projects; whether Fingal County Council has applied for such funding in respect of Rush; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58009/26]
910. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Office of Public Works has plans to provide or support coastal defence and erosion prevention works in Rush, County Dublin; the proposed measures under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58008/26]
909. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Office of Public Works has undertaken or plans to undertake, a coastal erosion risk assessment in Rush, County Dublin; if so, when such assessments were completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58007/26]
494. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the plans under the BusConnects Network Redesign to establish a bus route between Swords and Beaumont Hospital; to provide a timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57038/26]