700. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on the additional schools accommodation application submitted by a school (details supplied) for the expansion of special needs classes; when funding will be allocated for the project; and the expected timeline for completion. [11943/25]
654. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the measures being considered to support children with special educational needs who are unable to attend mainstream or special schools due to severe anxiety, ASD, or other related conditions; if there are plans to expand long-term online learning options beyond temporary home tuition schemes; if consideration will be given to developing structured, accredited online education pathways for these students to ensure they have access to qualifications and future opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11622/25]
579. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education her views on progress in fulfilling the commitment made by the previous Government to build a replacement of a school (details supplied) which is 50 years old this year; to outline where the project is at present; the reason for the delay in commencing works; and if she will commit to a timeline for completion. [10973/25]
571. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education if she will facilitate a meeting, as requested in correspondence to her office on 4 March 2025, between the principals of schools (details supplied) and senior officials of her Department as a matter of urgency to find a solution to the schools’ crisis financial situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10840/25]
507. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the options available to a person (details supplied) to remain working longer within the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10724/25]
385. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance to explain significant changes in budget 2025 to the tax relief annual contribution limits for PRSAs; if the identification by the Revenue Commissioners be outlined where 125 companies had each transferred at least €100,000 into individual PRSAs to exploit generous tax reliefs, with 17 of these cases involving contributions exceeding €500,000, and some surpassing €1.3 million within a single year; how many of the cases involved non-principal family members with less than one year’s service, and company directors with more than 5 years’ service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10744/25]
381. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the assertion by the Revenue Commissioners that the Finance Act 2022 inadvertently created a loophole allowing employers to make unlimited, tax-free contributions to employee PRSAs, contrary to the policy's original intent, resulting in significant tax avoidance by a small cohort of companies, when the majority of company directors utilised it to effectively back-fund their pensions before retirement; the reason the rule was not simply made subject to a minimum service requirement or aligned with the rules governing occupational pension schemes; how does the rule address pension regulations in line with current Government policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10592/25]
327. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice with regard to the operation of the immigrant investor programme, what the status is of those applications which had been lodged with the Department in advance of the termination of the programme. [10314/25]
325. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice the number of EVs within the Garda fleet at present; if he will outline how the numbers have grown in the past two or three years; the number of Garda stations fitted with EV charging facilities in the time prior to his own appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10286/25]
308. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on rent supplement limits (details supplied); whether he considers these to be completely outdated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10256/25]
274. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the plans in place for the introduction of extra time in second level examinations for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia and other learning difficulties (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10318/25]
219. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport the reason residents in Dublin south west appear to be pushed to the back of the queue for the major spine upgrades, and the A spine due to replace the 15 is yet to be rolled out, and appears similarly delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10380/25]
218. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport given that BusConnects is a major plank of Government policy, the reason the proposed F1 route, which will replace routes 49 and 65b, due to service constituents across Knocklyon, Templeogue and Firhouse, and was originally due to come in to force in Q1 2024, has been consistently pushed out; and the current estimated date is end of 2025, depending on resources and so on. [10379/25]
213. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of any considerations being made for the provision of a new bus service to Dublin Airport from areas such as Templeogue, Rathfarnham and Tallaght, as the ‘Tallaght Hopper’ has ceased service, and these areas now have no transport connection to the airport apart from expensive taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10254/25]
146. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason emergency care is only provided by Children's Health Ireland to children and young people under 16 years, and not until after that while they may still be at school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10146/25]
104. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when the free HRT therapy programme will be rolled out to pharmacists as promised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10147/25]
222. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that students that study remotely are deemed ineligible for the SUSI grant even though it can have a life-changing impact on them (details supplied). [10032/25]
195. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when the holders of degrees in athletic therapy from Dublin City University will be automatically accepted, as is the case under the Health and Care Professionals Council in the UK, to qualify for a Masters in physiotherapy in University College Dublin and University of Galway; and the reason CORU is taking so long to recognise this. [10024/25]
83. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education when the expansion of special needs classes in a school (details supplied) will be approved; when funding will be made available; the timeline for any such project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10014/25]
791. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is an inspection regime and agreed inspection protocols in relation to the operation of crematoria in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9697/25]
790. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will examine the introduction of regulations that govern both crematoria and the undertaking business; and his views on the case of persons (details supplied). [9687/25]
789. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason full-time online students, who receive the same education and qualifications as on-campus students and who qualify for the €1,000 fee refund, remain ineligible for the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9644/25]
446. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the many scenarios in which citizens and registered voters are unable to exercise the right to vote due to, for example, illness (including Covid); holidays; work abroad; and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9572/25]
311. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the introduction of an individual savings account scheme in Ireland, similar to the UK model, to encourage long-term savings, promote investment, enhance financial inclusion, and support homeownership; if he will outline any analysis undertaken on its potential benefits for the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9571/25]
251. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport if it can be ensured that all active travel schemes being funded by the Government, via the NTA, pay equal attention to sustainable travel obligations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9291/25]
106. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport his plans for the provision of bus park-and-ride facilities serving the commuter and Dublin populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9405/25]
211. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance if he will liaise with the Revenue Commissioners with a view to alerting taxpayers when a significant tax deduction which heretofore had not been taken by them is due, as an unexpected and unanticipated tax deduction, for example in the case where tax had not been paid on income for a short period of time, can lead to distress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8794/25]
851. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the status of legislation governing vaping; the timeline for the introduction of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7243/25]
770. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to comment on the withdrawal of funding by TUSLA from a school (details supplied) in the constituency of Dublin South West and to give a roadmap, if any is open to the preschool to maintain their services as they may be forced to issue notices to staff in the coming weeks due to this withdrawal of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7713/25]
765. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if another IPAS centre is being opened in Dublin south west (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7582/25]
724. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the immediate plans in place for the accommodation recognition scheme; if the scheme will be extended or suspended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7714/25]
315. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance if an anomaly in relation to accommodation expenses for students (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7583/25]
299. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline, in the context of pending legislation concerning the regulation of the vaping industry, the reason his Department has not insisted on a tax stamp for vaping products similar to tobacco products, as is the case in some EU Member States; his views on international best practice; the estimated revenue in the context of a full year of tax on vaping products without a stamp; and to provide an account of the tax take in countries where a tax stamp is legislated for on vaping products. [7251/25]
329. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if she will outline, in tabular form, the specific results of the public consultation about future regulation of e-cigarettes or vapes, which was launched in November 2023 by the then Minister for Health and the then Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy, relating to the following three elements: the number and percentage of responses from adults vapers to the consultation process; the number and percentage of these responses from adult vapers who were not in favour of regulation of flavours; and the number and percentage of responses from adult vapers who indicated to the Department consultation that they used flavour vapes to stop smoking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6834/25]
298. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a comprehensive statement with regard to avian, bird flu in general; Irelands preparedness for the disease; and cross-Border measures in relation to same given recent incidents in Northern Ireland of bird flu. [6865/25]
236. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for vacancies in private houses; the research that has been carried out to investigate the reasons for vacancies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6898/25]
234. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding for cost rental tenant-in-situ scheme was suspended to local authorities at any period in October, November and December of 2024; the amount allocated to local authorities for the scheme across each month of 2024; the number in each local authority for cost rental purchase either underway, completed or in the pipeline, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6892/25]
184. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he plans to address the retention challenges in the fire services, specifically as they relate to pension reforms; if he is considering reinstating the supplementary pension scheme or providing alternatives to support the financial wellbeing of those in uniformed services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6897/25]
173. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance if he and his departmental officials have engaged with the Revenue Commissioners on the practical implementation of the new national E-liquid products tax, EPT, as set out in Part 2 of Finance Act 2024; the rationale behind the proposed uses of self-declaration as opposed to the use of tax stamps which are issued by the Revenue Commissioners and operate under existing robust legislation; if he, his Department or the Revenue Commissioners have examined the operation of self-declaration systems in other countries where it created a surge in illicit products on the market; if he, the Department or the Revenue Commissioner have estimated the likely loss of taxes due to the absence of tax stamps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6835/25]
50. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the disparity in Luas service frequency on two adjoining routes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6621/25]
791. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if she will develop a national pharmaceutical care strategy led by a chief pharmaceutical officer within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6001/25]
788. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if she will streamline HSE reimbursement processes and reduce administrative burdens to provide for a nationwide programme for safe and appropriate medicine disposal. [5998/25]
787. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if she will address the 16-year-old dispensing fee pay-freeze to pharmacies by adjusting the community drug scheme dispensing fee to €6.50. [5997/25]
781. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health for an update on the position of new elective hospitals, and specifically a new elective hospital for the Dublin region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5939/25]
427. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any plans to update or amend the Derelict Sites Act 2020 to allow local authorities to compulsorily acquire derelict houses or buildings that have been unused for a maximum of five years or less; if compensation to the owners of such derelict houses or buildings will be abolished; if the requirement to have planning permission for any simple and standard adjustments by local authorities to such derelict houses or buildings will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5720/25]
393. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the international An Gorta Mór day took place in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5675/25]
332. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education when the expansion of special needs classes in a school (details supplied) will be approved; when funding will be made available; and the timeline for the project. [5704/25]