213. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the total legal costs incurred by the State in each year since 26 April 2023 in High Court proceedings concerning the care, treatment, placement, detention or deprivation of liberty of persons who lack or are alleged to lack capacity; the number of cases involved; the average cost per case; and if she will provide a breakdown, by applicant body and category of case. [35354/26]
212. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the guidance that has issued to hospitals, nursing homes and HSE discharge teams on the legal status of 'next-of-kin'; whether she accepts that next-of-kin status does not, in itself, confer legal authority to consent to nursing-home placement on behalf of another adult; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35353/26]
211. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health when the protection of Liberty Safeguards Bill will be published; whether it will apply to nursing homes and other residential care settings where a person may be deprived of liberty in practice; and if she will provide a timeline for publication, pre-legislative scrutiny and enactment. [35352/26]
210. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has estimated the number of persons in nursing homes who may currently be deprived of liberty, or living there contrary to their expressed will and preference, without a specific statutory safeguards framework; and whether that estimate has informed the drafting of protection of liberty safeguards legislation. [35351/26]
209. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether every adult subject to a contested nursing-home placement, proposed deprivation of liberty, or serious care-placement decision has access to independent advocacy; if not, whether she intends to provide for a statutory right to independent advocacy in such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35350/26]
208. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether any national protocol requires that a person’s will and preference, capacity, decision-support arrangements, advance healthcare directive, enduring power of attorney or decision-making representation order be checked before discharge to a nursing home; and whether such checks are recorded. [35349/26]
207. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether guidance has issued to hospitals, community healthcare organisations, nursing homes and discharge teams on the legal position where an adult objects to nursing-home admission or transfer; whether she will provide a copy of any such guidance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35348/26]
206. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of court applications that have been initiated since 26 April 2023 concerning proposed or actual nursing-home placement where the person did not consent, objected to the placement, or where there was doubt as to consent; the number by year, hospital group, community healthcare organisation and applicant body; and the legal costs incurred by the State. [35347/26]
205. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently in acute hospitals who are clinically discharged, but whose discharge is delayed due to unresolved issues relating to consent, capacity, wardship, decision-support arrangements or deprivation of liberty. [35346/26]
204. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that were discharged from acute hospitals to nursing homes in each of the past five years where the person did not consent, objected to the placement, or where there was doubt as to consent; and if she will provide a breakdown by hospital group and community healthcare organisation. [35345/26]
203. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the interim national guidance that applies where a person is clinically discharged from hospital but does not consent to admission to a nursing home or other residential care setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35344/26]
1246. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of additional clinical staff recruited in each health region and integrated healthcare area in 2025 and 2026 so far, broken down by discipline, grade and service area, in tabular form. [35333/26]
1245. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of management staff recruited or redeployed as part of the HSE health region/integrated healthcare area restructuring, broken down by health region and integrated healthcare area; whether each post is a new post, redeployment or re-titled existing post; the grade and salary scale attached to each post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35332/26]
1190. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the HSE's plans for the former dispensary building in Ballynoe, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35036/26]
1161. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether she will commission a review of the issuing of discharge notices and termination of contracts of care in nursing homes, including the extent to which such notices follow complaints by families, increased care needs, safeguarding concerns, funding disputes, staffing limitations or inability to access specialist supports; whether such a review will examine the balance of power between providers, residents and families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34780/26]
1160. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of discharge notices, notices to terminate contracts of care, or equivalent notices issued to residents supported under the nursing homes support scheme compared with residents paying privately in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34779/26]
1154. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the specialist supports that are available to nursing homes when a resident's care needs increase, including access to geriatric medicine, psychiatry of later life, palliative care, dementia-specific supports, behavioural support, tissue viability nursing, dietetics, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and social work; whether access to these supports is recorded nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34773/26]
1153. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing home residents in in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 whose care needs were deemed by a nursing home to have exceeded the capacity of that nursing home to provide safe care; the number of such cases that resulted in a discharge notice, hospital admission, transfer to another nursing home or referral to the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34772/26]
1152. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 on which a nursing home sought additional funding, staffing support, clinical support, specialist input or other resources because a resident's care needs had increased; the body to which such requests were made; the number approved, refused or still pending; the average time to decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34771/26]
1147. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals or contacts made to HSE safeguarding teams in respect of nursing homes in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of such referrals which related to discharge notices, threatened discharge, or concerns about the manner in which a transfer or discharge was being managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34766/26]
1146. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether any data is collected on cases in which a nursing home resident, family member, advocate or representative made a complaint or raised concerns about care and was subsequently issued with a discharge notice, notice to terminate a contract of care, or equivalent notice within 90-days; if so, the number of such cases in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34765/26]
1145. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of residents of nursing homes admitted to emergency departments in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of such admissions by HSE health region, hospital group and age cohort; the primary recorded reasons for admission, including falls, infection, deterioration in physical health, mental health or behavioural distress, medication-related incidents, safeguarding concerns, or other causes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34764/26]
1144. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE, HIQA, the National Treatment Purchase Fund or her Department collects data linking nursing home discharge notices with subsequent emergency department attendance, hospital admission, delayed discharge, safeguarding referral or transfer to another nursing home; if not, the reason this data is not collected; whether she accepts that this is a significant gap in oversight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34763/26]
1143. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing home residents who were admitted to an emergency department within seven, 14 and 30 days of being issued with a discharge notice, notice to terminate their contract of care, or equivalent notice in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of such admissions that were due to an acute medical event, a fall, behavioural or psychological distress, absence of an alternative placement, or other recorded reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34762/26]
1142. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the recorded outcomes for nursing home residents who were issued with a discharge notice or equivalent notice in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, including the number who transferred to another nursing home, were admitted to hospital, returned home with supports, remained in the same nursing home, died before transfer, or had another outcome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34761/26]
1141. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of discharge notices, notices to terminate contracts of care, or equivalent notices issued to nursing home residents in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 which were subsequently withdrawn; the reasons recorded for withdrawal; whether the withdrawal followed intervention by the HSE, HIQA, safeguarding services, an advocate, a family member or another body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34760/26]
1140. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of residents in designated centres for older persons who were issued with a discharge notice, notice to terminate their contract of care, or any equivalent notice requiring them to leave the nursing home in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; broken down by HSE health region, county, public, private and voluntary provider type, and whether the resident was supported under the nursing homes support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34759/26]
985. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total cost per annum of single-occupancy residential placements for people with an intellectual disability, neurodevelopmental condition or acquired brain injury provided by the HSE, Section 38 organisations, Section 39 organisations and private for-profit companies in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, broken down by provider type and health region, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34782/26]
984. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of single-occupancy residential placements for people with an intellectual disability, neurodevelopmental condition or acquired brain injury provided by the HSE, Section 38 organisations, Section 39 organisations and private for-profit companies in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, broken down by provider type and health region, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34781/26]
609. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the Minister of State at the Department of Education with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion will meet with a group (details supplied), as he promised to do in October of last year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34934/26]
488. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question No.426 of 4 February 2026, if he will provide a further update on the duration of construction works at the 'Castle steps' beside Dublin Castle, leading from Ship Street to Castle Street; when they will be complete; if this passage will be open to the public during the EU presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34292/26]
487. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question No.425 of 4 February 2026, if he will provide a further update on the accessibility of Dublin Castle grounds during the EU presidency; when restrictions will begin and end, specifically if the public will be able to enter grounds of the Castle via Palace Street, and walk to the Dubh Linn Gardens; if the Chester Beatty library will remain accessible from this route or via the entrance on Ship Street; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34291/26]
438. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Transport if a dedicated public consultation process is planned in relation to the operational details of the L36 and L37 services serving Ballycotton, Whitegate and surrounding areas and, if not, the rationale for same; the engagement that has taken place with local communities, businesses and commuters in East Cork regarding the design and rollout of these routes; whether the proposed L37 route replacing the existing 241 service will include a seven-day service including Sundays; the minimum service frequency envisaged; whether the proposed Q1 2027 rollout timeline under the BusConnects Cork programme allows for revisions based on stakeholder and public feedback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35307/26]
437. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority has engaged with Iarnród Éireann regarding the alignment of the proposed L36 and L37 BusConnects services with rail timetables at Midleton Station; the analysis that has been carried out in determining the proposed frequency and scheduling of these routes; whether this analysis will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35306/26]
241. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her Department's position on the alleged undemocratic elections held in Myanmar in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35298/26]
1259. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of establishing his Department's new national AI skilling platform, 'AIReady.ie'; the annual cost he expects to incur on a per annum basis moving forward; the length of time he expects the 'AIReady.ie' initiative to remain in existence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32396/26]
1258. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department engaged with any firms in the private sector in the development of his Department's new national AI skilling platform, 'AIReady.ie'; if so, if he will list those firms. [32395/26]
881. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the measures that are in place to address the service gap for people with disabilities who require therapeutic input after the age of 65, but who are no longer eligible to access physical and sensory disability teams due to their age; if there is a plan to increase primary care team staffing quotas to address this gap in service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32135/26]
208. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his plans to grant planning exemptions for modular homes will be accompanied by any changes to capital acquisitions tax in respect of individuals wishing to pay for the cost of building a modular home on another landowner’s property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32876/26]
452. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the building works that have taken place since January 2026 on the grounds of the former Owenacurra Centre, Midleton; and the works expected to take place from May to August 2026. [31685/26]
148. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether he is aware of a funding gap whereby curriculum-based theatre productions are not eligible for support from the Arts Council, while also falling outside the remit of the Department of Education & Youth; if his Department has considered introducing a dedicated funding stream or pilot initiative to support professional theatre companies delivering curriculum-relevant work to post-primary students; and if he will consider providing targeted or once-off funding supports for such initiatives, particularly where they demonstrate significant regional reach and educational impact. [31473/26]
140. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the current lack of funding streams available to support the staging of curriculum-based theatrical productions for post-primary students; if she acknowledges that prescribed Leaving Certificate texts, such as Othello by William Shakespeare, form a core part of the English curriculum; if consideration has been given to supporting access to live performances of such texts as part of arts-in-education and student wellbeing initiatives; and if she will outline any existing or planned funding mechanisms, pilot schemes, or interdepartmental collaborations that could support theatre companies delivering large-scale, curriculum-linked productions to students, particularly those in DEIS schools and rural areas. [31472/26]
1209. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to reduce long waiting lists for endometriosis patients to see a consultant gynaecologist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30255/26]
1208. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the current wait times for patients, across all counties, to get an initial endometriosis appointment with a consultant gynaecologist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30254/26]
1207. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant gynaecologists that are employed by the HSE and/or are on the Irish Medical Council’s specialist register for obstetrics and gynaecology; their locations throughout Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30253/26]