2993. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the administrative burden placed on childcare providers under the national childcare scheme (NCS), including the requirement to record and verify weekly attendance hours for subsidy purposes; whether consideration is being given to a system whereby NCS supports are paid directly to parents while providers merely confirm enrolment and attendance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62140/26]
2992. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is considering the introduction of a dedicated apprenticeship pathway for the early years sector, similar to earn-while-you-learn models operating in other sectors, to address ongoing recruitment and retention difficulties in childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62141/26]
2991. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of concerns among childcare providers that the current AIM level seven capitation payment does not cover the full employment costs associated with hiring an additional staff member, including statutory employment costs; whether a review of the payment rate is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62142/26]
2985. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason adult disability services are now located at a location (details supplied); the length of time adult disability services have been provided at this complex; the extra capacity created within this complex to cater for these adult services; the number of shared therapy rooms; the children's services sharing therapy rooms with adult services; the number of hours per week that therapy rooms are being used by adult services; if children's services are losing out due to extra demand being placed on the therapy rooms; the reason for this move; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62048/26]
2851. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the building blocks expansion grant scheme provides funding for the expansion of car parking facilities as part of a childcare service expansion project, in addition to the expansion of crèche capacity, and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60152/26]
2752. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a clear assurance that farmers who were not responsible for the recent wildfires on Slievenamon, County Tipperary, will not face financial penalties, payment reductions, scheme sanctions or other adverse consequences arising from the fires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62491/26]
2751. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether farmers affected by the recent wildfires on Slievenamon will continue to receive payments under the basic income support for sustainability (BISS) scheme, ACRES and other Department schemes where land damage occurred through circumstances entirely outside their control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62489/26]
2750. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering the introduction of any financial support measures for farmers whose grazing lands, fencing or other agricultural assets were damaged during the recent wildfires on Slievenamon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62490/26]
2732. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the policy and guidelines governing the establishment, inspection and maintenance of fire breaks within Coillte-managed forests and private forestry plantations; the actions are being taken to ensure the proper maintenance of fire breaks on Coillte lands going forward, particularly in areas adjoining farms, homes and rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62038/26]
2731. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the inspection, maintenance and clearance regime currently in place for forestry fire breaks on State-owned and private forestry lands; the frequency with which such fire breaks are assessed; the standards that apply to their upkeep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62039/26]
2730. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the resources and expenditure allocated by Coillte for the inspection and maintenance of forestry fire breaks in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62040/26]
2699. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review existing policies relating to controlled burning and land management practices in light of the wildfires on Slievenamon, County Tipperary; whether consideration will be given to expanding the use of controlled or prescribed burning to mitigate the risk of large-scale wildfires and to prevent extensive damage to land, habitats and wildlife, as well as risks to human health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60258/26]
2650. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review existing policies relating to controlled burning and land management practices (details supplied); if he will consider expanding the use of controlled or prescribed burning to mitigate the risk of large-scale wildfires and to prevent extensive damage to land, habitats and wildlife, as well as risks to human health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59635/26]
2514. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration where the former IPAS residents at a location (details supplied) have been or are being relocated to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62974/26]
2490. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures being taken to address lengthy Garda vetting delays for childcare workers, which providers report are contributing to staffing shortages and room closures; whether consideration is being given to a transferable vetting system for childcare employees moving between services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62139/26]
2460. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department will cease the contract with a facility (details supplied) for IPAS Accommodation following the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála; when will a final decision will be made on the contract at this property; the status of his Department's review into this contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62589/26]
2456. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the basis on which community groups and residents from Dundrum, County Tipperary, were excluded from participation in the Community Dialogue Programme meeting due to take place in Tipperary on 7 September 2026; the eligibility criteria applied in determining participation; whether participation is restricted solely to organisations affiliated with the Public Participation Network (PPN); if so, where such a restriction is set out in his Department's published information; who made the decision to exclude non-PPN-affiliated community groups and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62525/26]
2454. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a list of all of the community dialogue events being arranged by his community engagement team; to provide the full list of participants and invitees to the community dialogue event in Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62539/26]
2404. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider the introduction of parental responsibility orders, mandatory parenting programmes or other measures to strengthen parental accountability where minors repeatedly engage in criminal or serious anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62127/26]
2403. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of minors convicted of criminal offences on two or more occasions in each of the past five years; the number involved in dangerous driving, unauthorised taking of vehicles, scrambler bike offences, and public order offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62128/26]
2402. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if consideration is being given to legislation enabling the courts to impose fines, compensation orders or other financial penalties on parents where a repeat juvenile offender's criminal conduct is linked to a persistent failure of parental supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62129/26]
2401. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has reviewed parental responsibility laws, parenting orders, parental fines, compensation schemes or welfare-linked sanctions operating in other jurisdictions, including England and Wales, Australia and New Zealand; the findings of any such review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62130/26]
2313. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reasons Ireland did not join the group of EU Member States that signed a joint letter seeking an emergency meeting on migration pressures relating to Spain's North African territories; the way in which the Government's support for a separate Presidency-led video conference differed in objective, strategy or intended outcome from the proposal contained in the letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60633/26]
2307. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the mechanisms through which Dáil Éireann exercises legislative and regulatory oversight of border control, immigration screening and airport entry procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60629/26]
2281. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there are plans to modernise the Garda vetting process; whether consideration has been given to linking Garda vetting applications to an individual's PPS number as a means of streamlining identity verification and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens on An Garda Síochána, employers, volunteers and community organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60336/26]
2270. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the policy and legal basis under which persons arriving at Irish ports of entry without valid passports or travel documents may be permitted to enter the State; the authority responsible for approving such procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60620/26]
2269. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procedures and security protocols in place for verifying the identity of and conducting security and background checks on persons arriving at Irish airports without valid travel documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60622/26]
2268. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the penalties, sanctions or enforcement actions available in respect of airlines or carriers that transport passengers to the State without valid travel documentation; the number of such actions taken in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60625/26]
2267. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the resources and supports provided to local authorities and communities affected by the accommodation and processing of persons admitted to the State through international protection and immigration procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60630/26]
2266. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Ireland's current position in relation to European Union initiatives on migration management, border security and protection of the EU's external borders; the specific measures Ireland is advocating at EU level to reduce undocumented migration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60635/26]
2265. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the anticipated impact of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact on Ireland's border control, immigration screening and security procedures; the preparations being undertaken for its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60638/26]
2066. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any policy analysis, review or consideration has been undertaken regarding the suspension, reduction or withdrawal of child benefit payments where a child has engaged in repeated criminal activity; the legal, constitutional and social welfare issues identified in relation to any such proposal; whether either Department has examined the potential deterrent effect of such a measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62126/26]
1714. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes and affordable housing schemes delivered to date in each local authority area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60153/26]
1573. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason for the delay in arranging school transport for children attending special schools and autism classes for the 2026/27 school year; the reason adequate preparations were not made in advance to ensure transport services were operational when schools reopened; the steps being taken to urgently provide suitable transport for affected children; and the measures that will be implemented to ensure similar delays do not occur in the future. [64048/26]
1569. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason for the delay in arranging school transport for children attending special schools and autism classes for the 2026/2027 school year; the reason adequate preparations were not made in advance to ensure transport services were operational when schools reopened; the steps being taken to urgently provide suitable transport for affected children; and the measures that will be implemented to ensure similar delays do not occur in the future. [64047/26]
486. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting times for driving tests in Clonmel, Tipperary town and Thurles; the average national waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62380/26]
3574. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of beds that are available in the cardiac day wards in Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, St. James's Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, and Galway University Hospital to assist the daily rota of cath lab procedures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56936/26]
3573. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of coronary care beds that have direct telemetry connection to the cardiac care monitoring suite in CUH, in University Hospital Limerick, in St. James's Hospital, in St. Vincent's Hospital, and in Galway University Hospital; the exact number of overall beds in the coronary care units in each of the hospitals mentioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56935/26]
3572. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have been confined as hospital inpatients since receiving or awaiting procedure at the cardiac cath lab suite at UHW since the 24/7 rota became operational; the number who could not be admitted to coronary care unit due to lack of beds and were subsequently placed in other medical bed wards; the number of these (other) beds that offered telemetry connection to the coronary care unit monitoring unit; if they did not, the observational protocol for dealing with these patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56934/26]
3571. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that all patients who have either received treatment or are awaiting treatment in the cath lab suite at UHW or that are short stay patients in the coronary care unit are being adequately monitored by all health telemetry required (details supplied); if this is monitoring in real time and is it immediately available on monitor to view for cardiology teams attending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56933/26]
3570. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of beds in the coronary care unit at UHW that presently have integrated technology telemetry connections to the coronary care monitoring suite allowing real time cardiac analysis to support patient well being; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56932/26]
3518. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the way in which Ireland intends to ensure that the interests of consumers who choose to use food supplements as part of their personal health and wellbeing regime are represented during ongoing EU negotiations on Maximum Permitted Levels for nutrients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56735/26]
3517. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the evidence that has been presented to Ireland by the European Commission or other EU bodies indicating that vitamin and mineral supplements currently sold in compliance with Irish and EU food safety legislation present a significant public health concern requiring further restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56734/26]
3516. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the extent to which commonly used supplements, including vitamin C, vitamin D and magnesium products currently available in Ireland, could be affected by proposed EU Maximum Permitted Levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56733/26]
3513. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the engagement her Department has had with Irish manufacturers, retailers and distributors of food supplements regarding proposed EU-wide limits on vitamins and minerals; and if concerns raised by the sector have been communicated to the European Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56669/26]
3512. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if an assessment has been carried out regarding the impact of proposed EU maximum nutrient levels on consumer access to food supplements currently available in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56668/26]
3511. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if she has been consulted regarding proposed EU measures to introduce harmonised maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements; the position Ireland has taken on these proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56667/26]
2292. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the grade and station and number of all Gardaí who have been taken from their regular duties to provide cover for the European Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57112/26]
1705. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether concerns have been raised with his Department regarding An Fóram Uisce's effectiveness in highlighting and representing public concerns relating to water supply interruptions, wastewater infrastructure deficits and other operational failures by Uisce Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56773/26]
1703. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual funding allocated to An Fóram Uisce in each of the past five years; the measures used to assess its effectiveness; the number of staff employed by an Foram Uisce and the salary levels of staff; and if he is satisfied that the body is providing value for money for the taxpayer. [56770/26]