1048. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if shops that are registered charity shops are liable for rates by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42058/26]
728. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teachers with English as an additional language (EAL) employed by her Department in each of the past five years; the costs of an EAL teacher per school; the criteria for a school to be granted an EAL teacher; if the costs of these posts are fully covered by her Department; the projected increase in EAL posts required over the next two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41438/26]
945. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average annual cost to the State, per child, of placements arranged through private-for-profit foster care agencies that place children with foster families, compared with the average annual cost per child of placements arranged directly through Tusla foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38721/26]
944. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the percentage of all foster family placements arranged through private-for-profit foster care agencies in each of the past five years, as distinct from placements arranged directly through Tusla foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38720/26]
943. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the name of all private-for-profit companies and agencies used by Tusla to place children with foster families during each of the past five years; the number of children placed through each company; the amount paid to each company in each year concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38719/26]
942. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total amount of public money paid by Tusla to private-for-profit foster care agencies that place children with foster families in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38718/26]
941. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children placed by Tusla with foster families through private-for-profit foster care agencies in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38717/26]
280. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for the schools dental programme in south Tipperary; if the dental programmes are running up to date; the number of dental clinic days allocated in south Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38124/26]
246. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the current position with regard to the recruitment of a consultant ophthalmologist in south Tipperary, given the ongoing failures to recruit the urgent measures that will now be taken to address the ever growing waiting lists; the proposals in place to resolve this as a matter of urgency; the number of children now waiting to see an ophthalmologist in south Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37985/26]
202. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of his review into the contract between his Department and a facility (details supplied) for the provision of IPAS accommodation in light of the lack of planning; if he has reviewed that position with regard to insurance to ensure that the property is fully insured for this activity considering it has no planning to provide such activities; when the review of this matter will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38113/26]
108. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if it remains Government policy that all new entrants to the Civil Service and public service must be appointed at the first point of the relevant salary scale, regardless of their previous professional experience; if any exceptions to this policy currently exist; and if his Department intends to review this approach in light of recruitment and retention challenges. [38125/26]
455. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason dyslexic assessment of children in Ireland is solely carried out by educational psychologists, when current wait for a dyslexic assessment is reported to be around eighteen months, Dublin College University has a course to train teachers to assess dyslexia, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's 2025 'Diaspora Strategy' aimed to promote opportunities by the next generation of the Diaspora to work and study in Ireland and to address barriers facing emigrants who are returning home (details supplied); if this can be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37279/26]
281. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will commit to carry out a review of the concerns raised in the correspondence submitted by TASK Ltd in March 2026 concerning the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35554/26]
280. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he is satisfied that proper records and documentation exist for all key decisions relating to recruitment, procurement and governance within the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service and if any gaps or irregularities have been identified. [35552/26]
279. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a full breakdown of all public funds allocated to the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service to date, including staffing, consultancy and operational costs; and the value-for-money review that has been conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35550/26]
278. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he can confirm if any conflicts of interest statements were requested from individuals involved in decision-making processes relating to the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service and whether any conflicts of interest were identified and how they are being addressed or did the applicant organisations identify any conflict of interest any members of their management may have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35548/26]
277. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the details of the governance and oversight mechanisms in place for the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service contract and whether these mechanisms were independently verified and if any failings have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35546/26]
276. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he has been made aware of any concerns that recruitment and/or procurement outcomes within the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service were effectively predetermined; and if his Department has carried out any review of these concerns; if he will publish the results of any such investigation in the public interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35544/26]
275. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht with regard to the awarding of the management of the Seniors Alert programme to the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service if he can confirm whether all procurement procedures relating to the award of the contract were conducted in full compliance with National and EU public procurement rules; if any deviations have been identified; and the actions have been taken in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35542/26]
265. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for Freestyle Libre were submitted by individual hospitals for people with diabetes over 21 years-of-age; the number that were approved; the number that were refused were refused in each of the years 2017-2021, in tabular form; are there plans to remove the age restriction on Freestyle Libre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35802/26]
264. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if she will ringfence some of the anticipated 2021 cost savings from the recent HSE Medicines Management Programme (MMP) Preferred Blood Glucose Strips for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes evaluation to fund the provision of the Freestyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System to people with diabetes over 21 years-of-age based on clinical need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35801/26]
253. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if she has plans to provide funding in the upcoming budget to fund the provision of the Freestyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System to people with diabetes over 21 years-of -age based on clinical need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35643/26]
1099. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health why dyslexic assessment of children in Ireland is solely carried out by educational psychologists, when current wait for a dyslexic assessment is reported to be around eighteen months, Dublin College University has a course to train teachers to assess dyslexia, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's 2025 'Diaspora Strategy' aimed to promote opportunities by the next generation of the Diaspora to work and study in Ireland and to address barriers facing emigrants who are returning home (details supplied); if this can be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34559/26]
223. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the reason paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) do not receive the same level of flat rate expense allowances as other frontline healthcare professionals, such as nurses, despite carrying out comparable clinical duties and being subject to similar uniform and laundering requirements; and if he will consider extending eligibility for the uniform laundering allowance to paramedics and EMTs, given that nurses currently receive an allowance of approximately €353 per year. [33515/26]
1248. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if there are national policies or additional resources being considered to support towns like Clonmel experiencing a rise in visible drug activity; if there is scope for legislative or policy changes to better address persistent public drug use and protect residential areas; if there are examples of successful interventions in other towns that could be applied here. [33431/26]
1183. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1727 of 18 March 2026, if she will clarify whether a family farm that is included in the nursing home support scheme (fair deal) may be leased while the applicant is availing of the scheme; and if the ownership of such a farm may be transferred in the third year of participation. [32977/26]
702. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of TAMS grants received; the number of grants deemed unsuccessful; the number of applications deemed unsuccessful in County Tipperary; the number of applications received in County Tipperary; the reason a large number of applications have been deemed unsuccessful; the budget constraints associated with this scheme; if the funding will be increased for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31830/26]
697. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there are national policies or additional resources being considered to support towns like Clonmel experiencing a rise in visible drug activity; if there is scope for legislative or policy changes to better address persistent public drug use and protect residential areas; if there are examples of successful interventions in other towns that could be applied here. [33432/26]
302. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if parents can be criminally prosecuted where their child does not attend secondary school; and the specific failures or omissions on the part of a parent that must occur before a conviction can be secured under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. [32442/26]
1244. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health is she will make the shingles vaccine available for free for persons with underlying health issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30580/26]
1173. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1727 of 18 March 2026, when a response will issue to the question (details supplied). [30167/26]
426. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Government or the Central Bank of Ireland is engaging with the European Payments Initiative regarding the development of a service (details supplied), or other EU wide instant account to account payment solutions; if Irish banks have indicated plans to participate in such schemes; and the steps being taken to ensure that Ireland keeps pace with EU partners in the rollout of consumer friendly instant payment services built on SEPA Instant. [30585/26]
3071. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a final report a review (details supplied) of the Office of the Chief Inspector Regulatory Inspection Process will be published with full terms of reference and made available to the Oireachtas; and if there will be an opportunity for Oireachtas scrutiny once the review is completed. [25680/26]
3024. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the Government intends to refund or directly pay for privately sourced primary care autism assessments in cases where significant delays exist for children who were placed on the waiting list. [25482/26]
2621. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of home help staff employed in south Tipperary; the number of home carer workers employed in south Tipperary; the total cost of non-HSE and agency care staff for south Tipperary; the plans in place to address this shortfall of staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23607/26]
2501. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of households consisting of two elderly parents or one elderly parent providing care for their adult children with learning difficulties in an area (details supplied) and/or CHO5; the number of supported housing units in the area and/or CHO5; the number of supported housing units that are currently planned in an area (details supplied) and/or CHO5; the total list of service providers in the area and/or CHO5 who have submitted DSMAT forms to the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25366/26]
1503. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the Bus Éireann school transport fee was increased by 100% (details supplied) in a cost-of-living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26590/26]
1431. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration has been given to implementing the pay agreement for school caretakers prior to the end of the current school year to ensure they do not have to go on unemployment payments. [25683/26]
1254. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that two primary schools in County Tipperary expressed interest to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in opening autism spectrum (AS) classes, but were declined on the basis of school size; and if she will request that the NCSE review its policy regarding minimum school size requirements, particularly in circumstances where smaller schools have both the capacity and willingness to provide additional AS placements. [24086/26]
1016. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the measures currently in place to ensure that employees are able to avail of the TaxSaver commuter ticket and bike-to-work schemes in circumstances where their employer refuses to facilitate participation; if he is aware that some employers do not offer access to these schemes despite employees commuting primarily by public transport; the reason participation in these schemes remains entirely at the discretion of employers rather than the individual employee; whether consideration has been given to introducing alternative mechanisms that would allow employees who rely heavily on public transport to claim these supports directly through the Revenue Commissioners or by other means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27299/26]
944. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to reducing the carbon tax to aid farmers who are disproportionately affected by the ongoing energy crisis. [25681/26]
876. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport in light of ongoing increases in fuel costs and Government commitments to modal shift and emissions reduction, the steps being taken to ensure that commuters who rely on rail travel can access existing tax incentive schemes even where their employer does not participate; and if he will engage with the Minister for Finance to reform the TaxSaver scheme to better support regular public transport users. [27300/26]
728. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to strengthen road safety governance to achieve the target 50% reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2030, in line with the Government Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030; the specific actions being taken to enhance the accountability and performance management of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and its collaboration with An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25370/26]
471. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if consideration has been given to begin drilling for oil off the coast of Barryroe, County Cork to alleviate the current energy crisis for the people of Ireland. [25682/26]