436. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if children with emotional and behavioural challenges will continue to be supported with SNAs; the proposed changes to the SNA supports; where children with additional needs present with emotional and behavioural challenges as opposed to primary care needs; the way in which these children will be supported if they do not have access to an SNA; the way in which school classrooms will function if children with emotional and behavioural challenges do not have access to a SNA to be supported outside of the classroom during periods of overwhelm; if she is aware of the difficulties being faced by school teachers as a result of classroom disruption due to children’s emotional and behavioural challenges going unsupported; if she has consulted with teacher and school principal representative bodies in relation to any proposed changes to the SNA structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54784/25]
369. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the rationale for excluding Clonmel from the recent expansion of the Living City Initiative; the criteria used to select Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo for inclusion; if he will acknowledge the regeneration needs of Clonmel as a town of comparable size and historic character; and if he will commit to reviewing this decision with a view to including Clonmel in the scheme. [55458/25]
319. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if upgrades to Waterford- Limerick rail line have been included in the funding allocation from Budget 2026; if not, the reason the project has been excluded; when this project will receive a full budget allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55476/25]
318. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if upgrades to the N24 and Tipperary town bypass have been included in the funding allocation from Budget 2026; if not, the reason the project has been excluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55475/25]
224. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the number of ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists, hydrogeologists and environmental scientists, respectively, employed in any capacity at An Bord Pleanála at the beginning of 2024. [54344/25]
223. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the number of ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists, hydrogeologists and environmental scientists, respectively, employed as inspectors at An Bord Pleanála at the beginning of 2024. [54343/25]
222. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of occasions on which the services of a specialist consultant in ecology, ornithology, hydrology, hydrogeology, or environmental science, respectively, were engaged by An Bord Pleanála in 2024. [54342/25]
221. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the number of ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists, hydrogeologists and environmental scientists, respectively, engaged on a panel of consultants at An Bord Pleanála at the beginning of 2025. [54341/25]
220. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the number of ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists, hydrogeologists and environmental scientists, respectively, employed in any capacity at An Bord Pleanála at the beginning of 2025. [54340/25]
219. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the number of ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists, hydrogeologists and environmental scientists, respectively, employed as inspectors at An Bord Pleanála at the beginning of 2025. [54339/25]
311. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health where children require appropriate eyecare and cannot be seen by a consultant ophthalmologist in the area, if there are any areas where children receive vouchers towards the cost of their eye care; if she will outline all the schemes available under which families can receive vouchers to assist them with the cost of their eye care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54017/25]
310. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the recruitment campaign for the consultant ophthalmologist position in south Tipperary is being advertised as a temporary position; the reason this post is not being advertised as a permanent position, making it more attractive; the number who have applied for the post in this new recruitment campaign; the number who applied for the post in the last recruitment campaign; whether it is correct that four people applied for the position; the reason a panel was not formed and the position offered to one of the other applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54016/25]
148. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the expected cost to the State to achieve its 2030 climate plan of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 51% compared to 2018 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54074/25]
147. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the estimated cost to the State to achieve its 2050 climate plan of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54072/25]
146. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount of funding developers of large scale renewable energy projects have received from the State in the previous ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54070/25]
145. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount of funding developers of solar energy farms have received from the State in the previous ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54066/25]
144. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount of funding developers of wind energy farms have received from the State in the previous ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54064/25]
586. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of children from South Tipperary who have been given appointments with the ophthalmology services via the University Hospital Waterford ophthalmology department; the waiting times for children’s ophthalmology appointments in Waterford for patients from South Tipperary; the criteria used for patients from South Tipperary to be seen by the ophthalmology department in Waterford; if patients will be reimbursed for private eye care where they cannot access an appointment with ophthalmology services in south Tipperary and Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53050/25]
585. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline the number of candidates that applied for the consultant ophthalmologist post in South Tipperary; the number of candidates placed on a panel for this position; the reason a new recruitment campaign must now be completed; the reason the next candidate cannot be selected from the panel; if this recruitment campaign will be fast tracked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53049/25]
584. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health for an urgent update on the business case that has been submitted for an optometrist in South Tipperary; to provide details on when this was submitted; the reason for the delay in approving this post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53048/25]
548. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason diabetic services are no longer available at the Carrick-on-Suir primary care centre; the status of the centre of excellence for diabetic services that was to be established at Saint Brigid’s hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52938/25]
478. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to his statement at the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration on 23 September 2025 that 5,000 individuals in IPAS accommodation have been granted status to remain, and acknowledging the challenges of relocating these individuals amid a national housing crisis, if he will grant a temporary stay on relocating new residents to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53916/25]
477. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in view of his statement that IPAS contracts require the provider to be solvent, if he will outline his Department's policy on continuing IPAS contracts at properties subject to liquidation proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53915/25]
476. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to his statement at the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration on 23 September 2025 that applicants with fraud convictions will not receive IPAS contracts, if he will confirm whether this exclusion applies to convictions in jurisdictions outside Ireland; if Garda vetting and international police clearance checks are conducted as part of his Department's due diligence process; if not, the means by which his Department verify the criminal history of applicants; if his Department rely on third-party reports or media investigations; if a felony conviction and lifetime ban from a financial regulator in another jurisdiction is sufficient grounds to deny an IPAS contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53913/25]
475. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in view of his assertion that a tax clearance certificate is a prerequisite for IPAS contracts, if he will confirm whether tax compliance is assessed only for the applying company, or whether it includes all companies under the directorship of the applicant; if the latter, the mechanisms in place to verify the full directorship history of an applicant, particularly in cases where multiple versions of name spelling, date of birth, or address are used on the Companies Registration Office; if such cross-checking is not currently undertaken, if he consideration will be given to strengthening due diligence protocols to prevent circumvention of public service contract standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53912/25]
474. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to his statement at the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration on 23 September 2025, in which he affirmed that IPAS contracts will not be awarded to applicants with convictions for fraud or serious crimes, and that contracts require tax compliance, solvency, and adherence to public service contract standards, if he will clarify whether these criteria apply solely to the applying company, or whether they also extend to the company's directors and shareholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53911/25]
410. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to the proposed payments to asylum seekers to leave the State, the protections in place to prevent re-entry by those who have received payment to leave the State; the protections in place to avoid this payment being used as a draw to the State, encouraging more asylum seekers to travel here to receive this payment; if such persons are found not to be genuine asylum seekers, the reason the State will not just deport them without having to pay them money to leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53318/25]
339. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the full cost of providing hot school meals at primary and secondary level; if he has carried out a review of the levels of waste involved in this scheme, including food waste and non recyclable waste; if he has examined more cost efficient and environmentally friendly ways of providing hot meals; if a review has been carried out on the quality of the foods being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53052/25]
172. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the serious concerns raised by parents, educators and school leaders regarding the recently published NCSE guidelines for the SNA review process for 2025-26; if she will consider suspending or reviewing these guidelines pending meaningful consultation with stakeholders; if she will address specific issues (details supplied); if she will provide assurances that SNA supports will not be reduced due to bureaucratic constraints, that appeals processes will be robust and accessible and that criteria for care needs will be co-developed with practitioners and parents to ensure fairness and transparency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53053/25]
27. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether he will commit to reviewing the Government’s recycling contract (details supplied) that launched in 2024, as there is no accommodation for wheelchair users to access this public service; the reason disability access was not deemed essential as part of this contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53044/25]
143. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the way in which a child who has a waiting time of 60 months for an autism assessment with the primary care autism assessment team can have the cost of a private assessment reimbursed, as committed to by the Minister; the steps being taken to reduce this waiting time which has now grown to five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46745/25]
158. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a child with a disability who attends a childcare setting under the NCS is being penalised by a reduction in NCS subsidies due to regular attendance at medical appointments and essential therapies; the reason allowances cannot be made for attendance at essential therapies/appointments without loss of NCS hours; if she will urgently review this matter to ensure that children with disabilities who are attending much needed therapies are not being penalised or discriminated against by the NCS by removal of hours due to regular nonattendance (while attending appointments); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50703/25]
74. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality his plans for Ferryhouse, Clonmel, a building in the ownership of TUSLA; the full list of activities and number of staff working out of this building; the number of children receiving care in this building; the full capacity in this building; the number of children who could be cared for and educated in this building; if she will consider using the school building to develop a special education school in south Tipperary; the plans for repair of the swimming pool; when the pool will be brought back into use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47847/25]
1419. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when funding for non-apprenticeship training will be released to ETBs from the National Training Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48575/25]
1224. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to accommodation for parents at the New Children’s Hospital; the level of accommodation for parents that will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48234/25]
1171. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the current position in relation is to appointing an optometrist in south Tipperary to assist with the backlog that has been building since the retirement of a doctor (details supplied); if a business case has been submitted for this position; if so, the position in relation to same; when an optometrist will be appointed; the position in relation to the newly appointed ophthalmologist not taking up the post; if there is a panel available to select an alternative ophthalmologist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47860/25]
572. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason an Irish citizen who trained in the UK cannot gain employment to carry out dyslexia assessments for young students in Ireland, despite holding the same accreditation as all those who study in Ireland (details supplied); if she will urgently review these requirements to ensure that those who have the appropriate qualifications and want to work in Ireland can do so to help reduce waiting lists in this country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48986/25]
2467. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the current number of children waiting for speech and language, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology services in south Tipperary; the average waiting time for each service; the number of children waiting for an assessment of needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46199/25]
2427. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health whether she will commit to reviewing the Government’s recycling contract (details supplied) that launched in 2024, as there is no accommodation for wheelchair users to access this public service; the reason disability access wasn’t deemed essential as part of this contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45958/25]
2425. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline the date in which the new ophthalmologist appointed in South Tipperary will take up their post; the number of children waiting to be seen by the ophthalmologist; the plan to reduce the waiting lists for those who have missed out on appointments while there was no ophthalmologist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45939/25]
1958. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the full complement of staff currently working within the children’s disability teams 4 and 5 in South Tipperary; the number of vacancies within each team and the length of time each position has been vacant; the efforts being made to fill the vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45936/25]
1957. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality outline the current numbers of children waiting for speech and language, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology services in South Tipperary; to outline the average waiting time for each service; the numbers of children waiting for an assessment of needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45935/25]
1945. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when funding will be approved for residential care for a child (details supplied) in county Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45595/25]
1862. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a funding scheme for the construction of purpose built day services centres for adults with disabilities. [44452/25]
1861. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a funding scheme for the construction of purpose built residential units for adults with disabilities. [44451/25]
1519. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the full cost of the provision of security at the Heywood Road modular housing project for Ukrainians in Clonmel, County Tipperary; the length of time this level of security will be provided at site; the reason for the continued levels of security given that it will hinder integration efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45218/25]
1406. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the urgent steps she is taking to ensure that no school loses out on their hot meals following changes to regulations which is preventing small schools from availing of a service (details supplied); the measures she will take to ensure that rural schools are being serviced sufficiently; the efforts she is taking to improve the levels of waste associated with this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46758/25]
1155. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will allocate the necessary funding for the restoration of the weir and development of a fish pass in Fermoy, County Cork, considering that the project is vital to maintain adequate water levels upstream in the Blackwater River (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45211/25]
1004. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she has taken to end the strike action by school secretaries and caretakers; the steps she will take to improve the pension and leave entitlements of secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47019/25]
325. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport when the route selection report for the N24 Waterford to Cahir scheme will be published given it was due to be published in Quarter 2 2025; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45515/25]