2664. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost to the Exchequer, had a compensation scheme operated for poultry farmers whose flocks were compulsorily destroyed on the direction of his Department (details supplied); the estimated average payment per affected holding under such a scheme; whether his Department has previously undertaken any assessment of the cost or feasibility of introducing such a compensation or burden-sharing mechanism for each of the years 2015 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60641/26]
2663. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of poultry holdings on which birds were compulsorily destroyed, or where destruction was directed by his Department, arising from a confirmed or suspected detection of salmonella; the number of birds destroyed in each year, broken down by species; the number of cases in which the relevant statutory notice was subsequently withdrawn, modified or annulled, including following an appeal; the number of cases in which compensation or other financial assistance was paid; and the total amount paid, for each of the years 2015 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [60634/26]
3181. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of positions that have been filled in the mental Health services in the past 12 months, by county, in tabular form. [55145/26]
3180. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of transfers that have been approved in the past 12 months in the mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55144/26]
3179. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the vacant positions in the mental health services, by county, in both hospital and community settings, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55143/26]
3178. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies that are currently in the mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55142/26]
2754. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of persons with a disability that are in employment in the public sector; the number in employment with mobility issues, brain injury, Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, hearing impairment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55046/26]
2539. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to develop a course for spraying pesticides (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56135/26]
2519. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider introducing a right for milk suppliers to obtain the raw test data behind their payment results and to seek an independent re-test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55969/26]
2518. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to his Departments' confirmation that it has no statutory basis for auditing milk testing for payment purposes and that there is no legal requirement to accredit payment-test methods, his views on whether it is consistent that commercial measurements such as weighting scales and fuel pumps are subject to statutory verification under the Metrology Act 1996, while milk testing used to calculate farmer payments is not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55968/26]
2517. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the oversight that applies where financial penalties are deducted from farmers on the basis of tests that fall outside a laboratory's accredited scope; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55967/26]
2516. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any public body can compel an independent re-test where a farmer disputes or wishes to verify a payment related result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55966/26]
2515. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the public body that is responsible for independently validating the accuracy of milk testing used for payment purposes given that milk suppliers are paid according to compositions tests, including butterfat and protein, and may also face deductions based on other test results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55965/26]
2500. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 348 and 350 of 9 July 2026, in which he confirmed that funding under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1465 was used to compensate growers for unharvested tillage crops arising from the adverse weather conditions of 2023; the assessment which was undertaken of the eligibility of the potato sector for support under the same Regulation; the objective criteria which distinguished potato growers from tillage growers for the purposes of eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55380/26]
2499. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 626 and 627 of 7 July 2026, whether any official of his Department had any formal or informal contact, whether by correspondence, meeting, telephone call or electronic communication, with the European Commission concerning the possibility of seeking support under the EU Agricultural Reserve for potato growers affected by the adverse weather conditions experienced during the 2023 harvest; if so, the dates of such contacts, the persons involved and the general nature of the matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55379/26]
2498. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 626 and 627 of 7 July 2026, whether the conclusion that 'the criteria for making an application to the Agricultural Reserve were not considered to have been met' was based on a written assessment, report, briefing note, options paper or other recorded analysis; if so, the title and date of each such document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55378/26]
2398. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department or the International Protection Accommodation Service has received a formal expression of interest from the owners or operators of a premises (details supplied) regarding the possible use of the property to accommodate applicants for international protection; whether the expression of interest is currently being assessed; the stage the assessment process has reached; whether any inspections or site assessments have been carried out; whether any decision has been made in respect of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58458/26]
1560. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Ireland's planning framework for wind energy development will be brought fully into alignment with current European Union environmental obligations and jurisprudence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55339/26]
1559. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the timetable for publication and implementation of updated Wind Energy Development Guidelines and related legislative reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55338/26]
1183. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the application for an extension for a school (details supplied) will be finalised, as funding was granted in excess of three years ago and has been at the same stage for the past two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55752/26]
135. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the protections he will make for peatlands, blanket bogs and other environmentally sensitive habitats within any revised framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55340/26]
189. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide, for each year since 2012, the number of Microfinance Ireland loan applications submitted through the local enterprise office network and directly to Microfinance Ireland; the number and percentage approved under each route; the reasons for any material difference in approval rates between the two channels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53752/26]
618. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role the Food Safety Authority of Ireland plays in advising his Department before compliance notices, prohibition notices, product seizures or flock destruction are undertaken in cases involving suspected salmonella infection; whether his Department ensures the FSAI independently verifies the scientific evidence relied upon before such enforcement action proceeds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53366/26]
617. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the progress on PeatFor; if this research project has any initial findings to detail; if there will be any interim report available; the estimated completion date for the research, given the significant cost of €2.8 million in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53296/26]
599. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of cattle and sheep farmers in Ireland participating in ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52933/26]
598. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person or body representing the forestry sector on the CAP Consultative Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52932/26]
597. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of sheep and cattle farmers in ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52931/26]
596. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants in ACRES planted land under the forestry programme since ACRES was launched; the percentage of total ACRES participants this is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52930/26]
595. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants in ACRES that applied for afforestation approval under the forestry programme since ACRES was launched; the percentage of total ACRES participants this is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52929/26]
258. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the evidence, including any evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, economic assessment or statistical analysis, underpinning the policy of providing a 1% interest rate discount on loans (details supplied); whether the Department has assessed whether the discount improves loan performance, repayment rates, business survival or employment outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53291/26]
350. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to identify each occasion since 2014 on which Ireland has sought, received or considered seeking Agricultural Reserve or equivalent exceptional market support from the European Commission following adverse weather events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52416/26]
349. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department considered recognising the 2023/2024 potato crop losses as a force majeure event for the purposes of CAP administration; the criteria considered in arriving at the decision taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52415/26]
348. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which Agricultural Reserve allocation was distributed for each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, by each sector that benefited, the amount allocated and the basis upon which sectors were selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52414/26]
202. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the current delay in the Skyclarys reimbursement negotiations aligns with the “equitable access” promised in the newly launched National Rare Disease Strategy 2025–2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30663/26]
148. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if she will intervene to ensure that the HSE urgently prioritises a conclusion to the Skyclarys reimbursement negotiations, given that it is the only available treatment for this progressive disease, which currently can be classed as having an “unmet need” as outlined in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025–2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30662/26]
170. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the objective criteria used by his Department in concluding that the 2023/2024 potato losses did not justify seeking agricultural reserve assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52025/26]
169. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person who decided that Ireland would not pursue agricultural reserve support for potato growers affected by the 2023/2024 weather events; whether that decision was made by him, a Minister of State or officials within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52024/26]
41. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport to provide the details of documents required for motor tax to avail of the vintage vehicle rate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52000/26]
40. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if there is a direct legal requirement linking a particular type of insurance policy to a particular motor taxation class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51999/26]
39. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport the way in which a vehicle is eligible to apply for the vintage rate of tax; the details of the further 'relevant documentation' that is required’ (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51998/26]
38. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if a situation could be reviewed (details supplied) given widespread overcharging of motor tax by the tax-collectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51997/26]
37. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 148 of 24 June 2026, given motor tax is not a self-assessment tax, could the Minister address a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51996/26]
817. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has reviewed whether the ongoing Department-funded research into salmonella control in duck production has identified any uncertainties regarding existing sampling, laboratory testing or risk assessment methodologies; and whether any interim findings have resulted in changes to current enforcement or regulatory practice. [51404/26]
816. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the role that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland plays in advising the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine before compliance notices, prohibition notices, product seizures or flock destruction are undertaken in cases involving suspected salmonella infection; and whether the FSAI independently verifies the scientific evidence relied upon before such enforcement action proceeds. [51403/26]
815. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has commissioned, or intends to commission, an independent scientific review of the evidence underpinning its risk assessments relating to salmonella in duck flocks, including the laboratory methodologies employed and the epidemiological evidence relied upon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51402/26]
814. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health whether following recent court proceedings concerning salmonella testing in poultry, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has reviewed the reliability of the sampling, testing and chain-of-custody procedures relied upon in enforcement actions involving duck flocks; if such a review has been completed, if she will publish the findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51401/26]
813. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the scientific validation undertaken by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in respect of the laboratory methods relied upon for the detection of salmonella typhimurium in duck flocks; whether those methods have been independently validated for use in ducks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51400/26]
627. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department sought advice from, or made any formal or informal representations to the European Commission regarding the availability of Agricultural Reserve support for Irish potato growers affected by the adverse weather conditions of late 2023 and early 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51818/26]
626. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department carried out any assessment of whether the 2023/2024 potato crop losses met the criteria for support under the EU Agricultural Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51817/26]
619. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the shelf life of imported beef coming from Mercosur countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51555/26]