517. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the maximum waiting time the HSE considers clinically acceptable for orthodontic assessment and treatment; the way current waiting times in South Tipperary compare with that standard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46629/26]
516. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has assessed the impact of prolonged orthodontic waiting times on children’s oral health, mental wellbeing, educational participation and social development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46628/26]
515. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have been removed from orthodontic waiting lists in South Tipperary during the past five years without receiving treatment; the reasons for their removal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46627/26]
514. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that a service operating with 0.1 WTE consultant orthodontist cover and 0.6 WTE specialist orthodontist cover is adequately resourced to meet demand in South Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46626/26]
513. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the performance indicators that are used by the HSE to monitor orthodontic services in South Tipperary; the frequency with which these indicators are reviewed; the intervention thresholds that apply where waiting lists continue to increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46625/26]
512. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children in South Tipperary currently waiting more than two years, four years, five years and six years for orthodontic treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46624/26]
511. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to provide a comparison of orthodontic staffing levels, orthodontic waiting list numbers and maximum waiting times across each HSE region; and to indicate where South Tipperary ranks nationally in respect of waiting times and staffing levels. [46623/26]
510. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the specific funding allocated to orthodontic services in South Tipperary in 2025, 2026 and 2027 respectively; the additional funding sought by the HSE to address waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46622/26]
509. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the regional oral health group established to review orthodontic services in the South East; the membership of the group; the terms of reference; the dates on which it has met; the recommendations made to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46621/26]
508. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a specific recovery plan exists for orthodontic services in South Tipperary; the targets, milestones and timelines contained within such a plan; the expected reduction in waiting times arising from it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46620/26]
507. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on outsourced or privately contracted orthodontic treatment for patients from South Tipperary in each of the past five years; the number of patients treated under such arrangements annually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46619/26]
506. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on orthodontic waiting lists in South Tipperary who are expected to reach 16 years of age before receiving treatment based on current waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46618/26]
505. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether a formal clinical risk assessment has been undertaken regarding children waiting up to 82 months for orthodontic treatment in South Tipperary; whether delayed treatment has resulted in patients exceeding optimal treatment windows; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46617/26]
504. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reasons specialist orthodontist vacancies dating from 2021 and 2023 remain unfilled; the number of recruitment campaigns undertaken for each vacancy; the number of applicants received; the number shortlisted; the number interviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46616/26]
503. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the additional consultant orthodontist, specialist orthodontist, dental nursing and administrative staffing resources would be required to eliminate the current orthodontic treatment waiting list in South Tipperary within two years and within three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46615/26]
502. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that the HSE has advised that the orthodontic waiting list in South Tipperary is expected to continue growing throughout 2026 and 2027; the projected size of the waiting list at the end of each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46614/26]
501. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason no waiting list reduction targets have been established for orthodontic services in South Tipperary for 2026 or 2027; whether she considers it acceptable that no numerical targets are in place despite children waiting up to 82 months for treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46613/26]
500. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the ophthalmology waiting list validation exercise and targeted clinic initiatives currently being undertaken in south Tipperary; the number of patients reviewed to date; the number removed from waiting lists; the number treated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46612/26]
499. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has undertaken a risk assessment or patient safety review arising from the absence of a consultant ophthalmologist in south Tipperary since October 2024; whether concerns have been raised regarding delayed diagnosis or treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46611/26]
498. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting ophthalmology assessment in south Tipperary; the number waiting longer than 12, 18 and 24 months; the longest waiting time currently recorded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46610/26]
497. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the interim arrangements currently in place to provide ophthalmology services in south Tipperary pending the recruitment of a consultant ophthalmologist; the number of patients treated through such measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46609/26]
496. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed update on the recruitment process for the consultant ophthalmologist post serving South Tipperary; the number of recruitment campaigns undertaken since October 2024; the number of applicants received under each campaign; whether interviews have been conducted; whether a fourth recruitment campaign has commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46608/26]
495. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current number of patients awaiting ophthalmology assessment and treatment in South Tipperary; the numbers waiting over six, 12, 18 and 24 months respectively; the numbers awaiting treatment broken down by age category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46607/26]
488. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the contingency arrangements currently in place where coronial postmortem services cannot be provided locally; the locations where such contingency arrangements are currently being utilised; and the annual cost of such arrangements including at Waterford University Hospital. [46540/26]
487. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether any consultant pathologists, other than those based at University Hospital Waterford, have formally notified her Department that they will cease undertaking coronial postmortem examinations; if so, the number involved; and the locations concerned. [46539/26]
290. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of a case in which a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary that identified demand for an additional Summer Programme class for vulnerable pupils, has yet to receive amended sanction for the required staffing and class allocation despite the programme being due to commence within days; the steps she will take to ensure that all eligible pupils can participate in the programme as planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46633/26]
148. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding will be provided to local authorities in 2026 to offset increased fuel, bitumen and construction material costs impacting roads maintenance programmes; if measures are being considered to ensure local authorities can maintain existing levels of road maintenance and restoration works, despite increasing operational costs. [36510/26]
145. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the significant inflationary pressures currently facing local authority roads departments, including Tipperary County Council, and the impact this is having on roads maintenance outputs; and whether consideration is being given to revising the regional and local roads funding model to reflect sustained inflation in construction materials, fuel and contractor costs. [36511/26]
88. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will review the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance scheme in circumstances where many older persons living on modest fixed incomes marginally exceed the current means thresholds but remain at risk of fuel poverty, particularly persons aged over 80 and 90 years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41554/26]
61. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he is considering advocating, as part of the pre-budget process, for targeted employer PRSI relief measures for SMEs, particularly in respect of lower-paid workers, in order to help locally owned businesses maintain employment and remain competitive in the face of rising business costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41556/26]
20. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration has been given to introducing additional age-related social welfare supports for persons aged over 80 years and over 90 years, in recognition of increased heating, healthcare and independent living costs associated with advanced age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41553/26]
988. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way in which the HSE proposes to reduce the backlog of 450 patients awaiting an initial assessment and 168 patients awaiting follow-up appointments at the south Tipperary memory clinic; whether a recovery plan has been developed; the target dates for clearing the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45684/26]
987. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether a clinical risk assessment has been conducted regarding the closure of the south Tipperary memory clinic; whether delayed diagnosis of dementia and cognitive impairment has been assessed as a patient safety risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45683/26]
986. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has set a target date for the reopening of the south Tipperary memory clinic; if not, when such a target date will be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45682/26]
985. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the specific actions identified by the HSE as necessary before the south Tipperary memory clinic can reopen; the status of each action; the expected completion date for each action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45681/26]
984. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the additional staffing resources that have been sanctioned for the south Tipperary memory clinic since January 2026; the grades involved; the current status of recruitment for each post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45680/26]
983. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the details of the full-time administrative post which the HSE has advised has been approved for the south Tipperary memory clinic; whether the post has been advertised; whether the post is full-time; the date on which it was advertised or is expected to be advertised; the expected recruitment timeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45679/26]
982. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the approved staffing complement for the south Tipperary memory clinic, by grade and whole-time equivalent, including consultant, nursing, allied health professional, psychology and administrative posts; the number currently filled; the number vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45678/26]
981. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals received by the south Tipperary memory clinic that have not yet received an appointment; the average number of referrals received per month in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45677/26]
980. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently awaiting a follow-up review appointment at the south Tipperary memory clinic; the length of time patients in each cohort have been waiting, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45676/26]
979. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently awaiting an initial assessment at the south Tipperary memory clinic, Cashel; the length of time each cohort of patients has been waiting, in tabular form by 0–three months, three–six months, six–nine months, nine–12 months and more than 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45675/26]
457. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the proposed extension project at a school (details supplied); the stage of the approval process the project has reached; when her Department expects to complete its review of the Stage 2A submission received in July 2025; the timeframe envisaged for progression to planning and tender stages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45205/26]
199. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he acknowledges the severe cost pressures currently facing small and medium-sized businesses arising from increased labour, energy, insurance and operating costs; whether supports aimed at protecting employment and competitiveness in the SME sector will form a priority part of his engagement with the Minister for Finance in advance of Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41555/26]
269. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes to forestry legislation and associated schemes since 2014 which have affected compensation arrangements for forest disease outbreaks and the treatment of forestry within agricultural support systems; and if he will provide details of those changes. [44822/26]
268. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry owners affected by ash dieback who were deemed ineligible for support under the reconstitution of ash dieback scheme, by county; the reasons for such exclusions; whether a review of eligibility criteria is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44821/26]
267. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures which are being taken to ensure forestry is recognised as an integral component of whole-farm planning under the Common Agricultural Policy and future land-use strategies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44820/26]
266. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has examined forestry replanting obligations in other EU Member States; which Member States permit alternative land use following harvesting in certain circumstances; and if he will provide a comparative assessment of Ireland’s replanting requirements. [44819/26]
265. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether consideration is being given to introducing ongoing support or income mechanisms for owners of non-commercial forests following the expiry of forestry premium payments; and the proposals under consideration in this regard. [44818/26]