51. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress made in implementing the requirement that new data centre developments match at least 80% of their electricity demand with new renewable generation. [65914/26]
40. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being taken to ensure that investment in electricity generation and grid infrastructure keeps pace with growing demand from households, businesses and large energy users. [65913/26]
728. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm whether products holding approvals from the Drinking Water Inspectorate for England and Wales, WRAS approval, or an equivalent approval issued in another European jurisdiction will be regarded as holding a valid national conformity certificate in Ireland on 31 December 2026; whether such products may continue to be placed on the Irish market until 31 December 2032; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64655/26]
727. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether Uisce Éireann, local authorities or other public water suppliers will be permitted to require tests, approvals or product certifications in addition to those required under the harmonised EU drinking-water product regime; whether guidance will be issued to ensure that procurement specifications do not unnecessarily restrict products carrying the required EU conformity marking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64653/26]
726. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether Ireland intends to apply the harmonised EU requirements for materials and products in contact with drinking water without additional national requirements; whether his Department or any agency intends to introduce additional Irish testing, certification, registration, positive-list, marking, installation or approval requirements; the legal and technical basis for any such additional requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64652/26]
725. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm which body or bodies will be authorised to assess and certify products intended to come into contact with drinking water under Article 11 of Directive (EU) 2020/2184 from 31 December 2026; whether any conformity-assessment body based in Ireland has been accredited or notified for this purpose; whether Irish manufacturers and suppliers will be able to use a notified body established in another EU Member State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64649/26]
724. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to identify the Department, agency or public body with lead responsibility for implementing the product conformity and certification requirements under Article 11 of Directive (EU) 2020/2184; to provide a complete breakdown of the responsibilities assigned to his Department, the EPA, Uisce Éireann, the CRU, the Irish National Accreditation Board, local authorities and any other relevant body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64647/26]
723. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the engagement undertaken with manufacturers, importers, merchants, plumbing and construction representatives, consulting engineers, certification bodies, local authorities and Uisce Éireann regarding the implementation of Article 11 of Directive (EU) 2020/2184; when comprehensive guidance will be published for those sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64657/26]
722. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to identify the authority that will act as Ireland's notifying authority for conformity-assessment bodies under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/370; whether that authority has been formally designated; the date on which its designation took effect or is expected to take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64650/26]
721. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the detailed implementation timetable for Article 11 of Directive (EU) 2020/2184 between now and 31 December 2026, including the dates for the designation of the notifying authority and market-surveillance authority; the accreditation and notification of conformity-assessment bodies; the publication of national guidance, engagement with industry and commencement of enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64651/26]
720. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria Ireland will use to determine whether a product holds a valid national conformity certificate on 31 December 2026 for the purpose of the transitional arrangements operating until 31 December 2032; when these criteria will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64654/26]
719. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the requirements that will apply from 31 December 2026 to products already being supplied or installed in Ireland that do not hold a certificate meeting the criteria for the transitional arrangements; whether existing stocks may continue to be sold or used; the way in which products already installed will be treated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64656/26]
457. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the role of the Irish National Accreditation Board in accrediting conformity-assessment bodies under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/370; whether INAB has established the required accreditation programme under ISO/IEC 17065; the date on which applications were opened; the number of applications received, assessments completed and accreditations granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64658/26]
412. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the estimated full-year Exchequer cost of increasing the standard rate income tax band available to recipients of the single person child carer credit from €48,000 to €53,000; and the cost of increasing the value of the single person child carer credit from €1,900 to €1,950. [65104/26]
411. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of persons who claimed the single person child carer credit in the latest year for which data are available. [65103/26]
1486. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has assessed the future workforce skills that will be required to support increased adoption of artificial intelligence among Irish businesses over the next five years; and whether new training, apprenticeship or micro-credential programmes are planned to address anticipated gaps. [64244/26]
1345. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the number of GP practices and practising GPs currently serving Celbridge and the wider north Kildare area; whether an assessment has been undertaken of GP capacity and demand in the area; and the measures that are being taken to increase GP and primary care capacity in light of ongoing population growth. [65214/26]
1095. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has plans to extend statutory paid paternity leave beyond the current entitlement of two weeks; whether consideration is being given to increasing paid paternity leave to eight weeks; and whether any review, consultation, or comparative analysis of paternity leave arrangements in other EU member states has been undertaken. [65948/26]
1086. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the childcare affordability measures currently under consideration by her Department in advance of Budget 2027; whether changes to national childcare scheme subsidy rates are being examined. [65655/26]
880. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of incidents relating to anti-social behaviour, public order offences and fireworks reported in Celbridge in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [64885/26]
454. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department is considering the development of new supports, grants, or advisory services to assist SMEs in adopting artificial intelligence technologies; the measures currently under consideration; and the timeline for their introduction. [64243/26]
3987. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the implementation of Phase 1 of the Single Point of Access (SPoA) model for children's disability, primary care and child and adolescent mental health services referrals; and the number of referrals processed through the new system since its introduction. [63681/26]
3986. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the current status of Phase 2 of the Single Point of Access (SPoA) model for children's disability, primary care and child and adolescent mental health services referrals; whether implementation has commenced. [63682/26]
3822. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults awaiting respite services and residential placements in Kildare North; the measures being taken to increase respite and residential capacity for people with disabilities; the steps being taken to support family carers where respite services are unavailable or significantly reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63073/26]
3072. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made on delivering the Programme for Government commitment to expand independent living options for persons with disabilities; the indicators being used to measure delivery of this commitment; the position regarding community-based living capacity in Kildare North, particularly the work of organisations such as an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63074/26]
3071. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to support adults with intellectual disabilities living with ageing family carers to transition to independent, supported or community-based living arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63076/26]
3070. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made in delivering the relevant commitments under the Programme for Government and the Disability Capacity Review in respect of supported living and residential disability services; to outline existing and planned capacity in County Kildare, including in Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip and Kilcock; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63078/26]
2945. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken under the Programme for Government to support adults with intellectual disabilities living with ageing family carers to transition, where appropriate, to independent or supported community-living arrangements; the progress being made against the goals set out in the Disability Capacity Review in this regard; and the supports and residential/supported living places currently available or planned for County Kildare. [61735/26]
2944. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made to date on delivering the Programme for Government commitment to expand independent living options for persons with disabilities; the indicators being used to measure delivery of this commitment; and the position regarding community-based living capacity in Kildare north. [61734/26]
2943. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the ongoing evaluation of the national childcare scheme is expected to conclude; whether the evaluation is examining the financial impact on families where childcare providers charge fixed monthly fees regardless of attendance while national childcare scheme subsidies are calculated on an hourly basis; whether changes to the current hours-based model are under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61733/26]
2344. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current status of any proposals to streamline Garda vetting requirements for early childhood educators by allowing Garda vetting disclosures to be recognised and used across multiple childcare and early learning settings, where appropriate; the measures being taken to reduce the administrative burden on early years educators and childcare providers arising from repeat vetting applications; the expected timeline for implementation of any such reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter [61737/26]
2343. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current status of any proposals to streamline the Garda vetting process by introducing a system whereby individuals can use a single Garda vetting disclosure across multiple organisations, where appropriate; the measures being considered to reduce duplication in vetting applications; the expected timeline for implementation of any such reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61736/26]
2102. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration has been given to increasing the child benefit payment in the upcoming Budget 2027. [63868/26]
364. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Transport whether consideration will be given to reviewing the scheduling of bus routes C4 and W6 on the section of route shared between Maynooth and Celbridge; whether the NTA is aware that the current timetabling often results in both services operating within a few minutes of one another or running in convoy; whether consideration will be given to staggering the schedules of both routes to provide a more even 15-minute frequency on the shared corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60777/26]
3654. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in considering skyclarys (omaveloxolone) for reimbursement for patients with Friedreich's ataxia; the engagement that has taken place between the HSE and the manufacturer since April 2026; the expected timeline for a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57259/26]
1299. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to improve financial literacy among students in primary and post-primary schools; whether consideration is being given to introducing dedicated financial literacy modules as part of the school curriculum [57473/26]
1287. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether provision exists within the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs for consideration to be given in cases where a child has become established in an educational setting that is meeting their needs, but where another suitable school is located closer to the family home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57258/26]
516. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Transport the actions being taken by the National Transport Authority to improve the reliability of the 115 Bus Éireann bus service serving Kilcock, given repeated incidents of cancellations and service disruptions; whether a review of the route's performance is underway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57257/26]
495. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on plans under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan to improve public transport services in Ardclough, County Kildare; the current status and anticipated timeline for the proposed route linking Celbridge to Naas General Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57039/26]
257. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Defence the earliest date on which her Department has a record of an illegal encampment being notified or reported on the Curragh Plains; the number of non-trespass or injunction orders sought by his Department in respect of the Curragh Plains prior to 1992; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55049/26]
256. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Defence the number of separate illegal encampments recorded on the Curragh Plains; the maximum number of caravans present at any one location, for each of the years 2016 to 2019, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55048/26]
255. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Defence the cost to her Department, of clean-up operations arising from illegal encampments and dumping on the Curragh Plains for each of the years 2016 to 2025, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55047/26]
313. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications for Teaching Council registration received from teachers qualified outside the State in the past five years; the number of applicants found to have qualification shortfalls; the average time taken to process such applications; whether the impact of these requirements on teacher recruitment and supply has been assessed; and what measures are being considered to recognise substantial verified teaching experience gained overseas and facilitate experienced teachers returning to the Irish education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54342/26]
179. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel currently deployed on overseas peacekeeping and peace support missions, broken down by mission; the scheduled end date of each deployment or mandate; the number of personnel she expects will be deployed overseas by 31 December 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54045/26]
138. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Defence the way in which the Defence Forces are expanding their capacity for delivering military operations in the cyber domain; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54044/26]
109. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the basis on which the 1 September 2026 closing date for the NCSE parents notify portal for special class and special school placements for the 2027-28 school year was determined; whether consideration has been given to concerns raised by schools that the deadline falls before many schools have reopened following the summer break, limiting opportunities for engagement and support during the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54040/26]
101. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to ensure that primary schools requested by her Department to provide additional mainstream places or establish new special classes receive timely confirmation of the teaching posts, special educational needs supports and associated resources required to deliver those places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54041/26]
399. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken any assessment of the experience and outcomes of patients with complex childhood-onset conditions following their transition from paediatric to adult healthcare services; whether adult acute hospitals have been assessed for their capacity to meet the clinical, equipment, therapeutic and support needs of these patients following transfer from paediatric services; and if she will outline any findings and actions arising therefrom. [53884/26]