992. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current average processing times for employment permit applications, renewals, and appeals; the actions being taken to reduce the current backlog of applications; the further measures being considered by his Department to reduce processing times for these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55861/26]
503. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport the current average waiting times for driving tests nationally; the measures his Department is taking to reduce such wait times; if he is considering changes to current reapplication rules which would see those reapplying granted an earlier test; if he is exploring increases in test capacity nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57107/26]
321. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on proposals to upgrade an Irish Coast Guard station at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55238/26]
320. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport his plans to acquire a station building for a coast guard service at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55237/26]
60. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 17 June 2026, the progress made to date of her Department’s assessment of the scope of works necessary for ensuring access to a green area for schools (details supplied); the more cost-effective solutions are currently being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51362/26]
7. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if further consideration will be given by her Department to a refused additional school accommodation scheme application for a school in light of the school’s projected increase in enrolment numbers and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51363/26]
219. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there is a minimum period that exists for the renewal of a valid passport that has not been lost, where the applicant seeks a change of name on their passport; if not, the reason the Passport Service may have advised an applicant (details supplied); the process for the renewal of passports in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52362/26]
215. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the proposed opening of the Midleton Community Hospital, Midleton, County Cork to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51254/26]
139. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the measures currently in place for the prosecution of those found guilty of sustained domestic abuse, coercive control or harassment which contributes to the victim taking their own life; his plans to strengthen legislation in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51925/26]
61. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on proposed flood prevention measures being implemented in Castlemartyr, Midleton, Mogeely, Killeagh, Rathcormac and Whitegate, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51260/26]
50. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the progress made to date in the implementation of the individual property protection scheme across east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51261/26]
21. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has recognised the countries or regions with the greatest need for Irish citizen consular assistance where no Irish embassy or consulate currently exist; the measures her Department is considering to ensure easier access to consular services in these areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50082/26]
205. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if following admission of a care recipient to long-term residential care, his Department is considering the introduction of a 12 week continuation period for recipients of carer's benefit, similar to the transition period that is currently afforded to carer's allowance recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49939/26]
118. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport the current operational area of the TFI bikes scheme; his plans for the extension of the scheme outside of cities to larger towns with supporting cycleway infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49933/26]
69. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of long stay (join family) visa applications received, approved and rejected by his Department in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to-data in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49369/26]
597. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 676 of 16 June 2026, to confirm if Stamp 1G renewal applicants can continue to work or accept a new paid position of employment during the period when their renewal application is being processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49446/26]
427. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the current situation with respect to the ongoing pay review process of advanced nurse practitioners here; when it is envisaged that a pay link between the grades of advanced nurse practitioners and assistant director of nursing will be established; the reason a pay link has not been established to date; the time period being considered for the restoration of back pay as part of any payment link; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48455/26]
302. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if any funding streams currently exists within his Department for the maintenance or energy efficiency upgrade of public swimming pools by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48417/26]
154. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is considering any proposals to increase the current social housing income eligibility limits; the timeline envisaged for such threshold adjustments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48269/26]
104. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current number of vacant homes officers in each respective local authority; his plans to provide funding for the recruitment of additional vacant homes officers where needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48275/26]
51. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total revenue raised through the vacant homes tax in each respective year from 2023 to 2025 inclusive and to date in 2026; the number of residential properties to which the tax applied during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48270/26]
203. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current criteria for acceptance of residential properties to the historic thatch grant scheme; the maximum funding available to households under the scheme; when he expects the scheme to reopen for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48089/26]
62. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken by her Department to increase the provision of childcare services in Cork east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47539/26]
426. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current situation with respect to the maintenance of roadways which provide access to forestry as well as to private dwellings; who maintains responsibility for the resurfacing of such roads; if such roads can be upgraded to a public road standard for public vehicle use or must they remain as a forest road suitable for forestry operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46509/26]
164. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the implementation of the National Road Network EV Charging Plan; the progress made to date on deploying high-power charging infrastructure along the primary motorway and national road network routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46308/26]
162. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport to outline the short and long-term measures being considered for the upgrade of the Lakeview Roundabout at Midleton, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46307/26]
107. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on an application for a special class allocation for a school (details supplied); if it is envisaged that the provision of a special class will be made available to the school ahead of the upcoming 2026-2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46350/26]
85. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 23 April 2026, the progress made to date by her Department in ensuring the use of a green area by schools (details supplied); if she expects this green area to be made accessible to students in time for the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46122/26]
676. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing times for Stamp 1G permission renewal applications; the number of times that a Stamp 1G permission can be renewed before an alternative permission should be sought; if Stamp 1G renewal applicants are entitled to work or accept a new paid position of employment in the period when their renewal application is being considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45406/26]
194. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of general employment permits, critical skills employment permits, and associated appeal applications received in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to data in 2026; the number of application approvals and rejections in the same period; the current average processing times for general employment permits, critical skills employment permits and employment permit appeal applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45631/26]
178. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the role of his Department in the promotion of Irish business and State agency interests abroad through the Ireland houses diplomatic initiative; the engagement his Department has had to date with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the establishment of new Ireland houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45634/26]
193. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria for the allocation of the special education teacher allowance; if her Department is considering an extension of this allowance to other special school staff such as special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44754/26]
131. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of foreign birth registration applications for persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44843/26]
51. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 16 April 2026, to outline any further progress made in the drafting of the Private Wires Bill 2025; when he expects the bill to be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44518/26]
471. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has given consideration to the introduction of an alternative system for the display of tax and insurance discs on road vehicles such as a QR code linked to a central vehicle information hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42868/26]
168. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Force personnel currently stationed at Kilworth Camp, Kilworth, County Cork, by rank; her plans to increase the operational capacity or scope of the camp; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43589/26]
125. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence the current military radar capability of the Defence Forces; her plans, if any to increase such capability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43588/26]
97. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the engagement she has had to date with a group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40463/26]
88. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her current views on the availability of special education placements in the east Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40462/26]
22. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on proposals to implement coastal protection measures and ensure continued access to properties on a road (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40450/26]
12. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the engagement he has had to date with a group (details supplied); if his Department is in a position to provide funding for the reimbursement of repaired infrastructure damaged in the wake of storm Babet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40451/26]
59. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he has considered the findings of the recent survey (details supplied) which found the associated notional tax loss to the Exchequer stands at approximately €645m per annum; if he accepts that further increases in tobacco excise may risk stagnating revenues by driving more consumers towards illicit and non-Irish duty paid tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40515/26]
18. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence to outline whether under the new Department of Defence guidance governing supplemental military service (SMS), a reservist must now voluntarily apply for SMS and obtain prior Ministerial approval in order to undertake Reserve Defence Force (RDF) recruitment activities, RDF administrative activities or to instruct on RDF training activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40530/26]
17. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence the way in which reservists undertaking supplemental military service (SMS) can effectively support the Permanent Defence Force during Ireland’s EU Presidency when the maximum period of SMS service available between 1 June 2026 and 31 December 2026 is limited to 58 days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40529/26]
16. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence the way in which a reservist undertaking supplemental military service (SMS) can be deployed overseas for a period of six months, interoperating with the Permanent Defence Force, when SMS is currently limited to a maximum of 100 days in a calendar year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40528/26]
15. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence to outline the justification for the maximum limit of 100 days in a calendar year for reservists undertaking supplemental military service (SMS) in support of Permanent Defence Force or Reserve Defence Force activities; the reason the SMS limit is capped at 100 days rather than permitting service of up to 365 days in a calendar year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40527/26]