157. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will clarify whether the €550 monthly childcare fee cap announced in Budget 2027 applies solely to childcare services operating within Band E (40-49.9 hours per week) under the core funding scheme; and if she will provide details of the number of childcare providers operating within Bands E and F, respectively. [74685/26]
156. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration is being given to extending the revised childcare fee cap, or introducing alternative cost-reduction measures, for families using childcare services operating within Band F (50+ hours per week); if she is aware of concerns that many childcare providers in areas such as Lucan operate exclusively within Band F and that families continue to face high costs and difficulty securing childcare places. [74686/26]
152. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she has considered extending statutory paid paternity leave from the current entitlement of two weeks to at least eight weeks; if her Department has undertaken any assessment of the social, economic and family benefits associated with longer periods of paternity leave, including impacts on child development, maternal wellbeing, gender equality and workforce participation; and his plans or a timeline for increasing paternity leave entitlements in line with best practice in other European countries. [74550/26]
151. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the evidence, research, consultation findings or needs-based assessment that informed the decision to limit the approval of maintenance of reduced ratio (MRR) arrangements under the access and inclusion model (AIM) to one MRR per preschool room; and the basis upon which it was determined that no further MRR arrangement may be approved regardless of the outcome of an individual service needs review. [74530/26]
150. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether an assessment was undertaken of the impact of the restriction limiting preschool rooms to a single maintenance of reduced ratio arrangement on children with additional needs for whom reduced group size is itself an essential support, including children experiencing sensory overload, communication difficulties, hearing-related challenges or risks associated with absconding; and if she will provide details of any such assessment. [74531/26]
149. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the extent to which the potential reduction in ECCE capacity influenced the decision to restrict maintenance of reduced ratio arrangements to one per room; whether consideration was given to circumstances in which a smaller group size may provide a more appropriate support than the addition of further adult assistance; and the way in which the policy aligns with the objective of ensuring meaningful participation and inclusion of children with additional needs in mainstream early years settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74533/26]
148. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the date on which the decision was made to introduce a restriction limiting preschool rooms to one maintenance of reduced ratio arrangement; when the decision was approved by the Department; where and when the policy was formally published prior to its communication to providers through the Early Years Hive on 25 August 2026; whether transitional arrangements were considered for providers who had already submitted service requests before that notification date, including applications submitted on 19 August 2026 based on arrangements approved in previous years. [74534/26]
121. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the application by a person (details supplied) to be appointed as a peace commissioner; whether it is still being processed; whether it is likely to be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74661/26]
112. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of concerns that older persons with significant disabilities who have transitioned from disability allowance to the State Pension (Non-Contributory) may face substantial additional costs arising from disability, including transport to essential medical appointments and ongoing care needs, but are excluded from the €500 cost of disability payment announced in Budget 2027. [74689/26]
110. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has engaged with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications regarding the financial position of low-income households and family carers who borrowed funds to install solar PV systems prior to the introduction of the enhanced SEAI grant supports for carer's allowance recipients; whether additional supports are being considered for such households who continue to repay installation-related debt while being excluded from the new grant scheme. [74692/26]
107. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify the eligibility criteria for the €500 cost of disability payment announced in Budget 2027; whether persons who were formerly in receipt of disability allowance but who were required to transfer to the State Pension (Non-Contributory) on reaching pension age are excluded from the payment; the number of such pensioners affected; and whether he will consider extending eligibility to pensioners with long-term disabilities who continue to incur significant disability-related costs. [74688/26]
53. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether an organisation (details supplied) had at any stage recognised, approved, or otherwise indicated that the Graduate Diploma in Physical Education delivered by an organisation met the curricular subject requirements for registration as a post-primary teacher of physical education; and whether her attention has been drawn to reports that students enrolled in and paid significant fees for the programme on the basis of assurances that it would satisfy requirements. [74544/26]
52. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of individuals affected by the non-recognition of credits obtained through the graduate diploma in physical education at Portobello Institute; and whether the Teaching Council is considering transitional arrangements, alternative pathways to registration, or other remedies for affected students who relied on assurances that the programme met registration requirements. [74545/26]
51. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by graduates and students of the graduate diploma in physical education at Portobello Institute whose qualifications have reportedly not been accepted by the Teaching Council for the purposes of registration as teachers of physical education; when the Teaching Council first became aware of concerns regarding the programme's suitability for meeting registration requirements; and the engagement that has taken place between the Teaching Council and Portobello Institute on this matter. [74543/26]
8. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the pathways that exist for students at relevant third level courses in Ireland to secure an internship with her Department or related agency in order to gain experience in diplomacy, international relations and Irish foreign policy; the positions are advertised and where, if there is an email address or a point of contact to make applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74726/26]
501. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently review the decision to reduce the mainstream teaching allocation of a school (details supplied). [74489/26]
500. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures that are in place to ensure that teacher allocation decisions adequately take account of schools located in rapidly expanding communities with significant levels of new housing development; and if enrolment growth occurring immediately after the annual staffing cut-off date can be considered as part of staffing reviews. [74490/26]
498. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to the level of additional educational needs within a school (details supplied) when determining its staffing allocation. [74491/26]
497. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any discretionary mechanism exists whereby a school that does not fall within the current staffing appeal criteria may seek a review of a teacher allocation decision based on exceptional circumstances, including serving families residing in an IPAS accommodation centre and a women's refuge, experiencing sustained enrolment growth, and accommodating high levels of additional educational need; and if she will review the adequacy of the current appeal process for schools in rapidly developing areas. [74493/26]
577. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if plans are in place to use a hotel (details supplied) for international protection accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73264/26]
576. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if no plans are in place to use a hotel (details supplied) for international protection accommodation, given that residents have reported it to be occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73265/26]
776. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health whether there is a national policy governing the catchment areas operated by service providers (details supplied) funded by the HSE; and if so, to provide details of same. [71782/26]
775. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health whether a person who resides outside the catchment area of a local service provider (details supplied) may avail of the service where they regularly attend a day centre, community service or other facility within the provider's catchment area. [71783/26]
774. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE-funded providers of a service (details supplied) operating in Dublin; the catchment area applicable to each provider; and whether such catchment areas are mandated by the HSE or determined locally. [71785/26]
773. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure consistency in eligibility criteria among providers of a service (details supplied) funded by the HSE, particularly in relation to geographic catchment areas and access to services by older persons living near catchment boundaries. [71786/26]
767. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a breakdown, by HSE CHO7 region, of the number of public health nurses assigned to the school vaccination programme; the recommended staffing levels for each region; and the current staffing deficit. [71762/26]
766. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the number of sanctioned public health nurse posts that are currently vacant, by CHO7 health region; the number of vacancies specifically affecting the delivery of the school immunisation programme; and the measures being taken to address staffing shortages. [71763/26]
763. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the extent to which shortages of public health nurses have affected the delivery of the school vaccination programme, including the HPV, Tdap, MenACWY and other routine school-based vaccinations, in each of the past three school years; and the number of schools where vaccination clinics were postponed or delayed due to staffing shortages. [71760/26]
762. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to recruit and retain public health nurses to support the school vaccination programme; and whether a workforce assessment has been undertaken to determine the number of additional nurses required to ensure the timely delivery of school-based immunisations nationwide. [71761/26]
284. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the latest date during the calendar year by which schools are sent details of in-service dates for the following school year; whether there is any requirement for schools to inform parents of such dates well in advance so as to plan ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70496/26]
684. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports, services and safeguarding measures that are currently available through the HSE for children who are considered at significant risk of wandering, absconding or becoming lost, including autistic children and those with intellectual disabilities; whether assistance is available for GPS tracking or other locating technologies; and if she will provide details of the eligibility criteria and application process for such supports. [68825/26]
826. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health whether consideration is being given to the development of a national framework to support access to GPS locating technology and other assistive safeguarding devices for vulnerable children who are assessed as being at significant risk of wandering or absconding; whether any pilot projects or reviews are underway in this area. [68826/26]
630. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality what supports are currently available through the HSE for families of children who are at significant risk of wandering or absconding, including access to suitable locating technology; whether the Government would consider developing a national framework to support access to such technology for appropriately identified vulnerable children; whether the Minister would be willing to meet with representatives of autistic families to hear directly about these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68043/26]
599. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether discussions have taken place, or are planned, between An Garda Síochána, Government Departments, the HSE, disability representative organisations and family advocacy groups regarding the potential development of a national rapid public notification system for vulnerable missing persons; and the current status of any such discussions. [68822/26]
443. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if she will remove the specific criteria of 'insulin initiation from the start' that is preventing approximately 500-700 people with a clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes from accessing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), which clinical evidence and recommendations overwhelmingly supports as first-choice glucose monitoring treatment for all people with type 1 diabetes. [67679/26]
442. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if she plans to begin the implementation of the National Diabetes Strategy by providing funding to create a Regional Diabetes Clinical Lead post in each HSE Health Region in the upcoming budget. [67678/26]
440. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if she will provide new funding to provide a new registered advanced nurse practitioner post in each young adult diabetes clinic in all level 4 hospitals to support the further development of each local service. [67681/26]
439. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if she will make continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) available to women with type 2 diabetes (approximately 300 women per year) for the duration of their pregnancy to minimise the health risks for mother and baby. [67682/26]
438. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if she will sanction a HIQA Health Technology Assessment on the effectiveness and long term health benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people with other types of diabetes, such as type 2 diabetes, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, type 3c diabetes and so on, using daily insulin injections (basal-bolus) to potentially expand access to CGM based on clinical need rather than a type of diabetes. [67684/26]
437. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if she will provide new funding to Diabetes Ireland to employ two psychologists to further support delivery of its Mental Health and Wellbeing Programmes to people living with diabetes and their parents/carers. [67685/26]