611. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the proposed refurbishment of Lusk Garda Station; the current status of the project; whether the Office of Public Works and Garda Estate Management have completed their review of the works required following the 2024 tender process; the current estimated cost of the refurbishment; whether funding has been identified within the available budget; and if he will provide a timeframe for the commencement and completion of the works. [72648/26]
534. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department intends to review the operation of household or family means-testing arrangements affecting disabled adults who reside with parents or other family members; whether consideration is being given to assessing only the disabled person’s own income for the purposes of disability-related income supports; and the timeline for any such review. [73127/26]
532. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will review the refusal of Invalidity Pension (details supplied). [73106/26]
520. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the €500 cost of disability payment, announced as a permanent payment in Budget 2027, will be placed on a statutory basis through legislation to guarantee its continuation in future years; whether the rate will be reviewed and increased in line with inflation and evidence on the actual additional costs of disability; and the further changes to the payment that are being considered. [73140/26]
478. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when applicants to the new basic income for the arts scheme will be notified of the outcome of the selection process, given that applications closed on 12 May 2026, when payments under the scheme are expected to commence; whether payments will be backdated to September 2026 as announced; and when successful applicants can expect to receive their first payment. [73108/26]
476. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether, under the multi-annual funding arrangement for RTÉ agreed in 2024, the amount paid to RTÉ under section 123(3) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 is calculated as the difference between a fixed total funding figure and television licence fee receipts; if so, whether any increase in licence fee receipts arising from improved compliance would reduce the Exchequer contribution rather than increase total funding to RTÉ. [73072/26]
475. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the most recent estimate of the television licence evasion rate and of the annual revenue forgone; and the corresponding estimates for each of the years 2019 to 2025. [73073/26]
474. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether he has considered legislation to require providers of subscription television services to supply subscriber information to the issuing agent under section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 for the purpose of identifying unlicensed premises; and whether his Department has sought the views of the Data Protection Commission on such a measure. [73075/26]
596. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consideration he has given to the impact of the recent High Court ruling on the application of commercial rates to agricultural buildings used for essential crop storage and handling; whether he recognises the additional financial burden this could place on growers and other farmers already facing significant input and production costs; and the supports or exemptions are available to affected growers. [71734/26]
19. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the current forestry programme has been a success; and if he will detail the metrics to support his position, in tabular form. [70306/26]
650. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place for the HSE to procure ADHD assessments from suitably qualified independent providers to reduce national waiting lists; the number of providers contracted for child and adult ADHD assessments; the ways providers can apply to participate; whether further panels or procurement competitions are planned; and the professional and multidisciplinary requirements providers must meet. [70360/26]
521. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason private supervised-access providers, including an organisation (details supplied), can continue to be used under court orders where a State agency has raised safeguarding concerns and ceased using the provider; the regulation and oversight that applies to such providers; whether courts are notified of safeguarding or vetting concerns; the reason no State supervised-access service exists; and whether the use of Garda branding by private providers is authorised. [70395/26]
490. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to list the number of engagements between his Department and the European Commission in relation to the next forestry programme. [70313/26]
489. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the importance of afforestation towards climate change mitigation, if his Department will conduct annual reviews when targets are constantly missed in order to address shortcomings, if changes are advised. [70314/26]
420. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of complaints or disclosures received by An Garda Síochána to date in 2026 relating to sex-for-rent arrangements following the enactment of the new legislation; the number of cases referred for investigation or prosecution for such incidents; and if he will provide a breakdown by Garda division where available. [69836/26]
45. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport whether he has received advice from the NTA on fixed or discounted fares set through app-based taxi dispatch platforms; whether the current Taxi Regulation Legislation adequately covers such pricing models; whether regulatory or legislative changes are being considered; and whether the impact on driver income and the sustainability of the taxi sector will be examined. [69801/26]
491. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the methodology which will be used to calculate grants and premiums rates for the next forestry program. [70311/26]
488. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the context of negotiations on revising the EU Animal Transport Regulation, increasingly frequent extreme heat events, the position Ireland is taking on proposed temperature requirements; and if Ireland supports species/category-specific temperature ranges based on EFSA evidence (details supplied). [70328/26]
486. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position Ireland is taking on the Commission’s proposed EFSA-based allometric approach to space allowances in the context of negotiations on revising the EU Animal Transport Regulation; if Ireland supports retaining species and category-specific k-values without reducing allowances for shorter journeys, applying the same science-based approach regardless of journey duration and using the allometric equation across the full weight range, including animals under 25 kg, to ensure sufficient space for balance, posture and, where appropriate, rest. [70298/26]
485. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the methodology used in calculating grants and premiums for the current forestry programme. [70310/26]
484. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the maximum journey times Ireland is advocating for each species/animal category in negotiations on revising the EU Animal Transport Regulation; if Ireland supports substantially reducing journey times in line with evidence that animals should be transported for the shortest possible time; if Ireland supports a science-based limit regardless of purpose; if total journey time should run from loading to final unloading, including ferries, periods when animals remain in vehicles; and whether limits should reflect cumulative risks such as stress, fatigue, hunger and thirst. [70241/26]
380. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider mandatory follow-up of sale-based terminations, including requiring the former tenant to be offered the tenancy back where the sale does not proceed. [70336/26]
357. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the formal complaints mechanisms available to residents of emergency accommodation where they have concerns regarding the conduct of accommodation providers or staff (details supplied); if complaints can be made directly to the relevant local authority, the regional homeless executive or his Department; the procedure for investigating such complaints; the expected timeframe for a response; and whether complaints are recorded centrally. [70016/26]
199. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for requiring a school (details supplied) to have 272 pupils enrolled for the 2026-2027 school year to retain its 11th teacher given the threshold for retaining 11 teachers for the 2027-2028 school year is understood to be 261 pupils; and the consideration that has been given to projected enrolment, ongoing housing development and the impact of significantly increased class sizes on pupils’ educational experience and wellbeing. [69832/26]
119. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to confirm, whether the Government is reviewing the tax treatment of the bereaved partner’s State pension (contributory); whether this will be considered as part of Budget 2027; whether consideration will be given to excluding this pension from the calculation that reduces a working recipient’s tax credits and rate band; and if no change is planned, the reason this payment remains taxable while a number of other DSP payments are exempt. [70344/26]
635. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality clarify the amount of funding that has not been paid to early years educators as a result of the delay in implementing the Employment Regulation Order; what will happen to these unspent funds; whether they will return to the Exchequer or remain within the Department’s budget; and whether the Minister will commit to using any such funding to support early years educators and address the financial pressures facing the sector. [68144/26]
685. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current staffing complement at a location (details supplied); the number of vacant posts; the number of agency staff employed; and the steps being taken to address staffing shortages. [68184/26]
676. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to address concerns regarding the use of private, unregulated supervised-access providers in family law proceedings (details supplied); the oversight, safeguarding requirements, Garda vetting, child protection training and professional qualification requirements that apply to private providers appointed or relied upon to supervise contact between children and parents; and the mechanisms that are in place to ensure that reports prepared by such providers for the Family Court are independent, professionally appropriate and subject to adequate quality assurance. [68179/26]
645. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of places currently operational at an organisation (details supplied); the number of places unavailable due to staffing shortages; and the number of children awaiting a special-care placement. [68185/26]
644. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality has she engaged with the staff or union (details supplied) regarding a number of staff that have been put on leave by management due to them disagreeing with changed work practices; and the reason the decision was made for security personnel to be deployed at the campus. [68186/26]
637. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a breakdown of early years providers that are not in receipt of core funding, disaggregated by urban and rural location, and, where available, by county or province; and to set out the number of children and families affected in each area and where the impact of the lack of core funding is being felt most acutely by parents and families, including any regional or geographic patterns identified by the Department. [68140/26]
214. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify whether a GP practice may charge a medical card or doctor visit card holder a “New Patient Appointment Fee” (details supplied) when registering with the practice; whether such a fee is permissible under the GMS scheme where the appointment is solely for registration; if the HSE has issued guidance to GPs on such charges; and if the HSE is investigating this matter, which has been raised by email on multiple occasions since July without a substantive response despite repeated requests for an update. [67669/26]
701. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding that will be available to Men’s Sheds in 2026 and 2027 specifically towards day-to-day running costs; whether consideration will be given to restoring a dedicated sustainability grant of up to €3,000 per shed; and the way in which his Department will ensure that Men’s Sheds receive adequate support where funding is provided through wider community funding programmes. [66692/26]
477. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the top 20 countries by volume and value from which Ireland imported fresh fruit and vegetables in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the quantity and value imported from each country in tabular form. [67058/26]
476. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of the top 20 countries from which Ireland imports fresh fruit and vegetables, if his Department has assessed the exposure of these supply chains to climate-change risks, including drought, flooding, extreme heat, water scarcity and changing growing conditions. [67059/26]
475. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has identified any fruit or vegetable supply chains where Ireland is particularly dependent on countries or regions considered highly vulnerable to climate change; the products concerned; and the measures being taken to reduce the risk of future disruption. [67061/26]
402. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has assessed the extent to which recipients of Carer’s Allowance are experiencing financial hardship as a result of increases in essential household costs, including electricity, heating, food, insurance and housing; and the measures that are available specifically to support carers experiencing such hardship or will they be addressed in Budget 2027. [66916/26]
398. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will undertake a comprehensive review of the financial and social protection supports available to family carers, including carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the carer's support grant, with particular consideration given to the interaction between caring responsibilities, employment, taxation and pension entitlements. [66791/26]
462. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to clarify the position on motor vehicle warranties where servicing is carried out by an independent garage rather than a main dealer; whether a manufacturer or dealer may refuse a warranty claim solely because servicing was completed by a third party where the required specifications and appropriate parts were used; and the redress available to consumers where a warranty is refused on this basis. [65338/26]
1096. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken by her Department to address the ongoing issues experienced by early learning and childcare providers across the country in using the HIVE system, particularly the significant difficulties and administrative problems reported by providers throughout the summer; whether her Department has assessed the impact these ongoing system issues have had on providers, including the additional staff time and administrative workload involved in resolving issues and accessing supports; whether she will undertake comprehensive usability and accessibility testing of the hive. [65966/26]
587. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the construction and anticipated opening timeline for the new special school in the Loughshinny area of County Dublin (details supplied); the current expected date for completion of construction and handover of the building; the anticipated date on which the school will open to pupils; and when pupils and staff are expected to transfer from the existing school premises. [65243/26]
536. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the delayed opening of the new special school in Balbriggan; the reasons for the delay; the steps being taken by her Department to ensure that the school opens as soon as possible; the reason parents and families were not adequately or promptly informed of the delay; the reason alternative educational provision, including temporary home tuition, was not put in place for children who are unable to attend school as a result of the delay; and the supports that are currently available to affected children and their families. [64839/26]
4066. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to consider introducing a SUSI ‘hardship’ or ‘exceptional circumstances’ assessment for families who fall outside the standard grant thresholds but can demonstrate that their disposable income, after essential household and educational costs, is insufficient to support a student through higher education; the consideration that has been given to such a mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61529/26]
4065. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he will undertake a fundamental review of the SUSI means-testing methodology, with particular regard to the treatment of student earnings, the financial circumstances of middle-income families, the treatment of self-employed income and the extent to which the current thresholds reflect the actual cost of higher education; whether he will consider introducing a student income disregard in order that students are not financially penalised for working to support themselves through college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61531/26]
4064. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the SUSI income thresholds were last comprehensively reviewed against actual student living costs; the cost-of-living data used in that review; whether he will commission an updated assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61532/26]