682. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he agrees that the current qualified adult system reinforces traditional gender roles by embedding women’s economic dependence within the social welfare system; how this is compatible with the State’s gender equality commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5461/26]
681. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he accepts that the qualified adult payment structure denies women full financial independence by treating couples as a single financial unit; his plans to move towards individual entitlement to social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5460/26]
680. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the justification for classifying one adult in a couple as a qualified adult and therefore financially dependent on their spouse or partner; whether she acknowledges that approximately 90% of increase for a qualified adult recipients are women; the assessment his Department has made of the gender equality implications of this arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5459/26]
632. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether cross-departmental work is underway to address situations in which households affected by long-term disability fall between income supports, housing supports, and access to market housing; if not, whether such an approach will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5781/26]
631. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether local authorities are permitted to exercise discretion in the assessment of local authority home loan applications to take account of long-term disability, illness-related changes in household circumstances, and the presence of dependent children; and if not, whether provision will be made for such discretion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5780/26]
630. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has examined cases in which households affected by disability exceed income thresholds for social and affordable housing supports, yet are unable to realistically access the private housing market due to reliance on a single income and reduced long-term earning capacity; and the policy measures which are being considered to address this cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5779/26]
629. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration is being given to extending the fresh start principle to include applicants who were required to sell a previous principal private residence due to long-term illness or disability, including circumstances where the sale arose from loss of earning capacity or a medical necessity to relocate for family support; and if not, whether such an extension will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5778/26]
570. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department can provide funding or support for the improvement of schools outdoor space; if she will outline any schemes, grants, or local authority supports available to schools (details supplied) seeking to make their playgrounds more suitable for children's learning and development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6439/26]
550. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the marketing, packaging and prominent retail display of vapes and snuff products are designed to attract children and young people; if she will introduce legislation requiring these products to be kept out of sight in retail outlets, similar to tobacco products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5396/26]
308. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if a full review of the Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations is planned, in view of safety concerns for other road users and pedestrians; the timeline for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5352/26]
307. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the absence of a mandatory insurance requirement for electric scooters, particularly in cases involving injury to pedestrians or damage to property; whether he accepts that the current situation leaves injured parties without adequate redress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5351/26]
306. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport the rationale for allowing electric scooters to be used on public roads without mandatory high-visibility clothing, helmets, insurance or adequate lighting, given their increasing involvement in collisions with motorists and pedestrians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5349/26]
282. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the estimated environmental impact of disposable vape products, particularly plastic waste; whether a ban or strict regulation is being considered as part of Ireland’s climate and waste reduction commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5400/26]
43. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of any additional complaints from public transport providers, such as Dublin Bus, regarding the road use conduct of platform workers/drivers; if he is aware of any plans or campaigns to monitor and improve the adherence to road safety conditions of platform delivery workers/drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4515/26]
961. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the basis on which children are scheduled for speech and language therapy assessments in CHO 9, including whether referrals are processed strictly in order of date received or subject to clinical and-or age-based prioritisation; the criteria used in such prioritisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3938/26]
865. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a mechanism will be introduced to allow funding under the AIM, NCS and sponsored childcare schemes to be backdated in cases where administrative issues prevent applications from being submitted immediately, in order that providers are not financially disadvantaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4167/26]
838. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has identified small to medium early years and school age childcare services that are not primarily ECCE-funded and are now receiving less funding than they did prior to the introduction of the core funding scheme; if a review of the funding allocations to these services has been carried out; if she will take steps to ensure that such services are adequately supported to continue operating sustainably; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3727/26]
837. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a list of early years and school age childcare services that have withdrawn from the core funding scheme; the number and percentage of services that have signed up to the scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3721/26]
726. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to review the feasibility of replacing the current repeated Garda vetting process with a national registration and licensing system (details supplied); whether such a system will improve efficiency, data protection, and safeguarding outcomes while remaining self-financing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3663/26]
212. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of EU Presidency policy and administrative officers now employed on temporary contracts; her plans being developed to retain or utilise these people once their contracts end, given at that stage they will have extensive and intimate knowledge of EU and Irish institutional operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3587/26]
211. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to appointing new special envoys, particularly in relation to recent international events or in the context of Irelands campaign for seat on the UN Human Rights Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3586/26]
131. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he accepts that safeguarding in sport must extend beyond child protection to include clear and enforceable adult safeguarding standards; the steps taken by his Department and Sport Ireland to ensure consistent adult safeguarding policies across all sports organisations; and if he will introduce a requirement that all sporting bodies adopt such policies as a condition of public funding and affiliation. [3661/26]
352. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide further funding for a school (details supplied) to provide resources for an additional class in the coming school year of 2026/2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3244/26]
309. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if he has formal announcements to make regarding the promised meeting with small public service vehicle, SPSV, drivers to review the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 to address issues; if he has detailed plans to continue to support the SPSV sector by pressing for a comprehensive review of dispatch-operator licensing; if he will advocate for clear regulations or amendments that address fixed fares, algorithmic pricing practices, priority fees and technology charges, ensure fare transparency and parity, and protect driver incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3303/26]
92. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the work being carried out by his Department into the population growth of seagulls in a location (details supplied), their migration patterns and status as a protected species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2639/26]
85. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to a public information campaign to inform tenants of their existing rights and protections under residential tenancies legislation, in light of reports that tenants are being warned by landlords of potential exits from the rental market ahead of new tenancy rules coming into effect in March 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2559/26]
82. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will support legislation to ensure that vacant or derelict properties in town centres are brought back into active use within defined and enforceable timeframes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2555/26]
81. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will introduce strengthened compulsory acquisition powers to enable local authorities to prioritise residential, mixed-use, and community development within town centres, rather than peripheral greenfield development, and to support the regeneration of derelict properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2554/26]
80. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional funding streams, financial supports, or incentives he will provide to assist local authorities in the acquisition, refurbishment, and regeneration of derelict properties in town centres, in accordance with Town Centre First principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2553/26]
79. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will introduce legislation to extend the powers of local authorities to permit the change of use or demolition of derelict and long-term vacant buildings within designated town centres, in order to address rising vacancy and dereliction and facilitate the return of these buildings to productive use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2552/26]
77. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his position on the absence of mandatory adult safeguarding policies within sports and running clubs (details supplied); if he will confirm if all clubs should be required to have such policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2817/26]
73. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when An Post pensioners, who were awarded a pension increase in September 2025, will receive this long-overdue payment; the reasons for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2640/26]
62. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth her position on proposals put forward by an organisation (details supplied) for 'Seizure Safe Schools'; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2625/26]
1795. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps which were taken to ensure safe transport of exported heifers from the port of arrival to the final destination in Algeria, including vehicle compliance with EC Regulation 1/2005, rest breaks; the action which will be taken against exporters using vehicles that do not meet legal standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74108/25]
1794. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether veterinary supervision was present during loading at Waterford Port; the reason animals with lameness were permitted to board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74107/25]
1793. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any cows died during the recent shipment to Algeria; and if so, the cause of death; the way in which carcasses were disposed of; whether any efforts were made to save calves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74106/25]
1792. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures which are taken to ensure the safety of calves if a birth occurs during transit, including space allocation for pregnant cows, and whether any cows gave birth during the recent shipment to Algeria; and if so, whether the cows and calves arrived safely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74105/25]
1791. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process used by his Departments veterinary inspectors to verify that in-calf heifers exported to Algeria on 15 November 2025 had less than 90% of their expected gestation completed; the way in which the fitness for transport of pregnant cows is assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74104/25]
1790. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm whether all 287 unweaned calves arrived safely in Libya; the details of any injuries, illnesses, or mortalities during the journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74103/25]
1789. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the route, means of transport, duration, and veterinary supervision for the 287 unweaned dairy calves exported to Libya in May 2025, including the journey from France to Libya; the measures taken to ensure compliance with EC Regulation 1/2005 on feeding and rest intervals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74102/25]
1788. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm whether all 117 heifers arrived safely in Libya; the details of any injuries, illnesses, or mortalities during transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74101/25]
1787. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the journey log for 5 January 2025 Libya shipment lists Murcia, Spain as the destination; to provide details of the method of transport from Spain to Libya, including whether a livestock vessel was used and whether it complied with the Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulation 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74100/25]
1786. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the 117 dairy heifers exported to Libya on 5 January 2025 were pregnant at the time of export; the procedures which were followed to verify their gestation stage in accordance with EC Regulation 1/2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74099/25]
1522. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if additional administrative requirements introduced by his Department in relation to rent supplement and supplementary welfare allowance are supported by statutory authority; and the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure compliance with the legislative framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74088/25]
1521. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the Department’s procedures where income supports are suspended or terminated due to the non-provision of documentation by landlords or managing agents; and the safeguards in place to ensure proportionality and fairness for tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74087/25]
1520. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department limits documentation requests to information that tenants can reasonably be expected to obtain; whether alternative evidence from licensed property agents is accepted where appropriate; and whether claims may be maintained where non-compliance arises from landlord or agent refusal to cooperate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74086/25]
1519. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to review the Department’s procedures for verifying landlord ownership for rent supplement and related supports, with a view to ensuring that claimants are not adversely affected by matters outside their control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74085/25]
1518. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has sought advice from the data protection commission regarding the practice of requesting tenants to submit third-party personal or financial data relating to landlords; and whether this practice has been assessed for compliance with data protection legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74084/25]
1517. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if tenants are required by his Department to purchase land registry folios or title documents in order to retain eligibility for rent supplement or supplementary welfare allowance; and whether such costs are provided for in the governing legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74083/25]