245. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons for delays in the payment of approved funding by the national student financial support scheme (NSLF) to higher education institutions; the reason a number of students (details supplied) have been unable to access their examination results due to outstanding tuition fee balances that remain unpaid by the scheme; the steps being taken to ensure that affected students are not disadvantaged as a result of administrative delays beyond their control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48107/26]
236. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the applications submitted in December 2024 by Fingal County Council in respect of Skerries Harbour, County Dublin, including the application for a foreshore licence to carry out borehole investigations into the seabed and the application for a foreshore lease to allow for the construction of a new outer pier; the current status of both applications; whether any additional information is outstanding from Fingal County Council or its consultants; the expected timeline for a decision on each application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47965/26]
880. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels for diabetes services in the Dublin Fingal West area; the extent of staffing shortages across the multidisciplinary diabetes team, including consultant, nursing, dietetic and podiatry posts; the impact these vacancies are having on patient access to care and waiting times; if additional funding has been allocated to address these shortages; if recruitment is planned or underway to fill existing vacancies and expand the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47758/26]
634. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm that a HIQA report, due to be published next week regarding a service (details supplied) is still to be published; to indicate the date of the publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47614/26]
551. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the provisions being made for individuals who may not meet all of the eligibility criteria for the recently announced temporary protection transition scheme for Ukrainian nationals residing in Ireland, due to health conditions, disability, caring responsibilities or other exceptional circumstances; whether consideration will be given to applicants who have resided in Ireland for a number of years, contributed to their local communities through employment, community employment schemes or voluntary work, and have no realistic prospect of returning safely to their region of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47766/26]
549. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps being taken to address delays in the Garda vetting process, particularly for the Early Education and Childcare Sectors, where providers report waiting up to eight weeks for vetting clearance for new employees; whether consideration has been given to introducing alternative interim measures, such as recognising a valid Garda vetting disclosure obtained through another regulated employer or service, pending completion of a new vetting application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47756/26]
500. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current average processing time for online Stamp 4 renewal applications; the number of renewal applications currently awaiting decision; the measures being taken to address processing backlogs within immigration service delivery; whether consideration has been given to introducing an expedited or compassionate processing pathway for applicants facing urgent travel, family or employment circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48086/26]
495. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47661/26]
399. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether an assessment has been undertaken of the potential impact of artificial intelligence systems on the livelihoods of Irish writers, musicians, artists, performers and other creative professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47767/26]
344. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if provision will be made to allow parents to transfer from school-based July provision to home-based July provision in circumstances where parents enrolled in the school-based programme in good faith, but the school is now unable to provide the programme due to staffing shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47272/26]
279. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the engagement his Department has had at European Union level regarding copyright protections for creators whose works may be used to train artificial intelligence systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47768/26]
119. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has assessed the potential financial impact on Fingal County Council arising from the transfer of derelict sites levy collection over to the Revenue Commissioners; the estimated amount of derelict sites levy revenue that Fingal County Council would forego under the new arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46490/26]
113. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has assessed the potential financial impact on Fingal County Council arising from the transfer of derelict sites levy collection over to the Revenue Commissioners; the estimated amount of derelict sites levy revenue that Fingal County Council would forego under the new arrangements; the alternative funding mechanisms which are proposed to compensate local authorities for this loss of revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46070/26]
112. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of derelict sites levy assessed, collected and outstanding within the Fingal County Council administrative area in 2025 and 2026 to date; the number of sites liable for the levy in each year ahead of the planned transfer of responsibility for the collection of the derelict sites levy from local authorities to the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46069/26]
50. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance in view of the planned transfer of responsibility for the collection of derelict sites levies to the Revenue Commissioners, whether monies collected in respect of sites located within the Fingal County Council area will be returned directly to Fingal County Council; if not, the reason for same; whether consideration has been given to ringfencing or reallocating such revenues back to the local authority in which they were generated to support housing delivery, regeneration projects, public realm improvements and local infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46074/26]
49. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the alternative funding mechanisms that are proposed to compensate local authorities for this loss of revenue arising from the transfer of derelict sites levy collection over to the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46073/26]
47. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance in view of the fact that residential zoned land tax liabilities of €24.1 million were declared in respect of lands within the Fingal County Council area in 2025, of which €7.9 million was collected and €16.1 million remained unpaid, and that liabilities of €20.5 million were declared in 2026 to date, of which €6.6 million was collected and €13.9 million remained unpaid; the measures that are being taken by the Revenue Commissioners to ensure collection of outstanding residential zoned land tax liabilities; the amount of unpaid amounts that relate to deferred payments; the amount that relates to outstanding liabilities; whether he is satisfied with the current collection rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46060/26]
46. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance given the fact that residential zoned land tax liabilities of €24.1 million were declared in respect of lands within the Fingal County Council area in 2025 and a further €20.5 million in 2026 to date; whether any portion of the revenues collected from these lands is returned directly to the local authority; Fingal County Council; if not, the reason the same is not allocated back to the local authority in which the tax was generated; whether consideration has been given to allowing local authorities to retain a proportion of residential zoned land tax receipts to fund housing-enabling infrastructure, transport projects, community facilities and public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46059/26]
44. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance in view of the planned transfer of responsibility for the collection of the derelict sites levies to the Revenue Commissioners, whether monies collected in respect of sites located within the Fingal County Council area will be returned directly to Fingal County Council; if not, the reason for same; whether consideration has been given to ringfencing or reallocating such revenues back to the local authority in which they were generated to support housing delivery, regeneration projects, public realm improvements and local infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46071/26]
806. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether funding under the early learning and care and school-age childcare schemes will continue to be paid to early education and care services that are required to close temporarily due to a water outage, where the service cannot operate in compliance with Tusla regulations (details supplied) because of the lack of water supply; whether any specific financial supports are available in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45834/26]
800. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a breakdown, by individual early learning and care and school-age childcare services, of the total core funding payments made under the scheme in year three and year four, showing the amount received by each service in each year respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45729/26]
599. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the 2026 Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) Circular requires local authorities to include a mix of properties across a range of building energy ratings (BERs) when selecting dwellings for retrofit works; whether this approach means that estates with the poorest-performing homes are not prioritised for deep retrofit works; the rationale for balancing higher-cost deep retrofits with more moderate interventions; if he will consider revising the selection criteria to ensure that priority is given to homes with the lowest BER ratings and greatest energy inefficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45859/26]
361. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the reason a VAT rate of 23% is applied to mooring charges levied by local authorities at harbours and marinas; whether these charges are treated as standard-rated supplies of services under VAT law; the legal basis for the application of VAT to such public authority charges; if he will consider whether an exemption or reduced rate could apply in circumstances where mooring fees are charged by local authorities to small vessel owners, fishermen, or leisure users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45853/26]
65. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if consideration has been given to the establishment of an independent governance authority for local sports and athletics clubs to oversee committee conduct, ensure compliance with governance standards, provide independent dispute resolution mechanisms and support transparency and accountability in club administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43961/26]
153. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if the requirement for recipients of carer’s allowance to notify his Department of short absences from the State applies to travel within the island of Ireland, including cross-Border journeys; whether the requirement has been applied in such circumstances; whether any review of the requirement is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44252/26]
152. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the legal and administrative basis for the requirement that recipients of carer’s allowance notify his Department of short absences from the State; if his Department has assessed the necessity and effectiveness of this requirement in the administration of the scheme; whether any review of the requirement is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44251/26]
2274. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of people referred to a prostate rapid access clinic attended within 20 days, between 21-25 days, 25 days or longer by hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43521/26]
2273. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of people referred to a lung rapid access clinic attended within ten days, between 11-20 days, 21 days or longer by hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43520/26]
2272. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of people referred to an urgent symptomatic breast disease clinic attended within ten days, between 11-20 days, 21 days or longer by hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43519/26]
1674. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare providers who applied for and received support under the Sustainability Fund linked to Core Funding in each of the years 2023, to date 2026; the number of applications refused or withdrawn in the same period; the total value of funding allocated under the scheme; the breakdown, by county childcare committee area and, by strand of support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43386/26]
1482. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department intends to develop a national strategy for the protection and conservation of the native Irish honeybee; the steps being taken to raise awareness of the ecological and agricultural importance of the native Irish honeybee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42111/26]
1481. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether consideration is being given to the introduction of additional protections or policy measures aimed at conserving the native Irish honeybee and supporting sustainable beekeeping practices; the engagement his Department has had with beekeeping groups, researchers and stakeholders regarding concerns about the loss of native bee genetics and increasing hybridisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42110/26]
1480. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports, funding schemes or conservation programmes currently available to beekeepers and organisations working to protect the native Irish honeybee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42109/26]
1479. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures currently in place to protect the native Irish honeybee population and preserve its genetic integrity whether his Department has conducted any assessment of the impact of hybridisation and non-native bee imports on the Native Irish Honey Bee population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42108/26]
1262. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration has been given to amalgamating maternity benefit, paternity benefit and parent’s leave into a single family leave scheme providing up to 12 months of paid leave following the birth or adoption of a child; whether such a scheme could operate on a pay-related basis similar to the new model introduced for jobseeker’s pay-related benefit, with payments linked to previous earnings up to the applicable maximum rate; the estimated annual cost of introducing such a scheme using figures from 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43384/26]
1120. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in regard to the new rules for rural housing, the definition of a rural area under urban influence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43210/26]
1001. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the potential impact of artificial intelligence and digital replication technologies on background performers and workers within the Irish film and television sector; and if he will outline any plans to introduce protections, safeguards or regulations in this area as the industry continues to expand. [43349/26]
830. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a parent can still apply for July Provision as they missed the deadline for applications (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42226/26]
674. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if consideration is being given to strengthening employment protections and working conditions for background actors, extras and other precarious workers within the Irish film and television industry, particularly in relation to maximum working hours in a day, unpaid waiting time and minimum standards on productions receiving State funding or tax incentives. [43348/26]
540. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total amount of Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) charged, collected, outstanding in respect of lands located within the Lusk settlement boundary / Local Area Plan area in Fingal, for each of the years 2025 and 2026 to date; and to provide the number of liable sites/returns in the area for each year. [42113/26]
539. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total amount of Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) charged, collected, outstanding (including arrears and unpaid liabilities) in respect of lands identified within the functional area of Fingal County Council, for each of the years 2025 and 2026 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42112/26]
136. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the recent confirmation that homes in Dublin Fingal are now to be included in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme (details supplied); whether Fingal County Council have been instructed on the implementation on the scheme by his Department; when precisely applications can be made from residents in Dublin Fingal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40531/26]
897. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the mechanisms in place to monitor and track the welfare and current location of greyhounds that become the subject of animal welfare concerns or investigations and have been taken into care; if greyhound racing Ireland maintains records relating to the ongoing welfare and whereabouts of such dogs; and if he will provide an update on the current welfare status and location, where available, of the greyhounds referenced in recent material circulated online (details supplied). [39301/26]
280. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine extending eligibility for the telephone support allowance in Budget 2027 beyond the current “living alone” requirement to include recipients of disability allowance and pension payments who rely on mobile phones for safety, independence, and access to essential daily supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38670/26]
279. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider increasing the telephone support allowance rate of €2.50 per week in line with inflation, rising communication costs and the growing necessity of mobile phone and data services for access to healthcare, banking, transport, and Government services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38669/26]