521. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific evidential criteria used by deciding officers when determining which parent has care of a child for the majority of the time in shared-care arrangements (details supplied); the types of documentary evidence considered; and whether both parents are routinely afforded an opportunity to review and respond to information gathered by a social welfare inspector before a determination is made. [73132/26]
29. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Kyne den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta cén teagmháil a bhí ag a Roinn le Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe agus le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta maidir le tithíocht a sholáthar i bpobail Ghaeltachta i gConamara agus cén bearta sonracha atá á mbreithniú chun tacú le seachadadh tithe do mhuintir na háite agus do phobal na Gaeilge. [72957/26]
28. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the amount of funding expended under the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy allocation for works on Inchagoill Island, County Galway (details supplied) which was advanced to Coillte; the reason Coillte has indicated that it will not be carrying out any further works on the island; and if responsibility for the completion of the project will be transferred to another body. [72938/26]
350. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the 9% VAT rate to qualifying beauty, aesthetic and nail-care services, which already applies to hairdressing services as part of the Finance Bill 2027 (details supplied). whether he acknowledges that extending the 9% rate would provide a fairer and more consistent VAT framework for the wider personal-care sector. [73344/26]
218. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed redevelopment of St. Anne’s community nursing unit in Clifden, County Galway; the current status of the project; when the project is expected to proceed to tender; and the anticipated timelines for construction and completion. [72272/26]
92. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the basis for the current recruitment restrictions affecting newly qualified midwives who have recently completed their training and are now registered to practice; the number of vacant midwifery posts in University Hospital Galway; and the measures being taken to fill these vacancies to recruit newly qualified midwives into the public health service. [72271/26]
465. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider introducing a moratorium on the approval of new solar farm developments pending the publication of updated national solar farm planning guidelines; and whether such moratoriums or prohibitions are legally possible. [72269/26]
464. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether motions passed and agreed by elected members of local authorities who opposed wind farm or solar farm developments and seeking moratoriums on future developments can be taken into account by planning authorities and by An Coimisiún Pleanála when determining planning applications. [72270/26]
120. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the funding and delivery timeline for the proposed Dublin Road bus corridor in Galway city; if funding will be allocated in his Department's and TII Budgets for 2027 to progress the project following the granting of planning permission; and the Government's plans in relation to the Dublin Road bus corridor, the Cross City Link and the Galway BusConnects Network, given their importance in improving public transport capacity, reducing traffic congestion and supporting sustainable transport in Galway. [72163/26]
202. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views that there should be a moratorium on new solar developments pending the publication of solar farm guidelines. [71090/26]
62. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in implementing the Programme for Government commitment on intergenerational farm succession; if he plans to review the effectiveness of existing succession schemes and supports; and the further actions he plans to take to encourage younger people to enter farming and to support the sustainable transfer of family farms to the next generation. [70623/26]
45. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his engagement with EU counterparts regarding the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) within the multi-financial framework; and the measures being taken to protect the CAP budget for farmers. [70624/26]
147. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Minister of State with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion is aware of the application from a school (details supplied) for an exceptional SNA review due to the severe level of need in the school. [70812/26]
140. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress of a schools additional special classroom accommodation (details supplied). [70815/26]
78. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on Ireland's operation and implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. [70663/26]
62. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the rollout and establishment of community safety partnerships nationwide and, in particular, in Galway city and Galway county; the progress made to date in replacing joint policing committees; and if he is satisfied that community safety partnerships are delivering improved outcomes for community engagement and local safety. [70658/26]
724. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health whether the free HRT scheme will be extended to cover hormone replacement therapy for patients with congenital or permanent endocrine conditions, including testosterone replacement for Klinefelter syndrome. [70683/26]
723. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the current status of the HSE's full health technology assessment of budesonide orodispersible tablets (Jorveza, NCPE HTA ID 24014) for eosinophilic oesophagitis, commissioned on 25 June 2024; the reason no outcome has been published in over two years; and the expected date of a reimbursement decision. [70675/26]
721. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the action the HSE and HPRA are taking on the current supply shortage of budesonide orodispersible tablets in the State. [70677/26]
720. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the current status of the HSE's assessment of dupilumab for eosinophilic oesophagitis; and the expected date of a decision on the use of this medicine. [70680/26]
349. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to publish the National Planning Statement for Short-Term Letting. [69544/26]
172. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is seeking additional baseline supports for Galway County Council and Galway City Council's in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69017/26]
302. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to confirm specifically that the Kingston Park and Millers Lane application remains eligible for consideration from additional funding under the 2024 LSSIF round; to confirm its status on his Department's reserve list; and whether the granting of full planning approval by An Coimisiún Pleanála will now be reflected in his Department's assessment of the project's readiness and deliverability. [69469/26]
255. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views that the current eligibility criteria for a primary medical certificate (PMC) under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, results in an inequity whereby persons who are blind or severely visually impaired do not qualify for the scheme despite facing significant mobility and transport challenges; if he will engage with the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability to review and amend the regulations governing the scheme to include persons with severe visual impairments. [69399/26]
198. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the roll out of affordable housing in Galway City Council and Galway County Council areas; his views on whether there are issues in supporting affordable schemes in rural areas and communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69018/26]
72. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has assessed whether Ireland is out of step with other European Union member states in not maintaining a trade or representative office in Taiwan; and if consideration has been given to reopening an Irish Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei to strengthen economic, trade, cultural and links with Taiwan. [69001/26]
57. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she accepts the important role that embassies abroad play for Irish citizens in visa application processes and what measures are being taken by her Department to improve response times and customer service standards across the diplomatic and visa systems. [69103/26]
482. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will undertake a review of existing and operational solar farm developments to assess their impacts with a view to informing the development of updated national planning guidelines for solar energy projects. [68112/26]
491. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection the factors taken into account in determining child benefit entitlement in cases involving a shared-care arrangement; the basis on which an assessment of care arrangements can be revised following Social Welfare Inspector findings; the methodology used to assess the proportion of care provided by each parent; and the procedures in place to ensure both parties have an opportunity to provide relevant information before a determination is made. [68084/26]
282. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an anticipated timeline for the progression of the National Vehicle and Driver File, Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2026; and when he expects the Bill to be enacted. [68484/26]
430. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health her plans to publish the Heads of a Bill on adult safeguarding; whether the published framework for adult safeguarding in the health and social care sectors will inform the legislation; and her views on whether the elderly and those with disabilities are vulnerable to threats and that safeguarding legislation is required. [67697/26]
303. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the mandate for staff members in the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) to work two days per week in office rather than the present obligation of working for one day has come from his Department, and the rationale for this increase considering that the NSSO is not a public facing organisation and staff do their work from home diligently and effectively. [67745/26]
257. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport his plans to reform the driving test including the introduction of transparency and technology in Irish driving tests; his views on suggestions (details supplied); and his views on if lessons can be learned from European colleagues in terms of best practice. [67844/26]
190. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of concerns of severe overcrowding on the Oranmore to Galway train part of the Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail Dublin Heuston to Galway InterCity line; whether he accepts this shows the need for additional capacity and if he would make correspondence with Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail to ensure additional carriages would be made available to ensure public safety. [67610/26]
170. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport the need to provide funding to local authorities for traffic cams and pedestrian crossings in rural towns and villages, including those on national roads; and whether he acknowledges that high speeds become a problem for safety of pedestrians and vulnerable road users. [67539/26]
98. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will undertake a review of opportunities for people to stay on employment schemes after they have turned 65 years old, given the valuable work they contribute and the shortage for people in schemes such as Tús and Community Schemes (CE) schemes in vulnerable communities. [67629/26]
87. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Irish Ambassador based in Thailand has visited the City of Pattaya since her appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66986/26]
629. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the number of total knee replacement surgeries carried out at Galway University Hospital in 2025 and to date in 2026 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66988/26]
440. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí by rank currently attached to Galway Divisional Immigration Unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66987/26]
335. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will now reconsider a project's application (details supplied) submitted under the 2024 Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF); whether the achievement of planning approval will now be taken into account in reassessing the project's readiness and deliverability; whether his Department will engage directly with Galway City Council with a view to progressing an allocation from the existing LSSIF round rather than requiring the project to await a future funding call; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66985/26]
301. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school in County Kerry (details supplied) will be successful in their appeal for a much needed special needs assistant position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66984/26]
262. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on concerns raised by parents regarding the Leaving Certificate scheduling which resulted in maths paper 2 and Irish paper 1 being held on the same day; whether she acknowledges that both Irish and maths are difficult for many students and would be best held separately and on their own; and whether she will examine this in advance of the schedule for 2027 being published. [66452/26]
49. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the factors that would restrict or prevent an organisation from receiving support under the Enterprise Ireland innovation voucher scheme; whether any categories of organisations are excluded from the scheme; the rationale for such exclusions, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66840/26]