836. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teaching vacancies currently unfilled across primary and post-primary schools in Longford and Westmeath; and the measures being taken to address recruitment difficulties. [42298/26]
835. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in Longford-Westmeath currently awaiting school places in special classes or special schools ahead of the upcoming academic year. [42297/26]
832. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted an assessment of the availability of autism class places and special school capacity at primary and post-primary level in Longford and Westmeath ahead of the upcoming school year; and if gaps identified will be addressed. [42243/26]
693. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether Fáilte Ireland has plans for additional investment in tourism marketing or infrastructure projects linked to the River Shannon, Royal Canal, and Hidden Heartlands attractions in counties Longford and Westmeath. [42309/26]
692. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of small businesses in counties Longford and Westmeath that have availed of energy or cost-of-business supports over the past 12 months. [42308/26]
691. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the level of tourism funding allocated to counties Longford and Westmeath over the past five years; and whether additional investment is planned for greenways, waterways, and rural tourism attractions in the midlands. [42306/26]
682. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment If IDA Ireland plans to have a trade investment mission to India during the second half of the year. [41803/26]
678. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps being taken to develop enterprise and innovation hubs in Athlone, Mullingar and Longford Town to support regional employment growth. [41507/26]
677. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures being taken to attract foreign direct investment into County Westmeath and County Longford through improved transport and infrastructure connectivity. [41503/26]
635. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number and location of communities in Longford-Westmeath currently identified as being at risk of flooding; the status of any planned flood relief works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42270/26]
440. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport whether additional Local Link services or expanded evening and weekend rural bus services are planned for communities in Longford and Westmeath who have limited public transport options. [42362/26]
439. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of complaints received by Iarnród Éireann relating to onboard announcement systems, overcrowding and onboard connectivity issues on services serving Longford and Westmeath over the past two years. [42361/26]
429. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has engaged with local authorities and community groups in Longford and Westmeath regarding delays and barriers to the delivery of EV charging infrastructure in smaller towns and rural villages. [42272/26]
401. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of WTE Garda Vetting Officer and Child Safeguarding Officer posts filled within Iarnród Éireann as of 26 May 2026, in tabular form. [41797/26]
400. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the delay citizens returning from Australia are facing in exchanging their driving licences; the impact this is having on their ability to secure employment; the steps he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41741/26]
398. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the progress made on active travel and greenway projects in counties Westmeath and Longford. [41508/26]
397. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has conducted an assessment of the economic benefits of enhanced rail connectivity between Dublin and the Midlands region. [41506/26]
396. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of transport-related projects in Westmeath and Longford currently awaiting approval or funding allocation. [41505/26]
395. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding will be provided for rural bus services and Local Link routes serving communities in Westmeath and Longford. [41504/26]
394. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if consideration is being given to upgrading the N4 and N55 road corridors to support regional economic growth and improve road safety in the Midlands. [41502/26]
393. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the level of capital funding allocated to transport infrastructure projects in County Westmeath and County Longford under the current National Development Plan. [41501/26]
392. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the plans in place to improve rail frequency and reliability on routes serving Longford, Mullingar and Athlone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41500/26]
355. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence whether any additional investment is planned for infrastructure upgrades at Columb Barracks, Mullingar, including accommodation, training facilities, and energy efficiency measures. [42296/26]
350. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the number of riding instructor posts filled within Defence Forces equitation school; and the normally filled ranks of Defence Forces personnel for these posts. [41804/26]
223. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether consideration is being given to expanding outreach services for passport or consular assistance in rural areas for elderly or vulnerable residents without reliable internet access. [42312/26]
222. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications from residents of Longford and Westmeath currently awaiting processing beyond standard turnaround times; and the reasons for delays. [42310/26]
207. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of WTE housekeeper posts filled at Irish Embassies based in Warsaw and Toronto, in tabular form. [41795/26]
206. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of WTE local employed staff by job title currently working at the Irish Embassies based in Bangkok and Lisbon, in tabular form. [41794/26]
205. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of occasions in 2025 and to date in 2026 where the Irish Consul General based in Barcelona has met formally with the Mayor of Barcelona, in tabular form. [41793/26]
194. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Taoiseach the current vacancy and unemployment rates in the Longford–Westmeath constituency; and the sectors experiencing the most acute labour shortages locally. [42307/26]
740. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the next exam date for student paramedics will be, in view of the fact that it has now been postponed twice in November and January; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41346/26]
442. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of frontline Gardaí assigned to public order, community engagement and hate crime investigation duties in each Garda division; the number of vacancies currently existing; and the additional resources requested by Garda management since 2020. [40970/26]
441. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of incidents classified as hate-related, extremist-related or politically motivated recorded by An Garda Síochána in each of the past five years, broken down by county and category; the number resulting in prosecution; and whether his Department has identified any increase in online radicalisation activity. [40969/26]
440. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps he is taking to tackle rising hate crime, racism, online extremism and social division in Ireland; the progress made under the National Action Plan Against Racism 2023-2027; the way such progress is being measured; the measures being taken with An Garda Síochána, schools, local authorities and social media platforms to prevent radicalisation and community tensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40945/26]
361. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans for expenditure regarding the remaining funding in phase one of the local bargaining fund. [41122/26]
360. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary school teachers, currently teaching in any special education setting in a mainstream school, who hold the special education teacher diploma but are not in receipt of the special education teacher diploma allowance. [41121/26]
359. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary school teachers per county, who are currently in receipt of the special education teacher diploma allowance, in tabular form. [41120/26]
358. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria that was considered, and the engagement she had with representative bodies and the Department of Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation regarding the reinstatement of the special education teacher diploma allowance for primary school teachers. [41117/26]
318. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently examine whether a school placement for a student (details supplied) can be facilitated for the remainder of the current term; and the additional supports or intervention that can be provided locally (details supplied). [40816/26]
314. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated total cost per year of reinstating the special education teacher diploma allowance for all existing teachers in special education who hold the diploma and do not receive the allowance. [41119/26]
313. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason reinstatement of the special education teacher diploma allowance for primary school teachers did not proceed given 78 branches supported this measure in an effort to ensure special education qualification are recognised. [41118/26]
246. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that passengers in Mullingar and surrounding areas are unable to purchase online tickets from Mullingar to Dublin on bus 115; the reason for this discrepancy; and if he will urgently engage with the National Transport Authority and Bus Éireann to resolve the matter.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41345/26]
183. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a clear and immediate timeline for when the new building works at a school (details supplied) will commence; and any direct support from her Department to ensure there are no further delays in progressing this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40815/26]
133. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) has not been included on the recently published school building list, despite the school having worked with her Department for six years on a new build project, and having progressed to planning permission; the current status and expected timeline for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40814/26]
1500. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the engagement her Department has had with Regional Hospital Mullingar regarding the need for additional parking onsite given the severe shortage for patients attending for appointments. [40306/26]
1490. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health her plans to re-introduce the scoliosis screening programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40261/26]
1374. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the State of progressing one clinical nurse specialist post to an advanced nurse practitioner post; the average difference in annual salary costs, associated training and education costs; and any associated implementation or backfill costs; in tabular form. [39586/26]
1331. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when she expects to see an on-site pharmacy at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39302/26]
1103. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the timeline for a decision by the HSE drugs group regarding the reimbursement of risdiplam for adults living with spinal muscular atrophy. [38725/26]