Barry Heneghan

792. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria currently used to approve exemptions from studying Irish (primary and secondary); the timeframes these criteria are audited or reviewed by her Department, the steps being taken to ensure consistency and fairness across schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58938/25]

793. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has evaluated the impact of the rising number of Irish exemptions on bilingual policy goals, Irish language proficiency targets; and if her Department plans to propose reforms (e.g. differentiated instruction, optional exam modes, or phased reduction) to reverse exemption growth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58939/25]

794. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the supports (special education resources, differentiated curricula, teaching methods) which are provided to students with learning difficulties or literacy challenges to enable them to continue Irish rather than be exempted; the number of such supports which have been funded in the past three years; the plans which exist to expand them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58940/25]

795. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to commission an independent review of the exemption system for Irish in schools (primary and secondary), including its impacts on language retention and equity; the terms of reference that review will have; and the timeframe for when it will begin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58941/25]

920. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline the additional resources being allocated to strengthen mental health supports within schools, including counselling, NEPS services and wellbeing programmes; if her Department plans to extend in-school mental health supports to primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60101/25]

921. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the shortage of special needs assistants across the education system; if regional or national workforce planning has been carried out to meet rising demand; the measures being taken to improve recruitment and retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60102/25]

923. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department plans to formally recognise school assistance dogs within the implementation framework of the forthcoming National Human Rights Strategy 2025–2030 under Pillar One, Inclusive Learning and Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60115/25]

924. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider expanding the school assistance dog pilot programme to additional schools nationwide, ensuring regional balance and independent evaluation of outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60116/25]

925. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will examine the way in which school assistance dogs can be integrated as complementary supports within the new education therapy service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60117/25]

1024. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider the introduction of a national trade licensing system for construction workers and contractors, similar to the model used in Australia, to enhance accountability, safety, and quality assurance across the building industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58346/25]

1049. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider the introduction of a national trade licensing system for construction workers and contractors, similar to the model used in Australia, to enhance accountability, safety, and quality assurance across the building industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58758/25]

1102. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which his Department supports Dublin City Council in monitoring and reporting bathing water quality at designated sites such as Dollymount Strand and North Bull Island; if he will detail resourcing and oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance with EU Bathing Water Quality Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59295/25]

1202. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); the options which are currently available to provide assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58946/25]

1236. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility criteria for the exceptional needs payment; if this support extends to medical-related costs such as essential treatments, equipment, or travel for healthcare; and if he will consider a review of the current criteria to ensure adequate support for individuals facing exceptional medical expenses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60138/25]

1386. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will outline how long-term planning for migration and integration will be improved, including investment in housing, education, healthcare, and community infrastructure; if the Government plans to introduce a national integration infrastructure strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60104/25]

1519. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review existing paternity leave policies with a view to expanding supports for new fathers, as part of broader measures to promote men’s health and family wellbeing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58663/25]

1622. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the improvements being made to disability services, including the provision of personal assistant hours, respite care, and access to children’s disability network teams; if she will provide current waiting times for assessments of need by region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60105/25]

1661. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the progress of the Working Group on the National Hearing Care Plan; if she has received the report from the Working Group that was due by end of Q2 as per the Terms of Reference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57978/25]

1696. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider fully subsidising maintenance and reliever therapy inhalers, recognised as the new gold standard in asthma treatment, on a phased basis to improve adherence, reduce hospitalisations, and support better outcomes for people living with asthma; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58082/25]

1697. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will commission and publish a national review of asthma-related deaths in Ireland, similar to the UK's 2014 National Review of Asthma Deaths, to identify preventable factors and inform improvements in care and treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58083/25]

1698. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that each severe asthma clinic in the country has a dedicated advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) post, in recognition of the proven role of ANPs in improving care coordination and patient outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58084/25]

1699. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider developing a national asthma strategy to reduce hospitalisation and mortality rates, improve access to modern treatments, and strengthen community-based asthma management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58085/25]

1700. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the number of asthma-related deaths and hospital admissions recorded in each of the past five years, in tabular form; the steps being taken to bring Ireland's rates in line with the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58086/25]

1701. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider measures to ensure that any future review of minimum unit pricing includes consultation with addiction service providers and public health experts, with a view to determining the way in which the policy will better support frontline addiction and prevention services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58088/25]

1702. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will address the growing backlog in access to audiology services, with more than 26,000 people now waiting for treatment and reports of delays of up to three years for hearing assessments and hearing aids, including for children; the urgent actions being taken to expand capacity and reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58090/25]