John Lahart

568. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the disparities in the inheritance tax thresholds between individuals with children and those without, or those without close relatives; if he acknowledges the concerns regarding the current system (details supplied); if he plans to review this system to ensure fairness and equity for all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19068/25]

802. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education if there are any plans for special needs bus escorts to receive a pay rise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18905/25]

939. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education with respect to parental and pupil concerns with regard to abuse and exposure to social media platforms, is she satisfied that schools maintain a well-informed dialogue with parents and students with regard to the vulnerabilities of individuals around social media. [19916/25]

960. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the gender breakdown of primary school teachers full and part-time for the years 2020-2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20067/25]

1177. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason South Dublin County Council or an AHB purchased an entire apartment development in Rathfarnham for social housing and failed to allow any to go on the market for either affordable-rent or affordable-purchase or for private purchase by either first-time buyers or those within the locality who might have favoured trading down into a smaller dwelling, thereby freeing up larger family homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18960/25]

1400. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for aligning the rate of disability allowance with jobseeker’s payments, particularly given that many people with disabilities face ongoing medical and personal care costs not covered by existing supports. [18922/25]

1401. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection what safeguards are in place to prevent administrative errors in social welfare payments and taxation, particularly in cases where individuals are recorded as receiving supports they have not applied for, or been eligible to receive. [18923/25]

1402. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to single adults with disabilities who are living independently, with limited or no family supports; and the measures being taken to address gaps in housing provision and long-term income stability for this cohort. [18924/25]

1533. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice the number of vehicles that were confiscated by Gardaí at the roadside for non-display of road tax in 2024; and the normal protocol for dealing with a driver with an out-of-date or non-display of a motor tax disc. [18958/25]

1806. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on Ireland’s full implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18921/25]

1873. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a new National Disability Strategy will be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19927/25]

2046. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health to outline what services are currently in place for adults over the age of 18 years living with complex, lifelong or rare medical conditions, particularly in cases where such individuals are not currently availing of any disability services. [18919/25]

2047. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health her plans to improve equitable access to emergency healthcare in circumstances where treatment for a condition is only available in a specific hospital, and if consideration has been given to addressing service gaps for conditions such as muscular dystrophy, which can require specialist care and support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18920/25]

2202. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the current average wait time for scoliosis-related orthopaedic appointments at Cork University Hospital; if the hospital is following its own published guidance around early intervention and regular monitoring in mild scoliosis cases; the steps being taken to ensure that children in rapid growth phases receive timely care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19707/25]

2356. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of Sodium Valproate will commence its work (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20423/25]

2501. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the constituency universities of TUD that are to benefit from the Altitude Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18927/25]

2559. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details and the breakdown of the student intake into primary teaching colleges and university faculties of education for the years 2020 to 2024; the gender breakdown of both students in training and students graduating at primary level and post-primary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20066/25]

2560. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average CAO points requirement for primary school teaching in the years 2020 to 20204, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20068/25]

63. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress made in terms of the provision of energy locally, by the Dublin Waste To Energy facility operated by Dublin City Council in a public-private partnership with three other companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17841/25]

64. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on any district heating projects connected with data centres having either being rolled out or being rolled out nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17838/25]

30. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on progress towards achieving the high-level goal for the Defence Forces, as set out in the Department of Defence and Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2023 - 2026: "to provide for the military defence of the State, contribute to national and international peace and security and fulfil all other roles assigned by Government”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17820/25]

63. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance the plans with regard to the Programme for Government commitment to bring forward measures to support SMEs, in particular the retail and hospitality sectors, acknowledging the increased cost pressures on these sectors; if this will entail changes to VAT, PRSI and other measures; if these measures will be implemented as part of the normal budget process; the plans he has in Budget 2026 with regard to a PRSI rebate for SME’s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17935/25]

8. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach to report on the work of the child poverty programme in his Department. [13734/25]

663. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to adding inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, to the list of conditions eligible for disability allowance, given that it is a lifelong illness with no known cure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16662/25]

664. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider removing the means test for disability allowance, to prevent financial dependence and vulnerability among people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16663/25]