John Lahart

2358. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the work that has been done with schools to host before and after-school care; to examine start-up supports for groups involved in after school activities; to detail the schools where progress has been made in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23772/26]

2359. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which an area (details supplied) can take advantage of the capital investment her Department has provided to build or purchase State-owned childcare facilities to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. [23773/26]

2360. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has considered suggestions from a campaign (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23778/26]

2403. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on reviewing the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 as suggested by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24226/26]

176. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason the grant for solar panels has been reduced (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23333/26]

7. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the flight costs to her Department as a result of the recent evacuation scenarios in the Middle East; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22621/26]

24. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if, in circumstances in which a home is unsuitable for a heat pump, the alternative grant support available to householders in respect of boiler replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23094/26]

112. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for maintaining the requirement of a minimum grade of C2 in higher level Irish for entry to Professional Master of Education programmes in primary teaching, given that applicants who took A Level Irish in Northern Ireland meet this requirement with a grade C, and that applicants may have failed higher level English or mathematics once they hold a C2 in Irish; if her Department has considered reviewing this requirement in light of the current shortage of primary teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22730/26]

523. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth if financial supports are available to local schools due to the extensive nature of works required as result of their grounds flooding due to intensive heavy rain, works for which the maintenance grant is insufficient to cover; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22185/26]

955. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health her views on the outbreak of meningitis in a local area of the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22020/26]

956. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the fact that there is an ongoing industrial relations dispute concerning the proper resourcing of radiography student placements in hospitals nationally, and the quality of training provided which also impacts on patient care and staff workload (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22021/26]

286. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently review the stalled Emergency Works Grant application submitted in March 2025 by a school (details supplied). [21183/26]

287. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the long-delayed major capital project for a school (details supplied); the reasons for the continued lack of meaningful engagement with the boards of management despite fifteen years of progression attempts; and when her Department will provide clear timelines to allow this urgently needed redevelopment to proceed, in view of the worsening condition of both school buildings. [21184/26]

288. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to support a school (details supplied) in delivering the six autism spectrum (AS) classes they have committed to establishing under their new build, given that existing AS classes are operating in unsuitable prefabs separate from the main buildings; and if she will confirm the way her Department will ensure that children with additional needs in the community can access purpose-built, safe and inclusive accommodation without further delay. [21185/26]

389. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will acknowledge that while it has been stated that legislation prevents the release of records relating to mother and baby homes, the relevant legislation was previously amended through the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters) Records Act 2020 to allow adopted persons and mothers access to information about themselves; if this demonstrates that the law can be amended where necessary; and if, in circumstances where the current legislative framework is viewed as preventing transparency and access to historical records, she will consider further amending the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20993/26]

390. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality given that the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters) Records Act 2020 was previously amended to allow adopted persons and mothers access to information relating to themselves, if she accepts that this demonstrates that the legislative framework governing the archive can be amended where necessary; if she will consider introducing further legislative amendments to allow the wider release of the mother and baby homes archive with appropriate safeguards such as the redaction of personal data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20994/26]

391. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has received legal advice indicating that the wider mother and baby homes archive cannot be released even where personal data and identifying information are redacted; if she will outline the legal basis for the continued sealing of the archive for 30 years; if she will confirm whether alternative approaches, including systematic redaction of personal data, have been formally examined as a means of facilitating broader access to the records while protecting privacy rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20995/26]

486. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the reasons motor insurance premiums can rise significantly for policyholders who have had no claims, no accidents, no penalty points, and no change in their risk profile; the factors that contribute to premium increases in such circumstances; the steps being taken to ensure that motor insurance pricing remains transparent and proportionate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20685/26]

488. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the reason the removal of deemed disposal was excluded from Budget 2026, despite official recommendations; if he is minded to reform or abolish this policy; and the timeline, if any, for reviewing it, particularly as this issue affects not only professional investors but also responsible savers trying to build long-term financial security. [20799/26]

489. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has undertaken any analysis of the impact that the higher, deemed-disposal capital gains tax rate on index funds has on retail investor behaviour and capital market participation; if consideration would be given to aligning the capital gains tax rate and realisation rules for index fund investors with those applied to individual shareholdings to ensure tax neutrality across comparable asset classes; and in the context of encouraging low risk, long-term savings and investment, if he believes it is equitable that individual index fund investors face both a higher tax rate and a deemed realization of gains, unlike those investing directly in shares or property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20800/26]

636. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the Teaching Council’s recognition of the postgraduate programme “iPGCE with iQTS: SEND – Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education with International Qualified Teacher Status (SEND)” delivered by Coventry University through NITE in England; whether completion of this qualification allows a graduate to register as a primary special education teacher in Ireland; the criteria used by the Teaching Council in determining recognition of international teaching qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18523/26]

1279. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding an application (details supplied) for a join family visa application. [18914/26]

1657. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the services being provided at Ballyboden Primary Care Centre; the services that remain in deficit there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18243/26]

1682. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, to outline the proposed governance, funding flows and accountability arrangements for the regional structures within the HSE health regions; whether local drug and alcohol task forces will retain independent governance and decision-making authority over locally delivered programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18387/26]

1683. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the way funding will be allocated within the proposed regional structures under the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; whether deprivation, social exclusion and patterns of entrenched drug-related harm will be formally weighted alongside population in determining resource allocation; and if she will publish the criteria to be used by HSE Health Regions in making funding decisions. [18388/26]