Mattie McGrath

299. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the current availability of Air Corps aircraft and personnel to assist the emergency services in responding to major forest and wildfires; whether Air Corps operations in support of firefighting efforts are restricted to daylight hours; her views on reports that Air Corps aircraft arrive at fire scenes at approximately 10 a.m. and cease operations at approximately 5 p.m. despite fires continuing to burn throughout the day and night; whether she is satisfied that the current level of aerial firefighting support is adequate; and whether consideration will be given to extending Air Corps availability and operational hours during significant wildfire incidents to provide continuous support where required. [58898/26]

432. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if, in light of the ongoing shortage of taxi services, particularly in rural areas where many people face difficulties accessing transport in the evenings and at weekends, the Government has plans to remove key regulatory barriers to entry within the taxi market; whether consideration is being given to permitting ride-hailing platforms (details supplied) to operate in Ireland in the same manner as in other European countries to increase transport availability and consumer choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56044/26]

727. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether an increase in the capital acquisitions tax group A threshold is under consideration for Budget 2027; the proposals or options being examined in this regard; the measures being considered to support those impacted by CAT in group A since the previous threshold increase on 2 October 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56043/26]

535. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to publish or provide the addendum report referred to in the supplementary note on the Department of Health's 2021 Annual Report of abortion statistics, which stated that "the Department will prepare an addendum report to update the notification figures" (details supplied) in order to address the recognised under-reporting of the number of abortions in the Department of Health Annual Report for 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54491/26]

536. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to provide the total number of blood transfusions per year carried out in maternity hospitals, from 2016 to 2025; the reasons transfusions may be needed in maternity units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54492/26]

537. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 942 of 16 June 2026, to provide the number of claims for reimbursement via the primary care reimbursement scheme for a patient’s first visit for purpose of termination of pregnancy during 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of claims for combined termination procedure and aftercare during 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54493/26]

201. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to protect rural primary schools that are at risk of losing teaching posts due to declining enrolment numbers; if her Department will review the staffing schedule for smaller rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53866/26]

202. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider reducing the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Budget 2027, particularly in rural schools where staffing levels are under pressure due to demographic decline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53867/26]

203. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the findings of the National Primary School Survey 2026, which found that 73% of parents with children attending single-sex primary schools favoured a move towards co-education, whether her Department has plans to encourage or facilitate the amalgamation of single-sex schools that do not wish to move towards a co-educational model; the mechanisms that are available to parents, school communities and patrons who wish to pursue the amalgamation of single-sex schools in their area; the supports available from her Department to assist such a process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53868/26]

384. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the vacant homes grant to facilitate applications through small companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52662/26]

153. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of IPAS residents accommodated in each accommodation type (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52094/26]

154. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost incurred relocating IPAS residents between accommodation locations in each year from 2023 to date in 2026, broken down by transport, removals/storage, temporary accommodation, administration, and other relocation costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52095/26]

155. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total expenditure on transporting IPAS residents between accommodation locations, including transport costs contained within accommodation provider contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52096/26]

156. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of planning applications or Section 5 exempted development declarations relating to IPAS accommodation submitted since 2023, by county; and the outcome of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52100/26]

157. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of private landlords or property management companies currently providing self-contained apartment accommodation for IPAS; the total number of apartment units managed by each provider, where disclosure is permissible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52101/26]

158. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the occupancy rate of apartment accommodation together with the number of apartment units vacant for more than 30 days in each year from 2023 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52102/26]

104. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total cost incurred in the design, development and production of the logo for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union; the breakdown of these costs by design, consultancy, branding, and promotional expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51239/26]

240. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to clarify the governance arrangements for foster care committees, including whether representatives of contracted private fostering agencies participate in the approval of foster carers; the safeguards in place to ensure independence and avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47907/26]

243. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a per-child breakdown of the €61,342 annual payment to private fostering agencies by TUSLA; including the amount paid to the foster carer; the cost of social work support; administrative overheads; and any operating surplus or profit retained by the provider; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47919/26]

266. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the rationale for permitting the continuation of the revised crewing model introduced by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) during the Covid-19 pandemic, which allowed an emergency medical technician (EMT) and a paramedic to crew an emergency ambulance; whether this measure was intended to be temporary and pandemic-specific; if she is satisfied that the current model does not represent a lowering of pre-hospital clinical standards; if she will address concerns regarding the significant disparity in training and qualifications between EMTs and paramedics; whether she has engaged with PHECC regarding reinstating the pre-pandemic minimum crewing standard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47931/26]

366. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the date on which parents will be notified regarding whether their child has been allocated a school bus ticket under the school transport scheme. [47532/26]

367. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the appropriate contact information for Oireachtas Members who wish to engage directly with the Bus Éireann school transport section in Tipperary regarding issues raised by parents about school transport. [47533/26]

83. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a person who has worked as a special needs assistant for many years can now contact her Department to enquire about their pension entitlements, given that the previously available dedicated pension phone line has been discontinued; the reason this phone line was removed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46119/26]

132. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has applied, or intends to apply, to the European Commission for a temporary reduction of Ireland's mandatory solidarity contributions under Article 7(6) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1351; if not, the basis on which the Government considers Ireland not to be in a "critical situation" within the meaning of that Article, given current levels of temporary protection beneficiaries, international protection applicants, and the national housing emergency; to publish any correspondence with the commission on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46086/26]

171. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports that are available to a childcare facility in a rural village that must find a more appropriate or purpose built facility to continue providing a childcare service in the area; the supports that are available to ensure this facility does not close; the supports that will be available to parents seeking childcare in the area when all childcare facilities in the wider area are full; if her Department will work with the community to ensure the continuance of the childcare facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46077/26]