306. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Transport the way the absence of harbour masters in certain Irish harbours aligns with Ireland's obligations under EU maritime safety, port operations, and environmental protection directives, including requirements relating to vessel traffic management, pollution prevention, and port State control; and whether the European Commission has issued any queries or observa…
386. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the threat of invasive species on commonage land in the Cooley Mountains; the steps his Department is taking to tackle the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6849/26]
406. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm whether the Department operates any formal or published criteria for the designation of city status; if not, to outline the objective benchmarks used in advising Government on such matters; and if he will publish the basis upon which existing cities were designated. [18202/26]
407. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current population of each designated city in the State at the time of its most recent legislative confirmation; to specify the population threshold, if any, that would trigger consideration of city status for another urban area. [18203/26]
408. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether the Government has considered the designation of Dundalk as a city in the context of its strategic role within the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor; and whether any cross-departmental discussions have taken place on this matter. [18204/26]
409. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Department has examined the establishment of a Dundalk metropolitan district with enhanced urban governance powers; the legislative steps that would be required; and to confirm whether this has been considered as a precursor to city designation. [18205/26]
410. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a comparative analysis of Dundalk and the five designated cities in terms of population size, economic output, higher education provision and regional strategic role; and to indicate in which areas Dundalk falls short of city designation criteria, if any such criteria exist. [18206/26]
411. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Government has any intention within the lifetime of the current National Planning Framework to designate additional cities; and if not, to state the policy rationale for maintaining the current structure. [18207/26]
412. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline whether a boundary review of Dundalk has been considered in light of sustained population growth; to state the mechanism by which such a review could be initiated; and whether the Minister will commit to examining this matter. [18208/26]
592. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the status of the National Hearing Care Plan Working Group established in 2024; the work completed to date; when the recommendations will be published; and the expected timeline for implementation. [18173/26]
593. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to reduce waiting times for adult audiology services; and if additional resources will be allocated to address this backlog. [18174/26]
594. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider expanding access to community based audiology services for HSE medical card holders and help reduce pressure on hospital ENT and audiology services. [18175/26]
595. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address untreated age-related hearing loss as a public health priority, given that the Lancet Commission identifies hearing loss as the biggest modifiable risk factor for dementia and that managing hearing loss between ages 45-65 years reduces dementia risk by 7%. [18177/26]
596. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if her Department will introduce a national awareness campaign on age related hearing loss, given evidence that people often wait between seven to ten years before seeking help and that 66% of hearing aid users regret not acting sooner. [18178/26]
597. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether hearing care will be incorporated into Ireland's Healthy Ageing Strategy, given the strong links between untreated hearing loss, social isolation, mental ill health, and loss of independence. [18179/26]
598. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will explore partnerships with community based providers to deliver timely hearing assessments and hearing aid fittings, noting that early diagnosis and support can reduce isolation, improve mental well-being and lower the risk of dementia. [18180/26]
599. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of adults currently on waiting lists for audiology services in each CHO area; the average and longest waiting times in each area; and the number waiting more than six, 12 and 18 months, in tabular form. [18181/26]
600. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children awaiting audiology assessment or treatment in hospital-based audiology services and community-based audiology services, by CHO area; and the steps being taken to address regional disparities, in tabular form. [18182/26]
601. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown, of current staffing levels and vacancies in audiology services in each CHO area; the number of posts filled and unfilled for senior audiologists, staff grade audiologists, clinical specialists, ENT linked audiology posts, and administrative support roles, in tabular form. [18185/26]
602. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the way staffing shortages in audiology services are contributing to the waiting lists and capacity pressures; and to provide a plan to address recruitment and retention challenges. [18186/26]
607. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of audiologists graduating annually; the number recruited into HSE posts in each of the past five years; and whether training capacity will be expanded to meet rising demand. [18187/26]
144. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the additional school accommodation application submitted by a school (details supplied); when the Department expects to complete its assessment of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17443/26]
145. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the additional school accommodation application submitted by a school (details supplied) when the Department expects to complete its assessment of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17444/26]
319. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the date on which the HSE National Guidelines for Accessible Health and Social Care Services were last reviewed; the timetable for the planned review; and whether the review will include consultation with representative organisations for people with visual impairments. [17753/26]
320. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether the updated guidelines will include mandatory minimum standards for communication with people who are blind or have low vision; if so, to provide the proposed standards; and to state the timeframe for implementation across all HSE services. [17754/26]