396. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied that the decision of the NCSE to introduce a significantly earlier closing date of 1 October for the submission of parental notifications and supporting reports has been implemented in a fair and reasonable manner; and the measures her Department is taking to ensure that families who were unable to secure assessment reports with…
397. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for the NCSE policy of refusing to issue letters of eligibility where parents submitted notifications on time but were unable to obtain the required professional reports until later in October; and if flexibility will be introduced in light of capacity constraints within assessment services. [65648/25]
398. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if transitional arrangements were put in place for the first year of the revised NCSE application timeline; the considerations taken to ensure families were not disadvantaged by the abrupt change; and whether she will instruct the NCSE to reconsider applications where reports were delayed through no fault of the family. [65649/25]
399. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her assessment of the impact that refusing additional letters of eligibility will have on the ability of children with complex needs to access appropriate school placements for September 2026 where some families were only weeks outside the October 1 deadline, particularly in cases where school enrolment windows extend into early next year. [65650/2…
400. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied with the level of communication provided to families regarding the new NCSE notification deadlines, required documentation, and approved assessors’ list; and if she will commit to publishing clear, accessible guidance for future application cycles. [65651/25]
401. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will undertake a review of the NCSE eligibility process, including timelines and communication practices, to ensure it operates in a fair, transparent, and child-centred manner. [65652/25]
625. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the IPAS contract for a facility (details supplied); his views that the High Court order quashing the Section 5 Declaration renders the current use of the site as unauthorised development under the Planning and Development Acts; and if he will instruct his Department to terminate the contract immediately given the faci…
626. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a socio-economic impact assessment was conducted prior to the establishment of an IPAS centre at a location (details supplied); if he is aware that the contract has directly precipitated the closure of the hotel, golf course, and leisure facilities with the loss of 48 local jobs, removing a vital economic driver and community hub…
627. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the legal basis upon which his Department or the International Protection Accommodation Service entered into a contractual arrangement relating to the use of a location (details supplied); and if his Department sought legal advice on the enforceability of such a contract in circumstances where the Section 5 determination has now bee…
628. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the legal status and validity of any IPAS contract or accommodation agreement connected with a location (details supplied) in view of the High Court’s decision to quash the Section 5 process; and if his Department is now exposed to termination penalties, compensation, or other financial liabilities. [65363/25]
629. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the procurement process used by IPAS in relation to a facility (details supplied) complied fully with national and EU procurement rules; and if his Department carried out due diligence on planning status before entering into any contract. [65364/25]
630. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department or IPAS had authority to enter into any binding contract or agreement prior to the planning status being definitively established (details supplied). [65365/25]
631. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when his Department notified Tipperary County Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage of its plans to contract for accommodation use at a location (details supplied); and if planning vulnerabilities were raised in any correspondence. [65366/25]
632. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe of engagement, negotiation and contractual agreement between his Department or IPAS and the owners or operators of a facility (details supplied) including dates of contract signing, commencement, review, and any termination or variation clauses that can be invoked following the High Court ruling. [65367/25]
633. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the projected cost to the State arising from the quashing of the Section 5 decision, including contract payments already made, termination or compensation costs, legal fees, and any other liabilities. [65368/25]
634. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the changes his Department plans to implement in its contracting and accommodation selection processes to prevent the State entering into legally vulnerable agreements in the future. [65369/25]
808. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department and the HSE are taking to address the severe staffing deficit in consultant pathology posts at University Hospital Waterford, in light of the confirmation that only six of the required 18 WTE surgical pathologists are in post; the reason recruitment campaigns have repeatedly failed; the measures being implemented to ensure sufficient qu…
809. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the alternative arrangements being developed by the HSE to ensure continuity of coronial post-mortem services for the south-east region from 1 January 2026, given that consultant pathologists at UHW will no longer provide this service; the hospitals or facilities being considered to take overflow or reassigned cases; the planned impact on transport timelines an…
810. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of engagement between her Department, the HSE and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration regarding the withdrawal of coronial post-mortem provision at University Hospital Waterford; the outcomes of any meetings held since November 2024 when the issue was formally notified; the responsibilities being assumed by each Department; and if s…
811. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way in which the HSE intends to ensure that the modern mortuary facilities at University Hospital Waterford continue to be utilised for coronial post-mortems after January 2026; whether external pathologists could be deployed or contracted to operate on-site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65217/25]
812. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the impact on diagnostic and surgical pathology waiting times at UHW arising from the workload pressures described in the HSE response; whether the unmet requirement for 18 WTE diagnostic pathologists has affected cancer pathways, turnaround times, or patient outcomes; and the plan to bring the service into compliance with safe staffing levels; and if she will …
813. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the national strategy being developed to address the shortage of appropriately qualified autopsy pathologists, as highlighted in the response relating to UHW; whether the HSE intends to develop dedicated autopsy pathology posts separate from diagnostic roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65219/25]
814. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the actions her Department and the HSE are taking to ensure coroners, funeral directors and bereaved families in Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Tipperary are fully informed about the changes to post-mortem arrangements from January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65220/25]
164. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a detailed update on the recent targeted recruitment campaign for healthcare assistants in south Tipperary; the number of applications received; the number of candidates interviewed; the number of successful candidates offered positions; the number now in post; if any further recruitment campaigns are planned for the remainder of 2025 and ea…
182. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health for an update on the new community nursing unit in Clonmel; the handover date and progress on registration with the relevant regulatory bodies; if she will provide an update on the recruitment of staff for the new unit; when she expects patients from the existing St. Anthony’s unit to be transferred; when the unit will be at full capacity; and the number of lev…