Robert O'Donoghue

696. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the mechanisms in place to address situations where a child with ADHD is repeatedly disciplined for behaviours arising from their disability; whether her Department monitors exclusion or suspension rates for neurodivergent pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18843/26]

697. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether schools are provided with sufficient funding for classroom supports such as sensory tools, fidget aids, and environmental adaptations; if she will consider ring-fenced funding for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18844/26]

709. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a child with mixed abilities who accepts a placement in a mainstream primary school and is granted access to a special needs assistant automatically forfeits their place on a special school waiting list; if she will clarify the policy position in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18883/26]

711. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of mixed-abilities special education classes that will be required from September 2026 in the constituency of Fingal West; the number of children currently identified as requiring a place in such classes in September 2026; the measures being taken by her Department to ensure that sufficient places are provided to meet this demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18911/26]

715. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if financial assistance is available to parents who are required to make long journeys following on from the cessation of a bus service (details supplied) in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18953/26]

759. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the grant or allocation provided to schools (details supplied) for each substitute teacher cover has increased in each of the past 20 years; to provide a year-by-year breakdown of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19251/26]

760. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of funding currently allocated to post-primary school for the employment of substitute teachers (details supplied); the basis on which this allocation is calculated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19252/26]

761. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the allocation for substitute teacher cover (details supplied) has remained unchanged over the past two decades despite increases in salary scales and cost-of-living pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19253/26]

762. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the changes that have occurred in substitute teacher daily rates and salary scales over the past 20 years (details supplied); if she will provide a breakdown of these changes by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19254/26]

855. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the ongoing review of the special needs assistant contract will be completed; if this review will include consideration of updated qualification and skills requirements for the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20052/26]

935. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he has met with representatives of a union (details supplied) who represent workers in RTÉ; if so, the dates; if he will provide a summary of the matters discussed in relation to the proposed workforce reduction and restructuring plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19197/26]

936. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the mechanisms that will be in place to ensure that where production is outsourced to the commercial sector, there is full transparency and accountability regarding the expenditure of public funds, including safeguards to ensure that such arrangements do not result in reduced public oversight or diminished value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19203/26]

964. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he agrees with the findings of a recent report (details supplied) that take up of fibre to the home broadband continues to be below average amongst older people and amongst small businesses; if so, the policy measures his Department are pursuing to encourage the commencement of the process of copper switch-off which would have a significant impact in driving take up of fibre to the home amongst these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20268/26]

965. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures being undertaken by his Department to promote the take up of fibre to the home fibre broadband amongst Irish SMEs, considering data which suggests adoption remains low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20269/26]

966. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department supports the prioritisation of the switching off of copper broadband technology; to set out the measures his Department have taken or supported to achieve this objective; if his Department has a national target date for when all copper broadband will be switched off within the State; if not, the reason there is no such policy objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20271/26]

967. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if the relevant building and telecommunications regulations are now legally aligned with the terms of the Gigabit Infrastructure Act; the guidance available to developers to support their compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20272/26]

986. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of shark fin products and derivatives under Irish Law; the person or body responsible for enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20058/26]

1044. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the ongoing homelessness crisis and the Government's decision to restrict the tenant-in-situ scheme; the specific alternative mechanism put in place at the time of the restriction to prevent tenants at risk from entering homelessness; the date this mechanism become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19236/26]

1045. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the ongoing homelessness crisis and the Government's decision to restrict the tenant-in-situ scheme, the number of households that would previously have qualified under the tenant-in-situ scheme that have since presented to homeless services following the restriction of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19237/26]

1046. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the ongoing homelessness crisis and the Government's decision to restrict the tenant-in-situ scheme, the evidence-based assessment, risk analysis or modelling carried out by the Department prior to the decision to restrict the scheme, particularly in relation to projected increases in homelessness presentations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19238/26]

1047. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the ongoing homelessness crisis and the Government's decision to restrict the tenant-in-situ scheme and given the continued rise in homelessness figures, will the Minister acknowledge that restricting the scheme has exacerbated housing insecurity and commit to urgently restoring the tenant-in-situ scheme in full, pending the introduction of a more effective homelessness prevention measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19239/26]

1048. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the ongoing homelessness crisis and the Government's decision to restrict the tenant-in-situ scheme, the projected additional number of households expected to enter homelessness in 2026 as a direct consequence of the policy change if the scheme is not going to be restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19240/26]

1055. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the analysis undertaken by his Department comparing the cost to the State of providing emergency homeless accommodation with the cost of preventing homelessness through the tenant-in-situ acquisition scheme operated by local authorities and the housing agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19335/26]

1056. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average annual cost to the State per household placed in emergency accommodation, including hotels, B and Bs and family hubs in the years 2020 to 2025 inclusive, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19336/26]

1057. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average capital cost per dwelling acquired under the tenant-in-situ scheme, including purchase price, legal fees and refurbishment costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19337/26]