773. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide details of any proposals submitted by Tusla to increase the “special care allowance” to improve recruitment and retention; whether her Department supports these measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54709/25]
774. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the engagement that has taken place between her Department, Tusla, and a union (details supplied) to address ongoing staff retention issues in special care; if she will ensure that the restructuring plan is paused pending meaningful consultation with affected staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54710/…
775. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to explain the reason for the decision by her Department not to approve the proposed increase in the “special care allowance” for staff working in Tusla’s special care centres (details supplied); if she will reconsider this decision given the acute staffing crisis and associated High Court implications; and if she will make a state…
339. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to making certain medications for the treatment of cystitis and urinary tract infections available without prescription, in recognition of the impact of recurrent infections on women’s health and in order to ease the current pressure on GP services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54420/25]
119. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if he will address the ongoing capacity issues on the 101x commuter bus service, which is frequently full before reaching the final stops in Balbriggan, and often bypasses Balrothery without stopping, leaving commuters unable to board; if he will consider increasing the frequency of the service or providing additional capacity to ensure that residents in …
517. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the difficulties in transitioning from paediatric disability services and adult disability services, particularly the lack of transition planning; if she has any plans to implement an automatic referral scheme for people transitioning from paediatric to adult disability services; if there are any plans to provide…
2. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider transferring certain State services, such as voter registration, motor tax payments, or cash collection, to An Post with a view to supporting its long-term viability, preventing further post office closures, reducing pressure on other public services and allowing people with lower levels of digital literacy skills…
9. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures he is adopting to ensure that independent radio and broadcasters have fair access to funding in budget 2026, particularly in underserved or rural areas; the means by which he plans to support current affairs and local news provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52422/25]
50. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will engage with the Minister for Finance in advance of budget 2026 to introduce targeted fiscal measures to improve affordability and participation in sport, including tax relief on sporting membership fees and a reduced VAT rate on sport and exercise classes, in order to encourage greater participation across all age groups …
66. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will outline the steps his Department is taking, in conjunction with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, to support the reactivation of the nightclub sector; if he will address the sharp decline in the number of operating nightclubs from 522 in 2000 to just 83 today; if he will consider measures around licens…
68. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the work of the night-time economy adviser; if consideration is being given to expanding the role or appointing regional night-time economy co-ordinators; the means by which the Department intends to support the development of a vibrant and safe night-time economy nationwide; if he will indicate a timeline for when …
223. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department is satisfied that sufficient budgetary foresight was applied when barriers to recruitment for the Reserve Defence Forces were removed, given that internal documents show that, by November 2024, the existing budget was already insufficient to pay reservists for the remainder of the year; and if he will make a statement on the m…
224. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given that the budget for reserve training and support days was €3.01 million and exhausted during 2024, and supplementary funds assigned earlier in the year proved inadequate, will he provide for the reasons the supplementary funds were insufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52675/25]
225. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the estimates of the full-cost implications of recruitment, including increases in medicals, induction, training, support and pay for the remainder of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52676/25]
226. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the additional funding which has been allocated, or is planned to be allocated, in budget 2026 or via other mechanisms to ensure reservists are paid in a timely manner even during periods of unexpected recruitment growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52677/25]
227. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the steps his Department is taking to ensure that recruitment surges do not lead to budget shortfalls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52678/25]
228. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has considered adjusting the categorisation or employment status of reservists, including PRSI or other employment rights, to recognise the levels of service reservists provide, which appear to exceed the statutory or budgeted number of days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52679/25]
229. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will confirm whether all reservists who were not paid in full in late 2024 have since been paid in full; the timeframe for outstanding payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52680/25]
308. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps his Department is taking to ensure that all State-funded sporting bodies have robust safeguarding protocols in place; that all bodies are fully accountable to the Oireachtas; and that all bodies operate with transparent compliance timelines, in light of recent controversies at the Football Association of Ireland. [52488/2…
392. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will prioritise the provision of community based, not-for-profit early education and school age childcare services in public buildings, such as schools, over corporate, for-profit providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52672/25]
327. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); if she is aware of the complications surrounding the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 in circumstances like this; if she will intervene in this case to help the individual involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50987/25]
344. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the difficulties in transitioning from paediatric disability services and adult disability services, particularly the lack of transition planning; if she has any plans to implement an automatic referral scheme for people transitioning from paediatric to adult disability services; her plans to provide a comprehensive outreach service to dis…
77. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the policy position in relation to planning permission for farmers, and arming families who wish to build a home on their farm holding, in order to allow them to reside closer to their work and maintain the viability of their farming enterprise; if his Department has considered the particular challenges faced…
139. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department was officially notified of the person who is currently serving as acting Chief Executive Officer or head of an organisation (details supplied) since the departure of its previous CEO; the person charged with safeguarding State funding following the sudden departure of yet another CEO; the persons who represented th…
140. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that an organisation (details supplied) is in full compliance with the Charities Governance Code in relation to leadership succession and disclosure to funders; if full disclosure of all matters has been made to the stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50623/25]