Robert O'Donoghue

1001. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the potential impact of artificial intelligence and digital replication technologies on background performers and workers within the Irish film and television sector; and if he will outline any plans to introduce protections, safeguards or regulations in this area as the industry continues to expand. [43349/26]

1120. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in regard to the new rules for rural housing, the definition of a rural area under urban influence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43210/26]

1262. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration has been given to amalgamating maternity benefit, paternity benefit and parent’s leave into a single family leave scheme providing up to 12 months of paid leave following the birth or adoption of a child; whether such a scheme could operate on a pay-related basis similar to the new model introduced for jobseeker’s pay-related benefit, with payments linked to previous earnings up to the applicable maximum rate; the estimated annual cost of introducing such a scheme using figures from 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43384/26]

1479. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures currently in place to protect the native Irish honeybee population and preserve its genetic integrity whether his Department has conducted any assessment of the impact of hybridisation and non-native bee imports on the Native Irish Honey Bee population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42108/26]

1480. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports, funding schemes or conservation programmes currently available to beekeepers and organisations working to protect the native Irish honeybee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42109/26]

1481. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether consideration is being given to the introduction of additional protections or policy measures aimed at conserving the native Irish honeybee and supporting sustainable beekeeping practices; the engagement his Department has had with beekeeping groups, researchers and stakeholders regarding concerns about the loss of native bee genetics and increasing hybridisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42110/26]

1482. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department intends to develop a national strategy for the protection and conservation of the native Irish honeybee; the steps being taken to raise awareness of the ecological and agricultural importance of the native Irish honeybee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42111/26]

1674. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare providers who applied for and received support under the Sustainability Fund linked to Core Funding in each of the years 2023, to date 2026; the number of applications refused or withdrawn in the same period; the total value of funding allocated under the scheme; the breakdown, by county childcare committee area and, by strand of support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43386/26]

2272. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of people referred to an urgent symptomatic breast disease clinic attended within ten days, between 11-20 days, 21 days or longer by hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43519/26]

2273. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of people referred to a lung rapid access clinic attended within ten days, between 11-20 days, 21 days or longer by hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43520/26]

2274. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of people referred to a prostate rapid access clinic attended within 20 days, between 21-25 days, 25 days or longer by hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43521/26]

136. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the recent confirmation that homes in Dublin Fingal are now to be included in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme (details supplied); whether Fingal County Council have been instructed on the implementation on the scheme by his Department; when precisely applications can be made from residents in Dublin Fingal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40531/26]

897. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the mechanisms in place to monitor and track the welfare and current location of greyhounds that become the subject of animal welfare concerns or investigations and have been taken into care; if greyhound racing Ireland maintains records relating to the ongoing welfare and whereabouts of such dogs; and if he will provide an update on the current welfare status and location, where available, of the greyhounds referenced in recent material circulated online (details supplied). [39301/26]

259. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the significant financial burden being placed on parents by schools requiring students to purchase chromebooks or other digital devices for senior cycle education; if financial supports will be introduced for working families who do not qualify for existing grants or allowances; and if her Department will investigate the growing costs associated with digital learning requirements in secondary schools, particularly where parents are given short notice and substantial upfront costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39347/26]

261. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to extending the free schoolbooks scheme or introducing a dedicated technology grant to assist families with the cost of mandatory devices required by schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39353/26]

278. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the telephone support allowance to reflect the increased reliance on mobile phones as the primary means of communication for many households, particularly among older people and people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38668/26]

279. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider increasing the telephone support allowance rate of €2.50 per week in line with inflation, rising communication costs and the growing necessity of mobile phone and data services for access to healthcare, banking, transport, and Government services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38669/26]

280. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine extending eligibility for the telephone support allowance in Budget 2027 beyond the current “living alone” requirement to include recipients of disability allowance and pension payments who rely on mobile phones for safety, independence, and access to essential daily supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38670/26]

132. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to expanding the upper age limit and September age cut-off criteria within the admissions policy for the new special school in Balbriggan, in recognition of the fact that many children with additional needs commence school later than their peers due to developmental, medical or placement-related delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38090/26]

133. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if flexibility will be introduced to ensure that children who may be over the stated age threshold, or who miss the September cut-off by a short period, are not excluded from accessing an appropriate special school placement where a clear educational need exists in the new special school in Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38091/26]

277. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she is aware of concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) regarding the current child passport renewal process, which requires widowed parents to repeatedly submit death certificates and sworn affidavits each time a child’s passport is renewed; if she will consider introducing a once-off verification system within the passport service in order that bereavement documentation only needs to be submitted once unless family circumstances change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37147/26]

302. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of the recent fuel surcharge introduced by a company (details supplied) on customers; whether any oversight or regulatory approval is required before private waste operators impose additional surcharges on domestic consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36887/26]

413. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the nature of refurbishment works that the OPW carried out at Balbriggan Garda station in the years of 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36613/26]

445. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he is aware of the recent fuel surcharge introduced by a company (details supplied) on customers; whether any oversight or regulatory approval is required before private waste operators impose additional surcharges on domestic consumers; if his Department has engaged with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission regarding transparency and regulation within the private waste sector in relation to pricing structures and surcharges applied by waste operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36888/26]

453. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has engaged with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission regarding transparency and regulation within the private waste sector in relation to pricing structures and surcharges applied by waste operators (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38524/26]