Darren O'Rourke

28. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on disability will next meet. [42078/26]

787. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the application window for the Summer Programme 2026 was open for a very limited time between 6 and 15 May, whereas the application window last year was open for a much longer period; her views that many students will not benefit from the programme this year, as a result of schools and parents not being aware of this new small application window; will she reopen the portal for applications for those who missed out due to not being made aware of the new application timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41965/26]

825. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the budget for the Summer Programme in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026; the number of students who participated in each of these years in the primary, post-primary, home-based programme and the school-based programme in special schools; the number who applied to participate in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42202/26]

851. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of post-primary schools that responded yes or no to the question "Are parents of children in your school asked to purchase or provide digital devices (tablet or laptop computer)" included in the School Data Collection Survey in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42604/26]

858. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students studying each foreign language offered at Leaving Certificate level, in each year from 2020 to 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42648/26]

859. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has estimated the average cost to a parent for a student to participate in transition year, noting the extra-curricular activities and associated costs involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42649/26]

865. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students who participated in transition year, in each year from 2016 to 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42744/26]

871. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount the transition year grant currently is per student; the current total expenditure on the TY grant for year to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42780/26]

1565. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the clinical pathways available to community-dwelling patients with chronic, non-acute brain trauma who require ongoing, long-term multidisciplinary input to maintain cognitive and physical function; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42028/26]

1566. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the clinical oversight mechanisms in place for generic, outsourced section 39 disability services being delivered in a fragmented, piecemeal manner to patients with complex neurological trauma; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42031/26]

1977. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE health regions that have a fully operational, fully staffed community neuro-rehabilitation team in place; the specific operational status of the team allocated to the HSE Dublin and north east region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42026/26]

1978. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE Dublin and north east region lacks a fully functioning, population-based multidisciplinary team for neurological disabilities despite successive funding commitments in national strategies; the steps being taken to rectify this geographic inequality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42027/26]

1979. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to review the practice where individuals with complex neurological disabilities age out of statutory rehabilitation and disability systems at 65 years of age; the alternative specialized community neuro-care structures available to these individuals past this age bracket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42029/26]

1980. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the localised clinical governance framework in place to monitor the quality, accuracy, and manufacturing standards of specialized orthoses prescribed to community patients with complex neuro-disabilities; the specific person or role at local community level who is responsible for ensuring outsourced orthotics contracts operate within safe, specified medical timeframes; the clinical recourse available to individuals who have spent up to two years attending clinics with ill-fitting or poorly manufactured devices due to errors in the initial clinical assessment, measurement, and casting phase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42030/26]

1981. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the clinical framework used to oversee HSE home support services to ensure staff are trained to manage specialized neurological presentations, including behavioural, cognitive, and psychological deficits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42032/26]

1982. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the specific community and multi-disciplinary medical supports available to community-dwelling patients managing complex, associated epilepsy stemming from severe brain trauma; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42033/26]

1983. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals with an acquired brain injury or neurological trauma residing in County Meath who are on a waiting list for access to services (details supplied); the average waiting time for an initial assessment in each category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42034/26]

2154. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to address the continued recruitment freeze of physician associates within the health service (details supplied); the timeline for lifting the recruitment freeze; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43013/26]

2155. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when she intends to lift the current recruitment freeze on physician associates posts in the HSE; the rationale for maintaining the freeze despite ongoing workforce shortages; the actions being taken to ensure appropriate physician associates posts are established within healthcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43014/26]

2156. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the details on the proposed salary scale for physician associates; if she has assessed the impact of a substantially reduced salary structure on the recruitment, retention and the potential emigration of Irish trained graduates; if she will ensure that salary and progression structures reflect the level of postgraduate medical training and clinical responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43015/26]

2157. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she will review elements of the proposed scope of practice for physician associates, in light of concerns that it does not accurately reflect current training, competencies, or day to day clinical practice in Ireland and internationally; the extent to which the framework will align with evidence based international models; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43016/26]

34. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to report on progress to retrofit traditional and historical buildings; if he expects that district heating will play a role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38917/26]

47. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the OPW has identified a site for the new Laytown Garda station in Laytown, County Meath; the timeline to develop the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38916/26]

80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total number of applications made to date to the National Council for Special Education from parents seeking a special class or special school placement for their child; the number of applications made since the deadline of 1 October passed; the status of the roll-out of new special class and special school places to meet that need; the number of those children who do not have an offer of a school place on 25 May 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40992/26]

82. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the ongoing negotiations with school caretakers and school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40993/26]