John Paul O'Shea

153. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if consideration will be given to supporting social enterprises such as a charity's (details supplied)’ bike project, which has diverted over 700 bikes from landfill and donated many to disabled groups and schools, thereby contributing both to the circular economy and to improved mobility for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49164/25]

711. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the proposed new fire station in Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49178/25]

795. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if measures will be introduced to expand employment opportunities for deaf and disabled individuals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49158/25]

796. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if funding and supports will be allocated to organisations such as a charity (details supplied), which is the largest employer of deaf people in Ireland, employing 40 staff, 29 of whom are deaf or disabled, and which currently has a waiting list of applicants seeking meaningful employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49160/25]

1106. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will recognise the role of school assistance dogs within the implementation framework of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030; if she will support the expansion of the evidence-based school assistance dog pilot, operated by an organisation (details supplied) to additional schools nationwide, in view of the positive outcomes already demonstrated for autistic children, their peers and the wider school community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48867/25]

1110. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will ensure that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is formally considered by the Cabinet Committee on Disability, in order that people with IBD are included in national discussions on disability rights and supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49048/25]

1347. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if she will review the long-term illness scheme to ensure that people living with inflammatory bowel disease can be accommodated as part of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49046/25]

1348. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if she will incorporate inflammatory bowel disease into the National Chronic Disease Management Programme, in recognition of the long-term and often debilitating impact of the condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49047/25]

1371. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if additional resources will be provided to support workplace well-being initiatives for employees with disabilities, including continued access to well-being training and regular visits from social workers, as successfully implemented by a charity (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49163/25]

1394. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the measures being considered by her Department for the introduction of a minimum distance requirement from schools for the establishment of new off-licence premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49263/25]

1406. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of places currently available in veterinary medicine in each institution across the country; if he intends to make more spaces available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47823/25]

1431. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to supporting and funding further QQI-certified training programmes specifically designed for members of the deaf community, given that a charity (details supplied) has successfully trained the first two deaf individuals in Ireland through the City and Guilds programme, and continues to provide essential training such as manual handling, fire training, circular economy and first aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49146/25]

168. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the number of persons that have availed of parents benefit in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; the number of mothers and the number of fathers who have availed of parent’s benefit in each of these years; if he believes further steps can be taken to encourage greater uptake of parent’s benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39920/25]

169. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance for 24 months or longer, by county; if he will confirm when he intends to publish a new employment strategy focused on intensive engagement with those most distant from the labour market as committed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39921/25]

170. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have benefitted since the minimum required hours under the wage subsidy scheme was reduced from 21 hours to 15 hours in April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39922/25]

171. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection when he plans to publish draft proposals for consultation on the new working age payment, which will ensure that inconsistencies within the social welfare system, which disincentivise work, are removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39923/25]

172. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons over 66 who have qualified for the fuel allowance since the expanded means test for over 66s was introduced, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39924/25]

173. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a widows pension who are under age 66; if he will provide an estimated cost of allowing persons in receipt of widow’s pensions to access illness benefit in the event that they get sick at work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39925/25]

174. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the period of a social welfare payment following the death of a dependent from 6 to12 weeks as committed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39926/25]

175. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending illness benefit to the self-employed; if he will outline the estimated increase in PRSI rates which would be required to meet this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39927/25]

177. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who retires from employment at the age of 65 is entitled to receive jobseeker’s pay related benefit until they reach the age of 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40152/25]

219. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to the publication of the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland in July 2024, the engagement that has taken place with his Department and the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, local planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála in relation to addressing the safety and regulation concerns that are now widespread in communities across the country where new electricity storage installations are proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39310/25]

260. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the current structure and scheduling of the 233 bus service from Macroom to Cork, in light of the fact that the route operates as several distinct sub-routes under one timetable, which creates confusion and reduces reliability; if he will consider splitting the route into distinct services such as the 233A, 233B, etc., with clearer schedules and increased frequency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38735/25]

261. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to increase the frequency of buses on the 233 route that serves Macroom, particularly to address four-hour gaps in the current timetable, which significantly limit accessibility and usability for residents who depend on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38736/25]

262. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport if he will request Bus Éireann to include additional stops within Macroom, such as near Millstreet Cross and Masseytown, to better serve the town’s main residential areas; if he will consider ensuring local stops reflect where the population is most concentrated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38737/25]