120. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the delivery of the programme for Government commitment to continue to extend access to free contraception; the work carried out to date; the timeline she is working towards in expanding the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17723/26]
354. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 66 of 17 February 2026, for an updated timeline for when this school will receive further guidance on a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18075/26]
416. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that jobseeker's allowance is means-tested for couples who are cohabiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18059/26]
417. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has considered options to maintain insurability for PhD scholarship holders, such as PRSI credits, so that eligibility for jobseeker's allowance can be sought after State-supported doctoral study; the outcome of any such analysis; the timeframe for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18060/26]
489. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18034/26]
572. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1079 of 24 February 2026, if funding for the Integrated Homeless Services Hub in Cork city has been approved; if so, the amount allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18061/26]
573. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the delay in progressing the development of the new Paediatric Unit in Cork University Hospital, given that it was granted planning permission in 2022 (details supplied); the current timeline for construction and opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18062/26]
574. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant neurosurgeons at Cork University Hospital in 2024 and 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18063/26]
575. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2424 of 13 January 2026, the status of the community nursing units located at St. Finbarr’s Cork, Midleton, Thomastown and Clonmel; if any have been handed over to the HSE; if not, the timeline for each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18073/26]
311. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of an issue persisting since Summer 2025 in relation to the audio levels of next stop announcements onboard Cork city buses; if he will take measures to resolve the inaccessibility of the announcements for passengers with visual and/or hearing impairments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16695/26]
746. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans over the course of this Government to increase paid leave for new parents and the rate of payment they receive from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16694/26]
958. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of an evaluation being undertaken by the Alcohol Act Technical Evaluation Group (AATEG) in relation to the provisions of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018; the timeline for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17136/26]
Pádraig Rice
Written
3 Mar 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
981. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the difficulties relating to parking facing university students in Cork (details supplied); if his Department has engaged with the university in relation to addressing these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16398/26]
515. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to outline how often the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme meet; for an update on the application of a specific centre under the Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme (detailed supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15828/26]
632. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason a HSE webpage is currently unavailable (details supplied); the length of time that it has been down; the timeline for it going live again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16085/26]
548. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth the procedure behind cuts in SNAs in a school in Cork (details supplied); the mechanisms that exist to address cases where schools report unmet need; if her Department will reverse this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14658/26]
549. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the decision to cut SNAs in a school in Cork (details supplied); the way in which the NCSE came to this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14660/26]
690. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the funding application for the Cork city homeless hub (details supplied); the reason for the delay in a decision; the timeline for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15017/26]
776. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 431 of 17 July 2025, to provide a detailed progress update on the Programme for Government commitment to introduce amendments to modernise the Prohibition of Incitement to Racial Religious or National Hatred Act ,1989; if the Government is no longer including provisions on hate speech to bring Ire…
887. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will develop a Traveller and Roma employment training and enterprise plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14657/26]
1075. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if other HSE Inclusion Health Clinics have been opened (details supplied); if so, the locations; if there are plans to establish further HSE Inclusion Health Clinics; if so, the proposed locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14999/26]
1076. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if screening for spinal muscular atrophy will be included in the national newborn bloodspot screening programme before the end of March 2026, as cited by a leading paediatric clinician in recent media coverage (details supplied); the preparations currently underway to ensure this timeline is met, given that more than two years has elapsed since the decision was …
1079. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the funding application for the Cork city homeless hub (details supplied); the reason for the delay in a decision; the timeline for funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15016/26]
1084. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will meet with a campaign group following publication of their survey and findings in relation to the future of healthcare services in the Mid West and the recommendations published by HIQA in September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15082/26]
1085. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1072 of 9 December 2025, to provide an update on her consideration of option C from HIQA’s review urgent and emergency care in the Mid West; the timeline she is working towards in outlining her position with respect to developing an additional Model 3 hospital in the Midwest region; and if she will make a statement on the ma…