142. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on whether data protection concerns pose significant barriers to the use of artificial intelligence tools for the administrative work within children’s disability services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57533/25]
143. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a review of existing practices, related to the provision of additional needs supports for children, with a view to removing potential work programme silos will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57534/25]
177. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the progress of the Working Group on the National Hearing Care Plan; if she has received the report from the working group that was due by end of Q2 as per terms of reference; if there has been a delay, the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57482/25]
197. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 312 of 9 October 2025, if her attention has been drawn to Coimisiún na Meán’s published Work Programme 2025 (details supplied) which is in contradiction to the previous response, there is no reference to including the regulation of infant and follow-on formula advertising in the work programme; if she will review same; and if s…
100. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the preparations that are ongoing in relation to Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57156/25]
102. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline any steps or initiatives being put in place by his Department to encourage Irish people to take up employment opportunities in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57157/25]
183. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the production of a film (details supplied), which pertains to the issue of forced child marriage; the actions he is taking to raise this issue at an EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56573/25]
185. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a change in policy in China in relation to the licensing requirements for companies that are involved in the export of technologies used in rare earth mining and processing (details supplied); if he proposes to raise this at an EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56512/25]
421. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the engagement she has had with a group (details supplied); the actions she is taking to work with this group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57233/25]
427. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to calls from parents and representative groups in relation to students with dyslexia and dyspraxia and other conditions what may require them to have additional time allocated and other accommodations for State examinations; if this is under review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57279/25]
432. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 9 October 2025, and the fourth Topical Issue selected of 9 October, if she has reviewed this issue with regards to the shortfall in ancillary grant funding for a school (details supplied) following the move to paying the school secretary through the Department of Education; the actions she will take to addre…
578. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on any research his Department has carried out into the merits of making parental alienation a legal offense; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56703/25]
585. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount spent by immigration services and his Department on the transfer of International Protection Applicants in the first nine months of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56806/25]
690. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount spent by Tusla and her Department on the transfer of children and families in the first nine months of 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56805/25]
797. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE and her Department on the transfer of patients in the first nine months of 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56804/25]
Barry Ward
Written
16 Oct 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
22. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the Mitchell Scholarship and the funding for it; if he is supportive of the aims and continuation of this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54868/25]
Barry Ward
Written
16 Oct 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
62. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the extensive waiting lists for mental health supports in third level institutions; the actions he will take to address these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54867/25]
96. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his views on the merits of providing multi-annual funding for men’s and women’s sheds to allow them to plan longer term projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54869/25]
135. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the position regarding supports provided at a local level in community centres targeted at addressing social exclusion; if he will consider increasing funding in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54870/25]
264. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to carers who did not benefit from changes to income thresholds in Budget 2026; the actions he will take to support this cohort with the increased costs that they are facing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56296/25]
265. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider including verified disability-related expenses and private care costs as allowable deductions when assessing means for carer’s allowance; given the reality of many families not being able to access public healthcare supports due to significant delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56297/25]
266. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the phasing out of the carers allowance means test, as committed to in the Programme for Government; if there is a timeline for this commitment to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56298/25]
267. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the income thresholds for carers allowance; if will he consider introducing a model similar to the Disability Tax Credit approach, where disability-related costs are acknowledged as reducing disposable income, thereby adjusting eligibility thresholds accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56299/25]
268. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding any research or consideration given into the payment of a universal or partially universal carer support payment to replace or supplement the means-tested system, ensuring equity across income brackets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56300/25]
269. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement that he has had with advocacy groups (details supplied) regarding the practical impact of the income disregard limits and proposed reforms, in relation to the income thresholds for carers allowance, the feedback he received, the way in which it is being incorporated into policy development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5…