Charles Ward

60. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of persons that applied to become Ireland's new Honorary Consul based in North Carolina; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56474/26]

1009. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the funding allocated to tourism development projects in Donegal in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56472/26]

367. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether properties owned or operated by an approved housing body (AHB), including supported accommodation, rehabilitation centres, and other residential facilities provided by an AHB for housing or care-related purposes, are eligible for assistance under The Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024; whether such properties are considered “dwellings” for the purposes of the scheme; whether any exclusions apply to AHB-operated properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54420/26]

251. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific timeline for the signing and enactment of the Building Standards Agency (Establishment) Order; the precise calendar month in the second half of 2026 targeted for the formal launch of the interim Building Standards Agency; the projected timeline for the publication of the general scheme of the Bill to establish the permanent, statutory Building Standards Regulatory Authority (BSRA); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53825/26]

399. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the independent panel to review the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, following the publication of IS 465, has been established; if so, the date on which the panel was established; the membership of the panel; its terms of reference; the expected timeframe for completion of its review; if not, the reason the panel has not yet been established; and the expected date by which the panel will be in place. [52890/26]

430. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Government will consider restoring grants for the recommended demolition and rebuild (Option 1) for homeowners who commenced this option at their own expense and were previously downgraded to a lesser option by the Housing Agency; as the publication of the revised IS 465:2026 now confirms that Option 1 was the only viable solution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53545/26]

749. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2415 of 9 June 2026, the reason this data was not provided; when this data will be provided; and the most common reasons recorded for claim adjustment in each year from 2020 to date (details supplied) [52892/26]

4. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he will consider introducing supports for farm buildings or agricultural buildings impacted by defective concrete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52560/26]

470. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the proposed social housing defective concrete blocks remediation scheme; if approved housing body-owned or operated properties, including supported accommodation and rehabilitation centres will be eligible for inclusion under this scheme; the anticipated timeline for the establishment and commencement of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51385/26]

332. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that a number of homeowners whose applications were upgraded to full demolition and rebuild following successful defective concrete block scheme appeals have been advised by the Housing Agency that their grant amounts cannot be recalculated until I.S. 465 becomes legislation, despite other homeowners in the same circumstances having received revised grant approvals prior to 2 June 2025; the reason for this apparent inconsistency in treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48564/26]

411. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a compassionate hardship clause or legislative amendment to the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme to accommodate families who have inherited a defective property from a relative who was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and subsequently passed away before they were medically or physically able to apply for the scheme; if he acknowledges that the strict "principal private residence" criteria currently forces grieving families to watch their deceased relatives' homes fall to rubble without any access to redress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46847/26]

449. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of delays within Tailte Éireann in processing mapping, registration and related property matters that are affecting homeowners’ ability to progress applications under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the number of applications that have been delayed as a result; the average waiting time being experienced by applicants; the measures being taken by his Department and Tailte Éireann to address these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47311/26]

450. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm whether the issue of homeowners under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme who have reached the maximum grant cap and are unable to reclaim engineering and professional fees incurred, in some cases up to €6,000 and paid prior to scheme approval, will be considered as part of the upcoming review of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47313/26]

624. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the position regarding a full building condition survey, including mechanical and electrical, of the Donegal town courthouse; a timeline for assessments for repair work; the expected date of re-opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41779/26]

1142. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the preparatory work completed to date to facilitate the extension of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to the newly included counties; the work that remains outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43876/26]

1143. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the local authorities in the counties being added to the defective concrete blocks grant scheme have been advised of an implementation timetable; whether staffing, training and administrative arrangements have been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43877/26]

1144. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has prepared a project plan for the extension of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to the other newly included counties; if so, the key milestones and target dates contained within that plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43878/26]

1145. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of homeowners in County Meath and each other county approved for inclusion in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme who are awaiting the opening of the scheme; the measures being taken to minimise further delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43879/26]

1148. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of dwellings currently awaiting a technical review of remediation options under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the average length of time such reviews have been outstanding; whether a formal technical review protocol has been established; who is responsible for conducting such reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43975/26]

1149. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will publish the criteria, methodology and decision-making framework used in technical reviews of remediation options under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; whether homeowners are entitled to review and respond to technical assessments used in such reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43976/26]

1150. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when guidance will be issued to local authorities or technical reviewers regarding the assessment of foundation retention under I.S. 465:2026; whether a consistent national approach will apply to such determinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43977/26]

1151. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether homeowners dissatisfied with the outcome of a technical review of remediation options under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme have access to an independent appeal or review mechanism; if so, the details of that mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43978/26]

1152. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the composition of any technical review panel or group involved in determining remediation options under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the professional qualifications represented on such panels; whether independent experts are included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43979/26]

1153. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the length of time between the triggering of the three-month review of the defective concrete blocks scheme and the expected completion; the longest period recorded to date in similar circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43980/26]

1154. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether applicants whose remediation options have not yet been finalised will be assessed in accordance with I.S. 465:2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43981/26]