Charles Ward

1632. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to explain the legal basis for a practice (details supplied); if he will proceed with a recommended remediation option, given that the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 provides that applicants must be notified of the determination and the reasons for it prior to exercising their right of appeal; the statutory basis, for withholding the chartered engineer's final report from applicants, given that the report forms the basis of the remediation option recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23599/26]

1633. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a practice (details supplied), is consistent with the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, which provides that a determination and the reasons for that determination are to be notified to the applicant prior to the exercise of any right of appeal; the way in which an applicant can make an informed decision to accept a remediation option or seek a review where the underlying chartered engineer's report and full technical reasoning are not made available to them at that stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23600/26]

1634. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether requiring applicants to make a choice (details supplied) in advance of receiving the full report may undermine fair procedures, transparency and the effective exercise of appeal rights; whether this practice arises from legislation, regulations or administrative guidance issued by his Department or the Housing Agency; and if the latter, to provide copies of any such guidance or template correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23601/26]

1635. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review a practice (details supplied) to ensure that applicants are provided with the full chartered engineer's report and reasoning prior to being required to make any decision affecting their rights under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23602/26]

1661. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he or his Department have engaged with any stakeholder groups from sectors (details supplied) examining issues related to the insurance and mortgageability of homes with building defects; and if he will provide details of such engagements, including meeting dates, attendees, and any documentation or proposals shared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24131/26]

1662. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration is being given to introducing a structural risk classification system for residential properties that includes a rating scale to assess structural condition and associated lending or insurance risk; if so, the current status of these proposals; his Department's role in their development; and whether they will be subject to public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24132/26]

1700. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the enactment of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Act 2025, and noting that part of the scheme has been administrated by Donegal County Council, when he expect the remainder of the amendments under the Bill to commence administration across all relevant local authorities; and specifically when will eligible applicants be able to submit applications for side-by-side building under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24854/26]

1821. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current system of proactive market surveillance of concrete construction products, being undertaken by the State; to detail the types of testing now required to ensure such products are fit-for-purpose prior to being placed on the market and used in construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27120/26]

1822. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown, by county of the number of proactive market surveillance inspections carried out in relation to construction products, for the years 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27121/26]

1823. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the number of inspections conducted which included testing of aggregates as part of the inspection process for each of the years 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27122/26]

1824. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of the type and number of corrective actions issued to economic operators arising from inspections; and the number of economic operators that were temporarily or permanently closed due to non-compliance with relevant regulations for the years 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27123/26]

1825. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm if the Building Standards Agency (BSA), as recommended in the June 2024 report (details supplied) has been established; if so, to provide details of its current operational status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27124/26]

1826. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current staffing levels of the Building Standards Agency; to detail any plans to increase staffing to align with the estimated requirement of approximately 500 personnel, as recommended in the June 2024 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27125/26]

1827. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the drafting and progression of primary legislation required to establish the proposed Building Standards Regulatory Authority (BRSA); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27126/26]

3244. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the budget that has been allocated in 2026 to deliver the National Stroke Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26625/26]

3245. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year costs of providing three additional rapid response vehicles on a 24-7 basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26626/26]

3246. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant maxillofacial surgeons working in the health service; her plans to expand this number; the international recommended best practice ratio of consultant maxillofacial surgeons to population; and Ireland's ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26627/26]

3247. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant urologists and urology registrars based at Letterkenny University Hospital as of 7 April 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26628/26]

214. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her plans to expand Ireland's diplomatic presence across Japan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21995/26]

625. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a detailed breakdown of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, which commenced in July 2023 under the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022; the number of homeowners in County Mayo that have received a formal remediation option determination from the Housing Agency or the relevant local authority, categorised by options 1, 2, 3 and 4; and any blended options, including the dates of those determinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22206/26]

626. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of the determinations under the defective concrete blocks scheme that were made under the enhanced scheme, and from the previous scheme, for Mayo homeowners, with a breakdown by options 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and any blended options, including the corresponding dates of determination and issuance of grant approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22207/26]

627. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria or methodology used to prioritise the order in which appeals are processed regarding the defective concrete blocks scheme; and the reason there appears to be significant variation in processing times, such that some appeals submitted six, nine or more months after others, have been determined, while earlier appeals may still be pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22208/26]

628. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to ensure consistency, transparency and fairness in the processing of appeals; and whether his Department intends to publish processing timelines or a standard framework for appeals to provide homeowners with clarity on expected waiting periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22209/26]

629. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to cases where homeowners are excluded from the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme due to the absence of a certificate of completion prior to 2021, despite the fact that construction of the dwelling was halted due the discovery of defective concrete, rather than any act of abandonment by the owner; if he accepts that it is unreasonable to require homeowners to complete a dwelling known to be fundamentally defective in order to qualify for the scheme; if consideration will be given to such exceptional circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22218/26]

630. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline whether any legislative amendments or administrative measures are currently being considered to address situations where homeowners are effectively excluded from the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme due to technical compliance issues, despite clear evidence that works ceased due to defective materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22219/26]