Charles Ward

649. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has obtained legal advice to support the position that complaints concerning the administration, delay, procedures, resourcing or transparency of the Defective Concrete Blocks Appeals Panel fall outside the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman by virtue of the panel being described as independent; if so, the legal basis for that position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14321/26]

650. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether it is the position of his Department that homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks have no external or independent complaints or oversight mechanism available to them in respect of delay, maladministration or procedural unfairness in the appeals process; if so, the way in which this position is compatible with principles of good administration and access to remedy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14322/26]

651. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role of his Department in determining or influencing the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Appeals Panel, including its terms of reference, appointment process, funding, staffing levels, procedures and timelines; whether, in view of this role, he accepts that the administration and operation of the panel must remain subject to normal public accountability standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14323/26]

723. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the origin of guidance issued by the Housing Agency stating that homeowners cannot avail of a full technical review following the revision of the I.S. 465 following an appeal and adjudication by the Appeals Panel; whether this guidance was issued at the direction of, or with the approval of, his Department; and whether he is satisfied that this guidance accurately reflects the law, particularly in cases where an appeal decision has been annulled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10181/26]

724. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason guidance regarding access to technical reviews was issued only to homeowners whose remediation options were downgraded after 6 November 2024; whether different rules apply to homeowners depending on the date of downgrade; and how this approach is consistent with principles of fairness and equal treatment under the defective concrete blocks scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10182/26]

233. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school bus issue can be examined (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8865/26]

289. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if a pension matter can be examined (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8866/26]

86. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the means test for SUSI grants for households impacted by the defective concrete crisis, in order that essential outgoings such as mortgages and rent are taken into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7279/26]

612. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role local authorities will have in conducting or contributing to technical reviews of applications under the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme; to specify the nature of that role; the expertise to be applied; whether local authorities will be acting independently or on behalf of the Housing Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5571/26]

613. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which independence will be ensured in the technical review process for homeowners dissatisfied with determinations under the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme, particularly where a review may be carried out by the same body, or an associated body, involved in the original determination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5572/26]

614. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the difference in function, authority and outcome between the statutory independent appeals process, and the proposed technical review process; to confirm whether a technical review constitutes a new determination, a re-assessment, or an advisory exercise only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5573/26]

615. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether details of the technical review process, including who conducts it, governance arrangements, and decision-making criteria, will be published in advance of homeowners being invited to participate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5574/26]

616. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the anticipated completion date for the review of IS,465; the expected timeline for the commencement of the technical review application process following its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5575/26]

633. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify, in respect of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, whether the 78-week timeframe applicable to the determination of appeals continues to run where an appeal is paused or cannot be progressed pending the completion of a technical review arising from the ongoing revision of I.S. 465; if he will further clarify whether time spent awaiting such a technical review is treated as excluded from, or counted towards, the 78-week period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5799/26]

634. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether, under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the way in which the statutory 78-week timeframe for appeals is suspended where an appeal cannot be determined pending a technical review linked to the revision of I.S. 465; whether this position has been communicated to the housing agency and local authorities; and if no such amendment has been made, to outline how appeals that cannot be progressed pending such a technical review are treated for the purposes of statutory time limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5800/26]

408. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the amendment Bill relating to the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; to clarify when the Amendment Bill is expected to be enacted; the way in which the amended scheme will be administered; the role of local authorities; whether any interim administrative arrangements are being considered pending its commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5255/26]

156. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the rates per square metre under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme have not been reviewed since the introduction of the enhanced scheme in 2023, despite significant construction cost inflation; if he will commit to an immediate review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4664/26]

83. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the tendering and procurement process currently in place for the appointment of building professionals to carry out building condition assessments under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the way in which tenders are invited, evaluated and awarded; the criteria used in assessing submissions; to provide a list of the successful tenderers appointed to carry out such assessments in County Donegal; the number of assessments allocated to each appointed tenderer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2557/26]

248. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Irish Consul General based in New York has met formally with the new Mayor of New York city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74907/25]

417. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Defence the number of promotions from the rank of regimental quartermaster sergeant to sergeant major within the Army which occurred in the years 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74882/25]

418. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Defence the number of promotions from the rank of chief petty officer to warrant officer within the Naval Service which occurred in the years 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74886/25]

974. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of WTE qualified legal advisors working within his Department in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74923/25]

1450. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the proposed apartment, duplex and multi-unit dwelling remediation scheme will provide for the remediation of all multi-unit developments impacted by defective concrete; the anticipated timeline for enactment of the legislation and commencement of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1556/26]

1486. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the consideration of letters of recommendation submitted by local authorities in regard to the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme; to confirm when such letters of recommendation submitted by Meath County Council and Wexford County Council will be processed; whether a submission from Louth County Council is currently under consideration or expected shortly; the expected timeline for decisions or determinations in respect of each county where letters of recommendation have been submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2185/26]

1547. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools in Donegal that have applied for the school meals scheme for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74887/25]