Ciarán Ahern

408. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the work undertaken by his Department regarding the introduction of a dedicated transport police service as proposed in the Programme for Government; when he expects the necessary legislation underpinning the establishment of a dedicated transport police service to be published; if he anticipates that the transport police will have powers of arrest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19412/25]

409. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the details of any engagement he has had with trade unions or other transport worker representative organisations with respect to the proposed introduction of a transport police service,; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19413/25]

455. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of concerns regarding the false certification of palm oil as waste vegetable oil which is contained in biofuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil sold on the Irish market; if he will consider ceasing recognition of biofuels which come from outside the EU where there is no supervision of the certification process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18065/25]

631. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is aware that the Whitechurch flood alleviation scheme being undertaken by the OPW has been ordered by Inland Fisheries Ireland to cease works until June due to offending materials in the river which were intended to be mitigation measures, but are causing pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19077/25]

654. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the public consultation on the next review of the National Development Plan will commence. [20093/25]

825. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education if she will consider an emergency utility grant for schools that are unable to afford to pay their utility bills having exhausted other options such as liaising with the FSSU. [19001/25]

1872. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the new National Disability Strategy; a timeline on when it is expected to be finalised and implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19926/25]

1973. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that the sensory room in a healthcare facility (details supplied) is reserved for the sole use of the primary care centre and cannot be used by the local CDNT; the rationale for excluding the CDNT from use of the sensory room; if it relates to its status as a section 39 organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19145/25]

2080. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that the sensory room in a healthcare facility (details supplied) is reserved for the sole use of the primary care centre and cannot be used by the local CDNT; the rationale for excluding the CDNT from use of the sensory room; if it relates to its status as a section 39 organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19145/25]

2. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will intervene to stop the construction of the Shannon LNG terminal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18315/25]

42. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the Climate Action Plan 2026; when he expects the plan to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18069/25]

61. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has undertaken a review electricity costs and the current market design to determine the cause of high prices in Ireland when compared to other EU Member States; if so, whether his Department will publish that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18067/25]

70. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update regarding Ireland’s post-2030 wind energy strategy; if work is underway to develop a policy document in this regard; when he expects that work to be complete and a policy document published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18066/25]

123. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the corrective actions he will take to ensure that the transport sector meets its emissions reductions targets by 2030 and does not exceed the sectoral emissions ceilings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18316/25]

252. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeframe for the public consultation on the national building renovation plan, required under the energy performance in buildings directive by December 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17413/25]

535. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education for an update on the expansion of the autism class in a school (details supplied); when the expanded class is expected to be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17414/25]

67. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider extending the deposit return scheme to other waste materials, such as glass bottles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15886/25]

101. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the updated guidelines for flexitime arrangements for public and civil service workers will be published; if he intends resuming flexi-time arrangements for public sector workers that were in place prior to the temporary suspension introduced during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15888/25]

279. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health for an update on the free HRT scheme announced in Budget 2025; when the scheme will commence for qualifying patients; if she will arrange for women who should have benefited from the scheme since 1 January 2025 to be reimbursed any expenses accrued up to the formal commencement of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15887/25]

623. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the status of Cheeverstown House, Templeogue, Dublin 6W; if it is ultimately planned to wind down and close this facility, or whether it will it continue to be a much-needed centre for people with additional needs in the locality; if there are any plans to re-open the swimming pool and hall; whether the HSE have a long-term plan for the Cheeverstown House site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15772/25]

235. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education to outline, in light of a widely-reported funding crisis at a school (details supplied), the number of primary schools which have contacted her Department this school year about serious funding challenges; the number of such schools which are designated as 'DEIS' schools; if her Department has an emergency fund to assist schools in financial crisis; and to further outline, in the absence of such a fund, how the longer-term viability of schools in financial crisis can be addressed. [14784/25]

410. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health when the free HRT scheme, which was committed to in Budget 2025, will commence; if she will arrange for women who should have benefited from the scheme since 1 January 2025 to be reimbursed any expenses accrued up to the formal commencement of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14902/25]

341. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education if her Department will approve emergency funding for a DEIS Band 1 school (details supplied) which is due to run out of money from 1 April 2025, meaning it will not be able to pay its basic bills and may face closure unless such funding is approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13335/25]

439. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reduce the significant waste generated by campaign posters and cable ties during election campaigns; if he will consider a reduction in the number of posters a candidate may erect or consider designating certain locations for election posters, or any other similar measures; and if he will consider a colour-coded or tagged system of cable ties to ensure all cable ties are removed and disposed of appropriately post-election. [13700/25]

482. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is satisfied that providers under the Hot School Meals Programme are not required to provide his Department with details of their preparation methods for meals provided under the programme; his views on whether the Food Safety Authority of Ireland guidelines and regulations (details supplied) are robust enough to ensure that all meals provided to schools under the programme are of good quality and meet a strong nutritional standard; if he is aware of reports or ultra-processed foods being provided under the programme; if he plans to address same; the steps he is taking to improve the nutritional content of the meals being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13318/25]