408. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of ongoing communication challenges between the Teaching Council and applicants seeking to transfer their registration routes; the steps being taken to ensure timely, transparent and supportive communication with teachers who are actively employed in schools and awaiting guidance on their registration status; and if she will make a st…
409. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will investigate reported inconsistencies in the Teaching Council’s handling of registration route transfers, particularly in cases where teachers with similar qualifications and experience have received differing outcomes; if she will ensure that all applicants are treated equitably and in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on …
410. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will request the Teaching Council to review cases where teachers with comparable qualifications and experience have received inconsistent decisions regarding their registration route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57082/25]
411. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the means by which her Department is addressing the situation whereby teachers registered under route 3 are currently prevented from commencing the Droichead process, despite being actively employed in Irish schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57083/25]
412. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will intervene to ensure that teachers registered under route 3, who are actively teaching in Irish schools, are not excluded from accessing the Droichead process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57084/25]
413. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the impact the current barriers to registration and induction are having on teacher supply, particularly in areas experiencing acute shortages such as north County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57085/25]
414. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will assess the impact of Teaching Council registration delays and route transfer barriers on the availability of qualified teachers in Dublin schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57086/25]
415. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the Teaching Council’s current policy regarding the recognition of teaching qualifications obtained through online programmes from UK universities; if she will ensure that such qualifications are treated equitably in the registration process, particularly where professional placement was completed in an Irish school; and if she will make a statement …
Grace Boland
Written
16 Oct 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
33. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is working with the Department of Education and Youth to improve gender balance in STEM subject uptake at second level, with a view to influencing third-level course choices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54977/25]
Grace Boland
Written
16 Oct 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
38. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the specific measures being taken to address the underrepresentation of women in certain STEM fields, particularly engineering, computer science and physics at third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54976/25]
99. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the implementation of the town and village renewal scheme; the way in which the impact of this scheme is being measured in terms of community wellbeing and economic activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54981/25]
79. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the closure of the Charlestown driving test centre; if the Road Safety Authority consulted with his Department prior to the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55649/25]
80. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if a lease remains in place for the Charlestown Driving Test Centre; the term of the lease and the annual cost of the lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55650/25]
81. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if the Finglas driving test centre has sufficient capacity to absorb the testers and candidates previously assigned to Charlestown; the assessment which has been carried out to ensure service levels are maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55651/25]
82. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the impacts which have been observed in Finglas since the closure of the Charlestown driving test centre, including changes in waiting times, pass rates, or operational pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55652/25]
83. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the communication protocols which exist between the Road Safety Authority and local authorities regarding infrastructure changes near driving test centres; the reason there was a breakdown in communication in the case of Charlestown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55653/25]
84. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the lessons which have been learned from the closure of the Charlestown driving test centre; the way in which these will inform future site selection, stakeholder engagement, and contingency planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55654/25]
110. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which gender equality is being integrated into the development of the agri-food strategy and rural development programmes; if specific gender targets or indicators are being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54980/25]
118. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department is working with Teagasc and other agencies to promote agricultural education and training programmes that actively encourage female participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54979/25]
236. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if there is a mechanism by which an individual can retrospectively claim back arrears on motor tax in the event of incapacitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54607/25]
281. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the operational and logistical difficulties faced by families due to the National Transport Authority’s requirement that each child aged five to nine years must possess a separate physical Leap card; if he will request a review of this policy with a view to introducing a more family-friendly alternative; and if he will make a statement on the…
282. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the rationale behind the NTAs decision to prohibit the use of single adult Leap card to validate travel for multiple persons; and if he will consider the introduction of a ‘family child’ travel product to simplify public transport access for families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55236/25]
283. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he will investigate the customer service standards of the National Transport Authority in relation to Leap card applications for children, including the reasons for unexplained rejections and the lack of clear communication with applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55237/25]
284. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if the National Transport Authority uses third-party contractors based outside the State to process Leap card applications; and if he will provide assurances regarding the security and data protection standards applied to personal information submitted by Irish citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55238/25]
285. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he will request the NTA for the reason official correspondence regarding Leap card applications is being sent from a UK-based email domain; if he will ensure that all communications related to Irish public transport services are managed securely and transparently within the jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55239/25]