Grace Boland

6. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which he plans to ensure that the implementation of the national swimming strategy addresses regional and demographic disparities in access to swimming facilities, particularly in areas experiencing rapid population growth and sustained unmet demand such as Fingal, where limited access to public swimming pools persists despite clear and growing community need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33670/26]

55. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he has engaged with the Department of Education and Youth, and with Sport Ireland, to support equitable access to physical education and structured physical activity for young people at post-primary level, regardless of the socio-economic profile of an area or school; the way barriers to participation are being identified and addressed as part of wider sport and physical activity strategies; the way this aligns with the Government’s objectives on inclusion, youth participation and lifelong engagement in sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32649/26]

79. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence whether consideration has been given to re-establishing a State supported national sail training vessel following the loss of the Asgard II; the current status of any proposals, engagements or feasibility work in relation to the acquisition or development of such a vessel; the estimated capital and operational costs involved; the proposed delivery timeline should a decision be taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32416/26]

94. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence her policy on the provision of a national sail training programme; the level of funding currently provided to an organisation (details supplied) and any other providers; the number of participants supported by her Department in each of the past five years, broken down by age profile and region where available; the measures in place to ensure access for disadvantaged or underrepresented groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32415/26]

186. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the role, if any, his Department plays in the funding, policy development or delivery of rural transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33497/26]

187. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department provides direct or indirect funding to rural transport initiatives to strengthen rural transport provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33498/26]

190. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport to outline his Department's role in the planning, funding and expansion of rural transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33494/26]

191. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the programmes currently funded by his Department to support rural and community transport, including the Rural Transport Programme and Local Link services; to confirm the level of Exchequer funding allocated to these services in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; his plans to widen, broaden or otherwise invest in rural transport provision nationally and on a regional basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33495/26]

192. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether the responsibility for the strategic development and expansion of rural transport services rests with his Department or with any other Department to indicate whether additional funding or policy changes are under consideration to address transport deficits in rural and island communities. [33496/26]

193. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the assessment that has been carried out of rural transport needs in north County Dublin; whether any proposals are under consideration to expand Local Link or other rural transport services in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33499/26]

194. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether consideration has been given to expanding Local Link services to better connect rural villages with nearby towns in north County Dublin particularly where villages are experiencing population growth but limited transport provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33500/26]

429. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the consideration that has been given to introducing greater flexibility within the national childcare scheme for families with part-time, reduced or variable working hours; whether any review is underway to ensure that NCS subsidies better reflect modern working patterns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33569/26]

430. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the engagement her Department has had with childcare providers regarding the availability of part-time or flexible places under the national childcare scheme; whether supports or incentives are available to encourage providers to offer more flexible childcare arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33570/26]

431. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she recognises the financial pressure faced by families with multiple children in childcare where reduced hours of care lead to higher overall costs under the national childcare scheme; whether changes are planned to ensure the scheme supports affordability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33571/26]

432. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has received representations from families in north County Dublin regarding the lack of flexible childcare options under the national childcare scheme; the policy or operational changes planned to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33572/26]

445. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the review of the assistive technology scheme for primary and post-primary schools, as referenced in the WHO Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment in Ireland (2026); when revised arrangements are expected to be implemented; whether the revised scheme will move from a diagnosis-led model to a functional, needs-based model of provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33148/26]

446. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address the WHO report’s finding that assistive technology funded through schools is generally owned by the school rather than the pupil, resulting in loss of access during transitions, including from primary to post-primary education; if she will consider reforms to support student-centred continuity of assistive technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33149/26]

447. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she is taking, in conjunction with the Department of Health, to ensure that pupils who rely on assistive technology do not experience a loss of equipment, training or support during transitions, including progression to further or higher education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33150/26]

448. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department’s role in the proposed cross-departmental National Assistive Technology Programme, recommended in the WHO report; the way such a programme will improve equity, consistency and timeliness of assistive technology delivery in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33151/26]

449. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to ensure that assistive technology provided to pupils is supported by ongoing training, technical support and follow-up, rather than being limited to initial equipment provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33152/26]

450. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she supports the recommendation in the WHO report to establish regional assistive technology hubs, including loan libraries and specialist expertise; whether her Department will engage with this model to support schools dealing with complex assistive technology needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33153/26]

14. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection in the context of the programme for Government commitment to examine the extension of parents’ leave and benefit, whether he will outline the current status of this examination; the options under consideration to extend the duration of parents’ leave and benefit beyond the current entitlement; when he expects to bring proposals to Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30628/26]

21. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he is examining measures to simplify the application process for the emergency needs payment, including clearer eligibility criteria and reduced administrative requirements for people in crisis; when any improvements will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30629/26]

170. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has assessed delivery capability and performance on the Train Management System project; the outcome of any such assessment; the contingency or alternative delivery options under consideration; the measures being taken to mitigate further cost escalation and delivery risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30627/26]

179. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the National Train Control Centre and Train Management System project; the revised timeline for commissioning phase 1 and overall completion; the total cost to date and estimated final cost; the actions being taken to ensure delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30626/26]