817. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the number of patients from the midlands region, by county (Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford) who were required to travel to St James’s Hospital Dublin for neurology appointments in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 due to the lack of a full service in Tullamore; the impact this travel burden has on patient outcomes, in tabular form; and if she will make a s…
818. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the specific recruitment plans in place for 2026 and 2027 to provide a multidisciplinary neurology team at Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore, including consultant neurologists, specialist nurses, and health and social care professionals, as recommended by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47592/26]
819. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the expected official opening date for the Birr primary care centre, County Offaly; if construction has reached the handover stage to the Health Service Executive and local GP practices as scheduled for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47593/26]
820. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the establishment and full operation of public dental services at the Birr primary care centre; the number of dental treatment rooms allocated in the new facility; the number of dental posts that will operate from that location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47594/26]
821. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the commencement of physiotherapy and occupational therapy services at the Birr primary care centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47595/26]
822. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health to provide a comprehensive list of all health services intended to be operational at the Birr primary care centre by the end of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47596/26]
823. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the current status of recruitment for the multidisciplinary teams required for the Birr primary care centre; if all clinical and administrative posts have been filled ahead of the anticipated Summer 2026 opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47597/26]
824. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health for an update on the recruitment process for the additional 12 posts that were confirmed to be allocated to the midlands integrated healthcare area, in the Dáil chamber on 27 January 2026, including posts to address vacancies in occupational therapy and physiotherapy for children’s services in Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47605/26]
825. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health whether additional diagnostic services, including X-ray, ultrasound, community diagnostics or chronic disease management services are planned for the new primary care centre in Birr, County Offaly; the timeline for their delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47606/26]
97. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the application submitted by a school (details supplied) for an additional special needs assistant (SNA) allocation to support the delivery of its School-Based Summer Programme commencing on 22 June 2026; when a decision on the business case submitted by the school over a week ago is expected; and if she will make a…
230. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the average wait time for the processing of Garda vetting applications for prospective HSE staff across all disciplines, including but not limited to nurses, speech and language therapists and doctors for the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, the factors contributing to processing delays specifically affecting healthcare workers; and if she will make a sta…
231. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health her assessment of the impact that delays in the return of Garda vetting for HSE staff are having on the provision of frontline healthcare services and the delivery of care to patients; whether specific services such as speech and language therapy or nursing have been disproportionately affected by these delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […
232. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the number of prospective HSE staff, including nurses, doctors and allied health professionals, who were successful in their applications but whose start dates have been delayed due to waiting on the return of Garda vetting in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the average length of such delays from the time a job offer is accepted to the commencement of the role…
233. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE currently operates any national key performance indicators governing recruitment clearance timelines, specifically regarding the time taken from submission of a Garda vetting application to its completion for HSE staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46402/26]
234. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health whether she has engaged with the Minister for Justice; Home Affairs and Migration regarding the implementation of a portable Garda vetting system specifically tailored for healthcare workers moving between roles or locations within the HSE or funded agencies to reduce administrative burdens and prevent delays in staff commencing work; and if she will make a st…
169. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he is aware that despite the Sale of Tickets Act 2021 being in force for nearly five years, that there have been no prosecutions under the Act to date, leading to a continuation of ticket touting practices for major sporting and cultural events; and the specific measures he plans to take to ensure robust enforcement by An Garda S…
167. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress of the accommodation project for a school (details supplied), especially in light of the sustainability report carried out on the school building in January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40548/26]
171. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress of the additional school accommodation project for a school (details supplied), specifically in terms of consideration of the green field site proposed by the LOETB; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40547/26]
53. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the preparations being undertaken by her Department for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026, with particular emphasis on the way in which this presidency will be utilised to advocate for the interests of rural Ireland, including agricultural and community development policies; whether there wil…
74. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on the modernisation and efficiency improvements of passport and consular services, as detailed in the DFAT Departmental Action Plan 2026; the way in which these improvements will benefit citizens in rural areas such as County Offaly, including access to services and processing times; and if she will make a statement on the matt…
94. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the progress made on implementing the Our Rural Future policy in County Offaly, specifically regarding initiatives aimed at supporting local businesses and enhancing rural infrastructure; if he will provide details on any upcoming plans for the constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38303/26]
131. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his Department’s response to the findings and recommendations of the OECD Review of Rural Development in Ireland, published in February 2026; the specific actions being considered to address these recommendations in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38302/26]
173. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will provide a breakdown of spending on advertising that was funded or overseen by her Department, and bodies under its aegis, in each of the past five years, including a breakdown by medium, that is, radio, television and social media, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36490/26]
192. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will provide a breakdown of spending on advertising that was funded or overseen by his Department, and bodies under its aegis, in each of the past five years, including a breakdown by medium, that is, radio, television and social media, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36484/26]
214. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide a breakdown of spending on advertising that was funded or overseen by her Department, and bodies under its aegis, in each of the past five years, including a breakdown by medium, that is, radio, television and social media, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36486/26]