Michael Collins

372. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider adopting the same build-cost assessment model already used by lending institutions when evaluating self-build mortgages, in order that applicants in high-valuation areas such as Schull are assessed on actual construction costs rather than inflated market values for help-to-buy eligibility. [14351/26]

959. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the anticipated start date for the newly appointed neurologist (details supplied) to Bantry General Hospital. [14198/26]

1001. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason patients with cystic fibrosis and type 1 diabetes are excluded from availing of insulin pumps free of charge through the HSE’s long-term illness scheme; the plans in place to extend the long-term illness scheme to include CF patients (details supplied). [14511/26]

284. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to her Department's St Brigid's Day 2026 social media advert, if she will provide a detailed explanation of the commissioning, approval, and oversight process that led to its publication; the identity of the person, team, or external company that proposed the concept; the officials who approved the creative direction; the senior official who issued final sign off; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12675/26]

285. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to her Department's St Brigid's Day 2026, in light of significant public concern regarding the advert's perceived ideological framing and the use of St Brigid's image in a manner many citizens view as disrespectful to Ireland's Christian heritage; if her Department intends to withdraw the advert and issue a public apology; and if not, if she will state clearly whether her Department stands over the advert in its current form and considers it appropriate for an official State communication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12676/26]

687. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth with regard to the recent allocations of special classes for County Cork, the reason no new special classes have been allocated to the entire area of west Cork (details supplied); and if she can confirm that west Cork schools will be included in the allocation of the new special classes. [12613/26]

1194. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of cases in which former employees of an organisation (details supplied) have been denied the pension contributions arising from the 2024 pay parity agreement due to delays by the HSE in providing the associated funding; if she will clarify the reason employees who reached the normal retirement age of 65 in 2024 were not provided for under this agreement given that pay parity had been approved prior to their retirement; if she will examine whether it is appropriate or lawful for the organisation to rely on the late transfer of funds from the HSE as a reason not to remit pension contributions owed to eligible employees; if she will confirm whether any guidance was issued to the organisation regarding employees approaching retirement age during this period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12616/26]

397. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he is aware that many pensioners who recently received their 2026 tax-free certificates have noted that the Revenue Commissioners have calculated their State pension payments on the basis of 54-weeks’ income (53-weeks plus a bonus week in December 2026), despite the 2026 calendar year containing only 52 weekly payment dates, or 53 including the announced bonus week; if he will clarify the basis on which the Revenue Commissioners have applied a 54-week pension payment calculation for 2026; and if he will instruct the Revenue Commissioners to amend these certificates to avoid over-deduction of tax from pensioners in 2026. [8406/26]

398. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will examine the situation that occurred in 2025, when the Revenue Commissioners applied a 54-week basis, resulting in amended tax certificates being issued in October 2025 at additional administrative cost to the Exchequer and leaving pensioners overcharged on tax throughout the year; if he will ensure that, where taxpayers were overcharged as a result of the Revenue Commissioners calculation method, any refunds issued include interest, in line with the Revenue Commissioners own policy of charging interest on outstanding monies owed to Revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8407/26]

541. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the decision to provide only an additional ten minutes per exam, rather than per hour, for Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate students with dyslexia (details supplied); the rationale for this limited allocation of additional time given that higher education institutions in Ireland typically provide ten minutes per hour, and that the UK standard is 25% extra time; if she will further consider increasing the permitted additional time in State examinations to ensure students with dyslexia are not placed at a disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8201/26]

802. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on the appointment, procurement basis and ongoing payments in respect of services provided by a company at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7881/26]

803. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on the decision taken in or around September 2022 to appoint a company to provide panelling, accommodation infrastructure or accommodation-related services at a site (details supplied); the criteria applied and the basis on which the company was deemed suitable, having regard to its registered business activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7882/26]

804. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procurement method used to appoint a company (details supplied); if the arrangement arose from an emergency procurement, direct award or other non-competitive process; the reasons such a method was considered appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7883/26]

805. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the contractual basis under which a company (details supplied) has been paid a fixed monthly amount of €143,322.30 from September 2022 to date in 2026; the duration of the arrangement; the extension or continuation decisions; the status of the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7884/26]

806. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reasons the arrangement with a company (details supplied) has been continued on a rolling monthly basis for multiple years, rather than being time-limited, competitively re-tendered, or transitioned to an alternative arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7885/26]

807. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the basis on which payments originally described as "supply panelling" were subsequently reclassified as "temporary accommodation"; the criteria used to treat the infrastructure supplied as accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7886/26]

808. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reasons his Department elected to maintain a monthly rental model for the relevant infrastructure (details supplied) rather than purchasing or capitalising it; the value-for-money assessments undertaken in this regard with a company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7887/26]

809. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reasons payments to a company have continued after the State's acquisition of a complex (details supplied), rather than transitioning to State-owned infrastructure or a different contractual model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7888/26]

810. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount paid to a company (details supplied) from September 2022 to date in 2026; the projected annual cost if the current arrangement continues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7889/26]

811. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether, prior to the State's purchase of a property (details supplied) a formal value-for-money assessment was undertaken; whether that assessment distinguished between the capital cost of the building and the ongoing operational costs associated with its use, including catering, security, staffing, transport and facilities management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7892/26]

812. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he will publish the methodology and key assumptions underpinning any value-for-money assessment carried out in respect of the €148.2 million purchase of a property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7893/26]

813. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if no distinction was made in the value-for-money assessment between the cost of acquiring a property (details supplied) and the cost of providing ongoing services at the site; the way in which the purchase is credibly described as representing value-for-money for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7894/26]

15. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the urgent actions he is taking, at EU and Council level, to reverse or challenge the severe loss of approximately 57,000 tonnes of Irish fishing quota for 2026, representing an estimated €94 million blow to the Irish fishing sector; whether he plans to initiate or support legal action at the European Court of Justice to defend Ireland’s interests given the collapse of Hague Preferences at the recent EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6850/26]

24. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Government has failed to act decisively to remove the chair of Bord Bia (details supplied) in order to restore confidence in Bord Bia, and to demonstrate that the Government is standing with Irish farmers rather than enabling practices that undermine them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6854/26]

71. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address concerns raised by fishing communities regarding the increasing presence of large foreign vessels operating off the Irish coast, while Irish boats remain tied up due to limited quotas; whether he will commit to immediate measures to restore Ireland’s capacity to fish its own waters in view of claims that Irish fishermen are being “regulated out of existence.”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6852/26]