John Connolly

285. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the stage 1 preliminary design assessment of site and location suitability and initial sketch scheme report for the enhancement and development works at a school (details supplied) was received by her Department; when the stage 1 stakeholders meeting will be scheduled with the board of management of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46537/26]

536. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rationale for the recent cancellation of Research Ireland doctoral and postdoctoral scholarship funding for future years; the measures being put in place to support PhD students who had intended to rely on such funding after commencing their studies; whether transitional arrangements will be introduced to protect those currently within a funding gap period (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46427/26]

537. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to ensure that early-stage researchers are not placed in financially precarious positions as a result of changes to postgraduate funding policy; the extent to which alternative supports or funding streams will be made available (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46428/26]

538. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure equitable allocation of research funding across all disciplines, including humanities and social sciences, in view of concerns that recent policy changes may disproportionately favour STEM fields (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46429/26]

34. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made on High Impact Action 112 of the Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which commits to conducting a review of the efficacy of a compulsory road safety education programme in schools and making recommendations; the timeline for completion of this review; when its findings and recommendations will be published; when the recommendations will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46124/26]

35. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department is giving consideration to the introduction of a graduated driving licence system; whether any research, consultation, or comparative analysis has been carried out, including in relation to the graduated driving licence system being introduced this year in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46125/26]

38. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the TFI one-year pilot programme serving Achill Island and the Curraun Peninsula; to provide data available on passenger numbers, and the feedback received from passengers on both the service and the functioning of the TFI Anseo app. [46218/26]

39. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if there will be a successor strategy to the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46219/26]

74. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the review that has been or will be undertaken by her Department or the State Examinations Commission into the difficulty, structure and fairness of the 2026 Leaving Certificate higher level mathematics papers 1 and 2; if any adjustments to marking schemes or grading processes are being considered in light of concerns raised by students, parents and teachers; whether she will issue a public statement to provide reassurance to affected students regarding the impact on their results; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45997/26]

194. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health if it is intended to increase chronic disease hub services in County Galway, in particular to address the significant waiting lists for podiatry services and other associated chronic disease supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46058/26]

28. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the revised national digital and AI strategy. [37324/26]

386. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the cost implications of mandatory registration with Fáilte Ireland under the proposed short-term letting regulatory framework for the classification of short-term letting properties; the way in which such registration may affect the formal categorisation, status or recognition of properties engaged in short-term letting activity; if guidance has been issued, or is planned, to relevant public bodies, including local authorities and Tailte Éireann, regarding the treatment and classification of registered short-term letting properties arising from this change; if consideration is being given to exemptions, thresholds or differentiated treatment for small-scale or owner-occupied short-term letting providers, particularly in rural and island communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44889/26]

463. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 326 of 18 February 2025, the precise criteria that must be met in practice, particularly for teachers with experience in private international schools outside the EU (details supplied); the exact criteria, weightings and decision making methodology used by her Department in assessing such applications; if any internal guidelines, thresholds or scoring frameworks are applied by officials given many teachers require clarity on their likely eligibility for incremental credit award prior to taking up positions at home in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45405/26]

507. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if all allowances recently restored to teaching staff in primary schools and special schools under Circular 0054/2026 will be extended to all teaching staff working within post-primary schools; if she is aware of the disparity currently affecting post-primary teachers appointed after 2012 who are excluded from the allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45722/26]

649. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the €360,000 statutory total prize cap applying to District Court-licensed lotteries, including house draw competitions; whether consideration will be given to increasing this cap in line with current housing market values and construction costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45082/26]

1029. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the completion of the new ambulance base at Recess, County Galway, including key milestones and the expected date of operational readiness; the level of ambulance services planned to be operated from the base, including staffing levels, number of ambulance units, hours of operation, the catchment area it will serve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45945/26]

170. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport to consider using the means available within his Department to commence a direct bus service between Galway city and Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44797/26]

181. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the continued basis for pension abatement for public servants with pension entitlements who have been re-employed in alternative roles within the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44798/26]

198. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of retired staff with pension entitlement within her Department who have seen their pension subjected to pension abatement following re-entering employment in the public sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44799/26]

253. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of retired staff with pension entitlement within his Department who have seen their pension subjected to pension abatement following re-entering employment in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44801/26]

336. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health To outline the current waiting list numbers and average waiting times for neurology services in University Hospital Galway and across the West of Ireland; the number of consultant neurologists and support staff currently in post; the existing vacancies; the measures being taken to improve access to neurology services in the region (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44764/26]

337. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health whether radiography services are available at weekends in University Hospital Galway; to provide details of staffing levels, vacancies, and reliance on agency staff; the measures being taken to ensure adequate diagnostic imaging capacity (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44765/26]

338. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health to provide the current waiting list numbers and average waiting times for psychology services in the West of Ireland, including adult and child services; the number of psychologists currently employed and any vacancies; and the steps being taken to reduce waiting times (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44766/26]

339. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the current MRI capacity in University Hospital Galway, including waiting times for scans, availability of equipment, and any plans to expand access to MRI services in the region (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44767/26]

340. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the policy regarding the application of commercial rates to premises operated by charities; whether any recent changes have resulted in increased financial burdens on such organisations; the supports or exemptions available (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44768/26]