495. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his position on the creation of a Vice-President for simplification at the EU level; if he plans to commit to a single methodology to quantify the cumulative cost of new regulation on Irish businesses, as per the Draghi report on EU Competitiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10065/26]
565. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 670 of 4 November 2025, if the independent assessment into the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 years-of-age from the school transport scheme has been concluded; and if so, what conclusion was reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9420/26]
Albert Dolan
Written
10 Feb 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
1249. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures currently in place and any plans under consideration to reduce the financial burden on parents of students undertaking postgraduate education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9683/26]
48. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when the next round of the community centres investment fund and community and halls investments scheme will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8342/26]
86. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her assessment of the EU-India trade agreement; the way in which it will benefit Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8353/26]
257. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of a proposed new extension building for a national school (details supplied); the stage of the project; the delays or issues impacting delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9087/26]
350. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount allocated to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; the total amount drawn down to date under the scheme; the total amount paid to eligible applicants; the number of persons deemed eligible for payment under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8973/26]
355. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport the total amount of active travel funding allocated by the National Transport Authority; the total amount of active travel funding drawn down by each local authority; the percentage of the annual allocation drawn down; the cumulative allocation and cumulative drawdown over the period for each local authority, for each year from the commencement of the Active T…
356. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport the amount of active travel funding reallocated or withdrawn from each local authority; the recipient local authority or authorities of such reallocated funding; the stage of project development at which the original allocation was withdrawn for each year from the commencement of the Active Travel Programme to end-2025: and the criteria applied by the National…
357. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport the formal performance metrics used by the National Transport Authority to assess local authority delivery of active travel projects, including but not limited to (details supplied); and whether any internal comparative assessments, benchmarking, or rankings of local authorities are maintained, whether formally or informally, in respect of over €1 billion in a…
500. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if funding will be provided to continue the post-primary school books scheme for the 2026/2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7737/26]
1080. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the implementation of screening for spinal muscular atrophy as part of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (heel prick test); the specific milestones that have been set for its rollout; the body, agency or individuals responsible for delivery; the reasons for delays in reaching these milestones to date; the actions being taken to …
56. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has performed an analysis on the potential impacts of the Mercosur trade deal on the Irish beef sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6856/26]
Albert Dolan
Written
29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
113. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board’s proposal for an FET college in Galway City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6858/26]
239. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether a standard reporting template, format, or data schema exists for the reporting of procurement contracts in excess of €10 million under the Public Spending Code; and if so, to provide a copy of same or indicate where it is publicly available (details supplied). [7126/26]
240. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation which body is responsible for designing, issuing, or approving any templates or guidance used for reporting procurement contracts in excess of €10 million; and whether different templates apply to different sectors of the public service. [7127/26]
241. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the minimum information that is required to be included in reports on procurement contracts exceeding €10 million under the Public Spending Code, including whether projected final cost, VAT treatment, contract duration, and delivery status are required fields. [7128/26]
419. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department's open data policy and guidance on procurement transparency envisage that procurement-related payment and purchase order data should be published in machine-readable formats; whether this expectation applies to statutory bodies and agencies funded by Departments; and if h…
674. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is satisfied that bodies funded through his Department's Vote are applying a consistent approach to the publication of procurement-related payment and purchase order information, particularly with regard to the use of machine-readable formats; whether his Department monitors publication practices across its aegis bodies …
701. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the review into the nutritional standards of the of the school meals programme has concluded; the outcomes of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6055/26]
702. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the metrics or KPIs currently in place to assess meal quality, student satisfaction, and effectiveness of the school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6056/26]
703. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if any analysis has been undertaken to understand the causes of food waste under the school meals programme, given its implications for nutrition, public expenditure, and climate impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6057/26]
846. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of applications refused redress to the mother and baby home redress scheme which opened twenty two months ago; the reasons given for such refusals; the number of those refusals being appealed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5605/26]
75. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the redevelopment of Galway University Hospital; and the current stage of planning and approval, any changes to the project scope or costs; and the anticipated timeline for delivery. [5008/26]
129. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to increase GP capacity in rural Ireland; whether a dedicated rural GP strategy is in place; and if she will provide details of any timelines or targets. [5009/26]