Albert Dolan

593. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken any review of the operation of contract of indefinite duration, CID, arrangements for primary and post-primary school teachers in recent years; whether concerns have been raised regarding the repeated use of fixed-term contracts preventing progression to permanency for long-serving teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39710/26]

594. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way her Department monitors the interpretation and application of "viable hours" in determining eligibility for contract of indefinite duration, CID, entitlement in primary schools; whether any assessment has been undertaken into inconsistencies in the application of CID pathways across schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39711/26]

616. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 19 May 2026, to provide the figure for the highest amount of funding approved or issued by her Department in 2026 for the provision of a modular classroom; and the details of the project or school to which this funding related. [39897/26]

627. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she will review the eligibility criteria for assistive technology supports for children with additional educational needs, particularly in circumstances where children with diagnosed learning difficulties, ASD, ADHD, dyslexia or FASD may be excluded from accessing supports due to IQ-related thresholds or specific diagnostic criteria; whether her Department has examined concerns that families may be required to pursue additional diagnoses in order to access educational supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40083/26]

628. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration is being given to reviewing current rules relating to Irish language exemptions and access to assistive technology supports where diagnoses such as dyslexia or dyspraxia occur after transition to secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40084/26]

757. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the means testing arrangements attached to disability allowance, particularly the assessment of a partner's income; whether consideration is being given to reforming the current system in light of concerns regarding financial autonomy, equality, independent living and the risk of financial dependency for disabled people; if he acknowledges concerns that the current arrangements may disproportionately impact disabled adults who are unable to work due to illness or disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39704/26]

917. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration is being given to reviewing current afforestation licensing rules in relation to planting distances from overhead electricity infrastructure, in light of concerns regarding the impact of fallen forestry on power lines during storm Éowyn and the importance of maintaining forestry corridors to protect the integrity and resilience of the electricity network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39706/26]

995. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has carried out any assessment of the financial sustainability of small and sessional early years providers, including Montessori services; the number of such providers that have ceased operating in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39707/26]

996. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration is being given to increasing ECCE and core funding scheme rates in light of rising operational costs, staffing pressures, insurance costs and the increasing level of additional needs support being provided by early years services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39708/26]

997. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures that are currently in place, or under consideration, to improve recruitment and retention within the early years sector, particularly among highly qualified Montessori and early years educators; whether consideration is being given to enhanced pay supports, pension provision or pathways toward parity of esteem with primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39709/26]

1090. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measure currently in place to provide training for primary and post-primary teachers in the management of epilepsy in students; if any such training is mandatory or voluntary; if she has plans to introduce mandatory epilepsy awareness and seizure response training for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40308/26]

26. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current average processing times for passport applications, particularly for first-time applicants; the extent of any recent delays being experienced; the measures being implemented to improve turnaround times and ensure applications are processed within target timelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38310/26]

123. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the steps he is taking to address vacancy and dereliction in towns and villages across Galway East, including the expansion of the town and village renewal scheme and support for community-led regeneration projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38279/26]

248. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Irish Sign Language specialist classroom support (ISL-SCS) posts that have been, sanctioned, advertised, filled, and remain vacant since the publication of Circular 0072/2025, Enhancement to Irish Sign Language (ISL) Scheme Provision, on 18 November 2025; the number of applications received and approved by the NCSE for ISL-SCS support for pupils attending specialist deaf and hard of hearing units within mainstream primary schools, including in the case of a child in a school (details supplied); the current status of the NCSE recruitment process, including confirmation that interviews are underway; the expected date by which posts will be filled; the steps being taken by her Department and the NCSE to ensure that children in junior and senior infants who require ISL as a primary or essential communication support are not left without appropriate access to the curriculum during key early years of language acquisition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38469/26]

288. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of cases that proceeded before the District Court and which involved an accused that had the benefit of criminal legal aid; the total value of criminal legal aid provided in those cases, in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38501/26]

380. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is continuing to incur rental costs for portacabins located at Galway Airport that were put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic; if so, to provide a breakdown of all expenditure associated with these units, including rent, maintenance and any related costs, for each of the past six years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38663/26]

31. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she is aware of the requirement for widowed parents to repeatedly submit bereavement documentation, including death certificates and sworn affidavits, for each renewal of a child's passport; if she will consider introducing a once-off verification process whereby such documentation would only need to be provided once unless family circumstances change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38366/26]

122. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures currently in place to provide training for primary and post-primary teachers in the management of epilepsy in students; if any such training is mandatory or voluntary; if she has plans to introduce mandatory epilepsy awareness and seizure response training for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37966/26]

125. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the situation affecting a school (details supplied), where pupils with a mild or moderate learning disability who are enrolled in an NCSE-approved special class designated for autism/ASD are being deemed ineligible for the special class grant under Circular 0066/2025; the reason for this exclusion; if this policy will be reviewed to ensure equitable access to supports for all eligible pupils regardless of class type; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38012/26]

17. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy will next meet. [11861/26]

235. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when clarity and formal guidance will be provided to local authorities regarding the planning and regulatory treatment of modular and rapid-build housing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37155/26]

364. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of cases where long-serving taxi drivers are being refused extensions to the permissible vehicle age limits by the National Transport Authority, including in the case of a person (details supplied); the rationale behind such refusals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37257/26]

429. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for a further update on the progress being made in relation to the proposed relocation of the Turoe Stone; the current status of the project; the expected timeline for the commencement and completion of the works; when a substantive response will issue from the Office of Public Works, given that in reply to a previous Parliamentary Question it was stated that the OPW would respond directly but no such response has been received to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37082/26]

506. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the highest amount of funding approved or issued by her Department for the provision of a modular classroom in 2026; the details of the project or school to which this funding related; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37140/26]

586. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No.698 of 28 April 2026, if his Department plans to make the Local Authority Regional Homelessness Financial Reports, published on his Department's website, available in future in machine-readable formats (details supplied), in line with open data standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36618/26]