Questions

276. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in Tipperary that applied for the Power Up grant; the number of the applications that were successful; and the total value of the grants approved. [12961/25]

277. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of copper communication lines within his Department currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12983/25]

278. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress his Department has made establishing the small business unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13056/25]

279. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the stakeholders that will be included in the small business unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13057/25]

280. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the terms of reference for the small business unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13058/25]

281. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the sense checks that are in place for legislation to minimise the impact on SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13059/25]

282. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the representations he has made to the European Commission regarding ensuring the potential exposure of Irish whiskey to US tariffs is reduced; and if they, in recent months, have sought that whiskey not be an item included in the EU's retaliatory tariffs. [13144/25]

283. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has examined the issue of file padding in the workplace, where employers fabricate or exaggerate disciplinary records to justify dismissal, demotion, or other adverse actions; if such practices will be recognised as a form of workplace harassment; if legislative measures are being considered to prevent and penalise such…

284. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of instant payment notifications issued since they were introduced in June 2023 each year to the CRO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13163/25]

285. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of companies that have registered their beneficial ownership with the CRO; the percentage share of registered companies that have registered their beneficial ownership; the number and percentage of industrial and provident societies which had registered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13164/25]

286. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans to increase the number of work permits for HGV mechanics beyond the quota of 200, as set out under Statutory Instrument No. 680/2023, considering the cap has already been exceeded and no further permits can be issued until further action is taken by the Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13165/25]

287. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permit applications for HGV mechanics that were refused by his Department since the quota of 200 permits, as set out under Statutory Instrument No. 680/2023, was reached; his views on whether there are now sufficient numbers of HGV mechanics in Ireland without the need to increase the quota; and if he will make a state…

288. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if applications for work permits for HGV mechanics who were refused due to the quota of 200, as set out under Statutory Instrument No. 680/2023, being reached can be accepted in a future round of work permits without the employer having to re-enter the 28-day advertising period and the 90-day deadline to get the applications submitted; a…

289. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of exemptions approved under the Companies Act 2014 for designated activity companies and companies limited by guarantee to not include the company-type suffix from the end of the company name under each category of exemption, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13173/25]

290. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of any secondments from consulting firms to his Department since 2020; the consulting firms involved; the purpose of the secondment; the durations of the secondments; who paid the salary of the individual seconded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13180/25]

291. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if journalists have access to beneficial ownership records held by the companies registration office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13205/25]

292. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications for information on the beneficial ownership of a company or industrial and provident society for each year for which data is available, by non-State bodies or individuals; the number of applications accepted and rejected, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13207/25]

293. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the status of payments made by Microfinance Ireland to farmers; the number, value and breakdown of payments made to farmers through Microfinance Ireland; the timeline of disbursements; the counties involved; and the types of farming enterprises supported from 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025, by county, in tabular form. [1321…

294. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding opportunities for social enterprises for the circular economy; to outline the application processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13247/25]

295. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding opportunities available for a community horse project; to outline the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13248/25]

296. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department, or any agency under his Department’s remit, have, since 1 November 2024, entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or have had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13275/25]

297. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education the funding provided for capital projects for schools in County Tipperary from 2021 to date in 2025, in tabular form. [12958/25]

298. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education in view of the commitment in Budget 2025 to provide for up to 400 additional new special classes for the 2025-2026 school year, if there is additional demand beyond 400 additional classes; if further financial provision will be made to provide additional classes if such are needed to ensure that every student with additional needs at primary and post primary …

299. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if a student entering a special class or an ASD unit in first year at second level will be guaranteed that placement for the duration of their education at second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12976/25]

300. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education the total number of copper communication lines within her Department currently in active operation and for which her Department is paying for on a monthly basis inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12982/25]