Questions

278. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1106 of 8 September 2025, if he engaged with elected councillors in local authorities across the country in advance of removing the 5% minimum requirement for artistic and cultural spaces in future large scale housing developments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

279. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the application under the built heritage investment scheme by a school (details supplied); the basis for the refusal of this application; if this building qualifies under the terms of the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49386/25]

280. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of planning applications referred to An Bord Pleanála in each county for each of the past five years. [49434/25]

281. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing planning applications that have been approved, refused, withdrawn, or deemed invalid by An Bord Pleanála in each county for each of the past five years, in tabular form. [49435/25]

282. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the current planning policies requiring a minimum period of residence, often seven years, before an applicant can seek permission to build a dwelling in a rural area; if there are circumstances in which applicants who have resided in the area for less than seven years, such as five years, may be considered; and the…

283. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific steps in the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity which will address planning delays, approval times and regulatory burdens for housing developers in Cork suburbs e.g. Glanmire, Blarney, Bishopstown; if he will publish target timelines for planning decisions in those areas; and if resources will be allocated …

284. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding which has been allocated or ring-fenced to support necessary infrastructure that is, roads, drainage, schools, healthcare, broadband in regard to recently approved major housing schemes in north Cork and Cork city suburbs; the timelines for availability of those supports; and the monitoring which exists to ensure develop…

285. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Government annual housing targets which have been met as of September 2025 in each local authority to date; the councils that are on track and those which are falling behind; and the interventions planned to address under-performance ahead of year-end. [49510/25]

286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the role his Department plays in setting, monitoring, and enforcing nutritional standards for food served on school premises, including canteens and vending machines; and to provide copies of any circulars, compliance audits, and sanctions issued since 2020. [49463/25]

287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to list every post-primary school that applied for participation in the hot school meals or school meals scheme and that was refused or deemed ineligible since 2022, with reasons; and to explain the evidence base for excluding post-primary pupils when England, Finland and the United States apply standards or programmes across older cohorts. [49464/25]

288. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the full text of any memorandum of understanding or governance agreement with the Department of Social Protection and the HSE regarding school-meal delivery on school premises, including responsibilities for safeguarding, allergens, and food-safety inspections; and if none exists, the reason for the governance gap. [49465/25]

289. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of pupils regularly present who do not collect a school meal when it is available, by school and term since 2023; the Department’s plan to address stigma, timing and menu acceptability barriers; and to cite any pilots to improve uptake. [49467/25]

290. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether he will bring forward primary legislation establishing a pupil entitlement to a nutritious school meal with statutory nutrition standards and inspection powers, as per Finland’s legal model and England’s standards; and if not, set out the contrary evidence. [49468/25]

291. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the procurement model used by schools and patron bodies for meal provision, including the use of frameworks, lot sizes, SME access, and any late rule changes in 2025 that contributed to roll out delays; and to publish the corresponding risk register entries. [49469/25]

292. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide data on food waste from school meals (kg/week per school), for the years 2023 to 2025; and any menu reformulation or packaging trials to reduce waste. [49470/25]

293. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which he will ensure equity for pupils with special diets (allergies, coeliac disease, cultural-religious requirements), including compulsory written allergen information availability on site; and the dates of the last environmental health inspections per school. [49471/25]

294. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that disability allowance recipients are having their allowance revoked based on his Department’s contention that the person can work despite the person’s GP (best placed) categorically stating the person is unable to work; the way in which his Department can ascertain the person can work over the computer; and if he will make a statem…

295. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department is currently carrying out a review of the work and access scheme; and if he is aware of a number of issues which have been flagged with regard to this scheme (details supplied). [49379/25]

296. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider amending the supplementary welfare allowance policy to allow referrals from An Garda Síochána to be accepted for fast-tracking emergency financial supports, including rent supplement, for victims of domestic violence; if he will review the current policy excluding Garda referrals in light of evidence that many victims contact Gardaí …

297. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if matters regarding contributions for persons will be clarified (details supplied). [49450/25]

298. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the projections made regarding the sustainability of the State pension system given demographic trends as of September 2025; the funding gap projected over the next decade; and the reforms or measures being considered to ensure long-term security for current and future pensioners. [49455/25]

299. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the implementation status and timeline of State auto-enrolment, in light of CCPC research indicating that 26 percent of Irish adults have no retirement plan; to provide year-on-year trend data since 2023; and to outline funded measures for financial literacy and default fund protections to reduce under-saving risk. [49495/25]

300. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider allowing those on primary social welfare payments, such as disability allowance, to receive half rate payments on bereaved partners pension, or vice versa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49498/25]

301. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in view of a recent media report regarding An Garda Síochána’s Security and Intelligence Section payment to a company (details supplied), if he will clarify the nature of the technology, software or services that were purchased; if this procurement included spyware; the legal basis upon which An Garda Síochána is using this company's s…

302. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will outline the secured funding for the courts service to facilitate the development and delivery of the eProbate project, which is expected to lead to a faster process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49325/25]