Questions

151. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if any review is ongoing in relation his Department’s policy on flexible working and remote working for civil servants in his Department, particularly in the context of increased fuel prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28963/26]

152. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the age limit for families with adult children in full-time education receiving the Working Family Payment could be extended to 23 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28990/26]

153. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if there has been engagement with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment to examine how energy retrofit and solar supports can better assist older persons on fixed incomes, including those in receipt of the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29057/26]

154. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Social Protection if domiciliary care allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29123/26]

155. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if consideration will be given to reopening an application (details supplied), taking into account that the application fee was waived given that the application was subsequently refused on the grounds that the application fee was not paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28806/26]

156. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a matter can be reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28820/26]

157. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide details of the number of legal actions against his Department that have been resolved without going to court in line with the 2023 State Litigation Principles; if his Department is fully applying the State Litigation Principles in seeking to resolve any current or outstanding legal actions; and if he will make a statement on…

158. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the flexible working and remote working policies in place for civil servants in this Department; if there is any discrepancy in these policies based on seniority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28924/26]

159. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the flexible working and remote working policies in place for staff that work for any agencies under the remit of his Department; if there is any discrepancy in these policies based on seniority; if this policy is under the control of the agency itself or if it is directed by the Department; and if he will make a …

160. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if any review is ongoing in relation his Department’s policy on flexible working and remote working for civil servants in his Department, particularly in the context of increased fuel prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28960/26]

161. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding any engagement he has with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the delays in processing Garda vetting application for new hires in childminding facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29104/26]

162. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on the merits of creating a priority scheme under Garda vetting for new hires in childminding facilities; if this is something that is under review, if he will engage with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality on this proposal to reflect the serious impact that processing delays are having on the childcare sector;…

163. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the average processing times for Garda vetting applications, by month, for each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29108/26]

164. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of an application (details supplied) given it is almost 24 months since the application was first submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29109/26]

165. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details of the number of legal actions against his Department that have been resolved without going to court in line with the 2023 State Litigation Principles; if his Department is fully applying the State Litigation Principles in seeking to resolve any current or outstanding legal actions; and if he will make a statement on th…

166. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the flexible working and remote working policies in place for civil servants in his Department; if there is any discrepancy in these policies based on seniority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28911/26]

167. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the flexible working and remote working policies in place for staff that work for any agencies under the remit of HIS Department; if there is any discrepancy in these policies based on seniority; if this policy is under the control of the agency itself or if it is directed by the Department,; and if he will make a st…

168. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any review is ongoing in relation to his Department’s policy on flexible working and remote working for civil servants in his Department, particularly in the context of increased fuel prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28948/26]

169. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total area of State-owned forestry under the control or management of Coillte; the proportion of this area planted with native species and non-native species respectively; and if he will provide a breakdown by species type for the past ten years. [28979/26]

170. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any policy targets are in place to increase the proportion of native woodland on State-owned forestry lands; the current percentage of native woodland within the State forestry estate; and any planned timelines or targets for expansion. [28980/26]

171. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has conducted or commissioned any assessments of the biodiversity impact of monoculture forestry plantations, including Sitka spruce; and if he will provide details of any such assessments and their findings. [28981/26]

172. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which current forestry policy takes account of long-term carbon sequestration outcomes associated with different forestry models; and whether comparisons have been made between native woodland systems and commercial plantation forestry in this regard. [28982/26]

173. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether a review of the mandate, governance structure, or operational model of Coillte is under consideration; and if he will outline any proposals to rebalance its commercial and environmental objectives. [28983/26]

174. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what oversight mechanisms exist in relation to forestry-related educational materials distributed in schools; whether such materials are subject to departmental approval or review; and if any guidelines are in place to ensure balance between commercial forestry and environmental perspectives. [28984/26]

175. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how forestry policy is being aligned with national biodiversity and climate strategies; and what measurable indicators are used to assess the environmental performance of State forestry. [28985/26]