Questions

480. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the context of the revision of the EU Animal Transport Regulation and the European Commission’s EU Livestock Strategy, the position Ireland is taking on the development of a clear EU roadmap to facilitate a gradual transition, where economically and practically viable, from long-distance live animal transport towards the transport and t…

481. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to reply to query in (details supplied). [70084/26]

482. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in light of recent research published in 2026 (details supplied) which found that a significant proportion of unweaned calves transported from Ireland to the Netherlands had underlying respiratory disease which was not identified through standard clinical assessment, if Ireland is seeking changes to the fitness-for-transport requirements f…

483. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to list the cultural institutions, if any, including museums, galleries, libraries, archives, theatres, concert halls, bands, ensembles, and performing companies, operated or hosted by his Department and public bodies or semi-State companies under his Department's remit, identifying the State funding provided for these institutions …

484. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the maximum journey times Ireland is advocating for each species/animal category in negotiations on revising the EU Animal Transport Regulation; if Ireland supports substantially reducing journey times in line with evidence that animals should be transported for the shortest possible time; if Ireland supports a science-based limit r…

485. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the methodology used in calculating grants and premiums for the current forestry programme. [70310/26]

486. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position Ireland is taking on the Commission’s proposed EFSA-based allometric approach to space allowances in the context of negotiations on revising the EU Animal Transport Regulation; if Ireland supports retaining species and category-specific k-values without reducing allowances for shorter journeys, applying the same science…

487. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected allocation to Ireland under the Common Agricultural Policy in the European Commission's proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028 to 2034, compared with the allocation for 2021 to 2027, in tabular form; if CAP funding will remain ring fenced under the proposed single national and regional partnership plans; and i…

488. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the context of negotiations on revising the EU Animal Transport Regulation, increasingly frequent extreme heat events, the position Ireland is taking on proposed temperature requirements; and if Ireland supports species/category-specific temperature ranges based on EFSA evidence (details supplied). [70328/26]

489. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the importance of afforestation towards climate change mitigation, if his Department will conduct annual reviews when targets are constantly missed in order to address shortcomings, if changes are advised. [70314/26]

490. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to list the number of engagements between his Department and the European Commission in relation to the next forestry programme. [70313/26]

491. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the methodology which will be used to calculate grants and premiums rates for the next forestry program. [70311/26]

492. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of land owned by Coillte currently designated or leased for onshore wind energy developments in County Kilkenny; the criteria used by Coillte when selecting sites for renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70345/26]

493. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will designate Greencastle Harbour, County Donegal as a pelagic landing port for catches over ten tonnes, considering the safety concerns for those vessels that currently have to land at the next nearest designated harbour in Killybegs. [70458/26]

494. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional measures that can be introduced to prevent the illegal hunting of livestock by lurcher hounds in the Loop Head peninsula. [70665/26]

495. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to engage with a large childcare centre on its withdrawal from the core funding model (details supplied); and the actions she will take to support parents with the knock-on price increase. [69818/26]

496. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the projects, locations and communities that have been submitted to her Department for consideration under the €135 million State-led early learning and childcare infrastructure programme; the county in which each project is located; and the status of each proposal. [69738/26]

497. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the policy measures in place to ensure that childcare capacity is maintained within communities where an existing early learning and childcare facility is affected by defective concrete; and the supports available to prevent the permanent loss of childcare places in such areas. [69739/26]

498. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the circumstances in which sustainability funding may be provided to an early learning and childcare service required to relocate as a consequence of defective concrete; the categories of expenditure which may be supported under such funding; and whether the funding can contribute towards temporary relocation, long-term relocation or re…

499. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025–2030, which academics and independent experts were consulted in developing the strategy; and the published research that they provided or relied upon. [69741/26]

500. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated full-year costs to recruit five additional speech and language therapist managers for Children Disability Network Teams. [69852/26]

501. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of referrals made to the north Tipperary children's disability network team in 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [69811/26]

502. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on a pensions matter (details supplied). [69747/26]

503. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of facilities in County Kildare that provide respite services; whether these facilities are meeting the current respite needs of children and adults with disabilities; and the body or bodies responsible for operating each facility. [69942/26]

504. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on Building Blocks Phase 2; the number of applications received and the titles of those applications from County Mayo; the number of these applications deemed eligible to be considered; the name of each; and when a decision will be made on these applications. [70014/26]