Parliamentary questions

332. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he is aware of a specific date that either his Department or SETU formally advised the senior management a college (details supplied) that its staff and programs would not be transferring into SETU. [48010/26]

333. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when and the way in which the Minister notify a college (details supplied) following the due diligence process; and at what point was senior management advised to engage with staff. [48011/26]

334. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether formal notice given to the CAO that a college (details supplied) would not be in a position to accept students for the coming academic year (2026/27); and if so, when. [48012/26]

335. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether an independent valuation was conducted on a college's (details supplied) land and buildings; and the exact terms of the agreement transferring this multi-million-euro asset to SETU [48013/26]

336. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason and when did his Department decide that Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) did not apply to a college (details supplied) given that prior press releases strongly implied employees would transfer. [48014/26]

337. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his exact understanding was of the original merger plan between SETU and a college (details supplied); and the reason he permitted a total pivot from an active integration to an outright asset liquidation. [48015/26]

338. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether a college (details supplied) senior management actively requested that students and staff transfer directly to SETU for the duration of the two-year teach-out phase to guarantee employment and academic security. [48016/26]

339. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department will commit to full transparency and cooperation with the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted by union representatives regarding the undisclosed MOU (details supplied) [48017/26]

340. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in light of recent HSA data showing that 40% of workplace fatalities involve the self-employed, will expand the existing foundational ETB modules funded under the EIST programme to include specific, machine-certified safety modules (such as commercial woodchipper and advanced chainsaw t…

341. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of the application of Louth Meath Education Board for funding to deliver the permanent Dunboyne College of Further Education & Training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48337/26]

342. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total value of eligible applications received under each call of the Rural Regeneration and Development Funds; the total value approved; the approval rate by number and value of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47894/26]

343. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his views on the proposal by an organisation (details supplied), under which the Government will support social enterprises to maximise trading income where possible while providing sustained State co-funding and cost relief in areas of market failure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

344. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht any funding options are available for capital projects by Men's and Women's Sheds. [47986/26]

345. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will introduce a proportionate financial reporting option under Circular 13/2014, allowing Community Services Programme-funded social enterprises with an annual income below €250,000 to submit non-audited financial statements in place of audited accounts, consistent with the audit exemption thr…

346. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he accepts that the majority of social enterprises in Ireland operate in areas of persistent market failure, delivering services that are needed but cannot be made commercially self-sustaining, rather than functioning as conventional, profit-maximising market actors; and if he will make a statement o…

1. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the progress of the establishment of the new autism assessment service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47690/26]

2. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to publish a detailed timeframe, including milestones and key performance indicators, for the provision of €200-per-month childcare, as set out in the commitments in the programme for Government. [47642/26]

3. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the roll-out of State-led childcare facilities; when the eight locations for this year will be chosen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47735/26]

4. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that no childcare facility has been built within the new national children’s hospital, and if she has raised this with the Minister for Health. [47221/26]

5. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will ensure increased investment in voluntary residential care services for children in the care of the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47736/26]

6. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if staffing levels for speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists in the children’s disability network teams, CDNTs, in Balbriggan and Swords have increased in the past two years; the current number of vacancies; the additional posts or resources being allocated in response to population …

7. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she intends to take to implement the Programme for Government commitment to extend the national childcare scheme to childminders working in the family home with sensible regulations that fit home-based care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47285/26]

8. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has considered a model of childcare based on direct public provision to ensure access, affordability for families and quality pay and conditions for staff in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47544/26]

9. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the action being taken to reduce the cost of childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47437/26]

10. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the actions being taken by her Department to support ECCE-only services that are receiving commercial rates bills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47448/26]