Written Answers Nos. 140-161
140. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to clarify the process by which a child can gain a passport in the situation where one parent refuses to sign the passport application form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36707/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the 2008 Act”), which provides a legal basis for the various policies and practices that are applied by the Passport Service in the issuing of passports.
Under Section 14 of the 2008 Act, the Passport Service requires the consent of guardians before issuing a passport for a child under 18 years of age. Section 14 of the 2008 Act also sets out a number of exceptions in relation to consent. Section 14 provides that a passport may be issued to a child without the consent of a guardian of the child, if a court in the State makes an order directing that a passport may be issued to the child without the consent of that guardian.
It is important to reiterate that each application involving complex matters, relating to guardianship and dispensing with the consent of a child's guardians, is dealt with on a case-by-case basis; considerable engagement is necessary between the applicant and the Passport Service to ensure all necessary requirements are met. Such applications are dealt with by experienced staff trained in this area to ensure that they are processed correctly.
The Passport Service strictly adheres to the direction of the Court, through ensuring the consent of guardians, is obtained before a passport can issue. Each passport application is assessed and evaluated on its own merits to ensure the provisions of the 2008 Act have been met.
Further guidance in relation to guardian consent can be found on my Department's website here: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/how-to-apply-for-a-passport/first-child-passport/#Guardian%20consent%20for%20children's%20passport%20applications
142. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any of the Irish citizens recently evacuated from Israel were current or former members of the Israeli Defense Forces. [36760/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including through our Embassies and Consulates worldwide, provides consular assistance to Irish citizens in difficulty abroad within the remit of its Consular Assistance Charter.
Throughout this crisis, my Department, including through our Embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv, has remained in regular contact with Irish citizens seeking support to return to Ireland from Iran and Israel.
Consular assistance is built around the needs of the citizen and is delivered in a strictly confidential manner. As such, and to ensure cases are not potentially identifiable, the Department does not release any personal information pertaining to individuals who receive assistance.
I am pleased to say that, with excellent support and cooperation from EU partners, my Department successfully supported 24 Irish citizens and their dependants to depart the region.
143. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the UK Foreign Secretary in relation to the need to have comprehensive investigations into the Dundalk, Dublin and Monaghan bombings of May 1974, as the 50th anniversary of the bombings approaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36773/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn February this year, during my first meeting as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, I raised the Dublin Monaghan bombings. This issue was also discussed at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in April, where the ongoing concern, including in this House, about the lack of adequate exchange of information about these attacks was raised.
The Dublin Monaghan and Dundalk Silverbridge bombings, all linked to the Glennane Gang, are currently the subject of Operation Denton, an independent police review into a series of serious crimes linked to that terrorist group. I expect the report of Operation Denton in the coming months and I hope it will shed further light on these attacks and deliver information to those families whose lives were forever altered.
More broadly, I continue to work intensively with the Secretary of State to try find an overall agreement on a package of measures to comprehensively address the legacy of the Troubles. As these discussions continue, I continue to raise issues of reciprocity with the Secretary of State.
The recent anniversary of the Dublin Monaghan bombings and the fiftieth anniversary later this year of the Dundalk bombing bring home the urgency of securing truth for all those affected.
144. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps the Government is taking on an EU level to end the Israeli blockade of food, humanitarian aid and baby formula which is having devastating consequences in children’s hospitals in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36797/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has repeatedly called on Israel to fully lift its blockade of humanitarian and commercial supplies for Gaza, and allow the immediate, unimpeded resumption of humanitarian aid, in line with humanitarian principles. The current limitations on the volume and means of distribution of humanitarian aid are causing untold levels of suffering for the people of Gaza, especially its children.
On 20 May, the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed to a review of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Ireland and Spain called for this step in February 2024. This is a position that the Tánaiste reiterated in a letter to the High Representative in advance of the Foreign Affairs Council, alongside counterparts from Spain, Slovenia and Luxembourg.
The Government welcomes the finalising of the review of Israel’s compliance. It is clear from the review that Israel is in breach of its human rights obligations and we now urgently need to see options for follow-up action.
Together with eight other Ministers, the Tánaiste wrote to the High Representative in advance of last week’s Foreign Affairs Council calling for the EU to undertake a detailed review of its compliance with the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ.
Ireland will continue to use all methods at our disposal to support the people of Gaza. This includes the funding we provide, our advocacy and policy engagement at the EU and the UN, our engagement with the international courts and our ongoing dialogue with regional partners.
Ireland has provided over €88 million in support to the people of Palestine since January 2023. In 2025, Ireland has provided €21.9 million, including €20 million in core funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in February. This brought Ireland’s support to UNRWA to €58 million since the beginning of 2023.
We have been steadfast in our defence of UNRWA at the UN and EU, and joined EU Member States’ demarche of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to raise concerns regarding humanitarian access and legislation impeding UNRWA. We have been clear that there is no realistic alternative to UNRWA, that it is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, and the main provider of education, health and social services in Gaza. We have also been providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza through other agencies including the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Society.
Israel must allow a full resumption of aid in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles and to enable UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently.
145. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the basis on which, and by whom, the decision was taken to endorse the non-binding working IHRA definition of antisemitism; the reason this was not included in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36826/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has been a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) since 2011. Since the adoption of the non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism by the IHRA plenary in 2016, my Department has had frequent contact with other members of the IHRA on the question of the endorsement of the working definition of antisemitism. Similar discussions have taken place with the European Commission, in the context of the EU Working Group on Combatting Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, which Ireland attends along with all other EU Member States.
The European Commission Strategy on Combatting Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life (2021-2030) calls on Member States to adopt and use the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. A series of EU Council Conclusions and Declarations have also encouraged use the IHRA definition as a tool to counter antisemitism. Most recently, the October 2024 EU Council Declaration on Fostering Jewish Life and Combatting Antisemitism again invited EU Member States to use the IHRA definition as useful guidance for education and training purposes. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade engaged closely with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth during the agreement of this EU Council Declaration.
The decision to endorse the IHRA definition of antisemitism followed detailed consideration within the Department of Foreign Affairs, and consultation with other relevant Departments, and was announced on 16th January 2025. It was also taken in response to concerns raised by Ireland’s Jewish communities, our broader EU commitments, and our longstanding commitment to freedom of religion or belief, equality and non-discrimination. Most importantly, the decision was taken in the context of a well-documented and concerning rise in antisemitism, which has been taking place globally, both online and offline. The decision is also in line with commitments in the Programme for Government, which includes an action to give effect to the IHRA Working Definition and to implement the EU Council Declaration. Government departments do not contribute to the Programme for Government deliberative process.
146. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that his Department recently advertised for two internships at the Embassy of Ireland, Paris, for which the advertised rate of pay was €4.35 per hour, that this rate of pay is far below the minimum wage in either France or Ireland, that this rate of pay would not even come close to covering accommodation costs, and that such a rate of pay effectively disqualifies those who cannot subsidise an internship from taking up the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36960/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Embassy of Ireland in Paris offers two 'stagiaires' or intern 6-month placements bi-annually. These internships form an integral part of the French educational system and conform fully to French legislative requirements for work experience.
In order to be eligible, a candidate must be completing, or have recently completed, third-level studies and must be able to obtain an internship agreement from their third-level institution. As such, these internships form part of a student’s educational programme and, with this status, interns can continue to access the supports available to students in France. These supports include subsidised accommodation.
French legislation fixes the rate of the stipend offered by the Embassy at €4.35 per hour for 2025, based on a 35 hour week. This is set down in French Social Security legislation. In addition, the Embassy contributes towards interns’ costs through a 50% contribution to monthly travel costs, and in providing a monthly meals allowance.
The internships are designed to provide practical experience and development opportunities to individuals in the context of their third-level programmes, and the Embassy endeavours to ensure interns gain valuable insight in, and experience of, the work and activities of a diplomatic mission in a way that benefits them in their future career.
These internships are not permanent positions at the Embassy, and interns do not fulfil the roles or responsibilities of full time employees. A distinct internship agreement is in place as opposed to an employment contract.
Information regarding these internships is shared bi-annually on the Embassy’s website and social media as well as by relevant organisations including European Movement Ireland, Valise Diplomatique, and third-level institutions.
147. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will address matters concerning changes made to the warmer homes scheme that forbid the funding within the scheme of minor alterations to existing gas, oil or solid fuel heating systems to facilitate the insulation of homes (details supplied). [36728/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund.
Last year saw a record spend of almost €230 million under the scheme. As reported by the SEAI, this resulted in 7,743 upgrades being provided to low-income households. This year’s budget includes an allocation of €280 million for the Warmer Homes Scheme.
Until 31 December 2024, a new gas or oil heating system could be recommended for installation and funded under the Warmer Homes Scheme. This was done in order to comply with Building Regulations requirements where a major renovation was taking place under the scheme.
However, under the revised EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Member States cannot provide financial incentives for the installation of stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels from 1 January 2025. Therefore, since then, the SEAI cannot recommend the installation of new stand-alone oil or gas boilers as an upgrade measure when surveying homes under this scheme.
Instead, where a heating system upgrade is required as part of a major renovation, the SEAI will assess the suitability of the home for a heat pump, or other renewable heating technologies, which are compliant with the EPBD. Therefore, where a homeowner does not wish to have their heating system replaced with an EPBD-compliant system as part of a major renovation, the SEAI cannot carry out the other insulation works.
Ancillary works as described in the Question, which are necessary to support the installation of other efficiency measures such as external wall insulation, can be funded under the scheme.
As Minister, I have no function in relation to individual applications. Applicants can contact the SEAI at any time to get further information on the status of their application either by email to warmerhomes@seai.ie or by phone to 1800 250 204. Oireachtas members can make queries on behalf of applicants by contacting the dedicated email address oireachtas@seai.ie.
148. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he can give a commitment to meet with a group (details supplied). [36905/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters relating to flooding and remedial flood relief works are primarily a matter for my colleague Kevin Moran TD, Minister of State with responsibility for OPW who would be best placed to discuss the topics raised. It is suggested that the Castlemartyr Flood Group contact Minister of State Moran's office directly to arrange a meeting.
149. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the nature of the work in digitising the Military Service Pensions Collection; the total number of records to be digitised; the total number outstanding; and the time expected to complete the task. [36958/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Military Service Pensions Collection (MSPC) involves cataloguing and partially digitising approximately 275,000 files dealing with the service of qualifying members of the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, the Hibernian Rifles, Cumann na mBan, Na Fianna Éireann, the Irish Republican Army and records of the Department from the period April 1916 to the 30th of September 1923.
The decision to afford public access to the MSPC was announced in 2006 by the then Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, TD, in the context of the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. The MSPC project was established in 2008.
To date, the Project team have processed and databased all files relating to the 1916 veterans, the casualties of the War of Independence and the casualties from both sides of the Civil War.
Work on the project has also included the development of a website for the public release of material from the MSPC through the Military Archives (MA) website. There have been a total of 18 releases of information from the Collection to date, the latest in June 2025.
The Project currently stands at approximately 161,000 files catalogued and circa 95,000 scanned to date. The Project has now digitised and made available some 2.7 million pages of archival material online. In addition, there have been three publications during the lifetime of this project:
• Guide to the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection - Published in 2012
• The Brigade Activity Reports - Published in 2019
• A Very Hard Struggle – Lives in the MSPC – Published in 2023
Upon completion, the MSPC will contain approximately 275,000 files in total. There are 114,000 files currently left to catalogue and circa 180,000 to scan. Please note that these numbers are approximations, as some files have unknown numbers applicable to the collection. For that reason an accurate time frame cannot be provided for the completion of the task at present.
150. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the development of a replacement for the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; if specific supports for purchasing electric vehicles will be considered as part of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36692/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a review of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (DDS) Scheme, as part of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy review of Government-funded transport and mobility supports for those with a disability, it was recommended that the DDS should be replaced with a modern vehicular adaptation scheme, in line with international practice.
On foot of this recommendation, the Department of Transport is developing a new vehicle adaptation scheme (VAS) to provide needs-based support for vehicle adaptations, to improve the ability of those with a physical disability to travel via a personal means of transport. My officials have just begun development of the scheme and are in the initial stages of process-mapping.
The VAS will be a reimbursement scheme, assisting with the additional cost of adapting a vehicle. It is intended that the scheme will be open to drivers and passengers with a clinically assessed need for vehicle adaptations, to enable them to enter or exit a vehicle or to operate a vehicle. As eligibility will be based on a clinical assessment, a primary medical certificate will not be required.
Support for the capital cost of vehicles, including electric vehicles, remains a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.
151. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Transport if Irish Rail has any plans to refurbish the CAF fleet of mark 4 trains used on the Dublin-to-Cork service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36813/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network, including the refurbishment of fleet, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance.
In view of Iarnród Éireann's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
152. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the reduction of driving test waiting times in County Cork as of June 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36814/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra155. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to outline the most recent data available on driving test waiting times in Mallow, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36817/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 155 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. Neither I nor my officials are involved in the service at an operational level. As such, the information requested regarding waiting times in Mallow and County Cork is held by the Authority.
Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct response. Please contact my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
More generally, as of 28 June, the RSA is reporting that the average national waiting time for a driving test stood at approximately 16 weeks. This builds on the progress to end of May which saw wait times of approximately 21 weeks and is an improvement of almost 11 weeks on the wait time at the end of April of 27 weeks.
This progress has been achieved through a number of positive actions taken by the RSA including around accelerated driver tester training, extended testing hours, and management of the booking system to maximise slot availability.
It is vital that this positive trend continues and that the RSA, at a minimum, meets the targets set out in its published plan.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the RSA publish detailed monthly information on the driver testing service on the CSO website, including the breakdown of waiting times and distribution of testing capacity by test centre. This information is available at the following link: data.cso.ie/product/RSADTS
153. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the reduction of theory test waiting times in County Cork as of June 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36815/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the Driver Theory Test. Neither I nor my officials are involved in the service at an operational level. As such, the information requested is held by the Authority.
Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed response. Please contact my office if a reply is not received within ten days.
154. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the increase in driving testers employed in County Cork as of June 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36816/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. While my Department is responsible for the overall staffing sanction, neither I nor my officials are involved in the service at an operational level. As such, the information requested is held by the Authority.
Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct response.
156. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the plans there are to increase the capacity of the Irish Rail service from Mallow to Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36818/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail for direct response.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
157. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the repair works on the N72 Mallow to Killarney Road; when works will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36819/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to the N72 Mallow to Killarney Road.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
158. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to outline plans to increase capacity on the Bus Éireann service in Cork city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36820/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
159. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on actions his Department or the Road Safety Authority is taking to reduce the backlog in waiting times for drivers who are booking a re-test as of June 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36821/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise the Deputy that under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service.
I acknowledge that current waiting times for driving tests and retests are far in excess of what is acceptable. I would like to assure the Deputy that this is a priority issue for me and that measures are being taken to return the service to the agreed 10 week waiting period.
To support the RSA in increasing testing capacity and improving service delivery, in September 2024 my Department sanctioned an additional 70 permanent positions for driver testers. This increases the total permanent sanction for testers to 200, which represents a doubling of permanent posts since June 2022.
The first tranche of new testers began live testing in April, with further additional testers entering service across the month of July. By September, the RSA expects to have deployed up to its sanction of 200 testers.
As of 28 June, the RSA is reporting that the average national waiting time for a driving test stood at approximately 16 weeks. This builds on the progress to end of May which saw wait times of approximately 21 weeks and is an improvement of almost 11 weeks on the wait time at the end of April of 27 weeks.
This progress has been achieved through a number of positive actions taken by the RSA including around accelerated driver tester training, extended testing hours and management of the booking system.
It is vital that this positive trend continues and that the RSA, at a minimum, meets the targets set out in its published plan for restoring the service to its 10-week average wait time service level agreement target.
In addition, should any deviations from projected timelines arise, these must be immediately addressed with my Department. The RSA has also been instructed to make contingency preparations to deal with any potential slippages that might emerge in relation to this timeline, which should be ready to be activated as quickly as possible if the need arises.
160. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the introduction of next-generation ticketing on the Cork fleet for bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36822/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure, including ticketing and technology projects.
The NTA's Next Generation Ticketing project will provide a transformative upgrade to the ticketing system for public transport passengers in Ireland. The project will facilitate a variety of payment methods on public transport services, involving a next-generation 'Account Based Ticketing' scheme incorporating both mobile and card-based payments for passengers.
Following a competitive procurement process, the NTA awarded, in April 2024, an overall framework contract for the design, supply, installation and operation of a new multi-modal, ticketing system to Spanish information technology company - Indra Sistemas S.A. - who have designed, installed and operated similar systems internationally.
There is a commitment under the Programme for Government to roll out contactless fare payments on all public transport.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
161. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update as of June 2025 on the Mallow-to-Dungarvan greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36823/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. There is a significant amount of investment for Greenway schemes in County Cork with €6,970,000 allocated in 2025.
In line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Investment in Greenway and National Roads Active Travel projects is also subject to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines and necessary statutory approvals.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question, on this occasion, to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
