Fuel Prices

142. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has assessed proposals for a mechanism under which no further VAT or excise would be applied to petrol and diesel once the retail price reaches a set threshold, such as €1.70 per litre; the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of such a mechanism at current and forecast pump prices; and his Department's view on its compatibility with the EU VAT Directive and the Energy Taxation Directive. [68466/26]

Tax Collection

138. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the additional VAT receipts accruing to the Exchequer for each one cent per litre increase in the pre-tax price of petrol and diesel; and the total additional VAT collected on road fuels in 2026 to date as a result of higher wholesale prices. [68467/26]

Social Welfare Appeals

48. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals received and decided by the Social Welfare Appeals Office in 2025 and to date in 2026; the proportion of original departmental decisions revised or overturned on appeal, broken down by scheme; the average time to decision for appeals determined summarily and by oral hearing respectively; and the number of appellants currently awaiting an oral hearing. [67465/26]

Bus Services

167. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the status of the three BusConnects Cork sustainable transport corridor schemes approved by Government, including the date on which the planning application for each scheme was or is due to be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála; the date on which the redesigned Cork bus network will commence operation; the additional fleet and driver numbers required to deliver the planned increase in service levels and the number recruited to date;

Road Projects

157. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport for a progress update on the N-M20 Cork to Limerick, N72-N73 Mallow Relief Road, Cork City Northern Transport Project, N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton, and M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy schemes; their phase under the Infrastructure Guidelines, the allocations and drawdowns in 2026, and planning submission dates to An Coimisiún Pleanála; the status of the N-M20 business case and its timeline for Government approval; and the 2026 funding allo

Social Welfare Payments

404. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has examined the impact of the current fuel allowance means test on lone-parent households; if he acknowledges that, for applicants under 66 years-of-age, the means test applies a single-person income threshold regardless of the presence of dependent children in the household; and if he will consider introducing higher income disregards or revised means-test thresholds that take account of household composition and the

34th Dáil debate — 2026-10-01

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan I too want to raise the issue of the fuel income support scheme with the Tánaiste this afternoon, specifically the issues of plant hire operators and quarrymen who were excluded from the initial scheme earlier this year. At that time, many people in leadership indicated that these sectors would be included in the original scheme. Obviously, that did not transpire. These operators have the same costs. They face the same increases in the price of green diesel that peopl

34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-29

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan) Can you give the Tánaiste an opportunity to respond, please?

34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-29

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan) With respect, will you please sit down?

34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-29

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan) Thanks, Deputy. You can come back in afterwards.

34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-29

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan) Thanks, Deputy.