Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 17 Mar

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 17 Mar – 23 Mar 2025 · 5 TDs · 1 bill voted on · 87 questions · 2 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-03-19 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 84–69

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 3 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn · Thomas Gould

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 1 vote · 20 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 20 total

Health 6 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the preparations underway in her Department for Ireland to host the world Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin in June 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10560/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the preparations underway in her Department for Ireland to take over the presidency of the EU Council of Ministers in H2, 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10561/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the input her Department had in the preparation of the revised EU Tobacco Products Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10562/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she expects her officials to be responsible for the advancement of a revised EU Tobacco Products Directive during the Irish Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers in H2, 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10563/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm when a person (details supplied) will receive an outpatient appointment for orthopaedics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10889/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of where the additional €145.5 million in 2022 and €138.74 million was spent on costs related to fixed-unit costs and other costs incurred which were in excess of the reimbursed money follows the patient rate paid under the nursing homes support scheme, as per the HSE annual reports and financial statements 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11969/25]
Justice 5 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the action that can be taken to assist a person (details supplied) to renew their permission to continue to stay in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10599/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the plans in place to advertise the position of city sheriff in Cork city in view of the fact that the existing sheriff is due to retire in June 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12314/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the progress made to date in respect of having a single application process for employment permits and visa applications; the progress made to date by the interdepartmental group established to review the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12315/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to clarify that the current boundaries which exist between the city sheriff of Cork city and the county sheriff of Cork county would be reviewed in view of the fact that the current city sheriff’s jurisdiction only extends to the old city boundaries in Cork and currently the county sheriff is still responsible for the new areas which came into the city from the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12316/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications received for citizenship in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of applications received in the same years that are still pending; the efforts being taken to address any backlogs arising from these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12317/25]
Finance 3 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the number of people that have applied to have their flat-rate expenses continued through 2025 as it was confirmed from 2025 that the credit would need to be claimed using PAYE services rather than being rolled forward from previous years; to provide a breakdown by profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10555/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update in relation to the timing for the publication of the EU Tobacco Excise Directive, originally scheduled for December 2022; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10558/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has assessed the potential impact of the new tax on vapes, to be introduced in budget 2026, on inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10559/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify if a local authority can refuse to take in charge a housing estate where the wastewater treatment facility has not been taken in charge by Uisce Éireann-Irish Water, where the developer of the estate has gone into liquidation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12687/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the programme to be put in place by his Department to arrange for Irish Water-Uisce Éireann to take in charge over 500 individual waste water treatment plants across the country where the reason being given for not being taken in charge is that the current treatment plants are not up to standard, where the developers in each case have gone into liquidation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12688/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension appeal by a person (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11946/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that will be taken to progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme and explore options to cap costs for larger families, as per the Programme for Government; the timeline for this reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11968/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider expediting a review of the Solas statutory apprenticeship which require that certain apprenticeship applicants must pass the Ishihara colour vision test without the use of corrective lenses, particularly given the most recent technological advances that have been made in such lenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12729/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when successful projects under category 2 of the Community Centres Investment Fund 2024 will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10830/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Health Research Charities Ireland Health
- Enacting primary biobanking legislation

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 1 vote · 26 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 26 total

Education 16 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education why a directive was given to a school (details provided) to no longer allow SNA positions to be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11018/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if a freeze has been implemented on the hiring of SNAs for vacant or sanctioned positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11019/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education to outline a list of the new sanctioned special educational needs classes for the coming academic year 2025-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11020/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education to outline the location and student enrolment figure for the new special school for Cork for the academic year 2025-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11021/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will liaise with the SENO and NCSE with respect to finding a school place for the child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11357/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education the changes being implemented on the school transport scheme for the 2025-2026 year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11659/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will examine a pilot scheme to include areas of high urban school densities, like Douglas in Cork city, as a school transport for all hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11660/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education the changes being implemented on the school transport scheme for the 2025-2026 year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11661/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will implement a use-it-or-lose-it check on school transport tickets for the forthcoming 2025-2026 season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11662/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education the mapping technologies that will be used for distance criteria under school transport changes announced in the review in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11663/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if the changes announced on school transport due to come in for September 2025 on rule changes for distance and nearest school have taken place; the number of additional buses and drivers required, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11664/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education the status of the review of terms and conditions for school bus escorts as outlined in the 2024 review of school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11665/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education to provide Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas with direct name and contact details of the managers in each county for school transport. [11666/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to the option of opening a second ASD classroom in school (details supplied) for the coming academic year, 2025-2026, given the school has a classroom fitted and ready to go and has seven children on its current waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11667/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 393 of 4 March 2025, the amount of funding under the science implementation support grant received by each school in Cork north central; the name of schools that did not receive any funding within Cork north central; the amount of the committed €200 million funding to support the implementation of the digital strategy for schools to 2027 that has been allocated to date, in tabular form; if marking schemes will also be provided to teachers of tranche 1 subjects in addition to the sample examination papers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11668/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education the total number of suspensions and expulsions in each special school across Ireland for the past three academic years, in tabular form, including any relevant details regarding the demographic breakdown where available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12102/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to provide details of the funding for the Mallow to Dungarvan Greenway; what this funding will achieve; if this project is still feasible with such funding; the possibility of increased funding throughout 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11675/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the plans in place to improve the service of the 215 bus in Cork city, following numerous complaints of the bus arriving late, or not at all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11893/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if current vacancies that have arisen from the transferring of the blood transfusion service from Mallow General Hospital to Cork University Hospital have been advertised; when they plan on filling these vacancies; if the short-term plan is to bring the transfusion service back to Mallow General Hospital; the timeline for this plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11676/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health to clarify the exact details for the new eating disorder unit in Mallow General Hospital; the number of staff required; to provide a timeline on when she plans to open the unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11677/25]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of State-owned purpose-built student accommodation for University College Cork, the University of Limerick and University College Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11669/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the members of all technical university boards across the country; the process involved in selecting members for these boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11702/25]
Environment 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 210 of 4 March 2025, for a timeline on the expected start of the building process for full-fibre gigabit within the premises area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11678/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 426 of 4 March 2025, to outline the timeline for the multi-stakeholder group plan on assessing the need for an update on the wastewater treatment plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11022/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of new Gardaí assigned to each station in County Cork, following the recent assignment of Gardaí, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11982/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the accommodation recognition payment is to remain; if so, if it is to be decreased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12326/25]

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 1 vote · 9 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 9 total

Education 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education whether she or the Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion will meet with a representative group of parents who are struggling to find appropriate school places in September for their children with additional needs. [11048/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education the steps she will take to ensure a child (details supplied) receives appropriate education and support, following the child's expulsion from school after a decision by the school board; if it is her policy to allow a child with additional needs, including a diagnosis of autism and ADHD, to be expelled from primary education without alternative educational provision in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11695/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if the decision to refuse disability support to a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11458/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for the lower rate of PRSI in Class D that applied to civil servants who commenced employment prior to April 1995; the reason it was discontinued in April 1995 in favour of Class A, which applies to the majority of workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11654/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of, and his views on, the total amount of taxpayers' money allocated to overseas aid with provision for 'reproductive rights' services, and specifically with regard to moneys to fund or promote abortion provision, from 2019 to 2024, in tabular form. [11051/25]
Environment 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a copy of the authorisation given to An Post on 26 May 1989 to award increases in pensions to retired staff; the legislative provision for the delegation; the reason the delegation was withdrawn in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11653/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if the Government plans to align the inheritance tax treatment for those without children with that for individuals leaving their estates to children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12075/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a passport system is currently in place or will be introduced for the ownership of horses, similar to the registration system for other animals, with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11144/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a building under renovation at a location (details supplied) has been assigned to IPAS or will be assigned to IPAS for the purpose of accommodating asylum seekers. [13037/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 1 vote · 16 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 16 total

Transport 4 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the transport projects planned for Cork North Central over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10873/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport if he will engage with the National Transport Authority regarding a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11461/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport when he envisions a speed limit reduction in urban areas from 50 km/h to 30 km/h; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12281/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with the Road Safety Authority to progress the issue of detection cameras for motorists running red lights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12282/25]
Education 3 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education for an update on an appeal by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10862/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education for an update on the progress in attaining a site for a special school in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10970/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of expulsions at primary, post primary, and special school settings in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11928/25]
Housing 3 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the eastern gateway bridge in Cork; if it will be included in the National Development Plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10872/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenant in situ applications approved in Cork city and county for the months of November and December 2024 and January and February 2025, in tabular form; to clarify if the Department will continue to insist on ceilings for the number of allocations permissible or if flexibility will be afforded to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12396/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he envisions the publication of the review into the National Planning Framework; the measures he is considering to increase the amount of zoned land nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12397/25]
Agriculture 3 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who received the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act 1907, following proven charges under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 between 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11904/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 548 of 4 March 2025, of the figures previously provided in relation to disqualification orders between 2020 to date, the number of those that were lifetime disqualification orders, between ten and 20 years, between five and ten years, and less than five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11905/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who received fines under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 between 2020 to date which were less than €5,000, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11906/25]
Justice 2 questions
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the figures for knife crime convictions from 2020 to 2024; if he is considering progressing legislation similar to the UK's !stop and search" campaign to deter knife crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12429/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners per annum in Cork Prison from 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; the measures being taken to tackle capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12430/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive a psychology appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11369/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Health Research Charities Ireland Health
- Enacting primary biobanking legislation

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 1 vote · 16 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 16 total

Education 5 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of children without a special school place in Cork for the 2025-2026 school year. [11406/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of children who availed of home tuition because of a lack of a suitable school place in Cork for the 2024-2025 school year. [11407/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied), which was included in the original early start pilot, only has one year of early start; and IF it is possible to expand this to two years. [11408/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education whether there is any funding available to a DEIS Band 1 school seeking to refurbish a room and provide furniture for its use as a library. [12499/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) was not sanctioned for an ASD class. [13114/25]
Housing 4 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people employed in the planning division of his Department, by grade level. [10686/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if completion of phase 2C of the City Northwest Quarter Regeneration Programme will involve any demolition; and the timeline for completion of same. [11202/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider the introduction of an increased grant for council homes that have been empty longer than 12 months or are in a significant state of disrepair. [12617/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the compulsory purchase order activation programme, given the plight of dereliction in our cities, towns and villages; and the timeline for reform of compulsory purchase order legislation. [12618/25]
Health 4 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes who is subsequently found to have type 1 diabetes is not entitled to CGM sensor reimbursement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10586/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the cost of rebranding HSE South West. [10841/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the BMI required to qualify for gastric band surgery. [11410/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the criteria required to claim reimbursement under the treatment abroad scheme. [11411/25]
Justice 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the visas available to a Thai citizen seeking to move to Ireland. [10618/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice for an update on a citizenship application by a person (details supplied). [12038/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the reopening of Before 5. [11393/25]