Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 24 Mar — Watch Them Work

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 24 Mar – 30 Mar 2025 · 5 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 41 questions · 2 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: Céim an Choiste

2025-03-26 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 67–88

Voted for 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 1 Thomas Gould

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 67–88

Voted for 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 1 Thomas Gould

Social Housing Tenant In Situ Scheme

2025-03-26 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 87–71

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Did not vote 1 Thomas Gould

The motion · motion passed 87–70

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Did not vote 1 Thomas Gould

Triple Lock Mechanism and Irish Neutrality

2025-03-26 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 87–69

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Did not vote 1 Thomas Gould

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2025

2025-03-26 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 47–109

Voted for 1 Ken O'Flynn

Voted against 3 Colm Burke · Eoghan Kenny · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 1 Thomas Gould

The motion · motion passed 110–47

Voted for 3 Colm Burke · Eoghan Kenny · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 1 Ken O'Flynn

Did not vote 1 Thomas Gould

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 7 votes · 22 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 22 total

Health 11 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health her plans to address the shortage of accredited genetic testing services for patients in Ireland; her views on public hospital laboratories not having the resources, equipment, or accreditation to meet the clinical genetic testing needs of patients and clinicians; how she proposes to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13649/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health her plans for developing a national genomic processing service; when this will be done; if accredited companies located in Ireland will be included in the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13650/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the guidance provided by the HSE to public consultant clinicians on where patient blood samples should be sent for genetic testing; what countries Irish patient blood samples are sent to for testing; the process for validating and approving these testing laboratories; if they send the samples to ISO 15189 accredited laboratories in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13651/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she has plans to open a public procurement competition for the provision of clinical genetic testing in Ireland; if so, the anticipated timeline for implementation; and the plans she has for retaining genetic testing within Ireland using an accredited laboratory testing centre. [13652/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if an audit has been carried out by her Department and the HSE to identify all of the burial grounds which are in the ownership or under their control, and which said grounds were used for the burial of persons from mental health facilities, mother and baby homes, industrial schools, and other institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14084/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the burial grounds which are under the control of her Department and the HSE, by county and which were previously managed by the local health authorities or the health boards, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14085/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the details of the process in place throughout each of the HSE areas in respect of the management and maintenance of burial grounds which are in their ownership or under their control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14086/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the process that has been put in place by her Department and the HSE to help identify the names of the people who are buried in these burial grounds under their management or under their control, and the institutions from which they resided in prior to their death; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14087/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if her Department and the HSE have entered into arrangements with local authorities for the management and maintenance of these burial grounds and if any process is in place to transfer the control of same to the local authorities in the respective areas where these burial grounds are situated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14088/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if there has been any engagement between her Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of adopting a joint approach about the management and maintenance of burial grounds under their management or under their control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14089/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the position in respect of the supply and delivery of enhanced inactivated influenza vaccines for older people for the winter season 2025-2026 as the HSE have now withdrawn from the tendering process for enhanced vaccine for this period; whether the HSE will reopen discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14557/25]
Agriculture 3 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking regarding succession in farming, in view that this is a critical issue which must be urgently addressed by the delivery of a comprehensive succession policy with the outcome of a succession scheme that specifically addresses the barriers to entry for young farmers into the agricultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13797/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are contingency plans in place to support farmers and agri-food producers in the event of an increase in tariffs on the sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13789/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if provisions are in place should additional supports be required by farmers in response to any further unprecedented events similar to the damage caused to the agriculture sector by Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13790/25]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current the position in respect of the number of new medical students registering at each third level education institution from 2020 to 2024; the number of new Irish students in each institution and the number of international students in each institution in these years; the progress that has been made with the Higher Education Authority with a view to increasing the number of training places for Irish students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14521/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the Higher Education Authority has reached agreement with third level institutions to increase the number of training places for dental students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14520/25]
Rural 2 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding provided to community groups in the north-west local electoral area of Cork city by his Department in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14537/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding provided to community groups in Cork by his Department in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14531/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update on the status of a project (details supplied) which has been granted planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13568/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice whether it is planned to conduct a review of the legal aid fees payable to solicitors on the District Court family law solicitors panel with a view to ensuring that more solicitors are able to do family law legal aid work, and to clearing the backlog in family law applications in the District Court in areas such as applications for domestic violence orders, disputes regarding custody, access to children and maintenance applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14065/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will permit the extension of a sponsored claim through the national childcare scheme for two children (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13526/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will liaise with the relevant authorities to review the current system for claiming tax relief regarding the purchase of Gluten free foods by those with a diagnosis of coeliac disease as the current system places a considerable administrative burden on them, since each item purchased must have a receipt and some retail outlets do not issue same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14558/25]

New lobbying 2 returns

Endometriosis Association of Ireland · 2 returns Health
- Email Invitation to Annual Conference
- Status of National Framework

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 7 votes · 9 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 9 total

Further and Higher Education 6 questions
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will commit to increasing the percentage of Irish-language courses at third level to 5% within the next five years, in order to ensure the success of the Government’s 2030 goal of 20% of the public sector working through Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14560/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science given the programme for Government commitment to "continue to reduce the Student Contribution Fee over the lifetime of the Government to ease the financial burden on students and families at the start of each academic year, in a financially sustainable manner", to outline his Department's plans to reduce the student contribution fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14569/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science given that he has committed to publishing a new student accommodation strategy in Q2 of 2025, when the new strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14565/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will seek to abolish the pro-rata fee for apprentices and ensure that apprentices are paid a living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14568/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will commit to ensuring that technological universities are able to borrow funds in order to facilitate the building and purchasing of student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14566/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will commit to establishing a minimum PhD stipend of €28,000 for all PhD students, as recommended by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14567/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the waiting period for a CAMHS assessment for a person [details supplied]; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13302/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to recruit the additional 11 WTE staff needed towards delivering an obesity service in Mallow to coincide with the funding in the capital submission for 2025 for the required infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14765/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the processing period for citizenship applications, in view of the fact a person (details supplied) has now being waiting five years since initially applying for citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13297/25]

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 7 votes · 3 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 3 total

Social 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is engaging with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding employment opportunities for individuals in receipt of a disability payment; to confirm the nature of this engagement with potential employers; to provide statistical data on the number of individuals in receipt of a disability payment who are currently employed; and the protections in place within the workforce for individuals in receipt of a disability payment. [13793/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide clarification regarding the rollout of free hormone replacement treatment for all women, which was due to be implemented in January 2025 (details supplied). [13965/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education the ongoing discussions taking place regarding the current assault leave policy for teachers and SNAs; if there are considerations of extending the duration of assault leave cover to match the full duration of a teachers medically certified recovery period; if there are plans to implement a structured support scheme for teachers affected by assaults in the workplace particularly in terms of physical, mental, and emotional recovery; the preventative measures being considered or implemented to reduce the incidence of assaults on teachers; and how these measures will be integrated in the broader workplace health and safety policies. [14837/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 7 votes · 4 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 4 total

Agriculture 2 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department is taking to tackle the neglect and abuse of horses in Cork North Central, particularly with summer approaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13683/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider amending the Control of Horses Act 1996 and appoint an equine officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13682/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the status of a new building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13316/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the Mallow relief road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14764/25]

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 0 votes · 3 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 3 total

Health 3 questions
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether ambulances are now required to commence shift at the Kinsale road, as there is no ambulance located at the Saint Mary’s site in Cork city. [14360/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the date a contract was signed with a company (details supplied) in Cork University Hospital; the amount spent on this contract to date; and the purpose of this contract. [14361/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of people working in HR roles in the south and south west hospital region. [14362/25]