Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 31 Mar — Watch Them Work

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 31 Mar – 6 Apr 2025 · 5 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 67 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Support for Householders, Businesses and Farmers Affected by Storm Éowyn

2025-04-02 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 88–72

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Ken O'Flynn · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 1 Eoghan Kenny

Housing Emergency Measures

2025-04-02 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 88–72

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Ken O'Flynn · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 1 Eoghan Kenny

The motion · motion passed 90–72

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Ken O'Flynn · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 1 Eoghan Kenny

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-04-01 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 95–72

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Did not vote 1 Thomas Gould

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle

2025-04-01 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 71–96

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

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

The motion · motion passed 96–71

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

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

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 6 votes · 26 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 26 total

Health 16 questions
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress made to alleviate the pressure that pharmacist staff at the HSE corporate pharmaceutical unit (CPU) are working under because of resource challenges; the total current personnel numbers for the CPU (including whole-time equivalent data) and comparative data for March 2024 and March 2023; the plans that exist to address resource challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16130/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of businesses offering sunbeds according to the HSE National Environmental Health Service in each of the years 2014 to 2025, in tabular form. [16137/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide a list, including the geographical breakdown, of each of the businesses offering sunbeds who notified the HSE Environmental Health Service, based on the latest available data. [16138/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide the total number of people who attended a pigmented lesion rapid access clinic nationally; including the number who were offered an appointment within the recommended timeframe, for each quarter from 2016 to 2025 to date, respectively, in tabular form. [16139/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide the total number of people who received a cancer diagnosis via a pigmented lesion rapid access clinic, for each quarter from 2016 to 2025, respectively, in tabular form. [16140/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if State supports for those looking to quit nicotine inhaling products, such as e-cigarettes and vapes are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16141/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the financial supports for travel expenses, and other related costs, available to patients, or their travelling companion, under the treatment abroad scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16142/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to detail the circumstances where air or sea travel fares are covered for patients, or a travelling companion, under the treatment abroad scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16143/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of recipients of the HSE treatment abroad scheme aged 0 to 24 years of age who have travelled outside of Ireland for specialised cancer treatment not available in Ireland in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; including the total number of applicants to the scheme seeking to avail of specialised cancer treatment for each of those years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16144/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of recipients of the HSE treatment abroad scheme aged 25 plus years of age who have travelled outside of Ireland for specialised cancer treatment not available in Ireland in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; including the total number of applicants to the scheme seeking to avail of specialised cancer treatment for each of those years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16145/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the "pause" of mesh for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence that has been in place since July 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16230/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the reason the pause on mid-urethral sling surgery has not been lifted even though national guidelines which were commissioned, endorsed and published by the HSE in January 2023, recommend that all women who need surgery for stress urinary incontinence should be offered this as an option alongside all other appropriate surgical operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16231/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the 19 recommendations made by the chief medical officer in his 2018 report "The use of Uro-Gynaecological mesh in surgical procedures" have been addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16232/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the National Mesh Oversight Group has produced the report it was commissioned to complete by the end of 2023; if so, when this report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16233/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the current chief medical officer has provided an update on the pause of mesh for the surgical treatment of stress incontinence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16234/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the reason why women with stress incontinence are not offered mid-urethral sling surgery as an option, despite the national clinical guidelines recommending that women have a choice of procedure and that the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022, providing for their legal right to make informed decisions about their health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16280/25]
Finance 3 questions
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the volume of nicotine pouch sales recorded in the off-trade, by volume, and monetary value in 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16146/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider increasing the small gift exemption for capital acquisitions tax from €3,000 to €5,000 from each person per year, as it has not been increased for a long number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16044/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider increasing the age related tax exemption to income tax from €18,000 per annum where an individual is aged 65 years or over, and €36,000 per annum for married couples and civil partners, jointly assessed to tax, where either individual is aged 65 or over, in view of the fact that there have been increases to the State pension in the past number of years and this exemption has not been increased since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16043/25]
Public Expenditure 3 questions
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department has now received an up-to-date environmental impact study in respect of the Blackpool flood relief scheme; the timeframe for when the public consultation will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16513/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department has now received an up-to-date environmental impact study in respect of the Blackpool flood relief scheme; the timeframe for when the public consultation will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16046/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the up-to-date position in respect of the Blackpool flood relief scheme in view of the fact that there was major flooding over 12 years ago, that it was agreed that a flood relief programme would be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16045/25]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts being made by his Department to prioritise improvements in farmer mental health and well-being supports, in particular supports for rural mental health programmes, recognising the unique challenges faced by those in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13798/25]
- 2025-04-02 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]
Environment 1 question
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an exemption could be made for an SEAI warmer homes scheme application (details supplied), in view that the applicant is the spouse of the person in receipt of the qualifying social welfare allowance, which is a requirement in the eligibility criteria of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15050/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) under the emergency works scheme given a revised itemised cost breakdown was submitted to the Department on 18 February 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15653/25]

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 3 votes · 8 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 8 total

Education 7 questions
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will open a special educational needs classroom for the academic year 2025-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15137/25]
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will open a special educational needs classroom for the academic year 2025-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15138/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education in light of the OECD's 'Review of Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage in Ireland' published in 2024, which highlights ongoing disparities in educational outcomes despite existing support mechanisms, if she will commit to a comprehensive policy review of the current resource allocation model for schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16176/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if, given concerns from educational bodies about the adequacy of resources for inclusive education, she will commit to conducting a policy review on resource allocation in schools to ensure that adequate classroom space, flexible learning environments, and assistive technology are provided under the universal design for learning framework; if she will provide a timeline for this review and outline the process for consulting with relevant stakeholders, including schools, parents, and disability advocacy groups, to reduce reliance on segregation-based supports and ensure all students can access inclusive education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16178/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will address the challenge faced by teachers in both mainstream and special schools who are expected to provide differentiated learning but are not allocated sufficient time to plan, gather resources, and adapt materials due to restrictive special education teaching hours; if she will consider introducing dedicated planning time or additional supports for teachers to ensure high-quality inclusive education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16179/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education acknowledging concerns from educators regarding the limited time available for planning and delivering differentiated instruction due to restrictive special education teaching hour allocations, and recognising that effective differentiation is crucial for inclusive education, if she will initiate a policy review to explore mechanisms for providing teachers with sufficient planning time and resources (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16180/25]
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education given her Department’s recent decision to reduce the criteria for allocating special education teaching hours from five to three for the upcoming academic year, thereby excluding factors such as student gender and the complexity of individual needs, if she will conduct an immediate policy review to assess the impact of these changes on the adequacy and fairness of resource distribution; if she will provide a timeline for this review and detail how her Department plans to engage with stakeholders, including teachers' unions and special education experts, to ensure that the allocation model remains equitable and responsive to the actual needs of students with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16182/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-04-02 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a permanent ambulance base will be reinstated in Midleton, County Cork, following flooding events last year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16168/25]

New lobbying 1 return

INTO - Irish National Teachers' Organisation Education and Training
- Pre INTO Congress Briefing

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 6 votes · 8 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 8 total

Social 3 questions
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he intends to review the means testing criteria for carer’s allowance during the current Government's term; if so, if he will provide details of the plan for this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15679/25]
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the welfare entitlements available to a family providing full-time care for their child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15680/25]
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount his Department spent on all social welfare claims by applicants in receipt of a protection order for the year 2024; and the amount spent on all social welfare applicants in receipt of an Irish residency permit. [15854/25]
Health 3 questions
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE senior grade psychologists based in community care within CHO4 in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [15352/25]
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant general adult psychiatrists based at Cork University Hospital in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [15353/25]
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of 24-7 HSE rapid response vehicles based in Cork, by location, in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [15354/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education whether a site (details provided) is under the ownership and control of the Department of Education; if the site is under the Department's jurisdiction, if a construction company has been assigned to develop a special school on the premises [15062/25]
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education the way his Department intends to address the issue of fairness in 2025 Leaving Certificate grading adjustments; the way his Department will ensure students who deferred their college applications from 2024 having received results under a different grading standard, will not have an advantage over those sitting the Leaving Certificate in 2025; and if there will be specific measures or adjustments to ensure fairness in the CAO process. [15094/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 6 votes · 21 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 21 total

Health 13 questions
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health how the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics is funded; its annual expenditure; if it is funded per application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16349/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will publish the terms of reference of the HSE Drugs Group and the HSE products committee for medicines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16350/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will outline and publish the terms of the service level agreement between the HSE and the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16351/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if there is a 90-day timeline on the carrying out of health technology assessments on the part of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics's key performance indicators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16352/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health how she intends to implement the Programme for Government commitments regarding exploring early access schemes for medicines. [16353/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the level of spending on pharmaceutical treatments in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16354/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that the HSE is adhering Schedule 1 of the IPHA Agreement in making and implementing reimbursement decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16355/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will support the establishment of a centre of excellence for the treatment of amyloidosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16451/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when her Department will fund the amyloidosis model of care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16453/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health her plans to ensure timely access to diagnostics and treatment for rare diseases such as transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16457/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department and or the HSE will take to ensure wastage is reduced in pharmacies with regard to the dispensation of drugs, particularly expensive drugs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16462/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual value of drugs in pharmacies that expire or do not get used for their intended purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16463/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the drug mounjaro will be considered for reimbursement as a treatment for obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16464/25]
Foreign 2 questions
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the significance from an EU perspective of recently reported chat group conversations by members of the US administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15191/25]
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the contribution the Government has made in discussions with EU partners in response to proposed US tariffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15190/25]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2025-04-02 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]
- 2025-04-02 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]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach how he intends to increase the co-ordination role of his Department in national security; and when the new national security committee will be established. [13752/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider the inheritance-tax liability of citizens without children and, in doing so, allow more favourable terms when their estate provides for nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15981/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide and update on all flood relief schemes in Cork north central, including the Morrisons Island project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15836/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of beneficiaries of temporary protection currently residing in the State; of that number, how many are in hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16341/25]

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 5 votes · 4 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 4 total

Public Expenditure 2 questions
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is aware of an unfair regional balancing in Capital spending under the NDP given Cork’s potential to counterbalance Dublin. [15234/25]
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the role his Department takes in the oversight of value for money exercises. [15233/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-04-01 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of SNA posts sanctioned in Cork for the 2024-2025 school year; and the number currently filled. [15206/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-04-03 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance to report on the latest briefing he received from his Department on the delivery of housing. [15232/25]