Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 6 Oct

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 6 Oct – 12 Oct 2025 · 5 TDs · 3 bills voted on · 207 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise

2025-10-07 · 1 vote

A budget financial resolution · motion passed 112–46

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

Voted against 2 Ken O'Flynn · Thomas Gould

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value-Added Tax

2025-10-07 · 1 vote

A budget financial resolution · motion passed 95–65

Voted for 3 Colm Burke · Ken O'Flynn · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Thomas Gould

Developer Profits Transparency Bill 2023

2025-10-07 · 1 vote · Social Democrats PMB

A bill to introduce a requirement for property developers who are in receipt of State subsidies to publish annual financial statements

Whether the bill should proceed (Second Stage) · motion failed 69–88

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

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 3 votes · 17 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 17 total

Health 5 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if her Department plans to provide for the delivery of free cardiovascular health checks in pharmacies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52994/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for patients referred from primary care to dermatology services for assessment of potentially cancerous moles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53280/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the extent to which Ireland contributes to European commission expert groups covering the healthcare sector; the identities of Irish representatives to these groups; the value these groups provide when it comes to policy making; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54209/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of a fair deal application for a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue as the family urgently need this support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54180/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department is preparing for the forthcoming EPSCO meetings on 17 October and 3 December 2025; whether the Irish Government has a preparatory role given the forthcoming Irish presidency of the Council of Ministers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54207/25]
Justice 4 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when a citizenship application for a person (details supplied) will be completed, in view that it is almost 30 months since the application was first lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53560/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the action his Department is taking to resolve technical issues with the INIS online portal being experienced by visa and citizenship applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54163/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the action his Department will take to resolve issues with the INIS online portal being experienced by visa and citizenship applicants, in view that applicants are being advised that further information is needed to be submitted in relation to their application without clearly setting out the information that is required, taking into account that applications may be closed off and subsequently rejected if this information is not submitted by a designated timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54169/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if consideration will be given to reopening visa and citizenship applications which were closed as a result of applicants being unable to submit a further information request from his Department, in view that applicants are being advised that further information is required to be submitted without clearly setting out the information required, and are having difficulty getting clarification from the portal when querying same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54170/25]
Housing 3 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had with local authorities as to the concerns in new housing estates being connected for both water supply and sewage connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53405/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the joint level of engagement which has taken place between his Department, Uisce Éireann and local authorities in order that the services which are required for the connection of new developments can take place in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53397/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has arranged for a structure to be put in place which will allow local authorities to engage with Uisce Éireann in order that services can be delivered in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53396/25]
Climate 2 questions
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount of uptake for the small-scale renewable electricity support scheme for SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54203/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount of uptake of the non-domestic microgen grant scheme for electricity used on farms to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54205/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which the trio procedure associated with Ireland's Presidency of the Council of Ministers works, specifically when Ireland's involvement in the trio begins and ends; whether particular policy initiatives have been identified; whether he expects Ireland to be guided by progress reports from the Danish & Cypriot presidencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54208/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the reason the proposed tax on vapes, to be implemented on 1 November 2025, excludes tobacco pouches which continue to grow in popularity; if he will use Ireland's presidency of the Council of Ministers to address this issue via strengthened EU Tobacco Tax Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54210/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of uptake on the TAMS 3 solar capital investment scheme to date for farmers for self-consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54206/25]

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 3 votes · 16 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 16 total

Health 8 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the cost of installing bike shelters at a hospital (details supplied), including the date of installation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52999/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the cost of installing bike shelters at a hospital (details supplied), including the date of installation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53000/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the cost of installing bike shelters at a hospital (details supplied), including the date of installation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53001/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the cost of installing bike shelters at a hospital (details supplied), including the date of installation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53002/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the cost of installing bike shelters at a hospital (details supplied), including the date of installation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53003/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the cost of installing bike shelters at a hospital (details supplied), including the date of installation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53004/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a business case has been presented to her department from a hospice (details supplied) for the redesignation to section 38 hospice; the communication she has had with the hospice since her appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53402/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to increase funding for hospice care for children and the introduction of new national policy on children’s palliative care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53403/25]
Education 3 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the implementation plan of the National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024-2028, which was published in September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52958/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount that has been given to the youth sector for capital projects in the past ten years, broken down per county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52978/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth Further to Parliamentary Question No. 436 of 30 September 2025, if new applications or proposals will be accepted where they are made by HEIs who are not currently offering the programme; whether the use of the term ‘area’ in the reply referenced above refers to a “geographical” or ‘subject matter’ area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54277/25]
Culture 3 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if there will be a fund for commemorative events celebrating the history of cultural institutions over the next few years as many institutions celebrate significant milestones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53555/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on a project (details supplied) as of October 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53770/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update and timeline for completion of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54183/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he has used transport modes other than a car on the island of Ireland; and, if so, to outline what those modes are and the frequency of use since his appointment as Taoiseach, in tabular form. [53404/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of promotions to senior ranks which have occurred in An Garda Síochána since he became Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53736/25]

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 3 votes · 130 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 130 total

Finance 20 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance in view of the warning by the Central Bank Governor about overheating ahead of Budget 2026, if he will outline the fiscal rules currently guiding expenditure growth; the projected capital and current spending trajectory for 2026–2029; and the measures in place to ensure budgetary discipline in the event of external shocks, such as energy price spikes or trade disruption. [53119/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has evaluated the sustainability of current expenditure levels in the event of a downturn in multinational corporation tax receipts. [54423/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the projected reduction in greenhouse gas emissions expected to result from the five cent increase in carbon-related taxes on motor fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54492/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance whether there is a scheduled review mechanism to assess the social and economic impacts of the carbon tax escalator on motor fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54494/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the adequacy of rural and inter-urban public transport alternatives prior to the forthcoming 5 cent increase in green taxes on motor fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54495/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department has estimated the expected cost increase for daily commuters arising from the fuel tax rise, and whether a measurable modal shift away from private car use is anticipated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54496/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance given that the Government has increased its corporate tax forecast for 2026 to €34 billion despite the stalled OECD global tax deal, if he will publish the detailed revenue modelling underpinning this revision; the proportion attributed to the top ten multinational taxpayers; and the contingency plans if receipts fall back toward the earlier €28 billion forecast.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54441/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the taxation treatment of redundancy payments, particularly ex-gratia or enhanced redundancy payments made in cases of involuntary redundancy, with a view to exempting such payments from income tax in recognition of the financial hardship associated with job loss. [54463/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has conducted any recent review or cost–benefit analysis on increasing the tax-free threshold for redundancy payments, and if he will publish the findings of any such review. [54464/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the estimated fiscal impact on the Exchequer of exempting all redundancy payments arising from involuntary redundancies from income tax, PRSI, and USC, based on the most recent available data. [54465/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider reforming the taxation rules to align redundancy payments with other non-taxable lump sums, such as lottery winnings or compensation payments, in circumstances where redundancy arises through no fault or choice of the employee. [54466/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the total tax yield to the Exchequer from taxpayers who received redundancy payments in each of the past five years. [54467/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department has conducted or commissioned any comparative analysis of the effective tax burden on small private landlords in Ireland versus the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54482/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered introducing a lower rate of income tax or other fiscal incentive for small-scale landlords who remain in the Irish rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54483/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department has considered tax deferral mechanisms or roll-over reliefs for landlords who sell one Irish property and reinvest in another Irish rental property, similar to schemes in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54484/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the expected annual revenue yield from the forthcoming five cent increase in carbon-related taxes on motor fuels; and whether this revenue will be ring-fenced for climate mitigation or general exchequer use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54487/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department has carried out a socioeconomic impact assessment of the forthcoming increase in green taxes on petrol and diesel, specifically regarding rural motorists, low-income households, and small businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54488/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the offsetting measures that are being considered for the commercial road haulage, taxi, and agricultural sectors following the forthcoming five cent increase in green taxes on motor fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54489/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance where Ireland ranks among EU member states in terms of total excise duty and carbon tax applied per litre of petrol and diesel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54490/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has modelled the inflationary effect of the forthcoming carbon-related increase in motor fuel prices on consumer goods and transport costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54491/25]
Education 16 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the opt-out arrangements for children in primary schools where parents choose to withdraw their child from the new relationships and sexuality education, RSE, curriculum under SPHE; if her Department has set out clear guidelines for schools on how such opt-outs should be managed; and if she will outline the current opt-out arrangements for children who do not participate in religious instruction, and whether similar policies will apply in respect of RSE. [53066/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will extend entitlement to the Health (Amendment) Act card to all survivors of industrial and reformatory schools, in recognition of the poorer health outcomes documented in survivor consultation reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53207/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will establish a dedicated industrial and reformatory school survivors trust fund, ring-fenced and administered independently, to provide health, housing, and education supports for survivors and their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53208/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the €500,000 allocated in 2009 for the creation of a national memorial to survivors of industrial and reformatory schools; if any expenditure has taken place to date; when a national memorial will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53209/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will expedite proposals to provide a full contributory State pension to survivors of industrial and reformatory schools, on the same basis as pensions extended to Magdalene survivors, given that survivors were subjected to forced labour without social insurance contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53211/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that survivors of industrial and reformatory schools who reside abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom, will receive equal pension entitlements and supports as survivors resident in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53212/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review current access to medical and psychological supports for survivors of industrial and reformatory schools; if she will expand entitlements to include unlimited trauma counselling, psychiatric services, mobility aids, and access to the Treatment Purchase Fund, as proposed in the 2020 survivor-led consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53213/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a costing of introducing a contributory State pension and enhanced HAA medical card scheme for survivors of industrial and reformatory schools, based on the current estimated survivor population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53215/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm that ring-fenced funding will be allocated in Budget 2026 for survivor supports, including pensions, health entitlements, and the completion of a national memorial; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53216/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department is taking to address the rise in absenteeism in Cork secondary schools, where the percentage of school days lost has increased from 8% in 2019/2020 to 11.8% in 2023/2024. [53657/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a county-by-county breakdown of secondary school absenteeism levels for each of the past five years, including the percentage of students missing more than 20 days per year. [53658/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the supports that are being put in place for schools to tackle the issue of unexplained absences, which accounted for 43% of recorded absences in Cork secondary schools in 2023/2024. [53659/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will report on the outcomes of the multimedia campaign on school attendance launched with Tusla Education Support Service, and whether her Department has set attendance targets to measure its effectiveness. [53660/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if Tusla will expand resources for its Education Support Service in Cork, in view of the increase in secondary school absenteeism reported in the agency's own data. [53661/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth how Tusla categorises and verifies "unexplained absences" in school attendance data, and what proportion of these cases receive follow-up engagement with families. [53662/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason parents are required to pay for swimming lessons, pool hire, and transport costs associated with swimming, despite swimming being part of the primary school physical education curriculum; if she will clarify whether schools receive any ring-fenced funding from her Department to deliver this part of the curriculum; and if she will outline her plans to ensure that all children have equal access to swimming without additional costs being placed on families. [54419/25]
Housing 16 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has calculated the proportion of households by income decile that are priced out of purchasing the average three-bed semi-detached house nationally and in each region, given a website's (details supplied) estimate the average price is €421,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53108/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has verified the claim by the chairperson of the Land Development Agency that 70% of income earners are priced out of the housing market in terms of both rents and house prices; and if he will publish his Department's own affordability analysis. [53109/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current ratio of average house price to average disposable household income in each county; the comparable figures in 2015 and 2020; and his Department's assessment of trends in affordability. [53110/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of second-hand homes currently available to purchase nationally; and the way in which this compares with the 2015-19 average cited by a website (details supplied); and his Department's strategy to increase second-hand stock availability. [53111/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's projection of new housing completions for 2025, by local authority; and the way in which these compare with the underlying annual demand identified by the ESRI and the Housing Commission. [53112/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average price of a three-bed semi-detached home in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford as of Quarter three 2025; the equivalent figure in 2020; and his assessment of the impact of these price increases on first-time buyers. [53113/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing-market transactions recorded in the past 12 months; and his Department's assessment of whether transaction volumes are consistent with a healthy and functioning housing market. [53114/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions his Department is taking to address regional disparities in house price inflation, including rises of over 8% in Connacht-Ulster and 7.2% outside Dublin, as reported in the latest website (details supplied) survey. [53115/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department tracks the gap between general consumer price inflation and housing price inflation; and if so, the steps being taken to bring housing inflation in line with wider economic inflation trends. [53116/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to publishing an annual housing affordability report, benchmarking average house prices, average incomes, mortgage serviceability ratios, and availability of homes by region, to ensure transparency in policy-making. [53117/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps her Department is taking to ensure that the forthcoming amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, due to take effect in March 2026, achieve a fair balance between landlord and tenant rights; and if she will publish any equality or economic impact assessment carried out prior to their introduction. [54459/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the forthcoming amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 will include statutory service-level targets for the Residential Tenancies Board in resolving rent arrears and anti-social behaviour cases; and the targets and resources allocated to achieve them. [54460/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department will introduce standardised evidence templates and procedural guidance for both landlords and tenants in termination cases under the March 2026 legislative changes, to minimise procedural errors and ensure fair and efficient dispute resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54462/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the impact of private landlord exits on overall rental supply and rent levels nationally; if such assessments are published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54478/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans to introduce any targeted measures or supports aimed at retaining small private landlords in the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54479/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has reviewed the cumulative effect of rent controls, registration costs and regulatory compliance requirements on the viability of small-scale landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54480/25]
Social 16 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Government has a unified position on whether the retirement age will be raised in this Dáil [53107/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he intends to increase the State pension age in response to recent comments by the Governor of the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53100/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has conducted any assessment of the impact of raising the retirement age on workers in physically demanding occupations, such as construction, healthcare, and agriculture and if he will publish those findings. [53101/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected fiscal position of the social insurance fund over the next 20 years on the basis of no change to the State pension age; and if he will provide comparable figures in the event of an increase to 67 or 68. [53102/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if she accepts that life expectancy and healthy life expectancy vary significantly between income groups; and if so, how his Department proposes to ensure that raising the pension age would not disproportionately penalise those with shorter life spans. [53103/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the alternative fiscal strategies available to address long-term pension costs without raising the retirement age, such as increasing PRSI contributions or broadening the contribution base. [53105/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has commenced any assessment or scoping exercise into the legal recognition of non-binary gender under the Gender Recognition Act 2015; if so, the terms of reference of this assessment; and the expected date for its completion. [53232/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide the number of officials assigned to work on the assessment of recognising non-binary gender in law; and the estimated cost to his Department to date. [53233/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has commissioned any external consultants, research studies, or advisory groups in respect of legal recognition of non-binary gender; and if so, to list the contracts and the costs incurred. [53234/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has engaged with the Department of Foreign Affair &Trade, the Department of Justice of Home Affairs and Migration, and the Department of Children, Disability & Equality regarding the international recognition of Irish passports or other identity documents containing a non-binary gender marker. [53235/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which his Department proposes to amend existing databases, forms, and records to accommodate a non-binary gender marker; and if he has undertaken any analysis of the costs and technical requirements of this. [53236/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered the implications of introducing a non-binary gender category for statistical reporting in areas such as health, education, employment, and census data; and if so, to outline the preparatory work undertaken. [53237/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has sought or received legal advice from the Attorney General on the compatibility of recognising a non-binary gender in Irish law with existing legislation on family law, succession, taxation, and equality; and if so, to provide details of this advice. [53238/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the consultations he has undertaken with stakeholders on the recognition of non-binary gender; if she will publish the list of groups consulted; and if she will commit to a public consultation process before bringing forward any legislative change. [53239/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of legal recognition of non-binary gender on gender quota legislation, including political representation and corporate boards; and if he will publish this assessment. [53240/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has prepared any estimate of the long-term financial and administrative cost to the State of recognising non-binary gender in law; and if so, to provide the figures. [53241/25]
Health 16 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total amount paid by HSE-run hospitals to debt collection agencies in each of the past five years, by hospital group; and to explain the Department's oversight role in approving or monitoring such expenditure. [53094/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total amount of patient debt referred to debt collection agencies in the same period; the proportion of this debt that was successfully recovered; and whether her Department has conducted a cost-benefit analysis of this practice. [53095/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health her Department's current policy on the use of private debt collection firms by public hospitals, including whether such arrangements require Departmental approval or follow centrally issued guidance. [53096/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the safeguards in place to ensure that vulnerable patients, such as those on low incomes or with long-term illnesses, are not subject to aggressive debt-collection practices by HSE hospitals. [53097/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has examined the approach in other EU countries with universal health systems in relation to pursuing unpaid hospital charges; and to indicate whether reforms are under consideration to reduce reliance on private debt collectors. [53098/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department intends to publish an annual report detailing hospital debts, recovery rates and payments made to collection firms, in the interests of transparency and public accountability. [53099/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the implications for public health of requiring people to work into their late sixties, in particular regarding occupational health and chronic illness and if she will publish those assessments. [53106/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will designate a liaison officer within the HSE to support survivors of industrial and reformatory schools in accessing community health and social care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53214/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out an assessment of the cumulative impact of recent premium increases by private health insurers on families and older persons; and if she will publish that assessment. [53423/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the engagement her Department has had with the Health Insurance Authority regarding multiple premium increases in 2025; and whether measures are being considered to improve affordability for policyholders. [53424/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of policyholders who will face annual health insurance premium increases of more than €500 following the most recent changes by providers (details supplied); and if she will provide a breakdown by insurer. [53425/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will report on the trend in voluntary health insurance coverage rates since 2020; and whether recent increases in premiums risk reducing coverage among middle-income households. [53426/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the measures being examined by her Department to protect consumers from unexpected or multiple premium hikes within a single year; and if she will consider requiring insurers to provide advance notice and transparent justification of such increases. [53427/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she has examined the extent to which rising private health insurance costs are leading to increased pressure on the public hospital system; and if her Department has commissioned any modelling in this regard. [53428/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the engagement her Department has had with the Department of Finance regarding taxation treatment of health insurance reliefs in the context of rising premiums; and whether any changes are being considered to maintain affordability. [53429/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she has met with representatives of providers (details supplied) in 2025 to discuss premium increases; if so, on what dates; and if she will publish the minutes of those meetings. [53430/25]
Justice 13 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures his Department is taking in response to the reported 13 percent increase in overall crime in Cork city in the past year, with particular reference to the 23 percent rise in thefts and shoplifting. [53126/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a comparison of Garda personnel strength in the Cork city division in 2020 versus 2025. [53129/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procedures in place to ensure full compliance with the sex offenders register, in particular when an offender fails to notify gardaí of their current address; if he will confirm whether an alert has been issued in relation to a person (details supplied); and the enforcement mechanisms that exist to ensure immediate action in such cases. [53811/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the payments made by the Irish Prison Service to podcasts, influencers, or media outlets since 1 January 2020; the recipient in each case; the amount paid; the purpose of the expenditure and the year in which it was made, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53851/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Irish Prison Service has made any payments to persons (details supplied) since 1 January 2020; and if so, the total amount, the number of payments, the date of each payment; and the procurement basis for each. [53852/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the details of the procurement process undertaken in respect of the nearly €25,000 payment by the Irish Prison Service to persons (details supplied); if a formal tender was conducted; and if he will provide the business case or approval note underpinning this expenditure. [53853/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if any Irish Prison Service payments to podcasts, influencers, or media outlets since 1 January 2020 were made in multiple tranches of under €25,000 each; and if he will clarify whether this practice was used to avoid triggering public tender thresholds. [53854/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is satisfied that all Irish Prison Service expenditure on podcasts, influencers, and media outlets since 2020 has complied fully with public procurement law and with the Department’s internal governance requirements; and if he will outline the oversight his Department exercised in approving these expenditures. [53855/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total expenditure by the Irish Prison Service on consultancy, media services, and public relations between 1 January 2020 and 30 September 2025; if he will provide a breakdown by year; and if he will specify which contracts were subject to open competitive tender. [53856/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will request the Comptroller and Auditor General to conduct a detailed review of Irish Prison Service expenditure on media, podcasts, and influencer contracts since 2020. [53858/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide a list of all foreign travel undertaken by senior Irish Prison Service executives since 1 January 2020, including the destination, purpose, number of staff travelling, and total cost to the taxpayer in each case. [53859/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost of single modular housing units provided by the Irish Prison Service since 1 January 2020; the procurement process used for these units; and if he will provide a breakdown of the number of units purchased and their individual costs. [53860/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide the most recent figures available from the central statistics office or his Department setting out, on a proportional basis, the number of recorded sexual assault offences across the State by the nationality of persons convicted or charged with such offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54437/25]
Transport 9 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport to report on the recent multi-agency cyberattack exercise targeting Cork Port; to state whether any vulnerabilities were identified in port or maritime infrastructure; and to outline the actions and resources now being deployed to strengthen cyber-defences at critical infrastructure sites nationwide. [53124/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with an airline (details supplied) regarding the decision to phase out paper boarding passes; and the consumer protections in place to ensure passengers who do not own or use smartphones are not disadvantaged. [53652/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the measures being taken by his Department to guarantee that passengers with disabilities or older passengers, who may struggle with digital-only systems, can continue to access air travel without penalty. [53653/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has assessed whether the move to digital-only boarding passes complies with consumer rights and accessibility regulations at both national and EU level; and if he will publish any such assessment. [53654/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the steps he will take in conjunction with the Commission for Aviation Regulation to ensure airlines operating in Ireland maintain non-digital boarding alternatives for passengers who request them. [53655/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he will engage at EU level with the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency on the implications of airlines moving to mandatory digital boarding passes, particularly with regard to equality of access to services. [53656/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the number of public bus shelters under the remit of his Department or its agencies that have been subject to vandalism in each of the past five years; the total cost of repairs and replacements arising from vandalism in each of those years; if he will provide a breakdown of these figures by local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54259/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the number of bus shelters that have been subject to repeat vandalism within a twelve-month period in each of the past five years; the total cost of repairs associated with these repeat incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54260/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the measures his Department or its agencies are taking to reduce the incidence of vandalism of bus shelters, including the use of more durable materials, CCTV, lighting, or coordination with An Garda Síochána; the number of shelters that have been upgraded to date under such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54261/25]
Children 8 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early years and crèche services that have been withdrawn from the core funding scheme in each of the past five years, by county; and the specific measures her Department is taking to prevent further withdrawals and protect parents from fee increases. [52979/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early years and crèche facilities operating in Cork city and county in each of the past ten years; the net change in services over that period; and the actions being taken to address the decline in provision in Cork compared with the reported national increase. [52980/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will publish detailed, disaggregated data showing the number of childcare providers entering and leaving the sector nationally and by county each year since 2015, including whether those providers were part of the core funding scheme. [52981/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to prevent excessive childcare fee increases, including whether consideration has been given to introducing statutory fee caps or a link between the core funding scheme and maximum allowable fee levels. [52982/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the locations where State-led childcare facilities are currently being planned or developed, including projected capacity, opening dates, costs, and the criteria used for site selection. [52983/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific supports (financial, operational, training, or business supports) which are being made available to smaller and rural childcare providers to maintain their viability within the core funding scheme. [52984/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department verifies claims of a national net increase in services when some regions, such as Cork, have reported sustained decreases; and if she will provide a breakdown reconciliating national and regional figures. [52985/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the Government’s consultation with survivor groups on memorialisation and archives; if she will confirm if survivors will have full decision-making input into the location and management of any national archive or memorial site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53210/25]
Climate 4 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment given that Ireland has among the highest price levels in the EU and remains heavily dependent on imported energy, if he will provide the latest roadmap for increasing domestic renewable generation capacity; the expected impact of the European Commission's proposed energy affordability package on Irish household bills; and the specific supports to be made available to vulnerable consumers during winter 2025-26. [53121/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current surplus in the National Oil Reserves Agency levy account; if the levy currently funds the holding of fuel stocks to assist in energy security in the event of a supply disruption as originally intended; if any portion of this surplus is intended to be redirected to the Climate Action Fund in Budget 2026; and if the Government will commit to a broader review of petroleum-related taxation in order to ensure the financial burden on consumers and businesses is proportionate and consistent with Ireland's energy security and decarbonisation objectives and is shared equally across all carbon emitting energy source. [54223/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being taken by his Department, in coordination with local authorities and the ESB, to prepare for the impact of storm Amy, including flood defences, emergency response protocols, and the safeguarding of electricity supply in coastal and rural areas. [54143/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment following the impact of Storm Amy which left over 184,000 households without power and caused major transport disruption, if he will detail the number of ESB crews deployed in each county; the average restoration time per outage; the additional funding required to accelerate network resilience upgrades; and whether annual severe weather contingency funding will be increased for 2026. [54445/25]
Public Expenditure 4 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he has received advice from the Department of Finance or the Central Bank recommending an increase in the State pension age; and if he will publish any such correspondence. [53104/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department has conducted an analysis of the amount of the €120bn in spending which is attributable to once-off versus recurring commitments; and if he will publish the breakdown. [54422/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department has assessed the impact of overruns in Budget 2025, from the originally planned €3bn in new expenditure to the estimated €8.5bn; and if he will publish the corrective measures being applied. [54424/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether revenue from increased carbon-related motor fuel taxes will be directed towards electric vehicle infrastructure, public transport subsidies, or home energy grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54493/25]
Culture 3 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to report on the recent multi-agency cyberattack exercise targeting Cork Port; to state whether any vulnerabilities were identified in port or maritime infrastructure; and to outline the actions and resources now being deployed to strengthen cyber-defences at critical infrastructure sites nationwide. [53125/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will investigate the reason the records of the Departmental Council and its working party created during the period 1982/83 relating to the process and agreement for the transfer of civil servants from the former Department of Posts and Telegraphs to An Post and Bord Telecom Éireann are not available in the official archives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53433/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 291 of 29 April 2025, if a copy of the documentation stated could be supplied. [53445/25]
Enterprise 3 questions
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department is tracking capital outflows from Ireland to property investment in the United Kingdom, particularly from former Irish landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54485/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if any economic assessment has been made of the impact of private landlord exits on local economies, employment in property services, and consumer spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54486/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will outline the number of taxpayers who received redundancy payments in each of the past five years and the average payment amount. [54671/25]
Defence 1 question
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on the recent multi-agency cyberattack exercise targeting Cork Port; to state whether any vulnerabilities were identified in port or maritime infrastructure; and to outline the actions and resources now being deployed to strengthen cyber-defences at critical infrastructure sites nationwide. [53123/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 1 October 2025, if he will provide a copy of the repealed legislation referred in the Parliamentary Question; and if changed legislation went to a vote in Dáil, to provide a list of TDs who voted in favour. [53998/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 3 votes · 30 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 30 total

Agriculture 11 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if additional funding will be made available in Budget 2026 for animal welfare charities given the very challenging circumstances at present and the unprecedented number of abandoned and surrendered animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53174/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the merger of the ISPCA and DSPCA into a national SPCA; if he will address concerns (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54237/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the interim measures he intends to put in place to ensure national inspectorate coverage during the transition period to a national SPCA and ensure that enforcement capacity is not weakened by the focus on organisational restructuring; if he can provide clarity on timelines, resources and governance for the new national body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54238/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will urgently review the allocation of funding under the animal welfare grant programme and the designation of authorised officers under Section 37 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54239/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will appoint designated inspectors to an organisation (details supplied) as authorised officers to close current enforcement gaps for at least ten counties, to provide legal certainty in ongoing investigations and support Gardaí during the transition to a national SPCA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54240/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the merger of the ISPCA and the DSPCA signals a shift in Department policy toward centralisation of animal welfare services; if so, the rationale; how national coverage will be maintained or improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54241/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department plans to support or issue specific charities that play critical roles in local animal welfare but may lack the scale of the newly merged SPCA organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54242/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how his Department will evaluate whether the merger of the ISPCA and the DSPCA results in improved animal welfare outcomes nationally, not just improved administration within the merged charity; if there will be a review of the overall funding model to ensure it reflects evolving needs, especially with over 100 registered animal welfare charities in the country; if he will commit to a public consultation or stakeholder forum to review how animal welfare funding is distributed and measured in light of this structural change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54243/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department was consulted in advance of the ISPCA and DSPCA merger; whether an impact assessment was conducted on implications for public funding distribution; if increased oversight and performance metrics will apply to the newly merged organisation given the significant increase in public funds it will control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54244/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given that the merged ISPCA–DSPCA entity will now receive approximately one-third of all national animal welfare funding, the way in which his Department will ensure that smaller, regional and grassroots charities are not further marginalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54245/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will review its grant allocation to ensure fairness, transparency and proportionality, particularly in light of the consolidation between the ISPCA-DSCPA; the safeguards that will be put in place to ensure this concentration of funding does not reduce services or support in areas not directly served by the merged charity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54246/25]
Housing 4 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total value of the vacant site levy since its inception, per annum, in tabular form; if he is content it is having the desired impact since constituted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38579/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the €50 million allocated nationally to support persons leaving emergency accommodation, of which Cork City Council only received €2m, if additional funding will be allocated to Cork considering it received less than other cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53568/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to expand the provision of modular housing; the number of modular units which have been built since 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53633/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied that local authorities are responding positively to the National Planning Framework and are complying with the objectives of the Revised National Planning Framework; if he will provide an update on the progress made on housing and infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53569/25]
Finance 4 questions
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if consideration would be given to reviewing the mechanism by which individuals with coeliac disease claim tax relief on gluten free products, in light of concerns that the present system is unnecessarily cumbersome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54283/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider reviewing the 1% government levy on life cover policies, mortgage protection policies and on specified illness/disability (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54421/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the income generated from the 1% insurance levy on life cover policies, mortgage protection policies and on a specified illness/disability for the past ten years (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54425/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the investment reforms being considered in advance of Budget 2026; if consideration will be given to cutting the rate of tax on certain investment funds from 41% bringing Ireland more in line with other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54426/25]
Social 3 questions
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures being taken to reduce the level of waste under the hot school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54282/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to pension security for foster carers to recognise the years spent caring for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54335/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending the back to school allowance to all children in state care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54336/25]
Children 3 questions
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to index linking the foster care allowance to keep pace with rising costs and relieve financial pressure on carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54337/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to an increase in the aftercare allowance to align with the foster care allowance and extend support up to age 23; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54332/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to pension security for foster carers to recognise the years spent caring for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54334/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the ambulance response times in Cork North Central; if the response times are meeting those as set out by HIQA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53687/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the status of the Glanmire primary healthcare centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54279/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question No. 356 of 30 September 2025, if additional information can be provided on the circular (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53460/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí assigned in each district of Cork north central constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53636/25]
Culture 1 question
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if in advance of the next round of LSSIF funding, consideration would be given to introducing a time limit for drawing down funds in order to ensure the most effective use of spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54278/25]

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 3 votes · 14 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 14 total

Housing 6 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the targets for the CPO activation programme in 2024; and the numbers achieved by local authority, in tabular form. [53316/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the targets for the CPO activation programme in 2025, by local authority, in tabular form. [53317/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of buildings which are the subject of compulsory purchase orders under the CPO activation programme in 2023, by local authority, in tabular form. [53319/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the number of compulsory purchase orders, CPOs, completed under the CPO activation programme and an update on the long-promised legislation to reform the CPO process as recommended by the Law Reform Commission. [54229/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the allocation for 2026 tenant in situ scheme will be released to local authorities; and the amount which it will be. [53200/25]
- 2025-10-08 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the restoration of town councils. [53201/25]
Justice 5 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of probationer Gardaí and other additional Gardaí assigned to Cork, by rank, in each of the past five years. [53269/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí by station in Cork city. [53270/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí who have retired or left the force; and the number of probationary or additional Gardaí assigned to Cork in each of the past five years. [53202/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he intends to continue with his plans to reopen the Old Cork Prison site; and the level of engagement he has undertaken with the local community on this matter. [53204/25]
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the actions Cuan is taking to prevent the housing crisis from impacting on person’s ability to leave abusive relationships. [53203/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that children in a school (details supplied) still have no start date. [53943/25]
- 2025-10-07 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 317 of 23 September 2025, the number of children who have availed of the exceptional interim grant in Cork; the reasons this has not been offered to all parents; and when an offer will be made. [53945/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-10-09 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a person with a private non-workplace pension can opt-out of the six-month auto enrolment pension. [54346/25]