Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 20 Oct — Watch Them Work

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 20 Oct – 26 Oct 2025 · 5 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 76 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-10-21 · 2 votes

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 84–67

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Did not vote 1 Thomas Gould

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 83–69

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 1 Ken O'Flynn

Finance Bill 2025

2025-10-21 · 1 vote · Govt (Finance)

A bill to provide for the imposition, repeal, remission, alteration and regulation of taxation, of stamp duties and of duties relating to excise and otherwise to make further pr…

full description

A bill to provide for the imposition, repeal, remission, alteration and regulation of taxation, of stamp duties and of duties relating to excise and otherwise to make further provision in connection with finance; and to provide for related matters.

The motion · motion passed 82–65

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 1 Ken O'Flynn

Finance Bill 2025: Referral to Select Committee

2025-10-21 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 83–65

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 1 Ken O'Flynn

Education (Amendment) Bill 2024

2025-10-21 · 2 votes · Sinn Féin PMB

A bill to amend the Education Act 1998 and certain regulations made under that Act for the purpose of allowing a certain timeframe to be specified in respect of students with sp…

full description

A bill to amend the Education Act 1998 and certain regulations made under that Act for the purpose of allowing a certain timeframe to be specified in respect of students with special educational needs when an application is made for admission to a school and to provide for related matters.

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 80–65

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 1 Ken O'Flynn

The motion · motion passed 79–64

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 1 Ken O'Flynn

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 6 votes · 9 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 9 total

Health 4 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of the Budget 2026 allocation of €217 million to primary care reimbursement services medicines, beyond the €30 million allocation for new medicines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56763/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consultation with families who are involved in the audit hip surgery for children will be included in the forthcoming external expert panel process on hips; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56798/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if children affected by the CHI hip surgery audit will be included within the terms of reference of the forthcoming State inquiry into paediatric orthopaedic surgery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56827/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current status of a medical card appeal for a person (details supplied); if serious consideration will be given to urgently awarding the medical card as the person is suffering from breast cancer and a medical card will be required for their treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57427/25]
Foreign 2 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on his recent meeting with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57158/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the timeframe for when the new Ireland-Scotland Cooperation Framework will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57159/25]
Justice 2 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider reopening citizenship applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56994/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the progress made since the publication of two reports (details supplied) toward the introduction of periodic payment orders for catastrophically injured people; the work he wishes to undertake in this area, as well as a timeline for their introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57253/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when the allocations under the 2025 town and village renewal scheme will be announced; if he will consider awarding funding to a community group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57405/25]

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 6 votes · 22 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 22 total

Transport 3 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he aware of the issues with a bus service not stopping at a bus stop (details supplied); the service issues which are causing this; and the steps which are being taken to rectify the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56520/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56701/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the progression of the Cork to Limerick motorway (M20); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57310/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56696/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons a research stipend of a PhD student cannot be included as income in an application for a local authority home loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56891/25]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56685/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the investigation into tree felling in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57322/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been spent by her Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56695/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health her views on the marketing of private health services by private health providers for services outside of this jurisdiction, but on the island of Ireland, for the provision of hip and knee surgeries that are fully reimbursed; whether such services are needed; if they fulfil an important role in reducing waiting lists, or whether the services they provide are superfluous; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57309/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Taoiseach the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. [56700/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56693/25]
Climate 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56687/25]
Defence 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56689/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56692/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56691/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount that has been spent by her Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56690/25]
Culture 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56688/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56699/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56697/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount that has been spent by her Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56686/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56694/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56698/25]

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 1 vote · 28 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 28 total

Justice 9 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to bring forward the necessary statutory regulations or amending legislation to implement the recommendations of the 'Periodic Payment Orders Indexation Rate-Report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group' accepted by him in July 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56524/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current status of the implementation process for the revised indexation mechanism for periodic payment orders under part IV of the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017; and to specify the expected commencement date for the new framework. [56525/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reasons for the delay in publishing the draft regulations or legislative amendments required to activate the revised PPO indexation rate as recommended in the 2024 Inter-Departmental Working Group Report; and if he will provide a timeline for publication. [56526/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has engaged with the Department of Finance, the Central Bank of Ireland, or the Courts Service in respect of operational readiness for the implementation of the new PPO indexation rate; and to provide details of those engagements. [56527/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has assessed the potential financial impact on plaintiffs with catastrophic injuries such as those arising in a case (details supplied) of the continued inability to elect for a properly indexed PPO under the current legislation; and if he will publish that assessment. [56528/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will ensure that the necessary legislative or regulatory amendments to make the PPO regime fully operational will be enacted before the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56529/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the legislative priority list for 2025 includes the introduction of amending measures to rectify the deficiencies in the current PPO legislation; and if not, if he will add it to the list as a matter of urgency. [56530/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the consultation undertaken to date with relevant stakeholders, including representatives of catastrophically injured plaintiffs, the Law Society, and the Bar Council, in relation to the implementation of a workable PPO indexation mechanism; and if further stakeholder engagement is planned. [56531/25]
- 2025-10-22 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in view of growing opposition to State proposals for mandated encryption backdoors, if he will publish the legal advice received on privacy, cybersecurity, and constitutional implications; arrange for an independent impact assessment involving civil society and tech experts; and commit to maintaining end-to-end encryption standards for citizens and businesses, absent a court order per individual case. [57610/25]
Social 5 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department’s assessment of the number of workers who may be financially disadvantaged by transferring from existing occupational pension schemes into the State’s new automatic enrolment retirement savings system; and if he will publish the analysis underpinning these estimates. [57377/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has identified categories of employees, such as those in defined benefit or matched employer contribution schemes, who may be worse off under the automatic enrolment retirement savings system; and the measures being considered to safeguard those employees. [57378/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has conducted an equality or impact assessment of the automatic enrolment retirement savings system with regard to income level, gender; and employment sector and if he will make that assessment available. [57379/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the mechanisms that will be used to prevent duplication or conflict between existing private pension arrangements and the new State-run auto-enrolment system, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises. [57380/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the establishment of the central processing authority responsible for administering the auto-enrolment retirement savings system; the current staffing and budget allocation; and if progress reports will be published quarterly. [57381/25]
Finance 4 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the growing number of elderly people whose life assurance policies are becoming unaffordable due to annual premium increases; if he will outline what consumer protections currently exist for persons over the age of 70 who have paid premiums for decades but now face either the loss of their policy or sharply reduced cover; if his Department has engaged with the Central Bank regarding this matter [57256/25]
- 2025-10-22 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the Central Bank of Ireland’s latest data indicating that fraudsters stole approximately €160 million from Irish consumers and businesses in 2024 through electronic and online payments. [57603/25]
- 2025-10-22 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the steps his Department and the Central Bank are taking to enhance the resilience of Ireland’s payment systems against fraud, including coordination with retail banks, fintech companies, and card issuers. [57604/25]
- 2025-10-22 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider mandating stronger customer-authentication and fraud-reimbursement obligations similar to those introduced in the United Kingdom under the Payment Systems Regulator’s Contingent Reimbursement Model Code. [57605/25]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of confirmed avian influenza at Fota Wildlife Park, if he will publish the biosecurity audit for all State-owned wildlife facilities nationwide, detail compensation, surveillance and culling protocols for private and commercial poultry in Cork environs and commit to upgrading laboratory and rapid response capacity in the Cork region. [57121/25]
- 2025-10-22 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the existential warnings from the Irish fishing sector, if he will publish the Government’s sectoral impact assessments of the 2026 quota cuts; outline the legal and trade measures being pursued at EU and bilateral levels to counter unfair overfishing by third-party fleets; and outline a transitional support scheme (income, retraining, diversification) for affected coastal communities. [57608/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the repeated delays to the construction and completion of the new National Children’s Hospital, which has reportedly missed contractual deadlines on 16 occasions; the measures being taken to hold the contractor accountable for cost overruns and schedule slippage; the current projected completion date and final estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57376/25]
- 2025-10-22 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will outline which authority is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act 1919; the measures in place to ensure that property owners comply with their legal obligation to control or destroy rats on their premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57437/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Taoiseach if the Central Statistics Office, under his Department’s aegis, holds or can provide data on the number and percentage of residents of non-Irish ethnic background in Ballyhaunis, Ballyvaughan, Clones, Lisdoonvarna, Longford, Gort, Granard, and Newport for the census years 2016, 2022, and 2024 or the most recent available figures, if this information can be disaggregated at town level [56414/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport In view of the renewed consultation on Cork light rail proposals, if he will release the costed feasibility and ridership study, commit to fast-tracking funding and planning approval for example, statutory orders for the Cork route with defined milestones; and if central Government will underwrite cost overruns or reduce risk for the local authority or developers. [57123/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will review the operation of the revised spouses’ and children’s pension scheme (2004) as it applies to teachers and other public servants, and to address the issue of compulsory contributions by single members with no dependents, who cannot benefit under the scheme, and for whom contributions are not refundable on retirement or death; and whether this constitutes discriminatory treatment of single employees compared with married or partnered colleagues. [57238/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the conflict of interest disclosures that adjudicators of the Workplace Relations Commission are required to make prior to taking up their position; if adjudicators may engage in discussions with legal representatives prior to a hearing; and if such communications must be declared. [56872/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that single teachers appointed since 2004 are required to make mandatory 1.5% pension contributions to the spouses’ and children’s pension scheme despite being ineligible for benefits under that scheme; if she considers this requirement to be equitable; and if she will engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation to examine possible reform or refund mechanisms for single teachers. [57242/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the guidelines and procedures in place for the vetting of individuals working or volunteering in sectors that provide services to children; and if an individual may continue to work or volunteer in such a capacity while their vetting application is being processed and not yet completed. [56871/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 6 votes · 9 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 9 total

Justice 4 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of civilian staff currently employed by An Garda Síochána in each of the Garda Stations on the north side of Cork city and Cork city in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56769/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of civilian staff employed by An Garda Síochána in the wider Cork area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56770/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of civilian staff vacancies by An Garda Síochána in each of the stations in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56771/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will clarify the action needed regarding American citizenship for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57399/25]
Foreign 2 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of current blockages of aid to locations in Sudan; his view on this; the work Ireland is carrying out with international partners to provide humanitarian assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56941/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on the progress made towards achieving the 0.7% of gross national income being spent on official development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56942/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [56982/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 1 October 2025, of the number of complaints upheld for the years 2022 to 2025, if the Minister can provide a breakdown per CHO for each year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56778/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to raise the level of psychotherapy standards and criteria; the engagement she has had with the sector in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57323/25]

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 5 votes · 8 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 8 total

Transport 4 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the spend to date on 90-minute Leap card fares in Cork city. [56933/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the spend on hardware that was deemed to not process fast enough in Cork city for 90-minute Leap card fares; and whether additional hardware will now be purchased. [56934/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the timeline for the introduction of new bus routes in Cork city. [56966/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the review into the 203, 208, 207, 214 and 215 bus routes in Cork city. [56967/25]
Education 3 questions
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the exceptional interim grant for parents of children in special schools who have not received school transport. [56579/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special transport grants paid out, by county, in tabular form. [56580/25]
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth where parents can find guidance on the structure for children opted out of religion under the new primary school curriculum. [57241/25]
Culture 1 question
- 2025-10-21 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether there are any funding streams available to young people playing darts on the world stage. [57252/25]