Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 8 Dec

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 8 Dec – 14 Dec 2025 · 5 TDs · 6 bills voted on · 358 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill 2025: Instruction to Committee

2025-12-10 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 75–59

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 1 Thomas Gould

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages

2025-12-10 · 6 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 64–73

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

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 60–74

Voted for 2 Eoghan Kenny · Thomas Gould

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 1 Ken O'Flynn

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 60–74

Voted for 2 Eoghan Kenny · Thomas Gould

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 1 Ken O'Flynn

The motion · motion passed 72–63

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

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

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 64–72

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

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

The motion · motion passed 72–64

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

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

Just Transition (Worker and Community Environmental Rights) Bill 2021

2025-12-10 · 1 vote · Social Democrats PMB

A bill to provide for the establishment of a body to be known as An Coimisiún Náisiúnta um Thrasdul Cóir or, in the English language, the National Just Transition Commission to …

full description

A bill to provide for the establishment of a body to be known as An Coimisiún Náisiúnta um Thrasdul Cóir or, in the English language, the National Just Transition Commission to oversee the bringing together of workers, communities, employers and government in social dialogue to drive the plans, policies and investments needed for a fair transformation to a low-carbon economy; to require the preparation, by certain prescribed bodies, of just transition plans; to provide for the conferral of other functions on the said body; to amend the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended by the 2021 Act); and to provide for related matters.

Whether the bill should proceed (Second Stage) · motion failed 64–72

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

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025

2025-12-10 · 1 vote · Govt (Foreign Affairs)

A bill to amend the Arbitration Act 2010 to enable effect to be given in the State to certain international agreements concerned with the protection of investment

full description

A bill to amend the Arbitration Act 2010 to enable effect to be given in the State to certain international agreements concerned with the protection of investment; and to provide for related matters.

Whether the bill should proceed (Second Stage) · motion passed 73–63

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

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

European Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

2025-12-10 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 73–63

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

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

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-12-09 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 76–67

Voted for 1 Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 2 Eoghan Kenny · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 2 Colm Burke · Ken O'Flynn

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 10 votes · 50 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 50 total

Enterprise 8 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department will be reopening quota’s for dairy farm assistants under the general employment permits scheme; when this is likely to commence, in view that the quota has been reached and now all subsequent applications have been rejected, taking into account that many employers urgently require dairy farm assistants for the upcoming spring calving season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69830/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if consideration can be given to increasing the quota for dairy farm assistants under the general employment permits scheme, in view of the quota being reached and all subsequent applications being rejected, taking into account that many employers urgently require dairy farm assistants for the upcoming spring calving season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69839/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total number of dairy farm assistants applications received since eligibility was first introduced in 2018, and for each subsequent year from 2019 to 2024, and from 1 January to the 30 November 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69840/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if consideration can be given to increasing the quota for dairy farm assistants under the general employment permits scheme in view of the high demand for skilled workers in agriculture, in particular during the spring calving season, taking into account that labour shortages are a major challenge for dairy farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69841/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when the final recommendations from a review of the occupations lists for employment permits will be published, in view of the public consultation process closing on the 19 September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69842/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the progress that has been made to date by the interdepartmental group established to review the single application process for employment permits and visa applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69843/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the process in place whereby if a general employment permit for a dairy farm assistant has not been taken up/activated or if the applicant has been made redundant, if a mechanism is in place to facilitate an applicant whose application was rejected as the maximum number of general employment permits that may be granted to dairy farm assistants has been reached from 2 September 2025, taking into account that labour shortages are a major challenge for dairy farms and that many employers urgently require dairy farm assistants for the upcoming spring calving season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69845/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if an application for a general employment permit for a dairy farm assistant has been refused on the basis that the quota has been filled, if the application be treated as an existing application when the quota system has been reviewed and a new quota limit set, in view of the lengthy nature of the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70811/25]
Justice 8 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when an application will be processed and an IRP card issued to a person (details supplied) given it is over eight weeks since the application was submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70008/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when an application will be processed and an IRP card issued to a person (details supplied) given it is over eight weeks since the application was submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70009/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when an application will be processed and an IRP card issued to a person (details supplied) given it is over seven weeks since the application was submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70010/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when an application will be processed and an IRP card issued to a person (details supplied) given it is over five weeks since the application was submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70011/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when an application will be processed and an IRP card issued to a person (details supplied) given it is over seven weeks since the application was submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70012/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when an application will be processed and an IRP card issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70013/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when a renewal application will be processed and an IRP card issued (details supplied), given that a delay in the issuing of same is impacting on the applicant's employment stability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70051/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason a full-time student (details supplied) who was born in Ireland and is required to apply for an Irish residency permit was only issued with a permit for a period of six months, which expires on the 6 March 2026,; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70232/25]
Health 8 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if funding for the lymphoedema and lipoedema model was provided for in Budget 2026; if not, whether consideration would be given to providing funding for same considering that international studies show that the cost to treat patients could be reduced by 87%, if comprehensive lymphedema services were introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69620/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the ongoing independent review by the Health Products Regulatory Authority on the method of sale and supply of codeine containing medicinal products that are currently available without prescription; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69678/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if a consultation process has been put in place with patient advocacy groups, GPs, pharmacies and other stakeholders in respect of the review being carried out by the Health Products Regulatory Authority on the method of sale and supply of codeine containing medicinal products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69679/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health in the event of the Health Products Regulatory Authority makes recommendations which provide that codeine containing medicinal products can only be made available through prescription, the mechanisms that will be put in place to assist those who are reliant on these products and who have been able to purchase them without prescription; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69680/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the review being carried out by the Health Products Regulatory Authority on the method of sale and supply of codeine containing medicinal products are prepared to consider putting in place additional safeguards through pharmacies without the requirement for prescription; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69681/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of the additional 15 whole-time equivalent (WTE) posts allocated to HSE oral health services under Budget 2024 which have been filled on a permanent basis as of 1 September 2025; if she will provide a breakdown of the WTEs filled by dental grade, by principal dental surgeon/orthodontic service; the date on which each post was filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70262/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) posts, by dental grade and principal dental surgeon/dental area, that were permanent vacancies as of 1 January 2024 which remain either unapproved or unfilled in a permanent capacity in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70263/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide the Cork University Dental Hospital with a GMS panel number to enable them to make claims for medical card patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70795/25]
Transport 6 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the status of an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69797/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department collaborates with colleagues in Northern Ireland regarding the testing that takes place within the Northern Ireland MOT and Irish NCT to ensure full safety and quality of vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70111/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department ensures vehicle safety testing is up to standard comparative to testing procedures to ensure testing throughout the country is being fully adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70112/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the frequency with which the standard of the national car test is reviewed to ensure vehicles are meeting required safety standards on roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70113/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department ensures all departmental agencies such as the National Transport Authority, National Car Test and Northern Irish counterparts ensure their service to citizens and road users are in full compliance under EU directives; the length of time for these services to reply to road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70114/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to reviewing the decision of the return journey of a proposed new route (details supplied) of the BusConnects Cork Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70248/25]
Education 6 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of an additional accommodation project application by a school (details supplied); when they can proceed to the next phase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69462/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding major capital works for refurbishment for a school (details supplied), as the school was initially built in 1911 and needs major renovations works to support the needs of the pupils in the area, particularly as the town of Mallow is growing substantially; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70783/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if applications for emergency works and additional accommodation for a school (detail supplied) will be supported, as the works are urgently needed by the school and its students, in particular students with ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70782/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth when funding to replace a school’s roof (details supplied) will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71218/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth when funding from emergency works will be released to a school (details suppled); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71219/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) will be permitted to progress from stage 2b of the additional accommodation scheme for a new building; if she will engage with the school on this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71261/25]
Rural 3 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when the Community Centres Investment Fund will be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70086/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when the Local Enhancement Programme will be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70087/25]
- 2025-12-11 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. [71226/25]
Further and Higher Education 3 questions
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the necessary funding will be provided to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70790/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the action that will be taken to increase the percentage of places available on the dental training course in UCC given that less than half are currently occupied by Irish students given the need for more dentists to reduce public waiting list in the south-west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67263/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the necessary funding will be provided to the dental school in UCC, which has submitted a proposal to the Department for the expansion of their training programme, which would involve the development of a new hub in which additional students could be trained and practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67262/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current requirements for local authorities to provide work placement for those with a disability; the funding which has been allocated to same; and the number of disability placements have been provided by Cork County Council and Cork City Council since January 2023. [69581/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when existing purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) developments will be permitted to reset rents to market levels under new rent control rules that come into effect in April 2026, if it has been drawn to his attention that the current wording is unclear; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70977/25]
Children 2 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the proposed reorganisation of a youth services facility in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69777/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the future of Liberty Street House in Cork; the steps her Department has taken to prevent its potential closure; her assessment of the impact the loss of this service would have on early intervention and the prevention of youth homelessness in Cork city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71220/25]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department has taken on recent reports that the European Commission has recalled consignments of frozen Brazilian beef products imported in to the European Union recently in view of the fact that prohibited growth hormones were detected in these products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70810/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking in view of the fact that the presence of bluetongue virus (BTV-3) has been identified and confirmed in a herd of cattle in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70967/25]
Public Expenditure 2 questions
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the current status of progress on the Blackpool (River Bride) flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70780/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the level of capital spending on Cork and Dublin in each of the years from 2022 to June 2025; the major capital spending plans for Cork going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70781/25]

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 10 votes · 27 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 27 total

Education 8 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the circulars which have been sent by her Department to schools in relation to school uniform policies since November 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69426/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans to deliver pension parity for school secretaries and caretakers as of December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70181/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans her Department has to maintain and refurbish rural primary schools in order to maintain their presence in rural communities across the country, given the threats to such funding due to rural depopulation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70185/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the engagements she has had with a trade union (details supplied) representing school secretaries and caretakers since becoming Minister; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70184/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the roll out and funding of the proposed DEIS+ scheme, as of December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70182/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the delivery timelines of building works and school building programmes under her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70186/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who have applied for special education places for the academic year 2026/2027; if she has considered a centralised application system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70183/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70862/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the refusal of an injection for a person (detailed supplied) will be reviewed by the health service; if the reason for the refusal will be outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70002/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if her Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form [70867/25]
Climate 2 questions
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if an external investigation into Inland Fisheries Ireland took place over the period 2021 to 2025; if so, when it concluded; the findings of the report; the actions that have taken place as a result of an investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70841/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70859/25]
Justice 2 questions
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70869/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide clarity on the future of the accommodation recognition payment for families providing accommodation for Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71222/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70865/25]
Defence 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Defence if her Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70861/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70874/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70864/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70870/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70863/25]
Culture 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70860/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70868/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70872/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70857/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70858/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70866/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70871/25]

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 7 votes · 263 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 263 total

Health 84 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance framework applied by her Department to non-statutory bodies that receive direct funding, including the internal controls, verification steps, and oversight mechanisms used prior to releasing public funds. [69066/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the due diligence process carried out before funding is approved for non-statutory bodies; the risk assessments completed; and the measures taken to ensure appropriate stewardship of Exchequer funds. [69067/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she intends to introduce standardised reporting requirements, annual financial statements, audit obligations or sanctions for non-statutory bodies receiving direct funding from her Department; and any reforms now under consideration. [69068/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of applications approved under the treatment abroad scheme for gender-affirming surgery; the number of applications refused; and the total cost to the State in each year, including associated clinical and administrative costs, from 2018 to 2025, by year. [69088/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that the current approval process for gender-affirming surgery under the treatment abroad scheme operates without any standardised national clinical review panel or centralised governance structure; the steps she intends to take to introduce national oversight; and when such measures will be operational. [69089/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of referring consultants in Ireland who have issued the clinical recommendation and multidisciplinary-team letters relied upon for treatment abroad scheme approvals for gender-affirming surgery; the clinical specialties of these consultants; and the number of such recommendations issued in each of the years 2018 to 2025. [69090/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the criteria used by her Department to determine which gender-affirming procedures are eligible for approval under the treatment abroad scheme; the clinical basis for excluding procedures such as facial feminisation surgery; and whether a review of these criteria is underway or planned. [69091/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national clinical guidance that applies to the prescription or recommendation of anti malaria medications for Ministers, civil servants and Defence Forces personnel travelling abroad on official State business; and the risk assessment protocols used for Lariam and other anti-malaria medications in these circumstances. [69126/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the total cost of gender-affirming surgeries funded by the HSE under the treatment abroad scheme in each of the years 2018 to 2025; the average and median contribution paid by the State per procedure; the average and median co-payment borne by patients in the host country; the countries in which the surgeries took place; and the methodology used by the HSE to calculate the State contribution in each case. [69131/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current policy position on the provision of gender-affirming surgeries within the State; the number of patients currently approved for such surgeries under the treatment abroad scheme; the number awaiting approval; the expected cost of developing domestic surgical capacity; and the actions under way within the Department to assess service need, governance, and long-term cost planning. [69132/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total annual expenditure incurred by the HSE on gender-affirming surgeries funded under the treatment abroad scheme in each of the years 2018 to 2025; the number of patients funded each year; the average cost per patient; the highest and lowest costs reimbursed in each year; and the Department's projections for expenditure for 2026 to 2028. [69133/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department patients who waited more than twelve hours on trolleys in each of the past six months, by hospital, based on verified HSE TrolleyGar data, and to outline any discrepancies identified between internal reports and the daily published HSE urgent and emergency care reports. [69147/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of emergency department patients who waited more than twenty-four hours on trolleys in each of the past six months, by hospital, and to set out the maximum trolley wait recorded at each hospital during that period. [69148/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of additional senior clinical decision maker hours rostered in emergency departments, medical assessment units and inpatient wards since the introduction of the public only consultant contract, including evening, weekend and public holiday hours separately for each hospital group. [69149/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of diagnostic appointments provided outside core hours in each of the past six months, including CT, MRI, ultrasound, cardiac investigations and endoscopy separately for each hospital. [69150/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients transferred from emergency departments to surgical hubs, rapid access clinics, ambulatory care clinics, crisis cafes, virtual wards, reablement services or expanded rehabilitation services in each of the past six months, and the percentage of these transfers that prevented an emergency admission. [69151/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the escalation criteria used by the HSE national oversight team during twice daily reviews of unscheduled care pressures; and to provide the number of times each hospital triggered escalation in each of the past six months. [69152/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of beds closed for infection-control, staffing or maintenance reasons in each of the past six months, by hospital; and the impact of these closures on trolley numbers reported to the HSE. [69153/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has reviewed the preparedness of each regional health area for winter pressures; setting out the actions approved, the timelines for delivery, and the performance indicators being used to measure readiness. [69154/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if changes have been made since 2020 to the eligibility criteria or decision-making principles applied by the HSE when assessing discretionary medical card applications for people aged over 70 who exceed the income threshold but face high medical or living costs; and to publish any such changes. [69346/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the circulars, directives, guidance notes, or interpretative instructions issued by her Department or the HSE since 2020, relating to the assessment of discretionary medical card applications for people aged over 70; and to make these documents available. [69347/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical card applications received for people aged over 70, the number approved, the number refused, and the resulting approval rate from 2020 to 2025, by year; and whether the Department has reviewed these trends. [69348/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the decline in discretionary medical cards issued to people aged over 70 against the documented annual growth in the over-70 population; and to provide the analysis carried out. [69349/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if medical inflation and increased costs of essential healthcare for older persons including GP visits, medications, diagnostics and home-care supports are factored into her Department’s approach to discretionary medical card policy; and the way in which such cost pressures are considered. [69350/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out a review of governance, consistency, or fairness in discretionary medical card decision-making for people aged over 70 since 2020; if so to provide the findings; and if not, the reason no such review has taken place. [69351/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has evaluated if current income thresholds, hardship definitions, or supporting-documentation requirements for discretionary medical cards remain appropriate for the needs of people aged over 70; and to set out any planned revisions. [69352/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has examined the impact of rising household costs including energy, rent, utilities and food on older persons who are above the income threshold but have high unavoidable expenses; and whether this has informed discretionary medical card policy. [69353/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the budgetary provision allocated for discretionary medical cards for older persons in each year from 2020 to 2025; and whether any changes in funding have influenced approval trends during this period. [69354/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has undertaken equality or vulnerability impact assessment regarding the sharp reduction in discretionary medical card approvals for persons aged over 70 since 2020; and to provide any assessment conducted. [69355/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance, referral and decision-making framework that operated when Irish children and young people were sent abroad for gender-identity assessment or treatment, including the basis on which the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service and University College Hospital London were used; and the policy reviews undertaken following the closure of Tavistock. [69427/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young people referred abroad for gender-identity assessment or treatment in each year since 2009, including the number referred; the number seen; age at referral and sex at birth; and if her Department holds any clinical outcomes or follow-up information arising from these referrals. [69428/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the clinical guidelines, national policy instructions or formal agreements that applied to the use of puberty-suppressing medication for minors assessed overseas; and to specify whether any safeguarding, clinical-risk or budgetary assessments were carried out before these treatments were facilitated under the treatment abroad scheme. [69429/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken a detailed assessment of the implications of the Cass Review for Irish policy on gender-related healthcare for minors; and the resulting changes to policy, clinical standards or risk-mitigation measures. [69430/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted any audits or reviews relating to historical referral practices, clinical oversight, training pathways or governance arrangements in gender-identity services for minors; and the scope and findings of any such work along with the current safeguards that apply to new referrals. [69431/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the sustained decline in the number of new clients accessing HSE-funded crisis-pregnancy counselling services between 2019 and 2025; and the Department's assessment of whether this reflects reduced service availability, lower public awareness, barriers to access, or changes in referral pathways. [69470/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide a full regional and service-level breakdown, for each year from 2019 to 2025, of the number of new clients accessing crisis-pregnancy counselling and post-abortion counselling through HSE-funded providers; and to confirm the datasets and reporting standards used by the HSE to compile these figures. [69471/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance, staffing model, funding allocation, and implementation timeline for the planned reconfiguration of crisis-pregnancy counselling services under the National Sexual Health Strategy 2025-2035; and to specify how the Department will ensure that unplanned-pregnancy and post-abortion counselling capacity is maintained during and after the transition. [69472/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the measures taken to ensure accuracy and consistency in the HSE's quarterly reporting of counselling activity, including the use of categories that combine new and existing clients, and if the Department intends to introduce standardised reporting to avoid double-counting in national statistics. [69473/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to identify which body holds national waiting-list data for children and young people seeking gender-related assessment or treatment, in circumstances where the HSE’s treatment abroad scheme has stated that it does not hold or have access to waiting-list information; the oversight arrangements the Department has in place to ensure national visibility of demand and unmet need; and the steps being taken to address the absence of a centralised dataset. [69538/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the Department’s governance framework for paediatric referrals for gender-related treatment abroad, including the criteria used by the Department to assess clinical safety, safeguarding, and public-expenditure implications, in circumstances where applications for gender-affirming surgery abroad are automatically approved once an MDT report and referral letter are submitted. [69539/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the Department’s oversight of public expenditure on gender-related treatment abroad for children and young people since 2020, including pre-assessment costs, multidisciplinary-team costs, travel-related costs and surgical costs; the arrangements in place to monitor value for money; and whether any expenditure controls or budget ceilings apply. [69540/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national policy or clinical-governance framework which guides the assessment of children and young people for gender-related interventions, including referrals abroad; and to confirm if the Department plans to undertake a review of national governance standards in light of recent international findings in this area. [69541/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department will establish a single national reporting structure for all paediatric gender-related referrals, approvals, outcomes and costs, in order to ensure transparent oversight and policy accountability; and the expected timeline for such a structure. [69542/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide a full list of all public-health risk assessments completed by her Department, the National Health Protection Office or the Health Service Executive since 1 January 2020 concerning communicable-disease risks among persons arriving into the State, including tuberculosis, measles, polio and hepatitis; and to specify the title of each assessment, the date it was completed, and the officer or unit responsible for preparing it. [69959/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the findings and conclusions of each public-health risk assessment completed since 1 January 2020 concerning communicable-disease risks among persons arriving into the State, including tuberculosis, measles, polio and hepatitis; and to state the public-health actions or interventions that followed each assessment. [69960/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide copies of all public-health guidance, internal advisories or instructions issued by her Department, or the HSE since 1 January 2020 that arose from public-health risk assessments concerning communicable-disease risks among persons arriving into the State; and to list the date and issuing authority for each document. [69961/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE maintains a central record or database of public-health risk assessments related to communicable-disease risks among persons arriving into the State; and if so, to outline the structure of this record, the information fields captured, and the frequency with which it is updated. [69962/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if any public-health risk assessments since 1 January 2020 identified elevated risks associated with specific cohorts of persons arriving into the State, including returning residents, travellers, tourists, students or persons seeking international protection; and to provide a summary of those findings. [69963/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since 1 January 2020 on which a public-health risk assessment at an air or maritime point of entry resulted in the issuing of public-health advice, the initiation of contact-tracing measures or any other public-health intervention; and to provide the year-by-year breakdown. [69964/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current criteria used by her Department and by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre when determining whether to recommend the introduction or re-introduction of health-screening protocols for persons entering the State, including the thresholds used in national and international epidemiological surveillance and the role of WHO and ECDC Public Health Emergency of International Concern notifications. [69966/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to list all occasions since January 2020 on which the Chief Medical Officer or the Health Protection Surveillance Centre recommended the introduction, expansion, suspension, or withdrawal of screening protocols for infectious diseases affecting persons entering or residing in the State, and to outline the actions taken by the Department in response in each case. [69967/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance framework applying to the development of infectious-disease screening advice by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, including the approval process, escalation procedures, inter-departmental coordination, and documentation of decision-making. [69968/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if a formal capacity assessment has been carried out by the HSE to determine the resources required to provide infectious-disease screening for all persons entering the State in circumstances where public health advice recommends such screening, and to publish the findings. [69969/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current staffing complement at the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the National Health Protection Office with responsibility for surveillance, risk assessment, and screening protocol development, disaggregated by grade, specialty, and whole-time equivalent. [69970/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the gaps identified by her Department in the HSE’s surge capacity to conduct infectious-disease screening during periods of elevated risk; and the steps being taken to address staffing, laboratory throughput, IT systems, and public-health infrastructure. [69971/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a costed contingency plan exists within the Department or HSE for the rapid expansion of border-related infectious-disease screening in the event of future WHO or ECDC alerts, and to provide the projected financial and staffing requirements underpinning such planning. [69972/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to detail how screening responsibilities are allocated across public-sector and private-sector actors, including universities, employers, and occupational-health providers, and whether any quality-assurance or regulatory oversight exists for screening conducted outside the HSE. [69973/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has reviewed the lessons learned from previous major screening initiatives, including those associated with mpox, measles resurgence in Europe in 2024, Covid-19, and travel-associated viral haemorrhagic fever protocols, and to publish any internal evaluations or recommendations arising. [69974/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she intends to establish statutory or regulatory guidelines to clarify minimum standards for infectious-disease screening for persons entering the State, including data reporting requirements, consent protocols, laboratory turnaround times, and inter-agency information-sharing. [69975/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the formal governance arrangements in place between her Department, the HSE, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for addressing delayed transfers of care linked to housing shortages, including reporting channels, escalation processes, and scheduled interdepartmental reviews. [70415/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE does not maintain national data on the number of disabled persons who have been clinically certified as medically fit for discharge but cannot leave hospitals or nursing homes due to unsuitable or unavailable housing; if her Department intends to introduce mandatory national reporting for this cohort; and the expected timeline for establishing this dataset. [70416/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed transfers of care recorded in 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025 in the categories of Home Support Service and Homelessness or Housing for persons aged 65 and over; the annual targets her Department has set for reducing these delays; and the measures being implemented to meet those targets. [70417/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out any assessment of the financial impact on the health service arising from delayed transfers of care caused by housing shortages; and the estimated cost of acute and step-down bed days occupied by persons awaiting suitable housing in 2023, 2024, and 2025. [70421/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the process used by her Department to monitor the HSE’s performance in resolving delayed transfers of care linked to housing; the frequency of internal reviews; and the mechanisms used to hold the HSE accountable for meeting its annual reduction targets. [70423/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to set out the policy basis under which WPATH guidance and standards were incorporated into State policy on gender identity healthcare between 2018 and 2023; the departmental assessments carried out to determine the scientific, clinical and regulatory standing of WPATH before that alignment; and the documentation underpinning that policy decision. [70451/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to clarify the Government’s current policy position regarding WPATH guidance in light of the Cass Review; whether any formal review has been initiated into the suitability of WPATH standards for use in Irish clinical services; and the timeline for a revised evidence-based national clinical framework. [70452/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to detail the governance, approval processes and risk assessments used when referring Irish children and young people to external providers, including foreign clinics; and to confirm whether any departmental policy ever permitted or endorsed referral pathways involving private clinics in Antwerp, Belgium. [70453/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to explain the contradiction between the HSE’s written assurance that no Irish child has been referred to a clinic in Antwerp and references in judicial review documentation to a care pathway involving such a clinic; and to outline what steps the Department is taking to reconcile and verify these conflicting claims. [70454/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the Department’s assessment of governance failures identified in the Cass Review as they relate to historical Irish referrals to Tavistock; the lessons identified by the Department; and the policy adjustments introduced to prevent a recurrence in Ireland. [70455/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to publish the Department’s analysis of the referral figures for Irish children sent to the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service, as referenced in the HSE report on the implications of the Cass Review; and to outline how these data informed policy changes since 2020. [70456/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy rationale used by the Department when approving the 2021 consultant post in child and adolescent psychiatry requiring adherence to WPATH Standards of Care; and whether this requirement will now be reviewed or withdrawn in light of international evidence and the Cass Review. [70457/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the Department’s safeguarding and clinical governance standards for gender identity services for minors; and to confirm whether these standards require full psychiatric assessment, developmental history, autism screening, and differential diagnosis before any medical intervention is considered. [70458/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to set out the Department’s policy on the collection, verification and publication of data relating to gender identity services for children and young people, including referral numbers, diagnostic profiles, comorbidities and treatment outcomes; and to confirm the timeline for establishing a national dataset meeting international evidence standards. [70459/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has reviewed the 2014 Irish prevalence study by a person (details supplied) and colleagues regarding suspected or confirmed gender dysphoria in adults; and to detail how such prevalence data inform planning, service capacity and risk assessment for youth services. [70460/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have received Transitional Care Funding due to housing adaptation requirements in 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025. [71475/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific measures in place to retain and recruit occupational therapists in Cork, including but not limited to remote or hybrid working options, structured career progression, relocation supports, and flexible working arrangements; the evaluation carried out by her Department, or the HSE, on why staff are leaving Cork-based posts for emigration or ‘improved opportunities’; and if she will outline any additional actions under consideration to address these retention issues in Cork. [71073/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when she will publish the completed expert group review on the implications of the Cass Review for gender healthcare services in Ireland, given that the HSE has confirmed that the review has been completed and submitted for consideration; the policy basis for withholding this material from the Oireachtas; and the steps she is taking to ensure that all clinical and governance recommendations arising from the Cass Review are transparently communicated and implemented. [71074/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the interim clinical safeguards she has directed the HSE to introduce for the assessment and treatment of children and young people with gender distress in response to the Cass Review; the guidance her Department has issued to CAMHS and Children’s Health Ireland on the application of a precautionary approach; and the timeframe for finalising updated national clinical guidance. [71075/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health which diagnostic classification standards her Department recognises for the assessment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence in children and adults, including whether DSM-5, ICD-11, or other criteria apply; and whether national diagnostic criteria or clinical guidelines have been approved for use pending completion of the new Model of Care. [71076/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department has taken to establish a national data and outcomes system to monitor long-term psychological, medical, and service-use outcomes for individuals receiving gender-related healthcare; the expected timeline for implementation; and how this system will support evidence-based policy and clinical governance. [71077/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has approved a national clinical pathway for individuals seeking to discontinue or reverse aspects of gender transition; the governance standards that will apply in this area; the expected timeframe for formalising such pathways within the new Model of Care; and whether associated data on detransition will be collected and published. [71078/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements that apply to officials, clinicians, and advisors involved in drafting the new Model of Care for gender healthcare; whether these declarations will be published for transparency; and the steps her Department is taking to ensure independence from advocacy organisations, external interest groups, or service-provider influence. [71079/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether referral pathways for Irish children and young people to domestic services or to the NHS under the treatment abroad scheme have been revised since publication of the Cass Review; the clinical oversight arrangements that now apply to such referrals; and whether updated risk-assessment protocols have been issued. [71080/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on waiting lists for occupational therapy in Cork city and county in each quarter from Q1 2022 to the most recent quarter, broken down by service area (primary care, older persons, and mental health); the median and longest waiting times in each category; and the assessment of her Department on the impact of occupational therapist vacancies on access to assessment and treatment in Cork. [71648/25]
Justice 70 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the oversight framework used by his Department for all national and EU co-funded migration and integration grants; the audit requirements imposed on NGOs; the number of compliance checks carried out in each of the past five years; the breaches identified; and the sanctions or repayment orders issued. [69057/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the criteria used by his Department to award national and EU co-funded migration and integration funding; the value-for-money tests applied before grants approved; and the process used to verify outcomes once funding has been spent. [69058/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the performance indicators his Department uses to measure the impact of Exchequer and EU funding allocated to NGOs for immigration, asylum and integration initiatives; to confirm whether annual performance reports are required; and to provide the results of these indicators for each year since 2021. [69059/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide details regarding payment of benefit-in-kind (details supplied). [69072/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide details of any end-of-service gratuity payments, gifts or other arrangements made to a person (details supplied) on termination of their contract, in lieu of pension or otherwise at a cost to the Irish public purse. [69075/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the formal procedures used by his Department during the initial interview and assessment of international protection applicants for recording information on applicants’ education, qualifications, and previous occupations; the statutory or administrative basis for these procedures; whether these procedures were reviewed or updated at any point since 2018; and to provide the dates and outcomes of any such reviews in tabular form. [69187/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any internal audits, risk assessments, internal-control reviews, or management reports since 2018 have raised concerns about the absence of consolidated data on the educational or professional backgrounds of residents in IPAS accommodation; if such concerns were raised, to outline the findings and any actions taken; and if no concerns were raised, to explain the rationale for not examining this issue, given its relevance to labour-market access and integration planning. [69188/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has benchmarked Ireland’s data-collection practices on the educational and professional qualifications of international protection applicants against those used in comparable EU Member States; if so, to provide the results of that benchmarking exercise; if not, the reason benchmarking has not been undertaken; and whether he will now direct his Department to carry out such an exercise, including timelines for completion. [69189/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason his Department does not compile a consolidated administrative dataset on the education, qualifications, and professional backgrounds of persons residing in IPAS accommodation, despite this information being routinely provided during the international protection process; whether the Department has assessed the operational and policy impacts of this omission; and the steps he intends to take to correct this deficiency. [69190/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department intends to introduce a standardised national survey of the educational and professional backgrounds of all persons residing in IPAS accommodation; if so, to set out the methodology, governance, and timeline; and if not, the reason the State continues to operate without consolidated information necessary for integration planning, labour-market access oversight, and public transparency. [69191/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has identified any regulatory gaps regarding the authorisation, training, monitoring, and accountability of private security personnel who use mechanical restraints; and whether reforms are planned. [69224/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has received submissions regarding patterns of aggressive conduct, excessive force, or alleged assaults by private security personnel in nightlife settings. [69233/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to review regulation, investigative procedures, and venue responsibilities in light of increasing reports of serious incidents involving private security staff. [69234/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will commission a comprehensive review of the Private Security Services Act 2004 addressing licensing, citizen's arrest, holding rooms, training, complaints, and duty of care. [69236/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to detail oversight mechanisms within the Private Security Authority to investigate or sanction staff or companies that exceed lawful authority. [69240/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he will consider introducing a mandatory reporting requirement obliging licensed venues to notify the Private Security Authority of any civil claim or settlement arising from alleged misconduct by private security personnel. [69266/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether licensed private security personnel receive any accredited training in the application, monitoring, and safe removal of restraints, and whether his Department has assessed the risks posed by untrained personnel using such equipment. [69271/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department intends to introduce a structured and standardised assessment of educational and professional qualifications for all residents in IPAS centres; the governance framework that would underpin such an assessment; the expected timelines for design and implementation; and the way the resulting data would support labour-market planning and policy oversight. [69561/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has conducted any policy review of the current labour-market access permission for international protection applicants, including the number of permissions issued, renewal rates, rates of employment uptake, and any assessment of barriers to labour-market entry; and if he will publish any internal policy papers or briefing notes prepared since 2020. [69562/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has engaged with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment or the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science regarding the development of a cross-Government framework for recognising skills, qualifications and vocational experience of international protection applicants; and to detail any structured data-sharing arrangements, working groups or memoranda of understanding currently in place. [69563/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s data-governance policy regarding information collected from international protection applicants, including education, training, and work-history data submitted as part of permission-to-remain considerations; the reason this information is not recorded in a format that permits statistical analysis; and whether reforms to his Department’s data-architecture are planned to improve transparency and policy evaluation. [69564/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s policy for the collection, verification, retention and publication of incident data relating to International Protection Accommodation Services facilities; including the basis on which the Department determines what incident categories fall within its statutory responsibility; and what information is held for oversight and reporting purposes. [69568/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s governance framework for incident reporting and escalation within International Protection Accommodation Services facilities, including the procedures used by facility operators to notify the Department of serious incidents and the Department’s role in auditing or validating those reports. [69569/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide, for each month from 1 January 2025 to 31 August 2025, the number of incidents notified to his Department by operators of a facility (details supplied) disaggregated by the Department’s incident-reporting categories; and if this data underwent internal review for completeness and accuracy. [69570/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s policy on inter-agency information-sharing for International Protection Accommodation Services facilities, including agreements or protocols with An Garda Síochána concerning the exchange of incident data, risk assessments or safety alerts, and to confirm whether any memoranda of understanding or standard operating procedures are currently in place. [69571/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department carried out any risk assessments or safety audits of a facility (details supplied) between 1 January 2025 and 31 August 2025, and to provide the dates, scope and any non-operationally sensitive findings or recommendations arising from those assessments. [69572/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total Departmental expenditure on security provisions at a facility (details supplied) for the period 1 January 2025 to 31 August 2025, including contracted on-site security personnel, supplementary security personnel, security infrastructure upgrades, CCTV expansion, access control systems and perimeter fortification, in tabular form. [69573/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procurement processes, competitions, or contract renewals undertaken by his Department since 1 January 2024 relating to security services or security infrastructure for a facility (details supplied); the procurement route used; the successful tenderers; and the value and duration of each contract. [69574/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s criteria for determining when increases in security staffing or expenditure at an International Protection Accommodation Services facility require escalation, ministerial approval or an internal review, and to specify whether any such escalations occurred at a facility (details supplied) in 2025. [69575/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has compared its internal incident-data records for a facility (details supplied) with public communications issued by the Department during 2025 relating to crime rates or safety trends at International Protection Accommodation Services locations, and to confirm whether any discrepancies or variances were identified. [69576/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the internal reviews, assessments or Departmental submissions that were prepared between 1 October 2025 and 27 November 2025 concerning security arrangements, incident reporting, public-order issues or inter-agency engagement at a facility (details supplied); and whether any recommendations or policy changes resulted from this work. [69577/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has considered introducing a structured skills-and-qualifications assessment for all new arrivals into IPAS accommodation, including recording of highest education level, professional credentials, and vocational skills, as part of initial reception procedures; the governance arrangements that would apply to such an assessment; and the timeline for any policy decision on this matter. [69602/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has evaluated the extent to which international protection applicants with labour market access permission have skills that match labour shortages identified by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; if any interdepartmental work has been undertaken to compare qualifications held by applicants with national skills gaps; and if he will report on the findings or planned next steps. [69603/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the data-management standards that govern information collected from international protection applicants at reception stage; the reason his Department does not collect or retain structured data on education and professional qualifications that would support evidence-based labour market policy and integration planning; and the planned reforms to data collection or reporting to address this gap. [69604/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason his Department does not maintain national-level anonymised data on the educational and professional qualifications of those residing in IPAS accommodation, given that such data is routinely collected by other EU member states for planning and integration purposes; and the steps he will take to bring Ireland into line with international best practice. [69605/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department's policy and internal standards for the presentation, formatting and transmission of financial information released in response to parliamentary questions, including requirements relating to soft-copy availability, page numbering, document organisation, and the use of appropriate table formats for expenditure data. [69633/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason his Department issued financial data relating to NGO allocations in response to Parliamentary Question No. 313 of 25 September 2025, in an irregular hard-copy format without page numbering, without a coherent structure, in incorrect orientation, and with multiple pages printed upside down; and the steps being taken to ensure that all future responses provide accurate and accessible information to the Oireachtas. [69634/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 313 of 25 September 2025. if he will confirm whether his Department has established quality-control procedures or pre-issue checks for Parliamentary Question responses involving financial information; if so, the way these checks are carried out; who is responsible for sign-off; and whether these procedures were followed in the preparation of the responses. [69635/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a corrected and consolidated soft-copy version of all financial allocations to NGOs operating in the areas of migration, asylum and integration for the years covered by Parliamentary Question No 313 of 25 September 2025, in a single landscape-format document with page numbering, a clear index, and consistent data tables. [69636/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has carried out any review of its procedures for assembling, collating and releasing financial datasets to ensure accuracy and integrity; if so, to publish the findings; and if not, the reason such a review has not yet been undertaken given the need for clear and transparent reporting of Exchequer expenditure. [69637/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department's policy on record-keeping and document management for NGO funding allocations; the systems used to ensure that data are complete, traceable and maintain internal coherence; and whether these systems were applied in preparing the materials issued in response to Parliamentary Question No. 313 of 25 September 2025. [69638/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will detail the standard expected of his Department when providing information to the Oireachtas concerning public expenditure; and whether he intends to issue updated guidance or instructions to ensure that all financial releases meet basic standards of clarity, accuracy and usability. [69639/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the actions his Department is taking to establish a standardised and comprehensive data-recording framework for drone-related contraband incidents across the prison estate, including the development of specific incident classifications or codes for use by both the Irish Prison Service and An Garda Síochána, so that investigations, arrests, charges and convictions linked to drone incursions can be compiled and reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69793/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will direct the Irish Prison Service to publish an annual statistical report on drone incursions into prisons, including institution-level incident numbers, contraband recovered, and associated outcomes notified to his Department by An Garda Síochána, in a manner that does not compromise operational security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69794/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a formal written risk assessment on drone incursions into prisons is currently in place; the risk rating applied to drone-enabled contraband within the prison security framework; and if he will lay before Dáil Éireann a redacted summary setting out the main vulnerabilities identified, the mitigation measures underway, and the residual risks that remain outstanding. [69795/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procurement basis on which security services have been engaged for a facility (details supplied) since 2021, including the legal rationale used to dispense with public tendering requirements under Directive 2014/24/EU and S.I. 284/2016. [69865/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total expenditure on security services at a facility (details supplied) to date in 2025; to provide an annual breakdown of payments to each contracted provider; and his Department’s governance arrangements for verifying compliance before drawdown of public funds. [69867/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a risk assessment completed in early 2023 identified the use of unlicensed or unvetted personnel by a subcontractor engaged by a company (details supplied); and the actions taken at policy and contract-management level in response to the findings. [69868/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s procedures for ensuring that all personnel deployed at IPAS-managed accommodation centres hold valid licences issued by the Private Security Authority; and the way in which these compliance checks are monitored, recorded and enforced. [69869/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason payments to a company (details supplied) continued after the completion of the 2023 risk assessment; and whether his Department conducted any contract review, escalation or sanction process before authorising further expenditure. [69870/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the due-diligence process undertaken by his Department before the appointment of a company (details supplied) as a security provider for a facility; and whether his Department assessed any corporate or beneficial links between the companies. [69871/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a competitive process was conducted prior to the engagement of a company (details supplied); the number firms which were considered; and the basis on which the final decision was made. [69872/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the safeguarding, child-protection and risk-management framework in place at a facility (details supplied); and whether this framework has been updated following the incidents reported in 2025. [69873/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s policy on the use of subcontractors within security contracts at IPAS facilities; the oversight mechanisms that apply to subcontractor vetting, licensing and pay practices; and the way in which compliance is verified. [69874/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department plans to initiate an open procurement process for security services at a facility (details supplied) in 2026; and if future contracts will be subject to standard competitive tendering rather than emergency exemptions. [69875/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the due diligence processes his Department applies before approving an accommodation provider for IPAS contracts, including checks on ownership, financial standing, governance, and compliance history; if these procedures were followed in the case of Secure Accommodation; and the steps he is taking to strengthen approval standards for all future providers. [71123/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total payments issued by his Department to Secure Accommodation since its engagement; the financial controls in place to track contract performance and verify the delivery of services; and the measures now being implemented to protect public funds where a provider enters liquidation. [71124/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the contingency arrangements triggered when an IPAS accommodation provider ceases trading; the steps taken to maintain continuity of accommodation for residents previously housed through Secure Accommodation; and the governance standards applied to ensure uninterrupted service in similar situations. [71125/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department will review the procurement and monitoring framework used for IPAS accommodation contracts in light of the liquidation of Secure Accommodation; the compliance obligations currently required of all providers; and any planned updates to contract-award or contract-monitoring rules. [71126/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the risk-assessment tools used by his Department to identify financial or governance risks among IPAS accommodation providers; whether any concerns were identified before the voluntary liquidation of Secure Accommodation; and the steps he is taking to strengthen early-warning systems for provider-level risks. [71127/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to set out the governance framework applied to all national and EU-funded migration and integration schemes; the audit standards in force for each scheme; and the dates on which the most recent audits were completed and submitted to his Department. [71131/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the outcome indicators, performance metrics and evaluation methods used to assess projects funded under the National Integration Fund, Communities Integration Fund, International Protection Integration Fund and all AMIF-funded actions; and to confirm whether these indicators were met in each year since 2017 to date 2025. [71132/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department maintains a central register showing all organisations that receive funding from more than one national or EU-funded integration scheme; if not, to state why no such register exists; and if he will now establish one to ensure oversight and prevent duplication. [71133/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a value-for-money review has been carried out on the National Integration Fund, Communities Integration Fund, International Protection Integration Fund, AMIF-funded actions and ESF+ Integration and Employment measures; and to provide the findings, recommendations and implementation status of any such review. [71134/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department intends to publish an annual consolidated report on all migration and integration funding streams, including total expenditure, list of funded organisations, outcomes achieved, audit results and year-on-year comparisons; and if not, to explain the policy basis for this decision. [71135/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to detail the compliance checks required before releasing funds under each scheme; the financial reporting obligations placed on grantees; the percentage of grantees that submitted complete and timely accounts in each year since 2017; and the number of cases where payments were reduced, suspended or recovered. [71136/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide the evaluation reports submitted to the European Commission for all AMIF and ESF+ integration actions; and to confirm whether any recommendations on financial controls, performance measurement or risk management were issued by the Commission to Ireland. [71137/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to specify how multi-year grants under migration and integration schemes are monitored over time; the checkpoints used; the criteria for continuation or termination; and the number of projects that were discontinued or amended due to performance concerns since 2017. [71138/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has completed an assessment on the potential consolidation of overlapping migration and integration funding schemes; and to outline the policy analysis undertaken on cost savings, administrative efficiency and improved oversight. [71139/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the strengthened spending controls that will be applied to future rounds of the National Integration Fund, Communities Integration Fund, International Protection Integration Fund and EU-backed measures; and to provide the timeline for implementing these controls. [71140/25]
Finance 38 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the reason no assessment has been carried out by his Department on the effect of the 2026 local property tax revaluation on homeownership affordability and private rental supply, given the confirmed upward movement in valuation bands and the rising financial pressure on households; if he will commit to publishing a full county-level impact assessment before the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64787/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department produced any analysis in advance of Budget 2026 on the net financial position of disabled households after the withdrawal of once off supports including the electricity credits, fuel lump sums, disability cost-of-living payment and living alone lump sum; and if he will publish this analysis. [69175/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the Government’s current assessment of the main contributors to inflation in 2024 and 2025, including food, energy, transport and taxation-related factors; the measures being taken by his Department to reduce price pressures on households and small businesses; any analysis undertaken by his Department on the impact of carbon-tax increases on consumer prices, food distribution costs and energy costs for SMEs; and to state whether his Department has evaluated any links between carbon-tax policy and recent inflation trends, together with its long-term approach to carbon taxation in the context of price stability and cost-of-living pressures. [69317/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of supervisory inspections carried out by the Financial Regulator on each Irish retail and commercial bank in every year from 2004 to 2008, including the number of onsite inspections, thematic inspections and governance reviews conducted during that period, in tabular form. [69662/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide a breakdown of all enforcement actions initiated by the Financial Regulator or its predecessor authorities against Irish retail and commercial banks between 2004 and 2008, including the statutory basis for each action; the nature of the breaches identified and the outcome of each case. [69663/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department holds any internal assessments, briefing papers, risk analyses or correspondence created between 2004 and 2008 concerning the adequacy of banking supervision at that time; and the main findings of any such documents. [69664/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether he has reviewed the recent remarks of a person (details supplied) in which they acknowledged that the Central Bank had been too trusting of the banking sector during their tenure; and his Department's current assessment of the accuracy and implications of those remarks. [69665/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the specific supervisory and risk-assessment methodologies used by the Financial Regulator between 2004 and 2008 when assessing capital adequacy, liquidity risk and property-related credit exposures in Irish banks; and the way in which those methodologies have been replaced or reformed since 2009. [69666/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide details of any formal concerns, warnings or risk escalations communicated to his Department by the Financial Regulator between 2004 and 2008 regarding overheating in the property market, rapid credit expansion or emerging solvency risks within the banking system. [69667/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the statutory or governance oversight his Department exercised over the Financial Regulator between 2004 and 2008; and the mechanisms in place at that time for monitoring the effectiveness of banking supervision. [69668/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the specific regulatory weaknesses identified in the Honohan Report, the Nyberg Report and the Banking Inquiry which have since been addressed through primary legislation and the weaknesses which remain under review. [69669/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has carried out any retrospective review of supervisory failures in the banking system between 2004 and 2008; and to provide the conclusions of any such review, including recommendations for further reform. [69670/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to publish a consolidated historical record of supervisory, enforcement and governance actions taken by the Financial Regulator between 2004 and 2008 in order to provide full transparency on regulatory failures that contributed to the financial crisis; and the timeline for publication. [69671/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the specific supervisory or enforcement failures identified within the Central Bank or its predecessor authorities for the period 2004 to 2008, that contributed to the weaknesses later examined in post-crisis reports, including any internal Departmental assessments or reviews that refer to excessive reliance on principles-based supervision, insufficient quantitative risk analysis, or gaps in the regulatory framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69692/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he accepts the assessment by a person (details supplied) that the Central Bank had been “too trusting” of Irish banks during the pre-crisis period; the Department’s interpretation of this assessment; and the extent to which this institutional culture contributed to supervisory weaknesses identified by subsequent inquiries. [69693/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his Department’s current estimate of the total fiscal cost to the State arising from regulatory and supervisory failures during the period 2004 to 2008, including the bank guarantee, recapitalisations, NAMA transfers, and related interventions; and the way in which these lessons have been incorporated into current Departmental oversight of the regulatory framework. [69694/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has evaluated whether any elements of the pre-crisis supervisory culture or regulatory approach identified in post-crisis reports persist within the current regulatory environment; the findings of any such evaluation; and the steps being taken to ensure these risks are addressed through Departmental oversight of the financial regulatory framework. [69695/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the fiscal rationale used to justify removing electricity credits in Budget 2026; the estimated Exchequer saving; and if the Department evaluated the risk of renewed inflationary pressure from rising energy bills. [69904/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the current reporting framework for monitoring non-resident and foreign-controlled company acquisitions of residential and commercial property; the data gaps his Department has identified in the tracking of overseas investment flows into the Irish property market; and whether reforms are under consideration to improve transparency, including mandatory disclosure of beneficial ownership in all property transactions above a set threshold. [70738/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has examined policy options used in other jurisdictions, including Canada and New Zealand, regarding restrictions or higher stamp duty on purchases of existing residential property by non resident and non EEA buyers; whether any assessment has been made of the expected impact of such measures on prices, supply and market access for Irish households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71129/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the steps taken by his Department to assess whether regulated credit institutions have, at any time since 2007, applied undisclosed credit exposures or internal credit lines to SME borrowers that were not disclosed in loan documentation; the role of the Central Bank in monitoring such practices; and the protections in place to ensure that all borrower exposures are transparently documented and reported. [71040/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will outline whether the Central Bank has conducted any supervisory reviews since 2007 into the use of embedded derivative risks, undisclosed credit lines, or internal exposure modelling in connection with fixed-rate loans or interest-rate risk management products sold to SMEs;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71041/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has assessed whether historical supervisory actions by the Central Bank adequately evaluated the treatment of SME borrowers whose loan-to-value positions or credit classifications may have been influenced by undisclosed internal bank calculations or exposures; and his views on whether further examination is warranted. [71042/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the safeguards currently in place to prevent regulated lenders from enforcing security or restructuring SME loans where material elements of the borrower’s assessed credit exposure were not transparently disclosed; and whether the Central Bank has issued guidance on the requirement for full borrower visibility of all credit exposures that contribute to loan-to-value, servicing, or covenant assessments. [71043/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will instruct the Central Bank to establish a defined review mechanism for SME borrowers who believe their historical loan performance, credit grading, or restructuring outcomes were negatively affected by undisclosed credit exposures or derivative-related liabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71044/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance what mechanisms are currently in place within his Department to monitor emerging banking-conduct risks that were not present or recognised during the 2004-2008 period, including risks arising from complex credit products, derivative exposures, and non-bank financial intermediaries; and how these mechanisms differ from those that were in place prior to the crisis. [71158/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has issued any guidance, circulars, or internal directives setting out lessons learned from supervisory shortcomings identified in the reports of Honohan, Nyberg, or the Banking Inquiry; and if so, to publish such guidance and explain how it informs current oversight of the Central Bank. [71159/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the Central Bank of Ireland received any disclosures during the period 2007 to 2012 from Ulster Bank or other lenders concerning additional credit exposures arising from interest rate swaps or fixed-rate loan products sold to SMEs; the supervisory framework in place at that time governing the reporting of contingent credit liabilities to the Central Bank. [71163/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the extent to which the Central Bank has reviewed the presence of undeclared credit exposures or contingent liabilities embedded in SME lending products during or after the financial crisis; and if any sectoral analysis has been conducted since 2015 to reassess the transparency of derivative-linked lending to SMEs. [71164/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has been briefed by the Central Bank regarding allegations that hidden credit lines were attached to SME hedging products in these islands during the period 2007 to 2012; and the actions he has initiated to determine whether similar practices affected SMEs within the State. [71165/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will report on any engagement between his Department and UK authorities concerning cross-border regulatory matters arising from interest rate swap mis-selling and related credit-exposure mechanisms; and the processes in place for assessing risks to Irish consumers and SMEs arising from such cross-jurisdictional practices. [71166/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has considered commissioning an independent review of SME hedging products sold in Ireland during the period 2007 to 2012 to determine whether undeclared contingent liabilities or non-transparent credit exposures may have affected SMEs operating within the State. [71167/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has received any reports, briefing material, or supervisory updates from the Central Bank following Ulster Bank's public communications of June 2025 concerning repayment miscalculations on approximately 90,000 mortgage accounts; and the Department's current understanding, based on that material, of the scale and nature of the issues arising. [71171/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the statutory supervisory and consumer-protection obligations that apply to the Central Bank when a regulated lender publicly confirms widespread repayment calculation errors; and if those obligations require the Bank to consider any additional account changes described by the lender as "not associated with this error". [71172/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the issues publicly disclosed by Ulster Bank in June 2025 meet the criteria for mandatory review under the Central Bank's supervisory framework, the Consumer Protection Code 2025, or any related regulatory protocols; and the steps these frameworks require in circumstances where repayment inaccuracies affect a significant number of mortgage holders. [71173/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has undertaken any assessment of consumer-protection risks arising from the repayment errors and the additional account changes referenced in Ulster Bank's June 2025 customer letters; and the Department's understanding of the potential implications for borrowers whose loans have since transferred to other institutions. [71174/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the Central Bank has initiated, or is considering, a system-wide thematic review of mortgage-repayment calculation accuracy across all lenders in light of Ulster Bank's June 2025 disclosures; and the Department's understanding of the purpose and scope of such a review where applicable. [71175/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the governance and reporting arrangements that apply between the Central Bank and his Department in circumstances where a regulated lender publicly confirms widespread customer-impacting errors; and the manner in which the Department satisfies itself that statutory consumer-protection obligations are being met in such cases. [71176/25]
Housing 20 questions
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average and median statutory decision making times recorded in An Coimisiún Pleanála for each of the past five years for planning appeals, strategic housing developments, large scale residential developments and strategic infrastructure cases, in tabular form; and to confirm the year-on-year change in each category as held by his Department. [70397/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and proportion of planning appeal cases, large scale residential development cases and strategic infrastructure cases in each of the past five years that did not meet their statutory decision timeframes; and to provide the Department’s analysis of the principal factors contributing to breaches of timelines. [70398/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current performance monitoring framework his Department uses to assess the operational output and decision timelines of An Coimisiún Pleanála, including the specific indicators tracked, the reporting schedule, and any interventions or support actions taken by his Department in response to identified underperformance. [70399/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the commencement schedule for each section of the Planning and Development Act 2024 relating to An Coimisiún Pleanála, including the expected dates for the introduction of statutory time periods, the new appeals processes, and the implementation of the section 588 declaration requirements. [70400/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the resourcing plan agreed between his Department and An Coimisiún Pleanála for 2024 and 2025, including sanctioned staffing levels, the number of posts filled, the number unfilled, the recruitment timeline for remaining sanctioned posts; and his Department’s assessment of whether current staffing is adequate to meet statutory decision timeframes. [70401/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail his Department’s assessment of the impact of judicial review volumes on planning decision timelines in An Coimisiún Pleanála over the past five years, including data on the number of judicial review (JR) cases initiated each year; the proportion relating to housing or infrastructure; and his Department’s analysis of the expected effect of the JR reforms in the Planning and Development Act 2024. [70402/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm whether his Department holds internal performance reviews, audits or risk assessments regarding the operational capacity of An Coimisiún Pleanála; and the findings from the most recent reviews relating to governance, output, and decision making delays. [70403/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department’s role in ensuring consistency of decision making timelines across planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála; and the cross-agency coordination mechanisms which exist to identify systemic causes of delay and to implement corrective actions. [70405/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department’s current governance oversight arrangements for An Coimisiún Pleanála, including reporting obligations, performance metrics, compliance assessments and the measures used by his Department to ensure that statutory timeframes, once commenced, are met in practice. [70406/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures in Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025–2030 that deal with delayed hospital discharges for older people and disabled persons who are medically fit for discharge but unable to leave due to housing shortages; and the delivery timelines attached to these measures. [70418/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has set annual output targets in Delivering Homes, Building Communities for the provision of housing suitable for older people and disabled persons transitioning from hospitals or nursing homes; and if so, the targets for 2025, 2026, and 2027. [70424/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and value of residential property purchases completed by non-resident buyers in each of the past five years, disaggregated by price band and county; the proportion of these purchases completed without mortgage finance; and the actions his Department is considering to protect housing affordability for domestic buyers in light of rising non-resident activity. [70737/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and type of sanctions imposed by the Property Services Regulatory Authority on licensed property services providers following anti-money-laundering compliance audits in each of the past five years; the number of cautions, formal directions, financial penalties, licence suspensions, licence revocations and referrals to An Garda Síochána, Revenue or other competent authorities; and the policy framework that guides sanction selection in each case. [71050/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the escalation procedures the Property Services Regulatory Authority is required to follow where an audit identifies that a property sale completed without the customer due diligence or identity verification required under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010; whether the Department has issued guidance on required notifications to competent authorities; and to provide the timeline for each step in this escalation process. [71051/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the risk model used by the Property Services Regulatory Authority to select property services providers for anti-money-laundering audits; the proportion of high-risk licensees subject to more frequent inspections than the standard five-year cycle; and whether the current model aligns with the property sector risk profile in the National Risk Assessment for Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. [71052/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the staffing levels and specialist expertise available within the Property Services Regulatory Authority for anti-money-laundering supervision; the number of inspectors assigned to AML audit work in each year since 2021; the specialist AML training completed by those inspectors; and whether additional staffing or expert support will be allocated in 2026 to strengthen oversight. [71053/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he reconciles the identification of only three non-compliant businesses out of 1,761 anti-money-laundering audits in the period 2021 to 2025 with the risk profile for the property sector set out in the National Risk Assessment for Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing; whether his Department has reviewed the PSRA’s audit methodology and recording of non-compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71054/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional supervisory powers and sanctioning tools he expects the Property Services Regulatory Authority to gain following implementation of the 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive; the legislative timeline; and how these reforms will alter the Authority’s approach to repeated or serious non-compliance by property services providers. [71055/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department holds disaggregated information on residential property purchases by non resident and non EEA buyers, including number and value of transactions by local authority area, price band and property type since 2020; whether he will arrange for publication of this information on a regular basis in line with existing CSO reporting on non household purchasers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71128/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he intends to bring forward proposals for a public register of beneficial ownership for residential and commercial property in the State, including properties held through overseas companies or trusts; the status of any scoping work underway with relevant Departments and agencies on such a register; the expected timeline for policy decisions and any required legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71130/25]
Climate 16 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment to provide a full list of the statutory responsibilities held by his Department for infrastructure delivery under the Climate Action Plan 2025, the National Planning Framework and the National Marine Planning Framework, including renewable energy, electricity grid development, system reinforcement and energy security projects. [69518/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to identify any areas where responsibility for climate or energy infrastructure is shared with, or delegated to, other Departments; the governance mechanism used to prevent overlap; and the steps taken since 2022 to improve coordination. [69519/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline the delivery risks his Department has identified for energy and climate infrastructure over the period 2025 to 2030, including grid delays, planning capacity, marine consenting challenges and supply-chain constraints; and the measures planned to address those risks. [69520/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the economic, energy-market and consumer-impact assessments his Department provided to Government prior to the decision to discontinue electricity credits for households in Budget 2026, including any internal warnings regarding expected rises in wholesale and retail energy prices. [69899/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his Department’s current forecast for average household electricity and gas bills for winter 2025–2026; the variables used in these projections; and how these forecasts compare with those used when the decision was made to remove electricity credits. [69900/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the advice or briefings the commission for regulation of utilities provided to his Department regarding expected retail price movements before the decision to scrap energy credits; and to publish that advice. [69901/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department recommended maintaining or modifying electricity credits in light of rising wholesale prices; and to outline the reasons provided to Government for not continuing the supports. [69902/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide the Department’s assessment of the impact on low-income and vulnerable households of ending the electricity credits; and to specify any mitigation measures considered but not adopted. [69903/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide updated projections for energy poverty rates for 2025 and 2026 following the withdrawal of electricity credits; and to outline the methodology used in preparing these projections. [69905/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline the energy-price support measures currently in place in EU member states for winter 2025–2026; and to explain how Ireland’s level of support compares on a per-household basis. [69906/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the Government will review the decision to discontinue electricity credits if energy bills continue to rise; and the criteria for any such review. [69908/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware that the SEAI solar PV for medically vulnerable households scheme, administered by Electric Ireland, is effectively unavailable to the majority of medically vulnerable customers despite being publicly promoted; the rationale for operating a scheme on a random-selection basis rather than on clinical or vulnerability need; the number of medically vulnerable households registered on the priority services register; the number contacted to date; the number who have actually received solar PV installation under this scheme; and if he will urgently review this process to ensure that medically vulnerable individuals who rely on life-support equipment can access the supports that were announced for them. [70448/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department will request that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities provide arrears data disaggregated by income group, welfare status and household type as part of its monthly monitoring returns to the Department, to allow better assessment of households at highest risk of long-term energy debt; and the timeline for introducing such reporting. [71056/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the National Energy Affordability Taskforce has completed modelling on projected long-term electricity and gas arrears over the next three years; if the modelling will be published; and how this modelling is informing the development of targeted supports. [71057/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the criteria his Department will use to determine the transition from universal energy credits to targeted supports; and if he will outline the evidence base that will inform this decision. [71058/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has assessed whether the current Energy Engage Code provides sufficient protection to households in chronic arrears; and if any reforms are under consideration as part of the forthcoming Energy Affordability Action Plan. [71059/25]
Social 10 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide his Department’s assessment of the projected poverty risk for households headed by a person with a disability in 2026; the way in which this compares with 2025; and if internal modelling showed a higher poverty risk following the withdrawal of once off supports. [69174/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the net change in income in 2026 compared with 2025 for a single adult on disability allowance living alone, taking account of the withdrawal of once off supports in Budget 2025 including the €400 disability cost-of-living payment, the €300 fuel lump sum, the €300 living alone lump sum, the €200 electricity credits and the double week bonuses, and the permanent increases announced in Budget 2026; his Department’s calculation of the total value of once off supports in 2025 for this household type and the value of permanent supports to be received in 2026. [69166/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a detailed assessment of the fiscal implications of reintroducing a once-off winter support for persons with disabilities in 2026, including the projected cost of a €300 payment, a €400 payment and a €500 payment; and if his Department has carried out any analysis of the additional energy and living costs faced by disabled households during the winter period. [69167/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the net change in income in 2026 compared with 2025 for a single adult on disability allowance living alone, taking account of the withdrawal of once off supports in Budget 2025 including the €400 disability cost-of-living payment, the €300 fuel lump sum, the €300 living alone lump sum, the €200 electricity credits and the double week bonuses, and the permanent increases announced in Budget 2026; and his Department’s calculation of the total value of once off supports in 2025 for this household type and the value of permanent supports to be received in 2026. [69169/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a detailed assessment of the fiscal implications of reintroducing a once off winter support for persons with disabilities in 2026, including the projected cost of a €300 payment, a €400 payment and a €500 payment; and if his Department has carried out any analysis of the additional energy and living costs faced by disabled households during the winter period. [69170/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to detail his Department’s inflation adjusted estimate of the annual extra cost of disability in 2026, referencing the cost of disability study (details supplied) and any updated modelling carried out by her Department since 2020; and the way in which these figures informed the design of Budget 2026. [69172/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department’s projected expenditure in 2026 on disability allowance, invalidity pension, blind pension, domiciliary care allowance and carer’s allowance. [69176/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of restoring all once off supports paid to disabled people in 2025 for one further year, itemised by each support including the disability cost-of-living payment, the fuel lump sum, the living alone lump sum, electricity credits and double week bonuses. [69177/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for decisions on a cost of disability payment within the expenditure framework for 2026 and 2027. [70985/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for decisions on a cost of disability payment within the expenditure framework for 2026 and 2027. [70986/25]
Children 8 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department maintains a central register of all suppliers and payees across her Department and its agencies, including supplier legal type such as limited company, partnership, sole trader or charity; if not, the reason this information is not recorded as part of financial governance and procurement oversight; the date on which her Department last reviewed this control; and the steps being taken to introduce supplier-type classification across all agencies funded under her vote. [69069/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the procedures in place within her Department and its agencies to verify the legal status, beneficial ownership and tax compliance of all corporate suppliers prior to payment; the systems used to confirm whether payees are incorporated entities; and whether internal audits have identified gaps in controls due to incomplete supplier-classification data. [69070/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has carried out any audit, risk assessment or value-for-money review relating to the absence of legal-status classification among suppliers to her Department or its agencies; the findings of any such review; and the measures being introduced to ensure future payments to external entities are supported by complete governance and compliance data. [69071/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average cost per child per week in residential care for each placement category, disaggregated between subcontracted private providers and Tusla-operated centres, for each of the past five years; and the methodology used by her Department and by Tusla’s management accounting unit when calculating these figures. [69115/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children placed in subcontracted private residential placements and Tusla-operated residential centres; and the total annual expenditure associated with each category, in order to assess budgetary exposure and value-for-money oversight, in each of the past five years. [69116/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the governance framework, audit controls and financial-oversight mechanisms used to verify the cost structures of subcontracted private residential-care providers; the frequency of audits or financial reviews carried out by Tusla or her Department in the past five years; and the actions taken where discrepancies or excessive cost variances have been identified. [69117/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the whole-time equivalent number of HSE-funded occupational therapist posts in Cork city and county in each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, and to date in 2025; the number of posts vacant in each of those years; the number of staff who left HSE occupational therapy posts and the number appointed in each year; the resulting vacancy and turnover rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71071/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children and adults on waiting lists for occupational therapy in Cork city and county in each quarter from Q1 2022 to the most recent quarter, broken down by service area (primary care, disability services, older persons, and mental health); the median and longest waiting times in each category; and the assessment of her Department on the impact of occupational therapist vacancies on access to assessment and treatment in Cork. [71072/25]
Enterprise 8 questions
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the volume and sectoral profile of commercial property acquisitions by overseas investment groups in the past five years; the assessment his Department has carried out of the impact of such acquisitions on local enterprise, competition, and community ownership; and whether policy measures are being examined to safeguard Irish business continuity in regional towns. [70739/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide Ireland’s full indicator-level scores under the Blavatnik Index of Public Administration for 2024, disaggregated by each theme and sub-domain, given that this information was not included in his previous reply; to confirm whether the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council has furnished these data to his Department; and to outline the process through which such datasets are collated and reviewed for policy and benchmarking purposes. [71081/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the actions taken under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 to address misleading commercial practices relating to the description, presentation or marketing of meat products supplied to food service businesses and retail outlets; the coordination mechanisms in place between his Department, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Food Safety Authority to ensure consumers receive accurate information on meat origin and characteristics; and the reporting structures used to monitor compliance. [71082/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if an independent external evaluation framework has been established to assess the value-for-money and productivity impact of the Built to Innovate programme, including the €6.8 million in approved grants; if not, when such an evaluation will be commissioned; and the indicators that will be used to measure demonstrable productivity gains at sector level rather than firm level. [71083/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the work undertaken with the Central Statistics Office and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage since 2022 to enable the publication of residential-specific productivity statistics, including GVA, hours worked and modern methods of construction output; if his Department has sought a Eurostat derogation to permit disaggregated residential construction data; and the expected timeline for publication once such a framework is agreed. [71084/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department holds any analysis of the impact of complex interest rate hedging products on the viability of Irish SMEs during the financial crisis; and if any examination has been undertaken of contingent liabilities embedded in swap-linked lending by banks operating in the State. [71168/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the policy instruments available to support SMEs that may have been affected by non-transparent or complex hedging structures in the 2007 to 2012 period; and his intentions to initiate a review of SME credit fairness and contract transparency in light of recent international allegations. [71169/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if any elements of the Credit Guarantee Scheme, SME Lending Code, or statutory protections for small businesses have been evaluated to determine if they would have captured or prevented the use of hidden contingent credit exposures within SME loan products. [71170/25]
Transport 6 questions
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport to set out the policy direction powers available to him under the Roads Act 1993 to the Roads Act 2015 in relation to Transport Infrastructure Ireland; and to confirm whether these powers permit him to issue a direction to review or amend national toll exemption policy for disability service providers. [70386/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if any equality assessment, disability-impact assessment, or public sector duty evaluation was carried out prior to the 2020 changes to the disability toll exemption scheme, which ended the previous practice of toll exemption for registered disability charities; if so, to provide the findings; if not, to explain the basis for proceeding without such an assessment. [70387/25]
- 2025-12-10 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider establishing a formal discretionary or grandfathering mechanism for registered disability service providers that previously received toll exemptions on a goodwill basis prior to 2020, in order to protect continued access to day services for adults with severe disabilities; and the policy considerations informing his position. [70388/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the statutory basis under road traffic legislation for the authorisation described by operators as a “tram licence”; to confirm whether this authorisation constitutes a recognised driving licence category under the Road Traffic Act 1961 and associated regulations; and the Department’s position on whether tram drivers operating on public roads fall within the definition of persons carrying passengers for reward for the purposes of PSV licensing requirements. [71188/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the Department’s assessment of the extent to which tram drivers operate under their private driving licences when a tram is driven on a public road; the Department’s evaluation of the insurance and indemnity arrangements in place for tram operations transporting large passenger volumes; and the current post-collision procedures issued to tram drivers align with obligations under the Road Traffic Acts regarding reporting and remaining at the scene. [71189/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the oversight mechanisms in place to verify that tram operators comply with all relevant road traffic, licensing, and insurance requirements when trams operate on public roads; if the Department has carried out any compliance audits of tram operations in the past five years; and any legislative or regulatory changes under review to ensure the legal status and safety framework for tram operations are fully aligned with State law. [71190/25]
Defence 1 question
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the medical advice, briefing notes or risk assessments which have been issued to Ministers and officials over the past twenty years in relation to anti-malaria medications used on State travel, including Lariam; and the procedures governing medical advice for Ministers undertaking travel to malaria risk regions. [69125/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether any records are held by his Department relating to anti-malaria medication taken by serving or former Government Ministers while travelling abroad on official State business; and the record keeping requirements that apply to such travel for all Ministers and officials. [69124/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the performance and evaluation framework for the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction at Mount Lucas; the date on which this framework will be approved; the baseline data and target indicators that will be used to measure outcomes; the reporting structures that will be applied; whether any phase of construction commenced prior to the finalisation of these metrics; and the reason construction proceeded in advance of an agreed evaluation framework. [71045/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 11 votes · 8 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 8 total

Finance 2 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the steps being taken to improve competition in the insurance sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63660/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of help-to-buy claims approved in Cork city and Cork county over the past five years; the number of applicants associated with these claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63659/25]
Public Expenditure 2 questions
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date under the National Strategic Outcome 10 of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67800/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the way in which he and his Department plan to address delays in delivering capital projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67799/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the development and extension plans for a school in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67783/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her department is taking to address the increase in absenteeism in primary and secondary schools, considering the results of a recent large scale mixed method study showed a growing trend of students missing school post Covid–19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67784/25]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the further actions he will take to increase craft apprenticeship participation given the additional funding allocated in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66416/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can provide an update on the Programme for Government target of 12,500 annual apprenticeship registrations; the efforts his Department is making to promote apprenticeships to school leavers given the urgent need for them in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66417/25]

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 11 votes · 10 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 10 total

Finance 2 questions
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he has met with the Revenue Commissioners to discuss the new derelict sites tax. [63073/25]
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if officials in his Department have met with the Revenue Commissioners to discuss the vacant homes tax and the low payment of same. [63072/25]
Public Expenditure 2 questions
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he monitors external contracts within Government departments for value for money. [69852/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total Supplementary Estimates in 2025 to date. [69853/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the special school in Carraig na bfhear. [69854/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary and secondary schools in Cork that are currently progressing through the application process for a new school building. [69855/25]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions he has taken to ensure apprentices can receive off-the-job training at a location near their home. [67565/25]
- 2025-12-11 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he has met with UCC and MTU and discussed the need for a northside university campus in Cork city. [67566/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average processing time by his Department for capital approval of rightsizing acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69924/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-12-09 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps to be taken to register a birth (details supplied) [69790/25]