Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 15 Dec

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 15 Dec – 21 Dec 2025 · 5 TDs · 3 bills voted on · 262 questions · 5 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Health (Waiting Lists) Bill 2024

2025-12-17 · 1 vote · Sinn Féin PMB

A bill to amend and extend the Health Act 2004 and for that purpose to provide for the conferral of additional functions on the Minister for Health in relation to setting of pri…

full description

A bill to amend and extend the Health Act 2004 and for that purpose to provide for the conferral of additional functions on the Minister for Health in relation to setting of priorities and performance targets by that Minister in relation to maximum waiting times for health and personal social services; to amend the National Treatment Purchase Fund Board (Establishment) Order 2004 to provide for additional reporting, revised corporate governance and accountability arrangements; and to provide for related matters.

The motion · motion failed 66–80

Voted for 1 Thomas Gould

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Restoration to Order Paper (Resumed)

2025-12-17 · 1 vote

The motion · motion failed 71–73

Voted for 1 Thomas Gould

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Fox Hunting) Bill 2025

2025-12-17 · 1 vote · People Before Profit-Solidarity PMB

A bill to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to ban the hunting of a fox or foxes

full description

A bill to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to ban the hunting of a fox or foxes; and to provide for related matters.

The motion · motion failed 24–124

Voted against 3 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan · Thomas Gould

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 3 votes · 18 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 18 total

Health 7 questions
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health her Department's plans on supporting mobile lung cancer screening vehicles, in view of the fact that these units help with the early detection of lung cancer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72777/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the recent budget accounted for funding towards screening and diagnosis of lung cancer at earlier stages, in view of the fact that 60% of lung cancer patients are found at a later stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72778/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action being taken by her Department to ensure patients with a lung cancer diagnosis are awarded a medical card in a timely manner and that they have the necessary support post diagnosis and post operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72779/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if due consideration will be given to reviewing the current eligibility criteria for medical cards to allow cancer patients to be automatically awarded medical cards when diagnosed and to ensure they have the necessary support post diagnosis and post operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72780/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she will give consideration to providing additional specific funding to hospitals to allow for the abolition of parking charges for cancer patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72781/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration would be given by her Department to provide funding for the lung health check pilot programme, in view of the fact that lung cancer is responsible for 20% of all cancer deaths in the country which equates to 2,000 deaths per annum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72782/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will provide State funding for the preparation of blister packs in pharmacies to ensure that elderly and vulnerable patients who depend heavily on this service for their health are not impacted financially; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72796/25]
Finance 3 questions
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the reduction of VAT on residential construction from 13.5% to 9% now applies beyond the point of sale and to the point of construction as housing agencies may own the land, and many valuable housing projects would not have benefitted from the change otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70855/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to reviewing and removing the deemed disposal rule for investors as this can be punitive on investors and investment; the reason it has not been removed to date as the final report of the funds review, ‘Funds Sector 2030: A Framework for Open, Resilient and Developing Markets’ was published in October 2024 and included recommendations to support and encourage retail investment, including the removal of deemed disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70854/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has now agreed with the Department of Finance where housing agencies have entered into agreements with building contractors for both the purchase and the building of apartments, that the VAT rate is now reduced to 9% both for the building and the site costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65821/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to an appeal under the emergency works scheme for an application for a school's repairs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72002/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) was not approved under the climate action summer works scheme; the reason they were not informed that they were not successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72003/25]
Justice 2 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when a decision will be reached in respect of a stamp 4 visa application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72303/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when a decision will be reached in respect of a stamp 4 visa application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72304/25]
Climate 2 questions
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to examine community-led ownership models for renewable energy production as an additional income stream for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73219/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress made to date by his Department in relation to the development of centralised planning guidelines for suitable locations for biomethane and biogas plants under the National Biomethane Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73220/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the action his Department is taking to accommodate current passenger numbers on an intercity rail service (details supplied), in view of peak services being continually overcrowded with passengers often requiring to stand whilst commuting as seats are full, if consideration would be given to the provision of additional carriages for the service to ensure that all passengers are facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72272/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that a domiciliary care allowance review has been lodged for a person (details supplied); if he will confirm a decision will be given at the earliest possible opportunity due to the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72800/25]

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 0 votes · 30 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 30 total

Justice 6 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if education providers recruiting non-EEA students on Stamp 2 conditions are required to submit periodic returns to his Department and/or Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), including spreadsheets or lists of currently enrolled students; the frequency and format of such returns; whether a standard template is used; and the fields which are collected (including provider name, programme type, course dates and nationality); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71434/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the systems which are used to store and manage any provider returns submitted (including spreadsheets); whether the information is stored centrally; the specific reasons his Department has stated that provider-level education information “is not available in a manner which allows detailed data to be extracted”, including whether this limitation is technical, resource-related or due to data standardisation issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71435/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of Stamp 2 registrations/renewals processed; the number of unique individuals to whom those registrations/renewals relate; if his Department cannot provide the number of unique individuals, the steps which will be taken to prevent annual registration figures being interpreted as student headcount, for 2020 to 2024, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71436/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 437 of 2 December 2025, the number of Stamp 2 permission holders who were required to register/renew more than once within the same calendar year; the distribution of those multiple registrations/renewals (that is, the number which were counted twice, three times, and so on), as referenced in the footnote to his previous reply; from 2020 to 2024, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71437/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will commit that no major changes to policies affecting international education students on Stamp 2 conditions including English language education will proceed until accurate, extractable data distinguishing English language students from higher education and other Stamp 2 cohorts can be ascertained; to ensure that structured engagement has taken place with the representative bodies of the sector and an SME Test (where applicable) has been completed or a written justification provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71439/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72072/25]
Housing 4 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to a video advising adults how to move back in with parents, if guidelines on applicants for social housing at local authority level will be amended in order that those who have had to move back in with parents, on foot of the video advice from his Department, will not be deemed 'suitably housed' and will still be eligible for social housing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71777/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to a video advising adults how to move back in with parents, if a video will be done advising adults who no longer have parents alive, on the way in which they should approach notices to quit and unaffordable rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71778/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to a video advising adults how to move back in with parents, if a video will be done on advising adults who cannot return to the family home for reasons of domestic violence, on the way in which they should approach notices to quit and unaffordable rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71779/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72071/25]
Taoiseach 3 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Taoiseach 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; and the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form. [70873/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form. [72076/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Taoiseach in light of the city centre action plan passed by Cork City Council, if he still plans to establish a Government task force; if he has read the action plan; and if he will commit to a city deal for Cork. [72690/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72077/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if his Department and Transport Infrastructure Ireland have any plans, as of December 2025, to introduce traffic calming measures at Clonbanin Cross, Mallow, County Cork, similar to the measures that have been introduced at Johnsbridge, County Cork, P51 WR29; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72692/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72075/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address the case of a lone parent (details supplied) whose one parent family payment has been suspended; the reason for the suspension; if he will review the decision as a matter of urgency; and if he will confirm that the constituent has co-operated fully with all requests and procedures during the process. [72437/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount her Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72068/25]
Climate 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72062/25]
Defence 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Defence the amount her Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72064/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72067/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72073/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72066/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount her Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72065/25]
Culture 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72063/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72060/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount her Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72061/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the amount her Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72070/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72069/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the amount his Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72074/25]

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 0 votes · 107 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 107 total

Health 66 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance reason the HSE has not implemented a national HR information system capable of recording historic datasets on funded workforce posts; the date on which her Department last assessed the adequacy of the existing reporting platform used to track National Service Plan posts; and the actions now being taken to ensure future compliance with public-service data-management standards. [71957/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the basis on which the HSE concluded that it is not required to maintain historic records of funded posts that remain unfilled for extended periods; her views on whether the absence of such records meets statutory obligations for financial governance, workforce planning, and public-expenditure oversight; and if she will now issue a direction requiring the retention of longitudinal vacancy data for all funded posts. [71958/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health her Department’s assessment of the risks created by the HSE’s inability to record the duration for which funded posts remain unfilled; the way these gaps are reflected in national workforce plans submitted under the Public Service Reform framework; and the steps she is taking to ensure the HSE’s workforce data infrastructure supports evidence-based planning. [71959/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has conducted any financial-impact assessment of the 6,852 funded WTE posts reported as unfilled as of September 2025; the estimated Exchequer underspend arising from these unfilled posts; and the Department’s policy on how such underspends are monitored and reported. [71960/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will publish the key performance indicators set by her Department for clearance and screening timelines for both internal and external candidates for funded posts; the national performance against these indicators in 2024 and 2025; and the measures being taken to ensure timely appointment processes. [71961/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the evaluation her Department conducted prior to implementing the 2024–2025 HSE employment control measures; the projected effect of those restrictions on achieving the National Service Plan staffing targets for 2024; and whether a full impact review has been completed. [71962/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy under which the HSE does not maintain post-level records of agency or temporary staff assigned to cover funded development posts; the Department’s assessment of how this omission affects expenditure monitoring, audit trails and compliance with public financial-management standards; and whether she will issue a direction that such records now be maintained. [71963/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the status of the HSE’s project to procure a single national talent-acquisition system; the governance arrangements for this procurement; the expected date for system deployment; and how the Department will ensure that the new system addresses the data and reporting gaps identified in recent PQ replies. [71964/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department holds copies, summaries, notifications or logging records of any public-health risk assessments concerning communicable-disease risks among persons arriving into the State since 1 January 2020, including assessments conducted by the HSE, Public Health Units or the National Health Protection Office; the date on which each assessment was received or recorded by her Department; to identify the unit within her Department responsible for reviewing or tracking such assessments; and to outline the governance process through which her Department exercises oversight of public-health risk assessment activity in circumstances where these assessments are undertaken by the HSE. [71974/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department holds any copies, summaries, notifications or records of public-health risk assessments concerning communicable-disease risks among persons arriving into the State since 1 January 2020, including the date each assessment was received and the unit that logged or reviewed it; and, if no such records are held, to set out how her Department exercises oversight of this area of national health-protection activity. [71975/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to set out the statutory governance responsibilities of her Department in relation to the treatment abroad scheme as it applies to minors; and to outline the Department’s role in approving, overseeing or reviewing referral pathways for gender-related assessment or treatment outside the State. [71976/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the Department’s policy framework, internal guidance or decision-support documents that informed the assessment of clinical safety, safeguarding and public-expenditure implications when minors were referred abroad for gender-related treatment; and if no such framework existed, to state the reason. [71977/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the steps taken by her Department to assess the implications of the Cass Review for Irish policy on gender-related healthcare for minors; and to specify any policy changes, clinical standards or risk-mitigation measures introduced as a result. [71978/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the expenditure-control arrangements, budget ceilings, approval processes and value-for-money mechanisms applied by her Department to overseas gender-related referrals for minors since 2020; and to confirm whether these arrangements have been audited. [71979/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department will establish a single national reporting structure for all gender-related referrals of minors, including approvals, outcomes and costs, to ensure transparent governance and accountability; and to provide the expected timeline. [71980/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason her Department issued no updated circulars, guidance or interpretative instructions for the assessment of discretionary medical card applications for people aged over 70 since 2020, despite sustained medical inflation and rising household costs; and to outline the process used by the Department to ensure fairness and consistency during this period. [71981/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department conducted any equality, vulnerability or impact assessment on the treatment of discretionary medical card applications for people aged over 70 during 2020 to 2025; and if not, to state the reason such assessments were not carried out. [71982/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the work, governance structure, timelines and outputs of the Programme of Work Underway within her Department examining the medical card eligibility framework; and to specify whether this work includes an assessment of approval trends for discretionary medical cards for people aged over 70. [71983/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department holds trend analysis or internal reports on discretionary medical card approvals, refusals and approval rates for people aged over 70 since 2020; and to provide a summary of any findings. [71984/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the Department’s policy position on the role of medical inflation, rising living costs and increased clinical need in assessing hardship for people aged over 70 who exceed the income threshold; and to confirm whether the Department plans revisions to hardship interpretation or supporting documentation requirements. [71985/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for a full medical card from persons aged 70 years and over that were refused in each of the years 2020 to 2025, and the income thresholds applied in each year that formed the basis for refusal. [72240/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the median and upper-quartile income of applicants aged 70 years and over who were refused a Medical Card in each of the years 2020 to 2025, and the proportion whose means exceeded the threshold by fifty euro per week or less. [72241/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has undertaken any review since 2020 of the adequacy of the medical card income thresholds for persons aged 70 years and over in light of cumulative inflation and rising living costs; and the findings of any such review. [72242/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed whether the continued rise in GP Visit Cards issued automatically to applicants aged 70 years and over indicates unmet need for full medical card coverage within this population; and the actions taken in response at policy level. [72243/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has reviewed the administrative process required of persons aged 70 years and over when applying for a medical card, and whether any reforms are planned to streamline or reduce the documentation burden for older applicants. [72244/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current number of whole-time equivalent vacancies for social workers, social care workers and dietitians in the HSE South/South-West region; the average duration of these vacancies; and the projected contribution of apprenticeship schemes to reducing these vacancies in 2025 and 2026. [72250/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the cost per apprentice for social work, social care work and dietetics; the budget provided to support these apprenticeships in 2025 and 2026; and the assessment used to determine whether current intake levels are sufficient to meet workforce needs. [72251/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has set performance indicators or workforce targets for apprenticeships within the South/South-West region; and if so, the targets and the reporting schedule for monitoring progress. [72252/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if an evaluation has been carried out on the effectiveness of apprenticeships in retaining qualified staff in the region; and to provide the findings of any such evaluation. [72253/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the timeline for approval of the proposed social care worker apprenticeship; the planned intake numbers once approved; and how this aligns with projected shortages in disability services in the South/South-West. [72254/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national datasets her Department is required to hold for governance, planning and oversight of all services funded under the Health Vote; to identify the datasets that are not currently in place; and to set out the timeline to establish full national data coverage across the system. [72291/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance framework used by her Department to obtain assurance that the HSE and all section 38 and 39 providers comply with national standards on governance, audit and risk; the date of the last full assurance review; and the actions her Department takes when risks are escalated. [72292/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national KPIs approved by her Department for monitoring recruitment activity, vacancy levels, clearance timelines and delivery of development posts; and the date on which full KPI reporting will be operational across all HSE regions. [72293/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the controls her Department uses to oversee the €23 billion staffing and pay envelope in the absence of granular national vacancy and pay data; and the measures she intends to introduce to strengthen national visibility and performance monitoring. [72294/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance structure approved by her Department for oversight of delayed transfers of care linked to housing or home support gaps; the reporting duties placed on the HSE; and the dates and findings of the most recent Departmental reviews. [72295/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason her Department has not produced a national financial impact assessment of delayed transfers of care arising from housing shortages; and the date by which she will introduce regular cost reporting for this cohort. [72296/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance and policy framework approved by her Department for gender identity services for children and young people; the date of the most recent review; and the steps being taken to ensure full compliance with national safeguarding and clinical governance standards. [72297/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national datasets her Department requires for planning and oversight of gender identity services for minors, including referral numbers and diagnostic profiles; the datasets that are not yet in place; and the timeline for establishing a national dataset that meets evidence-based standards. [72298/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health her Department’s policy on evaluating international clinical guidance before alignment with national frameworks; the assessments carried out on WPATH Standards between 2018 and 2023; and the timeline for completing a formal review of these standards in light of the Cass Review. [72299/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out any clinical or economic evaluation of post-loss mental health follow-up in primary care, including the estimated cost of introducing a standardised pathway and the projected costs to the Exchequer arising from untreated trauma or extended work absence; and if she will publish any findings or methodologies used. [72314/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the status of work to establish a national data-collection framework for pregnancy-loss outcomes, including counselling access, waiting times, and follow-up; the governance structure responsible for delivery; and the expected timeline for the first dataset. [72315/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national reporting requirements for waiting times in addiction services; the reason no national dataset currently exists; and the timeline for introducing full national reporting of assessment and treatment waiting times. [72319/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any gaps, deficiencies, or capacity constraints were identified during the national pandemic command post exercise conducted in March 2025; to list each issue identified under the headings staffing, laboratory capacity, IT systems, public health infrastructure, and points of entry; and to outline the remedial actions approved by her Department in response. [73499/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department received a written report, lessons learned document, or formal evaluation arising from the March 2025 national pandemic command post exercise; the date it was received; which senior officials reviewed it; and whether the report is available for publication. [73500/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current surge staffing capacity available to the HSE for infectious disease screening during periods of elevated risk, expressed in whole time equivalent posts, by staff grade, and by region; and to state whether her Department has identified any staffing shortfalls relative to surge planning assumptions. [73501/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the maximum laboratory surge capacity available nationally for infectious disease testing during an elevated risk event, including PCR and genomic sequencing; the maximum weekly throughput assumed in national planning; and the turnaround times used by her Department for preparedness modelling.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73502/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has identified any constraints in laboratory throughput, reagent supply, staffing availability, or logistics that would limit surge testing capacity during a public health emergency; and to outline any actions approved to address such constraints. [73503/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the national Outbreak Case and Incident Management System and the National Immunisation Information System are fully operational on a national basis; the dates on which each system became operational; and whether either system has undergone stress testing to assess performance under surge conditions. [73504/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has received any reports identifying risks or limitations in HSE public health IT systems during periods of elevated demand since 2020; and to outline the actions taken in response to any such reports. [73505/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted any assessment since 2020 of infectious disease screening capacity at Ireland’s designated points of entry; the findings of any such assessment; and to explain why reliance is being placed on the EU Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment scheduled for 2026 rather than a completed national review. [73506/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any interim actions have been approved by her Department to strengthen infectious disease screening and public health response at ports and airports prior to the 2026 EU preparedness assessment; and to detail those actions. [73507/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department holds any internal risk registers, preparedness assessments, or assurance reports relating to infectious disease surge capacity within the HSE; and if so, to outline the main risk categories identified and the mitigation measures in place. [73508/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted any review since 2018 of the regulatory, quality assurance and clinical governance framework applying to health screening conducted outside the HSE, including screening arranged by employers, universities and occupational health providers, and if not, whether she intends to commission such a review. [73509/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline which statutory bodies hold responsibility for oversight, standards setting or enforcement in respect of non HSE health screening, including any role of HIQA, the Medical Council, CORU or the HPRA, and the policy basis on which those responsibilities are assigned. [73510/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to state, for each of the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, the number of compliance checks carried out by or on behalf of the HSE on non-statutory bodies in receipt of HSE funding; and to outline the categories of checks undertaken in each year. [73513/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline, for each of the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, the number of HSE compliance reviews of non-statutory bodies that identified financial or governance non-compliance; and the actions taken in response, including enhanced monitoring, funding conditions, recovery of funds, or suspension of payments. [73514/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to state whether her Department receives aggregated reports from the HSE on the results of compliance checks carried out on non-statutory bodies, including trends, recurring issues, and risk ratings; and when the most recent such report was received. [73515/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that neither her Department nor the HSE currently has any formal performance target requiring occupational therapy waiting times in Cork to fall below 12 weeks for adult or paediatric primary care services; and if so, the reason such a target has not been set as a matter of health policy. [73545/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health her views on whether a waiting time of up to 39 weeks for access to occupational therapy services in Cork are clinically acceptable and consistent with national policy on timely access to primary care; and the evidence or policy basis on which this threshold has been adopted by her Department. [73546/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the additional whole-time-equivalent occupational therapy posts her Department has identified as necessary in Cork to achieve a maximum waiting time of 12 weeks in adult and paediatric primary care services; whether funding for these posts has been sought by the HSE; and the decision taken by her Department on the funding request. [73547/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she considers it appropriate that elective, non medically indicated circumcision procedures may be authorised in public hospitals in the absence of any national policy, national ethical framework, or centrally issued clinical guidance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73636/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has issued any guidance, circulars, memoranda, policy notes, or informal instructions to the HSE or to any health region since 2020 regarding the provision, refusal, consent standards, or ethical basis for elective male circumcision where no medical indication exists, and if so, to provide details. [73637/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department exercises any oversight role in relation to decisions by health regions to authorise elective, non medically indicated circumcision procedures in public hospitals, and if not, the rationale for the absence of such oversight. [73638/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether public funds are used to support elective male circumcision procedures in public hospitals where no medical indication exists; and if so, under which budget headings or service categories such expenditure arises. [73639/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the consistency of regional decision making on elective, non medically indicated circumcision procedures with national consent policy, child safeguarding standards, and international best practice; and if not, whether she intends to initiate such an assessment. [73640/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she intends to develop or commission a national policy governing the provision or refusal of elective male circumcision procedures in public hospitals where no medical indication exists; and if not, to set out the reasons. [73641/25]
Children 14 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a breakdown of Tusla's annual expenditure on private residential and special emergency arrangement providers for each of the past five years, disaggregated by provider type and by placement category; and to outline the governance framework applied by her Department to oversee this expenditure. [71826/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children placed in private residential care and in special emergency arrangements in each of the past five years, and the corresponding number placed in Tusla-run residential units over the same period. [71827/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average annual cost per placement for private residential care, for Tusla-run residential care, and for special emergency arrangements for each of the past five years, and the Department's assessment of value for money across these categories. [71828/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the projected reductions in expenditure on private residential care set out in Tusla's Residential Care Plan, including annual targets, timelines, and the planned expansion of public residential capacity required to achieve reduced reliance on private providers. [71829/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department carried out any governance or financial risk review of subcontracted private residential centres in advance of approving additional funding for Tusla in Budget 2026; and to state the title and completion date of any such review. [71969/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the evidence base used by her Department to support the Budget 2026 allocation for private residential placements, including whether any assessment of governance, cost exposure or compliance risk was undertaken. [71970/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department holds any reports, internal briefs or analyses completed since 2023 relating to governance or oversight of private residential centres funded by Tusla; and to outline the purpose of each document. [71971/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria her Department uses to determine whether governance controls for subcontracted private residential providers meet the standard required for continued Exchequer funding. [71972/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any gaps in governance, contracting, monitoring or regulatory assurance were identified by her Department during the 2024–2025 budget preparation process relating to private residential placements; and the actions taken in response. [71973/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department maintains a central supplier and payee register for all organisations funded through her Department’s budget; and to outline the mandatory data fields recorded for each supplier. [72517/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department requires all organisations funded by her Department to record the legal type of each supplier or payee, such as limited company, partnership, sole trader or registered charity, as part of their financial-governance obligations. [72518/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the date on which her Department last reviewed the adequacy of supplier-classification controls and supplier-information standards across organisations funded by her Department; and the findings of that review. [72519/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any internal audit, external audit or management letter issued to her Department since 2020 has raised concerns about incomplete supplier information, supplier-type classification or procurement-record quality in organisations funded by her Department; and the actions taken in response. [72520/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to introduce a standardised supplier-information framework, including supplier legal type, across all bodies funded by her Department’s budget; and the expected timeline for implementation. [72521/25]
Housing 13 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date on which his Department last received an update from the Building Control Management System on the validation of Modern Methods of Construction data; the expected completion date for this validation; and the internal deadline his Department has set for publishing the first tranche of MMC statistics. [72306/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department has taken since 2022 to establish a residential-specific productivity baseline for use in housing policy formation, including any internal memoranda, assessment frameworks or technical guidance issued to inform national housing targets. [72307/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has conducted any assessment of the budgetary or value-for-money risks arising from the absence of residential-specific productivity indicators in the construction sector; and the outcomes of any such assessment. [72308/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date on which his Department last requested the Central Statistics Office to examine residential construction productivity separately from other construction activity; and to provide details of any technical workstreams, consultations or data-sharing arrangements agreed since 2022. [72309/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the dates on which the Housing Activation Office submitted reports to him since 1 January 2023 identifying infrastructure barriers to housing delivery; the number of barriers escalated; and the number that remain unresolved following those reports. [72310/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the categories of infrastructure barriers escalated to him by the Housing Activation Office since 2023, including transport, utilities, water services, planning or procurement; and the corrective actions his Department has directed in each case. [72311/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline his Department has set for publishing a consolidated annual report of housing activation barriers, actions and progress; and whether this report will include local-authority-level detail. [72312/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department currently collects or holds construction and delivery cost data at individual housing unit level for social housing schemes funded or approved by his Department; if not, when a decision was taken not to collect such data; who authorised that approach; and whether he intends to introduce unit-level cost reporting for future social housing delivery. [73643/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has conducted any internal analysis, review or assessment since 2023 to explain increases in the average cost per social housing unit in Cork city and Cork county; and if so, to detail the factors identified as contributing to those cost increases and the actions taken in response. [73644/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average total development cost per dwelling for affordable purchase homes supported under the local authority affordable purchase scheme in Cork city and Cork county for each year since 2023; and to outline the methodology used by his Department to calculate or verify those costs. [73645/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department requires local authorities to submit detailed cost breakdowns for affordable purchase housing schemes funded under national affordable housing programmes; if so, the nature of those cost breakdowns; and if not, the way in which his Department assures value for money in the delivery of affordable purchase homes. [73646/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has prepared any projections or forecasts relating to future construction and delivery costs, per social and affordable housing unit under Housing for All or any successor programme; and if so, to outline those projections and the assumptions on which they are based. [73647/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department benchmarks the cost of delivering social and affordable housing units in Ireland against comparable EU member states; if so, to detail the most recent benchmarking exercise carried out; and if not, the reasons such benchmarking is not undertaken. [73648/25]
Justice 5 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the proposed new wing, for the planned extension at Midlands Prison in Portlaoise recently approved by Cabinet as part of a fast-tracked expansion, is to be constructed on the site currently occupied by the prison's award-winning horticulture facility; if so, the rationale for dismantling a nationally-recognised rehabilitation and education unit that has featured in programming (details supplied) farming and agri-education publications, and multiple public-interest articles highlighting its proven success in upskilling prisoners, supporting reintegration, and delivering positive environmental and community outcomes; and if any impact assessment, cost-benefit analysis, or consultation with staff and stakeholders was undertaken before deciding to remove the horticulture unit to make way for additional cell capacity. [71356/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the financial contribution Ireland is due to make under the EU Migration and Asylum Pact’s solidarity mechanism will have any effect on the volume of international protection applicants entering the State from the United Kingdom via Northern Ireland, given that the United Kingdom is not a participant in the Pact; to outline any assessment her Department has carried out on the expected impact of this contribution on secondary movements from the UK; and to set out the actions, her Department is taking at EU level to address the disproportionate inflow originating from outside the Pact’s legal framework. [72523/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the statutory provisions under which his Department and An Garda Síochána currently process and hold information relating to nationality and immigration status in respect of persons who have been convicted of criminal offences; the datasets in which such information forms part of his Department’s policy or statistical work; and the governance framework that applies to the extraction, use and anonymisation of these data for criminal justice analysis and reporting. [72556/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the last occasion on which his Department requested or received anonymised conviction related statistical information that included nationality or immigration status fields; the stated policy purpose for which the data were sought; the format in which the data were provided; and the procedures in place to assure his Department that such datasets complied with data protection requirements before being used to inform policy. [72557/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has assessed the administrative and governance arrangements required to support an annual statutory report on the nationality and immigration status of persons convicted of offences in the State; the internal analysis carried out to date regarding feasibility, data standards, anonymisation requirements and ministerial oversight, and if he will provide details of any options appraisals or internal assessments undertaken in this area. [72558/25]
Defence 4 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the policy or governance framework that applies when Ministers or officials undertake State travel to regions with identified health risks, including malaria; and the date on which this framework was last reviewed. [72513/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether his Department conducted a search of its records, including briefing files, archival material and travel documentation, before confirming that no medical advice, briefing notes or risk assessments had been issued in the past twenty years in relation to anti-malaria medications, and to outline the scope of that search. [72514/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the duty-of-care standards applied by his Department when approving official overseas travel for Ministers or officials to malaria-risk regions, including any requirement to provide general travel-risk information or to reference external public-health guidance. [72515/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence if his Department has ever issued, received or referenced general travel-risk information from other Government Departments or public-health bodies when preparing international travel for Ministers or officials, and the process for retaining such information within departmental records. [72516/25]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 382 of 11 December 2025, the date by which his Department will furnish the information stated as “currently being collated”; if the evaluation framework for the built to innovate programme exists in draft or interim form; and to identify the official or unit responsible for finalising this material. [73616/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 383 of 11 December 2025, if his Department has, since 2022, made any formal request to the Central Statistics Office, Eurostat, or the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the publication of residential construction productivity statistics, including GVA or hours worked; and if so, the dates of such requests and the outcome. [73617/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the legal basis under which tram drivers operate on public roads; if tram drivers are required to hold a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence or any other form of licence recognised under State law when operating trams on public roads; if the "tram licence" issued by the operating company is recognised under Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71358/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department has received and assessed the application for the refurbishment of a community centre and library (details supplied) in the north-east ward of Cork city; the current status of the proposal within his Department’s capital approvals process; whether any further information has been requested from Cork City Council; and the expected timeline for a final decision on funding, given that Cork City Council has already completed the preparatory work requested by his Department. [72317/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether he is satisfied that the current governance and reporting arrangements between his Department and the Central Bank of Ireland are adequate in circumstances where a regulated financial institution publicly confirms widespread customer-impacting errors; and whether, in his view, the absence of routine briefing or structured reporting to his Department in such cases presents any risk to effective Ministerial oversight of consumer protection policy. [73588/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 3 votes · 43 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 43 total

Health 14 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the progress made over the past 12 months on each of her Department’s programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72198/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if her Department carried out an assessment of the financial or clinical impact of introducing a blister pack charge, particularly for older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72225/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number and grades of additional clinical staff identified as necessary to increase patient access to orthodontic services; when recruitment for these posts will commence; the projected impact this staffing increase is expected to have on current waiting lists; and whether funding for these additional posts has been ring-fenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72257/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the details of the proposed once-off orthodontic grant of €3,000 for eligible patients; the criteria that will be used to determine eligibility; the way in which the allocation of the grant will operate in practice; whether this measure is intended to permanently supplement public capacity or serve as a temporary intervention to address waiting list pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72258/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the proposed orthodontic grant will interact with the existing 20% tax relief on orthodontic treatment; if her Department has estimated the total net out-of-pocket cost remaining for families after both supports; whether measures are being considered for families who cannot claim tax relief due to low income or non-taxpayer status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72259/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason 890 clients in Cork were awaiting home support at the end of October 2025, representing 3,130 hours of unmet need, including 543 awaiting a new home support service and 347 awaiting additional hours; the actions being taken by the HSE South West to address these delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72260/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to address the recruitment and retention challenges for Health Care Assistant staff in Cork and Kerry, given the acknowledged impact on service delivery and waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72261/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Care Assistants (Home Support) in Cork and Kerry in 2025; the number of candidates screened and appointed; the extent to which these campaigns will address the staffing shortages reported by the HSE Southwest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72262/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason no autism diagnostic assessments are being conducted directly within primary care in the HSE Southwest; the reason a primary care autism team has not been established to provide this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72263/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the cost of outsourcing autism diagnostic assessments in the HSE Southwest; the number of assessments delivered through private providers in each of the past three years; whether direct provision through a primary care team will reduce these costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72264/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels required to provide an in-house autism diagnostic service within primary care in the Southwest; whether recruitment for these posts has begun or is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72265/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in commencing construction of the new ten-bed rehabilitative residential unit in Midleton to replace the Owenacurra facility; the updated timeline for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72266/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if community mental health teams in the HSE Southwest are currently accepting more new cases than they are discharging; the actions which are being taken to address capacity pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72267/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical card applications received for persons aged over 70 in 2025; the number approved; the number refused; the number of appeals lodged following refusals; and, of those appeals, the number granted on review; and the number in which the original decision was upheld; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73690/25]
Finance 5 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72190/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the steps being taken to address rising insurance premiums for consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68208/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his plans to make changes to the disabled drivers scheme; if he will consider expanding eligibility and modernising the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68207/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his plans to make changes to the disabled drivers scheme; if he will consider expanding eligibility and modernising the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69455/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the steps being taken to address rising insurance premiums for consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69456/25]
Defence 3 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the additional defence funding allocated under the revised National Development Plan that will be provided for Collins Barracks, Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71838/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the measures being taken to create additional accommodation for military personnel in Collins Barracks, Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71839/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the measures her Department is taking to ensure the budget for the Reserve Defence Force will be sufficient for the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72679/25]
Education 3 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school’s application for a lift upgrade (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71844/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a decision will be made on a school’s application for emergency works (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71845/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress made over the past 12 months on each of her Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72193/25]
Social 3 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a school in Cork (details supplied) is experiencing a delay in having their school meals rolled out; if the timeline will be reviewed considering that the school is one of the only ones in the area without a school hot meal in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71722/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to introducing a gluten-free food allowance for pensioners with coeliac disease due to the extra cost associated with their dietary needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72700/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has considered the impact of the high cost of gluten-free food on pensioners with coeliac disease; and whether he will explore options to support affected individuals, such as a potential allowance or subsidy to offset these costs. [72701/25]
Children 3 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made over the past 12 months on each of her Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72194/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if recruitment has commenced for the expansion of the 11 proposed inreach specialist teams, and for the additional assessment and liaison officers announced as part of the recent reforms to the assessment of need process; the number of positions approved; the roles being recruited for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72282/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the recently announced reforms to the assessment of need process will address regional disparities, especially in Cork where there are severe shortages; if regions with the longest waiting lists will receive priority hiring and deployment of in reach teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72283/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport if he will undertake works on the Carrigrohane straight road, N22 in Cork, to resurface the road and upgrade the streetlights (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71860/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72204/25]
Climate 2 questions
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of approvals and drawdowns for the home energy upgrade scheme loan in Cork city and Cork county to date in 2025, in tabular form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72248/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will provide an update on all of the actions in the energy security review; the estimated timeline for completion/delivery of each action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72249/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made over the past 12 months on each of her Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72192/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72191/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72195/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72199/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72200/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72201/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72202/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the progress made over the past 12 months on each of his Department’s Programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72197/25]

New lobbying 2 returns

Irish Platform for Patients' Organisations, Science and Industry Health
- Medicines Assessment and Reimbursement Process in Ireland
Polio Survivors Ireland Justice and Equality
- Wrote to the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to express urgent concern regarding the challenges faced by persons with disabilities living within the Direct Provision system.

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 3 votes · 64 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 64 total

Housing 12 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the derelict sites levy, levied, collected, owed and cumulatively owed; the number of sites on the register as of 31 December 2024 and at the current date, by local authority, in tabular form. [72138/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date for return of collection data for 2025 of the derelict sites levy. [72139/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the latest data on the amounts levied, collected, owed and cumulatively owed; the number of sites on each register for the vacant sites levy and the residential zoned land tax, by local authority, in tabular form. [72140/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes delivered in Cork in 2025. [72142/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cost rental homes delivered, by county, in 2025. [72143/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for delivery of the Northwest Quarter Regeneration, by phases, in Cork. [72144/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the overall funding provided to the NWQR, to date in 2025. [72145/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the overall percentage of social housing delivered in 2025 under universal design principles. [72147/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will publish figures on the numbers of people on social housing lists longer than seven, eight, nine and 10 years and so on, respectively, by local authority administrative area based on SSHA figures provided by local authorities. [72149/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocation for 2026 social housing acquisition programme. [72150/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenant-in-situ sales approved in Cork city and county respectively to date in 2025. [72151/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided by local authority for the provision of homeless services to date in 2025. [72152/25]
Health 11 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the timeline for delivery of the new elective hospital in Cork; and when this will be fully operational. [72100/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults in Cork currently awaiting an appointment for audiology, by waiting time, in tabular form. [72102/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults in Cork currently awaiting an appointment for ophthalmology, by waiting time, in tabular form. [72103/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of children in Cork currently awaiting a scoliosis appointment longer than four months. [72104/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed supervised injection facilities in Cork. [72105/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the provision of primary care centres in Blarney, Mayfield and Glanmire. [72106/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of GMS general practitioners in Cork, by LHO in 2020 and in 2025. [72107/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of GMS patients in Cork, by LHO, in 2020 and in 2025. [72108/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to Southdoc to date in 2025. [72109/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints received about Cork health services in 2025, by complaint category or health service provider. [72110/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of active litigations for healthcare malpractice in Cork currently underway; and the amount paid for litigating same in 2025. [72111/25]
Justice 9 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Gardaí have coded offences under the Control of Horses Act 1996. [72088/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda stations in Cork open during the hours of 9pm and 9am. [72089/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the opening hours of each of the Garda stations in the Cork city and county divisions, in tabular form. [72090/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of civil servants working in Garda stations currently, by county, in tabular form. [72091/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of horses seized in Cork to date in 2025. [72094/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the date of her last meeting with the Chief Superintendent in Cork city; and whether Garda numbers arose as an issue. [72095/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of scramblers seized in Cork in 2025. [72096/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the publication of the latest Inspector of Prisons report into Cork Prison. [72097/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on plans for a second prison in the Glen; and whether he has met with the community on same. [72098/25]
Children 8 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE staff in each of the Cork CDNTs; the number considered a full cohort; and the number currently on leave, by role, in tabular form. [72101/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare facilities in Cork that have given notification of closure in each of the past five years. [72154/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare facilities that have removed themselves from the NCS scheme in each of the past five years. [72155/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she will intervene to prevent the closure of homeless prevention services in an organisation (details supplied) in Cork in mid-January; and to ensure the service does not cease in providing vital community support to homeless young people through social care and work [73584/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of respite hours provided for children in each of the past five years, respectively, in tabular form, including 2025 to date. [71673/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of publicly funded private assessments of needs delivered in Cork in 2025; and the number delivered publicly. [71672/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is aware that an organisation (details supplied) in Cork will be closing mid-January; and whether she will intervene to keep this vital service open and expand its staffing to allow it to reach its full potential. [73402/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the funding provided in each of the past five years for an organisation (details supplied) in Cork. [73404/25]
Social 6 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who moves jobs after four years must start auto-enrolment again at 1.5% or will remain at 3%. [72033/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for an additional needs payment in Cork city. [72112/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for an appointment with a community welfare officer in Cork city. [72113/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who have availed of an additional needs payment in the last quarter of this year and the same period in 2020 and 2024 respectively, in Cork city, by category of payment, in tabular form. [72114/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims refused by payment in Cork; and the number accepted on appeal. [72115/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools with funded breakfast clubs in Cork. [72126/25]
Transport 4 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport whether any work has been undertaken on safety concerns with electric vehicles. [72082/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the current number of drivers for Bus Éireann’s PSO route delivery in Cork city; and the number considered a full cohort. [72156/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the number of complaints received by the NTA for the PSO route in Cork city. [72157/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the number of meetings his office has held this year where Cork’s bus service was on the agenda. [72158/25]
Finance 3 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of homes in Cork subject to a vacant homes tax; and the overall sum raised. [72141/25]
- 2025-12-17 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether electricity sent back to the grid will be taxed from next year. [72603/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the reason his Department pays an external company for media monitoring and another for press release distribution. [69851/25]
Education 3 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current number of teachers on the substitute supply panel in Cork; and the number in 2020. [72123/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of home-school liaison support workers in Cork in 2020, 2024 and the number in 2025. [72124/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of emergency works grant applications received for Cork schools in 2025; and the number refused, and the number drawn down. [72125/25]
Further and Higher Education 3 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the college campus on the northside of Cork city. [72120/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices, by phase, in Cork, in tabular form. [72121/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average time it took, from Phase 1 to completion, to complete each apprenticeship in Cork, by trade in 2025 to date, in tabular form. [72122/25]
Defence 2 questions
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Defence the actions she has taken to improve pay and conditions in the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71668/25]
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Defence the number of resignations from the Defence Forces in 2025. [71669/25]
Climate 2 questions
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of meetings he has held with ESB and other energy providers on energy costs to date in 2025. [71671/25]
- 2025-12-18 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of homes retrofitted in 2025 under the warmer homes scheme. [71670/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether there is currently a funding stream for shovel ready community centres.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72059/25]

New lobbying 2 returns

Mercy Law Resource Centre CLG Housing
- Wrote to Oireachtas Committee Members Regarding 1988 Act prior to appearing before Committee
The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Agriculture
- Asked TD’s to support a bill proposed by Deputy Ruth Coppinger, PBP, to ban fox hunting in Ireland