Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 2 Feb

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 2 Feb – 8 Feb 2026 · 5 TDs · 1 bill voted on · 270 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2026-02-04 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 79–63

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 3 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn · Thomas Gould

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 1 vote · 7 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 7 total

Justice 3 questions
- 2026-02-04 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 renewal application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7468/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when it is likely that a decision will be reached in respect of an application for reactivation employment permit permission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8659/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration given his Department has stated it is processing citizenship applications via Irish association in chronological order, to clarify the date of such applications currently being processed for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8885/26]
Education 2 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm that a child (details supplied) will be awarded an NCSE letter of eligibility in order to receive a place in a special class in the school they already attend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7700/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm the funding mechanisms available for a school to apply for funding for resurfacing of a school car park; whether it can be applied for under the emergency works programme, if weather conditions render the car park dangerous; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8658/26]
Transport 1 question
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport when a driving licence (details supplied) will be returned to a person, in view of the fact they have been waiting over 12 months for the return of same from the NDLS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8414/26]
Rural 1 question
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when applications for the next round of the Community Centre Investment Fund will open; whether it will be for new builds or refurbishments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8947/26]

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 0 votes · 97 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 97 total

Transport 61 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Éireann to cover routes in Cork city in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7958/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Eireann to cover routes in Cork city in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7959/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Eireann to cover routes in Cork city in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7960/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new which drivers have been hired by Bus Eireann to cover routes in Cork city in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7961/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Eireann to cover routes in Cork city in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7962/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Eireann to cover routes in Cork city in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7963/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Éireann to cover routes serving Cork county in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7964/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Éireann to cover routes serving Cork county in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7965/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Éireann to cover routes serving Cork county in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7966/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Éireann to cover routes serving Cork county in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7967/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Éireann to cover routes serving Cork county in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7968/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Bus Éireann to cover routes serving Cork county in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7969/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Iarnród Éireann to serve routes in Cork county in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7970/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Iarnród Éireann to serve routes in Cork county in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7971/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Iarnród Éireann to serve routes in Cork county in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7972/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Iarnród Éireann to serve routes in Cork county in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7973/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Iarnród Éireann to serve routes in Cork county in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7974/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new drivers which have been hired by Iarnród Éireann to serve routes in Cork county in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7975/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new staff members which have been recruited by Iarnród Éireann based in Iarnród Éireann stations in County Cork in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7976/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new staff members which have been recruited by Iarnród Éireann based in Iarnród Éireann stations in County Cork in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7977/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new staff members which have been recruited by Iarnród Éireann based in Iarnród Éireann stations in County Cork in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7978/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new staff members which have been recruited by Iarnród Éireann based in Iarnród Éireann stations in County Cork in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7979/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new staff members which have been recruited by Iarnród Éireann based in Iarnród Éireann stations in County Cork in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7980/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new staff members which have been recruited by Iarnród Éireann based in Iarnród Éireann stations in County Cork in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7981/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new fleets that has been purchased by Iarnród Éireann to serve rail routes in County Cork in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7982/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new fleets that has been purchased by Iarnród Eireann to serve rail routes in County Cork in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7983/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new fleets that has been purchased by Iarnród Eireann to serve rail routes in County Cork in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7984/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new fleets that has been purchased by Iarnród Eireann to serve rail routes in County Cork in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7985/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new fleets that has been purchased by Iarnród Eireann to serve rail routes in County Cork in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7986/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new fleets that has been purchased by Iarnród Eireann to serve rail routes in County Cork in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7987/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the amount Iarnród Éireann have spent on security services nationwide in each of the years, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7988/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new buses purchased by Bus Éireann to serve routes in Cork city in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7989/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new buses purchased by Bus Éireann to serve routes in Cork city in each of the years 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7990/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the number of new buses purchased by Bus Éireann to serve routes in Cork county in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7991/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if consideration is being given to new bus shelters at location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7992/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding a project (details supplied) as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7993/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport when catering services will return to the Limerick to Dublin Heuston route of Iarnród Éireann following the suspension of catering service during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7994/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport when catering services will return to the Sligo to Dublin Connolly route of Iarnród Éireann following the suspension of catering service during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7995/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport when catering services will return to the Westport to Dublin Heuston route of Iarnród Éireann following the suspension of catering service during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7996/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport when catering services will return to the Tralee to Dublin Heuston route of Iarnród Éireann following the suspension of catering service during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7997/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport when will catering services return to the Waterford to Dublin Heuston route of Iarnród Éireann following the suspension of catering service during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7999/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the engagement he has had with Iarnród Éireann regarding the reintroduction of catering services on the Limerick to Dublin Heuston route as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8000/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the engagement he has had with Iarnród Éireann regarding the reintroduction of catering services on the Sligo to Dublin Connolly route as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8001/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the engagement he has had with Iarnród Éireann regarding the reintroduction of catering services on the Westport to Dublin Heuston route as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8002/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the engagement he has had with Iarnród Éireann regarding the reintroduction of catering services on the Galway to Dublin Heuston route as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8003/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if feasibility studies have been conducted on the reopening of Avoca train station in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8009/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if feasibility studies have been conducted on the reopening of Glenealy train station in county Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8010/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if his Department have any plans to extend Leap Card capability to Charleville train station as part of the Cork Commuter network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8011/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if his Department have any plans to extend Leap Card capability to Millstreet train station as part of the Cork Commuter network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8012/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if his Department have any plans to extend Leap Card capability to Banteer train station as part of the Cork Commuter network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8013/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update as of January 2026, on repair and resurfacing works for the N20 between Mallow and Charleville; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8014/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the reduction of driving test waiting times in County Cork as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8024/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the reduction of theory test waiting times in County Cork as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8025/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the increase on driving testers employed in County Cork as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8026/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for outline the most recent data available on driving test waiting times as of January 2026 in Mallow, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8027/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the engagement he has had with Iarnród Éireann to increase the capacity of the Iarnród Éireann service from Mallow to Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8028/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update as of January 2026 on the repair works on the N72 Mallow to Killarney Road; when works will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8029/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport his plans to increase capacity of Bus Éireann service on the route of Mallow to Cork city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8030/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on actions his Department or the RSA are taking in order to reduce the backlog in waiting times for drivers who are booking a re-test as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8031/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the introduction of next gen ticketing on the Cork fleet for bus services as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8032/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update as of January 2026 on the Mallow-to-Dungarvan Greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8033/26]
Education 22 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which a person (details supplied) can apply for a special school place as the NCSE application has closed and due to backlogs in assessments, diagnosis has only been secured now; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7734/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a list of all school capital building projects that are at Stage 2B of the development process, and were not included on the priority list of projects in the Sectoral Investment Plan, by the school roll number and the date it entered Stage 2B, if planning permission has been achieved in each case, and when that planning permission will expire, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8492/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a list of all school capital building projects that have achieved Stage 2A approval, and were not included on the priority list of projects in the Sectoral Investment Plan, by the school roll number and the date that it achieved Stage 2A approval, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8493/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if all school capital building projects that are currently at Stage 3, are included on the priority list of projects in the Sectoral Investment Plan; the list of those schools at Stage 3 that are not included in the plan over 2026 and 2027; when planning permission will expire, in each case, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8494/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if all school capital building projects in the Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering programmes, are funded through the Sectoral Investment Plan; the breakdown of each school project included in the ADAPT 4 – Programme 4 bundles indicating whether construction is already underway; if not if these are included in the priority list in the Sectoral Investment Plan; to provide a list of those projects in the ADAPT-4 programmes that have achieved at least Stage 1 approval to date; the breakdown of each school project included in those ADAPT bundles, and at which stage of the process it is at, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8495/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm who is the external programme manager for the ADAPT 4- Programme Innovate; the annual cost for the contract for this service; the amount that was spent on the programme manager contract in 2025, and projected for 2026; the reason this work is no longer carried out by her Department itself; if a similar arrangement was in place for previous iterations of the ADAPT programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8496/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a list of the companies and professional practices appointed under the integrated project teams in each case for ADAPT 4 - Programme Innovate; to provide a separate list of sub consultancies; the proportion of these companies that are Irish; the projected total cost of the ADAPT 4 programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8497/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason full post-primary autism classes receive €0 in year-on-year funding, while their primary equivalents receive €4,020 in such funding; if she will commit to equalising this funding, a position supported by the NCSE; if so, in what timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8783/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will direct the NCSE to provide the number of students in post-primary schools that have a recommendation of requiring a special class place, but do not currently have that place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8784/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will direct the NCSE to provide specific CPD on how to run post-primary autism classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8785/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm that teachers can choose to not participate in the assessment of needs process, and cannot be compelled to participate, as per a judgment in January 2024 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8786/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school giving priority enrolment to a post-primary autism special class to students already enrolled in the school who receive their autism diagnosis and/or recommendation of requiring a post-primary autism class placement, and who have all necessary documentation (including diagnostic report and NCSE letter of eligibility), contravene either the Schools Admissions Act 2018 or circular 0039/2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8787/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will instruct all schools with special classes to assign a teacher to coordinate said classes and specify a minimum number of administration hours per class for that teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8788/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide precise data on the number of times section 37a of the Schools Admissions Act 2018 has actually been utilised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8789/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students enrolled in fee paying schools; the number of those schools that have special classes; the number of classes they have; if she will also provide the same statistics for public schools, and explain the discrepancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8790/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students enrolled in DEIS schools; the number of those schools that have special classes; the number of such classes they have; if she will also provide the same statistics for non-DEIS schools, and the reason for the discrepancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8791/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will instruct the NCSE to provide a county by county (and by area code in Dublin) breakdown of special class numbers, covering the past five years, and relevant population stats for each county/area, broken down into primary and post-primary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8792/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason her Department this year has made home tuition conditional on having a psychological report done within the past six months, especially given the potentially years long wait to get such reports; to provide statistics from the past five years of successful home tuition applications as compared to successful applications in this current academic year under this new condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8793/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) that has been seeking an extension for SEN room and additional classroom since 2022 was left off the recent announcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8812/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools not included, but that have applied, in the NDP announcement that included provision for SEN, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8813/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a funding application and or SENO referral has been made for child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8877/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the home tuition support grant was refused for a child (details supplied), despite extensive evidence given by primary school and psychologists in relation to her assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8878/26]
Housing 11 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a project (details supplied) as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8309/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has a preferred location for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8310/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department had with Cork City Council regarding a project (details supplied) as of January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8311/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update as of January 2026 on the Programme for Government commitment to tackle vacancy and dereliction; the measures his Department have taken, and have planned, to further tackle vacancy and dereliction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8831/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update as of January 2026 on the Programme for Government commitment to enhance compulsory purchase order powers to increase housing supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8832/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update as of January 2026 on the Programme for Government commitment to provide an ambitious grant system to tackle vacancy and dereliction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8833/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update as of January 2026 on the Programme for Government commitment to improve the administration of the vacancy and dereliction grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8834/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage as of January 2026, the number of positions that remain vacant in the housing section of Cork City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8835/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage as of January 2026, the number of positions that remain vacant in the housing section of Cork County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8836/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses that have been purchased through the tenant (incremental) purchase scheme in 2025 through Cork City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8837/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses which have been purchased through the tenant (incremental) purchase scheme in 2025 through Cork County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8838/26]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education will next meet. [4028/26]
Culture 1 question
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department has plans to re-open applications to the nighttime economy support scheme; if not, the reason that decision has been reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8923/26]
Rural 1 question
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the grants and schemes available to pubs in rural communities, to apply for and avail of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8924/26]

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 0 votes · 146 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 146 total

Health 47 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she has received, reviewed, or been briefed on the report prepared by the expert group established by the HSE to examine the implications of the final of a review (details supplied) for gender-related healthcare services in Ireland; the date on which she first received or was informed of this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7497/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the expert group report examining the implications of a review (details supplied) contains any findings or recommendations relating specifically to gender-related healthcare for children and adolescents; whether those findings differ from existing Irish clinical practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7498/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts the findings and recommendations of the expert group report examining the implications of a review (details supplied) for gender-related healthcare services; whether she has approved, rejected, or deferred any recommendations arising from that report; and the rationale for her position. [7499/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any changes to national policy, clinical governance, or risk-mitigation measures for gender-related healthcare for minors have been approved by her since the completion of the expert group report; and if not, the reasons no such changes have been made. [7500/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 503 of 4 December 2025, whether she will provide the total approved pay allocation for funded posts within CHO4 for the year 2024; the total pay expenditure actually incurred in that year; the resulting variance, if any; the reason this information was not furnished in the response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7531/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department receives, on an annual or monthly basis, data on funded posts, vacancy levels, and unused pay allocations across each Community Healthcare Organisation; whether this data informed the 2024 and 2025 health Estimates; and if she will outline the accountability framework in place to ensure that Exchequer-approved staffing funds are either deployed or transparently reported when unspent. [7532/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that the absence of publicly available data on the value of unfilled funded posts within CHO4 represents a deficiency in financial transparency; whether she has directed the HSE to standardise reporting of funded vacancies and associated pay underspends across all CHOs; and when such reporting will be made available to the Oireachtas. [7533/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any portion of the unused salary allocation arising from funded but unfilled posts within CHO4 in 2024 was reallocated, surrendered to the Exchequer, or carried forward; the value involved; and the statutory or administrative basis under which such decisions were taken. [7534/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she will commit to publishing, on an annual basis, a national breakdown, by CHO of funded posts, filled posts, vacancies, and associated pay allocations, in order to allow the Houses of the Oireachtas to assess workforce planning effectiveness under Sláintecare and the National Health Workforce Plan. [7535/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of private residential properties owned by persons in receipt of support under the nursing homes support scheme that were rented out in each year since the Fair Deal rental income reforms came into effect in early 2024; the total number of such properties currently rented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7665/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of properties associated with nursing homes support scheme applicants that were identified by her Department or the HSE as potentially suitable for rental prior to the 2024 Fair Deal rental income reforms; the evidence base used at that time to estimate that thousands of homes would enter the rental market; and if she will publish the underlying analysis. [7666/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has conducted any post-implementation review of the 2024 Fair Deal rental income reforms; whether barriers such as legal complexity, family consent issues, tenancy duration rules, or interaction with wider rental legislation were identified as limiting take-up; and what corrective actions are now proposed. [7667/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what engagement has taken place between her Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the HSE to assess the impact of wider rental market reforms on the willingness of nursing homes support scheme participants to rent out their properties; and whether any cross-departmental measures are planned to increase participation. [7668/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has undertaken, commissioned, or reviewed any health economic or cost-benefit analysis on the use of GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines, including tirzepatide and semaglutide, for obesity treatment and the prevention of type 2 diabetes; if so, the details and outcomes of any such analysis; and if not, whether she intends to commission such an assessment in light of evidence on long-term savings to the health service. [7676/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current policy position of her Department regarding the reimbursement of GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines under the Drugs Payment Scheme; whether any review is under way to consider broader eligibility criteria; and the expected timeline for any decision on changes to reimbursement policy. [7677/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines on reducing the future incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and associated complications; whether such preventative outcomes are factored into medicines reimbursement decisions; and if she will outline how prevention-based savings are weighted in funding assessments. [7678/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what consideration has been given to the equity implications of high out-of-pocket costs for GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines; whether the Department has examined the risk of access being determined by ability to pay rather than clinical need; and if she will outline any measures under consideration to address this issue. [7679/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a person with a disability who holds a long-term illness card, and whose prescribed medications are covered under the long-term illness scheme, is entitled as part of that scheme to have those medications dispensed in clinically required blister packs to enable safe administration in a home-care setting; if this service has been funded by the State to date; when any decision was taken to withdraw or limit such funding; the policy rationale for that decision; and if she will confirm that essential medication compliance supports, including pharmacist-prepared blister packing, will continue to be covered where clinically indicated. [8227/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she has directed, or will direct, the National Ambulance Service to collect and publish monthly data on the number of emergency calls classified as clinical status 1 purple and red where the response time exceeds 60 minutes; if not, the reasons this data is not currently required as part of national performance oversight; and the date from which such reporting will commence. [8611/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the rationale for excluding response times exceeding 60 minutes for clinical status 1 purple and red emergency calls from the key performance indicators of the National Ambulance Service; when this policy decision was taken; and whether she considers the exclusion of extreme delays to be consistent with patient safety and international best practice in emergency care governance. [8612/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when she was first made aware that the National Ambulance Service does not collate or report data on life-threatening emergency calls where response times exceed 60 minutes; whether this issue has been raised with her Department by the HSE or the NAS; and what actions, if any, she has taken since becoming aware of this gap in oversight. [8613/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what formal escalation, intervention, or corrective measures are triggered when national or regional response time targets for clinical status 1 purple and red emergency calls are not met by the National Ambulance Service; whether any such measures were triggered during 2025; and if not, how target compliance is enforced in practice. [8614/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether median response times for clinical status 1 purple and red emergency calls are collected by the National Ambulance Service; if so, to provide the median response times for each of the past 12 months by HSE region; and if not, the reasons median data is not used alongside averages in assessing emergency response performance. [8615/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the assessment her Department has undertaken of the persistent variation in emergency ambulance response performance between HSE regions for clinical status 1 purple and red calls; whether staffing levels, fleet availability, or geographic coverage have been identified as contributory factors; and the national actions which are being taken to address regional inequity in emergency response times. [8616/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when the decision was taken that emergency ambulance response times exceeding 60 minutes would not be routinely recorded, collated, or reported as part of the State’s ambulance performance framework; the person that authorised this decision; and whether she is satisfied that the absence of such data is compatible with effective patient safety oversight. [8860/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that the current National Ambulance Service KPI framework does not measure or report life threatening emergency response delays exceeding 60 minutes; and if so, whether she will direct that this data be formally collected, audited, and published on a routine basis. [8861/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any Department of Health policy, guidance, or risk management framework addresses patient harm arising from prolonged ambulance response times beyond existing KPI thresholds; and if not, whether she intends to commission such a framework. [8862/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken, commissioned, or received any clinical risk assessment, patient safety review, or adverse incident analysis relating to emergency ambulance response times exceeding 60 minutes during the period 2023 to date; and if not, the reasons for same. [8863/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that failure to measure extreme emergency response delays limits the State’s ability to identify, assess, and mitigate patient safety risks; and whether she will instruct the Health Service Executive to amend its performance governance arrangements accordingly. [8864/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the oversight mechanisms which exist within her Department to ensure that National Ambulance Service performance metrics adequately capture risks associated with prolonged emergency response times; and whether those mechanisms have been reviewed in light of rising demand and persistent emergency department congestion. [8876/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has adopted, endorsed, or relied upon any national policy, workforce planning framework, or service specification for chronic pain services which sets out recommended consultant whole-time equivalent capacity per head of population; and if so, to provide the title, date, and issuing authority of each such document. [8886/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted, commissioned, or received any population-needs assessment of chronic pain service consultant capacity since 2019, including any modelling of required consultant whole-time equivalents by Community Healthcare Organisation or Hospital Group; and if so, to provide the date, scope, and main findings. [8887/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance arrangements by which her Department assures itself that consultant capacity in chronic pain services is adequate to meet population need, including the key performance indicators, reporting cadence, and the senior accountable officer within her Department; and if she will provide the most recent available reporting outputs. [8888/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether chronic pain services are included within any current Consultant Workforce Plan, National Service Plan deliverable, or waiting list action plan overseen by her Department; and if so, to set out the targets, funding allocations, and timelines applicable in 2026 and 2027. [8889/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department requires the HSE to report, on a routine basis, the number of chronic pain service consultants in post, approved posts, vacancies, and waiting times by site; and if so, to state the reporting frequency and the most recent date on which such a report was received by her Department. [8890/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has issued any direction, circular, or guidance to the HSE since 2023 in relation to capacity expansion, recruitment, or service configuration for chronic pain services; and if so, to provide the date, subject, and a copy of each document. [8891/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department will direct the HSE and PCRS to implement a temporary national reimbursement protocol, for the duration of the current salbutamol nebule shortages, in order that clinically equivalent substitutes are reimbursed without individual case by case applications under discretionary hardship arrangements; and if so, when this protocol will commence. [8892/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has received from the HSE or PCRS an estimate of the number of medical card holders who have required alternative reimbursed products due to salbutamol nebule shortages since 1 January 2025; and if so, to provide the estimate and the methodology used. [8893/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary hardship arrangements applications received by the PCRS for inhaled nebule presentations of short-acting bronchodilators, including salbutamol substitutes, in each month since 1 January 2025; the number approved; the number refused; and the median processing time in each month. [8894/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department will require the HSE to publish clear public guidance for patients and pharmacies during shortages of reimbursable medicines, including the exact reimbursement pathway and documentation required; and if so, when this guidance will be published and where it will be accessible. [8895/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the risk to patient safety arising from requiring medical card holders to obtain GP reassessment or alternative prescribing solely due to a supply disruption of a reimbursable medicine; and if so, to provide the date and conclusions of that assessment. [8896/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has asked the HSE to provide a written instruction to community pharmacies confirming that eligible medical card holders should not be asked to pay privately for clinically required alternatives, where reimbursement is available through hardship or other mechanisms; if so, the date that instruction issued; and the mechanism for ensuring consistent implementation. [8897/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department will establish an automatic “shortage substitution” reimbursement mechanism within the PCRS for defined categories of essential medicines, where the HPRA has confirmed a shortage and the HSE has identified clinically equivalent substitutes; if so, the timeline for delivery; and whether primary legislation is required. [8898/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department maintains a central register of CHI-related reviews and reports, including publication decisions and follow-up actions; when the register was established; who is accountable for it; and whether she will publish it. [8901/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to set out the terms of reference, membership, and reporting outputs of the CHI Improvement Steering Group, including whether minutes, action logs, or progress reports are provided to her Department; and if so, to provide the most recent progress report received by her Department. [8902/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to her stated intention to integrate CHI into the HSE by 2027, the legislative and operational milestones scheduled for 2026, including the responsible unit within her Department; and the timeline for Government decisions required in 2026. [8906/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if a disabled person who has a long-term illness (LTI) card that covers their medications and prescription charges, is entitled to have their medication provided in essential blister packs under the LTI card. [8908/26]
Justice 22 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of scrambler bikes and quad bikes seized by An Garda Síochána in each of the past three years, by Garda division; the number of related prosecutions initiated; and the number resulting in convictions. [7629/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of prosecutions initiated and convictions secured for insurance fraud and fraudulent personal injury claims in each of the last five years; the average sentence imposed in such cases; and whether this data is collated and published by his Department.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7654/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he intends to review existing fraud and sentencing legislation to ensure penalties for deliberate insurance fraud appropriately reflect the seriousness of the offence and its impact on insurance costs and public confidence in the justice system. [7658/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount of public funds paid by his Department and by the Irish Prison Service since 2020 in respect of podcasts, audio programmes, or similar broadcasting or digital media outputs; and the annual breakdown of that expenditure, by year. [7669/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of podcasts, audio series, or broadcasting projects funded in whole or in part by the Irish Prison Service since 2020; the duration and format of each project; and the total number of episodes or outputs produced under each arrangement. [7670/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procurement or commissioning mechanisms used by the Irish Prison Service when engaging external providers to produce podcasts, audio programmes, or digital media content; whether competitive tendering was undertaken in each case; and where competition was not used, the justification for same. [7671/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the policy basis under which funding is provided by the Irish Prison Service for podcasts, broadcasting, or audio media projects; the objectives such projects are intended to achieve; and how these initiatives align with current Irish Prison Service strategy and rehabilitation policy. [7672/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the governance, oversight, and value-for-money controls applied by the Irish Prison Service to publicly funded podcasts or broadcasting projects; whether performance metrics or deliverables are set in advance; and how compliance is monitored and reported to his Department. [7673/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any formal evaluation, impact assessment, or cost-effectiveness review has been conducted in respect of podcasts or broadcasting projects funded by the Irish Prison Service since 2020; and if so, to outline the findings. [7674/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procedures which are in place within the Irish Prison Service to ensure compliance with GDPR principles of data minimisation and purpose limitation when communicating with staff; whether any data-protection breach assessments have been undertaken in relation to bulk email communications involving private email addresses; and if he will provide details of any guidance issued to IPS management on this matter. [7784/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether contact details collected from Irish Prison Service staff during the Covid-19 pandemic for the specific purpose of contact tracing, and on the express assurance that such details would not be used for any other purpose, were subsequently used for wider HR communications; whether any data-protection breach assessment was conducted in this regard;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7785/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any personal data breach arising within the Irish Prison Service has been notified to the Data Protection Commission in the past three years in relation to internal staff communications; and if not, the way in which compliance with GDPR breach-notification obligations is assured. [7786/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of protected disclosures which were transmitted by him to the OPDC under section 8 during the period 1 November 2025 to-date in 2026. [7787/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration regarding disclosures, the number who had not yet completed initial assessment or follow-up at the time of the cybersecurity incident affecting the OPDC in December 2025. [7788/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of such disclosures, if any, remain unread, inaccessible, or otherwise unprocessed due to the cybersecurity incident effecting the OPDC in December 2025. [7789/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the arrangements currently in place to ensure that protected disclosures made to him under section 8 can be read, assessed and followed up where the OPDC is unable to access its systems; and if he considers that a whistleblower framework in which disclosures may be lawfully made to him but cannot be read by him and may not be accessible to the OPDC complies with the requirements of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and Directive (EU) 2019/1937. [7790/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount of public funds paid by his Department and by the Irish Prison Service to the podcast (details supplied) since 2020; the annual breakdown of those payments; the budgetary subhead under which the expenditure was approved; and the Minister’s rationale for approving this expenditure. [7822/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procurement process used by the Irish Prison Service in awarding contracts or payments relating to a podcast (details supplied); whether competitive tendering was undertaken; if not, the justification for dispensing with competition; and the measures in place to ensure value for money and compliance with public spending rules. [7823/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the governance and oversight arrangements applied by his Department and the Irish Prison Service to publicly funded media or communications projects; whether performance targets or deliverables were set in respect of a podcast (details supplied); and how compliance with those requirements was assessed. [7824/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the policy basis under which funding was provided to a podcast (details supplied); the specific rehabilitative, educational, or engagement objectives the project was intended to achieve; and how those objectives align with current Irish Prison Service strategy. [7825/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any formal evaluation, impact assessment, or cost-benefit analysis was conducted in relation to a podcast (details supplied); if so, the findings; and if not, the reasons such evaluation was not undertaken prior to or following the expenditure of public funds. [7826/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration what controls, guidance, or criteria are now in place governing the funding of podcasts, media projects, or external communications initiatives by the Irish Prison Service; and whether changes have been introduced following the conclusion of a project (details supplied). [7827/26]
Finance 21 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to his stated intention to introduce additional regulation of high-cost credit and consumer lending, the specific categories of lending he proposes to regulate, including online retail credit, premium finance arrangements, and other non-bank consumer credit providers; and the policy objectives such regulation is intended to achieve. [7623/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department or the Central Bank has assessed the scale and growth of high-cost and unregulated consumer lending in the State over the past five years; the number of providers operating in this space; and the estimated number of consumers currently accessing such credit. [7624/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether he accepts that a significant proportion of consumers who access high-cost or unregulated credit do so due to exclusion from mainstream banking; whether any socio-economic analysis has been undertaken on the profile of such borrowers; and how proposed regulatory measures will prevent vulnerable consumers being exposed to exploitative lending practices. [7625/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the regulatory proposals he has signalled will include statutory caps on total credit cost or effective annual percentage rates for both regulated and currently unregulated consumer lending; and if not, the justification for permitting high interest rates in circumstances where borrowers have limited or no alternative access to credit. [7626/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the timeline by which he expects draft legislative or regulatory proposals on high-cost credit to be brought forward; whether public consultation or impact assessment will form part of this process; and how consumer protection outcomes will be measured once any new regulatory framework is introduced. [7627/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether he approved, or intends to approve, any policy direction arising from the current public consultation on the modernisation of withholding taxes (eWHT), including Professional Services Withholding Tax and Relevant Contracts Tax, that would require businesses to provide payment or financial data to the Revenue Commissioners on a real-time or near-real-time basis; whether any decision has been taken in principle on expanding such mechanisms beyond existing PSWT and RCT arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7722/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether a regulatory impact assessment or cost-benefit analysis has been carried out, or is planned, in respect of proposals contained or implied within the consultation on the modernisation of withholding taxes, particularly regarding the potential requirement for businesses to integrate their financial or accounting systems electronically with the Revenue Commissioners; whether such analysis includes estimated compliance costs for small and medium-sized enterprises; and if he will publish any such analysis. [7723/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether any proposed move toward continuous or real-time reporting or withholding under a modernised withholding tax regime would require primary legislation approved by the Houses of the Oireachtas; whether he will confirm that no expansion of withholding tax mechanisms beyond their current statutory scope will occur without such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7724/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the consideration that has been given to data protection, commercial confidentiality, and system liability issues arising from proposals to increase the frequency and automation of data exchanges between businesses and the Revenue Commissioners under the proposed eWHT framework; whether these considerations have been assessed at policy level within his Department; and if he will outline the governance safeguards envisaged. [7725/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Central Bank of Ireland requires regulated financial institutions to notify it where multiple legal claims involving materially similar facts or customer cohorts are settled on a confidential basis; if so, the notification mechanism and thresholds which applied; and if not, the way in which the Central Bank is assured that such settlements do not mask ongoing or systemic consumer detriment. [9060/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of occasions since 2019 on which the Central Bank of Ireland has required a regulated financial institution to extend redress beyond individual litigants to a wider customer cohort following the outcome of litigation or confidential settlement; and the statutory or supervisory basis relied upon in each case. [9061/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Central Bank of Ireland maintains internal guidance, criteria, or decision-making frameworks to assess when repeated settlements or litigation outcomes indicate a breach of the "stop the harm" principle; and whether he will publish the headline principles of any such framework in the interests of transparency. [9062/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide a sectoral breakdown, for each of the past five years, of anti-money laundering and know-your-customer supervisory inspections carried out by the Central Bank of Ireland, distinguishing between credit institutions, investment funds, fund service providers, and other financial institutions. [9063/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of supervisory findings, remedial directions, or enforcement actions issued by the Central Bank of Ireland since 2019 which involved deficiencies in the identification or verification of ultimate beneficial owners; and whether such deficiencies arose more frequently in any particular sector. [9064/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Central Bank of Ireland collects or analyses data on the frequency with which regulated firms rely on third-party customer due diligence under section 40 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010; and whether any supervisory concerns have arisen regarding delayed, incomplete, or inaccessible underlying beneficial ownership documentation. [9065/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Central Bank of Ireland requires firms relying on third parties for customer due diligence to conduct periodic assurance testing to confirm that full underlying documentation can be produced without delay; and how compliance with this requirement is monitored at supervisory level. [9066/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Central Bank of Ireland has identified any instances where reliance on intermediaries or professional advisers has resulted in delayed identification of beneficial owners or incomplete source-of-funds verification; and whether any thematic reviews have been conducted in this area. [9067/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department monitors trends in the proportion of complaints to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman which are deemed inadmissible or closed prior to full investigation; and whether any assessment has been made of the impact of such trends on effective consumer access to redress. [9068/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether, following the 2023 Periodic Critical Review of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, his Department has considered further evaluation of admissibility thresholds or screening criteria applied to complaints; and if not, to state the basis on which he is satisfied that current arrangements strike an appropriate balance between independence and accessibility. [9069/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the National Risk Assessment currently being finalised includes specific consideration of reputational risk arising from enforcement intensity, settlement practices, or beneficial ownership verification; and when he expects the assessment to be published. [9072/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether any concerns regarding Ireland's practical application of anti-money laundering or know-your-customer controls have been raised with his Department by EU institutions or international standard-setting bodies since 2021; and if so, to outline the general nature of those concerns. [9073/26]
Transport 12 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the current legal powers available to An Garda Síochána to seize, detain, and dispose of scrambler bikes, quad bikes, and other off-road vehicles being used illegally in public places; the statutory basis for those powers; and whether he is satisfied that existing legislation provides Gardaí with sufficient authority to intervene proactively before serious injury or death occurs. [7628/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the legislative or regulatory framework that governs the sale, importation, and use of scrambler bikes and off-road vehicles; whether he has examined the introduction of tighter controls on their sale, ownership, or age eligibility; and whether his Department is preparing any amendments to road traffic legislation to address the public safety risks posed by their misuse. [7630/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has conducted, commissioned, or reviewed any assessment of serious injuries and fatalities involving scrambler bikes or off-road vehicles in public places over the past five years; whether such incidents are increasing; and what specific policy measures he proposes to reduce the risk of further loss of life. [7631/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the total cost incurred by Iarnród Éireann in 2025 in relation to graffiti vandalism across the rail network; the number of incidents recorded; a breakdown of costs by train class and service type; and the impact these incidents had on service availability and cancellations. [7640/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has assessed the cost to the Exchequer of graffiti vandalism on public transport services, including rolling stock taken out of service for cleaning, replacement of damaged windows, and associated operational disruption; and if he will publish any such assessments. [7641/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport what policy measures, if any, were introduced or updated by Iarnród Éireann in 2025 to address vandalism and graffiti on the rail network; whether his Department issued guidance or directives in this area; and if not, the reasons for same. [7642/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has engaged with An Garda Síochána, local authorities, or transport operators on a coordinated national strategy to prevent graffiti vandalism on public transport assets; and if not, whether he will initiate such engagement given the ongoing cost to the taxpayer. [7644/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the precise reason the Dublin Airport Authority did not submit a response to the formal complaint lodged (details supplied) with the United States Department of Transportation concerning the passenger cap at Dublin Airport; whether the Minister was aware in advance that no response would be submitted; and whether he accepts that the absence of a response from a State-owned body has weakened Ireland’s position in an active international aviation dispute. [7649/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether he accepts that the failure to remove the Dublin Airport passenger cap within a reasonable timeframe now presents a credible risk of retaliatory restrictions on transatlantic air services under the EU–US Open Skies Agreement; whether this risk has been formally assessed by his Department; and if so, the findings of that assessment. [7650/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the heads of Bill intended to address the Dublin Airport passenger cap; the date on which the Heads of Bill will be brought to Government for approval; the expected timeline for publication of the Bill; and the earliest realistic date by which the cap will be legally removed. [7651/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether he considers it appropriate that operational decisions by the Irish Aviation Authority and delays within the planning system have, in effect, created a de facto national aviation policy limiting Ireland’s international connectivity; and whether the Government intends to assert direct legislative control to protect Ireland’s strategic transport and economic interests. [7653/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has defined objective criteria for determining when a national road project listed in the National Development Plan progresses from inclusion status to an active delivery priority; whether the N72 Mallow relief road currently meets those criteria; and if he will set out the basis for that assessment. [8914/26]
Children 11 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the assessment her Department has made of the risk of sexual exploitation of children placed in residential care and special emergency arrangements; the formal risk classifications which apply to such placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7490/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the safeguards which are in place to prevent grooming, coercion, and sexual exploitation of children placed in open or non-restrictive residential care and special emergency arrangements; the way in which compliance with those safeguards is monitored; and if she will publish the most recent internal review or evaluation of their effectiveness. [7491/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department reviewed the findings and recommendations of a report (details supplied) on sexual exploitation risks faced by children in residential and emergency care; the actions which were taken following its publication; and which recommendations, if any, remain outstanding. [7492/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of incidents in which children absconded from residential care and special emergency arrangements in each of the past five years; the number of those cases in which sexual exploitation risk factors were identified; and the policy or procedural changes that were introduced in response. [7493/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the governance and oversight mechanisms which are in place to review decisions to place high-risk children in open or non-restrictive emergency arrangements; whether such decisions are subject to periodic review by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7494/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total Exchequer funding allocated to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in each year from 2020 to 2025, inclusive; the breakdown of this funding by staffing, legal work, research, public advocacy, grants and communications; and whether the Minister is satisfied that this expenditure reflects a balanced discharge of the commission’s statutory remit under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. [7659/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she has sought or received any analysis from her Department on the thematic focus of the work undertaken by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission; whether such analysis identifies a concentration of resources or public advocacy in particular policy areas; and what oversight mechanisms exist to ensure that publicly funded advocacy remains proportionate, evidence-based, and within the scope of the Commission’s statutory functions. [7660/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is satisfied that IHREC gives equal and appropriate consideration to competing rights, including sex-based rights, in its advice to Government and the Oireachtas; whether the Minister has raised concerns regarding the absence of explicit balancing analysis in any submissions made by the commission in recent years; and if not, the reasons for this. [7661/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has reviewed the position taken by the former Irish Human Rights Commission during the passage of the Gender Recognition Bill 2013 in opposing the inclusion of specific protections for women and girls in sport and single-sex spaces; whether that position continues to inform the approach of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission; and whether the Minister considers that approach consistent with current evidence and public policy concerns. [7662/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures in place to assess whether the work of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission commands broad public confidence; whether any value-for-money or governance review of the Commission has been carried out since 2019; and whether the Minister intends to initiate such a review in light of increased funding and expanding public advocacy activity. [7663/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the nature and frequency of formal engagement between her Department and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission regarding strategic priorities; whether the Minister has issued any guidance concerning the importance of neutrality and restraint in relation to contested social policy issues; and how the Minister ensures that an independent statutory body funded by the Exchequer does not exceed its advisory mandate. [7664/26]
Agriculture 8 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the title, version date, and last review date of the Department's internal governance guidance used by officials when assessing conflicts of interest for appointments to the board of Bord Bia, including the Chairperson role, beyond the general requirements of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies; and if no internal guidance exists, the reason. [8218/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific assessment steps applied by his Department before recommending or approving the appointment of a Chairperson to Bord Bia, including, the documents reviewed, the criteria used to assess external commercial interests relevant to Bord Bia's statutory functions, and the official level at which the assessment is signed off; and if he will provide a copy of the assessment template or checklist used, with any personal data redacted. [8219/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the frequency and format of conflict of interest disclosures required by his Department from Bord Bia board members and the Chairperson, including whether disclosures are required on appointment, annually, and on the occurrence of material changes; and the definition of "material change" applied for the purposes of such disclosure requirements. [8220/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of times in each of the last five years that his Department has requested additional information, clarifications, mitigation measures, or recusals from Bord Bia board members arising from conflict of interest disclosures; and the number of cases, if any, where the Department directed that a disclosed interest be managed by recusal or other mitigation steps. [8221/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dates on which corporate governance meetings between his Department and Bord Bia were held in 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026; whether conflicts of interest, declarations of interest, or perception risks were discussed at any of these meetings; and if so, whether minutes or action logs exist and will be provided, with any personal data redacted. [8222/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether, since 1 January 2025, he has requested or received any written assurance, report, or governance submission from Bord Bia relating to the management of perceived conflicts of interest at chairperson or board level; and if so, the date received and whether he will publish it or place it in the Oireachtas library, with any personal data redacted. [8223/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has assessed the potential impact of governance controversies on farmer participation and confidence in the Bord Bia quality assurance system; and if so, the methodology used, the indicators reviewed, and the date of the most recent assessment. [8224/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he will initiate a targeted review of conflict-of-interest and perception-risk guidance for State bodies in the agri-food sector under his remit, including Bord Bia; and if so, the scope, the body or unit leading the review, and the timeline for completion. [8225/26]
Enterprise 7 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has formally requested the Central Statistics Office, since 2022, to develop a residential construction productivity framework or satellite account capable of producing residential-specific productivity indicators, including gross value added and hours worked; if so, the date of each such request; and if not, the reasons no such request has been made. [7615/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether any Inter-Departmental Group, Steering Committee, or formal governance structure has been established since 2022 to oversee the development of residential construction productivity metrics, including modern methods of construction output; the Departments and agencies represented; the chairing authority; and the outputs or decisions agreed to date. [7616/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether a decision has been taken by his Department not to seek, request, or support a Eurostat derogation or alternative statistical approval to enable the publication of residential-specific construction productivity data; if such a decision has been taken, the date and rationale for that decision; and if no decision has been taken, whether he intends to initiate such engagement. [7617/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has assessed the potential economic impact on tourism, foreign direct investment, export capacity, and employment arising from any curtailment or suspension of flights between Ireland and the United States linked to the Dublin Airport passenger cap; and if so, to provide the estimated economic exposure identified. [7652/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether an independent external evaluation framework has been established to assess the value for money and productivity impact of the Built to Innovate initiative administered by Enterprise Ireland; whether any external evaluator has been appointed or procured to date; if not, whether the Minister intends to commission an independent external evaluation of the initiative in 2026 having regard to the €6.8 million in public grants approved to date; and if he will set out the expected timeline for such an evaluation. [7711/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department or Enterprise Ireland has established metrics to assess whether the Built to Innovate initiative has delivered demonstrable productivity gains at sector level within the residential construction industry, including impacts on housing output, build times, or unit delivery costs beyond firm-level performance indicators; if such sector-level metrics exist, to outline them; if not, to explain how the effectiveness of the initiative is being assessed in terms of its contribution to national housing delivery objectives. [7712/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether any further expansion or additional funding allocations under the Built to Innovate initiative will be made prior to the completion of an independent external evaluation of the programme; whether consideration has been given to making future funding contingent on demonstrated sector-level productivity or housing delivery outcomes; and if he will outline the governance arrangements in place to ensure value for money where additional Exchequer funding is proposed. [7713/26]
Further and Higher Education 7 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated total cost of the proposed national online AI and digital skills platform intended to upskill up to one million people; the funding source for this initiative, including whether funding will be drawn from his Department’s Vote, the National Training Fund, or another source; the multi-annual budgetary provision envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7633/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the delivery model proposed for the national AI and digital skills upskilling platform; whether delivery will be provided directly by the State, through SOLAS, or via contracted private or third-party e-learning providers; the procurement process envisaged for selecting any such providers; and the governance and oversight arrangements that will apply. [7634/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the specific target cohorts for the proposed AI and digital skills platform; whether participation will be open to workers, jobseekers, SMEs, the self-employed, and those outside the labour force; the measures planned to ensure accessibility for people with low baseline digital skills; and if he will outline how uptake will be measured. [7635/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the proposed micro-credential framework referenced for the AI and digital skills platform; how stackability and formal recognition of qualifications will operate; whether these micro-credentials will align with the National Framework of Qualifications; and what engagement has taken place with employers and higher-education institutions in this regard. [7636/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the evidence base used to support the target of upskilling one million people in AI and digital skills; the data sources relied upon, including reports from Ibec, OECD and the National Skills Council; and whether the Department has set interim targets or timelines for delivery. [7637/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the functions, staffing complement, and annual operating cost of the proposed National Skills Observatory; how it will operate within SOLAS; the nature of the labour-market intelligence and forecasting it will provide; and how its outputs will inform policy and funding decisions. [7638/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how the proposed AI and digital skills initiatives will address regional and sectoral skills gaps; whether specific provision will be made for construction, manufacturing, retail, and SMEs; and how regional disparities identified by the National Skills Observatory will be acted upon. [7639/26]
Housing 4 questions
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department receives regular reports, briefings, or statistical updates from the Residential Tenancies Board in respect of notices of termination or eviction notices issued by private landlords; if so, the frequency of such reports; the format in which they are provided; whether they include quarterly or annual aggregate data; and the manner in which this information is used by his Department in the formulation, review, or evaluation of housing and rental sector policy. [8856/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department plans to compile, hold, or publish a centralised official dataset on notices of termination or eviction notices issued in the private rental sector, drawing on data held by the Residential Tenancies Board; if not, the reasons such data is not centrally maintained by his Department despite its policy responsibility for housing; his views on the way in which transparency and oversight in this area are to be ensured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8857/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he considers the number of notices of termination or eviction notices issued in the private rental sector to be a core housing performance and policy indicator; if so, the way in which this indicator is monitored and assessed by his Department; if not, the reasons for his position; and his views on the role such data plays in assessing pressures within the rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8858/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any rental accommodation scheme tenant whose tenancy ends through no fault of their own is guaranteed an offer of alternative accommodation or housing support sufficient to prevent homelessness; to set out the specific statutory, policy, or administrative basis for such a guarantee, if it exists; to clarify the criteria by which a household is deemed "vulnerable" or an "emergency case" for the purposes of tenant-in-situ acquisitions; to provide the number of RAS tenancies where tenant-in-situ was pursued or completed in each local authority, in each of the past three years; to state the average timeframe between receipt of a valid notice of termination and the provision of alternative accommodation or support; and to indicate when confirmed 2026 funding allocations for homelessness prevention and second-hand acquisitions will be communicated to local authorities. [9075/26]
Public Expenditure 3 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total number of serving Ministers and Ministers of State whose pension contributions were identified by the National Shared Services Office as having been under-deducted following Government formation in January 2025. [8202/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the aggregate monetary value of pension under-deductions identified by the National Shared Services Office in respect of serving Ministers and Ministers of State following Government formation in January 2025; the aggregate amount repaid to date; and the aggregate balance outstanding, noting that no individual or personal data is sought. [8203/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the repayment timelines and recovery arrangements approved by the National Shared Services Office for serving Ministers and Ministers of State in respect of pension under-deductions identified in early 2025 are equivalent to those applied elsewhere across the public service for pension under-deductions; and if not, the policy authority and rationale for any difference. [8204/26]
Education 3 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether schools are required to formally notify her Department when a child is removed from, or ceases attending, mainstream primary or post-primary school due to the fact the school has stated it cannot meet the child’s additional or special educational needs, including autism, ADHD or related conditions; whether such notifications are currently made in cases where children are placed on reduced timetables, partial attendance, or other informal exclusionary arrangements; the role special educational needs organisers play in ensuring that such children continue to have access to education; and the steps her Department will take to ensure that schools are accountable for reporting these cases and that no child is effectively excluded from education without oversight. [8477/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in each of the past five years who have ceased attending mainstream primary or post-primary schools due to their additional or special educational needs, including autism, ADHD, or related conditions; the number who were subsequently referred to iScoil or other alternative education programmes; the formal monitoring and oversight exist to ensure these children continue to access education and supports; and the immediate steps her Department is taking to prevent children from being effectively excluded from mainstream schools due to unmet needs rather than parental choice. [8478/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm whether students with a formal diagnosis of dyslexia will be eligible for the additional time accommodation announced for the 2026 State examinations, regardless of whether they currently receive a direct intervention accommodation under the RACE scheme; to clarify the categories of "specific needs" covered by the interim scheme; to state the evidential requirements that will apply for eligibility; to confirm when the full eligibility criteria and application process, including deadlines and any appeals mechanism, will be formally published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9074/26]
Foreign 1 question
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether Ireland has undertaken or participated in any formal review, assessment, or policy discussion, either nationally or within the European Union, regarding the downgrading, suspension, or closure of Iranian diplomatic missions as part of the EU response to ongoing repression within Iran and transnational intimidation attributed to Iranian state actors; and the reasons no such review has been undertaken. [8910/26]

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 1 vote · 7 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 7 total

Health 4 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 2159, 2192, 2193, 2194, 2195, 2196, 2225, 2226, 2227, 2228 and 2229 of 13 January 2026, the number of chartered physiotherapists employed full-time by the HSE; the waiting lists for MSK/physiotherapy services; her views on whether certified athletic therapists are qualified to address the high percentage of MSK disorders to reducing waiting times; if, so, the steps being taken to use certified athletic therapists to reduce such waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7777/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 2159, 2192 to 2196, inclusive, and 2225 to 2229, inclusive, of 13 January 2026, of the list of professions seeking to be regulated, if she is satisfied those professions represent a risk to public safety and non-regulation is appropriate; regarding her decision not to regulate any further profession for a number of years, should a risk to patient safety materialise or become evident, whether she has a mechanism to regulate a relevant profession, ahead of the new proposed framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7778/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 2159, 2192 to 2196, inclusive, and 2225 to 2229, inclusive, of 13 January 2026, the way in which she plans in the intervening period to address existing or emerging risks relating to those professions seeking to be regulated or any other profession that may pose a risk to patient safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7779/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason low-dose atropine (0.05%) eye drops for myopia control are difficult to obtain or totally unavailable (details supplied); if she will make provision for this medicine to be sourced for children who need them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7918/26]
Rural 2 questions
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the steps his Department is taking to support the development of community spaces in Cork north central; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8278/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the planned 2026 funding allocation for the local improvement scheme; if additional supports will be provided to local authorities with significant backlogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8277/26]
Foreign 1 question
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline her Department's priorities in advance of Ireland holding the European Presidency, including specific actions in relation to Ireland's diplomatic engagement, coordination with EU member states; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8619/26]

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 0 votes · 13 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 13 total

Housing 5 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of stock audits completed, by local authority, in the past 12-months, in tabular form. [8040/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority housing retrofits completed in each of the past five years. [8041/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided to local authorities to remedy issues identified in stock audits in 2026. [8042/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether all local authority housing will be audited by 2030. [8043/26]
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of regeneration projects for which his Department has received an application; and the number of units these pertain to, by local authority, in tabular form. [8044/26]
Health 3 questions
- 2026-02-04 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason nurses based in the community do not receive a car and pay for their own car expenses. [8526/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of GMS contracts for walk-in clinics that open during daytime hours. [9105/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the way in which a person with a medical card can be seen during GP opening hours if they cannot get an appointment for their registered GP. [9106/26]
Rural 2 questions
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his plans to reopen the shovel ready community centre scheme. [8050/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether funding is available for a proposal (details supplied). [8049/26]
Education 2 questions
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether funding provided through Cara Nua for victims of institutional abuse is available for the purchase of a car. [9111/26]
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the schools in Cork approved stage 1 and stage 2A in the new build process; and the date they received approval. [8825/26]
Foreign 1 question
- 2026-02-05 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025. [8052/26]