Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 16 Mar

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 0 votes · 244 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 244 total

Health 119 questions
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant in emergency medicine and emergency medicine registrars based at Mercy University Hospital as of 1 March 2026; and the number as of 1 March 2023, in tabular form. [18328/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of vehicles that were clamped within public car parks of the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in each of the years of 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [18329/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE suicide crisis assessment nurse posts filled within Cork as of 1 March 2026; and the number as of 1 March 2023, in tabular form. [18330/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant ENT surgeons within Cork University Hospital that are currently only dealing and treating public only patients. [18331/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to introduce a baby loss certificate scheme for pregnancy losses before 23 weeks, which would be retrospective and voluntary in design, and would assist families in navigating the trauma and grief associated with the loss; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18739/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of babies born alive after abortion procedures from 2019 to 2025, broken down by which section of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was applicable (section 9, section 10 or section 11); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19029/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that a child in Cork who is classified as Priority 1 has been waiting since January 2025 for an AAC assessment and device trial through the Health Service Executive; the immediate steps she will take to expedite the assessment and provide the necessary support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19749/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for AAC assessments and device trials for children nationally; the number of children waiting longer than six, 12, and 24 months; and the measures being taken to reduce these delays. [19750/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapy posts sanctioned, filled, and vacant within the HSE disability services; the number of posts assigned specifically to AAC and complex communication pathways; and the action being taken to address shortages impacting timely access to AAC assessments. [19751/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she will review the policy that only publicly employed SLTs can apply for AAC device funding; whether alternative pathways for families facing extreme delays are under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19752/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department requires the Health Service Executive to maintain a centralised register of residential properties owned by the HSE which are vacant; if not, whether she will introduce a policy requirement for the HSE to maintain such a register including the associated annual costs of security, insurance and maintenance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19868/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted any review or assessment of the number of residential properties owned by the Health Service Executive which are vacant at present; the potential use of such properties for housing or accommodation purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19869/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive has undertaken any national or regional analysis examining the relationship between funded staff vacancy levels and agency staffing expenditure in the public health service; if such analysis has been undertaken, to provide the dates, methodology and key findings of that analysis; and if no such analysis has been undertaken, the reason the Department has not conducted such analysis given the scale of agency staffing expenditure within the publicly funded health system. [19885/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of agency staff engaged within the public health service expressed as whole-time equivalents in each regional health area for the years 2024 and 2025; the total associated expenditure on those staff in each region; and the proportion of agency expenditure represented by clinical, nursing, health and social care professionals and other staffing categories. [19886/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the measures introduced since 2024 to reduce reliance on agency staffing within the public health service; the targets set by her Department or the Health Service Executive for reducing agency expenditure; the progress made against those targets to date; and the number of agency workers who have transitioned to direct employment contracts with the Health Service Executive under agency conversion initiatives. [19887/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department receives aggregated national reporting from the Health Service Executive on the number of medical cards granted on a discretionary basis under the general medical services scheme; the total number of discretionary medical card applications received, approved and refused in each of the years from 2020 to 2025 across all age cohorts; and if she will provide those figures. [19961/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national policy guidance or governance framework that applies to the exercise of discretion in medical card eligibility decisions following a means assessment under the general medical services scheme; and whether her Department reviews or audits the operation of discretionary decision-making to ensure national consistency. [19962/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive analyses regional or geographic variation in the granting or refusal of discretionary medical cards under the general medical services scheme; and whether any reports or internal reviews have been conducted on trends in discretionary decision-making from 2020 to 2025. [19963/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department maintains national data on discretionary medical card decisions affecting persons aged over 70 years-of-age; the number of discretionary applications considered for that cohort in each of the years from 2020 to 2025; the number approved; the number refused; and whether any policy review has been undertaken in relation to eligibility thresholds for older persons. [19964/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for discretionary medical cards under the general medical services scheme that were refused but where applicants were subsequently granted a GP visit card in each of the years from 2020 to 2025; and whether the Department monitors such outcomes as part of its policy oversight of medical card eligibility decisions. [19965/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date on which fire safety deficiencies requiring the closure of a unit (details supplied) were first identified; the date on which remediation works commenced; the estimated capital cost of these works; and the expected date for completion and reopening of the affected beds. [20071/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of beds that have been unavailable for use at a nursing unit in each month since the closure of the unit due to fire safety works; and the steps being taken by her Department and the HSE to restore this capacity. [20072/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether HIQA identified compliance issues during its inspection of a nursing unit on 17 February 2026 relating to the application to vary registration for a dementia-specific unit (details supplied); the nature of any such issues; and the anticipated timeframe for regulatory approval. [20073/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the approved workforce model, including the number of whole-time equivalent posts, required to safely operate the 19-bed dementia-specific unit at a nursing unit (details supplied); and whether funding has been approved for the full complement of staff. [20074/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy framework governing the multidisciplinary team assessment process which forms the clinical basis for applications under the treatment abroad scheme for gender affirmation surgery; whether national clinical guidelines or standards apply to such MDT determinations; and the body responsible for oversight of these standards. [20078/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of applications submitted under the treatment abroad scheme for gender affirmation surgery in each year from 2020 to 2026; the number approved; the number refused; and the principal recorded reasons for refusal where applicable. [20079/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive conducts audits or reviews of MDT recommendations submitted in support of applications for gender affirmation surgery under the treatment abroad scheme; and if so, the frequency and scope of such oversight. [20080/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure under the treatment abroad scheme on gender affirmation surgery in each year from 2020 to 2025 and to-date in 2026, including travel and accommodation costs funded by the State. [20081/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients funded under the treatment abroad scheme for gender affirmation surgery in each of the years from 2020 to 2025 and to-date in 2026. [20088/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure incurred under the treatment abroad scheme for gender affirmation surgery in each of the years from 2020 to 2025 and to-date in 2026, including surgery, travel, accommodation and associated medical costs. [20089/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE collects outcome data, complication rates, or patient follow-up information for gender affirmation surgeries funded abroad under the treatment abroad scheme. [20090/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any clinical governance framework exists for monitoring referrals by multidisciplinary teams recommending gender affirmation surgery funded under the treatment abroad scheme. [20091/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure by the Health Service Executive under the treatment abroad scheme in respect of gender affirmation surgeries undertaken outside the State in each year from 2020 to 2025 inclusive; the number of individual procedures funded in each year; and the average cost per procedure in each of those years. [20121/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the countries and healthcare providers in which gender affirmation surgeries funded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme have been carried out since 2020; the number of procedures funded in each jurisdiction; and whether the Department maintains a list of approved hospitals or surgical centres for such treatments. [20122/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy or governance framework under which applications for gender affirmation surgery abroad are assessed under the Treatment Abroad Scheme; the number of applications received and approved in each year since 2020; and the clinical or administrative authority responsible for granting final approval for such funding. [20123/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive records clinical outcomes, complications, or follow-up care requirements for patients who receive gender affirmation surgery abroad funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and if so, the oversight mechanisms in place to monitor patient outcomes and long-term healthcare impacts. [20124/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has conducted or commissioned any review, audit, or policy assessment of the use of the treatment abroad scheme to fund gender affirmation surgeries outside the State since 2020; and if not, whether she intends to commission such a review. [20125/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive records the time required to approve recruitment requests submitted under the processes established by CEO Memo 09892 of 4 October 2023 and CEO Memo 10885 of 26 February 2024; the average time taken from submission to decision in each year since 2023; and whether clearance timeline key performance indicators exist for such approvals. [20138/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of recruitment approval requests submitted to the National Director of HR under CEO Memo 10885 in 2024 and 2025; the number approved, refused, withdrawn or returned for further information; and the average time taken to issue a decision in each case. [20139/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive has undertaken any review, analysis or briefing assessing the operational impact of recruitment control measures introduced under CEO Memo 09892 of 4 October 2023 and CEO Memo 10885 of 26 February 2024, including impacts on vacancy persistence, recruitment delays and service delivery; and whether she will publish such material. [20140/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department monitors the number of vacant posts which remain unfilled due to recruitment approval processes introduced under CEO Memo 09892 and CEO Memo 10885; the number of such posts in each health region and national service area; and whether this information is reported to her Department on a routine basis. [20141/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed whether the recruitment control measures introduced under CEO Memo 09892 and CEO Memo 10885 have contributed to delays in filling clinical or frontline posts, including those within hospital services, community health services and the National Ambulance Service; and if she will provide details of any such assessment. [20142/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive maintains any national system for monitoring clinical outcomes, complications, or long-term follow-up in respect of children and adolescents from Ireland who receive gender-related medical treatment abroad under the treatment abroad scheme or any related referral pathway; if so, the governance arrangements for collecting and reviewing such information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20182/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current clinical governance framework applying to gender identity healthcare services provided to children and adolescents in Ireland pending completion of the updated national model of care; whether a national dataset, audit framework or outcome monitoring system is currently in place for these services; and the safeguards and oversight mechanisms which operate to ensure patient safety and accountability during this interim period. [20190/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has approved or mandated the establishment of a national dataset for the purposes of planning, governance, oversight and evaluation of gender identity healthcare services provided to children and adolescents within the public health system; if not, whether such a dataset will be introduced; and the timeframe for its implementation. [20261/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department receives any aggregated national data from the Health Service Executive regarding the number of children and adolescents referred to gender identity services each year; if so, the annual totals for each of the years 2018 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20262/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national clinical audit, patient safety review or governance evaluation has been undertaken since 2020 in respect of gender identity services provided to children and adolescents within the public health system; if so, to provide the dates and scope of such reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20263/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has received the report of the expert group established by the Health Service Executive to consider the implications of the final Cass Review for gender healthcare services in Ireland; if so, the date on which the report was received; and whether she intends to publish the report. [20264/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the formal national clinical governance framework that currently applies to gender identity healthcare services provided to minors pending completion of the updated national model of care; and the specific safeguarding standards required under that framework. [20265/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has issued any policy direction, guidance or instruction to the Health Service Executive following publication of the final Cass Review regarding the provision of gender identity healthcare services to children and adolescents in Ireland. [20266/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the formal methodological framework used by her Department when evaluating international clinical guidance prior to incorporation into national healthcare policy; and whether such a methodology was applied in respect of international guidance on gender identity healthcare between 2018 and 2023. [20274/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date on which the Health Service Executive completed its review of the Cass Review; whether the completed review has been submitted to her Department; the date on which her Department received the document, if applicable; whether she intends to publish the review; and if publication is not intended, the reason the document will not be placed in the public domain. [20288/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the terms of reference issued for the Health Service Executive review of the Cass Review; the names or professional roles of the clinical experts who conducted that review; the governance structure under which the work was undertaken; and whether the review included consideration of safeguarding and clinical risk factors affecting children and adolescents. [20289/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive review of the Cass Review identified any recommendations relating to safeguarding, diagnostic standards, risk mitigation, or clinical governance in the treatment of children and adolescents presenting with gender incongruence or dysphoria; and whether such recommendations are being incorporated into the developing Model of Care for gender healthcare services. [20290/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the completion and publication of the updated Model of Care for gender healthcare services being developed by the Health Service Executive; the stages remaining in that process; and whether the Model of Care will be subject to public or professional consultation before adoption. [20291/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the State currently maintains a national dataset recording referrals, diagnoses, treatment pathways, clinical interventions and outcomes for persons receiving gender healthcare services in Ireland; if no such dataset currently exists, when she expects one to be established; and whether the development of such a dataset forms part of the updated Model of Care. [20292/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department of Health or the Health Service Executive conducts periodic clinical audits or outcome evaluations of gender healthcare services delivered within the public health system; if such audits are conducted, the frequency and scope of those audits; and if not, whether such a mechanism will be introduced as part of the new Model of Care. [20293/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the evidence base being relied upon by the Health Service Executive in developing the updated Model of Care for gender healthcare services; whether international clinical reviews, including the Cass Review and equivalent reviews in other jurisdictions, are being formally considered; and how such evidence will inform Irish clinical standards. [20294/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the respective roles of her Department and the Health Service Executive in approving the updated Model of Care for gender healthcare services; whether the final Model of Care will require ministerial approval; and whether the Department retains oversight of safeguarding standards applicable to services for persons under 18. [20295/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure incurred by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service on salbutamol nebules dispensed under the General Medical Services Scheme in each month from January 2024 to date in 2026. [20299/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of claims submitted for salbutamol nebules or equivalent short-acting bronchodilator nebules under the General Medical Services Scheme, the Drugs Payment Scheme, and the Long-Term Illness Scheme, in each of the years 2024 and 2025. [20300/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of claims for salbutamol nebules rejected or unpaid by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service in 2024 and 2025, and the reasons for rejection. [20301/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or the HSE issued any clinical or reimbursement guidance to pharmacists relating to salbutamol nebule shortages during 2024 or 2025, and if so to provide the details. [20302/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has analysed prescribing substitution patterns for salbutamol nebules during supply shortages, including increased dispensing of inhalers or alternative bronchodilators. [20303/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a national governance framework exists within her Department or the Health Service Executive for the monitoring and management of shortages of essential medicines; the statutory or policy basis for that framework; the units responsible for maintaining national oversight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20305/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department receives regular national reports or aggregated data from the Health Products Regulatory Authority or the Health Service Executive relating to shortages of medicines in the State; the frequency of such reporting; and whether the Department maintains a national register or monitoring system for medicines supply disruptions. [20306/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal risk-assessment or prioritisation system exists within the Department or the Health Service Executive for identifying medicines considered clinically critical, including respiratory medicines such as salbutamol nebules, where supply disruptions may pose patient safety risks; and if she will outline the governance arrangements for managing such risks. [20307/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department maintains a national strategy or policy framework for the prevention, monitoring, and management of shortages of essential medicines in the State; when such a strategy was last reviewed or updated; whether it includes defined governance arrangements between her Department, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, and the Health Service Executive; and whether the strategy identifies priority medicines where supply disruption may pose a patient safety risk. [20308/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has issued any written policy guidance, circular, direction or framework to the Health Service Executive or to the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics regarding the appropriate time horizon to be applied in health technology assessments used to inform pricing and reimbursement decisions for medicines; if such guidance exists, to provide the date and details of that guidance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20310/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether national policy guidance exists governing the methodological standards to be applied in health technology assessments used to support decisions under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, including assumptions relating to modelling time horizons, discount rates and long-term cost-effectiveness analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20311/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has issued guidance to ensure that health technology assessments of medicines intended to prevent or reduce the long-term incidence of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease, appropriately account for long-term health outcomes and downstream health system savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20312/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what oversight role her Department exercises in relation to the methodological frameworks used by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics when conducting health technology assessments that inform reimbursement decisions by the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20313/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has reviewed whether the health technology assessment methodology applied in Ireland is aligned with that used by comparable agencies internationally, including NICE in the United Kingdom, CADTH in Canada, or PBAC in Australia, particularly regarding the time horizons applied in cost-effectiveness modelling for preventive medicines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20314/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken any review of whether the methodological assumptions applied in health technology assessments used in Ireland may disadvantage medicines intended to prevent long-term chronic illness by applying short-term modelling horizons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20315/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department intends to establish a national policy framework or guidance governing the methodological standards used in health technology assessments for medicines seeking reimbursement by the Health Service Executive, including standards relating to modelling time horizons for chronic disease prevention therapies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20316/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has issued any written policy guidance or governance framework defining what constitutes an unacceptable response time for life-threatening emergency ambulance calls, including clinical status 1 purple or red calls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20321/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has formally approved or endorsed the current key performance indicator framework used by the National Ambulance Service in relation to emergency response times; the date on which that framework was last reviewed by her Department; and whether consideration has been given to introducing a maximum response time threshold for life-threatening emergencies. [20322/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the absence of a defined maximum response time threshold for life-threatening emergency ambulance calls has been assessed by her Department as a governance or patient safety risk; and whether any such assessment has been recorded within the Department’s risk management framework. [20323/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has required the Health Service Executive to provide any analysis of emergency ambulance response times exceeding 60 minutes for clinical status 1 purple or red calls; whether such analysis has been reviewed at Departmental level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20324/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has considered whether delays exceeding 60 minutes in response to life-threatening emergency calls should automatically trigger review under the HSE Incident Management Framework; and if so, the outcome of that consideration. [20325/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department of Health receives any routine reporting from the Health Service Executive regarding extreme outlier emergency ambulance response times, including delays exceeding 60 minutes for life-threatening emergencies; the format in which such information is reported; and whether this information forms part of Departmental oversight of patient safety governance. [20326/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department of Health Enterprise Risk Management Framework currently identifies prolonged emergency ambulance response times as a strategic or operational risk; and if so, the risk rating assigned and the mitigation measures identified. [20327/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken or commissioned any review since 2020 examining the relationship between prolonged ambulance response times and patient outcomes in Ireland; and if so, the title and date of any such review. [20328/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has considered the introduction of national reporting requirements for extreme ambulance response delays for life-threatening emergencies in order to strengthen transparency and patient safety oversight. [20329/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the governance arrangements between her Department and the Health Service Executive require the HSE to notify the Department where systemic patterns of prolonged ambulance response delays emerge; and if so, the mechanism through which such notification occurs. [20330/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has approved, endorsed or accepted a policy position that emergency ambulance response delays exceeding 60 minutes in life-threatening clinical status 1 purple or red calls do not automatically constitute patient safety incidents requiring review under the HSE Incident Management Framework; and if such a policy position exists, to provide the date on which it was adopted and the governance basis for that decision. [20332/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive has commissioned, received, or reviewed any internal audit, external audit, or independent validation report concerning the accuracy and reliability of patient experience time data used to record emergency department waiting times; the date of the most recent such review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20358/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive has quantified the error rate, margin of error, or data reliability level associated with patient experience time data used to measure emergency department waiting times; whether any formal statistical assessment of data accuracy has been undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20359/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance framework currently in place governing the collection, validation, correction, and publication of patient experience time data used to measure emergency department waiting times at national and hospital level; and whether formal national standards exist governing data accuracy and reporting in this regard. [20360/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national policy, guidance document, or standard operating procedure exists governing the way hospitals record, amend, or retrospectively enter timestamps used to calculate patient experience time in emergency departments; and whether such procedures are subject to oversight or compliance review by the Department or the Health Service Executive. [20361/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or the Health Service Executive publishes, or intends to publish, any data quality assurance reports, validation summaries, or audit findings relating to the accuracy of emergency department waiting time statistics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20362/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a national standard definition is applied across the Health Service Executive for reporting counselling activity within the counselling in primary care service and the childhood abuse or neglect counselling service; specifically whether reporting distinguishes between new clients, returning clients and the number of sessions delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20370/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or the Health Service Executive has issued national policy guidance governing how counselling activity statistics are compiled and reported by Health Regions, including definitions used for client numbers and activity totals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20371/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive conducts any national audit, verification or quality assurance process to ensure consistency and accuracy in counselling activity data submitted by Health Regions to the National Business Information Unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20372/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether national counselling activity statistics published by the Health Service Executive are adjusted or reconciled to avoid double counting where an individual client receives multiple counselling sessions within a reporting period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20373/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has considered introducing a centralised national reporting framework for counselling activity within the Health Service Executive in order to ensure consistency of definitions and comparability of activity data across Health Regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20374/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive maintains a national data dictionary, reporting manual or technical guidance document defining the indicators and activity measures used in HSE national performance reporting; whether such documentation is provided to Health Regions when submitting activity data through Corporate Information Facility reporting templates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20377/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive has issued national guidance or instructions governing the completion of Corporate Information Facility reporting templates used by Health Regions when submitting service activity data to the National Business Information Unit; whether these templates include standardised definitions of activity measures and client counts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20378/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive operates a national verification or audit framework to review the accuracy and methodological consistency of performance data submitted by Health Regions through Corporate Information Facility reporting templates before such data is incorporated into national performance reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20379/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has reviewed the governance arrangements under which Health Regions validate service activity data locally prior to submission to the National Business Information Unit; and whether national controls exist to ensure comparability of performance statistics across regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20380/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive publishes or makes available the reporting methodology used to compile national service activity statistics, including the definitions used for activity indicators and the procedures applied to avoid duplication or double counting in national totals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20381/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of practising general practitioners in the State who have completed HSE-funded suicide prevention training programmes, including SafeTALK, ASIST, STORM, the Self-Harm Assessment and Management Programme for General Practitioners in Ireland (SAMAGH), or equivalent programmes, in each of the past five years; and whether her Department maintains a national database or monitoring system recording participation in such training. [21018/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken any national assessment or review of the adequacy of training supports available to general practitioners in managing suicidal ideation and self-harm presentations among children and adolescents; if such a review has been undertaken, when it was conducted; and whether the findings will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21019/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals made by general practitioners to the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) service in each of the past three years; the number of those referrals relating to persons under the age of 18; and whether her Department monitors the utilisation of this pathway by primary care practitioners. [21020/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the geographic distribution of Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) services currently operating within the State; the counties or Community Healthcare Organisations currently served by these posts; and the timeline for the rollout of the additional posts funded under Budget 2026. [21021/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether consideration is being given to the establishment of a national clinical consultation or advice line to support general practitioners who are managing patients presenting with suicidal ideation or self-harm, particularly where the patient is under 18 years of age; and if she will outline the policy position of her Department on such a service. [21022/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has established any national minimum training standard or competency requirement for general practitioners in the assessment and management of suicidal ideation and self-harm presentations, particularly in children and adolescents; and if not, whether the introduction of such a standard has been considered as part of national suicide prevention policy. [21029/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted any analysis of the role of primary care in responding to suicidal ideation and self-harm presentations among children and adolescents in circumstances where access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services is delayed or unavailable; and whether any policy guidance or clinical support structures have been issued to general practitioners in this regard. [21030/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a mandatory national reporting requirement exists within the maternity services for cases in which signs of life are observed following a termination of pregnancy; whether such events are required to be recorded as a patient safety or clinical governance matter; whether the Department receives any national data returns in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21078/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE maintains any national dataset, register or reporting mechanism relating to cases in which signs of life are observed following a termination of pregnancy; the number of such cases recorded nationally in each year since 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21079/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national clinical audit, serious incident review, or patient safety governance review has been commissioned or undertaken since 2019 in relation to reporting, management or oversight of cases in which signs of life are observed following termination of pregnancy; if so, the dates of those reviews and whether their findings were provided to the Department. [21080/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department considers that the absence of a national reporting framework for cases in which signs of life are observed following termination of pregnancy would represent a gap in national patient safety governance; and whether she intends to introduce any reporting or audit requirements in this area. [21081/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a post-implementation review of the Public Only Consultant Contract is planned; and if so the timeline. [21246/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform approved the Public Only Consultant Contract without a requirement for a value-for-money review. [21247/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total estimated annual cost of the Public Only Consultant Contract since introduction. [21248/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any analysis has been undertaken measuring the contract’s impact on waiting lists or consultant recruitment. [21249/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any independent evaluation, review or cost-benefit assessment has been conducted by her Department or the HSE to determine whether the Public Only Consultant Contract introduced in March 2023 has delivered increased consultant presence in emergency departments, medical assessment units and inpatient wards during evening, weekend or public-holiday periods; and if she will provide details of any such evaluation, including the date conducted and the findings. [21294/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department considers it satisfactory from a governance and accountability perspective that the HSE DIME Work Practice Plan system records only planned consultant schedules rather than actual attendance or hours worked; whether any policy direction has been issued to introduce a time-and-attendance or equivalent verification system for consultant working hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21295/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of the Public Only Consultant Contract since its introduction in March 2023; whether the Department has established measurable performance indicators to determine whether the contract has delivered its stated objectives of increased senior clinical decision-maker availability in hospitals; and if she will provide details of those indicators. [21296/26]
Justice 32 questions
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he has been briefed, in any capacity, on the operation or regulation of the exchange-of-duty system within the Irish Prison Service, including the review of that system referenced in organisational communications in November 2025. [18292/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department or the Irish Prison Service has conducted an internal audit, compliance assessment, or control review of exchange-of-duty practices involving unreciprocated exchanges or private financial arrangements between staff; and, if so, when such review commenced and whether its findings have been finalised. [18293/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the Department's policy regarding reviews of protected disclosure assessment decisions, including whether reviewers are required to be independent of the original decision-maker; whether reporting persons are informed of the reviewer's role or title; and the standard timeframe applied for issuing review outcomes. [18295/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has undertaken any review of the adequacy of the current legal and regulatory framework governing the use by private sector organisations of facial biometric processing technologies for identification, verification, authentication, or database matching purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19598/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether, following recent regulatory findings by the Data Protection Commission concerning the use of facial matching technology by public bodies, his Department has examined whether additional statutory safeguards, codes of practice, or legislative clarification are required in relation to the use of facial biometric technologies by private sector organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19599/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has engaged with the Data Protection Commission regarding the use of facial image capture or facial biometric processing technologies by private sector organisations, including financial institutions and retailers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19600/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he will consider the introduction of policy measures or legislation to ensure that, where private sector organisations deploy facial biometric technologies, individuals are provided with clear prior information, meaningful choice including a non-biometric alternative where appropriate, and accessible complaint and redress mechanisms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19601/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide, for each engagement by the Irish Prison Service with podcasts, broadcasters, or media providers since 1 January 2020, the procurement reference number, contract or purchase order reference, procurement route used, date of approval, and total final amount paid. [20343/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether a written sole supplier justification was completed in respect of the 2025 partnership with a podcast (details supplied); the date on which that justification was approved; by whom it was approved by grade; and if he will provide the reason an open or competitive process was not used. [20344/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Irish Prison Service obtained more than one quotation in respect of an engagement (details supplied); if so, the number quotations were sought and received; whether the comparator quotation related to like-for-like services; and if he will provide the total quoted amounts, without prejudice to commercial sensitivity. [20345/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether expenditure aggregation rules were applied in respect of repeated payments to the same media or podcast providers since 1 January 2020 for the purposes of procurement compliance; and if he will set out the manner in which those rules were applied in each case. [20346/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide the annual and project-level breakdown of the 214 podcasts and five broadcast episodes referred to in his reply, including by provider, title or series, date, format, intended audience, and whether each output was commissioned for internal prisoner information use, public release, or both. [20347/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to specify the budget subhead, funding source, and legal or administrative basis under which each payment listed in the Irish Prison Service media expenditure table for 2020 to 2025 was approved. [20348/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any internal audit, compliance review, procurement assurance review, or management assurance process examined Irish Prison Service expenditure on podcasts, media, broadcasting, influencer, or communications projects since 1 January 2020; and if so, to state the date, scope, and outcome of each such review. [20349/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the specific performance indicators, deliverables, milestones, or reporting requirements were attached to the Experts by Experience programme in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and the way in which achievement against those requirements was assessed. [20350/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measurable recruitment outcomes were attributed to a partnership (details supplied), including application numbers, click-throughs, campaign reach, conversion indicators, or any post-campaign assessment of value for money. [20351/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the project-specific evaluation, impact assessment, or cost-effectiveness review was conducted in relation to the Experts by Experience podcast and broadcast outputs funded since 2023, as distinct from general international literature or broader programme observations. [20352/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the governance arrangements within his Department and within the International Protection Accommodation Service for monitoring expenditure on the transport of international protection applicants between ports of entry, the International Protection Office, and accommodation centres; whether annual expenditure ceilings or budget controls apply to such transport costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20382/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether transport services used for the transfer of international protection applicants to accommodation centres are procured through national public procurement frameworks, individual accommodation centre service contracts, or other arrangements; the number of transport providers engaged for this purpose since 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20383/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department or the International Protection Accommodation Service records the number of international protection applicants transported between ports of entry, the International Protection Office, and accommodation centres each year; and if such data is not recorded, whether the Department intends to introduce a monitoring system for these movements. [20384/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has undertaken any analysis of the average cost per person associated with transporting international protection applicants within the International Protection Accommodation Service accommodation system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20385/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether transport costs associated with the movement of international protection applicants are included as separate line items within accommodation centre contracts funded by the State; and whether the Department holds aggregate data on these transport costs across the International Protection Accommodation Service system. [20386/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether transport expenditure associated with the movement of international protection applicants within the International Protection Accommodation Service system is reported separately in departmental accounts or programme expenditure reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20387/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether transport expenditure within the International Protection Accommodation Service accommodation system has been subject to internal audit, value-for-money review, or examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General within the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20388/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the assessment he has made of the impact of suspended or short custodial sentences on victims of child sexual abuse whose abuse material is circulated online, whether there is evidence that current sentencing levels act as a meaningful deterrent to child sexual abuse material offending and the legislative or policy tools he is prepared to deploy if judicial guidelines prove ineffective in producing consistent and proportionate sentences in such cases. [20212/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason, in the context of sustained public concern about lenient sentencing in CSAM cases, including statements by the Tánaiste calling for a more serious approach, he has indicated that he does not intend to change the current sentencing rules; whether he considers this position to be reconcilable with his obligations to ensure that the criminal justice system commands public confidence; and if he will reconsider introducing mandatory minimum sentencing provisions for such offences. [20213/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the specific reasons the Government has not introduced mandatory minimum sentencing legislation for persons convicted of possession or distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), given the frequency with which such offenders receive suspended sentences; and whether he intends to bring forward such legislation before the end of this Dáil term. [20209/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Government's failure to introduce minimum sentencing for CSAM offences is connected in any way to concerns about prison overcrowding and capacity; whether he accepts the Tánaiste's statement that prison capacity must never be a factor in sentencing decisions; whether he agrees with the Tánaiste's statement that there are "too many examples of people who are given relatively short sentences" for heinous crimes; and the steps he is taking to ensure that resource constraints within the prison system do not result in lighter sentences for those convicted of serious child sexual abuse offences. [20210/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has examined the sentencing frameworks for CSAM offences in comparable jurisdictions, such as Britain, or other EU member states; and whether Ireland's current legislative approach falls below international best practice. [20211/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of public servants recruited since 2013 in fast accrual professions including An Garda Síochána and the Prison Service who are members of the Public Service Single Pension Scheme; the estimated income gap that arises between retirement age for these professions and the age of eligibility for the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21784/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether offences under section 14A of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as inserted by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, are recorded under a distinct offence code within the Garda crime-recording system or any successor national crime statistics framework; the number of such offences recorded, investigated, and referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions in each year since the commencement of that provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21186/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of complaints or reports made to An Garda Síochána alleging offences under section 14A of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as inserted by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, in each year since that provision commenced; and the number of investigations initiated, files submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, prosecutions brought and convictions secured. [21235/26]
Education 16 questions
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reasons for the recent closure of a school (details supplied), including the dates on which the school has been closed; the formal health and safety or other legal powers relied upon by the patron or board; and any directions or guidance issued by his Department to the school or patron in relation to this closure. [18751/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is satisfied that the prolonged closure of a school (details supplied) is compatible with the State’s constitutional obligation to provide for the education of every child and with statutory duties in respect of children with special educational needs [18752/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the specific measures she will put in place to ensure that a special school cannot again be closed for an extended period because of behavioural incidents or staff injury, including mandatory contingency and continuity-of-education plans for all special schools; clear national protocols favouring partial or phased provision rather than full closure; and maximum timelines within which such plans must be activated when serious risk to health and safety is identified. [18753/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she will introduce binding national guidelines on the management of dysregulation and high-risk behaviour in special schools, including positive behaviour support, trauma-informed practice, and de-escalation approaches, with monitoring and compliance mechanisms; and if so, the timeline for their development and implementation. [18754/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the risk-assessment, occupational health and staff support frameworks that will be mandated in all special schools in order to reduce the risk of staff injury while maintaining children’s access to in-person education; and whether these frameworks will be subject to regular independent review. [18755/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the long-term corrective actions being implemented in a school (details supplied) to address the underlying causes of dysregulation and staff injury, including changes to class sizes and staffing ratios; additional specialist and substitute staff; enhanced training, in-school therapeutic supports; any environmental or infrastructural works; and if she will provide a timeline and funding allocation for these measures. [18756/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to commit to a time-bound, fully resourced action plan for a school (details supplied), co-designed with parents and staff, with clear milestones, reporting requirements and accountability structures to restore and sustain safe, full-time education for all enrolled pupils; and if she will publish this plan. [18757/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the extent to which shortages in therapeutic supports and specialist staff in special schools contribute to increased dysregulation and health and safety incidents; and if so, the national measures she will introduce to ensure that all special schools have adequate therapeutic and behavioural supports to prevent future closures. [18758/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the assessment, if any, which was carried out of the impact of the closure of a school (details supplied) on the rights of the child, including the right to education and to equality of treatment for children with disabilities; whether any child-rights or equality impact assessment was completed; and if she will publish any such assessment. [18759/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she accepts that prolonged denial of in-person education for a cohort of highly vulnerable children with complex needs, through the closure of a special school, would not be considered acceptable in a mainstream setting; and the steps she will take to ensure parity of treatment between children in special schools and those in mainstream schools in relation to continuity of education. [18760/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to commission an independent review of the circumstances leading to the closure of a school (details supplied) including consultation with parents and staff, with a view to making system-wide recommendations on how the State can better vindicate the educational rights of vulnerable children and avoid similar situations in future; and if they will publish the findings. [18761/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth state whether they are satisfied that parents of pupils attending a school (details supplied) have been provided with timely, accurate and sufficient information on the reasons for the closure, the expected duration, and interim educational arrangements; and if not, what minimum standards on communication will the Department now put in place for parents in special schools in crisis situations. [18762/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline what interim education provision (including home tuition, outreach teaching, temporary placements, remote or blended supports or other measures) is being put in place for pupils of a school (details supplied) during the closure; how these supports are being allocated and accessed, and how the Department is ensuring that these children’s right to education is being vindicated while the school remains closed. [18763/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to statements from the National Council for Special Education that special class places are available in Cork, to clarify the number of vacant and immediately available special class places currently in Cork; the names of the schools where these places exist; the type of special classes involved (for example autism classes or other specialist units); whether these places are fully operational and accepting students at present; and if not, the timeline for when these places will become operational. [19771/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Cork that are currently awaiting placement in special classes for the upcoming school year; the way in which this number compares with the number of vacant places identified by the National Council for Special Education; and the steps being taken to ensure that children without placements are offered appropriate places without delay. [19772/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the review of Circular 32/2017 will introduce national guidance requiring schools to provide reasonable accommodation within uniform policies for children with sensory processing difficulties or other additional needs; and the timeline for completion of that review. [20403/26]
Finance 15 questions
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views that the continued application and scheduled increases of the carbon tax on petrol and diesel, at a time when motorists are already facing significant increases in fuel prices due to global instability, is placing an unfair and disproportionate burden on working people, families and rural communities who rely on their cars; the additional VAT revenue being collected by the Exchequer as a result of these higher fuel prices; and whether he will immediately suspend or freeze the carbon tax on transport fuels in order to prevent the State from effectively profiting from rising fuel costs at the expense of Irish motorists. [19569/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has engaged with the Central Bank of Ireland regarding the use by regulated financial service providers of facial image capture, facial recognition, or other facial biometric processing technologies for customer onboarding, authentication, fraud prevention, or identity verification purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19592/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Central Bank of Ireland has issued, or is preparing to issue, supervisory guidance for regulated financial service providers regarding the use of facial biometric processing technologies, including requirements relating to lawful processing bases, consumer transparency, data minimisation, storage limitation, security safeguards, and the availability of non-biometric alternatives for customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19593/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether regulated financial service providers operating in the State are required, as a matter of supervisory expectation or consumer protection regulation, to provide customers with a reasonable non-biometric alternative where facial image capture or facial biometric verification is used for onboarding, authentication, fraud prevention, or account access purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19594/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department or the Central Bank of Ireland maintains information on the number of regulated financial service providers using facial image capture or facial biometric processing technologies for identity verification, customer onboarding, authentication, or fraud prevention; if so, the number of such firms and the general purposes for which such technologies are used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19595/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has considered whether the Consumer Protection Code or other financial regulatory frameworks should be updated to provide explicit standards governing the use of facial image capture and facial biometric technologies by regulated financial service providers, including standards concerning transparency to customers, consent mechanisms where applicable, retention periods, and alternative access methods for customers who do not wish to use biometric verification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19596/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department or the Central Bank of Ireland holds data on operational incidents, data protection incidents, or consumer complaints reported by regulated financial service providers relating to the use of facial image capture or facial biometric processing technologies since 1 January 2023; if so, the number of such incidents by year and general category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19597/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when he will publish the approach to the taxation of retail investment referenced in Budget 2026; whether that publication will include specific proposals regarding the eight-year deemed disposal regime for funds and ETFs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20391/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has prepared an internal options paper, memorandum, or comparative analysis on reform of the eight-year deemed disposal regime for investment funds and ETFs, including options such as abolition, extension of the interval, or replacement with a savings and investment account model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20392/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether, in the work underway on the taxation of retail investment, his Department has identified which EU member states and OECD jurisdictions operate an eight-year deemed disposal or equivalent forced realisation regime for retail fund investors; and if he will provide that list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20393/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question replies of 4 March 2026 on deemed disposal, whether his Department considers it satisfactory that the State cannot isolate the specific tax yield, taxpayer numbers, compliance burden, or administrative cost associated with the eight-year deemed disposal regime; whether he will direct that improved reporting be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20394/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether he will require Revenue to introduce a separate reporting field for tax arising specifically from eight-year deemed disposal events, as distinct from other chargeable events under the investment funds regime, in order to inform future tax policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20395/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the work underway on retail investment taxation includes analysis of whether the eight-year deemed disposal regime diverts household savings away from diversified fund investment and toward cash deposits, property, pension wrappers, or direct shareholdings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20396/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the review of the Special Assignee Relief Programme published with Budget 2026 examined any exit pathway, sunset clause, or replacement model for the scheme; if not, the reason a continuing relief to 2030 was considered preferable to a broader competitiveness strategy based on structural tax and non-tax measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20397/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Budget 2026 review of SARP examined the sectoral distribution, salary distribution, and regional distribution of beneficiaries; whether any assessment was made of the extent to which the relief supports multinational employers as distinct from indigenous enterprise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20398/26]
Culture 12 questions
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether a county-level investment analysis from previous Community Sport Facilities Fund rounds has been completed to identify areas that have been historically under-invested; and if he will publish that analysis. [20405/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the projected overall budget envelope for the 2026 round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund and whether this will exceed the €277.9 million allocated under the 2023 round. [20406/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has considered introducing a dedicated capital stream for large regional facilities in major urban areas such as Cork, where the scale of infrastructure required often exceeds the typical local grant thresholds. [20407/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether the Department will publish draft guidelines for the next round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund at least four weeks in advance of the opening date in order to allow community clubs adequate preparation time. [20408/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the date on which NewERA furnished advice to his Department regarding the proposed amendment to Regulation 20 of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme; whether that advice was oral or written; whether it addressed trust law principles, pensions law, member protection, and potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21161/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the specific criteria being applied by his Department in assessing RTÉ’s proposed amendment to Regulation 20 of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme, including whether the Department is considering the interests of active members, deferred members and pensioners separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21162/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has sought from RTÉ a detailed schedule of the categories of expenses proposed to be charged to scheme assets under the proposed amendment to Regulation 20; if so, the categories identified; whether any part of those proposed costs relate to historic, legacy, restructuring or dispute-related expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21163/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has sought confirmation from RTÉ or the trustees as to whether any retrospective charging of costs to scheme assets is contemplated under the proposed amendment to Regulation 20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21164/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has considered seeking the views of the Pensions Authority on the proposed amendment to Regulation 20 of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21165/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has considered obtaining independent external legal advice on the proposed amendment to Regulation 20 of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme since receipt of RTÉ’s request on 14 October 2025; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21166/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether the trustees of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme have provided his Department with any legal opinion, actuarial note, governance memorandum, or member-impact assessment in support of the proposed amendment to Regulation 20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21167/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether any deadline, target date, or indicative timeframe has been set by his Department for determining RTÉ’s request of 14 October 2025 to amend Regulation 20 of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21168/26]
Defence 11 questions
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the date on which Government approval was granted for the procurement of the Falcon 6X aircraft; whether a formal memorandum was submitted to Government; and whether a cost-benefit or options appraisal accompanied that submission. [20283/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether alternative aircraft types were assessed during the procurement process for the Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft; the number of aircraft types evaluated; and whether a formal options appraisal document exists. [20284/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the estimated total lifecycle cost of the Falcon 6X aircraft over a twenty-year operational period including maintenance, fuel, crew, insurance and infrastructure. [20285/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether a formal operational requirement document was prepared prior to the procurement of the Falcon 6X aircraft; and whether that document specified passenger capacity, range, medical evacuation capability or other operational criteria. [20286/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the procurement of the Falcon 6X aircraft was ranked as a priority capability requirement relative to maritime surveillance, naval fleet staffing, radar capability or subsea monitoring capability. [20287/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the annual number of applicants to the Reserve Defence Forces in each year from 2018 to date in 2026; the number accepted for training in each year; the number who commenced the joint induction training syllabus; the number who successfully completed that training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20333/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current policy targets set by her Department for the strength of the Reserve Defence Forces under the Reserve Defence Force Regeneration Plan published in July 2024; the projected strength targets for each year to 2028; and the measures being implemented to achieve the stated objective of reaching an effective strength of 80 percent. [20334/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the average time currently required for a new Reserve Defence Forces recruit to complete the joint induction training syllabus and become fully qualified; whether her Department monitors attrition rates during this training process; if so, the attrition rate recorded in each year since the introduction of the syllabus in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20335/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the level of annual funding allocated specifically for the development, training and equipment of the Reserve Defence Forces in each year since 2020; whether the Government intends to introduce a dedicated capital funding stream for Reserve Defence Forces capability development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20336/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department maintains structured data on the reasons for resignation or discharge from the Reserve Defence Forces, including exit interviews or retention surveys; if not, whether she intends to introduce a formal retention monitoring system to support the objectives of the Reserve Defence Force Regeneration Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20337/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of procurement projects currently underway within the Defence Forces; the stage each project has reached within the capability development lifecycle; and the estimated value of each project. [20412/26]
Children 10 questions
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she will introduce mandatory autism and neurodiversity training requirements for Tusla social workers involved in child protection, family support and care proceedings. [20353/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the Department has conducted any review of the adequacy of training provided to Tusla staff in relation to autism, neurodiversity and disability awareness. [20354/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla records the number or proportion of social workers who have completed autism or neurodiversity training programmes. [20355/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether guidance exists to support Tusla staff when assessing families where a child or parent has autism or another neurodevelopmental condition. [20356/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department intends to introduce national standards for neurodiversity awareness training across Tusla services. [20357/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total annual expenditure by Tusla on placements purchased from privately operated children’s residential centres in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; the total expenditure on all residential care placements in those years; and the percentage share represented by private placements in each year, in tabular form. [21240/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department, or Tusla, has conducted any analysis of the cost differential between privately operated residential placements and placements within Tusla-operated centres; and if she will provide the average weekly cost per placement under each model. [21241/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla has set any strategic target to reduce reliance on privately operated children’s residential placements, given that approximately 73% of placements were provided by private operators in 2024. [21242/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department, or Tusla, has engaged with the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General regarding the expenditure incurred on privately operated children’s residential care placements; whether the Comptroller and Auditor General has examined or intends to examine the governance, procurement arrangements or value-for-money considerations associated with such placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21243/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department, or Tusla, has conducted any value-for-money or cost-effectiveness analysis comparing privately operated residential care placements with placements within Tusla-operated residential centres; and whether any such analysis has been provided to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. [21244/26]
Transport 9 questions
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the number of NCT appeals lodged in each of the years since 2015; the cost of lodging an appeal; and whether his Department has reviewed whether the appeals mechanism is accessible and proportionate. [19949/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether any independent external review mechanism exists for audit findings relating to NCT inspectors. [19950/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether service credit penalties have ever been applied to a company (details supplied) under the NCTS contract; the value of such penalties; and the circumstances in which they were applied. [19951/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has assessed the impact of operational efficiency bonuses on inspection quality in the NCTS. [19952/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether consideration is being given to introducing multiple providers in the next NCT contract after 2030. [19953/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department maintains a central dataset or reporting mechanism on the duration of Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment stages for major transport infrastructure projects; if not, whether he will introduce such a reporting framework to allow for systematic monitoring of project timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21169/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has undertaken any analysis since 2015 of the average time taken to complete Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment stages for transport infrastructure projects with an estimated value exceeding €200 million; and if he will publish any such analysis or assessments carried out by his Department. [21170/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the baseline data, benchmarks or performance metrics his Department uses when assessing delays in the delivery of major transport infrastructure projects; and whether those benchmarks include the duration of environmental assessment and planning stages. [21171/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority are required to report to his Department on the duration of Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment stages for major transport infrastructure projects; if so, the frequency and format of such reporting; and if he will publish the most recent reports received by his Department. [21172/26]
Public Expenditure 8 questions
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of times the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner has exercised its powers under section 10 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (as amended) since its establishment; and if those powers have not been exercised, the reasons for this. [20966/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the statutory functions of the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (as amended) are considered to be fully discharged once a disclosure has been transmitted to a prescribed person or public body; and whether the commissioner has any ongoing role where the identified body subsequently indicates the matter does not fall within its remit. [20968/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the procedures that exist within the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner to reconsider or review a decision identifying the appropriate person or body to receive a protected disclosure where the originally identified body indicates that the matter does not fall within its remit; and whether reporting persons are notified of or able to request such reconsideration. [20969/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of public servants recruited since 2013 in fast accrual professions including the Defence Forces and Fire Services who are members of the Public Service Single Pension Scheme; the estimated income gap that arises between retirement age for these professions and the age of eligibility for the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21156/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department maintains a central dataset tracking the duration of the planning, environmental impact assessment, appropriate assessment and judicial review stages for major infrastructure projects funded under the National Development Plan since 2015; if so, to provide the annual average duration of each stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21177/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether a baseline analysis of infrastructure project delivery timelines was undertaken prior to the publication of the Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan; the evidence or datasets used to support the statement that development lifecycles have doubled compared with twenty years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21178/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department intends to establish a central reporting framework requiring sponsoring authorities of major infrastructure projects to report delays and additional costs arising from quashing orders or judicial review proceedings affecting environmental impact assessment or appropriate assessment processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21179/26]
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether quantified national time-reduction targets will be introduced under the Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan for the planning, environmental assessment and approval stages of major infrastructure projects; and whether these targets will be published with measurable performance indicators. [21180/26]
Rural 5 questions
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of staff recruited to his Department in the grades of Clerical Officer, Executive Officer, and Higher Executive Officer in each of the past five years; and if he will provide the figures in tabular form. [20039/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of staff recruited to his Department in the grades of Clerical Officer, Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer in the past five years who did not successfully complete their probationary period; and if he will provide the figures broken down by grade and by year. [20040/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if records are maintained regarding the stage of probation at which employment ceased for staff who did not complete probation in the grades of Clerical Officer, Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer in the past five years; and if so, the number whose employment ceased within the first three months, six months, or nine months of probation. [20041/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of staff in the grades of Clerical Officer, Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer who transferred to another Department or public body during their probationary period in the past five years. [20042/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of staff in the grades of Clerical Officer, Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer within his Department whose probationary period was extended in each of the past five years; the reasons such extensions may be applied; and the number of those staff who subsequently successfully completed probation or whose employment ceased. [20043/26]
Further and Higher Education 4 questions
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the expected date on which the performance and evaluation framework for the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction will be formally approved; whether the framework will be published; and whether it will include measurable targets relating to housing output, training capacity, and construction efficiency. [20399/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the membership of the Project Advisory Group overseeing the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction; the entities that have entered into Memoranda of Understanding governing the development of the Park; and whether those agreements will be published. [20400/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether a written risk assessment or project assurance review was undertaken prior to the decision to commence capital works on the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction before the performance and evaluation framework had been finalised; and if so, whether he will publish or summarise that assessment. [20401/26]
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total capital allocation approved to date for the National Demonstration Park for Modern Methods of Construction; the expenditure incurred to date; and the projected total cost of completion. [20402/26]
Foreign 1 question
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in light of the significant escalation in hostilities involving Iran and adjoining states between 28 February and 1 March 2026, during which her Department’s travel advice and consular outreach capacities were placed under heightened demand; the number of staff that were rostered, on duty, and actively responding to calls on her Department’s designated consular/emergency telephone lines (details supplied) over that weekend; the minimum and maximum number of personnel assigned per shift on those lines during that period; whether additional staff were seconded or diverted to support crisis consular operations; the average call handling time, call abandonment rate, and volume of incoming calls received on each consular/emergency line over that period; the criteria, rota system and escalation protocols used by her Department to ensure 24/7 consular hotline operation during periods of elevated demand; and the lessons identified or planned changes to resourcing and surge capacity for her Department’s consular contact centre arising from the experience of 28 February to1 March 2026. [18400/26]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2026-03-18 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he expects to publish the outcome of the public consultation on the proposal to extend the late working hours exemption for young persons to unlicensed premises under the Protection of Young Persons Act 1996; and whether he intends to introduce new regulations or revise the existing code of practice arising from this consultation. [18642/26]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2026-03-19 Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he is satisfied that current enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 is adequate in light of repeated reports of severe equine mistreatment, abandonment, and euthanasia following welfare failures; and the immediate steps his Department is taking to strengthen inspections, seizures, and prosecutions in respect of horse welfare. [11577/26]

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Questions asked 27 total

Questions asked 10 total

Questions asked 244 total

Questions asked 29 total

Questions asked 6 total