Ken O'Flynn

668. 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]

669. 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]

670. 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]

671. 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]

672. 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]

673. 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]

674. 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]

675. 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]

676. 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]

828. 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]

829. 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]

879. 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]

968. 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]

969. 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]

970. 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]

971. 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]

1236. 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]

1237. 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]

1238. 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]

1320. 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]

1321. 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]

1322. 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]

1323. 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]

1364. 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]

1365. 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]