596. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether his Department has a formal policy governing the use of external contractors; the circumstances in which such contractors may be engaged; and the measures in place to ensure reliance on external services does not substitute for internal capacity. [26812/26]
884. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his Department’s current assessment of the potential inflationary impact on the Irish economy arising from sustained increases in global energy prices; to detail any modelling undertaken regarding second-round effects on food prices and household purchasing power; and to outline the fiscal policy options available to Government to mitigate cost-of-li…
885. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to outline the Government’s cross-departmental contingency planning for a scenario involving simultaneous energy price inflation and economic slowdown; to detail whether any updated cost-of-living support framework is being prepared; and to set out the criteria under which additional public expenditure interventions would be triggered. [23592/26]
926. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of claims made for the Incapacitated Child Tax Credit in each of the past five years; the number approved and refused in each year; the number selected for compliance review or audit; whether the Revenue Commissioners have identified any concentration of claims supported by medical certification from a single medical practitioner or a smal…
927. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of applications for the incapacitated child tax credit received by the Revenue Commissioners in each of the past five years; the number of applications that were supported by medical certificates from registered medical practitioners in the same period; the number of such applications that were reviewed by the Revenue Commissioners as part…
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1043. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether he accepts that the evidential presumption in respect of penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended, is not currently required to be applied during the administrative handling and investigation of disclosures by public bodies; and whether he will introduce a forma…
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1044. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether any assessment has been undertaken of the potential litigation risk arising from administrative decisions taken by public bodies in relation to protected disclosures where the evidential presumption provided for under Sections 12 and 13 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended,…
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1045. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether he will issue a circular or binding instruction to all Departments, agencies, and prescribed persons requiring that, in assessing alleged penalisation of a reporting person under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended, decision-makers apply an evidential approach consistent with…
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1046. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether he is satisfied that the current administrative handling of protected disclosures by public bodies fully reflects the objectives of Directive (EU) 2019/1937, in particular the requirement to ensure effective protection against retaliation at all stages of the process, including internal…
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1079. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will confirm whether a comprehensive audit or condition survey has been conducted of the Garda station estate nationwide since 2020; if so, the date of the most recent audit; whether such audit assessed structural condition, compliance with modern policing requirements, and public accessi…
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1080. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide the number of Garda stations identified, through any assessment conducted by his Department or by the Office of Public Works, as requiring minor repair works, major refurbishment, or full replacement; and if he will outline the criteria used to classify stations within each category.…
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1081. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to outline the current capital investment programme for Garda station refurbishment and replacement, including the total funding allocated in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, the number of projects approved, commenced and completed in each of those years, and the projected pipeline …
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1082. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to set out the role of the Office of Public Works in the maintenance, refurbishment and development of Garda stations; whether a formal service-level agreement or governance framework is in place between his Department, the Office of Public Works and An Garda Síochána; and how capital project p…
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1083. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he is aware of any Garda stations in which hazardous materials, including asbestos, have been identified; whether a central register or risk assessment database of such materials exists; the number of buildings affected; and the measures taken to mitigate any risks to Garda personnel, staff …
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1084. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether all Garda stations are compliant with current building regulations, fire safety standards, disability access requirements, and workplace health and safety obligations; and if he will provide the number of stations identified as non-compliant in each category, together with any remediati…
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1085. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether a comprehensive audit has been carried out of the Garda station estate nationwide; the number of stations classified as requiring refurbishment, upgrade, or replacement; the estimated capital cost of addressing identified deficiencies; the role of the Office of Public Works in maintaini…
Ken O'Flynn
Written
14 Apr 2026 · to Public Expenditure
1086. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether any assessment has been conducted of the presence of hazardous materials, including asbestos, in Garda stations; the number of stations identified as containing such materials; the risk mitigation measures currently in place; the estimated cost of remediation works; and the timeline for…
1102. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to detail the measures in place to protect energy-intensive industries from sustained increases in electricity and fuel costs arising from global supply disruptions; to outline any engagement with key sectors regarding competitiveness risks; and to set out any contingency supports under consideration. [23591/26]
1107. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment what guidance has been issued to employers to ensure that, where competing rights arise in the workplace, including in relation to access to intimate or single-sex facilities such as changing rooms and sanitary facilities, policies are applied in a manner that is proportionate and respects the dignity and rights of all employees. [2402…
1108. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his department has issued national guidance to employers regarding the management of workplace policies affecting access to intimate or single-sex facilities; and if so, to provide details of same. [24030/26]
1109. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment how consistency is ensured across all employers, including semi-state bodies such as ESB, in relation to policies governing access to workplace facilities. [24032/26]
1110. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment what obligations arise for employers where employees raise concerns regarding access to workplace facilities, and what guidance is available in respect of employers’ duty of care in such circumstances. [24033/26]
1111. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether employers are required to carry out risk assessments where employees raise concerns regarding access to workplace facilities; and what standards are used to ensure consistency in such assessments. [24034/26]
1112. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment what oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that workplace policies are consistent with obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly in relation to privacy and dignity in workplace facilities. [24035/26]
1113. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether guidance has been issued to employers on the provision of alternative arrangements, including single-occupancy or gender-neutral facilities, to ensure that all employees can access workplace facilities in a manner consistent with their dignity and privacy. [24036/26]