209. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether he will publish a detailed implementation plan responding to the recommendations contained in the independent review of the 2025 Blackwater fish kill; and if he will provide a timeline for delivery of each recommendation. [13835/26]
210. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department maintains data on the proportion of fish kill investigations since 2015 in which the pollutant or source remained undetermined; and whether policy reforms are being developed to reduce the incidence of undiagnosed cases. [13836/26]
215. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the estimated average cost to the Exchequer of recruiting, inducting and training a General Service Recruit in the Permanent Defence Forces, broken down by Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; the total estimated cost of recruits who did not complete training in each of the years 2020 to 2025; and the estimated cost of personnel who left the Permanent Defence Force…
216. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department has set formal annual retention targets for the Permanent Defence Forces; if so, the specific percentage attrition ceiling or numerical retention target set for each service; the key performance indicators used to measure retention; and the most recent performance against each of those indicators [13750/26]
217. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether service-specific retention targets have been set for the Naval Service and Air Corps in light of previous staffing pressures; the projected staffing levels required to meet full operational capacity in each service; and whether current recruitment and retention trends are sufficient to meet those projected requirements over the next three years [13751/26]
218. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of recruits discharged by purchase in each of the years 2020 to 2025; the average length of service at exit for such personnel; and the estimated financial impact on the Defence Vote arising from voluntary early departures within two years of induction [13752/26]
221. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether changes to eligibility criteria for recruitment into the Permanent Defence Forces are under consideration; whether non-citizen eligibility expansion is being examined; and to outline the policy rationale for any such proposals. [13867/26]
284. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has conducted, commissioned or received any regulatory impact assessment, economic modelling or internal policy analysis since 1 January 2021 examining the cumulative administrative and compliance costs arising from customs declarations, tariff classification requirements, VAT registration obligations or brokerage…
285. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has estimated the average per-parcel administrative cost incurred by Irish SMEs exporting low-value consignments to (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the United States, including customs declarations, intermediary brokerage fees, VAT compliance and associated documentation; and if no such estimate has been undertaken…
286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has engaged with the Revenue Commissioners regarding simplified customs procedures or reduced administrative burdens for micro-exporting SMEs reliant on parcel trade; the dates and nature of any such engagement; and whether specific policy proposals have been developed arising from those discussions [13708/26]
287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department holds data or has conducted analysis on the number or proportion of Irish SMEs for whom small-consignment parcel exports constitute their primary export channel; and if so, the findings of that analysis. [13709/26]
288. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether the Cost of Business Advisory Forum established in June 2025 has specifically examined customs compliance costs, parcel export brokerage fees, or international e-commerce administrative burdens as part of its remit; and if so, whether recommendations have been made or are under consideration by Government [13710/26]
289. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether the forthcoming Enterprise 2035 strategy will contain specific measures aimed at reducing customs-related compliance costs for SMEs engaged in cross-border parcel trade; and if he will outline any draft policy proposals currently under consideration [13711/26]
296. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of employment permits issued in 2025 by sector; whether each sector is classified as experiencing a verified skills shortage; and whether an updated labour market needs analysis has been completed for 2026 permit quotas. [13866/26]
319. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether in recent special needs assistant review cycles, any revised guidance has issued to the National Council for Special Education distinguishing between level 2 and level 3 primary care needs for the purpose of determining reductions in SNA allocation; and if she will clarify the policy basis for any such distinction [13546/26]
320. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the safeguards which exist within the special needs assistant review appeals process to ensure that schools are not discouraged from lodging appeals; whether any departmental guidance addresses the possibility of further allocation changes following an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13547/26]
321. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the quality assurance procedures that are in place within the National Council for Special Education to ensure accuracy in SNA allocation correspondence issued to schools; whether any internal review has taken place following instances of incorrect allocation notifications, and if she will outline the governance framework governing such communications…
322. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth Education the current operational status of the special needs assistant redeployment scheme referenced in Circular 0032/2025; whether it is fully operational nationwide; and the way allocation reductions are managed in schools pending full implementation of the scheme [13549/26]
323. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary schools in County Cork that have experienced a reduction in special needs assistant allocation following National Council for Special Education review during the 2024 and 2025 school years; and whether her Department is satisfied that reductions are being applied consistently and proportionately [13550/26]
343. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has considered establishing a national reporting framework requiring schools to submit anonymised data on serious disciplinary incidents involving weapons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13620/26]
344. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has issued specific national disciplinary guidance addressing incidents involving weapons on school premises, distinct from general critical incident guidance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13621/26]
345. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth how her Department satisfies itself that current governance arrangements adequately monitor trends in serious safety incidents, including weapon-related incidents, in the absence of centralised data collection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13622/26]
362. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any formal or informal guidance has been issued by her Department or by the National Council for Special Education in the 2025–26 review cycle indicating that pupils in fifth and sixth class in mainstream primary settings should not be considered eligible for special needs assistant support solely by reference to their class level; and if she …
363. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the eligibility criteria for special needs assistant allocation are based exclusively on documented care needs rather than age or class grouping; and to outline the current policy position governing this. [13780/26]
364. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any revised circular, directive, operational instruction or internal policy guidance was issued to the National Council for Special Education or to Special Educational Needs Organisers in advance of the 2026 SNA review cycle altering the weighting of mainstream primary care needs; and if so, to provide details. [13781/26]