Ken O'Flynn

246. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the evidence base and data used to determine the proposed increase in the national minimum wage for Budget 2026; whether the increase is sufficient to meet current cost-of-living pressures in housing, energy and food; if further adjustments are planned before the finalisation the Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51015/25]

250. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific measures being taken to ensure that the new facility in Blarney (details supplied) leads to employment for locals in Cork City, Blarney, Mallow, and Glanmire; the plans for improving transport, utilities, and infrastructure to support commuting or services; the ancillary businesses or suppliers that have been secured; and the means by which the necessary social infrastructure (housing, public services) being planned to handle this expansion. [51051/25]

274. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps taken since 1 September 2025 to address reports from parents of suspensions and inadequate provision at a designated special school in Cork; the dates of any inspections carried out since that date; the number of additional SNAs and specialist teachers allocated in response; and the timeline for the completion and publication of a full compliance report. [51081/25]

281. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider reviewing the statutory framework for political party funding and governance in light of recent public controversies; the reforms being considered to enhance transparency and compliance; whether new sanctions or monitoring mechanisms are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51021/25]

282. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rules governing political party support for independent candidates in presidential elections; the spending or resource implications that arise when parties formally back independents; and the means by which transparency will be maintained over funding, endorsements, and campaign coordination.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51064/25]

285. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Inland Fisheries Ireland has assessed the impact of the August 2025 Blackwater fish kill on invertebrate populations, including caddisflies, and other macroinvertebrates used as water-quality indicators; and to publish results of any kick-sampling surveys conducted. [50874/25]

286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken an ecological damage assessment on species of conservation concern within the Blackwater river (Cork/Waterford) SAC (002170), including otter, kingfisher, lamprey, atlantic salmon, and freshwater pearl mussel; and if he will provide the findings [50875/25]

287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legal obligations under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive triggered by the Blackwater incident; and whether a formal appropriate assessment has been initiated in response. [50876/25]

288. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mitigation and recovery measures in place to support the recolonisation of protected species within the SAC; and the timelines and estimated costs. [50877/25]

289. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether funding will be allocated to long-term biodiversity monitoring programmes on the Blackwater, including aquatic plants, insect life, and riparian bird species; and the monitoring design of same. [50878/25]

301. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for deferring the €285 child benefit increment until 2027; the Department’s estimate of the number of children that will remain in income poverty as a result of this deferral; whether interim measures will be put in place to mitigate the impact on low-income families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51016/25]

308. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether current social welfare rates are meeting the minimum essential standard of living in light of inflation and rising housing, energy and food costs; the revisions being planned in Budget 2026 to address adequacy concerns; the means by which the Department ensures that vulnerable households are protected from falling below subsistence thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51023/25]

311. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households in Cork north-central that qualified for the fuel allowance in 2024/2025; the projected number for 2025/2026 under the widened eligibility rules for those aged 66 years and over; the breakdown of applications by channel (online, post, Intreo, community welfare officers); the average processing time for applications in 2025; and the measures being taken to ensure that all eligible households are identified and assisted before the end of October 2025. [51079/25]

313. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount of Exchequer funding provided to NGOs operating in the areas of immigration, asylum and integration over the past five years, by year and organisation. [50931/25]

319. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of investigations, prosecutions, and convictions in the past five years relating to the use of false identity or employer documentation to obtain residential leases later used for the purpose of brothel-keeping; the outcomes of such cases under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, and the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50927/25]

326. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to address rising food prices; the supports available to primary producers and retailers to reduce downstream costs for consumers; whether the Department is reviewing import, export, or market regulation in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51018/25]

58. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the additional accommodation application submitted by a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay in granting approval despite the application being with her Department for over two years; and if she will prioritise the matter given the lack of adequate facilities is preventing local children, including those with additional needs, from attending their community school alongside their siblings and peers. [50546/25]

194. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason a medication (details supplied), which is used in the treatment of severe allergies, is not currently covered under the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme; if there are plans to include this treatment under either scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50820/25]

194. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the status of planning, design, and funding for the Mallow relief road; the total cost estimate; the amount which has been committed in the current or upcoming Budget for 2026; the timeframe for commencement and completion; and the measures in place to ensure that road development keeps pace with housing development in the Mallow / North Cork area. [50408/25]

211. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance considering OECD and EU forecasts showing slowed growth and risks from trade policy or tax policy shifts, the contingency planning in place to address possible shortfalls in corporate tax revenue; the adjustments being considered to ensure public finances remain sustainable; and how will such planning protect expenditure for essential services in Cork city and county [49847/25]

212. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has assessed the disproportionate impact of rising insurance premiums on small and medium-sized businesses in Cork, particularly in the hospitality and retail sectors; and if he will publish any findings. [49849/25]

213. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if he will establish an independent inquiry into the pricing practices of the insurance industry, given the growing concerns of business owners in Cork who report premiums doubling in recent years despite reduced claims. [49850/25]

214. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with the Central Bank on ensuring that the benefits of reduced personal injury awards under recent judicial reforms are passed on to policyholders, particularly in Cork, where many SMEs are reporting no such reductions. [49851/25]

216. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered targeted supports or legislative interventions to protect voluntary groups in Cork, including sports clubs, cultural festivals and community organisations, from prohibitive insurance costs which threaten their viability. [49875/25]

217. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Finance whether the banking and financial regulatory framework in Ireland is sufficient to detect and mitigate schemes involving large-scale ATM withdrawals conducted over short periods, especially where funds have been lodged abroad and withdrawn in Ireland; and whether any regulatory enhancements are planned. [50120/25]