Ken O'Flynn

254. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport how "independence" will be defined in respect of the oversight body enforcing the National Counter Disinformation Strategy, and the safeguards will exist to prevent conflicts of interest where such bodies are reliant on State funding. [49473/25]

255. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport how he reconciles the decision to proceed with the National Counter Disinformation Strategy given that 83% of respondents to the public consultation opposed the measure; and whether he considers that proceeding regardless undermines democratic legitimacy. [49474/25]

256. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to specify whether "mal-information," as defined in the National Counter Disinformation Strategy, includes factually accurate reporting which is politically embarrassing to the Government, its Ministers or State-funded agencies.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49475/25]

257. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether ordinary citizens, whistleblowers or journalists could face sanctions under the strategy for sharing true information that is deemed harmful; and the protections in place for press freedom and public interest reporting. [49476/25]

258. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to clarify how "harm" will be defined when assessing "mal-information," and who will have authority to make that assessment. [49477/25]

259. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to detail the financial supports promised to "traditional media" as part of the National Counter Disinformation Strategy, and whether this amounts to State subsidies for preferred media outlets while disadvantaging independent or online competitors. [49478/25]

260. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether the National Counter Disinformation Strategy will apply equally to politicians, Government Departments and State-funded NGOs in cases where they disseminate misleading or selective information, and the penalties they can face. [49480/25]

261. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he accepts that giving the State- or State-funded bodies the power to decide what is "trusted" information risks creating a chilling effect on democratic debate and public scrutiny of Government actions. [49481/25]

271. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if every local authority has adopted and published an operational policy for the room for a student local authority tenancies scheme, which permits social housing tenants to let a room to a third-level student; the date this scheme commenced nationally; the guidance or circulars issued to local authorities; the number of applications received, approvals granted, refusals issued, the average processing time since commencement for each local authority including Cork City Council and Cork County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49334/25]

272. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if income earned under the room for a student local authority tenancies scheme is treated as reckonable for local authority differential rent purposes; the standard approach that is required of local authorities in assessing such income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49336/25]

282. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the current planning policies requiring a minimum period of residence, often seven years, before an applicant can seek permission to build a dwelling in a rural area; if there are circumstances in which applicants who have resided in the area for less than seven years, such as five years, may be considered; and the steps he is taking to ensure that planning policies balance local housing needs with access to building opportunities for long-term residents. [49440/25]

283. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific steps in the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity which will address planning delays, approval times and regulatory burdens for housing developers in Cork suburbs e.g. Glanmire, Blarney, Bishopstown; if he will publish target timelines for planning decisions in those areas; and if resources will be allocated to local authorities to meet those targets. [49504/25]

284. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding which has been allocated or ring-fenced to support necessary infrastructure that is, roads, drainage, schools, healthcare, broadband in regard to recently approved major housing schemes in north Cork and Cork city suburbs; the timelines for availability of those supports; and the monitoring which exists to ensure developments do not proceed ahead of basic services being in place. [49507/25]

285. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Government annual housing targets which have been met as of September 2025 in each local authority to date; the councils that are on track and those which are falling behind; and the interventions planned to address under-performance ahead of year-end. [49510/25]

286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the role his Department plays in setting, monitoring, and enforcing nutritional standards for food served on school premises, including canteens and vending machines; and to provide copies of any circulars, compliance audits, and sanctions issued since 2020. [49463/25]

287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to list every post-primary school that applied for participation in the hot school meals or school meals scheme and that was refused or deemed ineligible since 2022, with reasons; and to explain the evidence base for excluding post-primary pupils when England, Finland and the United States apply standards or programmes across older cohorts. [49464/25]

288. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the full text of any memorandum of understanding or governance agreement with the Department of Social Protection and the HSE regarding school-meal delivery on school premises, including responsibilities for safeguarding, allergens, and food-safety inspections; and if none exists, the reason for the governance gap. [49465/25]

289. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of pupils regularly present who do not collect a school meal when it is available, by school and term since 2023; the Department’s plan to address stigma, timing and menu acceptability barriers; and to cite any pilots to improve uptake. [49467/25]

290. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether he will bring forward primary legislation establishing a pupil entitlement to a nutritious school meal with statutory nutrition standards and inspection powers, as per Finland’s legal model and England’s standards; and if not, set out the contrary evidence. [49468/25]

291. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the procurement model used by schools and patron bodies for meal provision, including the use of frameworks, lot sizes, SME access, and any late rule changes in 2025 that contributed to roll out delays; and to publish the corresponding risk register entries. [49469/25]

292. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide data on food waste from school meals (kg/week per school), for the years 2023 to 2025; and any menu reformulation or packaging trials to reduce waste. [49470/25]

293. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which he will ensure equity for pupils with special diets (allergies, coeliac disease, cultural-religious requirements), including compulsory written allergen information availability on site; and the dates of the last environmental health inspections per school. [49471/25]

296. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider amending the supplementary welfare allowance policy to allow referrals from An Garda Síochána to be accepted for fast-tracking emergency financial supports, including rent supplement, for victims of domestic violence; if he will review the current policy excluding Garda referrals in light of evidence that many victims contact Gardaí first; and the steps his will take to ensure all victims can access timely and lifesaving financial assistance. [49437/25]

298. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the projections made regarding the sustainability of the State pension system given demographic trends as of September 2025; the funding gap projected over the next decade; and the reforms or measures being considered to ensure long-term security for current and future pensioners. [49455/25]

299. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the implementation status and timeline of State auto-enrolment, in light of CCPC research indicating that 26 percent of Irish adults have no retirement plan; to provide year-on-year trend data since 2023; and to outline funded measures for financial literacy and default fund protections to reduce under-saving risk. [49495/25]