Ken O'Flynn

950. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the assessment her Department has carried out on the educational, social, and emotional impact on children placed on reduced school hours for extended periods; and if she will confirm whether additional supports are made available to such children. [46469/25]

951. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions or sanctions available to her Department in cases where schools fail to comply with the guidelines on reduced school hours and maintain children on reduced timetables beyond what is permitted. [46470/25]

952. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the training and qualifications required of teachers assigned to special education units in primary schools; if she will confirm the number of teachers currently working in such units that have completed specialist training in special education; and if she will outline the steps being taken to ensure that all teachers in special classes have the necessary qualifications to meet the needs of the children that are teaching. [46471/25]

953. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the training and qualifications required of special needs assistants working in special educational units in primary schools; if she will provide details of any compulsory or optional training programmes supported by her Department; and if she will outline how her Department ensures that SNAs in special classes are equipped with the skills and supports necessary to meet the complex needs of the children in their care. [46472/25]

994. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth given the UK’s severe shortages of qualified physics teachers, affecting more than a quarter of state schools, if she will outline strategies to enhance recruitment and retention of STEM educators, particularly in remote areas such as Blarney, Mallow, and Glanmire. [46817/25]

1053. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to support families and schools affected by the early closure on Thursday, 23 October, due to polling requirements; and if additional childcare provisions or compensations will be put in place. [47536/25]

1059. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth in view of the CSO showing Ireland’s population reached 5.38 million, driven by net migration of 79,300 in a single year, the specific school places that will be delivered by the Government in 2026 to keep pace with this surge. [47966/25]

1067. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if a strategic plan is under development to support the revitalisation of the night-time economy in Cork city and surrounding towns; and if grant supports or regulatory changes are being considered to assist cultural venues, late-night transport, and local business reopening. [44916/25]

1071. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his views on the feasibility of a proposal (details supplied); if he has plans to enhance location identification in rural and tourist areas. [45164/25]

1094. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport with recent high-profile player transfers (details supplied), and Cork City FC receiving a financial windfall from a sell-on clause, if he will consider establishing a Community Sports Investment Fund to ensure such financial gains are reinvested locally, promoting youth development and local sports facilities. [46816/25]

1128. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the delivery schedule for major housing projects under the National Development Plan, including an account of the number that have been delayed by judicial review proceedings or planning appeals since January 2024. [44818/25]

1136. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered introducing a targeted support scheme for individuals and families who lost their homes as a result of the 2008–2013 financial crisis, including those who voluntarily surrendered their properties or were subject to court-ordered repossession; if such individuals are eligible for assistance under the current first home scheme or help-to-buy initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44923/25]

1178. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the budget, staffing, and operational plan of the newly formed Asian Hornet Management Group; the timelines for implementation, public outreach campaigns, and inter-departmental coordination mechanisms. [45356/25]

1179. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the government plans to introduce specific policies to support first generation homeowners or young families, in view of the campaign by a person (details supplied) highlighting housing affordability challenges faced by younger demographics.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45357/25]

1180. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific strategies and resources being mobilised following the recent Asian hornet sighting in County Cork to both eradicate potential nests and safeguard biodiversity, the honeybee population and the substantial economic impact experienced elsewhere in Europe. [45374/25]

1184. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the tenure mix that is, social, cost-rental, affordable purchase of Cork City Council’s 823-home pipeline at the Railyard (217) and Creamfields (606); the projected first-occupation dates; if modern methods of construction, including mass-timber will be facilitated through procurement and building-control guidance; and any funding streams to de-risk timber adoption at scale. [45420/25]

1186. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department conducted an assessment of the impact of family reunification arrivals on demand for social housing and emergency accommodation; and if additional housing units have been earmarked for this purpose. [45566/25]

1197. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has guidelines regarding the distance from work, school, and family supports when placing families in emergency accommodation; if his attention has been drawn to cases where families are placed at such distances that daily commutes of several hours are required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45773/25]

1232. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific multi-annual allocations, by county for water and wastewater enabling works required to meet the 300,000 homes target by 2030; the scheme names, expected completion dates and dependencies identified by Uisce Éireann; and if he will publish quarterly progress dashboards. [46127/25]

1258. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the county and local authority-level breakdown of Q2 2025 new dwelling completions, apartment share and pipeline indicators for Cork city and county; and if his Department projects the 2025 completions target to be met, given CSO data showing a 35% year-on-year increase in Q2 completions and a doubling in apartments. [46515/25]

1259. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the immediate and medium-term biosecurity actions, beekeeper guidance, public reporting protocols and funding for surveillance and eradication of the Asian hornet in Munster for the next 12-months given confirmation of an Asian hornet nest in Cork. [46516/25]

1262. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the operational plan, budget and timelines for eradication, surveillance and public communications following the first confirmed Asian hornet nest in Cork city, including the role of Cork City Council and beekeeper networks; and if weekly situation updates for August–October 2025 will be published. [46607/25]

1277. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with four Cork city council projects shortlisted for national innovation awards if he will pledge additional national funding or recognition for award-winning local government initiatives, particularly those advancing energy efficiency, community resilience, and climate awareness. [46811/25]

1279. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the extension of rent pressure zones announced on 10 June 2025 was not given legal effect until 20 June 2025; if he will publish the Departmental advice he received warning of risks to tenants during this gap; and the monitoring the Department undertook of rent increases in non-RPZ areas during that period. [46924/25]

1280. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has assessed the risk that the new “reset to market rent” provisions will incentivise economic evictions; the safeguards in place to prevent abuse of this provision; and if he will consider mandatory proof-of-market requirements and strengthened penalties for landlords found to be misusing resets. [46925/25]