21 October 2026 By Tom Collins tom@TheCork.ie Only 18 childminders in Cork City and County are registered with Tusla, Cork North Central TD Ken O’Flynn has revealed, meaning families who use any other childminder in Cork cannot get the National Childcare Scheme subsidy. Figures provided by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in reply... Read More
16 October 2026 By Valerie Ryan valerie@TheCork.ie Cork North Central TD Ken O’Flynn has said the Government needs to have an honest, adult conversation about tobacco tax, after Budget 2027 added another €1 in excise to a pack of 20 cigarettes on the same day the Minister for Finance confirmed to him that the illegal... Read More
19 September 2026 By Tom Collins tom@TheCork.ie Politics The State did not separately count how many young people became homeless after leaving its care until 2025, according to figures released to a Cork TD by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. The Department has confirmed to Ken O’Flynn (Cork North Central) of Independent Ireland... Read More
11 April 2026 By Tom Collins tom@TheCork.ie Independent Ireland Leader TD Michael Collins has strongly criticised what he described as an “astounding level of arrogance” from Government, warning that its approach is continuing to drive frustration among protestors across the country. Deputy Collins was speaking as the national fuel protests enter their fifth day, with... Read More
8 February 2026 By Elaine Murphy elaine@TheCork.ie The State is funding GLP-1 weight-loss medicines for prisoners while ordinary patients are denied access under the Drugs Payment Scheme – says Cork TD Figures released under Freedom of Information show that more than €57,000 has been spent on Ozempic for prisoners since 2022, with total spending on... Read More
24 January 2026 By Elaine Murphy elaine@TheCork.ie Education/Politics Leader of Independent Ireland and Cork South-West TD Michael Collins has echoed growing calls for a fundamental change to the school meals programme, urging the Government to prioritise locally sourced, high-quality food for schoolchildren while supporting Irish farmers and food producers. Collins statement follows Darena Allen’s Appearance... Read More
12 January 2026 By Mary Bermingham mary@TheCork.ie Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn has responded to reports of proposed restrictions to the State’s refugee family reunification policy, warning that while the move signals progress, it falls short of the urgency and scale needed to address what he describes as Ireland’s “deepening immigration crisis”. According to The... Read More
1 November 2025 By Tom Collins tom@TheCork.ie Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn has accused government of directing almost half a million euros of taxpayer’s money to advertising companies as part of a “desperate attempt to appear pro-active in addressing the recruitment crisis affecting the construction sector.” The Cork North-Central TD was responding to confirmation from... Read More