Galway West — week of Mon, 14 Jun

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 14 Jun – 20 Jun 2021 · 6 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 62 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages

2021-06-16 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 61–78

Voted for 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 3 Hildegarde Naughton · Noel Grealish · Éamon Ó Cuív

Did not vote 2 John Connolly · Seán Kyne

The motion · motion passed 129–10

Voted for 5 Catherine Connolly · Hildegarde Naughton · Mairéad Farrell · Noel Grealish · Éamon Ó Cuív

Did not vote 2 John Connolly · Seán Kyne

Acquisition of Development Land (Assessment of Compensation) Bill 2021

2021-06-16 · 1 vote · Labour Party PMB

A bill further to regulate in accordance with the principles of social justice and to delimit by law the exercise of private property rights, insofar as such exercise gives rise…

full description

A bill further to regulate in accordance with the principles of social justice and to delimit by law the exercise of private property rights, insofar as such exercise gives rise to the assessment of compensation payable by local authorities in respect of the compulsory acquisition of development land, with a view to reconciling the exercise of those rights with the exigencies of the common good, and to provide for related matters.

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 79–58

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · Noel Grealish · Éamon Ó Cuív

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 2 John Connolly · Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 3 votes · 35 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 35 total

Education 9 questions
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 456 of 18 May 2021, when the NCSE policy advice on education provision in special classes and special schools will be completed and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31950/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide each school in the country with a dedicated reading unit; the analysis carried out by her Department into the costs of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31951/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide each school planning area in the country with at least one reading unit or reading school; the analysis carried out by her Department into the costs of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31952/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the details of the analysis her Department has carried out into the adequacy of supports at primary school level for children with severe dyslexia particularly in schools that do not have a reading unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31953/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the primary schools in each county that have a dedicated reading unit in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31954/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the details of each reading school in the country by county and by school planning area; the student number capacity of each of these schools in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31955/21]
- 2021-06-16 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of increasing the capitation grant at primary and secondary level by 5%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32368/21]
- 2021-06-16 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by two at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32369/21]
- 2021-06-16 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of lowering primary school class sizes by two students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32370/21]
Finance 5 questions
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the current tax exemptions for real estate investment trusts and Irish real estate funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31783/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied), in particular the proposal to pursue a consistently negative Government primary balance under a prudent and sustainable set of conditions with a view to doubling the existing capital investment in State-provided housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31784/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to phase out the help-to-buy scheme which is due to come to an end in December 2021; the engagement he has had with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31864/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce a vacant residential property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31865/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 217 of 13 May 2021, the status of the promised review of the disabled drivers scheme; the person or body carrying out the review; the terms of reference of the review; when the review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31866/21]
Social 3 questions
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 666 of 28 April 2021, her plans to defer the 13-week requalification period in respect of persons on partial capacity benefit until after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in view of the financial difficulties endured by many as a result of the pandemic; the analysis her Department has carried out of the financial cost of such a deferral; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30698/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in the moderate, severe and profound categories of illness who have started their 13-week requalification period for the partial capacity benefit in each of the months from March 2020 to May 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30699/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who successfully transferred from partial capacity benefit to supplementary welfare allowance or another social welfare payment for the duration of their 13-week partial capacity benefit requalification period in each of the months from March 2020 to May 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30700/21]
Children 3 questions
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 445 of 5 May 2021, the status of the preparation of the legislation to end the practice of conversion therapy given the commitment for same in the programme for Government; when the legislative proposal will be finalised and brought forward; the status of the work of the research subgroup of the inclusion strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31002/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 641 and 642 of 24 February 2021, if the correspondence between him and or his Department and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and the Commission of Investigation can now be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31118/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all correspondence between him and or his Department and the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31119/21]
Justice 3 questions
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of recommendations made under section 21(3) of the International Protection Act 2015 to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31242/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of return orders issued under section 51A of the International Protection Act 2015 (as amended) in total and individually to the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31243/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the reason legal aid is not available to persons taking cases to the European Court of Human Rights, particularly in view of the fact that the Court may refuse a litigant leave to represent themselves in front of the Court and given that Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights provides a right to legal aid to those who lack sufficient resources in so far as this is necessary to ensure effective access to justice; her plans to prescribe the European Court of Human Rights as a court under which legal aid may be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32054/21]
Public 3 questions
- 2021-06-16 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 21 April 2021, the status of the flood relief scheme for Clifden, County Galway; the surveys of the catchment area of the Owenglin river that have been carried out or are planned as part of the flood relief scheme; the examination of natural flood management techniques in the catchment area of the Owenglin river that are planned or have been carried out to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32178/21]
- 2021-06-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the analysis his Department has carried out into the question of ensuring that local elected representatives will be covered by protections for whistleblowers under the forthcoming legislation transposing the EU whistleblowing directive into law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32126/21]
- 2021-06-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of flood defences in the Spanish Arch and docks area of Galway city; the details of any public consultation taken to date or planned in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32125/21]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had with the Minister for Social Protection with regard to reports that many pandemic unemployment payment recipients particularly in cases in which they are married to or cohabiting with another person on a social welfare payment are ineligible for the SUSI grant due to earning in excess of the current income threshold; his plans to increase the income threshold to facilitate PUP recipients in accessing SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31204/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the refusal by the University of Limerick to refund, or partially reimburse, postgraduate students for an international trip advertised as part of their masters degree programme that was replaced by an online workshop due to Covid-19 restrictions; the engagement he has had with the over 100 students in this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32014/21]
Environment 2 questions
- 2021-06-16 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost of missing the target for the roll-out of high speed rural broadband in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32366/21]
- 2021-06-16 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost of rolling-out high speed broadband across Ireland in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32367/21]
Transport 2 questions
- 2021-06-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 24 March 2021, the status of the roll-out of park-and-ride facilities for Galway city; the number and locations of all sites identified to date from which to operate park-and-ride services; the status of the public consultation process for the cross-city link and Dublin Road BusConnects corridors; if an application for planning permission been made in this regard to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32124/21]
- 2021-06-17 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 24 March 2021 and his comments in Dáil Éireann on the same date, his plans to bring forward the review of the Galway Transport Strategy, in particular the promised feasibility study for light rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32123/21]
Housing 1 question
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if legislation in respect of strategic housing developments will not be reintroduced following the expiration of said legislation on 31 December 2021 as outlined by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport to Dáil Éireann on 20 May 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31058/21]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact an association (details supplied) has taken a complaint to the EU against his Department alleging non-enforcement of regulation (EU) 2019/787 with regard to a lack of enforcement of spirits provenance regulations resulting in multiple incidences of false provenance information being provided on products that fall under a protected geographical indication designation; his views on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30739/21]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2021-06-16 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of introducing a universal basic income at the core social welfare rate of €203 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32371/21]

Hildegarde Naughton — Fine Gael 3 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

John Connolly — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Mairéad Farrell — Sinn Féin 3 votes · 11 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 11 total

Public 4 questions
- 2021-06-17 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will commit to doubling capital expenditure in order to solve the housing crisis in view of the recent report by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, which calls for same. [31883/21]
- 2021-06-17 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans he is putting in place to increase capacity in relation to a recent report by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, which highlighted concerns that capacity issues were likely to stymie efforts to hit the current capital expenditure targets. [31884/21]
- 2021-06-17 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to the increased capital expenditure set to take place in the coming years and the current delays in commencing capital projects, his views on and whether he favours investing in a State construction body or an expanded role for the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32592/21]
- 2021-06-17 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the shared data services centre outlined in the recovery and resilience plan will be publicly run and not contracted out to a private provider. [31888/21]
Transport 3 questions
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the number of passengers on Bus Éireann route 424 in both directions in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30803/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the number of passengers on Bus Éireann Route 419 in both directions in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30804/21]
- 2021-06-17 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the status of the A5 motorway project; and when the work is set to commence. [31887/21]
Finance 2 questions
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance his views on reforms which would exempt green capital expenditure in order to address the climate emergency given the review by the European Commission of the fiscal rules are set to reopen. [31885/21]
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance his views on the reform of the EU Fiscal Rules Stability and Growth Pact as they currently stand; if he will be making a submission to the Commission’s public consultation which is reopening in the second half of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20512/21]
Environment 1 question
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the formal review process that is examining a premises (details supplied) in County Galway for reclassification from blue to amber on the high speed broadband map; when this process is due to be completed; the length of time after this process is completed a connection to the network will be available to these residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31565/21]
Housing 1 question
- 2021-06-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review will be published for the 2016 tenant incremental purchase scheme. [32026/21]

Noel Grealish — Independent 3 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Seán Kyne — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.