Galway West — week of Mon, 11 Oct

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 11 Oct – 17 Oct 2021 · 6 TDs · 1 bill voted on · 70 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Financial Resolution No. 1: Tobacco Products Tax

2021-10-12 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 47–87

Voted for 1 Catherine Connolly

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

Did not vote 3 John Connolly · Mairéad Farrell · Seán Kyne

The motion · motion passed 87–47

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

Voted against 1 Catherine Connolly

Did not vote 3 John Connolly · Mairéad Farrell · Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 2 votes · 53 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 53 total

Health 12 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent cardiac physiologists employed in Ireland; the number of whole-time equivalent cardiac physiologist roles currently vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49096/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of echocardiogram machines in Ireland, including in acute hospitals and primary care; the location of these machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49097/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on waiting lists for echocardiography services; the number of these patients waiting 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months and 2, 3 and 4 plus years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49098/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health when the updated implementation plan of the National Maternity Strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49351/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 678 of 15 September 2021, the status of the establishment of a stakeholder group to address ongoing concerns relating to the use of sodium valproate; the membership of the stakeholder group; when he expects the stakeholder group to be up and running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49698/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of recruitment for the six epilepsy specialist nurse posts approved by the HSE for the implementation of the Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme; the number of these posts that have been filled to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49699/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number and value of all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49732/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been brought to a recent academic study (details supplied) which has concluded that continued effort is needed around the awareness and implementation of the sodium valproate pregnancy prevention programme; his plans to address the findings of this study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49856/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 683 of 15 September 2021, the status of the recruitment campaign for the six whole-time equivalent posts for area directors of public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50219/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 683 of 15 September 2021, the number of recruitment campaigns launched to date for the 34 whole-time equivalent consultant in public health medicine posts which are due to be in place by June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50220/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 683 of 15 September 2021, the status of the public health consultant recruitment working group; the number of times the working group has met to date; the membership of the working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50221/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 684 of 15 September 2021, the analysis that his Department has carried out into the delays in recruitment of public health pandemic plan resources in the eastern region, which as of September 2021 was at 48% compared to an average of 68% across all eight departments of public health; the actions his Department is taking to fill the remaining vacancies in view of the stated competitive recruitment environment; when all 171 whole-time equivalent posts will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50222/21]
Rural 7 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49736/21]
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagement her Department has had with other relevant Departments and agencies in addition to external stakeholders with regard to the connection of a new electricity cable, fibre optic cable and water pipe between the Aran Islands and the mainland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50153/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 114 of 15 July 2021, the status of the development of Caladh Mór pier on Inis Meáin; the status of the preparation of the simulation model of the harbour by the National Maritime College of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50138/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the promised €2 million scheme to fund the development of town masterplans; the details of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50136/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of the rural proofing model promised in Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021–2025; the status of the assessment of international best practice in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50139/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the new policy for the islands; when she expects to publish the policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50135/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the work of the interdepartmental group which was established to develop a town centre first approach; the number of times the group has met to date; when the group will bring forward its recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50137/21]
Education 5 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49726/21]
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education if the current release day allocation of one release day per week for teaching principals will be maintained beyond the academic year 2021-2022 pursuant to circular 50/2021; the analysis her Department has carried out in this regard; the engagement her Department has had with teaching principals on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50050/21]
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the details of the quality assurance testing and calibration carried out on the CO2 monitors delivered by her Department to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50051/21]
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the analysis her Department has carried out into the possibility of continuing the system of banking substitution days for the current academic year; the analysis her Department has carried out into the impact of the revised sequencing of access to substitution for primary teachers on the continuity of learning for children with additional learning needs pursuant to circular 50/2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50052/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to reinstate the primary school library fund; the analysis that her Department has carried out into allocating €10 per primary school child in order for schools to buy books for their libraries; if her attention has been drawn to a campaign (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50208/21]
Children 5 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 488 of 5 October 2021, the number of minors, not being unaccompanied minors, that have gone missing while in State care in each of the years 2010 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number found or accounted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49237/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 488 of 5 October 2021, the steps being taken to locate the 43 unaccompanied minors that have gone missing while in State care and who remain unaccounted for since 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49238/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49724/21]
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to restore funding for youth work services to pre-2008 levels; if his attention has been drawn to a campaign (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50034/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons including children seeking international protection who have been required to quarantine in hotels on arrival in Ireland by month to date in 2021; the number of persons that have been required to quarantine beyond 14 days; if those that receive a negative PCR test no earlier than five days after arrival are permitted to exit quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50258/21]
Further and Higher Education 4 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49731/21]
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of the 10,000 new apprentice registrations promised per year by 2025 that will be earmarked as craft apprenticeships pursuant to the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 to 2025; the analysis his Department has carried out with regard to identifying the sectors most in need of apprentices particularly in view of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50133/21]
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to tackling the ongoing crisis in accommodation for third-level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49877/21]
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to extend the SUSI eligibility criteria to include holders of exceptional stamp 4 permissions including children and young persons in the care of the State or aftercare and dependent children and young persons who hold stamp 3 permissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49876/21]
Transport 3 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if the lifting of restrictions in October 2021 will also remove the restriction on accessing sanitary and toilet facilities at driver test centres to enable instructors, students and those accompanying learner drivers to lessons and tests access those facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49380/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport when regulations and or legislation in respect of e-scooters will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49385/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49740/21]
Justice 3 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the steps taken to date to eliminate the practice of the appropriation by third parties of immigration appointments at Burgh Quay on the INIS website in order to offer those appointments for sale to persons seeking appointments; the analysis undertaken by her Department to establish the extent of the issue; the number of appointments sold to persons seeking appointments in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49345/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 836 of 31 March 2021, the status of the mapping exercise to identify the nature, spread and level of services that may be encompassed by the Supporting a Victim’s Journey Plan identifying gaps and ways to ameliorate them as outlined by objective 133 in the 2021 Justice Action Plan; if the working group has completed its analysis of the data provided by NGOs on the journey faced by individual victims; if so, the next steps which have been agreed on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49576/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49734/21]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49727/21]
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to remove hospitality workers from the ineligible list of occupations for employment permits in view of the ongoing recruitment issues facing the hospitality sector as it continues to reopen in line with the Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49993/21]
Finance 2 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49729/21]
- 2021-10-14 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to include special needs assistants on the list of professions entitled to claim flat rate expenses; the reason this profession has not been included in the list to date in view of the fact that teachers are entitled to claim flat rate expenses; the engagement he has had with representative bodies acting on behalf of special needs assistants on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50226/21]
Foreign 2 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49730/21]
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to the Passport Office to expedite the processing of the passport application of a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that the family have been waiting for six months for the passport application to be processed due to an error on the part of the Passport Office which has caused a significant delay. [49988/21]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach the number and value of all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49738/21]
Environment 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49728/21]
Public 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49735/21]
Tourism 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49739/21]
Housing 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49733/21]
Defence 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Defence the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49725/21]
Social 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and value of all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49737/21]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and value all procurement contracts that took place by way of negotiated procedure without prior publication in 2020 and to date in 2021; and the date, value and purpose of each negotiated procedure contract in tabular form. [49723/21]

Hildegarde Naughton — Fine Gael 2 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 0 votes · 5 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 5 total

Housing 2 questions
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if city and county development plans must be consistent with the relevant regional, spatial and economic strategy and relevant national policy; the legislation this falls under; if regional assemblies have an oversight role in the development of city and county development plans to ensure that the regional, spatial and economic strategy is followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49683/21]
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is intended to have public consultations as part of the planning legislation review that was announced on 28 September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49798/21]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of eucalyptus imports in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49613/21]
Transport 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport his plans to make any of the current bus routes in Galway city run on a 24-hour basis as has been done with a number of Dublin Bus routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49155/21]
Foreign 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the travel arrangements he is making to Ireland for Afghan nationals with visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49221/21]

Noel Grealish — Independent 2 votes · 2 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 2 total

Transport 1 question
- 2021-10-12 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if funding will be granted to Galway County Council following its application for funding for the Derrarthe Móre Road, Carraroe, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49656/21]
Housing 1 question
- 2021-10-13 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if veterinary practices, dentist surgeries, physiotherapy clinics, holistic healing centres and other such services are entitled to apply for a Covid-19 commercial rates waiver from their local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49933/21]

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

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.