Galway West — week of Mon, 28 Feb

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 28 Feb – 6 Mar 2022 · 6 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 55 questions · 7 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Social Welfare (Payment Order) (Amendment) Bill 2021

2022-03-02 · 1 vote · Sinn Féin PMB

A bill to provide for the extension of the powers of the Liable Relatives Unit of the Department of Social Protection, to make a Determination Order in respect of Jobseekers Tra…

full description

A bill to provide for the extension of the powers of the Liable Relatives Unit of the Department of Social Protection, to make a Determination Order in respect of Jobseekers Transitional Payment to one parent families, to include any necessary application to the District Court for a Payment Order, thus enabling the State to recoup, from a “liable relative”, a contribution towards the cost of providing said payment and related matters.

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 80–46

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

Voted against 1 Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 3 Catherine Connolly · John Connolly · Seán Kyne

Healthcare Waiting Lists

2022-03-02 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 75–57

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

Voted against 1 Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 3 Catherine Connolly · John Connolly · Seán Kyne

The motion · motion passed 76–57

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

Voted against 1 Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 3 Catherine Connolly · John Connolly · Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 0 votes · 23 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 23 total

Housing 12 questions
- 2022-03-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 25 January 2022, the status of the review by his Department and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office of the local authority Housing Delivery Action Plans; the number of plans that have been received by his Department to date by local authority; the number of plans reviewed to date; the number of plans approved to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11948/22]
- 2022-03-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing and affordable housing projects under construction in Galway city and county by the location address, the number of units, project status and the expected completion date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11949/22]
- 2022-03-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 16 February 2022, the engagement he or his Department has had with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications with regard to the roll-out of decarbonisation zones in each local authority; his Department's role in the development of the promised guidelines for the implementation of the decarbonising plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11950/22]
- 2022-03-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the work of the working group to examine defects in housing; when he expects the final report to be completed; his plans for the publication of the final report; the details of interim reports received to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11951/22]
- 2022-03-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of plans to appoint a permanent CEO of Galway County Council; the status of the recruitment campaign; when he expects the new CEO to be in position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11952/22]
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of any analysis carried out or commissioned by his Department into the impact of the lifting of the Covid-19 moratorium on evictions both nationwide and in Galway city and county; the analysis his Department has carried out or commissioned into the rise in homelessness figures in Galway city and county in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11945/22]
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement he has had with Galway City and County Councils in 2021 and to date in 2022 with regard to addressing the issue of vacant houses in both local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11944/22]
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units refurbished under the voids stimulus programme announced in May 2021 in the area covered by Galway City Council; the number of these refurbished social housing units which have been re-let as social homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12170/22]
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units refurbished under the voids stimulus programme announced in May 2021 in the area covered by Galway County Council; the number of these refurbished social housing units which have been re-let as social homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12171/22]
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the promised national town centre first office; the timeline for the establishment of the office; the number of staff allocated to the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12207/22]
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the recruitment of a national director for town centre first; when he expects the position to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12208/22]
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the national oversight and advisory group for town centre first; the membership of the group; the terms of reference of the group; if the group has met to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12209/22]
Public 3 questions
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 41 of 20 January 2022, the timeline for the expected completion of the report of the Interdepartmental Group on Managing Coastal Change; if the final report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11402/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 62 of 23 September 2021, 108 of 16 November 2021 and 210 of 20 January 2022, the expected timeline for stage 2 of Coirib go Cósta, namely the submission of planning documentation to An Bord Pleanála and the completion of all environmental assessments and consents; the status of the Coirib go Cósta flood relief works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11403/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for a review of the Arterial Drainage Act 1945; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11469/22]
Environment 2 questions
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 16 February 2022, and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, the status of the promised statutory guidelines on the development of local authority climate action plans; if the guidelines have been finalised to date; when these guidelines will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11661/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his Department’s role in the roll-out of decarbonisation zones in each local authority; the engagement that he or his Department has had with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in 2021 and to date in 2022 in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11662/22]
Rural 2 questions
- 2022-03-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of any engagement her Department has had with the relevant stakeholders in relation to the proposal for the development of a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11989/22]
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the designation of pathfinder towns pursuant to the town centre first policy; the details of the towns designated to date; when all pathfinder towns will be designated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12205/22]
Transport 2 questions
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 50 of 17 June 2021, 112 of 16 September 2021, 162 of 4 November 2021 and 82 of 16 December 2021, the progress made to date on the roll-out of park and ride facilities in Galway; the status of the ongoing detailed site options analysis and feasibility studies in Galway by the Park and Ride Development Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11942/22]
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 16 December 2021, the timeline for the upcoming review of the Galway Transport Strategy; the terms of reference for the review; the timeline and terms of reference for the feasibility study for light rail in Galway which will be undertaken as part of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11943/22]
Foreign 1 question
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on reports that the administration in the United States of America is freeing $3.5 billion of more than $9 billion in frozen Afghan government assets, which belong to the Afghan people, to be diverted to a fund for victims of 9/11 at a time that the United Nations says that one million Afghan children could die from starvation or cold this winter with 24 million Afghans facing acute hunger and 8.7 million Afghans facing famine; the steps he has taken to satisfy himself that none of that amount includes aid given by Ireland to support humanitarian agencies operating in Afghanistan; the representations he has made to his United States, European Union, United Nations and other international counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10498/22]
Justice 1 question
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the basis of the trial currently under way on the grove in Castlerea (details supplied). [11691/22]

New lobbying 1 return

Social Justice Ireland Environment
- Dissemination of Measuring Progress: Sustainable Progress Index 2022 which compares Ireland's progress towards the SDGs with our EU14 peers and makes proposals on how this progress can be accellerated to achieve our 2030 goals.

Hildegarde Naughton — Fine Gael 3 votes · 0 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 2 returns

Social Justice Ireland · 2 returns Environment
- Dissemination of Measuring Progress: Sustainable Progress Index 2022 which compares Ireland's progress towards the SDGs with our EU14 peers and makes proposals on how this progress can be accellerated to achieve our 2030 goals.
- Dissemination of Measuring Progress: Sustainable Progress Index 2022 which compares Ireland's progress towards the SDGs with our EU14 peers and makes proposals on how this progress can be accellerated to achieve our 2030 goals.

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 · 14 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 14 total

Public 4 questions
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the issue of value for money in large capital projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11731/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the forthcoming regulation of lobbying (amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11798/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of the capital projects outlined in the national development plan which are currently behind schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11387/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of his review of the Ethics Framework; the date he plans to reintroduce the public sector standards Bill 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11385/22]
Transport 3 questions
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if the NDLS centre in Clifden, County Galway will reopen following lifting of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10984/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport his advice for residents in Connemara that are applying for or renewing driver licences and do not have any legal obligation to obtain a Public Services Card following the result of the Data Protection Commissioner’s report given that the NDLS centre in Clifden, County Galway remains closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10985/22]
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the action that will be taken to combat flooding on the Kylemore Road, County Galway given the serious issue of flooding on the road making it regularly impassable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11386/22]
Finance 2 questions
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the size of the State's current shareholdings in each of the banks; and the current market value of these shareholdings in tabular form. [10916/22]
- 2022-03-02 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance when he will be making the regulatory changes to enable credit unions to significantly increase their footprint in the mortgage market and honour the commitment in the Programme for Government for credit unions to become a key provider of community banking further to an article (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12030/22]
Health 2 questions
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of additional staff who were employed in the community for the Echo Programme; and whether it is the case that the same staff that do this work in the hospitals also do this in the community. [10915/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the depleting stocks of hormone replacement therapy in chemists that many women depend on; and the actions that he is taking to replenish them. [11452/22]
Education 1 question
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if schools can continue to operate staggered breaktimes if a board of management agrees that such a decision is in the best interests of the school community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11325/22]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of new apprentice registrations by construction apprenticeships in bricklaying, carpentry, joinery, construction plant fitting, electrical, painting and decorating, plastering, stonecutting, stonemasonry, wood machinists and wood manufacturing in each of the years 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [10917/22]
Foreign 1 question
- 2022-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the military flights transferring 7,000 US troops to Germany at the beginning of March 2022 will be refuelling in Shannon airport. [12234/22]

New lobbying 1 return

Social Justice Ireland Environment
- Dissemination of Measuring Progress: Sustainable Progress Index 2022 which compares Ireland's progress towards the SDGs with our EU14 peers and makes proposals on how this progress can be accellerated to achieve our 2030 goals.

Noel Grealish — Independent 3 votes · 8 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 8 total

Health 3 questions
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the reason visually impaired persons who have been granted additional PA hours have not received their allocation; the steps that are being taken to address the shortfall in PA service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10851/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when the construction of two new orthopaedic operating theatres at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway will be completed; when they will be brought into use; the details and cost of the project; the number of additional procedures that will be undertaken once they are operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10864/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the status of the drug Cariban; if it can be made available on the GMS and drugs payment schemes; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10909/22]
Finance 2 questions
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has for providing tax credits to purchasers of electric vehicles considering the significant carbon savings achieved by the switch from fossil-fuelled vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10847/22]
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has to bridge the disparity between the EU emissions trading scheme carbon price and the Irish carbon tax of €41 set out in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10848/22]
Tourism 1 question
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); when the next round of sports capital grant will be open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10849/22]
Social 1 question
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons in receipt of the blind pension are regularly reassessed for eligibility, when their medical condition is permanent and many visually impaired persons rarely have a change in financial circumstances and find this process stressful and difficult; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10850/22]
Justice 1 question
- 2022-03-01 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if a Galway-based company that has secured a major contract for specialised work and requires materials and workers from the United Arab Emirates for three months work need a work permit for these short-term contracts; if it needs to apply for individual work permits for each worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10989/22]

New lobbying 1 return

Social Justice Ireland Environment
- Dissemination of Measuring Progress: Sustainable Progress Index 2022 which compares Ireland's progress towards the SDGs with our EU14 peers and makes proposals on how this progress can be accellerated to achieve our 2030 goals.

Seán Kyne — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 1 new lobbying return

New lobbying 1 return

Social Justice Ireland Environment
- Dissemination of Measuring Progress: Sustainable Progress Index 2022 which compares Ireland's progress towards the SDGs with our EU14 peers and makes proposals on how this progress can be accellerated to achieve our 2030 goals.