Galway West — week of Mon, 30 May — Watch Them Work

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 30 May – 5 Jun 2022 · 6 TDs · 3 bills voted on · 80 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages

2022-06-01 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 52–66

Voted for 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Did not vote 3 John Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

Property Services (Land Price Register) Bill 2021

2022-06-01 · 1 vote · Social Democrats PMB

A bill to amend and extend the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 to provide for transparency regarding transactions involving property and for those purposes to expand the…

full description

A bill to amend and extend the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 to provide for transparency regarding transactions involving property and for those purposes to expand the register that records residential property sales prices, to establish a land and other non-residential property transaction database and to provide for related matters.

Whether the bill should proceed (Second Stage) · motion failed 51–70

Voted for 1 Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Did not vote 4 Catherine Connolly · John Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2022-05-31 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 69–51

Voted for 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 3 John Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 2 votes · 55 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 55 total

Environment 12 questions
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the relationship between the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and an organisation (details supplied); the services and all funding that have been exchanged to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27304/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will detail the soil, water and gravel samples conducted to date by Geological Survey Ireland in partnership with Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark Project in Connemara and Joyce Country; the results of those samples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27511/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost of missing Ireland’s target for the roll-out of high-speed rural broadband in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27936/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost of rolling-out high-speed broadband across Ireland in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27937/22]
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 28 April 2022, the status of the review of the implementation of the Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty 2016-2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28508/22]
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 6 April 2022, the status of the preparation of the finalised terms of reference for the offshore renewable energy scheme one; the status of his Department’s response to the public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28509/22]
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 185 of 1 March 2022, the status of the promised statutory guidelines on the development of local authority climate action plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28510/22]
- 2022-06-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to establish a Just Transition Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28478/22]
- 2022-06-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 136 of 7 April 2022, the status of the development of guidelines for the implementation of decarbonising zones; the estimated timeline for the publication of these guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28476/22]
- 2022-06-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 24 February 2022, the details of any engagement he or his Department has had to date in 2022 with Galway City Council and Galway County Council with regards to supporting and promoting efforts at local government-level on climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28477/22]
- 2022-06-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the final report of the interdepartmental group which was established in 2021 to examine the feasibility of additional Government services being provided through An Post will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28475/22]
- 2022-06-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the development of the support scheme for small-scale generators above 50kW but smaller than those supported by the renewable electricity support scheme; when the public consultation will be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28479/22]
Rural 8 questions
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 956 of 5 April 2022, the status of the development of Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; the status of the bathymetric studies on the harbour; if they have been completed to date; the status of the development of the updated simulation by the National Maritime College of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27786/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 5 April 2022, the status of the development of the pier on Inis Oírr; the engagement her Department has had with Galway County Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to date in 2022 with regard to the updating of the original environmental reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27785/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagement her Department has had with Galway County Council to date in 2022 with regard to addressing the issue of sandbanks at Céibh an Chóra on Inis Meáin, which hinder the freight service to the island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27788/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status update on the appointment of the Town Regeneration Officers; the status of the National Town Centre First Office; if it is up and running to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27787/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 5 April 2022, the status of the new policy for the Islands; if the in-person meetings on the islands have taken place to date; if she has received the draft of the policy document to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27784/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the work of the Interdepartmental Committee for the Islands; the number of times the committee has met in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27807/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 271 of 3 March 2022, 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; the number of times the group has met to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27808/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated cost of developing the 400 remote working hubs and the requisite support services identified in Our Rural Future and for additional remote working hubs in each of the 31 local authority areas across the country in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27943/22]
Justice 8 questions
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of people awaiting entry into the international protection system [27295/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications received, granted and refused respectively for labour market access permission for international protection applicants from July 2018 to date in 2022. [27296/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for labour market access permission made by international protection applicants from July 2018 to date in 2022 that have been refused; and the breakdown for the reason for refusal. [27297/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of international protection applications made to date in 2022. [27298/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications currently awaiting a first instance decision at the International Protection Office; the median projected waiting time for a first instance decision for applicants for both prioritised and non-prioritised applications. [27299/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for international protection made by persons in prison to date in 2022. [27300/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the indicative decision timeline for the Afghan Admission Programme; when she expects all applicants to have received a decision in respect of their application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27564/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice her plans to extend the Afghan Admission Programme beyond the original 500, to meet the number of eligible applications received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27565/22]
Children 6 questions
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 25 May 2022, the details of any interim reports that were received during the drafting of the report on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017; his plans for the publication of the interim reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28512/22]
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 25 May 2022, the details of any engagement that his Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) to date in 2022, as part of his Department’s consideration of the recommendations of the report on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28513/22]
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 9 of 24 March 2022, the status of the promised payment scheme to make once-off payments of €3,000 to persons affected by illegal birth registration in the files of an institution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28514/22]
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 212 of 11 May 2022, the expected timeline for the completion of the review of the vulnerability assessment pilot programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28515/22]
- 2022-06-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans for the implementation of each of the recommendations of the report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection Proposals for a State Response to Illegal Birth Registrations in Ireland; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28489/22]
- 2022-06-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions No. 154 of 23 March 2022, the engagement he has had with the Minister for Justice with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the Tusla review of accommodation services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; to report on the work of the High Level InterDepartmental Group which was established to explore issues around refuge provision and service expansion, and on which his Department is represented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28488/22]
Social 5 questions
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the current process for international protection applicants to apply for a PPSN; the current processing times for such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27291/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other schemes payments in tabular form (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27934/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of making the fuel allowance available for 32 weeks per annum, 40 weeks per annum and 52 weeks per annum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27935/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending paternity leave by two weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27948/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending parental leave by two weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27949/22]
Education 4 questions
- 2022-05-31 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. [27945/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27946/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point at second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27947/22]
- 2022-06-02 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the status of the Retention of Records Bill 2019; her plans for the archives of the Ryan Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, the Residential Institutions Redress Board and the Residential Institutions Redress Review Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28562/22]
Agriculture 4 questions
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the proposed deployment of the SmartBay Observatory for connection to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Galway Bay sub-cable (details supplied) that was presented by the Marine Institute and an organisation on 21 May 2022 at a recording studio in An Spidéal, Contae na Gaillimhe; the reference number of the foreshore consents lawfully providing for the proposed imminent deployment of the SmartBay Observatory infrastructure utilising the SEAI sub-sea cable; the action he will take to ensure any and all structures connected to the SEAI Galway Bay sub-sea cable are fully and lawfully-authorised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27303/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the reference number of the foreshore consent (details supplied) authorising the deployment of the devices at issue; the action that he proposes to take to ensure that no structure is erected or placed at the foreshore location the subject of High Court Order [2019] IEHC 824 without lawful authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27305/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the relationship between the Marine Institute and a company (details supplied); the services and total funding exchanged to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27306/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has since granted foreshore consent for the proposed deployment at the marine test site at issue of the SmartBay observatory and or for any other structure or device, as advertised and presented by the Marine Institute and a company (details supplied) on 21 May 2022 at Stiúideo Cuan in An Spidéal, Contae na Gaillimhe; the action that he proposes to take to ensure that no structure is erected by the Marine Institute or related contracted entities without lawful authorisation at the foreshore location the subject of High Court Order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27307/22]
Finance 2 questions
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the adjustment made for indexation of income tax bands and income tax rates when calculating the budgetary stance for Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28285/22]
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount of additional savings that could be made by not indexing income tax bands and income tax rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28286/22]
Foreign 2 questions
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Zinjiang police files authenticated and published in the media (details supplied) which document a system of internment, forced labour, forced sterilisation and cultural eradication camps; if he intends to designate the actions by the Chinese state against the Uyghur Muslim community as genocide; the representations that he has made to the Chinese government and ambassador in this regard; the discussions that he has had at European Union and United Nations level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28360/22]
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of two Bahraini nationals (details supplied) who are currently on death row in Saudi Arabia, following a trial that has been highlighted as grossly unfair by several human rights organisations; the engagement that he has had with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia to call for the commutation of these death sentences and a prompt, impartial and independent investigation into the defendants’ claims of torture and ill-treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28365/22]
Housing 1 question
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of implementing a review of local authority participation structures, excluding the strategic review of the Public Participation Networks which was undertaken by the Department of Rural and Community Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27944/22]
Transport 1 question
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 2 March 2022, the status of the development of the proposed coastguard station on the lands designated for an airstrip in Cleggan; if a planning application has been submitted to date; the engagement that his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department have had with the Department of Rural and Community Development with regard to progressing this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28529/22]
Defence 1 question
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the meeting of 23 May 2022 of the Ukraine Contact Group; the person who represented Ireland at the meeting; the number of meetings of this group which have been attended by Ireland to-date; the dates of same; if minutes are taken in respect of the meetings of the group; if so, if they were published; if he will provide details of Ireland’s role in the group; the details of the decision taken regarding the participation of Ireland in this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28191/22]
Health 1 question
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 240 of 3 May 2017, 1112 of 20 June 2017 and 1743 of 27 July 2021, if the information sought concerning the nature of negotiations between the State and an organisation (details supplied) during the transfer of St. Vincent’s Hospital from St. Stephen’s Green to Elm Park, concerning the agreement regarding the sale or transfer of the St. Stephen’s Green property after the hospital relocated and concerning all aspects of any agreement that have been honoured by the organisation; if any aspects of the agreement that have not been honoured can now be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28373/22]

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 · 7 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 7 total

Housing 3 questions
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the review his Department is undertaking with regard to facilitating inter-county social housing transfers; if this review will be progressed in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27286/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the policy of joint tenancy in local authority housing with the view to include the full-time carers of tenants who also qualify for housing support in their own right; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27361/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 19 May 2022, the nomination date of all members and the nomination forms for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27853/22]
Health 2 questions
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of community physiotherapists in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28023/22]
- 2022-06-01 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the next stages in the process of bringing the new National Maternity Hospital to completion along with the key dates; when a business case will be brought before the relevant Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas; when it is expected to go to tender; the proposed date for construction to commence; the deadline for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28441/22]
Rural 1 question
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an update on stage 3 of the development of An Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; if he will provide a schedule of works for An Caladh Mór; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27323/22]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a consultant has been appointed for the deep-water quay at Ros a Mhíl; if the timeline and key milestones for the development have been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28097/22]

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

Questions asked 3 total

Social 2 questions
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that family carers are limited to an 18.5 hours working week when receiving carer's allowance and carer’s benefit, when other social welfare benefit schemes allow 19.5 hours per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27308/22]
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that carer's allowance and carer's benefit are not included in the Benefit of Work Estimator, the State’s free online calculator tool which helps job seekers to find information on welfare payments in order to make an informed decision about their return to work; if there are plans to include these two allowances in the Benefit of Work Estimator; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27309/22]
Education 1 question
- 2022-05-31 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if he will outline a list of all the additional education schemes which were provided in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic; the number of these schemes that are still in operation in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27435/22]

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

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.