Galway West — week of Mon, 26 Sept

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 26 Sept – 2 Oct 2022 · 6 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 54 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Act 2019

2022-09-27 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 66–87

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 92–62

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

Financial Resolution No. 1: Mineral Oil Tax

2022-09-27 · 1 vote

A budget financial resolution · motion passed 85–67

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

Did not vote 4 Catherine Connolly · John Connolly · Mairéad Farrell · Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 2 votes · 36 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 36 total

Tourism 10 questions
- 2022-09-28 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 229 of 21 June 2022, when the annual report and accounts for 2021 for Údarás na Gaeltachta will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47598/22]
- 2022-09-28 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimhir 5 den 21 Meitheamh 2022, an ndéanfaidh sí soiléiriú a thabhairt ar an gceangal idir an gasra oibre atá bunaithe ag a Roinn agus an Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta chun beartas maidir le pleanáil sa Ghaeltacht a phlé, agus an grúpa idir-rannach; an ndéanfaidh sí an fhaisnéis is déanaí a thabhairt ar obair an ghasra agus obair an ghrúpa idir-rannaigh go dtí seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47599/22]
- 2022-09-28 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimhir 19 den 21 Meitheamh 2022, an ndéanfaidh sí sonraí d'aon anailís a chur ar fáil atá déanta ag a Roinn ar Chlár na gColáistí Samhraidh, 2022 chun straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm don Roinn; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47600/22]
- 2022-09-28 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Parlaiminte Uimhir 76 den 21 Meitheamh 2022, cad é líon na n-uaireanta a tháinig an Coiste Comhairleach um Sheirbhísí Gaeilge le chéile go dtí seo; an dtógtar miontuairiscí i gcruinnithe an choiste; cathain a bheidh an chéad chruinniú eile ann; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47601/22]
- 2022-09-28 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ó thaobh na moltaí sa tuarascáil Taighde do Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta “Staidéar ar theaghlaigh atá ag tógáil a gclann le Gaeilge laistigh de na Limistéir Oifigiúla Gaeltachta”; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47602/22]
- 2022-09-29 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 20 of 21 June 2022, the status of the legacy framework arising from Galway 2020; if she will provide a breakdown of the way that the remaining €1 million from her Department’s commitment to Galway 2020 will be spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47574/22]
- 2022-09-29 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimhir 5 den 21 Meitheamh 2022, cad é stádas an ghrúpa idir-rannaigh atá ag obair chun cúrsaí pleanála i gceantair Ghaeltachta a chur chun cinn; cad é líon na n-uaireanta a bhuail an grúpa idir-rannach le chéile go dtí seo; an fhoilseofar na miontuairiscí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47576/22]
- 2022-09-29 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimhir 25 den 21 Meitheamh 2022, an ndéanfaidh sí soiléiriú a thabhairt ar stádas an tríú gné den obair athbhreithniúcháin atá idir lámha ag Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir leis na córais agus maidir leis an gcur chuige atá i ngníomh ag an Údarás faoi láthair chun tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna cliantchuideachtaí agus ar na bealaí ina ndéantar an t-ábhar a bhaineann leo a riaradh. [47573/22]
- 2022-09-29 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimhir 25 den 21 Meitheamh 2022, an ndearbhóidh sí go bhfuil oifigeach pleanála teanga ceaptha i mBearna agus Cnoc na Cathrach; an ndéanfaidh sí soiléiriú a thabhairt ar stádas chur i bhfeidhm Phlean Teanga Bhearna agus Chnoc na Cathrach; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47572/22]
- 2022-09-29 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte 71 den 20 Eanáir 2022, an ndéanfaidh sí soiléiriú a thabhairt ar stádas an ghrúpa oibre a bunaíodh mar thoradh ar thaighde a rinneadh do Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta; cad é líon na n-uaireanta a bhuail an grúpa oibre le chéile go dtí seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47575/22]
Justice 5 questions
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the status of ML10 forms for persons who wish to open a bank account in circumstances in which they do not have a driving licence or passport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46620/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 5 July 2022, the status of the Afghan Admissions Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46798/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 5 July 2022, the number of persons who have arrived in Ireland further to the Afghan Admissions Programme which opened in December 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46799/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 5 July 2022, when it is anticipated that all applications to the Afghan Admissions Programme will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46800/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 5 July 2022, the total number of applications received for the Afghan Admissions Programme; the number refused; the number granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46801/22]
Environment 4 questions
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the National Retrofit Steering Group, pursuant to the National Retrofit Plan; the membership of the group; the number of times that it has met to date; the dates of the meetings; the terms of reference of the group; if minutes are taken in respect of the meetings of the group; if so, if they are published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46683/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland scheme, of the number of homes upgraded to a B2 BER or better to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46684/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of the progress to date on achieving the target of 500,000 homes retrofitted to a BER of B2 cost optimal or carbon equivalent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46685/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of heat pumps installed in existing premises in each of the years from 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46686/22]
Social 4 questions
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend access to a free travel pass to persons with epilepsy, or other medical conditions, who temporarily lose their driving licences as a result of their condition, to cover the period in which they are not permitted to drive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46939/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the analysis that her Department has carried out into decoupling the free travel scheme from other social welfare payments, as per recommendation 9.1.1 of the November 2018 report of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport entitled Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46940/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of any reviews carried out or commissioned by her Department into the free travel scheme to assess whether the scheme is adequately addressing the needs of persons with long -term health conditions or disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46941/22]
- 2022-09-28 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the issuing of PPS numbers to United States nationals who have a contract of employment in Ireland, in cases in which the PPS number will not be issued without evidence of the contract, but the company will not produce the contract without evidence of the PPS number; the way in which this can be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47504/22]
Agriculture 4 questions
- 2022-09-28 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 31 of 14 July 2022, the status of the commitment to ensure inshore waters continue to be protected for smaller fishing vessels and that pair trawling will be prohibited within the six nautical mile limit, in line with the programme for Government; if trawlers over 18 m in length are currently permitted to carry out fishing activities inside the six nautical mile limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47423/22]
- 2022-09-29 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the correspondence from a group (details supplied) with regard to the building of Ros a'Mhíl deepwater pier; if he will provide details of the engagements, if any, he or officials from his Department have had with this group on foot of this correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47669/22]
- 2022-09-29 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the decision was made to seek tenders to dredge to a depth of -10 m in relation to the building of the deepwater pier at Ros a'Mhíl harbour, particularly given the existing planning permission is for a deepwater pier of a depth of -12 mat low tide; the basis on which the decision was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47670/22]
- 2022-09-29 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the analysis his Department has carried out into updating the terms of the current tender process for the deepwater pier development project in Ros a'Mhíl harbour in order that tenders may be sought for dredging to a depth of -12 m, rather than -10 m, in light of reports and design work over the past 20 years which conclude that a depth of -12 m in the berth pocket is optimal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47671/22]
Housing 3 questions
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 623 of 26 July 2022, the number of local authorities currently employing a full-time vacant homes officer by local authority in tabular form; when all remaining local authorities will have a full-time vacant homes officer in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47007/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 28 of 23 June 2022, the status of the development of the promised section 28 guidelines for planning in Gaeltacht areas; the timeline for the publication of the guidelines; the date of the most recent meeting of the interdepartmental group on planning in Gaeltacht areas; if minutes are published in respect of the meetings of the interdepartmental group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47008/22]
- 2022-09-28 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of any reports he has received to date in 2022 from the Galway social housing task force pursuant to the terms of reference of the task force; if he will provide copies of these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46977/22]
Health 3 questions
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health when the employees of a nursing home (details supplied) will receive the pandemic recognition payment; when employees of all private sector nursing homes will receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46791/22]
- 2022-09-28 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 505 of 20 September 2022, if he will provide details of the review commissioned by the HSE of the evidence regarding long-Covid, including the models of care in other jurisdictions, from the Health Information and Quality Authority; the other jurisdictions that are being studied as part of the review; when the review commenced; the timeline for the completion of the review; if the final review report will be published; the terms of reference of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47371/22]
- 2022-09-28 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the engagement his Department or the HSE has had with Mayo County Council regarding the transfer of a site (details supplied) from the HSE to Mayo County Council to facilitate the relocation of an organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47375/22]
Transport 1 question
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 17 May 2022, if the same aircraft (details supplied) has landed at Shannon Airport on any occasion in the intervening period since it landed there on 7 May 2022; if any further investigation has been carried out into the items that were being transported on this aircraft when it landed at Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47266/22]
Finance 1 question
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the options that are available to persons who require Government-issued photographic identification for the purposes of opening a bank account and who do not have a driving licence or passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46621/22]
Education 1 question
- 2022-09-29 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a proposal for a school building project (details supplied); the engagement she or her Department have had with the school in relation to progressing this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47642/22]

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 0 votes · 5 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 5 total

Housing 2 questions
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a ban on evictions into homelessness to address rising homelessness levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47261/22]
- 2022-09-29 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the date the Croí Cónaithe scheme will become available for persons in rural areas with a population of under 400; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47618/22]
Health 2 questions
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of fourth-class children who will receive dental screening services under the Health (Amendment) Act 1994 during the current academic year by CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46596/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if CAMHS is currently accepting new patients in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46772/22]
Education 1 question
- 2022-09-29 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the school bus route between Maigh Cuilinn and Galway city, and the school bus from Cashel to Carna; if additional students will be allowed to avail of these bus services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47677/22]

Noel Grealish — Independent 3 votes · 11 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 11 total

Housing 3 questions
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ease the restrictions governing the Croí Cónaithe towns fund: vacant property refurbishment grant scheme to include all otherwise eligible properties, regardless of their location, in the context of a severe shortage of available accommodation in many areas of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46677/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications that have been received to date for grants under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund, vacant property refurbishment grant scheme, by local authority area; the number that have been approved for grant aid; the average expected time between application and payment of grant; and if he is satisfied with the progress of the scheme to date. [46678/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the areas of County Galway with a population of fewer than 400 persons that are eligible for assistance under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund, vacant property refurbishment grant scheme; if any area within a certain distance of Galway city and other cities that are suffering a severe shortage of available accommodation will be included; and if he intends to extend the scheme to areas within city boundaries, previously signalled as a possibility. [46679/22]
Transport 2 questions
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made on extending bus services to the Upper Ballymoneen Road area of Knocknacarra in Galway; if the National Transport Authority will commit to funding a turning bay and other facilities necessary to establish the service in the area; the timescale for the provision of such a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46934/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made by the National Transport Authority in undertaking a review of the Galway bus network; the format that the review will take; when it is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46935/22]
Health 2 questions
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a timeframe for when rental income from renting out the family home will be deemed exempt under the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46675/22]
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to introduce a financial assistance scheme in order that persons who rely on machines to stay alive, for example for oxygen, dialysis etc., will be able to secure support towards the costs of electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46676/22]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2022-09-29 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will extend the remit of the eligible countries for work permits in order to attract bus drivers from third countries, given the acute shortage of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47818/22]
- 2022-09-29 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a State agency has been granted work permits for drivers from a third country (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47819/22]
Social 1 question
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection if Statutory Instrument 295 of 16 May 2022, which removed the exemption of one member arrangements and executive pension plans conflicts with the long-standing Pensions Authority advice which indicated that there would be no exemptions from institutions for occupational retirement provision 11 for these plans until there was a viable alternative product in place; his views on whether the Statutory Instrument conflicted with the Pensions Authority deadline of 1 July 2022 for compliance with new requirements given that there is still no viable alternative product available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46713/22]
Justice 1 question
- 2022-09-27 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 619 of 11 May 2022, if she will provide the names and details of the sporting clubs that have been approved for immigrant investor programme investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46674/22]

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

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.