Galway West — week of Mon, 4 Dec — Watch Them Work

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 4 Dec – 10 Dec 2023 · 6 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 67 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Renters

2023-12-06 · 2 votes

Amendment again put: · motion passed 67–60

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

The motion · motion passed 67–59

Voted for 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Voted against 1 Mairéad Farrell

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

Immigration

2023-12-06 · 1 vote

A sub-amendment · motion failed 16–107

Voted against 3 Hildegarde Naughton · Mairéad Farrell · Éamon Ó Cuív

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

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2023-12-05 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 79–59

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

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 2 John Connolly · Seán Kyne

Confidence in the Minister for Justice

2023-12-05 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 83–63

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

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 2 John Connolly · Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 3 votes · 22 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 22 total

Tourism 9 questions
- 2023-12-05 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Cheist Pharlaiminte 45678/23, cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an obair athbhreithniúcháin atá déanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta i ndáil leis na córais agus an cur chuige atá i ngníomh ag an Údarás chun tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna cliantchuideachtaí agus i ndáil leis na bealaí ina ndéantar an t-ábhar a bhaineann leo a riar; chun a iarraidh uirthi soiléiriú a thabhairt ar na moltaí atá tagtha as an obair athbhreithniúcháin; chun a fhiafraí di cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an scéim nua tacaíochta forbartha; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [53611/23]
- 2023-12-05 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Cheist Pharlaiminte 45680/23, cé mhéad limistéar pleanála teanga nach bhfuil oifigeach pleanála teanga fostaithe iontu faoi láthair; chun a iarraidh uirthi soiléiriú a thabhairt ar an anailís atá faoi chaibidil ag an Roinn maidir leis an ábhar seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [53610/23]
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 19 October 2023, for a status update on the drawdown of the €1 million in Galway 2020 legacy funding; the amount drawn down to-date; for a breakdown of where any funds drawn down to-date have been allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53607/23]
- 2023-12-05 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte 45986/23, soiléiriú a thabhairt ar an bplean atá tagtha as an obair athbhreithniúcháin atá déanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta faoin bpunann iomlán mhaoine atá aige agus ar na féidearthachtaí forbartha atá ann; soiléiriú a thabhairt ar na hacmhainní airgeadais a bheidh ag teastáil chun an plean a chur i gcrích; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [53608/23]
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of any engagement she or her Department has had with Údarás na Gaeltachta in relation to the provision of housing on lands and property owned by the Údarás, and in particular the provision of public housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53609/23]
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 19 October 2023, the details of the performance delivery agreement between her Department and Galway Culture Company, which was signed in June 2023; if the agreement it publicly available; if not, her plans to publish it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53627/23]
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 19 October 2023, and the performance delivery agreement, the dates of all bilateral meetings on progress against milestones under the PDA that have taken place to-date between her Department and Galway Culture Company; her plans to publish the minutes of the meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53628/23]
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 19 October 2023, and the Performance Delivery Agreement, the dates of all quarterly reporting meetings that have taken place to-date between Galway Culture Company and the public funders; the details of the public funders included in these quarterly meetings; the plans to publish the minutes of the meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53629/23]
- 2023-12-05 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Cheist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 9 an 19 Deireadh Fómhair 2023, cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an obair athbhreithniúcháin ar na chéad 10 bplean teanga a ceadaíodh faoi Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012; cathain a thosófar an obair athbhreithniúcháin ar na bpleananna eile; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [53630/23]
Housing 6 questions
- 2023-12-06 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the final report of the External Scoping Exercise into certain matters pertaining to An Bord Pleanála by a person (details supplied) has been completed to-date; the details of any interim reports provided to-date; the timeline for the publication of the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54205/23]
- 2023-12-06 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review by his Department of resources for the planning sector; the status of the development of the related ministerial action plan; the timeline for the publication of the action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54206/23]
- 2023-12-06 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the development of the new rural housing guidelines; the timeline for the publication of the new guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54207/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 9 November 2023, what engagement he or his Department has had with the Galway social housing task force regarding the issues raised in the task force chairperson's report on progress to end-2022 since that report was received by his Department; the details of any engagement he or his Department has had with the task force in 2023 on the availability of properties to rent in Galway within standard and-or discretionary HAP limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54386/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the Residential Tenancies Board Rent Index Report Q2 2023, which showed that Galway City had the largest annual increase in average rents for new tenancies in any city in Ireland at 12.7%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54201/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the publication of the draft planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54200/23]
Foreign 2 questions
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs given that the International Criminal Court is engaged in an active investigation of the situation in Palestine, including an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity, and given Ireland's political and financial support for the Court's work, if there are any plans to communicate advisories to Irish citizens and residents who may be serving or volunteering in the Israel Defence Forces on the potential legal consequences and individual criminal liability that could arise under both Irish and international criminal law from their conduct in the course of such service or volunteering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53774/23]
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps taken to ensure that a US navy aircraft (details supplied) was not transporting US soldiers or military materials for delivery to Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53820/23]
Social 2 questions
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of plans to close the pay gap between Tús supervisors and CE supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54184/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the public consultation deadline on the Green Paper on disability reform; the number of submissions received to-date; the expected timeline for the consideration of all submissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54183/23]
Transport 2 questions
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the grounds on which aircraft on contract to the US military transportation command are being allowed by his Department to transit through Shannon Airport and through Irish airspace on their way to and from supporting wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, including Israeli bombardment of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54354/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if his Department approved the transport of US soldiers, weapons or munitions on aircraft (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54355/23]
Justice 1 question
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if, in light of recent events in Dublin city, additional security measures will be considered for upcoming citizenship ceremonies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54359/23]

Hildegarde Naughton — Fine Gael 5 votes · 0 questions · 1 new lobbying return

New lobbying 1 return

Union for Improved Services, Communication and Education (UISCE) Health
- We met with Minister Naughton to share the work undertaken by UISCE, and explore opportunities to promote the participation of People who use Drugs in policy design and service provision.

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 5 votes · 18 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 18 total

Health 4 questions
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the process for pregnant women to obtain the medication cariban under the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54346/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will be reviewing the process whereby a consultant must prescribe the medication cariban rather than a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54347/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health how the accessibility to the medication cariban in Ireland differs to the international standard practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54348/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of cariban prescriptions that have been processed through the drug payment scheme to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54349/23]
Education 3 questions
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) has been refused SNA support despite the recommendations of their teacher; if this decision will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53729/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education to detail her policy in relation to secondary school-aged student who have not been offered a place in a secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54343/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education to detail the catchment area criteria for English medium and Irish medium secondary schools both for voluntary schools and ETB schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54344/23]
Transport 3 questions
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport to provide the current average waiting time to sit a driving test for each test centre; what steps are being taken to reduce the wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54339/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport when the catering trolley will return to the Galway to Dublin train line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54341/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if a review has taken place on the Galway to Dublin train line to facilitate the growing number of students commuting to Galway for third level education; the details of the review; if additional capacity has been added; if not, if additional capacity is being considered given the overcrowded nature of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54342/23]
Tourism 2 questions
- 2023-12-05 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an ndéanfaidh sí plé ar na rátaí pá a thuilleann mná tí faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge. [53572/23]
- 2023-12-05 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán céard é an t-eolas is déanaí maidir le toghcháin phoiblí do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [53381/23]
Social 2 questions
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection for the avoidance of doubt could she provide the full list of payments which will receive the Christmas bonus along with the respective dates of disbursement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53234/23]
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the Christmas bonus, if she is aware of any concerns that the large number of different categories for social welfare payments, and the requirement for a specific type of payment to be listed amongst those eligible for the bonus, could result in some people unintendedly not receiving this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53292/23]
Housing 2 questions
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will bring in a ban on no-fault evictions during winter months given that homeless services in Galway are currently overwhelmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54109/23]
- 2023-12-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update in relation to the provision of affordable housing in Galway; when affordable housing will be available for purchase in Galway, and when people will be able to register their interest for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54110/23]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2023-12-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 4 October 2023, if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of apprentices currently waiting for off-the-job training at levels 2, 4 and 6, in the months of October and November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53214/23]
Defence 1 question
- 2023-12-06 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that Irish neutrality is being upheld (details supplied), considering the recent training of Ukrainian soldiers at Kilworth army camp in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54142/23]

Noel Grealish — Independent 2 votes · 4 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 4 total

Justice 3 questions
- 2023-12-06 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons that failed to pay fines imposed by the courts in each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the number that had an attachment order, a recovery order or community service order made against them as a result; the number of persons imprisoned for failure to pay such fines, by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54046/23]
- 2023-12-06 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the value and number of unpaid fines in each of the years 2019 to 2022 and to date in 2023; the value and number of fines imposed by the courts in each of the years; the steps being taken to recover unpaid fines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54047/23]
- 2023-12-06 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the offence categories in respect of which fines were imposed by the courts in each of the years 2019 to 2022 and to date in 2023; the offence categories in respect of which fines were imposed but were not paid in the same period, by the number and value in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54048/23]
Finance 1 question
- 2023-12-06 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if the local property tax applies to buildings only and not to each unit in a multi-unit, pre-1963 property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54049/23]

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

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.