Donegal — week of Mon, 8 Apr

What your Donegal TDs did this week

Mon, 8 Apr – 14 Apr 2024 · 5 TDs · 3 bills voted on · 82 questions · 5 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil

2024-04-09 · 3 votes

The motion · motion passed 87–53

Voted for 2 Charlie McConalogue · Joe McHugh

Voted against 3 Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn · Thomas Pringle

Did not vote 2 Charles Ward · Pat the Cope Gallagher

The motion · motion passed 87–67

Voted for 2 Charlie McConalogue · Joe McHugh

Voted against 3 Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn · Thomas Pringle

Did not vote 2 Charles Ward · Pat the Cope Gallagher

The motion · motion passed 75–59

Voted for 2 Charlie McConalogue · Joe McHugh

Voted against 3 Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn · Thomas Pringle

Did not vote 2 Charles Ward · Pat the Cope Gallagher

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach

2024-04-09 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 88–69

Voted for 2 Charlie McConalogue · Joe McHugh

Voted against 3 Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn · Thomas Pringle

Did not vote 2 Charles Ward · Pat the Cope Gallagher

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government

2024-04-09 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 87–68

Voted for 2 Charlie McConalogue · Joe McHugh

Voted against 3 Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn · Thomas Pringle

Did not vote 2 Charles Ward · Pat the Cope Gallagher

Charles Ward — 100% RDR 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Charlie McConalogue — Fianna Fáil 5 votes · 0 questions · 5 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 5 returns

The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) Ltd · 5 returns Agriculture
- Submission from the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) – to the Fine Gael Agricultural Committee to request a meeting to discuss structural development and funding opportunities for the Agricultural and Forestry Contractor Sector in Ireland.
- Get support for Agricultural Contractors due to weather conditions in spring 2024
- Submission from the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) – to request a temporary closing date extension and leniency for FCI members who are engaged in hedge management operations after March 1, 2024
- FCI request a meeting to discuss structural development and funding opportunities for the Agricultural and Forestry Contractor Sector in Ireland.
- FCI Member Survey 2024 for National Fodder & Food Security Committee

Pat the Cope Gallagher — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Pearse Doherty — Sinn Féin 5 votes · 41 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 41 total

Finance 18 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned that a marked gap in the price of petrol and diesel in the South compared to the North that will result from scheduled increases in excise duty this year could pose a threat to the trade and viability of firms and petrol stations in Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13598/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance following the Trilogue agreement on EU level anti-money laundering legislation, whether he will amend S.I. No. 308 of 2023 to allow greater access for civil society and others to the register of beneficial ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13681/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the revenue generated by restricting the remittance basis of taxation with respect to non-domiciled individuals to a lifetime limit of two, three and five years respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13708/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of non-domiciled individuals taxed on a remittance basis in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [13710/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to clarify eligibility for the mortgage interest tax credit with respect to cross-Border workers in particular in situations (details supplied); if such individuals may qualify for the mortgage interest tax credit; if not, if he agrees that this reflects an inherent inequity in the operation of the tax credit; and the measures he will consider to rectify it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13731/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to confirm if his Department received a submission in June 2022 from an organisation (details supplied) regarding the tax treatment of employer contributions to a PRSA; his views on the organisation’s view that “if the current BIK charge on employer PRSA contributions is removed and such contributions are no longer considered for tax purposes to be employee contributions, there is a risk that some companies could fund through tax deductible PRSA contributions at a level higher than they currently can to an OMA, given that PRSAs are not benefit limited like OMAs”; the reason the proposals provided by the organisation to address this risk were not implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14117/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue generated annually by carbon tax increases in each of the years 2025 to 2030 respectively, with respect to the carbon tax increases in each of those years and on a cumulative basis. [14119/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated weekly and annual cost if the employment wage subsidy scheme were to be reintroduced with various subsidy rates (details supplied). [15372/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated weekly and annual cost if the employment wage subsidy scheme were to be reintroduced with various subsidy rates (details supplied). [15373/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated weekly and annual cost if the employment wage subsidy scheme were to be reintroduced with various subsidy rates (details supplied). [15374/24]
- 2024-04-10 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will cancel the increases in excise duty on petrol and diesel scheduled for August and October of this year, given the cost-of-living pressures facing households, and their impact on trade for businesses in the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15273/24]
- 2024-04-10 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has engaged or will engage with fellow members of Economic and Financial Affairs Council, ECOFIN, to secure financial and economic sanctions against the State of Israel in response to flagrant violations of international law committed by the State of Israel in Gaza and the occupied territories of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15274/24]
- 2024-04-10 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the value of money disbursed under the mortgage interest tax credit to date, together with the number of successful applicants; the number of applicants who have received a partial credit; the number of applicants who were rejected on the grounds that they had an insufficient income tax liability; and if he will consider amending the credit to ensure struggling mortgage holders experiencing an increase in their mortgage costs can receive the full credit. [15275/24]
- 2024-04-10 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance for an update regarding the issue of mortgageability as it relates to homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks, including his Department's engagement with the Department of Finance and the proposal of bridging finance products by the banking sector under the enhanced defective concrete block scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15231/24]
- 2024-04-10 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned that the benefit-in-kind exemption for employer contributions to PRSAs, legislated through section 22 of Finance Act 2022, is facilitating aggressive tax planning; if his Department received recommendations from an organisation (details supplied) in June 2022 warning that such a risk would materialise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15232/24]
- 2024-04-10 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on consideration of changes to legislation to address the inability of consumers to make complaints to the Financial and Services Pensions Ombudsman with respect to vulture funds as a result of gaps in their regulation. [15234/24]
- 2024-04-10 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he or his Department are considering increasing the rate of and threshold for the 10% stamp duty with respect to the bulk purchase of residential property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15235/24]
- 2024-04-11 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the nominal value of VAT collected with respect to petrol and diesel in each of the years 2017 to 2023, respectively.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15936/24]
Housing 4 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the possible closure of a child care service (details supplied) as a result of the presence of defective concrete blocks in its building; if he can provide any advice to the organisation; if he has considered extending the redress scheme to avoid organisations like this one having to close its doors through no fault of its own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13759/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the second meeting of the sub-group set up to examining issues relating to the enhanced DCB scheme, which met on 11 January 2024, did not meet as planned on 21 February; the reason a meeting did not take place in March; if there has been further communication with homeowner representatives attending the sub-group since its first and only meeting; and if he will commit to convene a second meeting in a timely manner with meetings then scheduled on a monthly basis. [14842/24]
- 2024-04-11 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the issue of future mortgage ability affecting homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks who avail of the DCB scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15705/24]
- 2024-04-11 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage why the second meeting of the subgroup set up to examining issues relating the enhanced DCB scheme, which met on 11 January 2024, did not meet as planned on 21 February; why a meeting did not take place in March; if there has been further communication with homeowner representatives attending the sub-group since its first and only meeting; and if he will commit to convene a second meeting in a timely manner with meetings then scheduled on a monthly basis. [15704/24]
Health 4 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive an appointment with the orthopaedic department in Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14411/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to provide for a dedicated consultant neurologist at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14574/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will provide urgent mental health care for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14998/24]
- 2024-04-10 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15623/24]
Foreign 3 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a response to communication from this Deputy can be expected in relation to a foreign birth registration application (details supplied) submitted in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15305/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application can be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal whose mother was sent abroad from a mother and baby home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15399/24]
- 2024-04-10 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his assessment of the deteriorating situation in Haiti and if he will support the humanitarian efforts in Haiti through both the Irish Aid programme and pooled funds such as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund. [15544/24]
Social 3 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 463 of 12 December 2023, if the estimated revenue that would be raised in each of the years 2024 to 2030 for the rate increases specified are cumulative, for example, the revenue raised of €913 million in 2028 from a 0.2 percentage point increase in the Class A rate of Employers PRSI includes the revenue generated from rate increases in prior years); and, if so, to provide the same table with revenue generated in each year on a non-cumulative basis. [14278/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 463 of 12 December 2023, the estimated revenue that will be raised in each of the years 2024 to 2030 by the proposed increases in all classes of PRSI, disaggregated by PRSI class, employer, employee and self-employed, in each scenario (details supplied), in tabular form. [14401/24]
- 2024-04-11 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals who have contacted the community welfare office on account of the fact that they could not receive the mortgage interest tax credit due to having insufficient income and income tax credits; the number of such individuals that have received a payment as a result; the total value of such payments made as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15938/24]
Agriculture 3 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a TAMS 3 solar capital investments scheme application for a farmer (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the application will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13740/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government has considered the reclassification of Magheraroarty pier in County Donegal as a pier for landing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13753/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has any plans to designate Magheroarty Pier, County Donegal as a landing point for UK-registered vessels, similar to other piers and harbours across the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14663/24]
Children 3 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an ACC communication device can be provided for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15323/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will received a CDNT appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15324/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 832 of 20 September 2023, when a reply will issue to this Deputy from the HSE. [15326/24]
Education 2 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 20 March 2024, where the answer claimed that children who have attended an all-Irish-language primary school may be eligible for school transport to an all-Irish secondary school if it is outside of the provisions included in the post-primary school transport scheme, if she will provide the exact criteria for this provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14659/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if school transport can be extended for children (details supplied) in Creeslough, County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14877/24]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a SUSI grant was refused for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14993/24]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn — Sinn Féin 5 votes · 27 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 27 total

Health 14 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a child in County Donegal (details supplied) will receive a date to have an insulin pump fitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13574/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a child in County Donegal (details supplied) can get an insulin pump fitted in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13575/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a child in County Donegal (details supplied) can get an appointment in Letterkenny University Hospital to attend the diabetes team for a consultation with the dietician. [13576/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health what services is currently available in Letterkenny University Hospital for adults and children that have diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13577/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health what short-term and long-term plans are in place to care for those awaiting eye surgery at Letterkenny University Hospital. [14058/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive a date for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14322/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients with type 1 diabetes who transitioned from the paediatric diabetes service to adult diabetes services in Letterkenny University Hospital in 2023 and 2024; how many of those use CGM technology; how many of those are using insulin pumps; how many have had one OPD diabetes review appointment in the adult service; how many of them had more than one appointment; how many are still awaiting their first appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14919/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of adults with type 1 diabetes attending Letterkenny University Hospital; the number of those patients awaiting an annual OPD diabetes review appointment for less than six, six to 12, 12 to 24 and over 24 months; the longest patient waiting time for an appointment to see an endocrinologist in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14920/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health how many people living with type 2 diabetes have been treated in the HSE ECC specialist ambulatory care hub in Letterkenny to date; the number of appointments provided in 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14921/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health what will happen to the high-risk diabetes patients that are currently attending the podiatrist in the Gate Lodge at Letterkenny University Hospital when that position is vacated later in April 2024. [15107/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when urgent spinal surgery will be scheduled in Beaumont Hospital for a County Donegal-based person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15181/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to ask the HSE to provide an update on the status of the its negotiations to reinstate GPs services to the health centres at Kilmacrennan and Churchill in County Donegal; and if he is aware of the widespread concern in these communities at the loss of such services. [15205/24]
- 2024-04-11 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health how many adults with type 1 diabetes attending Letterkenny University Hospital use CGM technology and how many use insulin pump therapy. [15901/24]
- 2024-04-11 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health how many patients attending the adult diabetes service in Letterkenny University Hospital declared their interest in commencing insulin pump therapy in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; how many of those commenced insulin pump therapy in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15902/24]
Agriculture 6 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider carrying out a scientific survey involving Irish inshore fishermen on pollack numbers in Irish inshore waters to give an alternative view to the stock assessment benchmark study by ICES; if he has given any consideration to re-examining the data used in the study that has led to the closure of the pollack fishery in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14535/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what actions he and his Department have and will take to support wild shellfish fishermen in loughs around Ireland to continue fishing given that new Brexit related regulations now have them in legal limbo due to having no physical site/processing facility for veterinarians to visit and issue health certificates for molluscs transiting the British Landbridge; what engagements he has had with other Irish seafood agencies to address this loophole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14536/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the latest work of the Brown Crab Working Group that he established in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14537/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the latest update on the total amount of monies drawn down and spent in the Irish fishing industry from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund; to advise how much money he expects to return to the EU unspent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14538/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to advise how much of the 1,874 tonne quota of spurdog that he announced in December 2022 was caught, landed and processed; to confirm what markets were identified for selling this species into; to confirm what processing facilities are available for spurdog landings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14539/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will distribute the additional mackerel quota negotiated at the December Fisheries Council as a matter of urgency. [15329/24]
Education 2 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education when the CAR system which allows a person to do their teacher induction here will re-open; and if not, if the closing date will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13890/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education when the review of the school transport scheme will be brought to cabinet and published; and if this will include a resolution to the unfair pay, terms and conditions endured by school transport escorts. [15024/24]
Housing 2 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason an applicant under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme cannot be paid a stage payment and rental support payment at the same time under the scheme; and if he is aware that this causes real distress to families as this will delay the remediation works if building contractors are delayed their stage payments. [14530/24]
- 2024-04-11 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme to ensure that it provides the same 100% redress that was made available to the 3,000 families who have had their homes remediated under the pyrite remediation scheme, in view of the attendance of over 1,000 homeowners at a public meeting in Buncrana, County Donegal on 26 March 2024, in support of genuine 100% redress for the victims of the defective concrete block scandal. [15023/24]
Children 2 questions
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the situation faced by the family of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14500/24]
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child in County Donegal (details supplied) will receive services from CDNT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15367/24]
Social 1 question
- 2024-04-09 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection how a person who is expected to receive financial compensation due to having two faulty hip replacements implanted will be treated for their current social protection benefits mindful of the current means test for persons in receipt of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14547/24]