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

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 4 Nov – 10 Nov 2024 · 6 TDs · 3 bills voted on · 86 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Equitable Beef Pricing Bill 2020

2024-11-06 · 1 vote · Aontú PMB

A bill to ensure the provision of an equitable price for beef to farmers operating in that sector in order to ensure that it is a sustainable means for them to earn a livelihood

full description

A bill to ensure the provision of an equitable price for beef to farmers operating in that sector in order to ensure that it is a sustainable means for them to earn a livelihood; and to provide for related matters.

Whether the bill should proceed (Second Stage) · motion failed 57–69

Voted for 2 Catherine Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Did not vote 3 John Connolly · Mairéad Farrell · Seán Kyne

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2024-11-05 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 72–58

Voted for 2 Hildegarde Naughton · Éamon Ó Cuív

Voted against 3 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell · Noel Grealish

Did not vote 2 John Connolly · Seán Kyne

Finance Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages

2024-11-05 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 75–55

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 3 votes · 10 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 10 total

Foreign 3 questions
- 2024-11-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs with reference to his account to Dáil Éireann on 10 October 2024 concerning reports of illegal transportation of weapons through Irish airspace and his confirmation that the Department of Transport is carrying out an examination to determine whether there may have been a breach of the applicable law, if he agrees that the current situation is extremely urgent in view of sustained Israeli bombing of the civilian population in Gaza, resulting in over 42,000 Palestinians killed and expansion of Israeli aggression against the population of neighbouring Lebanon with a resultant death-toll approaching 3,000; if he is aware of the recent statement the U.N. Human Rights chief that the darkest moment of the conflict in Gaza is unfolding in the north of the territory and that Israel's actions could amount to atrocity crimes; how much longer we must wait for an assurance that Ireland is not complicit in the supply of the means to carry out these acts of genocide; if he will immediately share the results of the examination, or provide a date by which we will receive it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45656/24]
- 2024-11-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of recent unfounded, allegations against the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories; if he agrees that these spurious accusations deliberately misrepresent her criticism of Israeli acts of genocide and her defence of international human rights law; if he totally rejects these allegations; if he reaffirms the significance of the role and mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur in defence of international human rights law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45657/24]
- 2024-11-07 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs with regard to the recent ICJ ruling which indicates that states have an obligation to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with illegal Israeli settlements, if he will provide a clear indication of the specific reasons there is now a need to delay the enactment of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 further, in view of the fact that all political parties in Dáil Éireann have publicly expressed support for the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45658/24]
Social 2 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 126, 127, 128 and 129 of 23 October 2024, the number of staff coming to an end of career break in her Department in 2023 and 2024 who were not notified of an appropriate vacancy within 12 months of the end of career break; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44801/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 126, 127, 128 and 129 of 23 October 2024, the length of time in months spent on career break by each of the 18 staff referred to; if any of those 18 spent longer than 60 months on career break; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44802/24]
Health 2 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number and location of all private nursing homes taken charge of by the HSE in each of the past five years; the dates on which those nursing homes were taken over, from which provider, and the reasons therefor; the length of time such nursing homes were under the charge of the HSE and or whether that arrangement is ongoing, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44409/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to his statement of 18 September 2024 (details supplied), the number of children evacuated from Gaza to Ireland to date; the number of children identified who have yet to be evacuated; when it is expected that such children will arrive in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44603/24]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 23 May 2024, the number of dual-use export licence applications in respect of end-users in Israel approved by his Department in the period 7 October 2023 to end 2023, and to date in 2024; the value of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44332/24]
Education 1 question
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education if there is any provision, or policy in place, for families in situations where a child’s eligibility for local secondary schools in a new area of residence is affected by having attended a primary school outside of the new area of residence, particularly when the decision to keep the child in the former primary school was made in the child’s best interests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44105/24]
Children 1 question
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 18 of 24 October 2024, the number of payments made in each category of Schedules 2 and 3 of the 2023 Act; the number of applications refused and the reasons therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44591/24]

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 2 votes · 25 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 25 total

Health 7 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the progress being made towards delivery of the new primary care centre in Portumna, County Galway; when the centre is expected to open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44002/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health can he provide the total number of people currently on waiting lists in CH02 Galway; the total number waiting for outpatient operations and the numbers waiting for CDNT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44636/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to introduce an ambulance service on Inis Oírr; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44637/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health how many dentists in Galway currently accept medical cards; and if will provide the names of these practice. [44638/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the total number of respite services in Galway; the total number of people currently availing of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44639/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a procedure with a dental specialist will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if financial supports are available to help their parents with the cost of the procedure. [44821/24]
- 2024-11-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on primary care centre projects in County Galway. [45766/24]
Housing 4 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the policy regarding planning permission exemption for conversion of vacant buildings to house refugees; the types of building or projects that are included in the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44206/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the invasive/non-native freshwater fish of pike (esox lucius) and zander (sander lucioperca) were not added to the invasive species list contained within the third schedule of S.I. No. 477/2011 - European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, considering the unequivocal recommendations of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the responsible public authority, in a submission they made to his Department during an interdepartmental consultation on the Draft European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations in September 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44556/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount spent by Galway City and Council on HAP and RAS in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44640/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of planning applications related to Galway that are currently waiting on a decision from An Board Pleanála; and to provide a breakdown of those waiting more than 6 month, more than 12 months and more than 2 years. [44641/24]
Environment 3 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the use by anglers of replica dead baits and-or dead bait imitation lures is allowed under the recently signed Waterford Fisheries District, (River Barrow) Angling Limitations during Salmon Spawning Run Bye-Law No. 1011, 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44557/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason there were glaring inconsistencies in due diligence for the two local by-laws governing salmon conservation in Natura 2000 sites (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44558/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason no regulatory impact analysis screenings were conducted on the following two by-laws; the Conservation of Pike Bye-Law (No. 809) 2006 and the Conservation and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse Fish Bye-Law (No. 806) 2006, when a multitude of screenings were conducted by his Department from 2006 to 2008 on both primary and secondary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44559/24]
Transport 2 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport to provide the total number of electrical buses servicing Galway; the total number not currently in use; and whether he is aware of any adverse issues they have encountered due to poor weather conditions. [44642/24]
- 2024-11-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting times for driving tests in Galway and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45543/24]
Social 2 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection further to correspondence received (details supplied), whether her Department exerts control over the salaries and the job descriptions of community employment supervisors, or the terms of the contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44067/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection further to correspondence received (details supplied), if it can be confirmed that on 26 June 2024, her Department was asked to provide an outline offer by 19 July, but that did not happen, and the matter has now been escalated to the Workplace Relations Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44068/24]
Justice 2 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice if pods are being built in Portlaoise prison to increase the number of places available in the prison; if so, the total number of units, broken down by size (number of occupants), and the cost per unit of each, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44800/24]
- 2024-11-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí currently stationed across Galway and the number of new Gardaí in Galway who have been recruited in the past five years, in tabular form. [46004/24]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the €1,000 reduction in university fees will apply to students studying their second degree; what financial supports are available to students in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44555/24]
- 2024-11-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average waiting times for applications for disability allowance, carers allowance and appeals and the work her Department has undertaken to reduce these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45821/24]
Education 1 question
- 2024-11-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 311 of 15 October 2024, if a contractor will be found to operate this school bus service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45515/24]
Tourism 1 question
- 2024-11-07 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an dtabharfaidh sí sonraí maidir le céard atá i ndán do na pleananna teanga sna limistéir pleanála teanga Gaeltachta tar éis dóibh críochnú, agus má leantar ar aghaidh leo, cén córas a bheidh curtha i bhfeidhm ag an Roinn maidir le haistriú ón gcéad phlean teanga go dtí an dara plean teanga. [45531/24]
Rural 1 question
- 2024-11-07 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the latest status of the projects for piers on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45761/24]

New lobbying 1 return

Catholic Education Partnership CLG Education and Training
- Proposed Primary Curriculum Subject Specifications

Noel Grealish — Independent 2 votes · 13 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 13 total

Environment 4 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason no meaningful habitat enhancement works have been carried out on the Owenriff system in County Galway that straddles two special areas of conservation due to the devastating ecological effects of an illegal introduction of invasive pike esox lucius circa 2009, considering that the now defunct Western Regional Fisheries Board classed the Owenriff as a category A - major salmon river in October 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44005/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason, given that the initial public consultation on the proposed Waterford Fisheries District, (River Barrow) Angling Limitations during Salmon Spawning Run Bye-Law (No. 1011) 2024, signed on 17 September this year, ran for a two-week period ending on 20 August 2019, it took five years for a basic fisheries bye-law to come to fruition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44006/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason the Angling Consultative Council of Ireland (ACCI) established by himself in November 2020 has now been rebranded as the Angling Advisory Group (AAG); who the participants are in the AAG; the key policy targets of the AAG; why there was no public notification surrounding the revamp considering the overt and exuberant fanfare by his Department when the ACCI was formed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44007/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44008/24]
Transport 3 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the total number of electric vehicle, EV, buses deployed in Ireland over the past three years; the breakdown of these EV buses between State-run public transport services and the commercial bus sector during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44003/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the specific measures and incentives his Department has introduced to promote the uptake of electric buses across both public and commercial transport sectors; how effective these measures have been to date; if he is satisfied that the current rate of EV bus deployment and other sustainable transport initiatives will allow the transport sector to meet its carbon emission reduction targets, as set out under the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44004/24]
- 2024-11-06 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if the grant for electric taxis will continue in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45355/24]
Finance 2 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties in Dublin that qualified for the help-to-buy scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44196/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the rationale to cap the maximum employer contribution of a PRSA to 100% of an individual’s salary in the year of payment from 1 January 2025; if there was significant evidence of abuse of the previous structure where annual contributions from employers were only limited by the SF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44197/24]
Housing 2 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the relative success of the croí cónaithe (cities) scheme, the secure tenancy affordable rental, STAR, investment scheme and project tosaigh, in terms of delivered units and units expected to be delivered in late 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44195/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to a 2021 circular which allowed public sector staff to work until 70 years of age, if a fire service station officer, who will turn 65 in 2025, can continue working until 70, or if they must retire after 40 years’ service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45132/24]
Justice 2 questions
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if the chairperson of the local community safety partnership for Galway City Council has been appointed; if not, to provide a timeframe for their appointment; the name of the appointee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45130/24]
- 2024-11-05 Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if additional funding can be allocated to the Legal Aid Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45131/24]

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

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.