Cork East — week of Mon, 3 Feb

What your Cork East TDs did this week

Mon, 3 Feb – 9 Feb 2025 · 4 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 59 questions · 4 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-02-05 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 97–72

Voted for 2 James O'Connor · Noel McCarthy

Voted against 2 Liam Quaide · Pat Buckley

Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025: Waiver of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny

2025-02-05 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 93–69

Voted for 2 James O'Connor · Noel McCarthy

Voted against 2 Liam Quaide · Pat Buckley

James O'Connor — Fianna Fáil 2 votes · 18 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 18 total

Education 6 questions
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3653/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3654/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3655/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3656/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3657/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the position regarding an application for additional school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3916/25]
Health 4 questions
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on the roll-out of free HRT; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3618/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on the position of a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3658/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on the position of a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3659/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on the position of a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3660/25]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2025-02-05 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the transposition into Irish law of the Platform Work EU Directive; when this is likely to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2806/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the transposition of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive into Irish law; when this is likely to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2807/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will provide further funding for PSO services in Cork east to ensure bus routes can be expanded and more can be explored by the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3661/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will reconsider how national funding on roads is distributed on a yearly basis; if his Department will review the method on how this is done, considering that Cork county has the longest road network across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3662/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding advice sought, following a meeting with a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3917/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has investigated the possibility of undertaking a review of the current means test for disability allowance to ensure that people affected by disability, who are marginally over the income threshold limit, are not left without adequate support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3918/25]
Environment 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for on update on the transposition into Irish law of the Network and Information Systems Directive II (NIS2) EU Directive concerning cybersecurity; when this is likely to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2803/25]
Tourism 1 question
- 2025-02-06 Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he will provide an update on a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3913/25]

New lobbying 2 returns

Cobh and Harbour Chamber · 2 returns Economic Development and Industry
- Advocacy for the R624 road to Cobh to be recognised as a national road and for the development of an additional route into Cobh.
- Dinner hosted by Cobh & Harbour Chamber. R624 Road Upgrade: Advocating for improved road access to Cobh. Green Wind Energy: Promoting Cork Harbour as a hub for renewable energy projects.

Liam Quaide — Social Democrats 2 votes · 20 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 20 total

Health 9 questions
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health to provide a timeline for the roll out of the free HRT scheme; to outline the engagement her Department has had with a union (details supplied) in relation to the scheme in relation to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2245/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a breakdown of palliative care services nationally, by regional health area, with an outline of the type and duration of service offered, and, in each instance, the funding commitment and the population size served by the service, in tabular form. [2590/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a breakdown of eating disorders services, including regional team staffing levels and inpatient bed numbers, in the south west regional health area, in tabular form; and how this provision corresponds to or falls short of the HSE's Model of Care for Eating Disorder Services. [2592/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of psychology posts advertised within the south west regional health area primary care services since 1 July 2024; the contract type (fixed-term or permanent; full- or part-time) in each case; and the number of posts filled to date since. [2595/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if redeployment of psychologists to primary care services in the south west regional health area will be pursued by the HSE to address critical waiting lists there; if she has engaged with unions regarding the potential impact of this workforce strategy on retention of psychologists as well as on the services from which psychologists will be redeployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2596/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health for an update on the commencement of works on the new mental health service on the grounds of the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton, which was projected by local management to be completed by Q1 of 2025; the reason that flood risk is being cited as rationale for the delay in HSE media briefings, given that this issue was addressed in the planning application that was approved for the project in February 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2597/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health for an update on Saol Nua mental health service in Skibbereen following plans to relocate residents in July 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2598/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if breastfeeding support groups in Carrigtwohill primary care centre, County Cork, will be recommenced this year by the HSE; if so, the date they will recommence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3014/25]
- 2025-02-06 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if clonidine will be made available under the long-term illness scheme for persons under 16 years suffering with ADHD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3888/25]
Children 4 questions
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will consider a temporary pause on the decision to move the beneficiaries of temporary protection currently staying at a location (details supplied) to new accommodation until after the end of the 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2648/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will reconsider the decision to no longer allow the beneficiaries of temporary protection currently staying at a location (details supplied) and who have been told they will be moved to new accommodation, to accommodate their pets with them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2649/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to ensure that international protection applicants who avail of temporary accommodation as part of cold weather initiatives are not expected to sleep rough once the cold weather passes to prove and demonstrate their need for accommodation before being referred to alternative emergency accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2940/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to address the lack of childcare facilities in Youghal, County Cork; her plans to build and or purchase State-owned childcare facilities to address the unmet capacity needs in the local Youghal area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2945/25]
Transport 3 questions
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the project to upgrade the R624 Cobh Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2249/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Transport if current budgetary allocations for the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) 2040 are sufficient to proceed with the development of the new train stations that are part of CMATS or are limited to maintaining existing train services. [2591/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider an extension to the maximum permissible age of taxis under the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015 for vehicles who reach their ten-year limit in the first half of 2025, given the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the income of taxi drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2600/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will reconcile his comments around the lifting of the money message obstruction from the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 in November 2024, prior to the general election, with more recent comments from the Taoiseach suggesting that the Bill will be replaced with new legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2593/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Finance his plans to apply a reduced rate of VAT to bottled water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2255/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if eligibility for the individual property protection scheme for east Cork will be extended to include property owners who narrowly averted flooding on 18 October 2023 by being home on the day and able to erect makeshift barriers to keep flood waters out of their properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2594/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a timeline for legislation to give entitlement to unmarried cohabitants to a widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2257/25]

Noel McCarthy — Fine Gael 2 votes · 11 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 11 total

Finance 5 questions
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Finance to outline the measures his Department is taking to tackle the importation and sale of illegal tobacco products in the State; the number of fines issued by the courts for offences related to tobacco smuggling and its illicit sale in 2023 and 2024 respectively; the number of fines that were paid and remain unpaid from the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3231/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Finance his plans, if any, to increase the inheritance tax threshold for those who are single and without children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2904/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider the establishment of a VAT refund on the purchase of bottled water for domestic households who continue to be affected by prolonged boil water notices, possibly by notifying the Revenue Commissioners directly of the affected Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3089/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Finance the measures his Department is taking to counteract the cross-border smuggling and illegal trade of tobacco products within the State, such as cigarettes and vapes; if he is considering additional measures to combat such activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3232/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Finance the number of customs checks that were carried out in relation to illegal tobacco products; the number of fines issued for tobacco related offences; the number of fines paid; the number of seizures conducted by customs officials on duty free tobacco products which exceeded the personal limits in all airports and ports; the number of reported illegal factories producing counterfeit tobacco products in the State in each of the years from 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3233/25]
Environment 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the efforts being made by the ESB to ensure that the electricity network is more robust to withstanding disruptions to supply caused by severe weather-related events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2943/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport the current situation with respect to planning permission for the installation of EV chargers in public places; the efforts being made by his Department to ensure that property owners with only direct public street access can install EV chargers outside of their properties; if his Department has considered the installation of footpath ducting in such cases to allow charging cables to pass underfoot of public areas, such as those in use in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3076/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 389 of 22 January 2025, the number of individual property protection applications received under the scheme; the number of applications received for the retrospective funding for previously installed flood barriers in the area; if he is considering increasing this retrospective funding element of the scheme to ensure that those who have already installed barriers are reimbursed for the full cost of their flood defences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2878/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason privately owned post offices are ineligible to receive his Department’s increased cost of business and Power Up grants; if he has any plans to make changes in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3106/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the work of his Department in progressing national guidelines for the development of solar farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2901/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is considering any changes to the back-to-education allowance to allow PhD students or those studying a course that is not under the EU Erasmus programme to receive a disability allowance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3135/25]

Pat Buckley — Sinn Féin 2 votes · 10 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 10 total

Health 5 questions
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if a drug (details supplied) can be included on the drugs repayment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2158/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the crisis in neurological care in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2187/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if an agency (details supplied) is funded under section 38 of the Health Act 2004. [2435/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if she will consider allowing community audiologists, who already provide care to PRSI contributors through the treatment benefit scheme, to serve medical card holders (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2733/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if she will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) to ensure they are granted access to dietetic support. [2784/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently enact the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2399/25]
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection to ensure that the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2024 is enacted without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2939/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Finance if he will arrange for Revenue to issue a VAT refund to individuals who are living with a 'boil water notice' (details supplied), using bottled water that they are forced to purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2396/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-02-05 Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if all applications to a scheme (details supplied) will be given urgent attention to avoid any further damage to properties due to stormy weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2651/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-02-06 Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport if urgent action can be taken to improve the ferry service between locations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3905/25]