Galway West — week of Mon, 17 Feb — Watch Them Work

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 17 Feb – 23 Feb 2025 · 6 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 51 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages

2025-02-19 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 101–55

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

Provision of Special Education

2025-02-19 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 87–69

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

The motion · motion passed 87–70

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

Housing Crisis

2025-02-19 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 88–69

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

The motion · motion passed 88–69

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-02-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 84–67

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 6 votes · 13 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 13 total

Education 5 questions
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education if any local representatives, councillors or TDs were consulted at any stage during the relocation process of the Donegal Education Centre, Donegal Town; if so, who, when and for what reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5506/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm whether the management committee followed the procurement process for the leasing of new premises for the Donegal Education Centre, Donegal Town; if it was publicly advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5507/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education to confirm that the Donegal Education Support Centre has a procurement policy; the date on which it was adopted; to confirm that it is in line with the public service guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5508/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education whether different locations were looked at as part of the Donegal Education Support Centre, Donegal town, relocation; if guidelines were used to evaluate these other locations; if so, to detail those guidelines; if any effort was made to meet the stated growing need in the Donegal town area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5799/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education if a cost analysis was conducted for the selected relocation of the Donegal Education Support Centre; if these findings were shared with the management committee, staff and stakeholders; if their views were taken on board in the making of the decision to relocate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5800/25]
Housing 3 questions
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to expand the rent pressure zone scheme to include additional designated areas in which rent increases are capped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5499/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to extend the rent pressure zone scheme beyond 31 December 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5500/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 852 of 9 September 2024, if the review of the working group has been completed; if a Level 8 BSc in Construction Project Management is to be included in the list of approved qualifications for engineering roles within Local Authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6264/25]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2025-02-20 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the progress of the business and human rights stakeholder forum; the number of times and dates on which the forum has met; if the action plan is now in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6376/25]
- 2025-02-20 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of dual-use export licence applications in respect of end-users in Israel approved by his Department in 2024 and to date in 2025; the value of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6377/25]
Environment 2 questions
- 2025-02-20 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work undertaken by his Department to ensure adequate resourcing of lead Departments for climate adaptation-related activities; his views on the report of the Climate Advisory Council’s Annual Review ‘Preparing for Ireland’s Changing Climate’ 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4898/25]
- 2025-02-20 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the decarbonisation zone in Galway city; the status of the implementation plan; the resources in place to achieve the required 7% annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6437/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-02-19 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to provide radiation therapy students with a payment and travel allowances during their final-year internship in line with supports offered to student nurses, particularly in light of the finding of the National Radiation Therapist Review that there is a 30% shortage of radiation therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6458/25]

Hildegarde Naughton — Fine Gael 6 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

John Connolly — Fianna Fáil 6 votes · 14 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 14 total

Health 3 questions
- 2025-02-18 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an initial appointment at South Galway CAMHS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5871/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an initial appointment at West Galway CAMHS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5872/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an initial appointment at North Galway CAMHS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5873/25]
Enterprise 3 questions
- 2025-02-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of critical skills employment permits applications refused in 2024; to detail the reasons provided for the refusal of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6810/25]
- 2025-02-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of critical skills employment permits awarded in 2024; to detail the number awarded in each employment category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6809/25]
- 2025-02-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses refused the Power Up grant due to not being rates compliant for 2023, as per the increased cost of business criteria. [6886/25]
Environment 2 questions
- 2025-02-18 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost to the ESB Group, including both Eirgrid and ESB Networks, of recent storms; if it is intended to give Exchequer funding to the ESB Group to offset this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5875/25]
- 2025-02-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the restoration of all mobile phone and broadband services to locations affected by service outages following storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6811/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-02-18 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the number of local-link services operating within County Galway, including the route serviced and the frequency of operation. [5869/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the number of applications for the wheelchair-accessible vehicle grant scheme during the January 2025 application opportunity; the number that were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6024/25]
Tourism 1 question
- 2025-02-18 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of appeals lodged against the sports capital grant allocations made in 2024; and the status of all appeals. [5870/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-02-18 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total available budget for the building blocks–extension grant scheme-community–construction for early learning and childcare facilities; how many applications were received for this strand of the building blocks capital programme; and the number approved by Pobal as meeting the minimum criteria for consideration of an allocation of a grant. [5874/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-02-19 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education for an update on the schools selected to participate in the energy retrofit pathfinder programme; and the progression of works in each school. [6549/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-02-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of the invalidity pension and approved for partial capacity benefit has their payment reduced immediately; if not, if it only reduced when the person commences employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6824/25]

Mairéad Farrell — Sinn Féin 6 votes · 24 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 24 total

Children 8 questions
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions being taken to hold individuals and organisations accountable for crimes committed in the mother and baby homes, including child trafficking, illegal adoptions, forced separations, and financial misconduct; if there has been any formal investigation into potential criminal activities, such as trafficking and money laundering, associated with these institutions; and if not, the reason no criminal investigation has taken place despite clear evidence of illegal activities. [5610/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what happened to the money from the sale of Sean Ross Abbey; the reason the Catholic Church is not funding the cost of addressing the injustices that took place there, rather than the taxpayer; if the money from the sale reinvested into religious orders or organisations; and if so, the reason the Government has allowed this, given that the organisation in question was responsible for illegal adoptions and forced separations. [5611/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth who decided on the 180-day rule for eligibility under the mother-and-baby-home redress scheme; the qualifications in child trauma or related fields that the individuals who set this rule had; to provide the credentials or records of the decision-makers who determined this timeframe; the measures taken to address survivors who suffered but do not meet the 180-day requirement; and if the Government will review or amend the scheme to include all affected survivors. [5613/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a copy of the survey report which found anomalies in the grounds at Sean Ross Abbey; who decided that these findings were not enough to warrant an excavation; the basis for that decision; the alternative action, if any, being taken to account for the over 1,000 missing children from Sean Ross Abbey; if the Government will commit to a full excavation to determine what happened to these children and provide closure to their families; and if the Government refuses to excavate, to outline the alternative justice measures it proposes. [5614/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason certain children are excluded from the scheme (details supplied); who made the decision that a child who was in an institution before its classification changed would no longer qualify for redress; the justification the Government has for excluding children who suffered in these homes simply because of a technical reclassification; and if the Government will review this exclusion and provide redress for the survivors. [5615/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures the Government proposes to take to address all the children who were boarded out and are also excluded from the redress scheme; the steps the Government is taking to ensure that the Catholic Church is held financially and morally accountable for the suffering caused in these institutions; and if the Government will force the Catholic Church to contribute financially to any reparations rather than leaving the burden solely on the taxpayer. [5616/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to the Programme for Government commitment on page 65, “Recognizing and Learning from Our Past”, where the Government commits to continuing to deliver the action plan for mother and baby home survivors and building the National Centre for Research and Remembrance, if he will clarify what, if anything, is new in these commitments, given that these initiatives were already announced in November 2021; and if these are just a continuation of previous policies, or if there are concrete new actions being introduced. [5617/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the Government’s specific plan going forward regarding justice for mother and baby home survivors; if there will be any change to the redress scheme; if there will be any action taken to hold individuals and institutions responsible for past abuse; and the steps that will be taken to properly investigate the more than 1,000 children missing from Sean Ross Abbey and other institutions. [5618/25]
Health 4 questions
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health what supports are available for those in need of home kidney dialysis wishing to purchase a generator, and who are in receipt of a disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5486/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a device. [5606/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health to expedite an operation for a person (details supplied). [5842/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications received each year since 2020; the number of medical cards total issued each year since 2020; the number of discretionary medical cards issued in each year since 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6388/25]
Social 3 questions
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends reinstating the service wherein a social welfare inspector travels to the offshore islands to allow those who are in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance to sign on without having to travel to the nearest mainland Intreo office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6186/25]
- 2025-02-19 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the wage subsidy scheme is restricted to employees that have been employed for less than 12 months; the supports available for longer-term workers who have recently become disabled in such a way that their productivity may be reduced, but wish to remain in their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6739/25]
- 2025-02-20 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the length of time that accommodation in a hotel or bed and breakfast will be covered under the humanitarian assistance scheme for people whose homes were destroyed by storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6828/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education the reason qualified teachers who teach abroad, for example, in Australia, do not have this recognised for the purposes of pay scales when they return to Ireland; her views on whether this failure to recognise prior experience hinders the recruitment of teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5607/25]
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if the Government is currently renting the building at St. Anne’s Special School, located on the Sean Ross Abbey site, from the same religious order that ran the mother and baby home; if so, the amount of rent that has been paid annually; and the reason the Government is paying rent to an organisation that profited from child trafficking and illegal adoptions instead of holding the organisation accountable. [5612/25]
Tourism 2 questions
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if plans are in place to save Pálás cinema and arts centre in Galway, which received significant public funding, and is a key cultural institution in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5879/25]
- 2025-02-19 D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil teoireann ann ar an méid gur féidir le duine tuilleadh faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [6457/25]
Environment 1 question
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of a wind turbine that fell apart during storm Éowyn (details supplied); if his Department has examined the health and safety impact of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5956/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if he accepts the view of other central banks such as the Bank of England on a matter (details supplied) in relation to commercial banks and the process of money creation. [6066/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on ongoing work to secure a national quota for bluefin tuna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6385/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-02-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a contractor has been appointed for the building of Inis Oírr pier; the current timeline for its development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5845/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-02-20 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the lack of funding in Galway City Council for extensions on council properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6893/25]

Noel Grealish — Independent 6 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

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

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.