Donegal — week of Mon, 24 Feb

What your Donegal TDs did this week

Mon, 24 Feb – 2 Mar 2025 · 5 TDs · 1 bill voted on · 64 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-02-25 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 88–62

Voted for 2 Charlie McConalogue · Pat the Cope Gallagher

Voted against 2 Charles Ward · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Did not vote 1 Pearse Doherty

Charles Ward — 100% RDR 1 vote · 19 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 19 total

Housing 4 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason solar panels were not installed on any of the new housing at a location (details supplied); if there are any plans for new builds to be required to have a minimum number of solar panels in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7449/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the text for the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8214/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if retrospective payments for homeowners will be included in the remediation of dwellings damaged under the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8217/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) requiring exceptional approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8879/25]
Transport 4 questions
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Transport whether Rescue 118 will maintain its 24-hour coverage once transferred to a company (details supplied), or whether it will be reduced to a 12-hour service as seen in Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8880/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Transport the reason the transition of search-and-rescue services from one company (details supplied) to another has not been communicated to crews and communities; whether crews and communities will be informed in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8881/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Transport what contingency plans are in place to ensure uninterrupted search-and-rescue (SAR) coverage, particularly for islands and rural coastal areas, while the transition of SAR services from one company to another (details supplied) takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8882/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Transport whether his contract with a company (details supplied) regarding search-and-rescue (SAR) services will meet the contract’s original commitment of all-weather, 24-hour SAR coverage, 365 days a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8883/25]
Children 3 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding provided for residential respite for children's disability services within CHO1 in the years of 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8182/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE speech and language therapists attached to Inishowen children's disability network team in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8189/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of respite beds available to disability services in Donegal in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8190/25]
Health 3 questions
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant radiologists based at Letterkenny University Hospital in each the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8210/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses based in Letterkenny University Hospital in each of the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; if this number will be further increased in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8211/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health when a community hospital (details supplied) will re-open for admissions and return to normal service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8358/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Education if a new recruitment campaign for Irish sign language specialist classroom support will be launched in quarter 2 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8205/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Education the number of WTE educational welfare officers based in Donegal in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8208/25]
Rural 2 questions
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each project approved under measures 1, 2 and 3 of the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme in Donegal, in 2024; the grant approved for each project; the current status of each project; the completion date for each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8193/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each individual project approved under the town and village renewal scheme in Donegal, in 2024; the grant approved for each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8195/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Finance if he will amend the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, to exempt emergency response drivers from benefit-in-kind in cases where such drivers take their vehicles home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7426/25]

Charlie McConalogue — Fianna Fáil 1 vote · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Pat the Cope Gallagher — Fianna Fáil 1 vote · 1 question · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 1 total

Defence 1 question
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the efforts being made to establish a unit of the Naval Reserve in the north west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5809/25]

Pearse Doherty — Sinn Féin 0 votes · 25 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 25 total

Finance 7 questions
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number and value of Irish mortgages currently held in terms of beneficial ownership by both traditional banks and non-bank entities each year from 2022 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8357/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 60 to 62 of 6 February 2025, if he will outline the relevant benefits as defined by section 770 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 that constitutes a bona fide reason to transfer a pension overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8621/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 60 to 62 of 6 February 2025, the timeframe in which a declaration signed by the individual concerned must be submitted to Revenue to transfers of pensions to other EU Member States under the Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision Directive 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8622/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 60 to 62 of 6 February 2025, the number of cases that have been opened by Revenue to examine the potential use of pension transfers both within the EU and other international destinations to circumvent tax either under Irish pension tax legislation or tax avoidance legislation, in tabular form; the number of cases that have been determined to be in breach of tax law; the total revenue collected as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8623/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 60 to 62 of 6 February 2025, the number of transfers of occupational pensions to other EU jurisdictions under the Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision II Directive to each EU Member State, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8624/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 60 to 62 of 6 February 2025, the number of applications received by Revenue to transfers to a pension scheme in a country other than the UK or an EU Member State in each year since 2012; the number of approvals provided by Revenue since 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8625/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 46 to 54 of 6 February 2025, the total value of the surcharge collected each year since 2016 under anti-tax avoidance legislation; the total value of the final tax liability determined at the end of tax compliance intervention each year under anti-tax avoidance legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8626/25]
Tourism 4 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline every update provided to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in relation to the Arts Council IT project since the project was first approved in 2019, specifying whether the update included information on costs and the date of the update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7265/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline every update provided to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in relation to the Arts Council IT project since the project was first approved in 2019, specifying whether the update included information on costs and the date of the update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7266/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Secretary General of the Department raised the issue of the increased cost of the ICT system of the Arts Council at the Civil Service Management Board;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7573/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding directed to arts centres in each county from 2022 to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8196/25]
Education 3 questions
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education the steps a person in Donegal (details supplied) can take to register for the Teaching Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8197/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if the concerns of staff and the local community will be listened to; if she will reverse the decision to relocate the Donegal Education Centre from Donegal town to Letterkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8542/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education what action will be taken regarding the oversubscribing of a school (details supplied) in Letterkenny despite a new building recently being constructed; if any additional places can be provided to the school given the significant demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8543/25]
Children 2 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the process to award emergency funding to organisations in Donegal through the children’s disability grant fund, announced in November 2023, with the successful applicants announced in June 2024, has taken so long; if funds have not been awarded, when it will be awarded to all successful applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7874/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she has considered the need for a dedicated children’s respite centre in Donegal to address the growing need for respite hours in the county and the current lack of available respite for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7873/25]
Environment 2 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the Loughros Mór draft net fisheries demand for season parity, ahead of the 2025 season; if he will consider intervening to ensure license holders on the Owenea and Owentocker rivers/Loughros Mór estuary are treated fairly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7404/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of households in Donegal that are yet to have their National Broadband Ireland connection restored after storm Éowyn; the reason all connections have not yet been restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7461/25]
Public Expenditure 2 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the cost of the EY Capital Project and Programme Delivery Capability Review commissioned in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7269/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the role played by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in relation to the project to develop an ICT system at the Arts Council outlining in detail each time they were made aware of an increase in budget and the actions they took to inform others within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7574/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a National Parks and Wildlife Service farm plan scheme annual payment for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8015/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if National Parks and Wildlife Service farm plan scheme payments are delayed; if he will provide an update on payment processing timelines; the number of participants awaiting their payment under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8016/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Strategic Review of General Practice; to confirm that the review will provide sustainable solution for charity-operated GP practices in relation to the taxation of GMS contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7267/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the cost of the PwC report into the National Children’s Hospital commissioned in January 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7268/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the membership of each Cabinet committee. [8393/25]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn — Sinn Féin 1 vote · 19 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 19 total

Education 6 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education for an update on when a school (details supplied) will be included in the school capital buildings programme, considering their seriously inadequate school facilities and amenities in a land locked site and the dangerous location of the school from a road safety perspective. [8042/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the extent to which defective concrete blocks were used in the construction of school buildings across the State; the impact of the use of same on schools; the details of the number of schools and the locations of schools that have reported or raised concerns in relation to the presence of defective concrete blocks in their school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8064/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education the assistance, supports and remedies available from her Department for schools with buildings that are affected by the use of defective concrete blocks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8065/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will be included in the school capital buildings programme, considering its seriously inadequate school facilities and amenities in a landlocked site, as well as the dangerous location of the school from a road-safety perspective. [8590/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the extent to which defective concrete blocks were used in the construction of school buildings across the State; the impact of the use of same on schools; the number of schools and the locations of schools which have reported or raised concerns about the presence of defective concrete blocks in their school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8589/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education her plans to teach the history of Ireland’s Traveller community through the school curriculum to build on this State’s recognition of traveller ethnicity in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8706/25]
Health 5 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time security staff currently employed at Letterkenny University Hospital; the number of full-time security staff on each shift at Letterkenny University Hospital; and the number of full-time security staff currently off on leave at Letterkenny University Hospital, in tabular form. [7959/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time security staff currently employed at Sligo University Hospital; the number of full-time security staff on each shift at Sligo University Hospital; and the number of full-time security staff currently off on leave at Sligo University Hospital, in tabular form. [7960/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of violent incidents directed towards staff at Letterkenny University Hospital, for each of the years 2016 to 2025 inclusive, in tabular form. [7961/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of violent incidents directed towards staff at Sligo University Hospital, for each of the years 2016 to 2025 inclusive, in tabular form. [7962/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that a person from Donegal (details supplied), who is an 84-year-old, must travel a ten-hour round trip to Galway for short appointments with a vascular doctor; her views on whether this should not be the case and that the person be assessed closer to home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8141/25]
Social 3 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if a redress payment from the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry in the North of Ireland to a person who is resident in the Republic of Ireland would impact on their State benefits; if a bilateral agreement is in place to avoid this as was the case for previous redress schemes on both sides of the border. [7563/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider reviewing the criteria for the working family payment to assess the impact of including carer’s allowance as reckonable income, and particularly in cases where one parent is engaged in seasonal employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8051/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider reviewing the criteria for the working family payment to assess the impact of including carer’s allowance as reckonable income, and particularly in cases where one parent is engaged in seasonal employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8051/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport the number of people who have applied for a driving test in Buncrana, County Donegal awaiting the test; and the average waiting time for a driving test in Buncrana, County Donegal, in tabular form. [7716/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport if there is a full-time driving tester based in the Inishowen peninsula, County Donegal; and, if not, if one is due to be appointed. [7717/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline, in light of his recent correspondence to an organisation (details supplied) and local authorities, including Donegal County Council, on total sulphur test methods for aggregates, the reason homeowners in Donegal are still having their homes assessed under the existing standard, I.S. 465, when seeking remediation under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7124/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will release the necessary funding to local authorities in Donegal and other affected counties to remediate their housing stock that are the homes of hundreds of families affected by defective concrete blocks. [8705/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new fisherman scheme will commence; and when financial assistance will start to be released under the scheme. [8083/25]