Meath East — week of Mon, 24 Feb

What your Meath East TDs did this week

Mon, 24 Feb – 2 Mar 2025 · 4 TDs · 1 bill voted on · 24 questions · 3 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 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

Did not vote 1 Thomas Byrne

Darren O'Rourke — Sinn Féin 1 vote · 21 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 21 total

Education 13 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 6 February 2025, if the number of notifications received by the NCSE from parents and guardians by the 1 February 2025 deadline pursuant to her Department’s circular 0080/2024 has now been determined; and for a breakdown of same by county, and by category of need, in tabular form. [7334/25]
- 2025-02-26 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to publish the account for the year 2012 that shows the balance as described on page 27 of the Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98 School Transport Provision (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8294/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the concerns raised by school leaders in relation to the accelerated roll-out of senior cycle reform; if she accepts that the accelerated timeline does not allow enough time for essential preparations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8924/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education what additional demand for special class and special school places for September 2025 is now anticipated at primary and secondary school level; what measures she is taking to ensure the necessary school buildings, staff and resources are in place to meet that demand; if emergency measures are expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8925/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to outline her assessment of the teacher recruitment and retention emergency at primary and secondary school level; the measures she intends to address it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8926/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the current number of full-time equivalent educational welfare officer positions across Ireland, by county, in tabular form; the number of these positions currently vacant; the timeline for filling these vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8491/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education how she intends to deliver on the programme for Government commitment to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí; if it is her commitment, as it was her predecessor’s, to “work towards doubling the number of young people currently in Irish-medium schools” (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8490/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the counselling in primary schools pilot; the counselling hours delivered to date and the number of children to benefit; the way in which this pilot is monitored and evaluated; her plans for its further rollout; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8492/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on Strand I and II of the educational therapy support service; if she intends to transition this service to a national therapy service in education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8488/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the measures she is taking to increase access to, and participation in, transition year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8489/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if a new toolkit for the deployment of special needs assistants is being implemented; the details of same; the way in which this will impact on the supports available to children at school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8661/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when the proposed timebound provision for teachers who qualify outside the Republic of Ireland (details supplied) will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8834/25]
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if the toolkit for deployment of SNA support (details supplied) amounts to a shift of responsibilities from SNAs to teachers; her views on whether this will place undue burden on teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8871/25]
Taoiseach 2 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education and Disability will meet next. [4586/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee dealing with transport will meet next. [4797/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to advance the N2 Kilmoon Cross to Rath roundabout project given that funding was paused under the previous Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7156/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding allocated to each local authority for the community involvement scheme in each of the years 2021 to 2024 and for 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7346/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1342 of 22 January 2025, when a substantive reply will issue from the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8125/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance his plans to change the tax treatment of the widow’s pension, to ensure that people in receipt of widow’s pension and who are working are not doubly penalised, particularly in light of the fact that if they become ill and can no longer work they cannot claim illness benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8914/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses in County Meath now being considered for inclusion in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; when a decision on these will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8872/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-02-27 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he recognises the anomaly in the social welfare system which means that people in receipt of widow’s pension, and who are working, are penalised if they become ill and can no longer work, because they cannot claim illness benefit for example; if he intends to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8915/25]

New lobbying 1 return

INTO - Irish National Teachers' Organisation Education and Training
- Improvements sought in the primary and special education sector as detailed below.

Gillian Toole — Independent 1 vote · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Helen McEntee — Fine Gael 1 vote · 0 questions · 1 new lobbying return

New lobbying 1 return

INTO - Irish National Teachers' Organisation Education and Training
- Improvements sought in the primary and special education sector as detailed below.

Thomas Byrne — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 3 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 3 total

Transport 2 questions
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport when leap card service will be extended to Meath and Louth. [8018/25]
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport when the roll out of discounted fares on PSO services, on child fares to include those ages 5-8 years, will be introduced. [8021/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-02-25 Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance for an update on Ireland's position on the move to a European Capital Markets Union; if he will outline the benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8110/25]