Cork South-Central — week of Mon, 17 Mar

What your Cork South-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 17 Mar – 23 Mar 2025 · 5 TDs · 1 bill voted on · 72 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-03-19 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 84–69

Voted for 3 Jerry Buttimer · Micheál Martin · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire — Sinn Féin 1 vote · 14 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 14 total

Health 11 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have aged out of adolescent primary care mental health teams without having received therapeutic support, by local health office and the length of time spent on the list (details supplied). [11193/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of children on a list for the primary care child and adolescent psychology service in south Lee, in total, for longer than six months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months and over, in tabular form. [11269/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people on adolescent primary care mental health waiting lists in each of the past four years who were assessed for transition to primary care mental health waiting lists. [13005/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each of the past four years who were removed from primary care mental health waiting lists due to reaching the age of 18, broken down by CHO. [13006/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the protocol that is followed when persons who are on waiting lists for adolescent primary care mental health teams reach the age of 18; if they are informed of their being removed; if they are automatically added to an adult list or informed of their right to apply for an adult waiting list; and whether such persons are removed from the list. [12998/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if persons who have reached the age 18 and are on primary care adolescent primary care mental health waiting list, are then removed from the waiting list. [12999/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people in 2025 who were removed from primary care mental health waiting lists due to reaching the age of 18. [13000/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people in 2025 who were transitioned directly from an adolescent primary care mental health team to an adult primary health care waiting list. [13001/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each of the past four years, who were transitioned directly from a adolescent primary care mental health team to an adult primary health care waiting list, broken down by CHO. [13007/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each of the past four years who were removed from CAHMS due to reaching the age of 18, broken down by CHO. [13008/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each of the past four years who were transitioned directly from CAHMS team to an adult primary health care waiting list, broken down by CHO. [13009/25]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment given the significant costs incurred by community groups and businesses, when he intends to open a support scheme such as existed during storm Babet for such groups to apply to make good their losses. [11245/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the representations he has made to the European Commission regarding ensuring the potential exposure of Irish whiskey to US tariffs is reduced; and if they, in recent months, have sought that whiskey not be an item included in the EU's retaliatory tariffs. [13144/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline the current and forthcoming streams of funding for new library buildings for the coming years. [11172/25]

Jerry Buttimer — Fine Gael 1 vote · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Micheál Martin — Fianna Fáil 1 vote · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Pádraig Rice — Social Democrats 1 vote · 47 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 47 total

Health 36 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the estimated amount collected by all HSE hospitals in respect of car parking charges for visitors and patients in each of the years since 2020, in tabular form; and the estimated amount collected by contracted companies to run and manage car parking facilities at each HSE hospital for the same time period. [10593/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the car parking fees charged at each HSE hospital, in tabular form. [10594/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to a research report into the prevalence of neurodiversity among people accessing addiction services (details supplied); the steps she is taking to ensure that there is an appropriate service response; if she will commit to providing neurodiversity training to drug services’ staff at all levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10757/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to ensure that funding is provided to a mental health service (details supplied) following the announcement that its messaging service will close; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10759/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the HIQA review into urgent and emergency care services in the midwest region; the date at which she expects the final report to be sent to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11031/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health for an update on when the free hormone replacement therapy scheme will be available; the reasons for the delays in the scheme announced under Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11032/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); the status of these vacant posts in the HSE addiction service; if the HSE has begun recruitment for these posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11034/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she has plans to expand the chronic disease management programme; if she will consider the addition of a condition (details supplied); the process that would be required in order to have any additional condition added; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11035/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if the appointment of a clinical nurse lead to support the implementation of the national model of care for epilepsy has been progressed; the reasons a permanent appointment has not been approved to date; if she will provide details on the allocation of time which will be given to the post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11036/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to establish a dedicated office for alcohol in her Department to drive policy development and input into cross-departmental policy; if not, her views on this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11037/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to respond to a media report in respect of an audit into osteotomies at three Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) hospitals (details supplied); the engagements she has had with CHI in respect of this audit; if the parents of children who underwent these surgeries have been contacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11038/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will publish a report regarding osteotomy surgeries on children at three Children’s Health Ireland hospitals; if she has received a copy of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11039/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if osteotomy surgeries on children have been suspended at the National Orthopaedic Hospital at Cappagh and Temple Street Children’s Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11040/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the timeline she is working towards in publishing the patient safety (licensing) Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11499/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to offering permanent contracts to all graduate psychiatric nurses in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11500/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on 14 posts in a children’s mental health facility (details supplied); the status of recruitment for these posts; the number of contracts that have been issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11501/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she intends to bring the Mental Health Bill 2024 to committee stage in an Oireachtas Select Committee or on the floor of Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11502/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to implementing a standard criteria for diagnosis and support for people living with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), given that Ireland is the only country in the European Union without a national diagnostic regime for FASD; if any work in this regard has commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11503/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of the paediatric orthopaedic surgery service at Children’s Health Ireland; the date at which she expects the review to be submitted and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11739/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on contracting out radiotherapy treatment for public patients to private providers in 2024 and to date in 2025, by hospital, in tabular form. [11740/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the next implementation plan for Sharing the Vision to replace the 2022-2024 plan; the timeline she is working towards in publishing the plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11741/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she intends to publish the interim report on HIQA’s review into urgent and emergency care services in the midwest region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11742/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of posts at the HSE surgical hub south Dublin, by grade, in tabular form; and the number of posts which are vacant. [11743/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she has considered the interim report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use; if she will commit to a health-led response through the decriminalisation of possession of drugs for personal use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11744/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce a baby loss certificate for those who have lost a baby through miscarriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13226/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the supports that are available to people that suspect that they are living with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, in particular those who are under the age of 16; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13228/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to meet the commitments under Article 21 (c) of the WHO Global Strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13229/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the progress of the 2022 HSE position paper on the prevention of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13230/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the criteria used and the steps taken to diagnose foetal alcohol syndrome and partial foetal alcohol syndrome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13231/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of children diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome and partial foetal alcohol syndrome, in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13232/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason that foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is not deemed by her Department or agencies under her aegis to be a disability at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13234/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the Ireland specific recommendations from UN bodies (details supplied) with respect to surgical interventions on intersex children in Ireland; if she will outline her thinking with respect to a ban on these medical interventions based on international best practice as seen in Malta, Germany and elsewhere; if she will provide an update with respect to the development of national guidelines by Children’s Health Ireland to standardise the management of children presenting intersex characteristics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13235/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 657 of 4 March 2025, if she will provide details regarding the three actions which have been implemented and the one action not yet fully implemented in respect of recommendation 17 of the National Maternity Strategy; the status of work to progress the remaining action under this recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13237/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the health and social care services the HSE commissions through tendering arrangements, in tabular form; and the total spent in each category of health and social care services in each of the years since 2019. [13238/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the staffing issues at PrEP clinics (details supplied); the steps she is taking to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13244/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her Department will provide additional resources and equipment for the neurology assessment and nerve conduction study testing for amyloidosis; if she is aware of the current issues regarding the wait list for a drug (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13245/25]
Transport 5 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on Cork’s light rail project; the date at which he intends to publish the preferred route and hold public consultation; to outline the delivery schedule he is currently working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11041/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the dangers cyclists frequently face when using cycle lanes; if he will consider launching a public information campaign to raise awareness about the rules and etiquette surrounding cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11497/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport when the new regional airport programme will be released given the current programme expires in 2025; the steps his Department is taking to ensure that regional airports remain viable and are able to attract international routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11749/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport his views on a recent report by the National Transport Authority which suggests that it will be at least 2028 before contactless payments are available on rail and bus services; the timeline he is working towards on implementing the programme for Government commitment to introduce contactless payments on all public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13243/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to provide funding to the 1951 CIÉ superannuation pension scheme so that members can receive an increase in payments, given that no increases have been made since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13249/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Finance if he will commit to reintroducing tax relief on trade union subscriptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11498/25]
Tourism 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he will provide information on the renewal date of the basic income for the arts scheme that is set to end in August 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10760/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to a research report into the prevalence of neurodiversity among people accessing addiction services (details supplied); if he will commit to working with further and higher education institutions to ensure that all relevant educational programmes in health and social care contain a module on neurodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10758/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the Hungarian Government’s ban on a public pride march (details supplied); his engagement with the Hungarian Government in respect of this ban and their repression of the LGBTQIA+ community; the efforts he will take through the European Union in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13251/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to publish a 2025 programme of work for his Department; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13227/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is not deemed by her Department or agencies under her aegis to be a disability at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13233/25]

Séamus McGrath — Fianna Fáil 1 vote · 11 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 11 total

Education 3 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education the current position regarding a redress scheme for victims of historical child sexual abuse in Primary and Secondary schools; if a similar approach will be adopted for victims of abuse in Primary and Secondary Schools to that of the previous redress scheme for victims of abuse in Industrial and Reformatory schools as the Government has been in receipt of a scoping report which outlined the depraved behaviour visited upon these victims, for some considerable time. [11550/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with Bus Éireann on the rule that drivers on school transport must be under 70 years of age (details supplied). [11967/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education for an update on plans to reform the school transport system, particularly the eligibility criteria and likely timeframe for the implementation of changes. [12639/25]
Housing 3 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider changes to the grant scheme available for upgrading septic tanks (details supplied). [11997/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for ramping up the delivery of affordable purchase homes and his targets for the coming years. [12532/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the income eligibility rule for social housing support, which assesses income over an average of the past 12 months, as discretion should be allowed to account for significant changes to income, such as the loss of a job or a medical issue. [12533/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health if she will investigate the case of a patient (details supplied) of the mental health service who has been accommodated in an emergency homeless hostel for a prolonged period. [11182/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a matter raised by a person (details supplied) in Cork city in relation to type 1 diabetics who have been refused CGMs based on a prior incorrect diagnosis of type 2 will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11448/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to examine the case for a review of the rules governing insurance premiums (details supplied). [11216/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the Bereaved Partner’s Pension Bill; and when he anticipates the pension will be available to eligible applicants. [12360/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Justice to outline plans for the further rollout of body camera equipment for members of An Garda Síochána. [12525/25]