Limerick City — week of Mon, 17 Mar

What your Limerick City TDs did this week

Mon, 17 Mar – 23 Mar 2025 · 4 TDs · 1 bill voted on · 49 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 2 Kieran O'Donnell · Willie O'Dea

Voted against 2 Conor Sheehan · Maurice Quinlivan

Conor Sheehan — Labour Party 1 vote · 19 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 19 total

Housing 17 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will revise current housing policies to ensure fairness for older individuals who have contributed to society throughout their lives, specifically, many retirees who only become eligible for placement on the housing waiting list once their income drops upon retirement, a situation which forces them to face unaffordable market rental rates and wait times of up to 10 years for social housing; if he will establish a dedicated mechanism that prioritises and expedites access to affordable and social housing for retirees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10838/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the €265 million approved for housing acquisitions in 2025, by housing programme; the amount approved in 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10880/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of units local authorities will be able to acquire under the tenant-in-situ scheme in 2025; if each local authority has been provided with the numbers each can acquire; if not, when that will be outlined; the amount in total allocated for the tenant-in-situ scheme in 2025; the amount approved in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; the amount allocated to each local authority; the total number of homes acquired in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10881/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many applications under the cost rental equity loan scheme are under consideration by his Department or relevant agencies; the number of housing units associated with each application; the location of each; the value of funding requested; the date on which each application was submitted, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12658/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many applications under the cost rental equity loan scheme have been approved by his Department or relevant agencies in 2024, and in 2025, respectively; the sponsor and location of each approved application; the number of units in each; the level of approved funding for each; the date of submission and the date of approval, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12659/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget allocation for the cost rental equity loan scheme in 2024; how much was used; the allocation for 2025; the current available amount outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12660/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget allocation for the capital advance leasing facility scheme in 2024; how much was used; the allocation for 2025; the current available amount outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12661/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many applications under the capital advance leasing facility scheme, CALF, have been approved by his Department or relevant agencies in 2024 and in 2025, respectively; the sponsor and location of each approved application; the number of units in each; the value of funding provided; the date of submission and the date of approval; when local authorities have been reimbursed for the CALF moneys, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12662/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many applications under the capital advance leasing facility are currently under consideration by his Department; the number of housing units associated with each application; the location of each; the requested funding level; the date on which each application was submitted by a local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12663/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many applications under the capital assistance scheme are currently under consideration by his Department; the number of housing units associated with each application; the location of each; the stage of the process each is at; the date on which each application was submitted and the estimated value/cost of each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12664/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget allocation for the capital assistance scheme in 2024; how much was used; how many housing units it supported; the allocation for 2025; the current available amount outstanding, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12665/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the social and affordable housing completion figures for 2024 will be published; the number of social housing, cost rental and local authority affordable housing units, respectively, constructed in 2024; to provide a breakdown of each, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12696/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm if he intends to review the housing completion target for 2025; the number of new homes his Department estimates will now be completed in 2025; the additional measures he plans to take to increase housing construction; the engagement he has had with the Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, respectively, on new taxation and expenditure measures to boost delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12698/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a timeline and action plan for meeting the targets to work towards ending homelessness, as agreed in the Lisbon Declaration; the additional policy measures he intends to take; if he will consider amending the Housing Act 1988 to oblige local authorities to take into account the best interests of a homeless child, as outlined in the Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12699/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenant in situ properties acquired in 2024; the number he expects to be completed in 2025; to provide a breakdown of the €265 million announced for housing acquisitions, including unit allocation, by local authority; if the allocation of funding for tenant in situ includes funding for refurbishments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12702/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm when he will establish the Strategic Housing and Infrastructure Delivery Office, as outlined in the Programme for Government; if the office will be underpinned by legislation or sit within the existing structures of his Department; if he has developed the criteria and detailed job description for the chief of the office; what the expected remuneration or public service grade of the position will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12701/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the local democracy task force will be convened; if he intends to review the number and distribution of councillors across local authorities; if there will be a review of the boundaries used for local authority elections in advance of the next local elections; his timeline for the establishment of town councils; if there will be separate elections for those councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12703/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education when her Department intends to implement the proposed reduction in the distance eligibility criterion for post-primary students under the school transport scheme from 4.8 km to 2 km; if she will provide details on the planned timeline and any associated budgetary or operational considerations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12291/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health if she has been made aware of problems with the Halcyon Radiation machine in University Hospital Limerick whereby the machine regularly breaks down leading to the cancellation of appointments for patients, many of whom have to travel long distances to receive their treatment; if she will engage with the HSE to find a timely solution to this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10833/25]

Kieran O'Donnell — Fine Gael 1 vote · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Maurice Quinlivan — Sinn Féin 1 vote · 11 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 11 total

Health 6 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the case of a person (details suppled) who, having been referred five years ago by her GP to the cardiology department of University Hospital Limerick, has yet to receive an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10662/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who, having been referred by University Hospital Limerick to St. John’s Hospital for an urgent hernia operation, has yet to receive an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11381/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if she will address the case of person (details supplied) who continues to wait for a CAMHS appointment in Limerick for an ADHD assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11389/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed at University Hospital Limerick, per discipline, from 2011 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12232/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of beds at each of the UL Hospital Group hospitals, from 2011 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12233/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; if an assessment will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13102/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount by which the Economic and Social Intervention Fund, ESIF, was reduced in Limerick in 2024 compared to 2023 and 2025 compared to 2024; if provision has been made to continue the ESIF in Limerick in 2026 and beyond, given that it is a critical instrument to help address disadvantage in Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11896/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans he has to increase the funding per unit for refurbishing vacant and derelict local authority houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12669/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education if plans are in progress for a redress scheme for people who suffered either physical or mental abuse in school; if so, the conditions of this redress; if not, when redress will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12284/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason time spent on vocational training opportunities schemes are not considered as part of the required cumulative paid days for consideration for particular social protection bonuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10601/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a update on the case of a person (details suppled) who, having been referred for an autism assessment to the HSE in Limerick, has yet to receive an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10836/25]

Willie O'Dea — Fianna Fáil 1 vote · 19 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 19 total

Housing 7 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason an application for the tenant-in-situ scheme was rejected for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11351/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason an application for the tenant in situ scheme for a person (details supplied) was rejected.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11352/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the Planning and Development Act 2024 to be implemented; if safeguards to prevent frivolous or vexatious objections, appeals and judicial reviews are provided for within the Act; if any rules relating to the distance an objector, appellant or submitter of a judicial reviews must be from the subject site of a planning application are provided for within the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11467/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to report on the extra €265 million funding recently announced for housing acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12539/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties approved for a vacant property refurbishment grant, by local authority; the number of grants paid in each local authority area; the total value of the grants paid in each local authority area, since July 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12540/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the Land Development Agency to begin delivering houses for Limerick, given it has yet to lodge a planning application for direct delivery in Limerick since their inception, despite being active in Limerick since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13075/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that Government-funded approved housing bodies (AHBs) are competing with potential owner occupiers to buy houses, and in Limerick analysis suggests that AHBs buy six out of every ten new homes, which is totally distorting the market; if there is a strategy in place to ensure a good mix in future housing developments, to allow owner occupiers purchase houses in new estates and to avoid the mistakes of the past, whereby there was often an over concentration of social housing in certain areas of Limerick and across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13109/25]
Social 4 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made by his Department’s appeals office in relation to a request for an oral hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10719/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for working family payment (details supplied) that was submitted in November 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11355/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a carer’s appeal by a person (details supplied) that was submitted in July 2024. [11656/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to backdating arrears for six months for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11895/25]
Justice 3 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice the capacity of Limerick prison; the number of persons currently incarcerated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11835/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice the number of graduates he expects to pass out of Templemore this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12373/25]
- 2025-03-20 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice the number of valid applications received for the latest Garda recruitment campaign; the number of these from applicants aged over 40 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12372/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport if he plans any regulations requiring cyclists and scooterists to wear a high-vis jacket at night-time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12030/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide funding to local authorities to implement noise mitigation action plans on major roads such as the M7 and M20 motorways, where they are adjacent to residential areas in Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12386/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if she will consider increasing funding for a service (details supplied) which has been funded by the HSE since 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10685/25]
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when a dedicated public specialist unit will be provided for Limerick and the mid-west to treat children and adolescents with eating disorders; if she will provide an update on the newly established consultant-led multidisciplinary team in CHO 3 Limerick to diagnose and treat children and adolescents with eating disorders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11495/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-03-19 Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider developing a centre of excellence for marine and airborne field robotics, with a particular focus on supporting many Government and semi-State agencies that have requirements from time to time for marine field robot systems; if he will consider locating this centre of excellence at University Limerick, given it has the only research centre in Ireland active in marine and airborne field robotics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12401/25]