Galway West — week of Mon, 24 Mar — Watch Them Work

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 24 Mar – 30 Mar 2025 · 6 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 58 questions · 3 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024: Céim an Choiste

2025-03-26 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 67–88

Voted for 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 67–88

Voted for 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

Social Housing Tenant In Situ Scheme

2025-03-26 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 87–71

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

Triple Lock Mechanism and Irish Neutrality

2025-03-26 · 1 vote

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

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2025

2025-03-26 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 47–109

Voted for 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

The motion · motion passed 110–47

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 7 votes · 22 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 22 total

Foreign 5 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the manner in which Irish embassies and consulates around the world are assisting with the dissemination of information related to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme for survivors throughout Ireland's diaspora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13498/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to detail all efforts by the Irish Embassy in Washington, DC and Irish Consulates across the United States in disseminating information regarding the mother and baby institutions payment scheme for US-based survivors; the extent to which information has been shared with partner organisations in various US cities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13499/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs given that his Department remains the data holder for passports issued as part of the Ireland-US adoption scheme from the late 1940s through the 1970s, the efforts made by his Department to reach out to and contact families that adopted Irish children as part of the scheme and inform them of the Government's mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13500/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs given that the Department of Foreign Affairs remains the data holder for passports issued as part of the Ireland-US adoption scheme from the late 1940s through the early 1970s, the efforts made by his Department to reach out to and contact US Catholic charities in each diocese where children were adopted, and to seek their assistance in disseminating information about the payment scheme for impacted families in their area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13501/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for updated figures on the number of Irish Passports provided for children travelling out of the State jurisdiction for adoption in a different jurisdiction since 1946; the updated list of countries where these children were travelling to for adoption; the number of children travelling to each country for adoption; the efforts to inform these families of potential entitlements under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13502/25]
Further and Higher Education 5 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 8 October 2024, the status of the proposed new further education college in Galway city; if the revised business case, as requested, has been evaluated; to provide a breakdown of the €450 million national allocation over four years to four capital funding programmes announced on 14 February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14544/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made on policy measure 2.10 of ‘Our Living Islands Action Plan 2023-2026’ to work with partners to actively promote apprenticeships and skilled trades as a valuable career path and ensure appropriate responses are in place to enhance capacity of the education and training system to meet green skills and construction skills needs of the islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14547/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if it has been brought to his attention that a president has not been appointed to the University of Galway; how long the position has been vacant; if the process to recruit a president has started; when it is expected that the process will conclude; what engagement the Minister has had with the university in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14548/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on plans to provide additional student accommodation for the students of Galway; when the new national student accommodation strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14545/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board was requested to reduce its floor space from 25,000 metres squared to 10,000 metres squared in its revised business case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14546/25]
Rural 4 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the final business case for the redevelopment of Inis Oírr pier has now been received; and when approval will be granted to proceed with the project. [14535/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 92 of 10 October 2024, the status of the development of Caladh Mór pier on Inis Meáin; whether the independent consultant has been appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14536/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each of the policy measures detailed in the ‘Our Living Islands – Action Plan 2023-2026’; when an updated progress report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14532/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 10 October 2024, if the transfer of lands from the Department to the HSE has been completed; to provide an update on the plans for the remainder of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14533/25]
Agriculture 3 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 26 September 2024, the status of the report further to the public consultation on a review of trawling activity inside the six-nautical-mile zone which closed on 12 April 2024; when a decision will be made regarding the introduction of measures to protect the fishes concentrated within the six-nautical-mile zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13799/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications to the organic payment scheme received by his Department from Galway city and county to date; the number approved; the number refused and the reasons therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13803/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of funding allocated to the wool council since its establishment on 5 April 2023; if all of the €30,000 allocated in seed funding to the Council has now been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13800/25]
Children 3 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline all efforts to advertise the mother and baby institutions payment scheme to date, in what countries beyond the UK, the budget committed to such efforts, the nature of such advertisements, that is, via social media, radio, print media, dissemination of information via Irish cultural-heritage centres, advertisements at bus shelters and so on, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13504/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline specific efforts to advertise the mother and baby institutions payment scheme in the United States, in what States and or cities, the budget committed to such efforts, and the nature of all such advertisements that is, social media, radio, print media, dissemination of information via Irish cultural/heritage centres, advertisements at bus-shelters and so on, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13505/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will instruct the Adoption Authority of Ireland to contact all registrants on the national adoption contact preference register, since its inception in 2005, to provide information about the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13506/25]
Environment 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the plans for the new Gas Networks Ireland, GNI, LNG gas jetty will be available; the way in which the plans will be subject to public scrutiny and review; if it is intended that GNI will purchase or lease a floating storage and regassification unit, FRSU, to be moored at the jetty in the long term; the way in which his Department will monitor the refilling of the FRSU to cater for boil-off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13443/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport to provide details of all inspections that have taken place under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) (Amendment) Order, 1989 to enforce the prohibition of the use of Irish airspace for the carriage of munitions of war, weapons, ammunition and dangerous goods by year since October 2023 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14304/25]

Hildegarde Naughton — Fine Gael 7 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

John Connolly — Fianna Fáil 7 votes · 21 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 21 total

Transport 3 questions
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the number and location of IRCG Coast Guard station building projects being progressed in conjunction with the OPW which are currently at preliminary design stage and pre-planning stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14479/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the efforts of the RSA to relocate the driving test centre in Galway city away from the existing location at the Westside Shopping Centre to an alternative location; if information in relation to the location of the new centre will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14882/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department can provide emergency funding to local authorities for road-safety measures to create road-safety infrastructure where dangerous situations exist for pedestrians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14885/25]
Public Expenditure 2 questions
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on discussions between his Department and a landowner regarding the acquisition of a site for the provision of a coastguard station for the Cleggan branch of the IRCG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14480/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when his Department will assign a project team to commence the planning and detailed design stages of the development of a new Coastguard station for the Cleggan unit of the IRCG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14481/25]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 20 February 2025, to provide further clarity in relation to the total number of critical skills employment permits awarded in 2024 in each employment category, as per the standard occupational classification system. [14489/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications made for general employment permits in 2024, and the number of applications which were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14883/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding available within his Department to provide financial support to local authorities to purchase lands for their use as cemeteries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14482/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding provided to every local authority for the provision of emergency accommodation in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14483/25]
Justice 2 questions
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice to provide the number of new applications made to Immigration Service Delivery under each stamp category in 2023 and 2024; the cumulative data on the outcome of each application, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14486/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice to provide the number of renewal applications made to Immigration Service Delivery under each stamp category in 2023 and 2024; the cumulative data on the outcome of each renewal application, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14487/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the considerations her Department has given to the inclusion of fibromyalgia as a recognised illness on the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14477/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an initial appointment at the paediatric rheumatology services at Children's Health Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14485/25]
Rural 2 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the progress towards the establishment of an urban communities initiative to revitalise disadvantaged city areas, as per the Programme for Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14572/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will review the eligibility criteria of CLÁR, with a view to expanding the programme to rural areas which are currently ineligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14573/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach the engagements he had with the National Emergency Coordination Group in the days before, during and after Storm Éowyn. [13732/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education for an update on the emergency works application of a school (details supplied). [14490/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-03-26 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all participants who participated in the sheep welfare scheme in 2024 who had penalties applied following an on-site inspection have received payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14478/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-03-27 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the work within his Department to prepare a new five-year apprenticeship action plan 2026-2030. [14613/25]
Defence 1 question
- 2025-03-27 Deputy John Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to seek the reopening of a pedestrian walkway for public access in a location adjacent to the grounds of Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa military barracks at Renmore, Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14884/25]
Tourism 1 question
- 2025-03-27 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the resources provided within his Department for the summer camps scheme, which provides Irish language enrichment and acquisition opportunities for young people in the out-of-school environment during the summer; and whether an increase could be provided to support organisations which seek to organise such summer camps through the medium of Irish. [14881/25]

Mairéad Farrell — Sinn Féin 7 votes · 15 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 15 total

Environment 5 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications considering the large unexplained mortalities of 1,079+ sexually mature adult Atlantic salmon in the Ballysadare River, County Sligo in July 2024, how the rod angling harvestable quota can increase by nearly 300% for this calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14887/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications under the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Bag Limits) Bye-Law No. 1013 of 2024, the number of salmon licences, either local or national, that a recreational angler may be in possession of in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14888/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to his Department producing a publication titled 'Towards a Policy Framework for Inland Fisheries in Ireland - A Roadmap' on 27 January 2021, why this policy initiative was a complete failure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14889/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications given that, between 19 November and 18 December 2024, inclusive, his Department ran a public consultation on the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2024 and Conservation Measures for the 2025 Season, but that, less than twenty four hours after the consultation closed these regulations were signed into law on 19 December, whether the consultation was just a box ticking exercise for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14890/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications given that last year, the fish health unit of the Marine Institute identified the Aeromonas hydrophila bacterium in wild brown trout from Lough Corrib SAC, what measures his Department, and Inland Fisheries Ireland, will put in place to prevent the spread of this bacteria to other watercourses, particularly wild brown trout populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14891/25]
Further and Higher Education 3 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that are being taken to increase the teaching through the Irish language in third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13955/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what dealings his Department has had with Coleg Cymraeg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13956/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail which courses are currently taught through the Irish language across the university sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13957/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address issues with the ACRES payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13486/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will provide funding for the new bridge in Sligo (details supplied); if so, the estimated allocation for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13460/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if lands which are subject to RZLT and are currently in probate following the death of the landowner will be exempted from the tax until ownership of the lands is settled; if the families of the deceased person should apply for rezoning prior to 1 April 2025 in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13971/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to outline, in relation to public procurement carried out at local authority level, his views on reports (details supplied) that chief executives are aware of the European Commission’s statement that ‘The 2014 Public Procurement Directives allow contracting authorities to introduce social and ethical considerations in public procurement, including those related to human rights due diligence in international supply chains’, as currently some councillors are being informed by certain chief executives that such ethical considerations are incompatible with current EU procurement directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13894/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason his decision to close stage 1 of the HAS following storm Éowyn on 19 February 2025 was not announced or publicised, informing people of the deadline; and if applications that have been refused on this basis will be reviewed in light of this. [14228/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on Ireland’s obligations to comply with international law with regard to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, particularly with regard to the Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 and the use of Shannon Airport for transporting military aid for Israel; the steps he is taking to meet these obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14720/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many Ministerial consents (ARC 02 stocking or re-stocking of fish) have been issued to Inland Fisheries Ireland under S.I. No. 545/2018 - European Union Habitats (Lough Arrow Special Area of Conservation) Regulations 2018 for the re-stocking of invasive pike into Lough Arrow SAC during stock management operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14886/25]

Noel Grealish — Independent 7 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Seán Kyne — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 3 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 3 returns

Endometriosis Association of Ireland · 2 returns Health
- Email Invitation to Annual Conference
- Status of National Framework
Cormac McKay Transport
- Garda Dash Cam upload Portal, Digital Drivers Licence and UNECE 167 Driver vision