Louth — week of Mon, 24 Mar — Watch Them Work

What your Louth TDs did this week

Mon, 24 Mar – 30 Mar 2025 · 5 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 77 questions · 1 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 Joanna Byrne · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Voted against 2 Erin McGreehan · Paula Butterly

Did not vote 1 Ged Nash

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 67–88

Voted for 2 Joanna Byrne · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Voted against 2 Erin McGreehan · Paula Butterly

Did not vote 1 Ged Nash

Social Housing Tenant In Situ Scheme

2025-03-26 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 87–71

Voted for 2 Erin McGreehan · Paula Butterly

Voted against 2 Joanna Byrne · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Did not vote 1 Ged Nash

The motion · motion passed 87–70

Voted for 2 Erin McGreehan · Paula Butterly

Voted against 2 Joanna Byrne · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Did not vote 1 Ged Nash

Triple Lock Mechanism and Irish Neutrality

2025-03-26 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 87–69

Voted for 2 Erin McGreehan · Paula Butterly

Voted against 2 Joanna Byrne · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Did not vote 1 Ged Nash

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 Joanna Byrne · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Voted against 2 Erin McGreehan · Paula Butterly

Did not vote 1 Ged Nash

The motion · motion passed 110–47

Voted for 2 Erin McGreehan · Paula Butterly

Voted against 2 Joanna Byrne · Ruairí Ó Murchú

Did not vote 1 Ged Nash

Erin McGreehan — Fianna Fáil 7 votes · 17 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 17 total

Health 9 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to provide detailed information on the current waiting lists for psychology care within HSE primary care psychology services; the length of time children aged 0-17 years-old are typically waiting to access these services; and the measures being taken to reduce these waiting times. [14132/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to clarify the expertise available within each primary care centre under HSE primary care psychology services; to confirm, given it is stated that each centre usually has a team of occupational therapists, psychologists, nurses, and social workers, whether these teams are adequately equipped to address a broad range of psychological issues for children aged up to 17 years of age. [14133/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals allocated treatment under the National Counselling Services from 2022 to 2024 in the Louth-Meath area, in tabular form; and for an update on the current waiting list, including the number of individuals waiting, the demographics of those receiving counselling services, the referral process, and the typical waiting time for referred individuals. [14135/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Covid-19 inquiry. [14136/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to the ongoing Covid-19 inquiry, there is a method for the general public and healthcare workers to make disclosures to the Chair of the Covid-19 inquiry (details supplied); and how they can contact the Chair to provide information on what occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic. [14137/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if guidance will be issued to civil and public servants explaining how they should interact with Covid-19 inquiries. [14138/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider including Crohn’s and Colitis in the long-term illness scheme. [14139/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to outline the drug rehabilitation and addiction services available in Louth, including the number of centres in the country, a detailed list of services provided, the number of patients served, and the current waiting lists; and to provide a breakdown of waiting lists per CHO area, in each of the years 2020 to 2024, in tabular form. [14140/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health for an update on when construction will be completed on Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Ardee, County Louth. [14145/25]
Finance 2 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to change the current inheritance tax policy for individuals without children, to increase the inheritance tax exemption threshold for these individuals. [14129/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Finance to provide clarity on vehicle registration tax payments for cross-Border workers who work in Northern Ireland and receive a company car registered in Northern Ireland for business engagements, despite living and being resident in the Republic of Ireland, where the car resides overnight. [14141/25]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has engaged with Dundalk Institute of Technology regarding the progression of the institute to university status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14626/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has plans to add more courses in the further education sector specifically designed for people with disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14627/25]
Rural 2 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding available for his Department for the upkeep of rural roads. [14620/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the local improvement scheme will next open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14621/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to financially reward farmers for carbon sequestration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13687/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Transport the reason Dundalk has been excluded from the new zonal ticketing system for the Dublin Commuter Area, as outlined in the 2024 public transport fares determination; if he will consider including Dundalk in this system, given its impact on the Taxsaver fare structure. [14134/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Polio Survivors Ireland Social Protection
- Meeting with TD at Leinster House

Ged Nash — Labour Party 0 votes · 10 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 10 total

Health 4 questions
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if, in light of the correspondence between an organisation (details supplied) and the HSE regarding a service level agreement application submitted on 8 July 2024, as well as subsequent communications, she will provide an update on the status of the application; the steps her Department and or the HSE has taken on the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14238/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when she plans to meet with representatives of a victims group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14740/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if her Department has received legal advice requested by her predecessor in September 2024 from the Attorney General in relation to the publication of the 'Drogheda Review' undertaken by Judge TC Smyth in 2009; the date on which the formal advice was received by her Department from the Attorney General; if she will outline her next steps on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14796/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when she expects the review currently being undertaken in relation to issues pertaining to the indemnity agreement signed off by the Medical Missionaries of Mary in the context of the transfer of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to the former North Eastern Health Board in 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14897/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether the allocation of €1 billion in additional capital investment to Uisce Éireann announced as part of budget 2025 on 1 October 2024 is additional funding or part of its existing funding requirements; his Department's understanding of how this funding is being allocated to non-domestic capital investment as outlined in the budget announcement for remedial action lists, connections for new housing and addressing urban wastewater pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13565/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an outline of how much of the additional €1 billion equity investment announced in budget 2025 on 1 October 2024 is being spent on delivering Uisce Éireann’s capital investment plan to support water infrastructure and housing; which capital projects are being allocated this additional investment in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13564/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she will investigate a case (details supplied) where the practice of determining teaching staff numbers based on the enrolment figures from the year before is resulting in this school facing huge class sizes in the autumn of this year, putting undue pressure on staff and pupils alike; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14780/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she accepts the case made by the principal of a school (details supplied); when will her Department will make a determination on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14781/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to confirm the names of the members of his Department's strategic economic advisory panel; how many times the panel has met; if he will provide me with its terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13419/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance when he plans to bring the credit union sector under the scope of the Dormant Accounts Act 2021, in order that the dormant accounts within credit unions can be repurposed for community projects. [14198/25]

Joanna Byrne — Sinn Féin 7 votes · 34 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 34 total

Children 9 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the existing disability services operating in the Louth constituency; the location of these services; the catchment area and population that each serves; the total number of staff employed within these services by grade and speciality; the number of vacant posts within these services by grade and speciality; whether there are any plans to expand these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14153/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in Louth who applied for an assessment of needs for each of the years 2020 to 2025; the number of assessment of needs carried out for the each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14319/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in Louth that are currently awaiting an assessment of need; the number of these children that have been waiting up to three months; the number waiting between three and six months; the number waiting between six and twelve months; the number waiting more than twelve months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14320/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average waiting time in Louth for a child seeking an assessment of needs. [14321/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the longest waiting time in Louth for a child seeking an assessment of needs. [14322/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of complaints and appeals received for each year from 2020 to 2025 respectively from persons in Louth who were dissatisfied with their child’s assessment of needs or service statement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14323/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the current pathway in place to process assessment of need applications for children in Louth. [14324/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown by grade of the current staffing resources in place to process assessment of need applications for children in Louth. [14325/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans or proposals in place to ensure that children can access an assessment of need and any subsequent recommended supports within the statutory timeframes, in Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14326/25]
Health 9 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the number of persons who have been removed from outpatient waiting lists, inpatient waiting lists and day case waiting lists, through the outpatient waiting list management protocol, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, and Louth County Hospital for each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13857/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the number of elective surgeries and procedures cancelled, by speciality, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Louth County Hospital for each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13858/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reasons appointments for services (details supplied) at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda have been cancelled; and when and where alternative appointments will be provided for persons living in the Louth area. [13883/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health to outline the existing ophthalmology services operating in County Louth; the location of these services; the number of persons currently employed within these services, by grade; whether there are plans to expand these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13885/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting a first appointment for ophthalmology services in Louth; the length of time these persons have been waiting for an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13886/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently awaiting a first appointment for ophthalmology services in Louth; the length of time these children have been waiting for an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13887/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of ophthalmologists currently operating within public health services in Louth; the number of vacancies currently unfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13888/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the current healthcare services provided at Louth County Hospital, Dundalk. [13892/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the current healthcare services provided at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. [13893/25]
Enterprise 7 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he will take in collaboration with the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland to support new businesses and jobs in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13830/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to confirm the foreign direct investment employment recorded in County Louth from 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025. [13831/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a breakdown of the current IDA business and technology parks available lands in County Louth; and the specific plans for available lands in the Drogheda and Dundalk areas. [13832/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA-backed industries and Enterprise Ireland-supported companies currently operating in County Louth. [13833/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons employed by IDA-backed industries in Drogheda and Dundalk from 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025. [13834/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons employed in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies in Drogheda and Dundalk from 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025. [13835/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering establishing a dedicated jobs task force for Drogheda to provide fundamental opportunities for job growth in Drogheda, as part of the programme for Government commitment to delivering continued growth and success; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13836/25]
Environment 5 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of heat pumps installed in County Louth under the warmer homes schemes and warmth and wellbeing schemes from 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14964/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of oil boilers and gas boilers replaced in County Louth under the warmer homes schemes and warmth and wellbeing schemes from 2020 to 2024, in tabular form. [14965/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding allocated to install heat pumps in County Louth under the warmer homes schemes and warmth and wellbeing schemes from 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14966/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding allocated to replace oil and gas boilers in County Louth under the warmer homes schemes and warmth and wellbeing schemes from 2020 to 2024.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14967/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the financial supports available to older persons in County Louth to replace oil and gas boilers following the signing of the EU regulations 2024 ( S.I. No. 749/2024); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14968/25]
Justice 4 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made in respect of a family reunification application (details supplied). [13532/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for family reunification received from persons residing in County Louth from 2020 to 2025. [14330/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Justice the average processing time for a family reunification application.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14331/25]
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for family reunification from persons residing in County Louth currently being processed. [14332/25]

Paula Butterly — Fine Gael 7 votes · 7 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 7 total

Agriculture 4 questions
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the operation of the agri-tax initiatives to help farmers and farm families with succession planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13816/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that there is an understanding of the importance of the Nitrates derogation among EU counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13814/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to report on the work underway with regard to the Nitrates derogation given its importance of sectors of Irish farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13815/25]
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he has had with Government colleagues and European counterparts with regard to the threat of tariffs on food produce from Ireland and Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13817/25]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the new strategy for the further education and training sector includes a review of infrastructure capacity so as to cater for the continued growth in demand for further education and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13980/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to report on the work of his Department in encouraging SMEs to avail of further education and training for their staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13981/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Transport to respond to correspondence received (details supplied) in relation to the 2025 Taxsaver fares determination and the new fare structure coming into effect in June this year; if the commuter zone tickets will be extended to Dundalk given the significant number of people commuting to Dublin on the train on a daily basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14039/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú — Sinn Féin 7 votes · 9 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 9 total

Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made with the Colleges of the Future initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13985/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the progress of the review of personal assistance services funded from the fund for students with disabilities across tertiary education settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13984/25]
Rural 2 questions
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline the applications process, assessment criteria and total funding allocated to date this year under the current community recognition fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13986/25]
- 2025-03-27 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline the future funding plans for the community recognition fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13987/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach the engagements he had with the National Emergency Coordination Group in the days before, during and after Storm Éowyn. [13484/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport if and when Dundalk will be included in the Dublin commuter zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13666/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on the review of their mother and baby institutions payment scheme application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13995/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-03-25 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated for personal assistant service and home support hours for CHO5; the means by which hours are allocated, cases are assessed, and appeals made; how needs of the individual are assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13777/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-03-26 Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education to outline the background and rationale for advising a home economics teacher currently working in a secondary school in Louth (details supplied), and who previously worked as a teacher in the same subject in the North of Ireland for 19 years, as to why she must complete skills training and assessment in order to get fully registered with the Teaching Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14465/25]