Dublin Bay North — week of Mon, 7 Apr

What your Dublin Bay North TDs did this week

Mon, 7 Apr – 13 Apr 2025 · 5 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 60 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

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

2025-04-09 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 65–83

Voted for 2 Cian O'Callaghan · Denise Mitchell

Voted against 3 Barry Heneghan · Naoise Ó Muirí · Tom Brabazon

Water Services (Repeal of Water Charges) Bill 2025

2025-04-09 · 1 vote

The motion · motion failed 64–83

Voted for 2 Cian O'Callaghan · Denise Mitchell

Voted against 3 Barry Heneghan · Naoise Ó Muirí · Tom Brabazon

Protecting the Irish Economy Against Increasing Trade Tariffs

2025-04-09 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 83–65

Voted for 3 Barry Heneghan · Naoise Ó Muirí · Tom Brabazon

Voted against 2 Cian O'Callaghan · Denise Mitchell

The motion · motion passed 83–65

Voted for 3 Barry Heneghan · Naoise Ó Muirí · Tom Brabazon

Voted against 2 Cian O'Callaghan · Denise Mitchell

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-04-08 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 87–70

Voted for 3 Barry Heneghan · Naoise Ó Muirí · Tom Brabazon

Voted against 2 Cian O'Callaghan · Denise Mitchell

Barry Heneghan — Independent 5 votes · 33 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 33 total

Education 10 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the current status of the permanent school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will commit to visiting the site to see first-hand the urgent need for permanent accommodation for students and staff. [16959/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education if she will take into account the findings of a recent survey (details supplied), which received 1,231 valid parental responses representing 2,323 children, in which 73% of respondents expressed a preference for a co-educational school and 59% for a non-denominational model; noting that currently there is no such post-primary option in the survey's area, and just 5% expressed a preference for a single-sex, religious-run school; and if she agrees that the education system must evolve to reflect the preferences and needs of the next generation of families. [16958/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education his views on the lack of action to provide a co-educational, non-denominational school in the Killester Raheny Clontarf school planning area (details supplied). [12434/25]
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an updated timeline for the progression of the permanent school building project for a school (details supplied), given that planning permission was regranted in December 2023 and the design team is currently finalising tender documents; when the project is expected to proceed to tender and construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18078/25]
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education given the concerns raised by parents about the issue of grade inflation, particularly regarding its impact on the Class of 2025, the steps she is taking to ensure that these students are not unfairly disadvantaged in their pursuit of university places. [18080/25]
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education considering that the adjustments made in response to the pandemic may create challenges for current Leaving Certificate candidates competing against students from previous years, if she will consider measures such as aligning the grading of non-2025 applicants with the adjustments made for this year's candidates for the CAO application process. [18081/25]
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education the assurances she will provide to ensure a fair and balanced assessment system that accurately reflects the hard work of the class of 2025. [18082/25]
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education if she will review the policy on incremental credit for post-primary teachers with overseas experience in private schools, given that such experience is recognised for primary teachers but not at post-primary level (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18087/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a breakdown of how the 1,600 new special needs assistant posts for 2025 will be distributed across the country, and specifically how many will be allocated to schools in Dublin Bay north, given ongoing reports of unmet need in the area. [18327/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education whether she will commit to streamlining the NCSE review process for schools seeking additional special needs assistant support, in light of concerns that delays in decision making are impacting students with autism and complex needs; and if she will provide average processing times for such reviews in the past 12 months. [18328/25]
Housing 5 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he will take to deal with the expiration of planning permissions in the next five years; the actions that should implemented to urgently activate the planning permissions that are at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17647/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce schemes that encourage mutual home ownership model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17648/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will deal with the significant decrease in planning permissions, specifically in the three Dublin council areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17649/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending eligibility for the vacant property refurbishment grant to include the conversion of vacant or underutilised retail premises such as "above the shop" units into residential accommodation, given the potential to deliver up to 20,000 additional homes as highlighted in the recent Hardware Association of Ireland report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18333/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for finalising and publishing the revised local authority level social and affordable housing targets for the 2025 to 2030 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18334/25]
Environment 5 questions
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out any cross-simulation or cost analysis of the fines Ireland may incur if it fails to meet its 2030 climate targets; his views on whether equivalent investment would be better directed towards domestic climate action measures rather than paying fines to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18131/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps being taken to ensure that the development of offshore wind and green hydrogen infrastructure directly benefits Irish communities and the domestic economy, including potential job creation and revenue generation for the State. [18329/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the specific measures being taken to attract private and foreign investment into Ireland’s green hydrogen sector; and whether any partnership agreements have been established to support the development of large-scale hydrogen projects. [18330/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is investigating the successful cases of portable hydrogen fuel cells to replace diesel generators within the film industry as we transition to our sustainability goals; if he will examine other industries that could transition to the use of hydrogen or green hydrogen, and if so, what are the findings of the benefits of the switch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18331/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the detailed implementation plan for the national hydrogen strategy will be published; and if he will provide a timeline for the delivery of the 21 actions outlined within the strategy. [18332/25]
Transport 3 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether changes should be made by the NTA regarding the application of the grants process for WAVs; his further views on whether the current system in use is fair and equitable as many drivers have not been able to have access to the system in 2025 (details supplied). [17640/25]
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport if he will commit to giving an increase to CIÉ pensioners, the group have seen no increase for the past 17 years, if he will accept that the current situation needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18085/25]
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport if there is a mechanism to appeal the requirement to pay motor tax arrears in cases where a vehicle was genuinely off the road but was not formally declared as such in advance (details Suppled); if there are any circumstances under which tax liability can be waived or refunded for periods during which the vehicle was not in use; and in the absence of an appeal process, he will consider introducing one to account for genuine cases of hardship or oversight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18086/25]
Public Expenditure 2 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the rationale for the National Shared Services Office refusing to post hard copy pay slips on each payment date to pensioners, particularly those advanced in years, some of whom are living alone, who cannot obtain their payslips online as they do not own a mobile phone or a computer, and therefore cannot keep track of payments, and in particular deductions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16549/25]
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department will examine how preventative measures to address the increased risk of coastal flooding can incorporate features that also deliver positive environmental benefits, such as enhancing biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18079/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a memorandum of understanding or formal data-sharing agreement exists between An Garda Síochána and the Department of Social Protection concerning the transfer of personal data for social welfare investigations; whether such an agreement includes provisions governing data-sharing by An Garda Síochána members seconded to the Department of Justice; whether the agreement permits or restricts the onward sharing by the Department of Justice of data relating to social welfare inspections received by seconded An Garda Síochána members to other public bodies for non-law enforcement purposes, such as administrative or employment-related decisions; and whether such onward sharing would require the knowledge or consent of the seconded An Garda Síochána members performing social welfare inspections. [17643/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if, when an individual is making an application for an additional needs’ payment, State redress payments are considered when means are being taken into account. [17641/25]
Justice 2 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice when he intends to publish the second Bill arising from the General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022, specifically dealing with the regulation of distance selling of alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17646/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice for a complete breakdown of the number of young persons referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme by Garda district in Dublin for the past 10 years, in tabular form. [18326/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will commit funding in Budget 2026 to establish a community neurorehabilitation team for the north Dublin area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17642/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider amending the forthcoming alcohol labelling regulations to allow for a standardised approach to wine labelling commencing with the 2026 vintage; if she will remove the requirement for per-container nutritional information, which conflicts with existing EU legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17645/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline for the introduction in Dáil Éireann of the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021, which has already passed through Seanad Éireann; his position on the protection of the native Irish honey bee apis mellifera mellifera, in light of recent research highlighting the uniqueness of the Irish ecotype; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18083/25]
Tourism 1 question
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he is aware of the ongoing shortage of pitch availability for sports clubs throughout Dublin Bay north, particularly in areas experiencing rapid population growth; if he will engage with local authorities to identify solutions and support the development of additional playing facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18335/25]

Cian O'Callaghan — Social Democrats 5 votes · 8 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 8 total

Taoiseach 2 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach for an update in respect of the programme plan for child well-being. [17121/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [17122/25]
Foreign 2 questions
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will take action at the EU level to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Hungary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17697/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the two Irish citizens facing deportation from Germany for taking part in peaceful protests; whether he has engaged with the German embassy on this issue; what support his officials are offering these citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18346/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the plans to ensure a new school (details supplied) is compliant with fire safety regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17278/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if there is an exemption for motor tax if the car was off the road for the entire year of unpaid tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18345/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasoning for having a cut-off point of 28 March for the pay-related job benefits scheme; why people who lost their jobs before this date are excluded from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18347/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if he plans to roll out live facial recognition technology as a policing tactic; the safeguards that will be put in place to protect the privacy and civil liberties of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18323/25]

Denise Mitchell — Sinn Féin 5 votes · 3 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 3 total

Foreign 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagement he had with authorities in Germany regarding the deportation of two Irish citizens [details supplied] in relation to their attendance at pro-Palestine protests despite those citizens not having been found guilty of any crime; if the Minister has liaised with the two Irish citizens or their representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17127/25]
Tourism 1 question
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he will consider the inclusion of a club (details supplied) on the list for the large scale sport infrastructure fund; if the club is included on the reserve list; the other grants or schemes that would be available to the club to renovate and modernise an old Catholic church which it has recently purchased for use as a clubhouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17652/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to allow those who have been made redundant since the beginning of 2025 to avail of the jobseeker's pay-related benefit scheme rather than just those made redundant since 31 March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17653/25]

Naoise Ó Muirí — Fine Gael 5 votes · 5 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 5 total

Education 2 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education to provide a timeline for the introduction of a DEIS Plus programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17225/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education if her Department has examined initiatives to assist dyslexic students to study Irish at post-primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17226/25]
Environment 1 question
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the roll out of the National Broadband Ireland service in Portmarnock, north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9836/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has considered providing a pathway for reimbursing motor tax for people who were unable to declare their vehicle temporarily off the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18190/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has considered weighting the CAO points of former students to ensure parity with this year’s Leaving Certificate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18189/25]

Tom Brabazon — Fianna Fáil 5 votes · 11 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 11 total

Education 4 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Education the steps her Department is taking to increase the numbers of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists for students with additional needs in primary and secondary schools. [17045/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Education for an update on the construction of a new school building for a school (details supplied); the stage of the development process the project is at; when construction will commence, when it is expected that construction will be completed; and if she will visit the school to allay the concerns of staff, students and parents in relation to the delays. [17046/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Education the amount that her Department has spent to date on the construction of a building (details supplied); and the final cost expected for this project. [16997/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide additional school places commensurate with planned buildings and population expansion in the Balgriffin, Portmarnock, Baldoyle, Clongriffin and Belmayne areas. [18292/25]
Health 3 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health if funding is available this year to refurbish Raheny health centre, Dublin 5. [16991/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the primary care centres and or health centres within CHO9 that currently offer adult mental health day services, in tabular form. [16992/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the nature of refurbishment works that were carried out at Clontarf Orthopaedic Hospital in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [16993/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the amount of rent the OPW has paid for an office (details supplied) since it opened, in tabular form; when the rent review for this office is due next; and if the OPW has the ability to seek a reduction in rent rates in the next rent review period. [16994/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Justice the number of requests submitted by the Garda divisional officer within Dublin north division requesting approval for extra Garda vehicles be deployed to the Dublin north division in 2024 and to-date in 2025; and the number of those requests that have been approved in each of the years in question, in tabular form. [16995/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the works on resurfacing the east pier upper deck at Howth Harbour will commence; and the estimated completion timeframe for these works. [16998/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE vacancies, by job title currently at Clontarf, Kilbarrack and Coolock children's disability network teams; when each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [16996/25]