Dublin South-West — week of Mon, 7 Apr — Watch Them Work

What your Dublin South-West TDs did this week

Mon, 7 Apr – 13 Apr 2025 · 5 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 50 questions · 4 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 1 Seán Crowe

Voted against 1 John Lahart

Did not vote 3 Ciarán Ahern · Colm Brophy · Paul Murphy

Water Services (Repeal of Water Charges) Bill 2025

2025-04-09 · 1 vote

The motion · motion failed 64–83

Voted for 2 Paul Murphy · Seán Crowe

Voted against 1 John Lahart

Did not vote 2 Ciarán Ahern · Colm Brophy

Protecting the Irish Economy Against Increasing Trade Tariffs

2025-04-09 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 83–65

Voted for 1 John Lahart

Voted against 2 Paul Murphy · Seán Crowe

Did not vote 2 Ciarán Ahern · Colm Brophy

The motion · motion passed 83–65

Voted for 1 John Lahart

Voted against 2 Paul Murphy · Seán Crowe

Did not vote 2 Ciarán Ahern · Colm Brophy

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-04-08 · 1 vote

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

Voted for 1 John Lahart

Voted against 3 Ciarán Ahern · Paul Murphy · Seán Crowe

Did not vote 1 Colm Brophy

Ciarán Ahern — Labour Party 1 vote · 7 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 7 total

Environment 5 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeframe for the public consultation on the national building renovation plan, required under the energy performance in buildings directive by December 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17413/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will intervene to stop the construction of the Shannon LNG terminal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18315/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the Climate Action Plan 2026; when he expects the plan to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18069/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has undertaken a review electricity costs and the current market design to determine the cause of high prices in Ireland when compared to other EU Member States; if so, whether his Department will publish that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18067/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update regarding Ireland’s post-2030 wind energy strategy; if work is underway to develop a policy document in this regard; when he expects that work to be complete and a policy document published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18066/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education for an update on the expansion of the autism class in a school (details supplied); when the expanded class is expected to be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17414/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the corrective actions he will take to ensure that the transport sector meets its emissions reductions targets by 2030 and does not exceed the sectoral emissions ceilings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18316/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Tallaght Community Council (TCC) Community
- Invited all 5 x TDs from Dublin South West to a roundtable meeting to discuss GE2025 issues relating to Tallaght. These include items such as heritage, policing and accessibility.

Colm Brophy — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

John Lahart — Fianna Fáil 5 votes · 8 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 8 total

Social 2 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to adding inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, to the list of conditions eligible for disability allowance, given that it is a lifelong illness with no known cure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16662/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider removing the means test for disability allowance, to prevent financial dependence and vulnerability among people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16663/25]
Environment 2 questions
- 2025-04-10 Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress made in terms of the provision of energy locally, by the Dublin Waste To Energy facility operated by Dublin City Council in a public-private partnership with three other companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17841/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on any district heating projects connected with data centres having either being rolled out or being rolled out nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17838/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach to report on the work of the child poverty programme in his Department. [13734/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the concerns among students sitting the Leaving Certificate in 2025 regarding the impact of grade inflation from previous years on CAO competition; his views on measures such as ring-fencing places or adjusting grade calculations to ensure fairness for all applicants; and the steps being taken to support equity in the third-level admissions process. [17387/25]
Defence 1 question
- 2025-04-09 Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on progress towards achieving the high-level goal for the Defence Forces, as set out in the Department of Defence and Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2023 - 2026: "to provide for the military defence of the State, contribute to national and international peace and security and fulfil all other roles assigned by Government”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17820/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-04-09 Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance the plans with regard to the Programme for Government commitment to bring forward measures to support SMEs, in particular the retail and hospitality sectors, acknowledging the increased cost pressures on these sectors; if this will entail changes to VAT, PRSI and other measures; if these measures will be implemented as part of the normal budget process; the plans he has in Budget 2026 with regard to a PRSI rebate for SME’s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17935/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Tallaght Community Council (TCC) Community
- Invited all 5 x TDs from Dublin South West to a roundtable meeting to discuss GE2025 issues relating to Tallaght. These include items such as heritage, policing and accessibility.

Paul Murphy — People Before Profit-Solidarity 4 votes · 33 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 33 total

Housing 9 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cause of a death of a hippo in Dublin Zoo (details supplied); and the steps that have been taken by the zoo to avoid this reoccurring. [16546/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an independent investigation will be carried out into the condition of hippos in Dublin Zoo after contact by an organisation (details supplied); if the results of that investigation will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16547/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to respond to the call by an organisation (details supplied) to phase out the keeping of elephants in Dublin Zoo; whether he accepts the evidence provided; and whether he will announce a phase out of elephants from Dublin Zoo, starting with a prohibition on breeding and a ban on the import of elephants to Ireland. [16548/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the case of persons (details supplied); if he will request his Department to investigate this matter to ensure that landlords are fulfilling their legal obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17011/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an exact date for when the tenant-in-situ scheme will be reinstated and made fully accessible to applicants; what level of funding will be provided for each local authority, and the target number of homes to be provided per local authority under the scheme; how the delays have impacted people relying on this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17241/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of local authority homes that were retrofitted under the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme in 2024, broken down by local authority and property type; how this compares to the programme's targets for the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17274/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the Government intends to increase funding for the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for local authority housing in 2025 in light of inflation and rising construction costs, to ensure that retrofit targets can be met without scaling back ambition or delaying works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17275/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the ESRI report "Exploring Investment Requirements for Energy Efficiency Upgrades in the Private Rental Sector", which underscores the scale of investment needed and the challenges specific to the rental sector, when the Government intends to implement the minimum BER standard for private rental properties as committed to in Housing for All, with a target start date of 2025; and what steps are being taken to ensure the timeline is met in a way that protects tenants, supports retrofitting with tenants in situ and avoids unintended consequences such as evictions or rent inflation. [17276/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the ESRI estimate that €7-8 billion will be required to bring private rental housing up to a B2 energy rating, how the Government intends on meeting this investment need, and whether a funding strategy is being developed to ensure the rollout of minimum BER standards proceeds on schedule, while ensuring tenants are protected from rent increases or displacement during retrofit works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17277/25]
Health 5 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will prepare a ten year national allergy strategy, including the provision of appropriate training for GPs and those in education and care settings. [17006/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if palforzia will be made available by the HSE. [17007/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if oral immunotherapy will be provided by the HSE for those suffering from allergies. [17008/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if oral immunotherapy will be provided under the treatment abroad scheme. [17009/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if oral food challenges will be provided by the HSE for those suffering from allergies. [17010/25]
Environment 5 questions
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out, commissioned, or consulted on any research into the likely climate impact of US LNG imported into Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17929/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the role of data centres and capacity payments in pushing up the cost of energy for households and privatising the energy system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17930/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the climate action plan for 2025 will be published; the way in which the actions in it for this year can be implemented when it is four months into the year and it has not yet been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17928/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on whether a commercial LNG facility along the lines of Shannon LNG is compatible with the State’s legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17927/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will publish a report by an organisation (details supplied) reviewing its recommendations in relation to the necessity of LNG for energy security; if he will outline the conclusions of that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17931/25]
Education 3 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education what action she will take to increase capitation and other funding for schools so they are able to meet their running costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17229/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she supports the objective of providing an additional needs class for every school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17230/25]
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in 2024 average grade inflation for Leaving Certificate students was 7.5%, in 2025 it will be lowered to 5.5.%, thus the class of 2025 will get approximately 15 to 16 points less than last year, however one in four CAO applicants in 2025 will be using their points from 2024; the way in which she plans to ensure that there is fairness between CAO applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17741/25]
Agriculture 3 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will instruct his Department to examine the conditions in relation to horse drawn carriages to ensure these animals are not placed under excessive stress such as when carrying excessive loads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16669/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the incident in which a foal was killed on a Dublin road (details supplied), in an area with a high concentration of horses; if, in order to prevent this in future, he will instruct his Department to look into setting up stables in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16676/25]
- 2025-04-10 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the total costs of the trade mission to Nigeria and Senegal in September 2023, including the costs of the research and materials produced as part of the mission.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18234/25]
Taoiseach 2 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach to report on the work of the child poverty and well-being programme in his Department. [12378/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee dealing with transport will meet next. [12379/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will conduct an updated poverty impact assessment of age-related rates of jobseeker's for young people aged 18-24 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17004/25]
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration will be given to providing a ‘cost of allergy’ payment to those suffering from severe allergies. [17367/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport for the aircraft registration numbers of Irish-registered civil aircraft operating outside Ireland who were granted exemptions to permit the carriage of munitions of war from October 2023 to March 2025, in tabular form. [16698/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance to comment on the regressive nature of the tax saver ticket and cycle to work schemes, whereby those on higher incomes benefit from cheaper transport than those on lower incomes; and whether he will make adjustments to the schemes to ensure everybody can benefit. [17457/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of bodies or agencies of the State within his Department working with data centre companies to advance completion of data centre projects in Ireland. [17272/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of service providers that have pulled out of the core funding scheme since its introduction in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16917/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Tallaght Community Council (TCC) Community
- Invited all 5 x TDs from Dublin South West to a roundtable meeting to discuss GE2025 issues relating to Tallaght. These include items such as heritage, policing and accessibility.

Seán Crowe — Sinn Féin 5 votes · 2 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 2 total

Transport 1 question
- 2025-04-08 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if the feasibility study for Metro SouthWest has been initiated, and if not, whether terms of reference have been agreed; if the planning application for the project has been finalised; the projected cost of the project; and if a potential costing has been made for an extension from Charlemont to St Stephens Green. [17592/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-04-09 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the fact that parents have been informed that there are no speech and language or occupational therapy services available in the Ballyboden primary care centre; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that when these parents seek to access these therapies in other HSE centres they are informed that this is not possible as they are outside the catchment area; the date by which SLT and OT will be made available in Ballyboden; the options that will be made available to patients and their parents in the interim;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18031/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Tallaght Community Council (TCC) Community
- Invited all 5 x TDs from Dublin South West to a roundtable meeting to discuss GE2025 issues relating to Tallaght. These include items such as heritage, policing and accessibility.