Laois — week of Mon, 28 Apr — Watch Them Work

What your Laois TDs did this week

Mon, 28 Apr – 4 May 2025 · 3 TDs · 6 bills voted on · 41 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024

2025-04-30 · 2 votes · Govt (Justice)

A bill to provide that defamation actions in the High Court shall not be tried with a jury

full description

A bill to provide that defamation actions in the High Court shall not be tried with a jury; to give effect to Directive (EU) 2024/1069 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings (‘Strategic lawsuits against public participation’) in so far as it relates to defamation proceedings; for those and other purposes to amend the Defamation Act 2009; and to provide for related matters.

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 64–86

Voted for 1 Brian Stanley

Voted against 2 Sean Fleming · William Aird

The motion · motion passed 86–64

Voted for 2 Sean Fleming · William Aird

Voted against 1 Brian Stanley

Unnecessary Hip Surgeries at Children's Health Ireland

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 85–68

Voted for 2 Sean Fleming · William Aird

Voted against 1 Brian Stanley

Special Education

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 85–68

Voted for 2 Sean Fleming · William Aird

Voted against 1 Brian Stanley

Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform on Orders of Reference and Establishment of Committees

2025-04-30 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 67–86

Voted for 1 Brian Stanley

Voted against 2 Sean Fleming · William Aird

The motion · motion passed 103–49

Voted for 2 Sean Fleming · William Aird

Voted against 1 Brian Stanley

Final Draft Revised National Planning Framework

2025-04-30 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 87–66

Voted for 2 Sean Fleming · William Aird

Voted against 1 Brian Stanley

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-04-29 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 84–70

Voted for 2 Sean Fleming · William Aird

Voted against 1 Brian Stanley

Brian Stanley — Independent 8 votes · 24 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 24 total

Social 9 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications registered per operational scheme for the period of 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18613/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of claims per operation scheme awarded for the period of 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18614/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications refused, per operational scheme, for the period of 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18615/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of decision reviews requested, per operational scheme, for the period of 2020 to 2024, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18616/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of decisions upheld upon review, per operational scheme for the period 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18617/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of social welfare appeals, requested per operational scheme for the period of 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18618/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of appeals completed, decisions upheld, and decisions overturned, per operational scheme, for the period of 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18619/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the average appeals processing time, per operational scheme, for the period of 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18620/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the assessment guidelines for exceptional needs payment issued by community welfare officers, specifically in relation to income and savings; the details of the levels of discretion to each deciding officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18621/25]
Health 8 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health which dentists are approved for services under the DTSS in County Laois; and to provide the list of applicants that do so. [19475/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in Laois who will now take on new clients under the DTSS scheme; and to supply the list of practices that do so . [19476/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding paid out to dental practices in County Laois who provided services under the DTSS scheme in 2024. [19477/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the response time for ambulances in Laois, from time of call to arrival at patient in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19548/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of call outs of ambulances in Laois between call been made and deployment that were in excess of two hours and separately of one hour to arrival at patient in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19549/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the response time for ambulances nationally from the time of call out to arrival at patient in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19550/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of call outs of ambulances nationally between call been made and deployment to arrive at patient that were more than two hours and separately one hour, in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19551/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health for an update on the site for Mountrath primary care centre in County Laois; what funding has been provided; the progress that has been made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20293/25]
Public Expenditure 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the Mountmellick flood relief scheme design will be complete; when it will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála for planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21284/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the finalised “additional report” regarding the Derrycloney part of the Mountmellick flood relief scheme will be made available to the local residents’ group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21285/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education if she will remove the barrier to those who are 70 and over from driving vehicles under the school transport scheme; if she will also allow drivers to continue in the scheme until they reach 75 years, provided they pass an annual medical and eye examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19403/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education if she will introduce a pension scheme for those school secretaries that are employed by boards of management and to give them parity with other school staff such as SNAs and teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21279/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when overdue updated guidelines on wind farm regulations will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21278/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when appropriate guidelines will be put in place for onshore wind farms, given the last guidelines were published in 2006 and then a draft in 2019, which went no further than draft stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19672/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance to examine the case for a simplified statement of liability process from Revenue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19865/25]

New lobbying 1 return

Sensational Kids CLG Health
- Emails to seek support for funding to complete the construction of the National Child Development Centre

Sean Fleming — Fianna Fáil 8 votes · 11 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 11 total

Health 5 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive special needs paediatric dental care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18849/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed allocation of funding for stages 2 and 3 in respect of a hospital project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19426/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Health to respond to the correspondence (details supplied) regarding a consultant neurologist for the midlands regional hospital Portlaoise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20232/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date situation in relation to a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20313/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Health to respond to correspondence (details supplied) regarding the drug Palforzia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20524/25]
Education 4 questions
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide fair pension for school secretaries and caretakers to ensure equity is provided as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19115/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education when urgent emergency works will be carried out for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20229/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education regarding schools that had been approved for additional SNA posts in their school and have since been told not to advertise the post as “the Department is approaching a cap on SNA’s nationally”; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20261/25]
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education if he will provide financial support to a school (details supplied) that have been approved for new ASD classes in the premises adjacent to the school; if it can be rented in the meantime until there are modular classrooms put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20575/25]
Environment 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how soon his Department will conclude its consideration of the consultation in relation to the extended producer scheme dealing with waste management (Tyres and Waste Tyres Regulation) 2017; if a decision is made on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19048/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-04-29 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the income threshold for the student contribution is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19253/25]

William Aird — Fine Gael 8 votes · 6 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 6 total

Enterprise 2 questions
- 2025-05-01 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has examined with other Government colleagues the possible assistance that Irish SMEs would require given the impact on tariffs and other measures by other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15188/25]
- 2025-05-01 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will reopen the increased cost of business grant scheme, as a vital measure for small and medium businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21932/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-05-01 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if her Department will engage with a company (details supplied) that has completed a HTA, for the provision of treatment for adults with spinal muscular atrophy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21933/25]
- 2025-05-01 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update regarding the location of a primary care centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21936/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-05-01 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice the number of S.56 family reunification applications on hand at the family reunification unit; the current processing times of applications; the number of FTE staff in the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21934/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-05-01 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the criteria used to include some institutions in the mother and baby homes institutions payments scheme; the reason selected institutions (details supplied) where children were accommodated for extended periods, were not identified as a relevant institution and were omitted from the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21935/25]