Galway West — week of Mon, 12 May — Watch Them Work

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 12 May – 18 May 2025 · 6 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 30 questions · 53 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Childcare

2025-05-14 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 83–65

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 83–66

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

Parental Choice in Education

2025-05-14 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 84–65

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 87–62

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

Housing and Critical Infrastructure

2025-05-14 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 82–66

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 83–66

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

Trade Union Recognition Bill 2021

2025-05-14 · 1 vote · People Before Profit-Solidarity PMB

A bill to provide a legal mechanism for trade union recognition for workers who comprise at least 20 per cent of the employees in an employment (or any category within that empl…

full description

A bill to provide a legal mechanism for trade union recognition for workers who comprise at least 20 per cent of the employees in an employment (or any category within that employment).

Whether the bill should proceed (Second Stage) · motion failed 66–82

Voted for 2 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Did not vote 1 Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 7 votes · 6 questions · 7 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 6 total

Health 3 questions
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 6 March 2025, if the development control plan and the options appraisal process for the master plan for University Hospital Galway has now been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23679/25]
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to ensure that Clifden hospital remains open on a permanent basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23680/25]
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 5 March 2025, the current staffing shortfall at the HSE’s Galway community audiology services; when the posts will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24343/25]
Justice 2 questions
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1516 of 29 April 2025, his views on the ‘Impact on Safety and Well-being’ chapter of the Review of the Operation of Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993, specifically that sex workers who contributed to the review outlined that the legislation had made their circumstances more dangerous; the steps he intends to take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24442/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice his plans to review the process whereby international protection applicants may, at very short notice, be moved from the communities in which they have established connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24441/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the plans for the development of Galway Harbour; the breakdown of residential accommodation in the mixed-tenure site, by accommodation type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24803/25]

New lobbying 7 returns

Rare Diseases Ireland Health
- Re-launch All Party Group on Rare Diseases. Update on the need for a new National Strategy for Rare Diseases, including background data on rare diseases in Ireland and the challenges that people living with rare diseases face.
Irish Council for Civil Liberties · 4 returns Justice and Equality
- Defamation (Amendment) Bill
- Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024
- Artificial Intelligence
- Historic Human Rights Violations
Sage Advocacy Health
- services provided by Sage Advocacy to survivors of institutional abuse
Threshold Tourism
- Short-Term Letting Legislation

Hildegarde Naughton — Fine Gael 7 votes · 0 questions · 18 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 18 returns

Thomas lally Development and Zoning
- The dezoning of my land at Cappagh RD, Barna, Galway by the planning regulator.
NCBI · 2 returns Budgetary matters · Education and Training
- Priorities for people who are blind or vision impaired
- Invitation to the Wayfinding Centre
Down Syndrome Ireland · 2 returns Children and Youth Affairs · Education and Training
- Meeting with Minister for Disability to discuss special school allocation
- Meeting with Minster for Disability on education issues.
Multiple Sclerosis Ireland Health
- Met with Ministers to brief on neurology and MS issues
Irish Association of Social Workers Social Protection
- IASW Response to the Farrelly Commission Report
Rare Diseases Ireland Health
- Re-launch All Party Group on Rare Diseases. Update on the need for a new National Strategy for Rare Diseases, including background data on rare diseases in Ireland and the challenges that people living with rare diseases face.
Sightsavers Ireland Foreign Affairs
- Retention of ODA funding, increase for funding for disability inclusive development
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA · 8 returns Agriculture
- ACRES - Spring Lobbying 2025
- Bovine TB
- Rewetting of Peatlands
- IFA Galway Meeting
- Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Payments
- Urgent Support for Farmers Impacted by Storm Eowyn
- Bovine TB - Spring Lobbying 2025
- Nitrates Derogation - IFA Spring Lobbying 2025
Disability Federation of Ireland Justice and Equality
- Oireachtas Disability Group, ODG, disability priorities for the new Programme for Government

John Connolly — Fianna Fáil 7 votes · 8 questions · 10 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 8 total

Justice 3 questions
- 2025-05-14 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the efforts he is making to ensure that locations where the sole hotel remaining in a given town which is currently being used, or is proposed to be used, to provide accommodation for international protection applicants are maintained as hotels to provide beds to support the local tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21666/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice to outline the funding provided through his Department for the operation of youth diversion projects in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24786/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice his assessment of the operation and impact of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24785/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-05-13 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the locations around the country where community health organisations are providing specific services for adults who suffer from ADHD; the staffing cohort at each location; the number of patients benefitting from the services at each location, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24128/25]
- 2025-05-13 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the location of each CAMHS-ID facility in the country; the staffing cohort at each facility; the number of patients benefiting from the services therein, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24129/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-05-15 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding he has provided to housing authorities for the provision of emergency accommodation in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24777/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for funding from each local authority under the social housing investment programme in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; the date on which each application was submitted; whether the application was approved; if the application was approved, the date on which approval was provided to the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24775/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-05-13 Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [20995/25]

New lobbying 10 returns

Rare Diseases Ireland Health
- Re-launch All Party Group on Rare Diseases. Update on the need for a new National Strategy for Rare Diseases, including background data on rare diseases in Ireland and the challenges that people living with rare diseases face.
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA · 9 returns Agriculture
- ACRES - Spring Lobbying 2025
- Nitrates Derogation
- Bovine TB
- Rewetting of Peatlands
- IFA Galway Meeting
- Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Payments
- Urgent Support for Farmers Impacted by Storm Eowyn
- Bovine TB - Spring Lobbying 2025
- Nitrates Derogation - IFA Spring Lobbying 2025

Mairéad Farrell — Sinn Féin 7 votes · 16 questions · 4 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 16 total

Housing 4 questions
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on whom the duty lies to enforce An Bord Pleanála planning conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23559/25]
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if developers are entitled to claim contribution and Uisce Éireann connection waivers after the commencement of works, despite planning conditions as set out by An Bord Pleanála not being adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23560/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to offer any additional supports for those leaving domestic abuse in terms of finding new housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24864/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the means by which he intends to increase the number of serviced sites in Galway city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24865/25]
Health 4 questions
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health for an update on the primary care centre for An Cheathrú Rua, County Galway; when the business case will be completed; and if the details for the business case will be done by the end of May 2025. [23178/25]
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health to confirm that aero-medical and special operations section of the Health Service Executive and Galway University Hospital have confirmed their satisfaction as to implications for safety of operations to and from the helipad at University Hospital Galway, in accordance with condition No. 13 of An Bord Pleanála decision in case (details supplied) for an apartment block at Westside Shopping Centre, Galway. [23702/25]
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the establishment of an ambulance base in Conamara and the timeline for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24758/25]
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the reason the policy around funding for diabetes glucose monitors was changed in 2023 to only cover those with type 1 diabetes; if she is considering extending this funding to any other cohort, in particular those with CFRD (cystic fibrosis related diabetes); the estimated amount it would cost to extend this funding to those with CFRD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24788/25]
Justice 3 questions
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice in the context of the statement in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report that all Prison Education Centres meet the quality assurance standards demanded by QQI, the number of scheduled classes that were cancelled in each prison over the period 2015-2025; the reasons for such cancellations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24767/25]
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice in the context of the statement in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report that all Prison Education Centres meet the quality assurance standards demanded by QQI, the reason classes in prisons are not provided on a year round basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24768/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice to outline his strategy towards stemming the tide of domestic abuse and supporting survivors of domestic abuse; the work under way in his Department in this regard; if the number of refuge spaces will increase in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24866/25]
Enterprise 2 questions
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether any financial assistance is available to businesses which had to close during Storm Éowyn, but nevertheless continued to pay their staff, but are ineligible to claim on their insurance for loss of earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23547/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider introducing a 24-month postgraduate work permit with a reduced minimum annual remuneration threshold salary in order to assist non-EEA graduates to transition from the stamp 1G visa to the work permit system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25026/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport whether Clifden driving test centre in Galway will be open during the summer months, with no impact on service delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23563/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which HAS1 payment rates are decided; the amount allocated per household member, per day of being without power and water in cases where receipts were not available; the average HAS1 payment made per week between the week ending on 7 May 2025 to week ending 2 May 2025, in tabular form. [23223/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in the context of the statement in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report that all Prison Education Centres meet the quality assurance standards demanded by QQI, the number of meetings of the Prison Education Taskforce that took place over the period 2015-2025; the current priorities of this task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24766/25]

New lobbying 4 returns

Irish Federation of University Teachers Education and Training
- Pervasive issue of precarious employment in Higher Education
Thomas lally Development and Zoning
- The dezoning of my land at Cappagh RD, Barna, Galway by the planning regulator.
Rare Diseases Ireland Health
- Re-launch All Party Group on Rare Diseases. Update on the need for a new National Strategy for Rare Diseases, including background data on rare diseases in Ireland and the challenges that people living with rare diseases face.
Uplift Justice and Equality
- Uplift members sent emails to their Sinn Fèin TDs asking them to ensure that Sinn Féin is a party that is welcoming, inclusive and who listens to the experiences and expertise of transgender people.

Noel Grealish — Independent 7 votes · 0 questions · 10 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 10 returns

Irish Self Catering Federation Tourism
- Registration for Short-term legislation Bill (STTL)
Thomas lally Development and Zoning
- The dezoning of my land at Cappagh RD, Barna, Galway by the planning regulator.
Samaritans Ireland Health
- Follow up concerning key priorities for the implementation and delivery of the programme for government
Rare Diseases Ireland Health
- Re-launch All Party Group on Rare Diseases. Update on the need for a new National Strategy for Rare Diseases, including background data on rare diseases in Ireland and the challenges that people living with rare diseases face.
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA · 4 returns Agriculture
- ACRES - Spring Lobbying 2025
- IFA Galway Meeting
- Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Payments
- Nitrates Derogation - IFA Spring Lobbying 2025
Sage Advocacy Health
- services provided by Sage Advocacy to survivors of institutional abuse
Threshold Housing
- Draft Programme for Government

Seán Kyne — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 4 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 4 returns

Irish Lung Fibrosis Association Health
- Lobbying for a clinical care programme for patients living with a life limiting disease (in Ireland) 'pulmonary fibrosis' and the unmet needs of those patients.
Thomas lally Development and Zoning
- The dezoning of my land at Cappagh RD, Barna, Galway by the planning regulator.
Multiple Sclerosis Ireland Health
- Reached out to former Health and Disability Committee members to invite to AV room briefing
Rare Diseases Ireland Health
- Re-launch All Party Group on Rare Diseases. Update on the need for a new National Strategy for Rare Diseases, including background data on rare diseases in Ireland and the challenges that people living with rare diseases face.