Kildare South — week of Mon, 12 May — Watch Them Work

What your Kildare South TDs did this week

Mon, 12 May – 18 May 2025 · 5 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 23 questions · 100 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Childcare

2025-05-14 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 83–65

Voted for 1 Martin Heydon

Voted against 2 Mark Wall · Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Did not vote 2 Fiona O'Loughlin · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

The motion · motion passed 83–66

Voted for 1 Martin Heydon

Voted against 2 Mark Wall · Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Did not vote 2 Fiona O'Loughlin · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Parental Choice in Education

2025-05-14 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 84–65

Voted for 1 Martin Heydon

Voted against 2 Mark Wall · Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Did not vote 2 Fiona O'Loughlin · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

The motion · motion passed 87–62

Voted for 1 Martin Heydon

Voted against 2 Mark Wall · Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Did not vote 2 Fiona O'Loughlin · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Housing and Critical Infrastructure

2025-05-14 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 82–66

Voted for 1 Martin Heydon

Voted against 2 Mark Wall · Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Did not vote 2 Fiona O'Loughlin · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

The motion · motion passed 83–66

Voted for 1 Martin Heydon

Voted against 2 Mark Wall · Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Did not vote 2 Fiona O'Loughlin · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

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 Mark Wall · Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Voted against 1 Martin Heydon

Did not vote 2 Fiona O'Loughlin · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Fiona O'Loughlin — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 0 questions · 4 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 4 returns

Irish Rural Link Co-Operative Society Limited Community
- Irish Rural Link Information Day in Buswells Hotel with presentations on Community response to Storm Eowyn and the impact it had on Rural areas
Multiple Sclerosis Ireland Health
- Reached out to former Health and Disability Committee members to invite to AV room briefing
Let's Grow Together! Infant & Childhood Partnerships CLG Education and Training
- Highlight disparities between Early Starts and ECCE with Ministers and TDs
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.

Mark Wall — Labour Party 7 votes · 15 questions · 5 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 15 total

Children 7 questions
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm the number of publicly provided residential care places for children, available in each year from 2020 to 2024, and the number available in 2025, in tabular form; the additional number of regulated places added in each year, either public or private; the plans for adding new public places in 2025; the additional funding in place for 2025 to provide new places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24609/25]
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated average capital cost and current expenditure operating cost respectively of providing each new publicly provided residential care place for children; to provide a breakdown of staffing costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24610/25]
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans in place to phase out the use of special emergency arrangements by Tusla; the progress made over the past year on achieving this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24611/25]
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in foster care arrangements in each year from 2020 to 2024, and to date in 2025; the number of households offering foster care in each of those years, and the increase or decrease in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24612/25]
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in special emergency arrangements; the number in SEAs as of 31 April 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24613/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has carried out any research on aligning Ireland’s family leave options with those of other EU countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25058/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions her Department has taken to support Irish speaking early years childcare settings and to increase the number of these settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25059/25]
Social 3 questions
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the report commissioned by his Department on extending the fuel allowance to recipients of the working family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25055/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered implementing an individual means-test for social welfare payments rather than a household means-test, to ensure that people are only assessed on their own income and not that of their household’s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25056/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of indexing the child support payment to 45% of the qualified adult payment for children under 12 and 55% for children over 12 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25057/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Transport if he is seeking to update the application procedure for applying for a parking disability permit, if he will address some specific issues (details supplied). [24634/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date on reducing hospital parking charges; the hospitals where charges have reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24633/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-05-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether there are any other pathways for a child in county Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24635/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current position with those over 70 years of age being allowed to drive a school bus; the attempts the Minister has made to change this ruling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24958/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that Kildare County Council is no longer in a position to provide for new tenant in situ applications; if he will be providing additional income to prevent families from entering homelessness in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24959/25]

New lobbying 5 returns

Irish Rural Link Co-Operative Society Limited Community
- Irish Rural Link Information Day in Buswells Hotel with presentations on Community response to Storm Eowyn and the impact it had on Rural areas
Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed Children and Youth Affairs
- As part of the Together for Public Alliance, the INOU engaged in activities to advocate for early childhood education and care
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.
Early Childhood Ireland · 2 returns Children and Youth Affairs
- Pay and professionalisation matters in the Early Years and School Age Care system
- Early Childhood Ireland's '4 Asks for Children' and other priorities

Martin Heydon — Fine Gael 7 votes · 0 questions · 89 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 89 returns

Climate and Health Alliance Transport
- Funding ratio on public transport and road maintenance.
Business in the Community Ireland Environment
- Regulatory changes at EU level, our submission reflects our distilled insights from engaging with corporates in their compliance journey.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce Economic Development and Industry
- Invited TD's and Ministers to meet with Business Leaders from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown to discuss local and global economic concerns
Veon Limited Agriculture
- As a result of Storm Éowyn, to seek a meeting and request details on the contingency plans in place at the Forest Service to handle the impact of such a storm.
AgTech Ireland · 2 returns Agriculture
- Invitation to Minister Heydon to open the AgTech Ireland Conference "Transforming Agriculture with AI" on 21st May 2025 at the Curragh Racecourse.
- Letter to Minister Heydon on his appointment as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Communications
- Welcoming Ministers to their appointment.
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.
ALDI Ireland Economic Development and Industry
- Both Ministers participated in ALDI photocalls.
The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA · 39 returns Agriculture · EU Affairs · Finance · Economic Development and Industry · Environment · Health
- Suckler Cow Scheme 2025
- Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) Statement of Strategy 2025-2028
- Circular Biobased Europe (CBE) Working Group on Primary Producers
- Ready to Lead Programme
- Poultry Farmers and the Flat Rate Vat Scheme
- ACRES - Spring Lobbying 2025
- Mercosur - IFA Spring Lobbying 2025
- Accelerated Capital Allowance Scheme
- Plant Health & Biosecurity Network
- Avian Influenza
- Inclusion of Good Agricultural & Environmental Condition (GAEC-2) in Second Round of CAP Simplification Measures
- IFA - CAP to 2030 & Beyond
- Public Procurement
- Trade Consultative Group on International Trade Policy and New US Based Strategic Economic Advisory Panel
- Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme
- Tillage Industry Ireland
- Mid-term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027
- Easter 1916 Commemoration Ceremony at the GPO
- Bluetongue
- Plant Protection Products
- CAP Strategic Plan Annual Financial Report 2024
- Bovine TB
- International Women's Day
- Planning Exemption Development for Nutrient Storage on Farms
- Protecting Peat Soil Farmers
- Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS)
- Farmer Health Check Report
- IFA President meets with Newly Appointed Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine
- Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) & Agricultural Simplification Measures
- IFA Moone Branch Meeting
- Good Agricultural & Environmental Condition (GAEC) 2
- Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Payments
- Urgent Support for Farmers Impacted by Storm Eowyn
- TAMS 3 (Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme 3)
- Mercosur
- IFA 70th AGM
- Bovine TB - Spring Lobbying 2025
- Nitrates Derogation - IFA Spring Lobbying 2025
- GAEC-2 - IFA Spring Lobbying 2025
Wool in School Education and Training
- Wool education and climate smart skills
Irish Road Haulage Association Transport
- Ferry schedulding/ Holyhead issues. Holyhead Port. Price gouging by CLDN shipping. Concerns about the actions of CLDN. Meeting request. Temp closure of Holyhead Port. Congrats on appointment & meeting request. Serious criminal incidents. Delays in services with RSA. Delays at tolls. Abnormal loads. Port Services.
Threshold Housing
- Draft Programme for Government
Chambers Ireland · 38 returns Trade · Tourism · Foreign Affairs · EU Affairs · Economic Development and Industry · Sports and Recreation · Local Government · Justice and Equality · Employment · Education and Training · Community · Environment · Energy and Natural Resources · Defence · Children and Youth Affairs · Taxation · Finance · Transport · Public Expenditure and Reform · Marine · Housing · Development and Zoning
- The need for the new Government to build strong international partnerships with the EU, the UK and the rest of the world.
- The need for the new Government to build strong international partnerships with the EU, the UK and the rest of the world.
- The need for the new Government to build strong international partnerships with the EU, the UK and the rest of the world.
- The need for the new Government to build strong international partnerships with the EU, the UK and the rest of the world.
- The need for the new Government to build strong international partnerships with the EU, the UK and the rest of the world.
- The need for the new Government to foster thriving towns and cities. This includes enhanced garda resourcing; tackling vacancy and dereliction; investing in community infrastructure, supporting retail and hospitality businesses; and enhancing the role of Local Government.
- The need for the new Government to foster thriving towns and cities. This includes enhanced garda resourcing; tackling vacancy and dereliction; investing in community infrastructure, supporting retail and hospitality businesses; and enhancing the role of Local Government.
- "The need for the new Government to foster thriving towns and cities. This includes enhanced garda resourcing; tackling vacancy and dereliction; investing in community infrastructure, supporting retail and hospitality businesses; and enhancing the role of Local Government. "
- The need for the new Government to foster thriving towns and cities. This includes enhanced garda resourcing; tackling vacancy and dereliction; investing in community infrastructure, supporting retail and hospitality businesses; and enhancing the role of Local Government.
- "The need for the new Government to foster thriving towns and cities. This includes enhanced garda resourcing; tackling vacancy and dereliction; investing in community infrastructure, supporting retail and hospitality businesses; and enhancing the role of Local Government. "
- "The need for the new Government to foster thriving towns and cities. This includes enhanced garda resourcing; tackling vacancy and dereliction; investing in community infrastructure, supporting retail and hospitality businesses; and enhancing the role of Local Government. "
- "The need for the new Government to foster thriving towns and cities. This includes enhanced garda resourcing; tackling vacancy and dereliction; investing in community infrastructure, supporting retail and hospitality businesses; and enhancing the role of Local Government. "
- "The need for the new Government to foster thriving towns and cities. This includes enhanced garda resourcing; tackling vacancy and dereliction; investing in community infrastructure, supporting retail and hospitality businesses; and enhancing the role of Local Government. "
- The need for the new Government to ensure a sustainable and resilient future by taking climate action, diversifying the energy mix, securing sustainable childcare funding, investing in skills development, defending our critical national infrastructure and promoting business innovation.
- The need for the new Government to ensure a sustainable and resilient future by taking climate action, diversifying the energy mix, securing sustainable childcare funding, investing in skills development, defending our critical national infrastructure and promoting business innovation.
- "The need for the new Government to ensure a sustainable and resilient future by taking climate action, diversifying the energy mix, securing sustainable childcare funding, investing in skills development, defending our critical national infrastructure and promoting business innovation. "
- "The need for the new Government to ensure a sustainable and resilient future by taking climate action, diversifying the energy mix, securing sustainable childcare funding, investing in skills development, defending our critical national infrastructure and promoting business innovation. "
- "The need for the new Government to ensure a sustainable and resilient future by taking climate action, diversifying the energy mix, securing sustainable childcare funding, investing in skills development, defending our critical national infrastructure and promoting business innovation. "
- "The need for the new Government to ensure a sustainable and resilient future by taking climate action, diversifying the energy mix, securing sustainable childcare funding, investing in skills development, defending our critical national infrastructure and promoting business innovation. "
- "The need for the new Government to ensure a sustainable and resilient future by taking climate action, diversifying the energy mix, securing sustainable childcare funding, investing in skills development, defending our critical national infrastructure and promoting business innovation. "
- "The need for the new Government to tackle the costs of doing business. This includes reforming business taxation, reviewing employment legislation, applying the SME Test, expanding trade relationships and increasing access to finance. "
- "The need for the new Government to tackle the costs of doing business. This includes reforming business taxation and supporting legislation, reviewing employment legislation, applying the SME Test and increasing access to finance. "
- "The need for the new Government to tackle the costs of doing business. This includes reforming business taxation, reviewing employment legislation, applying the SME Test and increasing access to finance. "
- "The need for the new Government to tackle the costs of doing business. This includes reforming business taxation, reviewing employment legislation, applying the SME Test and increasing access to finance. "
- "The need for the new Government to tackle the costs of doing business. This includes reforming business taxation, reviewing employment legislation, applying the SME Test and increasing access to finance. "
- The need for the new Government to invest in and deliver essential infrastructure to drive competitiveness. This includes housing, grid, water, ports, transport, and aviation infrastructure, as well as the need to support sustainable, streamlined planning processes.
- The need for the new Government to invest in and deliver essential infrastructure to drive competitiveness. This includes housing, grid, water, ports, transport, and aviation infrastructure, as well as the need to support sustainable, streamlined planning processes.
- "The need for the new Government to invest in and deliver essential infrastructure to drive competitiveness. This includes housing, grid, water, ports, transport, and aviation infrastructure, as well as the need to support sustainable, streamlined planning processes. "
- The need for the new Government to invest in and deliver essential infrastructure to drive competitiveness. This includes housing, grid, water, ports, transport, and aviation infrastructure, as well as the need to support sustainable, streamlined planning processes.
- "The need for the new Government to invest in and deliver essential infrastructure to drive competitiveness. This includes housing, grid, water, ports, transport, and aviation infrastructure, as well as the need to support sustainable, streamlined planning processes.
- "The need for the new Government to invest in and deliver essential infrastructure to drive competitiveness. This includes housing, grid, water, ports, transport, and aviation infrastructure, as well as the need to support sustainable, streamlined planning processes.
- "The need for the new Government to invest in and deliver essential infrastructure to drive competitiveness. This includes housing, grid, water, ports, transport, and aviation infrastructure, as well as the need to support sustainable, streamlined planning processes. "
- The need for the new Government to protect Ireland's existing competitive advantages. This includes fostering business growth; attracting innovation, tourism and talent; investing in education; and making the most of our renewable energy potential.
- The need for the new Government to protect Ireland's existing competitive advantages. This includes fostering business growth; attracting innovation, tourism and talent; investing in education; and making the most of our renewable energy potential.
- The need for the new Government to protect Ireland's existing competitive advantages. This includes fostering business growth; attracting innovation, tourism and talent; investing in education; and making the most of our renewable energy potential.
- The need for the new Government to protect Ireland's existing competitive advantages. This includes fostering business growth; attracting innovation, tourism and talent; investing in education; and making the most of our renewable energy potential.
- The need for the new Government to protect Ireland's existing competitive advantages. This includes fostering business growth; attracting innovation, tourism and talent; investing in education; and making the most of our renewable energy potential.
- The need for the new Government to protect Ireland's existing competitive advantages. This includes fostering business growth; attracting innovation, tourism and talent; investing in education; utilising the National Training Fund and making the most of our renewable energy potential.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 7 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 7 total

Health 4 questions
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for building four new elective hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24131/25]
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health her plans to develop more regional inpatient rehabilitation beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24130/25]
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if she will urgently consider the case of a person (details supplied), aged 51-years-old and suffering with MS, who is currently awaiting assessment by a neurologist as to whether they have Friedreich's ataxia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23667/25]
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who is suffering from a chronic neurological disorder and enduring constant debilitating pain has not got the benefit of a multidisciplinary team or, indeed, any continuous provision of support and-or therapies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23668/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a report on the compulsory purchase order activation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24723/25]
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a report on progress made with developments under the urban regeneration and development fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24722/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-05-13 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach for an update in relation to his attendance at the Munich security conference. [16802/25]

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh — Sinn Féin 7 votes · 1 question · 2 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 1 total

Education 1 question
- 2025-05-15 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth what concrete co-ordination mechanisms are in place between the CDNTs, the NCSE and schools to ensure that parents who have children under assessment for learning disabilities can expect to have an appropriate school place for their child in the upcoming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24965/25]

New lobbying 2 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.
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.