Cork South-Central — week of Mon, 22 Sept — Watch Them Work

What your Cork South-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 22 Sept – 28 Sept 2025 · 5 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 39 questions · 10 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Special Education School Places

2025-09-24 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 72–61

Voted for 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

The motion · motion passed 76–63

Voted for 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

Energy Costs

2025-09-24 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 76–63

Voted for 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

The motion · motion passed 77–63

Voted for 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

Child Poverty and Homelessness

2025-09-24 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 77–63

Voted for 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

The motion · motion passed 77–63

Voted for 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-09-23 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 82–65

Voted for 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire — Sinn Féin 7 votes · 0 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 2 returns

Christian Aid Ireland EU Affairs
- EU corporate accountability policy
Epilepsy Ireland Health
- Met local TDs at an Epilepsy Ireland event highlighting why epilepsy should be added to the HSE's Chronic Disease Mangement Programme (CDMP)

Jerry Buttimer — Fine Gael 7 votes · 0 questions · 1 new lobbying return

New lobbying 1 return

Irish Red Cross Community
- Contacted the relevant Minister in relation to the operation of the Clár Programme

Micheál Martin — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 0 questions · 5 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 5 returns

National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers Supporting People with Intellectual Disability Justice and Equality
- Joint engagements regarding critical issues facing voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises
Medtronic plc Trade
- Tariffs and medtech
Castlethorn Housing
- Housing Supply
St. Francis Hospice Dublin Health
- 2026 Estimates - strategic recurring funding for hospice services / funding of implementation of 2024 national adult palliative care policy
PepsiCo Trade
- US EU Trade Negotiations

Pádraig Rice — Social Democrats 7 votes · 36 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 36 total

Health 30 questions
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if the costing provided for in a document included hormone replacement therapy prescribed to transgender women (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49826/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if a women prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the treatment of a condition can avail of the free HRT scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49827/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health her views on the apparently contradictory information produced by her Department in advance of the free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) scheme (details supplied); if pharmacists are expected to provide any clinical information to the HSE on patients availing of the scheme; if patients are required to provide any clinical information to pharmacists to avail of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49829/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if a proposal will be considered by the expert advisory group established to guide the next suicide reduction strategy (detail supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49854/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason for outsourcing a contract for non-emergency patient transport in the greater Dublin area to a private ambulance provider, given that the National Ambulance Service already operates a well-established and fully staffed intermediate care vehicle (ICV) service; the justification for this decision being taken without any meaningful consultation with staff or their representatives; the steps she is taking to ensure that existing ICV service is protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49857/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will immediately review the decision of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to outsource the contract for non-emergency patient transport in the greater Dublin area to a private ambulance provider; if she will commit to strengthening and investing in NAS resources rather than diverting public funds into private services; if she will ensure that meaningful consultation with staff representatives is initiated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49858/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); the reason CAR-T cell therapy treatment has not been approved for patients over the age of 26 in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50097/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1144 of 13 May 2025, the status of the HSE Service Improvement Programme’s review of the existing provision of limb prosthetic services, which was due to be completed by Q3 2025; if it has been completed; if not, the date on which it is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50100/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if the HSE Service Improvement Programme’s review of limb prosthetic services includes children’s provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50101/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to respond to a campaign for reform in paediatric prosthetic provision (details supplied); the steps she is taking to address the issues identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50102/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will put in place a permanent scheme of paid leave for eligible public health sector employees suffering from long covid; to replace the existing scheme which is due to expire on 31 December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50335/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the lack of progress in implementing the recommendations of the national radiation therapist review; the status of the implementation group; the number of times the group has met; if an implementation plan will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50341/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health her views on the growing spend on contracting out radiation therapy (RT) for public patients to private providers (details supplied); the engagements she has had with the HSE with regard to the outsourcing of RT services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50342/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2920 of 29 July 2025, to provide further details regarding the major equipment replacement programme and expansion programme underway at St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network (details supplied); the timeline for completion of the replacement project for linear accelerators in St. Luke's, Rathgar; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50343/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been brought to a proposal to establish a national radiotherapy equipment replacement programme (details supplied); if she will commit to doing so to address the critically outdated linear accelerators in many of the State’s public cancer treatment facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50354/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 494 of 20 March 2025, the number of cases diagnosed in each of the years since 2018, by condition (details supplied); the number treated with Intersex genital mutilation (IGM); in cases in which IGM was deemed necessary, to provide an indication as to the reasoning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50396/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if the incidence of intersex genital mutilation is reducing in Ireland; if so, to provide data to support this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50397/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the information provided to parents of intersex infants; the involvement, that intersex people have in informing and monitoring this information; if parents with intersex infants are being referred to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50398/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the timeline she is working towards in publishing the draft heads of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2025; if she will commit to publication in advance of the Christmas recess; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50424/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the timeline she is working towards in publishing the draft heads of the Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill 2025; if she will commit to publication in advance of the Christmas recess; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50425/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further details with respect to the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill, listed for priority drafting in the Government’s Autumn Legislative Programme; the proposed main provisions of the Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50426/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the introduction of the common conditions service in community pharmacies; if it is her intention to have this service operational by year end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50510/25]
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health following publication of the community pharmacy agreement 2025, to provide further details in respect of the consultation fee for the common conditions service; if a set rate has been agreed; if this fee will be covered under the medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50511/25]
- 2025-09-24 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 22 May 2025, the status of the long-awaited National Endometriosis Framework; the timeline being worked towards in reaching an agreement between an organisation (details supplied) and the HSE; if she expects this framework to be published by the end of 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50611/25]
- 2025-09-24 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she intends to introduce advanced practice posts for medical scientists; the work carried out to date to progress this role under the HSCP Advanced Practice Framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50612/25]
- 2025-09-24 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she intends to establish a national biobank office and introduce primary biobanking legislation, as recommended by the Irish Health Research Forum in 2023; if so, the timeline she is working towards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50613/25]
- 2025-09-24 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the national research ethics bill, approved by Government in 2019; to expand on the comment “work is ongoing”, as per the Autumn Legislative Programme; if her attention has been brought to the views of a representative organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50614/25]
- 2025-09-24 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further details as to her instruction to her officials to engage with concerns related to the exclusion of transgender people from the free HRT scheme (details supplied); the groups or bodies her officials are engaging with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50615/25]
- 2025-09-24 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of posts in the HSE’s supra-regional endometriosis centre operated by Cork University Maternity Hospital, by grade; the number that are filled; the number that are vacant; and the status of these vacant posts, in tabular form. [50731/25]
- 2025-09-24 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of posts in the HSE’s supra-regional endometriosis centre operated by Tallaght University Hospital, by grade; the number that are filled; the number that are vacant; and the status of these vacant posts, in tabular form. [50732/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the proposed building works at a school to provide appropriate and urgently needed teaching space for children with additional needs (details supplied); if she is aware of the length of the delays associated with the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50099/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the lack of sufficient childcare services, particularly after school programmes in Cork (details supplied); the progress that her Department has made to date in expanding access to after-school childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49855/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made on the issue of pension provision for research staff grades who do not have access to public service pensions in higher education institutions, particularly in relation to the technological university sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50395/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-09-24 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Finance following the lifting of the €500,000 executive pay cap at Bank of Ireland, AIB, and PTSB, the current level of remuneration for CEOs at each institution; the planned level of remuneration for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50617/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-09-25 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the installation of traffic light cameras in Cork; to outline the Department’s decision making process as to what areas are prioritised; the timeline for completion of all phases of the introduction of such cameras; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50971/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-09-25 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the interdepartmental working group on non-binary gender; the actions of the group today; the reports produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50967/25]

New lobbying 2 returns

Epilepsy Ireland · 2 returns Health
- Met local TDs at an Epilepsy Ireland event highlighting why epilepsy should be added to the HSE's Chronic Disease Mangement Programme (CDMP)
- Seeking Deputies submit parliamentary questions related to Ireland's Neurosurgery service

Séamus McGrath — Fianna Fáil 7 votes · 3 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 3 total

Transport 1 question
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the status of a request for funding support for an organisation (details supplied) in Cork. [50256/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-09-23 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health if she will approve the use of CAR T-cell therapy for a patient (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50037/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-09-25 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the estimated year one and full-year cost of reducing the 13.5 percent rate of VAT for the tourism and hospitality sector; if he will also confirm the corresponding cost of reducing the rate to 9 percent for food services only; if he will confirm whether Revenue are now satisfied that splitting the Vat rate between food and accommodation is possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51052/25]