Dún Laoghaire — week of Mon, 13 Oct

What your Dún Laoghaire TDs did this week

Mon, 13 Oct – 19 Oct 2025 · 4 TDs · 4 bills voted on · 58 questions · 9 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil

2025-10-15 · 1 vote

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 90–56

Voted for 3 Barry Ward · Cormac Devlin · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Did not vote 1 Richard Boyd Barrett

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

2025-10-15 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 94–65

Voted for 3 Barry Ward · Cormac Devlin · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Did not vote 1 Richard Boyd Barrett

Reform of the Defective Concrete Redress Scheme

2025-10-15 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 78–63

Voted for 3 Barry Ward · Cormac Devlin · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Did not vote 1 Richard Boyd Barrett

The motion · motion passed 79–64

Voted for 3 Barry Ward · Cormac Devlin · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Did not vote 1 Richard Boyd Barrett

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2025-10-14 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 74–58

Voted for 2 Barry Ward · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Did not vote 2 Cormac Devlin · Richard Boyd Barrett

Barry Ward — Fine Gael 5 votes · 43 questions · 3 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 43 total

Transport 8 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to capacity issues on a bus route (details supplied); the actions he will take to work with the NTA to address these concerns and improve this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54926/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport his justification for the €1 plus VAT fee applied to a product (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55297/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of making the M50 toll barrier free; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55298/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport his plans to make any further motorways across Ireland barrier free; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55299/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the merits of introducing barrier free tolling on motorways wherever possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55300/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the basis for the introduction of green tags on the registration plates of electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55301/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport if he will raise at upcoming meetings of the EU Energy Council the issue of EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on US-origin hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO); his assessment of the implications of these measures for our renewable fuel supply, pricing and security of supply; and how this aligns with the Programme for Government commitments to continue with the significant annual increases in the road transport fuels Obligation mandate, and support decarbonisation of road freight and commercial coaches with fuels such as HVO. [55624/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to capacity issues on a bus route (details supplied); the actions he will take to work with the NTA to address these concerns and improve this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55712/25]
Education 6 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the provision of full-time teacher roles (details supplied); the actions she will take to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54656/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the need to repair and upgrade the playground in a school (details supplied); the grant options available to the school to address these safety concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54890/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the new school building project (details supplied); the actions she will take to progress this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55637/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to significant details in progressing a new school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55638/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the basis for the stalling of works in relation to a new school building for (details supplied); if she is conscious of the significant financial outlay made by her Department to the appointed design team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55639/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the total level of expenditure to date spent by her Department on the new school building (details supplied); if she is conscious of the need to ensure value for money in the progression of this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55640/25]
Social 6 questions
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to carers who did not benefit from changes to income thresholds in Budget 2026; the actions he will take to support this cohort with the increased costs that they are facing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56296/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider including verified disability-related expenses and private care costs as allowable deductions when assessing means for carer’s allowance; given the reality of many families not being able to access public healthcare supports due to significant delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56297/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the phasing out of the carers allowance means test, as committed to in the Programme for Government; if there is a timeline for this commitment to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56298/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the income thresholds for carers allowance; if will he consider introducing a model similar to the Disability Tax Credit approach, where disability-related costs are acknowledged as reducing disposable income, thereby adjusting eligibility thresholds accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56299/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding any research or consideration given into the payment of a universal or partially universal carer support payment to replace or supplement the means-tested system, ensuring equity across income brackets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56300/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement that he has had with advocacy groups (details supplied) regarding the practical impact of the income disregard limits and proposed reforms, in relation to the income thresholds for carers allowance, the feedback he received, the way in which it is being incorporated into policy development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56301/25]
Housing 4 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider providing for a process of election of local authority members to regional assemblies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55207/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider imposing a requirement on members of regional assemblies to issue periodical updates to the local authorities in their jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55208/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider providing for municipal districts in each of the Dublin local authorities, Galway City Council and Cork City Council in order to improve the decision making facilities in each of those local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55210/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the process for selection for members of the European Committee of the Regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55211/25]
Health 4 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if she is concerned that the recent increase in tax for vaping products coming into effect as of 1 November 2025 could have a knock-on increase in the number of cigarette smokers; the actions she will take to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55116/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of small homecare providers in relation to increased operating costs; if targeted supports can be considered to support these small businesses to avoid interruption to their service users; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55425/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 440 of 2 October 2025, whether transgender men who have undergone oophorectomies are eligible for the scheme; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55900/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 440 of 2 October 2025, the reason for the distinction being made in the implementation of the free HRT scheme between women experiencing menopausal symptoms as a consequence of surgical removal of the ovaries, and women born without ovaries who are experiencing the same symptoms. [55901/25]
Culture 3 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport regarding the basic income for artists scheme, if all those in receipt of this payment prior to Budget 2026 remain on the scheme; how this will be administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55089/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the basic income for artists scheme, if an expansion of the scheme is under consideration now that the scheme has been given a more permanent footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55090/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport regarding the basic income for artists scheme, if the control group that had previously been given an annual payment of €650 instead of the weekly payment will be brought into the full benefits of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55091/25]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he has had with farming groups in relation to farm succession planning including the transfer of farmland and other assets, particularly in cases whereby the transfer is to a niece or a nephew; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54666/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is conscious of the need to support dry stock farmers in the Dublin region; the engagement he has had with farmers in this region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54866/25]
Finance 2 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding his Department-led review of the fund and investment industry in Ireland; including a specific assessment of the deemed disposal rule; if there is a timeline for the implementation of the report’s recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54925/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned that the recent increase in tax for vaping products coming into effect as of 1 November 2025 could have a knock-on increase in the number of cigarette smokers; if this was considered as part of the decision to increase this targeted tax measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55117/25]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the Mitchell Scholarship and the funding for it; if he is supportive of the aims and continuation of this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54868/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the extensive waiting lists for mental health supports in third level institutions; the actions he will take to address these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54867/25]
Rural 2 questions
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his views on the merits of providing multi-annual funding for men’s and women’s sheds to allow them to plan longer term projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54869/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the position regarding supports provided at a local level in community centres targeted at addressing social exclusion; if he will consider increasing funding in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54870/25]
Foreign 1 question
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the progress of the accession of Montenegro to the European Union. [55213/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a work permit renewal (details supplied); if this will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54623/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding Ireland's status and level of engagement with the European Public Prosecutor's Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54683/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update regarding the gradual reduction of childcare costs, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the steps she has taken to progress this policy; the timeline for the publication of an official plan in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54848/25]

New lobbying 3 returns

St Michael's House Group · 3 returns Budgetary matters · Community
- Invitation to TD's to visit St Michael's House (December 2024)
- Pre-Budget Communication to the Seanad, Ministers and TD's highlighting the issues facing people with intellectual disabilities and their families, and the critical sustainability issues that are facing the organisations providing supports for these individuals - this includes St Michael's House.
- St Michael's House Lobbying

Cormac Devlin — Fianna Fáil 4 votes · 0 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 2 returns

St Michael's House Group · 2 returns Budgetary matters · Community
- Invitation to TD's to visit St Michael's House (December 2024)
- St Michael's House Lobbying

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill — Fine Gael 5 votes · 0 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

New lobbying 2 returns

St Michael's House Group · 2 returns Budgetary matters · Community
- Invitation to TD's to visit St Michael's House (December 2024)
- St Michael's House Lobbying

Richard Boyd Barrett — People Before Profit-Solidarity 0 votes · 15 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 15 total

Transport 4 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if students resident in Ireland but studying at an international third level institution can avail of student Leap cards; and the way they may acquire one. [54661/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to ensure that students resident in Ireland but studying at Northern Ireland-based third level institutions can avail of student Leap cards. [54662/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to ensure that students resident in Ireland but studying at UK and EU-based third level institutions can avail of student Leap cards. [54663/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to respond to concerns (details supplied) that the five to nine-year-old year old free travel Leap card will be inaccessible to eligible families, due to the requirement to procure individual Leap cards for each child availing of free travel. [54896/25]
Health 4 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason no proportionality assessment was carried out in respect of changes to the CORU standards and criteria for counsellors and psychotherapists; and if the implementation of these standards will be delayed to facilitate a proportionality assessment. [54652/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason an organisation (details supplied) was not consulted after 2023 as part of the development of the 2025 CORU standards and criteria for counsellors and psychotherapists despite the professional expertise available in the organisation. [54653/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if she will confirm the reunification for families of medical evacuees from Gaza that was announced in July 2025; the date on which these families will be reunited with their family members already here receiving treatment; the way in which the reunification process will proceed; the details of the way and when family members still in Gaza will be brought here; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the medical evacuees are desperate to have their families here following the announcement the Government made in July, and that the delay is having a significant impact on the traumatised families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54841/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health when she intends to add a test for spinal muscular atrophy to the heel prick test for newborns. [55387/25]
Housing 3 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the ongoing misuse of the protected title ‘architect’ by a person (details supplied); if he is satisfied that the RIAI’s enforcement approach is adequate; and the steps his Department will take to ensure that persistent misuse of the protected title is treated with the seriousness intended by section 18 of the Building Control Act 2007. [54642/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied with the enforcement mechanisms under section 18 of the Building Control Act 2007 regarding the misuse of the protected title ‘architect’; his views on whether the current approach by the RIAI, which relies heavily on giving unregistered individuals the opportunity to comply rather than prosecuting persistent offenders, leaves a gap in enforcement; the reforms or directions being considered to strengthen accountability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54643/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, given spiralling building material and tradespeople costs, he will consider substantially raising the maximum adaptation grant of €40,000, which older and disabled people report as being significantly inadequate to cover the costs of necessary adaptations of their homes to facilitate independent living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54854/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the recourse available to an individual where they are affected by the collapse in a prepaid card company (details supplied); and the way in which they can retrieve their money. [54745/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth if junior cycle coordinators will be formally recognised as a leadership role, eligible for appointment to an Assistant Principal II post. [54756/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will confirm the reunification for families of medical evacuees from Gaza that was announced in July 2025; the date on which these families will be reunited with their family members already here receiving treatment; the way in which the reunification process will proceed; the details of the way and when family members still in Gaza will be brought here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the medical evacuees are desperate to have their families here following the announcement the Government made in July and that the delay is having a significant impact on the traumatised families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54842/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the case of a non-verbal autistic child (details supplied), who has been neglected by the State in the non-provision of timely assessments, interventions and therapies; if she will commit to an immediate intervention to ensure this child is provided with the range of supports they urgently need; if her attention has been drawn to the impact this has had on the child and their family; if steps will be taken to ensure that the child receives the assessments they need as a matter of priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54862/25]

New lobbying 2 returns

St Michael's House Group · 2 returns Budgetary matters · Community
- Invitation to TD's to visit St Michael's House (December 2024)
- St Michael's House Lobbying