Kildare South — week of Mon, 13 Oct

What your Kildare South TDs did this week

Mon, 13 Oct – 19 Oct 2025 · 5 TDs · 3 bills voted on · 53 questions · 2 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 2 Martin Heydon · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Voted against 2 Mark Wall · Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Did not vote 1 Fiona O'Loughlin

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

2025-10-15 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 94–65

Voted for 2 Martin Heydon · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Voted against 2 Mark Wall · Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Did not vote 1 Fiona O'Loughlin

Reform of the Defective Concrete Redress Scheme

2025-10-15 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 78–63

Voted for 1 Martin Heydon

Voted against 1 Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Did not vote 3 Fiona O'Loughlin · Mark Wall · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

The motion · motion passed 79–64

Voted for 1 Martin Heydon

Voted against 1 Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Did not vote 3 Fiona O'Loughlin · Mark Wall · Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Fiona O'Loughlin — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 0 questions · 1 new lobbying return

New lobbying 1 return

St Michael's House Group Budgetary matters
- 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.

Mark Wall — Labour Party 2 votes · 20 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 20 total

Rural 6 questions
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the new RAPID programme announced in budget 2026; and when he expects the programme to be operational by. [55400/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if new funding has been allocated to the development of additional public libraries as part of Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55407/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if CLÁR funding is available from Budget 2026 to be allocated to meals-on-wheels providers outside of designated areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55410/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding allocation for rural development schemes under his Department for Budget 2026 and Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55409/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if there has been an increase in funding for SICAP in Budget 2026 compared to the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55406/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the Budget 2026 allocation for Water Safety Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55408/25]
Transport 5 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Transport when works to Athy train station will be completed; the scope and detail of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55390/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Transport if works for the provision of additional public lighting and a pedestrian crossing to the car park at Athy Train Station will be completed; the plans if any to complete the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55391/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Transport if works for the provision of public toilets at Newbridge train station are complete; the scope of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55392/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Transport the plans to extend the Local Link service in County Kildare; the routes under review for expansion; the timeframes involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55394/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Transport the plans to extend the Leap card to further stations in County Kildare (details supplied) the timeframe involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55395/25]
Education 3 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify a matter regarding school transport for a person (details supplied) in Kildare south; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55123/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth when she plans to implement changes to the ‘nearest school’ rule as contained in the School Transport 2030 Review of the School Transport Scheme report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55124/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 515 of 30 September 2025, if she will consider a request for a Remote Area Grant based on (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55444/25]
Social 3 questions
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the expenditure allocation for disability activation supports will decline in 2026 to €25.99 million from €26.545 million in this year according the estimates published for Budget 2026; the programmes under subhead A.29 his Department expects to make savings; to confirm the number of people that will be supported under each programme and the projected increase or decrease on 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55733/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for a cut of over €22 million in the 2026 allocation for additional needs payments under estimate subhead A.10, with the allocation reduced to €58.134 million in 2026, from €80.671 million this year; the number of payments and the number of recipients the 2025 and 2026 allocations will support respectively; if he will confirm if the value of payments will be reduced next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55734/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients for basic supplementary welfare allowance payments are projected for 2025 and 2026, respectively; the reason for the reduction in allocation underestimate subhead A8 from nearly €137 million to €118.6 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55735/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health to outline the work being conducted by her Department on a national policy on the administration of medical cannabis and other medicines which are not licensed for use in Ireland, following the recommendations of an inquest (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55416/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive the exam needed to practise in the medical profession here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55128/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a breakdown of the proportion of the €620 million in additional current funding for Disability under Programme An Equal and Inclusive Society, that will be used to provide for public sector pay and increases and pay costs under the Section 39 WRC agreement respectively; the proportion that is for additional recipients of disability services; that amount that is for additional residential services; to provide a breakdown of further service improvements to be provided for under the allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55732/25]

New lobbying 1 return

St Michael's House Group Budgetary matters
- 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.

Martin Heydon — Fine Gael 4 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Seán Ó Fearghaíl — Fianna Fáil 2 votes · 8 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 8 total

Education 5 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will expedite the processing of documentation currently with her Department in relation to the sale of a property (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54592/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address matters concerning health and safety, transport and new build, raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54696/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department's Circular 0046/2025 still applies and remains relevant to the storage system to be used by schools for mobile phones; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55434/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if schools that do not wish to avail of pouches for phone storage purposes can secure any other security devices/methods now available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55435/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that a device (details supplied) in presently in over 50 schools in Ireland, the UK and the EU; her views on whether these systems constitute a more cost-effective method of securing students phones; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55436/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position of the Government and his Department in relation to the process of right sizing; if this is being promoted by local authorities or approved housing bodies; if so, the locations in which this is happening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54695/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding self-catering businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54713/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if she will consider matters raised correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the funding of dexcom medication for a patient to manage type 1 diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54697/25]

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh — Sinn Féin 4 votes · 25 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 25 total

Education 14 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the construction of the new building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54594/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the details of the 2025 carryover figure found in the Education and Youth Table D (Reconciliation of 2026 Expenditure Ceiling) in the Budget 2026 Expenditure report. [55126/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional places allocated for 2026 as part of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55133/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount which will be allocated for rolling out DEIS Plus; the amount which will be allocated to each recipient school; and when funding will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55134/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures announced in Budget 2026 which will specifically support children with additional needs in mainstream settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55135/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide more detail on the way in which the 2026 allocation of SNAs and SETs will be deployed across mainstream and specialised settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55136/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide details on the design of the in-school therapies being rolled out in special schools in 2025, especially in relation to the staffing arrangements for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55216/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the specific measures in Budget 2026 which will target behaviours of concern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55217/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of pupils currently availing of the school transport scheme for 2025-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55276/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special classes that will be sanctioned from the SEN allocation of Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55326/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the proportion of the €69 million of the additional funding for school transport announced for 2026 that will be used for ELS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55327/25]
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the proportion of the €69 million of the additional funding for school transport announced for 2026 that will be used for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55328/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can provide an itemised list of all ongoing school building projects, broken down by stage of development and amount of funding drawn down to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56119/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total number of pupils enrolled in primary and post-primary schools, by county over the past ten years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56123/25]
Children 2 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons for a 20 month waiting time for an assessment of needs of a person in Laois (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54622/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in Kildare on a waiting list for childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56132/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-10-14 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if she will consider extending State-subsidised access to dexcom to a person (details supplied) who was prescribed this treatment following the correction of their diagnosis from type 2 to type 1 diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54759/25]
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if there is a policy within CORU not to recognise degree programmes from universities in illegal settlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56057/25]
Rural 2 questions
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the specific measures in Budget 2026 will support the building of houses in Gaeltacht areas; when he will publish the Guidelines for Gaeltacht Housing; and if he will consider establishing a dedicated Housing Unit in Údarás na Gaeltachta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55560/25]
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on progress in relation to updating the North South funding structure for Foras na Gaeilge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55559/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-10-15 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the new VAT reduction for the hospitality sector to cinemas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55750/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider setting out a target for the level students studying through the medium of Irish language at third level, considering the very low proportion at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55564/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport if he or his Department are aware of the lack of carriages on commuter trains to Heuston; his discussions with TFI regarding this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56108/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding announced in Budget 2026 for second-hand acquisitions includes the tenant-in-situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56107/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-10-16 Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to review the guidelines for carer's allowance (that is, needing partial care rather than full care); if his Department plans to undertake a review of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56106/25]