Dublin Fingal West — week of Mon, 3 Nov

What your Dublin Fingal West TDs did this week

Mon, 3 Nov – 9 Nov 2025 · 3 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 71 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages

2025-11-05 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion failed 61–72

Voted for 2 Louise O'Reilly · Robert O'Donoghue

Voted against 1 Grace Boland

The motion · motion passed 93–41

Voted for 2 Grace Boland · Robert O'Donoghue

Voted against 1 Louise O'Reilly

Education (Affordable School Uniforms Bill) 2025

2025-11-05 · 2 votes

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 72–62

Voted for 1 Grace Boland

Voted against 2 Louise O'Reilly · Robert O'Donoghue

The motion · motion passed 72–62

Voted for 1 Grace Boland

Voted against 2 Louise O'Reilly · Robert O'Donoghue

Grace Boland — Fine Gael 4 votes · 28 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 28 total

Education 8 questions
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the review of the assistive technology scheme; if her Department plans to move away from diagnosis-based eligibility criteria; when the new application portal will be launched; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59754/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will reconsider the expansion of reading classes in Fingal, given the demographic growth and increasing demand for dyslexia-specific supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59753/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department is ensuring that the scheme for the commissioning of psychological assessments (SCPA) is sufficiently resourced to meet the growing demand for psychological assessments in schools; the current number of psychologists on the SCPA panel nationally and the regional breakdown available for North County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58197/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide details of any recent or planned increases in the number of NEPS psychologists or SCPA panel members to support this work, nationally and in North County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58198/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way her Department is addressing the ongoing demand for psychological assessments in schools, particularly in areas where NEPS psychologists are not currently assigned; whether the current SCPA panel and funding levels are sufficient to ensure equitable access to assessment for all students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58199/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of educational psychologists currently employed by NEPS; the number of additional appointments planned to meet increasing demand in schools, nationally and in North County Dublin; and the way in which her Department is ensuring that the SCPA scheme continues to function; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58200/25]
- 2025-11-06 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm if any construction related reports are still outstanding and waiting completion required to progress a building project (details supplied) advised by your Department in July 2024 to proceed with a new planning application, which should include decarbonisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60543/25]
- 2025-11-06 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a status update on the new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60544/25]
Transport 8 questions
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if the State will have an opportunity to recoup any costs associated with the DART+ Coastal North project, in light of ongoing delays in the delivery of electric train carriages due to supplier issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58472/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether the contract with the supplier of electric train carriages for the DART+ Coastal North project includes provisions or penalty clauses that would allow the State to recover costs in the event of delivery delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58473/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the expected timeline for the deployment of the new battery-electric train sets, in view of the further delays reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58843/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the continued delay in the deployment of the battery-electric train carriages; and whether these delays are linked to technical or operational issues identified during initial testing or delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58844/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if the supplier of the battery-electric train carriages has offered any form of credit, refund, or contractual compensation to the State due to the delays in deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58845/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if the delays in deployment of battery-electric train carriages have resulted in any additional costs to the State, including but not limited to operational adjustments, interim fleet measures, or technical remediation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58846/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if any issues have been detected with the battery-electric train carriages received to date; and the impact these issues will have on the overall cost and timeline of the fleet’s integration into service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58847/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the contingency plans in place to ensure service continuity for affected routes, particularly in areas where the battery-electric fleet was expected to be deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58848/25]
Children 4 questions
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the potential operational impact of the work-to-rule action by Pobal early years specialists on the delivery of supports to childcare providers and early-learning settings; the contingency arrangements that are in place to mitigate any disruption to services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59363/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of Exchequer funding provided to Pobal in 2025 for early years and childcare programmes; if any part of this allocation may be affected by the current industrial dispute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59364/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline for the reopening of the building blocks capital grant scheme; if the eligibility criteria will remain the same, or be widened in the next round; if her Department has a strategy to encourage the establishment and expansion of community-based childcare services in areas of high demand where property and rental costs act as a barrier to private provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59365/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline for the publication of the action plan to build an affordable, high-quality and accessible early childhood education and care system, as referenced in recent replies to parliamentary questions; if the action plan will include a specific focus on childcare infrastructure and the development of State-led capacity in areas of unmet need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59366/25]
Housing 3 questions
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the Housing Agency's report on defective concrete blocks in Fingal; if he will outline the findings relevant to an area (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58427/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm whether the properties in an area sampled by the Housing Agency meet the criteria for inclusion in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; if he will outline the next steps for affected homeowners (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58428/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if homeowners who have already undertaken remediation works due to confirmed pyrite damage will be eligible to retrospectively claim support under the defective concrete blocks scheme, once their local authority is included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59367/25]
Defence 2 questions
- 2025-11-06 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the means by which his Department plans to reach level of ambition 3 in defence spending; the specific investments being prioritised to enhance Ireland’s radar, sonar and coastal monitoring systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60488/25]
- 2025-11-06 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to improve gender balance in Defence Forces recruitment, given that only 5% of new recruits in 2024 were women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60489/25]
Climate 2 questions
- 2025-11-06 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures being taken to ensure grid resilience in vulnerable areas during the 2025-26 winter period; the means by which communities will be informed of emergency generation plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60487/25]
- 2025-11-06 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an updated timeline for the delivery of Ireland’s offshore wind targets under CAP25, in view of industry concerns that the State is falling behind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60486/25]
Taoiseach 1 question
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Grace Boland asked the Taoiseach when the CSO will publish an updated set of the Employment Analysis of Maternity and Paternity Benefits 2019-2022. [58414/25]

Louise O'Reilly — Sinn Féin 4 votes · 16 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 16 total

Social 9 questions
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has any plans, or if he has done any work on reciprocal arrangements, whereby Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland will access core welfare payments, such as carer's allowance, when their PRSI contributions have been used up and they are no longer eligible for carer's benefit; if he is aware of the hardship incurred on carers resident in Northern Ireland who face a sharp income cliff given that they are not eligible for carer's allowance; if he is aware of the extent to which this is a widespread issue across the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58377/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the specific circumstances under which a person who is working is not entitled to be auto-enrolled in My Future Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58378/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the specific circumstances under which a person who is working may be a member, simultaneously of a private pension and My Future Fund where the employer contributes to the private pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58379/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of languages in which a comprehensive guide to My Future Fund is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58380/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a copy of the guidelines issued to employers regarding auto-enrolment and the treatment of workers eligible for auto-enrolment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58381/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the options for workers for whom My Future Fund would be more financially favourable than their existing pension plan; if such persons can become enrolled in the My Future Fund and under which circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58382/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the sanctions in place for employers who refuse to implement auto-enrolment by the January 2026 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58436/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the sanctions in place for employers who are shown to be illegally obliging workers to join another pension scheme such that they are prevented from accessing My Future Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58437/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a breakdown of the reason 50,000 fewer employees are expected to be enrolled in My Future Fund; the demographics of this group, by age, profession and gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58467/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the length of time that applications for HAP from Fingal County Council took to be processed, from application to payment, for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58385/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that HAP tenants moving from one local authority to another are subject to delays in processing their applications (details supplied); his plans to address this and to facilitate seamless transition from one local authority to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58386/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address safety concerns regarding the transportation of children from a particular location to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59177/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the procedure used for a person from Cameroon to apply for a visa to live and work in Ireland, and to join a parent who is a naturalised Irish citizen and who is elderly and has increased care needs due to a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57716/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide details of properties acquired by purchase, rental or transfer from another State agency or organisation for use by TUSLA in the Fingal west area in the past two years; the location and size of the properties; what they will be used for; the duration of any leases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59176/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that women with epilepsy who need to take medication to aid sleep as a consequence of menopause as advised by medical professionals cannot access this medication on the long-term illness scheme; if she further understands that lack of sleep and tiredness increase the likelihood of seizures for epileptic women; if she will consider making melatonin available on the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58435/25]
Climate 1 question
- 2025-11-06 Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he aware of the extent of energy poverty in Ireland; the measures that will be put in place to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50387/25]

Robert O'Donoghue — Labour Party 4 votes · 27 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 27 total

Enterprise 10 questions
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps his Department is taking to protect Irish artists, writers, and performers from the unauthorised use of their work, likeness, or voice in artificial intelligence-generated content; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57907/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his plans to introduce specific legislation or regulations to safeguard creative professionals against the misuse of artificial intelligence technologies in the arts and entertainment industries, particularly in relation to consent, credit, and fair remuneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57908/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which his Department is engaging with representative bodies (details supplied) to ensure that developments in AI do not undermine employment opportunities, intellectual property rights, or creative integrity in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57909/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the assessment which has been made of the impact of artificial intelligence on employment and workers' rights within Ireland's film, television, and performing arts industries; if his Department will commission a study on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57910/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will ensure that public funding provided to screen and television productions through an agency (details supplied) or Section 481 tax relief includes clear safeguards preventing the unregulated use of AI-generated performers, voices, or scripts. [57911/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether AI-related protections will be incorporated into future industry agreements and collective bargaining frameworks to protect writers, actors, and technical crew from having their work or likeness digitally replicated without consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57912/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department plans to develop a national policy framework on the ethical use of artificial intelligence in the creative industries, to safeguard cultural workers and audiences against exploitation and misinformation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57913/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he has engaged with the European Commission or Creative Europe on developing harmonised EU standards for the ethical and transparent use of AI in cultural production and copyright protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57914/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department will consider providing targeted funding, training, or digital literacy supports to help Irish artists and creative professionals adapt to AI technologies while ensuring their rights and intellectual property remain protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57915/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will consider establishing an advisory panel on AI and the Arts, comprising representatives from the arts, technology, and legal sectors, to guide policy development and promote ethical standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57916/25]
Children 10 questions
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department or Tusla, are aware of any legal challenges being brought before the Workplace Relations Commission by staff members in relation to the impact that the current restructuring of special care services will have on their roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60087/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff members in special care centres who have applied for transfers since the commencement of the restructuring process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60088/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff members in special care centres who are currently engaged in the grievance procedure as a result of concerns regarding the impact of the restructuring process on their roles or conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60089/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff members across all grades that Tusla has managed to directly recruit since the launch of its recruitment campaign associated with the new structures of special care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60090/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Tusla has received feedback from a trade union (details supplied) in relation to its members’ views on the restructuring proposals for special care services; and if so, to outline the nature of this feedback; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60091/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla has increased special care bed capacity since the commencement of its restructuring plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60092/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the “dedicated retention team,” referenced in previous correspondence, has met with special care employees regarding their concerns about the Tusla restructuring process; and if so, to provide details of when such meetings took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60093/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla, or her Department, has developed an organisational risk management plan in special care centres to address the potential loss of staff member, particularly at senior management, management and social care leader levels, arising from the restructuring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60094/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla, or her Department, has a contingency plan in place to maintain or increase special care bed capacity, as outlined in recent budget commitments, in light of the risk of staff departures associated with the restructuring process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60095/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to overseas recruitment costings previously cited at €337,650 for special care centre employees, if she will confirm the specific timeframe to which this cost applies, given that the overseas recruits commenced in the summer, and that this figure therefore appears to cover approximately four months rather than an annual figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60096/25]
Education 2 questions
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to improve school transport services for students travelling from a location to a school (details supplied); if she will consider the inclusion of the school in the next phase of the school transport pilot scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58094/25]
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the survivors of industrial schools who are on hunger strike outside Leinster House; if she is aware that they have passed their 30th day of hunger strike; if she has met with this group about their demands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59412/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider the reintroduction of the 9% VAT rate for cinemas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58096/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any concrete timelines for implementation of the proposed exemptions to planning regarding detached cabins and modular homes, as referenced earlier this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58169/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when he intends to sign into effect the regulations on service charges and sinking funds, which were drafted in February 2022; and if he will ensure their introduction before the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59911/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the reason spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has not yet been implemented in the national newborn heelprick screening programme, despite the decision announced in November 2023 to include SMA in that programme; if she will confirm the timeline for its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59477/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-11-04 Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices registered each year from 2020 to 2024, by sector or industry, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58649/25]