Donegal — week of Mon, 17 Nov — Watch Them Work

What your Donegal TDs did this week

Mon, 17 Nov – 23 Nov 2025 · 5 TDs · 5 bills voted on · 38 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024

2025-11-19 · 2 votes · Sinn Féin PMB

A bill to amend the Arts Act 2003 to recognise the art of comedy

A sub-amendment · motion passed 69–83

Voted for 3 Charles Ward · Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Voted against 2 Charlie McConalogue · Pat the Cope Gallagher

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 83–70

Voted for 2 Charlie McConalogue · Pat the Cope Gallagher

Voted against 3 Charles Ward · Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Cost of Motoring

2025-11-19 · 1 vote

The motion · motion failed 70–82

Voted for 3 Charles Ward · Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Voted against 2 Charlie McConalogue · Pat the Cope Gallagher

Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Reduction of Voting Age to Sixteen Years) Bill 2025

2025-11-19 · 1 vote · Social Democrats PMB

A bill to amend the Constitution

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 86–65

Voted for 2 Charlie McConalogue · Pat the Cope Gallagher

Voted against 3 Charles Ward · Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil

2025-11-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 83–67

Voted for 1 Pat the Cope Gallagher

Voted against 3 Charles Ward · Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Did not vote 1 Charlie McConalogue

Nomination of Member of Government

2025-11-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 88–69

Voted for 2 Charlie McConalogue · Pat the Cope Gallagher

Voted against 3 Charles Ward · Pearse Doherty · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Charles Ward — 100% RDR 6 votes · 0 questions · 1 new lobbying return

New lobbying 1 return

Childminding Ireland Children and Youth Affairs
- Calling for an independent review of the working of the new childminding system.

Charlie McConalogue — Fianna Fáil 5 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Pat the Cope Gallagher — Fianna Fáil 6 votes · 3 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 3 total

Health 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health her plans to extend the long-term illness card to include pulmonary fibrosis given it is available for persons with cystic fibrosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63666/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health when it is proposed to provide a service in Letterkenny University Hospital for patients who require intravitreal injections (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63995/25]
Housing 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage in view of the success of the vacant/derelict grants scheme in Donegal if he will consider a similar type of grant for above the shop units for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63309/25]

Pearse Doherty — Sinn Féin 6 votes · 24 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 24 total

Education 7 questions
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a special needs assistant national school redeployment application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64329/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will address the issue whereby primary schools are unable to input casual substitute work undertaken by teachers who are on carer's leave into the on line claims system, and are instead required to use the more cumbersome sub for sub-timesheet process; if she will confirm that this anomaly will be rectified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65030/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that the requirement to use sub for sub-forms for teachers on carer's leave who undertake casual substitution places an additional administrative burden on schools, and may discourage schools from offering such teachers substitute work; and the steps she will take to remove this disincentive and ensure equitable access to substitute opportunities. [65031/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the online claims system will be updated to allow the input of substitute hours worked by teachers who are on carer's leave, in line with all other casual substitute teachers; and if she will provide a timeline for this update. [65032/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address the issue whereby teachers on carer's leave who work as casual substitutes are not receiving payslips that include the school roll number and the specific dates worked; if she will confirm that this information will be added to their payslips; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65033/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department will take to ensure that teachers on carer's leave who engage in casual substitute work are able to verify their payment details with the same accuracy and clarity as other substitute teachers, given the current absence of key information on their payslips; and if she will provide an update on improvements to the payroll system. [65034/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the means by which her Department intends to ensure that substitute teachers who are on carer's leave are not placed at a disadvantage compared with other substitutes when it comes to payment processing, administrative requirements and transparency of pay information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65035/25]
Finance 5 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 470 of 4 November 2025, to provide the same information, excluding AHBs and local authorities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63704/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 471 of 4 November 2025, the total value of all residential property based on the local property tax data, using the average figure report for all properties below €2.1million; the total value of residential property owned by multi-property owners using the same approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63707/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 496 of 4 November 2025, the time period in which the circa 135,000 customers were potentially provided motor finance by car dealers using discretionary commission arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64034/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 496 of 4 November 2025, to provide the names of the eight firms engaged in providing discretionary commission arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64035/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the VAT cut on apartment sales to forward-funding deals; the estimated number of apartments this will affect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64391/25]
Health 5 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to extend existing test-purchase powers under section 14 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 to include situations where alcohol has been purchased online and delivered to a home address; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63002/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason an operation in Letterkenny University Hospital was cancelled for a patient (details supplied) in County Donegal; when a new date for the operation will be given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63048/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a full response will issue to correspondence from a person (details supplied) relating to a Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63604/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the plans the Government has to address the lack of services regarding diabetes care at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64571/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health her plans to deal with the crisis with emergency department wait times at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64570/25]
Justice 3 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is satisfied that the current regulatory framework governing online and app-based alcohol delivery services is adequate to prevent sales to minors; or if improvements are being considered in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63000/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the enforcement that is in place to ensure age verification during home delivery of alcohol; if any data on non-compliance rates can be provided; if he is satisfied that the current regulatory framework governing online, and app-based alcohol delivery services is adequate to prevent sales to minors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63001/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of receipt hosts and persons benefitting from accommodation under the accommodation recognition payment, by county; the number of new entrants into the scheme each month since January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65038/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that there are persons who drive tractors only, that can no longer get insurance as they do not have a valid driver number; the steps a person can take to have a tractor licence without take a driving test for a car; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63556/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if he will review an ongoing issue for a student Leap card applicant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63676/25]
Climate 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will meet the deadline to transpose EU laws which require Ireland to collect and publish data centre emissions details, together with the energy and water use from the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63987/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who are currently on the waiting list for respite in County Donegal, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63562/25]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn — Sinn Féin 6 votes · 11 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 11 total

Agriculture 5 questions
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will make a decision on the re-opening of the mussel seed fishery in the Long Bank for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64332/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licence applications awaiting appropriate assessments at the Marine Institute; if there is a prioritisation system to deal with these applications in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64333/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licence applications awaiting determination by his Department; the efforts being made to address delays in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64334/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant eligibility for the sustainable aquaculture scheme will be revised given the unreasonable delays in the aquaculture licensing system which is impacting aquaculture producers awaiting licensing renewals and wish to make improvements in their business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64335/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish a funding mechanism to assist aquaculture producers when difficulties arise that is, storm damage, stock losses and biological challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64336/25]
Transport 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update with timelines for the restoration of the Derry to Dublin air link. [63485/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport when he will meet with the elected members of the Letterkenny Municipal District, Donegal County Council to discuss the urgent need to fund a number of relief roads and by passes around the town of Letterkenny to address the serious traffic delays at certain times of the day, every day. [63484/25]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1161 of 12 November 2025, if he will provide his Department’s agreed procedures/guidelines provided to the Higher Education Authority relating to the student assistance fund for the academic years 2023-2024 to 2025-2026 inclusive. [63740/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1161 of 12 November 2025, the reason for the fall in the student assistance fund provided by his Department from €8,823,432 for the academic year 2023-2024 to €3,812,601 for 2025-2026 to the five technological universities; if he intends to provide additional student assistance funding to the Higher Education Authority for the remainder of the current academic year; and if so, if he can he provide the additional allocations for each of the five technological universities, in tabular form. [63741/25]
Education 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that a school bus is funded to transport school children from the Fanad peninsula and Gaeltacht to a school (details supplied) in Letterkenny to ensure that those children can continue their education through the medium of Irish. [62753/25]
Health 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when an application under the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme, will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62888/25]