Galway West — week of Mon, 17 Nov — Watch Them Work

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 17 Nov – 23 Nov 2025 · 6 TDs · 5 bills voted on · 49 questions · 0 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 1 Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Did not vote 2 Catherine Connolly · Seán Kyne

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 83–70

Voted for 2 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly

Voted against 1 Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 3 Catherine Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

Cost of Motoring

2025-11-19 · 1 vote

The motion · motion failed 70–82

Voted for 1 Mairéad Farrell

Voted against 2 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly

Did not vote 3 Catherine Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

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 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly

Voted against 1 Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 3 Catherine Connolly · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil

2025-11-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 83–67

Voted for 2 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly

Did not vote 4 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

Nomination of Member of Government

2025-11-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 88–69

Voted for 2 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly

Did not vote 4 Catherine Connolly · Mairéad Farrell · Noel Grealish · Seán Kyne

Catherine Connolly — Independent 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Hildegarde Naughton — Fine Gael 6 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

John Connolly — Fianna Fáil 6 votes · 23 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 23 total

Education 5 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a further review will take place of the level of disadvantage within schools towards establishing whether more schools meet the requirements for entry into the current DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65005/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the development of a new building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65008/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of spaces available for incoming first year students in mainstream secondary schools within the school planning area of Galway city; if the schools have sufficient capacity for all sixth class pupils currently enrolled in mainstream primary schools within the school planning area of Galway city; if her Department has given consideration to increasing capacity of secondary school places within the Galway city planning area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65020/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the development and enhancement works at a school (details supplied) in Galway city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65021/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the development works at a school (details supplied) in Galway city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65022/25]
Health 4 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made on recommendation 21 of the Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan 2025-2027 proposal for the completion of a situational analysis of the current landscape of community-based provision for dual challenges in the areas of mental health and addiction, including the identification of current gaps/barriers, opportunities as well as the key priority areas for development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64327/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the plans within her Department to increase the number of acute mental health beds within CHO2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64326/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the locations of all community nursing units in CHO2; e the bed capacity of each unit; the current occupancy of each unit, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65006/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the bed capacity of the community nursing unit (details supplied); the current occupancy of the unit; the staffing cohort currently employed at the unit; the future development plans for the unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65007/25]
Justice 4 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of youth diversion projects operating in County Galway; the staffing cohort associated with each project; the number of participants at each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65009/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda officers, by rank, attached to all Garda stations within the Galway Garda division in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the number of Garda officers who retired from Garda stations in the Galway division in 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65011/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda cars and vans attached to each Garda district within the Galway division in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65012/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of traffic offences recorded in each Garda division under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 2006, in each of the years 2022 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65017/25]
Rural 4 questions
- 2025-11-20 D'fhiafraigh Deputy John Connolly den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta cé mhéad folúntas atá ann faoi láthair i róil oifigeach pleanála teanga ar fud na tíre; cé chomh fada is atá na folúntais ann; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [65001/25]
- 2025-11-20 D'fhiafraigh Deputy John Connolly den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta a chur i láthair i bhfoirm tháblach cé chomh fada agus atá gach oifigeach pleanála teanga reatha ina ról; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [65002/25]
- 2025-11-20 D'fhiafraigh Deputy John Connolly den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta cén stádas reatha atá ag ról an oifigigh pleanála teanga i ngach ceann de na limistéir pleanála teanga sa tír faoi láthair; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [65003/25]
- 2025-11-20 D'fhiafraigh Deputy John Connolly den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta a chur in iúl cén uair a thosóidh an chéad chéim eile den phróiseas pleanála teanga i ngach ceann de na limistéir pleanála teanga sa tír; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [65004/25]
Housing 3 questions
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the determinants for the allocation made to each local authority through the local Government fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65015/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total funding allocation provided to each local authority under the local Government fund for 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65016/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total allocation of funding provided to each local authority in 2024, 2025 and 2026 for change of tenancy works in their housing stock, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65018/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on each ongoing and proposed flood relief scheme in Galway city and county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62902/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total number of applicants in each local authority for the power-up grant in 2025; the number of successful applicants; the total amount awarded per local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65019/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-11-20 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will consider an increase in the income threshold for participants on the farm assist scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65010/25]

Mairéad Farrell — Sinn Féin 4 votes · 26 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 26 total

Climate 7 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if there are plans in place at Departmental level to re-designate Lough Sheelin as a pike and coarse fishery considering the results of the 2022 fish survey conducted by Inland Fisheries Ireland, which found that native brown trout are a marginalised species within a larger biomass of invasive and-or non-native fish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63200/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland are considering legislation for Lough Sheelin to impose a total ban on the harvesting of brown trout by rod angling; a total ban on the use of electronics (chartplotters, echosounders, side-scan sonar, livescope and active target) for angling purposes; restricting the use of outboard engines over a predetermined horsepower for angling purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63201/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his inland fisheries division and Inland Fisheries Ireland continue to support catch and release angling competitions on Lough Corrib special area of conservation, SAC, which advertently target native brown trout under 13 inches or 33 cm, as defined in the Western Fisheries Region Conservation of Trout Bye-law No. 840, 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63202/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Departmental officials, in conjunction with Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, will implement legislative changes to the Conservation of Pike Bye-law No. 809, 2006 as clearly referenced in the IFI’s 2014 pike policy document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63204/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the principal officer of environmental protection within his Department, is on secondment to the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63205/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason minutes of the Angling Consultative Council of Ireland, ACCI, and Angling Advisory Group, AAG, meetings held on 6 August and 15 October 2024, respectively, have not been disseminated in the public domain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63206/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Departmental officials and Inland Fisheries Ireland continue to legislatively conserve the invasive fish species of roach and dace in the River Blackwater special area of conservation, SAC, considering their classification under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S. I. No. 477 of 2011); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63210/25]
Education 6 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the means by which the use of recording devices and voice activated computers under the scheme of reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations is validated and verified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63573/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the means by which the use of recording devices and voice activated computers under the scheme of reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations is quality assured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63574/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on how survivors of historical abuse can go about accessing supports which are included in the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025; the method by which this information will be publicised, so that survivors can access supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64134/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the family of a recently deceased survivor of an industrial school who had received compensation through the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002, would be eligible for funding to help cover the costs of the funeral; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64135/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the climate action plan for schools will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64712/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the primary school parent survey given the survey is currently open and is subject to misuse (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65040/25]
Transport 4 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the move by a company (details supplied) to fixed price fares, which is being used as a tool to undermine competition in the taxi market; the way in which this will impact taxi drivers in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63329/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the current traffic issues in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63330/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if an express bus service between Galway city and Shannon airport is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64012/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the review being carried out on the capacity of the 424 bus; if an additional bus route from Bearna to Galway city will be considered as a solution to the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64341/25]
Health 4 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if necessary tetanus vaccination shots given as post-exposure prophylaxis are covered by the medical card; if not, the reasoning for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63196/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to delayed implementation of spinal muscular atrophy in the heelprick test for babies; the timeline for the implementation of spinal muscular atrophy in the heelprick test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63246/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if the decision not to reimburse for belimumab will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64337/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if she intends to expand eligibility for funding for diabetes glucose monitors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64219/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Parks and Wildlife Service conducted risk assessments or implemented mitigations to prevent the spread of the invasive demon shrimp (dikerogammarus haemobaphes) from the Shannon system to Lough Corrib SAC in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63188/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Parks and Wildlife Service will confirm the presence of invasive Canadian pondweed (elodea sp.) in Lough Corrib SAC, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63189/25]
Defence 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Defence the additional costs incurred by the Irish Defence Forces for security provided at Shannon Airport due to US military use of that airport from 2010 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64014/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if the family of an Irish citizen who had been residing in England up until their death would be eligible to apply for an additional needs payment to help cover funeral costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64136/25]
Culture 1 question
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on the work his Department is doing to improve communication infrastructure, and in particular to improve access to communication services during and after strong storms; if he will provide an update on the work his Department has carried out since the publication on the review of Storm Éowyn in October 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64220/25]

Noel Grealish — Independent 1 vote · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Seán Kyne — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.