Longford-Westmeath — week of Mon, 17 Nov — Watch Them Work

What your Longford-Westmeath TDs did this week

Mon, 17 Nov – 23 Nov 2025 · 5 TDs · 5 bills voted on · 62 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 Sorca Clarke

Voted against 1 Micheál Carrigy

Did not vote 3 Kevin Boxer Moran · Peter Burke · Robert Troy

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 83–70

Voted for 1 Micheál Carrigy

Voted against 1 Sorca Clarke

Did not vote 3 Kevin Boxer Moran · Peter Burke · Robert Troy

Cost of Motoring

2025-11-19 · 1 vote

The motion · motion failed 70–82

Voted for 1 Sorca Clarke

Voted against 1 Micheál Carrigy

Did not vote 3 Kevin Boxer Moran · Peter Burke · Robert Troy

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 1 Micheál Carrigy

Voted against 1 Sorca Clarke

Did not vote 3 Kevin Boxer Moran · Peter Burke · Robert Troy

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil

2025-11-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 83–67

Voted for 3 Kevin Boxer Moran · Micheál Carrigy · Robert Troy

Voted against 1 Sorca Clarke

Did not vote 1 Peter Burke

Nomination of Member of Government

2025-11-18 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 88–69

Voted for 3 Kevin Boxer Moran · Micheál Carrigy · Robert Troy

Voted against 1 Sorca Clarke

Did not vote 1 Peter Burke

Kevin Boxer Moran — Independent 2 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Micheál Carrigy — Fine Gael 6 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Peter Burke — Fine Gael 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Robert Troy — Fianna Fáil 2 votes · 11 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 11 total

Education 3 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update in relation to a school construction project (details supplied); when this school will proceed to tender and construction; which project this school is part of; the other schools which are in this bundle; the stages the other schools are currently at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63548/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an urgent update on special educational needs provisions for a school (details supplied). [63591/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64169/25]
Justice 3 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if a deportation order will be urgently reconsidered (details supplied). [63060/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the next citizenship ceremony will take place; and when invitations will issue to recipients. [63572/25]
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on a naturalisation application for a person (details supplied). [64115/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients who are in receipt of Jobseeker's allowance unbroken continuously in excess of 12 months, 24 months and 36 months, in tabular form. [63791/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on disability allowance and invalidity benefit; and the percentage of the population. [63792/25]
Health 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will urgently reconsider the decision to cease the phased dispensing reimbursement service for certain medications in community pharmacies (details supplied); if she is aware that this decision has caused huge concern in community pharmacies, and among the families of vulnerable customers who have previously been availing of this scheme. [63147/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify that roles (details supplied) are now added to the role of community pharmacies. [63161/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-11-19 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the assessment process for fee increase requests on behalf of childcare facilities participating in core funding will be announced; her views on whether it may have been premature to put in place a wage increase for practitioners without providing for an avenue where services can apply for fee increases simultaneously; and if she can commit to commencing this process without delay, ensuring that services have the opportunity to remain sustainable. [64325/25]

Sorca Clarke — Sinn Féin 6 votes · 51 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 51 total

Health 23 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant haematologists based at St. Vincent's University Hospital in each of the years of 2023 to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [62818/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of vacancies, by job title in CAMHS in County Donegal. [62819/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies, by job title currently within CHO6 Mental Health Services. [62820/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff, by job title working within the department of psychiatry at Beaumont Hospital in each of the years of 2023 to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [62821/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff, by job title working within Limerick Mental Health Services. [62822/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant obstetricians posts that were filled at Mullingar Regional Hospital in each of the years of 2023 to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [62823/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on waiting lists in each acute hospital; the average waiting time, by speciality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62965/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies currently within CAMHS; and the steps being taken to address staff shortages in the service. [62966/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if there has been a formal change in HSE policy in recent years regarding the preference for home-based care over residential or nursing home placements for elderly patients; and if this shift is linked to capacity constraints or resource limitations in nursing homes. [63096/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has issued any guidance to hospitals or community care teams regarding the management of appointments for elderly or incapacitated patients who cannot physically attend clinics; and her views on whether it is acceptable practice to remove such patients from waiting lists under these circumstances. [63097/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if there is a monitoring or appeals mechanism in place to ensure that elderly patients who are unable to travel for medical appointments are not effectively denied access to care or specialist services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63098/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to improve coordination between hospital consultants, community health teams, and families to ensure elderly patients receive appropriate, consistent, and compassionate care planning. [63099/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if a group (details supplied) holds any official authorised role to collect, process, or manage patient data on behalf of the Women’s Health Framework, the Department of Health, or the HSE; and if so, to outline the legal and administrative basis for such an arrangement. [63105/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will publish the governance structure, data protection impact assessment and data protection processes associated with any collection or storage of patient information under a project (details supplied) or any related element of the Women’s Health Framework. [63106/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average cost of an ADHD assessment in each RHA; the number of assessments carried out privately and publicly in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63575/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of teams from the 11 catchment area ADHD teams that are fully operational; the teams which remain in the process of being established; the expected opening dates for the three remaining services funded in 2025; and the measures being taken to ensure these new services are operational without further delay. [63593/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of posts that remain vacant across the 11 ADHD catchment area teams; the reasons for delays in approving key positions, including the two posts in Dublin south central/west, and the nursing post in Sligo/Leitrim/Donegal; and the expected timeline for filling these posts and ensuring full service capacity. [63594/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the status of the consultation report designed by the NCP clinical lead and ADHD Ireland to amend the current Model of Care; the expected implementation timeline for the primary care hub and the piloting of GP referral acceptance in the midlands service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63595/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the total funding provided for adult ADHD services since 2021, by year; whether additional funding will be provided to meet current demand; and the long-term plans in place to ensure sustainable staffing and service delivery across all catchment areas. [63596/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient and diagnostic appointments that have been offered, accepted, and recorded as did not attend/no show, in both the Regional Hospital Mullingar and the Regional Hospital Tullamore for the most recent full year; the number of patients currently on waiting lists in each hospital for MRI scans; the number of patients who have been referred from each hospital to private hospitals for MRI scans under outsourcing or insourcing arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64641/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of MRI appointments carried out in the Regional Hospital Mullingar in the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64642/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current number of children awaiting ASD assessments across the midlands, including a breakdown, by county and the average waiting time for assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64652/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the total cost incurred by the HSE in outsourcing ASD assessments for children to private providers in the past five years; the number of children referred externally for assessment during that period; the average cost per outsourced assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64653/25]
Foreign 9 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on Ireland’s commitment to the “loss and damage” mechanism agreed at COP30; and the amount of additional funding or support which Ireland will provide in the next five years. [62948/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total amount allocated to Irish Aid in 2025; and the way in which this compares to the previous five years. [62973/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proportion of Ireland’s GNI that is spent on ODA annually. [62974/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide a list of current Irish funded development projects in Africa, including funding amounts and objectives. [62975/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Irish Aid monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of its funded projects. [62976/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the support Irish Aid provides to women’s empowerment programmes in developing countries. [62977/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding which has been provided for emergency relief in response to the recent humanitarian crises in Palestine and Sudan. [62978/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline Ireland's current and planned financial contributions to the loss and damage fund; the timeline for disbursement of such funds; the mechanisms in place to ensure that Ireland's contributions are additional to existing official development assistance commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63146/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland was represented at the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025, held in Doha; if so, the composition of the Irish delegation; the purpose and outcomes of Ireland's participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63526/25]
Climate 5 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment in view of the agreement reached at COP30 and the commitments made by the EU to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 and between 66.25% and 72.5% by 2035, the way in which Ireland is aligning its national policy and emissions reduction pathway to these new EU targets; the steps the Government will take to ensure these are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62947/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress being made toward Ireland’s 2030 emission reduction targets; and the further measures planned to meet sectoral ceilings. [62970/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the estimated cost of Ireland's participation in COP30, including travel and accommodation for the delegation. [63543/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Ireland's plans for participation in COP30; the composition of the official Irish delegation; the ministerial or departmental engagements planned during the conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63544/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the key policy priorities and negotiating positions Ireland aims to advance at COP30; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63545/25]
Children 4 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE senior work practitioner posts that were filled at Springfield children's disability network team in each of the years 2023 to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [62811/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE clinical specialist physiotherapist posts that were filled at Longford Children's Disability Network Team in each of the years 2023 to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [62812/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE administrative staff, by grade posts that were filled at Clonbrusk children's disability network team in each of the years of 2023 to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [62813/25]
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of children awaiting ASD assessments across the midlands, including a breakdown, by county and the average waiting time for assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65585/25]
Housing 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of the capital budget allocation for the National Parks and Wildlife Service that has been spent in the first ten months of 2025; if he will provide same figures for the corresponding period in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [62810/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units completed and occupied in each local authority area to date in 2025; and the targets for completion by year end. [62967/25]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown, by local authority, of the number of dogs euthanised in dog kennels and pounds in the past five years. [62754/25]
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he last met the CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland; and to provide details of the issues discussed. [62817/25]
Transport 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of vacancies, by job title within the railway accident investigation unit of his Department; and the estimated timeframe for filling each of those vacancies, in tabular form. [62814/25]
Finance 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance the estimated excise duty take on a pint of beer priced €7 and a bottle of 75cl wine priced €15. [62815/25]
Social 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of pending appeals in respect of jobseeker’s allowance; and the average waiting time for a decision. [62968/25]
Justice 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of anti-social behaviour orders that have been sought by Gardai; and the number granted in the years of 2023 to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [62816/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-11-18 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on funding allocations for student accommodation developments at regional universities and technological universities. [62969/25]
Rural 1 question
- 2025-11-20 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the amount allocated in Budget 2026 for the financial support and establishment of new sister sheds, by county. [64668/25]