Cork South-Central — week of Mon, 2 Mar

What your Cork South-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 2 Mar – 8 Mar 2026 · 5 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 23 questions · 1 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2026

2026-03-04 · 2 votes · People Before Profit-Solidarity PMB

A bill to amend the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 to regulate the use of recommender algorithms by video-sharing platform services

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 80–63

Voted for 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

The motion · motion passed 81–63

Voted for 2 Jerry Buttimer · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Did not vote 1 Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2026-03-03 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 84–68

Voted for 3 Jerry Buttimer · Micheál Martin · Séamus McGrath

Voted against 2 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire · Pádraig Rice

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire — Sinn Féin 3 votes · 3 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 3 total

Taoiseach 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Taoiseach if he can clarify the remarks recently made by his Department, that Ireland was committed militarily’ with Ukraine; his views on whether this is a departure from the State’s long held position of being ‘militarily neutral’. [17242/26]
Transport 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport the reason approved driving instructors are currently not permitted front/road facing dash cams, in order to ensure safety and recording of potential road traffic incidents where they arise, for their own safety and for the purposes of insurance. [16396/26]
Health 1 question
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people in the south Lee area awaiting paediatric and juvenile primary care psychology; the number waiting over six months, 12 months and two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17839/26]

Jerry Buttimer — Fine Gael 3 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Micheál Martin — Fianna Fáil 1 vote · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Pádraig Rice — Social Democrats 3 votes · 16 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 16 total

Health 9 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of an evaluation being undertaken by the Alcohol Act Technical Evaluation Group (AATEG) in relation to the provisions of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018; the timeline for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17136/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to reduce preventable baby deaths, following a recent Oireachtas Committee on Health meeting in which this issue was highlighted (details supplied); if this will be a priority in the next National Maternity Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17724/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the Sexual Health Strategy recommendation to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based and fit-for-purpose model of care for sexual health; the progress made to date; the timeline she is working towards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17722/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the definitive timeline for the completion of the Strategic Review of General Practice; the reason for the delay in completing the review, given that the original competition date was the end of 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17721/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the delivery of the programme for Government commitment to continue to extend access to free contraception; the work carried out to date; the timeline she is working towards in expanding the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17723/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1079 of 24 February 2026, if funding for the Integrated Homeless Services Hub in Cork city has been approved; if so, the amount allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18061/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the delay in progressing the development of the new Paediatric Unit in Cork University Hospital, given that it was granted planning permission in 2022 (details supplied); the current timeline for construction and opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18062/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant neurosurgeons at Cork University Hospital in 2024 and 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18063/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2424 of 13 January 2026, the status of the community nursing units located at St. Finbarr’s Cork, Midleton, Thomastown and Clonmel; if any have been handed over to the HSE; if not, the timeline for each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18073/26]
Children 2 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans over the course of this Government to increase paid leave for new parents and the rate of payment they receive from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16694/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18034/26]
Social 2 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that jobseeker's allowance is means-tested for couples who are cohabiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18059/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has considered options to maintain insurability for PhD scholarship holders, such as PRSI credits, so that eligibility for jobseeker's allowance can be sought after State-supported doctoral study; the outcome of any such analysis; the timeframe for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18060/26]
Transport 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of an issue persisting since Summer 2025 in relation to the audio levels of next stop announcements onboard Cork city buses; if he will take measures to resolve the inaccessibility of the announcements for passengers with visual and/or hearing impairments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16695/26]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the difficulties relating to parking facing university students in Cork (details supplied); if his Department has engaged with the university in relation to addressing these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16398/26]
Education 1 question
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 66 of 17 February 2026, for an updated timeline for when this school will receive further guidance on a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18075/26]

New lobbying 1 return

Vape Business Ireland Health
- Legislation on vaping

Séamus McGrath — Fianna Fáil 3 votes · 4 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 4 total

Housing 2 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the pipeline of affordable purchase units being developed by all local authorities and categorise them at stages of development. [17479/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projected housing output of the LDA for the remainder of 2026 and 2027, by property types, social units, cost rental units and so on. [17478/26]
Culture 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the large-scale sports infrastructure fund, LSSIF, is likely to open for applications. [16500/26]
Health 1 question
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of procedures funded through the cross-Border directive scheme in 2025, by the countries in which the procedures were carried out, the categorisation of the procedure type and the amount spent in each country. [17510/26]