Donegal — week of Mon, 2 Mar

What your Donegal TDs did this week

Mon, 2 Mar – 8 Mar 2026 · 5 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 31 questions · 0 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 1 Charlie McConalogue

Voted against 2 Charles Ward · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Did not vote 2 Pat the Cope Gallagher · Pearse Doherty

The motion · motion passed 81–63

Voted for 1 Charlie McConalogue

Voted against 2 Charles Ward · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Did not vote 2 Pat the Cope Gallagher · Pearse Doherty

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2026-03-03 · 1 vote

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

Voted for 2 Charlie McConalogue · Pat the Cope Gallagher

Voted against 2 Charles Ward · Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Did not vote 1 Pearse Doherty

Charles Ward — 100% RDR 3 votes · 2 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 2 total

Health 2 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health whether she will commission a study on the health impacts of prolonged exposure to mould and damp in homes impacted by defective concrete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18050/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health whether a chairperson has been assigned to the cannabis access review panel; if so, whether the Minister could advise the person chosen; if not, when will this position be filled so that work on the review can be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18163/26]

Charlie McConalogue — Fianna Fáil 3 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Pat the Cope Gallagher — Fianna Fáil 1 vote · 1 question · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 1 total

Health 1 question
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health her response to the Adam's Protocols petition that someone presenting as suicidal should not have to go through accident &emergency (details supplied) [17447/26]

Pearse Doherty — Sinn Féin 0 votes · 19 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 19 total

Health 11 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a patient in Letterkenny University Hospital will be transferred to Beaumont Hospital for an urgent surgical procedure (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16870/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to increase GP recruitment and retention in areas of population growth, including Lifford, County Donegal; the supports available for those currently on GP waiting lists, or who have to wait long periods for access to a GP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16881/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a patient (details supplied) in Letterkenny University Hospital will transfer to Beaumont Hospital; the reason for the two week delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17189/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be given a date for an urgent orthopaedic operation in Letterkenny University Hospital; the reason a referral to the NTPF did not materialise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17364/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the criteria for sending patient files to the NTPF from Letterkenny University Hospital, including timeframes for each category for the years, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; to confirm any changes to extending the timeframe that was made to the criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17367/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for all surgeries in Letterkenny University Hospital per category in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17376/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of, and reasons for, inpatient surgeries cancelled at Letterkenny University Hospital, per category, during the years 2024 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17377/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plan to re-open to new tenders; if a supplementary panel is planned for service providers seeking access to HSE autism and ADHD procurement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17401/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason for recent changes this month for newly qualified paramedics now having to apply for permanent positions in the HSE National Ambulance Service, when previously the long established practice was they were offered permanent positions with the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17461/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to address the fact that ambulances are regularly queued outside hospitals waiting to hand over patients to ED staff, and that national response targets have not been met since October 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17525/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to address the lengthy waiting lists for home help in County Donegal; if new staff who are waiting on recruitment panels will be allowed to take up positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17524/26]
Education 3 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her announcement of 105 priority school building projects in the first tranche of the NDP rollout, what this means for other projects; if projects such as the additional accommodation project at a school (details supplied) will be delayed due to funding and other practical constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17047/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her announcement of 105 priority school building projects in the first tranche of the NDP rollout, what this means for other projects; if projects such as the additional accommodation project at a school (details supplied) will be delayed due to funding and other practical constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17048/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her announcement of 105 priority school building projects in the first tranche of the NDP rollout, what this means for other projects; if projects such as the additional accommodation project at a school (details supplied) will be delayed due to funding and other practical constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17049/26]
Housing 2 questions
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the sponsor of Ireland’s participation in Marché International des Professionnels de l'Immobilier (MIPIM) Conference; the value of the sponsorship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17859/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been brought to the significant problems with the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme; if there are any plans to address its failings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17498/26]
Justice 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the success of the pilot scheme titled 4empowerment; if he is aware of an application for a scheme that has been submitted via the Uplift project based in County Donegal; when a decision will be made on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16255/26]
Finance 1 question
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide each investment by the ISIF in any company or fund that provides residential accommodation the level of the investment and when the initial first investment was made, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17858/26]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of former senior civil servants (principal officer and above) who have still not either fully repaid, or on a repayment plan, following errors related to the chargeable excess tax on gold plated pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17952/26]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn — Sinn Féin 3 votes · 9 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 9 total

Housing 4 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the defective concrete blocks grant scheme complies with the State’s current building regulations and the EU’s revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in that the defective concrete blocks grant scheme only adheres to the 2007 Building Regulations for the purposes of eligible costs, incentivising fossil fuel boilers. [16872/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which he can assist older people who are eligible for the defective concrete block grant scheme but who are unable to uproot at this advanced stage of their lives; if he will consider allowing them to transfer their eligibility on to a beneficiary in their will, or to a purchaser who has paid the fair market price to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17131/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will request that the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, SCSI, draft a follow-up report on construction costs for the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, considering that the last one was almost two years ago and costs have considerably increased in that period. [17183/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will advance the plans to relocate the families at a location (details supplied), living in defective concrete block homes, away from the dangerous flood plain they were built on. [17184/26]
Health 3 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will allow the home support service in Donegal to resume recruitment for healthcare assistants to address the growing waiting list for the service in the county.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17182/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that the Letterkenny University Hospital, model 3 hospital, clinical care plan is published at the earliest opportunity, and the recommendations urgently acted upon.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17181/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason 80 newly qualified paramedics who have completed a three year BSC in Paramedic Studies and all necessary examinations, placements and assessments will not move to permanent roles in the National Ambulance Service in what is a break from established practice. [18121/26]
Education 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to establish if transport escorts for adults with disabilities, attending services (details supplied) and employed under the umbrella of Transport for Ireland receive higher pay along with statutory holidays in comparison to school transport escorts paid through her Department’s special educational needs transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16825/26]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will designate Greencastle Harbour, County Donegal as a pelagic landing port for catches over ten tonnes. [18164/26]