Galway West — week of Mon, 2 Mar

What your Galway West TDs did this week

Mon, 2 Mar – 8 Mar 2026 · 6 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 48 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 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 1 Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 2 Catherine Connolly · Seán Kyne

The motion · motion passed 81–63

Voted for 3 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly · Noel Grealish

Voted against 1 Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 2 Catherine Connolly · Seán Kyne

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2026-03-03 · 1 vote

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

Voted for 2 Hildegarde Naughton · John Connolly

Voted against 1 Mairéad Farrell

Did not vote 3 Catherine Connolly · 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 3 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

John Connolly — Fianna Fáil 3 votes · 21 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 21 total

Transport 7 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the total funding allocated to each local authority under the 2025 bus stop enhancement programme; the total amount of that allocation that was drawn down or spent by each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16533/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if he will engage with the National Transport Authority and Bus Éireann regarding the ongoing capacity pressures on the Route 419 Galway–Clifden service, particularly the recently updated 07:36 departure from Moycullen which is frequently full and unable to accommodate passengers; the measures being considered to alleviate these persistent capacity constraints; the anticipated timeline for the introduction of any such improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17373/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the National Transport Authority’s and Bus Éireann review of the Route 424 Galway–Lettermullen service in light of ongoing capacity pressures; particularly by the Barna stop where the service is frequently full and unable to accommodate passengers; whether additional services, increased frequency, or other interventions are being considered; the expected timeline for any decisions or implementation of improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17374/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if the National Transport Authority has undertaken an assessment on the reinstatement of the route 414 Barna bus service; whether discussions on feasibility and demand levels have advanced; the indicative timeline for a decision on the potential revival of the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17375/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport when the updated national ports policy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17707/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport when the NTA will publish their capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18067/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the proposed park and ride facilities to be developed in Galway on the N6 national primary road next to Junction 19, approximately 550 spaces and at the N83 national primary road, just north of Claregalway approximately 320 spaces; the status of the accompanying development of the bus priority measures along both the N6 and N83; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18068/26]
Health 5 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the location of all minor injury units in the HSE west and north-west area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16511/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on the appraisal of the development of a Galway injury unit; the potential locations being considered for the unit; the services the unit could provide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16512/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of submissions received by the HSE following the publication of the tender documents for the Multi-Party Framework Agreement for Civil and Structural (C&S) Services 2025 for HSE major works projects Project Type for Major capital works projects (€50M - €400M) in University Hospital Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16513/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the total monies extended by the HSE in the purchasing of residential care treatment episodes for people with drug, gambling and alcohol related addiction in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the number of patients for whom treatment episodes were purchased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17530/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the efforts that are under way within her Department to increase the capacity of the Children Disability Network Teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17529/26]
Housing 3 questions
- 2026-03-04 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Part 4 of the planning and development act 2024 will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17708/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for funding received under call 1 of the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund; the number of local authorities that have made applications; the total cost of accumulated applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17528/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding provided to Galway City Council and Galway County Council in 2024 and 2025 for the delivery of affordable housing under the local authority affordable housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17527/26]
Culture 2 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the efforts undertaken since Storm Éowyn to increase the resilience of mobile infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16269/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether a further opportunity to apply for large-scale sports infrastructure funding will be open to sporting organisations in 2026; if so, the level of funding that will be available; the criteria for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16268/26]
Defence 2 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Defence if her Department has received a Naval Service regeneration plan, if she can provide details of the plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17134/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Defence if the Naval Service has submitted a fully worked up business case setting out full infrastructure requirements for both marine and support related elements for an east coast base for the Naval service, to detail the infrastructure requirement included in the business case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17135/26]
Education 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth to detail the current basis on which guidance counsellors are allocated to secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17142/26]
Social 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the purpose of the proposed new registration (amendment) Bill described in the Spring Legislative Programme as developing amendments to further support the operation of the Civil Registration Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16518/26]

Mairéad Farrell — Sinn Féin 3 votes · 27 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 27 total

Climate 7 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will report on the disbursement for monies granted to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16175/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department provided grants or financial aid to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16176/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the legislative or scientific measures are in place to protect vulnerable and genetically distinct Atlantic salmon populations in rivers that are not assessed by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS), in particular the Owenriff (Barna) River system No. 140, situated in the Galway Fishery District No. 9(1) where seven Atlantic salmon were harvested in 2024 according to logbook data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16177/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department is considering closing the Owenriff (Barna) River system No. 140, situated in the Galway Fishery District No. 9(1), to all rod and line angling under future legislation considering that it has a small and unprotected population of Atlantic salmon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16178/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of Departmental principal officers who were representing his Inland Fisheries Section or managing Inland Fisheries policy in general through June 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16180/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the scientific reasons his advisors changed the probability threshold from 85% (catch and release) to 75% (surplus) for Lough Corrib SAC Atlantic salmon stocks under the proposed Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026; if this change aligns with the ‘precautionary principle’ that is integral to the EU Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16181/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on the 2025 Programme for Government commitment to protect and recognise the Great Western Lakes including Lough Corrib SAC in County Galway as salmonid waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16182/26]
Health 5 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if private hospitals are required to inform policyholders of private health insurance if their care is covered by their health insurance, before being admitted to care; if policyholders of private health insurance are entitled to know before they are admitted to hospital the information the health insurance company have on their file, specifically if their medical record constitutes having a pre-existing condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16485/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the reason chaplaincy cover has been reduced at University Hospital Galway to a twelve hour slot; if she will consider reintroducing full chaplaincy cover at UHG; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17030/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the difficulties facing small nursing homes and the widespread closures of nursing homes who are struggling to cope with rising costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17051/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the outcome of her meeting with Galway University Hospital regarding the chronic issue of overcrowding in the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17801/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if she will meet with the HSE to discuss broadening the criteria to provide access to continuous glucose monitoring sensors to more diabetics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17802/26]
Housing 4 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any supports available to homeowners who have become disabled after purchasing their home and are struggling with mortgage payments as a result of a change in income; if not, if he is considering enacting supports of this nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16683/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 8 October 2025, if he will provide an update on discussions his Department has had with Galway County Council in relation to the Ros a Mhíl and Eanach Mheáin social housing developments; the current status of the feasibility studies and cost reports on the sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17800/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his attention has been drawn to the complete lack of housing commencement notices lodged in Galway city so far this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17799/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 372 of 26 February 2026, if he will confirm that Lough Corrib is listed under SI 293/1988 (details supplied) as salmonid waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17923/26]
Children 4 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to provide support in facilitating an independent review of the governance and communication structures within disability day services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17038/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the Government will release the records relating to mother and baby institutions instead of keeping them restricted for up to 30 years. [17276/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the Government will fully investigate and, if necessary, excavate the Angels' Plot burial ground at Sean Ross Abbey in order that the children who died there can finally be found, and their mothers told the truth. [17277/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the Government will reform the mother and baby institutions redress scheme in order that survivors are judged by what was done to them, not by a rigid 180 day cut-off. [17278/26]
Social 3 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans in place to reduce the number of years that a carer must care for in order to receive the carer’s pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16184/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if carer’s allowance is an income or an allowance; if clarified as an income, the reason it is not subject to minimum wage legislation; or if clarified as an allowance the reason it is subject to tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17272/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 760 of 10 February 2026, if any internal briefing notes, guidance documents, policy papers, emails, memoranda or tracking systems exist within his Department concerning the enforcement, monitoring or recovery of retrospective PRSI liabilities arising from Scope decisions (details supplied); whether any records exist documenting engagement with the Revenue Commissioners regarding the operational interaction between Scope determinations and the Karshan Disclosure Opportunity; if such records exist, whether he will reconcile their existence with FOI-2026-28668, which stated that no such records exist; if no such records exist, to explain how full-period enforcement and tracking of PRSI liabilities is operationalised in practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17986/26]
Culture 2 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on the possibility of derogation from the World Athletics 1934 political boundary rule that prohibits athletes from the North of Ireland from representing Ireland at European and world athletics competitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16819/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he supports a boycott of the upcoming Nations League matches between Ireland and Israel on the grounds that Israel is an apartheid state that has engaged in ethnic cleansing and genocide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16820/26]
Education 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to report No. 98 of the Comptroller and Auditor General on school transport, if she will provide the exact figures that the Bus Éireann directors and auditors determined as profit in each year for school transport that was actually credited to the statutory financial statement in the profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow statement in each of the years 2010 to 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17064/26]
Justice 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department intends to consult with the further education sector prior to making any policy changes in relation to international language students and stamp 2 permissions. [17056/26]

Noel Grealish — Independent 2 votes · 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.