Laois — week of Mon, 2 Mar

What your Laois TDs did this week

Mon, 2 Mar – 8 Mar 2026 · 3 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 35 questions · 2 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 Sean Fleming · William Aird

Voted against 1 Brian Stanley

The motion · motion passed 81–63

Voted for 2 Sean Fleming · William Aird

Voted against 1 Brian Stanley

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2026-03-03 · 1 vote

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

Voted for 1 William Aird

Voted against 1 Brian Stanley

Did not vote 1 Sean Fleming

Brian Stanley — Independent 3 votes · 8 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 8 total

Health 3 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the plans her Department and the HSE have to increase the number of GPs in Laois and across the State; the progress made to have a cohort of directly employed GPs providing primary care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17087/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health to clarify if the ten beds in Abbeyleix Hospital that are currently used for respite will be retained for this purpose; the plans to increase that number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17086/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department is taking to provide an occupational therapist for Laois, as there has been none in the county since 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13097/26]
Housing 3 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a review will be carried out in six months’ time to measure the impact of the new rent rules, in order to have accurate information on the effect on housing both in County Laois, and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17085/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made in the past three months on wind farm guidelines; the stage the process is at; when the new guidelines will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17103/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the drafting of wind turbine guidelines that were promised in November; the progress has been made to date; when these guidelines will be published; when will they come in to force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14594/26]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the likely date for completion of the extension and renovation of Portlaoise Garda station; the planned date for its return to use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16666/26]
Rural 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will initiate a review of the salary for community services programme managers, due to their current low level of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16195/26]

Sean Fleming — Fianna Fáil 2 votes · 13 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 13 total

Health 5 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding improvement works at a health centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16942/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health to reply to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16959/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of patients/residents in a location and the number of staff associated with the long stay patient unit at Abbeyleix Community Nursing Home, Abbeyleix, County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17281/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health her plans for a new GP contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17324/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if she can provide an update on the strategic review of general practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17323/26]
Education 2 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update in relation to the allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs) for schools for the 2026-2027 school year; the date on which there will be clarity on this issue; the steps schools are expected to take where there is a cut in the SNA allocation to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16303/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17420/26]
Housing 2 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his response to the most recent monthly housing commencement figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17489/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his targets for affordable housing in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17488/26]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on tackling the use of recommender algorithms on various online service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16896/26]
Culture 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide the required information to an organisation in respect of an allocation under a previous round of funding under the Sports Capital Programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17055/26]
Social 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding payments to a category of persons who are currently in receipt of a State payment and will be transferring to the State Pension (Non-Contributory) (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17003/26]
Finance 1 question
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if there are plans or consideration being given to the treatment of favourite niece /nephew for inheritance tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17448/26]

New lobbying 1 return

The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) Ltd Agriculture
- Extension of Hedgecutting untill 17/03/2026

William Aird — Fine Gael 3 votes · 14 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 14 total

Health 9 questions
- 2026-03-04 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will include the shingrix (shingles) vaccine in the HSE’s covered vaccine schedule, particularly for immunocompromised patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17262/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to expand the delivery of hearing and eye care services in community settings; her plans to increase the role of primary and community care providers in improving access to these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17263/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the assessment that has been made of the barriers faced by older people and other vulnerable groups in accessing hearing care services, including cost, waiting times and geographic availability; the actions planned to address these barriers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17264/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she intends to establish the joint working group proposed at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health, comprising CORU, organisations (details supplied), academic institutions, service users to examine improvements to CORU regulatory standards; if community-based therapy providers, including section 39 and section 56 organisations funded by Tusla, the HSE and other agencies, will be formally included; the timeline for the group’s establishment and first meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17265/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant orthopaedic surgeons based at Portlaoise Regional Hospital as of 26 February 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17266/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the staffing budget for Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise in 2024, 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17267/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of agency staff employed by Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise across all departments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17268/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant psychiatrists attached to Laois mental health services as of 26 February 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17269/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will include acarizax on the reimbursement list of medicines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17270/26]
Culture 5 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps being taken to ensure that capital investment in sports facilities is reaching grassroots and community clubs in a timely manner; the measurable targets in place to address reported funding shortfalls and facility backlogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16887/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way his Department balances funding allocations between elite sport and grassroots participation programmes; and the proportion of overall sports funding allocated to each in the most recent financial year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16888/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the oversight and compliance mechanisms that are in place to ensure that sporting bodies in receipt of public funding adhere to governance, transparency and safeguarding standards; and if he will provide details of any sanctions applied in cases of non-compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16889/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the specific measures being taken to ensure that funding for arts and cultural organisations, particularly in rural and regional areas, is distributed equitably; and if he will provide details of any delays or funding shortfalls reported in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16890/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the oversight mechanisms that exist to ensure that public funding for major cultural and heritage projects is spent efficiently and transparently; and if he will provide details of any projects where governance or accountability issues have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16891/26]

New lobbying 1 return

The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) Ltd Agriculture
- Extension of Hedgecutting untill 17/03/2026