Meath East — week of Mon, 2 Mar

What your Meath East TDs did this week

Mon, 2 Mar – 8 Mar 2026 · 4 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 45 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 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

The motion · motion passed 81–63

Voted for 3 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2026-03-03 · 1 vote

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

Voted for 3 Gillian Toole · Helen McEntee · Thomas Byrne

Voted against 1 Darren O'Rourke

Darren O'Rourke — Sinn Féin 3 votes · 40 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 40 total

Education 17 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 350 of 19 February 2026, the exact number of early intervention preschool classes for autistic children in mainstream and special schools that have been redesignated to primary autism classes/other special classes for the 2026/2027 school year. [16899/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes which were open and functioning, by county, for each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16900/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to redesignate any more early intervention classes for the school year 2026/2027 or 2027/2028; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16901/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes which were redesignated to primary autism classes/other special classes for each of the years 2020 to 2025, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16902/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth when sample AAC reports will be provided to teachers for science subjects to illustrate the expectation that will be considered when grading these projects from students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17069/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth when students undertaking AACs in science subjects will be provided with guidance on approaching the additional assessment component, particularly in relation to word count; the number of questions to answer; the amount of detail required for each question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17070/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth following the recent ‘WATTS report’ based on input and data gathered by an organisation (details supplied), if she will pause the introduction of the AAC component in science subjects, with particular concern from science teachers given to health and safety risks, infrastructure gaps, workload crisis and equity and integrity issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17071/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason no marking scheme was introduced with exam papers for the written component of the Leaving Certificate for science subjects; when she expects this will be circulated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17072/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide additional funding to accompany the introduction of AAC’s for science subjects following the concern raised in the recent ‘WATTS report’ based on data provided by an organisation (details supplied), with great concern given to health and safety issues, lack of storage, inadequate facilities, lack of lab technicians and outdated labs, equipment and resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17073/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of what the social inclusion fund within her Department is spent on; if she plans to increase this fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17936/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the free schoolbook scheme receives funding through the social inclusion fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17937/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth how much the social inclusion fund amounted to for the purpose of tackling educational disadvantage for the year 2020 to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17938/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the social inclusion fund in the Department provided funding for schoolbooks to tackle educational disadvantage for the year 2025 and 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17939/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the decision making criteria and weighting used when selecting school building projects for prioritisation in the NDP sectoral plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17987/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which future school building projects will be prioritised for future rounds of NDP; the stakeholders that will be engaged and criteria that will apply; the date in Q2 when stakeholders will be engaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17988/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the decision making criteria and weighting used when selecting which school in an area that should provide additional mainstream capacity when a shortage is identified (details supplied); if existing space, Gaeilge, special class provision are factors for example; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17989/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her Department's recent enquiries, the number of unique applications for a junior infants mainstream place for September 2026 in schools in County Meath (details supplied); the number of those currently without an offer of a place in a local school; the method and timeline for providing additional capacity to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18069/26]
Transport 7 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the average cost of installing a bus shelter. [16917/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the average cost of updating a bus shelter and stop with new seats/roof and pull ins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16918/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of bus stops with shelters that have been built in Meath for the years 2020 to 2025 and to-date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16919/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of bus shelters and stops respectively in County Meath, broken down by town and village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16920/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport in light of safety recommendation no. 28 of the Air Accident Investigation Unit's final report into the crash of Rescue 116 (Sikorsky S-92A, EI-ICR, Black Rock, Co. Mayo, 14 March 2017), which recommended that the he ensure the Department has "sufficient specialist aviation expertise" to discharge its oversight function; the number of staff currently assigned to the Aviation Division of his Department hold professional aviation qualifications or specialist aviation technical competencies; the qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17851/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has established specific recruitment criteria, qualification requirements, or technical training programmes for staff in its Aviation Division who are responsible for oversight of organisations (details supplied); if so, to provide details of same; if not, the reason no such standards have been established given the AAIU's recommendation that his Department periodically review its in-house technical capabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17852/26]
- 2026-03-04 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has the capacity to independently assess technical claims made by the aviation bodies it oversees, including organisations (details supplied), without relying on those same bodies for the assessment; if not, the way this is consistent with the AAIU's finding that his Department lacked the specialist aviation expertise to discharge its oversight function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17853/26]
Health 6 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health her plans to increase the number of GPs in Ireland and, in particular, in County Meath, which has the lowest number of GPs in the State per population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16265/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health her plans to invest in adult community mental health services in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16264/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she will address concerns raised by LGBTQ+ families around the assisted human reproduction legislation, particularly around the lack of recognition for families formed through regulated and safeguarded international surrogacy, if they reside abroad; the exclusion of same-sex female couples who conceived without clinical assistance, post May 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17940/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she will address concerns from the assisted human reproduction legislation particularly around parental recognition made contingent on the surrogate’s post birth consent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17941/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the assisted human reproduction legislation fully support the rights of children and parents and comply with Ireland’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17942/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to provide further clarification and reasoning behind the changes within the HSE to the employment opportunities for paramedics; if she will ensure that the 80 paramedics who have recently qualified will be guaranteed permanent contracts, given they had been informed that would happen at the beginning of their contracts; if she has considered reversing the changes that have been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17960/26]
Taoiseach 4 questions
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the first meeting of the delivery and monitoring committee for the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which he chaired on 8 December 2025. [14281/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach if he will report on implementation of the well-being framework published by his Department. [14282/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the most recent meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in support of Ukraine. [16350/26]
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach he will report on his Department’s Statement of Strategy for 2025-2028. [16351/26]
Housing 3 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline his approach and plans for local government reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16266/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to increase social housing delivery in County Meath; the number delivered in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16267/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 620 of 27 January 2026 and Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 18 February 2026 if a qualifying interest SAC species is declining and failing to meet its detailed site-specific conservation objectives, if he will consider that an appropriate threshold point to draw up an SAC management plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17984/26]
Culture 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the next round of the community sport facilities fund will be open; if he will consider allowing clubs use this fund to buy land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16263/26]
Climate 1 question
- 2026-03-03 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of the serious local concern about the proposal from IFI to replace a well-regulated catch-and-release fishery with a full closure of the River Boyne under the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Regulations for 2026; if he will seek clarification from the IFI on the evidence supporting full closure rather than continued catch-and-release; the way in which poaching and pollution will be monitored without anglers present; the reason the River Boyne remained marked for closure despite changes to other rivers between draft regulations; and the way in which community, economic, and wellbeing impacts have been considered. [17065/26]
Social 1 question
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 854 of 17 February 2026, the legal basis upon which home tutors engaged under the home tuition grant scheme are “classed as self-employed (PRSI Class S)” as a general position (details supplied); whether he will identify the employer in law for PRSI purposes in such cases; whether any administrative agreement or practice is being relied upon to maintain a dual classification that is, employee for PAYE collection but self-employed for PRSI/auto-enrolment exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17961/26]

Gillian Toole — Independent 3 votes · 5 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 5 total

Transport 3 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Transport the current implementation status of each of the three Safety Recommendations Nos. 28, 29, and 30, directed at the Minister in the AAIU Final Report on the Rescue 116 accident, published in November 2021; the specific actions taken to date in respect of each recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17894/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Transport whether the detailed review of the mechanisms by which his Department oversees the Irish Aviation Authority, as recommended by the AAIU in Safety Recommendation No. 29, has been completed; if so, when it was completed; what its findings were; if he will publish it; if not, when he expects it to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17895/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Transport whether he will direct his Department to publish annually a report detailing its technical competence to perform its statutory oversight function in respect of aviation safety, including the qualifications and specialist expertise held within the Aviation Division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17896/26]
Housing 2 questions
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to ensure the provision of housing for people with disabilities, to ensure that Ireland complies with Article 19 of the UNCRPD, including but not limited to expansion of the capital acquisition scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18183/26]
- 2026-03-05 Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Part V will be amended to include housing for people with disabilities on local authority housing lists and private home buyers. [18184/26]

Helen McEntee — Fine Gael 3 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Thomas Byrne — Fianna Fáil 3 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns