If the triple lock protection is removed, it will be possible to deploy Irish troops to any situation at all that the Government sees fit. That is not what the Irish people want because that gives carte blanche to any future Irish Government and indeed will expose Irish Governments to significant outside pressure as well in future situations. It is a serious diminution of our neutrality. There is no doubt about that.…
TDs / Louis O'Hara
Louis O'Hara
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
1,081
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
64,653
words spoken in the chamber
Across 288 contributions. Plus 4 contributions from the chair, not counted
432
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
242
topics asked about
Across 20 departments
From the Dáil chamber only: committee meetings are not in this archive.
What they ask about
The subject headings the Oireachtas filed their questions under.
Who they ask
The departments their questions were addressed to.
Month by month
Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Questions asked 1,081 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 288 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 44 | 5 |
| March 2025 | 43 | 11 |
| April 2025 | 41 | 9 |
| May 2025 | 51 | 23 |
| June 2025 | 51 | 6 |
| July 2025 | 49 | 12 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 55 | 10 |
| October 2025 | 26 | 13 |
| November 2025 | 80 | 21 |
| December 2025 | 44 | 17 |
| January 2026 | 59 | 13 |
| February 2026 | 73 | 27 |
| March 2026 | 70 | 19 |
| April 2026 | 87 | 12 |
| May 2026 | 74 | 14 |
| June 2026 | 91 | 26 |
| July 2026 | 41 | 17 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 46 | 19 |
| October 2026 | 47 | 14 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 210 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Asked about similar topics
Worked out by computer from the subject headings of each TD's questions, giving more weight to headings few TDs use. It shows shared subjects, not shared views.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Galway East 29 November 2024 to now
- party Sinn Féin 29 November 2024 to now
7. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update regarding investment in critical infrastructure in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40153/26]
I want to focus on healthcare in the west because the masterplan for University Hospital Galway, UHG, and the redevelopment of the hospital is a critical project for our region to ensure that we have a modern, resilient, future proofed, model 4 hospital and to ensure that staff and patients get the facilities they deserve. It includes 300 new inpatient beds, a new emergency department, critical care, surgical theatre…
This is very important. There are regional inequalities in the area of healthcare, and these are particularly stark when it comes to cancer care. We do not have any PET scanners in public hospitals in the west. In many cases, patients can wait weeks before starting treatment for cancer. It is right across the board. We have seen elective procedures postponed at UHG due to overcrowding, with patients on trolleys and l…
20. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will meet next. [39587/26]
I raise Carrabane National School in County Galway. Two weeks ago, I visited the school. The conditions are shocking. There are prefab buildings quite literally falling apart. People have been waiting 20 years for their new school building but it has been delayed again and again by the Department. It is on the priority list but people still do not have clarity as to when it will go to construction. Local families and…
Decades of underinvestment in our transport infrastructure have resulted in this State being a laggard when it comes to public transport. Too many people face delays and a lack of services, especially when it comes to bus and rail. Many areas across the State, particularly in the west of Ireland, simply do not have the infrastructure in place to deal with the level of demand that exists. This Bill will expand the rem…
Last year’s budget was an opportunity to ease cost pressures on people with disabilities, but instead of providing them with support, the Government chose to abandon them and withdraw payments, which meant that they were worse off by €1,400. The Government has ignored the pleas from people with disabilities who told it they were having to make the most difficult of decisions, such as having to choose between heating …
We move onto the next Topical Issue in the name of Deputy Aidan Farrelly. It is to ask the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy O'Donovan, to discuss the development of a public, multi-sport recreational facility in Sallins, County Kildare.
This is an issue which has been debated a number of times. Healthcare workers went above and beyond during the pandemic and put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. Well over 100 healthcare workers who have not returned to work due to long Covid have lost the special scheme since the beginning of the year and are due to lose further entitlements. I will read out part of a letter from a constituent who is a for…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. The people who are affected by this have had an absolutely horrendous experience with long Covid. The Minister of State heard about the impact it is having on my constituent. Her life has totally changed. Many people have had to give up the job they love. They stepped up during the pandemic at a time that was very dangerous. When there was huge uncertainty, they put themselves in …
I welcome that last suggestion. It would be very welcome because it can be a challenge for MLAs and MPs in dealing with this. Sometimes they seek assistance through us and sometimes they try to come at it through general inquiries. It makes sense. These are elected representatives who are working on behalf of Irish citizens who have an entitlement to a passport, so it makes sense for them to be able to access that di…
Since the Government was formed, nearly 2,000 eviction notices have been issued to renters in County Galway. Every week, people come to my constituency office who have received a notice to quit and have no idea where they will go because the rental market they face is totally unaffordable. Rents across the State have risen by 80% compared with ten years ago. Within the past year alone, the rent for an average home in…
156. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will issue an order to allow the cutting of turf at bogs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36514/26]
Will the Minister of State issue an order to allow the cutting of turf at Ardgraigue, Clonmoylan and Barroughter bogs in County Galway? Many representations have been made by other elected representatives and me on this so I imagine the Minister of State will be aware of the situation there.
In early 2025, a local turf cutting contractor was served with a High Court injunction to cease the harvesting of turf. As a result of this action, many local people who rely on turf to heat their homes were left without a supply for last winter. As we are currently in the turf cutting season, these families are facing the same issue due to the fact that there is no contractor to cut their turf because the injunction…
No help has been provided to the families in this case. I understand that the bogs been designated as SACs. There are significant concerns around how these bogs were designated that I have outlined here before and have written to the Minister of State about, but I still have not received any real explanation. It is important to say that the people who are affected have not accepted payment through the scheme to allow…
We have a real problem in Athenry with capacity on public transport services to Galway. The NTA and Iarnród Éireann have stated that there is no funding in place to maintain the 6.50 a.m. train to Galway beyond August of this year. This is a vital service for those who have work commitments early in the morning in the city. It has been 18 months since the previous bus service to Galway ended and since the NTA approve…
Speeding is one of the leading causes of road collisions in Ireland. Last year, 2025, was the worst year for road fatalities in more than ten years and road collision statistics show that there is a growing trend that Irish roads are becoming less safe. Last year, an Garda Síochána recorded 190 fatalities on our roads and over 1,000 people being injured as a result of collisions. Each statistic represents a life lost…
I am also here to speak about Friedreich's ataxia. On Monday evening, I met Aoife Quinn from County Galway, who was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia in 2021. She outlined to me her long pathway to getting a diagnosis for this rare disease and how the disease impacted on her life. She told me of her experience dealing with symptoms like loss of balance and speech difficulties and of how her symptoms had deteriorated…
I appreciate the update from the Minister of State. I cannot emphasise enough the impact the ongoing delays are having on those impacted by the disease. I also call on the drug company to engage in good faith in the negotiations with the HSE. The priority of all parties involved should be delivering this vital medication to the people who need it. Aoife and all of those who suffer from Friedreich’s ataxia want an opp…
22. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the Cabinet offshore wind energy clearing house. [30323/26]
I am glad to get the opportunity to raise the proposed extension of Gort Community School in south Galway. The principal of the school, Brian Crossan, is passionate about this project and the future of the school. There is no doubt that it is badly needed. Gort Community School is holding celebrations tomorrow for its 30th anniversary. It is an important milestone for the school. I congratulate the school on 30 years…
I thank the Minister of State. This has been going on for many years at this stage. Of course, I understand that these projects take time but there is a pressing need for this project to be accelerated and delivered. I mentioned the pressure on ASD provision in the school. That is a real and immediate need that has to be met. Further delays with this project just makes it more difficult for the school to meet the dem…
I ask the Minister of State to provide an update on the funding cuts to the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board. This specifically relates to the cut to English for speakers of other languages, ESOL, funding, which has resulted in the loss of 25 teachers and hundreds of classes within GRETB. This has had a devastating impact of which I know the Minister of State is aware.