I thank the Deputy for that. The Minister will update her Cabinet colleagues before Christmas on her considered response. I acknowledge the fact the Deputy appreciates there is work going on to increase capacity and additional funding has been provided. UHL's budget has increased from €265 million in 2019 to €507 million in 2024. I will also touch on the two rapid build 16-bed units opened in December 2024 and June 2…
TDs / Mary Butler
Mary Butler
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip; and the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health
Portrait: Mary Butler (CC BY 4.0) · source file
1
question asked
Oral and written, to government departments
216,769
words spoken in the chamber
214,650 as a minister, 2,119 as a TD
433
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
1
topic asked about
Across 1 department
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 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 946 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 0 | 37 |
| March 2025 | 0 | 24 |
| April 2025 | 0 | 33 |
| May 2025 | 0 | 46 |
| June 2025 | 0 | 304 |
| July 2025 | 0 | 55 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 0 | 15 |
| October 2025 | 1 | 29 |
| November 2025 | 0 | 60 |
| December 2025 | 0 | 28 |
| January 2026 | 0 | 38 |
| February 2026 | 0 | 31 |
| March 2026 | 0 | 30 |
| April 2026 | 0 | 75 |
| May 2026 | 0 | 25 |
| June 2026 | 0 | 29 |
| July 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 2 |
| September 2026 | 0 | 30 |
| October 2026 | 0 | 31 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 386 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Asked about similar topics
Not enough questions on record to compare.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Waterford 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
- office Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip; and the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health 23 January 2025 to now
It is not opposed.
I move:
Tuesday's business shall be:
- Motion re Excess Vote relating to 2024 [Vote 14] (without debate)
- Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hours and 34 minutes)
Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Assessment of Needs, selected by Sinn Féin.
Wednesday's business shall be:
- Statements on Online Safety (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)
- Motion r…
I thank the Ceann Comhairle and all the Whips for raising these important issues. We will take the opportunity on Thursday at the Business Committee meeting to discuss them further. The Order of Business stands.
No.
I thank Deputy Fleming for raising the issue of Erkina House. We have been here before. The Deputy has been a long-time advocate for and supporter of Erkina House.
It is a key priority for me and for the Government that people experiencing mental health difficulties receive the appropriate level of care they require in the most suitable location in the community which best meets their needs. Achieving this involves …
I understand the strength of the Deputy's feelings. As I said, he has been advocating for Erkina House for many years and also for the residents who live there and who called it their forever home. I understand how difficult it is for residents who have lived in a facility that they will have to move away from for several reasons.
The Deputy has accepted that the building is no longer fit for purpose in the context …
I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. He is quite right that people look at Christmas in different ways. It is a really difficult time For some people. He is also quite right about the unique problems for people with an eating disorder and how they may feel more isolated than ever before.
We have a national clinical programme on eating disorders, which has progressed well, with 16 teams funded, 14 te…
The Deputy raised a valid point. The priority over the past few years has been community supports because 90% of people with an eating disorder are treated in the community. It is a very difficult mental health disorder and for many people it takes over their entire life. It can sometimes take up to seven years for recovery and some people relapse. It is very challenging, and I am happy to see the roll-out of the sup…
How many?
I thank Deputy Farrelly for the manner in which he has raised the issue. While acknowledging the challenges in Naas General Hospital, he spoke about this issue being no reflection on the staff and that the level of care being provided is exceptional. I want to acknowledge his work in advocating for the people of Kildare. I did not realise 250,000 people live in Kildare. That is huge population growth.
Naas General H…
You are not.
I thank Deputy Farrelly for raising Naas General Hospital and the challenges we are seeing right across the country at the moment in terms of the surge in presentations, in particular older people, relating to flu.
I heard Bernard Gloster, the chief executive of the HSE, say quite clearly on Sunday that if people are very unwell, they need to present to hospital. It is especially true for older people in relation to…
To be helpful while the official is looking up the exact Standing Order in relation to it, I have discussed with all senior Ministers that I expect, as Chief Whip, that somebody from the Department takes a question. That is why I am here myself taking the previous three health questions. I always try to come in if they are about mental health. Sometimes, it is impossible if a Minister or Minister of State is not avai…
To clarify, Topical Issues are on at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning and I am actually taking one. It is my understanding that the list is already full for the morning so I cannot say whether it would revert to tomorrow or further away. That does not come through me. It comes through the Oireachtas. I cannot state for definite that Deputy Mac Lochlainn's will be taken in the morning.
I move:
Tuesday's business shall be:
- Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)
- Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hours and 34 minutes)
Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Irish C…
In relation to the defective block legislation, I was only made aware today that it had not been circulated to Members until 10 a.m. That is not a matter I can control, but I heard it was only circulated at 10 a.m. All I can do is apologise. I do not know why that was the case. It is not normally the case. That is the first thing I will say. We are taking Second Stage of the remediation legislation this evening. Ther…
No, the other one, about energy costs.
It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, 2nd December, 2025.
I have just left the Business Committee where this has been agreed with all Whips.
It is not opposed. I congratulate Deputy Ahern on introducing his first legislation to the House.
Deputy Carthy is Mystic Meg.
That is not true.
I move:
Tuesday's business shall be:
- Motion re Sixth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection (without debate)
- Motion re Referral to Committee of Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Modifications) (Regulations) 2025 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)
- Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance [2025] (Financial Resolutions No. 1 a…
In relation to the issue raised by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald under Standing Order 35(3), my preference was to attend committee to set out the case for the Supplementary Estimates for Votes 2 and 6 and I had set aside time to do so last Thursday. I regret that this did not prove possible, in particular because there was a precedent for the Government Chief Whip presenting previous requirements for Supplementary Estimat…