This is not only about bricks and mortar. This is about restoring vibrancy and safety. Let us not undervalue the fact that when we get our town centres regenerated, working again and bustling, there will be the important effect of passive surveillance. People feel safer on the streets, but also at night-time, when you have people living above the shop. There is an added layer of security. When I say it is not only ab…
TDs / Paula Butterly
Paula Butterly
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
387
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
30,519
words spoken in the chamber
Across 113 contributions. Plus 54 contributions from the chair, not counted
389
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
176
topics asked about
Across 18 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 387 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 113 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 13 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 11 | 2 |
| March 2025 | 15 | 6 |
| April 2025 | 12 | 3 |
| May 2025 | 11 | 5 |
| June 2025 | 9 | 4 |
| July 2025 | 16 | 3 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 11 | 2 |
| October 2025 | 9 | 4 |
| November 2025 | 33 | 10 |
| December 2025 | 23 | 8 |
| January 2026 | 13 | 10 |
| February 2026 | 18 | 11 |
| March 2026 | 40 | 6 |
| April 2026 | 29 | 3 |
| May 2026 | 47 | 14 |
| June 2026 | 26 | 2 |
| July 2026 | 19 | 6 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 23 | 11 |
| October 2026 | 9 | 3 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 82 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 Louth 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
I could not but help but put my hand to ask a further question when I heard a Deputy talk about something being fundamentally Irish. When I hear the words "whiskey" and "beer", I am automatically reminded of the farmers and tillage farmers in particular. While I know this is a request that will require cross-consultation with the Minister for Finance, the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister for …
The Celtic interconnector will connect the Irish electricity grid from France. The cable will have enough capacity to power up to 500,000 homes. Within the next three years, we will be importing from France and Britain. Indeed, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, said this year that the interconnector is a major strategic infrastructure project that will play an important role in Ireland's energy security, which is…
The housing plan 2025 to 2030 presents a valuable opportunity to rethink how we design and deliver homes in a sustainable way. A key element must be a shift towards building up rather than building out, ensuring we protect greenfield land while promoting compact growth. This does not mean high-rise development but well-designed, high-density urban living that fits the character and scale of our town and cities. It is…
Today, like many of my colleagues, I would like to raise one of the most important ongoing humanitarian disasters, the unfolding civil war in Sudan and the sheer amount of civilian death and tragedy unfolding in its wake.
The war in Sudan is not a simple conflict. It is a catastrophe causing the slaughter of innocent women and children and the starvation of millions. It is a conflict that strikes at the very heart o…
I call on the Minister of State to make his concluding statement which shall not exceed ten minutes.
That concludes statements on Sudan. I thank the Deputies and the Minister.
The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2025: Vote 34.
I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:
Deputy Conor Sheehan - To discuss punctuality issues on the 304A bus service in Limerick city.
Deputy Keira Keogh - To discuss establishing an NCT centre in Erris, County Mayo.
Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the lack of school places in Scoil Mhuire, Allenwoo…
I thank the Deputies.
I ask the Deputy to move the Bill.
15. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his assessment of the current distribution of film industry infrastructure and funding across the State; if he will consider targeted supports or new initiatives to promote film-industry growth and infrastructure at regional level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64601/25]
Will the Minister outline his assessment of the current distribution of film industry infrastructure and funding across the State? Will he indicate whether he will consider targeted supports or new initiatives to promote film industry growth and production capacity at a regional level?
While all of this is very welcome, it is essential that funding and infrastructure be distributed fairly across the State and never concentrated in a small number of locations. County Louth provides a strong example of the potential that exists regionally when investment and opportunities are made available. The film "Skintown", produced by Keeper Pictures with the support of Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Scree…
I have been following the statements this afternoon. Many colleagues have given a good idea of the shape and size of haulier firms throughout the country. We have 4,779 hauliers across the island of Ireland and 70% of them have no more than three trucks, yet they contribute €3.7 billion per annum to the economy.
Unusually, these are not multinationals. These are small firms that operate in local communities. Indeed,…
I would like to ask the Minister about community groups, essential youth services that provide vital services in the community, particularly those in County Louth. Has provision been made to combat the cost of auto-enrolment and the increase in the minimum wage? Have they been factored into their budgets and will there be additional budgets for them in 2026?
91. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to address the shortage of early childcare places, particularly for children between the age of 0 to two years which is preventing many parents, especially women, from returning to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60793/25]
I obviously am going to welcome any increases in budget and she is right when she says there are pockets across the country where the demand is far in excess of the places that are available. In County Louth we have 114 childcare services but only 31 of those offer places for children under the age of two. That equates to less than 30%. While maternity leave has been extended, for a family that needs one or both pare…
Do I have another minute?
I will be. I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. He is very kind. I thank the Minister very much for all of the advances she is making. However, back in 1990, Mary Robinson stood up and said that the hand that rocked the cradle had rocked the system. If we do not address this issue and find childcare places for the young babies and toddlers of this generation of young women, the only thing they will be doing in the fu…
First and foremost, I want to address the issues we witnessed in Drogheda last week. It appears two thugs kicked in the front door, set light to the stairs and this resulted in 28 people being homeless. It resulted in eight people having to go to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to seek treatment. Thankfully, none of those injuries were serious. However, let us put ourselves in the shoes of those people for those hours a…
Thank you, Deputy.
You are over time.
Use your time quickly and beneficially.
I thank the Minister for the support he has offered to farmers since taking up the role. I have spent many a day and many an hour discussing the issues facing farmers and I thank him for the support, especially for the farmers of County Louth. In his opening statement, the Minister addressed the issues and challenges facing tillage farmers in particular. These include downward pricing, the cost of land and the increa…