I wish to discuss the rule that excludes widows and widowers from receiving illness benefit solely because they are in receipt of a widower's pension, notwithstanding the fact that they have returned to work and are paying all of their PRSI contributions. The Minister of State will be aware that illness benefit is a contribution-based process. If somebody has returned to work and has made their PRSI payments, and the…
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 thank the Minister of State. In fact, I welcome the widening of the eligibility in regard to who does and does not qualify for a widow's pension. That, in itself, was an anomaly that was highlighted through a campaign in the press due to that widower. Let us reflect for a moment on the fact that, as the Minister of State said, if somebody is in receipt of a reduced widow's pension, they may also be entitled to a re…
There is no denying the benefits of sport for our mental and physical health. Our boys and girls across Louth, as Deputy McGreehan has said, have benefited from a vast amount of sports capital grants. However, there are two blips in that horizon at present. One is that Louth does not have a county GAA stadium. Deputy McGreehan has rightly pointed out that we are all 100% behind the missing funding that is needed to c…
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 Grace Boland - To discuss the national fare structure for train fares announced by the NTA.
Deputy Erin McGreehan - To discuss the distribution of the shingles vaccines for the over-66 population.
Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the lack available child…
I wish to discuss the NCSE’s new guideline review. In the last three days, my office has been inundated with emails and the telephone lines have been choked by calls from concerned parents, principals and SNAs. The guidelines have actually sowed confusion among the school community and among parents. As a parent myself, I consider it a huge privilege to be able to give my son the best education and to meet his needs …
I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I hope it reassures principals, teachers, SNAs and, in particular, parents, because this has been an issue, as the Minister of State said, which has worried hundreds if not thousands of people across the country. I am particularly thankful that the NCSE will be contacting schools in the coming days to clarify the position because, while I appreciate the reply, I am not sur…
Domestic violence continues to impact thousands of lives in our communities. The need for support services has never been greater. The Minister recently said that Ireland has a very big problem when it comes to domestic violence. Cases have risen dramatically. In my constituency of Louth, we have seen a 52% increase over five years and nearly 27% of an increase between 2023 and 2024. I welcome the Minister’s announce…
It is no secret that the tourism industry is one of our most valuable indigenous sectors. Over the decades, it has reached every corner of Ireland, providing jobs and opening our communities to the world, not just other parts of Ireland. It is no secret, however, that over the last number of years the sector has been struggling and has had challenges. It has faced these challenges remarkably well considering what we …
I thank the Minister for those updates. I look forward to welcoming those extra visits to County Louth now that the cap will be lifted. When it comes to County Louth, I will never shy away from broadcasting and promoting the county. Indeed, as people arrive in Dublin Airport and head to the north east, I have a vision of seeing Drogheda as the welcoming mat for County Louth. Without a shadow of a doubt it is the bigg…
94. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to extend the free travel pass to children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; the number of children who would benefit; the estimated cost of this extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32745/25]
I thank the Minister. I will go back over the criteria for free travel. One can get a free travel pass if one is in receipt of disability allowance, blind pension, carer's allowance or invalidity pension. Leaving out the domiciliary care allowance is an anomaly in itself. It is quite unfair. The domiciliary care allowance is provided to parents and guardians of children under 16 who have a severe disability and who r…
I welcome all of these changes but I will go back to the issue. These children are under 16 years of age and have severe disabilities. Their parents and carers are put to the pin of their collar both financially and emotionally. Allowing them a free travel pass would not only ease the financial burden, but ease the transition. As I was saying previously, this is particularly the case in urban areas. It is no good to …
There is no doubt that everyone has come into the Chamber to talk about the RTÉ programme. As a daughter who had a father in residential care, and as a sister who has a 55-year-old brother in residential care with Lewy body syndrome, I actually could not watch the programme. Like many people who have a parent or a member of the family in residential care, we are often overridden by guilt. Even when it is the best opt…
The Deputy should allow the Minister to speak.
The Deputies should allow the Minister to conclude.
The Deputy should not interrupt.
The Deputy should allow the Minister to speak.
The Deputy should allow the Minister to speak.
Deputies should please calm down and allow the Minister to finish.
The Deputy should please allow the Minister to speak.
Deputy Doherty should please not interrupt.
I call Deputy Cronin. The Gallery must be silent.
I will suspend the House for five minutes.
I call Deputy Cronin.
Thank you, Deputy.