Yesterday, the National Transport Authority, NTA, provided an opportunity for Members to raise issues with it regarding public transport in our constituencies. When I asked about expanding and developing further bus services in Galway, particularly the 424, the NTA advised me that the budget for 2026 has not yet been defined so it could not provide me with an answer. Of greater concern was the fact that, when I asked…
TDs / John Connolly
John Connolly
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
1,092
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
53,367
words spoken in the chamber
Across 219 contributions
424
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
265
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 1,092 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 219 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 32 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 30 | 24 |
| March 2025 | 45 | 5 |
| April 2025 | 53 | 16 |
| May 2025 | 55 | 22 |
| June 2025 | 70 | 15 |
| July 2025 | 31 | 13 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 33 | 10 |
| October 2025 | 22 | 17 |
| November 2025 | 94 | 6 |
| December 2025 | 42 | 15 |
| January 2026 | 56 | 4 |
| February 2026 | 83 | 17 |
| March 2026 | 64 | 5 |
| April 2026 | 43 | 11 |
| May 2026 | 43 | 6 |
| June 2026 | 71 | 20 |
| July 2026 | 71 | 4 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 71 | 2 |
| October 2026 | 83 | 7 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 178 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 West 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
Gabhaim buíochas le hOifig an Cheann Comhairle as ucht an ábhar seo a roghnú ar maidin. Mar a dúirt an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, I wish to ask the Minister to discuss the availability of the shingles vaccine for those aged over 65 or those with compromised immune systems. Shingles affects approximately one in three people during their lifetime, with the risk of contraction increasing significantly with age. I think al…
I understand the vaccine is available, as the Minister of State outlined. I also understand that when the process of assessing whether it would be provided through the immunisation programme was undertaken, there was a period of public consultation and a substantial number of submissions were made in the public consultation that highlighted that the cost of the vaccine - at that time between €480 and €500 - would be …
Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht agus deis seo chun ábhar na Gaeilge a phlé sa Seomra inniu. Tá téama sa díospóireacht go dtí seo – luaigh mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Dolan, é, arb as Gaillimh dó chomh maith – go bhfuil muid ag iarraidh daoine a spreagadh chun a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid. Is rud thar a bheith tábhachtach é sin. Mar a dúirt an tAire níos luaithe, tá Gaeilge ag chuile dhuine. Tá Gaeilge mhaith ag form…
180. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether a further opportunity to apply for large-scale sports infrastructure funding will be open to sporting organisations in 2026; if so, the level of funding that will be available; the criteria for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16268/26]
It is regrettable that the debate has come about in this manner. We have all expressed an opinion as to how valuable SNAs are to children and the school system. That has been worthy of recognition before today. I had the privilege in my career of working with many SNAs. I have seen children thrive through their intervention. If I go back to the start of my teaching career, I think there were around 1,000 SNAs in the …
I recently asked the Minister for Health for an update on the development of the elective hospital at Merlin Park in Galway. Looking back at some documents I have, I note that the elective hospital was first proposed in 2018. It was also included as part of the national Sláintecare programme. It has been included in every HSE capital plan up to 2025. The description in each of those documents has been for an elective…
The first thing I should have said is that I appreciate the Minister of State being here as a Minister of State in the Department of Health to take this question and provide an answer. However we present this, it is a significant change in what was to be the provision of a facility that had intended at its outset and up to 2025 to provide for 200 beds. I recognise fully the point she made that these are day procedure…
I recently raised with the Taoiseach the issue of the higher rate of suspected suicide among members of the Travelling community compared to the general population - there is a suspected rate difference of between seven and ten for members of the Travelling community. In recent weeks, the Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community held a number of meetings to engage on the issue of Traveller health wit…
12. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the infrastructure guidelines have been amended as per action 23 of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, including for increased project expenditure thresholds; the removal of the external assurance process and enhanced timelines for the preparation of the preliminary busi…
Tugaim faoi deara ar maidin go bhfuil go leor de na ceisteanna ar an téama céanna, ar nós an chinn a bhí ag mo chomhghleacaí ar mo thaobh clé anseo maidir le cúrsaí infreastruchtúir agus an luas ar breá linn a fheiceáil le cur chun cinn i gcúrsaí infreastruchtúir agus infreastruchtúr a thógáil níos tapúla. Roimh an Nollaig, d'fhoilsigh an tAire an tuairisc nua. Before Christmas the Minister printed the Accelerating I…
I welcome the Minister's confirmation that we are not removing political approval for these projects. There was some concern about the elimination of ministerial approval at stage 2 of the project timeline but the Minister has clarified that ministerial approval will still be required at stages 1 and 3. This is very welcome. There was a sense that we were moving on and leaving decisions to unelected officials rather …
I thank the Minister. I would like clarity. The emphasis and focus in action 30 is on transport and water. Will the Minister confirm that it is not limited to these and that we are looking at using this action in other areas? The Minister mentioned energy at the outset. Further clarification on my next point would also be welcome. How do projects in the planning process stand in terms of this new action? Will they be…
18. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will next meet. [69864/25]
I very much welcome the formal announcing of the national therapy service in education involving the placement of occupational therapists and speech therapists in special schools. I particularly welcome its introduction in two schools in Galway, Ábalta Special School and St. Joseph's Special School in Newcastle. I also welcome the announcement of 301 new classes for children with additional needs in the mainstream se…
8. D'fhiafraigh Deputy John Connolly den Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht nuashonrú a thabhairt maidir leis na hiarrachtaí atá Údarás na Gaeltachta ag déanamh chun tacú le forbairt tithíochta cónaithe sna réigiúin Ghaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [7697/26]
Tá a fhios agam gur chuir an tAire freagra chugam maidir leis seo píosa ó shín, ach tá sé an-tábhachtach na hiarrachtaí a chur chun cinn agus labhairt fúthu chomh minic agus is féidir mar gheall ar an ngéarchéim tithíochta atá sa Ghaeltacht.
Glacaim gur ról tánaisteach atá ag an údarás ach mar a dúirt an tAire, tá ról suntasach aige i saol na Gaeltachta. Tá sé ag déanamh oibre maithe le blianta fada. Glacaim leis chomh maith nach bhfuil sé éasca d’eagraíocht nach bhfuil aon chleachtadh ná taithí aici ar chúrsaí tithíochta tús a chur leis an dualgas sin, go háirithe gan an fhoireann. Glacaim leis go bhfuil sé ráite ag an Aire anois go bhfuil duine fostait…
Tugann sé muinín do mhuintir na Gaeltachta a chloisteáil go bhfuil an méid sin déanta againn go dtí seo. Glacaim leis gur tús é ach is maith an rud é go bhfuil an tAire ag labhairt leis na daoine tábhachtacha sin, lena n-áirítear Údarás na Gaeltachta, an Roinn tithíochta agus na húdaráis áitiúla, chun béim a chur ar an tábhacht a bhaineann le cúrsaí tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Tá mé dóchasach anois, tar éis an mhéid at…
I will confine my comments today to the issue of road safety around schools and enabling children to access schools in a safer manner. I welcome, as part of that, the implementation of phase 2 of the national speed limit review, which proposes to reduce the speed limit in urban areas to a default of 30 km/h. It is not so clear, however, what is expected of local authorities in relation to schools on national routes, …
1. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach for an update on the programme for Government. [67574/25]
The Taoiseach mentioned housing at the outset. One of the commitments in the programme for Government regarding housing was to repurpose the local authority affordable housing purchase scheme to become part of the starter home programme in order to enhance uptake. I am not sure we will have any difficulty with uptake; the difficulty is with supply. We are conscious that we are trying to generate supply across the ent…
88. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans within his Department to develop a further and expanded phase of programme for access to higher education, PATH, 4 funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6868/26]
Yesterday, I met with a delegation of former employees of CIÉ. They are members of a pension scheme who have not had an increase since 2008. That is 18 years, and we are all conscious of how the cost of living has increased during that period. Furthermore, to compound issues for members, many were paying a class of PRSI that allowed them no access to a contributory pension. They have been campaigning for a long time …
I share the sentiment of many Members as to how depressing the situation the world finds itself in at the moment is. Having endured the depth of international conflict and war that was witnessed during the 20th century, we find that leaders of major international powers could make decisions that could bring us back to a point of significant tension again. This could undo the great work that was done by many of the in…