167. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when he intends to announce the next round of funding under the community sports facilities fund; if any amendments to the eligibility or assessment criteria are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16722/26]
TDs / Albert Dolan
Albert Dolan
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1,557
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
45,779
words spoken in the chamber
Across 211 contributions
416
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
209
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 1,557 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 211 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 3 | 7 |
| February 2025 | 85 | 6 |
| March 2025 | 68 | 5 |
| April 2025 | 49 | 3 |
| May 2025 | 132 | 17 |
| June 2025 | 125 | 16 |
| July 2025 | 149 | 5 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 100 | 13 |
| October 2025 | 97 | 6 |
| November 2025 | 138 | 11 |
| December 2025 | 53 | 14 |
| January 2026 | 71 | 16 |
| February 2026 | 38 | 14 |
| March 2026 | 92 | 12 |
| April 2026 | 55 | 10 |
| May 2026 | 65 | 11 |
| June 2026 | 131 | 15 |
| July 2026 | 51 | 0 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 21 | 20 |
| October 2026 | 34 | 10 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 157 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 Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
When the Minister of State visited Tuam with his officials and held a meeting to give all the clubs in County Galway an understanding of what changes they might be able to anticipate in the upcoming sports capital programme and answer the questions they had, it was very warmly received. That was a really productive exercise. I welcome his statement to the effect that applications will open in May or June. It is very …
I appreciate everything the Minister of State said. One thing that needs to be made crystal clear to clubs this year is the promotion of female participation. I do not think we give it enough attention. We have to make sure that any club that is offering sport to males and females has to offer equal opportunities, equal access and equal participation. In many different sports clubs right across Galway East, I am seei…
99. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport the status of the review of the public consultation on the proposed 425A bus route; the status of the assessment of submissions received; the expected timeline for completing the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14894/26]
I want to raise the issue of the 425A bus route from Mountbellew to Galway city. Back in January the NTA launched a public consultation on its proposals. I would like an update as to where that public consultation is at. Has it been reviewed and assessed and where is it at? From speaking to representatives of the NTA in the Committee of Public Accounts they seemed to indicate that by the end of quarter 1, they would …
I really appreciate that and the manner in which the Minister has worked with me on this since I became aware of the NTA's proposals. It is important to say that absolutely nobody in my constituency has come to me saying they want to see the 425A rerouted into Athenry. Previously, the 425A was a once daily return service. It is now a four times daily service. It is working fantastically and we do not need to change i…
The Minister is right. There has been such a significant investment over the past few years in public transport, active travel and trying to secure the future of our networks. Athenry had a privately-operated bus service. It pulled out essentially because the middle-day services were not feasible. There is a public service obligation, PSO, determination there. It is in place for Athenry and we need to meet it.
The b…
When I speak about special needs assistants today, I want to do so in a fashion that is factual and considered because behind all the headlines and all the political noise over the past week there are real children, real families and real SNAs who show up every single morning to do extraordinary work. Special needs assistants are not an add-on to the education system; they are part of the foundation of inclusive educ…
Our fishing industry is not just an economic sector, but a backbone of many coastal communities. In 2026, those communities are facing an extraordinary challenge - a 70% reduction in mackerel, a 41% reduction in blue whiting and a 22% reduction in boarfish. These cuts are based on advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and were formalised at December's Agricultural and Fisheries Council.…
The deemed disposal tax on unrealised gains for exchange-traded funds, ETFs, is simply madness. We often speak in this House about opportunity, fairness and giving people a real stake in our economy. We need to ask ourselves honestly what kind of Ireland we are shaping through our current tax system. Do we want an Ireland where ordinary workers can build wealth slowly and steadily over time, where someone on an avera…
I really appreciate the sentiment the Minister of State has delivered before this House. There is an opportunity here for the Government to send a clear signal that for people who are working and contributing to our society and who want to accumulate a security buffer or a cushion, we will support them to do so, not just for their pension but for when other things arise in life as well. I believe that the deemed disp…
28. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Taoiseach his response to the recent NESC report, Building A Virtuous Demographic Cycle. [3796/26]
32. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Taoiseach his assessment of and response to the NESC report, Connecting People to the Energy Transition. [7899/26]
The Minister of State will be aware of the south Galway flood relief scheme. It is set to protect 115 properties, family homes and businesses. What we are facing right now is a series of delays and a lack of action. I know the Minister of State is a person of action and he wants to see something happen. In November, in a response to a parliamentary question, the Minister of State said the scheme would go for planning…
I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the International Protection Bill 2026. Fianna Fáil welcomes this debate because we believe it is vital and important. We fundamentally believe in the right to claim asylum. That principle is not optional. It is a cornerstone of international law and a test of our values as a country. Equally, we are committed to a fair but firm system, one that respects the dignity of…
I rise to support the residential tenancies Bill 2026. I will begin by acknowledging the work of the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, in bringing forward this legislation, which tries to do something Ireland has struggled to do for far too long, that is, strike a fair balance between tenant protection and rental supply. I will say this clearly: we need that balance because the truth…
They invested, provided rental homes and helped supply. They are coming to me with one fear above all others. They are afraid they will lose control of their own property. Vacant possession matters. I want to put this plainly. It is absolutely right that tenants have security. It is absolutely right that we restrict no-fault evictions. It is also vital, however, that property owners can have vacant possession of thei…
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. I want to be very clear from the outset that this is an incredibly important and necessary Bill, and one I am proud to support. At its core, this Bill is about recognising that the world of child welfare and protection has changed significantly since the original Child Care Act was introduced in 1991. The challenges facing children and families today are differe…
What we have seen in north County Galway in the year since Storm Éowyn has been nothing short of disaster. There have been over 20 power outages in the past year in Dunmore in north County Galway. It is not just Dunmore but surrounding areas like Ballygar, Glenamaddy, Kilkerrin and Clonberne are all affected by regular outages. Outages are one thing but extended outages are another. I thank the ESB for its engagement…
At my meeting with ESB Networks today, it became very clear that the company has both immediate and medium-term plans. It is important to highlight that vegetation and trees are one of the biggest causes of recurring outages in north Galway, where is a significant amount of forestry. When people planted those trees 30 years ago, there was no legislation suggesting they had to be 30 m distant from either side of the w…
I welcome the proposals that will lead to the acceleration of infrastructure but what I want to talk about today are the people I represent in Galway East and the lives they live. Everyone who lives in Galway East and who commutes into Galway city faces the same issue of huge traffic. I believe - and the national development plan, NDP, backs this up, as it is funded - that there are three or four key solutions that a…
This conversation is very welcome. I welcome the motion. I speak regularly with young people in my constituency and young families. The reality is that when somebody is in a crisis situation or finally gets to that point where they realise they are not okay, they need support and help and they reach out for help, it is vital that at that point the State is ready to meet them where they are at. We have all heard too m…
In east Galway we have a problem in that more and more GP practices are declaring that they can no longer take on more patients. They are at capacity and that is a significant issue. We also have another issue whereby we are not retaining our young doctors coming out university. We invest so much in our young people and their education, from primary school, through secondary school, buses, hot school meals, SUSI and …
I will focus on the fact that remote working disproportionately benefits rural communities. The trend I have noticed over the past few years in the area I represent, Galway East, is that the more remote working that is happening, the more people there are working in fantastic jobs in Galway city, Athlone, Mayo and Dublin. It has allowed those people to come closer to home. They are able to make a decision to build a …
I will start by speaking about the basics. When I say "basics", I am talking about water pressure. For the people I represent in Gurteen, Cloonsheecahill and east Galway, there are many places where there is low water pressure. During the summer, it has a detrimental impact on their quality of life and ability to live. In the capital plan developed by Uisce Éireann, there are many references to pumping stations, part…