Cathy Bennett TD

All recent activity captured from oireachtas.ie's public open-data feeds — debate contributions and parliamentary questions. Links open the official record on the Oireachtas website.

Parliamentary questions

• June 18, 2026PQ to Minister for Social
  Child Poverty

  Asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline his targets regarding the eradication of child poverty; the steps he has taken in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 18, 2026PQ to Minister for Social
  School Meals Programme

  Asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he will put in place to ensure that the Hot School Meals Programme supports local employment, delivers freshly prepared meals on a daily basis, and ensures the programme supports sustainability and local economic development across all eligible providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 18, 2026PQ to Minister for Transport
  Driver Licences

  Asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on his efforts to simplify the process for returning emigrants to exchange US driver licences.

• June 18, 2026PQ to Minister for Transport
  Rail Network

  Asked the Minister for Transport further to the Strategic Rail Review, the timeframe in which it is intended to provide rail services in County Monaghan.

• June 16, 2026PQ to Minister for Enterprise
  Tourism Industry

  Asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his proposals to support employment in the tourism sector.

• June 16, 2026PQ to Minister for Enterprise
  Cross-Border Co-operation

  Asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will report on his proposals to cultivate cross-border tourism.

• June 10, 2026PQ to Minister for Transport
  Electric Vehicles

  Asked the Minister for Transport the number of public electric vehicle chargers in the State; the targets for expanding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 10, 2026PQ to Minister for Transport
  Electric Vehicles

  Asked the Minister for Transport the number of public electric vehicle chargers in County Monaghan; the targets for expanding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 10, 2026PQ to Minister for Transport
  Electric Vehicles

  Asked the Minister for Transport the number of public electric vehicle chargers in County Cavan; the targets for expanding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Taoiseach
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Taoiseach the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Foreign
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the staff turnover rate in her Department in the years 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Climate
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Defence
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Defence the staff turnover rate in her Department in the years 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Transport
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Transport the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Finance
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Public Expenditure
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Enterprise
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Agriculture
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Children
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the staff turnover rate in her Department in the years 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Health
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Health the staff turnover rate in her Department in the years 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Further and Higher Education
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Rural
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Education
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Education and Youth the staff turnover rate in her Department in the years 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Culture
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Housing
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Social
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Social Protection the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Justice
  Departmental Staff

  Asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the staff turnover rate in his Department in the years 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 28, 2026PQ to Minister for Education
  School Staff

  Asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the ongoing discussions in relation to pay parity and pensions for caretakers and secretaries; if a resolution has been reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 28, 2026PQ to Minister for Transport
  Electric Vehicles

  Asked the Minister for Transport the number of public electric vehicle chargers in operation in each county in each of the years 2020 to date, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 28, 2026PQ to Minister for Transport
  Electric Vehicles

  Asked the Minister for Transport the target numbers for public electric vehicle chargers for each county in each of the years 2020 to 2030, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Foreign
  Departmental Data

  Asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of EU transposition deadlines relevant to her Department in the years 2019 to date in 2026; if such deadlines were met; if not, the date by which they will be transposed; the value of any penalties incurred, by deadline and by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Transport
  Public Transport

  Asked the Minister for Transport if there are any agreements for cross-Border travel between transport services in this State and the North of Ireland regarding the use of public travel cards; if Leap cards, iLink cards, or other public transport smart cards are recognised in all 32 counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Public Expenditure
  Public Sector Staff

  Asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of settlement agreements sanctioned by his Department which would need to comply with Circular 09/2018, in the years 2020 to date; the number of which contained a confidentiality clause; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Health
  Medicinal Products

  Asked the Minister for Health the timeline for a decision by the HSE drugs group regarding the reimbursement of risdiplam for adults living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 21, 2026PQ to Minister for Foreign
  Diplomatic Representation

  Asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her proposals to expand the Irish diplomatic footprint in areas with a growing diaspora community

• May 21, 2026PQ to Minister for Foreign
  Diaspora Issues

  Asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will report on her engagements regarding facilitating easier return to Ireland for emigrants.

• May 21, 2026PQ to Minister for Rural
  EU Funding

  Asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will report on his engagements regarding the LEADER programme under the next EU budgetary cycle.

• May 21, 2026PQ to Minister for Rural
  Departmental Policies

  Asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will report on the implementation of rural proofing.

• May 20, 2026PQ to Minister for Transport
  EU Presidency

  Asked the Minister for Transport the mechanism or fora of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union through which he plans to raise issues of reciprocal recognition of driving licences of third countries and related matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 20, 2026PQ to Minister for Housing
  Grant Payments

  Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that exist to replace windows in a private dwelling housing a young autistic child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for Housing
  Departmental Policies

  Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline his engagements with representative countryside, conservation and rural stakeholder organisations, farming organisations, hunting associations and game management groups regarding proposed EU restrictions on lead ammunition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for Housing
  Housing Provision

  Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the proposals and associated targets to deliver age-friendly housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan.

• May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for Education
  School Equipment

  Asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Departments position on secondary schools requiring the compulsory purchase of laptops or tablets for pupils in school; if she can confirm that without these devices the school can refuse to provide books as normal; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for Education
  School Equipment

  Asked the Minister for Education and Youth the time it takes her Department to process an application for assistive technology for a child in primary and in post primary school; the number of applications for assistive technology received in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Justice
  Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

  Asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe in which refuges will open in both Cavan and Monaghan.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Justice
  Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

  Asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current number of domestic violence refuge spaces within the State; the number of safe home units; and the number of each he intends to be operational by year's end.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Agriculture
  Departmental Budgets

  Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding from the carbon tax allocated to his Department since 2020; and the amount expended.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Agriculture
  Common Agricultural Policy

  Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on their engagements regarding CAP post-2027.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Housing
  Departmental Policies

  Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding with an organisation (details supplied) and his Department, in light of the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Committee report published under Ireland's Nature Restoration Plan by Minister of State Christopher O'Sullivan, which emphasises the importance of engaging communities and supporting NGOs, citizen science, and local groups as key delivery partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Housing
  Wildlife Regulations

  Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has engaged with representative countryside, conservation and rural stakeholder organisations, farming organisations, hunting associations and game management groups, regarding proposed EU restrictions on lead ammunition; and if he will detail the engagement undertaken to date.

Dáil contributions

• June 18, 2026Questions
  Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
• June 18, 2026Debate
  Business of Committee
• June 18, 2026Statement
  Financial Statements 2024: National Training Fund
• June 17, 2026Motion
  Data Centres, Energy Use and Climate Change: Motion [Private Members]
• May 28, 2026Debate
  Business of Committee
• May 28, 2026Statement
  Competition and Consumer Protection Commission – Financial Statements 2024
• May 27, 2026Motion
  Fiscal Planning Framework for Economic Certainty: Motion [Private Members]
• May 26, 2026Motion
  Cost of Disability: Motion [Private Members]
• May 21, 2026Statement
  Climate Action Fund – Financial Statements 2024
• May 21, 2026Debate
  Business of Committee
• May 20, 2026Debate
  National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage
• May 20, 2026Motion
  Defence and Neutrality: Motion [Private Members]
• May 19, 2026Statement
  National Biodiversity Week: Statements
• May 19, 2026Motion
  Evictions and Rent Hikes: Motion [Private Members]
• May 19, 2026Debate
  NGOs Active in Sierra Leone and Liberia: Discussion
• May 14, 2026Debate
  Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026: Second Stage
• May 14, 2026Debate
  Business of Committee
• May 14, 2026Statement
  Financial Statements 2024: National Treasury Management Agency
• May 14, 2026Debate
  Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026: Second Stage
• May 12, 2026Statement
  International Nurses Day: Statements
• May 12, 2026Debate
  Peace Building in the Middle East, Reflecting on Ireland's Peace Process: Discussion
• May 07, 2026Debate
  Business of Committee
• May 07, 2026Statement
  Financial Statements 2024: National Oil Reserves Agency
• May 07, 2026Statement
  Europe Day: Statements
• May 06, 2026Debate
  Building Climate Resilience and Flood Risk Adaptation: Discussion (Resumed)
• May 06, 2026Orderofbusiness
  An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
• April 30, 2026Debate
  Business of Committee
• April 30, 2026Statement
  Financial Statements 2024: Children's Health Ireland and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board
• April 30, 2026Statement
  Supports for Hauliers and Supply Chains: Statements
• April 29, 2026Debate
  Driver Licences
• April 28, 2026Debate
  The GAA's Work Internationally and with the Diaspora: Engagement with the Gaelic Athletic Association
• April 23, 2026Debate
  Business of Committee
• April 23, 2026Debate
  Hospital Insourcing Funding Arrangements: Discussion
• April 22, 2026Questions
  Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
• April 22, 2026Statement
  Post European Council Meeting: Statements
• April 21, 2026Question
  Ambulance Service
• April 21, 2026Debate
  Current Situation in Afghanistan: Discussion
• April 15, 2026Questions
  Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
• April 15, 2026Statement
  Football: Statements
• April 15, 2026Motion
  Tackling Soaring Energy Costs: Motion [Private Members]