Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD
Sinn Féin · Donegal constituency
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
- May 28, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchools Building Projects
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the way in which plans can be advanced for a new school (details supplied) on the new site offered free of charge to the State, within the town boundaries of Milford.
- May 28, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchool Facilities
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to advance the delivery of new school facilities (details supplied) that have been long delayed.
- May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for FinanceCross-Border Co-operation
Asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on the renewed efforts toward a UK–Ireland cross-Border work framework, particularly addressing remote work taxation.
- May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for FinanceBanking Sector
Asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he is aware that persons and families that are resident in the Republic of Ireland and working in Northern Ireland are being turned down for a mortgage by lenders in this State because they are not working in this State; and if he will progress the development of standardised underwriting approaches for cross-Border incomes.
- May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchools Building Projects
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the proposed extension to a school (details supplied) for which they have full planning permission, including accommodation for four new special classes for autistic pupils and 16 mainstream classrooms.
- May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for CultureDepartmental Funding
Asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he has the power or discretion to fund a capital project allocation to a local authority backed project without match funding from that local authority.
- May 21, 2026PQ to Minister for ClimateFisheries Protection
Asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the scientific and policy basis for the introduction of the three-pollack daily bag limit for recreational anglers; the extent to which Irish specific IMREC data and inshore sampling work, including evidence of high catch and release rates and low retained catches by charter and recreational anglers, was considered before the Pollack Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 1028 of 2026 was signed; the consultation that took place with the recreational sea angling and charter sector; whether comparable restrictions are being applied to commercial pollack removals and pollack taken for bait; whether the measure will be subject to a formal review in light of updated Irish data and its impact on coastal communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 21, 2026PQ to Minister for DefenceNaval Service
Asked the Minister for Defence if she will confirm that the Naval Service fisheries monitoring centre is adequately resourced to perform its responsibilities throughout the Irish EEZ.
- May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for HousingHousing Provision
Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on when his Department will provide the funding to Donegal County Council to proceed with affordable housing projects in the county.
- May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for HousingDefective Building Materials
Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on when a scheme will commence to relocate nine families, living in defective concrete block homes away from a location (details supplied); and when his Department officials will consult with the homeowners on the design of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchool Accommodation
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Department will provide the funding to replace two derelict prefabs at a school (details supplied) that urgently need replacing ahead of the next school term in the autumn, in a school campus that is already extremely limited for space.
- May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationDepartmental Reviews
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has assessed the impact that reductions in ESOL and related community based English language supports will have on primary and post-primary schools in County Donegal, particularly schools with Ukrainian pupils and families who require English language support; whether schools will receive additional English as an additional language, special education, home school liaison, translation or integration supports where adult ESOL provision is reduced; whether any teaching, support or ancillary posts in schools are expected to be affected by changes in supports for Ukrainians after March 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
- May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for HousingDefective Building Materials
Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will bring forward the necessary regulations that will allow for side-by-side construction of homes under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to allow some families to remain in their defective home while a new home is built on an adjacent site.
- May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureInshore Fisheries
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he, his Department, or officials have engaged with the European Commission, including Commissioner Costas Kadis, DG MARE and/or DG Competition, regarding the possibility of securing approval, exemption, derogation or other flexibility under EU State aid and fisheries funding rules to allow Ireland to introduce a targeted financial support scheme for the inshore fisheries sector, including supports for weather related lost fishing days, climate adaptation, income stabilisation and public good environmental measures; if he will publish or summarise the outcome of any such engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for Further and Higher EducationFurther and Higher Education
Asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the decision to end or substantially reduce ESOL provision for Ukrainians and other learners in County Donegal from March 2027, including classes delivered in community and resource centre settings; if he will provide the ESOL allocation to Donegal ETB in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026; the projected allocation for 2027; the number of ESOL learners, class hours, tutors and venues supported in Donegal in each of those years; the number of tutors expected to lose hours or employment as a result of the reduction in funding; whether transitional or replacement funding will be provided to allow learners to continue ESOL for at least a further two years where they have not yet reached a level of English sufficient for employment or independent living, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for Further and Higher EducationFurther and Higher Education
Asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the arrangements that will apply for beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine who are already enrolled in higher education, further education, PLC, Springboard, adult learning or upskilling courses in the 2026/2027 academic year; whether existing students will be supported to complete their courses; what supports will be available to mature Ukrainian students who have begun upskilling or reskilling in order to enter employment; and if he will provide a clear public guidance note for affected students and education providers in County Donegal and nationally.
- May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureFishing Industry
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will work with his ministerial colleagues and the relevant Departments to introduce a financial stabilisation scheme for inshore fishermen similar to the basic income scheme available to artists.
- May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureFisheries Protection
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he has had with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence, to ensure that the Fisheries Monitoring Centre is adequately resourced to perform its responsibilities throughout the Irish EEZ; and to provide statistics on inspections of vessels in the zone for the past five years, by year, to illustrate this point.
- May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureFishing Industry
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide information on the fuel support scheme that will be made available to fishermen.
- May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationDefective Building Materials
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she aware that the ongoing crisis relating to defective concrete blocks continues to have a profound impact on students and staff across Donegal ETB schools;if she will request her Department to accede to the request from Donegal ETB for an additional guidance counsellor allocation for a defined period; expansion of the home school community liaison (HSCL) provision; enhanced financial supports for school uniforms and student participation; increased access to after-school study and meals provision; additional supports for extracurricular and out-of-school activities; expanded access to National Educational Psychological Service; strengthened School Completion Programme supports; enhanced staff well-being and counselling supports; and additional supports for school leadership teams managing these challenges.
- May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchools Building Projects
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the major extension project at a school (details supplied); and her Department’s response to the proposal from Donegal ETB to construct a new school building on an adjacent site.
- May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchools Building Projects
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the plans for the future development of a school (details supplied).
- May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchool Staff
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the way in which her Department can assist Donegal ETB with the serious staffing challenges that they face and have conveyed to her Department.
- May 13, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureAquaculture Industry
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licence applications are awaiting appropriate assessments at the Marine Institute; if there is an update on prioritisation to deal with these applications in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 13, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureAquaculture Industry
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licence determinations issued by his Department since November 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 13, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureAquaculture Industry
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licence applications that are awaiting determination with his Department ; the efforts that are being made to address delays in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 13, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureAquaculture Industry
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licence applications processed with appropriate assessments completed by the Marine Institute and his Department since November 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 13, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureDepartmental Schemes
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when will the sustainable aquaculture scheme be open for applications in 2026; will the eligibility criteria be revised given the unreasonable delays in the aquaculture licensing system which is impacting aquaculture producers awaiting licensing renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 13, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureDepartmental Funding
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given that the European Commission has now triggered Article 26 of the EMFAF Regulation allowing for compensation for fisheries and aquaculture for income forgone and additional costs during exceptional events, will the Minister establish a funding mechanism to assist aquaculture producers facing increased costs impacting their business such as, increase in feed costs, energy costs, transport & logistics costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 12, 2026PQ to Minister for HousingVacant Properties
Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant or derelict hotel and guesthouse properties in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- May 12, 2026PQ to Minister for HealthQualifications Recognition
Asked the Minister for Health the reason a person considered to be a nurse specialist in Northern Ireland with ten years’ experience in Scotland and Northern Ireland is not considered to be a nurse specialist in alcohol and drugs addiction services in the Republic of Ireland, unless they are qualified to a level 9 / postgraduate / master’s level (details supplied).
- May 12, 2026PQ to Minister for HealthVaccination Programme
Asked the Minister for Health to confirm that there are no plans to cancel the RSV immunisation programme for infants in Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
- May 07, 2026PQ to Minister for CultureSwimming Pools
Asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to make a firm commitment that the necessary funding will be provided from his Department to rebuild a centre (details supplied) once the latest design plans have been finalised, and it is ready to go to tender in the months ahead.
- May 06, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationDepartmental Policies
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the policy on private companies offering free cooking demonstrations in primary schools, which could be seen as an opportunity to promote their products for sale; whether this is a decision solely for the board of management of a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
- May 06, 2026PQ to Minister for HousingDefective Building Materials
Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will finally commence the defective concrete block scheme for social housing.
- May 06, 2026PQ to Minister for HousingDefective Building Materials
Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason families who are currently rebuilding/ remediating their homes under the defective concrete block grant scheme cannot avail of the increased cap of €462,000 all at once rather than having to work to the previous cap of €420,000 and then separately apply for the difference of €42,000; and if he will amend the regulations to avoid this unnecessary additional bureaucracy and financial burden for traumatised families.
- May 06, 2026PQ to Minister for AgricultureInshore Fisheries
Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his response to the call from an association (details supplied) for an increased share of the national pelagic quota for inshore fishermen; and to provide an update on work ongoing in his Department to reopen closed fisheries .
- May 06, 2026PQ to Minister for HealthHealth Services Staff
Asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 3408 of 14 April 2026, when a response will issue.
- May 06, 2026PQ to Minister for HealthHealth Services
Asked the Minister for Health the status of an application submitted in January 2026 (details supplied) under the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
- April 30, 2026PQ to Minister for TransportAir Services
Asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the timeline for the long-awaited restoration of the Derry to Dublin airlink.
- April 30, 2026PQ to Minister for TransportTraffic Management
Asked the Minister for Transport if he will travel to Donegal and meet with locally elected councillors to learn at firsthand about the serious traffic management crisis in Letterkenny impacting the people of and visitors to Donegal; and the proposed local roads infrastructure projects that can address this crisis.
- April 23, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchool Accommodation
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth the exact date of her visit to a school (details supplied) to view the unacceptable conditions for the children, teachers, and staff at the school and to make a statement on her plans to advance the delivery of the new school facilities that have been long delayed.
- April 23, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchools Building Projects
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will visit a school (details supplied) to view the unacceptable conditions for the children, teachers and staff at the school and to advise them on the way in which plans can be advanced for a new school on the new site offered free of charge to the State, within the town boundaries of Milford.
- April 22, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchool Staff
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review and consider the appeal by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
- April 22, 2026PQ to Minister for HealthHealth Service Executive
Asked the Minister for Health if a permanent location and additional days will be supported for the HSE's day services in Carndonagh, County Donegal.
- April 21, 2026PQ to Minister for Public ExpenditureState Properties
Asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department officials will engage with some homeowners at Lower Main Street, Buncrana to facilitate access for fuel deliveries to their homes through the lane to the right and the rear of the old Buncrana Garda Station, as was the case in the past.; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- April 21, 2026PQ to Minister for Public ExpenditureTourism Promotion
Asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation his Department’s plans to work in cooperation with Donegal County Council and other local stakeholders to secure investment to enhance the tourism amenity that is An Grianán of Aileach, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- April 21, 2026PQ to Minister for HealthHealth Services
Asked the Minister for Health the status of an application submitted in January 2026 (details supplied) under the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
- April 14, 2026PQ to Minister for EducationSchools Building Projects
Asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a school (details supplied).
- April 14, 2026PQ to Minister for HousingHousing Provision
Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on his Department’s plans to relocate families living in defective concrete block homes (details supplied) away from this dangerous flood plain; with clear timelines; and how those affected homeowners are to be included in the drafting of the plans.
Dáil contributions
- May 28, 2026QuestionSchools Building Projects
- May 27, 2026MotionFiscal Planning Framework for Economic Certainty: Motion [Private Members]
- May 26, 2026OrderofbusinessAn tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
- May 20, 2026QuestionsCeisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
- May 20, 2026MotionDefence and Neutrality: Motion [Private Members]
- May 19, 2026DebateMarine Protected Areas - International Best Practice: Discussion
- May 19, 2026OrderofbusinessAn tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
- May 14, 2026QuestionFishing Industry
- May 14, 2026QuestionFishing Industry
- May 12, 2026DebateElectricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Second Stage [Private Members]
- May 12, 2026OrderofbusinessAn tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
- May 06, 2026OrderofbusinessAn tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
- April 30, 2026QuestionAir Services
- April 29, 2026QuestionsCeisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
- April 29, 2026QuestionsCeisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
- April 29, 2026MotionRemediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022: Motion
- April 28, 2026DebateSeaweed Harvesting and Licensing: Discussion
- April 28, 2026StatementOur Rural Future: Statements
- April 28, 2026OrderofbusinessAn tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
- April 21, 2026OrderofbusinessAn tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
- April 21, 2026DebateImpact of Climate Change on Fish Stocks: Discussion
- April 15, 2026QuestionsCeisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
- April 14, 2026DebateSea Fisheries Protection and Legislative Framework for Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority: Discussion (Resumed)