I want to raise an issue in Mallow General Hospital, which is in my home town. Over the past six months, the day ward has been closed on several occasions to facilitate overcrowding in Cork University Hospital, the Mercy Hospital and Kerry University Hospital. It is entirely unacceptable that day procedures would be halted for several days to facilitate overcrowding. People in genuine need of these day ward procedure…
TDs / Eoghan Kenny
Eoghan Kenny
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
1,325
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
81,310
words spoken in the chamber
Across 303 contributions
392
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
244
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 1,325 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 303 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 25 | 5 |
| February 2025 | 82 | 19 |
| March 2025 | 47 | 13 |
| April 2025 | 51 | 8 |
| May 2025 | 30 | 10 |
| June 2025 | 39 | 12 |
| July 2025 | 169 | 17 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 88 | 10 |
| October 2025 | 77 | 10 |
| November 2025 | 116 | 22 |
| December 2025 | 62 | 22 |
| January 2026 | 105 | 15 |
| February 2026 | 146 | 33 |
| March 2026 | 24 | 9 |
| April 2026 | 44 | 27 |
| May 2026 | 75 | 29 |
| June 2026 | 36 | 8 |
| July 2026 | 36 | 28 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 33 | 5 |
| October 2026 | 40 | 1 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 206 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 Cork North-Central 29 November 2024 to now
- party Labour Party 29 November 2024 to now
The previous Deputy, Seán Sherlock, would have as well.
Will the Taoiseach provide a date on the opening?
I raise a deeply serious and sensitive issue, namely, children with additional needs and their rights to an appropriate education. In recent weeks, I have spoken directly with parents who are anxious and in many cases still without clarity on where their child will go to school this September. The Tánaiste knows it himself. Every parent asks the same simple question this time of the year, "Where is my child going to …
I appreciate the Tánaiste's response. I return to what Department officials have confirmed. They said the Government is aware of this increased need but they also made it clear further analysis is needed to ensure that need can be met. The Tánaiste referenced that with regard to not using the word "demand". He said that the level of need has increased significantly. The question that is being asked by parents is very…
There is no doubt that families across this country are under real pressure. I see it every day in my constituency, with people coming into my office looking for help and non-political point scoring. That is exactly why I stand here. I am looking for real, tangible solutions to what the people of Ireland require and need. People are worried about their next electricity bill, the price of home heating oil and the cost…
We did, actually.
It was clearly outlined to me just now at the Committee of Public Accounts that the Department of education does not have the number of special classes and special school places available to match the level of need and provide for the number of applicants. Therefore, right now we have children without a place for the next academic year. I was told that all Government leaders are aware of this. When was the Tánaiste m…
I thank the Social Democrats and Deputy Rice for bringing this motion forward. I will primarily focus on one aspect of the motion. The motion calls on the Government to "expand the ... [chronic disease management programme] to include severe and enduring mental health difficulties, epilepsy and other conditions as appropriate, in consultation with GPs delivering the service". I am an epileptic. That is something I ha…
The Chair should be respected.
Over the past two weeks, the Government has let down children with additional needs, special needs assistants, parents, school communities and now special educational needs organisers, SENOs. That is why tonight, across the country, these very people will take to the streets and protest outside the Dáil at 5 p.m. At every opportunity, the Labour Party has welcomed developments in our e…
I welcome that.
Did the Taoiseach not know about the levels?
I do not need lectures from the Taoiseach on the role of an SNA-----
I do not need lectures from the Taoiseach on the role of an SNA. I know what they are about. I said at the beginning that I welcome the development of SNAs. I did not need the figures. I know the figures and I welcome them. As a State, we have to accept the reality. The level of resources did not keep up with the level of need. That is the reality.
We were able to get €19 million overnight. Was it penny-pinching all…
That is completely untrue.
You are telling untruths.
Will every child get a place in a special class?
I spoke on this last night here in the Dáil and again today with the Taoiseach. This has been an absolutely catastrophic number of weeks for so many people for whom this matter has caused so much stress.
I said last night that, as a Parliament, we have to take account of the fact that so many children, particularly those with additional needs, along with parents, SNAs and school communities, were deeply affected. We…
Hear, hear.
Oh no, we have not done that.
I thank Sinn Féin for bringing the motion forward. I welcome the fact there will be statements on this in the Dáil tomorrow. I welcome any parents, SNAs or students who are in the Gallery.
The Minister and Minister of State will appreciate this has been a significantly difficult two weeks for SNAs, school communities, parents and children with additional needs. I have met and spoken with a number of school principal…
On behalf of my colleague, Deputy Robert O'Donoghue, I welcome the Tidy Towns group from Rush.
Over the last number of days, there has been an absolute outcry of support for special needs assistants, SNAs, school communities, children with special educational needs and SNA provision for the coming academic year. This outcry and this stress have been caused by the Government and policy decisions that the Government h…
With all due respect, while I agree with the stuff the Tánaiste has said, he has not answered any of my questions. He raised the issue of care needs. Does he accept that the care needs system has become too rigid? I am putting on the record of the Dáil that those who are on the autism spectrum and those who have inclusion needs, social anxiety or academic needs, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia or dyspraxia, do not fit …
This is the second time today that I have spoken about SNA reviews. I raised the matter earlier with the Tánaiste on Leaders' Questions. The Minister of State knows that this is the most pressing issue right now. It is going to affect so many students across the country. I have lost count of the number of schools that have contacted me. Later, I will be meeting online with parents, students, principals, SNAs and memb…
I concur with all of my colleagues who have spoken. I presume the engagements involve the Minister of State, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for education. If there is somebody else involved, I would appreciate if we were informed of that. In that meeting tonight, can I inform parents, SNAs, teachers and students that for now, this pause will be lifted in the coming weeks? Can I also confirm that the sch…