Ireland is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in helping multinational companies achieve their carbon neutral targets. Nowhere is that opportunity greater than in County Offaly with Bord na Móna's landbank and the renewable energy capacity and scale to become one of the most strategically important locations in the country for sustainable industrial and enterprise growth. The Taoiseach recently described O…
TDs / Tony McCormack
Tony McCormack
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
323
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
23,430
words spoken in the chamber
Across 198 contributions
432
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
129
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 323 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 198 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 10 | 6 |
| March 2025 | 8 | 0 |
| April 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| May 2025 | 32 | 26 |
| June 2025 | 13 | 11 |
| July 2025 | 12 | 5 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 16 | 8 |
| October 2025 | 17 | 3 |
| November 2025 | 24 | 13 |
| December 2025 | 15 | 14 |
| January 2026 | 28 | 7 |
| February 2026 | 14 | 8 |
| March 2026 | 15 | 12 |
| April 2026 | 23 | 23 |
| May 2026 | 25 | 28 |
| June 2026 | 17 | 16 |
| July 2026 | 21 | 9 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 10 | 4 |
| October 2026 | 14 | 5 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 192 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 Offaly 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
156. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department is aligning higher education courses with current and projected skills shortages in Ireland; if he will provide details of any new initiatives in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34803/26]
As the Minister knows, the jobs requirements by companies are very fluid at the moment, especially with the introduction of AI. What steps are being taken to ensure that higher education courses are aligned with current and projected skills shortages, and will with Minister make a statement on it, please?
I welcome the focus on aligning higher education with current and projected skills shortages. Like the Minister said, it is about meeting with the industries to figure out what requirements are needed but also to find out and make sure that the courses we are providing at the moment are giving the students the proper skills when they actually finish those courses.
It is clear that artificial intelligence is now fund…
I thank the Minister for his response. While AI presents enormous opportunities, there is also understandable concern among many workers and students about how it may affect future employment. I think it will actually increase employment, but it is important that our education system prepares people not just to adapt to technology change but benefit from it. Will the Minister outline what steps are being taken to ens…
I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere, a great Kilkenny sportsman in his day. I want to convey his congratulations to Offaly on their great performance at the weekend. He wants to wish Offaly well in the upcoming Leinster Championship.
The question is to ask the Minister if the veterinary course at Kildalton College will have its first intake of students in 2026 and if he will make a stat…
The Minister's answer marks a hugely positive step forward for agriculture and animal healthcare in Ireland. The introduction of a veterinary course in Kildalton College offering 40 places each year is something that cannot be overstated in its importance. For too long, we have faced a serious shortage of qualified vets across the country. This has impacted farmers, the meat industry and even everyday pet owners who …
The establishment of a veterinary course in Kildalton College is not just an educational development, but a boost for the entire Piltown-Kildalton region. Bringing 40 students into the area each year will have a tangible impact on local life and businesses. These students will live and study in, and become part of, the community. They will support local shops, accommodation providers and services that may have been s…
161. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions being taken to improve access to higher education in regional areas, particularly in the midlands; and if additional funding is being allocated to institutions serving these regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34802/26]
I thank the Minister of State. Improving access to higher education in regional areas is critical, not just from an educational perspective, but also from a social and economic perspective. The Minister of State spoke about the great work that is being done by TUS and also Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, LOETB, in its third level exploits in Offaly. Too often, students in regional counties face barrier…
Regional education provision is not just about access to courses. It is also about supporting balanced regional development and ensuring that talent can be trained within communities. Will the Minister of State outline how the Department is ensuring that regional institutions are properly resourced to compete, grow and respond to emerging skills needs, particularly in areas linked to technology apprenticeships and fu…
I raise a serious issue regarding access to dental care for medical card holders. Corporate dental providers are withdrawing from the medical card scheme because, under current legislation, they cannot legally hold contracts directly with the HSE. The legislation governing this area has not been substantially updated since 1987 despite the fact that the structure of the dental profession has changed significantly in …
8. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the introduction of pay-related benefit in March 2025 linking unemployment payments to previous earnings; the number of persons who have availed of it to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31132/26]
I welcome the introduction of the pay-related benefit and believe it is an important step forward in how we support people who find themselves unemployed, especially the 97,000 who have received the benefit in the past 12 months and the 34,000 on it at the moment. For many families, losing a job is not just a financial shock; it is also an emotional one. It creates uncertainty and pressure at a time when people are t…
It is great news that the majority of those who receive the benefit do not proceed to the second stage, which means the job market in Ireland is buoyant and people are able to find alternative employment. Building on that, I believe this approach should form a cornerstone of how we think about social welfare supports more broadly. It is about recognising contributions, supporting people through difficult periods and …
110. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to improve public transport connectivity in County Offaly, particularly in rural areas where services remain limited; whether there are plans to expand bus routes or increase service frequency under the Connecting Ireland programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31116/26]
I welcome the progress being made under the Connecting Ireland programme. I acknowledge the excellent work being carried out by Local Link services across the country. In rural communities in counties such as Offaly, Local Link has made a real difference in connecting people, particularly those who may not have access to a car. It has helped to address isolation and has provided vital links to services, employment an…
I have been contacted by a number of women in County Offaly who are experiencing significant delays in accessing screening through BreastCheck. I am informed that mobile screening is not due in Offaly for at least six months, meaning that some women are now waiting well beyond the recommended two year interval for a mammogram. This is causing real anxiety and raises serious concerns about equitable access to cancer s…
5. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. [16732/26]
I welcome the Taoiseach's attendance at the World Economic Forum. It is an important platform for Ireland, particularly as part of the European Union where we benefit from being part of one of the largest and most influential trading blocs in the world. Our EU membership gives Ireland real weight on the global stage. It allows us to engage at forums like Davos, not as a small, isolated economy but as part of a powerf…
What supports are currently available to the retail sector and are any additional measures being considered to assist retailers facing increased operating costs? I have asked this question previously on a lot of occasions, and the answers the Minister of State gave me, to be honest, just do not land with retailers on the ground.
I welcome the supports that are in place and acknowledge the strong work being done for small and medium-sized enterprises by local enterprise offices, LEOs, and Enterprise Ireland in supporting businesses across the country. However, we have to be honest about the reality facing the retail sector. Over the last 12 months in particular, retailers have been hit from every angle. Rising energy costs, increases in the m…
Building on that, there is real concern that without further action, small, independent retailers will continue to struggle, particularly in regional towns and rural communities. These businesses are the backbone of our local economies, as the Minister of State said, and are vital to keeping our town centres alive. Are specific cost relief measures being actively considered for the sector, particularly in relation to…
I welcome the supports that are in place but we need to recognise the immediacy of the pressure facing small- and medium-sized enterprises right now. For many small businesses, particularly those that deliver their own goods in a fleet of vans, the spike in fuel and energy costs is not something they can simply absorb. These are businesses operating week to week, dealing with rising bills, fluctuating costs and very …
They are being left behind. The companies and businesses I spoke about previously, which have fleets of vans and taxis, which rely on vehicles and fuel to power their business, are being left behind. Looking beyond the immediate pressures, there are also broader concerns about competitiveness. If energy and fuel costs remain elevated, many SMEs will struggle to remain competitive, particularly when compared with busi…