Deputy Byrne, allow the Minister of State to answer, please.
TDs / John McGuinness
John McGuinness
Leas-Cheann Comhairle
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
423
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
53,878
words spoken in the chamber
Across 132 contributions. Plus 1,827 contributions from the chair, not counted
107
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
138
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 423 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 132 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 1 |
| January 2025 | 3 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 13 | 4 |
| March 2025 | 35 | 7 |
| April 2025 | 24 | 6 |
| May 2025 | 54 | 7 |
| June 2025 | 14 | 3 |
| July 2025 | 28 | 6 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 59 | 0 |
| October 2025 | 11 | 4 |
| November 2025 | 39 | 21 |
| December 2025 | 14 | 9 |
| January 2026 | 8 | 6 |
| February 2026 | 20 | 8 |
| March 2026 | 20 | 3 |
| April 2026 | 14 | 2 |
| May 2026 | 18 | 15 |
| June 2026 | 14 | 19 |
| July 2026 | 13 | 7 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 14 | 2 |
| October 2026 | 8 | 2 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 46 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 Carlow-Kilkenny 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
- office Leas-Cheann Comhairle 19 February 2025 to now
I call Deputy Pádraig O’Sullivan. He is aware that the questions were grouped and his Question No. 67 is part of that group.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit.
Question No. 66 was grouped with Questions Nos. 62 and 67. With the permission of Members, we will go back and take a question from Deputy Coppinger on Question No. 66.
It was, but go ahead with your question, Deputy.
I thank Deputy Doherty.
I thank Deputy Doherty. I call on the Minister to respond.
Deputy Tóibín-----
I want to make a pitch for my own constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. We cannot be complacent about our success or rest on our laurels. We have to continue to be innovative and to develop our tourism product. In this regard, we need to look at the strengths of each county and not just make every county, city and village the same. We must look at what they have to offer and have strategic investment in what each county i…
I understand that the Government Chief Whip has a proposal for a minor amendment to the business for the week.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Is Deputy Gannon sharing time?
We will move to amendment No. 2. A recommittal is necessary in respect of this amendment and the other related amendments as they do not arise from committee proceedings and relate to the motion to instruct to the committee. Amendments Nos. 2, 33, 35 to 45, inclusive, and 72 are related and will be discussed together.
Pursuant to Standing Order 194(3), it is reported to the Dáil that the Long Title has been amended.
With the Ceann Comhairle's permission, I am sharing time with our new Deputy Kyne.
Yes. I congratulate the Deputy on his success.
I join in some of the comments made about the carbon tax and I ask the Minister of State if he thinks we are getting value for money from it. Does he think it should be tailored to ensure there are not the types of increases faced through the carbon tax, and to divvy up the money raised from a lower amount of taxation? One of the issues that has come to the fore from th…
87. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to provide the funding to allow all school building projects in Carlow and Kilkenny to move to the next phase of the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40603/26]
I ask about schools in Kilkenny that are on the list waiting to be approved to move forward. I want to raise serious concerns in the school community regarding the Kilkenny City Vocational School, which is a DEIS school. Alongside that there is Coláiste Pobal Osraí. These will form the Kilkenny school campus. We spent €3.5 million on the grounds work. The planning permission expires in 2027 and the lease in 2028. The…
It is extremely important that this project moves forward because it has a huge impact on the schools and their development. The lease expires in 2028, and the planning permission is due to expire in 2027. The Minister is right to say investment has been good in Carlow and Kilkenny but there is always a focus on the ones we are waiting for. The Minister met with the community school in Castlecomer when she was there.…
There are capacity issues in some of the schools I have mentioned, like Church Hill National School in Cuffesgrange and Scoil Mhuire in Mooncoin. Then there is the issue of Castlecomer's school, which has 634 students. That project is shovel-ready and the school wants to get on with that work. There has been such a long wait for the Kilkenny school campus. Planning permission is there. Some €3.5 million has already b…
The Select Committee on Education and Youth has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2026: Vote 26.
I would like to extend a welcome to Aisling Dunne and her son Jack, on behalf of Deputy Ó Súilleabháin. They are very welcome to the Public Gallery, and I hope they enjoy their visit to Dáil Éireann.
Allow the Tánaiste to respond.
The Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport has completed its consideration of the Media Regulation Bill 2026 and has made no amendments thereto.
I agree with Deputy Newsome Drennan about the transparency that is needed around the Carlow College decision and the 600 students and staff. We need clarity as soon as possible and I ask the Minister to give that issue his attention.
I welcome the fact that we have a South East Technological University. I want to see the campuses developed properly and fully, and funded. I refer particularly to Kildalton College and…