92. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children notified to the NCSE before the October parent notification deadline; the number of children notified to the NCSE after the October deadline; the number of those children currently without an offer of a school place for September 2026; the measures she is taking to address this to ensure every child has an appropriate school …
TDs / Darren O'Rourke
Darren O'Rourke
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
1,809
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
93,019
words spoken in the chamber
Across 530 contributions. Plus 27 contributions from the chair, not counted
435
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
270
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 1,809 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 530 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 25 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 112 | 30 |
| March 2025 | 96 | 8 |
| April 2025 | 54 | 17 |
| May 2025 | 91 | 38 |
| June 2025 | 121 | 28 |
| July 2025 | 198 | 41 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 76 | 13 |
| October 2025 | 97 | 21 |
| November 2025 | 109 | 24 |
| December 2025 | 71 | 29 |
| January 2026 | 77 | 32 |
| February 2026 | 181 | 52 |
| March 2026 | 100 | 22 |
| April 2026 | 90 | 45 |
| May 2026 | 60 | 31 |
| June 2026 | 129 | 39 |
| July 2026 | 42 | 22 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 27 | 16 |
| October 2026 | 53 | 22 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 407 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 Meath East 29 November 2024 to now
- party Sinn Féin 29 November 2024 to now
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. He did not give the numbers in response to the question I asked - the number of children who had applied pre- and post-October and the number of those children who have an offer of a school place or, more importantly at this stage, do not have an offer. It is that question of unmet need.
When I raised this with the Taoiseach last week, he said both the Minister and Minister of St…
Another job for the Minister.
That is it.
There are significant issues. In fact, I would say the crisis in special education is worse this year than it has ever been. We are hearing that there is a huge increase. The October deadline was seen as an opportunity, and rightly so, for many children in the school system to get an appropriate school place. A number of the people I am dealing with are in mainstream, for example, looking for a place in …
94. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the work of the inter-departmental group considering the recommendation for a redress scheme arising from the scoping inquiry into historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders; the way in which this will be incorporated into the work of the Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual…
Likewise, as this is my first exchange with the Minister in her new role, I wish her the best with it. There is a lot of work to be getting on with and we are dealing with many important issues this morning.
I wish to ask the Minister the position regarding the work of the interdepartmental group considering the recommendation for a redress scheme arising from the scoping inquiry into historical sex abuse in schools…
Can the Minister confirm it is the case that the IDG aims to report to her and subsequently to Government within 18 months? There was a previous indication in relation to that, but is that still that case? What measures will the Minister take to hold religious bodies financially accountable and to make them pay redress? Sinn Féin submitted amendments to the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bi…
I agree with the Minister entirely and I welcome those words. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating, in terms of the action of it. Any time we speak of the commission, I have to make the point that there are concerns it is going to be restricted to sexual abuse and not to physical abuse. There is more than a grey area there in terms of the motivational intent of the evil carried out on people.
I want to pic…
On behalf of my colleague, Deputy O’Hara, I wish to ask about the measures being taken to ensure that schools in County Galway have appropriate special education training, SET, and special needs assistant, SNA, allocations.
We all welcome the increase in the numbers of SETs and SNAs, but I must say that the Minister of State's response does not reflect the reality. There is a massive unmet need. There is need for greater allocation. Worse than that, we have seen a pattern in recent years, and particularly in the last couple of years, of resources being taken from schools and different application of the same criteria as they apply to si…
Warm words will not cut it. The reality is that on a daily basis, children who need the support of an SNA do not have it. Also on a daily basis, schools are faced with the reality of a cut or the threat of a cut to their SNA allocation. The children absolutely need those SNAs. The Minister of State's words do not reflect what schools are dealing with and what we, as public representatives, are hearing.
When represen…
On behalf of Deputy Byrne, I ask about the way in which children with additional needs in Drogheda without a school place will be accommodated for the upcoming school year. On behalf of Deputy Byrne, I raise the specific case of Alfie, an eight-year-old boy from Drogheda. His mum, Lorraine, expressly asked that his case be raised. He is one of a number of children in mainstream school with a recommendation for a spec…
The incessant rain is destroying our roads. They are in an awful state. This weekend we have a hard frost coming, which will only add to that. Very many roads are in a state of terrible disrepair, with potholes and craters. In my county, I could list them all off in north Meath, Cortown, Kells, Gravelstown and Baile Ghib. I would pay particular attention to Downstown Road in Duleek. The council has responded to reque…
10. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that oversees agriculture will next meet. [7578/26]
27. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on children and education will next meet. [7579/26]
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The International Protection Bill 2026 is the legislative vehicle for Ireland's wholesale opt-in to the EU migration and asylum pact, and that is its fundamental flaw. Sinn Féin has been clear that the major part of this pact is not in Ireland's interests. It undermines Irish sovereignty, hands critical powers relating to migration and asylum to the European Union and …
9. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding available through his Department for community festivals such as a festival (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7869/26]
What funding is available through the Minister’s Department for community festivals such as Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival, the Hinterland Festival Kells in my area of Meath, Kells Type Trail, Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival and the Samhain Festival of Food and Culture? There are a range of excellent community festivals all over the State. I wish to know the types of funding supports available through his Department…
Absolutely. We are grateful for that funding at the Nobber Show, Dunderry Fair and Royal Meath Show. They are well supported by the community and that is welcome. The contribution of community festivals is to strengthen social cohesion, support local economies, promote volunteerism, enhance local community identity, pride and well-being, and provide low-cost, accessible cultural experiences for people. They are fanta…
I do not know if the Minister is hearing of the issue of insurance but I am sure he is. It is tangentially his responsibility in supporting projects such as this. As I said in my previous contribution, these festivals are important for local communities for reasons we all agree on. Insurance can be a challenge and put some of them at risk. That is potentially increasingly the case. Is the Minister aware of that, disc…
70. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her Department's stance on the digital omnibus proposal, in its current form, as published by the European Commission; the proposed changes or concerns they have; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7871/26]
I share the concerns that have been raised, which were not addressed in the Minister of State's response. The identified concerns include the impact on the ability of citizens to exercise their GDPR rights, that a redefinition of personal data may narrow GDPR protections, a risk to enforceability of rights, expanded derogations and reduced obligations, and the weakening of safeguards on sensitive data, including AI. …
This move cannot be stripped away from the wider context around AI and the conversations happening internationally about how the European Union is a difficult place to do business, how America needs to be the home of it and where Britain stands post Brexit. The real risk is that protections are hollowed out because Elon Musk and the huge tech companies will have their way. They have very willing allies in the White H…
8. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach for an update on the programme for Government. [3648/26]
In the programme for Government there is a commitment to increase the number of special schools and special classes across the State to ensure children can go to school in their local communities. At this point in time, hundreds of children across the State are not being considered for a special class or special school place, despite the fact that they have all of the paperwork in order, because they missed the 1 Oct…