Darren O'Rourke

7. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent visit to China. [18508/26]

8. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to China. [22078/26]

19. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [18507/26]

22. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [22079/26]

32. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will meet next. [26809/26]

I attended a large public meeting in Kells last night, called for by the community in the wake of a spate of burglaries, attempted break-ins and break-ins. There is a lot of concern in the community. It was a very well-attended meeting, hosted by Oliver Figgy Curran and Councillor Michael Gallagher. Representatives of An Garda Síochána were present and took questions. A key concern that I said I w…

Related to the public meeting last night to which I referred, another area is the roll-out of community CCTV, that is, the roll-out of CCTV in communities. There were restrictions in the past in terms of data protection and data management. What is the current position in relation to the roll-out of community CCTV across the State, the role of central government and the funding potentially availab…

In Kells.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on these statements. I am a lifelong football fan. I am wearing a Bohs jersey. I am a supporter, a season ticket holder and a member there. The work they do not just on the pitch but also in communities is second to none. I played a fair bit of football. In truth, it was an experience to change on the side of a pitch. Pitches were a set of goals, and a pitch mar…

132. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures she is taking to ensure the Mercosur trade deal is not provisionally implemented before a case is heard in the Court of Justice of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11691/26]

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important Topical Issue. I raise the issue of the need for a new school building for Dunboyne junior and senior national schools. This is, in the first instance, an excellent school. The principal there is J.J. Brennan. There are 470 pupils in the senior school, while the junior school has in the region of 450 pupils, so it is a large school. The prin…

I think the Minister of State has made my case for me. One TD after another will say that their local school or a school in their constituency should be included when it comes to funding under the NDP. Very few - I would suggest none - would say that the planning permission is about to expire and that the project, through no fault of the school, has been to the brink and back on two occasions. Cov…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and again raise the fact that County Meath has the lowest number of gardaí per population in the State. This is the case by a long way and has been the case for years. As a direct result, community safety in Meath is being sacrificed. In recent days alone, I could point to a spate of burglaries in Kells, car break-ins elsewhere and constituents bei…

A lot of the amendments are along the same theme and are similar to Committee Stage and the Second Stage debate, which I contributed to. I do not know if the Minister of State is accepting amendments, but what is more important is the principle that she is hearing what is being said and showing a willingness to engage and be responsive to what she is hearing. I have a number of questions and queri…

21. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his Department's statement of strategy for 2025 to 2028. [19725/26]

On 5 March a large public meeting was held in Dunshaughlin, County Meath on the shortage of mainstream junior infants classes for September 2026. I was there with my colleague Fionnan Blake. The Taoiseach’s party was represented by a local councillor, as was the Minister's party. An Independent TD was there. There is a commitment from the Department in written responses to me that families can be …

Dunshaughlin.

Workers and families across the State are being absolutely hammered. They are facing an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis and now we see the price of petrol, diesel and home heating oil spiralling once again. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are doing nothing, absolutely nothing. They are sitting on their hands while people are being pushed to the brink. They come before us tonight and say they are plann…

This is just the type of direct support families need. The EU's energy chief has called on member states to lower taxes on energy where possible, so the Government has absolutely no excuse. This motion gives every TD in this House a clear choice and there will be a vote tonight. TDs can stand with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil as they impose more pain or they can stand with workers and families. Vote …

I am very happy to co-sponsor the introduction of these two vital Bills. As families and small businesses struggle with the relentless cost-of-living crisis the Government continues to act as a mere commentator while energy companies line their pockets. The standing charges Bill addresses the enduring scandal of unregulated standing charges. It is unacceptable that energy companies have free rein …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I welcome the intention of it, which is one that Sinn Féin shares: protecting our children from harm in the digital world. Digital participation is not a luxury in Ireland; it is a necessity. Our children have a right to be online, and it is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They have a right to participate, to access informa…

10. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the first meeting of the delivery and monitoring committee for the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which he chaired on 8 December 2025. [14281/26]

How many children have been notified to the NCSE as needing a special class or school place for September 2026? We now know 351 special classes have been sanctioned. What is the shortfall? It has been reported as being in the region of 1,000 children and 250 extra classes. Can the Taoiseach give a commitment that the necessary places, special education teachers, SNAs and school buildings will be i…

26. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach if he will report on implementation of the well-being framework published by his Department. [14282/26]

I want to focus on the mental and physical health dimensions of the well-being framework and return to the issue of special class places for September 2026. We heard at the public accounts committee last week that the Department of education, and I presume the Minister, intend to bring a memo to Cabinet imminently in relation to meeting the unmet need for special classes. The Taoiseach might let u…