I welcome the Minister's commitment to the publication of the Our Rural Future strategy for the period 2026 to 2030. It is vital that we continue to deliver for rural Ireland through sustained investment and practical schemes that make a real difference in people's lives. We have seen the positive impact of investment in rural regeneration, town and village renewal, rural transport, broadband and community developmen…
TDs / John Paul O'Shea
John Paul O'Shea
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
1,111
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
16,549
words spoken in the chamber
Across 90 contributions. Plus 101 contributions from the chair, not counted
437
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
234
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 1,111 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 90 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 31 | 0 |
| March 2025 | 29 | 6 |
| April 2025 | 61 | 1 |
| May 2025 | 48 | 4 |
| June 2025 | 47 | 1 |
| July 2025 | 63 | 5 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 50 | 5 |
| October 2025 | 56 | 1 |
| November 2025 | 84 | 7 |
| December 2025 | 83 | 5 |
| January 2026 | 48 | 8 |
| February 2026 | 113 | 17 |
| March 2026 | 52 | 11 |
| April 2026 | 81 | 3 |
| May 2026 | 87 | 4 |
| June 2026 | 63 | 2 |
| July 2026 | 20 | 0 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 53 | 7 |
| October 2026 | 42 | 3 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 87 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-West 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
I thank the Minister, the Minister of State and the Department for the significant level of grant funding that has been delivered to Cork North-West in recent years for projects and community initiatives. I know that both the Minister and the Minister of State have been to Cork North-West in recent months, celebrating those projects, so I thank them.
Across our towns and villages, we have seen the real benefits of i…
With the permission of the House we will revert to Question No. 120 in the name of Deputy Claire Kerrane. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I thank the Minister. We will now go back to Question No. 137 in the name of Deputy Barry Heneghan.
I am seeking clarity on the commencement date for the newly approved Local Link bus service, the 515, connecting Mallow to Killarney, which serves the villages of Ballyclogh, Castlemagner, Kanturk, Boherbue and Knocknagree in my own constituency of Cork North-West. This route is not just a line on a map; it is a vital lifeline for rural communities. People in these areas have faced limited public transport options, i…
Today marks an important and timely step forward in Dáil Éireann with the introduction of the Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2026. This legislation is about fairness, clarity and, most importantly, protecting small childcare providers throughout the country. Many, including in County Cork, have recently been hit with unexpected and deeply concerning commercial rate bills. At a time when childcare services are under real …
I will today highlight an issue of critical importance to the people of north Cork, namely, the urgent need to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant in Kanturk. Kanturk is a proud and growing town with a strong community spirit, vibrant local businesses and enormous potential for future development. However, that potential is being held back by infrastructure that is no longer fit for purpose. The current wastewater…
I thank the Minister of State for his correspondence and response on the issue with the wastewater treatment plant in Kanturk. I particularly welcome the opportunity of maybe having some bridging infrastructure which would take place. There are serious discussions ongoing with Cork County Council, the EPA and Uisce Éireann on this matter. I certainly hope that in his position as Minister of State he will follow up wi…
This is Question No. 4.
9. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on current rural regeneration and development fund projects in Cork county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22797/26]
I thank the Minister. It is great to see that more than €43 million has been invested in 27 projects across County Cork to date since 2018 when the RRDF came into existence. There have been many in my area, as the Minister of State outlined. The first one was the Kanturk relief road, which was funded many years ago in 2018 and 2019 and has provided a great opportunity for the town to enhance. It has allowed the new n…
It is great to see collaboration between the Minister's Department and Cork County Council and an acknowledgement that we are hungry for more. We will always accept more money when it is available. I am sure there will be applications for the category 1 call. I am sure the 17 active projects under way in Cork county will be completed as quickly as possible. I will mention one, which is the Charleville RRDF project. O…
With the indulgence of the House, we will go back to Question No. 7.
The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has completed its consideration of the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 and has made amendments thereto.
This matter goes to the heart of how we as a State reckon with our past and respond to those who continue to live with its consequences. The focus today is on the history of Bessborough and the wider legacy of mother and baby institutions in this country. Bessborough was one of a network of institutions that operated for decades in Ireland by taking in women and girls, many of them very young, who found themselves pr…
I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Colm Burke. I would like extend my sympathies to Deputy Burke on the recent death of his mother-in-law. Our thoughts are with him and his wife Mary at this time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
I wish to ask the Minister about his views on the ongoing delay in processing immigration permission renewal applications in view of the fact that at present only applications …
I thank the Minister of State for his ongoing work in this space. It is very important to see that we are increasing capacity here in terms of renewal of applications. It is good to see the office is open seven days a week and people are working overtime to address the backlog. It is hugely frustrating for people who have applied and are waiting for an answer on this. I do take the point though in terms of seeking ap…
The Minister of State's comments of the extension of the IRP card are very welcome - up to 12 weeks after the expiry date. Is it the Minister of State's intention to reduce processing time to four to six weeks? If so, is there a timeframe in which he would like to see that happen over the next number of months and years? It is good to see it brought up in the House today because it is of concern to many people.
I am taking this parliamentary question on behalf of Deputy Colm Burke. I sympathise with Colm on the recent loss of his mother-in-law. I also sympathise with his wife, Mary, and the McCaffrey and Burke families. Our sympathies go out to them at this difficult time.
What progress has been made to date on the implementation of the national women in agriculture action plan? When is it expected that the detailed progre…
I thank the Minister for his continued engagement on this matter. I welcome the continued implementation of the national women in agriculture action plan. It plays a vital role in supporting, recognising and empowering women right across the agricultural sector. Women have always played a central role in Irish agriculture, both on and off the farm, yet their contribution has not always received the recognition that i…
The plan is about much more than recognition. It is about creating real opportunities, from improving access to education and leadership roles to supporting female entrepreneurship and ensuring a stronger voice in decision-making. This initiative is key to building a more inclusive and sustainable future for women in rural Ireland. Encouraging greater participation by women in agriculture will strengthen farm familie…
21. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the number of approved general practitioner posts currently vacant in Cork; the measures being taken to recruit and retain GPs, particularly in rural areas of Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16272/26]
The issue of vacant GP posts across Cork is placing serious pressure on communities, particularly in rural areas. Access to a GP is a cornerstone of our primary care system, yet in many towns and villages people are finding it increasingly difficult to register with a doctor or to secure a timely appointment. When GP posts remain vacant for long periods, the impact is felt immediately by the patient, by the neighbour…
I thank the Minister for her continued engagement and interest in the health services in Cork, particularly in terms of GP services. They are a first point of contact for many people. While it is great to see that there are no current vacancies in the GP contracts in Cork, our population in Cork is growing substantially, particularly in rural County Cork, where every single town and village is growing by the number o…
I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case:
Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss funding for the breakfast club for St. Paul's Senior National School, Drogheda, County Louth.
Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the availability of the shingles vaccine for those over age 65.
Deputy Dessie Ellis - To discuss …