Edward Timmins

For Deputy Brennan, yes. There are four schools in Wicklow under Project Dargle: St. Kevin's Community College, Dunlavin; Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew; Arklow CBS; and Avondale Community College in Rathdrum. These schools are all in need of the proposed development. The areas they serve are growing in population. With the new, hugely increased housing targets for County Wicklow, these developments are …

With the Minister of State's indulgence, I will go through each of the four schools. First is St. Kevin's Community College, Dunlavin. Demand for places continues to grow. Planning has been in place for over two years. Dunlavin and its hinterland population continue to grow and the school serves east Kildare as well as west Wicklow. There is a plan for four rooms for special classes. The lack of …

Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, is a special case. It seeks inclusion of a playing pitch with the building project. The new school will have a capacity for 1,000 students but there is no playing pitch included. The school currently has the land required and planning permission but the key issue is the cost of levelling the site. It put a proposal to the NDFA for pitch groundworks, which was rejected, bu…

212. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to vary, expand or deepen the Erasmus programme for third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67790/25]

As I am sure the Minister is aware, Erasmus is a wonderful programme that has brought students from all over Europe together and allowed them to experience other cultures. It has increased our understanding of other European countries and, thus, has given Irish people ideas and knowledge that have enriched our country. It has been a huge success and is mostly a positive experience for those who pa…

Ireland benefits more than any other European nation from this programme. Given our geographic location, it is so important that we develop contacts and understanding of mainland Europe. This enriches us culturally. Understanding another language leads us to better understand other peoples. It also helps us think in different ways and develop new ideas. Learning a European language is one of the m…

I note the current Erasmus+ programme ambitions include fostering stronger participation in democratic life, common values and civic engagement. This is more important than ever, given the threat democracy is experiencing in the western world. The ambition to expand well beyond Europe's borders is also commendable. Promoting our European values is a worthy cause. We often forget how fortunate we a…

Is this country prepared for threats posed by Russia to our national security? These are real threats to the country and must be taken seriously. There was an increase in Russian shadow fleet activity in Irish-controlled waters last week. There were three ships, in fact. Our geography no longer protects us as it once did. We are very dependent on other countries to support us regarding maritime an…

87. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there is a strategy to spread the location of IPAS accommodation and avoid having large clusters in one area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66709/25]

It is important that in all our discussions here, we choose our language carefully. We must not say anything that might inflame situations or give encouragement to any extreme positions. We must stick to the facts at all times. Let us remember that we are talking about fellow human beings. I ask if there is a strategy to spread the location of IPAS accommodation and avoid having large clusters in…

I thank the Minister of State for that information. I understand the massive pressures that commenced three or four years ago. The most important thing is that we have open and frank discussions. By having open discussions, we lessen the possibility of false information and extreme positions taking hold. Two years ago, I stated publicly that we should have an open discussion on immigration. Only n…

I fully appreciate the great work the Minister of State is doing. I commend him and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on the steps taken. They are very much facing up to the reality because to date in this country the political classes have been out of sync with the views of ordinary decent Irish people. We need to be transparent in how we are dealing with the housing of people who are exiting the…

106. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a strategy for succession planning for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66716/25]

I offer the Minister my best wishes for his role, which is not so new anymore. His is a very important role, particularly at this critical time. We are in different constituencies but are near neighbours where south Kildare meets west Wicklow. Agriculture in Ireland is ageing fast. Currently, the average age of a farmer in Ireland is 59. Only 4% are under 35. This imbalance poses risk to long-ter…

I have read most of that document and most of those 31 recommendations are very worthy. I would like to see a lot of them being implemented. On a slightly related matter, I worked most of my life in small and medium sized businesses. The thing that strikes me most about farming is the huge fluctuation in prices from year to year. Most businesses face increases in costs or sales prices in single …

I bring the Minister's attention to another matter related to generational renewal. I will highlight an unfair flaw in the operation of the fair deal scheme relating to land transfer, for example to a grandchild, which is causing huge financial hardship for families. I will explain how it operates. This rule must be changed. If a family transfers land within five years of the owner entering a nurs…

I thank the Minister and wish him the best of luck in his new role. I first brought this proposal to the finance committee a few weeks back. To me, it is a glaringly obvious thing to do. It should have been done years ago. Russia clearly should not be part of the FED scheme. What we are proposing here aligns with EU policy and sanctions. I give my full support to the Minister's proposal. I welcome…

84. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Health the number of operations completed for complex laparoscopy for severe endometriosis to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64607/25]

One in ten women in this country are affected by endometriosis, a condition that inflicts immense pain and suffering and is often unspoken about and misunderstood. Can the Minister advise how many operations have been completed for complex laparoscopy for severe endometriosis to date?

I thank the Minister for the information. I welcome the launch of the first national endometriosis framework and the recognition of the women and girls who have suffered for many years from this condition. I recently met a constituent in my office who has suffered for over 20 years. She has experienced bottlenecks regarding diagnostics. It is very clear that we must acknowledge the pain and impact…

I thank the Minister. It is obvious that she is making great progress and is giving this the priority it deserves. We must commit to increasing capacity and implementing the visiting consultant model. Bringing internationally recognised experts to operate alongside Irish surgeons would rapidly and affordably expand skills and capacity, which would be far more effective than relying on an overstret…

I want to focus on a number of aspects of the Ukraine war and how it is so important to us here in Ireland. I want to speak first about the massive numbers who have died on both sides of the conflict. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 500,000 people have died on the Russian side and about half that on the Ukrainian side. This is a staggering number. It is happening in a European country tha…

80. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Transport when the promised increase on bus route 132 will finally happen, given the increased traffic volumes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63503/25]

The only public transport from most of west Wicklow to Dublin is the 132 bus. We have no trains. It travels only four times daily, with the last bus leaving Baltinglass at 3 o’clock and the last leaving Dublin at 5.30 p.m. Last April, I met officials of the NTA and was told a very significant increased service – representing a doubling – was happening later in the month. Nothing has happened since…

All those things are wonderful around the country, but they are having zero impact on the 132 service. After much correspondence, the NTA is now saying this cannot progress as the Department of Transport has placed a hold on uncommitted expenditure for new public transport services. Can this issue be resolved? Many people have approached me saying they would use the service but cannot because of t…