I thank the Minister. He certainly seems well aware of the importance of the third level link with industry so he has certainly answered my first question.
I want to make another couple of points. I have seen examples over the years where third level institutes have linked in with industry. This has worked really well. It also offers graduates employment opportunities in industries located close to their colleges. T…
TDs / Edward Timmins
Edward Timmins
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
268
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
27,719
words spoken in the chamber
Across 174 contributions
442
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
117
topics asked about
Across 18 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 268 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 174 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 5 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 3 | 10 |
| March 2025 | 7 | 2 |
| April 2025 | 11 | 7 |
| May 2025 | 18 | 8 |
| June 2025 | 8 | 4 |
| July 2025 | 22 | 28 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 12 | 5 |
| October 2025 | 16 | 12 |
| November 2025 | 23 | 20 |
| December 2025 | 18 | 12 |
| January 2026 | 14 | 7 |
| February 2026 | 18 | 13 |
| March 2026 | 6 | 3 |
| April 2026 | 23 | 8 |
| May 2026 | 16 | 9 |
| June 2026 | 16 | 6 |
| July 2026 | 10 | 4 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 10 | 6 |
| October 2026 | 12 | 10 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 148 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 Wicklow 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
8. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the role of the ETBs in higher education, and where they sit in the education hierarchy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56040/25]
The education and training boards, ETBs, offer many different post-leaving certificate, PLC, courses that often lead into third level education. In many cases these courses are suitable for leaving certificate students. What is the role of the ETBs in higher education and where they sit in the education hierarchy?
I ask that all ETB schools promote these courses within their schools, but also that the ETB colleges and courses are promoted within non-ETB schools. The ETBs also offer apprenticeships. Could relevant funding be allocated to promote these apprenticeship courses? The apprenticeships have been encouraged and have grown since the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, was Minister for higher education. Our leaving certificate…
ETB courses are by and large free or very low cost. ETBs offer a range of short courses along with longer duration courses. Are these courses achieving their aim? What is the workforce-entry success for people who do these courses? Are the short-term courses achieving their aim or are they just being done as a tick-box exercise by people who are unemployed? Are they contributing to these people entering the labour ma…
This budget represents the first of five budgets and is step one in the implementation of the programme for Government. It is not possible to deliver everything in year one. Financial changes, as anyone with a grasp the finance knows, happen over a period of time. This is something the public understand, but it is not recognised at all by much of the Opposition. This budget is possible because of the massive taxes we…
10. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the American Presidents' trail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52572/25]
A total of 23 US Presidents have Irish heritage, with many coming from Northern Ireland. As the Minister knows, I first floated the idea of an American Presidents’ trial in this country earlier this year in the House. This proposal could be a highly positive North-South project and a massive attraction for US visitors, especially those with Irish links. It could be comparable to the Wild Atlantic Way. Will the Minist…
I am pleased to announce that I have developed a roadmap for the potential American Presidents’ trial. I have pinpointed several key counties to consider, along with a suggested route. Ultimately, this map would benefit all parts of Ireland, enhance relations between the two countries and boost tourism. Tourism numbers in this country are down this year. This project should be a part of a national strategy of Tourism…
I could not agree more. I strongly believe my proposal for an American presidents trail could be a hugely positive North-South project. It would fit the whole purpose of the shared island fund, boost the economy of Northern Ireland and deliver benefits that we cannot predict. It would improve co-operation between both parts of these islands and develop relationships that do not exist. This is the best way to unite ou…
89. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the contributory pension entitlement of someone with fewer than 520 contributions; and to grant those recipients a pro rata pension. [50762/25]
I ask the Minister to review the contributory pension entitlement for someone with fewer than 520 contributions and look to give them a pro rata pension. This policy imposes a cliff-edge cut-off. It is very unfair. Someone with 519 contributions gets nothing but 520 would entitle them to get between €99 and €120 per week, and sometimes much more.
I also want to address the fact that the home caring scheme does not allow for any additional credits. This is unfair as a mother often gives up work in order to care for her children and is given no increased credits for this time. Can this be revisited as it penalises a parent who makes the decision to give up work, a decision which actually saves the State money?
I want to address the homemaker's scheme, which is often confused with the home carer's scheme. This only applies from 6 April 1994. Again, this date is an arbitrary cliff edge. It discriminates against people who cared for children who were 12 years of age before that date. It is completely unfair and illogical. It should apply to all caring for children and not only those cared for after 6 April 1994. Similarly, th…
Many of these people will have passed away by 2050.
12. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if there is long-term financial planning for capital infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40182/25]
I have met people working for State bodies involved in asset procurement for long-term infrastructure projects. One of the points they constantly raise is the lack of long-term financial planning and commitments on projects that take a long time to deliver, for example, ten years. They say that more certainty is needed and this would help improve the efficiency of delivering the projects and gain the commitment of su…
I want to emphasise how spending on infrastructure is an investment, in that it gives a return. For example, I recently attended the opening of the new wastewater treatment plant in Arklow, County Wicklow, which cost €140 million and came in on budget. Much of that €140 million comes back to the State immediately through taxes. This plant has a capacity of 24,000 population equivalent with an expansion possibility to…
Regarding delivery, a new infrastructure division group has recently been established. For the current national development plan, a delivery board was set up in 2018. The national development plan envisages five or four - it is not clear - additional outside experts being added. It only meets every two to three months, which seems way too seldom. I wonder how successful it has been. Another body was set up in 2012, t…
93. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the roll-out and installation of solar panels in schools, if there are plans to work the ESB in relation to prioritising schools for installation or adjusting the payment rate for schools without smart metres to sell electricity back into the grid (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40201/25]
A little over a year ago, as the Minister knows, the Government started to roll out a scheme of supplying free solar panels to schools. This is a very worthwhile initiative. However, there is a problem. Many schools do not have smart meters, which means they cannot sell excess electricity back to the grid. This installation is taking way too long. I know of a school that will not get a smart meter until 2028. Many sc…
I thank the Minister. The schools are currently given a 25% credit at, say, 18 cent per kilowatt hour. The schools are closed most of the year. Their generation during this time is huge, and more so since they are closed during much of the peak solar times in the summer. The other issue is that the 10 kW roll out is too small for many schools. They require a much greater coverage of solar panels. I am not saying that…
On a related matter, this programme can help with the running costs of primary schools. Schools have severe financial difficulties. Many schools are in deficit. I have seen how the ancillary grant, for example, does not cover the cost of caretaking. Could this be increased to match the cost? Additionally, I believe we need to look at increasing the capitation grant further from the new rate of €224 per child. The Par…
94. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are plans to review the transition year programme to include practical life skills as part of the compulsory requirement across all schools: personal legal rights, household management, personal finance, taxation and social welfare and the driver theory test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40202/25]
We have a great secondary education system. It is one of the cornerstones of our success as a nation. However, given it is largely academically based, we need to look at ways of bringing life skills to our children that will better prepare them for the real world.
In particular, I refer to the transition year programme. This is a great programme which offers students an opportunity to learn new skills. Can it be ext…