Edward Timmins

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 …

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 expa…

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 w…

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. [402…

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…

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. …

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 €22…

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 s…

I will mention in particular some items that should be included, for example, knowledge of finance and how to manage finance. This is important as it affects everyone. It should cover understanding of income tax and all other taxes. It should also educate about loans and mortgages and explain the difference between different types of loans. Second, it should include legal education and understandi…

I will list some other items but the list is not exhaustive. Many schools run the mini-company programme in conjunction with the student enterprise programme supported by the local enterprise offices but this programme is only offered to a limited number of students in schools. Could we offer a programme to all students on the following: the skills and steps required in setting up a business; the …

I thank the Minister for the opportunity to raise the importance of the Irish Stock Exchange to the economy and to the growth of our indigenous Irish companies. I welcome the commitments in the programme for Government to support the Irish Stock Exchange. However, I would like to see this commitment followed up with concrete action to ensure its growth and success. I am glad to see the Tánaiste me…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The threat of US tariffs has made it even more urgent for us to support Irish indigenous companies, and the Stock Exchange is crucial to this goal. While foreign multinational companies have created great prosperity in this State, geopolitical difficulties have underscored the need to ensure a positive regulatory landscape for Irish companies to grow an…

The birth rate in Ireland fell from 75,000 in 2010 to 55,000 in 2023. We now have the lowest birth rate ever. This low birth rate has clear negative impacts on sustaining our economy and public services. It will lead to a lower tax intake and inevitable cuts to our welfare state. Will the Government look at strategies to help increase the birth rate? This could be done by financially supporting pe…

96. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the operation of property tax. [39675/25]

I welcome some aspects of the revised calculation of property tax and the calculation of the amount retained by counties. I recognise that the expected average increase of 5% is way below the inflation rate of 16.7% over the past four years. However, more needs to be done to make it a more equitable tax. In particular, some counties do not retain all of the tax collected in their county.

I thank the Minister. In my county, Wicklow, €3 million of the €23 million tax raised will not be kept locally next year. This is an improvement on the €5 million in 2025 but it needs to be eliminated. I do not suggest it be taken from the other counties which receive more than what is collected but that it ultimately comes from Exchequer funding. Two aspects of the system need to be changed. The …

The legislation states the property tax must be reset to the base rate every year. This means if a council has a rate above the base rate, for example, 6%, as it is in Wicklow, it has to restate every year the rate is increasing whereas in actual fact the rate is not increasing. Could the legislation be changed to eliminate the requirement to return to the base rate each year and have the actual t…

91. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the strategies he has to develop long-term employment in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38307/25]

Many people in Ireland commute to work and spend a long time in traffic. Many of these people's jobs are not conducive to working from home. This is a cost in terms of finance, time and family life. Rural employment must be supported. I welcome the successful roll-out of the national broadband plan, which is ahead of schedule and under budget. What strategies do the Minister and his Department hav…

Employment brings life to rural Ireland and helps support our unique culture, including things like the GAA and many other traditions that are part of our culture and such a positive part of our society. In particular, can the Minister look at ways of supporting the economic development sections of our county councils? Some have significant resources but many, including my County Wicklow, have lim…

Much of small-town Ireland has a shortage of housing yet no house building. House building would provide valuable employment. Currently, it is not viable to build houses as the cost to build exceeds the selling price. This is never mentioned in discussions on housing. However, it means that much of Ireland has no house building and yet there is a demand. We must look at strategies to allow house b…

The N81 national road runs from Tallaght in south Dublin through west Wicklow and onward to Carlow. It functions as the principal transport artery for west Wicklow and parts of counties Kildare and Carlow. I will make two major points. The N81 is one of the most dangerous roads in the country, as proven by several studies. Second, the N81 is the only national road out of Dublin that has never been…

13. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage following the publication of the national planning framework, if he will advise when the local authorities will receive their revised population figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35827/25]

Following the publication of the national planning framework, NPF, will the Minister of State advise when the local authorities will receive their revised population figures? It is important that these guidelines are rolled out to county councils as soon as possible to allow them to amend their county development plans and local area plans. Because of the delay, I have seen a planning application …