I am responding on the motion on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon. I thank the members of the Social Democrats for their contributions this morning and thank all Members of the House for their varied and interesting comments.
I begin by reiterating that the Government fully acknowledges the concerns raised in this Private Members' motion regarding the rising cost of groceries and the financial strain a…
TDs / Jerry Buttimer
Jerry Buttimer
Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and at the Department of Transport
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
21
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
121,393
words spoken in the chamber
121,360 as a minister, 33 as a TD
395
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
17
topics asked about
Across 8 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 21 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 432 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 12 | 16 |
| March 2025 | 0 | 17 |
| April 2025 | 0 | 9 |
| May 2025 | 0 | 15 |
| June 2025 | 0 | 24 |
| July 2025 | 0 | 20 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 0 | 23 |
| October 2025 | 0 | 17 |
| November 2025 | 0 | 23 |
| December 2025 | 0 | 21 |
| January 2026 | 0 | 17 |
| February 2026 | 0 | 31 |
| March 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| April 2026 | 0 | 38 |
| May 2026 | 0 | 46 |
| June 2026 | 0 | 37 |
| July 2026 | 0 | 16 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 0 | 22 |
| October 2026 | 0 | 16 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 363 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Asked about similar topics
Not enough questions on record to compare.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Cork South-Central 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
- office Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and at the Department of Transport 29 January 2025 to 1 June 2025
- office Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and at the Department of Transport 2 June 2025 to now
I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I apologise that the Minister is not here and that I do not have a copy of the speech for the Deputy. I will get it to her as soon as possible.
Like her, I deal with parents and children every day and every week and she is right that there is frustration. We all need to work collaboratively to ensure access to services is improved and that parents and children wh…
I thank the Deputy again for raising this very important matter, which is a priority for the Minister and the Government. This is reflected in the current programme for Government, which includes a clear commitment to support families who are waiting for assessments of need and to ensure children and their families can access the supports they need. The Minister understands the scale of the challenge but is encourage…
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to remind the House on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth of the significant challenges facing us in meeting increasing demand for pupil places throughout the country. As the Deputy raised the issue of Portmarnock in the coming years, I am grateful for the opportunity to clarify the position on the provision of primary school places i…
I thank Deputy Smith for raising the issue and I hear his remarks and concerns regarding the provision of school places at primary level in Portmarnock. The Department uses data from a range of sources, including child benefit data, enrolments and information on new residential developments to plan for school placement needs. I will take the points Deputy Smith has made back, and I ask him to provide the information …
I apologise because I was not given copies of the script.
I thank Deputy Burke for raising this very important matter. He is right to highlight the relationship between data centres and electricity demand, which is a global challenge. There is the additional demand for energy by data centres and the need to ensure we are competitive. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.
I will first set out the work this Government is d…
I thank Deputy Burke for his contribution and comments, and I will take his remarks back to the Minister. As I said earlier, next month the Minister will bring a policy document on private wires to Cabinet. However, private wires alone will not solve the issues currently facing the data centre sector in Ireland. To date, Ireland has attracted the best data centre and tech companies in the world, which is an important…
I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this very important issue. I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister. As Deputy McGrath will know, the formulation and implementation of monetary policy is an independent matter for the European Central Bank, ECB. As it sought to combat excessive inflation, the ECB increased official interest rates on ten occasions, to 4.5%, in the period 2022 to 2023. However, since last sum…
The Deputy is right to raise the matter. It is an issue vexing many of our neighbours and friends. The Government is acutely aware of the impact of the rising interest rate environment and the strain it has caused for some borrowers, and has responded with various initiatives to assist those affected. Following engagement with the then Minister for Finance in 2023, the mortgage industry put in place several measures …
I thank Deputy Daly for his question. Infrastructure is a matter that has been raised by many Local Link companies. Arising from the Indecon review, it is important that we look at the issues the Deputy has raised in consultation with TFI and the NTA. They are valid concerns but there are also issues in respect of safety, the suitability of certain stops' locations and certain signage. I will work with the Deputy and…
The Deputy's question is different from the one that was submitted. To provide one figure, under this Government and the last Government, we have seen an increase in funding for the rural transport programme. It has gone from €16 million in 2022 to €25 million last year. As the Deputy will know quite well, we have seen growth in his county of Kerry. For example, route 280 from Waterville to Killorglin was enhanced to…
The Government is very committed to rural transport.
As the Deputy will be aware from the situation in his county, there are regular rural services and demand-responsive services. These allow passengers to travel from their local villages and towns for business, shopping, healthcare or to connect with the national bus and train network. We are committed in the context of the provision of rural transport to engaging further with stakeholders. As per the Indecon report, …
I thank the Deputy for the question and for his ongoing advocacy for his county of Laois. The Government has earmarked approximately €5.1 billion for investment in new national roads projects between 2021 and 2030 and a further €2.9 billion for the protection and renewal of the network. I can confirm that approximately €600 million of Exchequer capital funding was provided to local authorities through TII for nationa…
I again thank the Deputy for raising the matter. He makes pertinent points about the orbital route and the traffic congestion. I remind him that Laois County Council received an allocation of more than €1.1 million this year for protection and renewal of the county's road network. With regard to the N80 road safety improvement project in Portlaoise town, including the Mountmellick Road and James Fintan Lalor Avenue, …
I hear loud and clear Deputy Aird's advocacy for the importance of this route. I remind him that this Government under the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I has seen a further €2.9 million for the protection and renewal of the road network and we are investing €1 billion in new national road projects over the coming decade. I also say regarding the NDP review that it is up to all l…
Tá mise.
Ar an gcéad dul síos, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Teachta as ucht an rúin seo a chur os ár gcomhair. Tuigim an díomá atá air agus ar a lán daoine de bharr an chinnidh a rinneadh san Ardchúirt i mBéal Feirste. Tá an ceart ag an Teachta. Is bóthar tábhachtach agus an-chontúirteach an A5. Thug an Rialtas tacaíocht don bhóthar agus táimid ag leanúint leis an tacaíocht sin. Beimid ag obair leis an gCéad-Aire i mBéal Fei…
I cannot give an answer about last week's meeting because I do not have that information but I will bring the Deputy's comments back.
Regarding the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney route, as Deputy Gallagher is aware, the proposed project is an important one. It is about ensuring road safety is improved. The upgrade will enhance that road safety by reducing the number of direct access points and turning movements and by pr…
I thank Deputies Gannon and Coppinger for raising this important issue. It is one that will become more prevalent. For many of us who live in areas adjacent to airports, it is an ongoing issue. I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Brien. I am taking this question for him this morning.
From an aviation safety perspective, the regulation of both the recreational and commercial use of drones, or unmanned air…
I thank Deputies Gannon and Coppinger. Aviation, as we know, is a highly regulated industry. There is a comprehensive legislative framework both at European and national levels to generate and regulate safe drone operations. The rapid pace of drone innovation and commercialisation is creating challenges, which the Government will meet. There has been engagement with the IAA. The Government is completely aware that th…
Sorry, I cannot put it on the transport committee's agenda. That is a matter for the Chair of the committee, Deputy Michael Murphy. The Deputy might write to him.
You are a good man for that yourself, in fairness.
You are well able to shout yourself.