Historically, the respite at Cúnamh Iveragh respite centre in Cahersiveen has been offered from Friday to Sunday. It is only running at half-capacity. There were four beds there. It is two adults per night instead of four. I am reliably informed the issue is that the HSE is not releasing the funding. I cannot understand or accept that. I ask the Minister of State to address this issue. The facility should be availabl…
TDs / Michael Cahill
Michael Cahill
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
3,207
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
41,594
words spoken in the chamber
Across 178 contributions
414
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
392
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 3,207 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 178 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 52 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 162 | 17 |
| March 2025 | 132 | 6 |
| April 2025 | 230 | 4 |
| May 2025 | 121 | 14 |
| June 2025 | 153 | 10 |
| July 2025 | 220 | 14 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 216 | 8 |
| October 2025 | 84 | 4 |
| November 2025 | 230 | 8 |
| December 2025 | 140 | 19 |
| January 2026 | 189 | 14 |
| February 2026 | 136 | 18 |
| March 2026 | 159 | 6 |
| April 2026 | 248 | 4 |
| May 2026 | 201 | 7 |
| June 2026 | 245 | 7 |
| July 2026 | 129 | 2 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 115 | 11 |
| October 2026 | 45 | 5 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 128 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 Kerry 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
I ask the Minister of State to relay the importance of this issue to his Cabinet colleagues. I cannot emphasise strongly enough the importance of this issue and how difficult it is for all the families concerned in Kerry. I have no doubt it is similar in other counties and throughout the country. I am pleading again. It is an opportune site and an opportune location for the Department of children, the HSE and St. Joh…
I want to raise an urgent and deeply concerning issue regarding a DEIS school in my constituency, Scoil Saidhbhín in Cahersiveen, County Kerry. It has just had its appeal against a cut of two mainstream teachers and one English as an additional language, EAL, post rejected. This is despite an ongoing surge in enrolment, including more than 40 Ukrainian pupils and recent IPAS admissions. This school, already stretched…
The town of Killarney is choked with traffic almost daily. This is causing mass frustration for residents, local businesses and visitors alike. Members of the public are missing trains and buses, along with GP, dental and hospital appointments, and many others, because of the gridlock. Killarney in County Kerry is the capital of tourism in Ireland and is the main reason for visiting this country for many foreign trav…
Killarney is the best town in Ireland for a town of its size. It is also the best town in Europe for a town of its size.
Everyone goes to Killarney. I cannot emphasise strongly enough how important this project is. It is in the making for quite a number of years but it has come to the point where action is required right now. It should be at the very top of the political priority list. It should be at the very top o…
17. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [33567/25]
The national immunisation programme should include a vaccination for shingles free of charge for all our citizens. A vaccine to prevent shingles would be of great benefit to the entire population but would particularly benefit older people who are more susceptible to viral disease. Shingles can be quite painful and debilitating and these effects are more pronounced in older people. The costs would be beyond the budge…
Since the airing of the "RTÉ Investigates" programme on national television, families feel terrified. They do not know what way to turn.
My constituency office in Killarney, County Kerry, is inundated with queries about home care. Those queries are asking what is available to families to look after their loved ones at home. Many of these would be under extreme pressure to be able to cope at home but they are turning…
We need to zone land and open up planning permission for people, especially for one-off houses. We need to provide affordable houses and social houses. We need to provide private housing, low-cost sites and good-quality modular homes. We need to give choices to our people. I am convinced that good-quality modular homes are part of the solution here. Four or five modular homes can be provided for the price of one affo…
The Taoiseach is very familiar with the Ring of Kerry road from his visits to south Kerry and Valentia Island. I emphasise the importance of the Ring of Kerry. It is Ireland's premier tourist route but it is 70% substandard. The roads and footpaths through Cahersiveen have been in a shocking condition for many years. Local businesses, residents and visitors are outraged. They feel, rightly so, that they and the peopl…
The boys of Barr na Sráide are waiting a long time. That is why I am raising the issue today. I emphasise that the Ring of Kerry is as important to us as the M50 is to Dublin. It is Ireland's premier tourist route. The town of Cahersiveen needs urgent attention, as I have outlined, as, indeed, do Killorglin and the Killarney to Farranfore bypass. I am pleading with TII, especially, to listen to our calls. I am not th…
Local authorities need to do much more about our vacant council housing stock. We have houses vacant for one, five, ten, 15 or 20 years, or longer. Some of these properties are beyond repair. Others require substantial works. There are vacant rural cottages that were part of a farm and that family members wish to buy and have been trying to do so for many years. Where there is value for money, of course we should be …
The closure of Skellig Michael to landings is a crime. It is having a detrimental effect on the local economy and the economies of Iveragh, south Kerry and the entire county. People come from every corner of the world to visit this very special, majestic place, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. The knock-on effect this is having, not just on boat operators, but on local hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, s…
27. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with rural affairs and community development will next meet. [22659/25]
There is a need to accelerate all of our regeneration schemes that have commenced and to expedite and accelerate town centre first schemes. They are a way of tackling dereliction. I would like to see the €100,000 over-shop grant introduced ASAP because it is another way of tackling dereliction and providing badly needed houses in rural towns and villages. There are two schemes ongoing in Kerry, the Killorglin and Cah…
13. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence; if he will provide an update on the development of a policy on rightsizing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24643/25]
Will the Minister outline his plans for increasing number of housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence? Will he also provide an update on the development of a policy on rightsizing?
I thank the Minister of State for that. Rightsizing generally means moving home in later life into housing that is more suitable. It is more usually known as downsizing. It can also mean adapting your home to make it more age appropriate or considering other housing options. The Housing for All plan sets out that the current and projected need for housing among our older people should be made through clear, target-dr…
I have come across senior citizens from Glencairn, Callanafersy, Keel and Castlemaine who wish to move to Killorglin town. They wish to be near the local shop, the post office, the church and the doctor. I have cases where senior citizens in Rathmore and Barraduff wish to move to Killarney town for the very same reasons. I have come across cases of senior citizens from Lispole, Anascaul and Ballyferriter who wish to …
“Housing and Critical Infrastructure” is a very appropriate heading for the motion as we cannot have housing without critical infrastructure. In my own county of Kerry, we are in the Dark Ages when it comes to critical infrastructure. The majority of villages in County Kerry do not have any wastewater treatment facilities. In the first week of December 2023, €6 million was announced by the Department for the Beaufort…
Skellig Michael, where monks lived, worked and prayed hundreds of years ago, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its place in the history and culture of Kerry and Ireland is undisputed but it is also vital to the local economy of south Kerry, the Iveragh Peninsula and, indeed, the whole country. It attracts visitors from all over the world, even more so since the filming of the "Star Wars" series there in recent years. …
99. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide increased flexibility in the rural social scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21421/25]
The question is to ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide increased flexibility in the rural social scheme and if he will make a statement on the matter. The rural social scheme was introduced in the first instance by former Minister Éamon Ó Cuív in 2004. I pay tribute to him for that. Of course, he was the first ever full Cabinet Minister with a specific brief for rural Ireland. I wish to thank …
I thank the Minister. I welcome the proposed increase in age limits. That is welcome. The scheme should now be made more flexible to include all people living in rural Ireland on low incomes. The RSS delivers to rural communities key community services including the maintenance of sporting facilities, community recreation areas and waymarked walking routes. Declining participation since 2019 is causing a concern that…
Skellig Michael, or Sceilg Mhichíl, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. The rock on which monks lived, worked and prayed hundreds of years ago is named after the Archangel Michael. We all could do with a little help from him. Skellig Michael's place in the history and culture of Kerry and Ireland is undisputed but it is also vital to the local economy of south Kerry, Iveragh and the whole county. It att…