42. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will meet next. [64284/26]
TDs / John Connolly
John Connolly
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1,092
questions asked
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53,367
words spoken in the chamber
Across 219 contributions
424
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
265
topics asked about
Across 20 departments
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Questions asked 1,092 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 219 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
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| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 32 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 30 | 24 |
| March 2025 | 45 | 5 |
| April 2025 | 53 | 16 |
| May 2025 | 55 | 22 |
| June 2025 | 70 | 15 |
| July 2025 | 31 | 13 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
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| June 2026 | 71 | 20 |
| July 2026 | 71 | 4 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 71 | 2 |
| October 2026 | 83 | 7 |
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Plus 178 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
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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 Galway West 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
The autumn legislative agenda included a Bill to amend the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 to bring under-sixes within the scope of the Educational Welfare Service to ensure earlier intervention for those children and their families. That is to be greatly welcomed, but we also need to look at the other end of the educational journey. We should bring within the scope of the Educational Welfare Service all children in pri…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a bheith linn agus as na leasuithe a chur os ár gcomhair don dhá Acht seo atá thar a bheith tábhachtach. I welcome the opportunity to make a brief comment on the two amendments the Minister has brought before the House today regarding the Institutional Burials Act 2022 and the Employment Equality Act 1998. I compliment her on the amendment to the Employment Equality Act. It is a simpl…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith linn chun an cheist seo a fhreagairt agus an t-ábhar a phlé. I wish to raise the issue of the provision of housing with appropriate bedroom accommodation for families who are local authority tenants or local authority applicants for housing support and who also provide foster care. To be clear, I refer specifically to long-term foster care arrangements where a child is …
I thank the Minister of State. It is my sense that the case that has been brought to my attention through the family in my constituency is not an isolated one. There might be other families in similar circumstances. There might be people who would be willing. We must take into account cases where a family member might feel that they should provide the foster care but the challenge for them might be that they do not h…
There are many constraints in fulfilling the role of Minister, including budgetary constraints. In this specific area, there are constraints around the availability of staff and particularly the skilled staff we need. Nobody can question the sincerity and the intent of the Minister of State in her eagerness to meet the challenges presented to her in this Department and I commend her on that. I commend the increased f…
I raise an issue that has been touched on already here today and was raised by my colleague, Deputy McGrath, yesterday as it relates to Cork.
A number of newly qualified nurses and midwives have contacted me in recent weeks because they are unable to secure employment, despite having completed their training, registration and clinical placements. Reports suggest recruitment restrictions are preventing appointments f…
Ba mhaith liom inniu ceann de phríomhchuspóirí oideachais an chláir Rialtais a ardú; is é sin an gealltanas an cóimheas dalta agus múinteora a laghdú agus plé a dhéanamh ar an deis atá ann tús a chur leis an ngealltanas sin a chomhlíonadh i mbuiséad 2027. I wish to discuss one of the key educational commitments of the programme for Government, specifically the one to reduce the general pupil-teacher ratio in primary …
The last point the Minister made is relevant today in particular. This morning, we heard and read of a new ESRI study produced in partnership with Tulsa that highlights that school attendance rates are dropping. In recent years, we have seen a decline and it is pertinent that there is concern about that. In schools with higher levels of disadvantage, attendance rates are not as good as in schools that do not have tha…
The decision of the Government to purchase the Hammerson site on O'Connell Street - the site of the old Carlton Cinema - clearly shows the intent and determination of the Government to progress and complete the MetroLink project. Hopefully, the intent and determination are not limited to MetroLink or to other transport projects within the Dublin area. As the Taoiseach will know, I am referring to the Galway city ring…
Cuirfidh mé tús le m'óráid leis an méid ar chríochnaigh an Teachta Aird leis. Molaim an tAire Stáit go bhfuil sé anseo le linn na díospóireachta ar fad. Tá sé anseo ag fanacht. Ní dheachaigh sé amach as an Seomra. Taispeánann sé an meas atá aige ar an ábhar agus an méid cúraim atá air agus ar a bheirt chomhghleacaithe taobh thiar de go bhfuil siad ag fanacht linn chomh maith le haghaidh na díospóireachta ar fad. Is m…
Mar a dúirt an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, táim ag iarraidh ábhar a ardú, is é sin, an gá le hionad gortuithe beaga do dhaoine i nGaillimh. Le tamall fada, táim den tuairim gur cheart go mbeadh ionad mar seo againn i nGaillimh. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this issue. It has long been a contention of mine and, indeed, many others that Galway city and the wider region need, and would b…
I very much welcome the response. I particularly welcome the clarity it brings, in that the Minister of State said consideration is being given to the feasibility of the development of a minor injury unit in Galway. If I had not received a response from the Minister just last week advising me there were no current plans to establish a new unit in Galway at this time, I would not have been here this morning. There is …
9. Deputy John Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when he will be making a recommendation with regard to any further extension of the tax and excise changes introduced on foot of the Middle East war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48378/26]
I observed the interaction earlier in the question session between the Tánaiste and Deputy Doherty on this same issue. I very much welcome that the Government is going to bring clarity to this over coming days. It is as I expected because from the outset of the conflict in the Middle East, the Government said that we would observe the impact of the conflict on prices in Ireland and take the appropriate measures at th…
I welcome that and I very much welcome the fact the Tánaiste has forecast that we want to avoid a situation where there would be a cliff edge, where suddenly there would be a massive increase in price again, which would impact on households, in particular, and people who depend on their cars because, as we know, unfortunately, the transport system in many parts of the country is not at the capacity we would like to s…
The final clarity I would seek is in terms of the figure the Department of Finance has put out consistently about the full cost of these measures as being €750 million. Are we making provision, given the fact there may be consequences and there may be a necessity to extend these measures? The Tánaiste is talking about the prices having come down somewhat and maybe ameliorating the change but have we made provision? A…
6. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on water quality will next meet. [37325/26]
I ask the Government to examine legislation and regulation in respect of the term "bathing season". The bathing season began on 1 June and will run until the end of September. The challenge is that local authorities will only sample water quality in bathing areas during the bathing season. This is despite the fact that people are now swimming outdoors throughout the year. This has developed in popularity since the Co…
I ask that the Government offer some guidance to local authorities on providing access to our bathing waters for people with limited mobility or wheelchair users. The bathing season commenced on 1 June. That term is somewhat archaic. I think we need to look at it. Many people cannot access the waters, and there seems to be some divergence among local authorities as to how they address this situation. I understand tha…
28. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the revised national digital and AI strategy. [37324/26]
Similar to previous speakers, I urge a note of caution. The impetus seems to be focused on introducing a ban on social media for those under 16. Deputy Malcolm Byrne mentioned the importance of getting the input of children in the decision-making process. The children's committee held a number of meetings regarding this issue. It met experts from the world of academia and those who worked with children and young peop…
I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, for being here to take this Topical Issue. It is one of particular importance to the people of my constituency, particularly young families in the west part of the constituency, Connemara. I will elaborate on that as I go on.
One has to recognise in raising this topic the significant investment and expansion in the provision of classes for children with additional need…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I welcome the Minister of State's final comments. I would welcome very much that we would provide the opportunity for the families who are making this very genuine case. He is correct. I have met two families in these circumstances but no doubt there are many more who would benefit from the provision of a class for children who have a challenge with speech and language.
I noted i…
There are few other instances in the country that highlight how challenging and difficult we have made it to complete crucial infrastructure projects than the Galway city ring road. As the Taoiseach will be aware, the project was first mooted and planned for in 1999. There have been three separate planning decisions. The design and planning work that has gone into each of those has taken a significant time. There hav…