1087. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the fact that apprentice hairdressers are currently paid as little as €7 per hour, with no incremental increases over the four-year duration of the apprenticeship; if he considers this consistent with the Government's stated ambition to expand and professionalise the apprenticeship sector;…
Topics / Low Pay
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsLow Pay
9 questions from 5 TDs, between 20 February 2025 and 9 December 2025.
9
questions
7 written, 2 oral
5
TDs have asked
3
parties and groups
Independents counted together
3
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 1 |
| March 2025 | 0 |
| April 2025 | 1 |
| May 2025 | 1 |
| June 2025 | 0 |
| July 2025 | 0 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 1 |
| October 2025 | 0 |
| November 2025 | 0 |
| December 2025 | 5 |
| January 2026 | 0 |
| February 2026 | 0 |
| March 2026 | 0 |
| April 2026 | 0 |
| May 2026 | 0 |
| June 2026 | 0 |
| July 2026 | 0 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 0 |
| October 2026 | 0 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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5
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1
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1
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1
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1
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
1088. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason apprentice hairdressers are currently unable to access funding supports for tools and equipment essential to their training; if he will consider the creation of a dedicated equipment grant for apprentices in the hairdressing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69021/25]
1089. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason apprentices, including apprentice hairdressers, are deemed ineligible for SUSI grants on the basis that they are "working", despite earning training-level pay far below a living wage; if he will review eligibility criteria to ensure apprentices are not financially penalised; and if he will r…
1090. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he recognises that hairdressing is a high-skill, future-proof profession unlikely to be replaced by automation or artificial intelligence; the way in which his Department plans to invest in and support such apprenticeships, which provide long-term, human-centred employment; and if he will make a sta…
1091. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has assessed whether low apprentice pay, lack of equipment supports, and ineligibility for education grants disproportionately impact female apprentices in sectors such as hairdressing; if he will commit to addressing these inequities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6…
1008. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the independent review of low pay in section 39 organisations will commence as committed to in the 2025 WRC agreement; if she will take measures to ensure that all section 39 workers, including those delivering PA and homecare services, are included in all increases committed to in the WRC agreement, and that future changes to …
3. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason previous commitments made by the Government on workers’ rights issues are not being honoured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22002/25]
61. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline any plans to remove sub minimum wages and any economic impact assessment that has been carried; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21465/25]
11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will abolish subminimum wages for young workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6496/25]