Darren O'Rourke
Meath East · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“It is a statement of fact that in recent years we have seen a reduced number of classroom teachers. Budget 2026 led to the removal of 498 classroom teachers, a net reduction of 381 when one looks at the gains. The year 2025-26 saw a reduction of 290 and 2024-25 a reduction of 237. That has a real impact.”
“It has created duplication, inefficiency and a barrier to our natural prosperity. It has left the North underfunded by Westminster’s austerity and battered by the chaos of Brexit while the South has suffered from a fractured market and a divided island. We are both less than we could be. Irish unity is not a burden; it is an investment.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on statements on the fiscal implications of Irish unity. We hear people tell us Irish unity is a cost we cannot afford but the truth of the matter is partition is the cost we have already paid for for a century and more, and it is a price that is too high.”
“I thank the Minister. She said from November that 97% of posts were filled. In real terms at the same time, 996 teaching posts were unfilled, which is almost 1,000. Figures as recent as last week tell us that over 39,000 primary school students were in classes of 30 pupils or more in the past school year.”
“Again, we have those figures from a briefing we had with the Department as recently as yesterday. It is all welcome progress but the question I am asking today is what is the unmet need as things stand? How many children do not have an offer of a school place?”
“I wish the staff and the Minister all the best for the summer. I know it will be a busy summer but I hope that everyone gets a break. I ask the Minister to state the number of children with additional needs who require but have yet to receive an offer of an appropriate school place for September 2026, based on her most recent meeting with…”
The complete record
Every one of 706 lines we hold for Darren O'Rourke, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 12 of 15.
“In light of the deep concern relating to, among other things, the resourcing of schools, training of teachers and impact of artificial intelligence on the validity and authenticity of additional assessment components, and the related recent vote of rejection by the ASTI union, will the Minister pause her accelerated plan for senior cycle redevelopment and re-engage with teachers and their representatives to ensure their concerns are addressed and the quality and integrity of the leaving certificate is maintained?”
“She said in every response we got - I am sure this will be reflected by others - that more than 22,000 SNAs are employed in the system and 1,600 extra SNA posts were sanctioned in budget 2025. In her response to this question, she said 23,100 would be allocated for next year. There is a shortfall of 500. Can the Minister explain that?”
“The Minister will be before the committee and I, as well as all those in opposition, would appreciate detailed, regular updates between now and September on the progress being made. Headline figures tell one story but I hope, as we accommodate more children, we can get the detail on that. I make the point again on the children in Dublin and the four children in Sligo. I can send on details. There are five children in Murhur National School, Moyvane, County Kerry. There is potential there to accommodate children. There is physical space but a classroom is not sanctioned, although there is demand for it. I will ask a follow-up question. We have long got responses referring to more than 22,000 SNAs employed, plus 1,600 sanctioned in budget 2025. Now the Minister tells us there are 23,100. That is 500 short.”
“My colleague, Deputy Daly, has identified five children in Murhur National School who do not have a sanctioned class or a place. Do we have that figure? If not, why not?”
“I will drill down into those headline figures. They are figures which have been iterated for some time. My question was on the number of children with an identified recommendation that has been notified to the NCSE but who do not yet have an appropriate school place for September. Do we have that figure today? The Minister outlined that some schools have not yet opened up their offering and that is an issue in itself. Last year we were notified at the start of September that 126 children did not have a place. On Saturday there was a protest in Dublin and it was said 60 children did not have a place. There were an additional four children that Rachel Martin from FUSS Ireland and the equality in education campaign said did not have a place.”
“With regard to special education preparedness for September 2025, how many children with special educational needs are currently without an appropriate school place for September 2025? What plans are there to address this? In what way will special needs assistant be allocated to these children and all children with special educational needs in September 2025? Have all schools with new special classes due to open in September had their SNA allocation confirmed, for example? I ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter.”
“I am hearing from science teachers that they are concerned that the current approach to accelerated leaving certificate reform will undermine our scientific programmes and people completing the leaving certificate and moving on to third level education. I ask the Minister to please take an interest in that. It is all very much connected. Generally speaking on this issue, this is a positive day and I hope we make significant progress.”
“Yesterday, at the artificial intelligence, AI, committee, there was mention of a CERN for AI and the idea that this would not all be led by the private sector or big tech but would have collaborative public involvement. That is maybe something the Minister could take away and try to make some progress on. The second point, which I have made previously to the Minister, relates to leaving certificate reform. What I am hearing clearly from the Irish Science Teachers Association, ISTA, is its concerns with the proposals as they are. I am a science graduate. I was in the small enough group that do three science subjects for the leaving certificate, although that was a long time ago.”
“I am sharing time with Deputy McGettigan. This a good day and a positive day. It has been a while coming and I know the Minister will agree with that, but it is welcome. There is significant opportunity with it for Irish scientists. There is an opportunity to collaborate, connect and lead of their own volition. That is there now and that is to be welcomed. I encourage the Minister to ensure that the environment is there to harness that opportunity. Thanks to their mother, my kids at the weekend were out at UCD Festival's Be Inspired event, which again is encouraging kids in Ireland from a young age to be scientifically aware and engage. My next points are tangentially related but also relate specifically to scientific endeavour in Ireland.”
“It specifically stated that EirGrid failed to adequately conduct an international standard cost-benefit analysis of overground versus underground over the full life of the project. The local communities can see that. At every hand's turn, their concerns have not been adequately addressed by EirGrid and they are fundamentally opposed to the plan as is. I do not see it being delivered overground.”
“We are talking past each other, which has been the difficulty. I am being straight with the Minister. It is my firm belief, as an elected Member who knows these communities, that this project is not going to proceed as currently planned. The only way I see it being delivered is underground. The 2021 review said that in the future, not only qualitative but more quantitative elements and evaluations shall be introduced in the cost-benefit analysis for the assessment of grid investment alternatives as well the operational impact of high voltage alternating current and high voltage direct current electricity cable technologies in line with ENTSO-E cost-benefit analysis guidelines.”
“EirGrid has never conducted a comparison between overground and underground that holds up to international standards and the local community can see that.”
“I am firmly of the opinion that this project will never be delivered at the current rate and if the current approach is maintained. I do not say this with any degree of satisfaction. I accept the points made by the Minister in terms of the strategic importance of it and need for it and everything that goes with that but there have been incredible delays. I foresee this continuing because at the root of it is belligerence on the part of EirGrid. I do not believe EirGrid is fit to deliver this project because it is being so belligerent and is ignoring the concerns of communities. The third report contained real criticisms of EirGrid and its approach to a cost-benefit analysis, particularly with regard to carrying out an ENTSO-E cost-benefit analysis in line with those guidelines.”
“Many would call them out as being hypocrites; I do not. I say fair play to them. They are absolutely right. They see it on the ground. The Government schemes are absolutely failing and they need to change. I ask the Minister of State to fund affordable housing in Ashbourne and deliver affordable housing to rent and buy for working people. There needs to be a change in Government policy. It is clear the schemes do not work. As I said, not a single affordable house has been delivered in Ashbourne, the biggest town in my constituency. It is totally unacceptable. It locks working families and working people out of homeownership and it has to change.”
“There was a discussion across party lines among local councillors regarding a council-owned site and the issue of affordable housing, and I looked at the minutes of it, which state: There was a lot of discussion around affordable housing and the Executive shares the Members concerns regarding the lack of affordable housing in the county generally and, in particular, in the settlements close to Dublin. However, it must be pointed out that changes in government policy will be required to address the situation, and this was highlighted to Minister Browne on his recent visit to the county as well as with direct meetings with the Affordable Housing Section within the DHLGH. The affordable housing scheme from the Government does not work. The Minister of State's colleagues in Ashbourne, Fianna Fáil colleagues, agree with my party colleagues.”
“In my two minutes, I want to focus on the issue of affordable housing in Meath East for working people to buy and rent. I looked at daft.ie before I came to the Chamber. Four-bedroom second-hand properties are €535,000 to buy, on average, with three-bedrooms €430,000 and two-bedrooms €240,000. There are no properties at all to rent. Not a single affordable unit has been delivered under this or the previous Government in Ashbourne, the biggest town in my constituency.”
“Schools are struggling. They use these funds to deliver the essential works needed and for cash flow to ensure they stay above water. It is a major problem. I acknowledge when progress is made. I hope the Minister of State will acknowledge that I am fair in that regard but schools are chronically underfunded. The people who really suffer are those who are most vulnerable who do not have access to funds outside the school and fundraising efforts.”
“The funding announced today is €14 million down on the funding announced last year, at a time when schools are sinking under the weight of increased costs and the number of schools being directed to the FSSU is increasing year on year significantly. Politics is being played. Government representatives went out on every local media station today announcing the figures for this grant funding. They did not say it is significantly down on last year. They are announcing the welcome news that there is funding for local schools. If the local representative in Meath was honest, she would say that instead of getting €2.2 million as we got last year, we are only getting €1.5 million for the ICT grant this year. It is down €700,000. The minor works grant is as it was, €1.2 million, which is welcome. This is a significant decrease in funding.”
“There is no doubt they are essential and welcome when they come but they are not enough. That is the reality. I need the Minister of State, the Minister and Department to hear that. Schools are screaming from the rooftops. All you need to do is look at the Dáil record and see the number of times school funding has been raised by Deputies across the House. I think there is a former school principal in the corner on the other side of the House. I am sure he will reflect on it as well. Basic funding for schools does not match increased costs. Schools try to muddle through but many cannot. They resort to voluntary contributions, fundraising or running deficits.”
“I welcome the grant funding announced today but will the Minister of State tell me why it has decreased so significantly? What will this Government do to address the crisis in school funding?”
“According to one survey, in addition to heating, electricity, insurance and transport costs were raised. I am aware that the secondary school in Ashbourne, for example, is fundraising for transport costs to football matches etc. Due to the poor state of basic funding to schools, which also applies to the ancillary grant, according to surveys three quarters of respondent primary schools say that the ancillary grant does not cover ancillary staff costs. On average, out of the 1,200 schools that replied to the survey I saw, there is a shortfall of €7,200. As they cannot make it up through grants, they have to scramble, robbing Peter to pay Paul, fundraising efforts and so-called voluntary contributions. It is unsustainable.”
“We know from any number of indicators from teachers' unions, conferences, principal representative groups, teachers, principals individually and collectively and surveys, formal and anecdotal, that schools are to the pin of their collar. One survey showed that more than 70% of primary schools ran a deficit in the previous 12 months. They are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. I think there has been a 35% increase in the cost of running a school since 2010 but, incredibly, the capitation grant has been flat since then. There are increased costs of heating, principally, electricity and insurance. One survey in my region showed insurance costs alone account for more than 25% of the capitation grant for the vast majority of schools, and for 100% of it in a small number of cases. In every case, it is a significant burden.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue. I have put it in for a number of days now. I thank the junior Minister, Deputy Moynihan, for being here. It is prompted by a frustration I hear in my constituency and from colleagues across the State in relation to the minor works and ICT grants. They were announced in April 2024. There was an expectation we would see them in April 2025. I submitted questions but there was no clear indication of when they would be announced. They were announced today, which I welcome. They are significantly down on last year's funding. The announcement by the previous Minister, Deputy Foley, was for €79 million. The announcement today by the current Minister, Deputy McEntee, is for €65 million, with a reduction in the ICT grant funding. This is all in the context of a school funding emergency.”
“The county council is engaging extensively with the Department of housing on that matter, but it obviously has a clear impact on how infrastructure investment might be prioritised. I bring this matter to the Minister's attention to make him aware of it, but also to ask him to engage with the Minister for housing on it as well.”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. I will continue to fight the case for Navan rail. The Minister will appreciate many of the arguments we will make. On housing delivery, I met recently with officials in Meath County Council. They have, including in their most recent county development plan, consistently argued the case that there is a real cap on development in County Meath in residential terms. They believe that the process, allowing for the lag with the CSO figures from the census, means that, in effect, Meath County Council, consistent with the parameters with the national planning framework and the national development plan, can deliver for a population of 20,000 more than it is being allowed to.”
“I firmly believe it needs increased investment before 2030 to ensure it can be delivered in the quickest possible timeframe, uninterrupted and with no delays after planning. Hopefully, we will secure planning in the quickest possible timeframe too.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I am sure others who come after me will speak in the same vein. There is very significant interest in this review because every area is ambitious for investment and development. I could speak about a number of projects in my area, including the Kilmoon Cross to Rath roundabout road project, but I specifically want to raise the issue of Navan rail. This is an excellent project on the basis of all the measurements that matter. It will transform County Meath economically, socially and environmentally because it will take thousands of cars off the roads. I welcome this project, which has been invested in and funded up to the planning phase but not to construction.”
“For me, the question is whether it goes far enough and does enough for these people. By that measure, it falls a long way short. The Minister and I will disagree on that point.”
“On a similar point - and I hope the Minister can clarify this - my understanding from reading the transcript of the Committee Stage debate was that the then Minister had indicated she would bring forward an amendment on Report Stage that would broaden this out to provide that it would not restrict those carrying out assessments to a GP or a nurse, for example. We know from dealing with constituents that these are done by occupational therapists, social workers and so on. I hope that is the intent of the amendment. If so, I do not have an issue with it but if our Labour Party colleague's concerns are correct, I would share them. I thank him for bringing them forward. On the Minister's point that this legislation provides supports for people who are desperately in need of them and it should be welcomed on that basis.”
“The Minister has a responsibility to pursue the religious orders in respect of these funds. Anybody who watched the "Prime Time Investigates" programme on the Christian Brothers in recent weeks can see exactly what is happening in terms of land hoarding and orders using systems to their own advantage to generate very significant private wealth. At the end of the programme, I was struck by the need for the State to intervene in the public good. That is something we sought in our amendment, which was ruled out of order yet again. It is something the Minister should take on board, arising out of Report Stage. I have no issue with the technical amendments, but I have a very significant issue with the Bill overall.”
“In terms of the education fund, there should be an acknowledgement of intergenerational trauma, such as, for example, the impact on the lives of parents who have lived in one of these institutions and experienced everything that went with that and which also had an impact on their children. We and others brought forward an amendment in that regard, but it was ruled out of order because there would be a cost to the State. I refer to the level of funding for people living abroad. I understand the rationale of the Department and successive Ministers in respect of the figure, but it does not take into account inflation or the cost-of-living crisis here, in Britain or elsewhere. That figure should have been index-linked. We brought forward an amendment in that regard, but it was ruled out of order because it might create a cost to the State.”
“The vast majority of people who will be in receipt of such medical cards are not of significant means and are over the age of 70. It is a medical card the same as everybody else over the age of 70 has. The idea that it is an enhanced medical card falls way short of the Health (Amendment) Act, HAA, card that is needed. The Bill does not refer to the recognition of survivor status for social housing applications, for example. In my county, there is recognition of medical disabilities and other medical conditions. There needs to be recognition of survivor status. The idea that the people involved would be reinstitutionalised at a late stage in their lives is simply unconscionable. I refer to the Minister's reference to education and youth.”
“I do not have an issue with the technical amendments the Minister has brought forward. However, I have a significant issue with the overall hue of the Bill and some of the technical amendments give rise to some of that. It is still the case that many people have been unfairly and unjustly excluded from the scheme and supports. For example, those who are eligible for the initial scheme but were not aware of it and did not apply, those who did not take cases and, of course, those in institutions not included in the scheme initially have been excluded. I read the Committee Stage debate and contributed to the Second Stage debate on health supports. The reference to an enhanced medical card should drop the word "enhanced". It is not an enhanced medical card.”
“It is the same in relation to the illegal Israeli divestment Bill and the same tonight. The Minister's response has been absolutely disgraceful and everybody can see it.”
“No other central bank provides the permission Israel needs to sell its genocide bonds anywhere in the EU, only the Irish Central Bank. That is what this Bill sets out to achieve and that is a fact. It has to change. On that measure set out by the ICJ's advisory opinion that every country should do everything it can to move every lever it can, why is it the case that the Opposition comes in, time and again, to this Dáil and the Seanad and raises proposals only to hear from Government, "No, you have it wrong. You do not understand. It is more complicated than that."? It is a case of "No, no, no", consistently. We are expected to be grateful now to see an occupied territories Bill seven years after it was initially introduced and half the Bill that it was. We are supposed to be grateful for that. It is a shameful disgrace.”
“The Israeli war bond Bill is underpinned by the ICJ advisory opinion delivered in July 2024. That opinion stated not only that we should act but that we have a legal obligation to act to do absolutely everything that we can. It demands that every state look at every possible lever to exert pressure on Israel. Israel, like apartheid South Africa before it, should be made a pariah state, isolated and cut off from normal social, political and economic relations because it is not compliant with international law. The Bill is important. In fact, it is essential. It will have a concrete effect. It will reduce the moneys available to fund the genocide in Gaza and will extract the Irish Central Bank from the fund-raising effort.”
“It is shameful that we are using potential pay increases as a bargaining chip in this regard. We need to manage the process of leaving certificate reform and there is a major risk with the approach this Minister is taking. Students and teachers need support, not more pressure. I firmly believe the approach the Minister is taking is the wrong one. Let the teachers decide in their own ballot. I have real concerns that the approach being taken will heap advantage on advantage and disadvantage on disadvantage, undermine the strength of the leaving certificate and cause harm to our graduates. There is a lot of work to be done.”
“I welcome the commitment with regard to permanent contracts but will they be full-hour contracts? We need a guarantee in this regard. In excess of 13,500 unqualified teachers were needed, because of the recruitment and retention crisis, to stand before children in classes across the State. The teacher recruitment and retention crisis is such that, at secondary level, schools are forced to drop subjects, and the TUI had significant information in this regard. It is a very significant issue that needs to be addressed. While we all recognise that the leaving certificate is changing, I fundamentally disagree with the Minister's approach to leaving certificate reform. I believe the Minister has made a mistake in ramming through the reforms without the proper resources.”
“Successive Governments, a number of which the Minister has been a part of, have failed to deliver not on the INTO's commitments but on their own commitments to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio. With regard to teacher recruitment and retention, teachers are the backbone of schools. The strain on teacher supply is heavily related to the housing crisis that this Government has created. Housing prices are out of reach and unaffordable to many people in need. There are a number of key measures that the Minister needs to take to support and address the recruitment and retention crisis. We need to look at the time-bound provision, for example, to allow people to conduct their Droichead year after training abroad. That has been delayed, inexplicably. Pay parity is an issue. The cost and duration of the PME is an issue.”
“We have heard welcome commitments with regard to DEIS plus but targeted supports to children most in need are vital. There are clear indications that significant problems need to be addressed. Of 154 educational welfare officer posts, 23 are currently vacant, according to figures released to me in recent days. In the interest of time, my colleagues will cover the issue of Gaeloideachas. Tá siad in ann níos mó a dhéanamh ansin freisin. On the issue of class sizes, Ireland has some of the largest class sizes in Europe. Over 51,000 primary school pupils were in classes of 30 children or more last year. Meanwhile, the INTO is calling for the pupil-teacher ratio to be reduced to 19:1, a call that we fully support.”
“This must happen as a matter of priority. On the issue of educational disadvantage, the DEIS programme has been a lifeline for schools in disadvantaged areas but it needs expansion, not stagnation. A 2024 OECD report on DEIS schools highlights a number of issues relating to the educational disadvantage schemes. Findings from research conducted by the TUI and TASC found that 10% of school teachers in DEIS schools rated classroom facilities as very poor, compared with 2.8% of teachers in non-DEIS schools. To provide any sort of decent education to our children, the Minister must provide decent funding and resources. Funding for DEIS schools must urgently be increased to ensure schools have staff, proper resources and the programmes needed to close the inequality gap. We will see the new DEIS plan soon and, hopefully, it will be welcome.”
“Special classes across the State are significantly understaffed. Teachers, in many cases unqualified, are stretched thin and there are not enough SNAs. The Minister will deny it but there has been a policy change in relation to SNA allocations. SNAs are being rationed - there is no other word for it - in a way they have not been before. It is not enough to have primary care needs but children must have “significant” primary care needs. That is a change. I can give numerous examples in my constituency, such as St. Patrick's National School in Stamullen and Scoil Náisiúnta Cholmcille in Skryne. The list goes on. Arbitrary caps must be immediately abandoned. The Minister must invest in SNAs, increase their number and support them in their role. There is a commitment to amend the circular on leave of absence following assault.”
“Parents faced with scores of rejection letters and forced to sleep outside the Department and outside this building would beg to differ, I am sure. Recent figures released to me show there are 1,275 children on short school days, an increase of 20%, and 821 of those children have special educational needs. Many of those are on short school days because of the lack of supports at school. It is no fault of the teachers or the school communities. A further 177 children are getting home tuition while awaiting an appropriate placement. I urge the Minister to heed the concerns raised by the INTO, among others. She should ensure that full funding for the equipping of special classrooms and ancillary sensory and play spaces is made available early. It is not just about physical space and equipment.”
“Grants should be paid early in the year. The ICT and minor works grants are inexplicably delayed. The Minister should please tell us when they will be paid and that it will be soon. Schools are at breaking point. The latest response to me on this issue yesterday used the phrase “in due course”. That is simply not good enough. Regarding special education, every child has the right to an education that meets their values and their needs. In special education, children are locked out of education based solely on the fact they have special educational needs. That is shameful. The Ministers say they have sanctioned enough places for children for September; in fact, they say they have sanctioned more than enough. The question, of course, is whether these places actually exist and are appropriate.”
“The current school capitation grant stands at €200 per pupil at primary school, the same rate that was paid to schools in 2009. The Government planned to increase this to €224 this September but the INTO has called on the Government to increase the capitation fund by 20%. The Government's failure to do so shows its lack of concern for the many schools that are struggling to literally keep their doors open. Within the past two years, there has been a huge increase in the number of schools referred to the FSSU due to financial struggles. Schools need stability and certainty. I am conscious the Minister spoke for 16 minutes and only referred to the issue of school funding in the last 20 seconds. As an essential first step, the Minister must increase funding for schools and introduce a grant calendar so schools can budget.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the statements on education. Education is the great equaliser: it has the power to break down barriers, lift communities and, most importantly, to give every child the opportunity to reach their full potential. However, for too long, our education system has been held back by chronic underfunding, inequality and a lack of ambition or vision for schools. Sinn Féin believes in a world class education system that leaves no child behind. That means investing properly in schools, teachers and, most importantly, in the future of children. The first step in delivering real change in our education system is proper and adequate funding. For years, schools have been forced to fundraise for the most basic things. Now, their capitation grant does not even cover heating, electricity and insurance costs.”
“As part of this, education must be a priority in order to empower communities to become educated around methods of promoting biodiversity and engaging in a sustainable lifestyles. Incentives to empower communities and other funding measures must be implemented to support people in their efforts. I wish the Minister of State well in his role. He will know better than anyone that we have a lot of work to do.”
“I recently met with the park rangers at the new Brú na Bóinne national park, something I have talked about with the Minister of State. I ask him to please keep supporting and advancing that project. The park rangers spoke about the development of the boardwalk at Girley Bog outside Kells, with which I am very familiar. They were involved in that development. When it was originally proposed, some people questioned who would want to go to a boardwalk in a bog. In fact, it is hugely popular. Build it and they will come. People want to connect with nature now more than ever. People need to connect with nature. The Minister of State should grasp that opportunity with both hands.”
“We have seen a lack of enforcement for existing protections and a planning system that continues to prioritise short-term profit over long-term sustainability. We need a step change in approach. We need strong legal protections and binding biodiversity targets, alongside independent monitoring and real consequences for those who damage ecosystems. In respect of the marine protected areas Bill, the latest response I have received is that it is at an advanced stage of drafting. We need that legislation. We are too long waiting for it. This Government must increase investment in large-scale restoration projects such as rewilding native woodlands, rehabilitating peatlands and creating wildlife corridors. This is just not about conservation; it is also about rebuilding what has been lost and connecting people with nature.”
“We are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis, one which threatens ecosystems, food security and our way of life. The facts are stark. Ireland ranks as one of the worst countries in Europe for biodiversity loss. More than 30% of our bee species are at risk of extinction. Wetlands, which are vital for carbon storage and flood prevention, have declined by 90% in the past century. Despite these alarming facts, the Government’s response has been weak, delayed and fundamentally inadequate. The reality is that biodiversity loss is not just an environmental issue; it is a threat to our food security, our water quality and our resilience against climate disasters. When habitats are destroyed, we undermine the very systems that sustain life. The Government’s failure to act with urgency is nothing short of negligence in my opinion.”