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…”
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“Oíche na hÓige was a success. In my constituency of Meath East, I attended open nights held by Ratoath Foróige and 5th Meath Kells Scouts. They do such good and important work in the community. In both of those projects, like so many, it is about youth leadership, with young people leading. Is it planned that Oíche na hÓige will be an annual event? Has that decision been made or is it under consideration? It is something I would support. Are there plans to increase places for young people in youth work services? It is one thing to raise awareness and show people the good work being done but there are capacity issues in practically all these services because of a lack of investment over years.”
“I do not get a sense that there is a recognition from the Government in this regard. It needs to introduce a cost-of-living package for schools.”
“Costs are increasing and, in real terms, last year capitation per student in primary schools was €236 and €400 per student in post-primary schools. That is when we take the capitation and the cost-of-living aspects into account. This year, it is €224 per student at primary level versus €236 last year, while at secondary level, it is €386 per student compared with €400 last year. That is a net decrease in real terms at a time when costs are increasing. Is it any wonder increasing numbers of schools are being referred to the FSSU? In addition, €23 million is being raised through voluntary contributions to subsidise so-called free education. That is not evenly distributed, so we know there are many schools that do not have access to that option and are in deep, deep trouble.”
“Will the Minister of State look at introducing a cost-of-living package for schools this year in light of the cost of energy, insurance and heating?”
“I thank the Minister of State for those figures, but they paint a picture that is a very stark one in terms of the financial challenge schools are going through. Regarding those numbers, we are not at Christmas yet and we have 18 schools referred to the FSSU so far this year and nine that have needed advanced payments. A number of schools, including Darver in neighbouring County Louth, have been high-profile in terms of the financial challenge they are facing. Regarding the Minister of State's figures on the capitation and the funding, schools are worse off in real terms because of the lack of a cost-of-living package this year. There is a net reduction in the funding for them when we take out the cost-of-living package.”
“I wish to ask the Minister of State the number of schools referred to the financial support services unit in the academic year 2023-24, 2024-25 and to date in 2025-26 and the measures he is taking to support schools financially through this winter in the absence of a cost-of-living package.”
“What exactly is the state of affairs there? Teachers and principals contact us regularly. They are deeply concerned that they will have an additional responsibility that many feel they are not qualified to deliver.”
“This has been the experience for a couple of years now but I must say that I absolutely despair at the lack of basic information for Opposition TDs and the general public on this point. Earlier this week, another curveball or grenade - call it whatever you want - was thrown into the system and has caused major concern. That is the issue of what is now a recommendation. What does it mean for children and assessments of need this year and next? The Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, said yesterday that it was deeply disappointed. It said this was an act of bad faith and that the Departments of education and children and equality did not consult the INTO. It seems that the Department of children and its Minister are saying that in the future, the Department of education will reach an agreement.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit, but he did not answer the question I asked. If he had done, he would have given me some numbers. He would have given me the numbers notified through the portal by 1 October and the numbers that have contacted the NCSE. Does he have those figures? It is a terrible reflection on the system if he does not have them because the whole point of this new procedure is that we have a system that accounts for demand. Does the Minister of State have those figures, and if so, what are they? That will give us a clear picture of the demand that has been indicated and the impact. There is lots of concern that people missed the deadline because they did not have a recommendation or were not aware of the deadline. It is the first year of it. I ask the Minister of State to give us some indication of that if he can.”
“This is not about stifling innovation. It is about innovating for safety and upholding the rights of the child in the digital environment. This requires empowering our regulators with real enforcement capabilities. It requires robust age verification to create accountable spaces. Our children have a right to be online. Our duty is to make it safe for them. That means legislating for results, as well as mandating transparent and accountable algorithms that do not profit from poisoning childhood. Let us regulate recommender systems and put our children's safety before platform engagement.”
“To keep a young user scrolling, these systems too often amplify extreme content, promote unrealistic body images or funnel users towards disinformation and hate. They create rabbit holes of harm, prioritising viral outrage over truth and commercialising childhood by trading attention for ad revenue. This is why self-regulation is a fantasy. A profit-driven system will never voluntarily choose safety over stickiness. Current frameworks lack the teeth to mandate safer design by law. Eighteen months ago, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties expressed its disappointment that measures to address toxic algorithms were removed from Coimisiún na Meán's online safety code. It was not on its own. We need precise, enforceable regulation that compels platforms to fundamentally redesign these systems for younger users.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important topic. The digital world is our children's playground, their library and their public square, yet for too long, it has been designed with profit, not protection, in mind. The current approach of light-touch or self-regulation has failed. As fines go uncollected and promises go unkept, we cannot accept the illusion of safety. We must move beyond blunt, reactive tools like blanket bans, which isolate children from education and community. Instead, we must target the very architecture of harm, the recommender systems. These are the complex algorithms that decide what you see next. They are not neutral curators. They are engagement engines, programmed to maximise watch time and clicks. Their success is measured by data and dollars, not well-being.”
“We need updated wind and solar farm guidelines. The wind farm guidelines are in draft form since 2019 and the last full version was in 2006. There is a commitment in the programme for Government for solar farm guidelines but recent responses say they are at a very early stage of a scoping process. When will they be ready?”
“With the school secretaries and caretakers pension dispute now referred to the Labour Court for 12 January, these dedicated staff are deeply anxious. They engaged in the process in good faith and ended their strike on the promise of a resolution. Given the recent breakdown at the WRC, the fundamental commitment to a fair pension comparable to teachers and SNAs and all their long years of service, will the Tánaiste give a direct assurance to these workers now that the Government will engage constructively with the Labour Court process to deliver this and will not, through inaction or inadequate offers, force them out on strike again?”
“Sinn Féin would make the transition fairer by restructuring network charges, expanding community and domestic ownership of renewables and introducing a fairer retrofit plan, with increased funding and accessible, area-based schemes targeting those most in need. We will end the punitive carbon tax approach that locks families out of benefits. We will commit to no further hikes. We will significantly increase investment in renewables to transform Ireland's vast natural resources into national wealth. This is about fairness, affordability and energy security for all. Families cannot afford the Government's dithering incompetence any longer. Go raibh maith agat.”
“Government inaction is at the heart of Ireland's rip-off prices. Profit maximisation has been prioritised over affordable energy for ordinary families, and this must change. Sinn Féin has long set out a suite of fundamental regulatory and structural reforms that are clear and deliverable and that would significantly reduce energy costs to businesses and households. We are calling for an overhaul of the electricity markets regulatory regime. The energy regulator needs to be given new powers to monitor standing charges, hedging practices and anti-competitive behaviour, alongside stronger transparency and accountability. We want a reformed CRU mandate that prioritises affordability. We will break the link between wholesale gas and electricity prices.”
“Ireland has some of the highest electricity prices in Europe, way above the EU average. The typical Irish household is paying hundreds of euro more per year than its European counterparts. This is a scandal and a direct result of Government failure. When energy companies were making record profits after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this Government refused to apply a strong and effective windfall tax. Instead, it allowed profiteering to continue unchecked. It continues to do that. Decades of Governments led by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have left us over-reliant on dirty, expensive fossil fuel imports. They failed to invest in renewables, leaving Ireland energy insecure and exposed to volatile international markets. Now, they want to lecture people about the environment. The truth is simple.”
“I raise the regulation of social media companies in the online space, particularly as it relates to children. The criticism that has been levelled at Coimisiún na Meán's online safety code is that an earlier draft had a recommendation that social media companies turn off recommender systems and it has been removed. Recommender systems profile people who are using apps and then drive them down often hateful and dangerous rabbit holes. It is not healthy for them or society. Will this be looked at?”
“Every day that passes without inclusion in the scheme adds to their stress and financial hardship. They deserve the same access to redress as homeowners in other counties. We need to improve that scheme, as has been outlined. I call on the Minister to act immediately to designate County Meath under this scheme and ensure that affected homeowners can apply for support without further delay. This is about fairness, equity and doing right by families who have been let down by systemic failures in construction oversight. We must make sure that no county and no family is left behind in this process. We must ensure that every household that has been impacted has access to 100% redress and nothing less.”
“Families invested their life savings in these homes, which should have been safe and secure but instead are crumbling through no fault of the owners. Meath County Council has engaged with the Housing Agency under section 5 of the 2022 Act. Testing has been carried out and the results confirm that, as feared, defective blocks are present in County Meath, just as elsewhere. It may not be to the same scale but they are present in County Meath. The council has submitted a formal request for inclusion. The Housing Agency completed its investigations earlier this year. Following that, the agency submitted its letter of recommendation to the Department. The evidence is there and the need is urgent but we await the green light in County Meath. Families cannot wait any longer.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. My colleagues have outlined Sinn Féin’s serious concerns with the provisions of the Bill. Its fundamental flaws must be addressed. It is clear that the defective concrete block crisis has devastated thousands of families across the State. The Government’s response to date has focused on counties Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick and Sligo. While that is understandable and absolutely necessary, it is not sufficient. We need 100% redress - nothing less - for all impacted homeowners. This is not just a problem for the west and the north west. I am aware of at least three properties in my constituency of Meath East that have been confirmed as suffering from defective blocks.”
“Why does the Government not say it "has examined" this deal, not that it "continues to examine" it? Why does it not state it will stand up for farmers and rural communities, defend their livelihoods, oppose and reject the deal, and build the blocking minority to ensure it does not pass?”
“All the main farming organisations stand united in their opposition to the deal, and they recognise the existential threat it poses to their members’ livelihoods. The Government’s response has been dangerously lacklustre. Their wait-and-see, it-will-be-all-right-on-the-night approach is a dereliction of duty. Negotiations are finished. The deal is done, but it is not too late to stop it. The Minister had ten minutes in which to make his contribution. He used his ten minutes to say absolutely nothing. It was a running commentary using language to the effect that the Government "continues to examine" the deal and continues to engage. In his words, "It is fair to say that, right now, it is far from clear that a blocking minority exists." What about the Government’s efforts to build a blocking minority?”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important and timely motion and thank Deputies Kenny and Newsome Drennan for tabling it. The purpose and intent of the motion is to send a clear, unequivocal message that Ireland must stand up for its farming families and rural communities by opposing the Mercosur trade deal. This agreement is a bad deal on every front. It is a bad deal for Irish agriculture because it threatens our world-class standards with an influx of substandard imports. It is a bad deal for consumers because it undermines public health, food safety and traceability. Moreover, it is a bad deal for our environment because it promotes a model of production that fuels deforestation.”
“It is about trusting the young people of Ireland who will inherit the consequences of the decisions we make today on housing, on climate and on everything else. I echo the call for the Government to withdraw its amendment. Deputy Conway-Walsh mentioned the permanent Government getting hold of this, whether that is in the form of another agency. I remember listening to a civil servant who said to me that their job was to tell politicians and Ministers it is not that straightforward. That was a great civil servant, but in this case it is just that straightforward. Let us be bold, let us be brave here, let us trust young people and deliver for them. Give them the opportunity to have a real stake in our Republic and in our democracy. Please withdraw the amendment.”
“This is a long-standing Sinn Féin policy, as Deputy Conway-Walsh has pointed out. We hope to see it delivered in the North. The next general election has been mentioned. We would like to see it delivered for the next assembly elections as well. Lowering the voting age is an investment in our democratic health. Habits formed young last a lifetime. By inviting a 16-year-old into the democratic fold, we foster a lifelong connection to the political process. We tell them that their voice matters now, not at some distant point in the future, when the critical decisions affecting their lives may have already been made. It is the most powerful antidote to the cynicism and disengagement that can threaten any democracy. This is about the long-term health of our democracy as we strive for a true republic.”
“Indeed many of the most energetic campaigners in all our parties are in this very age group. They are studying CSPE, politics, history, geography and a range of other important subjects at school, engaging with the very issues we debate in this Chamber day in, day out. Are we really saying that the student grappling with these issues on a daily basis is not qualified to vote? I think the logic does not hold at all. In fact, you could reasonably argue that they are more qualified than the general voting population. Furthermore, this is not a leap into the unknown. The minimum voting age in many countries is already 16. It differs in different areas. We heard about different examples. However, the principle is well established. The Scottish example is one we can point to.”
“They are workers paying taxes on their earnings, they are carers providing vital supports to family members, and they are climate activists articulating with clarity and passion the stakes for their generation in a way that often puts us to shame. They are digital natives navigating the complexities of the information age. To tell these young people that they have a stake in our society, that they must obey its laws and contribute to its economy, while simultaneously denying them a voice in its direction is a contradiction. Some will argue that they lack the maturity or the knowledge. This is a patronising and outdated view. In fact, it is plain wrong. At 16, a young person in Ireland can consent to medical treatment, can join a political party, as many have said.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I thank the Social Democrats for tabling it. Votes for 16- and 17-year-olds is a matter of fairness. In my opinion and that of my party, it is a matter of the future vitality of our democracy. For too long, we have clung to the arbitrary line in the sand drawn at 18. We tell our young people that on the eve of their 18th birthday, they are disengaged, uninformed and unprepared for the solemn act of voting. Yet, on the morning of that birthday, by some miraculous overnight transformation, they emerge as full, responsible citizens. This is a fiction and we all know that to be the case. The reality is that our 16- and 17-year-olds are already active participants in our society, carrying responsibilities that fly in the face of their exclusion from the ballot box.”
“By backing our scientists, researchers and technicians, we are investing in jobs, Irish enterprise and Irish solutions to global problems. We are also investing in our people, in their futures and their potential.”
“On this, the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, along with her senior Minister and the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, must engage with the Irish Science Teachers' Association. It has serious concerns that need to be addressed and others have echoed that. We must strengthen the bridges between our research institutions and industry, ensuring that brilliant ideas are translated into tangible solutions and enterprise here in Ireland. Crucially, this means robust and sustained Government support for training programmes. We need to invest in apprenticeships, upskilling initiatives and postgraduate opportunities that equip our people with the high-tech, hands-on skills demanded by the modern workforce. This is not merely an educational policy; it is an economic imperative.”
“I commend those involved in the posters and the Oireachtas this week. In an increasingly complex world, a scientifically literate citizenry is not a luxury but a necessity for informed democratic participation. However, a celebration of science must also be a commitment to its future. For Ireland to truly thrive as a nation of innovators, we must be a nation of skilled scientists and researchers. This requires a sustained strategic commitment from the Government to foster talent and interest at every stage of the pipeline. We must start in our classrooms be ensuring our teachers have the resources and support to make STEM subjects engaging and accessible to every child regardless of sex or background.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on statements on Science Week, the annual celebration that highlights the important role that science, technology, engineering and maths play in our lives. This week is more than just a showcase of innovation. It is a vital spark, igniting curiosity in the next generation and reminding us all of the power of evidence and inquiry. From the smartphones in our pockets to the medical advancements in our hospitals, science is the bedrock of our modern society and economy. It provides the tools to tackle our greatest challenges, from climate change and energy security to public health and sustainable agriculture. Indeed, some of those very topics were tackled in the posters presented in Leinster House during the week by researchers from across the country.”
“There is a challenge in that but in this case it is inexcusable that additional resources have not been made available. I ask that whatever additional review goes in be considered favourably.”
“As a constituency TD and as my party's education and youth spokesperson, I say there is widespread frustration about how the NCSE and the SENOs go about their business in conducting these assessments and communicating with schools and about the level of responsiveness. I raised this before when we talked about the EPSEN Act review and this is another case in point. I know many of the people involved and can say with hand on heart they are dedicated professionals and want to provide the best for these kids. That is what we all want for the children in our education system but people have their hands tied behind their back because of this bureaucracy. I acknowledge there are increasing numbers of SNAs, but there are nowhere the number we need.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I hope we can take this as a point for raising this case and for follow-through. I know there is a plan to submit for a focused review. The timeline is very short in relation to that. I hope when it goes in that it will be considered favourably. Regarding the interim review, which I mentioned earlier, it is deeply concerning. As I said, this school made a really comprehensive submission in relation to it and only received a written response a couple of days ago. Nobody called out to the school. There was no visit - not to a classroom, to a child or to a staff member. That is totally unacceptable.”
“It is devastating for the whole school community, for the principal and for the special education co-ordinator. It factors in additional SNA support and it looks at the potential and the opportunity to work with that and then it is given this news. To add insult to injury, after waiting more than two months, the school is given three days to appeal. That is simply not good enough. There needs to be greater connection and greater understanding in relation to this.”
“The Minister, Deputy McEntee, a constituency colleague of mine, visited this school on 10 October. The school staff pursued it. I also pursued it and I am sure other elected representatives from across the political spectrum pursued it on behalf of the school. Just yesterday or the day before, two months on from the initial application, it received the letter from the NCSE saying that the review was unsuccessful. This was a devastating and demoralising. As I said, I met staff and parents and many parents have contacted me in relation to this. Under any measure, this school is going above and beyond. It is doing everything it can to provide an inclusive education for children. Staff are stretching themselves at every measure and they have been hit with this.”
“The school considered an appeal and subsequently decided to apply for a focused review as it was aware, as we would have been ourselves, of significant needs in the incoming junior infants class in September 2025. Parents and staff identified this additional need. They were told in May that the NCSE was no longer accepting applications for reviews as guidance was changing and that is the piece we all would have been aware of. In August they were told they could reapply for an interim review for the incoming students who were not considered in the review back in February. The deadline for that application was 31 August and the school put in a very comprehensive application. Despite the guidelines stating that it would hear back within two weeks - this was at the end of August - it still had no word as recently as a couple of days ago.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss this matter despite the relevant Minister or Minister of State not being here. I ask that anything we discuss be relayed to the Minister and the NCSE. This is incredibly important to all concerned, to the school community, staff, parents and most of all to the children who will not be able to avail of SNA support because a review has indicated that they were not successful. I will run through some of the timeline and give context and emphasise some of the frustrations on everyone's behalf in relation to the process. This is a thriving school in a rural area in Meath. It was unsuccessful in an initial SNA exceptional review, which took place in February 2025.”
“In early October, the Minister for education wrote to say there was no change to that position. Does the Tánaiste recognise the urgent need to resolve this matter? Will he bring this hunger strike to an end? Will he do the right thing by these survivors? Will he give them a written commitment to meet their demands today?”
“Four survivors of residential abuse remain on hunger strike outside these buildings. Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donavan, Mary Dunlevy Greene and Maurice Patton O'Connell are now on day 47 of their hunger strike. Their health continues to deteriorate. This is a very serious situation. It is dire. They are absolutely determined and, after a meeting yesterday, cautiously hopeful but they have nothing in writing to say the Government will agree to their very reasonable demands for access to a HAA medical card and a State contributory pension. In fact, what they have had from Government so far is the exact opposite. In the first instance, the Government voted against proposals from Sinn Féin and Catherine Connolly to grant all survivors access to these things.”
“We must stand firmly for a society that is inclusive and welcoming, where racism and hate is challenged and integration is properly supported. We can have a functioning international protection system and a compassionate society. They are not mutually exclusive. It is time for this Government to deliver both.”
“We know from the Comptroller and Auditor General that the level of oversight and accountability on that spend is wholly inadequate. This must be addressed. Sinn Féin wants an international protection system that is efficient, rules-based and fair, one that ends profiteering, processes applications swiftly and enforces decisions. We want a system that commands public confidence and trust. While we are rightly critical of the Government's failings, we must condemn those who seek to exploit those failings to stoke fear and hate. There is no justification for racist and vile rhetoric or hateful acts. No one deserves to live in fear for their safety or their children's safety. This hate is causing immense hurt and fear within immigrant communities and it is being used to divide people across our State. It must be confronted and it must stop.”
“Our international protection system is not fit for purpose. It does not have the confidence of the people. This is a situation created and compounded by the failures of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in government. The system, as it stands, is dysfunctional and it lacks public confidence. Why? In the first instance, the basic principles of a rules-based system are not being followed. Decisions and appeals are taking far too long and there is a systemic failure to enforce the rules, particularly at the final stage. This undermines the process and eats away at public trust. Compounding this is the scandal of profiteering. A staggering €1.2 billion is being spent on IPAS accommodation annually with a small number of private operators making tens of millions of euro from the State's dysfunction, all shrouded in a lack of transparency.”
“This is a major concern, not only in Dunshaughlin but across the State. Other Deputies will have questions later on school building projects. Is this recognised by the Minister and the Department? What can be done to address that?”
“There are a couple of issues. There is real frustration in relation to this. As I said, planning was granted in 2020. There will be a need for additional prefab space in both of these schools come next September because pupils will not be in them. We can all agree to that due to the fact we have not got contracts signed. From speaking to people very close to not only this project, but other projects, and colleagues around the country, there is a concern about capital projects in the education sector. I have spoken to contractors who say it is not easy dealing with the Department; that there have been changes in the Department; that projects are being delayed related to that; and that there were flexibilities and co-operations that were custom and practice, which are not happening now.”
“Is it a letter of acceptance? Is it the case that the project has been divided up and there are subcontractors? The Minister mentioned specialist work. Is that related to the struggle to get contractors to commit to this project? Is there a new approach in that regard? Obviously, there are delays in this that are very frustrating. Will she indicate, given she said it would be as soon as is possible, when we might expect that letter of acceptance will issue and the next step after that?”
“The community will hang on the Minister's every word in relation to this. For clarity, regarding the letter of intent issued to the third contractor, are part of the works separated off? My understanding is that a letter of authorisation is due. What is the next step on that?”
“I want to ask the Minister for an update on a new school building project for Coláiste Ríoga and Dunshaughlin Community National School in Dunshaughlin, County Meath. Is she is aware that planning permission was granted for these schools in November 2020? It is now November 2025. What is the reason for the delays in bringing this project to construction and the indicative timeline for construction, commencement and completion?”