Edward Timmins
Wicklow · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I thank the Minister for his response. We have interacted quite a bit at committee level on the same topic and will continue to do so. The starting point is a detailed, accurate and complete budget.”
“I will list some specific items, but the list is not exhaustive. Regarding funding given to quangos, can we review whether there is overlap between these organisations and if the Government is funding them to do the same things?”
“We should use data and KPIs to monitor the cost and outcomes of services, encourage the use of shared buildings and dispose of underused properties to reduce overheads and waste.”
“The 132 bus service is the only bus to Dublin for most of west Wicklow. A year ago, I was told by the National Transport Authority, NTA, that the frequency of the service would be doubling. Nothing has happened since then. How do different Departments and Government bodies talk to one other?”
“Never has it been so important to highlight the close relationship we have with the United States. This trail would promote our close ties. It is a perfect example of the use of soft power.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I am glad that progress is being made. The actions announced are the start of what will, hopefully, be a fully-fledged tourist route. I strongly believe that this proposal could be a positive North-South project.”
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“Threats are not just physical. They come in a variety of modes. I want to mention an aspect that I believe is very important, and this is the area of non-military threats. Examples include cyber threats. These also represent a threat to our economic interests. As the Minister knows, we are hugely dependent on reliable computer systems which underpin our economy. The whole area of disinformation is also a real security threat. We need to recruit staff with expertise in these areas. I am also particularly conscious of energy and communication threats, especially relating to maritime security. These threats are real. As we witnessed a few years ago, they can come from anywhere, including from within our own country.”
“Any state that is serious about protecting its citizens must have a fit for purpose defence force. This is even more relevant today when threats are more real and much more varied. We are a neutral country and we are geographically located in a relatively safe location but we must not become complacent. What steps are being taken to improve the defence of our country in view of the changing geopolitical landscape?”
“Finally, does the Minister agree with me that all Members of the House have a duty to speak the truth about the Irish economy and not engage in continually bashing our country?”
“Recently, Ireland was ranked the second most successful economy in the world for 2025 by The Economist . This did not warrant a mention in any of our media or here in this House. It shows the extraordinary progress we have made but we cannot take this huge success for granted. One of the main factors in future economic success is economic confidence. We must be careful not to rundown this country, especially with false claims. Of course we have challenges; every country has challenges, and we must deal with them. Confidence and expectations are at the heart of economic outcomes. This leads to investment and success in the future. The challenges we face will not be dealt with by negativity. A successful economy is central to funding the increasing demands on our resources and is especially crucial for our young people.”
“This project, which is being promoted by a group of dedicated people, looks to correct this and I urge the Minister of State to support it.”
“The recreation, leisure and sports audit for Baltinglass municipal district was commissioned by Wicklow County Council to assess the current provision of recreational, leisure and sporting facilities across the area and to identify future needs. Some 86% of participants in the audit said that lack of facilities was the main barrier to partaking in sport and recreation. This would fill that gap. I also know that many clubs in the area have no home. This facility, which would be community based, would allow these clubs to have a home. This is especially true of the successful basketball club. It has members who come from all over west Wicklow and Kildare. West Wicklow has nothing in the way of large sports facilities.”
“Baltinglass is situated in south-west Wicklow and is 38 miles from here. It is the centre of a large hinterland. Currently, there is no sporting facility in the wider area. This project would also align with all the national policies that support balanced regional development, from the national planning framework to the Baltinglass town plan. The project is supported by Wicklow County Council and several local clubs and community groups in west Wicklow. Recent public and club-level consultations indicate significant demand for improved sports facilities within the wider area. The centre would be used by clubs from all over west Wicklow as well as nearby Carlow and south Kildare. To date, Wicklow has not received its fair share of large scale sport infrastructure funding. That should change.”
“West Wicklow has no major sports facility. It does not even have a swimming pool. A number of years ago, I successfully proposed a zoning in Baltinglass for a sports centre on council-owned land. A local sports group led by the basketball club have conducted a feasibility study, which demonstrates the need for such a centre in west Wicklow. Will the Minister of State support this project?”
“This will lead to hard questions being asked of the councils and also hard questions being asked of the Departments. Similarly, more communication needs to happen with county councillors. There are six times as many county councillors as TDs and we need to use this resource. The voices of the people who elect councillors are not being heard. The centralised decision-making process undermines our democracy.”
“I appreciate that the Minister understands and that he has been there. I repeat that powers are far too centralised in this country. We all know the word "subsidiarity". The programme for Government supports it, and it is stated in it, but we do not apply it to councils. They have the local knowledge and must be allowed more autonomy in decision-making. In addition to this, communication between Departments and local authorities must be improved. At the beginning of last year, I asked in the Dáil that the Minister give local authorities housing targets and that every quarter he would meet, on a formal basis, with the CEOs and directors of planning of the councils and that he would monitor these targets monthly. This must happen. It is too important not to happen.”
“I hope it will recommend many of the points in the Seanad report on local democracy of October 2024. I urge the Minister and all of his colleagues to support these recommendations.”
“This is one of the lowest per capita representations in the whole of Europe. The only significant funding income for current expenditure comes from commercial rates and property tax. All other funding must come from central government. This further limits councillors' powers. The property tax was supposed to bring extra funding to the local authorities but all that happened was that it reduced Government grants. Some councils still do not retain all of the property tax collected and this needs to be addressed as it is simply unfair. I ask that we consider using the taxes that are very much local based, for example, motor tax, the residential zoned land tax and the new derelict property tax. I understand the local democracy task force met six times and will produce a report in February.”
“At the time, I pointed out how crazy this was but nobody was listening to us councillors at the time. At one stage, the Planning Regulator told us that we could not zone for four houses in a town of 2,000 people. In addition, the section 140 powers for councillors covering planning were abolished. Housing bodies have taken over much of social housing. They are not accountable to public representatives. As they do not have to sit before councillors at a monthly meeting, the democratic input is further reduced. Water and wastewater are completely outsourced. Again, the responsible body is not accountable before councillors on a monthly basis or through a strategic policy committee, SPC. The number of councillors has reduced from 1,627 to 949 after the changes in 2014.”
“The programme for Government states: Local Government is the beating heart of our democracy. It is responsible for many of the essential services on which we depend – housing, local roads, planning [and many other things]." I wish to talk about my experience of over 20 years as a local councillor before I came here and how the powers of the councillor have been diminished. First is planning. In 2004, I could and did make changes that made a real difference to help rural planning. In 2022, I was told that they must comply with national planning guidelines, so my changes were not allowed. In the 2022 Wicklow development plan, we dezoned vast areas of land because of the Planning Regulator's guidelines. These were based on the outdated 2016 census. We knew we had a housing shortage.”
“I note the current Erasmus+ programme ambitions include fostering stronger participation in democratic life, common values and civic engagement. This is more important than ever, given the threat democracy is experiencing in the western world. The ambition to expand well beyond Europe's borders is also commendable. Promoting our European values is a worthy cause. We often forget how fortunate we are to live in a peaceful, democratic and wealthy society, something our ancestors could only dream of and which people in many parts of the world today do not have. Ireland was known as the island of saints and scholars back in the Dark Ages. We went to Europe, educated the natives and our legacy remains all over Europe. I urge the Minister to continue to support and develop this rich and positive programme that we call Erasmus.”
“Ireland benefits more than any other European nation from this programme. Given our geographic location, it is so important that we develop contacts and understanding of mainland Europe. This enriches us culturally. Understanding another language leads us to better understand other peoples. It also helps us think in different ways and develop new ideas. Learning a European language is one of the most enriching experiences one can have. I speak as someone who spent a few years working and living in mainland Europe, in France, Germany and Switzerland. There are also economic benefits to these exchanges. As a small nation, we are hugely dependent on exports. We have a huge market of wealthy economies on our doorstep. There are opportunities for Irish businesses to export to these countries.”
“As I am sure the Minister is aware, Erasmus is a wonderful programme that has brought students from all over Europe together and allowed them to experience other cultures. It has increased our understanding of other European countries and, thus, has given Irish people ideas and knowledge that have enriched our country. It has been a huge success and is mostly a positive experience for those who partake in it. Are there plans to vary, expand or deepen the Erasmus programme for third level students?”
“Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, is a special case. It seeks inclusion of a playing pitch with the building project. The new school will have a capacity for 1,000 students but there is no playing pitch included. The school currently has the land required and planning permission but the key issue is the cost of levelling the site. It put a proposal to the NDFA for pitch groundworks, which was rejected, but it still hopes the Department will reconsider. The current building at Arklow CBS is simply unfit for purpose. There is a project, for which we have been promised a sod-turning next May, in Blessington Community College in west Wicklow. That project has been put back on a number of occasions. The school is currently full of prefabs. It desperately needs a school building in what is a massively growing town just 19 miles from where we sit today.”
“Many rooms and spaces are no longer fit for purpose but the school cannot invest in upgrades or fixes to classrooms, practical rooms and laboratories. This is completely stalled. They are waiting on the new build.”
“With the Minister of State's indulgence, I will go through each of the four schools. First is St. Kevin's Community College, Dunlavin. Demand for places continues to grow. Planning has been in place for over two years. Dunlavin and its hinterland population continue to grow and the school serves east Kildare as well as west Wicklow. There is a plan for four rooms for special classes. The lack of suitable rooms in the current build means students' options are limited. The library is now a classroom. Computer rooms have been converted to general classrooms. Second is Avondale Community College in Rathdrum. The new school campus will see capacity at the secondary school increase from 660 to 1,000 students. The school is far over capacity.”
“For Deputy Brennan, yes. There are four schools in Wicklow under Project Dargle: St. Kevin's Community College, Dunlavin; Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew; Arklow CBS; and Avondale Community College in Rathdrum. These schools are all in need of the proposed development. The areas they serve are growing in population. With the new, hugely increased housing targets for County Wicklow, these developments are needed more than ever. What is the current status of these builds?”
“Is this country prepared for threats posed by Russia to our national security? These are real threats to the country and must be taken seriously. There was an increase in Russian shadow fleet activity in Irish-controlled waters last week. There were three ships, in fact. Our geography no longer protects us as it once did. We are very dependent on other countries to support us regarding maritime and air defences. We need to take steps to move away from these dependencies. This will help our independence. It will also support and foster our neutrality. We live in a rapidly changing world and we must respond to these changes in order to protect our way of life and democracy, which we value so much.”
“One of the cornerstones of any system is that all citizens of the State who are working are treated equally. In the case of IPAS residents who are working and earning a wage, there must be a contribution to accommodation costs. Rent should be calculated along the lines of the letting priority scheme and local authority rents.”
“I fully appreciate the great work the Minister of State is doing. I commend him and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on the steps taken. They are very much facing up to the reality because to date in this country the political classes have been out of sync with the views of ordinary decent Irish people. We need to be transparent in how we are dealing with the housing of people who are exiting the IPAS system. Our councils need to inform the councillors of any relevant policies that impact housing allocations. Also, in regard to expenditure, and I understand the Minister of State is dealing with this, I urge the Minister to work to renegotiate all contracts with a view to lowering the cost. Regular counts should be done to establish the numbers in each centre so we are not paying for people who are not living there.”
“This district is also the most poorly served by public transport and services. This was not well planned. We need now to develop long-term strategies for IPAS locations.”
“I thank the Minister of State for that information. I understand the massive pressures that commenced three or four years ago. The most important thing is that we have open and frank discussions. By having open discussions, we lessen the possibility of false information and extreme positions taking hold. Two years ago, I stated publicly that we should have an open discussion on immigration. Only now is this beginning. We need to discuss this openly and not brush it under the carpet. We have nothing to hide. As a nation, we have been very generous. It is important that centres are not all located in one area or that small towns and villages do not have very high numbers. In my own county of Wicklow, the majority of IPAS centres, and of the numbers of applicants, are located in one municipal district. That district is west Wicklow.”
“It is important that in all our discussions here, we choose our language carefully. We must not say anything that might inflame situations or give encouragement to any extreme positions. We must stick to the facts at all times. Let us remember that we are talking about fellow human beings. I ask if there is a strategy to spread the location of IPAS accommodation and avoid having large clusters in one area.”
“Where is the family to get the funds? I know of a case in which a family or young person is being assessed to pay €23,000 per year and the income the person is getting from leasing the land is only €5,000. The person has nowhere to find the cash and it is putting them under huge financial hardship. I am sure the Minister will agree that this is totally unfair. I would like it to be looked at and changed immediately.”
“I bring the Minister's attention to another matter related to generational renewal. I will highlight an unfair flaw in the operation of the fair deal scheme relating to land transfer, for example to a grandchild, which is causing huge financial hardship for families. I will explain how it operates. This rule must be changed. If a family transfers land within five years of the owner entering a nursing home, this land is valued. If the recipients lease the land, they must pay the nursing home 7.5% of the value of the land on an annual base, with no three-year time limit like there is for the family farm. This could go on for 14 years until the total value of the land is paid over. This is completely unfair. There is no possibility of deferring the payment, as there is for the family home. It is therefore a huge financial burden.”
“I have read most of that document and most of those 31 recommendations are very worthy. I would like to see a lot of them being implemented. On a slightly related matter, I worked most of my life in small and medium sized businesses. The thing that strikes me most about farming is the huge fluctuation in prices from year to year. Most businesses face increases in costs or sales prices in single digit percentage changes. It is not so in farming. This makes it difficult to plan and means people have to build up large reserves to be confident of being able to continue to trade or else they will run out of cash. We need to take measures to make it financially attractive to run a farm business. We need to reduce red tape, which is a turn-off for many farmers, and make all schemes much simpler.”
“I offer the Minister my best wishes for his role, which is not so new anymore. His is a very important role, particularly at this critical time. We are in different constituencies but are near neighbours where south Kildare meets west Wicklow. Agriculture in Ireland is ageing fast. Currently, the average age of a farmer in Ireland is 59. Only 4% are under 35. This imbalance poses risk to long-term food security and to this important sector, which exports 90% of what it produces. The programme for Government commits to a farm succession scheme. Is there a strategy for succession planning for farmers?”
“I thank the Minister and wish him the best of luck in his new role. I first brought this proposal to the finance committee a few weeks back. To me, it is a glaringly obvious thing to do. It should have been done years ago. Russia clearly should not be part of the FED scheme. What we are proposing here aligns with EU policy and sanctions. I give my full support to the Minister's proposal. I welcome the extension of the FED to the Philippines and Türkiye. Perhaps we should consider other countries in South America or elsewhere so that people could avail of this measure in next year's finance Bill.”
“For operations and treatment to be provided in Ireland under the visiting consultant model would be more cost-effective and have more long-term benefits. This would demonstrate real commitment to the care of women.”
“I thank the Minister. It is obvious that she is making great progress and is giving this the priority it deserves. We must commit to increasing capacity and implementing the visiting consultant model. Bringing internationally recognised experts to operate alongside Irish surgeons would rapidly and affordably expand skills and capacity, which would be far more effective than relying on an overstretched endometriosis surgery abroad interim scheme, ESAIS. This is especially important if the quote of over 100 extra complex surgeries per month is to be met. Over 30,000 women are on waiting lists for complex endo surgeries. To send each abroad at an approximate cost of €20,000 would result in a total cost in the order of €600 million.”
“I thank the Minister for the information. I welcome the launch of the first national endometriosis framework and the recognition of the women and girls who have suffered for many years from this condition. I recently met a constituent in my office who has suffered for over 20 years. She has experienced bottlenecks regarding diagnostics. It is very clear that we must acknowledge the pain and impact this condition has brought to the lives of so many women and girls. We need to ensure the framework is actioned without delay. I understand Cork and Tallaght are super hubs. Is this correct? Do all of the surgeries take place in those hospitals? When is it expected that the additional colorectal surgeon will be in place?”
“One in ten women in this country are affected by endometriosis, a condition that inflicts immense pain and suffering and is often unspoken about and misunderstood. Can the Minister advise how many operations have been completed for complex laparoscopy for severe endometriosis to date?”
“I thank the Minister of State. I welcome the possibility of engaging with him further on the matter. Another issue I have had is that many people contacted me complaining about the reliability of the service due to cancellations. Recently, I received a text describing how 20 people waited at the bus stop for the 9.40 a.m. 132 bus to Dublin, but it did not show up again. That is 20 people whose day and plans were ruined. If there is an issue, can a back-up plan be put in place? Another issue, which I have witnessed myself, one that is unforgivable, is buses departing earlier than the scheduled time and people missing them as a result. There must be zero tolerance for this.”
“All those things are wonderful around the country, but they are having zero impact on the 132 service. After much correspondence, the NTA is now saying this cannot progress as the Department of Transport has placed a hold on uncommitted expenditure for new public transport services. Can this issue be resolved? Many people have approached me saying they would use the service but cannot because of the limited timetable. The last bus leaves Baltinglass at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and the last leaves Dublin at 5.30 p.m. In fact, there is now a proposal to abolish a Thursday service from Carnew, which joins this route in Baltinglass. Therefore, the service is actually being reduced. The Department advises that it and the NTA are currently engaging in relation to funding the PSO programme. The Minister is saying funding is not a problem.”
“The only public transport from most of west Wicklow to Dublin is the 132 bus. We have no trains. It travels only four times daily, with the last bus leaving Baltinglass at 3 o’clock and the last leaving Dublin at 5.30 p.m. Last April, I met officials of the NTA and was told a very significant increased service – representing a doubling – was happening later in the month. Nothing has happened since. This is exceedingly frustrating.”
“It would go a long way to ensuring Europe's independence from the US. The alternative would be for Ukraine to lose the war, making Russia an even bigger threat. Spread across all NATO members, this is manageable. Europe has no choice. It also has a chance to speed up Europe's effort to establish its military and financial independence from America. Europe’s economy is ten times the size of Russia’s. Russia’s initial war boom has now given way to stagflation, with growth at almost zero, labour shortages, inflation of 8% and interest rates of 16.5%. Another few years of this would probably trigger an economic and banking crisis in Russia. If Europe can demonstrate to Russia that it will underwrite the war for at least that long, Russia may think differently. Europe needs to remain united in the face of Russia’s aggression.”
“For example, in Ukraine businesses already crippled by blackouts and Russian missiles are suffering from a severe labour shortage. Most will never return. Fourth, I want to discuss the financing of Ukraine. Unless something changes, Ukraine is expected to have no money at the end of next February. In February of this year, after Mr. Trump entered the White House, monthly American financial allocations to Ukraine stopped. Ukraine has now borrowed as much as it can. It has an official fiscal deficit of about one fifth of GDP. Public debt has doubled as a share of GDP since before the war to about 110%. Ukraine cannot borrow any more. Its last hope is Europe. The annual war effort requires €100 billion, which is equal to about half of Ukraine's GDP. Europe's NATO members need to step up and fund Ukraine.”
“There is a network of 43 Russian facilities to which Ukrainian children have been moved since February 2022. It is thought that many have been sent to military camps or foster care or even adopted by Russian families. The Yale team has been able to establish the identities of thousands of children. It is likely the largest child abduction in war since the Second World War. Third, I want to talk about Ireland taking in people from Ukraine. Ireland has taken in more than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. We have taken in by far the most in western Europe per capita and more in absolute numbers than France. This is commendable. However, I wonder whether we have really helped Ukraine by attracting some people who may have stayed.”
“I want to focus on a number of aspects of the Ukraine war and how it is so important to us here in Ireland. I want to speak first about the massive numbers who have died on both sides of the conflict. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 500,000 people have died on the Russian side and about half that on the Ukrainian side. This is a staggering number. It is happening in a European country that borders several EU countries. For the life of me I cannot understand why it is barely spoken about here nor mentioned in our main media outlets. Are the lives of hundreds of thousands of young men not important? Second, I want to raise the issue of missing children. Latest reports from experts at Yale University estimate that as many as 35,000 children may be held in Russia and its occupied territories.”
“In relation to taxes, we have a similar problem. Many businesses think the VAT they receive is part of their business cash, not fully understanding it is cash they collect on behalf of the State. I came across a business selling coffee. They thought the €4 they charge for the coffee was their income and the VAT was a cost. Similarly with PAYE, USC and PRSI, they sometimes use these taxes as cash flow for the business. Can the LEOs provide a basic tool to help small and not-so-small businesses navigate this apparently simple issue, which has driven many potentially successful businesses to the wall? Can such workshops be a regular offering by the LEOs? Can Revenue do the same? Can they inform small businesses of these supports?”
“I thank the Minister of State. That covers a lot of what I was looking for. These businesses include retail, restaurants, pubs, small family businesses and the self-employed. In my experience, many of them have a poor understanding of profit and loss. They do not understand the basics of gross profit and fixed overheads. If they understood them, they would know their break-even sales figure. This is fundamental to understanding viability. If they understand this, they can know using a weekly turnover figure how well they are doing. This means they can take corrective action before it is too late. Unfortunately, many only know they are not doing well when they see they cannot pay their VAT bill or their suppliers. Even then, they do not understand what the problem is.”
“Like the Minister, I have worked in and for small businesses in this country. The highest number of employed people in the country is in small businesses. Many of these businesses are an intrinsic part of their communities. They are also a crucial part of the economy and the social fabric of this State. What supports are in place for small companies and businesses to enhance their understanding of profit and loss and cash flow?”
“I raise the issue of rural planning. For over 20 years, I have worked in rural planning and sat through and made amendments to four county development plans. We need to do more to support people from rural areas to build a house in their local area. This is a contribution to the housing challenge. Unlike new houses elsewhere, there is no requirement for Government infrastructure or a cost to the State. The person pays for everything. A house in a rural area is not a blot on the landscape. It is part of the fabric of rural Ireland and adds to the social fabric of the area. We need national guidelines that reduce red tape and cost, involve better interaction with planners and support the principle of social or economic need reigning supreme over views and prospects.”
“We see this in infrastructure delivery. These delays are causing hardship for those involved and costing the taxpayer hundreds of million of euros. I will repeat what I said at the beginning. I hope this forms part of a move to an open and frank discussion.”
“Food and utility costs must also be charged. This is the same as what any citizen in this State pays. My next point relates to the distribution of IPAS locations. It is important that centres are not all located in one area, or that small towns and villages do not have very high numbers. In my own county of Wicklow, the majority of IPAS centres and numbers of people seeking international protection are located in one municipal district, namely, west Wicklow. This district is also the most poorly served by public transport and services. Above all, these measures should be introduced quickly. One of the main issues I have seen since I entered the Dáil is how slowly things move. The world out there moves quickly. Government action and the action of relevant public servants must move much more quickly and reflect the realities on the ground.”
“By denying quick decisions, we are leaving people in limbo. This is not good for them. It also contributes to overcrowding and many other challenges. This feeds into the extra cost to the State. This expenditure has been far in excess of what it needs to be. I urge the Minister to work to renegotiate all contracts with a view to lowering the cost. Allied to this, there needs to be a regular count to establish the numbers in each centre so as not to be paying for people who are not living there. This is a basic control. One of the cornerstones of any system is that all citizens of the State are treated equally. In the case of IPAS residents who are working and earning a wage, there must be a contribution to all accommodation costs. Rent should be calculated along the lines of the letting priority scheme of local authorities.”