Paschal Donohoe
Dublin Central · Ireland
“I raise the importance of our economy and funding of public services, and a particularly vital public service referenced in the programme for Government. I do so from the seat in Dáil Éireann that I first pursued and held in 2011.”
“I am proud of the investment we have made through our local authorities in recent years in the funding, and opening, of new libraries. They are cradles of decency. They are beacons of light in a world in which things are changing so much.”
“I thank my own team, who have worked so closely with me over so many years to allow me to do my work as a Minister and a representative of Dublin Central. I acknowledge that this is a complex and tough week for them, and I thank them for all they have done for me to allow me to do the work I have been trusted and privileged to do.”
“I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his support in the many committees I have appeared in front of that he has chaired and the relentless but always fair way in which he has discharged his duties. I wish everybody in this Dáil happiness, health and success in representing their constituents.”
“31 of 1999), which provides for a stamp duty to be levied on health insurance contracts that are entered into or renewed between authorised insurers and their customers in each quarter, be amended in the manner and to the extent specified in the Act giving effect to this Resolution. 19.”
“39 of 1997), which provides for tax exemptions for a unit trust which neither is, nor is deemed to be, an authorised unit trust scheme, be amended in the manner and to the extent specified in the Act giving effect to this Resolution. 7. THAT section 291A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (No.”
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Every one of 741 lines we hold for Paschal Donohoe, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 13 of 15.
“I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this issue. While there has been an exchange here about Dublin, I absolutely appreciate that our cities such as Cork also face issues and need adequate policing to be in place. I have a note here regarding national garda levels and the recruitment ambitions that we have, but I know what the Deputy is particularly concerned about is that local issue, the organisation of gardaí within Cork and the need for Cork to get the gardaí it needs. I will make sure the Minister for Justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, is aware of the issue that the Deputy has raised. I am sure he will do his best, and I am sure he will be encouraged to do so by the Taoiseach, to deal with the issue to which the Deputy has referred.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Aughrim. He has raised with me in the past the need for further investment in water in his constituency and the issues that the lack of that investment is having at the moment. I know the Irish Water plan currently sits with the regulator and it is currently being evaluated. The issues to which the Deputy referred are the reason we need to make more money available to Irish Water. I know the Ministers, Deputies O'Brien and Chambers, are aware of that, as are the Tánaiste and Taoiseach. We will be doing our best in the coming months to make that funding available because, without it, we cannot deliver the homes we need, we cannot support the businesses in the way they want and we cannot meet the needs of communities that are growing.”
“I know the cost of childcare is still very high for many, but I also meet many people who acknowledge the reduction that has happened in childcare fees under the last Government, a reduction that we want to continue to deliver in the time ahead. However, as is the case with all of these commitments, they are dealt with budget by budget. I know the Minister for children will be raising this issue as the budget approaches in October, and we will be aiming to make progress on it. It is something we want to continue to make progress on. We know there is a need for it. Progress has happened. What will then happen is the Minister for children, with the Minister for public expenditure, will look at what further measures can be put in place next year. We are well aware that this is something families want to see progress on.”
“I am not aware of that issue being raised by Dublin City Council, but I take on board the importance of the issue to which the Deputy referred. I will have to raise the funding for individual programmes with the Minister for housing, but I know what the Minister wants to do is to see more and better homes delivered through our local authorities. I know that with these kinds of issues not everything can always be done at once, but I know that funding that is made available to local authorities is now at the highest level it has been for some years. I will follow up with the Deputy regarding the individual schemes to which he has referred.”
“I also know every Deputy will be making the case for his or her constituency, but we know it is a good scheme that plays a role in lanes and roadways in rural Ireland. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Calleary, will do his best to make additional funding for the Deputy because we all know there is a demand for it.”
“I congratulate the Deputy Maxwell on his election to the House. I thank him for raising an issue that I know is really important for the people he represents. I know much work was done by his great predecessor, the former Minister, Heather Humphreys, with regard to this issue too and he wants to continue to build on this work. Regarding what the Deputy said, I understand that in his community, since 2017, 155 roads have now been completed under the local improvement scheme. The recent allocation that was made available was just under €1 million for the Deputy's community to respond to the issues he has raised. I know the Minister, Deputy Calleary, is looking at what funding he can provide under the local improvement scheme.”
“They get support from their families but we know our schools can help too, and we know our teachers want to play a part in that.”
“We are all reminded, either as parents or in the work we do in here, of how demanding life can now be for young students, and the critical role our schools can play in equipping them with the tools they need to deal with the issues the Deputy has described. The plans that are under way to do that at the moment refer to a post-primary well-being team that is now rolling out a two-day professional learning experience for the curriculums the Deputy referred to. I understand what the Department of Education is doing is making additional training and support available to those teachers who are delivering the curriculums the Deputy referred to, but we do need to continue to look at whether that is working and whether it is adequate. The Deputy is right. It is becoming harder and harder and more demanding for young students.”
“It demonstrates the need for us to invest more in our infrastructure and the work Irish Water is doing, which the Government is aiming to do.”
“It is because of the kinds of issues the Deputy referred to that the Minister, Deputy Chambers, will be looking at what additional funding can be made available to meet the energy and water needs that our country has and in order to deal with those kinds of issues we know are developing across many communities at the moment. I do not agree with the description the Deputy has offered of Irish Water and I am certain that if we were to begin a process of disentangling Irish Water and bringing it back into local authorities, after having spent many years going in the other direction, that would only add to our problems and not make them any easier. I appreciate the upset that would have been caused to the Deputy's constituents by this.”
“I will point to the work that is happening as well. With regard to the question Deputy Gannon planned to ask me and what is happening at the moment with regard to the two points he Deputy raised, the Government will prioritise the city centre that the Deputy and I are lucky enough to represent for additional gardaí. We accept the Deputy's point that the city needs that Garda presence. With regard to additional funding that needs to be made available to support the Dublin city task force, the Government is aware of the need to respond to that, and I will certainly play my part in it.”
“I know the Rutland Street school as well as the Deputy does. I am not denying the fact that bills have gone up but I go into the school and I see the degree of special and additional education that is made available. I stand over my point regarding the value of the work it does and how it is funded. I could go around the corner to the Rutland Street community centre which is now being built at a cost of many tens of millions of euro to support that community. I could go down Sheriff Street and look at the new St. Laurence O'Toole's National School building. I could go up to Parnell Square and see the new school that is being built there at the moment for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire. The Deputy is making a charge regarding our support for schools in a constituency that both of us are lucky enough to represent.”
“We have never spent so much on our schools as we are spending at the moment because we have never had so many reasons to be reminded of how important our schools are at the moment.”
“I absolutely accept the importance of the individual issues the Deputy has raised, but his statement regarding schools that are unable to provide education does not tally with the quality of education and teaching that happens across our schools in this country. I am not denying for a moment that there are issues that many schools confront but what we have seen is, with regard to the funding that is available to the Department of Education, the money they spend and the teachers that are available to them, the investment levels have gone up year after year. I know the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will continue to do all she can with the funding available to her to respond to the important issues many schools are facing at the moment.”
“What we cannot do at this stage, and what we will not be able to do come the budget, is commit to the kinds of packages that were there in the past, for the simple reason that spending many billions of euro when inflation is now down at a lower level could create problems and risks for us in the future in terms of our ability to afford them and what effect that could have on our public finances at a time when we need to keep them safe. I know this will be a complex argument to make in the time ahead. I am aware of the difficulties so many households and businesses are facing. However, at a time of international risk, we do not want to create additional risks that could arise in the months ahead for our country.”
“We absolutely recognise the challenges many are facing at the moment, the degree to which some charges within our economy are going up and the effect of so many years of very high levels of inflation within our economy. However, we also must be very honest about the environment we are in and the need to not add to risks that are made here at home. Of course the Government wants to look at supports we can put in place to deal with the various price changes that are taking place.”
“The Deputy's point about home charging is important. Another really important feature of home charging is convenience and certainty. If people know they can charge their car at home before beginning a journey, that will give them the confidence that is needed. There must be confidence that a charging network is in place if we are to facilitate a change in how cars are used. There are lots of other issues in regard to the use of EVs, including their costs. We have had debates regarding the supports the State makes available to their owners. I take on board the issue of confidence in the charging network as an important one. I will make sure the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is aware of the issues the Deputy has raised to see whether they can be accommodated in the charging network plan that is being drafted.”
“I will ensure the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is aware of the specific but important issues Deputy Gogarty has raised with me and ask him to look at whether or how they can be included in the plan that is being prepared.”
“The local and regional electric vehicle charging networks are rolled out through the local authorities and are funded by zero emission vehicles Ireland, ZEVI. A lot of important work is being done in this area. For example, a contract has been awarded to deliver an additional 200 charge points at 50 different locations across Dublin, the majority of which will be located in local authority public car parks and will be rapid in nature. That sets the background for the Deputy's question. He asked where we stand in regard to apartments and underground charging lines. He referred to the apartment charger grant and the kinds of changes we need to make. Work is under way on a regional and local EV charging network plan, which is currently at draft stage.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. He probably knows better than I do that there are challenges in regard to the emissions from private transport. This is one of the really big issues we have in ensuring our country can move closer to the climate commitments we have to each other, not to mention those enshrined in law. Public transport and its greater availability will play a big part in that but the question of how we can change how private transport is used and how car journeys can be made in a way that reduces their carbon emissions is critical. The Deputy corrected some of the misinformation that is out there. Electric vehicles have an important role to play in our efforts in this area. As their technology improves, we must look at what we can do in regard to the charging network.”
“If the status of an individual school mattered enough to the Deputy, he would have let me know about that individual school before I came into this Chamber. Deputy Healy knows that I cannot be aware of the status of every school in this country.”
“In the time that is available to us, we will work hard to make those classes available and to continue to build on our efforts to have the right number of therapists available in the right places and settings to provide the support we know is needed.”
“That is why we need to continue in our efforts to put in place the therapists, special schools and special classes these children need. The Deputy will also be aware of the work that the Minister for Education is doing with the aim of making more special classes in schools available across the country. The plans that we have in place to do that recognise that the last thing families and their beloved children need, on top of everything else they are confronting in life, is not knowing what school their lovely child, the child they love, will be in. We recognise the huge anxiety that can cause and we know that September after September, this is an issue for too many families.”
“Our urgency to do that is driven by an appreciation of the needs that young children have and by an appreciation that we need to, and want to, do better by them. The Deputy asked what actions are being taken by the Government in relation to this. From a healthcare, therapist and staffing point of view, the number of health and social care professionals now employed by the HSE has increased by nearly 4,784 whole-time equivalents, that is, people who are doing the equivalent of a full-time role, which is up 28.5% on where we were in 2020. I am really conscious that when I stand up and talk about figures, it feels very hollow at times in comparison to the individual experience of a child and their family but the people I am referring to, who have been hired, are making a difference to families and children.”
“I hope I get this right; I think the Deputy referred to Michael and Neil in his question. I am very conscious that they are very young children who are very special to their families and communities and who need additional help in getting the start they need in life. All of us, whether in government or in opposition, are aware of those within the communities that we are lucky enough to serve who have young children who need better support as they begin a journey in life in which they will face more challenges and in which their needs are additional and more complex. The Deputy asked a question about prosecution and action that could be taken against the Government. That does happen but I can assure the Deputy that we do not need the threat of prosecution to do more or to act more.”
“I can only say that we approach all of this with budget surpluses, which Deputy O'Callaghan's party was always against, the set-up of funds and the use of those funds-----”
“The Government laid out last week our analysis of what the impact could be on our economy. On many occasions, both in the Dáil and elsewhere, we have outlined three priorities. Our first priority is how we engage with the United States of America and we acknowledge - as does Deputy O'Callaghan, in honesty - the difficulty of that engagement. Second, what we have made very clear is that engagement is now under way between Ireland and our partners within the European Union on what an appropriate response could be. Third, what the Government has been doing for many years, and will continue to do, is look at the measures that can be put in place to strengthen our budget, our jobs and our enterprise economy.”
“We went on to say that in this context – this was made crystal clear in a number of debates – the State and the Government would act to protect public services and our tax base and look at how we could support jobs in our economy. We showed honesty in answering that question. I wish the Deputy could show the same in putting his question to me.”
“It referred to phasing out the special assignee relief programme which many of the decision-makers who lead the companies based here are on. That is the political commitment of the Social Democrats. That is what it indicated. On what I, my party and the parties that make up this Government said, we were clear during debates and in our manifestos and crystal clear in the programme for Government that Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independent politicians negotiated. It is laid out in black and white. We outlined what we would do in the event that we could avoid exceptional economic difficulties but we were honest in indicating what could happen.”
“Having scrolled all the way down through to section 15, I saw a reference to jobs – a simple, “increase funding for Enterprise Ireland”. I did not see any reference to the IDA, the organisation involved in helping us combat all of this. I looked at the tax changes the Social Democrats proposed. I will remind Deputy O’Callaghan of them before I deal with the charges he made against us. It referred to the “Removal of the refundable element for unused R and D tax credits” – the very research and development tax credits that play a role in supporting businesses in our economy. It referred to “Abolishing entrepreneur relief on capital gains tax” at exactly the time when we want our entrepreneurs to do more.”
“I thank the Deputy for, ultimately, during this week raising a serious economic challenge that confronts this country. I note he raised it in a very political context so let me respond first on that before I deal with the substantive issue regarding the threat and difficulty our country could face and our response. I have in front of me the alternative budget of the Social Democrats. I attempted to see what reference or recognition the Social Democrats gave to jobs and the competitiveness of our economy. I looked at section 1 – I could not see it. I looked at section 2 – I could not see it. I had to go all the way down to section 15 of the Social Democrats’ alternative budget to find any reference to jobs and how we support our economy.”
“When that report is then shared with the Department and the work is concluded, of course, contact will take place in as comprehensive and honest a manner as possible with all who fear they could have been affected by this. I underline again the seriousness with which the Government, hospitals and the Minister take this matter.”
“The Deputy does not need to remind us of the impact this can have on families and those who have been affected by the issues now being raised. We know how important it is to maintain trust in our health services particularly for our very youngest who could be dealing with complex health needs. There is a need to ensure they trust those whose care and expertise they depend on. It is equally important in dealing with all of this is that we assemble the facts in a clear and authoritative way and that we are in a position to communicate to those who have been affected by it when there is greater clarity on exactly what happened. That process is coming to an end. The report to which the Deputy referred, which has been published elsewhere, has been assessed by the author involved in doing it. He sought further clinical input.”
“It is all about ensuring that any surgical practice that took place during that period was carried out in a way that was consistent with international standards and the care that any family would expect when entrusting our health professionals with a child's care.”
“The first will be to communicate clearly with the families of children who may have been affected and to share with them, in a transparent and open way, the conclusions of this report, acknowledging the distress and worry that many face. The second will be to look at what further actions, if any, are needed to respond to the consequences of any operations that took place. The third relates to a core theme of the audit that will have taken place. We will need to understand if and why this happened in the first place and what the consequences of it are. The hospitals, the Minister and the Government will take this as seriously as the House would expect. It is important to emphasise that this work is under way.”
“As Deputy Doherty has already acknowledged, a clinical audit is now taking place with regard to this issue. I emphasise that this audit is taking place in recognition of the seriousness of this matter and what it means for families' trust and confidence in health services that are designed to look after them and to support their health. That audit is being conducted at the moment. As to where that process now stands, the report is now being looked at. Clinicians are providing final input into it. That final input will be available to the author of the report very shortly, if it has not already been shared. I am certain that when the process is complete, this work will be shared with the Department of Health, the hospitals and those who lead them. At that point, a number of further priorities will then become urgent.”
“I thank the Deputy very much for raising this very important matter. I am very conscious that before this report was made available, many families had very deep worries about surgeries their beloved children had undergone. They were raising questions about the need for and impact of these surgeries. They will at least have questioned their trust in our health service and health professionals. As the Deputy raises this very important issue, I am also conscious that our nurses, doctors and consultants work very hard to provide the best possible care to those with whose care they are entrusted. This is why it is so vital that when issues are raised regarding the need for surgeries or any other medical interventions, their impacts and why they occurred, those issues are taken very seriously and acted upon.”
“We will look to see if any steps can be taken which are affordable and sensible that will better meet the needs the Deputy is referring to. He is right because if we do not meet these needs, the health needs of patients only grow and the functioning of nursing homes becomes more difficult.”
“I am going to deal with this issue because it is an issue of such importance to Deputy Burke. He has raised it with me on a number of occasions in addition to raising it with the Minister for Health. As he knows at the moment the capitation fees that are paid to GPs in respect of nursing home residents are the highest paid in respect of any patient recognising the complexity of health needs that I know Deputy Burke will understand probably better than I do. I know this is a difficult issue because we need to find ways in which we can meet the care needs of nursing home residents but we also know the demands on GPs at the moment and the challenges they are already facing. The Deputy has raised this issue with me and the Minister of Health today.”
“The Government has redoubled its efforts regarding dereliction. The previous Government did so with the introduction of a number of grants that are being used in a very successful way to turn derelict properties into homes. There is a derelict sites register that is used at the moment. I am sure Galway County Council does not lack will regarding the issue. It sounds like the hotel mentioned by the Deputy is of a bigger scale than a mere home. I will pass on this issue to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and its local authority unit to see what can be done. At the bare minimum, any site like that should be made secure and should not be adding to any difficulties that a community is facing.”
“I will ensure that the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is aware of the issue in Graiguenamanagh raised by the Deputy and ask him whether anything more can be done about it. I will pass on the Deputy's support for the project.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in relation to Graiguenamanagh. The introduction of these flood relief schemes does two things. Firstly, it increases confidence in moments of flood risk. Secondly and most importantly, these schemes work. I have experience of flooding in my constituency on a very different scale from other parts of the country. I have seen at first hand the harm and stress it causes. The work of the OPW is really important in terms of the larger flooding events we are trying to avoid. I confirm that funding is available to the OPW to move forward on these projects, as the Deputy acknowledged in his question. We are aiming to change and have changed our planning system so that key projects like this are in a position to move forward.”
“Yesterday, the Government made a commitment regarding a State facility. It made this commitment in order to ensure we will have available to us emergency reserves that could be used if we find ourselves in a position where supply into our country is in some way threatened. We want to identify if there is any role for the private sector with regard to this. I emphasise that the announcement the Government made yesterday is about a State-led and State-owned facility. For me, that is the key point.”
“To return firstly to the previous matter raised by Deputy Michael Murphy, I acknowledge that he has been raising his issue with me but as the Minister for Health is here, I thought a direct response from her was perhaps more helpful to him. In response to Deputy O'Shea, I acknowledge the importance of the issue and thank him for raising it. I know an awful lot of work has happened on this. Funding for rural transport went from €12 million to €57 million in 2024. It is planned to put in place significant improvements to this service this year. The NTA is engaging with Bus Éireann on this matter. It has informed me that it will be able to introduce the enhancement in the coming months. I will follow up with it to find out the date of the announcement and to make sure it is aware of the Deputy's interest in and support for this proposal.”
“I am aware of the bad news that the Deputy’s county has had to confront in terms of job losses. I know the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs will work hard to support those who are losing their jobs at a moment when there is already uncertainty across the world. With regard to Offaly, I want to reassure Deputy Nolan and the communities and constituents she represents of the commitment that the Ministers, Deputy Peter Burke and Deputy Dara Calleary, have to balanced regional development and the investment in place behind that. I know, of course, that the Deputy will want to see proof of that so those who have lost a job have confidence they can get another job. That is why the State agencies will work hard to create an environment in which that can happen.”
“We have been successful in working through the regulator and the Department to see the majority of the connections repaired. I agree with the Deputy that for anybody to be in a situation where they do not have contact with loved ones, their local community or the health service is a significant problem. I will ensure that the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, is aware of this issue. I know that huge efforts were made to bring back connections as soon as possible and to put back in place vital infrastructure, but we have to keep going until everybody is connected.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know that is the commitment with regard to the publication of these important guidelines. I am not aware if there is any reason why that deadline will not be met but I also know there is a new Minister in that Department, and I am sure the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, will want to consider this issue carefully. I am sure he will want to publish them as soon as possible and having the Deputy raise this in the House today will only add to his awareness of it as an important matter. I am sure it will happen soon. I will make sure that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is aware that Deputy Kerrane has raised the matter.”
“The IDA will continue to work with large employers to identify how we can make use of the site and lands to get more jobs into the Deputy’s community and ensure that international employers continue to want to be present in Cork. I thank Deputy McCarthy for his work in this regard. I will make sure the Minister and the IDA are aware of it.”
“I acknowledge the role that Deputy McCarthy is playing in trying to support the development of the IDA site in Fermoy. I agree with him regarding the potential it has and the important role it could play in supporting jobs in his community. The IDA is committed to looking at how good and productive use can be made of this site. While it has received some approaches, that has not yet translated into the jobs the Deputy is looking for and that should be available. I will raise the issue. The IDA is aware of it but I will also make sure that the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, is aware of the point that the Deputy has raised today.”
“The Deputy is correct that we have to accelerate our path to energy self-sufficiency and do that through green energy. The three ways in which we will do it are: first, through the support of MARA and the implementation of the new planning framework off the shores of our country; second, by continuing to put in place the investment that we are committed to putting in place in our ports and directly, where we can, into the energy sector to allow private sector investment to flourish; and third, through the co-operation we can have with the United Kingdom and the European Union to deliver very large projects. I am pleased that this kind of co-operation was discussed by Prime Minister Starmer, the Taoiseach and their ministerial teams this morning. That kind of co-operation is vital.”