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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“In relation to the points the Deputy made, the Government has made available - because we know it needs to be done - additional operating capacity in Ireland to support families who need that healthcare and we have put in place the surgeons and support to do it. I will certainly follow up on the status of the need for children to travel abroad to get that healthcare, but in many cases it can be driven by clinical considerations. We have to respect those who make the decisions. Let me emphasise that the Tánaiste and the rest of the Government are absolutely committed to doing all we can to put the supports in place for the young children who need the support.”
“I have seen few people who are moved more by the pain they are in and the needs they and their families have than Simon. I absolutely refute some of the things Deputy Tóibín has said about him and tell him that some of the claims he has made are cynical.”
“I have seen few people who care more about children with scoliosis and their health needs than Simon Harris. I have seen at first hand the commitment he has had to making a difference to their lives and health.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue on behalf of Rebecca. I will ensure that the Minister for Health is aware of the status of this medicine, Veozah, and that it is given the consideration it needs. I cannot second guess or answer on behalf of the independent bodies that look at the variety of available medicines and whether they are appropriate and can be made available in a sustainable way in Ireland, but I know that these are sensitive matters and for someone who has survived cancer, as Rebecca has, and wants to have a long and healthy life ahead of her, I am sure this is really serious. The Minister, Carroll MacNeill, will be aware of this. I will pass the Deputy's concerns on to her and thank her for raising it.”
“We have to do better on those because it is vital to show the local communities the Deputy represents that we are giving them the place and environment they deserve in their towns.”
“I remember being in Clonmel with the Deputy during the summer. On what was otherwise a bright and great morning, the Deputy walked around the centre of Clonmel and pointed out to me the number of properties that were not being used and were on the verge of dereliction. I cannot give him an exact timeline for when this fund will be available, but I can assure him of two things. First, the capital funding that is available to the Department of housing is continuing to grow. Within that, the Department will prioritise the roll-out of either the URDF or its replacement. Second, we will continue to look at the grants that are available to address dereliction because, while I can see them working in some parts of the country, I could clearly see on that day in Clonmel with the Deputy the challenges that were still there.”
“It is quite generous and for those who are availing of it, it helps with the student accommodation needs we know are there at the moment.”
“The Deputy's raising of this matter gives me an opportunity to remind us all of the value of the scheme. It now stands at a value of €14,000 per year. In recent years, we have seen a considerable increase in the number of taxpayers who are availing of it. It went from being roughly 10,000 per year to 16,500 in 2023. It is playing an important role in the availability of additional student accommodation. The Deputy will be aware of the need for all of these things to add up and be affordable on budget day. It is in that light that we will have to consider this measure to see whether it can be strengthened. However, at the very least, the Deputy's raising of it today has given me the opportunity to explain to anyone who is listening that this scheme is available.”
“-----the current Minister, Deputy Lawless, is clearly building on that. Efforts have been made to look at eligibility for SUSI grants to ensure they can play a role in the cost of living for students going to college. The Government is well aware of the sensitivity of the decision we will make about registration fees for students. No decisions have yet been made, but all of the Government, and not least the Minister, Deputy Lawless, is well aware of the importance of the decision, and we will make it. However, I will make a broad point that we have to ensure that, in the round, we have some ability to be able to pay for everything we do into the future. We got a sharp warning today from the ESRI about that. That is an important factor in how we put together this budget.”
“The last thing we are looking for in preparing the budget is plaudits, particularly from Sinn Féin. I do not hold out any hope of us ever getting them from Sinn Féin. If we were to, I would be convinced we were doing the wrong thing. Regarding what we are looking to do, the Government's track record on trying to help students is pretty clear by this point. For example, the work done by the previous Minister, Deputy Harris, and-----”
“I have no doubt that, as we see a decision made on the operation of the cap, the issues Deputy Ó Muirí has raised will only become more intense.”
“They do make the odd appearance over Phibsborough, but for many who live very close to the airport, it is an important matter. As Deputy Ó Muirí said, changing the airport cap at Dublin Airport is really important, not just for the airport, but for broader aviation and growth within our economy. Regarding how we are going to respond to the matters raised, it will first be by continuing to support the work done in the management of noise. We have an aircraft noise competent authority, which plays a role in the regulation of noise and the effect it has on local communities. Second, I understand we have a residential noise insulation scheme, as the Deputy raised, that is operated by DAA. I will raise Deputy Byrne's point with the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, relating to the operation of that scheme and the breadth of it.”
“The Deputy is aware of the additional operating theatre that is available, the additional staff there, and the number of children we seek sought to prioritise for healthcare elsewhere. However, we know more progress needs to be made. We will certainly assess Deputy Gogarty's proposal in a generous way to see if it could make a concrete difference to the very important thing he wants to see delivered.”
“I thank the Deputy for reminding the House of the nature and detail of the motion. He was calling for the consideration of ideas in this area. We should all be able to participate in that. The Government is certainly happy to do so. Regarding the specific proposal around a Bill, I will have to consult the Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. I take care around putting really important policy matters into legislation because, at times, it can undermine the ability of the Government to intervene and respond to issues that are complex. We have put so much in additional resources into trying to help the young children and their families who are dealing with the health condition of scoliosis.”
“Too many families are still experiencing the risk of poverty and homelessness and too many children are still sleeping in conditions that the Government wants to be otherwise. When we bring forward not only the budget, but also Housing for All, that will be a key area of focus for us. In the last number of weeks, the Government made further funding available to focus particularly on families at risk of being homeless and to give them more permanent measures to avoid that trauma happening to them.”
“I do not need to be lectured by the Deputy on points of procedure and how this Parliament works. I was making the point that just because a motion was passed in the Dáil does not mean the Government was bound to implement every element of it. The Deputy knows that. Regarding Housing for All, the Government, with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne at the heart of this, is preparing the next phase of our housing strategy. In relation to the action that is being taken, we know in recent weeks and months that due to the efforts of Government and local authorities, 8,000 families have either been prevented from going into homelessness or have been exited from temporary accommodation. However, we know more needs to be done.”
“For many young people, in particular, who are involved in this kind of activity, the response is not purely related to justice and is not purely from our policing authorities. It needs to be supported by what happens in our schools. That is my understanding of what the Ministers, Deputies O’Callaghan, Foley and McEntee, are currently doing.”
“I have to say that in most cases I find the line between antisocial behaviour and criminal activity is very thin. For those who experience antisocial behaviour, which I am sure the Deputy has to deal with in his constituency, it can be very intimidating and difficult but I accept some activity may well be outside the parameters of criminality. We allowed a motion to be passed here for further discussion within the House but, as far as I am aware, the focus of the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, at the moment is on continuing to support youth diversion programmes. I was at an event the Minister did at Belvedere Youth Club recently in relation to that. He is working to support efforts in our schools and to continue to ensure our gardaí have the resources and support they need to deal with behaviour that is truly criminal.”
“I thank the Deputy. I was not aware of the matter until he raised it. I can only imagine it is really difficult for somebody to live in a partially repaired home in which work has been going on for so long. I know the Deputy would not raise it if he did not think it was serious. I will make sure the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, is aware of this. My office will contact him after this to pass it on. It sounds like a very difficult situation.”
“This work is all about ensuring the rapid increase in the number of SNAs is used in a way that brings benefits to those who need them most. I am very much aware of the sensitivity of the matter, as is the Minister for education.”
“I have seen at first hand the important role our SNAs play in classrooms all over the country, giving that little bit of additional support and help to young girls and boys who need it as they begin their school life and throughout their educational journey. There are 23,000 SNAs in our country. Compare that with where we were a number of years ago. In 2011, we had just over 10,000. There are now over 23,000. In the past five years, the number of SNAs has increased by 43% and they are needed. I just want to put that on the record of the House. The work now under way is about ensuring we make best use of the SNAs available and respond to issues raised with us by representative bodies on the needs of SNAs. I will let the Minister for education know this matter has been raised here today.”
“Finally, an important element of it of all is that as we all, I hope, look forward to longer lives, if we have the opportunity to work for longer, as many want to do, that makes an important contribution to the dependency rate the Deputy referred to. It is an important issue the Deputy has called out and the commission of care report on this that will be out early next year will, I hope, inform a really good debate on the matter.”
“I thank the Deputy. Of course, the sustainability of our social insurance scheme is an important concern of Government. What are we doing in relation to it? First, it is important to acknowledge the Social Insurance Fund is in healthy surplus and is a big part of our overall healthy public finances at the moment. Second, this is the very reason we are going ahead with the auto-enrolment pension scheme. As we roll it out next year, it will pose challenges and costs because it is a transformational scheme. However, it is at the heart of ensuring sustainability in pension policy in the decades ahead. It is by encouraging and incentivising, in particular, those starting their working life to set money aside to complement a pension provided by the State later in life.”
“Being able to live, work, contribute to our country and experience the benefits of longer life is unreservedly positive. However, it brings with it important policy consequences that we are dealing with budget to budget. The commission on care is the Government's effort to have a more strategic approach to this matter, which will define what our country looks like in the decades ahead.”
“A total of 24.3 million hours of home care will be delivered in Ireland this year, ensuring that around 60,000 of our older citizens get the support they need and deserve within their own homes. It is fair to say that when it comes to providing supports, we continue to experience difficulties in getting and keeping the people we need to provide that level of home care support. That, in turn, feeds into the point the Deputy made regarding the waiting times people face to access that support in the first place. The Minister for Health will continue to look at how we can tackle this issue. We have seen a really big increase in funding for that in recent years. I will end where I began by noting that our life expectancy is growing.”
“In terms of what we are doing generally in this regard, we have put in place a commission on care, which is preparing a report for the Government on the effectiveness and adequacy of the healthcare supports for our elderly, conscious that they will grow in numbers in the years ahead and that they deserve the support we all want to give them. Regarding the here and now and what we are doing to help people year by year, the total level of spending currently going into old persons' services is approximately €3 billion. That is an increase of €349 million from the budget that went before that. I will give one example that helps to translate that figure into what it tangibly means for older people and those who love them and want to see them get the care they deserve.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We are now very much in a phase where not only is the number of people living in our country growing, which is a great gift to the ability of our economy to grow and our society to grow and flourish, we are also seeing more people who are older and have the level of care need to which the Deputy referred. Growing life expectancy in our country - the growing length of life many of us have to look forward to - is unreservedly and positively a very good thing but it brings with it important consequences from a policy point of view that we are now beginning to experience particularly within our healthcare system.”
“It has been going on for some time. The Road Safety Authority is the right body to make a final conclusion and we will be informed by its recommendation on the matter.”
“When we speak of children who are left on the side of the road, acknowledging there are issues we need to address, I emphasise to the Dáil that nearly 180,000 families and their children get support and the service they need through this scheme. This is at an overall cost to the taxpayer of more than €0.5 billion in recognition of the issues raised by Deputy Collins today and raised often by Deputies on this side of the House. Regarding his particular point on age, I assure him that assessment is being carried out by the appropriate body, which is the Road Safety Authority. It is entirely correct that the issue be assessed from a safety perspective, which the authority is doing. One way or another, the matter will come to a conclusion. I will make sure the Ministers for Transport and education are aware this issue has been raised.”
“Some of the challenges in doing that are directly related to the fact the overall cost of the scheme has doubled in a few short years. I am certainly aware, as are the Ministers for education and public expenditure, of the need to ensure that as we make the scheme more broadly available, which I have no doubt will happen, it happens in a way that is economically sustainable such that we are able to fund the expansion of the service in the years ahead. I imagine that is playing in a role in relation to bringing more operators into the scheme.”
“I am not making the case that there are not issues. The Deputy raised two of them. However, I want to acknowledge that this is a big programme that offers support to over 170,000 families and children, which is why it is always a policy area of such interest to the House. On the matters the Deputy raised, on whether drivers over 70 should be allowed to drive school buses, my understanding is that this relates to a retirement age put in place by Bus Éireann. The policy perspective is to have the retirement ages aligned between Bus Éireann and those involved in providing that service. The Road Safety Authority is preparing a report for the Department of Transport with regard to the appropriateness of that age limit for the service. I hear many different demands in respect of the expansion of the scheme.”
“I thank the Deputy Collins for raising this important matter. Before I respond to the important and specific questions he raised in respect of the school transport scheme, it is important to put the matter in the context. In that regard, this is the scheme that, in 2024, the taxpayer funded at a cost of €512 million. In 2019, the cost was €219 million. The cost of this scheme has doubled in a short number of years, which, in terms of the rate of public expenditure growth, is way ahead of spending on many other policy initiatives across our State at the moment. The Deputy made reference to children who were not able to access the scheme, which I will discuss in a moment. I acknowledge the number of children who are accessing the scheme. Last year, 178,000 children and families accessed the scheme. That was a 3% increase on previous years.”
“Through the diplomatic action we have taken, we have tried to play a role in influencing and building up a coalition of countries that have recently taken larger action with regard to the State of Palestine. In relation to the proposal the Deputy put to me, I will raise it with the Department of foreign affairs to see if there is a role for an observer. Taking his concern at face value, which, of course, I do in light of the importance of this issue, I cannot immediately commit that an official can do this, but I certainly commit to following up on it. We are at one in wanting to ensure that any citizen involved in such a peaceful act gets the protection of international law.”
“For a country with our long-standing tradition in the context of respect for human rights and our neutrality, diplomacy is the way conduct our affairs. It is also the way we seek to influence the world and protect the rights of our citizens. Words are not powerless. Words are not an absence of action. Words are do not represent a lack of effort. Words and diplomacy are the way we seek to make our case with the respect we have for international law and with our long-established values. Words are our means of action and our tool of influence. I reject and refute the case the Deputy makes that communication and contact are not the same as action or something that can yield a result.”
“He also raised it at the meeting in the past number of days regarding the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in the context of the effort countries are still making for a two-state solution in the Middle East. The Department of foreign affairs, at a practical level, is doing all it can to provide consular assistance to our citizens who find themselves in such a difficult situation. I am informed that our officials are in direct contact with a designated person in the Global Movement to Gaza delegation, which I understand is the organising group behind this flotilla. We will continue to maintain that contact and to raise this issue at the highest level we can, both diplomatically and politically.”
“I do not have the first-hand experience Deputy Murphy has of the flotilla and seeing it prepare, but I have no doubt at all that those who are involved in it are motivated by a desire to send a signal regarding their human response to what is happening in Gaza and to play whatever role they can in offering practical support to the people confronting such terrible conditions. As to what we have done, it is at a number of different levels. First, the Tánaiste, as I said earlier, has raised this issue with Vice President Kaja Kallas, who is the high representative of the European Union with regard to foreign policy, to make the case for the European Union having a collective response to this.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising, as Deputy Doherty did, a really important issue regarding the protection of citizens on international seas and the rule of law with regard to them. The Government, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste are keenly aware of this. What are we doing with regard to it? We are taking diplomatic action. We are raising this matter with other governments within the European Union and at the international gatherings happening in New York. I reiterate that the protection of international law must be afforded to those who are at sea at the moment and those who are on the flotilla. Regardless of the conditions they are in, they deserve the protection offered by international law. That is absolutely crucial.”
“On the Deputy's point on narrowing the tax base, I am keenly aware of that, which is why the tax package we bring forward for budget 2026 cannot and should not exceed €1.5 billion. That €1.5 billion is approximate to the income that will be generated through our tax code by our economy growing. It is my strong view that those is the parameter within which tax changes should be made. I really welcome the opportunity for a debate on these matters, including the broad economic policy of our country, but the budget surpluses we are running, where they are going at the moment, is a very strong response from this Government to ensure resilience and safety in our public finances.”
“Deputy Nash knows I have the height of respect for him and the points he raises. He is correct in saying that the Labour Party is a rare exception on the Opposition benches in being willing to support, at times, sensible policies to broaden the tax base. He asked me my views on broadening the tax base. I will talk about what we have already done and what we are yet to do. There are: the changes with regard to PRSI to ensure that our pension plans will be better funded in the future; the changes we have made to carbon taxation, which, in fairness to the Labour Party, it has supported, to find better ways of funding the spending we need to make with regard to climate change; and the changes we have made in revaluing and extending the tax base with regard to local property tax, which, again, in fairness to it, the Labour Party has supported.”
“I accept the legitimacy of many of the cases the Deputy makes, but those who advocate care in relation to general public spending are always very eager to make the case for specific public spending proposals, sometimes of great value. While I do not believe he makes that mistake, Deputy Nash is surrounded by many who do. The Government will bring forward a budget that will post another large surplus. Shortly after that, we will outline the plans we have to look at what we will do in the years ahead to moderate, in particular, current public spending and to get it to a more sustainable level of increases. I have no doubt that when we do that, it will be vigorously opposed by many.”
“I have devoted much of my life over the last decade to the case for running budget surpluses with, I have to say, not a whole lot of support in this House for doing so. I have done that in anticipation of those risks. I rarely take out my mobile phone in the Dáil. I always try to leave it aside out of respect for the proceedings we have here. However, I went onto the Labour Party website as the Deputy was making his points. Today on the website, Labour is calling for more spending with regard to equal early years programmes, public transport, housing and public sector pay. That is what the Labour Party is calling for at the moment.”
“In response to the charges made regarding the level of risk that is present in our public spending plans at the moment, first I would emphasise the point regarding the scale of the budget surplus we are now running. Second, I would point out that by the end of this year, €16 billion will be set aside in the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. That figure will rise to €22 billion by next year. That is the aim of the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I with regard to deposits in those funds. Third, Deputy Nash should note that when I began my work as Minister for public expenditure, debt as a share of national income was in excess of 120%. Today, it is just slightly above 60%. It has halved. That is the work that I have done.”
“I thank Deputy Nash for raising this matter. When I was preparing for Leaders' Questions here today, part of me thought it was unlikely that I would get a question about the Government spending too much money. I am really glad that the Deputy has raised this because it gives me an opportunity to respond on what are very important issues. First, on the sustainability of our public finances and where we are, there is nobody more aware than me - although I suspect that Deputy Nash is nearly as alive to it as me - of what the risks of the past were and of the dangers of them playing out again. It is a matter of which I am aware every single day in the context of the individual decisions that I make and their accumulation.”
“We know that it is demanding for so many at the moment and what we want to do is bring forward measures that are targeted and that we are confident we can sustain in the time ahead.”
“Indeed. In relation to the matters that Deputy Doherty has just raised, we are well aware of the challenge that the cost of living is posing for so many. I would make the point that for every budget I have brought into this House, he has always criticised me for not spending enough. He has always criticised us for running budget surpluses. If we had taken his approach in recent years, we would not have had the ability to intervene and help as we did in the last two years, let alone the ability to help again. The Government, for example, will be able to make a decision in relation to the VAT on gas and electricity which will play a role in maintaining the support that is available. That is a decision that will be considered in the context of the budget.”
“I gave Deputy Doherty the opportunity to confirm or at least explain to the House whether Sinn Féin is still making the case for an energy price cap, which it did in the last Dáil. I notice that he did not answer that question.”
“What myself and my colleagues in government are working on now is determining the further measures we can bring forward that will be affordable and sustainable and will make a difference. A previous Sinn Féin policy in relation to this was the introduction of an energy price cap. Deputy Doherty might use this as an opportunity to explain whether that is still Sinn Féin policy.”
“On the particular issue that Deputy Doherty raised in relation to the cost of energy, the Government is very much aware of that. Much, though not all of it, is driven by where we are located and by the mix of energy that is used within our economy and country. We are aware of the impact this is having on our society and our competitiveness. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is completing work in this area looking at the structural changes that we may be able to introduce over time that can play a role. In the answer that I have offered to the House today I have outlined the measures that are currently being implemented and rolled out that aim to make a difference for those for whom the cost of living is such a challenge. This is what is happening.”
“We see the progress that has been made in recent years with the availability of free GP care, which is now available for all children up to and including the age of eight. We have seen the work that has happened with the reduction in the electricity PSO levy. We have seen the significant expansion of the fuel allowance and carer's allowance. In June this year, 138,000 carers benefited, deservedly, from the carer's support grant. This is in addition to other measures that have been built on year by year like free public transport for children and the work that has happened in relation to childcare costs. The public sector pay deal which was implemented again on 1 August mirrors the wage growth that we are seeing across our economy and is playing a role in assisting with the cost of living at a time when prices are going up.”
“I know Deputy Doherty has already dismissed what I am about to do as reading out a list, but it is important to emphasise the degree of support that is already available. These measures were brought forward in anticipation of the cost of living continuing to be a challenge across this year. It is these kinds of measures that the Government will aim to build upon when the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I present budget 2026 on Tuesday week. If we look at the measures that are being implemented across this year alone, we see the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, a measure that has given needed support to 221,000 children. Very recently, we saw the free schoolbook initiative being rolled out to every child in primary and secondary school. We see all the efforts that are made every year to reduce school transport fees.”