Brendan Smith TD

All recent activity captured from oireachtas.ie's public open-data feeds — debate contributions and parliamentary questions. Links open the official record on the Oireachtas website.

Parliamentary questions

• June 11, 2026PQ to Minister for Climate
  Legislative Process

  Asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the timeline to enact the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 11, 2026PQ to Minister for Culture
  Sports Funding

  Asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the expected timeline for the opening of the next Community Sports Facilities Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 11, 2026PQ to Minister for Culture
  Sports Funding

  Asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider increasing the level of grant aid in the next Community Sports Facilities Fund taking into account the substantial increase in construction costs since the last round of grants were approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 10, 2026PQ to Minister for Justice
  Departmental Investigations

  Asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 501 of 20 November 2025, if he will give an update on the current position regarding an investigation into the Belturbet bombing of December 1972; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 10, 2026PQ to Minister for Health
  Vaccination Programme

  Asked the Minister for Health if the shingles vaccine will be provided free of charge for patients with multiple myeloma as sought by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Defence
  Defence Forces

  Asked the Minister for Defence her plans to review the structure of the Army following the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Defence
  Defence Forces

  Asked the Minister for Defence the current position regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Agriculture
  Agriculture Schemes

  Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that adequate funding will be provided to enable all eligible applications under TAMS to obtain approval to proceed with work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Children
  Departmental Projects

  Asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 360 of 5 February 2026, the present status of this project (details supplied); when it will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Children
  Disability Services

  Asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures that will be implemented without further delay to improve services for children with additional needs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• June 09, 2026PQ to Minister for Children
  Disability Services

  Asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress to date in addressing severe deficiencies in the provision of services for children with additional needs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 28, 2026PQ to Minister for Public Expenditure
  EU Programmes

  Asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date in advancing the proposal to establish a successor programme to the Peace Plus Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 28, 2026PQ to Minister for Public Expenditure
  Flood Risk Management

  Asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if additional funding will be provided for small scale and large drainage scheme projects in 2026; his proposals for 2027, taking into account the value of smaller scale flood mitigation works; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 28, 2026PQ to Minister for Education
  Schools Building Projects

  Asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that approval issues at an early date in respect of a building project for a school (details supplied) taking into account the accommodation needs of this school which have been outlined clearly to the Department and that the school is seeking basic accommodation and replacement of a much outdated prefab which was, in effect, a multi-purpose room; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 28, 2026PQ to Minister for Education
  Education Policy

  Asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she plans to introduce additional measures and incentives to facilitate the establishment of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 27, 2026PQ to Minister for Agriculture
  Tree Remediation

  Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will give urgent consideration to the introduction of grant aid for landowners to remove roadside trees that have ash dieback disease and pose a danger to public safety taking into account the substantial costs in removing such trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Taoiseach
  Northern Ireland

  Asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the shared island unit in his Department.

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Enterprise
  Employment Rights

  Asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if an employee working as a live-in carer may have a deduction made from their wages in respect of bed and board; and if so, what constitutes a reasonable deduction; if there is a prescribed limit or cap; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Enterprise
  Work Permits

  Asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if a non-EEA national, specifically a carer from India, may be granted an employment permit where the employer is a private individual; the criteria for such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Housing
  National Planning Framework

  Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give detailed consideration to the issues raised in correspondence from a local authority (details supplied).

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Housing
  Waterways Issues

  Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the works that will be undertaken this year and planned for 2026 on a restoration project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Housing
  National Parks and Wildlife Service

  Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the review of the memorandum of understanding between the NARCG and NPWS; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 26, 2026PQ to Minister for Housing
  Wildlife Regulations

  Asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is proposed to reinstate the Sustainable Hunting of Wild Birds Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 21, 2026PQ to Minister for Foreign
  North-South Ministerial Council

  Asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a report on her attendance at the thirty-first plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on 8 May 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 21, 2026PQ to Minister for Foreign
  British-Irish Co-operation

  Asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which she is engaging with the UK Government to ensure that the measures announced in The Legacy of the Troubles: A Joint Framework are faithfully implemented in both jurisdictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 21, 2026PQ to Minister for Rural
  Rural Schemes

  Asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the level of funding provided for the local improvement scheme in 2026; if further consideration will be given to the provision of additional funding in 2026 for this scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 21, 2026PQ to Minister for Rural
  Rural Recreation Policy

  Asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when details of the next outdoor recreation investment scheme will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 20, 2026PQ to Minister for Rural
  Rural Schemes

  Asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the expected timeline for the publication of the new "Our Rural Future" Strategy to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for Taoiseach
  Cabinet Committees

  Asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Northern Ireland will meet next.

• May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for Foreign
  Trade Relations

  Asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the level of bi-lateral Ireland/Taiwan trade on an annual basis 2020-2025; the measures that will be introduced to support an increase in such trade; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for Social
  Social Welfare Eligibility

  Asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person on disability allowance and in receipt of a free travel pass, on taking up employment will have no restrictions on retaining this travel pass as they have a long-term disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 19, 2026PQ to Minister for Agriculture
  Wildlife Protection

  Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he proposes to introduce legislative measures as requested by beekeeping organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Justice
  Cross-Border Co-operation

  Asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will outline the issues discussed at the most recent cross-Border police conference on organised and serious crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Justice
  Cross-Border Co-operation

  Asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the Minister for Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to effectively tackling cross-Border crime; if it is proposed to introduce new initiatives to strengthen existing collaboration; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Agriculture
  EU Presidency

  Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if simplification of schemes and a reduction in paper work for farmers will be a key priority policy issue during Ireland’s Presidency of the EU; the discussions he has had to date with the Commission and with other Member States; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Agriculture
  Common Agricultural Policy

  Asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date at EU Council discussions in relation to the need to ensure that adequate funding is provided for CAP in the next Multiannual Financial Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Children
  Care Services

  Asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria applicable for access to respite services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 14, 2026PQ to Minister for Health
  Ambulance Service

  Asked the Minister for Health the measures she will implement to ensure there are no disruptions to the National Ambulance Service throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 12, 2026PQ to Minister for Further and Higher Education
  Education and Training Provision

  Asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the proposed major building project at Cavan Institute will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 12, 2026PQ to Minister for Further and Higher Education
  Further and Higher Education

  Asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the projects in the Further and Higher Education Sector that will progress under his Department's Capital Programme in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 12, 2026PQ to Minister for Climate
  Electricity Generation

  Asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the timeline to enact the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 12, 2026PQ to Minister for Health
  Hospital Services

  Asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that the views outlined by an association (details supplied) will be adequately provided for in the next National Drugs Strategy; taking into account that similar views and requests have been expressed by other organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 12, 2026PQ to Minister for Further and Higher Education
  Further and Higher Education

  Asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the roll that the Grangegorman Development Agency will undertake in developing capital projects in the Further Education Sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 07, 2026PQ to Minister for Culture
  Sports Funding

  Asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if there will be increased levels of grant aid in the next community sports facilities fund scheme, taking into account the substantial increase in construction costs since the last round of grants were approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 07, 2026PQ to Minister for Culture
  Sports Funding

  Asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when details of the next community sport facilities fund will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

• May 07, 2026PQ to Minister for Defence
  Defence Forces

  Asked the Minister for Defence in view of the deterioration in the geopolitical environment, if consideration will be given to the establishment of forward operating bases in areas which are distant from Army barracks and also considering the long land border we have with a neighbouring jurisdiction; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 07, 2026PQ to Minister for Defence
  Defence Forces

  Asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date on reviewing the structure of the Army, taking into account the recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 07, 2026PQ to Minister for Education
  Departmental Correspondence

  Asked the Minister for Education and Youth to give urgent consideration to correspondence received from a school (details supplied), particularly in view of the long delay of this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 07, 2026PQ to Minister for Education
  Departmental Correspondence

  Asked the Minister for Education and Youth to give urgent consideration to correspondence received from a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

• May 07, 2026PQ to Minister for Education
  Departmental Correspondence

  Asked the Minister for Education and Youth to give urgent consideration to correspondence received from a school (details supplied), particularly in light of the long delay of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Dáil contributions

• June 11, 2026Question
  Legislative Process
• June 11, 2026Questions
  Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
• June 10, 2026Debate
  General Scheme of the Technological Universities All Island University Group (Amendment) Bill 2026: Discussion (Resumed)
• May 28, 2026Question
  Schools Building Projects
• May 27, 2026Questions
  Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
• May 26, 2026Question
  Northern Ireland
• May 21, 2026Debate
  Accessibility and Assistive Technology: Discussion
• May 21, 2026Debate
  Accessibility and Assistive Technology: Discussion
• May 19, 2026Question
  Cabinet Committees
• May 19, 2026Debate
  Decisions on Public Petitions Received
• May 13, 2026Questions
  Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions
• April 29, 2026Debate
  Engagement with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
• April 28, 2026Debate
  Petition on Mandatory Mental Health Breaks in Schools: Mr. Jonathan Howe
• April 23, 2026Debate
  Local Training Initiatives: Discussion
• April 22, 2026Questions
  Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
• April 16, 2026Question
  National Development Plan
• April 15, 2026Debate
  Student Accommodation: Discussion
• April 14, 2026Debate
  Petition on Insurance Reform for Thatched Heritage Properties: Discussion