John Cummins | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Minister of State | |
| 2025– | Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Waterford |
| Senator | |
| In office 29 June 2020 – 30 November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Labour Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1987-06-29)29 June 1987 (age 38) Waterford, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Parent |
|
| Alma mater | University of Limerick |
| Website | johncumminswaterford |
John Cummins (born 29 June 1987)[1] is an IrishFine Gael politician who has served asMinister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage since January 2025 and aTeachta Dála (TD) for theWaterford constituency since the2024 general election. He previously served as aSenator on theLabour Panel from 2020 to 2024.[2]
He is married to Inga and they live in Waterford.[3] Cummins has a degree in Physical Education and Geography Teaching from theUniversity of Limerick. He has taught in a number of schools, including in St. Paul's Community College in Waterford city.[4] He has been an active member of many sporting clubs, including De La Salle GAA Club, Hibernian FC and Faithlegg Golf club.[5] He was also a member of the De La SalleScout Group in Waterford and was a member of the team which won the national Scouting competition for the first time in that group's history in 2000.[6] He also served as National Youth Representative inScouting Ireland.[citation needed] His father is former Fine Gael senatorMaurice Cummins.[7]
Cummins was elected toWaterford City Council in 2009.[8] In 2010, he was elected as Chairman of the South East Regional Authority.[9] He served his first term as Mayor of Waterford in 2013; at the age of 25, he was the youngest person ever to hold that office.[7] He was subsequently re-elected to the amalgamatedWaterford City and County Council in 2014,[10] and served his second term as mayor from 2015 to 2016.[1] He was re-elected to the council in 2019.[11]
Cummins unsuccessfully contested the2020 general election for theWaterford constituency.[12] He was subsequently elected at the2020 Seanad election as a senator for theLabour Panel.[13]
He was appointed as the Fine Gael spokesperson on Housing, Local Government and Heritage byLeo Varadkar.
He lost the party whip in August 2020 following his involvement in theOireachtas Golf Society scandal,[14][15] which saw him allegedly breach public health guidelines with regard toCOVID-19.[16] The party whip was restored on 12 January 2021.[17] All charges related to the event were later dismissed on 3 February 2022.[18]
At the2024 general election, Cummins was elected to the Dáil.[19] He was a member of the Fine Gael programme for government negotiating team.[20] On 29 January 2025, he was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for local government and planning.[21]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage 2025–present With:Christopher O'Sullivan Kieran O'Donnell | Incumbent |