Patrick O’Donovan is the outgoing Fine Gael Minister of Further and Higher Education.

He was first elected to the Dáil in 2011 and has held the seat at each election since.

Previously a minister of state for tourism and sport and the OPW, his constituency office is in his hometown of Newcastle West which he represented on Limerick Council between 2003 and 2011.

A former teacher and industrial chemist, Mr O’Donovan suffered a seizure while taking questions in the Dáil in late June 2023 and was rushed to St James’ Hospital.