Aindrias Moynihan
Cork North-West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss reform of the Taxsaver commuter ticket scheme to include shared mobility services. Deputy Marie Sherlock - To discuss the use of periodic payment orders in the courts. Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the provision of appropriate public housing for families that provide foster care.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the bus service in Cork city. Deputy Ryan O'Meara - To discuss the establishment of an SATU in the HSE Mid West region.”
“Deputies Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Séamus McGrath and Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the State acquiring the Bessborough site in Cork city to provide a memorial. Deputies Gary Gannon, Ruairí Ó Murchú· - To discuss issues being created in the courts system by the new legal aid model.”
“I need to raise with the Taoiseach the straw incorporation measures and the delays from the Department of agriculture in approvals. There is fine weather. Tillage farmers are focusing in on the harvest. There have been no approvals issued by the Department of agriculture for the straw incorporation measure at this point.”
“Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford. Deputy Marie Sherlock - To discuss the enforcement of e-scooter legislation. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the usage of scramblers, e-bikes and e-scooters in Cork city.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the development of an injury unit clinic in Galway. Deputy Joe Neville - To discuss the national semiconductor plan.”
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“Will the Department of agriculture issue approvals for the straw incorporation measure to give certainty to tillage farmers before the harvesters roll into the field?”
“I need to raise with the Taoiseach the straw incorporation measures and the delays from the Department of agriculture in approvals. There is fine weather. Tillage farmers are focusing in on the harvest. There have been no approvals issued by the Department of agriculture for the straw incorporation measure at this point. Farmers have nominated lands that they plan to harvest in the days and weeks ahead. The chopping will be done as part of the harvest. Tillage farmers have seen one difficult year after another and they really do not need the hassle being introduced now by the Department of agriculture not having approvals done yet. It is going to become even more critical as the barley crop ripens.”
“Seanad Éireann has passed the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026, without amendment. Seanad Éireann has passed the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, without amendment.”
“Deputies Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Séamus McGrath and Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the State acquiring the Bessborough site in Cork city to provide a memorial. Deputies Gary Gannon, Ruairí Ó Murchú· - To discuss issues being created in the courts system by the new legal aid model. Deputies Ciarán Ahern, Seán Crowe, Paul Murphy, Aengus Ó Snodaigh and James Geoghegan - To discuss the feasibility of continuing MetroLink from the city to south-west Dublin. Deputies Shane Moynihan and John Lahart - To discuss the urgent situation concerning a Tusla-funded service provider for children. The matters raised by Deputies Thomas Gould, Roderic O'Gorman, Shane Moynihan and John Lahart, John Clendennen and Pa Daly have been selected for discussion.”
“Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss reform of the Taxsaver commuter ticket scheme to include shared mobility services. Deputy Marie Sherlock - To discuss the use of periodic payment orders in the courts. Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the provision of appropriate public housing for families that provide foster care. Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the proposed new Garda station at Northern Cross. Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss the cessation of the financial contribution scheme in Dublin North-West. Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss measures to prevent the spread of harmful content on social media platforms. Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the need for a 24-hour rapid response vehicle at Tuam ambulance base. Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss the Government response to the rejection of the workforce development plan proposals by SNAs.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the bus service in Cork city. Deputy Ryan O'Meara - To discuss the establishment of an SATU in the HSE Mid West region. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford. Deputy John Clendennen - To discuss the cumulative regulatory burden and rising cost of doing business. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss delays in payments to subcontractors by Uisce Éireann. Deputy Paul Donnelly - To discuss the use of scramblers by those under 16 years of age. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin - To discuss the school bus transport system in Wicklow and Wexford.”
“Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the reimbursement of SkyClarys. The matters raised by Deputies Connolly, O'Sullivan, O'Donoghue, Ó Súilleabháin, McGuinness and Newsome Drennan, and Neville have been selected for discussion.”
“Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford. Deputy Marie Sherlock - To discuss the enforcement of e-scooter legislation. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the usage of scramblers, e-bikes and e-scooters in Cork city. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú - To discuss the issues being created in the court system by the new legal aid model. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss progress of the Cork southern distributor link multi-modal route. Deputies Sorca Clarke, Martin Kenny - To discuss the Peterhead Ten. Deputies Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, Conor D. McGuinness and Natasha Newsome Drennan - To discuss CDNT issues in Waterford and the south east. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss the current age limits for school bus drivers and school buses used for school transport.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the development of an injury unit clinic in Galway. Deputy Joe Neville - To discuss the national semiconductor plan. Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss the provision of a new school building at Scoil Chrónáin. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss the increasing processing times for residence permit renewals. Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss ongoing issues with scramblers in the north west and the enforcement of Grace's Law. Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss withdrawal of solicitors from criminal legal aid cases. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss the introduction of a summer childcare support scheme.”
“I urge the Minister of State to engage with the school and seek a workable interim solution before it becomes a bigger problem for the community. The children are enrolled and the teachers are approved, but the accommodation still is not there.”
“The infrastructure is there, with the wastewater treatment plant, to support further growth. Everything is pointing in the direction of further population growth and demand for school places. An off-site solution would be really difficult. The area around the school in Coachford already faces challenges around traffic, parking and pedestrian access. Splitting classes across locations would create additional difficulties for families, pupils and staff. A prefab classroom on the school grounds is a practical, sensible and proven solution. It keeps the school community together, provides safe accommodation and bridges the gap until the permanent extension is developed. The Department has already recognised the need for additional teachers. I ask that it recognise the need for accommodation of those teachers and the children.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I welcome the fact that the permanent building project is progressing. There is quite a bit of work to do on that. The difficulty remains in the here and now. The fundamental question is where these children will be accommodated while everybody is waiting for that building to be put in place. The school has already stretched every available space in the existing building and nobody could reasonably say the board has not done everything possible to make things work. Enrolment in the school is not levelling off; it is continuing to increase. We have seen substantial growth in recent years, new homes occupied in Cnoc Eoin and Vicar's Glebe, a further 26 under construction and nearing completion in Ceann Scríbe, and additional homes planned.”
“The school has made it abundantly clear that that room is a central hub in the building. It serves as the school's only indoor PE area and assembly space. The school has raised concerns about circulation, accessibility and suitability of the room as a classroom. The Department has indicated that rented accommodation could be considered where suitable premises were available. The difficulty is there are no suitable premises nearby. The practical and commonsensical solution is about getting temporary accommodation on the site. We are not looking for anything exceptional or extravagant. It is about providing a safe and suitable classroom for children already attending the school. I ask that the Department revisit the case, work with the school and find a solution that reflects the reality on the ground.”
“At the same time, Ceann Scríbe is nearing completion. That is 26 homes that will shortly be occupied, with further phases prepared afterwards. Those families are going to become part of the community and will also be looking for school places. An important piece of the puzzle is the new wastewater treatment plant in Coachford. For so many places, capacity is a limiting factor, but in Coachford that plant has been put in place and it allows spare capacity for housing and future development growth. If we want villages like Coachford to grow, families to settle there and rural communities to thrive, the public infrastructure has to grow with them. School accommodation cannot be an afterthought. What is concerning me is that the solution proposed by the Department is the conversion of the school's general purpose room into a classroom.”
“An SEN room is being used as a classroom, a staff room has become an SEN room, a general-purpose room is being used for multiple purposes and there is no spare capacity left in the building. The school sought approval for temporary prefab classrooms onsite and that request was refused. The appeal was also unsuccessful, yet the underlying problem still exists. The children are still there, the teachers are still needed and September is still coming. Coachford is a growing village and community. Its catchment area has a population of approximately 2,500 people and we have seen significant housing developments in recent years. The Cnoic Eoin development has brought new families into the area and the Vicars Glebe development has already been occupied, with further phases progressing. There will be up to 70 homes in that.”
“I raise the very serious accommodation difficulties that Coachford National School is experiencing. The school has done everything asked of it. The board, principal, staff and parents have all worked together to accommodate significant growth in pupil numbers, but they are now at a point where there is simply nowhere left to go. The numbers tell the story. The school had approximately 109 students in 2020, and it is expected that there will be 171 pupils in September. That is an increase of more than 57% in just seven years. Two additional teaching posts have been sanctioned by the Department. That is an acknowledgement that the growth is real and substantial. The difficulty is that although the teachers have been sanctioned, the accommodation has not followed. The school has used every available space.”
“It is right and proper that there would be proper checks and verification and a thorough examination of all of the different applications. The experience that I am hearing from my constituents is that it takes approximately 18 months or more. I understand that there is a target of 12 months. Even that target seems lengthy, and it is difficult for families. Is it the case that it is slow because there are not enough people to deal with the backlog? Is there a need for additional staffing to clear a short-term backlog and to prioritise people who have been waiting the longest? It is a pressure on those people who have been hired to do critical work in our communities. That pressure will often put them thinking on whether they should be going back home and leaving a skills gap that we need to fill here as well.”
“First, I acknowledge the headway that is being made on it. On the idea that most are within target, for many that is not their lived reality. To put it in context, these are the people who are caring for our elderly in our nursing homes, caring for us in our hospitals, maybe doing the NCT on our cars and maybe even cultivating our food on our farms, and they are not able to have their family around them. Many of them, Indians and Filipinos, who have been in contact with me on it are telling me of experiences of 18 month and more. That is a big stress and pressure on families. Is it a capacity issue to clear the backlog that is there? Can people who are waiting longest be prioritised?”
“Family reunification for people recruited here for critical skills is an issue I have raised here previously and it still has not been addressed adequately. I am constantly getting people into my office raising their situation with me where they are waiting for their spouse and children 18 months and more. It is very difficult on families. What immediate action can be taken to reduce those delays?”
“Deputy Séamus McGrath - To discuss the building project proposed for the amalgamation of Shanbally and Ringaskiddy National Schools, County Cork. Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss supports for households affected by the ending of the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss funding for the roll-out of Bus Connects in Limerick city. The matters raised by Deputies Erin McGreehan, Martin Daly, Gary Gannon and Daniel Ennis, Seán Kyne, Colm Burke, Maurice Quinlivan, Pádraig O'Sullivan, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Séamus McGrath and Thomas Gould have been selected for discussion.”
“Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the decline in Garda roads policing unit numbers. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the number of schools in Cork currently at stage 2A for a prolonged period of time who desperately need new accommodation Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss plans to review the current age limits for school bus drivers. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the failure to provide necessary supports for children with additional needs in the summer programme. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the reimbursement of a drug and implementation of the drug reimbursement system. Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the introduction of a farm succession scheme.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Martin Daly - To discuss plastic and reconstructive surgery services in Roscommon University Hospital. Deputy Erin McGreehan - To discuss longer opening hours of the X-ray department at weekends in the minor injury clinic in Louth County Hospital. Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss actions to reduce the risk to children who require MRI scans under anaesthetic. Deputy Seán Kyne - To discuss the protection of historical and generational rights to seaweed on the west coast. Deputies Gary Gannon, Daniel Ennis - To discuss the procedures governing planning application decisions in Dublin 7. Deputy Sorca Clarke - To discuss staffing allocation at a Gaelscoil in Mullingar.”
“They want a bus that will give them an opportunity to get to work. The background work by the NTA is under way on these routes. Its plan is to have three strands of the 233 service, for example in the north, centre and south, to serve the various communities. Again, the NTA is coming up against the roadblock I have described. It was very clear when we raised the matter with them that, as much planning as it has done, it is held up waiting for PSO funding to be able to advance the routes. The 233 is an essential service to serve communities right down the Lee valley. Can the Minister give an indication of when the NTA can expect to get the PSO funding to have the routes in place? Cork North-West needs delivery, certainty and fairness, not further delays.”
“I thank the Minister of State for outlining the various works under way. I readily acknowledge that there is headway being made in different places. In this regard I have referred to bus shelters, including for the No. 40 route. Time and again, I have raised here the need to advance the 233 bus service. It is a vital service that goes up and down the Lee valley, serving the area from Macroom to Cork. However, it does not serve those settlements alone as it also services a huge number of people in growing communities in between, from Kilmurry to Crookstown. Cloghduff is growing dramatically, as are Aherla, Killumney and Ovens. On the other side of the Lee, over in Carrig, there are Dripsey and Coachford. Large numbers of houses have been built in this area and people are moving in. They want to be able to get to and from college on time.”
“If the Minister looks, for example, at that 257 that I gave as an example, the council is already planning bus stops and bus shelters along part of that, including, for example, in Crookstown. The actual bus part needs to be advanced. The NTA is adamant that it has done its planning and is now waiting for PSO funding. Cork North-West needs delivery, certainty and fairness, not further delays.”
“It is joining the dots, putting together the two services to have one continuous service operating from Bantry through to Macroom. However, they are held up waiting for PSO funding. The new service is not a far-off concept. It is ready to go. The NTA needs to get the PSO funding up and running. The 257 is planned to run from Millstreet to Macroom to Bandon. Half of that is done, so the next stage, from Macroom to Bandon, needs to advance. There are also plans fairly well advanced with BusConnects to serve Ovens. Things need to advance for Crossbarry and Donoughmore. Many of the projects are already under way or fairly advanced in planning, but they are stuck waiting for PSO funding. The NTA is very clear on that. Really what we need to do is bring them along to that next stage.”
“I acknowledge that progress has been made on public transport locally with the installation and building of bus shelters, and the new improvement of the No. 40 route, with the stop on the western side of Macroom, as well as the recently approved planning permission for Macroom bus station. Macroom bus station, after the bypass has been built, offers a real opportunity to act as a hub, so there will be buses coming in from the likes of Killarney, Bantry, Millstreet, Bandon and Cork, and an opportunity for people to switch services there. One service which I want to draw particular attention to is the 256. This is coming from Bantry. Currently, two local transport initiatives operate back to back, Bantry to Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh to Macroom. The NTA has been examining this option, which is advanced, fully planned and ready to go.”
“I need to raise with the Minister of State the need to improve bus services on the western side of County Cork, from Cork city, up the Lee valley towards Ballyvourney, the upper Blackwater valley over as far as Millstreet and along the Bandon Valley too. Students need to be able to get to college on time. People need to be able to get to work on time and to use public transport to do that, and to be able to get back home again in a timely way as well. These are growing communities west of Cork city. Large numbers of houses are being built, or are already built, with construction happening in places like Millstreet, Ballyvourney, Macroom, Coachford, Cloghduff, and Ovens. They need that infrastructure to be able to get to and from work and into Cork city.”
“Deputy Marie Sherlock - To discuss the status of the reception class programme. The matters raised by Deputies Sorca Clarke, Aindrias Moynihan, Ruth Coppinger, George Lawlor, Sinéad Gibney, Richard Boyd Barrett and Marie Sherlock have been selected for discussion”
“Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss delivery of a new building for a school in County Kerry. Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss actions to reduce the risk to children who require MRI scans under anaesthetic. Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss community safety and policing issues in Ballymun and Finglas in the context of the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú - To discuss the planned industrial action at Oberstown. Deputies George Lawlor, Sinéad Gibney and Richard Boyd Barrett - To discuss mass redundancies at a company and other job loses associated with AI. Deputies Darren O'Rourke and Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the need for redress for survivors of historical abuse at a school. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss and address the concerns of advanced nurse practitioners in the pay review process.”
“Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the lack of school transport for children with intellectual disabilities at a school in Cork. Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the loss of staff at a school in Priorswood in the context of its new DEIS plus status. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford. Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway. Deputy David Cullinane - To discuss the severe childcare services deficit in County Waterford. Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss data collection and sentencing guidelines relating to unprovoked "one punch" fatal assaults. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the reimbursement of a drug and implementation of the drug reimbursement system.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Sorca Clarke - To discuss access to neurology services in the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar. Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss delays in reimbursement under the cross-border healthcare directive. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan - To discuss the need to advance bus services for people living west of Cork city. Deputy Joe Neville - To discuss the national semiconductor plan. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss funding for rehabilitation repair works for bridges in Kerry. Deputy Ruth Coppinger - To discuss the announcement by a company of the suspension of its drone delivery service.”
“Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit nua. Go n-éirí an t-ádh lei ina phost nua. I offer the Minister of State many congratulations on her new role. I call on her to move the Government’s amendment.”
“Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss funding for the roll-out of BusConnects in Limerick city. Deputy Barry Heneghan - To discuss the proposed relocation of An Post's Harmonstown sorting office and the impact on local postal services. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the timeline to progress the Cork southern distributor link multimodal route. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú - To discuss appropriate school places for children with challenging needs in County Louth. The matters raised by Deputies Barry Ward, Ruairí Ó Murchú, Darren O'Rourke, Robert O'Donoghue and Joe Cooney have been selected for discussion.”
“Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss funding for a building to include an autism unit in a Kerry school (details supplied). Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss access to, and staffing for, the summer programme for 2026. Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the national child poverty target. Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss an application for an interim ancillary grant by a national school in Mitchelstown. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford. Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss the recruitment of a consultant ophthalmologist in south Tipperary. Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the proposed reforms of the criminal legal aid system. Deputy Paul Murphy - To discuss the decision of South Dublin County Council to increase council, HAP and homeless HAP rents from July.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss industrial development and employment opportunities in the mid-west region. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss provision of a permanent two-classroom SEN facility and PE hall for Balscadden National School. Deputies Sorca Clarke and Martin Kenny - To discuss the Peterhead Ten. Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the status of the assessment for the drug givinostat for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin - To discuss emergency winter funding for rural roads in Wicklow and Wexford. Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss delays in reimbursement under the cross-border healthcare directive.”
“What targeted interventions are being considered to sustain graduates with clear pathways? These could be internships or incentives for entry-level hiring. Crucially, how is the Government going to ensure Ireland's AI success does not come at the expense of opportunities for younger people?”
“Ireland has strong growth in AI and high demand for skills but those entry-level roles are reducing and graduates are going to struggle to gain the experience required in that growth and to be ready to take part in that growth. A whole cohort of new graduates finished their exams a few weeks ago and are waiting on results and preparing to enter the labour market. Ireland's economy, as the Minister says, is especially exposed to AI with about 63% of employment estimated to be affected to some degree or another. That reflects our concentration in knowledge-intensive sectors. It makes Ireland both a leader in AI adoption but also very exposed to labour market disruption. Employers are increasingly optimising for productivity and they are doing that by hiring experienced workers. That is going to threaten the pipeline of future talent.”
“Will the Minister set out what targeted interventions are being developed to ensure graduates and entry-level workers are not choked out of the labour market as that transition accelerates?”
“The data suggests it is not a collapse in opportunities, but more a fundamental restructuring of how graduates enter the workforce. Research indicates that almost half of employers are reducing their entry-level roles, directly linked to AI adoption, and 83% of recruiters say that hiring is now more selective and strategic. While almost 40% of employers increased recruitment earlier this year, that growth was concentrated in specialist roles. Even in sectors like IT and telecommunications, where 56% of employers are increasing hiring, those roles are increasingly focused on experienced and highly specialised candidates and over a quarter of firms are recruiting specifically in AI and machine learning. The challenge is clear. The opportunities are not disappearing but the channel into them is narrowing.”
“AI is not simply about technological change. It is about whether Ireland continues to offer a fair and functioning pathway from education to employment or whether AI will risk closing the door on the next generation before it even gets a chance to start. Will the Minister outline what his Department's latest assessments show about AI impacts on employment, in particular on graduate and entry-level jobs?”
“We now have Deputies Paul Murphy, Ciarán Ahern and Seán Crowe to the Minister for Education and Youth to discuss the exclusion of St. Dominic's National School, Tallaght, from the DEIS plus programme. There are three names on it. If only two Deputies are speaking, we will split it half-and-half with two minutes each.”
“Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss delays in the opening of the new Killarney Community Hospital. Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the establishment of a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme. The matters raised by Deputies Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Paul Murphy, Ciarán Ahern and Seán Crowe, Colm Burke, Danny Healy-Rae and Pat the Cope Gallagher have been selected for discussion.”
“Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss the need for an autism unit at Causeway Comprehensive School - Scoil Chuimsitheach an Tóchair. Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the school summer programme. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss the designation of Burtonport as an approved port for landings by fishing vessels on a Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Deputy Matt Carthy - To discuss the EU pact on migration and asylum. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan - To discuss access to treatment for Friedreich's ataxia under the HSE reimbursement scheme. Deputy Ged Nash - To discuss the recent fish kill on the River Glyde, County Louth. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the progress of proposed school extension works at Cólaiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire, Cork.”
“Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss the reform of eye care services in line with emerging trends. Deputies Paul Murphy, Ciarán Ahern and Seán Crowe - To discuss the exclusion of St. Dominic's National School, Tallaght from the DEIS plus scheme. Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for social and affordable housing in Arklow, County Wicklow. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the proposed new prisons in The Glen, Cork. Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the loss of a mainstream teacher at St. Francis Junior School, Clonshaugh, Dublin 17. Deputy Eamon Scanlon - To discuss the exceptional staffing pressures at St. Patrick's National School, County Sligo.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the loss of staff at Bunscoil Chríost Rí for 2026-27 school year. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss provision of a permanent two-classroom SEN facility and PE hall for Balscadden National School. Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss industrial development and employment opportunities for the Shannon region. Deputy Martin Kenny - To discuss the Peterhead Ten. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin - To discuss the provision of school transport services. Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss an application for an interim ancillary grant by Ballygiblin National School, Mitchelstown.”
“Yes, it is right to focus on where the greatest need is. So many farmers and contractors were under phenomenal pressure. They are getting their applications in at the moment. It is a very busy time of year for them. We are also all watching that date in the summer when the schemes and the supports would be expected to finish out. The Minister is right that the Department will have to review the position at that point. The key question, then, is whether the Department has the fiscal space or the funding available or whether it will need further Supplementary Estimates at that point to return and to review those supports or any other supports that might be needed later in the summer. Is the funding there?”
“A significant support package had to be put in place for fuel and transport earlier this year arising from that conflict in West Asia. I am conscious that the date for the agri scheme has been extended from Wednesday through to next Tuesday to ensure that the maximum number of farmers and contractors can get their applications in. I understand that a Supplementary Estimate on that is due in the weeks ahead. I am conscious that no matter how quickly that conflict in the Gulf were to be resolved - and it needs to be resolved sooner rather than later - elevated fuel prices would continue for some time and likely feed through into so many other costs for people. Does the Department have space to extend the schemes that are there if the conflict and the high pressure continue through the summer?”
“Since the beginning of the year, there have been significant spending shocks, including the likes of the Department of education and the war in West Asia, driving fuel prices and the need for a support package as a result for so many users. Will the Minister advise if overall expenditure is still on profile?”
“Will the Minister of State outline the co-ordination taking place with banks and financial services companies to ensure that rural communities and people of all ages who may not be comfortable operating in this space, whether it is as a result of literacy issues or the fact that they may not be digital natives, are not left behind?”