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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“The rank would also be useful for specialist trades as it could allow privates to advance and carry out supervisory functions without needing to complete the potential NCO course. I understand that work is being done in the background, as the Minister has outlined. Is there a projected timeline for this to be brought to fruition and for the rank of lance corporal to be introduced?”
“As the Minister has said, the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended the creation of the new rank of lance corporal in the Army and the Air Corps. It also recommended that consideration be given to whether there is a need for an equivalent rank in the Naval Service. The qualification course for this rank should be of short duration and conducted in the home unit. The commission believes the creation of the rank of lance corporal would allow for earlier rank progression for enlisted personnel with leadership potential and that it would also offer unit commanders and senior NCOs the opportunity to assess the leadership ability of junior personnel before further advancement.”
“Drone technology is typically used as part of hybrid warfare, where there are various techniques including online, physically on the ground or indeed under water. I have raised repeatedly the threat to the cables offshore and the danger there as well. It seems we do not have underwater capability so the view was to have wireless or remote-controlled visibility under the sea as well. Is the Minister advancing drone technology to defend the underwater cables as well? Is the drone defence entirely a radar of the skies? Is the Minister looking at a hybrid approach where there also would be a threat underwater? We have seen it again and again that the drones would be used as a type of hybrid weapon rather than one thing on its own.”
“One of the issues that was highlighted arising from that incident was where the Irish vessel was not able or did not feel it could engage with the drone because there were no rules of engagement in place. Will that be dealt with? Will they be put in place and how quickly will that happen? There is a whole range of policies that would be needed to support dealing with the drones, I imagine. I understand the Minister is looking at the possibility of investing up to €1.6 billion in a radar system which would be in place by about quarter 2 of next year. In advance of that, I expect the Minister can be engaged in putting in place the various policies. Is there a timeline laid out for those? Is the Minister looking at the possibility of deploying our own drones?”
“The recent visit of President Zelenskyy highlighted the threat from drones and the gaps in our defences in respect of how we deal with drones. Will the Minister outline efforts to deal with drone threats and hybrid conflict?”
“I need to return to the original question. Has the Minister identified additional threats locally there, particularly in view of the changing situation and the reduction in the numbers of Irish troops there over the course of days, weeks, months or whatever length of time that will take? There is likely to be some level of additional threat there. Have any threats been identified from either side? To return to the point about Irish troops having been fired on by the IDF and the challenges the Minister may have made to UNIFIL in that regard, how have they responded, what level of commitment will they give that people will be safe during the transition, and have they given any commitment thereafter?”
“Irish men and women have served with such distinction over many years in Lebanon. The Minister is right: it is such a regrettable decision that the mission would not continue. Nonetheless this decision of UNIFIL and the mission not going on leave a void once the force starts to scale down its numbers and the possibility of a scramble to fill that void, whether from one side or another there. That is a threat both to people locally there and to the troops themselves. Has the Minister identified particular threats in that regard? Are steps being taken to ensure that the Irish people who will be there as that scale-down occurs will remain safe and will be able to conduct a peacekeeping mission there? In addition, there have been incidents where the IDF has fired on them. Has the Minister complained to UNIFIL in that regard?”
“I congratulate the Minister on her appointment and wish her every success in the role. Will she outline what engagements she has had with UNIFIL about the security of Defence Forces' personnel in Lebanon? Has she identified any additional security threats in view of the decision to end the mission there?”
“I thank the Minister of State. First, I acknowledge the co-operation and the back-and-forth with regard to the work that has been done there. We saw it further up the Lee recently, with funding made available in Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh. I acknowledge that and thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge also the co-operation that has been going on in Crookstown. There is definitely no quick or easy answer in Crookstown and if it means engaging with the Department of Transport, I am pretty sure the council will be doing that. Will it need additional resources to take on that responsibility and work in that situation, or will it be able to do it with its existing manpower?”
“There is no quick and easy solution in Crookstown, given the way the flooding occurs. A big aspect of it is the junction at Clifford's and the way that gets inundated and flooded. I understand plans are being advanced with the council on a sump and pumping out. It has been conducting some of that work. It is looking around at a checkerboard of funding options, including climate change adaptation and resilience works as well as its own funding. It impedes any kind of a job being done when it is spending more time hunting down funding streams. For example, when it is waiting to do flood works, it also delays resurfacing on the road and that has occurred for a number of years as well. Could there be one clear path where the council could have the autonomy to get on with any one channel and be able to get on with the work itself?”
“When it floods in Crookstown, it floods people's homes and businesses and it blocks off the R585, a key artery in and out of west Cork, the Bantry line. It becomes impassable and the centre of the village quickly becomes flooded. What plans are in place for flood defence works in the village of Crookstown?”
“The recently published national development plan update sets out an ambitious plan for key infrastructure for the years ahead. Many of the capital works are due to get under way by 2030 and others thereafter. Having a pipeline of projects ready is vital because there is so much background work involved with them. I am particularly focused on the ones after 2030. We have seen how the N22 Macroom bypass took many years to advance through the earlier stages, such as the background works, planning and design and so on. The next phase of that road is the piece between Macroom and Ballincollig. It needs to continue in the background and get through the various background stages so that we have a pipeline of projects ready to roll as soon as possible.”
“Will applicants that are currently going through and going into planning applications be expected to meet any new guidelines or additional conditions that will be coming available later next year? Can the Minister of State outline those? These are real concerns for so many communities. Reading through the Minister of State's response it sounds like he is depending very much on what is already there rather than bringing new guidelines to the table, if I am reading that correctly. This would be a concern for many people who feel that there are gaps in the process as it stands.”
“Communities are concerned that biomethane development is going to happen in a disorderly way and that developers are going to walk over communities to make money. The communities need to know that the Minister of State has their back. Does the Government have the backs of the communities on this? They are worried. The Minister of State outlines where visual impact, land zoning plans, ecology and various other aspects are already covered in existing legislation and in existing policy documents. Yet, communities raise concerns about the absence of guidelines. Will there be guidelines that would be expected to cover site selection, the feedstock, the kind of feedstock and where it would come from, and the output material from the plants afterwards?”
“These are significant and there is also a need for the next big milestone, which is the publication of the guidelines. If biomethane is to be part of the energy mix we need to see it happen in an orderly manner that ensures it benefits all and not just the developer. Will the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, outline the plans and the timeframe by which he would expect to see biomethane guidelines being made available?”
“It contrasts very much with wind farm developers who over recent years have learned lessons from earlier applications and are more engaged than previously. Good guidelines ensure greater transparency and engagement. There is a gap in the planning process where perhaps it is for newer technology and the planning authorities may not be so familiar with the technology and the development plan may not have a defined policy on the matter. At the same time, the planning application has to advance through the planning process to meet statutory deadlines. I understand that considerable background work is being undertaken by the Minister of State's Department officials in advancing the guidelines. The publication of the biomethane charter is also a big milestone as is the publication of the biomethane strategy.”
“The recent charter is a big step, and I acknowledge the huge work that has been done to advance it. The charter points out that engaging with local communities early and often will be critical to ensure successful planning applications for biomethane plants and that plant operators must be responsible neighbours by taking into account the needs and concerns of the communities near them. The charter points to open, proactive and transparent community engagement to help foster positive relationships. We have seen where engagements are taking place such as in Galway, for example, and there are no objections to that one in a recent application. That, however, seems to be the exception. The approach in other communities could be a one-to-one series of meetings if there is anything at all happening.”
“I have had the opportunity to discuss with people around the Macroom area and people in many other communities across the country the various concerns they have about the development of biogas plants local to them. Through the agriculture committee, I have also had the opportunity to meet people who are planning and developing biogas plants. Both raise concerns about the absence of guidelines. Community groups feel that the developers are attempting to foist these plants on their communities against their will without any engagement. They try to force these plants through, promoting the green energy and the wider benefit. Community groups feel concerned that they are kept in the dark by developers. Community engagement is critical. A biomethane charter that was published recently acknowledges this.”
“Guidelines need to be put in place for the development of biogas plants and they need to be advanced as soon as possible. Community groups have raised a range of concerns with me about the development of biomethane gas plants in their locality. They have questions about whether land should be used for food production or energy crops. They also question whether guidelines could be established about the types of feedstocks used and how locally they need to be sourced. Setback distances are a point many communities are vocal on. If plants are near people’s residences, what impact will that have on their homes? They are also questioning the oversight of plant operators by bodies like the EPA and the council and whether they can enforce conditions in the event of non-compliance.”
“Leis an dá shruth gur tháinig isteach anuraidh, bhí 245 duine a tháinig tríd an sruth Gaeilge i mí Feabhra agus 128 tríd an sruth Gaeilge san fhómhar. Is léir go bhfuil laghdú ann i líon na ndaoine atá ag teacht tríd an sruth Gaeilge. Cad iad na hiarrachtaí faoi leith atá á ndéanamh chun Gaeilgeoirí a mhealladh isteach tríd an sruth Gaeilge agus chun neartú a dhéanamh ar an líon Gaeilgeoirí laistigh den chóras? Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil iarrachtaí faoi leith á ndéanamh le fógraíocht, ach an bhfuil aon rud breise á dhéanamh? An féidir céimeanna breise a thógáil do na chéad sruthanna nó ghrúpaí eile a bheidh á bhfógairt?”
“I thank the Minister. Over 11,000 is a huge number and a very strong statement of interest and of the appetitive for joining the Garda. It is a very positive sign. That recruitment has reached out to various communities. What particular efforts have been made to reach different groupings for recruitment? What is the capacity to bring people through the training centre? Some 794 entered last year. That is a very big number and possibly the largest in some time, but how many at a time are coming through there? How soon does the Minister expect to have to undertake further recruitment?”
“Last year more than 11,000 people applied to join An Garda Síochána. It was a very successful recruitment campaign. At this point, how many of those people have come through Garda training? What is the capacity of the centre to train and put gardaí on the street?”
“I took the opportunity yesterday to meet with Macra na Feirme to discuss its concerns around the new CAP and the impact it would have on farmers and on rural communities. Its members were particularly focused on generational renewal and knowledge transfer, and the CAP was key for funding generation renewal plan. Will the Minister give members of Macra na Feirme assurance that funding will be available for generational renewal and that action will be taken on implementing that plan?”
“The compensation package is very focused on the commercial sector where a cull has taken place. The example I outlined of the wildlife park does not fit neatly into that situation. Thankfully, a minimal number of birds will be lost there. However, there are many other instances where the restrictions themselves are putting a cost on the likes of poultry farms. They have to keep a house warm when they do not know how quickly a new flock will be coming in. There are costs associated with the restrictions. The Minister needs to look beyond the immediate package that is there for compensation where there is a cull. Four instances have emerged on turkey farms. There is the obvious question that so many people want the Minister to reassure them about. Will there be turkey available for Christmas?”
“Poultry farmers are obviously concerned. Where there are outbreaks, even where there are restrictions, it is challenging and very difficult for poultry farmers. There needs to be a realistic support or compensation package in place. As the Minister said, Fota Wildlife Park has been closed since October. It is losing out on income. It has also lost some of its birds. The impact on staff, people around there and the wildlife is significant. Has the Minister engaged with them? What kind of support will be available and relevant to the likes of the wildlife park? I know that a lot of the emphasis on compensation packages up to now has been on situations where a cull has taken place in a commercial setting. What level of engagement has the Minister had? What opportunities will be there for the likes of Fota Wildlife Park?”
“With the increasing incidence of bird flu in the wild bird population and, more recently, a fourth turkey farm, it is a concern for flock owners and people who have an interest in wildlife. Will the Minister give an outline of the level of testing that is being conducted and the support that will be there for people whose livelihood has been impacted by the restrictions and the outbreaks?”
“Will the Minister and the Government be able to win support across EU colleagues to ensure the derogation will be retained? Additionally, farmers are also being told they are not alone in respect of improving water quality. They are keen to pull their weight and they will, but they also need to know that municipal waste inputs and Irish Water will also pull their weight.”
“Farmers are very keen to improve water quality. The recent oversubscription of environmental schemes reflects that appetite. Our grass-based system differs very much from what would be found across Europe. Family farms right across Ireland need to be able to plan for the year ahead and the nitrates derogation is very much part of the planning for the day-to-day operation of the farms. Farmers are really keen to know where they stand and they are going to need to know that for the start of the year. Retaining this derogation is vital. I very much impressed this on Commissioner Roswall during her recent visit to Ireland. She did acknowledge that progress had been made but she was also keen to see that there would be ongoing progress and improvements.”
“They are asking that if the students are enrolling in the weeks ahead, the school would have its developing post reinstated instead of having to wait in crowded classrooms until next year.”
“The village of Cloghduff has grown dramatically again in recent years, with many new homes built in Ryecourt Woods, River Meadows and the new Páirc Brouen, which is currently under construction. Parents and grandparents of children around Cloghduff are very anxious about losing a teacher in the school at a time when the village is growing and classes will end up being larger. The school had a developing post up to October based on the growing numbers of children and the expected enrolment. The enrolment increase has been delayed as families are waiting for keys to move into newly built homes, some of them due to be finished in the weeks and months ahead. The school and parents assure that there will be additional children enrolling in the weeks ahead and have provided the Department with details of some of these children.”
“The cost of energy, oil, gas and home heating oil is a huge burden on so many people. I am conscious that the Minister has been advancing a plan on energy efficiency and affordability in particular. The Minister has already started implementing some of the measures ahead of publishing the plan. One issue that is starting to bite - it is very difficult for people - is the retrofitting and home upgrade area whereby the council grant for older people has been changed so they are not able to get a grant for the oil heater. Again, this is something that will be coming up in an emergency situation very often.”
“I need to raise with the Taoiseach the drug Veoza, which is a non-hormone-based therapy aimed at supporting people with menopause. It is particularly useful to cancer survivors who would have HRT contraindications and who cannot use hormone-based therapies. This drug has been going through the process of qualification for some time. At this stage, the manufacturer has responded, and the ball is very much with the pharmacoeconomic centre to carry out the assessment. I would ask that this be prioritised to get it through the system. It is more than just Veoza, however, because various other drugs may also be useful to people who cannot use hormone-based therapies. There needs to be a review of the free HRT scheme to extend it and ensure everybody is able to access it in one way or another.”
“Baineann sé le huisce beatha atá á tháirgeadh sa tír seo. Tuigim nach gá ach go n-úsáidfí uisce ón tír seo chun go mbeifí ábalta fuisce Éireannach a ghlaoch air. Surely is féidir a chinntiú go mbeadh orthu grán ón tír seo a úsáid. Neartódh sé na feirmeoirí atá ann agus bheadh éileamh breise ar ghrán. Is céim phraiticiúil a bheadh ann. Mar sin, tá go leor céimeanna eile leagtha amach ag na feirmeoirí. Grain growers have laid out a range of other practical steps that could support them. I expect they will reinforce those points with the Minister in his forthcoming engagement with the sector on the distribution of the budget funding.”
“Fáiltím go mór roimh an díospóireacht ar an gceist fhíorthábhachtach seo maidir leis an tslí go bhfuil brú ar fheirmeoirí curadóireachta. Tá siad ag cur ar fáil táirgí atá an-mhaith i gcomhair chúrsaí bia agus dí agus do chothú na n-ainmhithe. Tá brú mór orthu le roinnt blianta anuas ach go háirithe. Tá titim thart ar 40% ar an achar talún atá faoi ghrán faoin tráth seo le 40 bliain anuas. Aithním go raibh dul chun cinn leis an maoiniú a cuireadh ar fáil leis an gcáinaisnéis le déanaí agus an tslí go mbeidh an tAire ag plé leis na grúpaí éagsúla mar gheall ar conas an t-airgead sin a chaitheamh, ach ní raibh gach aon ghrúpa lánsásta in aon chor leis. Bhíodar faoi an-chuid brú agus bhíodar ag lorg i bhfad níos mó airgid chun tacú leo. Díreoidh mé ar shlí amháin praiticiúil go bhféadfaí cabhrú leo nach mbeadh costas rómhór leis.”
“Then we have the rising costs of production, the price of diesel, fertilisers, machinery and so on. There are no quick fixes. I am conscious of the plan the Minister is putting in place with the €50 million. There are other measures that could be introduced to provide support as well. For example, Irish whiskey is a globally known product, and while there is a requirement to use Irish water, there is no requirement for it to contain Irish malt in order to call itself Irish. Is that not a measure for the Minister to take a look at to see if there is an opportunity to ensure that the Irish whiskey industry would have to use Irish produced grain to call it Irish whiskey? That is a practical measure that would support the sector, as it would increase the amount of the product that would be needed.”
“They also requested a per-hectare payment of some €350. They have felt under huge pressure over a long time. That is due not just to the price of the crops but also to the way the competition is imbalanced. They have to compete with genetically modified crops coming from abroad. It is a global price and the price of the crop in North America will influence the price they can get here at home. When they produce their crop and send it to the market, they do not know what kind of price they are going to get. They must wait to get a price. They only get one cheque in the year and do not know what will follow it. There is also a great deal of pressure due to land rental costs. There is savage competition, with others being able to outbid them on it.”
“I had an opportunity to meet with the grain growers group and a number of others as well who are very concerned about the sector from the food security point of view, as well as biodiversity because of the food it provides to wildlife. Tillage crops have a low-carbon footprint, which has implications for climate change. I welcome the funding the Minister has set aside in the budget and the fact there is going to be consultation with various stakeholders on how it will be distributed. There was a great welcome in some quarters for the funding, but the welcome from other quarters may have been less enthusiastic, such as the grain growers I had an opportunity to meet. They had requested a five-year sustainability and expansion programme for tillage with greater funding to allow them to plan further and to have more reliability.”
“I very much welcome the opportunity to have this debate on a hugely important topic, namely, the tillage sector and the phenomenal pressure the people who make it up feel under. It is a sector that is critical to our agrifood sector. It produces quality animal feed, bedding, ingredients for our food and drink sector and contributes over €1.3 billion annually to the agrifood sector. It is hugely important. The tillage sector feels under great pressure, especially over the last two to three years, which have been very difficult. There has been pressure over a prolonged time, with people leaving the sector at a rate of one farmer every week and the area under tillage falling by some 40% over the last 40 years.”
“To return to the earlier question, this relates to the efforts to end the tariff and to reopen the opportunity for trade. I understand this investigation has been ongoing for some time, with the expectation of an outcome later this year, or possibly by the end of the year. Is there any evidence emerging of dumping going on? Where do things stand at the moment on this? I know that it was raised by the agriculture Minister at the recent AGRIFISH meeting as well with his EU colleagues. Is there any evidence, or is there a risk, that this tariff could continue long-term, or what efforts are being made to ensure that it would be ended?”
“These tariffs are a huge burden on the export of pig products to China. Two obvious supports are needed: first, the ending of the tariff and allowing free trade and, second, alternative markets. It is reasonable to expect that China will build its own pigmeat businesses and will be able to satisfy its own market more in the years ahead. What particular efforts are being made to find alternative markets for Irish pig product across any other parts of the globe, whether South America, North America or wherever else?”
“China is the sixth largest destination for our agrifood exports, worth over €613 million, and pigmeat is a huge part of that trade, at €102 million last year. The imposition by China recently of what it considers anti-dumping tariffs will really challenge that trade. What efforts are being made to end those tariffs?”
“Even if it was not interested in continuing at the site, there is a possibility of transferring the land to a body like the NPWS while allowing the ESB to continue as the authority for operating the reservoir.”
“The proposal to meet with Fáilte Ireland is both positive and one we should take up. There are a number of stakeholders involved. Having ESB, which is the landowner, participating in such a meeting would be very important, particularly as it owns the Gearagh area, which is part of the Lee reservoir. While they have done some work on bird hides, walkways, etc., many feel that there is a lack of energy or interest on the part of the ESB in advancing and promoting the Gearagh. There is limited signage on site for interpreting what is there and limited car parking. Many locals and stakeholders would also feel that there is limited interest on the company's part. It would be important to engage with or energise the ESB, given that it owns the land.”
“I acknowledge the huge work that has been done in developing the west Cork and Kenmare development plan. As part of that, there is work also with Údarás na Gaeltachta on developing the Muscraí plan. Muscraí is very much focused on the Gaeltacht area. There is an amazing offering between food, culture, language, the landscape and so much more. The Gearagh is right on the edge of this; it is not the central focus of that plan. It is an amazing nugget on a corridor between the large population centre in Cork, the airport and right out to the Wild Atlantic Way. It is almost slipping between two stools. Can some effort can be made to bring the Gearagh to the fore and to get greater awareness of it?”
“I must tell the Minister about this magnificent place, the Gearagh, which is right beside Macroom. It formed after the last Ice Age. It is the remains of a post-glacial alluvial rainforest. It is a magnificent place. Migrating birds have nested there for many generation as they travel north to south and back again. People, whether local or international, may not know it well. We want to bring this wonderfully magnificent place to the attention of more people in order that they can share and enjoy it. Can the Minister provide an outline of what efforts are being made to promote the Gearagh?”
“Céim shuntasach a bhí ann chun an t-aitheantas don Ghaelainn a bhaint amach. Sa bhliain 2005, bhí an chéim ba mhó ann. Thug sé ardú meanman. Bhí foireann mhór ateangairí agus go leor eile ag teastáil chun a chinntiú go bhféadfaí é a chur i bhfeidhm sa chóras sa Bhruiséil. An bhfuil go leor daoine ar fáil? An bhfuil an fhoireann ann? Is dócha go bhfuil an Rialtas in iomaíocht le hateangairí sa tír seo chomh maith. An bhfuil céimeanna á dtógáil chun a chinntiú go mbeidh daoine breise, ateangairí agus aon duine eile atá bainteach leis an gcóras féin ina measc, ar fáil sa Bhruiséil agus sa tír seo?”
“De réir an embassy, táthar den tuairim go bhfuil thart ar 15,000 Éireannach sa Bhruiséil faoi láthair. Is Gaeilgeoirí iad an-chuid acu. Mar shampla, chonaiceamar an clár teilifíse “La Vie sa Bhruiséil” ina léiríodh an pobal beo bríomhar atá inti. Mar sin, lasmuigh den chóras oifigiúil, is léir go bhfuil pobal Gaeilgeoirí ann. An bhfuil iarrachtaí á ndéanamh chun tacú le pobal na Gaeilge lasmuigh den chóras oifigiúil chun go mbeidh, mar shampla, Gaeilge le cloisteáil sa Bhruiséil nó aon áit eile sa tslí céanna is atá an Pholainnis nó aon teanga eile le cloisteáil?”
“Tá an cheist seo bainteach leis an gcéim shuntasach a bhain muid amach cheana féin ag fáil stádais oifigiúil don Ghaeilge san Aontas Eorpach. Chomh maith leis an nGaeilge a bheith ag feidhmiú laistigh den chóras, an bhféadfadh an tAire a léiriú cén dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn san Aontas Eorpach?”
“Mar sin, teastaíonn uaim a chinntiú nach mbeidh scéim na mbóithre áise ag teacht in áit an LIS agus go mbeidh sí ag rith go comhthreomhar léi ionas go mbeidh an dá rogha ar fáil do phobal na Gaeltachta nuair a bheidh an scéim nua ann.”
“Cloisim an méid atá á rá ag an Aire mar gheall ar an scéim feabhsaithe áitiúil, nó LIS, atá ann faoi láthair. Is scéim an-úsáideach í agus cabhraíonn sí le feabhsú bóithre ar fud na tíre. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach, pé dul chun cinn a dhéantar, go mbeidh scéim na mbóithre áise ag feidhmiú go chomhthreomhar leis an LIS agus go mbeidh deis breise ag pobal na Gaeltachta feabhas a chur ar na bóithre, seachas blas Gaeltachta a chur ar an LIS do phobal na Gaeltachta amháin agus go gcaillfidh siad amach ar an scéim eile. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeidh an dá rogha ar fáil do phobal na Gaeltachta agus gurb amhlaidh go mbeidh buntáiste do dhaoine a bhfuil cónaí orthu sa Ghaeltacht.”