Albert Dolan
Galway East · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The Tánaiste will be well aware of the case of Carrabane National School in east Galway. I have no doubt that multiple representations have been made to him about it. While I do not expect him to have an answer today as to what the case is, I want to highlight the frustration that exists among the school community.”
“Those are people who were not already in a pension, who were working hard and earning money but who were not contributing to their future retirement and now they are auto-enrolled into a pension. You would have to ask if they know what they are a part of. Do they know the potential of it?”
“I would say that we need to be careful. I welcome the Grow Digital vouchers, but this would lead to businesses depending on those vouchers to get the expertise and skills to be talented with AI. The whole idea of AI is that it is going to be usable by anybody for anybody with their own critical thinking and their own ability.”
“This is something that I am very passionate about. It is something that affects us all. It is about financial literacy: understanding how a mortgage works, understanding how contributions to a pension can compound, understanding how people can better manage their own financial situations individually and, ultimately, understanding how peo…”
“Go raibh maith agat a Aire Stáit. I appreciate the update and the work that is ongoing. A key area I want to highlight, and I know the Minister of State is hearing this regularly, is energy costs.”
“I really appreciate the Minister of State's engagement on this issue. I welcome the response from the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the financial literacy framework and directive that are in place. I know about that because I experienced it when I was in secondary school.”
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“Schools in Galway East and right across the country are waiting on critical upgrades and critical building upgrades. I am talking about new classrooms, special education spaces, safer buildings and modern facilities. I am thinking about Carrabane National School, Gort National School, St. Brigid's College in Loughrea, Gort Community School, and Coláiste an Eachréidh in Athenry. Over recent months, we have seen very few school building announcements. We need clear timelines. We need to know when decisions are going to be made. Boards of management and principals have done everything they can do. They are now waiting on the Department. Will the Minister explain the cause of the slowdown? When can schools expect updates?”
“Another thing it is important to discuss briefly is the effect social media have on the mental health of young people, particularly the negative effects. Young people are under greater societal pressure than ever before because everything they do is being watched and they are also watching everything everyone else is doing. As a result, there is a huge comparison effect, which is having significant negative mental impacts on young people because they are not sure where they are supposed to be or what they are supposed to be doing.”
“Men need to be encouraged to avail of services, engage with prevention and early detection and ensure they mitigate risks as and when they arise. There is also an onus to tackle isolation. The men's sheds movement and what it has achieved are incredible. I have met many of its members in my constituency, including in Athenry and Monivea. They provide an incredible service that leads to people having a space where they can meet, talk, engage and get the social connection that is being lost in our communities. It is important we meet men where they are. Many men are engaged in different activities such as in men's sheds or in their GAA clubs. We need to send information to these organisations to ensure as many men as possible are availing of relevant supports.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on men's health. I commend the Minister of State on the investment she made in August to provide more than 15,000 free counselling sessions to men. This is really welcome because quite often men, and particularly young men, are afraid to speak about how they are doing, how they are coping with the pressures of life and how things are going. It is important that young men, and all men, are aware that these sessions are available and that they can avail of them through their GPs. I commend the Minister of State on that investment. One thing we need to do is to move away from the mindset of "I will be grand". There is still a mindset of "It will be fine" or "I will be grand; don't worry about me".”
“This is about transparency, trust and protecting people’s hard-earned money. Deputy Malcolm Byrne’s Bill gives us a chance to close a long-standing gap and align Ireland with international best practice. It will give clarity to the public, strengthen confidence in the profession and uphold the high standards that bodies like Chartered Accountants Ireland, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, ACCA, and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, CIMA, have all maintained for generations. This reform is overdue. In the same way as we protect the titles of "doctor", "solicitor", and "architect", we should protect the title of "accountant". I commend Deputy Byrne on bringing forward this important legislation and I urge colleagues across the House to support it.”
“People cannot call themselves solicitors unless they are members of the Law Society of Ireland. People cannot call themselves medical doctors unless they are registered with the Irish Medical Council and people cannot call themselves architects unless they are registered with the associated body. These titles are protected and it is not to create exclusivity but to protect the public interest. Surely, when it comes to those entrusted with people’s livelihoods, taxes and financial records, the same standards should apply. Protecting the title "accountant" is not about limiting competition. It is about ensuring that when members of the public engage an accountant, they can have confidence that the person is professionally trained, bound by an ethical code, insured and subject to disciplinary oversight.”
“I am delighted to rise in support of Deputy Malcolm Byrne’s Bill to make the title "accountant" a protected title. As a chartered accountant, I know what it takes to go through the rigorous training process, the ethical standards and the requirements to pass examinations to become a qualified accountant. We have seen the consequences of the loophole. Across communities and small businesses, people have been misled and, in some cases, financially harmed by individuals who claimed to be accountants but were unregulated and unqualified. Constituents have come to me, particularly farmers, sole traders and pensioners, who have handed over their financial affairs in good faith only to discover errors, penalties and lost savings, all because there is no legal protection for the title "accountant". Let us contrast this with other professions.”
“This office and the work it will do will be vital for the future of this country. We are, essentially, in the middle of a race to determine who can adopt AI the quickest and ensure it provides the greatest efficiency and productivity enhancements to their economy. Given our support and the number of technology companies that operate here, we have to show leadership and lead from the front on AI. Opening a national AI office is a step in the right direction. The last point I will make before my time runs out is that we have a €27 billion health budget. I am looking forward to having representatives of the HSE in front of me in the meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts tomorrow. One thing we are really failing on is investing in preventative health.”
“It creates job viability when there is considerable competition for jobs internationally, including across the Middle East, Asia and America. My next point is on being fiscally responsible and the fear of overheating the economy. We are living in a time when Ireland has one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world. While I understand that is not a good measure for our country, it is important because we now have an opportunity to invest for our future to keep going on the trajectory we are on, where we have bigger budgets and expansionary packages and are able to implement tax measures and support people. One small thing in the budget that I thought was really interesting was the funding allocated for the establishment of the national AI office. This is a very timely measure, with €1.4 million being allocated to establish the office.”
“Families should not be penalised if a member of the household is proceeding to postgraduate level. A postgraduate degree is now part of the education process. It is now almost mandatory to obtain a postgraduate qualification and become a specialist in an area. We need to examine the income thresholds in this regard. Looking at Galway, its economy and the number of incredible medtech and biomedical device manufacturers there, none of the activity in the area would be possible without research and development. Research and development is what allows so many high-paying, high-quality, highly skilled jobs to be available in the west, including Galway. Increasing the research and development tax credit to 35% was a huge step in the right direction.”
“A principal I spoke to earlier in the week told me the extra €50 per pupil will equate to €9,000 per year in additional discretionary funding for use within the school confines. The increase in the capitation grant was lobbied for seriously by the INTO. It has really been welcomed across schools because of the impact it will have on their ability to operate day in, day out. The first permanent reduction in college fees in many years, from €3,000 to €2,500, will make college more affordable for students. The regular expansion of the SUSI grant will continue to bring more students into eligibility. However, an issue raised with me by a family concerns the fact that for a postgraduate degree, the income threshold drops from €115,000 to €64,000. We need to examine this.”
“Not only will we build more homes, but the Government will actually receive more VAT as a consequence. Nobody has made the point that by building more homes, the Government will bring in more VAT, in addition to all the VAT charged on the goods used to the production of those homes. This is an important point. We should be cognisant of the fact that generating more VAT returns on the back of a VAT reduction is of high probability under the policy. Let me address the matter of supporting our most vulnerable. The increases in the fuel allowance and in weekly payments for pensioners and people with disabilities will ensure we look after those in society who need support most. People understand that this was the idea behind the budget. In education, the increase in the capitation grant has been widely welcomed by schools.”
“It is a privilege to speak on my first budget in my term as a TD. It is very clear what the budget is about. It is about investing in the future of this country and securing the jobs that fund it and ultimately make it a success. When we talk about investing for the future, we have to be realistic about the investments that needs to be made in infrastructure, energy, grid capacity and the security of the country. Also, we have to ensure we are not unduly exposed to international risks, which pose serious threats in this day and age. I want to address the issue of VAT on homes, because there has been much criticism of the reduction of the rate from 13.5% to 9%. The purpose of reducing VAT is to create viability. When there is viability, we will end up building more homes.”
“What is really important in this regard is that, in the next round of sports capital funding, consideration should be given to funding the acquisition of training fields or agricultural land for the purpose of developing pitches specifically for ladies' teams. I have seen this in different parts of east Galway where there has been consternation among clubs because there has not been enough space to allow for both teams. As a result, the female sides of certain clubs have decided to purchase their own playing fields. A side should not have to raise the funds for that, however. It should be funded under the sports capital programme. In an ideal world, if the fields can be purchased adjacent to the existing pitches, that would be brilliant, but everyone deserves equal access and equal opportunity.”
“The communities I represent in Galway East that have benefited so greatly from sports capital funding are delivering incredible projects right across our constituency. One thing that is really important is the growth in women's sports, which has been absolutely phenomenal over the past few years. All our clubs now have huge numbers on juvenile boys' and girls' teams and this is putting a strain on space. This is so much so the case for some clubs that there is a lack of space to accommodate everyone at all times. That is really unfortunate because everyone deserves equal access and equal opportunity in sport, regardless of gender.”
“I welcome this debate. The one thing I have to say about sports capital funding and the one thing that is heartwarming about it is that it is the most efficiently spent money in the country. When the grant is devolved to our local clubs and teams, we see them go to the ends of the earth to spend the money as efficiently as possible to yield the very best results for their communities. That always needs to be remembered in the context of public spending and how money is being spent. Our local clubs spend it best because they are volunteer organisations. They go through the tender process, they find the best contract and award it and, ultimately, they get incredible results on the ground. When we talk about sport and its contribution to our communities, we know it is the heartbeat of rural Ireland.”
“The peace proposal announced in Washington earlier this week, supported by countries across the region, must be seized upon. It offers the prospect of a ceasefire, the release of hostages and the beginning of reconstruction. Importantly, it makes clear there can be no displacement of the people of Gaza, no occupation by Israel and no role for Hamas in the political future. That is a framework we can build on. The only durable path to peace is the two-state solution.”
“We have been one of the strongest voices in Europe calling for the suspension of trade privileges with Israel, for sanctions against those who enable and perpetuate this brutality and for unimpeded humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza. Since January 2023, Ireland has provided more than €95 million in direct support to the Palestinian people. We have stood firmly with UNRWA, even as others tried to turn their backs. We have welcomed Palestinian patients and their families into our hospitals for urgent care but aid and words alone are not enough. The famine now gripping Gaza is entirely man-made. It is the direct result of a blockade that is strangling an entire people. That blockade must end immediately. Food, water and medicine must be allowed into Gaza unhindered. There is a glimmer of hope.”
“It is indefensible, unlawful and inhumane. An independent UN commission has confirmed that what Israel is doing constitutes genocide. Its report found acts of killing, of deliberately inflicting conditions designed to bring about destruction and of causing serious harm, and even of measures to prevent births. These are not words to be used lightly. Genocide is the most serious of crimes under international law and, as Navi Pillay said: The prevention of genocide is not a matter of discretion of states. It is a legal and moral obligation, and admits no delay. Ireland cannot stand by in silence. We have recognised Palestine as a sovereign state. We have intervened at the International Court of Justice.”
“What has unfolded before our eyes in Gaza is nothing short of catastrophic. It is a stain on humanity and it demands our unflinching condemnation. Since the war began, over 65,000 people have lost their lives, tens of thousands more have been injured and millions are displaced and starving. Children are buried beneath rubble, hospitals and schools are destroyed and an entire people are being deliberately deprived of food, water and medical aid. This is not just war: this is a systematic assault on human dignity. Let us be absolutely clear that the barbaric and heinous attacks carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023 were indefensible. Those acts of terror caused unimaginable suffering and should never be forgotten. Israel's response, though, has been disproportionate to a level that shocks the conscience of the world.”
“That development will provide 1,000 jobs in Athenry, which is an absolutely huge investment. The Minister's idea of preplanning permits so that we can have a general outline of the site's potential will be needed at the Oranmore site. Work should begin on that immediately, alongside the Minister's proposal for a €3.2 billion infrastructure package that will not only secure that site, but secure the future of Galway as well.”
“I really welcome that and I assure the Minister that, when he goes to Cabinet with that memo, he will have my full support. We must make sure that site is unlocked and the potential is realised. What is notable about that semiconductor site, adjacent to Oranmore, is its scale. It is going to be huge and the impact will secure the future of the west of Ireland for the next 20, 30 or 40 years. Something like the advance planning permit that the Minister mentioned in his reply is vital. I saw the success of Dexcom in Athenry. It had such a smooth run through the planning system. There was not one local objection and there was collegiality with Galway County Council. There was an understanding there. The council did its job and attached 58 conditions to the development but it got planning permission in eight weeks.”
“Over 31,000 people are employed by IDA companies in the west of Ireland, as the Minister outlined. I welcome the fact that the ambition is going up, from 76-IDA backed investments in the last plan to a target of 100 investments over the lifetime of this strategy. I welcome the publication of the strategy. I attended the opening of the Medical Technology Ireland conference yesterday in Galway and saw for myself the talent, business and enterprise that was ongoing in the Galway medtech ecosphere. It is vital that we continue to support that. Over the last 20 or 30 years, we have built expertise, facilities and such a successful ecosystem, including relationships between the universities and businesses. Does the Minister have any plans to continue to support that and what will that support look like?”
“The work of IDA Ireland cannot be underestimated. It has a proven, serious track record of delivery right across the country and of bringing in business and creating jobs. Under the current strategy, how has IDA Ireland performed in the west of Ireland, what is the plan for the future and where are we going from here? Ultimately, it is vital that we make a success of the west. I would appreciate it if the Minister could speak to IDA Ireland’s performance under its strategy.”
“Of course, we want to make sure that nobody gets left behind. We need to show leadership, however, because when all of these companies are investing in Ireland, they want to see that we are tech-minded, that we are tech leaders and that we want to see success for their businesses and this country.”
“Part of what will make our business environment better to do business in is something that falls within the Minister of State's brief, namely digitisation. Ultimately, the question the Department needs to be asking is whether every grant application, licence permit, etc., can be processed by it digitally? It is important for every Department to look at this because if somebody cannot easily deal with a Department in person, they will still be able to deal with an official online if they encounter any difficulties. That is the way to think about it. I have read many times about Estonia's digital-first policy and how innovative it is. The reality is that Ireland is home to the biggest tech companies in the world. The Government need to show both leadership and that we want to be a digital-first nation.”
“Go maith agat. I really welcome all that is being done in the Department to try to simplify business regulation. From my dealings with the Department, that is definitely the thinking. It wants to make life better for businesses. It wants to make Ireland a better place to operate a business. To reiterate how important this point is, the IBEC CEO Survey 2025 ranks sensible regulation as the third most important issue that CEOs across our country face. As Fianna Fáil spokesperson on enterprise, I want to make sure that we continue with that train of thought. SMEs suffer the brunt of overregulation. They do not have the scale and capacity to subsume a lot of the burden. What will be done for the SMEs to ensure that they will have smoother operations, that they can deal with State agencies better and, ultimately, have greater longevity.”
“Red tape is a huge issue for small businesses. When I am out meeting business people, one thing that comes up consistently is red tape. What is the Minister of State doing to cut through red tape and simplify business regulation?”
“The companies behind them are using ever tactic in the book to create new life-long customers out of our children. We cannot stand by while that happens and that is why we are bringing forward legislation that must ban disposable vapes, restrict flavours and packaging and remove these products from shop counters where young eyes see them every day. We must invest in public information campaigns, in school resources and in supports for young people who want to quit but who are struggling with addiction. This has to be about prevention. It is about making sure the next generation grows up free from the trap of nicotine addiction. It is also about giving parents peace of mind and ensuring that our communities are healthier, cleaner and safer. Fianna Fáil's record is clear. We put public health first. Today, we must do so again.”
“We have a duty and a moral obligation to protect the long-term health of our young people. Right now, too many children and teenagers are being targeted in the context of, hooked on and harmed by vaping. Let us be clear; nicotine is addictive. The long-terms health effects of these products are still unknown, and yet an entire generation is being lured in by colourful packaging, candy-flavoured liquids and the false belief that vaping is harmless. Ireland once led the world by introducing the first national workplace smoking ban. That bold step saved lives. We now face a new challenge, and we must act with the same courage. Disposable vapes are cheap, easy to hide and deliberately marketed to appeal to children. They damage young hearts, lungs and blood vessels. They pollute our streets, our rivers and our environment.”
“Auto-enrolment is not just about pensions; it is about building a fairer, stronger Ireland where hard work is always rewarded and where people can look to the future with confidence.”
“This is also about simplicity. The "pot follows the member" model means that, as people change jobs, their pension pots go with them. There will be no more lost accounts or scattered small savings. Default investment options will de-risk over time but choice will remain for those who want it. Administration is being taken on by the new National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority, which will make the process as light as possible for employers. In the decades ahead, this reform will transform how people experience retirement in Ireland. It will lift the quality of life for future generations, give people confidence about their financial security and demonstrate, in a very practical way, the way of partnership between working, employer and State.”
“That means that, for every €3 the worker contributes, the total becomes €7 before it is even invested. That is a powerful return that will grow steadily over the course of a career. The contributions themselves will be phased in gradually, from 1.5% at the start, rising step by step to 6% by 2034. That phasing in is important because it gives households time to adjust and small businesses time to plan. It is reform done at a sensible pace with fairness at its core. The long-term benefits are enormous. Workers will build real financial security, employers will be contributing to a stronger and more resilient workforce and the State will be reducing future pressures on public finances. For society as a whole, it means fewer people facing hardship in older age and more people able to look to retirement with dignity and independence.”
“Today, I welcome the introduction of My Future Fund. This is Ireland's new system of automatic enrolment into pensions. This is one of the most important social reforms for a generation. For too long, too many workers, particularly in the private sector, have faced the prospect of reaching retirement with only the State pension. We know that only about a third of private sector workers currently have a supplementary pension. Auto-enrolment changes that and it does so in a way that is fair, simple and sustainable. From January 2026, every employee aged between 23 and 60 who is earning over €20,000 a year and not already contributing to a scheme will be automatically enrolled. Employers will match what the worker puts in and on top of that, the State will add €1 for every €3 saved.”
“It means proper procedures on spending and it means treating applicants with humanity while also ensuring communities are not overburdened. Migration will remain a part of Ireland's future and I am proud of that. The challenge is whether we face it with planning and fairness or keep repeating the same costly mistakes. The Minister has taken steps in the right direction, which I really welcome, but delivery will be crucial. A rules-based system can restore trust, protect communities and allow migration to be the positive force we know it is, we know it can be and we know it will be in the future.”
“Our housing, schools, transport and water systems have not kept pace. That is not inevitable; it is the result of poor planning. It is our responsibility to go forward and make sure that where we have seen increased population growth, we react. We need to put in place the investment in the national development plan and encourage the growth to continue. I believe Ireland as a country will be a great success into the future but only if we manage the growth correctly. Where do we go from here? The choice is simple. We can continue with emergency responses, spending billions on hotels with no transparency and communities left behind or we can build a firm and fair system that is rules based, accountable and sustainable. That means investing in housing, schools, transport and services.”
“I want to talk about the positive contributions of migration and particularly migrants who are living in our communities and contributing day in, day out. They play a huge role in Ireland and are a huge strength to Ireland. Our hospitals simply could not function without them. Work permits in health and social care have more than doubled since 2020, which is welcome because people in Ireland need care and I am grateful for all of the people who do that. In my community in Athenry, people from all over the world contribute immensely to our town and make it a fantastic place. Migrants staff our building sites, the food sector and tech firms. They start businesses, they pay taxes and contribute every single day. In Galway alone, work permits have quadrupled since 2009. Migration drives growth but growth without planning causes strain.”
“There was an expectation that this hotel would be brought back into use, providing a venue for tourists to stay as well as a venue for weddings, confirmations and christenings - everything that goes with a small village. We now have IPAS applicants staying in a hotel and tourists staying in homes and Airbnb accommodation, resulting in a mismatch. I know that the State is moving to acquire more State accommodation centres with the State as the provider so that we are not negatively impacting small villages and towns disproportionately. People in Kinvara are hopeful that the hotel will be returned to the community in the future and it will serve its function again. I hope to work with the Minister on that.”
“We knew there would be pressure from the war in Ukraine and from international protection, but instead of structured planning the State went from one emergency to another and was a essentially firefighting. I know I am hammering on that point, but it is important that we put in place the structures. There has definitely been a marked improvement in the last few months. I want to turn to a local example in east Galway. The Merriman Hotel is the sole hotel in the village of Kinvara in south Galway. It is a beautiful village with great people and has always been incredibly welcoming of asylum seekers. From 2019 and for many years the Merriman Hotel was an IPAS centre. However, its contract has been renewed for another two-year period which has really hurt the community.”
“The community recognition fund has been widely welcomed across the country and has played a really important role in recognising the efforts of communities to integrate asylum applicants while they are with them in their community. I know the Minister is working to accelerate the speed at which applicants are dealt with. Ultimately, nobody deserves to be left in a hotel unable to work and not receiving very much support. The reality is they need to be dealt with swiftly and a determination made. If somebody is permitted to stay, work and contribute, they get to do that, but if they are required to leave because they are not entitled to seek asylum in this country or they have not come through the proper channels, they must ultimately leave. What failed was not foresight.”
“It was wrong that that scale of money was paid out with no proper financial procedures in place. As a member of the public accounts committee I am looking forward to officials from the Department of justice coming before the public accounts committee to discuss how they are rectifying it now. That was a couple of billion euro in just a few short years. It has just left frustration in communities and we still do not have a sustainable system in place. There is a lot of work to be done there. It is important to say that migration as a whole is not the problem. The problem is the lack of a rules-based system and the absence of forward planning, clear procedures and accountability. A fair system must mean two things: efficiency and humanity for applicants but also fairness for communities being asked to absorb the pressure.”
“I want to be really clear about something I have watched over the last few years and I know the Minister is acutely aware of. It is the rapid increase in spending on IPAS accommodation, going from €130 million in 2020 to over €480 million in 2022 and in excess of €1.2 billion last year. We all know this rate of increase is not sustainable but I understand that it was in response to a crisis. The numbers had risen very quickly and had to be managed. My problem with how quickly the money was spent is that the financial procedures appear to have gone out the window. There was no public procurement and every IPAS centre was set up on an expression-of-interest basis. Essentially, whoever could provide the beds quickly enough got the contract, which was wrong because such big money is at stake here.”
“Migration has always been part of Ireland's story. For generations our people went abroad seeking work and opportunity. Today people come here for the same reasons, namely, safety, jobs and a chance to build a life. It is important to say migration is not new for this country and given the current climate of the globe I do not believe it is going away. It is important that we distinguish between what we might call normal immigration - people who come in, apply for a work permit and work and contribute to this country - and those who are fleeing persecution and seeking asylum for various reasons. The real issue here is how we manage it. Managed well, migration is positive, and strengthens our economy, our health service and our communities. Managed badly, it creates division, waste and a loss of confidence.”
“I would appreciate any commitment that can be given to investigate why Craughwell and Clarinbridge have seen no action to date, because we have had the money in place for three years. It is an opportunity to make it happen.”
“The programme for Government sets out a clear commitment to bringing in an unsewered villages scheme. In 2022, a fantastic investment of €50 million was announced to bring some of these villages that do not have sewage facilities back into use, such as Craughwell and Clarinbridge in Galway. These were fantastic announcements. Three years on, however, we do not have plans, sites or, ultimately, execution. When is the Government going to bring forward the renewed sewerage investment scheme for unsewered villages? It is important for me to say that right now, in counties like Galway, there is an artificial constrain on land supply. As a result, prices of homes in Athenry, Loughrea and Gort are going up. Our villages have not seen homes built in more than 15 years.”
“Our responsibility now is to plan for the future where accessibility and inclusion are built in from the start, where no child is turned away and where every community is open, welcoming and equal. That is what success should look like and that is what this strategy must deliver.”
“That gives us a chance to move from aspiration to action, but it will only succeed if people with disabilities remain central to every decision. I welcome that element of this strategy, if resources of course match the ambition that Government has. Once Government puts the resources in, this plan has a real chance of being a game-changer, and that is what it makes it exciting. People with disabilities have contributed to this plan. They are involved in this plan, and they understand how this plan can and will work, and Government has the ambition to make it work. Disability policy in Ireland has come a long way but it still has a long way to go.”
“That is there and ready to go. I again ask the Minister of State to work with the Brothers of Charity in Galway to try to achieve that. I regularly visit the Hidden Gem cafe in Gort. It shows us what real inclusion looks like. Every time I visit, I see the dignity and community that comes when people with disabilities are at the heart of the project. It truly is a heartwarming experience. Every time I go in, I am greeted with a smile. It is incredible to experience that social inclusion and the positivity that emanates from it, and it should be replicated across the country. I welcome that this strategy puts accountability at the highest level, with the Taoiseach and every Department responsible for delivery.”
“Across County Galway there are other opportunities where proper planning and funding would change lives. At Toghermore campus in Tuam equine therapy has the potential to be transformative. I have met with representatives of Ability West and heard of their ambition for the site. That ambition they have needs to be matched with the ambition of Government to support it. We do not have equine therapy in the west. We have it in the east, south and midlands but we do not have it in the west, and we need to encourage that investment. Almost 1,000 hours of therapy could be provided weekly in north County Galway. Second, in Athenry, the Brothers of Charity and the HSE are jointly renting a facility that to this day remains vacant. They do not have the capital to turn it into a transformative educational and training facility.”
“Success will be when transport, housing and public spaces are designed so that accessibility is the norm and not an afterthought. Last week, I witnessed a positive example in St. Oliver's Special School in Tuam where I attended the opening of the school. It is an incredible investment in children and families and one we should all welcome. However, unless the supports are there for the school to expand, it will end up turning children away in the years ahead and this cannot be allowed to happen. I ask the Minister of State to engage with St. Oliver's Special School, which I know is under the Department of Education and Youth, but there is an opportunity with the HSE to provide additional space at the back of the site to allow more capacity in the school. Ability West is the patron of that school, and it is willing to engage on that issue.”