Barry Heneghan
Dublin Bay North · Independent · Ireland
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an bPáirtí an Lucht Oibre. This highlights what many families are experiencing right now. Many people have been in contact with me. Even today, I met parents who were under enormous pressure because of the cost of uniforms, books, transport and school activities.”
“I refer to the hundreds of vacant spaces over shops in Dublin, the capital city in which I grew up. I welcome the above-the-shop grant but could we re-examine it in terms of microcompanies or SMEs availing of that grant? It can be difficult for them to avail of the above-the-shop grant.”
“They deserve to know how that supplier was selected, whether public procurement guidance has been followed and why students cannot use an equivalent device that they may already own. Technology undoubtedly has an important role in education. I do not dispute that fact. I came through education while the technology was developing.”
“Anois sa choiste fuinnimh táimid ag caint faoi plug-in solar. In 2024 there was a consultation done by the Department in which Bord Gáis Energy said that plug-in solar systems should be mounted on roofs where possible and hardwired into a dedicated circuit.”
“That contradiction leaves parents and students whom I represent caught in a middle ground. On one hand, the Department is saying they are not mandatory and, on the other, schools are telling parents that they must purchase one. I understand that the Minister of State was in north Dublin.”
“My granny drank raw milk and she lived to 98. We need to look into alternative ways to have locally sourced food. In that regard, I will point to what is happening at EU level and how it ties into this.”
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“I wish the Minister the best of luck in his new role. I am very happy to see this motion, which holds substantial implications for our nation's youth and the broader European community. I will focus on the benefits, such as cultural enrichment. By embracing this scheme, the Irish youth will have unparalleled opportunities to experience life. They have always been in the UK and fostering a mutual understanding will strengthen the historical bonds we share. The educational opportunities are also significant for the young people I know. Equalised tuition fees will make UK institutions more accessible to Irish students, broadening their academic horizons. Another significant aspect relates to the economic advantages, facilitating the movement of young professionals.”
“Let us work together, collaboratively, and hold ourselves accountable to ensure that in the next five years we not only meet our targets but we foster a society in which Ireland can envision and achieve a prosperous future.”
“We need these to be put into the northside. If all of these projects were expedited for rapid construction, we would be in a much stronger position not just for today but for the future of healthcare on the northside. If we continue down this path of delay, red tape and indifference, we will set ourselves up for failure. To the Government and decision-makers who I have chosen to support, please make sure this gets done. We cannot ignore the northside anymore. I will not stand by while it is left behind. I will fight for this and demand action. The time for talk is over; the time for action is now. I am supporting the programme for Government. I do so with cautious optimism. It lays a foundation but the true measure of success will be its implementation and its impact on the citizens of Ireland.”
“We need to have targets for respite, overnights and personalised projects for people with disabilities. We must not just tackle barriers but remove them so that everyone has the right to thrive. Another issue that is close to my heart and that has been neglected on the northside of Dublin is Beaumont Hospital. It has been neglected. I can see that there are ambitions to improve healthcare. Beaumont Hospital is the beating heart for healthcare for people on the northside. It serves thousands of people but is operating under immense strain. The front-line staff are heroes working in impossible conditions, stretched beyond their limits. Please, can we see this included in the HSE capital plan? The radiation oncology unit, the emergency department and the 100-bed ward are stuck at the final design phase.”
“For example, in Belmayne there is a clear place where there could be a library and there could be a development on the l-shaped land. I urge that this be developed. Mental health is a huge issue. We have one of the highest rates of mental ill health in Europe. Some 18.5% of the population is affected. Nearly half of that number do not seek help. We need to expand access to mental health services. I was lucky that I went to a college that provided a free mental health service. Everyone is experiencing this. Please develop it. The young people of Ireland are screaming out for this. One in four young people in Ireland experiences anxiety or depression. With social media nowadays, we are not doing ourselves any favours. Disability is a huge issue. I am delighted to see that there are key steps in the programme, but there are not the targets.”
“However, the recent storm has highlighted it, leaving thousands without power, underscoring the urgency to enhance our grid’s resilience. On education and employment, throughout the campaign I met thousands of parents who are struggling. The programme for Government outlines various initiatives. There is a need for robust focus on education and employment opportunities for young people. We need to invest in skills and innovation and create pathways that lead to meaningful careers for teachers, special needs assistants and carers. Let our country be a place where our youth are equipped to thrive and adapt. I want to highlight that, in Dublin Bay North the lack of investment is ridiculous. I am fed up with it. That is why I got involved in politics.”
“In 2024, we only saw 30,330 homes built, which is a 6.7% decrease. To bridge this gap we need to explore innovative solutions that have worked elsewhere, such as modular homes, and implement increased taxes on vacant property sites to stimulate supply. As Members will be aware, I am a passionate climate activist. This Government’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gases by 51% by 2030 and to achieve net zero by 2050 is ambitious. However, to get to these goals we need to invest in renewable energy. Unlike how we dealt with fossil fuels in the past, let us invest. Ireland has a nine-times potential of our land mass in seabed. If any other European country had that potential, it would utilise it to benefit the State. I will not go on about private wires because I spoke about the issue yesterday.”
“Save the best for last. Go raibh míle maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Táim thar a bheith buíoch go bhfuil mé ag seasamh arís anseo i nDáil Éireann. As an Independent Teachta Dála for Dublin Bay North, I am honoured to address this Chamber today regarding the recent programme for Government. It has been a great experience for me and the great colleagues I have had over the past few weeks, getting down and getting to work. This comprehensive plan outlines our nation's path forward. While it presents several commendable initiatives, it is essential to critically assess its provisions to ensure that they align with our todhchaí. In regard to the programme's ambitious target of the construction of 300,000 homes by 2030, this is a great and positive step but we have to outline our past failures.”
“Currently, building regulations mandate separate metering for each apartment block, making shared rooftop incredibly difficult. This is not only an energy issue; this is a housing and cost-of-living issue. We need a modern decentralised grid, similar to Denmark, and we need regulatory reform that embraces this innovation. Every day we delay, we leave families in the dark, communities without power and a cleaner cheaper energy future slipping through our fingers. Unlike the past dealings of our fossil fuel, we should grab our renewable energy potential and benefit the Irish people. I told Dublin Bay North I would fight for results agus níl sé seo ach an tús.”
“The energy grid is outdated, overstretched and unfit for purpose. Let us talk facts. I am delighted to see the steps to legalise private wires in the programme for Government. There are gigawatts of renewable projects waiting for a connection. ESB Networks simply cannot handle this backlog with the current infrastructure and every delay is costing the economy billions of euro in lost potential. Private wire connections will provide a key solution to this. For example, a farmer could supply local businesses with solar power or businesses could use combined heat and power, CHP, units to share their energy. These are practical, achievable solutions. If we have energy, we can do this, but right now we are blocking this efficiency.”
“A Cheann Comhairle, colleagues and, more importantly, the people of Dublin Bay North, it is with great humility and deep gratitude that I rise to address this Chamber for the first time. Gabhaim buíochas le gach daoine. Is mór an onóír dom a bheith anseo. I thank my constituents, my family and my kitchen cabinet, Finian McGrath and Damian O'Farrell, for placing their faith in me, for believing in the vision I put forward and for giving me this opportunity to serve them. I am here for delivery. and every decision I make, every question I raise and every battle I fight, will have that in mind. My thoughts are with the people still without power. I thank ESB dearly for the response to the issues I raised in my constituency in Artane and I thank every single worker who addressed them, but Storm Éowyn has shown us something fundamentally.”