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 join Deputy Ward in offering condolences following the recent incident in Dublin. I would also like to stress to the public not to be sharing incidents like this online and to allow everyone to investigate it. I thank first responders, An Garda Síochána, the ambulance service and the Order of Malta from Fairview and Marino, who I have in with me today. I thank them for all they do, for how they help the communities and how they serve the communities in these situations. Regarding road safety, every conversation has to begin with the people who are no longer with us, and those who have been injured. We have heard Deputies across the House describing how people's lives can be changed within seconds. Parents and children and the recent tragic deaths are not just numbers, they are lives. My father was a traffic policeman for over 35 years.”
“Ceapaim gur cuma leis na daoine taobh amuigh den Teach seo cé atá ag déanamh na rudaí. Tá siad ag iarraidh go bhfuil an obair déanta. Táim tar éis é sin a rá le cúpla fadhb a tháinig chun cinn sa Teach seo. Is bubble é an Teach seo. Nuair atá tú amuigh i do Dháilcheantar féin - tá a fhios ag an Aire Stáit faoi seo - tá daoine ag streachailt sa phobal faoi láthair. Tá praghas gach rud ag dul suas. We should work with a sense that if there is a suggestion that comes in, we should all accept things that need to be done for the betterment of Ireland, accept them quickly and put aside political differences. I really would welcome that.”
“The fact that the Bill rewards new builds and punishes experience is not fair. There are four things I will request. This is from consulting with the providers. These include reflecting the real costs in the core funding and the hourly subsidy under the national childcare scheme, as suggested to me. In only parts of the system, providers consistently say this works. We must deliver on the €250 cap and I am cautiously optimistic that the Minister of State will do this. It is very important that when a promise is made to the electorate, it is delivered on. If we do not do that, they are broken promises. We are nothing without our word. Supporting after-school must be treated as infrastructure. We should all work from across this House. An rud is fearr liom sa Teach seo ná nuair atá gach duine ag obair le chéile ar na fadhbanna seo.”
“In regard to staffing requirements and insurance costs, the SMEs are really struggling, especially the long-established ones that I mentioned earlier. The Bill, especially when it talks about quality, should examine this. It needs to exist with viable services, using the existing ones that are already in place in communities. Without fair funding, the regulation simply drives out good providers. As I mentioned, people are being cut out. Parents do not magically get cheaper childcare. The programme for Government states that this will be examined over the lifetime of the Government. I am aware things take longer. This should be prioritised as there are people who are being forced out of work. We know the current model needs to be changed and the long-established community providers cannot be frozen out or locked out.”
“After-schools could be facilitated easier, particularly for staff in the schools who would like the extra few bob in their pocket. Another parent stated, "Core funding doesn’t exist in practice." This is another childcare provider from north Dublin. "You won’t find a creche with it fully covering costs." The parent states that the only subsidy that really works is the €2.40 an hour under the national child care scheme and the Government should increase those payments across the board. I welcome the Minister's engagement with my office on this. We had been inundating the previous Minister with parliamentary questions. I have a few of them here. I will not read them out; I will publish them later.”
“Continuing, he says: The children play outside in the rain ... Working parents [already] pay huge amounts in tax and contribute to society. My son is 8 now and I fear he'Il be doing his Junior Cert before this is addressed. It is not unreasonable for parents to be asking that. I have seen some mentions of it in recent announcements in the sense that if you have children in school, there are some schools that provide the service. However, I would love to see it nationwide. Other countries do it, as do some places in Ireland. If parents are dropping their children off to school and the children are already in the school, it would be great to have more established and funded models. I know there is some mention of it in that.”
“I am optimistic that she will take this on board and bring it to the Department. Further on, the person who contacted me says that the fear, uncertainty and sense of being ignored is really affecting her business, her staff and her own mental health. The parents who go to her business are saying the same. One parent wrote to me, saying: We pay €866 a month for the baby and ... [€200] for after school. The broken promise of the €250 cap and the deafening silence on the matter. It was to be actioned within [the first] 150 days ... . Now it’s said it will happen in the lifetime of government . They stated that they think this needs to be changed and asked me to help. Another parent raised another incident, and states that the school has no school hall. This is to do with after-school care. I know it is not directly related to the Bill.”
“Reaching out to another long-established childcare provider, I received this from Donnycarney in my constituency. The following is the text I received this morning: I don't know what I'm going to do and everything is up in the air. The government think it's going to be a straightforward takeover and it’s not. If they go down this route it is going to cost them a lot more investment than they currently pay out. I removed some of the other text because I could not read it in this Chamber. It goes on to say: This government, even with their investment over the past few years, still has ... the lowest GDP investments into the sector in Europe. We are being trampled into the ground and it feels like nobody is listening. I see the Minister of State taking notes. I know she is listening.”
“This creates a deeply unfair and unbalanced playing field [for this long-established provider in the community]. Core Funding was presented as a promise of sustainability and fairness for all childcare providers. In reality, it has failed to deliver on that promise. I know there is no silver bullet for the majority of issues we face in this Dáil but this should be examined again because: If this continues, many respected and well-run services... will be forced to close, to the detriment of children, parents, staff, and the wider community [they have served for so long]. That is not ideological. That is not political point-scoring. Those are their words. This service has done everything asked of it and is now being squeezed out by a funding model that does not reflect reality.”
“This minimal increase falls far short of covering the rising costs of inflation, utilities, food, insurance, staffing, and compliance. As a direct result, we have been forced to make drastic and heartbreaking cuts, including the closure of our kitchen [and other services] - something that directly impacts children and families. I will not name the provider but can pass the details over to the Minister of State's office. "What is particularly disheartening [for them is they] appear to be penalised under the current system". I know changes are coming and it has been spoken about in this House. We need to speed those up. While we struggle to survive under fee freezes and insufficient funding, a new childcare service... directly across the road from us is free to charge fees of up to €300 per week, along with a non-refundable €800 deposit.”
“I have her permission to read out this email: l am writing to you on behalf of [I will not say the name] to express our deep concern about the increasingly unsustainable position that well-established childcare providers now find themselves in under the current Core Funding model. [They are proudly serving] the... community for many years, consistently providing high-quality childcare and maintaining the highest standards of care, safety, and professionalism. However, despite our long-standing commitment and proven track record [in our community], we are now facing extreme difficulties in keeping our doors open. Childcare fees have been frozen since 2018, while Core Funding has increased by only five cents per child.”
“Having spoken and reached out to many of them before speaking today, they are talking about survival. Some are talking about closure, especially in Dublin Bay North. Many of these people are dedicated and have been in the industry for 25 or 30 years. They are struggling at the moment with the energy crisis and other difficulties, especially because they love it so much. When you are working in that industry with children, you have to love it and show your love. I spoke to childcare providers, parents and staff across Dublin Bay North and further afield. I had people reaching out to me from across Ireland on this important topic. I would love to read out some of what they are saying because this debate should not be abstract. I spoke to Elaine Dunne, who has done fantastic work.”
“Childcare is not a luxury. I know everyone in this House heard that on the doors in the last election. It is very difficult at the moment. I heard Members talking about parents nearly finding it more affordable for one of them to give up work. That is something we definitely should not be encouraging, especially after fighting so hard for a society that accepts that both parents work. We cannot be going backwards in that sense. I acknowledge the progress and expansion of the national childcare scheme and the increased staff allocations and professional standards. It is brilliant to see that. Those are the positive notes. Now I have to go to some amendments I would like to see. The extra public funding is real and I give credit where it is due. On the ground, however, many childcare providers are not talking about reform or progress.”
“It is good to see we are continuing towards treating early years education as part of our social infrastructure. It is not just a private service; it should be available to everyone in the State. I welcome that. I thank the Minister of State for the time she gave to the Clontarf Bulls and the other teams and for speaking to the parents afterwards. For any parent of a child with additional needs going through the education system, it was great to see the engagement and I thank the Minister of State for her work on that. The parents we had in for the meeting were speaking of going through childcare, school and university, especially the CRC. Giving children with additional needs supports after they leave is important. The Clontarf Bulls reiterated that. I thank other Members of the House, as well, for their welcoming into it.”
“I thank social workers and all the people working in the industry. The amendments to the Bill build on calls from Members of this House over several years. I welcome the work put into it. Also on a positive note, the changes to improve Tusla and childcare across the system are welcome. Foster parents who take children into their home have to be commended. To show someone love and give someone support is very honourable. The parts of the Bill strengthening regulation and oversight are admirable as well. There have been calls for a very long time about the Government arrangement with Tusla. We see from recent incidents that there need to be improved enforcement powers. The tightening of quality and safety standards are welcome. I do not see how anyone would not support that.”
“I support measures that speed up decisions to protect the vulnerable and I will continue to argue for proper community consultation for north Dublin. What happened there can never happen again. It put people and refugees in danger. What I have said I will do is what people elected me to do and I intend to keep doing it.”
“Ireland has a strong history of emigration. I have spoken about this in the House multiple times. We understand what it is like to leave home. We understand what it is like to seek safety and opportunity in places where we are trying to make better lives for ourselves, but we can be firm and organised in how we manage migration and immigration. If you look at statistics, it is very difficult, and I have heard other Deputies mention this, that we do have an open border. Looking at any of the parliamentary questions which have been submitted by Deputies, including by my own office, on this, it is very difficult in the sense that I do not think we will have completely secure borders until we have a united Ireland. That is another point I would push for.”
“We cannot process people quickly enough. I heard other Deputies talk about the €1.2 billion spent in 2025. People are angry. There is a range of issues but they are also angry at people becoming millionaires off a system that is broken. It is very important this gets brought through and implemented as soon as possible. Coming back to the Bill, I support the aims of creating a system that is fair, consistent, lawful and workable. I welcome that part but I will judge it by does it respect human dignity and what this country has always stood for. From speaking to constituents, there is public confidence as a result of the announcements by the Government at the moment. It is important to recognise that migration policy must go hand in hand with public engagement and with housing, infrastructure investment and everything.”
“Toghtar daoine ón phobail le teacht chuig an áit seo chun caint faoi na rudaí seo. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeimid inár adults to be able to talk about these situations. This sits on top of the housing shortage and the blame for this along with the overcrowded schools. I have been speaking about this. If we ignore the reality, we gift it to those who wish to exploit fear and create vacuums. Again, I commend the Minister for how quickly he dealt with north Dublin. I want to bring this back to the Bill. The accelerated procedures in the new tribunal for asylum and returns appeal and the new biometric screening and return mechanisms may improve efficiency, but efficiency without fairness will fail. I spoke to people in sector. I know this is only Second Stage but they are worried enforcement will fail without it being properly discussed.”
“They looked after my granny when she was in hospital. For anyone to say these hard-working men and women are not contributing to society need to go and see. I know it is not just that community but the entire migrant community in our health system. I stand with them and everyone who comes to this country to make this country a better place. I believe in a country where immigration is managed with respect and where people are safe in their workplaces and on the streets, and where communities are included and not ignored in any communication. That is why legislation like this must be discussed. Some people in this House do not want to discuss this legislation, but when you do not discuss this in the Parliament of our country, in Dáil Éireann, cén áit gur féidir leat labhairt faoi na rudaí seo?”
“Where communities are feeling ignored and you do not communicate with those communities, it creates a vacuum for misinformation and hatred to spread. The Minister is aware of this and I welcome the work he has done on this. I call again for an inquiry into how the Crown Paints site in Coolock was dealt with. The fear, anger and division was completely avoidable. We need to learn from it and not repeat it. Some parts of the Bill will help with that. Previous speakers spoke about solidarity. I think it is very true. Recently I was at a launch in Beaumont Hospital and heard directly about nurses and doctors being attacked when leaving work. I welcome the statements from the Minister’s office recently. It is important that we stand united with the Indian community. They are part of our community. They look after us when we are sick.”
“What is proposed is sensible and faster decisions are better for everyone. Clear procedures are better for applicants, communities and the State. Three weeks ago I met a refugee. We had a lovely meeting. He said he really wants an easier system so he can get to work. The Department has already brought out statements on that and I would welcome more being brought in. They are coming here for a better life. They want to work. If they cannot work easily, that sets them out as a target. He was begging me. He asked was there anything he could do to be in the system. Leaving people in limbo is something we cannot support. The fact the Minister is speeding it through is much better. To create trust, we need to communicate with communities. I have already said that. Deputy Fitzmaurice said that.”
“I have spoken in this House multiple times about how an inquiry needs to be done on how it was dealt with, how people were put in danger as a result of how it was dealt with, and how it can never happen again. I knocked on nearly every door in the area. There were people from all around Ireland who came there to aggravate the current status but the people are the most welcoming, hard-working people. People in north Dublin are the most welcoming people and this was treated completely wrongly. I know this was not the Minister, it was a previous Minister, but I welcome how swiftly his Department dealt with the Crown Paints site. The mandate I was given is the standard to which I will always hold myself in this House. I welcome some of the changes in the asylum system that this Bill brings in.”
“I want to start by clearly saying what I was elected on in the election a year ago. I was one of the only TDs to have immigration on my leaflet, which the people of north Dublin elected me on. I was elected on a belief that immigration must be handled in a dignified and proactive way based on dialogue between communities and Government. Since sitting in the Chamber and in my office, I have heard many Deputies speak about the previous Government and how the Department was not engaging with local representatives, TDs and councillors. No constituency can see that better than Dublin Bay North, with the former Crown Paints site and the way it was dealt with.”
“The model is simply: allow plug-in systems, finance them through savings in affordable housing and privatise them for households. Doing so could cut bills by €200 to €400.”
“The people making decisions regarding Ireland's grid are not being held accountable, which is why I would love the Minister to have more power in relation to State and semi-State bodies. As I have pointed out 100 times, a wind farm or solar farm cannot directly supply a nearby factory with energy, even if they are only metres apart, without going through the ESB or Eir. That need to change. I welcome the publication by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, of the heads of the private wires Bill. That legislation really needs to progress. It will reduce congestion and lower systematic costs. Regarding balcony solar, if we are serious about bringing costs down for ordinary people, we must be honest about what is required. Germany has 1.5 million balcony solar systems installed, with some estimates putting the number even higher.”
“I just want them to be done. As long as they get done and we reduce energy costs, that is the most important thing. We lack a system of consistent and transparent cost-benefit and fiscal sustainability assessments when it comes to major infrastructure projects. I was delighted that an amendment in this regard was accepted by the committee today. We need this to be done, especially when it comes to the public opposing infrastructure projects. If a cost-benefit analysis is done, it is much easier for us to defend a project. The public is paying the price for these failings and it is absolutely wrong. One of the most frustrating issues relates to the constraints on grid access.”
“I welcome the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. We need to act to ensure the delivery of housing and other infrastructure. I thank the Minister for his engagement on private wires, which is a huge priority for me. It is all about delivery for the people of Ireland. The cost problem at the moment, especially when it comes to the electricity grid, is really hitting families in north Dublin. We talk all the time about high electricity prices, rents and construction costs. I am fed up with words. There are measures that can be taken quickly. At the climate and energy committee, I am constantly pushing for private wires, long-duration energy storage and solar panels to be allowed for plug-in batteries. I do not care who gets the credit for any of this. I have heard these measures mentioned by the Green Party and others.”
“Is there any timeline for the report on St. John Ambulance Ireland and will any steps be taken to ensure survivors are properly informed?”
“Is mian liom ceist a chur ar an Taoiseach maidir le rud faoina raibh mé ag caint le duine ó mo Dháilcheantar i Marino, Mick Finnegan. It is to do with the Geoffrey Shannon report into historical child sexual abuse in St. John Ambulance Ireland. The survivors, including Mick Finnegan, have contacted me about not only the lack of progress but the lack of basic communication from the Department of children. Many feel they have been left out completely and some say their efforts to secure a meeting have not been acknowledged. The people who came to me and with whom I have had meetings came forward with a serious abuse issue. They have engaged with the State in process and good faith. They deserve better than silence. Inniu, is í an cheist atá á cur agam ar an Taoiseach ná cad é atá ag tarlú leis an status report anois.”
“I also ask for immediate inclusion in the NEIC and City Connect supports as the sisters of children in this school, who are attending a school beside it, in the same catchment and the same area, are getting these supports. It makes no sense that the Department is saying this. I ask for a concrete timeline and solution for appropriate placement in the junior autism class. I appreciate the work the Minister of State has done and his visits to schools in north Dublin. I have seen first-hand the work he has done but I ask him to visit this school to see the current situation. I think it slipped through the cracks of the Department and I urge that it be examined. I am asking the Department not only for a review, but for a clear timeline for the DEIS reclassification.”
“I urge the Minister of State to get the Department to examine this school. I do not know how it slipped through the cracks. I acknowledge the work the Minister of State has done and the work of the constituency TD, Deputy Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats, who represents the children attending this school. The children remain in an unsuitable structure. As I have said, the staff in St. Joseph's are excellent but they are going beyond. They are stretched and they are missing that funding. I am asking for an urgent review of St. Joseph's current DEIS status. It makes no sense that the status has been removed for that period for young men, especially with the struggles of life at this time.”
“I really appreciate the work and I also appreciate the work with Stapolin and everything else in the area, with the Killester, Raheny, Clontarf, KRC, secondary school campaign and Gaelcholáiste Reachrann. In the Minister of State's words, the designation of neighbouring schools as having different DEIS status does not mean that there is no educational disadvantage present in one school. It means that the concentrated levels of educational disadvantage of the two schools are different. From speaking to the Minister and visiting the school, I can see that is not the case. It is the same pupils going through the school and then going to the secondary school. It is in that period between age eight and when they get to secondary school that they are being removed from these supports that we put in place for children in disadvantaged areas.”
“If we are serious about prevention, this is exactly the stage at which we should be strengthening their support. St. Joseph's, the senior school from second class upward, also has an historical junior autism class, but then there is no junior mainstream class in the school for those children to integrate with. This is acknowledged by the Department in emails to me and it is acknowledged by the NCSE as being contrary to the best model it has, yet the school is still being told there is no immediate solution. As a result, the children remain in an unsuitable structure and a small school. The staff in St. Joseph's are exemplary and I urge that this be examined by the Department. I thank the Minister of State for his engagement so far.”
“His younger brothers in the junior school are getting the DEIS 1 supports but the boys who transfer to the more senior school are not. The principal, whom I spoke to today, estimates that fewer than ten pupils of the 160 come from non-DEIS backgrounds. From speaking to Tiarnán Crowe, the principal, and Richie Walsh, the ex-principal and father of Mikey Walsh, I found their passion for education is exemplary. This issue needs to be investigated urgently. The school's intake is huge and it has already been recognised as experiencing high levels of educational disadvantage. Even yesterday, we were speaking about mental health, and we are always speaking about trying to bring up young men. In this case, support for young men from a disadvantaged area is being removed at a critical time in their development.”
“Children from the same families, living in the same homes and often facing the same difficulties walk into one building that receives supports and another building that does not. This is the reality. St. Joseph's is also a continuation school for three DEIS 1 primary schools. These are St. Mary's primary school, which is beside it, St. Vincent's infant boys school in the Ballybough and Summerhill area, and St. Laurence O'Toole's school on Sheriff Street. These are all DEIS 1 schools. In practice what is happening is that boys attend one of these schools until first class. A boy could be going to one of these schools with his twin sister. At the age of eight he is transferred to St. Joseph's, which is an all-boys school, and he loses the DEIS 1 supports that his sister is still getting. He is losing the DEIS 1 supports.”
“I have been speaking to the principal, who is working tirelessly. He has told me that more than 20% of the pupils are in IPAS or emergency accommodation. These include children in international protection, children from Ukraine, children in emergency accommodation and children living in homelessness. Approximately 25% of the pupils live in the north inner city, an area which is designated as having concentrated disadvantage. The Minister of State is aware of this and we have had discussions on it. Despite this, the school is excluded from North East Inner City Initiative, NEIC, supports and City Connects supports. What makes the situation even worse is that on the same grounds as the school is on there is a secondary school which receives City Connects supports and which has benefited from NEIC funding.”
“Ó toghadh chun an Tí seo mé, bím i gcónaí ag caint faoi oideachas, go háirithe oideachas i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh. Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, bím i gcónaí ag labhairt faoi Stapolin Educate Together National School, ETNS, Gaelcholáiste Reachrainn agus Killester Raheny Clontarf, KRC, ETNS. Troidim ar son na scoileanna sin. I am always fighting for education and today I want to raise another school, which is St. Joseph's primary school. This is a small senior boys school which has been failed by how our DEIS and disadvantage supports are being applied. The school has 115 pupils. It has one of the most disadvantaged catchment areas in Dublin's north inner city but it is still classified as DEIS 2 rather than DEIS 1. I have sent representations to the Department because it needs significant supports but it is not getting them.”
“I reiterate what Deputy McAuliffe from my neighbouring constituency has said. It is not just in one constituency but across Dublin. On my way in to Leinster House one day, I saw a scrambler with two young lads without helmets. When I was pulling into Leinster House, they were going in the opposite direction on the road. I offer my sympathy to Grace Lynch's mother, Siobhán, who spoke powerfully last night calling for scramblers and e-scooters to be banned. They are a scourge on our communities. Has there been any examination into the fear among gardaí chasing e-scooters and scramblers of GSOC taking them off the beat? Is that something that is being examined?”
“I welcome that. I understand phase 2 is not just about redress; it is practical and financial and long overdue. I appreciate that the Minister cannot give a specific timeline but I welcome that he will bring forward proposals on this. The survivors and their families were looking for a timeframe for when the payments will commence and what will be developed. I again thank Antoinette Keegan for working with me and my office and for speaking to me in her home. I saw at first hand how it still haunts her to this day. She told me the story of being beside her two sisters when they were killed. All she wants is truth and justice. As the Minister mentioned, we are approaching the 45th anniversary. The memory has never gone away for the survivors.”
“I know that losing her family members still haunts her today. It is something she has fought for her whole life. Will the Minister give a commitment that there will be engagement with the survivors’ legal team?”
“I welcome phase 1 and the work done by the previous Government. It is now on to this Government and the Minister’s Department. The core issue is that the commitment made to survivors has not been honoured, in their opinion. I know from speaking to some of the survivors in my constituency that people were told that phase 2 was progressing and that proposals were imminent. However, the engagement has not been continuing with the solicitors involved. Can the Minister explain exactly what is delaying the process? Is it legal advice or costings, is it internal departmental approvals, or is it a decision we need to push for? Why is the Department not communicating with the solicitors? The lack of engagement is deeply concerning. I visited some of the houses, including Antoinette Keegan’s house. She welcomed me in.”
“Anocht, ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire on phase 2 of the Stardust redress scheme for survivors. This is an ongoing saga between the Department of justice and survivors who have waited more than 40 years for justice. Will the Minister please outline the current stage of the phase 2 assessment, the remaining steps, when the proposal will go to Cabinet and what form of redress the survivors can expect? When will the payments begin?”
“If there is anyone watching us in this Chamber on a Tuesday night and we can change one life and show people how to reach out, then we have been successful. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion.”
“To have her work rate is something I aspire to. She does not have an off switch. Now, we see that for young people in Ireland mistakes and rejection are made public. People only show the good side of their lives on social media. Statistics show that young people are experiencing mental health issues at a higher rate because of social media. It is because of the pressures that are on them these days. I welcome the motion, and I would love if youth services were properly funded, community counselling was more widely available and for addiction services and family supports to continue to be rolled out. There is great work being done across those Departments. It is not just about normalising the struggle. It is about how "It's OK Not to Be OK", and it is absolutely okay to ask for help.”
“There is a huge statistic on the economic barriers people are facing for mental health. Regarding the "It's OK Not to Be OK" badge, it is a small badge, but there is also a little card they give out. What the card does is give people information on eight free services they can go to, be it the Samaritans, Pieta House, Woman's Aid, Men's Aid, Childline, Alone, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, homeless emergency accommodation and all these great organisations. Giving people that little card with all the information in one place gives them that option. It is not just that, however. It is the fact that it is being supported across the House. I love when it happens that there is an issue and people put aside politics and just get to the solution. The leadership I have seen from Theresa has been unbelievable for someone who is not in politics.”
“She has taken something into her own hands. It is good to see Dublin City Council getting behind it. It is good to see other Deputies and other councillors from Dublin getting behind it. What she has done is create a badge for people to wear to break the stigma on mental health. I was at schools recently giving out the badges. Everyone is getting behind this campaign. There are people in crisis who are waiting hours, sometimes days, on trolleys in emergency departments, as everybody across this House has said. It is not the hard-working men and women in our hospitals who are the problem. The problem is the current system for getting people the help they need. As I said, I was lucky to have been going to a university that had it. Some people do not have that chance.”
“The Minister of State is very well aware of this. It is the hidden fact of mental health. I was very lucky that, when I struggled with mental health when I was younger and in those developing years, I went to a university that had a free counselling service. I know people who look at me now might ask, "How did he struggle?" It is the people we do not think are struggling who are struggling. I have seen that with my friends. We are always going back and wondering why we did not ask him or her about it. That is the part we all can resonate with in Ireland. One in five people experience it in their life. Can the Minister of State see the badge I am wearing? It reads, "It's OK Not to Be OK". That was started by a lady named Theresa Kelly, from Edenmore. What she has done is to not accept the delays in legislation.”
“I really welcome Sinn Féin bringing this motion forward. I welcome the fact the Government is not opposing it. I thank Deputy Cullinane and Deputy Sorca Clarke for their calls for reform. This morning, I spoke at an event for Movember. I was not invited there just because I have a moustache. Before I got involved in politics, when I was shouting from the outside of this House during lockdown, I ran an event for Movember called Movement for Mental Health. It was when we were in those confined areas. I was trying to get people out and put it on their social media that they were moving and getting active. We raised €20,000 and it was great. From that, my passion came forward. I have lost friends, be they schoolmates, people I used to serve and people I was always working for and working with, to suicide.”
“If the data is published, we can hold the system accountable. In the last 15 seconds, if the classrooms are sanctioned in Stapolin Educate Together National School, then the necessary funding-----”