Brendan Smith
Cavan-Monaghan · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I welcome the Taoiseach's engagement over recent months with his counterparts in relation to Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. I am glad that he discussed with the Spanish Prime Minister the multi-annual financial framework.”
“There are many challenges for our farming sector, for our food sector and also for our rural communities, and there will be huge challenges ahead as well. Under no circumstances can Ireland tolerate or countenance a reduction in CAP funding.”
“I renew my appeal in relation to the urgent need to increase the income eligibility limits for social housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan. The social housing income baseline is €30,000 in both counties. This is totally inadequate in view of the costs today for people buying or building a home.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. I must say that members of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, across all jurisdictions, were very strong in their praise of the Minister’s contribution at our plenary meeting in Surrey, where he spoke about the opportunities for all-Ireland developments and also east-west developments.”
“As the Minister is aware, we are very anxious to progress the Cavan college of the future. I sincerely hope there will be further developments on that over the summer months.”
“The Minister will have heard me many times in this House, at committees and at meetings of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party advocating for closer collaboration on the delivery of education on an all-Ireland basis. There is fantastic potential, especially in the further and higher education sector.”
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“I thank the Minister for her response. Deputy Timmins quite rightly referred to investment in cybersecurity. We all agree with that and we know the urgency of it. In the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces of 2022, the preferred enlistment is 11,500 by 2028. That is the target that was outlined in that report. To cater for that enlistment that I sincerely hope will be reached and exceeded, additional accommodation is needed. The most modern barracks in Europe was Dún Uí Néill, Cavan, which, unfortunately, was closed in 2012. The buildings are still there intact. Quite a number of them are not being used for any particular purpose. I put forward to the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach, both of them in the Department of Defence, that that particular military installation should be utilised again by the State for defence purposes.”
“Most people nowadays come from homes that are of a good quality. I have heard young recruits go into some of the barracks and to be fair about it, their living accommodation was not acceptable. I know the barracks. It takes huge investment. They are old buildings. It is not easy to upgrade them. It costs a lot of money but it is a very necessary investment in our Permanent Defence Force. It acts as an attractive measure if there is decent living accommodation while a person is being upskilled and being trained to be a member of our Defence Forces.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Our colleague, Deputy McGreehan, will be glad to hear of the Minister's commitment to further investment in Aiken Barracks. I am glad that the Minister emphasised that accommodation needs to be upgraded. As a member of the then Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence some years ago, I had the opportunity to visit some barracks and I have to say I was very disappointed with the quality of some of the living accommodation. In the meantime, I had a lot of engagement with the Taoiseach, as Minister for Defence, and with the Tánaiste, as Minister for Defence. Both of them had directed substantial additional funding - much necessary investment - in living accommodation and in the general barracks. As the Minister said, people are working in that environment. They are living in that environment.”
“First, I apologise for the absence of Deputy McGreehan, who has another commitment that clashed with the timing of questions here. Three of us here, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and I, are from the north east and any investment in Louth is important for our respective counties as well. Of course, I am thinking of Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, where many people from my constituency serve as well. It is important for County Meath as well. I sincerely hope that where investment is needed in that key military installation it would be forthcoming.”
“Many people I know from the community along the Border where I grew up went on to serve this State, both at home and abroad, with great distinction and commitment. I remember referring to that one day at a committee meeting and many former members of the Army at all levels contacted me afterwards to say we should never forget the importance of the Reserve Defence Force in giving some young people who may have been vulnerable and came from what would be termed disadvantaged homes the opportunity to participate in the RDF and go on to very good and successful careers in the Permanent Defence Force and other trades and professions as well.”
“As regards the Minister of State's final comments with regard to the review of particular services that can be remunerated, I hope that issue can be addressed. As the Minister of State knows, I grew up on the Border. I saw the importance of the Reserve Defence Force. In many instances, good members of the community got young people who may have been in certain difficulty into the Reserve Defence Force. The young people enjoyed the training and benefited a great deal from it. Many of them went on to serve in the Permanent Defence Force. Were it not for that conduit and avenue they had to enlist in the Reserve Defence Force, acquire training and skills and discipline in their life, God knows what would have happened to them.”
“One of the issues, as the Minister of State noted, was the need for better advertising campaigns for recruitment and better support to ensure that retention levels are improved. By and large, the Reserve Defence Force costs the State very little. The State could be much more generous in paying people for the time they are losing in their day jobs. In many instances, they have to undergo additional medical checks. The payments they get for those medical checks do not even pay the GP for the medical examination. Those types of things are small from the State's point of view but they are big to the individuals and addressing them could help to increase both retention and recruitment.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I sincerely hope that the laudable objectives he outlined from the RDF regeneration development plan, which was published in July 2024, are implemented with as much impetus as possible. It is extremely important that we increase the numbers. The RDF should have a greater presence throughout the country and in each community. Deputy Crowe and I were on the foreign affairs and defence committee from 2016 to 2020. At that time, as Cathaoirleach of the committee, I invited the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association, RDFRA, to come before the committee. We gave its representatives an opportunity to outline the particular issues which, in the RDFRA's view, faced the RDF at that time.”
“This is the first opportunity I have had in this House to wish the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, well with their very important work in the Department of Defence. The implementation plan for the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, published in November 2023, stated very clearly that the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, needs to be revitalised. For far too long, numbers have been much too low in the RDF. Will the Minister of State outline what particular measures he hopes to take to increase substantially the numbers participating in the important work the Reserve Defence Force carries out throughout the country?”
“The Minister referred to this accommodation being particularly focused on the needs of pupils with additional needs and ensuring there is proper accommodation in that regard. This school’s enrolment has grown from 51 pupils 15 years ago to 175 pupils today. There is a special emphasis in this school on providing for children with additional needs. This accommodation is needed. If this project could be progressed as soon as possible, it would be a good day’s work for that community.”
“I fully appreciate that the Minister is not to get involved in technical details but the board of management, the principal and I have sought clarification from the Department and it has not been forthcoming. The board of management, the principal, Mr. Keith Conefrey, the parents’ association and all the staff do not want to waste time getting a redesign, submitting it to the Department and then being turned down again. We are talking about ensuring the best value for money here. An answer via a note to myself or directly to the school from the Minister’s Department would benefit everybody. It would benefit the Department from an expenditure point of view and it would also help speed up what is very much needed.”
“In an effort to speed up the process, and before the school sends the drawings to be repriced by the quantity surveyor, the board of management of the school has asked both me and the Department for clarification as to whether the building unit in the Minister’s Department will accept the building with split levels when pupils with special educational needs will be accessing those corridors. I appreciate that detail is not in the Minister’s briefing notes but I ask her to quickly give me a note on this or for the Department to write directly to the board of management and principal stating whether the revised plans with split levels are acceptable to the Department’s specifications. The school does not want to waste money in doing this if the plans will be rejected.”
“I strongly welcome the major investment in school buildings since 2020, both in my constituency and nationally. In her response, the Minister stated that the Department is awaiting a submission of a revised stage 1 report from the school. I have been in contact with the Department in this regard, as has the school. This will mean that the school will be submitting plans to the Department for the third time. The Department has requested that the design team cuts down on the cost of the project. In order to reduce the cost of the revised project, the architect is proposing that the new extension be elevated by 1.2 m. This will reduce costs of the excavation, earth disposal, retaining walls and access ramps. The proposed new drawings have both steps and an enclosed lift on the main corridor.”
“This is the first opportunity I have had in this Chamber to wish the Minister every success in her role. It is always a demanding and challenging one in a Department that impacts so many people. As the Minister knows, I have been in regular contact with her through representations and parliamentary questions on the need to advance as quickly as possible a number of building projects throughout Cavan and Monaghan. This particular parliamentary question refers to the proposed building project at Milltown National School, Cavan, that needs to be advanced to the next stage as soon as possible, particularly to cater for the needs of children with additional needs.”
“As we all know, the Common Agricultural Policy is essential to ensuring a secure supply of safe food for the citizens of Europe and it is also an essential income support for farmers. That CAP, post 2027, must be properly resourced.”
“The Taoiseach rightly referred in his response to the massive scale of our food exports. Those food export markets have been hard-earned. There has been massive investment by the State over the decades, and by farmers, in building up a top-class, world-standard food industry. We have animal husbandry and food production to the highest standard. That is why we have been successful in so many markets throughout the world. As Deputy Moynihan said, there is a very urgent issue to be resolved, that is, the ongoing dispute between farmers and Bord Bia. It must be resolved immediately because we do not want the good standing of our industry worldwide to be damaged in any way. As the Taoiseach knows, one of the most important things during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union is finalisation of the multi-annual financial framework, MFF.”
“Only last night, I engaged with the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, who fully understands the difficulties. Where we have the infrastructure, the community facilities, education, health and other social facilities, we need people. The Government must try to ensure, through every means available to it, that more and more young people are in a position to live in rural communities.”
“I thank the Minister. As the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach knows, thankfully, in practically every parish in Cavan-Monaghan, we have excellent community facilities. I know that many communities in Dublin and the highly populated areas would love to have those facilities. As the Minister knows well, we have the social infrastructure in rural communities. We have community centres, schools, GAA and other sporting organisations. What we need is population. Perhaps the Minister and the Minister of State could try to continue the influence on other Departments on the need for investment in rural Ireland. We need more jobs and, as the Minister said, more young families. We have to improve in some way the availability of housing for young couples. Planning is essential, as are changes to the rural planning guidelines.”
“Aidan's, and our neighbouring club, Corlough, have an arrangement where the players from Corlough have a deviation that they can play in competitive competitions with my own club of Templeport. They still retain their own identity, which is a very good thing. When the Minister has the opportunity to visit those clubs, he will see the excellent facilities they have. We need to put on the record that we value the work of those volunteers in ensuring sports are available for all age groups in every community.”
“I welcome the Minister's response. I fully appreciate the understanding that the Minister and the Minister of State have of the concerns outlined by the GAA. In my own county of Cavan, we have had a welcome increase in population, but there is a population imbalance and demographic imbalance. The east of County Cavan is in the commuter belt of Dublin. The clubs there face pressures because of increasing numbers of participation, which is great. The belt from Castlerahan, Ballyjamesduff, Virginia, Mullagh to Bailieborough and Kingscourt has experienced huge population growth. The Minister is familiar with the geography of west Cavan. Blacklion's Shannon Gaels, Swanlinbar's club or Corlough all face particular challenges due to population decline, particularly within a certain age profile. My own club of Templeport St.”
“I hope the Minister and Minister of State encourage all the officials in their Department and in the agencies that come under its remit to study the transcript of that particular committee meeting. There were fabulous contributions by both members and the witnesses.”
“The Minister and the Minister of State will be very familiar with the findings of the report of the GAA's national demographic committee. As we all know, the GAA, along with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the Camogie Association, comprise over 2,300 clubs and they have 760,000 members. We are not just talking about sporting organisations. We all know that these clubs are a key and integral part of every community. In so many instances, they shape local community life. It is essential that the Government and the Oireachtas listen to and act on the concerns outlined in that report. Recently, the GAA made an excellent presentation to the Oireachtas housing committee.”
“The Taoiseach will recall meeting Fianna Fáil councillors from Cavan and Monaghan, along with me, when they put forward a strong case for a substantial increase in funding for a roadworks programme for 2026, taking into account the fact that 92% of the road network in Cavan does not comprise national roads. There is significant demand for additional funding to bring roads up to the proper standards to which people are fully entitled.”
“As the Taoiseach is aware, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to protect and renew the regional, local and non-national road network. There has been a welcome increase since 2020 in funding to local authorities on an annual basis. We need a more significant increase. As the Taoiseach is well aware, very heavy rainfall is causing awful damage to our local and regional roads. Counties like Cavan and Monaghan have particular problems because of our typography and our drumlin soils. We do not have free draining soils and, therefore, face additional problems in the road network.”
“Earlier today, the Oireachtas committee on further and higher education heard from representatives of IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Skillnet. They were talking about a skills shortages. Thankfully, today we are talking about skills shortages in Ireland because in the past, unfortunately, we did not have employment opportunities. There is a great opportunity to utilise the potential of the further education sector to contribute to training and upskilling people for very worthwhile employment.”
“I thank the Minister for his response and I know of his personal commitment to the project. As I assured him previously at the Oireachtas committee and at other meetings, when the project gets to tender stage it will be advanced as quickly as possible by Cavan and Monaghan ETB. We have an opportunity to work in conjunction with Monaghan Institute and South West College in Enniskillen. It is being practical, for which the Minister and I have advocated for many years. Thankfully, we are in a position today, with the political initiative since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, to have greater collaboration across different aspects of society. We have seen the all-Ireland economy grow. We now need to upskill our people, and to provide skills and training on an all-Ireland basis.”
“We have seen it grow from being an extra class at second level in Breifne College to being a substantial provider of further education. Today it is one of the largest colleges in the country. We need additional accommodation, as the Minister saw himself at first hand. I sincerely hope his officials, working with Cavan and Monaghan ETB and Cavan Institute, will be able to progress the particular college of the future to the next stage so we can advance towards construction.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. With regard to Deputy Ward's concluding remarks, I very much welcome the fact that the Minister was the first Minister who was able to announce an all-Ireland university. He has worked very assiduously, along with Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen's University, to have Dundalk Institute of Technology as a college of Queen's University. It is the first all-Ireland university we will have. This is practical and I very much welcome it. I very much welcomed, as did the board of management and the staff and students in Cavan Institute, the Minister's recent visit. As Councillor Clifford Kelly, the chairperson of the board, indicated that day, a number of us have worked over the years to develop the college.”
“I very much welcome the substantial provision the Minister secured in the national development plan for capital developments in the further education sector. Thankfully, there has been a welcome emphasis in recent years on the development of the further education sector. Will the Minister outline some of the projects that will be progressed and will benefit from the funding available to his Department in 2026 for capital developments?”
“Day services, provided in an activation unit or training centre, are vital for the well-being of the young people, who, with their complex needs, face particular challenges day in, day out. I continue to support the parents in their efforts to have such proper facilities provided at both sites.”
“I raise again the urgent need to improve services in Cavan and Monaghan for persons with disabilities. The present totally inadequate day activation unit at Rathcorrick, Cavan town, needs to be replaced with a modern facility that caters properly for the needs of service users. A new day activation unit must have the capacity to provide for increased numbers of attendees. The young adults in need of the service have waited for far too long for an appropriate modern unit. I am anxious to have the proposal for substantial investment in Drumlin House day services in Cootehill progressed quickly. New facilities are needed to provide properly for an increasing number of trainees.”
“There is a cost on the farming community in maintaining those standards, including high welfare and biosecurity standards and traceability. Our beef and poultry sectors are extremely concerned about the potential for totally unfair competition if inferior product is allowed into the European Union. The proposed safeguarding regulations need to be substantially strengthened. Our agrifood sector's concerns about this proposed trade deal must be robustly and vigorously outlined and advanced in all discussions by Government at EU level.”
“I join with others in extending every good wish for Christmas and the new year to all staff and Members of the Oireachtas. In the context of the proposed Mercosur deal, I again raise the detailed report from the IFA and the Irish Farmers' Journal on their recent fact-finding mission to Brazil. That report again outlined very clearly how much inferior food production is in Brazil and elsewhere in South America in comparison to the standards in this country and throughout the European Union. We should continually highlight that for decades, this State has invested very heavily, as has the farming community, in building successfully a world-class agrifood industry. Day in, day out, our farmers and processors work extremely hard on maintaining our food production systems to exceptionally high standards.”
“Michael Mulvey, along with the then chair of the board of governors Councillor Clifford Kelly put the idea forward of more collaboration with education institutions in Northern Ireland and identified Queen's University as a very worthwhile potential partner for Dundalk Institute of Technology. Those people did some preparatory work. As a former member of the board of governors of Dundalk Institute of Technology, Senator Diarmuid Wilson was very supportive of the work of Councillor Clifford Kelly and Dr. Michael Mulvey when they were advocating for that all-Ireland cross-Border co-operation when it was not as fashionable as it is today.”
“I was delighted at the Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science a number of weeks ago when the Minister was able to tell us about the progress made in developing the strategic partnership between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen's University. The Minister was able to say the words, "We will have an all-Ireland university". Those of us, particularly from the Border region, who have advocated for this development were thrilled. Practical things are being done. We are not talking about waving flags and citizens' assemblies. We have the Minister doing practical things. In the past, a former president of Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dr.”
“I have seen it go from strength to strength and, at all times, the institute has worked in partnership with local enterprise and the local community. It is about working together, and I want to see, as the Minister has heard me say before, more co-operation on an all-Ireland basis in relation to the provision of further education.”
“I was very glad that the Minister was able to accept my invitation to attend Cavan Institute and see it first hand, meeting the students, staff and board of management. There is a vibrancy to Cavan Institute and also Cavan Youthreach. Oftentimes, Youthreach does not get the attention it deserves. In Cavan and Monaghan, I see it as a pathway to further education and on to higher education as well. I was delighted that day in Cavan that the Minister was able to state very clearly that he was very anxious to advance the proposal to provide major additional permanent accommodation at the institute's existing campus at Cathedral Road, Cavan. I have a particular affinity with Cavan Institute. I was involved from the beginning with its establishment and I was the chair of the first board of management.”
“As the title of the Minister's Department demonstrates, it has a very broad remit. Of course, education, research and innovation are the key elements in the bedrock of any economy. Importantly, I welcome the fact that the Minister is supporting further and higher education throughout the regions. When the late President Patrick Hillery, as a member of the Fianna Fáil Government in the 1960s, laid out the vision and strategy for the development of the regional technical colleges, it was always on the basis of bringing education to the regions and ensuring they would derive benefits and drive on the economy to eliminate the disparity in economic development that existed at national level at that time.”
“We also have had significant dates in relation to commemorations, for example marking the terrible atrocities in Monaghan and Dublin in May 1974. There are so many atrocities for which nobody has been brought to justice. We cannot ever attach enough urgency to trying to deal, once and for all, with legacy issues.”
“I have had numerous opportunities in this House to welcome in general terms the legacy framework that was agreed between the British and Irish Governments and published in early September. There is an urgent need to enact legislation to give effect to the provisions outlined in the framework. Did the Taoiseach detect an urgency or a very strong commitment from the UK Prime Minister on the need to get this issue dealt with? Many families have waited for justice for decades and decades. We have to move on and get progress on the rights, the concerns and the grief that engulfs so many families of victims for many decades now. At the end of this month, we will mark the 53rd anniversary of the Belturbet bombing, which cost the lives of two young teenagers.”
“Our industry operates to very high standards from primary production with high welfare and biosecurity standards, exceptional traceability and sustainable processing systems. Europe must not be subject to imports of products, particularly beef and poultry from systems that have much lower standards of production and monitoring. The proposed safeguarding regulation must be strengthened or there is the potential to do untold damage to not just the agrifood sector but to our overall national economy and employment.”
“My constituent Mr. Maurice Brady, who is highly regarded for his knowledge of the agrifood sector and who was recently elected regional vice president of the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, has brought to my attention the detailed report from a recent fact-finding mission to Brazil by the IFA and Irish Farmers Journal , which has to be a further cause for real concern for the European Union in relation to the Mercosur trade deal. The Government must ensure that the best interests of the Irish agrifood sector are fully protected in these trade negotiations. As the Taoiseach knows, this State has for many decades invested very heavily, along with the farming community, in building up a world-class agrifood industry.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. It goes without saying that in the negotiations on the multi-annual financial framework, we must ensure that there is robust and ring-fenced CAP funding. As we all know, this is essential for farm incomes. It is essential for investment in rural Ireland and it is also essential for food security. Far too often, we do not talk about protecting food production in western Europe. As the Minister referenced earlier, the Common Agricultural Policy was devised to ensure the citizens of Europe had a secure supply of safe food. We should never lose sight of that aim and that strategy. That is the reason we need a CAP that is properly funded.”
“Will the Taoiseach let us know if that will continue to be on the agenda in all discussions at Government level with his British counterparts?”
“I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. As he is aware, there was a general welcome for the legacy framework that was published jointly by the Irish and British Governments in early September. Could he let us know what progress is being made in bringing forward the necessary legislation to enact that framework and to ensure that all of these issues are dealt with through putting the victims first and at the centre of the framework and the modus operandi of dealing with these legacy issues? Another thing I have consistently raised is the Belturbet bombing of December 1972 and the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974. Again, the British Government has not co-operated to the extent necessary to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.”
“Working together, the men's games and the ladies' games, football and camogie, helps big time to increase participation, which is good for everybody. The last two rounds have been particularly beneficial. A lot of good work has been done but costs are continuing to rise. When assessments are being done, I ask the Minister to ensure that costs are taken into account.”
“I welcome the Minister of State's announcement on the next round. It is a joy to visit any of our sporting clubs on a Saturday morning and see the huge numbers of people participating. Clubs who have relatively good facilities and even county boards with good facilities are always talking to us about the pressure on their grounds and their need for additional facilities. It is welcome to see more and more participation in sport by young girls. I attended three county camogie finals in Cavan a few weeks ago and saw the crowd and the numbers. Each team was able to line out more than 30 on the panel. In my county and in Monaghan, a huge effort is made to encourage participation. The sports grounds and county grounds are made available as well to camogie and ladies' football, which was not always the way in the past.”
“As the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach knows, the sports capital programme has been extremely beneficial across our two counties of Cavan and Monaghan. Voluntary groups and sporting organisations have worked hard to provide new and upgraded facilities. No matter what parish I go to, it is great to see the top-quality facilities available. Unfortunately, the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and I do not have county councils with large cash reserves. We do not have a strong rates base but our two councils, to their credit, are developing local facilities in conjunction with local sporting and voluntary organisations. I hope the Minister of State will be able to announce a new sports capital programme early in 2026.”
“Existing enrolment thresholds need to be amended now, particularly for the next school year, to address the very legitimate interests and aspirations of our smaller rural schools and schools under the patronage of Protestant churches. Children should be facilitated with appropriate school placements as local to their homes as possible, with realistic criteria, and siblings should be in the same school if at all possible while at the same time providing proper supports for these children. I spoke to the Taoiseach earlier about one particular school in County Cavan that I have concerns about. His assistance in addressing these issues will be much appreciated.”
“I welcome the much-needed additional investment in special education and the establishment of more special classes for children with additional needs, as well as the commitment of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to this very important area of education. I previously raised with the Taoiseach the inequity existing in the disadvantages suffered by smaller schools due to their difficulty in reaching the required enrolment threshold for special classes. This inequity also impacts severely on schools under the patronage of smaller churches because, by and large, they have small enrolments. In far too many instances, children have to travel too far to access a special class.”