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. As I said here earlier, I appreciate the support of the Minister, Deputy Dara Calleary, in different meetings with me, and also the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, who has spoken about the importance of shared spaces and providing sport and recreation facilities. I appreciate the positive response of the Special EU Programmes Body to the Cavan regional sports campus application, with the €15 million approval this morning. It is great to work on a project and see a good conclusion to it.”
“As the Minister knows, the PEACEPLUS programme is a successor programme to INTERREG and the various PEACE programmes. As we have discussed often in this House, they have been particularly important in bringing new facilities and amenities to and stimulating economic development in areas like my own along the Border, which suffered so much due to the Troubles over a protracted period of time. The PEACE programme goes back to the mid-1990s and I am glad that the Irish and British Governments, the European Union and the Northern Ireland Executive put together a major funding programme of €1.14 billion. I know the projects that have been approved for funding are very good projects that will add considerably to communities both near and far.”
“I am delighted that formal approval of €15 million has come through this morning for this very exciting project. As the Minister knows from discussions I have had with him, it is a project I have worked with from the outset. I have been very glad to support Cavan County Council, the county board of the GAA and the Royal School in their very ambitious plan for a major regional sports campus. Thankfully, today, we have €34 million of public money in place - €19 million from the sports capital programme and €15 million through the Special EU Programmes Body. Those types of investments are critical in rural areas. The Minister’s help in advancing that application, along with that of Gina McIntyre, is much appreciated.”
“With regard to Storm Éowyn, many of the services that were put in place, such as meals on wheels and the provision of vehicles, as well as a community facility and some of the hubs that were used during the storm, would not have been there were it not for CLÁR grant assistance. The Minister will often have heard me speak in this House and within the party about the importance of cross-Border funding, the former INTERREG programme and the current PEACEPLUS programme. I want to record my sincere appreciation of the Minister's work, along with that of the chief executive of the Special EU Programmes Body, Gina McIntyre, in advancing an application by Cavan County Council, the county board of the Cavan GAA and the Royal School Cavan to develop a major regional sports campus in Cavan town.”
“Thankfully, most of those communities are growing their population and we need to have facilities in place to ensure people living locally can have proper amenities and community facilities to avail of.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. I know of his commitment to this programme, both from serving in opposition as a spokesperson and government, where he has continued his good work. I also recognise the work of my former constituency colleague, Heather Humphreys, in enhancing the CLÁR programme. I am sure the Minister will continue to enhance that programme. We all know that the provision of facilities nowadays for communities or small schools is costly, be they playgrounds or other much-needed facilities. The CLÁR grant scheme is essential for enabling the smaller populated communities to put in place amenities and some sporting and recreational facilities. It is a vote of confidence in those communities. In the past, those communities were losing population.”
“As the Minister is aware, because he represents a rural county, like the two rural counties I have the privilege to represent, the CLÁR programme has been particularly important since it was first initiated by our former Oireachtas colleague, Éamon Ó Cuív. It has been particularly important for ensuring the provision of community facilities and for enhancing public facilities such as schools. I hope the Minister has a good allocation for the forthcoming year to continue the good work of recent years that was undertaken through CLÁR funding.”
“Apparently, study in speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and other therapies takes the form of an apprenticeship in Britain rather than the traditional university or college route that we take. There may be a financial incentive for some students from our State to go to those colleges in Britain. It is an area that the Minister, the Department, the HSE and our colleges need to keep a close eye on. We do not want students being drawn from our State because of a monetary attraction to pursue a specific course at a British college.”
“I thank the Minister. Another difficulty is that the CDNT in County Cavan is led by Enable Ireland. We know it has difficulties with recruiting and retaining staff because of the issue around section 38 and section 39 workers. I know that is a broader Government issue but it needs to be addressed. Have the universities and colleges made enough places available to ensure we have the professionals to deliver healthcare and meet the ongoing and increasing demand for different healthcare services across our country? I understand there is still a shortfall in the numbers graduating compared with those who are retiring. We must also consider the increased demand. An issue was brought to my attention at the weekend. It may not be absolutely accurate.”
“A few years ago, we discussed with the Minister's predecessor, Stephen Donnelly, in this House one night during Question Time the introduction of development therapy assistance. Speaking to clinicians, I believe that can help speed up the number of people delivering therapies and delivering services. I know some of the colleges of further education offer an initial course that enables students to go on to a university or institute of technology to pursue courses across different disciplines, including occupational therapy and others. That may not be included in the Minister's brief but the area of therapy assistance is an area we should pursue and make more progress in.”
“I very much appreciate the Minister's determination to deal with this issue once and for all. At my clinics last Friday night and Saturday, there were a number of young parents with children who have not got assessments or therapies. One parent spoke to me about her son who got a speech and language therapy appointment in June 2021 and has not got one since. That child got an occupational therapy appointment in 2022 and 2025. Another of that young mother's children was assessed and diagnosed 18 months ago and there still have not been any follow-up therapies. There is an opportunity in the Cavan area, in particular, to outsource more therapies. Assessments are being outsourced, although I know that is not the answer to all our concerns.”
“I have previously had the opportunity to mention to the Minister my serious concern about the ongoing delays for children with additional needs accessing therapies in Cavan and Monaghan. The delays that are occurring are absolutely unacceptable. Some children are assessed and do not get follow-up therapies and there are even delays in getting assessed. We need more clinicians in the Cavan and Monaghan area. I sincerely hope that additional efforts will be made to recruit more clinicians across particular therapy areas for those two counties.”
“Whatever obstacle there is, funding or administrative, must be removed without further delay and appropriate and timely orthodontic care must be provided for patients needing this essential treatment.”
“Our public dental system is not in a position to provide an adequate level of service to meet demand in a timely manner. In some cases, parents have to access treatment for their children outside our jurisdiction. At the same time, the capacity is here in the State to ensure that children and young adults get orthodontic care in a timely manner.”
“There are unacceptable delays in children and young adults accessing orthodontic care in Cavan and Monaghan. This morning, again, I spoke to a young mother whose 14-year-old son, with a category 5A classification in relation to provision of dental braces, was told he would be lucky to be seen in another year. Oftentimes, in relation to healthcare provision, we are told that a lack of capacity, both public and private, is the problem. This is not the case for orthodontic treatment. A welcome initiative by the HSE was the introduction of an orthodontic framework agreement to enable patients referred by the HSE to have orthodontic care provided by capable and competent private orthodontic service providers. I understand that contracts have been awarded and relevant personnel have gone through Garda vetting but the scheme is not operational.”
“I warmly welcome the Minister's comments and his confirmation of his Department's co-operation with the Special EU Programme Body. In all my dealings with it over the years, Ms McIntyre and her colleagues have ensured that the best value is given to the taxpayer for the major investment that has occurred and that particularly disadvantaged communities benefit from that investment.”
“They are communities that need investment as they have suffered particular disadvantage. The programme is also building on the potential of advancing different projects on a cross-Border basis that would not be initiated on either side of the Border if the cross-Border dimension did not exist. I welcome the Minister's commitment to enhancing and even intensifying these projects on an all-Ireland, cross-Border basis.”
“I thank the Minister sincerely for his reply and the particular interest he always has in cross-Border projects. It is heartening that the shared island initiative has been warmly welcomed by people of all political traditions. Different projects I have been involved in, if they have been cross-Border projects, have been funded by the shared island fund, such as the UNESCO Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark. I had the opportunity recently to meet the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and Ms Gina McIntyre, the CEO responsible for the PEACEPLUS programme. The programme is being rolled out successfully and there are great plans to expand it. The funding allocated by the Irish Government, the British Government and the European Union is being put to good use for communities right along the Border.”
“The different cross-Border programmes have been important since they were first initiated by then Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, in the mid-1990s. There were the PEACE I and PEACE II programmes and INTERREG programmes. As the Minister, Deputy Chambers, will be aware, the PEACEPLUS programme is very important for all the Border counties, north and south of the Border. I am particularly anxious that we build on the great potential of the PEACEPLUS programme and I hope the Minister will be able to implement even more collaboration and co-operation on an all-Ireland basis in future programmes.”
“Enable Ireland provides the Cavan children's disability network team, CDNT, services but with staff shortages, it is only operating at half capacity. Children with less complex additional needs depend on primary care in Cavan for services but again, there are unacceptable delays. Huge numbers of children in Cavan are on long waiting lists for supports and the capacity to deliver therapies, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology, must be addressed as a matter of extreme urgency.”
“I raise again the totally unacceptable delays for children with additional needs in Cavan and Monaghan in getting an assessment of need and follow-up therapies when required. Daily, I listen to parents who are very concerned, worried and absolutely frustrated that their child or children needing supports are on long waiting lists with no signs at all of early appointments. We all know how important it is to have early intervention and of providing therapies and supports in a timely manner. I am talking in many instances of vulnerable children needing these vital supports. We have families on limited incomes paying for services and incurring expenditure that they cannot afford. Children may need assessments to ensure that they get an appropriate placement in school.”
“That would considerably enhance the standard of service for commuters and people travelling every day. I know it is very difficult for Bus Éireann employees to see patients leaving James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown having to wait hours to get on a bus. That is not acceptable. I hope the Minister of State can raise the issue with the Minister.”
“At the moment, most services go through Kells and other Meath towns, which means it takes those wishing to travel from Cavan to Dublin longer. In the evening time, when people are returning to Cavan, if they leave at around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the bus for Cavan reaches Blanchardstown or Phibsborough, it is sometimes full. Many passengers on the bus are passengers going to Meath towns, where there is a welcome frequency of buses to Navan and Kells. Local employees in Bus Éireann are as anxious as commuters and I are to see direct routes leaving Busáras at peak evening times, between 3.30 p.m and 5.30 p.m., that would stop only at Whitegate on the Cavan-Meath border, Virginia and Cavan town. As I said, early morning buses from Cavan should leave Cavan, stop at Virginia and Whitegate and then travel directly to Busáras.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the reply. The figure I have been given, and the fare I know people are paying, is the return fare, which increased from €18.50 to €27.30. That is a somewhat different percentage increase than that for the single fare he cited. He quite correctly said the intention is to have a fair charging system. That is not applicable in the case of the Cavan route I referenced in my introductory remarks. One issue I have been raising since before the Minister of State was appointed, during the term of office of the former Minister, Eamon Ryan, was the need to introduce a direct Cavan to Dublin service, leaving Cavan in the morning at peak times, 5 a.m. or 6 a.m., stopping in only Virginia and Whitegate on the Cavan-Meath border and then going directly to Busáras.”
“As he will know, the three counties of Ulster in this State, namely, Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan, do not have a rail service. When we travel from Cavan to Dublin we pay two tolls on the way to the outskirts of Dublin city. There is a lot of congestion in the outer Dublin area and in the city. People want to use public transport but they want to have it at a reasonable price. I sincerely request that the National Transport Authority be told to review this matter, reduce the fares and ensure that commuters from Cavan to Dublin and Dublin to Cavan are treated with respect and provided with a reasonable fare structure.”
“A young lady who travelled on the route five days a week contacted me and sent me an extract from the relevant website. The question posed on the website was, “What this means for commuters” and the answer was, “From June 16th, fares on commuter services provided by both Bus Éireann and Go-Ahead Ireland are to change with some decreasing, some increasing, and some largely unchanged.” There was no mention of Cavan fares and the massive increase proposed there. That young lady did some research and said it appears to be by far the highest fare increase in recent times. I am asking the Minister of State to ask the National Transport Authority to review that determination as urgently as possible and to have the fare substantially reduced to the range of what it was until 16 June.”
“That policy has been supported practically unanimously by the Oireachtas. To encourage people to switch to public transport there is a need for reasonably priced fares. The decision by the National Transport Authority in the case of the route I am discussing is not fair and it is not equitable. Those fares must be reviewed and reduced. Typically on a bus any morning there are people going to work, students going to college, people going to hospital appointments and people going about their ordinary business. As the Minister of State will be aware there is a commitment in the programme for Government to keep fares low and affordable. I think the people on that particular route would question how that policy is being implemented.”
“I appreciate the Ceann Comhairle giving me the opportunity to raise this important issue. I also appreciate that the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Canney, is here to reply. Bus commuters on the Cavan-Dublin route were absolutely shocked to learn on 16 June of a massive increase in fares from that date. A daily return ticket from Cavan to Dublin was increased from €18.50 to €27.30, an increase of almost 50%. I was not aware of the proposed increase and I know from regular commuters on that route who contacted me that they were also unaware. Over recent years there has been a welcome increase in the frequency of bus services in both rural and urban areas which we all welcome. The policy of successive Governments has been to encourage people to use public transport where possible.”
“I am aware of small schools that have substantial professional fees to pay for the preparation of applications for emergency minor works projects, all coming from the capitation grant, without certainty of approval of such applications. Classrooms need to be properly resourced and there cannot be more and more demands on school staff, parents, boards of management, parents associations-----”
“Primary school principals across Cavan and Monaghan have raised with me consistently the ongoing challenges they face in meeting day-to-day expenditure requirements. There have been improvements in recent years in capitation payments and I hope that budget 2026 will provide for a further increase. School principals and boards of management outline clearly the need for further financial assistance. Energy costs, including for electricity and oil, and insurance account for a substantial proportion of the overall capitation grant. One principal said to me that insurance was a dreadful burden on the school's resources. Some schools do not receive a meaningful ancillary grant payment. There are many other calls on the capitation grant, including the purchase of essential teaching resources and ongoing maintenance costs.”
“It would be a great investment in the central Border area to advance that proposal the Taoiseach gave the go-ahead to some time ago.”
“I am very anxious that initiative is given impetus because, as the Taoiseach has often heard me say in the House, those of us who live in the central Border area – I have the privilege of representing two of the southern Ulster counties, namely, Cavan and Monaghan – along with our neighbours in Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh are very conscious we need to support local enterprise. Fortunately, over the years local authorities and voluntary organisations developed enterprise centres. Some of the small companies that commenced their operations in enterprise centres in my constituency subsequently became international corporations, to their great credit. From speaking to local statutory agencies I know there is a need for more work space and enterprise centres. The local authorities do not have the resources to do these particular developments.”
“Like Deputy Moynihan I very much welcome the measures in the shared island initiative. It has gained support from all political traditions on this island. The Taoiseach may remember that when he launched the initiative I raised with him the need to have an enterprise initiative within the shared island programme. Subsequently, local authorities on both sides of the Border were enabled to put in joint submissions in regard to the development of work space enterprise centres, innovation centres and research centres.”
“I take this opportunity to say Lucia and her family have done the State a great service in what has to have been awfully difficult circumstances to campaign for justice for a son who was taken away so wrongly by a criminal who should not have been at large at that time in our country or in any other country.”
“The Leas-Cheann Comhairle will recall himself, the Minister and myself having many conversations over the years regarding the need for the concerns of the O'Farrell family dealt with in the proper way. Unfortunately, it has taken considerable time to get to this position today but the Minister's statement is very welcome. Like other contributors to this debate, I again record the great grace and dignity in the way in which Lucia, her husband and their daughters went about campaigning, putting the truth before all of us and outlining again, with absolute clarity, the litany of convictions and criminality and how the State had failed Shane.”
“The Minister, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and other speakers outlined in detail the huge amount of work the O'Farrell family, especially Lucia, did in itemising what happened. In doing that research, she outlined with great clarity the sequence of events and criminality and how the State failed Shane and his family. Like many Members, I met Lucia and her family on many occasions. I still remember when, in her own house, she outlined in detail the sequence of events and non-appearance of this particular individual in the courts, North and South. It was with absolute clarity and down to the finest detail. I am glad the Minister recognised that in his contribution.”
“Like all other speakers, I welcome Jim and Lucia and their daughters to the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery this evening. I am glad the Minister made the apology on behalf of the State. It was overdue. His words were clear about the terrible injustice that was done to the O'Farrell family on the tragic loss of life of their son, who was killed by a person who should not have been at large at that time in 2011. The Minister and other speakers outlined the litany of criminality the particular individual who took Shane's life was involved in. He had been before many courts, North and South. It was a litany of criminality that unfortunately led to the loss of life of a fine young talented individual from an excellent family.”
“This must be resolved without further delay. Commitments were given to me and to others previously that the necessary resources would be provided. That must be honoured now after what has been a totally unacceptable delay.”
“As we all know, throughout the country the Irish Wheelchair Association provides very valuable and important supports to their service users. These are essential supports for persons with disabilities. For more than a year, there have been limited in-person day services at the Irish Wheelchair Association centre in Cavan town. This has affected 40 service users and their families. I have spoken to these people regularly and they are most disappointed, absolutely annoyed, and understandably very frustrated that adequate in-person day services are not available to them. This is also a source of serious concern to IWA staff locally. A business case was submitted twice to the HSE for the provision of 1.5 whole-time-equivalent staff, which would resolve the issue. This is a reasonable request by any measurement.”
“I have no doubt the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, will lead the sector very well. I again emphasise that the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and I represent two Border counties. We are always very conscious of our neighbours in Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh and the potential there for further and more intense collaboration on a cross-Border basis.”
“I thank the Minister. It is very important that we record the importance of the further education sector. It was originally established to respond to the needs of the local community and the local economy. It has been an extremely important gateway for students and pathway to higher education. It has given so many people, who traditionally would not have had the opportunity, the opportunity to get an education beyond post primary. It has been extremely important in ensuring that more people, who may have come from homes where there was not a particularly heavy emphasis on education, see that pathway to forward their education to successful careers. I very much welcome the emphasis the previous Government and this one have placed on this sector.”
“It has developed collaborations with colleges north of the Border too, which is very important. As the Minister outlined in his reply, the institute needs additional permanent accommodation. I am very glad that there will be such a range of classroom and other ancillary accommodation, plus sports facilities. I hope SOLAS will be able to drive this capital programme forward as urgently as possible. I am delighted the Minister has secured from the Department of public expenditure additional funding to bolster the capital budget. I know the work of the Cavan-Monaghan ETB, which the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach will know also, and this funding would be put to very good use.”
“I very warmly welcome the Minister's confirmation that progress is being made with this very important project for our constituency, as the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Deputy David Maxwell, will know. I hope the Minister will be in a position to visit Cavan Institute at an early date, and to visit Monaghan Institute. Cavan Institute been a very successful institute since its establishment. I was very much involved with the Cavan Institute in its early days. I was the first chair of the board of management of the college. I was also very much involved in getting the original building on Cathedral Road, which is no longer adequate due to increased enrolments over the years. Cavan Institute was the first dedicated post-leaving certificate college in the country.”
“I very much welcome the emphasis placed on the development of the further education sector since the previous Government took office in June 2020. I spoke to the Minister's predecessors on many occasions about the opportunities that exist to develop the further education sector on an all-island basis, and particularly that there be a substantial capital programme. One of the projects of particular interest to me is the proposed development of a state-of-the-art campus in Cavan to provide additional permanent accommodation at Cavan Institute. I would be grateful if the Minister would give me an outline of the progress he expects to make with his capital funding this year.”
“It has carried out projects for primary schools. That is outside its remit but it has done it in the interests of the local community. I am anxious the ETB and Breifne College get the necessary approval to get to planning permission stage. We all know planning permission takes time so it will be some time before students have the benefit of those new classroom facilities, which will be hugely exciting and positive for the school community. We need to see movement as soon as possible.”
“As the Minister of State outlined, the schedule of accommodation provides for many classrooms that need specialist accommodation. All of us in this House and the wider community speak of preparing people with the skills to meet the needs of our economy and society today, be it construction technology or whatever. We want to ensure pupils and teachers have the best possible facilities for teaching and learning, both from the staff and, most important, student point of view. My colleague Senator Wilson and I have worked closely with Breifne College and Cavan and Monaghan ETB over the years. The Senator is a former pupil of the college. As the Department is well aware, Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board has an excellent record in delivering building projects. The work will be done properly, within the timeframe and on budget.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. He is absolutely correct it is an incredible and exciting project for the school community in Breifne College. I commend the acting principal, Breege Reilly, and all her staff on their commitment and hard work in the best interests of their students. That has been a strong tradition over the years in the school. The staff and school community have worked hard to achieve the best possible integration of all students, and that work has been very successful. The school has a varied and important programme of extracurricular activities for students, including various sporting disciplines, drama and art. I reiterate the importance the school has placed for many years on what are generally referred to as practical subjects.”
“Over many years, a feature of Breifne College has been the high proportion of students taking what are often referred to as practical subjects. The teaching of these subjects is enhanced by specialist classroom accommodation. Those subjects include construction engineering, computer studies, technology and technical graphics. Those are all important parts of Breifne College's subject choice for students. Will the Minister of State bring a message back to the Department of Education and Youth on the need to have stage 2a approved without further delay? We know planning permission takes some time and the ETB is anxious to submit the planning application to Cavan County Council as soon as possible.”
“A parent of students attending Breifne said to me recently the school was packed - a very good analysis and description of the inadequate accommodation. That comment was made by a young lady with a detailed knowledge of education and school accommodation requirements. We refer to part of the school accommodation as the 1970s building. To meet the needs of today's schoolgoing population, that building needs to be reconfigured. Breifne College staff over the years have worked extremely hard to cater for all pupils, particularly children with additional needs. They have approval for four ASD classes but have only three suitable classrooms. They are anxious to have proper accommodation for those classes.”
“This documentation has been under consideration for almost 12 months by the Department's technical and professional team. It is essential that the Department issues, without further delay, approval for stage 2A. That will enable the ETB to seek planning permission for this major and much-needed building project. I cannot emphasise how much Breifne College needs this accommodation. Some years ago we had an extension and upgrading of facilities at Breifne and everyone in the school community is appreciative of that investment and accommodation. Unfortunately, the present level of accommodation is inadequate to meet the school's needs. I have been to the college on many occasions and have seen at first hand how crowded it is.”