Brian Brennan
Wicklow-Wexford · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I am looking for an update on the straw incorporation measure. It is my understanding that there will be a significant oversubscription to the scheme, with expected payments exceeding the €10 million budget allocated for 2026. It is essential that we find a way to extend the budget of this scheme to meet all expected payments.”
“I am looking for an update in relation to the Taoiseach's plans on dealing with inheritance tax in the upcoming budget. It is believed that approximately 1 million people in Ireland do not have children. That is for many reasons - maybe life choice, medical or simply their personal choice.”
“I wish to speak today about the proposed reforms to the criminal legal aid system, which include the introduction of a flat fee payment model for legally aided District Court cases.”
“When you drive from Hook Head to Bray or from Brittas Bray into Coolkenno, you will see first hand what is going on. We are dealing with dangerous roads. Some of these roads are blocked and some have massive potholes. The general consensus is that it is a serious health and safety risk at this stage.”
“Again, I stress that this is a huge health and safety issue. It does not matter where you go. I drove from Gorey to Tullow on Sunday. I came back at dusk. There are unmarked roads with potholes on them. Somebody has to stand up in this House and be accountable for the lack of action on this matter.”
“I welcome the Minister of State's reply. I note and respect it. As he stated clearly, they are getting substantial funding, but even prior to the storm, we felt that the funding was not enough, given that they are two quite rural counties. They are two beautiful counties but we have serious issues with roads.”
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Every one of 150 lines we hold for Brian Brennan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 3.
“I listened to evidence of what is happening at first hand. At this stage, the ladies are going out and getting water from the sea and boiling it. One lady told her kids to have a shower. She got the bottle of rationed water and stuck a pin in it and put the kids under the water. She could not use it all because she needed some of it to drink and make tea. There is no sanitation. The medical system is on its knees. There is little or no education. The so-called Israel-American humanitarian relief is an absolute insult to the word "humanity". People have to line up and fight for food. If they are out of order, they are shot – adults and kids. We do not know how many people have died. There are figures of between 70,000 and 100,000. The true facts should be known.”
“We must help rebuild the country. We must find a long-term solution to what is going on. As we discussed all the issues, for me, one box was not ticked, namely that relating to the people on the ground. I went to Cairo last weekend. I spoke with hardened people in NGOs who told me about the day-to-day experience and what is happening. I was involved previously when I went to Sri Lanka after the tsunami, but this is at a different level. What is happening out there has never been seen in my lifetime. When they wake up in the morning, children go scavenging, not for food but for wood for the fire. More than likely, the fire is in a tent and the temperature outside is 45°C. What is going on is just horrific. The men queue for food and the ladies in the house try to keep some normality. They use the bare rations that are available.”
“I am here to speak about the latest situation with regard to the occupied territories Bill. I have the privilege of being on the foreign affairs committee. I commend all members of that committee on the work that has been done to date. We are a crucial stage. I am seeking an update on the Government's view on the matter. We have had hours of legal discussion. We have met legal teams from all over the world. We met the ambassador. We met the person who took the lead on this - Senator Frances Black. She deserves enormous credit for the work she has done. I listened intently, as have all members of the committee, to the discussion on the six key requirements: an immediate ceasefire; recognition of the State of Palestine; challenge the EU-Israel trade agreement; and address the brutality of what is happening in the occupied territories.”
“This was totally disrespectful to the person affected. Recording such incidents is repulsive and those involved in taking images of tragic, sometimes fatal, scenes must be challenged and should be prosecuted.”
“I am looking for the Minister's support for a Bill that is currently working through Third Stage. The Protection of Accident Victims from Non-Consensual Recording of Images Bill is aimed at addressing the worrying trend of persons videoing the scenes of accidents and sharing them online. As recently as 3 May, a young man in Cork drowned. Following this, his family had to appear on national media to ask for witnesses not to share footage of the incident. Last week, I walked down the main street of Gorey, County Wexford, to my office and witnessed a very distressing accident. I must compliment the emergency services in Gorey for their quick response. I single out Dr. John, Dr. Kilian and Nurse Middleton, but I was stunned and horrified to see people driving by that accident and videoing the victim on the ground.”
“One caretaker with almost four decades of experience in the same school put it to me that SNAs and teachers would retire with their pensions and futures secured while he would walk away with simply a bunch of flowers. This is not good enough. These concerns are being replicated throughout Ireland.”
“I am looking for an update on discussions relating to school secretaries and caretakers. In my time in office, I have gone out of my way to visit as many schools throughout Wicklow and Wexford, from Riverchapel as far as Carnew. A general concern from secretaries and caretakers is that they are simply not receiving fair treatment for their key role in ensuring the smooth functioning of our schools. This involves many issues, such as equitable pay and access to public service pensions and protections, which is leading to a lack of security and financial stability on retiring. They highlighted sick pay. Incredibly, there is no entitlement to sick pay or bereavement leave.”
“Incredibly, measures were introduced on 10 February which meant three advanced paramedics in my constituency no longer have off-duty access to specialised vehicles which were an essential part of supporting our ambulance service. Do not get me wrong; our crews, paramedics and advanced paramedics are doing the best they can but the system has failed them. When was the last time a capacity report was undertaken? Is the deployment model fit for purpose? This issue is being replicated throughout Ireland.”
“I raise the issue of the National Ambulance Service. I have heard from multiple constituents of prolonged waiting times, sometimes lasting hours, in cases of urgent need for medical attention. In my constituency, Arklow, County Wicklow, and Gorey, County Wexford, each have only one operating ambulance at any one time. This is to serve a population of more than 50,000 people. If these ambulances are out on calls, coverage is requested from as far away as Bray and Waterford. Last night in Gorey alone, the ambulance was called to two incidents. One was in Meath and one was in Maynooth. This is simply putting people's lives at risk.”
“It is not enough to ask local authorities to look at using their discretion in every case, as the Minister of State mentioned. There are a lot of cases in Wexford but they are only allowed to negotiate discretion of up to 35%. We need to look at every case that is over the limit. I acknowledge the efforts that have been made across the board by the local authorities in bringing more housing stock into their portfolios. I note Irish Water will be before the Joint Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery later today. We need to get answers. I understand the bigger issue is housing stock but my focus today is on HAP and levelling the playing field between Wicklow and Wexford or between Wexford and anywhere else in Ireland.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am dealing with two families, a brother and sister, one of whom lives in Arklow while the other lives just down the road in Coolgreany. There is a difference of €650 in the payment they receive. Since opening my constituency offices in Gorey and Arklow, the most prominent issue for people coming in the door has been housing. Day in, day out, I meet people just trying to find a place to live, so they can send their kids to the local school, go to work and build a life in the community. They are getting nowhere. There are roadblocks all along the way for these people, as we all know, and one of the biggest is the cost of renting. The HAP is one of the systems we have in place to support these people in paying their rent. As the examples I cited show, it is not fit for purpose.”
“The fact of the matter is that we need people from all walks of life living in our towns and villages: workers, families and community members, not just the people who can afford these high rents. We need to support them accordingly and appropriately. We need to ask: is the system working? Is it fair that neighbours are asked to pay the same amount of rent but receive completely different levels of State support to help them pay that rent? Is the blanket approach to HAP limits on a county-by-county basis a reasonable, fair and equitable way to administer this scheme? Clearly, looking at the disparity between Carnew and Craanford, it is not and we have to address this.”
“Again, the fact that the Gorey local authority area has been identified as a rent pressure zone is proof in itself of the demand for the rental accommodation in the town, but again, it is not reflected in the HAP limits. Gorey has traditionally had the highest average rent in County Wexford for many years, yet the renters in this town are faced with lower HAP levels than people living just over the border, putting them at a significant disadvantage compared with their neighbouring towns and counties. Yes, it is true that local authorities have the discretion to increase the HAP limits for renters on a case-by-case basis, but this is capped at 35% over the maximum limit and is often offset by a calculation of the tenant's ability to pay, so their hands are tied in terms of flexibility.”
“One big difference, however, is that the family in Craanford will receive €650 less in the housing assistance payment than the family living down the road. Both these communities are located within the rent pressure zones, an acknowledgment in itself of the pressures on renters in an area where rents are the highest and rising and where households have greatest difficulty finding affordable accommodation. However, this does not appear to be taken into consideration with regard to the setting of the HAP limits, putting one family at a distinct disadvantage to the other. The discrepancy gets even starker if you travel ten minutes down the road to Gorey. Gorey is a large, thriving rural town, a great place to live and work, as I well know. With the success of Gorey, however, comes even higher rents and even more pressure on supply.”
“If we travel ten minutes down the road to the neighbouring community of Craanford, County Wexford, a family with a similar composition and income level will be eligible only to receive a maximum payment of €600 under the same housing assistance payment. This is simply not fair and must be addressed. This is due to the differences in the maximum monthly rent limits for the housing assistance payment in each local authority - for instance, Wexford and Wicklow County Councils. The monthly asking price for rental properties of comparable size in both these rural areas is very similar. They would offer access to the same services in the community: schools, sports clubs, local shops, local buses - all that rural life has to offer.”
“I represent the new constituency of Wicklow-Wexford, which straddles the border between south Wicklow and north Wexford. As with the rest of the country, in all areas of my constituency there are issues with housing supply and availability of rental properties that are impacting families and communities. However, depending on which side of the border they live on, my constituents will receive significantly different support from the State to assist with the cost of housing. If we take, for example, a couple with three children who are renting a home in the town of Carnew, County Wicklow, if they are eligible for housing assistance payments they can be awarded up to €1,250 on HAP per month to cover the cost of rent.”
“I await the review arising from this report with huge personal interest. I am aware that the Government is not responsible for this, but we are fully and firmly responsible for how we respond.”
“We must ensure that the management oversight and procedures are in place to ensure this cannot happen again. What happened with the governance of CHI? As a parent, I was lucky enough to reject such a call for procedure on my son. The questions on the lips of every parent affected who reached out to me are why and how. I agree with the full review on the findings in a sober manner and allowing due process for all involved. However, if we do not answer these parents' questions, we are simply not doing our duty. Why would a surgeon suggest carrying out an unnecessary medical procedure on a child? CHI has simply failed us on this. Individuals must be made accountable. That is the crux of this report. They have to stand up and look at themselves in the mirror. It is simply inexcusable that this was allowed to happen in this century.”
“A support helpline is warmly welcomed. Equally important, it is essential - and this is where it was great to see the report fully published - for the parents to be fully updated. I call for parents or their representatives to be included in the full review process. I welcome the action has been taken and that there will be independent clinical reviews of every case. I welcome that independent experts from outside Ireland will conduct a thorough examination to ascertain if the operations were necessary. I understand the nature of this inspection will be complicated and take time. Bearing this in mind, I request that this process gets the full support of the Department of Health and is carried out as quickly as possible. As previously mentioned, the stress of not knowing for parents is hard to understand.”
“I welcome the report. It is imperative that there is no delay in the roll-out of the recommendations it contains. There are three key issues. The first is how we deal with parents. Since the more than 2,000 letters were sent out, I have spoken to many parents. Without exaggerating, I can say they simply have not slept. They are totally numb at the thought that their child was put through a procedure that simply was not necessary. Many in this House understand what it is like to hand their child over to a surgeon in a hospital. The word "trust" comes to mind. At the moment, the trust between the healthcare system and these parents has completely broken . I ask the Minister to bear this in mind. With the consultations with the parents, they simply should not be sent back to the hospitals that already dealt with their children.”
“In regard to the hip dysplasia report due in the coming days, as previously stated in this House I was a parent who sat in front of the surgeon being investigated, with my wife and my child. I was a lucky parent. I did not proceed with the recommended procedure. When the report is published, among the many recommendations, I hope there is one where parents are very much involved in the process. Every child who ever underwent a medical procedure under these surgeons in question must be re-examined. Procedures must be put in place and I welcome the Minister's action on this point. If media sources are correct, we could be dealing with one of the largest medical malpractices in the history of our State. Our response will be defining.”
“I would like to put on the record that County Wexford has 1,000 hotel bedrooms available nightly and Wexford is open for business.”
“Regarding Irish tourism, I am concerned about the figures that have come out for March. The number of inbound travellers is down and I would like to know what plan is in place to reverse this downward trend. The programme for Government clearly states a commitment to growing the tourism industry and I ask for strong action to support this growth. It is imperative that, as a Government, we continue to develop the offering of Ireland as an international tourism destination. Last week, an individual went on worldwide media and claimed many things, including a ridiculous and untrue statement that County Wexford had no hotel beds available. This type of misinformation is damaging to our tourism industry and, in turn, could impact employment. I have no interest in this individual but my concern is the vast audience he is speaking to.”
“I have faith in what the Minister of State is going to do, but we need action and full engagement from all the parties. If the owners of these properties are not going to use them, we have to move them on, although let us try to engage with them. There is a serious health and safety risk also as some of the premises are literally falling down. I thank the Minister of State for his time.”
“We have got engagement in the past couple of months from the local authority, shop owners and the chamber of commerce. It is key that we link all these people together and get them to drive the town on. There are huge green shoots for the town, but the problems in Arklow are being replicated across Ireland. The heart and soul of any town is the main street. If you do not have a main street, you have nothing. The key is to try to get that moving again in Arklow. That is our goal. We have other cases like Arklow, including Shillelagh and Camolin. As I said, it is right across the board. We need to get our teeth into this. It is a real problem. It affects the social fabric of every town if it does not have a thriving main street.”
“I thank the Minister of State and welcome his action plan, which is very much needed, and the further investment. I take the Minister of State's point about the involvement of the local authority, and how important that is. If we take Arklow, the town I am from and where I have spent all my working life of 25 years, it was a vibrant town, with a port and a buzzing main street. My wife, my two kids and I walked down that main street on the Saturday before Christmas and we were the only four people there on it. It was absolutely frightening. However, I do see green shoots in the town. I see the wastewater treatment plant opening up next week. I have to give credit to the existing owners of premises who are trying to keep the main street going. What we need is support.”
“We can also do work to incentivise property owners to act. We need to look at the incentive packages that we have on offer and modify them to bring people with us to get these buildings back in use.”
“However, more importantly, we are in the middle of a housing crisis and fighting tooth and nail to build more houses while there are tens of thousands of properties standing vacant and derelict on every street corner. This is a missed opportunity and while we are in the middle of this housing crisis, we must act. The programme for Government states, "We will continue to tackle vacancy and dereliction with enhanced compulsory purchase order (CPO) powers and an ambitious grant system." It lists several key measures to tackle this issue. We need to get moving and both empower and drive local authorities to act swiftly and decisively on this. We cannot afford to continue to take a soft approach. We need enforcement of vacant property fines and potentially increase them to give them more teeth.”
“There is huge untapped potential on our high streets and side streets across the country. Not only will this increase housing availability, but the knock-on effects of bringing these properties back to life will bring more footfall to our cities, towns and village centres. Overall, dereliction can only be described as a scourge, as it is having a detrimental effect on the social fabric of our towns and villages. We need to take control of the dereliction crisis. We must ensure those vacant property owners simply use it or lose it. Dereliction should be a source of national embarrassment. We pride ourselves as a hotbed of tourism, yet we are welcoming our tourists into towns that are falling down around us.”
“Again, I question whether all local authorities have been fully committed to following up on this. For example, despite there being not one but two separate Acts designed to mandate the registration of dereliction, a quick online search across multiple local authorities around the country show that these registers do not reflect the reality we see with our own eyes. If we are not recording this information, how on earth can we take the next step? How can we get these properties back into residential or commercial use? For those owners who do not co-operate with their local authorities, penalties must be increased. Let us take France as an example. A tax of 17% on the annual rental value is imposed on a property vacant for one year. This is increased to 34% in year two. We need to look at better incentives for living above the shop.”
“I raise the issue of dereliction in our cities, towns and villages. The blight of dereliction and long-term vacancy is prevalent throughout our country. According to the CSO figures for 2022, there are 163,000 derelict properties. I welcome the progress and the millions, if not billions, of euro invested nationwide clearly showing in the vacant property refurbishment grant statistics presented this week. However, I question the disparity in investment between local authorities and this needs to be addressed. I welcome the compulsory purchase orders activation programme from April 2023, which provides a planned, systematic and proactive approach by local authorities to bringing vacant and derelict properties into use when there is no successful engagement with the authorities.”
“It is so wrong. I wrote a speech, but I am speaking from my heart. It is wrong, on so many levels, that someone can look a child in the eye and say "We need to do surgery on you", when surgery is not needed. I appeal to the Dáil to let justice take its course. Thankfully, I am in here and I will do everything I can to help justice take its course. This is simply horrific. It is unfair. I am upset but I am also annoyed. It is so wrong, as I said, to attack the most vulnerable in society. Let justice take its course. I am speaking from the heart on this.”
“I am listening with great interest to this debate. I am listening not only as a TD but also as a parent. I was there. I have two beautiful young children. One is seven and one is six. My young son has cystic fibrosis. My son was called to Cappagh hospital to see the consultant under investigation. I went there with my wife. We met the consultant. He told us, literally straight away, that my son needed surgery. I asked, like any parent would, about the pluses and the minuses. He explained them. I said, "Leave the decision with us." It was a long drive back to Wexford. As we drove in the gateway to our house, I told my wife, "We are not going ahead." My son has cystic fibrosis, as I mentioned, and he had been through enough. I am a lucky parent but my heart - I am emotional on this - goes out to every other parent who has been affected.”
“This is simply not correct. Why is there such a gap between the pay and conditions of these highly qualified workers and those in mainstream education? These are the very people we trust to care for those who matter most, namely, our children.”
“On childcare and early learning, new regulations are being put in place for home-based care but continued consultation with the providers is essential. There is major frustration among childcare providers who face great financial pressure and bureaucracy. I engage with experienced operators such as Brigid Fleming in Riverchapel and Frances Burke in Arklow and they are not alone as this is a national concern. There is a conveyor belt of passionate, highly qualified staff leaving the sector due to multiple issues, including poor wages and complicated social welfare procedures. They are generally disillusioned with the profession they love. Last week I met a delegation from the Early Days Academy and Imagination Station in Arklow. Emer Kavanagh is highly qualified but she is being paid less now than she was as a lounge girl.”
“I acknowledge the Deputy's comments on Mick O'Dwyer. I had a personal involvement with him in Wicklow GAA. I was sponsor and he was manager. He was one of the most amazing characters I have ever come across. The legacy he has left the GAA world is priceless.”
“I call on Irish Water to urgently look at cases such as Aughrim, and where possible, to upgrade existing facilities or expedite the construction of new plants.”
“I welcome the programme for Government proposals that we ensure Irish Water prioritises the delivery of the small towns and villages programme. What I am concerned about is that this is not being fed down to Irish Water. Take Aughrim in County Wicklow, for example. No housing developments have been built in more than a decade due to the water plant being at full capacity. Recent correspondence with Irish Water stated clearly that the project is currently not forecasted to progress to construction until 2029. If this is the case, it will have a detrimental effect on the social fabric of the town, leading to no houses for young families and lower school numbers. Sports clubs will struggle and businesses will simply fail. Cases such as Aughrim, Kilanerin and Camolin are being replicated in towns and villages throughout Ireland.”
“I seek an update on the progress of the Gorey primary care centre which was first proposed in 2010 and is yet again back on the drawing board. Gorey is a thriving and fast-growing town with a population of more than 35,000 when Courtown and Riverchapel are included, but at the moment it is almost impossible to register with the GP or dentist. I welcome the programme for Government which clearly states this Government will open more primary care centres. However, the current operating lease model proposal on the table for the Gorey primary care centre is simply not viable to any developer or construction company. I ask that the HSE take direct control and deliver this project for the people of north Wexford.”
“After 26 years in prefabs, the new school project for Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir is progressing to tender. As we move forward, we must ensure no other school must wait this length to have the basic facilities the children and the teachers deserve.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I warmly welcome the word "engagement". That is so important for the key stakeholders, especially the principals of the schools. No doubt these issues are being replicated in many schools. I have to say that the initial response from the Minister and her Department has been very positive and engaging. Simply, joined-up thinking is needed in many of these situations and there is a need for common sense. To build a school for 1,000 students without a playground is simply ludicrous. To have a DEIS school in Arklow, St. John's, without a PE room is simply unfair to the children and the teachers. Based on my initial discussions, I really feel positive. I want to finish on a very positive note.”
“It is essential that in the case of all approvals for new schools, we expedite the building process. Just as important is that existing schools must not be left behind in terms of their facilities. We must ensure all children get the education they deserve in the best possible environment we can offer.”
“Another matter of concern is that we must support the upgrading of existing schools and facilities, whether they are in Kilmuckridge, Monaseed, Kilcommon National School or the development of a new all-weather pitch in St. Mary's College in Arklow. St. John's primary school in Arklow, which is categorised as a DEIS school, has no indoor PE or general-purpose hall. The management has been told the school's application for a PE hall will not be considered under the current funding module as the focus now is on providing classroom space. We need to give pride to DEIS schools. We must provide the best opportunities for each of these students. Gorey Educate Together school is providing an excellent educational service in an ever-expanding town but we need to see progress on the new school building.”
“In the case of Coláiste Bhríde, for example, plans are approved for a wonderful new school but there is currently no commitment to include work on a sports pitch. With more than 1,000 students, the exclusion of a functional pitch for outdoor sports would be a huge oversight. The Minister took time out to visit Gorey Community School. It is the largest school in Gorey but it has a serious problem with leaks throughout the building. The roof is a complete mess, posing a serious health and safety problem for pupils and staff. The school building project was given approval in 2022 but it has been delayed. Now, under emergency works, it has a quotation for €200,000. Why would the Department go down that route when there is already approval to have the roof fully replaced?”
“Credit must go the drivers behind the school. I must mention Karina Daly and all the team at the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board, WWETB, the school principal, Kerrie Wickham, the deputy principal, Aileen Roche, and the project manager, Padraic Flood, whose young son has been enrolled in the school. It was a joy to behold the pride on Padraic's face that day. While this is a very welcome development and a shining example of what can be done in our educational system, following site visits I have questions regarding numerous current capital projects in my constituency that are either experiencing a stalemate in progress or are struggling to operate with the facilities available to them.”
“I refer to a number of pressing issues relating to capital investment in schools in my constituency both in the provision of new buildings and upgrading of existing buildings. I commend the Department on the continuous roll-out of hot meals and free books. I welcome the commitment in the programme for Government to increased facilities for children with additional needs by establishing either new special schools or special educational classes to ensure children with additional needs get the support and resources they deserve. I recently attended the opening of Gorey Hill Special School. It is an incredible facility and a textbook example of what is needed in special schools. It simply ticks every box. It has wonderful staff, satisfied parents and, most importantly, happy children being taught in a caring, state-of-the-art facility.”
“The programme for Government reiterates the intention to continue the development of greenways and cycle routes across Ireland, which I warmly welcome. Greenways have simply transformed rural communities throughout Ireland. However, I want to flag a concern following a decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse permission to Blessington greenway due to wildlife and environmental concerns. If roadblocks such as these continue, I honestly fear for the future of greenways. I would like a reassurance that this will be addressed. For example, in my constituency of Wicklow-Wexford, approval for the Arklow to Shillelagh greenway is both eagerly and long awaited. This greenway would bring much needed opportunity to south Wicklow, to small rural communities such as Shillelagh, Tinahely, Annacura, Aughrim, Woodenbridge and Arklow.”
“As there is a conveyor belt of young talent leaving the farming community, I ask that we do not forget the past couple of weeks.”
“I wholeheartedly congratulate all of those in the ESB and on the front line for the work they have done. It would be totally remiss of me not to include our farming community in this debate. Yet again, it stood up to the mark, whether that was clearing trees, helping elderly neighbours or bringing food to those who needed it. That community was again the first to put on the green shirt. This is not the first time our farming community has risen to the occasion. With so much going on between succession, derogation, ash dieback and being weighed down with the bureaucracy, we must support this community. It is the heart and soul of the country. It keeps our roads clear, supports other local communities and safeguards our country. When we sit down to speak to farmers, we must keep that in mind.”
“It would be remiss of me to start without thanking my team in Wexford-Wicklow for putting me in this honourable position. I would like to thank my wife, Michelle, and my children, Seán and Mia. I would also like to thank the incredible support I got from my team in north Wexford and south Wicklow. I look forward to representing the constituency right across the board. I have to mention the town of Arklow, because for so long it never had any representation at national level and I will ensure I correct that fact. Regarding the storm, I ask for a full inquiry into two facts. The first is how so much damage was done. The second is our reaction to the damage. I feel it was very reactive rather than proactive. I know that here is not the time to go through the detail, but I look forward to, I hope, participating in that review.”