Carol Nolan
Offaly · Independent · Ireland
“Despite this, her mother - who is utterly heartbroken and distressed as we can all imagine - is fiercely protective of her child and determined to protect her at all costs.”
“It is a form of cruelty beyond all description to force families to endure circumstances such as these. Many of us in this House are parents. What would we not do to help our teenage children? What is happening in Offaly is not an isolated case. I know there are cases around the country as well.”
“The Tánaiste will share my profound horror at the recent brutal murder of Jamey Carney, the absconding of her so-called partner to Jordan and the wider pattern of escalating violence against women that was raised earlier.”
“The schools are out, summer is well and truly upon us, and for most families this will be an opportunity to enjoy spending time with their children or grandchildren. Others will watch the kids being able to spend more time with their friends.”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his response and assistance. I directly informed the HSE about this situation, and I received an acknowledgement, but I will reach out to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and, with the consent of the parent, will pass on all details.”
“Will he therefore commit to a review of the relevant legislative and operational frameworks to ensure that, regardless of current statutory provisions, no chilling effect is being caused or created that might discourage or inhibit the reporting or public identification of suspects who are also international protection applicants, where su…”
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“Our housing is in deep crisis and it is being made much worse because supply is exceeding demand. We have to take on the whole issue of illegal immigration and make sure that we adopt robust measures urgently.”
“It makes no sense that the Government would not support a sector that is already supporting our economy. I hope that will be looked at and that support will be given to the haulage sector, which is currently crippled by yet another increase in carbon tax and absolutely extortionate tolls, an issue which also needs to be tackled. If the Government is not going to take robust measures to tackle and limit illegal immigration and the associated multibillion euro costs, then the budgetary process will amount to nothing but a bad joke. Illegal immigration has to be tackled. The multibillion euro costs that are put on the heads of taxpayers have to be tackled. This issue has been going on for too long and is putting significant pressure on our health and education systems.”
“Regarding the carbon tax total allocation, in 2025, €951 million was allocated from carbon tax revenues, an increase of €163 million on 2024. That brings me on to my next point. It is disappointing to see that the haulage sector did not receive support in this year's budget. The haulage sector is a vital cog in the wheel of our economy. I know the Irish Road Haulage Association president, Mr. Ger Hyland, had called on numerous occasions for small, basic measures, such as the subsidisation of HVO, to be made a priority by the Government in this budget. HVO is 20% more costly per litre than diesel. If the Government is serious about the environment, why is HVO not subsidised for the haulage sector? That is my question tonight, especially when I look at the takings for carbon tax.”
“I also welcome the decision about the Department of Education and Youth's €1.6 billion capital allocation for 2026 to progress delivery of more than 300 school building projects. However, I take real issue with the claim that the majority of these are expected to be completed in 2026 and 2027. In my constituency, we have St. Brendan's Community School in Birr. It had its works approved in 2018 and there is neither sight nor sound of a contractor. It needs to change. We need urgent action and I call on the Minister to ensure that she takes action for St. Brendan's Community School in Birr. From 8 October, the rate of carbon tax for petrol and diesel will increase from €63.50 to €7 per tonne. This increase will apply to all other fuels from 1 May 2026.”
“I agree with the analysis offered by IFA farm business chair, Mr. Bill O’Keeffe, who said that while the renewal of the various tax reliefs was extremely important, some of the taxation changes and measures would be costly for farmers. He added that the reduction in the flat rate addition for VAT would cost farmers over €61 million this year. The decision to kick the rezoned land tax issue down the road creates more uncertainty for farmers, who really do not need that uncertainty, especially when they are being impacted by this fundamentally unfair tax. I want to mention the increase to the school capitation grant. This will include, on a per pupil basis, a €50 increase for primary and special schools from €224 to €274 and a €20 increase for post-primary schools from €386 to €406.”
“Generational renewal, tax relief for farm consolidation, young farmer relief out to 2029, the widening of the scope of farm restructuring relief to include forestry and the acceleration of capital allowance for slurry storage are all certainly welcome. However, there has been a notable emphasis on extensions rather than on transformative investment into the agriculture sector. There is also a strong suggestion that these measures inadequately address succession planning and the active farmer test extension to donors deters non-farming heirs, potentially forcing sales of viable holdings to cover liabilities exceeding the €335,000 threshold. With farm incomes down year on year, low-income family farms, comprising about 60% of Offaly's 4,000 holdings, yet again face squeezed margins without enhanced basic income support.”
“That decision to leave it until July needs to be reversed. The reduction in the VAT rate to 9% needs to happen immediately in order to save businesses and jobs. Instead of immediate relief, the businesses got the continuation of imminent threats. Instead of a helping hand, they got an iron punch from the Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, even if it did come in a velvet glove. This is not what these businesses needed. The Government has to rethink this and we have to have the measure kick in as soon as possible. With regard to agriculture, which is the backbone of the national economy and that of County Offaly, employing 10% of the national workforce, I accept that some positive steps have been taken.”
“The care they provide, and their dedication and commitment, need to be rewarded. The fairest way to do that is to abolish the means test and it is disappointing to see that, yet again, that has not happened in this budget. The carers desperately need our support and it has to happen. I hope that this time next year, we will be here and hear it has been abolished. The same attitude is found in the decision to reduce the VAT rate to 9%. While this is welcome and is something I raised in this Chamber many times over the last number of years, the delay in its implementation will certainly drive some businesses to the wall. Leaving them so long to wait until July is incomprehensible. I note from my own constituency of Offaly that we have restaurants, cafés and hair salons that are just clinging on by a mere thread.”
“Tá áthas orm an deis a fháil labhairt ar an mbuiséad seo anocht. I welcome the opportunity to speak on some of the measures outlined earlier today. However, it is also important to highlight what did not happen today. For me, this is the budget of a Government that lost its nerve, a budget of half-measures and lip service. Yes, the income disregard for the carer’s payment will increase to €1,000 for a single person and €2,000 for a couple and, yes, the domiciliary care allowance will also go up by €20 to €380 per month. That is certainly welcome but they are very small measures. Unfortunately, yet again, the Government has been found wanting in political courage with respect to the abolition of the means test for carers, who save this State billions of euro every year. We would be absolutely lost without them.”
“I was interested to note some facts about social enterprises that really highlight their ongoing value and importance in all our communities, particularly rural communities. Of the 4,300 social enterprises nationally, 43% are based in rural areas, where they support a significant employment contribution. That factor is really significant. It is so important that we protect and maintain these enterprises in rural Ireland. They are predominantly composed of women, who represent 69% of the total number employed in social enterprises. These facts are valuable insights into the very positive role social enterprises play in many rural communities such as my own in County Offaly. It is absolutely vital that we support the great work these social enterprises are doing.”
“It has already played a significant and important role in respect of Birr swimming pool, Pullough Community Shop, Moneygall Community Gym and a Meals on Wheels programme that serves south and west Offaly. One of the main supports it provides is assisting in the accessing of local and national financial supports such as grant applications. This can be very useful and helpful for groups of people thinking of setting up a social enterprise. It is a vitally important service. As we know, trying to access finance is one of the most time-consuming and challenging aspects of getting anything done at community level. It is great that we have the benefit of Offaly Local Development Company to assist.”
“I am delighted to contribute to these statements. There are great examples of social enterprise organisations throughout the country, all of which are doing fantastic work, including Offaly Local Development Company in my constituency of Offaly. The company, which we in the county are fortunate to have, supports voluntary groups and individuals all across Offaly who are already running or thinking of setting up a social enterprise. These supports come in many formats, from individual staff or board member mentoring guidance to the provision of facilitated relevant training, information or networking opportunities that enhance the skills of those involved in a project. I encourage all my constituents who are thinking of setting up a social enterprise to contact Offaly Local Development Company or go to its website.”
“Has that point been dealt with and is there a solution for that particular issue? I would be grateful if the Minister could revert to me with clarity and a reply on that specific point. The last point I wish to make is that we know there will be no boost to overall retirement adequacy. It has been mentioned that despite the fanfare, the scheme does not raise the inadequate State pension baseline of €13,000 per year, leaving 20% of over-65s, especially renters, in poverty. That is another very real issue that exists.”
“As I understand it, even with minimal setup, employers must match contributions up to 6% of payroll by 2034. How will this not add to the burden of cash-strapped SMEs already trying to navigate energy costs? I also understand that there are ongoing concerns about the scheme and how it will deal with self-employed workers who earn under €20,000 and under-23s who will be sidelined, leaving freelancers without coverage. An additional concern raised during the debates last year - perhaps this could be clarified - is about how auto-enrolment may shift reliance from the universal State pension to private pots, with pro rata calculations under the total contributions approach risking lower payouts for part-time or career gap workers, particularly carers and women who fit into that bracket.”
“Colm Fagan, former president of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland, has said that it means the administration fee for auto-enrolment for someone with €20 in his or her account would be the same for the person with €2,000 in his or her account. He described the regressive proposal as a disaster for low-paid and temporary workers. The Government's own website asks whether if a person's earnings go below €20,000 a year, will he or she stay in the scheme. The answer provided on the website is "Yes". If a person has been enrolled and his or her earnings subsequently go below €20,000 per year, he or she will stay in the scheme. We need to look further at this particular factor because it seems unfair. There are the standard concerns around the administrative workload and burden for small businesses.”
“I welcome debate on this critical issue. It is a long time coming. The then Minister, Heather Humphreys, pointed out a number of years ago on Second Stage that auto-enrolment had been spoken about in Ireland for 25 years since the former Minister, Seamus Brennan, first raised it. That being said, I think that a lot of concerns remain around the new regime and how fair, costly or impactful it is actually going to be in practice. There are a number of issues around workers who are earning just over €20,000 losing money to mandatory contributions for the first six months without opt-out flexibility. Of course, this hits low-income families the hardest. Mr.”
“I am aware that trespassing is also a problem on State lands, such as Coillte forests in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, close to my own home, where there is a huge problem with the reckless use of quads and motorbikes. This is causing great damage to public recreational amenities. These sports and activities are perfectly legitimate – let me make that clear – but they must take place in properly sanctioned areas, not on farm land or other agricultural land without permission from the landowner. It is regrettable that we have to restate such simple, basic facts, but here we are. This Bill is a modest but important contribution to the ongoing work of assisting farmers and landowners in dealing with the scourge of trespassing, which is continuing to make a misery of so many people's lives. I commend it to the House.”
“It is also worth pointing out that the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 was introduced at a time when there was perhaps a far greater level of respect for the rights of farmers and when we did not see such contemptuous disregard among a substantial number of people for the right of farmers or landowners to simply say a person cannot trespass on their land. There is now a sense among many people that they simply have a divine right to go where they like when they like and to do what they like on farm land and other agricultural land. We have to counter that with all the legislative tools at our disposal, in addition to having increased Garda numbers for enforcement.”
“It is vital to remember that trespass affects not only farmers and landowners but also entire rural communities, on whose agricultural land activities such as lurching or the unsanctioned use of quads, scramblers and motorcycles take place frequently. This is a huge problem, as we know from the IFA's 2024 survey, which reported trespassing as a top concern. This was expressed by approximately 50% of 1,500 surveyed farmers, with 25% having experienced civil trespass, where there would have been walkers and unauthorised hunters. We are aware that issues such as dog attacks on livestock often blur civil and criminal lines, but the 2024 survey found that 48% of 800 respondents reported civil trespass cases outnumbering criminal cases.”
“However, my Bill, if it clears all Stages, will amend the section to include the important substitution to the effect that it shall be an offence for a person, without reasonable excuse, to trespass on any building or other land or the curtilage thereof in such a manner as causes or is likely to cause fear in another person. In that sense, this Bill simply seeks to broaden the scope of existing legislation to capture not just the land on which the farm buildings and curtilage of the buildings are situated but also all farm and agricultural land. If accepted, it would introduce a greater level of legal clarity for farmers and landowners. It would also significantly expand the scope of the physical area that would be captured within the law of trespass. This is urgently required of us all as legislators.”
“The Criminal Justice (Trespass on Land) Bill 2025 will seek to amend section 13 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. The current wording of the section states: It shall be an offence for a person, without reasonable excuse, to trespass on any building or the curtilage thereof in such a manner as causes or is likely to cause fear in another person. Curtilage is any land immediately surrounding a house or other building which forms an enclosure around the house or building, but it does not refer to land beyond that, such as farmland.”
“I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and to provide for related matters. At the outset, let me express my sincere thanks to Karen O'Brien in the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers and Owen Garvey, assistant parliamentary counsel, for their invaluable research and drafting assistance. Also, my thanks to Luke Norton in the Bills Office for his assistance, as well as Jill Gray in the Ceann Comhairle's office. I also sincerely thank my own PA, David Mullins, for his research and very hard work on this Bill. I am delighted to introduce this Bill here today. It is aimed at addressing the offence of trespassing on farm and agricultural land.”
“Since the energy credits are no longer available, they are concerned about how they are going to pay their bills this year. I felt that giving the energy credits was letting the energy companies off the hook. Why can the electricity companies not be brought before an Oireachtas committee? They are profiteering while people are living in cold conditions. It makes no sense. The Government needs to do the right thing, step up to the mark, serve the people and stop serving the big corporate interests of this country.”
“Businesses, farmers and SMEs are being pushed to the brink because of them, and all the while we still have ridiculous arguments from some quarters about the bogeyman of liquefied natural gas resources, despite the energy independence that potentially exists right here on our doorstep. The Government needs to cop itself on and detach itself and Irish households from the absurd ideological straitjacket. We cannot afford the ongoing trends of Ireland’s electricity price being among the highest in Europe and of our gas price being about the fifth most expensive. We cannot afford to have businesses closing, and we certainly cannot afford to have our most vulnerable in society living in cold conditions. So many people come to my office in a distressed state.”
“Economist Oliver Browne has calculated the cost of food shopping and has come to the conclusion that prices have increased by 36% in the past four years. This is now a full-blown, interconnected crisis that the Government must respond to with unrelenting determination, especially regarding energy costs, which, we know, are driving many of the increases. We need to put aside the stupidity of efforts such as banning turf and criminalising those cutting turf in the midlands or in bogs in Galway. That needs to stop. Families have always used turf for heat and energy. Imagine persisting with this in the middle of a prolonged crisis, including a prolonged cost-of-energy crisis. It simply beggars belief. Households cannot afford their energy bills.”
“The lights are on but for far too long no one seems to be at home when it comes to the factors that have made Irish households absolute outliers in European terms regarding the cost of energy. The State is generating hundreds of millions of euro through a ridiculous carbon tax that I opposed and is damning people to energy poverty only to then redirect the tax revenue back to them through the welfare system. That is like some Alice-in-Wonderland version of the circular economy. It is not just the cost of energy, which is rocketing, that this is having an impact on; it is also one of the core contributors to the rising cost of food. Just recently, the CSO released figures from Eurostat that put Ireland’s food price inflation at three times the headline rate, with food prices up 5%. This was a 20-month high.”
“The facts are clear: the western world is being engulfed by unprecedented levels of public rage regarding the harms being caused by reckless immigration and migration policies. Time and time again the majority of our own people, when asked, express a clear desire to dramatically reduce the flood of people arriving here in the middle of a housing crisis. They are often ignored and vilified, treated as working-class scum. This untrue and unfair view that is often expressed is rampant in society. The view appears to be: how dare they upset any cosy consensus of the establishment and the establishment politicians who masquerade as friends of the ordinary working man and woman. There is a sickness within any political system that treats its own people with such unrelenting disdain.”
“There are countries in the world where if you voice your opposition to massively destabilising levels of illegal immigration, you can and will be shot and killed. It does not appear to matter how respectfully or constructively you may seek to argue for stronger borders, national sovereignty, or just a decision to put your own people first. Then there are countries in the world, such as our own, that have mercifully not reached this point yet, but that does not mean you will not be silenced in other less obvious or dramatic ways. Your image and reputation will be dragged through the mud. You may be called a threat to social cohesion. You will be portrayed as a villain out to undermine democracy and the unlimited so-called right of the entire world to arrive here on our doorstep, whether or not they have a passport – often they do not.”
“Parents are forced to pay privately for these assessments and it is very difficult for parents in the current climate where the cost of living is constantly rising. Anything that could be done in that regard will be greatly appreciated.”
“The response went on to state that it is anticipated that the school selection for the initial phase will be complete in the early 2025-26 school year and that schools will have the opportunity to engage with the education therapy service. This is unacceptable because there is a vacuum. The Minister recently visited Offaly School of Special Education, for which we are very grateful, and saw first-hand how the staff are doing their very best. There are excellent staff in school, but they need to be part of the education therapy support service. I hope that will happen and schools will be given clarity as soon as possible. I refer to children who are waiting for assessments for a long period of time. I had a case on my desk recently concerning someone who was told it would take two years for an assessment.”
“That was flagged to me by school principals. They are told to open a special class, but there is very little communication in terms of getting prepared for that and having resources in place. I call for such communication to be improved. I recently submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister requesting a list of the 45 special schools to be included in the new national therapy programme. Astonishingly, I received no clarity or information. All I was told was that the new education therapy service would commence in some special schools at a later stage in the 2025-26 school year and that the schools selected for inclusion in the initial phase will be informed by engagement with colleagues in the HSE and the National Council for Special Education.”
“Tá áthas orm labhairt ar an rún seo anocht. Beidh mé ag tacú leis an rún, a bhaineann le hoideachas speisialta. I will support the motion, in particular the call to establish a timebound school building delivery task force with a mandate to ensure the quick and priority delivery of special schools and classes. This is an aspect of the school accommodation crisis more generally, on which I have repeatedly focused over the years. I have raised the issue a number of times here. I have, of course, raised the issue with the Minister and Department of Education and Youth's planning and building unit during sessions of the Committee on further and higher education. There is another issue affecting many schools, namely, the lack of communication from the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, with school principals.”
“There is no doubt but that we need to introduce an enhanced public awareness campaign with target metrics, community engagement and direct engagement from the women who are affected. A fully budgeted three-year campaign launching within six months that targets schools, workplaces and community groups to educate on endometriosis symptoms and the challenges would be a start, and obviously would challenge the whole stigma. That would send out a message of support to many women who are not being given a diagnosis or support with their symptoms or who are being misdiagnosed in some cases. It would show we support them and we would send that message through a campaign.”
“The stories I am hearing indicate women are enduring this for years and years and it has greatly impacted their lives, and that is unacceptable. It is reasonable that the referral to specialists be a timely process. It has to be. That is something that needs to be improved on and can be improved on fairly quickly. This system should be supported by mandatory training for general practitioners on recognising endometriosis symptoms using tools like Endometriosis UK’s symptoms diary to standardise assessments. I am aware Australia’s National Action Plan for Endometriosis has cut diagnostic times by 30% through similar reforms, so that is a model that could be used here.”
“Additionally, embedding patient advocates in the planning process would ensure centres address real-world patient needs such as psychological support and post-surgical care. It is important that every approach we take to these matters, and to this condition especially, be patient-centred and informed by women. I agree that we urgently need to expand and fast-track a referrals system with primary care training. While the motion’s proposal to end primary care’s diagnostic responsibility is critical, it requires a robust and timely replacement system. Perhaps we should look at mandating a nationwide fast-track referral pathway within 12 months to ensure women with suspected endometriosis are referred to specialists within four weeks of presenting with symptoms.”
“This motion should be the start of a change of direction. We need to send out a message of support and we need to change the way we do things. We need to ensure there are centres of excellence for women and that this condition is diagnosed in a timely manner, first of all, and that women are supported. I would specifically like to see a strengthening of the multidisciplinary care framework with clear implementation timelines. Perhaps we could consider mandating the establishment of at least two fully staffed endometriosis centres of excellence within 24 months, each with a multidisciplinary team, including gynaecologists, radiologists, pain specialists, psychologists and fertility experts. While I note the motion did not specify annual funding allocations, we need to do that to ensure sustainability into the future.”
“I welcome this motion. It is timely and is there to address the frustration and chronic pain too many women have to endure unnecessarily. I welcome the visitors to the Gallery. It is great to have them all here. They should not need to be here because this is an issue that should have been addressed long before now. I certainly will be supporting the motion. We urgently need to rapidly increase the level of support and the diagnostic pathways for women experiencing endometriosis. I know from the vast amount of correspondence and calls I have received from women in my constituency that this issue is having major consequences for women’s physical, mental and emotional health and that it is also creating real pain through fertility issues for many women. There is a lot of frustration, upset and anger.”
“It should come down on them heavy and a message be sent out that that is what anyone who tries to exploit vulnerable children in State care will be facing. The message that needs to go out is that it will not be tolerated and, more importantly, that we are monitoring the situation. To the best of my knowledge, there are children being picked up from airports where they are coming in unaccompanied and they are being placed in all sorts of settings.”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his comprehensive response, and more importantly, his commitment to tackle this issue. I accept there is a need to resource An Garda Síochána with regard to technology. There is no doubt about that. Every resource needs to be used to protect these vulnerable children who are subjected to a nightmare of sexual abuse exploitation. That is my main concern. The findings of the report need to be looked at and responded to in greater detail. I had the pleasure of meeting the academics involved in compiling this report. They have legitimate concerns. Our laws need to become a lot tougher on the issue of child exploitation. I and many others want to make sure these predators - people who exploit children - face the full hammer of the law.”
“Will he do what he can to speed up the introduction of robust protections for the children identified in the SERP report and elsewhere? It is clear that the current system is failing children if they continue to be targeted by such vicious and violent predators. Unfortunately, that continues.”
“My fear is that this issue has fallen out of the spotlight and the sense of urgency, that we so badly need, is not appropriate to the level of the emergency that these vulnerable children are facing. The State may move slowly, but unfortunately predators do not. They are relentless in their poisonous pursuit of these children. We must be equally determined and relentless in our efforts to stop them and we need to do it urgently. We have seen from the UK's experience what happens when the State appears to deprioritise these concerns. I am not saying that is happening here to the same extent, but the Tánaiste will agree with me that we cannot even allow the perception to take hold that these vulnerable children are not on the State's priority list.”
“Since then, I have tabled numerous parliamentary questions on the issue, the most recent in the past few days. I have been informed in response to one of these questions that while a final draft of the commissioned report on a systematic review to examine institutional, organisational and organised child abuse, including trafficking and exploitation of children and young people, has been received by the Department of children, it is still being assessed for final consideration and observations. It has been two years since the SERP report was published, with some serious concerns, and 21 months since I raised it on the floor of this House. I fully understand that there is a need to generate a robust evidence base to inform the State's policy and practice responses to institutional and organised abuse and its prevention.”
“In June 2023, a scoping report on the sexual exploitation of children in State care by UCD academics, Dr. Mary Canning, Dr. Marie Keenan and Ms Ruth Breslin was published. The Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy, SERP, Institute report clearly outlined in horrifying detail the predatory behaviour that these young people, mainly young girls, were being subjected to on an ongoing basis, which was totally disturbing. We were told how some of the most vulnerable children in this State were going missing or running away from home or a care placement, despite the fact that some had an intellectual disability or had suffered prior sexual abuse or neglect. I raised this issue in this Chamber in November 2023 with the then Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin. We had a constructive engagement and agreement on this issue.”
“We need to break the cycle of disadvantage and we do that by supporting students and not punishing families who work hard and pay their taxes. There has to be a reversal of the ludicrous decision not to reduce the student fees this year. I call on the Government to reduce those fees to make it fair. It may be unpalatable for some to hear that I have had countless parents contact me, as I said, following my discovery through parliamentary questions last May that almost €9 million was paid by the Department of further and higher education in 2022 and 2023 in monthly stipends to Ukrainian students who are currently under temporary protection. The system is divisive. Those are not comments. My comments are facts. The system is very divisive when the Government can give to one category of students but deny another.”
“Tá áthas orm labhairt faoi tháillí na mic léinn anocht. Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh na mic léinn atá in éineacht linn tráthnóna. I support the motion, particularly the call to introduce a cost-of-living package which would cancel the scheduled €1,000 fee hike and reduce fees by a further €500, meaning the maximum fee this September would be €1,500 instead of €3,000. It is very unfair not to reduce student fees. I have so many families coming to me in distress and despair, and these are families who are working. They work hard but they feel they are punished for working as they are being taxed to the hilt, Some families are trapped in lower socioeconomic groups. It is so unfair that they are punished.”
“The IFA's animal health chair, TJ Maher, has pointed out that the TB proposals are "crude" and suggested that the financial burden will be laid at the feet of farmers. Does the Minister accept the justified criticism? Will he go back to the drawing board and devise solutions?”
“I want to raise the issue of TB. I want to make the point that farmers are key to our communities. They are also key to our economy. I attended a very successful tractor run on Sunday. Large numbers were out raising funds for two local schools, Roscomroe National School and Coolderry National School, as well as a local charity called Living Links. There is huge concern regarding the TB proposals. We need to bring farmers with us and we need to protect and support them. I will quote from some of the farming organisations that have expressed concern. The deputy president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Eamon Carroll, has said he believes that the proposed measures will involve all of the TB burden being placed on farmers.”
“What is the point of talking about the review's recommendations here and considering bringing all school-age children under a single piece of legislation if we are not going to listen to Offaly School of Special Education and other special schools around this State that need urgent assistance and need to ensure therapists are in place?”
“Special education is one area where we can see a lack of action and a chronic lack of supports for children with needs. On the publication of the EPSEN review, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, rightly noted that special education should be inclusive, equitable and, more important, responsive to the needs of all children. Unfortunately, what we have now is a system that is far from being inclusive. It is, unfortunately, discriminatory. It is not in any way equitable. Rather, it is deeply inequitable in its funding and resource allocations. Offaly School of Special Education in my constituency is crying out for new accommodation. It is shameful to see what is happening in that school in terms of the lack of therapy supports for children, including the occupational therapy and speech therapy that children so badly need.”
“As I said, there are clusters of this pilot in Galway, Donegal and Mayo. I think its extension nationally would be one way of helping principals.”