Charlie McConalogue
Donegal · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“There are indications that the opt-out mechanism for the text and data mining exception is not working well in practice. Evidence gathered by the Danish Presidency showed that some activity is taking place on the licensing of works for AI, but that it is uneven across member states and subsectors of the creative sector.”
“The proposal involved the development of grass pitches, an Astroturf facility, flood-lighting and dressing rooms. The Football Association of Ireland wrote to my Department in 2023 stating that it no longer intended to proceed with the LSSIF-funded centre of excellence in Glanmire.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels.”
“This is Ireland's first national strategy for diabetes and it sets out recommendations for action in relation to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy and paediatric diabetes. The strategy marks a major milestone in diabetes care in Ireland and represents the development of a unified approach to its delivery.”
“It is anticipated that the final business case will be submitted shortly to my Department. In relation to the site in Glanmire, my Department has been informed that the property has now been leased to Riverstown Football Club by Cork County Council.”
“The structure of that payment, which was agreed between An Post and the postmasters, is designed to maintain and strengthen our post office network and to keep it sustainable, taking into account the number of post offices in an area, the distance to the next nearest post office and the rural nature versus the population base that it migh…”
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“No such international consensus exists in relation to Israel. The decision made by RTE in December 2025, to neither participate in nor broadcast the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s ongoing participation has been referred to in debates. This was an independent decision taken by the State broadcaster, which is legally and editorially independent of Government. Sport Ireland, which is funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. The Sport Ireland-recognised NGBs play a key role in helping to deliver on the strategic priorities identified in the national sports policy.”
“In addition, the FAI has engaged with the Israeli Football Association, which has confirmed that it does not expect a significant number of Israeli fans to travel to Ireland for the fixture. In accordance with UEFA rules, home legs of fixtures cannot be played in another jurisdiction unless concerns are raised about the capacity for the fixture to be held securely and safely. In this instance, An Garda Síochána has confirmed that it is prepared to police the home game. While there has been a wholesale exclusion of Russia from most international sporting events, this exclusion is built upon international consensus, driven by international sporting bodies and, within the EU, is linked to sanctions against Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine.”
“At an operational level, I understand that the FAI is continuing to engage with An Garda Síochána to ensure appropriate preparation for and policing of the home leg of the fixture. The FAI is also engaging with the Norwegian Football Association which hosted a match against Israel in November last year to see if any learnings from its experience can be applied to preparations for the upcoming game in Ireland. Norway played the away leg of its World Cup qualifiers against Israel in Debrecen, Hungary. The FAI is also engaging with the Palestinian Football Association to gather its views on how to prepare for the match.”
“The FAI has decided to play the fixtures against Israel in accordance with their obligations as members of UEFA. While there is speculation that the FAI may request that UEFA allow the game to be moved to a neutral venue abroad, this is ultimately a decision for the FAI to make. While the decision to fulfil the fixtures, or not, is a matter for the FAI, it is important to note that not fulfilling the games could have serious sporting consequences for the Irish team, including losing points, relegation in Nations League standings, weaker seeding for Euro 2028 qualification and harm to its FIFA ranking.”
“This is why the Government is fully supportive of our athletes competing at the highest level of international competition. However, it is ultimately international sporting federations who are responsible for deciding how to carry out their competitions and who may participate. International federations, in this case UEFA, have a leadership role for their global games, and it is at this level that strategic decisions should be taken rather than by individual countries’ NGBs.”
“The FAI has stated that it intends to fulfil both fixtures against Israel in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA and the Government acknowledges the FAI’s independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days. The performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage have a very positive representational impact for Ireland, as Irish sport provides the world with a window into our country and the Irish people, both at home and abroad. International success for our top sports people enriches our country in a variety of ways. Many of our fondest memories are centred on Ireland’s achievements on the global sporting stage. These achievements have been a cause of celebration and inspiration for the public and will continue to do so into the future.”
“These include, of course, the issue we are discussing tonight, which is the Football Association of Ireland being asked not to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel in the autumn. It is important to note however that national governing bodies, NGBs, of sport, such as the FAI, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions. The Government and Sport Ireland have no role in determining or supporting the organisation of such fixtures. At the end of the day, we in this Chamber do not decide who plays who in sport, whether at a domestic or international level.”
“The Government is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict and advance a sustainable peace plan. Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law and the Government continues to press for appropriate action, both at EU and international level, in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. The Government calls on Israel to immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip. There have been many calls for Irish sports organisations to boycott or exclude Israel from international sporting competitions, in the context of the conflict in Gaza.”
“I thank Sinn Féin for its motion this evening. I wish the Irish ladies' football team well, whose match coincides with this motion. They will start to play very shortly in Grenoble, France, on what could be a really historic occasion. Should they win, it will be the most historic occasion we will have had in Irish women's football, and indeed in Irish football in our history. I am sure everyone in the Chamber will join me in wishing them really well this evening. Good luck to them. It is unfortunate that the nature of what we are discussing is very different and grave and that is what we are focusing on, understandably. As we all recognise, people across this country are very deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf region, and particularly the situation in Palestine.”
“I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes: — that the Irish people are deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region, particularly the situation in Palestine, and that the Government is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict; — that Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law, and the Government continues to press for appropriate action, both at European Union (EU) and international level, in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles; — Ireland's commitment to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza, and to advancing a sustainable peace plan and addressing the huge challenges facing Palestinians in Gaza; — the Government's grave concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, with intolerable conditions; — that Israel must immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip; — the Government's condemnation of the law passed by the Israeli parliament to expand the scope of the death penalty and revive its implementation in Israel and occupied Palestine; — the particular concerns about the discriminatory nature of the law as it relates to Palestinians, and that the implementation of this law would give rise to serious breaches of international human rights law and international humanitarian law; — the approval and publication of the text of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026, noting that the Bill fulfils the commitment set out in the Programme for Government, to progress legislation to prohibit the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, and further noting the proposed introduction of the Bill in Dáil Éireann this week; — that, in line with the Taoiseach's statement, Ireland will act to prevent those members of the Government of Israel who have been instrumental in fomenting the unfolding disaster in Gaza, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to Itamar Ben-Gvir, Minister of National Security of Israel, and Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance of Israel, should they seek to enter Ireland; — Ireland's support of an EU-wide prohibition on trade with Israeli settlements, and that at both the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and the FAC Trade in May, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, requested that the European Commission bring forward proposals for a prohibition on EU trade with settlements, on the basis of the EU's Common Commercial Policy, and furthermore, that the Minister also reiterated Ireland's longstanding position that the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended or, at a minimum, that the trade elements should be suspended; — that a number of other member states supported Ireland's call for stronger collective EU action, and agreed that targeted sanctions alone cannot substitute for meaningful measures relating to trade with illegal settlements; and — that the Taoiseach also wrote to European Council President, António Costa, on 20th May, reiterating Ireland's position on EU trade with Israel, and requesting an urgent discussion of these issues among EU leaders at the next meeting of the European Council on 18-19 June; in relation to sport, further notes that: — the performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage have a very positive representational impact for Ireland, as Irish sport provides the world with a window into Ireland and the Irish people, both at home and abroad; — international success for our top sports people enriches our country in a variety of ways, and Ireland's achievements on the global sporting stage have been a cause of both celebration and inspiration for the Irish public, and will continue to be so into the future; and — the Government is committed to supporting Irish athletes competing at the highest level of international competition; and recognises that: — national governing bodies of sport, such as the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions; — it is the role of the FAI to decide to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel in September (home) and October (away); — the FAI has stated that it intends to fulfil both fixtures against Israel; and — the Government acknowledges the FAI's independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days.".”
“In addition to the funding provided under the regional and local roads grant programme, national roads were also provided funding. For 2026, Cavan and Monaghan county councils were allocated €5.8 million and €10.1 million, respectively. This funding supports the maintenance, improvement and progression of new road projects. The difficulty in delivering road programmes within existing budgets is understood, as is the additional difficulty caused by variability in the market. While there may be provisions within existing contracts that can be utilised, ultimately it is a matter for local authorities to prioritise work and determine what can be best achieved with their existing budgets.”
“For 2026, allocations were notified to local authorities on 17 February. Cavan and Monaghan county councils were allocated over €19 million and over €17 million, respectively, with most of this funding directed towards protection and renewal. In addition, in 2024 and 2025, both Cavan and Monaghan county councils received funding for several pilot projects relating to road materials. The Department is appreciative of the assistance provided in the delivery of on-site works under the reclaimed asphalt pavement project. It should be noted that Exchequer funding for regional and local roads is intended to supplement realistic contributions from local authorities' own resources. As the statutory road authorities for their areas, it is open to local authorities to prioritise own resource investment towards regional and local roads.”
“Restoration maintenance grants look to pavement sealing to protect the road surface from water damage. Restoration improvement grants look to road strengthening to lengthen the life of road pavements. The discretionary grants available allow for a range of activities, including pothole repair, edge strengthening, renewal of signs and lines and winter maintenance. These three grant programmes account for most of the funding available. The basis for determining the allocations for each local authority under this grant programme is related to the total number of kilometres of regional and local roads within their areas of responsibility. This is held as being the most equitable method of distribution. The current rate of inflation or level of population are not factors taken into consideration.”
“The initial selection and prioritisation of work to be funded is a matter, in the first instance, for the local authority. The pressure on our regional and local roads is well understood, as is the critical role they play in supporting our economic activity and community links. As a result, the regional and local roads grant programme is primarily targeted at the maintenance and renewal of our existing roads network, with the remainder invested in new roads, new bridges and road realignments. The funds available through this programme have been steadily increasing in recent years. For 2026, €718 million was made available, which will facilitate an increase of €26 million for road protection and renewal throughout the country. The grant programme operated by the Department is focused on specific policy objectives.”
“I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising this issue and welcome the opportunity to discuss it on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien. The Senator's question relates to the funding provided for both Cavan and Monaghan county councils for the maintenance and improvement of regional local roads. I assure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to our existing road network. Local authorities are responsible by statute for the maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads present in their respective areas of responsibility. Any work undertaken on these roads is funded by the resources of the local authority concerned and, where eligible, this is supplemented by the Department of Transport's regional and local roads grant programme.”
“If we can work with other member states, we should do so because online safety is an issue that crosses boundaries. The Senator has outlined the impact that social media can have and highlighted the exceptional presentation given by the principal of St. Macartan's College. That speaks to how important online safety is kept to the forefront of our minds. Online safety is a big issue of this generation. It is important that online safety is discussed and teased out in detail, to which the Senator has contributed today. Departmental officials, the Minister and I will work to do everything that we can to address the harmful impacts of social media on young people, in particular.”
“I again thank the Senator for raising these important issues. I assure him that online safety is a priority for the Government. Legislation and regulation are a vital part of minimising the availability of harmful and illegal content, especially for children. However, we need to ensure that those laws are effective, capable of being supervised and enforced in practice, and do not go beyond what is proportionate. The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy O’ Donovan, has made it a priority theme for the upcoming EU Presidency to work with our EU partners to ensure that our regulation remains robust and up to date and that children are safe in the online world. This is something that is not specific to this country.”
“I join in welcoming the group from the Skerries Educate Together national school. I hope that they all enjoy a tour of the Dáil and their day here. I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this matter. I also thank him for providing the real-life experience and feedback given by Mr. McCague, principal of St. Macartan's College at a presentation. The feedback has been presented in a very authentic way and is totally based on the principal's experience of education and working with young people. I thank the Senator for outlining the feedback on the six indicators of well-being, including respect, and the potential impact on all that by social media. He outlined how the principal said that students insult each other online in a way that would never previously happen in real life.”
“Debates such as this form part of that process with acknowledgement of the importance of continued engagement across this House and the value of bringing different perspectives to bear on a shared set of challenges. I look forward to continuing that engagement in the time ahead and to working with colleagues to ensure that Ireland remains well-positioned to navigate the changes that lie before us.”
“This means maintaining strong partnerships between the Government, enterprise and education. It also means being willing to adapt our approaches as new challenges emerge and recognising that this is not a once-off response, but an ongoing process. Every major phase of Irish progress has ultimately depended on education, skills and knowledge. The decisions we take now on apprenticeships, research, infrastructure, lifelong learning and workforce development will shape Ireland long after current pressures and headlines have passed. Our responsibility is to ensure the next generation inherits a country equipped not merely to compete but also to thrive.”
“The decisions we take today in education, training and workforce development will often take years to fully translate into outcomes. That requires a long-term perspective and a willingness to maintain focus and investment even as pressures evolve. While there is much to point to in terms of progress, there can be no complacency. If anything, the uncertainty of the current moment reinforces the need for sustained effort. Technological change will continue apace, demographic pressures will intensify over time and global conditions will remain unpredictable. The demand for skills will continue to shift as a result. Our collective task is to ensure that we remain responsive to that change while also being grounded in a clear understanding of our priorities and constraints. Our approach is to continue to invest in people.”
“All of that represents real and meaningful progress, but it is important to recognise that this progress does not remove the challenges ahead. If anything, it underlines their scale. We will face increasing competition for skills across critical areas of our economy, from construction and infrastructure to healthcare, digital technologies and the green transition. We will have to balance competing demands, manage constraints and make choices about where to focus our efforts. That is the reality of a tighter labour market and a more complex global environment. Perhaps most importantly, we must remain conscious of the time dimension. Investment in skills is essential, but it is often not immediate in its impact.”
“Whether through direct industry engagement, targeted initiatives or structured dialogue such as the national skills round tables, we are seeing a more responsive and aligned approach to identifying and addressing skills needs as they emerge. At the same time, investment has increased significantly supporting not only skills development but also research and innovation capacity. That investment is about more than numbers; it is about building a system that can adapt, anticipate and continue to evolve in line with economic and societal change. There is important work under way to strengthen our understanding of those changes through improved data, better foresight and a more strategic approach to planning for future skills needs.”
“Initiatives such as the growth of apprenticeships, the development of new tertiary pathways and the expansion of flexible and modular learning are helping to open up access and meet evolving needs. We also need to think carefully about how students enter education. Ireland has traditionally channelled young people into narrow specialisations at an increasingly early stage. There is merit in broader entry pathways that allow students develop strong transversal skills such as critical thinking, adaptability, communication and problem solving before specialising later. There has also been a clear focus on strengthening the link between education and enterprise. That partnership is essential.”
“The forces we have discussed, the so-called "4 Ds" of demographic change, digitalisation, decarbonisation and deglobalisation, are not abstract trends. They are already reshaping our economy, labour market and society. They are influencing where jobs are created, how work is organised and what skills are required to participate fully in that changing world. In response, there is a significant amount of work already under way. Across further and higher education, we have seen a sustained expansion of capacity and a diversification of pathways. There is now a much stronger emphasis on flexibility and on creating opportunities for people throughout their working lives.”
“I thank all Deputies for their contributions today. This has been a thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion, and it also reflects the shared understanding across the House that the pace of change we are experiencing is both significant and accelerating. Ireland has transformed profoundly over recent decades. We have built a strong, dynamic and outward-looking economy, supported by a workforce that is skilled, adaptable and ambitious. That resilience remains evident today, even as we navigate a period marked by geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressures and shifting global dynamics. As has been reflected in the debate, we are now moving into a new phase - one where the scale, speed and interaction of change are unlike anything we have experienced before.”
“Economic growth is expected to continue this year, albeit at a slower pace than previously forecast. We cannot take this economic strength for granted. Risks remain and the outlook continues to be highly uncertain, shaped by factors outside of our control. Accordingly, the Government will continue to take a flexible approach to the current energy crisis, while remaining fiscally and economically responsible. Our fiscal strategy provides a framework for this approach. It ensures that we have had the ability to respond to challenges quickly and appropriately, while maintaining the sustainability of the public finances and investing in the long term.”
“In June of last year we established the national energy affordability task force to identify and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households and businesses. The task force provides a co-ordinated and coherent whole-of-government response to the energy crisis, aligned with programme for Government commitments as well as longer-term objectives on energy affordability and security. The task force is preparing an energy affordability plan as well as co-ordinating the national response to the energy shock arising from the conflict in the Middle East. It is also worth acknowledging that the Irish economy has remained remarkably resilient in the face of a series of external shocks. Our unemployment rate has remained below 5% for four years, consistent with full employment.”
“Ireland recently achieved 8 GW of installed onshore renewable electricity capacity, a clean energy milestone which marks a significant step towards energy efficiency and security. Budget 2026 also allocated a record €640 million for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, retrofit schemes, allowing us to target 73,000 home energy upgrades over the course of this year. This includes €340 million for the warmer homes scheme, which provides fully funded upgrades for those in energy poverty. These investments are making Irish homes more sustainable and energy-efficient, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and lowering energy costs for households. We will continue to scale up that investment and accelerate delivery.”
“In addition to the wide-ranging support already provided by the Government, we recognise that more needs to be done to improve energy affordability, sustainability, and security into the future. Ireland's vulnerability to external energy price shocks is in large part a consequence of our reliance on imported fossil fuels. Reducing this dependence will minimise our exposure to shifts in the international environment and strengthen energy security over the medium and longer term. As such, the Government is making significant investments in renewable energy and grid infrastructure, as well as implementing supports to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and workplaces.”
“The Government has also agreed to delay the increase in carbon tax to later in the year and is introducing support schemes for the transportation, agriculture and fisheries sectors. In total, these measures represent a significant investment of financial resources to support households and businesses. These interventions build on permanent, targeted supports we introduced as part of budgets 2025 and 2026, including a 9% VAT rate for gas and electricity, increases in core welfare rates, higher child support payments and increases and extensions to the fuel allowance. This targeted and practical support package ensures that those exposed to fuel increases will receive meaningful assistance.”
“The medium-term plan ensures that we have had the ability to respond swiftly and decisively to help households, firms and sectors whenever necessary. For example, the recent supports we introduced operate within the framework of the medium term plan. These supports include €750 million worth of measures focused on mitigating the impact of high energy costs on households and businesses. These measures reduced the annual rate of inflation in April, May, June and July by about 0.6%. We have cut excise duty on diesel by 32 cent per litre and 27 cent per litre for petrol, including the reduction in the NORA levy. We have also reduced excise duty on green diesel by 7.4 cent per litre. We increased repayments under the diesel rebate scheme and we extended the fuel allowance to the end of April.”
“In December, the Government published the medium-term fiscal and structural plan, which sets out a medium-term strategy based on three core pillars of sustainability, resilience and readiness. The medium-term plan provides a broad fiscal framework which allows the Government to achieve its aim of improving people's lives in a sustainable way. By setting out an overall medium-term expenditure path, this framework provides the Government with the flexibility to respond to challenges in a timely and proportionate manner. At the same time, it supports the Government's commitment to balanced and sustainable fiscal policy, ensuring we continue to target budget surpluses over the medium term while investing money in the two funds to pay for future costs.”
“The Government has been effectively managing these risks by continuing to invest in critical infrastructure while also saving for the future through the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. These investments will allow us to navigate the structural issues we face, such as ageing and the energy transition, by making our economy more resilient and competitive in the longer term. As we look to the future, it is impossible to predict how external shocks will evolve or what new challenges will emerge. This extreme uncertainty highlights the critical importance of maintaining a sustainable budgetary strategy that allows for a rapid and flexible Government response in times of need.”
“The evidence from across Europe is clear. Moving towards domestic sources of renewable energy increases our energy security, boosts competitiveness and reduces the burden on ordinary people during shocks like this. This is why the Government is investing record levels of funding in domestic energy infrastructure. Our ability to implement both short-term relief measures and the longer term investments needed to address this issue permanently is due to our careful management of the public finances over many years. However, the relatively good position of the public finances cannot be taken for granted. There are well-known vulnerabilities in our tax base, particularly surrounding corporation tax.”
“The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has once again exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy to imported fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency, IEA, we now face a global energy crisis greater than the 1970s oil crisis and the Ukraine war combined. Like the rest of the world, energy price spikes and price volatility have directly impacted Irish businesses and consumers. This raises both short-term and long-term issues. In the immediate term, the Government recognises the pressures and uncertainty this has generated for Irish households and for key sectors of the economy. It is for this reason that we have introduced a package of supports worth €750 million, among the largest package of any EU member state. Longer term, our strategic dependency on fossil fuels has major macroeconomic and fiscal implications.”
“While there may have been an increased take in relation to fuel, the Government has taken two steps now with two packages to reduce the excise on fuel, thereby seeing a significant reduction in State income from that. Of course, as with every other sector of society, we see inflation impact on the expenditure of the Government. In relation to the economy and, in particular, families, it puts increased pressure on people. The objective of the Government is to try in every way possible to support people's real living standards. We do not want to see inflation. Indeed, the steps we have taken have been to try to address that challenge and the impact it has been having on people. The Government opposes the motion tabled by Independent Ireland.”
“I am glad to be able to take this matter and give the opening response on behalf of the Government. At the outset, a lot of the opening contributions by Independent Ireland and Deputy Lawless put the proposition that the Government was cheering on inflation because Government benefited from it in some way. That is certainly not the case. Across the board, where we have inflation, it puts pressure on people's real living standards. It also puts pressure on Government expenditure. Overall, it puts significant pressure on the objective of the Government to try to improve people's incomes and capacity to spend. In fact, one of the key objectives of the Government is to try to take any steps we can that would actually see inflation addressed, not increased.”
“I move: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the conflict in the Middle East has, once again, exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy, and Irish society more generally, to imported fossil fuels; — these strategic dependencies have major macroeconomic implications, the risks to macroeconomic and fiscal stability cannot be ignored; — at a minimum, the large upward shift in energy prices is likely to impart a stagflationary impulse to the global economy, a combination of lower levels of economic activity alongside higher inflation; — in response, the Government has taken appropriate and timely action to provide relief for households and businesses; — the total budgetary cost of these support measures is of the order of €750 million this year, this is one the largest interventions of any country in the European Union, these measures reduce the annual rate of inflation in April, May, June and July by about 0.6 percentage points; — these measures have cut Excise Duty on diesel by 32 cent per litre, and 27 cent on petrol, including the reduction in the National Oil Reserves Agency levy, reduced Excise Duty on green diesel by 7.4 cent per litre, increased repayments under the Diesel Rebate Scheme, and extended the Fuel Allowance to the end of April; — the Government has also agreed to delay the increase in carbon tax to later in the year, and is introducing support schemes for the transportation and agricultural sectors, in total, these measures represent a significant investment of financial resources to support households and businesses, and will remain in place until 31st July, 2026; and — the Government published its Medium-Term Fiscal and Structural Plan (MTP) in December 2025, setting out a medium-term fiscal strategy based on three core pillars, sustainability, resilience and readiness; recognises that: — a package worth €750 million of supports has been introduced by the Government within the framework of the Government's MTP; — the MTP provides an appropriate fiscal framework that allows for the achievement of the Government's overarching aim to improve people's lives in a sustainable way; — by setting an overall medium-term expenditure path, the design of this framework provides Government with the flexibility to respond to challenges, such as, the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on households and businesses, in a timely and proportionate manner, alongside the operation of automatic stabilisers; — it sets out the Government's commitment to a balanced and sustainable approach to overall fiscal policy, ensuring we continue to target budget surpluses over the medium-term, and set aside some of the windfall to prepare for the future; — the MTP supports progress on implementing the key social and economic priorities, while delivering on our commitment to sustainable public finances; — it demonstrates the Government's commitment to using the resources of the State to improve people's lives in a sustainable way, it will act as the framework within which Government decisions will be taken during its term in office, it focuses on delivery, and allows for significant public resources to be directed at improving public services over a five-year period; — it ensures that we have had the agility to respond, swiftly and forcefully, to help households, firms and sectors when necessary; — consideration of any trigger points must be balanced in certain instances against the time lag inherent in economic data, which could delay timely Government responses; — the Irish economy is facing its second fossil fuel shock in less than five years; — fossil fuel dependence, especially imported fossil fuels, is a major economic vulnerability; — analytical work will be undertaken by the Department of Finance to set out the key macroeconomic principles that should guide the medium-term transition to manage Ireland's strategic import dependencies; and — the Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability; and acknowledges that: — the geopolitical and economic outlook continues to be highly uncertain; — in the Department of Finance's reference scenario, set out in the Annual Progress Report inflation is projected to average 3.3 per cent this year, 1.5 percentage points higher than assumed at budget time but still significantly lower than the 8.1 per cent rate recorded in 2022, after the last energy price shock; — the economy is still expected to grow this year, albeit at a slower pace than previously forecast, and Government has committed to a range of temporary measures to mitigate the impact of increases in energy prices on households and businesses; — the overall approach to budgetary policy must remain balanced and sustainable over the medium-term; and — the Government will consider the continued impact of the energy shock on households, and make proportionate decisions in the forthcoming Budget within the parameters of the appropriate fiscal strategy set out in the MTP." I thank Independent Ireland for putting this motion before the House today.”
“It is important that that the request to the Department from both local authorities in terms of the remediation be assessed. The Department of Transport has said in this response that it is under consideration. It is important that clarity be brought to that. The Deputy has expressed the frustration felt about how that has not happened yet. I will relay that back fairly clearly to the Department and ask it to engage further with both local authorities.”
“Obviously, it reflects very significant damage. The response from the Department also outlines that it is expected of local authorities that they hold a certain amount of the funds they receive in contingency for exceptional cases. I do not know how much that is in any particular county. I would imagine it is quite small and is nowhere near the scale of what is being discussed here, certainly not what the Deputy has outlined. The request to the Department is similar in scale to what the ongoing level of investment would be in terms of maintenance and development of roads, so it is very significant and would certainly speak to being a lot more than what could be managed within any ongoing contingency fund. There have been a number of instances over the last number of years of damage in both counties as a result of floods.”
“I understand the challenging situation in which everyone in the Deputy's county finds themselves and, indeed, the challenge that presents for its Deputies as public representatives as well to seek to address and have this remedied. The reply that I have given on behalf of the Department of Transport and the Minister outlines the funding that was provided this year, namely, €23 million to Wexford County Council and €15 million to Wicklow County Council, which was up on the previous year. It is clear from the response provided to me that that funding was meant to address ongoing work. The figures that the Deputy has indicated to me in terms of the additional ask are very similar in scale to the level of funding provided to both counties this year for roads generally, so it is a very significant ask.”
“I recall that, thankfully, my part of the country, for once, escaped the brunt of this but it was quite acute in those counties. I remember seeing the scenes at the time and the damage that still pertains from that can be very much seen, as the Deputy outlined. Certainly, after the Deputy raising it here today, I will relay his frustration in relation to the fact that there is not an answer yet on the request for additional funding. The Department is indicating that it is under consideration. Obviously, while it is under consideration, the roads remain to be fixed in some instances. That is something that the Deputy is very keen to have addressed. I will relay that back to the Department and ask it to follow up promptly with the Deputy and with the county councils in Wicklow and Wexford to bring this matter to a conclusion.”
“The Department of Transport's grant funding for regional and local roads is determined on as equitable a basis as possible to eligible local authorities. This is based on the length of the road network in the local authority area. The Department has liaised with those local authorities impacted by Storm Chandra to assess the damage and remediation needed. Means to address the additional costs to local authorities are under consideration. The most pertinent part of the reply is the last couple of lines, which indicate that means to address the additional costs for local authorities are under consideration. The Deputy outlined very clearly the asks from Wicklow and Wexford County Councils and the specifics in relation to the damage done to both counties.”
“Because of the pressures on the regional and local road network, the primary focus for capital investment under the regional and local road grant programme is on the maintenance and renewal of the network, the implementation of the strategic regional and local road projects identified for development - subject to necessary approvals - in the national development plan and targeted minor safety schemes across the regional and local road network. Wexford County Council was allocated over €23 million, with the majority of this amount determined to be spent on the protection and renewal of County Wexford’s regional and local road network. Wicklow County Council was allocated almost €15 million, again for protection and renewal. In both cases, the allocation for 2026 was higher than that of 2025.”
“The funding provided via the regional and local roads grant programme is intended to supplement realistic contributions from each local authority. It is also advised that each local authority sets aside a contingency from its allocation from the Department of Transport and its own resources for severe weather events that might take place. Allocations from this grant programme were communicated to local authorities on 17 February. In total, €718 million was made available this year to eligible local authorities for their regional and local roads. This was an increase in funding on 2025 and facilitated an increase of €26 million for road protection and renewal works.”
“The Government is committed to continuing to protect our regional and local roads network. This is known to be fundamental in connecting our people and communities and facilitates access to business, education and healthcare, as well as the provision of other critical services. Our regional and local road network spans over 96,000 km, and each local authority is statutorily responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the regional and local roads within their area of responsibility. All work undertaken is funded from their own resources and supplemented by the regional and local roads grant programme operated by the Department of Transport. It is also the role of local authorities to prioritise the investment in and work on their regional and local roads.”
“I thank Deputy Brennan for raising this matter. I have been asked to respond to him on behalf of the Minister for Transport on the issues he has raised here. Storm Chandra, as the Deputy outlined, brought severe winds, prolonged heavy rain and extensive flooding across multiple regions of the country. It caused significant disruption to our regional and local roads and communities, with the intense rainfall leading to several rivers bursting their banks and extensive surface flooding. More than 120 roads were rendered impassable and over 400 were reported to be significantly damaged. The local authorities in counties Wicklow and Wexford, among others, reported high levels of damage and the need for the provision of additional funding to remediate it.”
“I have no doubt that for most of the residents, their objective is, if at all possible, to be back in their apartments as quickly as they possibly can. There is the short-term and interim piece in relation to how they are supported through this. The obligations of the apartment owner in relation to that, which are going to be important, require that clarity. From the point of view of the State, Fingal County Council and State agencies working to support them in the interim period is also important. I will ask the Department and the Minister to revert directly to the Deputy on the questions he has raised.”
“I assure Deputy O'Gorman that I will immediately relay this back to the Minister for housing and his Department and ask them to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the really important questions he has posed. I understand the real stress that affected residents are experiencing, where they are not clear on what the situation is or the obligations for support to them when the provision of hotel accommodation runs out tomorrow and the immediate challenge that will arise for them. In regard to landlords, it is important that there is legal clarity in relation to what their obligations are. It would be important to see that accommodation be available again as quickly as possible when repairs have been carried out in the context of the different levels of damage there would be to each apartment.”