Dara Calleary
Mayo · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Agriculture is the backbone. We have all been in the Mansion House today, or everyone has said they were anyway. Energy security is key and crucial. Everybody wants energy security but nobody wants wind energy. We have to strike a balance and get a real discussion, but food security is most important.”
“While we have gaps there, we are addressing them. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has announced the minor injury units, which will take the pressure off major hospitals and ensure services are available.”
“Recent figures from the CSO show that there is a 5.8% increase in the number of people living in rural areas between 2016 and 2022. In areas classified as highly rural and remote, the increase was 6.4%.”
“Enterprise Ireland is investing in Irish-owned, Irish-founded companies. Similarly, 59% of IDA investments were located outside the Dublin region. We will continue to work, looking at the progress we can make through the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and, as Senator O'Loughlin said, through supporting our local enterprise offices.”
“That is something we do daily and they are used where is necessary. The plan will be supported by ambitious, clear, practical and measurable actions. I have spoken to some of the funding programmes available within my Department.”
“Táim tar éis cuairt a thabhairt ar gach ceantar Gaeltachta chun plé fairsing a dhéanamh leis na pobail sin chun a fháil amach uathu féin cén cineál tacaíochta ar féidir a chur ar fáil dóibh chun cabhrú leo. Táim chun leanúint ar aghaidh leis an obair sin sa bhuiséad le teacht agus na buiséid eile.”
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“Chun críche na dtoghchán chun Údarás na Gaeltachta, beidh sé riachtanach roinnt mionleasuithe teicniúla a dhéanamh ar an Acht um Údarás na Gaeltachta, 1979 mar a bhaineann le féimheacht; ar an Acht Toghcháin, 1992; ar an Acht Toghcháin, 1997; ar an Acht um Chosaint Sonraí, 2018; agus ar an Acht um Thruailliú ó Bhruscar, 1997. Tuigim go maith an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an obair atá ar bun ag an údarás ar son na Gaeltachta ar bhonn leanúnach. De bharr na hoibre seo, tá deiseanna fostaíochta agus fiontraíochta cothaithe agus cruthaithe i gceantair nach bhfaigheadh na deiseanna sin murach gur ann don eagraíocht. Bliain i ndiaidh bliana, tugann an Rialtas tacaíocht shuntasach d'Údarás na Gaeltachta.”
“Leis an mBille seo, féadfaidh an tAire, ag feachaint don chóras caighdeán ar a dtugtar an creat comhchoiteann tagartha Eorpach le haghaidh teangacha, CEFR, an leibhéal inniúlachta i nGaeilge is gá a bheith ag duine le suí ar an mbord a fhorordú. Is uirlis chaighdeánaithe é comhchreat tagartha na hEorpa le haghaidh teangacha a d'fhorbair Comhairle na hEorpa chun inniúlacht teanga a mheas. Tá obair dhúshlánach ar siúl agus bord an údaráis i mbun cinntí agus plé agus tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil na riachtanais agus scileanna cuí ag gach comhalta bord.”
“Chomh maith leis na hathruithe seo, déanfar Alt 8 den Acht um Údarás na Gaeltachta, 1979 a leasú chun cead a thabhairt don údarás talamh a dhiúscairt chun críche tithíochta. Thug dréachtú na reachtaíochta seo mar a bhaineann le leasú ar phróiseas ceapacháin an bhoird deis uathúil cuid den phríomh-Acht a leasú ina leith seo. Cé nach é príomhaidhm na reachtaíochta é, is leasú tábhachtach é mar sin féin. Tuigim cé chomh práinneach is atá ceist na tithíochta ar fud na tíre. Cloisim ó dhaoine nuair a thugaim cuairt ar cheantair Ghaeltachta cé chomh deacair is atá sé orthu tithe a fháil le ceannach nó a ghlacadh ar cíos. Ag glacadh leis go dteastaíonn daoine uainn chun pobail na Gaeltachta mar aon leis an teanga a choinneáil beo, forálann an Bille seo freisin do bheart tithíochta a thacóidh le tithíocht a sholáthar i gceantair Ghaeltachta.”
“Tá sé i gceist go mbuailfidh gach coiste réigiúnach le grúpaí pleanála teanga ina réigiúin Ghaeltachta faoi dhó sa bhliain ar a laghad, agus go dtabharfaidh coistí réigiúnacha tuarascáil don údarás tar éis gach cruinnithe a chuideoidh leis an údarás lena chuid oibre. Tá súil agam go gcinnteoidh an cur chuige nua maidir le ceapadh an bhoird, mar aon leis na bearta nua a bhaineann leis na coistí réigiúnacha, ionadaíocht iomlán dhaonlathach agus rannpháirtíocht iomlán na bpobal Gaeltachta i gcursaí a bhaineann leis an údaras. Tá sé seo mar aidhm tosaigh sa chlár Rialtas, agus is ar mhaithe leis an sprioc sin a bhaint amach atá mé ag tabhairt faoin leasú reachtaíochta seo.”
“Déantar foráil leis an mBille maidir le téarmaí boird a mhairfidh ar feadh uastréimhse de sé bliana. Beidh ionadaíocht ag na ceantair Ghaeltachta uile ar an mbord agus ní bheidh uainíocht comhaltaí i bhfeidhm a thuilleadh i gcás cheantair Ghaeltachta níos lú mar atá sa reachtaíocht reatha. D'fhonn a chinntiú go mbeidh nasc níos láidre ann idir pobail agus obair an bhoird, déantar foráil leis an mBille freisin do bhunú trí choiste réigiúnach. Beidh meascán de chomhaltaí boird agus ionadaithe áitiúla ar an trí choiste seo i réigiúin an tuaiscirt, an iarthair, an oirthir agus an deiscirt.”
“Creidim chomh maith go bhfuil aghaidh tugtha go leordhóthanach sa Bhille seo ar cheisteanna a ardaíodh maidir le scaipeadh tíreolaíoch, neamhláithreacht boird agus riachtanais teanga. Ar thosach feidhme na bhforálacha nua seo, beidh deichniúr comhaltaí tofa, mar aon le seisear comhaltaí a cheapfaidh Aire an lae, ar an mbord. Tá sé i gceist go mbeidh comhaltaí nua ceaptha in áit chomhaltaí ar mian leo leas a bhaint as saoire óna ndualgais bhoird ar feadh ré na saoire sin. Ní bheidh comhaltaí a bhainfidh leas as saoire i dteideal táillí boird ar feadh ré a saoire. Is cinnte gur dul chun cinn an tsolúbthacht seo agus an leasú ó thaobh feidhmiú an bhoird a chinntiú. Beidh comhalta a cheapfar chun corrfholúntas a líonadh i seilbh oifige go ceann a mbeidh fágtha de thréimhse oifige a réamhtheachtaí.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanad as an deis a thabhairt dom teacht os a chomhair inniu agus muid ag tabhairt faoin Dara Céim den Bhille um Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú), 2024 i Seanad Éireann. Tá go leor oibre déanta ar an mBille seo ó tionscnaíodh é ar dtús i mí Iúil 2024 agus go deimhin rinneadh neart plé fiúntach maidir leis an mBille i nDáil Éireann agus aontaíodh roinnt leasuithe air le linn an phróisis sin. Tá súil agam go mbeidh athbhunú toghchán Údarás na Gaeltachta in ann nasc an phobail Ghaeltachta le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta a neartú agus go gcabhróidh an Bille nua seo le hobair fhiúntach Údarás na Gaeltachta. Sílim go gcuirfidh na forálacha sa Bhille seo leis an ionadaíocht dhaonlathach ar bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta.”
“I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026: Vote 30— Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 31 — Transport (Supplementary Estimate).”
“Tuigim agus aontaím leis an Teachta go bhfuil na hoifigigh phleanála teanga ag déanamh sárjab sna ceantair ina bhfuil siad. Tá muinín agam freisin go mbeidh siad lánpháirteach sna struchtúir seo agus i gcoiste réigiúnach an údaráis agus go mbeidh siad in ann obair leis an gcoiste sin. Ní bheidh an coiste in ann obair cheart a dhéanamh gan obair na n-oifigeach pleanála teanga. Táim sásta nach gcaithfimid é a leagan amach sa dlí agus go n-oibríonn sé.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Rachaidh na coistí réigiúnacha i gcomhairle le grúpa pleanála teanga sa limistéar faoi leith ina bhunófar an choiste chun comhairle a thabhairt don údarás agus chun cuidiú leis an údarás i gcomhlíonadh a aidhmeanna sa limistéar sin. Léiríonn sé seo an ról atá ag na coistí réigiúnacha ó thaobh na hionadaíochta de. Is fiú a rá chomh maith go bhfuil oifigeach pleanála teanga ar bhord reatha de chuid Údarás na Gealtachta agus iar-oifigeach pleanála teanga chomh maith. Mar a sheasann rudaí, ní cheapaim go bhfuil gá ar leith go mbeadh spás oscailte d’oifigigh pleanála teanga ar na coistí. Tá mé an-chinnte go mbeidh comhráití fiúntacha idir na coistí agus na grúpaí pleanála teanga. Dá bhrí sin ní féidir liom glacadh le leasú Uimh. 21.”
“Tá mé dírithe ar chúrsaí pleanála agus tithíochta. Tá suim agam i bhfad níos mó deiseanna a thabhairt do dhaoine chun tithe a chruthú sa Ghaeltacht, agus tá mé ag obair ar scéimeanna lena dhéanamh. Léiríonn na figiúirí go bhfuil rudaí ag tarlú sa Ghaeltacht. Tá sé tábhachtach go leagann muid na figiúirí seo amach freisin.”
“Is é sin an fáth nach mbeidh mé in ann a rá go bhfuil freagra éasca air seo ná a mholadh go gcuirfí an freagracht go léir ar an údarás. Tá a lán scileanna san údarás. The údarás has fantastic skills but, in terms of developing housing and planning responsibilities for housing, there are other, quicker ways to do it to get the kind of supply of housing we need for Irish-speaking families in the Gaeltacht areas. Is é sin an fáth a mbíonn muid ag obair go dlúth leis an Aire, an Teachta Browne. Bíonn oifigigh mo Roinne ag obair go dlúth leis na hoifigigh sa Roinn tithíochta ar an ráiteas pleanála. Agus an ráiteas pleanála sin á chur le chéile, áfach, tá a lán ceisteanna deacra le freagairt, go háirithe maidir leis na cineálacha cáilíochtaí agus conditions a bheidh i gceist le haghaidh cúrsaí pleanála.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí. Is tábhachtach comhthéacs a chur leis an díospóireacht seo. Bunaithe ar na figiúirí ó na húdaráis áitiúla, ceadaíodh, ar an meán, 90% d’iarratais phleanála le haghaidh tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht in 2025, rud a léiríonn go bhfuil a lán rudaí ag tarlú sa Ghaeltacht i réimse na tithíochta. Ina theannta sin, bronnadh os cionn €3 milliún ar iarratais i limistéir Ghaeltachta faoin deontas athchóirithe do réadmhaoin fholamh, is é sin, the vacant houses grant. More than €3 million was given to the empty houses grant in Gaeltacht areas le linn 2024 agus 2025, between 2024 and 2025. Léiríonn sé sin go mbíonn pobail na Gaeltachta ag baint leas as an scéim seo. Léiríonn sé go bhfuil rudaí ag tarlú. Aontaím leis an Teachta McGuinness; tá sé seo ar cheann de na dúshláin is mó atá romhainn.”
“As we will be discussing later, it needs to retain its focus on other opportunities for Gaeltacht employment. We need to grow Gaeltacht employment. We need to grow its role in language planning and strengthen that role. We need to grow its role in supporting the local co-ops. We need it to focus on that role along with an important advisory role in housing as a role tánaisteach.”
“There are tough decisions and tough calls to be made on it. However, to say that Údarás na Gaeltachta would have the entire role for housing in the Gaeltacht is wrong because it does not have the skills at the moment in terms of housing development. It has a role, an absolutely central role, in housing. Deputy Kyne’s proposal for pilot schemes is something we will pursue. However, the local authorities have the planning authority based on their development plans and based on the law. The údarás definitely has a role. The difficulty in giving it other roles is that its prime role in terms of enterprise, language planning and the work that it does well would be diluted. At a time when we have good employment in the Gaeltacht, we need to maintain its focus on that.”
“Tá obair le déanamh againn le hUisce Éireann ar an dúshlán sin chun go mbeidh seirbhísí ann. Nuair atá na seirbhísí sin ann - táimid ag plé seirbhísí séarachais agus uisce leis an Aire, an Teachta Browne - beimid in ann díriú isteach ar an talamh sin agus ansin scéim phíolótach a dhéanamh ach ní bheidh an t-údarás ag tógáil tithe. Ag an bpointe seo, tá an chumhacht aige tithe a dhíol ach ní bheidh aon ról aige i dtógáil tithe. Beidh sé an-tábhachtach. Beidh ról tánaisteach aige. Is le haghaidh na húdaráis áitiúla cúrsaí pleanála. Táimid go léir ag teacht le chéile. Tá a lán rudaí ag teacht le chéile anseo. Táimid á mbailiú le chéile. Beidh sé sin leagtha amach sa ráiteas pleanála. Táim ag tabhairt cuiridh. I am inviting people to give their proposals on what a planning statement for the Gaeltacht should look like.”
“Bhí tithíocht tógtha ag an gcomharchumann, le tacaíocht airgeadais, chun árasáin a chur ar fáil do na coláistí samhraidh. Ba scéim shuimiúil é sin. Thug sé cúpla idea dom. Níl sé ceart a rá go bhfuil freagracht ag an údarás amháin as na dúshláin tithíochta. Níl sé féaráilte don údarás ná do na daoine atá ag lorg tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Tá an freagra sna húdaráis áitiúla, sa ráiteas pleanála don Ghaeltacht a bheidh á fhoilsiú againn agus b'fhéidir sna comharchumainn trí AHBs a chur le chéile. Tá an ceart ag an Teachta Hearne. Tá talamh ag an údarás nach mbeidh sé in ann a úsáid le haghaidh cúrsaí fiontair agus tionscail. Táimid ag scrúdú an talaimh sin chun a fháil amach an bhfuil séarachas agus uisce ann. Is dúshlán dúinn é sin. Tá an ceart ag an Teachta Kyne.”
“Má tá aon tuairimí aici, táim sásta comhrá agus díospóireacht a bheith agam léi fúthu sula bhfoilsímid an ráiteas pleanála. Labhair an Teachta Sheehan faoin suirbhé a rinne an t-údarás. Tá sé seo tábhachtach freisin. Tá ról ag an údarás. Glacaim leis go bhfuil ról tábhachtach ag an údarás ina leith seo. Bhí a lán cruinnithe agam leis an bpríomhfheidhmeannach faoin ról sin agus faoi na scileanna atá chun a bheith úsáidte. De bharr ceann de na cruinnithe sin, cuireadh an post le chéile. Tá post san údarás anois maidir le cúrsaí tithíochta, go háirithe tithe folmha. Tá an t-údarás ag déanamh an tsuirbhé sin mar gheall ar an bpost sin. Tá cúpla scéim ann. Táim sásta obair le haon Teachta chun scéim phíolótach a dhéanamh. Bhí scéim ann i nGaeltacht Chiarraí.”
“Tá na cumhachtaí sin agus cumhachtaí pleanála ag na húdaráis áitiúla. Níl cumhachtaí pleanála ag an údarás ag an bpointe seo. Agus é sin ráite, mar Aire, tá ceist na tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht an-tábhachtach dom. Bhí roinnt cruinnithe agam leis an Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta, an Teachta James Browne, chun é seo a phlé. Táimid ag obair ar ráiteas pleanála le haghaidh na Gaeltachta. Táimid ag obair ar na ceisteanna atá leagtha amach ag an Teachta Farrell agus muid ag iarraidh déileáil leo. Níl sé éasca teacht ar na freagraí. Táim oscailte do thuairimí nó proposals ó na Teachtaí as na Gaeltachtaí atá anseo faoi na ceisteanna sin. Chuir an Teachta Farrell cúpla ceist faoi na roghanna go gcaithfimid a dhéanamh maidir leis an nGaeilge, caighdeáin Ghaeilge agus rudaí mar sin.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí. Cuirim fáilte ar ais go dtí an Teach roimh an Teachta Kyne. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis as a bheith tofa arís chuig an Seomra seo den Oireachtas. Nílim in ann glacadh leis na leasuithe. Leagann siad amach go bhfuil cumhacht agus taithí ag an údarás i leith cúrsaí tithíochta. Níl aon taithí ag an údarás ar chúrsaí tithíochta ag an bpointe seo. Níl scileanna aige chun déileáil le cúrsaí tithíochta. Tá ráite go bhfuil sites agus tograí ann go mbeadh sé in ann íoc astu. B'fhéidir go bhfuil róil eile i gceist do na sites sin, mar shampla, róil a bhaineann le fiontar ná fostaíocht. Tá rud eile sna leasuithe nach bhfuilim in ann glacadh leis. Tá na húdaráis áitiúla i gceannas ar chúrsaí pleanála. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil mar tá cúrsaí pleanála bunaithe ar phleananna forbartha contae agus cathrach.”
“Chomh maith leis sin, sílim nach mbeidh sé indéanta comhalta nua a bheith roghnaithe laistigh de sheachtain. Ní dóigh liom go mbeidh dóthain ama i gceist ansin chun comhalta nua atá incháilithe a roghnú. Teastaíonn solúbthacht áirithe le haghaidh rudaí mar sin. Agus é sin san áireamh, ní féidir liom glacadh leis an leasú seo.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí. Mar is eol dóibh, níl an foráil seo ag teastáil mar tá sé clúdaithe sa phríomh-Acht cheana féin ó thaobh Comhaltaí don Dáil, don Seanad agus baill foirne na hEorpa. Maidir le comhaltaí d’Údarás na Gaeltachta, i gcás go n-ainmneofar é nó í mar Chomhalta de Seanad Éireann nó go dtoghfar é nó í mar Chomhalta de cheachtar Theacht an Oireachtais, nó chun a bheith ina ionadaí nó ina hionadaí i bParlaimint na hEorpa, nó é nó í a bheith tofa chun Parlaimint na hEorpa, stadfaidh sé nó sí de bheith ina chomhalta don údarás. Maidir le comhaltaí na húdaráis áitiúla, sílim gur cheart go mbeadh baill na gcomhairlí contae san áireamh le haghaidh ballraíocht ar bhord an údaráis. Tá siad san áireamh ar an mbord reatha mar atá, agus bhí roimhe seo.”
“Tá muinín agam i bpobal na Gaeltachta freisin. Tá muinín agam go mbeidh daoine in ann cur isteach ar an gcomórtas PAS. Tá muinín agam freisin go bhfuil tuiscint ann gur údarás é Údarás na Gaeltachta, rud atá tábhachtach, ach gur bord Stáit é freisin. Tá sé sin tábhachtach. Mar gheall gur bord Stáit é, tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh meascán de bhaill thofa agus baill cheaptha ann. Ní bheidh na ceapacháin ag teacht ó phóca an Aire ach ó chomórtas PAS. Is daoine leis na scileanna a cheapfar. Beidh a lán daoine ón nGaeltachta agus ó phobal na Gaeilge a bhfuil na scileanna sin acu in ann dul os comhair PAS chun agallamh a dhéanamh agus dul tríd an bpróiseas chun seirbhís a dhéanamh ar bhord an údaráis. Tá muinín mhór agam go mbeidh muintir agus pobal na Gaeltachta in ann é sin a dhéanamh.”
“Mar gheall gur bord Stáit é, tá freagrachtaí air. Mar a dúirt mé sa díospóireacht dheireanach a bhí againn, tá freagrachtaí ag bord an údaráis nach bhfuil againn mar Theachtaí Dála. Tá freagrachtaí dlíthiúla agus comhlachta ag an mbord nach bhfuil againn. Ní féidir comparáid a dhéanamh idir an tOireachtas agus an t-údarás. Mar sin, ní féidir liom glacadh leis an leasú seo.”
“Freisin, beidh sé ar chumas an cathaoirligh ról lárnach a chomhlíonadh i dtaca le stiúradh, ceannaireacht agus rialachas corparáideach na heagraíochta agus caidreamh dearfach a chothú le príomhfheidhmeannach na heagraíochta chun dea-rialtas a éascú. Tá traidisiún de chathaoirligh neamhspleácha den údarás. Tá sé maslach a rá go mbeidh aon chathaoirleach a cheapfaidh an Aire ar son an Rialtais. Ní hé sin an traidisiún san údarás ná ina lán comhlachtaí Stáit eile. Mar a dúirt mé, beidh na hainmneacha ag teacht ó chomórtas PAS. Beidh a lán daoine a bhfuil an taithí agus scileanna atá leagtha amach in ann cur isteach ar an gcomórtas sin tríd an PAS. Phléigh mé na tuairimí ón díospóireacht a bhí againn an oíche dheireanach. Tagann sé ar ais go dtí an pointe céanna. Tá an t-údarás difriúil. Is bord Stáit é.”
“Tá scileanna ar leith ag teastáil ón gcathaoirleach a bhíonn á lorg tríd an bpróiseas earcaíochta a reáchtálann an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí. Tá sé sin tábhachtach. Beidh comórtas eagraithe ag an Seirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí. Ní mór go léireoidh iarrthóirí ar ról an chathaoirligh fianaise ar thaithí cheannaireachta ag leibhéal sách sinsearach, lena n-airítear cumas cathaoirleacht a dhéanamh ar bhord, agus taithí chuí i réimse amháin, ar a laghad, de na réimsí seo a leanas: cur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus pleanáil teanga, forbairt fiontraíochta, cruthú fostaíochta, forbairt phobail, cur chun na n-ealaíon, agus rialachas corparáideach.”
“Ar dtús, ní bhíonn leas-chathaoirleach i gceist le boird rialachais nó comhlachtaí Stáit ar nós Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá foráil san Acht um Údarás na Gaeltachta, 1979, a dhéileálann le hasláithreacht an chathaoirligh, ina bhfuil sé ráite: mura mbeidh agus fad nach mbeidh cathaoirleach an Údaráis i láthair nó má bhíonn oifig an chathaoirligh folamh, roghnóidh na comhaltaí den Údarás a bheidh i láthair duine dá líon chun bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinniú. Tá an socrú seo fós i bhfeidhm. Ní léir go bhfuil gá an cur chuige seo a leasú. Ní bheidh sé ag teacht le dea-chleachtas go mbeadh an bord ag ainmniú cathaoirleach óna bhallraíocht féin. Tá sé i gceist go mbeidh cumhacht ag an Aire an cathaoirleach a ainmniú.”
“Leis na ceapacháin sin, beidh an tAire in ann a chinntiú go bhfuil na scileanna atá riachtanach do bhord Stáit timpeall an bhoird. Leis an meascán idir baill thofa agus baill cheaptha, beidh deis ag cibé cén Aire a bheidh ann na scileanna sin a chur i seirbhís Údarás na Gaeltachta. Is é sin an rud is tábhachtaí.”
“Tuigeann sí an fhreagracht atá ar bhoird Stáit. Tuigeann sí freisin go dtarlaíonn timpistí nuair atá an fhreagracht sin lag. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an tíreolaíocht tugtha san áireamh, gan dabht, ach tá sé tábhachtach freisin go bhfuil an meascán seo ann agus go mbeidh na scileanna ar leag mé amach ann. Ba iad: cur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus pleanáil teanga; forbairt fiontraíochta; cruthú fostaíochta; forbairt pobail; cur chun cinn na n-ealaíon; agus rialachas corparáideach. Tá seans ann nach mbeidh daoine le toghadh ina gcónaí sna ceantair a bhfuil na scileanna sin acu. Beidh ar cibé cén tAire a bheidh ann seans a thabhairt do dhaoine. Is bord Stáit é sin. Tá an tíreolaíocht agus na toghcháin tábhachtach ach tá an meascán idir baill thofa agus baill cheaptha tábhachtach freisin.”
“Is bord Stáit é sin freisin. Ba cheart go mbeadh gach duine atá ar an mbord freagrach ní hamháin do cheantar áirithe, ach don Stát. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh guth ag na ceantair air ach is bord Stáit é a bhfuil dlíthe ag baint leis. Tá an Teachta Farrell ar an gCoiste um Chuntais Phoiblí nó bhí sí.”
“Bhí cáilíochtaí i réimsí atá bainteach le boird Stáit - mar shampla, cáilíochtaí i mbainistíocht gnó, bainistíocht airgeadais nó cuntasaíocht, pleanáil teanga nó forbairt pobail - san áireamh chomh maith mar rudaí inmhianaithe. Níl bealach ann inar féidir na scileanna sin a chinntiú gan comhaltaí a bheith ceaptha ag cibé cén tAire a bheidh ann. Ar an mbonn sin, ní féidir liom glacadh leis an leasú seo.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí. Tá scileanna áirithe riachtanach ar bhoird Stáit agus, go deimhin, ar bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tugann meascán do bhaill thofa agus baill cheaptha deis chun a chinntiú go bhfuil meascán áirithe de scileanna, taithí, saineolas agus ionadaíocht ag an mbord. An uair dheireanach a reáchtáladh comórtas le haghaidh bhord an údaráis, bhí scileanna áirithe san áireamh nach mór d'iarrthóirí taithí a léiriú iontu. Is iad na scileanna a bhí san áireamh ná cur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus pleanáil teanga; forbairt fiontraíochta agus cruthú fostaíochta; forbairt pobail nó cur chun cinn na n-ealaíon; agus rialachas corparáideach.”
“Tairgim leasú Uimh. 2: Ar leathanach 7, líne 19, “tAire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán” a scriosadh agus “tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta” a chur ina ionad.”
“32, toisc go bhfuil an aidhm atá i gceist le haistriú go díreach chuig an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta le reachtaíocht phríomha, sin an reachtaíocht atá á moladh anseo, níl ordú aistrithe aidhme breise de dhíth. Níl aon impleachtaí ag an leasú seo i dtaobh various ordaithe logainmneacha atá déanta cheana féin. Molaim na leasuithe seo don Teach agus gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as an tuiscint.”
“Rinneadh cinneadh dá bhrí sin nach bhféadfaí an aidhm áirithe sin a chur san áireamh san ordú lena ndéanfaí feidhmeanna na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge a aistriú agus go gcaithfí soiléiriú a dhéanamh ar an Aire atá freagrach as an bhfeidhm atá i gceist le reachtaíocht phríomha. Leis an leasú atá á mholadh agam anseo, cuirfear an méid sin i gcrích. Teastaíonn uaim leasuithe Uimh. 2 agus 27 a dhéanamh mar gur aistríodh aidhmeanna na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge ón Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán chuig an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta ar tionscnú an Bhille seo. Maidir le leasú Uimh.”
“Baineann alt 192 den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 2001, a cuireadh isteach le halt 48 den Acht comhshaoil - foráil a leagadh amach in 2011 - le haidhm de chuid an Aire atá freagrach as an nGaeltacht. Is é an aidhm atá i gceist ná athrú a chur ar logainm i gcás áit atá i limistéar Gaeltachta. Anuraidh, nuair a bhí an obair ullmhúcháin ar siúl chun aidhmeanna na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge a aistriú ón Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán chuig an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta, tugadh faoi deara go raibh botún i dteideal an Aire in alt 192 den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 2001.”
“Tairgim leasú Uimh. 1: Ar leathanach 7, líne 11, “agus” a scriosadh agus “do leasú an Achta Rialtais Áitiúil, 2001; agus” a chur ina ionad. Is leasú teicniúil é leasú Uimh. 1 atá á mholadh agam mar aon le leasú Uimh. 32, rud a leasóidh an tAcht Rialtais Áitiúil tríd an mBille seo freisin. Ní mór é seo a léiriú ag tús an Bhille, áit a leagtar amach cuspóir an Bhille. Deimhníonn an leasú sin mar atá leagtha amach i leasú Uimh. 32 gur aidhm de chuid an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta í an aidhm maidir le logainm a athrú a bhaineann le háit i limistéar Gaeltachta. I leasú Uimh. 32, sonraítear ach deimhnítear gurb é an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta an tAire atá freagrach as logainm i limistéar Gaeltachta a athrú.”
“I again highlight that there is a range of supports available for people who are struggling with heating and energy costs. We will continue to make information available in relation to those supports. I welcome the opportunity to discuss these important issues and to outline the supports available. We are committed to introducing a cost-of-disability payment. It is my priority for budget 2027. The contributions to the consultation process and the discussions at the summit are informing the design of that payment. I thank Deputies for the opportunity to discuss the issue.”
“Since April, the base right is €7.50 per hour, up from €6.30. Employers of between seven and 16 employees under the scheme will receive a new rate of €8.50 per hour. The scheme has been extended to certain people already at work who acquire a disability or whose ability to work is reduced such that their job, task or role must be adapted significantly. We have a lot more to do in the area of employment of people with disabilities. It will be a key focus during the EU Presidency. In budget 2026, the Minister, Deputy Foley, secured an increased allocation of €3.8 billion for disability services, an allocation of €3 billion to special education and other supports that go directly to improving the lives of those with disabilities, including through the opportunities and supports available.”
“We have extended eligibility for the fuel allowance to enable those on disability allowance or blind pension to retain the payment for five years if they take up employment. We have provided a €5 increase in the fuel allowance, which brings it to €38 per week. We have provided an additional €140 in the regular annual fuel season. The extension of the fuel allowance to 1 May ensured that an additional €38 per week, which totalled an additional €152 per month, was paid. For an additional 96,000 families, the recipient is in receipt of either disability allowance, blind pension or invalidity pension in relation to the fuel allowance. I am focused on those in employment and supporting people to take up and remain in employment. We have reduced the number of bands in the wage subsidy scheme from five to three and all rates were increased.”
“Approximately 53,000 recipients of disability allowance, blind pension and invalidity pension are in receipt of a child support payment. They will receive an additional €832 per child aged 12 or over and an additional €416 per child aged under 12 per year. The domiciliary care allowance increased by €20, which represents an additional payment of €240 per year in 2026. We also made significant changes to the carer’s allowance means test. The weekly income disregard has increased by 60% to €1,000 for a single person and to €2,000 for carers with a spouse or partner. Since June 2022, this amounts to cumulative increases to the disregard of just over 200%. These are the largest ever increases in the carer’s allowance income disregard.”
“Expenditure across illness, disability and carer's schemes in 2026 will be in the region of €6 billion, which represents an increase in expenditure of 38% since 2020. Budget 2026 provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures. We increased the weekly personal rates of payments such as disability allowance by €10, or 4.1%. This brings the personal rates of payment to €254 per week. It represents a €51 increase in weekly disability income support payments, and equates to an additional €520 in the full year 2026. Weekly rates of child support payment have increased by €16 to €78 for children aged 12 or over, and by €8 to €58 for children under 12. These are the largest ever increases in these payments.”
“It had nothing more specific to highlight than that. There was also a chance to engage in the consultation process around eligibility. We in the Government are doing that job. We are engaging in the design of and eligibility for the payment. We are engaging with all the relevant organisations to do that. We are currently assessing all of the submissions in that regard. The report of the summit and the submissions will be presented to the implementation and monitoring committee, chaired by the Taoiseach, and will feed into the budget 2027 process. After budget 2026, there are currently over 232,000 recipients of disability income support payments and over 174,600 recipients of carer's payments.”
“There was also a preference among disabled people for a basic universal payment made to all disabled people, supplemented by additional amounts for disabled people facing the highest costs. The summit and the submissions made through the consultation process will inform the approach to designing a payment and to identifying other cross-government ways to address the cost of disability in a meaningful and sustainable way. Sinn Féin made a submission. However, unlike other parties that nailed their colours to the mast in relation to the amount of that submission, Sinn Féin said about rates of payment that the amounts must sufficiently cover additional costs of disability, reflective of the rise in costs of essential consumer goods, medicines, rent, transport and energy at the time of implementation.”
“The approach and content of the summit were informed by the responses to the public consultation process, direct input from disabled persons' organisations that helped to develop the agenda and played a key role throughout the event, bilateral meetings with stakeholder groups, and the relevant research, including the Indecon and ESRI reports. We heard directly, informally and formally, about the lived experience of disabled people, the unavoidable costs they incurred and the impact these costs had on their lives. The discussions highlighted that the costs of disability were not uniform but varied significantly depending on the type and nature of a person's disability and his or her personal circumstances. Many costs relate to services that require measures across all sectors, including health, education and transport.”
“Representatives from disabled persons' organisations, key stakeholder groups and Members of the Oireachtas attended. The summit was addressed by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Foley, her Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Canney. I spent the entire day at the summit engaging with and speaking to those who attended, formally and informally, and I am very much aware of their personal experiences.”
“The public consultation was a key action that was taken before we held the summit. It ran for just over six weeks until Tuesday, 7 April. There was an exceptional response, with over 1,100 submissions received. Eighty-seven submissions were from groups and organisations and 12 from disabled persons' organisations and disabled persons' representative organisations. Accessible ways to participate were widely used, with 60 submissions made over the phone, 20 by post and seven by video. I hosted the strategic focus network on the cost of disability on 13 May. It was attended by 150 people in person, with the same number joining online. Given its cross-government nature, it included other Departments as well as disabled people and their advocates.”
“This is also the core objective of the national human rights strategy for disabled people for the period 2025 to 2030, which was developed with the involvement of disability advocates and representative groups. The Taoiseach has set up a dedicated disability unit in his Department to drive progress. We know that addressing the cost of disability is not a question of income support alone. The delivery of and access to services are also key, and that is acknowledged in the research. All Departments and agencies must work together to address the issue in a comprehensive way. That is why the dedicated unit in the Taoiseach's office is crucial. The strategic focus network on the cost of disability was a key commitment under the national human rights strategy for disabled people.”
“The Government's amendments sets out our current and future work in respect of the costs of disability. The Government fully recognises that disabled people face unavoidable and ongoing additional costs in their daily lives. The concerns of disabled people and their family members have come through very clearly in the many personal contributions we have received in response to the very recent public consultation process and at the summit two weeks ago. Improving outcomes for disabled people is a major priority for the Government. Our determination to achieve this is reflected in the programme for Government commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost-of-disability payment.”
“I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "acknowledges that: — the State provides a broad range of income, education, health and other supports for disabled people, has increased investment in these supports and under the leadership of the Cabinet Committee of Disability Matters chaired by the Taoiseach, will continue to prioritise further improvements over the lifetime of this Government, including with respect to the introduction of a cost of disability payment; — Budget 2026 provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures, bringing expenditure in respect of disabled people and their carers to just under €6 billion per annum, this contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people and carers, including: — a €10, or 4.1 per cent increase in the weekly rates of disability payments, bringing personal rates to €254 per week from January, this represents an additional payment of €520 in 2026 and a €51 increase in weekly disability income support payments since Budget 2021; — the highest ever increase in the weekly Child Support Payment, an increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 or over (an additional €832 per child in 2026), and €8 to €58 for children aged under 12 (an additional €416 per child in 2026), these payments have increased by €48.20 and €28.20 per week respectively since 2017, approximately, 53,000 recipients of the Disability Allowance (DA), the Blind Pension and the Invalidity Pension are in receipt of a Child Support Payment; — a €5, or 15 per cent increase in the Fuel Allowance, bring it to €38 per week from January 2026, providing recipients with an additional €140 during the annual Fuel Allowance season; — a €20 per month increase in the monthly rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance, bringing it to €380 per month from January 2026, this represents an additional payment of €240 per year in 2026, and an increase of over €70 or 23 per cent since 2022; — an increase in the weekly Carer's Allowance income disregard to €1,000 for a single person (up from €625) and €2,000 for a couple (up from €1,250), while the weekly income limit for Carer's Benefit will rise by €375 to €1,000, all from July 2026; — the extension of fuel allowance eligibility to enable people on DA or the Blind Pension payments to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years if they take up employment; — the extension of eligibility for Back to Work Family Dividend payment to the DA or Blind Pension recipients when taking up employment; — expansion of eligibility for the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) to people who acquire a disability while in employment, and to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit; and — increased payment rates under the WSS, to encourage employers to employ disabled people; — Budget 2026, also included an increased allocation of €3.88 billion for disability services funded through the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in 2026, providing €2.21 billion to deliver residential services for over 9,000 disabled people, enabling them to live as independently as possible in their local communities, including: — day and night respite care of over 10,000 extra nights and 15,000 further day sessions; — €10 million extra to support the transition of people under the age of 65 currently residing in nursing homes; — €3 million extra for the development and continued expansion of Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Teams; — €24.5 million providing approximately 1,400 new places for disabled students leaving school; — €5.5 million for 100,000 additional home support hours and 50,000 additional personal assistance hours; — €8 million for the recruitment of 150 additional staff for Children's Disability Network Teams; — €20 million extra for the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative, through the provision of up to 6,000 clinical assessments; and — €65 million for new developments in disability residential services, including €40 million that will provide in the region of 199 residential responses, including 152 newly created residential placements; — Budget 2026, also provided for further improvements for disabled people in education, including an allocation of €3 billion to special education, will provide: — an additional 860 teachers for special education; — up to a further 3,000 special class and special school places for the 2026/2027 school year; and — 1,717 additional Special Needs Assistants bringing the total number to almost 24,900; — in addition, Budget 2026 provided: — €130 million under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with Disabilities; — a €25 million allocation to the Public Transport Accessibility Retrofit Programme, to deliver bus and train accessibility improvements to increase the numbers of wheelchair accessible small public service vehicles (taxis), and to expand the Independent Travel Support scheme; — approximately an allocation increase of €2 million to €13 million, to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme Fuel Grant; — investment of €69 million in the School Transport Scheme, which will benefit 26,700 students with disabilities; and — an increase of €3 million for the Fund for Students with Disabilities in further and higher education to €18.2 million, which supports over 24,500 students; notes that: — the €250 million energy relief package introduced in March included a four-week extension to the Fuel Allowance season, this directly benefits over 96,000 families where the recipient is in receipt of either the DA, the Blind Pension, or the Invalidity Pension; — under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, a special Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs, for example, in the case of ill health, infirmity or a medical condition; and — the Additional Needs Payment may also be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of their own resources; further acknowledges that: — a dedicated Disability Unit has been established in the Department of the Taoiseach, to drive progress in enhancing supports for disabled people; — progress will be monitored by the Cabinet Committee on Children, Disability and Education chaired by the Taoiseach; — in addition to the measures already taken, the Government is determined to deliver on its Programme for Government commitment to introduce a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment; — this commitment was reiterated as a core objective of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which the Government published in September 2025; — under this strategy, the Minister for Social Protection hosted a Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network Summit (the Summit) on 13th May, 2026, this summit brought together over 300 people (in-person and on-line), including disabled people, representatives from Disabled Person's Organisations (DPOs), key stakeholder groups, Members of the Oireachtas and officials from a number of Government Departments; and — reflecting the requirement for a whole-of-Government approach to addressing costs of disability the Summit was addressed by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, and also attended by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality; — the approach to and content of the Summit was informed by: — responses to a public consultation to which over 1,100 submissions received; — direct input from DPOs who helped to develop the agenda, and played a key role at the event including, leading sessions; and — all relevant research, including the Indecon Report entitled 'The Cost of Disability in Ireland' in 2021, which was commissioned by the Department of Social Protection and represents the largest and most comprehensive analysis of the cost of disability; — the discussions at the Summit highlighted: — how the costs of disability are not uniform, but vary significantly depending on the type and nature of a person's disability, and their personal circumstances; — not all costs can be addressed through a cost of disability payment as many costs relate to services and require measures across other sectors, including health, education and transport; and — the preference by disabled people, for a basic universal payment made to all disabled people supplemented by additional amounts for disabled people facing the highest costs; and further notes that the Department of Social Protection will continue to engage with disabled people and their advocates, with respect to a cost of disability payment, including at the Department's Pre-Budget Forum on 1st July.".”