Eileen Lynch
Agricultural Panel · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I thank the Minister for being here this evening. This is an important motion. It is vital to discuss rural Ireland and its continued and ongoing development. It deserves policies that recognise its value and invest in its future. I am from north-west Cork, which is quite rural.”
“They are community hubs as well and it is vital that the Government supports them because we are seeing so many closures in villages which now do not have places for people to meet. Many of them provide a community service and the scheme needs to be looked at in budget 2027.”
“I welcome the progress made under the rural safety plan, including the roll-out of local community safety partnerships. It is an area we need to focus on where we have seen increases in rural burglaries. We need to look at how we could make people feel safer in their own homes.”
“They are being addressed through a whole-of-government approach, rather than with piecemeal measures, and that is vital. In north-west Cork, we have seen the benefits of this investment. The completion of the Macroom bypass has transformed travel on the N22. It has improved safety and made Macroom town a much better place to be.”
“It has improved Local Link services, supported regional enterprise and invested in community facilities across the country. I commend the Minister on the work he is doing on community facilities as well as previous Fine Gael Ministers in that Department, including former Deputies Heather Humphreys and Michael Ring.”
“It is great that the building has been brought back into use and the services it now provides will be invaluable to Gaeltacht Mhúscraí. My colleagues who have spoken have raised the matter of agriculture. This is very much at the heart of rural Ireland.”
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“We can also do more to integrate farm safety into everyday practice, from school curriculums, Teagasc training, green cert training and health checks to grant schemes that promote safer machinery and safer facilities. Every euro that is spent on prevention is a life potentially saved when it comes to farm safety. We need to renew our commitment to make Irish farming both safer and kinder. We need to remember the courage of Féile O'Sullivan. We need to follow Peter Hynes's example in speaking up and support vital works of groups such as Slí Eile, which is building a better future for rural Ireland. No farm should cost a life and no farmer should suffer in silence. Together, through awareness, compassion and action, we can build a safer, healthier and stronger rural Ireland and safer farms.”
“We are also lucky to have the Slí Eile initiative in north Cork. It provides hope for those struggling with mental health challenges. Their community-based approach, which offers recovery, dignity and belonging, shows what can be achieved when we treat people with compassion and understanding. It is this kind of grassroots, person-centred model that deserves our continued support and investment. Rural Ireland must never be left behind in the conversation on mental health and safety. That means ensuring access to services, promoting education from the classroom to the mart and supporting local groups, who know their communities best.”
“Ideally, you would have a phone on you, and it is about taking an extra minute to evaluate a job before you decide to do it on your own and see whether you might be better off getting somebody to help you with it. As I said, it is an isolating job. That is why we see such rates of depression, mental illnesses and mental health issues among those in farming because it is a difficult job. People such as Peter Hynes, a dairy farmer in Cork, have been vital in highlighting this issue. He has spoken out about his own mental health journey, breaking down the stigma and showing that strength is often found in openness and that it is okay to discuss these issues. Through his advocacy, he has shown that asking for help is not a weakness but an act of courage, and it can also save lives.”
“We have to deal with it because somebody who is older is probably more likely to make a mistake, statistically, than a younger person. When we see this high proportion of accidents in the over-65s, it is vital that we would plan ahead and try to prevent this from happening. Farm safety is not only about physical protection. We are also discussing the mental health element today. It is about the mind as well as the body. The pressures facing farmers today, from market uncertainty to weather extremes, climate, long hours and isolation, take a toll on people that we cannot ignore. Senator Kyne has mentioned it, but it is important to stay in touch with people, stay in touch with your community and make sure that if you are out on a job, people know where you are.”
“Féile's journey also underlines the importance of prevention when it comes to farm safety, the importance of taking a few extra seconds to think safety first every time, and when it comes to that, if we look at our older farmers as well, there is the importance of generational renewal and succession planning. Approximately 45% of farm accidents happen to those who are over 65. While we recently published the report of our own commission on generational renewal and the European Commission has published a report on generational renewal, we need to put those plans into action such that we have proper succession planning in place. Another aspect is that the average age of farmers here is 59. We have to get on top of that.”
“Too many lives have been changed in an instant by farm accidents, moments that remind us that no job or task is worth a life or a limb. I will take a moment to mention Féile O'Sullivan, a young lady from Allihies in west Cork who suffered a life-changing injury on her farm in July. Féile's courage and determination since that day have inspired people right across Ireland. Recently we had a fundraiser for her, the sale of an animal in Macroom mart, so her story has travelled across the country. It reminds us that every statistic of an injury in terms of farm safety is a person. It affects a family. It affects a community.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here today to discuss such an important topic. I commend him on his work on farm safety since he came into this role. This is something that affects every farm family across the country. It is vital that we raise awareness of it and that we put in place schemes to try to prevent farm accidents. I come from a farming background in north-west Cork. I have met countless farm families whose daily lives revolve around the hard work, dedication and resilience associated with farming. Our farmers are a vital part of rural Ireland. They provide our food and take care of the land but there is often a stigma and a silence around safety and, more predominantly, around mental health and well-being. Farming is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding ways of life but it is also one of the most dangerous.”
“Coachford is one of the biggest villages in mid-Cork. A primary school is located very close to the secondary school. In fact, people have to drive past the primary school to get to the secondary school campus and they are across the road from each other. The primary school has been selected for Safe Routes to School. As part of that programme, the delivery of safer walkways and safer footpaths is being delayed because the school is being told that this cannot progress until the secondary school progresses. According to the Minister of State's reply, that is still quite a way off.”
“I thank the Minister of State for her reply. It is great to see pupils from a school local to her here today to hear that these projects do eventually happen. It is good to know that some progress is being made. However, it is incredibly disappointing that the speed at which it is moving is glacial. As I said, planning was granted two years ago, for November. The funding was awarded five years ago. There was talk about this school for many years prior to that. The delivery of it is incredibly important. The school is a hub in mid-Cork. It is servicing the entire hinterland of Coachford, which is a massive area. It has fantastic staff and students. Their results speak for themselves and they deliver year on year. The importance of this development cannot be overstated. It should be expedited in any way that it can.”
“Students, teachers and parents deserve to know when this long-promised new school building will become a reality. I thank the Minister of State for being here today. I appreciate it is outside of her Department but I am seeking clarity. When will the design and tender stage be completed? When will we see work commence on site? When will the new Coachford College open its doors to students? It is a very positive project and it is to be welcomed. It is one that will serve many generations to come. It has the full support of the local community and of Cork ETB. It is time now to see progress. We have seen funding allocated and we have seen planning granted but we do not see any progress on actual delivery. We need to ensure the young people of Coachford and mid-Cork have the facilities they deserve.”
“Funding was granted in 2020. Planning was granted in 2023. We now need clarity and certainty. We need a statement on the current stage of the project and a timeline for when construction will begin. First-year students who heralded the announcement of funding in 2020 are now in their leaving cert year. They will never see the benefit of the new school building, even though they were told at the time that they would. This project is essential for the educational future of mid-Cork. It is an investment in opportunity, in rural development and in ensuring that every young person in our area can learn in a modern, safe and inspiring environment. Across the country, we have seen that investments to deliver new schools can transform communities. We cannot allow Coachford to fall behind.”
“Both the staff and leadership of the school, under Cork Education and Training Board, ETB, have done outstanding work in maintaining high standards of teaching and learning despite the very real pressures on space and facilities. Just this year, six students in Coachford College received the maximum 625 points in their leaving cert. This is something we have seen in Coachford year on year, with at least one student attaining the maximum number of points almost every year. The school's current building is no longer fit for the growing population it serves. It is no longer fit for purpose. The same prefabs that were in use when I started school there over 20 years ago are still in use. As I mentioned, the Department has already approved a major building project. Plans are in train and the community has been patient.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and thank the Minister of State for being with us today. I am calling on the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on the delivery of a new multistorey secondary school in Coachford College, Coachford, County Cork. Being from the area and having gone to school there, I know first-hand how important Coachford College is to Coachford and the wider rural catchment and hinterland it services, stretching from Aghabullogue to Donaghmore, Rylane, Inniscarra and beyond. It really is a vital service in mid-Cork. The school has been there since the seventies and it has served generations of families. The demand for places continues to grow, year on year. Currently, more than 850 students attend Coachford College and that number is expected to rise further in the years ahead.”
“I believe deeply that conservation and rural life are not opposing forces, though at times it can be perceived that they are. The people who live closest to nature are often its greatest guardians and we need to respect that. When the Government recognises this and when it listens, includes and trusts our rural communities, we all benefit.”
“While we have seen a lot of progress and developments since the signing of that memorandum of understanding and the practical co-operation it can lead to in the countryside, the announcement of a review of this memorandum without consultation or notice to the NARGC caused quite a bit of upset and confusion as to why this was done without consultation, and I ask the Minister of State why that was. If the review is approached in a collaborative and transparent way with input from all stakeholders, it can improve trust, enhance the framework and build confidence for the rural sector. Key to any of these negotiations or communications is always transparency and coherence, bound by a shared commitment to our conservation. I believe all groups involved in this are committed to conservation.”
“I therefore urge the Minister of State to begin a structured consultation with all relevant stakeholders: NPWS, Cork County Council, the ESB, local heritage groups and the people who live beside and care for the Gearagh, to explore the practical steps required to achieve national park status. This is a moment of opportunity for mid-Cork to protect a place of immense natural beauty, to promote sustainable rural development and to leave a legacy future generations will thank us for and which has not been done up to this point. I believe the Gearagh deserves nothing less. On a separate note and as has been mentioned already by my colleague Senator Flaherty, I raise the memorandum of understanding between the NPWS and the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, which was signed earlier this year.”
“A national park designation would not only safeguard the ecology of the Gearagh but would also create lasting benefits for Macroom, Inchigeelagh, Lee Valley and the surrounding areas, encouraging visitors, supporting local enterprise and giving pride of place to one of Cork's greatest natural treasures. However, this must be done in partnership with the community, with landowners, anglers, farmers and local organisations all represented at the table. We know from the past that when local people are part of the process, the results are better, stronger and, in general, longer lasting.”
“It is very much a place of ecological importance but it is also of deep cultural and historical value. It is a living reminder of what Ireland's great forests once looked like, as well as the community it helped. For many years now, local groups, environmental advocates and community leaders have spoken about the potential to designate the Gearagh as a national park. I believe this would give the Gearagh the recognition and protection it deserves while also supporting sustainable tourism and educational opportunities for the wider region. It would expand Ireland's network of protected areas, promote biodiversity and strengthen the connection between rural communities and conservation.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being with us today to discuss this really important issue. As he mentioned in his opening remarks, it is vital we are discussing this and bringing it to the fore. As we debate the protection of the future of our national parks, I will take this opportunity to raise a matter that is very close to my heart and the hearts of the people in Macroom and mid-Cork, which the future of the Gearagh. I am sure the Minister of State is familiar with it, being from where he is from, but for those who are not, the Gearagh is one of Ireland's unique natural landscapes. It is a submerged woodland of ancient oaks and waterways and is home to rare birdlife, fish species and plant communities that are found nowhere else in the country.”
“Crohn's and Colitis Ireland's recent report revealed that people with IBD face an average of €3,252 in annual costs, with 60% facing financial hardship, 47% avoiding care due to cost and 26% delaying taking medication in order to make their supply last longer. This is unacceptable for a condition that the State refuses to acknowledge through adequate supports. I urge the Minister to come to the House to discuss the issue and meet with Crohn's and Colitis Ireland to begin a formal review of the long-term illness scheme.”
“I want to raise the urgent need to reform the long-term illness scheme to include inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, Crohn's disease and colitis, which affect over 40,000 people in Ireland and are medically recognised as lifelong incurable autoimmune diseases. While the Minister for Health has cited section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 to justify the scheme's exclusions, the section does not list specific conditions. It grants the Minister discretion to proscribe any long-term condition. The current list of 16 illnesses was created administratively in 1970 and has not been reviewed in over 50 years. I do not believe this is a legislative issue; it is a political issue.”
“I would like to be associated with the vote of sympathy on the passing of former Councillor Jim Finucane. He was a true party man and gave his life to politics in Kerry. He will be sorely missed. I would like to pass on a vote of congratulations to my local GAA club, Aghabullogue, which won the premier intermediate football county final last Saturday. I wish the team the best of luck with the Munster championship against Thurles next weekend in the all-Ireland intermediate football. It is a massive achievement for the club. It is the first time since 1910 that it will now be promoted to a senior grade. We also have a very proud history in Aghabullogue in that the club was founded in 1884 and was the first Cork club to win an all-Ireland for hurling in 1890. I congratulate the lads and wish them the very best of luck for next weekend.”
“It does not make sense to me that it will lose this teacher for the sake of six months and for the post to be reinstated in September. Ms Keohane was teaching fifth and sixth classes. This will mean that the third class teacher will have to move up to fifth and sixth classes, and third class will be split between second class and fourth class, increasing class sizes to 32 and 35, respectively. I appreciate that rules are there for a reason but what we are looking for is flexibility and compassion. I would like the Minister to address that.”
“At this time, the school has 167 students. The Cloughduv area is an up-and-coming one. Up to 400 houses have been developed within the last four to five years. While the current number is 167 – two off the quota to hold the teacher - the school is already predicting that it will have 182 students come next September, due to the number of new people moving into the area. I appreciate that circulars are there for a reason and that there are rules but this seems very arbitrary to me. What the school and I seek is a level of flexibility and compassion, in particular when the school knows for definite that it will have one more student prior to the Christmas break and one more student in January, which would bring it up to the requisite number.”
“First, I would like to be associated with the vote of sympathy on Sr. Stan and the congratulations to our new incoming President, Catherine Connolly. Today, I raise the issue of staffing rates in primary schools, and in particular the retention of posts. I seek that the Minister for education would make a statement on Circular 11/2025 on staffing arrangements in primary schools for the year 2025-26. The reason I raise this today is to do with a local school in my area, Cloughduv National School. Last Monday week it was advised on appeal that it was to lose a developing post, bringing the number of teachers from nine to eight. The teacher, Ms Keohane, was to finish up last Friday week. The appeal was rejected on the Monday and the post was gone as of the Friday. As per the circular, 169 students are needed to retain the post.”
“Indeed, in the individual case I referred to, the person was reached out to, although, as I said, not in writing, which does not sit well with me. However, her son's issue is largely related to epilepsy and he often suffers epilepsy attacks. He has been in hospital for the past ten days, which prevented him from accessing his one day on site. These adult service users need routine and consistency. Even if he had been able to make his day, it would be very difficult for him to adjust to going into a different building than the one that the service will be provided in. The hours the service users will be getting during the transition period will not be the same. That lack of consistency and routine is unsatisfactory. I genuinely appreciate the Minister of State's answer. I know things are ongoing and, obviously, they take time.”
“I thank the Minister of State for her response, which I appreciate. I welcome the funding under the Department in yesterday's budget and the extra hours for adult school leavers. I note what she has said on this issue. However, today is 8 October. I am a little sceptical that all the refurbishments will be done by mid-October. I am also concerned that, as per the Minister of State's reply, even if the building were to be finished tomorrow, it is still only partially staffed. How far along the line is the recruitment? Have jobs been offered and are awaiting acceptance, or is it at the advertising stage for these positions? I take the Minister of State's point that the transition started on 29 September.”
“I am seeking as clear an update as the Minister of State can provide as to when the building for Pathways in Montenotte will be completed, when it will be fully staffed and when these service users will be able to access the service. The families and service users deserve answers and security. We need accountability on this matter.”
“They were led to believe the facility would offer care and structure for their loved ones but also, as I said, peace of mind because they would be able to access the service. Instead, they have been left with inconsistent communication and a lack of transparency as to what is causing the delay. It is simply not good enough. The communication has been incredibly poor, at best. There have been a lot of phone calls, as opposed to emails and the reasons being put in writing, which, again, is something I would have an issue with. This is about dignity, inclusion and the basic right to access a service for some of the most vulnerable in our society. It is about delivering on a commitment that was made. They were told this service would be put in place.”
“As we can imagine, this uncertainty is causing serious distress to families, who have been left in limbo. Parents and carers, many of whom are ageing themselves, are also carers for older family members or other children in the household. They are exhausted. I spoke to a parent last night who simply does not know what to do. Her adult son wants to go to a service but he cannot. He is missing his service. He finished his special school, the equivalent of secondary education, in June of this year. He wants to go back to school but he cannot. His mother does not know what to do. She is at the end of her tether. This is placing undue stress on her but, of course, it is also placing undue stress on her son as a service user. These families have carried enormous responsibility.”
“Pathways was established as a new programme for adults who would not be suitable for either of the existing two programmes, given that these are adults with quite complex needs. The families in Cork who were to be part of this programme were told an improved service would be delivered through this new service, yet today, despite massive anticipation, the building remains unopened. There is no confirmed timeline for when it will be fully completed or properly staffed, or when service users will actually be able to access the service. The seven approved service users do not currently have access to any service, despite being promised in June that this service through Pathways would be available in mid to late-September. To the best of my knowledge, the building is yet to be completed and is currently not staffed.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I want to highlight an urgent and important matter concerning disability services in my county of Cork, specifically the long-awaited completion and opening of the new building for the Pathways adult disability day services programme, which is hosted by Horizons, formerly known as Cope, in Montenotte in Cork city. This facility was promised as a modern, purpose-built space to support adults with intellectual disabilities. These are individuals who deserve access to safe, structured and supportive environments in order to live full, meaningful lives in their communities. Horizons previously provided two adult disability day services at the Bonnington training centre and the NASC training centre.”
“They want to play that role but it is really important that we hold local authorities, Uisce Éireann and other contributors to account for problems with our water quality. It is not just the fault of farmers. Farmers have a responsibility, but we cannot put all the blame for water quality on them.”
“We cannot lose this or see a reduction in it. Earlier, a meeting of the Oireachtas agriculture committee heard about the pressure on the tillage sector. Reducing our derogation would put even more pressure on land and on farmers. I particularly commend the work being done by the agricultural catchment group in Timoleague. It has been carrying out water testing since 2010. This year has seen the lowest rate of nitrates in the water so far. Farmers in the area still enjoy the 250 kg rate of derogation. On 1 December, the derogation for the majority of that area will decrease to 220 kg. We cannot do that when the area is performing so well. If the derogation is reduced and nitrates stay at that level, the argument will be made that the reduction was the cause but that is not the case. Farmers have a role to play in water quality.”
“Some of the biggest barriers I see facing young farmers are access to finance, access to land for those who do not come from a farming background, and security in terms of what they are meant to do. It is not too long ago that we were telling farmers to expand. Now we are telling them the opposite and are seeing a reduction in our herd numbers. Coming from Cork, it would be remiss of me not to mention the nitrates derogation and how important it is that it is retained at the current rate of 220 kg per hectare. We are the only European country that still has a derogation but there is a good reason for that. Our animals are also fed on grass. Our product is different from that of many other European countries. It is interesting to note that our colleagues in the Netherlands are now looking at restoring their derogation.”
“I welcome the publication the week before last of the generational renewal report and the recommendations therein and the commitment of the Minister to them, but it is vital that we put this into action as soon as possible. Across Europe, the average age of a farmer is 57 and in Ireland it is 59. Across Europe, the average number of farmers under 40 is 12% and in Ireland it is 8.5%. This is something we have to get a hold on. I come from a beef and dairy farming background. In order to become a farmer and work in farming, in particular for those with dairy and working full-time, one has to have a love of the land. It is not like a normal job where people can take time off. People who are milking cows for nine months a year have to be on the farm in the morning and evening.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being with us. I am delighted to support the motion. It is incredibly important. Now, more than ever, we need to realise the importance of agriculture and farming to our economy. Last week, I attended a meeting of delegates from across Europe on the vision for food strategy. While we all came from different countries and farming backgrounds, the common theme seemed to be that of food security and the future of our food security. We need to bear in mind that one of the founding aims of the European Union was food security. It is vital we prioritise that. Another main challenge that seems to be faced by every European country is generational renewal.”
“I look forward to engaging in the Seanad and across government to ensure that Trading for Impact becomes not just a policy document but also a lived reality in every rural corner of the State.”
“I would like an update on that in relation to rural voices at the table, even though I know he noticed there were many cross-body stakeholders. On top of that we should, potentially, consider introducing a local evaluation forum, perhaps at county level, to track progress from county to county or region to region, and to flag or highlight potential blocks in areas that other areas may face in future. This is a bold and welcome initiative. It will allow for social enterprise as a lever for inclusive growth, sustainability and resilience, but we need to ensure we localise it where we can. The success of this policy will not just be measured by the number of social enterprises but also by its contribution to resilient, deeply rooted local economies that ensure no region is left behind when it comes to development.”
“There are many issues in rural areas that affect social enterprises, such as broadband gaps and a lack of public transport. For this reason, social enterprise needs to tie in directly with rural broadband, retrofitting and transport schemes. It is also important that we deliver stronger education on social enterprise. One of the biggest challenges in rural areas is young people leaving for urban areas or emigrating. If we can create opportunities for them to start or join a social enterprise, it may give them a reason to stay at home. Secondary schools and colleges should be encouraged to promote social enterprise as a career option and to provide more education around it. The Minister of State has mentioned the stakeholder engagement forum.”
“I would like to see the introduction of dedicated social enterprise hubs in rural areas. Local development companies, like IRD Duhallow in north Cork, which I have already mentioned, provide this service but they need more support to help more social enterprises navigate the many funding streams that are available and the maze of applications. I am glad to hear the Minister of State's commitment to stronger integration with LEOs and enterprise supports. The feedback from many social enterprises is that they can sometimes be turned away from LEO supports because they do not fit the standard business model. This has to change. We need to focus on training our LEO staff on social enterprises and how to support them because this would make a really big difference locally.”
“It can generate local economic activity, especially for people with barriers to the labour market. It can provide services in areas underserved by private enterprise, such as transport, through Local Link, or elderly care. It can anchor climate, biodiversity and nature restoration projects. It can foster stronger local supply chains and act as a beneficiary for grant, philanthropic or EU funding that is purpose-driven. In practice, however, social enterprises in rural Ireland can often face a dual disadvantage, with lower density of supports, higher fixed costs, more fragile local markets and weak access to capital or risk finance. The voices from social enterprise networks confirm this in their submissions. This is a good, exciting policy. However, there are probably elements of it that we can improve.”
“The Macroom E Enterprise Centre supports start-ups and green initiatives. Millstreet Community Council has supported local employment through community facilities and projects. In Charleville, social enterprises are delivering meals on wheels, youth supports and sports facilities across the area. Our local men's and women's sheds across the regions are small-scale social enterprises in their own right, which keep people connected and tackle rural isolation. These are exactly the kinds of initiatives that Trading for Impact supports. However, we sometimes see these groups scrambling year to year for small grants or waiting months to find out if funding will be approved. This can be improved. We all know the benefits of a well-deployed social enterprise ecosystem.”
“I was glad to hear the Minister of State speak earlier about cross-departmental efforts. We must actively align it with rural development, county development plans, enterprise supports via LEOs, skills in education, green transition funding and schemes such as LEADER, SICAP and the community and social enterprise programme. Many of the 57 actions already foresee this cross-departmental co-ordination, as has been outlined, but the proof will lie in the delivery. We must treat Trading for Impact not as a stand-alone document but as a keystone in the Government’s wider vision of equitable growth. In the constituency of Cork North-West where I live, social enterprise is very much alive and well. IRD Duhallow in Newmarket runs community employment schemes, heritage projects, elder services and training for the community.”
“This policy demonstrates that the Government's commitment to social enterprise is not just a fringe concern but a core element in the architecture of social and economic development. It aligns well with our broader commitments to regional balance, sustainable development, inclusion and job creation. The social enterprise agenda is an ideal meeting point between enterprise policy, regional development and climate sustainability goals, and is one of the best tools we have to deliver on these promises. However, if the supports are too centralised or too focused on urban areas, I fear that rural areas may lose out. To realise the potential of social enterprise, we must ensure that Trading for Impact is not siloed in one Department or confined to narrow definitions of support.”
“It supports inclusive growth, community resilience and a new model of opportunity in rural Ireland, where communities are already doing huge work with sometimes limited resources. As mentioned, the former Minister, Heather Humphreys, originally launched the Trading for Impact policy in 2024. It is the Government's second national policy dedicated to social enterprise. The Minister of State outlined that the policy is structured around five key goals. It also contains 57 actions intended for roll-out through 2027, a key feature of which is the establishment of the Growing Social Enterprise capital fund, resourced from the Dormant Accounts Fund, with grants ranging up to €100,000 to assist social enterprises on a range of issues.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh on Aire Stáit agus gabhaim buíochas leis as a óráid. What we are discussing today in terms of the national social enterprise policy is incredibly important for rural Ireland. It combines two vital strands, namely that public policy must serve social purpose and that rural and regional areas deserve every opportunity to thrive in a sustainable manner. As per the policy and as the Minister of State outlined, a social enterprise is one that trades in goods and services as a business does, but whose main objective is social, environmental or societal impact, rather than maximising profit. Social enterprises are governed independently and transparently of the public sector. This policy does not simply support local businesses.”
“I ask the Minister to look at that to see if it could be implemented on a country-wide basis, with specific emphasis on roads where it is becoming more hazardous and deer are causing more road accidents.”
“There is a unit in Cork and another in Kerry. I call on the Minister to come to the House to clarify whether these deer management units are working to their required level of efficiency and also to look at whether we can put a compensation scheme in place for those who have accidents as a result of these deer. I know deer are not owned by anyone as such, but when we are not putting the correct management tools in place and innocent people are having accidents as a result, we need to look to look at it. I am aware of two new pilot schemes that have been rolled out in County Kerry. One is the detection-and-alert scheme and the other is a deterrent scheme, whereby noise is generated at the side of roads to prevent deer going onto them. Similar schemes have been implemented in the United States.”
“Today I want to speak about the increased incidence of road traffic accidents on the Macroom bypass and the N22 east and west of the town as a result of wild deer. Since the opening of the bypass almost two years ago, there has been a massive increase in the rate of incidents involving wild deer. The deer have been displaced and that is causing more of them to be on the road. Almost every week I get a call from a member of the public advising that there has been an accident either on the bypass or east or west of it. Last week I got a call from a member of the public whose car had been hit by a deer between Ballyvourney and Macroom, causing hundreds of euro worth of damage. I am aware that measures have been taken by the Minister for agriculture to introduce deer management units, which have been set up by Farm Relief Services.”