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.”
The complete record
Every one of 377 lines we hold for Eileen Lynch, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 8.
“I fail to see why the progress being made and the reports and suggestions being reviewed, covering retail investments, should prevent us from introducing savings and investment funds for normal borrowers and normal savers. If you look at all the money in deposit tax, the return from the DIRT, you will know that swapping over to investment would come at a relatively low cost to the Exchequer. We have a budget coming out next week and it is vital that we consider making this part of it. I appreciate that such a measure may not be part of the coming budget, but encouragement should be given by indicating this is the way we are going and that we are moving forward at a more rapid pace.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am glad to see that, with respect to many of my previous comments, we seem to be very much on the same page. I note he acknowledged the report from the European Commission today. On the Minister of State’s comments on the reduction of the exit tax on investment funds, I welcome the measure, but this change will primarily benefit those who already have or are inclined to invest in an investment fund. Progressing this exit tax reduction should not prevent the establishment of an Irish model of savings and investment accounts in line with what is in the European Commission's report today.”
“Brussels has issued a call to action but national governments need to take up the gauntlet and, in our case, announce that Ireland will establish an Irish model of savings and investment accounts. If the Government moved quickly, we could potentially have this in place before Ireland takes up the EU Presidency in July of next year. We need to unlock the €163 billion idling on deposit and get it working for the Irish economy and for our savers. Savers, scale-ups and Irish capital markets would all win. I urge the Minister of State that now is the time for the Government to act.”
“We do not have any bank which provides equity services, not since the SSIA, which 1.1 million Irish people took up. As a result, Ireland has been an outlier with none of our retail banks offering accessible equity-based investment accounts to savers where such offerings are the norm throughout Europe and provided in most member states. There has been a growing chorus of calls for an Irish savings and investment account from the banks, to Insurance Ireland and, most recently, to Davys and Euronext Dublin. Polling commissioned by Euronext Dublin found that half of Irish savers say they would put some of their savings into accessible investment accounts if their banks offered it. This rockets to a 74% uptake if the Government were to add a tax incentive. The campaign has now been validated by the recommendation from the European Commission.”
“Just this morning, the European Commission issued a recommendation to member states to encourage them to establish incentivised savings and investment accounts which would encourage savers to invest in accessible investment products backed by shares and bonds. The Commission has recommended tax incentives for such accounts. This recommendation is all about getting savings invested in the real economy, including in financing the growth and scaling of indigenous enterprise. The Commission's recommendation will mean nothing to many EU states which already have savings and investment account models, including France, Italy, Sweden and Poland. Not just in the EU but closer to home in the UK, they have a long-established ISA model. Ireland has nothing.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith linn inniu. This matter relates to the need for Ireland to introduce incentivised savings and investment accounts for Irish savers. It is reported that in excess of €163 billion worth of Irish household savings are currently lying in deposit accounts in banks, earning limited interest and not being invested in the economy. In particular, approximately 85% of this money is in overnight accounts where it earns little to no interest. In reality, any value which it is raising is being eaten by inflation. At the same time, there is a significant push at EU level to get more of Europe’s savings invested in building the innovativeness, competitiveness and productivity Europe's economy needs. This has led to the so-called savings and investment union, SIU.”
“This is falling between two or even three stools, with the Department of disability as well. I welcome the update about the open routes project. While it is a really good project, I am not sure how applicable it is in very remote and rural areas. I note the pilot is in Leitrim and seems to be going very well. As well as those to whom it is not available in terms of geography, there are also those who would not have the ability to independently access public transport. I know that open routes is a more accommodating way of doing this. For the more severe kids and adults who are starting off with their disability day services, they may not be able to use that. A public transport-based system, even if it is something like open routes, is not going to be accessible to them, which makes their service less accessible.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply and appreciate that this is not his Ministry. I find the reply incredibly disappointing. As the Minister of State has noted, there are transport services available on a limited and discretionary basis. There are no guidelines. There is not even a means test in place. I have thankfully worked closely with some of the fortunate recipients and from what I can see, it is available on a "he or she who shouts the loudest" basis. The idea that the funding is there on a discretionary basis with absolutely no guidelines is not good enough. It falls between Departments. I previously raised this matter through the HSE South forum and Cork County Council. Health told me to go to transport and transport and told me to go to health.”
“This young man's mother said that if it was the case that his disability disappeared when he turned 18, she would be absolutely delighted but obviously that is not going to happen. Why then will his transport facility and funding disappear when he turns 18?”
“That this transport is not available for those in receipt of these services is grossly unfair in this day and age. These are some of the most vulnerable in our society. I come across a lot of these cases in my area of north-west Cork. Last week, I had a call from a lady whose son turns 18 in August. As a result, he is no longer able to go to the special school he is attending, even though some of his mainstream peers will be going on to do the leaving certificate. He will then be in receipt of adult disability day services. Thankfully, he has been able to receive a service, but the lack of transport means he may be unable to access it. There are so many cases like this around the country.”
“It is vital that this service be made available to them. Access to transport to avail of these services can in certain cases be the difference between a service user being in day services or residential care. In cases where parents or care providers cannot provide transport, and given that many of these service users cannot use public transport, the possibility of residential care at that point has to be examined. I am aware of many families, particularly elderly care providers and parents, who are in that situation because transport is not available. Carers are already under pressure. Often, when they are looking after a child or adult with a disability, they have other obligations in their household. They may be looking after elderly parents or have other children in the household.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here. I raise this matter because I believe it is incredibly important. It is the need to provide ring-fenced funding towards transport for those in receipt of adult disability day services. Currently, children in special schools who are in receipt of disability day services can receive transport to and from their service until they turn 18 years of age. At that point, when they graduate from special schools to adult disability day services, there is no longer a provision for transport services. This makes services inaccessible to a lot of those with disabilities. It is incredibly unfair that a service that is available before you hit 18 is then taken away when you hit 18. People are unable to access their services because of this. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.”
“We need to explore a partnership model with local authorities, community groups and credit unions to deepen the social and economic roles of a post office. If we are serious about balanced regional development, climate resilience and protecting older citizens and sustaining rural Ireland, we need to act now. We cannot wait until closures have happened and damage is irreversible. The cost of supporting our post office network is small compared with the cost of losing what it provides. I urge the Minister of State to take heed of the Grant Thornton report and its findings and to respond with a commitment.”
“We can allocate extra functions to our post offices and our post offices want to do more. Yet, these same post offices are being asked to operate without a sustainable funding model. What is needed is a strategic shift and recognition that our post office network is not a commercial luxury but a public utility deserving of long-term increased State support. We must implement the report's recommendations for a multi-annual public service obligation to guarantee core funding, especially for rural and vulnerable areas. It is estimated this will cost €15 million a year, which I believe is a relatively small amount when looking at all the benefits our post offices provide. We need to expand the range of public services available through the network from motor tax renewal to digital ID verifications to increase footfall and relevance.”
“These are villages and townlands in mid-Cork and all around the country where the closure of a post office means rural isolation, economic decline and the further erosion of community life. Some of the post offices in my own locality, for example, Rylane, Coachford , Donoughmore, Ballinagree, serve populations spread over wide areas with poor public transport and a high proportion of older residents. For many in these communities, the post office is the only place they can collect their pension or pay a bill. When these post offices are under threat, so too is the fabric of our rural life. The Grant Thornton report also highlights how post offices are uniquely placed to support Government objectives, from promoting financial inclusion to delivering public services where the State has little other presence.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith anseo inniu. I am delighted we are discussing this issues and ongoing concern, namely, the future of the post office network and the critical role it plays in the life of rural Ireland, particularly in rural regions such as my own in Cork North-West. In communities across the country and especially in rural parishes, the local post office serves many functions. For many older citizens it provides a trusted face in an increasingly online and depersonalised world. As has been referenced by my colleagues, the recently published 2025 report by Grant Thornton sets out what many of us have known: without urgent and sustained intervention, the viability of our post office network, especially in rural Ireland, is in jeopardy. These are not just statistics.”
“As we know, carers and care providers are often caring not just for a child or adult with a disability. They may also have an elderly parent and other children in the house. Quite simply, it is not good enough that this pressure is being put on affected families. I believe the service was cut off in 2008. I seek ring-fenced funding. Maybe it involves a cross-departmental measure involving the Departments responsible for health, transport and disability. I urge the relevant Ministers to come to the House to discuss this.”
“Just last week, I received a call from a lady in my constituency whose son will turn 18 this August. Given that he will be 18 in August, he will not be allowed back in September to the special secondary school he has been attending. His peers of the same age in mainstream education will be going into the leaving certificate year. He is currently receiving transport to take him to and from his school and that will be cut off from September. His mother said to me that if she could turn things around such that, when he turns 18, his disability will leave him, she would do so in a heartbeat and a half. Unfortunately, she cannot do so. Her now-adult child, who has been receiving transport to a service until now, will no longer receive it from September.”
“I wish to address a matter I have raised before, namely, the need to provide ring-fenced funding for transport for those in receipt of adult disability day services. Currently in my county of Cork, there are 242 users of adult disability day services across 25 providers. The issue is that there is no transport provision or funding for a child using the services. These are provided until a child turns 18 but not after that. In certain cases, there is provision on a discretionary basis. This is grossly unfair. There are no guidelines and there is not even a means test. It is simply the case that those who shout the loudest seem to be successful. This is in no way fair because parents with a child or adult with a disability quite simply have enough to be dealing with.”
“The next generation cannot be left without care. Our dental professionals deserve policies that match their commitment to public health. We need to implement Smile agus Sláinte in full and update our laws to protect consumers and build a fair, modern, regional and reliable dental system for all.”
“In addition, I want to highlight a silent and often forgotten group, namely nursing home residents and those with mobility challenges. Oral health is often the first casualty of reduced mobility, leading to pain, poor nutrition and an overall worsening of general health. Action to address the call to introduce mobile dentistry units is long overdue. That call deserves cross-party support. To echo my colleagues' comments, we need to modernise our dental legislation. The Dentists Act is now 40 years old. It is outdated, vague on practice closures and silent on technological change. The Dental Council has repeatedly sought its reform. We need to take action now. This motion is not just about teeth; it is about access, equity, regulation and common decency in how we care for our people. We cannot forget parts of the country.”
“While 104,000 students were seen in 2023, this was a drop of 31,000 on the figure for 2017. That is a massive drop in the short space of six years. The closure of dental and orthodontic practices has left many patients not only in pain and lacking services but also out of pocket. Families have spent thousands on orthodontic treatment plans, only for clinics to subsequently shut down without warning. In these cases, patients can be left financially stranded. That is not acceptable. In its 2021 submission, the Dental Council called for stronger legislative tools to manage these events. This motion echoes that call on the Government to work with regulators and the Department of Finance to protect consumers and establish fair resolution mechanisms.”
“A total of €55 million is needed to deliver the project, which was originally planned to be delivered and completed in 2023. Quite simply, the solution is that more college places need to be made available. Every year, there is huge interest among students in studying dentistry. We need to make more places available to them. However, we must also address the short-term shortages. The motion suggests engaging recently retired dentists to help with school screenings. This is a practical interim solution that would make a real difference in areas where school dental checks are not happening. The number of dentists employed to deliver school dental screenings has decreased by 30 since 2012. There has also been a massive reduction in the number of those receiving the service in recent years.”
“The Irish Dental Association and public health experts have warned that our dental workforce is ageing, and many practices are closing or scaling back. The programme for Government contains a commitment in respect of increasing the number of health and social care training places. That must include expanding dental education at Trinity College and UCC. These universities already have the infrastructure and are well placed to serve the east and the south, including under-served regions. UCC in particular can anchor recruitment for Munster and surrounding counties. It is incredibly disappointing that funding has been withdrawn from the planned new dental school in UCC. That the project has essentially been shelved. This decision needs to be reconsidered and reversed.”
“Furthermore, while tax relief and the treatment benefit scheme help offset some costs for working adults, these supports do not reach those who need it the most, namely the unemployed, older people and families with children that are in lower income brackets. On the matter of children's dental services, Smile agus Sláinte promises three school dental appointments for children before the age of 12. As has been mentioned, implementation has been wildly inconsistent. In some counties, particularly in the south, HSE dental teams are so under-resourced that many children get one check-up, if any. While I welcome the announcement of the new bachelor of dental surgery course at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland that is due to commence this year, we need to go further.”
“In reality, a growing number of dentists are withdrawing from the scheme, citing underfunding, bureaucracy and unsustainable working conditions, points that have been strongly articulated by the Irish Dental Association. It has warned that without urgent reform, access will continue to erode, particularly for vulnerable groups. In rural areas such as west and north Cork, Kerry and parts of Waterford, medical card patients face a waiting time of more than 18 months. These are communities where private alternatives are few and far between. This creates not just healthcare inequality, but a regional imbalance that undermines the Government's commitment to regional equality in access to primary care services.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Gabhaim buíochas leis as a bheith sa Teach linn inniu. I rise to support this important motion which calls attention to the future of oral healthcare in Ireland and the steps we must take to ensure that access is fair, services are reliable and regulation is fit for purpose. As has already been mentioned by my colleagues, the Government published Smile agus Sláinte in 2019, our first ever national oral health policy. This was a landmark moment in public dental care. As has been noted, however, as we move through 2025, progress has been incredibly slow and uneven and has practically stalled in many regions. In terms of access, under the dental treatment services scheme, adult medical card holders are supposed to receive routine care.”
“However, the turnaround times are causing difficulty; it is not the renewals. I wish again to pay tribute to the passport staff and the Department staff because in my role as a Senator and in my former role as a councillor, they have been incredibly efficient and helpful. As I said, I feel that this is an area where we are lacking.”
“I thank the Minister of State for her reply. As she correctly outlined, it is not the response I hoped to get. I take the point that passport renewal is a fantastic service, and 99% of people are able to avail of it. However, the issues around time generally are not caused by renewals. They are caused by new applications. It is important for that to be mentioned along with the disparity between a one-day turnaround in Dublin and a four-day turnaround in Cork. I have already mentioned the massive extension of passengers and footfall in Cork Airport. We also have Shannon Airport and Farranfore Airport. These are three quite substantial airports in the south west. This would be a good investment. I appreciate the business case. It is quite a substantial amount of money. I completely accept that.”
“Currently, urgent renewal services in Cork Passport Office take four days whereas in Dublin Passport Office, the service is a same-day turnaround. We see again here a gross disparity between the Cork and Dublin services. Many from Cork and the surrounds tend to use the Dublin service, as time can always be of the essence. The strong demand for the service means that appointments are at a premium, particularly during the summer and school holidays. As a result, I believe a reduction in the turnaround period in Cork would see in an increase in service users locally, which would, in turn, decrease the pressure on the Dublin services and free up appointments.”
“I welcome the Tánaiste’s recent confirmation that there are 117 staff employed in the Cork Passport Office and that the department is to be moved to a new building next year to allow for increased staffing. This is great news and I really welcome it. It provides us with the perfect opportunity to start printing passports in Cork. We also see the expansion of Cork Airport, which I note was awarded best European regional airport last week, and the fantastic works going on there, with an estimated 3.4 million travellers expected to use the airport this year, increasing to 5 million within five or six years. I also mention the possibility of a quicker urgent passport appointment service. This service ensures the quicker turnaround of renewal applications for a slightly higher fee.”
“Of these three buildings, only two actually print passports and both are located in Dublin. Last year, more than 1 million passports were issued and we see forecasts of similar numbers to be issued this year. It is vital that the Department carry out a review of the necessity to establish a passport printing service outside the capital. In some cases, we are literally talking about a matter of hours as to whether a passport is printed and dispatched or collected, allowing an applicant to travel or not. People may be required to travel to Dublin at short notice to collect a passport and then return to Cork or Farranfore to catch a flight. The current concentration of printing in Dublin is a disadvantage to those coming from other parts of the country. We need to see an expansion of the service.”
“I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to be in the Chamber to take this matter. I acknowledge my colleague, Councillor Rory Cocking, who has been working closely on this issue with me. The issue I raise is particularly important at present as we traditionally see a big increase in the number of passport applications made at this time of year, as people head off on their summer holidays. From first-time applications to renewals because of lost or out-of-date passports, I am sure all my colleagues have been contacted at some point regarding a passport application. We currently have two publicly accessible Passport Offices, one on the South Mall in Cork and one in Mount Street in Dublin, in addition to a passport printing facility in Balbriggan in Dublin.”
“We are an agrarian economy and have been traditionally. When we look at past recessions, agriculture came through and it is important we do not forget that. We need to continue to invest in our food sector to empower our producers and open doors to new markets around the world.”
“In mentioning ACRES, and I appreciate that previous colleagues have spoken about it, it is also important, when looking at the multi-annual financial framework, that we ensure from the start through our various ways and Ministers that the current CAP budget is not only maintained but also increased. The CAP budget is of vital importance to our farmers and our way of food production. It is so important that the funding is not only ring-fenced and maintained but also increased. If it is not increased, you are going backwards and looking at inflation. We are hosting the EU Council Presidency in July 2026. I believe the maintenance of CAP funding and the ring-fencing of that budget has to be a cornerstone of our Presidency. I believe food is more than a commodity. It is a reflection of who we are as a nation.”
“This means continuing to invest in innovation, trade promotion and market intelligence. It means providing support to farmers and SMEs as they transition towards more sustainable practices and respond to new consumer expectations around climate, nutrition and animal welfare. We must also double down on food promotion in existing markets, particularly across the EU where opportunities exist to differentiate Irish produce as the gold standard. Through Teagasc, the European Innovation Partnerships and the new ACRES, we are helping farmers to adapt and thrive in this changing landscape and holding climate change and environmental issues to the fore. This aligns fully with the programme for Government's vision of agriculture as it is both economically and environmentally sustainable.”
“These efforts are critical, particularly in the context of Brexit where the Government worked to ensure our agricultural sector was not left overly reliant on the UK market. Diversification in this area has been central to our response and is undoubtedly working. In line with the programme for Government we have also expanded funding for Bord Bia, enhancing Ireland's promotional reach abroad and strengthening the Origin Green brand, a world first sustainability programme. Origin Green is now recognised globally as a benchmark for responsible food production, but it is just the beginning. To stay competitive, we must continue to deepen our access to high-growth markets, especially in south-east Asia and Africa where demand for safe, traceable, premium food is rising. I believe Ireland is uniquely placed to meet this demand.”
“I welcome that the Minister, Deputy Heydon, has recently launched phase 2 of Food Vision 2030, which expands the dashboard to include economic and social sustainability indicators, which of course are vitally important. We are already seeing the benefits of this. In 2023, Irish agrifood exports exceeded €16 billion, which was a record high. Successive agriculture Ministers have led targeted trade missions to key markets, including China, Japan, the United States and the Gulf states, helping Irish beef, dairy and seafood to reach new consumers. I note that last week the Minister, Deputy Heydon, returned from a trade mission to Japan and Korea, markets we need to continue to explore.”
“All of these are threats to food security and our food production and promotion. We have consistently championed Irish agriculture, not only as a cornerstone of our economy but as a foundation of our communities and international reputation. We know that when Irish food does well, rural Ireland does well. The programme for Government has committed us to making Ireland a global leader in sustainable food production. That commitment is not just aspirational, it is being delivered. Since entering government, we have supported the full implementation of Food Vision 2030, which builds on the success of Food Wise 2025. This strategy outlines a clear pathway to increase the value and sustainability of our agrifood exports while supporting farmers in meeting environmental goals.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leis sa phost sa Roinn talmhaíochta. Coming from a beef and dairy farm and having been elected to the agricultural panel, I welcome the opportunity to speak today about the importance of food promotion and accessing new markets, an area that speaks directly to our rural, agrarian economy, our farming families and our national identity. We cannot ever forget the importance of food. Food security will be a massive problem going forward. We see that with the uncertainty we face at an international level. I am also cognisant of the fact that 6% of European farmers are under the age of 35. Generational renewal in farming will be a massive challenge for us. It is something I am discussing with a lot of farming groups across the country and there is no easy solution to this.”
“Rural areas and regions must continue to be at the centre of EU cohesion policy. The balanced development of our regions, particularly in rural areas, has a central role to play in Ireland's future. We cannot grow as expected unless the funding, infrastructure and planning system back us up properly. We need more delivery and more follow-through. People in Cork and across the regions are doing their bit. They are working hard, building businesses and investing in local communities. Now the Government must continue to do its bit also by making funding processes clearer, making decisions faster and infrastructure delivery more consistent, and delivering on its promises in the programme for Government. That is what balanced development really means - progress for all our regions.”
“We also need more joined-up thinking, more co-ordination between Departments and agencies so that planning, housing, transport and enterprise policies actually work together in practice and not just on paper. We should also look at whether specific staff in each Department can take responsibility for regional delivery so Cork and other counties have someone to go to who knows the area and can help move things forward. It is also important to mention that we are just over 12 months away from Ireland hosting the Presidency of the Council of the EU, and talks around the multiannual financial framework are taking place. It is imperative that we make cohesion policy and funding a focal point of our Presidency. We need a flexible cohesion policy that will adapt to face the challenges on the ground and the demographic changes.”
“We need to see cross-departmental works to ensure the delivery of affordable housing to allow those who want to stay in the towns and villages in which they grew up to do so. We need to push delivery of service sites throughout the country. I appreciate that our Government is backing regional growth but we need to be more efficient in how we deliver it. Our regional development policy should continue to prioritise the delivery of rural broadband and investment in an integrated, accessible and flexible rural transport network. We need to improve communication. Departments need to be clear and quicker in how they deal with local authorities and applicants. We need set guidelines and they need to be stuck to.”
“Rural Ireland needs support to stay vibrant, to attract new families and to grow businesses, but again we often see delays and confusion around funding schemes like LEADER, CLÁR and the roll-out of broadband. Communities are doing their part by forming groups, preparing applications and getting planning but they can be left waiting months for decisions or stuck in red tape. If we want people to live and work in rural areas, we have to make it easier to get things done. We have to see greater transparency in our planning system. While I hope the new Planning and Development Act will improve efficiency and streamlining of planning, we need more objectivity and less subjectivity when it comes to our rural planners.”
“Having served on Cork county local authority for the last six years, I believe we have seen a real underinvestment in Cork, particularly in Cork country. This uncertainly delays progress and makes it harder to get private investment on board and undermines public confidence. The same goes for transport infrastructure. We have heard for years about the need to progress the N-M20 Cork to Limerick road and the Cork commuter rail upgrade, but timelines keep slipping and communities are tired of hearing about plans instead of seeing action on the ground. Just yesterday, I attended a briefing on the N-M20 Cork to Limerick road and it is incredibly disappointing to see how slowly this is progressing.”
“Under Project Ireland 2040, my own county of Cork is expected to grow by over 50% by 2040. This is a massive ask but we have the ideas to make it happen with a growing population, a strong university sector, key industries in pharma, ICT and food, a working port and airport, and a city and county with space to grow. We have clear plans for areas like the docklands, new housing, public transport and the Cork to Limerick N-M20. What we do not have is clear and timely funding to deliver those plans and this is the problem. There seems to be real frustration in the country that applications can take too long to process, criteria keep shifting and communication from various Departments can be poor. Local authorities and project teams do not know what to expect as to when they will hear back or how much funding they will get.”
“The latest CSO county incomes and regional GDP report has highlighted economic disparity across our country. Dublin continues to have the highest disposable income per person nationally while 35% of all employed persons within the State work in Dublin. I focus today on two key points, namely, challenges facing our regional economies and the proactive ways in which we can seek to bridge the gap. Investment gaps and infrastructure deficits continue to create barriers to growth in rural areas. I welcome the commitments in the programme for Government to ensure Project Ireland 2040 and the updated national planning framework which support 50:50 balance population growth between the eastern and midland regions and the southern, northern and western regions combined, but it is vital that action is taken to ensure this is the case.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus gabhaim míle buíochas leis as bheith anseo linn inniu. I also take this opportunity to commend him on the work being done by his Department. I am delighted to be speaking about balanced regional development in my role as Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on rural affairs and community development. Coming from rural mid-Cork, I am incredibly aware of the importance of balanced regional development and decentralisation. Balanced development is not just a policy goal; it is essential if we want a more sustainable and fairer Ireland. At the moment, the gap between Dublin and the rest of the country remains too wide. We need to do more to support regions like Cork, which has the potential to be a major growth centre and a real counterbalance to Dublin.”
“I appreciate the Minister of State’s engagement on this matter and, indeed, the many valid points he made. We are very much on the same page on this. It must be recognised that an anomaly exists. In that context, I refer to the unfairness of the situation whereby a person who is still working and paying PRSI cannot access illness benefit. I commend the Minister of State on the work he said he did in this area previously in terms of the half-rate carer's payment. I do not see why that logic could not be applied to this in the event that we cannot get the full payment. There are so many options that could be looked at to level this up. In the context of the widow's pension, a sliding scale, based on the number of PRSI contributions that the deceased spouse has paid, is used. It is not a fixed rate.”
“I refer to the argument that people cannot receive two social welfare payments. That is not always strictly true insofar as you can be in receipt of a social welfare payment and receive a half-rate carer's payment. There are certain social welfare payments to which that rule applies. I get that this is up to a limited period. However, it would help if those who have to go on sick leave could even access illness benefit at half the rate, which, as I said, we see in terms of carers. There has to be a way to address this. The system is incredibly unfair. Those who are dealing with bereavement and trying to raise a family are dealing with it on their own. They are dealing with enough without the worry that they are working full time. These people literally cannot afford to go on sick leave.”