Fiona O'Loughlin
Administrative Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Some 400 remote working hubs were also put in place, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic, when we all had the realisation that some work - not all work - can be done remotely. The local enterprise boards are doing an incredible job in rural areas. I am speaking from experience.”
“I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming both the Belgian ambassador and my friends Joeleen and James. Anyone who has visited Chat N' Chew in Newbridge will have met Joeleen. I certainly hope her lunch today will be up to the usual standard at Chat N' Chew. It was lovely to meet with our former colleague Catherine Martin last night.”
“Continuing the theme of Kildare connections, she is a grand-niece of the late Rathangan author Maura Laverty, who wrote many books and wrote the very first soap opera for RTÉ, "Tolka Row". We wish Áine well on her retirement. I wish to talk about a serious issue relating to the blueway.”
“I thank the Minister of State for her positive response. In terms of premises, I had meetings with Jigsaw over the years in Newbridge and we did look at various premises. No later than yesterday, I spoke to the chief executive of Kildare County Council in relation to this.”
“We know young people are showing signs of stress or anxiety and that it is a very stressful and anxious world. Interventions can be made at this stage. The reason I have tabled this Commencement matter is that I have been advocating for a long time for Newbridge to have a Jigsaw service.”
“I always hate talking about these figures, but in terms of the rate of youth suicide, Kildare has the highest rate in Leinster. According to CSO figures, 14 people died by suicide in Kildare in 2023, in 2022 the figure was 26 and in 2021 it was 27. Demand is rising sharply for services.”
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“I will raise the fact, with increased funding from the Department of agriculture, that Kildare County Council will be able to hire a new dog warden, which means we will have three in the county to improve dog control issues. That is important in enforcing legislation on the control of dogs and dog breeding establishments, responding to complaints about uncontrolled dogs and, where necessary, bringing them to the pound. A key issue in the responsibility of a dog warden is educating the public on responsible dog ownership and the impact of stray dogs on people, livestock and property, and assisting with rehoming efforts. This an area that could be expanded. A lot of work could be done in schools with the assistance of dog wardens.”
“I raise the issue of the N81, which runs from Tallaght to Tullow through west and south Wicklow and through south Kildare and Carlow. It is the only national road leading to our capital city that has not been upgraded in the past eight years. It is totally inadequate for traffic, it is unsafe and it does not help economic development. It is beyond time that we had an upgrading of the N81. I would like debate with the Minister in that regard too.”
“It is a great blueprint we could copy and it absolutely should be adapted to the hospitality industry. We should extend it to the hospitality industry. In September, we should have a debate with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, as to how we can do that. This was the warmest weekend of the year, as we are all aware. Thousands of residents in north-west Kildare were again left without water with a decision to turn off the reservoir in Allenwood. It was very challenging for families to keep hydrated and very difficult for farmers. I get that Uisce Éireann has to ask people to conserve water, absolutely, but to once again have a situation where people are left without water signifies a real lack of planning, and we need to have a debate.”
“On Friday, I had the opportunity to visit Kildare Village, which is always a pleasure. In this particular instance, the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, officially launched the Kildare Village Assured programme. That is a new educational certificate for retail staff at Kildare Village. That is a collaboration with the retail complex. It was the idea of the incredible Maureen Bergin and the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, KWETB. The programme is certified by City & Guilds. It offers a formal recognition of on-the-job learning in retail. That is really important. It provides a digital badge and career development within top-class brands. It is a great model of how industry and education can work together to support workers and strengthen the economy.”
“Last Thursday, when I was taking the Order of Business, people were talking about their various football teams and I talked about wearing our jerseys. Today, I am very proud to be wearing my jersey of nearly white to congratulate the terrific performance of the Kildare footballers in Croke Park on Saturday where they won the Tailteann Cup. I give a huge congratulations to the manager, Brian Flanagan, and to Kevin Feely from Athy, who captained the team. Of course, that goes along with cementing the great win we had in hurling with the winning of the McDonagh Cup. I congratulate Brian Dowling, the manager, and Rian Boran from Naas, who was the captain. Yesterday, we heard that Brendan Cawley from Sarsfields in Newbridge will be refereeing the All-Ireland final between Kerry and Donegal. It has been a great season for the Lilywhites.”
“Given the money and the love that the community in Kilcullen put into this building, we should ensure it pay dividends for the community. I am disappointed that the HSE is not going to run a centre. I feel that there are enough numbers among older people to enable it to function. If the HSE has no plans to open a centre, a joint operation with Kildare County Council is the way to go. I will endeavour to get the Minister of State that information.”
“I accept the Minister of State's bona fides on this matter. It is true that the facility is now vacant and non-operational. It is fair to say that the standards now are different from 2015. While the property would have been compliant with building standards in 2015, it is not now. Extra work needs to be done. I will endeavour to get a letter to the Minister of State from Kildare County Council. My understanding - this was well aired on Kfm this morning - is that Kildare County Council refutes this. The council has said that it wishes to take this over. This agreement was in place originally. I will endeavour to get the letter for the Minister of State. I ask for a stay to be put on putting the building on the open market until I can furnish it.”
“These great volunteers, who were driven by a desire to support older residents, support social inclusion and repurpose a derelict building, have done incredible work. This is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about building a future where older people can thrive. There was an agreement that Kildare County Council would acquire the building from the HSE and help with the running of it, but the HSE made a decision to put it on the open market. After all of those years of volunteers fundraising, getting access to public money and having the lease for ten years, which they needed to acquire the money, they were told that it was being put on the open market. It is a disgrace and I hope the Minister of State has good news for us.”
“They were able to access money from grants and from fundraising. To date, €164,407 has been spent on the building, 71% of which came from grants and was, effectively, taxpayers' money. I know for a fact that the aforementioned people and the wider community relied on local people to give goods free of charge or at a reduced cost, so the actual cost would have been far more if they were paying market prices. It could have been up to €250,000. The building was renovated and extended by volunteer labour and public grants to become a hub of social activity and day services for senior citizens. I believe that such buildings should have other components within them, and it was agreed that it could be used as a community centre in the evening.”
“Although it is a town that certainly has a substantial population of older people, it does not have a daycare centre. At this point, well over 20 people travel every day to Newbridge, which runs an excellent programme. The whole point, however, is that we need to have people in their own community where they could easily access daycare, meals on wheels services and so on. In 2015, a group of local people got together to develop an old disused dispensary on the edge of the town. At several stages I had the opportunity to see what was going on, to go inside and to support the fundraising efforts. The six people who started this were Albert Keenan, Steve Kinneavy, Jacinta Sully, Antoinette Buckley, Noel Clare and Liz Moloney and they have done amazing work since 2015. Of course, we had Covid in between.”
“Let us hope we will both be smiling when I get his response today. The issue I am raising is a really important one for older people. I know that the Minister of State is passionate about supporting older people in their communities and helping them survive and thrive in their communities. The area that I am talking about is Kilcullen in County Kildare, a beautiful town known to many of us. It has a population of almost 4,000 people and an incredible community spirit that has been there for many decades and many generations. Because of that community spirit, we see excellent sports facilities and a wonderful town hall, along with a thriving Kilcullen community action group and Tidy Towns group. One of the key initiatives that the people of Kilcullen decided they wanted to have was a daycare centre.”
“I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry) Regulations 2025, copies of which have been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 2nd July, 2025.”
“Obviously, we need to do everything we can to support students but it is also about the investment in our campuses and staff. When I was chair of the Oireachtas education committee, we spent a long time considering the Cassells report, which was about the investment needed in capital and IT infrastructure in our third level colleges. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, announced welcome and much-needed investment in four universities three or four weeks ago. A balance is needed between what we can do for students, which we need to do, and State investment in the organisations that are providing third level education.”
“While I understand what she is saying, at the same time, if we are going to support the AI revolution and try to become a leader in innovation, technology and the changes taking place in the business world, we need to have data centres. Going back to the point about LNG and the Shannon terminal, it is about being able to provide energy and having that wider debate. Senator Higgins also spoke about the cost of fees. The new limits for SUSI mean grants, including accommodation grants, are available to families with an income of up to €115,000. That is very significant and we cannot lose sight of it. The vast majority of young people going into higher education would be able to avail of those. When we are talking about the cost of higher education, we also need to factor in more than just the cost for students.”
“While not wanting to take away from the licence aspect, it is important that there be mandatory training for young people. Tractors are very powerful vehicles. The first vehicle I drove was a tractor, although I may not have driven it too far. Having been brought up on a farm, I know it is very important that we have mandatory training. Senator Murphy O'Mahony spoke about the investigation the Minister, Deputy McEntee, announced. It is certainly very welcome but it is important that we have the opportunity to look at the terms of reference, etc. We will ask the Minister to come to the House in the autumn. Senator Higgins spoke about the increase in the number of data centres.”
“The Minister is certainly willing to look at it to see what he can do. We will look for a debate with him on that in the autumn. Senator Scahill also raised the situation in respect of insurance. Senator Conway spoke about the issue of connections in Portlaoise and that the ESB had not connected houses. It is appalling, but the Minister, Deputy Browne, is looking into the situation. We have to have that. The Senator also spoke about farm safety. I understand from my colleague, Senator Rabbitte, that the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, launched a tractor safety scheme last Monday. Looking at the number of farm deaths around the country, we cannot be too careful. I know Senator Daly raised the issue the week before the last and I heard some of the radio debate about young people being able to drive tractors at 16 years of age.”
“Senator Scahill spoke about the meeting with the Irish Hotels Federation, which represents a sector that employs 66,000 people nationally. He raised a very good point. I was also there and while the VAT issue is important, Ms Mary Fennin-Byrne from Clanard Court Hotel, Athy, which is an excellent hotel, raised the issue of staff training with me. I spoke to the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, about it last night. He is willing to look at that, to look at the sector and to look at what we can do to support it. Ms Fennin-Byrne raised the point that it was now quite difficult to attract chefs. Whether it is the hotel industry, restaurants or coffee shops, we need to support our hospitality trade because when we attract tourists, that is what they come for. They come for good food and good service, and we need to be able to deliver that.”
“I will always remember the disappointment and having to do that because of the whole visa system. It is very regrettable, but we will send the message that it is very important to have a humanitarian, compassionate approach to that. Senator Davitt spoke about the need for the Minister for local government to come to the House to talk about the security allowance for councillors. I do not know the detail on it but I understand there was an announcement on this yesterday. It is very important. All of us worked collectively on that. Sadly, we are living in a difficult world where people think that any public representative is fair game. It is important that if we as Members of the Oireachtas can get a security allowance, then councillors can also have that opportunity. It certainly is very welcome news.”
“It was not the Minister's decision, but the officials decided the paperwork that was presented was not robust in this particular situation. It is a question of balance. We need a humanitarian approach but we also need checks and balances for visas, no matter where anybody is coming from. It was also a very frustrating situation, when I worked with Special Olympics and we were organising the World Games in 2003. The biggest headache was that process of trying to ensure people got visas, especially for underdeveloped countries that we really wanted to come and have a very positive experience in Ireland. Some just did not get visas. I remember having the task of telling eight host towns, which put in two years' work to prepare, about four days before the games started that those countries were not coming.”
“I share Senator Andrews's dismay that those visas were not allowed. As he knows, I spoke about this earlier in the week and about another group from Lahiya, which is in the West Bank, whose members hope to come over. They have had delays and have now put out their timeframe for a longer period. I spoke to the Minister's office after I raised the matter. The Senator is right that we need to have a compassionate, humanitarian approach. At the same time, over the past few years, the public we represent have been very clear that they want to ensure there are checks and balances regarding anybody looking for a visa to come to this country. We are clear that we need to have a robust system. From talking to the Minister's office, my understanding is that, unfortunately, the paperwork was not up to scratch.”
“Apparently, there is a very good service there, which the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, recently visited. There is a clear demand and a growing need. It is certainly undeniable that the quality of life of the individual, and his or her family, is improved so much when there is respite care. In that context, we will ask for a full debate on respite care. We will ask the Minister to reference Beaufort in that. It is an issue that impacts on many throughout the country. Senator Kennelly also mentioned the Shannon energy project and the need for security of energy supply, which is crucial for everything. The supply of energy gives us many answers to many challenges and issues. We need clarity. We will ask about it, but I suggest a Commencement matter, maybe next week, would be worthy in that regard.”
“Senator Rabbitte spoke about Portiuncula hospital, high-risk pregnancies and antenatal care. She is right that we have to have the best care and best protection for mum and child. This was raised in 2018, when a particular survey was done. I understand from what the Senator said that what is being suggested is potentially moving those mums to another hospital. She raised a concern about the capacity to then retain staff. It is a key issue. As she said, there is a commitment to a review of the maternity strategy in the programme for Government. We will look for the Minister for Health to come in on the national strategy and ask her to address the situation at Portiuncula. Senator Kennelly spoke about the new respite day services that are needed in Beaufort.”
“Donegal needs a good ambulance service, as does everywhere in the country. I understand what Senator McCarthy is saying. He spoke about the Ukrainian ambassador being concerned that Ukraine was being forgotten about in the heat of Israel and Palestine. There was an interesting presentation from European Movement Ireland at the European Affairs committee yesterday. It commissioned a survey, which was carried out by Amárach. Ukraine was third on the list of concerns people had. Out of the top five areas of concern - I questioned this - Gaza was not there at all, which really surprised me. It was first in Northern Ireland for those who participated in the survey, but Ukraine was No. 3. We absolutely have to reaffirm through solidarity. We certainly hope that war of aggression by Russia ends soon.”
“Senator Crowe also mentioned that Ballinasloe needed to be a priority and that, in Galway, the figures went from 91% in 2023 to 76% in 2024. The figure for this year is approximately 73%. He mentioned that, for the first time ever, there would be an under-23 Camogie final in Limerick. We will wear our tribal colours for Galway versus Cork. I am sure Senator Rabbitte will also be shouting for Galway. Senator Boyle spoke about the ambulance service, which he raised previously, and the fact the Minister for Health had referred the matter to the Minister for Finance. He asked whether these people understood rural life. Both those people are Fine Gael Ministers, so I assume he has taken the opportunity to speak to both. We all support what he is looking for. It needs to be sorted out.”
“We will ask the OPW and the Minister to look at this. The Senator is right that there is great potential there and it needs to be taken up, particularly in that part of the country. Senator Stephenson spoke about a Journal Investigates article, and Senator Crowe spoke about this, about a national survey and targets for starting treatments for cancer patients not being met at all. Senator Stephenson pointed out it concerned women in particular. I totally appreciate that when someone gets a diagnosis, that person's life is in disarray. There are so many different things to organise and plan. It is life altering. All that person wants to do is start treatment as soon as possible. There are regional disparities. We will look for a debate with the Minister for Health on that.”
“He spoke about the slaughter of the innocents which is shocking on every single lever. He also raised an issue about Baldonnel and that 100 members of the Air Corps, which is a very significant - 10% of those who are there, have passed away from cancer. Our deepest sympathies go to the latest gentleman who passed away during the week. I am not doubting Senator Clonan but obviously a lot of research needs to go into this particular allegation, but we will bring it to the Tánaiste's attention as Minister for Defence, ask for information on it and look for a debate on it in the autumn. Senator Collins spoke about the Ryder Cup coming to Adare, which is a beautiful village, the great potential for tourism in Adare and around Limerick, and mentioned the fact that a number of the local castles have been closed for periods of months and years.”
“Senator Nelson Murray also spoke about the Minister for justice's decision of yesterday. The Senator, along with many of my colleagues, did raise the issue and did a lot of good work in relation to the leisure business. I know Tracy Smullen has taken that on. I know Tracy and she is someone who had been in regular contact in that regard. There are a lot of people who rely on having a robust, effective and affordable insurance scheme to be able to keep their businesses going. It is important. Around this time of year, we all wear our tribal jerseys. We have had good wishes to a lot of different teams. May the best team win is what we will say about all of them. Senator Clonan spoke about his own peacekeeping work, along with the Defence Forces. I commend him and all of those who have served in peacekeeping.”
“We do always have to try to bring a bit of balance into it. To be fair, there is a concern regarding the action plan on insurance, which was successful at a level, and I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, on it and I know he is working on the second action plan now, that the cost reductions that have been achieved have not been passed on to the consumer. We have to work collectively to ensure it is the consumer, the businessperson, the individual who gets the benefit of the cost reduction. That is really important. Senator Fitzpatrick also recommended we all go to see The Pillowman . Conor McPherson is an incredible playwright, and we are lucky to have someone of his calibre. I must check out how long The Pillowman is running for at The Gate and possibly take the opportunity to go.”
“We began with Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, who spoke about the decision announced yesterday by the Minister for justice on the recommendation that came from the Judiciary regarding a rise of 16.9% in personal injuries awards. He made the decision before the subcommittee met that he would not be recommending it. It is very welcome news, I have no doubt there was possibly an interesting voice note left for Fine Gael Senators and parliamentary party members in relation to that. I have always had belief in the Minster's judgement in terms of doing the right thing and he certainly did. It is not without its risks either. There is a concern that the Injuries Resolution Board may be bypassed now because payments will not be keeping in line with inflation and claims will go straight to the High Courts and bring costs up.”
“and to conclude at 1.15 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, the time for group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, that of all other Senators not to exceed four minutes, and time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than eight minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 3, Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025 - Second Stage, to be taken at 1.30 p.m. and to conclude at 3.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, the time of group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, that of all other Senators not to exceed four minutes, and time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than eight minutes to reply to the debate.”
“I add my voice of welcome to our distinguished guests from France. We look forward to celebrating with them on Monday. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry) Regulations 2025, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, statements on various transport matters, including BusConnects, the regional bus network, the western rail corridor and increasing capacity at regional airports, to be taken at 11.45 a.m.”
“It was interesting to see that France has expanded its post office service into digital services, banking and a lot more government services than we have. That is a very good lesson for where we could go. There is no doubt that our post offices could continue to evolve to be strong community hubs. There could be a payment collection, motor tax and driving licence services, or vehicle registration. There are so many different types of government activities that people are frustrated about and for which they have to try to get to a large town. A lot of that could be collated and done locally by people they trust. That is the essence of what postmasters do. I thank the Chair very much for giving me an extra few seconds. I appreciate it.”
“Even now, Connie and Shane are there, and Brendan, Marie, John and Frances are in the Newbridge post office. It is such a joy to be able to go in and see what they do. The postmasters' ask is very clear. They need to have €15 million annually, tied in for the next five years, to be sustainable and to continue the excellent service they are giving. That is 50% over what they are receiving at this point. When we look at the service they give and the social impact they have, this is value for money. This is the equivalent of a cup of coffee for every citizen in Ireland. A significant number of postmasters are earning less than the minimum wage. They are earning less than the people they have to employ to make sure there is an excellent service everywhere. I looked at some other countries to see how they manage their post office system.”
“The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber to give us the opportunity to say what we feel and to outline the importance we place on this vital service, which is the heartbeat of many of our communities. Over the past few days, I have thought about the impact, just in my own life, of those working in the service. I could not stop thinking about that jingle, "Who Are the People in Your Neighbourhood?", from "Sesame Street". As a child growing up in Rathangan, Molly Forde, who was the local postmistress, was such an incredible woman. She was always so kind and was the hub of everything that went on. She also controlled the electoral register. She knew when everybody was going to be 18 and could put them on the register. Her son-in-law, Alan, continued that for a long time.”
“I urge all of the Members here to support it, to go to the awards, and to encourage the local authorities that we are all familiar with and represent to enter.”
“There is land directly behind, and we hope to negotiate with Kildare County Council about the acquisition. One of the key issues is that at the moment, Kildare is a secondary, not a primary, status area, so it does need to move to that within Cuan. This has been done in other counties such as Offaly and Kerry and that is very welcome. They have been able to progress with expansion plans. It is really important that we look for that and maybe we could have a debate in this House on Cuan and domestic violence. The LAMA awards have just been announced for 28 February next year. This is the 20th year of the awards and 40th year of the LAMA executive. It is a great opportunity to be able to showcase all the positive things that are happening in collaboration between councils and communities.”
“On Monday I had the opportunity to bring the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan to Teach Tearmainn, which is our domestic violence refuge in Kildare. Not only does it serve Kildare and its growing population but also surrounding counties like Laois. Lorraine Rowan and her team do an excellent job. I know that not just from the constant interaction we have but also from feedback from women I refer to them. Cuan has a very good outreach system also and accompaniment to court. As with anything, it took a long time to get the refuge and the need has grown far beyond the physical premises. Kildare County Council provided two safe houses, which have been very welcome. While there has been a good collaboration, it would be far better if everything was concentrated in the one area for safety, security and other reasons.”
“I add my voice to the welcome to our distinguished guests. This is the people’s parliament and we are always delighted to have the opportunity to welcome guests to the Chamber. First, I offer my congratulations to the Blaney family. There was a civic reception held in Donegal last Friday for the Blaney family, of which Niall is a Member of this House and his brother Liam is a member of Donegal County Council, who have given 100 years' continuous service to the people of Donegal and to this country. That absolutely deserves recognition. I have no doubt it was a very proud moment for them and for their mother, Margaret, and all their friends and supporters. Congratulations to the Blaney family on that very significant achievement. I wish to raise an issue in respect of Cuan and the excellent work it does.”
“To think of Nobel Peace Prize winners we have had in the past such as Seán MacBride, John Hume and David Trimble, to name but three, and to see somebody like President Trump being nominated is beyond belief.”
“They are due to come at the end of July. Flights have been bought and paid for. That is now in question. Together with that, a cultural group from Lahiya, West Bank, is in Belfast. They were here in 2022 for music, dance and now football. They were due to be coming at the same time. Again, visas have not been permitted at this point. The group is frustrated in relation to having to pay for accommodation and so on and I would appreciate it if the Leader could raise that issue. It is good to see there is possible movement in relation to a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza. However, to see a wanted war criminal nominating a convicted felon for the Nobel Peace Prize is absolutely incredible.”
“I have raised this before but I believe the 23% VAT rate should not apply to SPF products because cost is a factor in people using them. I pay tribute to Noelle O’Connor, who has done a lot of work lobbying on this issue and has worked with Kelsey O’Donnell, who is a skincare clinical specialist at the Mater hospital. Basically, they are saying, and they are right, that SPF should be classified as an essential product and should be VAT-exempt. I echo that. Perhaps we could get the Minister in to speak about that. I also raise the issue of the Palestinian GAA group that has come to Ireland over the years. With everything that is going on, it is more important than ever that we should be able to welcome a group of young people from Palestine. I understand this group of about 45 are facing significant delays in getting visas.”
“I will first comment on what our esteemed Senator from County Meath said. She only mentioned one Minister but I remind Senator Nelson Murray that it was in fact her Meath colleague, the former Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, who introduced this legislation that is now difficult for the Government to deal with. Regarding the subcommittee, I also remind her that there are three Fine Gael Cabinet Ministers, one Fianna Fáil Cabinet Minister and one Fianna Fáil Minister of State on the subcommittee that is meeting next Tuesday. Moving on to other issues, I was shocked to see in a recent report that Ireland had the highest level of skin cancer in Europe. Some 12,000 people per year suffer from skin cancer, with 90% of that linked to UV rays.”
“In my view, the building work on those three adjacent sites has to be completed and then we have the public realm and what comes after that. I thank the Acting Chair for his indulgence.”
“The infrastructure in Kildare has totally deteriorated because it is a commuter county and has been successful in building houses. I do appreciate that there is funding for the library. As the Minister of State says, funding could and should be provided by the Department of arts. I have called for a capital funding programme, similar to the sports capital programme, for arts facilities. That is really important. I want the Minister of State to bring the message back to the Minister that Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge is thriving for what it is, but we need far more investment in the cultural, educational and social future of those who use it. The public realm the Minister of State mentioned will not follow until all those elements come into place. What comes first?”
“With the greatest of respect to the Minister of State, I might as well tear up this response because there is absolutely nothing in it on development and particularly on River Bank Arts Centre. I am sure the Minister of State agrees that it makes far more sense to be able to have the full jigsaw, so to speak, happening at the same time. Meanwhile, there is €1 million unspent years after it was awarded, its value totally diminished from what €1 million could have provided at the time, and it is languishing without some more funding to top it up. I accept Kildare County Council has been allocated significant moneys under the URDF. That is essentially about unlocking housing but we have to have amenities to support those who come to live in those houses.”
“I ask that the seating be made more comfortable. It would be a landmark building and space for the entrance to Newbridge.”
“It is not a building of any importance, but there is now an agreement, through national funding and local property tax funding, that the library will be moved across the bridge for a year or 18 months while a three-storey library, which will suit all ages, is developed. That is very welcome, but it does not make sense for there to be three elements in the one space. Out of the three spaces, two would have work carried out on them in early 2026. It makes no sense that work on the Riverbank Arts Centre would not go ahead at the same time. As night follows day, two buildings would be completed and funding would come through for Riverbank and we would have to start all over again. I appeal for the funding to be provided to complete the work in Riverbank and make it fully accessible, something we should ask for in all public buildings.”
“Eight or nine years later, there is an excellent board, chaired by Paul Davis, comprising volunteers who are putting their time and energy into the project. They have gone through Part 8 and have tendered for and have a terrific design, but nothing has happened. Riverbank Arts Centre is where the old vocational school was in Newbridge and beside it is the county library and the Newbridge branch library. The county library was built in the 1930s and there is a preservation order on it. There are many health and safety concerns and refurbishment work will start there. The Newbridge branch library was built in the 1970s as an extension.”
“In the latest census, population growth in County Kildare was recorded as almost 14%, which is almost twice the rate of other counties. The theatre was never comfortable. I am short and I find it difficult to fit into the narrow seats so I can imagine taller and larger people find the seating very uncomfortable. In fact, they have ceased to go there and instead go to other theatre spaces. There was great jubilation when, in 2017, Riverbank Arts Centre was awarded what was at the time a substantial amount of money from the Department of arts. Along with Wexford, it was awarded €1 million by the Department. The venues were the only two in the country to receive that funding. They were to become flagship projects for the Department, and rightly so. We all looked forward to that. Has anything happened since? Absolutely not.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here. My question concerns the development of the Riverbank Arts Centre and the new Kildare branch library. In the late 1990s, I was involved with a group of like-minded people who lobbied for an arts centre in Newbridge. Eventually, the Riverbank Arts Centre opened its doors in 2001 as County Kildare's arts centre. The centre has given great service and I give credit to Caroline Williams and her team for the multidisciplinary approach they have taken, bringing theatre with international, national and local elements, and for what they do for young people. The centre also has an art gallery. However, the building has gone beyond its original purpose. Riverbank Arts centre is County Kildare's arts centre. The population of the county has reached 270,000.”