Gareth Scahill
Nominated by the Taoiseach · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Before we finish up I call for a debate on home care services when we come back in September. We all know the value of carers in our society but an awful lot of the HSE support service staff going into houses are private agency staff and when the person they are looking after goes into hospital or into respite the support they are getting…”
“Can we reset the clock? I will start by mentioning the "parents notify" portal on the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, website for special classes and special places, which has a deadline of 1 September.”
“Like previous speakers, the Leas-Chathaoirleach might allow me to thank the staff of the House, including the ushers and all the catering staff and, reluctantly, all of my colleagues in the House. We do not always get on or agree but there is great respect in the House.”
“I welcome the Minister to the House. Like so many of the previous speakers, it would be disingenuous of me not to concede I agree with some of the points in the motion.”
“The whole country has these facilities now, meaning that should we ever experience something like Storm Éowyn in 2025 again, we will have supports to allow people to continue to work remotely, provide for their families and live where they want to.”
“I do not believe one size fits all in Ireland. The Minister's county, my county and Longford are all in one big district and we have not benefited from additional Garda numbers in quite some time.”
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“As we continue this vital work, we call on the Government to take all necessary steps to ensure that every child with special educational needs has access to the appropriate school place in a timely manner; expand the number of special school places, special classes and special education teaching hours, as required across the country; improve communication with parents to streamline the application process for special school places, reducing the burden and delays; continue to increase investment in special education in order that every child can reach their full potential; support additional schools and students in participating in the summer programme; and ensure the NCSE continues to engage intensively with parents and educational partners to increase capacity and accessibility.”
“This aligns with our programme for Government commitment to provide an education-led therapy service for special schools. Investment in professional development remains a priority. We are funding training and upskilling programmes for teachers and SNAs and have requested that the Teaching Council introduce a mandatory assessment placement period in special classes or special school settings for an initial teacher education programme. In addition, a comprehensive review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 is nearing completion. This review will guide future policy to ensure that legislation reflects the evolving needs of children with disabilities.”
“As Senator Rabbitte said, we have also launched the D15 task force to enhance forward planning for special education provision and pilot common application systems for special classes, streamlining access for families. Furthermore, we are committed to improving transitional supports for students with special educational needs. The Department of Education has published new guidelines to simplify the transition process and reduce the need for parents to seek updated professional reports when the child moves from primary school to post-primary school. We are also taking steps to ensure that children receive the therapies they need within the school environment. A new pilot project, in partnership with the HSE, aims to reinstate therapy services on site in special schools.”
“Additionally, we recognise that families require guidance and support in navigating the education system. That is why we have expanded staffing at the NCSE to assist parents and caregivers at every stage of their children's educational journey. We have also prioritised engagement between the NCSE, the Department of Education, school patron bodies and management teams to ensure forward planning for special education. These efforts have led to additional special education classes being established in every county at both primary and post-primary level. Legislative progress has also been made. In 2022, we enacted key legislation to empower the NCSE to direct schools to admit children with special educational needs, ensuring that no child is left behind.”
“We have increased the number of special education teachers and special needs assistants, ensuring that students receive the individualised attention and support they require. These professionals play a crucial role in fostering an inclusive education environment. We have also implemented strategic initiatives to accelerate the provision of special class places in mainstream schools and special schools. Over the past five years, the number of special classes has doubled and we have established 16 new special schools. Looking ahead, we are working to provide an additional 400 special classes and 300 more special school places in the upcoming school year. The National Council for Special Education has already sanctioned 336 of these new special classes, with significant progress made on establishing five new special schools.”
“The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to making this a reality and we are taking decisive steps to guarantee that every child, regardless of needs, has access to quality education. The original motion does not take into account progress made to date. Our actions speak for themselves. The State has significantly increased investment in special education, with funding rising to €2.9 billion, a 48% increase since 2020. This investment has allowed us to enhance support systems, expand resources and, most importantly, provide opportunities for children with special educational needs to thrive. One of our greatest achievements has been the expansion of our special education workforce.”
“The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is very welcome here. I welcome Sinn Féin's motion today as it is a matter that lies at the very heart of society: our commitment to ensuring every child receives the education they deserve. I formally second the Government's amendment to the motion. Education is not a privilege but a fundamental right enshrined in our Constitution. Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, every child must have access to education on an equal basis within their community. As a nation, we must stand firm in upholding this right and ensuring that every child with special educational needs has the appropriate school place.”
“I will speak to the Minister of State about it at a later stage and I would appreciate it if we could highlight the issue.”
“Let us not wait for another tragedy to take place. We all have a role to play in making the roads safer, whether through responsible driving, better infrastructure or stronger community awareness. Let us commit, as a House, to respect the roads, respect each other and prioritise safety above all else. It would be a missed opportunity if I were to let today’s debate go without raising the following point. The local newspaper in Roscommon, the Roscommon Herald , has news in regard to road safety every week. Yesterday, a truck was caught driving through the little village of Clontuskert at 91 km/h, nearly twice the speed limit. This is a serious issue. Many of my former colleagues on Roscommon County Council regularly highlight it.”
“Some parts, such as the stretch near Kiltoom, the Knockcroghery bend and the sections approaching Roscommon town, have been flagged as accident black spots. The key risks relating to this road are obviously similar to many of those my colleagues mentioned with regard to other roads. I refer, for example, to speeding, reckless driving, a lack of hard shoulders, safe overtaking spots and pedestrian and cycling safety schemes and driver fatigue and various distractions. That particular road lies at the end of a journey for many of those who utilise it. Roscommon County Council has quite regularly looked for the reclassification of the N61 as a national primary route. That is what I would like to ask the Minister of State to be conscious of when he leaves the House tonight. Every accident or injury on the N61 is one too many.”
“When it comes to road safety and schemes relating to it, I would be remiss, on a day like today, not to mention the N61 in Roscommon. The N61, which runs from Athlone to Boyle, is a key route that connects communities across Roscommon and Westmeath. It has unfortunately been the site of many accidents. I want to highlight the risks involved and risk awareness that is necessary. I call on all of us here - drivers, cyclists like the Minister of State, pedestrians and the authorities - to work together to make the N61 safer for everybody. The reality is that this road is well known for its dangerous bends, for a narrow section and for the number of serious collisions that have taken place on it. Despite improvements in recent years, sections of the road remain high risk, especially during poor weather conditions or at night.”
“I am sure some of my colleagues mentioned it already, but safe routes to school constitute one of the most successful and popular schemes that has been introduced in recent years. I have spoken to the Minister of State about this in the past in the context of the scheme being closed to new applicants at a time when there is a massive need for new applicants. Many schools that would have potentially been eligible for that programme cannot apply for it. Off the top of my head, I can think of Trien National School and Lisacul National School in Roscommon, both of which are located adjacent to very busy national roads and both of which need a scheme like this to make it safer people to drop their children off on a daily basis.”
“The Minister of State is very welcome once again. He is quickly becoming one of the most regular attendees in this House. I thank him once again for gracing us with his presence. On the programme for Government and recent announcements, I welcome the allocation of €713 million for regional and local roads. Coming from a rural part of the country, I know that investment in improving that infrastructure will have a massive impact on the safety of the people who reside in rural areas. I also welcome the Government's commitment to Vision Zero by 2050. In other words, eliminating all road deaths. We have to be ambitious. We have to set targets that some might see as unachievable in certain circumstances. You have to have something to aim for.”
“Without young farmers, rural depopulation will accelerate and our agricultural heritage will be at risk. While the CAP has been a lifeline for the west, its new iteration must evolve to meet the needs of the modern farmer. It must deliver fair incomes, support small and medium-sized farms, invest in rural development and create a realistic pathway to sustainability. If we get this right, we will secure farming futures for generations to come.”
“Second, the environmental measures within the CAP must be practical, achievable and fairly compensated. Farmers want to play their part in tackling climate change but need to be supported in transitioning to sustainable practices without compromising their livelihoods. The new CAP must balance environmental ambition with economic reality, ensuring farmers are awarded, not penalised, for their efforts. Economic and social sustainability must be considered alongside environmental sustainability in the European Green Deal. Last, and as has been mentioned here already, young farmers must be given stronger incentives to stay in agriculture. The new CAP should offer more financial assistance, training programmes and access to land for the next generation.”
“However, as we look to the future, it is clear that farmers will need more from the new CAP. It must reflect the challenges of rising costs, stricter environmental regulations and the need to secure fair prices for produce. Farmers are not just food producers; they are our environmental stewards, community builders and economic drivers. The new CAP must ensure that the role is fully recognised and properly supported. First, farmers need a fair and simplified direct payments system that reflects the rising cost of production and the challenges of small-scale farming. For many in the west, land quality and farm size make large-scale intensive farming impossible. The new CAP programme must prioritise smaller family-run farms to ensure they receive a fair share of the funding.”
“This funding has allowed farmers to modernise, increase efficiency and meet evolving environmental standards. The CAP has not only safeguarded farm income support but has also strengthened the entire rural economy. Beyond individual farms, CAP benefits ripple through local businesses, including veterinary services, machinery suppliers and co-operatives, along with many other rural businesses. I know of the value and loyalty of the farming community where I am from. When the farmer has money, it stays and multiplies in the local economy. All of the businesses I have referred to depend very much on a thriving agriculture sector. The policy has also enabled the expansion of agritourism, food production and farmers' markets, keeping the west at the forefront of high-quality sustainable food production.”
“The Minister is very welcome this afternoon. I wish him well in his term and look forward to working with him and helping him to deliver for the west, specifically Roscommon. For generations, agriculture has been the backbone of life in the west. Our rolling green fields, rugged landscape and close-knit farming communities define our region's identity; however, economic pressures, environmental regulations and an increasingly competitive global market pose serious challenges to farmers. Without targeted support, small and medium-sized farms, some of which have been in families for centuries, will struggle to survive. That is where the CAP has made an undeniable difference. The CAP has provided direct financial support to farmers, stabilised rural incomes and ensured farming remains a viable way of life.”
“I am asking that the Minister for Transport address the House and to have a discussion on this particular issue. I spoke with a hospitality business only yesterday and while it had an exceptionally good weekend in terms of trade, it was 25% down on trade this time last year. The business owner is solely placing the blame for that on the passenger numbers coming into Dublin Airport at present. While I have a moment, I would like to acknowledge two female boxers, Lisa and Aoife O'Rourke, from Castlerea in Roscommon, who achieved silver medals in the IBA Women's World Boxing Championships over the weekend, and recognise their achievement.”
“Like my colleagues, I acknowledge all of the community groups nationwide that put on such wonderful parades over the weekend to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and also the public representatives who travelled internationally representing us and promoting our country and our culture. I also wish to raise the issue of the passenger number cap at Dublin Airport and how we are limiting the potential of our country at present by inhibiting people visiting it. Dublin Airport is an outlier among other European countries at present, as our figures for 2025 visiting are stagnant while every other capital city in Europe is seeing an increase in visitor numbers through their airports. It is not acceptable. It is something that we have to address.”
“The programme for Government talks about the carer’s allowance and reducing means testing for the carer’s allowance over the lifetime of this Government. I also want to highlight the ESB vulnerable customers list. Another thing that has not been mentioned is the Local Link services. They could be used and more focused on bringing those isolated and elderly people into the towns. This is about more than just policies and funding. It is about people. Our parents, grandparents, neighbours and friends deserve a society that values and supports them at every stage of life. A society is judged by how it treats it most vulnerable. By expanding and improving these services, we can ensure that every older person in Ireland receives the care, dignity and respect they deserve.”
“By increasing this grant, we can help more people modify their homes to improve safety and comfort. We want to expand the meals on wheels programme as nutritional and social interaction are critical for wellbeing. Enhancing community care programme will strengthen the delivery of healthcare services closer to home which will reduce pressure on hospitals and ensure better care in local settings. We call for investment in day care centres and community healthcare networks as day centres provide vital social, recreational and care services, help to combat isolation and support mental and physical well-being. Strengthening our community healthcare networks will ensure better co-ordination of local health services. Yesterday, we spoke about a senior alert scheme.”
“We have highlighted some of the issues across the motion. These include its call to design a statutory home care system. One of the most important steps is the formal home care scheme to ensure people can remain in their homes for as long as possible. By providing structured and reliable home care, we can empower older people to maintain their independence while receiving the necessary support. A number of Senators mentioned increasing home care hours. There is the rolling-out of the care repair scheme nationally. Small home repairs and modifications can make a huge difference for older people living safely at home. Expanding that scheme nationally would provide practical support to thousands of households. We want to increase the housing adaption grant. For many adapting a home to meet mobility and accessibility needs is essential.”
“I am sharing three minutes with Senator Brady. I welcome the Minister of State. I did not have the chance to thank him for the work he did in Lough Funshinagh in Roscommon in his previous role, so I thank him for that. It is a privilege to speak to the Minister of State today on an issue that affects every family and community in Ireland, namely, the care and support of our older citizens. As a society, we have a duty to ensure older people can live with dignity, security and independence for as long as possible. We want to support them in saying their own homes and communities where they feel most comfortable and connected. That is why we must take meaningful action to enhance care services and ensure that every person receives the supports needed. It is great to hear the motion is supported across the House today.”
“They are going for a world record attempt on the Beara Peninsula, in the Cork-Kerry area, from 30 May to 2 June 2026. As well as that, my colleague, Senator Flaherty, said that Longford was also punching above its weight in terms of its diaspora and associations internationally. I would like to recognise the Roscommon Association in London. If the Minister of State needs a delegation, there is a Connacht Championship game coming up on 5 April that I would be able to organise a delegation from Roscommon to support.”
“The Gathering was an unbelievable success in bringing our diaspora back. There is a lot of as yet untapped opportunity in that particular area. In my own community, there are the O'Connors, the last high kings of Ireland. Hugh O'Connor established the first settlement in Tucson, Arizona, in 1775. There are now more than 30,000 descendants of the O'Connors in that particular area. I was speaking to a friend of mine on the Beara Peninsula, who is currently preparing for a calling of the O'Sullivans and the O'Sullivan clans. Senator Gallagher is not here at the moment, but the Gallaghers currently hold the world record for the largest gathering of people with the same surname in one location. The O'Sullivans are hoping to beat that next year. This is to highlight osullivanclan.org.”
“Equally, for those at home, the diaspora offers opportunity for collaboration, investment and mentorship. By engaging with the Irish communities abroad, we create pathways for innovation, economic growth and social development. However, this relationship is a two-way street and it is our duty to support those who have left Ireland, especially in times of need, and to ensure they always feel a strong connection to their roots. Through continued dialogue, partnership and shared traditions, we can strengthen this unique bond for generations to come. I look forward to being involved in the next diaspora strategy that the Minister of State is involved with to ensure our relationship with our diaspora is a dynamic one that meets the needs of and can adapt to evolving communities. I want to highlight a couple of things.”
“I welcome the Minister of State. It is timely to have this discussion with St. Patrick's Day coming up. I will reiterate what my colleagues have said. It is often said that the Irish are a global people, with our diaspora reaching every corner of the world. This vast network of individuals, bound together by shared heritage, represent one of Ireland's greatest strengths. Supporting and seeking support from the Irish diaspora is not just about maintaining these connections; it is about fostering a sense of community that transcends these borders. The diaspora plays a vital role in promoting Ireland's culture, values and interests abroad. Their achievements in business, politics and the arts elevates Ireland's reputation on a world stage.”
“The buses would not be travelling the same road and the collection points would not be at dangerous positions. Can we consider allowing parents associations to make cases like this one and have them considered in a timely manner?”
“I want to discuss something that I imagine affects everyone in the Chamber, namely, school bus routes. It was brought to my attention again this morning. I am looking for Bus Éireann to review bus routes and change them to accommodate the increasing populations of areas like Ballymoe and the townlands surrounding it. At the moment, two buses travel the same route for large parts of their journeys. The village of Ballymoe and its townlands are no longer being serviced. Bus Éireann has agreed to this and has come up with an alternative solution whereby students meet the buses on the side of the roads, quite often in dangerous places or at entrances to places like quarries. The parents affected by this decision have made a proposal which would be more efficient.”
“I thank the Minister. Even though multinetwork SIM cards are being provided, there are still legacy models in the marketplace. Maybe something needs to be done regarding communication with the people using the systems at the moment in order to help identify the ones most affected by this problem. It is great to see the engagement. I welcome all of the Minister's remarks. With regard to the networks, we need to emphasise the social responsibility that is required. Be it the Government, the Department, Pobal. or, as the Minister stated, community groups, no one has been found wanting when it comes to supporting this scheme. It is about economies of scale. Potentially, we could update the ones that might not have been updated since 2021. I thank the Minister very much for that.”
“This integration will address current connectivity challenges, offering older people greater security and confidence in their ability to access emergency assistance when needed. By embracing this enhancement, the seniors alert scheme can better fulfil its mission to support older individuals to live securely in their homes, thereby promoting independence and well-being within our ageing population. I compliment all of the community groups that are registered with Pobal for the distribution of these alarms.”
“It would increase reliability, giving peace of mind to those using the alarms, and also increase the coverage capabilities, potentially opening this up to more people. The Department has supplied over 120,000 of these alarms to individuals in the last ten years, so it has been a resounding success, but that does not mean we should rest on our laurels. We need to adapt and learn from recent mistakes. We need to introduce something that prevents situations where these alarms do not work. To ensure the continued effectiveness and reliability of the seniors alert scheme, it is imperative to adopt multinetwork SIM cards as a standard component of the personal alarms provided.”
“On getting up and, unfortunately, having a fall or a mishap, they went to the alarm to find there was no response to it. That situation was replicated across most of the west, where phone and mobile networks went down during that situation. This limitation may result in alarms failing or not functioning correctly during critical moments and undermining the purpose of the scheme. With that in mind, I call on the Minister to consider the possibility of introducing multinetwork SIM cards as a standard within these personal alarms. This would enhance connectivity and the capability to ensure that personal alarms maintain functionality even in areas where single-network coverage is inadequate or should there be network issues like those that happened recently.”
“I welcome the Minister. The senior alert scheme aims to support older individuals living securely and independently within their communities by providing free, personal monitored alarms. These alarms offer reassurance and immediate assistance in emergencies, enhancing the confidence and peace of mind of the elderly population. While the senior alert scheme has been instrumental in promoting safety among older adults, the effectiveness of the personal alarms is contingent on reliable network connectivity. Following the recent storms, I want to paint a picture of somebody who had the independence of living alone but who relied on the security of their personal alarm. They were perhaps waking up at night to find the lights and the heat out and could hear the damage being done outside.”
“They have taken in migrants and they have opened their community to everybody. This is a much-needed facility that is necessary for the whole community – migrants and locals. It would be remiss of me not to mention that. I know I have the full support of all the local representatives on this. We cannot let these situations continue without supporting these communities that have always stood up.”
“I call on the Minister for Health to support the people of Ballaghaderreen in west Roscommon because, on Tuesday of this week, we received the disappointing news that the primary care centre that was promised for Ballaghaderreen, initially mooted in 2012, was not going to happen. It only came to light on Tuesday in the regional health forum when a former colleague of mine, Councillor Sean Moylan, brought the question up, as he had done in November and in September previously, asking for progress reports on the primary care centre. He was told that even though the lease had been signed on the facility, at the end of January, the developer made the HSE aware it was no longer able to fulfil that work. The people of Ballaghaderreen have stood up to the mark every time they have been asked to by the State.”
“A couple of my colleagues have mentioned providing information, but it would be great if there were a central hub during emergencies or storms for information, accessing support mechanisms and an explanation of them. This would be a central place where people could find this information rather than us all scrambling around looking for it.”
“We still have a situation in rural Ireland with regard to broadband a full month on, where large communities have no access to communications or broadband at present. These are townlands outside Ballinlough, where I am from, including Carrick, Laughil, Cloonakille, Grange Cross, Cloonalough and Falledeen. We are talking about a couple of hundred households that are still without broadband. In some cases, trees are still lying across the lines and there is no sign of that situation changing a full month after the storm. Is there any way we can get an update on the humanitarian fund and what percentage of applications have been processed? What percentage are still awaiting processing?”
“I will submit a Commencement matter shortly regarding the senior alert scheme calling for standard SIM cards in the alarms that are provided, specifically, the use of multinetwork SIM cards attached to the strongest mobile phone network. This significantly reduces the possibility of a call failing to reach the monitoring centre in the event of a network outage or because of poor coverage. If one network is down, the SIM card automatically switches to the strongest alternative network. The ESB was brilliant in its response, but maybe the communication was not as up to date as it could have been. The ESB brought teams in from across Europe to restore power. I was told of certain parts of County Roscommon that came off the ESB generators only last night, when they were reconnected to the grid a full month after the power had originally gone.”
“We need to standardise that process so that all the local authorities are working off the same hymn sheet. We need to support our farmers, especially those who are currently repairing outbuildings and sheds where roofs and structures have been damaged. Many of these sheds in rural Ireland cannot be insured because of their age and now remain unstable and require full reroofing. A simple mechanism for this could be the inclusion of storm-related provisions in the TAMS programme. On the same basis, I would like something to provide funding for generators, or an alternative mechanism, for water pumps for livestock. That was a major issue for farmers throughout the country, which was not highlighted very much throughout the storm response. I received numerous calls on it. Farmers were genuinely worried about the well-being of their livestock.”
“We need to provide the supports for those communities. We also need to look at areas that did not have community hubs and ensure that they have the facilities for whatever comes next. We need to provide similar mechanisms for childcare facilities and schools. A crèche in Frenchpark had its power out for two weeks after the storm, which had a knock-in effect on parents, working families and the mechanisms they use to get to work and look after their kids at the same time. The mechanism for accessing hot food needs to be simplified and standardised throughout the country. There were situations where households at the periphery of the county where I live had to travel 20 or 30 minutes to access hot food, when similar was available within five minutes of their homes but across the county lines.”
“It was a situation where local councillors and TDs throughout the country dropped everything and reacted and responded to the needs of their constituents to provide updates on restoration and available supports by any means available to them. We need to ensure a better mechanism is available in future to support these public representatives to provide that support. Some of my colleagues mentioned there was a different interpretation of what the supports were in different constituencies. We need to standardise that and ensure that the public representatives on the ground have access to that. We need to now start the process of supporting the communities and clubs that opened up their facilities as community hubs to ensure that all the facilities needed to step in the next time are there.”
“The Minister of State is very welcome. It is great to have the opportunity to have this conversation. I will not go on about what happened during the storm. If anybody is looking for an insight or to get a snapshot of what it was like in my constituency of Roscommon-Galway, an article by the editor of the Roscommon Herald stated, "as [Storm] Éowyn swept in ... [I] prayed that the roof would remain on the house." I encourage people to look it up just to get an idea of the storm. In responding to Storm Éowyn, I would like to talk about moving forward and what we can do to be ready the next time. The emergency response and its communication is something that we need to work on for future storms.”
“I ran a few information sessions with our local community policing unit and while it was a great opportunity to bring older people into centres to understand what the community garda did, it also introduced the community gardaí to these people and gave them an opportunity to give addresses and phone numbers to allow the gardaí to go out and meet them. That is something I encourage them to do.”
“They stay at home. They do not go out at a certain time of night. Sunday night past, in the town of Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon, there was a reported mugging and robbery of a handbag at 7 o'clock in the evening, in a busy market town on a Sunday. This town had a large march recently, back in November, looking for additional gardaí on the ground. This happening has lit the fires, and the community is looking for more gardaí on the ground. They are served by a different Garda station during the weekends and the presence and numbers is the biggest barrier. I compliment the community policing model we have in this country.”
“Rural staffing is also a major issue. The Minister mentioned earlier the number of admin staff they have, but I know a lot of gardaí from the Roscommon-Galway constituency who are based in other parts of the country and would do anything they could to get back to live in their own district and area. That is something the Minister might look at. It might not necessarily be in their own district, but in a neighbouring district if there is an opportunity to give them a bit of weighting for moving back to those areas. We need to attract our members back to rural Ireland. Thankfully, rural crime in my area is not as bad as it is in certain other areas of the country. However, going back to the demographic living in these areas, any crime and issue like that creates fear and an element whereby people do not go out to socialise.”
“Some of them are our family members. They are very proud of the job they do and they want to do that to the best of their ability, but they are inhibited by the role they have to take nowadays. I will talk about rural Ireland as opposed to the total model, but the biggest challenge we have is the vast areas the districts are covering at the moment. In my own area it could take two hours to travel from one end to the other. Quite often you might only have one or two cars working on a particular night. This is known. People can make phone calls and have An Garda in one part of the county or district, while they are doing something in another part of the district. This is demoralising for gardaí on the ground not having the resources to be out there trying to protect and serve the people within their districts.”
“Thankfully, with the support of our local service and national bodies, An Garda Síochána has made arrests and is prosecuting the people arrested in relation to those crimes. However, it still left a fear within a vast part of our community. That constituency has one of the oldest demographics in the country. Those people liked, and grew up in, a time when you knew your local garda. You would see your local gardaí. They would be in your local sports club at the weekend, or maybe in the pub selling lottery tickets. They were a member of the community. That is not something we experience nowadays. The job of our gardaí has gotten so admin-intensive that their presence on the street is not what it used to be. I know a lot of gardaí. They are members of our local GAA clubs and soccer clubs. You meet them socially.”
“I welcome the Minister. A lot of what I was going to say has been said by other Senators, but An Garda Síochána adheres to the ethos of the first Commissioner, Michael Staines, in policing not by force of arms but on its moral authority as servants of the people. The preservation of this unique and special bond is built on a strong tradition of policing by consent of the communities they serve and protect. That is very important about our police force in Ireland. If I had been standing in this Chamber six months ago, I would have been talking about the constituency of Roscommon-Galway and how we had three public marches and a number of public meetings about a spate of crimes targeting rural areas, the elderly, and unsupported areas where there were no Garda stations. We had a number of crimes in the area between September and November.”