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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“It was created to support the development of construction skills. The CEO of Ballymore, Mr. Sean Mulryan, a native of Roscommon, came down. He is making a sizable donation over the next five years to that sector. He spoke at the event about going on a blocklaying apprenticeship with AnCO, which he was lucky enough to get back in the day. He received a stipend of £2.50 per week and his accommodation at £7.50 was paid for as well, so £10 is what was there. That this gentleman is now putting €500,000 into apprenticeships over the next five years just shows how an investment in that sector can pay multiples back into our society. Previous speakers spoke about capacity building and the need for more trainers. I would like to talk about the delivery of these training places where they are needed most.”
“The Minister of State is very welcome to the House this evening. I had been looking for this debate for some time so I welcome the opportunity. Senator Daly mentioned his baptism of fire in metalwork. I have to compare that to my introduction to the Seanad. Two weeks ago, I was at the launch of a showcase for an electric vehicle maintenance skills course and a wind turbine trainee programme, which has been running in Roscommon, funded by the EU just transition fund. That is exactly what that fund was created to do, namely, to create those employment opportunities for people in those areas. Last Friday, I was invited to attend the Galway-Roscommon Education and Training Board launch of a bursary for construction by the Ballymore property group. I know the Minister of State sent her apologies to that.”
“They could bring their own kids back to where they were raised and allow them to access childcare. That is the debate I would like to have in this House, going forward. I do not want the message to come across that we are not happy with the job our gardaí are doing. We are exceptionally proud of the work they are doing. Some 11,000 people applied to join the Garda last year. That shows we have made it attractive. We have introduced the training positions. There are just over 14,000 gardaí. They need assistance in doing their roles. Transferring that experience back to the regions would assist.”
“I am not going to go through this issue again of trying to raise a Commencement matter or seeing how we as Oireachtas Members go about getting additional Garda resources. The debate I would like to have is about transferring experienced gardaí who have served time in other regions and are now desperate to get back to their home regions or as close to their home regions as possible. When I saw the figures last week, I realised that we had not got any young gardaí of the 167 that were allocated. I also followed up with a few Garda stations and we had not received any of the intra-region transfers from two weeks previously. That is something we should be aiming to facilitate. We should be supporting our gardaí, making their lives easier and improving their quality of life by getting them closer to home where they might have elderly parents.”
“I have never been shy in this House to profess how wonderful a county I come from in Roscommon is, how safe it is with our low crime rate and how a recent report came out and said it was one of the safest counties in the country to raise a family. Last Friday, however, for the third allocation in a row, we unfortunately were not allocated any additional Garda resources. This was disappointing after raising this issue on numerous occasions. I spoke to someone last weekend and in 2023 and 2024 there was a campaign across Roscommon called Enough is Enough. This was following a spate of late-night robberies where people were coming into the county and able to get out very quickly having robbed a number of premises.”
“It seems to be down to the reinstatement of the road. I left a message with Irish Water this morning for somebody to contact me before I came into the Chamber this afternoon. Nobody has contacted me. I want to highlight once again that we are constantly sending messages into these Oireachtas lines for Oireachtas Members. We are making representations for constituents. I know Senator Stephenson raised a point earlier about the Government and us blaming some of these agencies for the blockages but if they are not showing the respect to us as representatives and coming back to us when we are looking for these answers, what are we meant to do about that? I would welcome the debate on flooding but I would also welcome a debate on these Oireachtas email addresses and contact lines in order that we can start getting some standard answers on it.”
“In June last year, following a lot of correspondence with Irish Water and with the office of the Minister, Deputy Browne, I got correspondence from Irish Water stating it was pleased to advise that an update had become available. The management department had confirmed that Uisce Éireann was currently carrying out designs for the replacement of approximately 5 km of water mains around Cloonfad and that there were currently no timelines available for construction. We allowed time for that to happen. That was June last year. Last week, when I had the first of the outages in Cloonfad, I contacted Irish Water for an update on this. On Thursday, I looked for a follow-up on that. This morning I spoke with Roscommon County Council to find out where the blockage and the barrier to completing and starting this work was in Cloonfad.”
“In April, last year, I highlighted water outages in the village of Cloonfad in west Roscommon. I had a Commencement matter that month. I also highlighted a hospitality business that contacted me unable to open on Good Friday last year because of the loss of its water supply. On Monday last, I was copied on a message by the same hospitality business titled "Enough is enough" highlighting that it was now looking at another high-footfall day on which they would not be able to open due to the fact that it had no water supply on that particular day. That was actually the fourth time last week the water supply had stopped in the village of Cloonfad.”
“At this point, the team on the ground has reached the end. It needs support and to be given the opportunity to try to source additional funding, which it has proved it is able to do in the past. If the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, were here, I would ask him for a meeting. I will pass the request on to him to see if he can facilitate that meeting. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, for coming.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. He mentioned the National Monuments Service intends to establish in the coming years a support scheme for landowners across world heritage properties in Ireland. The blueprint for that idea is the Farming Rathcroghan project because over eight years it has demonstrated its ability. It has gone above and beyond accessing European funding. As the Minister of State mentioned, between the just transition fund and the European Innovation Partnership, 88% of its funding has been secured since 2019. Only 1% of its funding in that time came from the National Monuments Service. The Minister of State mentioned the world heritage strategic investment fund. Some 2.8% of the project's funding came from that. The Heritage Council gave it approximately 6% of its funding over the period, as far as I know.”
“This project has demonstrated over eight years that farmers can be active partners in heritage protection and not obstacles to it. What is needed now is immediate practical support and at a minimum to retain administrative staff and maintain the core structure of the project while alternative funding streams are secured because once this infrastructure is lost, rebuilding it will be vastly more difficult and far more expensive. We are not being asked to fund an untested idea; we are being asked to fund a proven protective programme, an award winning model that protects heritage, supports farmers, strengthens rural communities and enhances Ireland’s cultural standing. Allowing it to disappear now when it is delivering real results would be a profound loss locally, nationally and internationally.”
“The most immediate priority right now must be the retention of the administrative staff because without them, funding applications cannot be prepared or managed, farmer supports cannot be co-ordinated and heritage protection measures cannot be overseen. The organisational structure that holds everything together would disappear. If there is any hope of maintaining this project, even on an interim basis, the administrative core must be protected. Retaining the small but highly skilled team is the bridge between where this project is now and any future funding solutions. Losing them means losing momentum, expertise, relationships and credibility. This must become a priority for the Heritage Council, the OPW and the National Monuments Service. These are the agencies with responsibility for protecting our heritage.”
“Without additional funding the project office, the staff of five and all related schemes will cease to exist. If the administrative structure is lost the entire project, built over eight years, is at risk of collapsing completely. The evidence that supports the Farming Rathcroghan project is very clear. Since its launch the project has supported 90 farmers. It has protected over 260 archaeological sites, developed a best practice model for managing heritage within working farmland and leveraged approximately €2.5 million in competitive EU funding to deliver real outcomes on the ground. It has created training programmes, community engagement models and practical conservation measures while building strong trust and participation among farmers acting as custodians of this nationally and internationally significant landscape.”
“The Farming Rathcroghan project is a pioneering initiative in County Roscommon that works with local farmers to protect this unique archaeological landscape while allowing farming to continue in a sustainable and heritage-sensitive way. Over recent years it has supported 90 farmers and helped to manage and protect more than 260 internationally significant archaeological sites across roughly 40 sq. km. Continued support for the Farming Rathcroghan project is essential and unfortunately it is urgent because right now, this project is facing a very real and immediate threat. If additional support is not secured the project is due to cease at the end of March. I did try to get this Commencement matter in last week so I am sorry for the short notice.”
“The Minister of State is very welcome today. I think it is important that I briefly explain what Rathcroghan is and what the Farming Rathcroghan model project is. Rathcroghan - the fort of Cruachan - is an ancient capital of Connacht and is one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Ireland and in Europe. Rathcroghan is recognised as the oldest and largest unexcavated royal site in Europe, a landscape where history, mythology, farming and community life have existed side by side for thousands of years. It is a landscape where history, mythology, farming and community life have existed side by side for thousands of years.”
“It states that the current debate on AI must not lose sight of the opportunity it offers to business, particularly Irish SMEs. It states that for Irish firms and their workers, AI presents a significant opportunity to enhance productivity, unlock new capabilities and generate real value. That is where we need to go with this.”
“Enterprises invest where they have clarity, customers adapt where they have trust and markets grow where people believe technology is being used responsibly. Ireland's approach is to get the balance right - to drive rapid AI adoption across every sector while ensuring that AI is lawful, human-centred and trustworthy. Through a national AI office, the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Act and our national digital and AI strategy, we are building an ecosystem that supports enterprise, rewards innovation and protects the public. The message to Irish businesses is straightforward: AI is an opportunity we cannot afford to ignore. I will finish up with a reference to something we would all have received today from Digital Business Ireland.”
“Under the Digital Services Act, very large online platforms have clear obligations to assess and mitigate risks, including the spread of illegal content and the protection of minors. The European Commission's decision to open a formal investigation into X with Coimisiún na Meán's formal association demonstrates that our regulatory system is independent, credible and prepared to act. Alongside this, the EU Artificial Intelligence Act provides a risk-based framework prohibiting unacceptable practices, placing obligations on high-risk systems and ensuring transparency where it matters most. This is not regulation for regulation's sake. It is proportionate and targeted and gives certainty to innovators. For business, this is crucial. Good regulation is not an enemy of innovation; it is a foundation.”
“At a meeting of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence yesterday, I said that 6,700 images are produced per hour by Grok. Because of all the publicity in Ireland in recent weeks, Grok is the number one app downloaded in Ireland. As we found out yesterday, while the Minister of State has been given assurances, there are VPNs out there that every person on the street using this technology can adjust to access the things we are trying to block. Let us not beat around the bush; the creation of child sexual abuse material is illegal. It is not a grey area. It is a criminal act that causes real harm and corrodes public trust in technology. This is why Ireland and Europe are acting.”
“Countries like Estonia are not debating whether AI belongs in the classroom. They are embedding it across their education systems. Children there are learning with AI and not just about AI. Teachers are being supported, not displaced. Students are leaving school fluent in the tools that will define the modern workplace. If we are serious about competitiveness, AI cannot be something young people first encounter in the workplace. It must be part of how we teach, train and upskill across a lifetime. This is how we build confidence, capability and resilience in our workforce. Recent weeks have reminded us that with power comes great responsibility. The misuse of AI to generate illegal and harmful material is unacceptable. The generation of non-consensual intimate images is illegal.”
“It frees workers from repetitive tasks so they can focus on judgment, creativity and connectivity. It gives small firms access to capabilities once reserved for the biggest corporations. Quite simply, it is a lever. On days like today in Leinster House, I sometimes wish I had an AI assistant because Wednesday seems to be one of those days. Ireland is exceptionally well placed to lead in this area. We have a skilled workforce, a strong enterprise base, a global technology footprint and a proven track record in adapting to change. Our ambition should be unashamedly bold - to make Ireland the best place in Europe to build, adopt and scale for AI. However, ambition alone will not be enough. To harness the potential, we must radically rethink how we prepare people and that starts with education.”
“Last month, the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence published an interim report that argued that the framing of AI in terms of regulation versus innovation is misplaced and that the two can co-exist. We all know AI is here. It is real. It is already shaping how businesses design products, serve customers, manage supply chains and compete internationally. For Irish businesses, from family-run SMEs to our global multinationals, AI is one of the most powerful productive tools of our generation. It can help manufacturers to reduce waste and energy costs, and allow retailers to better anticipate demand. It can enable farmers to optimise yields, logistics firms to cut delays and start-ups in regional towns to reach global markets. Used properly, AI is not about replacing people. It is about backing people.”
“It is great to see we are delivering this where it is most needed and maximising its use while ensuring that all students can reach their full potential with this investment.”
“When we were talking about road safety yesterday, I mentioned a school that was on two sites and said students had to cross a busy road to get from one to the other. That is this very school in Ballinasloe, so it is great to see there is finally progress on this. I acknowledge former Senator Aisling Dolan, whose first Commencement matter, I believe, in 2021, was about progressing the school development project for Scoil an Chroí Naofa. In 2023 it finally got the final planning permission for that, and the work has started since then. We acknowledge the Minister for having listened. A number of areas have benefited. Gurteen national school were here from Galway a few moments ago. Galway alone, since 2020, has benefited from €250-odd million invested in capital funding for school projects.”
“Last Monday I was in Scoil an Chroí Naofa in Ballinasloe, in the company of Deputy Martin Daly, Deputy Kerrane and Councillor Alan Harney. We met with the board after they had been on Radio 1 last Friday talking about the urgent need for a decision and the need to meet the Minister about this. We had made substantial representations to the former Minister for education, Helen McEntee, and the current Minister, Hildegarde Naughton, and the message was well and truly heard in relation to Ballinasloe. I acknowledge that. Scoil an Chroí Naofa in Ballinasloe is a DEIS band 1 primary school with 32 staff and 300 pupils, catering for some of the most vulnerable children in our area facing extreme educational disadvantage.”
“I reiterate Senator O'Loughlin's welcoming of the national development plan sectoral plan for education of the Minister, Deputy Naughton, this morning. The plan published this morning outlines €7.55 billion in investment from 2026 to 2030. The big news for education this morning is that 105 projects are to progress to tender or construction phase between 2026 and 2027, totalling over €1.6 billion in investment, as part of the first tranche of the NDP roll-out. This will deliver 27,000 additional and modernised school places so it has to be strongly welcomed. The focus was on maximising additional capacity while prioritising project roll-out that met the most urgent need, particularly for support for special educational needs provision. It is a great day for education. It is a very welcome day.”
“I support the former Senator with regard to education. We really need to get into schools and transition year students and actually enforce it. Having mentioned that, at the weekend, Threen National School contacted me once again about a very near miss on a main road outside the school, where kids were getting into cars after school and a car nearly hit one of them. They need the safe routes to school scheme, which it is not currently able to access. Yesterday, I was at Scoil an Chroí Naofa in Ballinasloe, a two-sited primary school. Hopefully we will be able to address that. Deputy Martin Daly and I have made numerous representations to the Minister about the new school build. It will be on one site, moving forward, with a bit of luck. In this day and age, we cannot have students crossing main roads during their school day.”
“That was sent in to us all by a girl from Finglas, Ella, who is looking for a ban on scramblers and e-scooters. We all know that legislation exists to stop that but I would like to reiterate the call to support the Garda in enforcing this law. I support the call to have the Minister for Transport in to discuss this. This follows from the increase in road deaths in 2025, information about which was published last week. The report showed that a total of 185 people lost their lives in 174 fatal collisions on public roads in 2025, which represented an 8% increase in deaths on our roads last year. A total of 41 of those, or 22%, were pedestrians. Fourteen, or 8%, were pedal cyclists. Three, or 2%, were attributed to e-scooters. In this day and age, we have done so much and enacted so many laws. We just need to get down to enforcing them.”
“I, too, would like to be associated with the condolences to the family of Brian Crowley and to the Cathaoirleach. I will not go over what Senators Ryan, Comyn and Fitzpatrick have said, but I will raise the passing of Grace Lynch as well. Like so many in this House, I have got a lot of correspondence in relation to this matter. One item of correspondence which hit home stated that Grace Lynch is not just a number, a statistic or a headline, but a young girl so full of life and energy who always had a smile on her face and was constantly laughing and joking; she never let anything get to her; she was so full of joy and happiness; and she made sure to spread that energy wherever she went. Just last week, the correspondent sat behind this girl in class.”
“The beauty of it is that it is highlighting a number of areas in rural Ireland where significant investment is not needed to bring in tourism. It is untapped tourism. Walking tourism is our fastest growing tourism sector in the country at the moment and we need to get out and support initiatives, such as Mr. Schewe’s initiative, and the voluntary community in promoting the meitheal that we have in Ireland. We should promote communities coming together and emphasising and highlighting what they have. I look forward to welcoming anyone who wants to see the “Irish West Camino: A Pilgrimage Reborn” in any one of the showings over the weekend.”
“Jeremy Schewe, who has participated in the Irish Camino, or the Ireland West Camino, for a number of years. Some people know it as the way of St. Patrick, as it goes from Downpatrick to Croagh Patrick. We were lucky to meet a number of Senators and TDs this morning to discuss that particular project. I want to take this moment to highlight that “Ireland West Camino: A Pilgrimage Reborn” is a documentary that Mr. Schewe has commissioned. It will be premiering in the Mayo Movie World, Castlebar, on Thursday – tomorrow - at 6 p.m. It will also be shown in the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre on Saturday at 2 p.m.; Knock House Hotel, Knock, on Sunday at 6 p.m.; and Ballintubber Abbey, County Mayo, on Monday at 6 p.m.”
“I also welcome the measures this week announced for active travel. A total of €360 million will be available for schemes like the safe routes to schools, SRTS, programme which is an area on which I worked closely with a lot of councillors in County Roscommon, including councillors in north Roscommon such as Councillor Liam Callaghan and councillors in south Roscommon such as Councillor Valerie Duffy. Thankfully, their advocacy for schemes for particular schools that were quite dangerous have been accepted. I cannot wait to see the works taking place around the schools around Roscommon. I also welcome the significant investment in greenways. Greenways and national trails are something for which I have been advocate for a number of years, long before I was ever in this House. I welcome my guest, Mr.”
“Michael's Special School in Castlerea were all included in the recently announced programme for Roscommon. It is a very important programme. We must also be aware of the fact that a large number of schools were never taken in and able to apply for that particular programme. We have commitments in the programme for Government to expand it. The safety of kids getting to school and the provision of safe routes and access are very important. These are issues on which we should be focused. I hope we can deliver the expansion of that particular programme a little earlier than currently scheduled. Happy Christmas.”
“I, too, would like to be associated with the seasons greetings to all of the staff of Leinster House and the Seanad. There was a moment when Senator Andrews was giving out his greetings that I thought he was about to extend them to Government Members. I would like to send greetings to everybody in this House. One of the first times my name was mentioned in this particular House was in relation to safe routes to school. I believe it was Senator Ahearn who raised it when I was looking for access for some local schools to that particular scheme. I welcomed the announcement this week of safe routes to school. A lot of the schools had been on that list since 2021. Gaelscoil de hÍde in Roscommon, Roxboro National School, St. Patrick's National School and St.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I will look into the network repair guarantee. This Commencement matter was timely because it is highly likely that before this House sits again, a lot of my constituents and other constituents across the west will have experienced some outages due to storms that may come. Considering that we did not deliver the guidelines for corridors in forestry this year, which led to a lot of power outages, I had to come to the House and ask for some measure to support constituents during outages. I and my constituents were not familiar with the fact that funding is available for people who experience outages, in particular extended outages over 12 hours or for days. It is something I will make people aware of over the coming weeks and months. I again thank the Minister of State for coming to the House this morning.”
“As we ask households to shoulder the higher costs of funding long-term resilience, we must also show that the system responds fairly when it fails them. Targeting resources at those on lower incomes remains essential, but fairness should apply to everyone. Waiving the standing charge during outages is a modest and practical reform that acknowledges real hardship, respects common sense and strengthens confidence in our energy system. Investment and fairness must go hand in hand. We can and should deliver both.”
“The standing charge is intended to cover the cost of maintaining access to the network. That is understandable, but what happens when access is not available? When homes are disconnected from the grid through no fault of the customer, continuing to apply the charges makes little sense and feels deeply unfair. If I have no electricity, I am not paying for units. Equally, I should not pay for standing charges for a service that I am not receiving. The proposal is not about undermining investment or weakening the grid. In fact, it reinforces accountability and public trust in the system. Waiving the standing charge during verified power outages, whether due to storm damage or scheduled maintenance, would demonstrate that consumers are treated as partners in the energy transition, not simply as a revenue source.”
“At a time when households are under significant financial pressure, this cannot be ignored. While the extension of the VAT reduction on electricity, the widening of eligibility for the fuel allowance between September and April and targeted support for low income families are all positive steps, they do not address the basic issue of fairness. A standing charge is applied when no electricity is being supplied. Across the country, thousands of households have experienced prolonged power outages over the past 12 months due to storms, network faults and planned maintenance. In some cases, families were without power for days. During these outages, people were not consuming electricity. They were not using appliances, heating homes or charging devices, yet they were still charged a daily standing charge.”
“This investment, sanctioned by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, will see €13.8 billion spent by ESB Networks and EirGrid, with the potential for the figure to rise to €18.9 billion over the next five years if regulatory targets are met. I have consistently supported investment in our electricity network. A resilient and modern grid is essential to meet the needs of our growing population and changing energy system. These upgrades will facilitate the building of 300,000 new homes by 2030, enable the connection of 1 million electric vehicles and support 680,000 heat pumps. That ambition is welcome and necessary. However, ambition must also come with fairness. Domestic users will bear 55% of these costs, while businesses will carry 45%. Network tariffs already account for between 25% and 30% of the average electricity bill.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and wish him and his family a happy Christmas. I hope he gets a chance to rest over the Christmas period. Electricity is an essential service that every household and business in this country relies on every day. That is why decisions around electricity pricing, network investment and charges on consumers must be rooted not only in technical necessity but in common sense. In the coming year, electricity customers in Ireland will see increased costs of up to €1.75 per month, before VAT, introduced to fund critical investment in the upgrading of our national electricity grid.”
“There are glaring gaps throughout the country where opportunities exist. Apprenticeships can be delivered in greater numbers and where they are needed. They must be delivered in regions where they will not add to student accommodation problems. There is an opportunity to develop a lot more apprenticeship centres in the regions. The budget for apprenticeships increased by €79 million this year and the overall budget now stands at around €410 million. Funding is not the issue. Capacity is the issue. I ask for a debate as early in the new year as possible on the delivery of regional apprenticeship centres to meet national demand for apprenticeships.”
“Since I came to the Seanad in February, I have brought up the need for apprenticeships almost monthly. I was delighted to read that the Minister of State with responsibility for apprenticeships, Deputy Harkin, raised a point recently in the Dáil to say that an increase in the number of construction workers was the only way Ireland would meet its optimistic housing targets and an increase in apprenticeships was essential for achieving and developing our renewable energy. I have constantly called the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, to attend for a discussion, but I now believe the time is right to call the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, as soon as possible in the new year to come in and address this House about apprenticeships and meeting our housing and renewable energy targets.”
“That scheme, which allowed for vacant commercial properties - namely, shops and pubs - to be converted into residential properties, was due to end on 31 September this year. I am delighted to see it is coming up in the Dáil Chamber tomorrow. I believe it will be discussed in this House as well. It is an important element in revitalising, restoring and bringing people back into our rural towns and villages.”
“I want to highlight the fact that even though it was not viable for the credit union to maintain the building, it is maintaining the ATM service in Elphin, allowing people to do lodgements in a secure box there, facilitating withdrawals and providing an additional service for people with accessibility needs. All of these are important elements of providing financial services in rural Ireland. Even though the facility is closed, the fact the credit union is continuing to provide those facilities demonstrates the ethos we need to encourage in that debate. I welcome tomorrow's debate in the Dáil addressing SI 75/2022 - Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022.”
“Last week I called for a debate on the trend of small towns and villages losing financial services. It was covered in local media at the weekend and that resulted in one of the institutes I mentioned, the credit union in Elphin, getting in touch with me. It is closing down the service it was providing in Elphin. That is based on trends it is looking at but the closure still deserves inclusion in a debate in this House. A number of the credit union's members use its online services and a number use services in other facilities. The facility in Elphin was only open for two hours and 40 minutes per week anyway. It is encouraging its members to go ten minutes down the road to use the same services in Strokestown.”
“There was a similar event in Monksland. I compliment all those voluntary committees and encourage people to support those small rural businesses that put so much work into our rural communities.”
“I was contacted recently by representatives of Bannon's service station in Bellanamullia, which is agency for An Post. Due to what they have been told is communication disruption, their cash machine has been taken out. This means that they can no longer provide that service. We need a debate in this House on the provision of rural financial services to ensure that the most marginalised and isolated in our society have access to financial services and the cash that they need. I compliment all the rural traders in Roscommon predominantly, though I am sure the effort has been replicated across the country, who have been out in recent weeks hanging Christmas lights. Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the lighting ceremonies in Castlerea and Boyle in Roscommon. I also attended the Christmas market experience in Roscommon town.”
“I call for a debate on the wider trend of small towns losing essential financial services facilities. In the recent budget, additional funding was provided for An Post, which was very much appreciated. We have all received correspondence following that. We had a recent debate in this House on the provision of access to cash to try to ensure that those in predominantly rural areas will be served by and have access to these facilities. Despite that, I read last week that the credit union in Elphin in north-west Roscommon is being closed and that there are no plans to reopen it. There was talk that there were some structural works that had to be done in the vicinity, but in any other urban area, such works would have happened while the service was still being delivered or the operators of the service would have found temporary accommodation.”
“What the local authority officials told me is that the small number of people who believed they were on the scheme but have been told they cannot avail of it, the local authority has no scheme from which to draw down the waiver to get it back and that is the only blockage that I am trying to relieve. I thank the Minister of State for his answer.”
“I thank the Minister of State. The number is small. In my own local authority I believe there is a maximum of 40 applicants. Considering this scheme has benefited over 60,000 people, it has done what it was created to do. I understand it was created as a temporary measure. It was designed and introduced to make building viable. Under facilitating investment and addressing viability, the programme for Government that the Minister of State and I, and all my colleagues, signed up for commits to measures such as development levy waivers, Uisce Éireann connection charge rebates and the croí cónaithe scheme. We know the great work happening in all those areas.”