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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“A small adjustment now would reinforce those achievements and show that the system remains compassionate, responsive and fair. I acknowledge the progress that has been made and I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's answer.”
“I am not calling for a reopening of the entire scheme, but I believe that a fair and practical path - a one-off inclusion mechanism for this limited group - for those who can demonstrate they commenced on time within the qualifying period and are on track to finish before December 2026 would honour the spirit of the waiver without undermining the structure of the scheme. This approach would recognise genuine good faith efforts. It would support households who stepped up when the Government encouraged people to build. It would ensure no family is left carrying an unexpected burden because of an administrative misunderstanding. We have seen the power of this scheme in the commencements in construction activity and the confidence it gives families.”
“The shoulder the costs that urban households face, yet they also pay the same development contributions despite receiving none of the local authority services in return. For many, that has always felt like a heavy and somewhat confusing burden. Now, with the waiver closed, the additional financial pressure is causing real distress among people who believe, honestly and reasonably, that they have met the guidelines on time. These families are building their own homes. It is often their first or forever home. They are not developers or speculators; they are people trying to put down roots in their own communities.”
“These families are not now asking for special treatment. They simply believe that they need a hand. They believed they were doing everything right. They moved forward when the Government asked them to do so. They are still working hard to complete their homes in time to meet that 2026 deadline. They now find themselves facing unexpected bills of €5,000, €10,000 or more that they had every reason to believe would have been waived under the scheme's remit. This situation is more strongly felt in rural Ireland, where many of these one-off houses are located. Unlike urban developments, rural households do not receive or benefit from the same public lighting, footpaths and connections to public sewerage as urban households. They have to install their own septic tanks and maintain their own infrastructure.”
“The scheme is now closed to new applicants and those who have been approved have until December 2026 to complete their build. It is important because development contributions can range from €4,000 to over €12,000, depending on the local authority, so for many families, that level of support meant the difference between moving ahead and putting their plans on hold. I want to raise an issue that has come up repeatedly with people in my area. These are people who genuinely acted in good faith and commenced their build within the correct timeframe but did not realise they needed to submit a separate application for the waiver before the closing date. Some were unaware, some misunderstood the process, while others assumed that beginning their build on time automatically qualified them for the waiver.”
“The Minister of State is welcome. He has answered more of my Commencement matters than anybody else this year. If the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, had been appointed sooner, he would be up there with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan. I thank him for that. The local development levy waiver scheme has been one of the most effective measures introduced to support people to begin building at a time of rising cost and uncertainty. It formed part of a wider suite of actions that helped to deliver housing commencements in recent years and it must be commended. More than 60,000 households have directly benefited from the temporary waiver. It has played an important role in keeping projects viable in communities right across the country.”
“Children under 16 are not permitted to operate or be carried as a passenger on an e-scooter. I do not believe there is strong enough enforcement on that. I hope that does not relate to the lack of gardaí around the country as well. All of these things could be brought into a road safety debate.”
“I know some of my colleagues mentioned this already but a recent report by the faculty of paediatricians in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland highlighted falls from e-scooters leading to brain injuries. These two issues are related because I believe we need a lot more enforcement on our roads. We especially need a lot more enforcement when it comes to e-scooters. At this time of year, more of these e-scooters will be purchased. There are some startling figures, but presentation of traumatic brain injuries for people over 16 has doubled since we introduced legislation about the legal use of e-scooters. That is something we need to have a conversation about in this House as well. One of the doctors involved in this report is urging parents not to buy e-scooters for their children this Christmas.”
“The Vision Zero project aims to eliminate road deaths by 2050. We are coming into the time of year when, unfortunately, there are a lot more road crashes and fatalities. Mary Ward's name was etched into history back in 1869 when her death in Ireland was recorded as the first road fatality in the world. The explanation in the record was "road death". Since then, we have had a long litany of such deaths. We need a debate in this House, not just about highlighting visibility and small measures but looking also at the bigger picture. Vision Zero accepts humans will make mistakes but the design of our road system and our laws are where we need to focus in tackling those minor errors. I am calling for that debate to happen, if possible.”
“At a time when the Government is looking at removing roadblocks to housing and improving our electricity, water and transport infrastructure, I would hope we could be more proactive in relation to the services we are providing to support the people who will be moving into these houses rather than reactively trying to improve these services when we see the increase in population at a later stage. This seems to be a bigger issue in rural counties where fire services cover vast areas. Somehow the spend is coming in at a much lower level than it potentially should be. I call for a debate, when the opportunity presents itself, on the delivery of a more consistent service across the country and on consistent investment in that service.”
“I highlight the great work of our fire services nationally, both the full-time and the part-time services that support our communities all over the country. At the same time, I highlight the recent National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, report. NOAC evaluates all of the local authorities and looks at their spending. I highlight the disparity across the country in what is being spent on fire services and in the service that is provided. Based on the 2024 figures, the average cost per capita is €74.85. However, there is a glaring underspend in a number of local authorities. Many of the local authorities are spending approximately half that amount on the service they are providing.”
“I acknowledge that I am sharing time with Senator Cathal Byrne but I will just say that protecting Ireland's indigenous fishing businesses is about much more than defending our coastal interests. It is about keeping coastal communities alive, sustaining local enterprise and ensuring that the wealth of our seas translates into real lasting security for the people who have depended on it for generations.”
“I acknowledge the Government's investment under the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme but for most indigenous fishing businesses the reality is that they are trying to survive with a squeeze from every direction. ICES scientific advice points towards quota reductions in key stocks. The costs of fuel, insurance and compliance are all climbing, as my colleagues have said. At the same time, international agreements have allowed third countries increased access to the waters around Ireland. We are particularly concerned where third countries, including Norway, seek quota shares and set total allowable catches that do not align with ICES advice. That is not responsible stewardship of shared stocks and it does not treat the EU or Ireland as an equal partner.”
“Bord Iascaigh Mhara's analysis shows that the seafood industry accounts for approximately 6% of all jobs in coastal areas, rising to as high as 14% in some of the most fishing dependent communities. In the main ports, over 8,700 jobs are supported and an estimated €736 million is generated for the economy each year. For many towns and villages, if fishing slows, everything slows. These are overwhelmingly indigenous family-owned businesses, local boat owners, small processors, ice plants, hauliers, engineers, net makers and co-ops that keep money circulating on the pier and on the high street. If those enterprises fail, there is no multinational waiting in the wings to replace them. What follows is out-migration, empty harbours and closed school gates.”
“I welcome the Minister of State. I compliment my colleagues Senators Boyle and O'Donovan for leading on the motion. I will not, like Senator Paul Daly, say that I am on a coastline or anything like that. I am a County Roscommon man but I understand the impact of certain sectors on rural communities, and I do not believe it is too late to be making changes. Looking back, we can always think of a time when it might have been a better decision but the next best time is right now, and that is what this motion is leading to. I highlight that the seafood economy is worth in the region of €1.24 billion in terms of GDP. Behind that headline are almost 17,000 men and women employed directly or indirectly in fishing, aquaculture, processing and the wider seafood chain. This is not a niche sector in our coastal communities.”
“I remind the House that there is a commitment in the programme for Government to provide capital investment to build or purchase State-owned childcare facilities to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. I believe that particular argument refers specifically to Boyle in north west Roscommon. I would also like to back up Senator Ahearn's call for clarity on the Storm Éowyn supports for local authorities. My own home county was one of the worst affected. I believe the local authority there is owed €1.2 million. That is not something that the local authority is able to carry indefinitely. No clarity has been given on when it will receive this payment. I support the call to try to get some clarity on that.”
“This morning I raised the issue of access and inclusion in child care as a Commencement matter with the Minister for children, Deputy Foley. Unfortunately, the Minister was not able to attend. However, following that, the Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Councillor Liam Callaghan, was in touch with me. He raised the issue of the Boyle community childcare committee. The latest census, in 2022, highlighted the fact that 175 children living in the Boyle urban area were under the age of four. Out of 63 childcare spaces available in the town, it is likely that only 33 of them are for more than three early childhood care and education programme, ECCE, hours. That is what was available full time. I would welcome a discussion in this House on childcare once again.”
“I thank the Minister of State. In relation to the AIM programme, 69% of participants saw an improvement in peer interaction and more than 95% of providers reported a positive impact on inclusion. That is what we want to see. I did, however, highlight that in some cases parents of children with additional needs are paying more and receiving less. That is an anomaly that we cannot stand over and one that we need to address. In my first call, I asked that the review include AIM's flexibility, so that the Minister would be flexible and that when I raise this issue, I would not get a traditional piece of correspondence that does not reference the individual case. The flexibility should be there to take on board the individual situation like this where the mother is an occupational therapist and we need her working.”
“The direction of travel is right but families need the gap closed. Inclusion cannot be partial or limited by the hours on a funding form. It must be full, meaningful and available to every child. This is the standard we should set. It is the commitment we owe to families and it is what the expansion and enhancement of AIM must now deliver.”
“We need a model that supports full-day participation where required, not one that inadvertently incentivises limited hours. We also need full delivery of the programme for Government commitment to extend AIM to younger children. We need a clear timeline and we need actions and accountability on this. We must ensure that no family is ever put in a position where they are paying more for fewer hours simply because their child has additional needs. That is the opposite to inclusion. Inclusion must be embedded in the wider reform of early learning and childcare, including the expansion of State-led services and the additional 700 places planned for next year. These services must be inclusive by design and not retrofitted for inclusion later. AIM is a strong model with strong outcomes.”
“The mother, in this case, works as an occupational therapist supporting children with additional needs, yet the AIM system does not support her own child to access the hours he needs. This is a policy unintentionally making workforce shortages worse in another critical sector and it is a reminder that inclusion must be more than a principle. It has to function in practice. What this example shows is simple. Parents of children with additional needs are, in some cases, paying more and receiving less, not because services do not care but because the funding model does not align with the real hours children need. We now have an opportunity to fix this so I am calling for the following. We need a full and immediate review of the AIM flexibility.”
“I will not use the child's name but their situation is, sadly, familiar to too many. Their weekly crèche fee is €170 and, for that, they receive up to 30 hours of childcare, with the ECCE providing a total of 45 hours per week. When their child was identified as having additional needs, the crèche reduced its childcare hours from 30 to 12, and because only 12 hours were now being provided, the crèche could only draw down 12 hours of the ECS grant. Its funding fell yet the fee charged to the parents remained exactly the same. This family is now paying more than €120 extra per month for less than half the childcare hours they had before. Like so many parents, often mothers, they have had to reduce their own working hours to fill that gap.”
“More than eight out of ten parents say it benefits their child, and providers overwhelmingly report that it strengthens inclusion in their settings. Budget 2026 showed the Government's commitment in real terms, with the AIM budget rising to €86 million, a 50% increase in just two years. That funding will support almost 9,000 children with disabilities next year in addition to the 2,000 already benefiting from AIM+, which extends targeted supports beyond the ECCE hours. The programme for Government also sets out a clear direction to examine and expand AIM and make it available to younger children. That commitment now needs to be carried through with urgency and ambition, because despite the investment and progress, too many families are still falling through the gaps. I want to share an experience of one family who came to me recently.”
“The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. I wish her the very best of luck in her new role. I congratulate her on that. She has always been a great supporter of this Chamber and someone who has always shown up. We hope we can rely on her to do the same in the future. I hope she does not forget her Roscommon roots if there are ever any favours I need called in as well. Inclusion does not begin in the workplace; it begins in early childhood. If we are to be serious about building an inclusive society then we must ensure that children with disabilities can take part in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme not partially or conditionally but fully. The access and inclusion model, AIM, is central to that mission. It is an evidence-based model, evaluated independently, and it works.”
“I have heard stories coming up to Christmas that people are making significant savings by buying these illegally imported vapes and selling them on. People are unknowingly buying and using vapes that are unsafe, potentially contain out-of-date substances and do not have the proper safety messaging. We need to protect the businesses in Ireland that are doing things properly by having a debate on this issue and trying to come up with a mechanism to stop this. We want to see more people in our society reach the age of Senator Wilson. I believe that people using these improperly branded vapes could have a detrimental effect on that so I call for that discussion.”
“I was going to sing, but I was beaten to it. I wish to be associated with the well-wishes to Senator Wilson. I also support the call for a debate in this House on the national cancer strategy. We were at a good discussion this morning, and with the current strategy coming to an end next year, it is timely we have an opportunity to debate it in this House. I am hearing more and more stories of UK-branded vapes being sold in Ireland. A lot of them are being sold across the counter and a lot on street corners. While it is not illegal to bring them into the country, they should be rebranded and should include the proper safety messages and notices. There needs to be a discussion on that because it is an illegal sector when they are being imported and sold wholesale.”
“I thank the Minister for providing information so that we are able to nip in the bud false, unsubstantiated information spread throughout our constituencies by certain elements to create hatred in relation to IPAS centres.”
“If someone has already been refused international protection in another EU state, their case should move through an accelerated inadmissibility process. This is not about being harsh; it is about protecting the integrity of the system so it works for those who genuinely need it, and for the Irish people who rely on its being credible and efficient. This motion is about getting the balance right – firm when needed and fair at all times. Migration brings huge value to Ireland but we need a system that is quicker, clearer and more secure. Let us invest in it and restore confidence in it. Let us build a migration system that reflects the very best of Ireland: compassion, responsibility and efficiency.”
“At the same time, we cannot ignore perception. Ireland is a warm and welcoming country – long may that continue – but there is a growing sense internationally that Ireland is the place to go. In some cases, there is a kind of “treasure Ireland” mentality, the view being that arriving here guarantees a soft system or outcome. We need to be gentle but we clearly need to nip this perception in the bud. Compassion does not mean a lack of structure, and that is why we need a firm and secure migration framework. That means stronger border checks, increased use of fingerprints and photographic evidence to verify identity, faster decisions for people arriving with false or no documentation, and accelerated processing for applicants from safe countries.”
“If we want functioning hospitals and nursing homes, strong multinationals and a competitive economy, we need the nurses, carers, technicians, engineers and specialists who choose to come to Ireland. Migrants contribute to this country every single day. Our economic progress depends on a system that allows them to enter and work in Ireland without unnecessary delay. Right now, processing times for visas and immigration permissions are far too slow. That is not fair on employers and communities, and it is certainly not fair on genuine applicants who are left in limbo. That is why I am calling for serious investment in staffing and systems so we can dramatically reduce the timelines for processing visa and immigration applications. Efficiency is not harsh. It is humane, responsible and respectful.”
“The first line of this motion acknowledges Irish people emigrated to places throughout the world in times of famine and, more recently, in times of economic difficulty. We must always acknowledge that those people proved their worth. They got involved in the communities they moved to and respected the rules of the countries they moved to. We must acknowledge that also. Here in Ireland, migration plays a crucial role in the economy. Thousands of people come here to work. One in five has come to study and support our essential services. The truth is that we need them. If we want to deliver on national policies like Housing for All or Delivering Homes, Building Communities, we need the skilled workers our construction sector is crying out for.”
“We should use this moment to build long-term careers in the west and around rural Ireland, especially for young people who want to work in digital and creative industries. The Bill gives us a chance to grow the Irish screen sector in a balanced way, supporting jobs, creativity and regional development. Roscommon-Galway has the talent, ambition and community spirit, as is clear from the two projects I mentioned. With projects like An Bealach moving forward, we are ready to take the opportunity of any additional investment that Screen Ireland gets. I welcome and support the Bill. I thank the Minister of State.”
“We only need to look at "An Cailín Ciúin", a small Irish film that reached audiences across the world. Who is to say that the next great Irish success cannot come from Roscommon-Galway with the additional regional balance of investment? If we invest in talent and facilities, there is no limit to what can be achieved across our regions. I support this Bill. It strengthens the creative economy and gives Ireland the ability to invest in more projects. I would like to see regional balance. The funding should not be Dublin-focused solely but must support talent and projects across the country. We should connect Screen Ireland with more local initiatives such as An Bealach, so that new studios and training centres become part of our national production network.”
“I mention a project in Ballaghaderreen, An Bealach, where there is a plan to develop a state-of-the-art extended reality, or XR, studio and digital innovation hub. The project already has planning permission. Those behind it have a clear vision and there is strong community backing for a facility like this. The aim is to create a modern space where film, TV, digital production, virtual reality and training can come together. This could mean lots of new jobs, new skills for young people and new investment right in the heart of our region. I compliment the community down there and the committee of An Bealach, John Higgins, Councillor Micheál Frain, and the Western Development Commission and Roscommon County Council for supporting that particular project. We have already seen and heard what Irish stories can achieve.”
“One, which I saw recently, is “Ann”, a 2022 film that dramatised the real life story of Ann Lovett, a 15-year-old girl who died in childbirth in a grotto in Granard in Longford in 1984. That film was produced in Boyle in County Roscommon and it highlighted a story that really shook the nation. In the same year, another horror movie, "The Cellar", was produced in Castlerea in Roscommon. It was shot at Clonalis House, the home of the O'Connors in Roscommon and the last High King of Ireland. These two productions were not supported by Screen Ireland. I hope, with the additional investment, that the next time we are talking about this, we will talk about films that were produced in Roscommon and supported by this funding. I also highlight important work that is happening in the western region.”
“In recent years, investment in the Irish screen industry has developed a very strong economic return and that money has gone into local jobs and local businesses, which is good for us all. In the west, across Roscommon, Galway and surrounding counties, we are already seeing huge benefit from this investment. The Minister of State mentioned “Obituary”, which was filmed in Ballyshannon in Donegal, a town that very much needs that investment. A derelict building was used for much of the production, too. It is great to see that. Regional funds and supports have helped attract production to many areas and created jobs and confidence across the sector. I will highlight two films.”
“I will also speak in support of the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2025, a Bill that increases the amount Screen Ireland can invest, loan or guarantee to support films, TV and digital productions. It is a straightforward amendment but an important one. It will allow the sector to grow, create more jobs and to support more Irish stories on screen. The screen industry is often judged in terms of glamorous shining lights, red carpets and ceremonies but the real impact we all feel in Ireland is with the ordinary people on the ground - the crew members, the small businesses that benefit from these, the writers, actors, technicians, hotels, drivers, catering carts and many more small businesses.”
“At the time, I said I hoped that would not inhibit our allocation of Garda numbers, which is something we desperately need. I tried to raise the lack of an allocation as a Commencement matter, but the Department of justice stated it was not allowed to discuss it and it was the Commissioner's role. I tried to reword it in a few different ways to see if I could get it through but, unfortunately, I was kicked back each time. I call for that debate in this House. What other way have we of influencing that and supporting the people in our home constituencies who desperately need to see numbers of uniformed gardaí on the street? I also commend Senator Fitzpatrick on the uplifting way she opened today's proceedings by complimenting and acknowledging everybody. The one name she left off the list was the Lord Mayor, Ray McAdam.”
“I call for a debate in this House on Garda numbers nationwide. Last week, 194 probationary gardaí were distributed across 19 divisions throughout the country. One of the divisions, which happens to be my home division of Roscommon, Longford and Mayo, received no allocation. I have spoken to a number of locals and people who have previously been on the community policing forum. There is a lack of uniformed gardaí for which there is a real demand in our area. Recent surveys, including one by PhoneWatch on Central Statistics Office figures, indicates that burglaries in that district of Roscommon, Longford and Mayo are down 45% in the last ten years. In the last two or three weeks, another report stated Roscommon is the safest place in the country to raise a family.”
“I would like to call for a debate on the school bus service once again and on the communication with the parents of the students accessing that bus service. I stand with my colleague and extend the warmest congratulations to the former Minister, Paschal Donohoe, as he takes on his new role with the World Bank. For nearly two decades, he has been an exemplary representative. His leadership has got us through things like Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and major global uncertainty. I wish him and his family the very best. The one thing I will miss is the "Prime Time" debates on budget day when Paschal regularly taught a lesson to whomever his opponent was on the night on why he had made the decisions and why they were in the best interests of the country.”
“I raise an issue that is affecting a lot of schoolgoing kids in Roscommon, especially in the Athlone municipal district. This relates to kids trying to get to school on a daily basis in Roscommon town and the unpredictability and unreliability of the school bus service. This has been raised with me by a number of the councillors in Roscommon's Athlone municipal district, namely, Councillors Domnick Connolly and Valerie Duffy. They are highlighting the bus that services areas like Mote Park, Four Roads, Rahara, Curraghboy and Ballymurray. In the last 12 months, there have been at least 12 to 15 occasions when that school bus has not shown up. In the age of social media and always being connected, parents are still only finding out about this as kids are standing on the side of the road as opposed to being notified in advance.”
“I am supporting the Bill on Second Stage because it enables critical investment in our national grid, supports the energy transition and strengthens the ESB's financial foundations. I would like to see it quickly followed by forestry corridor and vegetation management amendments, as we were promised in July. I need to see a timeline in relation to that, if possible. We need a co-ordinated response to protect against storms like Storm Éowyn, Storm Floris and Storm Amy. Storm Floris was only a yellow warning, yet we still had power outages in the west of Ireland. We need a co-ordinated approach on this. I welcome the Bill. I support the Minister on this Bill, but I will have to look at an amendment that may include that tomorrow.”
“I am going back to the element that I was hoping to see in this and what communities in the west need, namely, grid resilience in forestry corridors, a compensation framework for affected landowners and a clear statutory mandate for vegetation management around power lines. I am tight for time but when I raised this in a Commencement matter earlier this month, I was referred to this Bill. This Bill was going to address all of these elements. I have heard that we have until tomorrow afternoon to look at some amendments for this. As someone who called for investment, I am fully supportive of the investment in the network, but the resilience that we need from constituents in the west of Ireland is something that I want to see.”
“I understand that separate legislation is still pending at the moment, and that delays matters, but people in rural Ireland cannot wait. We are facing into another winter of potential power outages and action needs to be taken. I acknowledge that this Bill allows the ESB to issue new capital stock to be subscribed to by the Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment, and the Minister for public expenditure at a cost of €1.5 billion. Second, it raises the ESB's statutory borrowing limits from €12 billion to €17 billion to enable delivery of the PR6 investment programme.”
“It is also intended to improve network resilience against future weather events, a point that resonates deeply with my part of the country. I have spoken at length in this House on numerous occasions about the amount of time we have spent without power in west Roscommon and elsewhere in the western part of the country due to storm damage. During Storm Éowyn last February, 768,000 customers were left without power, some for up to three and a half weeks. I was delighted to hear the Minister announce the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 on 29 July 2025. The idea of it was to bolster the storm resilience of the electricity grid. Yet, when I read the text before us, it does not go into as much detail as I would like to see on the provision of forestry corridors and on powers when it comes to vegetation management.”
“The Minister is welcome to the Chamber. This Bill is significant. It will enable the ESB to deliver the largest single expansion and reinforcement of our national electricity network in decades. It will allow the ESB to borrow and invest at competitive rates, strengthening both our grid and our energy security. As a councillor, on 25 November 2024, I had a motion before Roscommon County Council calling for investment in our electricity infrastructure. I am delighted to hear that the Minister is delivering this and that he was listening to that call and the calls of many other councillors nationwide. The level of investment is essential if we are to meet the 50% increase in electricity demand expected by 2035 and to support housing, growth in foreign direct investment and the transition to renewable energy.”
“It is a driving factor behind kidney failure, sight loss, cardiac disease and amputations. When people cannot access the right tools or timely specialist care, outcomes worsen and costs rise. Ireland is behind many European partners in access to modern, data-driven diabetes care. World Diabetes Day is an opportunity to change course. We need equitable access to CGM for all who need it, multi-annual funding for specialist diabetes teams, rapid publication of a national diabetes strategy and a national diabetes register to ensure transparency and accountability. Re-establishing the Oireachtas cross-party group on diabetes will help deliver the unified leadership this issue demands. By taking these steps, we can improve outcomes, reduce complications and offer real hope to anyone living with diabetes in Ireland.”
“Tomorrow, Friday, 14 November, is World Diabetes Day. World Diabetes Day reminds us that diabetes is growing in Ireland. It is a national challenge requiring urgent and co-ordinated policy action. Today, more than 300,000 people, or one in 17 of our population, live with diabetes, with between 12,000 and 14,000 new cases every year. Type 2 diabetes is projected to rise by 60% in the next ten to 15 years. Diabetes already accounts for between 10% and 12% of the HSE budget and 60% of the costs relating to preventable complications. Approximately 52% of healthcare professionals believe better access to continuous glucose monitoring, CGM, would significantly improve Type 2 diabetes management, yet many patients face long waiting times or no access at all. Diabetes is not just a single condition.”
“We are looking for immediate publication of full details of the extra-time pilot including eligibility and duration. We need to ensure no student is disadvantaged by delays in communication or processing. We need to expand the pilot to cover all students with various specific learning differences by the 2026 exams. We need to look at making extra time a permanent standard accommodation within the RACE scheme. The simple message I tried to get across when we spoke about this at the education and youth committee was that the State Examination Commission was looking for additional time to evaluate all the information. It is the very same thing the students suffering from these conditions are looking for. I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I know she has spoken to us before about this. I thank her for taking that on board.”
“That means every classroom, every school and every community is affected and probably even this Chamber. As we heard from parents and teachers across the country, the processing time for students with dyslexia and dyscalculia is significantly longer, and doing the same work as their peers takes greater effort and more energy and often leaves them mentally drained long before the clock stops. That fatigue does not just affect results; it affects confidence, mental health and the young person's whole relationship with education. When families tell us their child just needs a little more time, that is not a request for special treatment, it is a plea for fairness and a level playing field on the most important days of their school lives. Senator Curley also mentioned what the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, said here back in June.”