Grace Boland
Dublin Fingal West · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I thank the Social Democrats for affording us the opportunity to speak on this important issue. It is one I have raised several times with the Minister of State. I know she is, as I am, committed to delivering homes for adults with intellectual disabilities in their own communities.”
“We have to have a plan, we have to deliver and we have to do more than just listen. We all understand the challenges and the demands, but we need to work together across Government and the local authorities and with the HSE, and we really have to deliver for these families.”
“I also acknowledge the good work of Prosper Fingal in this space, which also provides residential homes for adults with intellectual disabilities. We owe it to these families to move from discussing these proposals to delivering and having clear plans in place.”
“I am more encouraged by the Minister's most recent response. It is important that the public, as well as people working in the Civil Service and public service, sees the benefits of AI.”
“While I heard about a framework and a lot of training, I did not quite hear that we are actually measuring what cost savings, efficiencies and benefits there are, not only for the public service and Civil Service but to the people, our constituents and the public at large.”
“AI has enormous potential to reduce administrative burdens, improve productivity and free up public servants to focus on delivery. Will the Minister outline what measurable progress has been made to date in adopting AI across Departments and Government agencies, what gains have already been achieved and when we will see further gains?”
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“I thank the Minister. There is a real issue with awareness and we need to have a concerted awareness campaign. Fathers simply do not know that they are entitled to take this leave. In regard to increasing the rate of payment, we know the projected child benefit payment this year is actually going to be down €320 million on what was paid last year. We should be looking at supporting families, particularly around payments for family leave. The is money there. We are going to be down €320 million on child benefit last year and I think we should look at increasing the rate at which we are paying for family leave. The Minister might give us an update as to whether that has been costed or looked at.”
“I am very glad that since I had my twins nine years ago, a Fine Gael Government introduced parents' leave, which now stands at nine weeks for each parent. As we know, the take-up of this leave, particularly by dads, is exceptionally low. Research from the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, last year showed that awareness really is part of this, as well as the low level that both parents will be receiving social welfare payments at a time when costs have hugely increased. The Minister might please give us an update as to what he is doing in regard to extending parents' leave and the rate at which it might be paid.”
“From a public policy perspective, this approach risks penalising responsible behaviour and sends the wrong signal to homeowners who act early to make their homes safe. This is not about removing supports from anyone. Expanding the scheme is the right decision. However, fairness demands that we also address those who remediated early, so that all affected families are treated equitably.”
“Another family, through no fault of their own, were not in a position to act and will now, rightly, qualify for State support. However, the outcome is stark. Families who acted early and responsibly are left carrying the full financial burden, while others in an identical situation will receive assistance. This creates a two-tier result, based not on the nature of the damage, but on timing and financial capacity. Article 40.1 of the Constitution provides that citizens are to be treated equally and while the State can make distinctions, they must be rational and proportionate. Here, the distinction arises, not from the defect, which is the same, but from the homeowner's ability to act at an earlier point.”
“I welcome the motion to extend the defective concrete blocks scheme to homes in Fingal. It is an important and overdue step for families who have lived for years with defective materials and the stress and uncertainty that brings. For those households, this offers recognition and a clear pathway to make their homes safe. However, the motion applies only to specific homes already identified and does not address a wider issue of fairness. For example, in my constituency, Fingal West, two homes on the same street have been affected by the same defect. One family, in 2021, made the responsible decision to remediate their home at their own expense. They took on loans, used savings and acted not just for their safety, but for that of their neighbours and passers-by.”
“That is simply not good enough. We have a huge population in the area. We need to have clear criteria from the HSE and the Department about when we can get a D-Doc service and a timeline for expanding the services, and access to 24-hour GP care.”
“I appreciate that. As the Minister of State knows, the surgical hub will be a very welcome addition to the area but it will not deal with the critical issue of the fact that people get sick every time of day and night and need access to a GP. The infrastructure exists in Balbriggan. We have a primary care centre. The population demand is clear. The growth projections are clear. What I am concerned about is that the response to the parliamentary question I received told me there were no plans to expand the GP services in the area. I hope that I am hearing from the Minister of State that the HSE and Minister are open to expanding services. I have been that parent who has had to drive two premature twins to Swords to try to find GP healthcare. The reality is that I did not have access to a car at the time and had to ask a neighbour.”
“Regarding the D-Doc services that are available to us, the parliamentary question response tells me that I can go to Ballymun, Coolock, Hartstown in Clonsilla, which I am not sure I have ever visited before, North Strand Health Centre in Dublin 1, or, the closest, in Swords. The reality is that the Swords D-Doc only stays open Monday to Friday until 11 o'clock and, at the weekends, only from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. We simply do not have access to 24-hour healthcare. You absolutely have to have a car to access any of these health services. There is no direct public transport service to them except for Swords which, as I have just said, closes at either 11 p.m. or 10.30 p.m. It is not good enough and I would really like to understand what the Department of Health is going to do to meet demands in the area.”
“I have tabled many parliamentary questions for the Department asking what the criteria are to get the expanded D-Doc services, and I am getting no answers back about the criteria. There has been major housing growth and we are continuing to see major housing growth. The reality is that Fingal is the growth engine for housing in Dublin if not the country, yet we have not had the increase in health services, education, public transport, roads or other services that need to go with the delivery of houses. I find it concerning that the HSE service planning is relying on historical data or telling me that what was established in 2006 is suitable in 2026. Something is seriously wrong.”
“The Minister of State has heard me say many times before that Fingal is the youngest, fastest-growing area in the country. Balbriggan is the youngest large town in the country and the fastest-growing, yet our D-Doc services are appalling. My understanding is that D-Doc was set up in 2006. Obviously, the population of Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk, and the rural villages of Garrettstown, Naul, Ballyboughal, Rolestown, Oldtown and so on, have all grown hugely since 2006, yet our healthcare services have not expanded in line with population growth. Census 2022 tells us that the north part of my constituency, Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk, and the surrounding villages, has a population of 68,000 people.”
“Therefore, we really need to do something for parents who are looking to the future and those who weathered really bad times in the 1970s and 1980s and know how important it is to put money away for a rainy day but who are seeing the value of their savings eroded through inflation and very low deposit rates.”
“I thank the Tánaiste. I very much welcome that update. It is good to hear that the roadmap will be published in advance of the budget, though it is disappointing to note that the Revenue Commissioners cannot actually track the amount of revenue to the Exchequer. On the issue of removal, the reality is that under the current regime, a retail investor in an ETF faces a much higher tax rate and earlier taxation and cannot offset losses compared with someone investing directly in shares. Low-risk, diversified investing is taxed earlier and more heavily than speculative stock picking.”
“The Funds Sector 2030 review recognised that exchange-traded funds, ETFs, sit at the centre of Ireland's ambition to increase retail participation in capital markets - people who are planning for the future and parents who are planning for their children's college education. The current tax framework, in particular the eight-year deemed disposal rule, is a material barrier to that objective. Could the Tánaiste confirm if his Department has assessed abolishing the rule, what the estimated cost to the Exchequer would be, and when he might make a decision on it?”
“Will the Taoiseach please talk to the Minister for Transport and ask him to instruct the NTA to liaise with both Dublin Airport and Dublin Port to make sure that we install Leap card machines so that visitors to our country can easily access the city?”
“Our airports and ports are the front door to this country, but we are making public transport unnecessarily difficult for visitors from the moment they arrive. Visitors still need a Leap card or the exact coins to use a Dublin Bus service. As we know, contactless tap-and-go is not expected to be fully rolled out in Dublin only until 2028. Leap cards are regularly sold out at Dublin Airport at the few retail outlets that sell them. There are regular reports of people being unable to buy Leap cards. There is a clear lack of visible information for passengers arriving at the airport on where they can purchase them. The reality is that visitors can land in Ireland and still struggle to pay for a simple bus journey into the city. It is not rocket science.”
“I appreciate that. The Minister of State is right to say that we absolutely have to have the data to ensure that our procurement process is robust and is delivering value for money. It is essential. We are here representing the taxpayers and we have to make sure that the taxpayers are getting value for money for services, not only capital projects but also IT projects. This is where we are seeing systemic failures right across the board. I hope the Minister of State will be able to provide an update as to what evaluation processes the Department has been undertaking in recent months across all Departments and agencies.”
“We need to make sure with the projects for which we are awarding contracts that we award them on the basis that they have the competence to deliver them on time and on budget. I very much hope the Department will request that all Departments and agencies will provide annual reports on budget versus outturn.”
“I very much welcome the references to frameworks, guidance and training. That is all very important. We repeatedly see at the public accounts committee systemic failures in procurement processes. I have worked in this space. I am a lawyer. I have advised in this space. Unless we have people who understand the business case and who put in place appropriate milestones, and unless we have appropriate legal protections in place to mitigate the risks and make sure that delivery is pegged to payment, we are setting ourselves up for failure. We see it time and time again. We have a SUSI grant project with €6.4 million paid that is at pre-project phase. The national train control centre will see a €40 million overrun and more. We have to have the confidence and capability, and the Department has to assess budget versus delivery.”
“Public procurement is one of the State's most powerful levers for delivering quality infrastructure and services, yet it is also where we see repeated cost overruns, delays and failed delivery. Good procurement is not about spending more money; it is about spending it wisely. We have to have robust processes in place. The Minister might update us as to what reforms are planned or under consideration to strengthen value-for-money considerations, risk allocation and cost control in the State.”
“In terms of making sure that we are following up and doing everything we can in this House, will the Minister commit to publishing clear data on outcomes of domestic abuse cases, including instances where the victim is allowed to stay in the home rather than having to leave, as well as data on the various delays and barriers in the system? We must ensure that all gardaí have the appropriate knowledge and can support all victims. Will the Minister also commit to bringing forward any necessary changes, whether they be legislative or operational, to ensure victims are not displaced?”
“I appreciate the Minister's comments on this. We know the lived reality is that these measures are not being taken quickly enough. What steps is Cuan taking, with the Minister's support, to deliver in terms of ensuring victims are supported in a timely way so that they remain safe?”
“I met the new superintendent in Balbriggan this week and she confirmed to me that domestic abuse continued to be one of the most persistent issues in north County Dublin and, I have no doubt, throughout the country. Victims should not be the ones forced to abandon their homes. The victim stays and the abuser leaves must become the standard practice and not just a principle. I ask the Minister to provide an update on his work with Cuan to make sure this principle is actually happening in practice.”
“Third, we have to set out a clear pathway towards more equal leave for mothers and fathers, which is actually taken up by both. I am not asking for this to be done overnight but there has to be a clear direction of travel and we have to see the uptake of these leaves increase. This year, child benefit spending is projected to fall by €320 million. Using some of that money to strengthen the various parental leave payments would be a practical and meaningful way to support families and advance equality. Equality cannot just be something we celebrate once a year. It has to live in the policies that shape everyday families' lives and the real choices they can make. If we get those policies right, we will support women, men and families and build a fairer future for our daughters and sons.”
“If we are serious about equality and supporting families, we need to act. There are three practical steps we can take. The first is to increase maternity, paternity and parent's benefit payment so that families can actually afford to take the leave to which they are entitled. If we want fathers to take that leave and mothers to remain in the workforce, the payment cannot be a barrier; it has to enable parents. Second, we have to actively encourage and normalise men taking paternity and parent's leave. Currently, paternity leave is only taken by approximately 50% of men and even fewer take parent's leave, only 25% to 30%. We need public awareness campaigns. We need it to be normalised in every sector from construction to politics to business.”
“We have 26 weeks of maternity benefit, two weeks of paternity benefit and nine weeks of parent's benefit for each parent, but those payments are all at a low, flat weekly rate of €299. For many families, that simply does not reflect the reality of their income, rent or mortgage, or the cost of living. International evidence consistently shows that Ireland ranks among the lowest in the OECD when it comes to income replacement during parental leave because our system relies on a flat rate and we are seeing the wider impact. The average number of children born to a woman in Ireland in her lifetime has now fallen to 1.47, the lowest level in more than 50 years. Families are making decisions about whether and when to have children in the context of financial pressure and a lack of support.”
“When children arrive, families are making decisions in the middle of exhaustion, financial pressure and the reality of keeping a household going. Too often, the outcome is that mothers take a step back from work while fathers return quickly, not because that is what families want but because, financially, they feel they have little or no choice. That is not personal failure; that is policy failure. If we are serious about equality, we have to change that. Equality must mean equality for men as well, and fathers should have a genuine opportunity to take time out of the workplace for caring responsibilities and to spend time with their children, not just in theory but also in reality.”
“When my twins were born, my husband had just started a new job and, like many families, we sat down and tried to figure out how we could make it all work. He was entitled to paternity leave but his employer would not top it up. Instead of taking that paternity leave, he took two weeks of annual leave – not because that is what we wanted but because financially we felt we had no choice. After the cost of in vitro fertilisation, IVF, and suddenly needing two of everything – very happily – those early weeks were already a huge adjustment. Taking paternity leave on a low, flat-rate payment simply was not financially realistic for us at that time. Those two weeks of holidays were almost half of his annual leave gone. This story is not unique; it is repeated in homes right across the country and it is the reality that many families are facing.”
“There are many issues I could speak about today. I could speak about violence against women, which is still far too prevalent. I could speak about how women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds continue to face disproportionate disadvantage or about how caring role and professions traditionally carried out by women remained undervalued in our society. I could speak about the gender pay gap, which many companies continue to try and hide on websites. I could speak about the tsunami of research that shows women in leadership positions and diversity lead to better profitability, stronger governance and greater creativity in business. Despite that evidence, the glass ceiling remains in far too many sectors. Today, I want to focus on steps the Government could take that would genuinely help to level the playing field between men and women.”
“As the Tánaiste knows, Fingal is the youngest and fastest-growing area of the country. We are delivering houses but our education infrastructure needs to catch up. In December 2022, when he was Minister for Further and Higher Education, he visited Swords and announced a college of the future campus. Three years later, we do not seem to be any further on and do not have a timeline for delivery. He might update us and let us know whether a preliminary business case has been concluded and when families in Fingal will see the delivery of the college.”
“We heard very concerningly from the witnesses this week that the procedures the local authorities have to undertake to implement these reduced speed limits are overly bureaucratic. They have to go out to public consultation and they have to pass it through votes. We need to see the Department of Transport really leading and supporting local authorities to deliver on this. Lives are being lost. We have to deliver reduced speed. All of the research tells us this. We have seen it in Spain and Wales and we need to see it here in Ireland before March 2027 but no later than March 2027.”
“Again today, we have seen a major crash in Dublin city centre in which a number of pedestrians have been injured and, unfortunately and tragically, another person has lost their life leaving a family devastated. I am sure the thoughts and condolences of all of us in this House are with those affected today and the emergency service personnel who have had to deal with it. We know that reducing speed saves lives. At the transport committee this week, we heard overwhelming testimony from the witnesses that we have to reduce the speed on our roads. We have to achieve a default of 30 km/h in all urban areas. The Government has directed local authorities to reduce speed limits in built-up areas by March 2027 with investment, signage and implementation.”
“I echo Deputy McAuliffe's calls regarding making sure that An Garda Síochána understands the powers it has and has all of the supports and equipment necessary to enforce these powers. My constituency borders that of Deputy McAuliffe. I express my condolences to Grace Lynch's family. What happened was horrific. There is a similar issue with scramblers in Santry in my constituency. We have to do everything we can to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the resources, manpower and technology to ensure this never happens again. At a meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport this week, we heard about the stark and distressing rise in road fatalities.”
“I thank the Tánaiste. I appreciate his really constructive engagement. I know delivering schools is as important to him as it is to me. I thank him for also mentioning Rush National School, which is something I have raised with the Minister for Education and Youth. I will continue to raise it with her and the Tánaiste. I look forward to welcoming the Tánaiste in the coming years to the opening of both of these school projects. As he will be aware, I will continue to raise these repeatedly with him until I see the shovels in the ground.”
“Gaelscoil Ros Eo is in prefabs in the car park of a Gaelic club for nearly two decades so this campus project is critical, not least for the community but also to deliver more homes in Rush. There is a planning application for 48 homes on the site of the secondary school, which cannot progress until the school is built. Could the Tánaiste please give me an update as to the status of both these projects, and a commitment to work with me and the Ministers for education and public expenditure to make sure these projects are urgently delivered?”
“Second, the population of Rush has grown by over 60% in the past 20 years. It continues to rapidly expand. The building project for a combined campus for two excellent schools, St. Joseph's Secondary School and Gaelscoil Ros Eo, is now approaching submission to the Department for approval to tender. Once that application is lodged, the community needs a very swift and positive response from the Department. This urgent action is not only needed for the students and parents but for the principals, the school faculties and the support staff who are working in appalling conditions. Both schools regularly flood, leading to damp rooms and teachers mopping them out for hours before children arrive at the campus.”
“I am determined to see both of those projects delivered. The first is in Skerries, my home town. Skerries is its own town planning area with six feeder primary schools. At primary level, there are currently four special classes, with two more under construction. However, there are no special classes at post-primary level in the only second secondary school in the town, my old school, Skerries Community College. Families are being forced to travel long distances outside their communities to access appropriate places but too many others are facing the prospect of having no suitable school places for September 2026. That is simply not acceptable. That undermines inclusion, places a huge strain on families and weakens community life. Urgently delivering dedicated special education provision at post-primary level in Skerries is a necessity.”
“Ireland's greatest asset is us. It is our people - our hard-working, skilled and educated women and men. For this country to continue to prosper, we must invest in us for the future, which means investing in our educational system. Fingal, as the Tánaiste knows, is rapidly growing. It is the youngest area in the State. We are delivering homes in Rush, Lusk, Skerries and Balbriggan but this housing delivery has to be matched by delivery of appropriate school places in safe, warm and modern buildings. Schools are at the heart of our communities. They are where our children learn, families connect local life is built. When school infrastructure falls behind, entire communities are also left behind. I want to raise two capital projects that are very close to my heart for the communities of Skerries and Rush.”
“It is essential that we have that there because as we all know, a child's death is one of the greatest tragedies anyone can experience. While the Bill contains many welcome reforms, there are matters that will require further consideration on Committee Stage. Stakeholders have highlighted ongoing concerns relating to separated children and the aftercare supports available to them. We must ensure that no child is left behind. I encourage the Minister to speak to guardians ad litem . We need to ensure that they are properly and appropriately legally advised.”
“Ensuring that the children's views are heard early in the process leads to better and more stable outcomes both for children in care and for those on the edge of care. I am sure the Minister will agree that stability matters and that children already coping with trauma can be further harmed by changes in placement, long delays in decision-making or fragmented service provision. By improving care planning, clarifying duties and powers and embedding co-operation, this Bill has the potential to deliver more predictable and supportive pathways for children and their families. I very much very welcome the Minister's announcement last December that she will be introducing an amendment to place the national review panel on a statutory footing. A statutory child death review mechanism is a key programme for Government commitment.”
“In particular, I want to welcome the establishment of an implementation and interagency committee. Many of the failures identified in the various reviews did not arise on foot of a lack of legislation. Rather, they came about as a result of poor communication, unclear responsibilities and inconsistent follow through across agencies. Co-operation between Departments, Tusla and other bodies is absolutely essential. The introduction of a legal duty on relevant bodies to co-operate with Tusla is a significant and overdue measure and it will help to close the gap that too often leaves children waiting while these agencies pass responsibility from one to another. The new guiding principles, which require that children's rights inform decision-making, bring domestic law into closer alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
“At its core, the Bill will improve how the State protects children from harm, supports families earlier and ensures that decisions are taken in line with the best interests and the voice of the child. It modernises care workers and care arrangements, embeds children's rights principles and enhances co-operation between the agencies responsible for supporting vulnerable children and their families. Organisations such as the Children's Rights Alliance have recognised that the Bill responds to long-standing concerns about the principal Act, particularly around care proceedings, voluntary care and the need for stronger and clearer provisions in supervision orders. The inclusion of timeframes for infant care orders is an important step in promoting stability for children.”
“This Bill represents the most significant reform of childcare since the of the Child Care Act 1991 came into force more than three decades ago. I very much welcome the opportunity to speak on it. Child welfare practice, interagency working and our understanding of children's rights have profoundly changed since 1991. I am very glad that the law is going to reflect that reality. This Bill comes in the aftermath of a long and detailed review process that began in 2017 and that involved extensive consultation with Tusla, commissioned research, stakeholder submissions and pre-legislative scrutiny. It is important to acknowledge the depth of work that has gone into building consensus for reform. When enacted, this Bill will strengthen the legal framework that underpins the State's care and protection system.”
“The Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, confirmed for me recently that Fingal County Council will be admitted to the defective concrete block scheme, which is very welcome. However, I need to highlight that a small number of very good, prudent homeowners in Skerries, Lusk and The Naul have already remediated their homes and consequently will not now be eligible to be supported under the scheme. I would very much appreciate it if the Minister for Finance worked with the Minister for housing to ensure those people, who were prudent and put themselves through financial hardship to ensure their homes would be safe and remediated, are not unfairly treated and disadvantaged because Fingal County Council is only now being admitted to the scheme?”
“The online world must be as safe as the offline world. If something is unsafe in a shop or in a playground, it is removed, and the Internet cannot remain the great exception. Our children deserve to be as safe on-screen as they are in the street, in school or in their home.”
“She sees the consequences every day in the lives of her young patients, with anxiety, isolation and pressure that no child should have to carry. She implored me to do something. Offline, we protect our children through law and shared responsibility. Online, that same level of protection has not kept pace. Fine Gael's online safety report survey found that parents are calling for stronger age verification, real enforcement, better education, and proper support for them and their families. It is not about banning technology but about balance and responsibility. Platforms have to play their part. Social media can be positive and creative but the risks are not accidental. The algorithms are built into the systems that reward constant attention and comparison. We experience this ourselves. The principle must be simple.”
“I welcome the Minister and this Government's focus on online safety. It is one of the most pressing issues for families today and it demands urgent action. I am a mum to two eight-year-old girls and I know the joy of their current world. It is a world of innocence, imagination and security but I already feel the worry of what lies ahead, including the phones, the apps, the group chats, the comparisons, the silence, and the stories we have heard here today. Like so many parents, I worry about what they will see before they are ready. I worry about their confidence, mental health, and self-worth and I worry about who might reach them when I cannot. My fears were confirmed recently when speaking to a children's psychologist who told me that the impact of social media is now a dominant theme in her work.”
“I wish the best of luck to Deputy Donohoe. He is the standard to which we all aspire in Fine Gael. I thank him for all of his support. Skerries, Rush, Lusk, Garristown, Balrothery and Oldtown are all principally served by Balbriggan Garda station. Balbriggan is the youngest large town in the country. It is the most culturally diverse town in the country, yet we have not had a permanent superintendent at the Garda station for well over a year. I hope the Tánaiste will be able to give me some news as to when we will see that appointment. It is vital for the community. North County Dublin is a rapidly growing area, and a permanent superintendent appointment is essential.”
“I agree that the roll-out of the national broadband plan has been a success. We just need to make sure that people, families, residents and businesses are not left behind. I will contact the Minister's office in relation to the specific areas.”
“I thank the Minister and welcome his update. I have a concern in relation to the blue area. Part of Skerries is in the blue area as well. The Minister mentioned Balbriggan. The problem with the blue area is that the residents of an estate are being told that unless they come together as a collective of 20 to 50 residents who are willing to sign up with one commercial provider, they will not be able to access the fibre broadband, or it will not be delivered. That is not good enough. It also undermines competition. All the residents have to come together and sign up to one fibre broadband provider. Skerries is 35 minutes from the city centre, and broadband is an absolutely essential infrastructure for businesses, for remote working and for our day-to-day lives. Our lives happen online.”
“The roll-out of national broadband is delivering high-speed fibre to rural and urban communities. It is a success and progress has been made, yet we know that there is partial coverage in some towns and villages. For example, my own hometown of Skerries has partial coverage of fibre broadband and not access to the national fibre broadband. The Minister might give us an update on when we can expect full roll-out of the national broadband plan in all towns and villages.”