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 appreciate that the Minister has only been in her position for nine months, but the Secretary General of the Department confirmed to me that the supply management unit or forward planning unit was set up in January 2024. It is nearly two years later and we still have not seen any visible output from this unit. Will the Minister commit to publishing the criteria that will be used by the forward planning unit, confirm that areas like Fingal are going to be included and will meet the criteria, and set out a timeline for when we can see more childcare places actually delivered on the ground?”
“We know the areas that are the youngest in the country and we know the areas that need to be prioritised. Why is it taking two years?”
“It is nearly two years. There has to be a sense of urgency by this unit. We need to see a plan from it and we need to see a clear timeline as to when we are going to see outputs. I am not asking for the specifics but I am asking to make sure this Department is delivering. Two years is simply not good enough. People who need childcare are putting off their lives and quitting jobs. They are not participating fully in the workforce. We have discussed this before but female participation in the workforce has been one of Ireland's biggest economic drivers in the past 40 years. Childcare is an essential economic infrastructure. We have to move with a sense of urgency. Unfortunately, I do not see it coming from this unit. I appreciate internal work takes time. There are ways to get around GDPR with data sharing agreements, etc.”
“I have mentioned many times that Fingal is the youngest area in the country and is also the fastest growing. Balbriggan is the youngest large town in the country and yet, we have a serious lack of childcare places. In January 2024, a supply management unit was set up in the Minister's Department. It was later renamed the forward planning unit yet nearly two years later, families in Fingal are still waiting. We still have no visible output from the Minister's forward planning unit. Can the Minister please tell us when we will see some output, if Fingal is going to be prioritised and when we can see more childcare places delivered?”
“This is a deeply sensitive issue, one that deserves compassion, care, and improved services, not carefully timed political stunts from the Opposition. While Deputy Tóibín and others major in theatre, staging outrage on the plinth, the Tánaiste and this Government are delivering record employment.”
“An Tánaiste, Simon Harris, has spent his entire career standing up and leading in the face of challenge - showing courage and compassion as he led this country through Covid. Within a month of taking office as Taoiseach, he led Ireland in formally recognising the State of Palestine and apologised to the families and victims of the Stardust tragedy. He has ensured continued humanitarian aid for Gaza, shielded our economy from global shocks, and increased overseas aid when others have cut back. That is courage. That is leadership. As a mum and a public representative, my thoughts and sympathies are with the family of Harvey Morrison Sherratt and with all families affected by scoliosis and spina bifida.”
“It would be good to hear more from her on those options, as well as when we might see a public awareness campaign detailing the symptoms.”
“I thank the Minister. I really appreciate her focus on this and as I said, women are so impressed that they now feel heard having literally been told that it is all in their heads for so long. In terms of public awareness, sometimes women, particularly younger girls and women, do not necessarily know what to be looking out for when they are talking about endometriosis. This is particularly true for teenage girls and it is really important that we see a public awareness campaign as soon as possible. We know from reports in the media that many women have actually taken themselves abroad for treatment, which is an intolerable situation. In that context, I appreciate the work the Minister is doing on looking into options under the treatment abroad scheme.”
“Far too often, women have been told that they have to put up with it, that it is in their heads and is not really happening to them. We have to move away from that outlook.”
“I thank the Minister for that comprehensive update. I mentioned the nine-year average diagnostic delay. Women have felt ghosted by their GPs. They feel like they have not been offered supports and have not been listened to. It seems that women are expected to put up with this intolerable, intense and chronic pain, and are essentially made to feel as if it is all in their heads. It is important that the Minister has taken the step to listen. The patient voice forum was an excellent idea. Women now feel heard by the Minister and the CEO of the HSE. It is important that the HSE continue to listen to these women. In her response, the Minister mentioned that she has written to GPs and there will be a practice update. It is important that existing GPs will be properly trained and will understand.”
“Endometriosis is one of the most common women's health issues. Far too many women, including women among my family and friends, often endure chronic pain, fatigue, fertility issues and emotional distress. They often miss time at work and in education. They miss out on life generally. The average diagnostic delay is nine years. I know this is an area on which the Minister is focused. I would like to hear what she is doing to address the diagnostic delay and to ensure that our healthcare workers are fully trained and that our women are getting the healthcare and surgeries they need in a timely way.”
“On the operating model for the NTA, am I right that after the deployment of next generation ticketing, the NTA will be moving from simply doing oversight to directly managing fare collection, system operations and having regulatory oversight? Does this give rise to a conflict of interest between the various roles, particularly when it comes to disputes? Is there a clear operating model for the NTA? Will there be transparent governance structures to make sure there are no conflicts of interest between the various roles? Does the NTA have all the competence and capabilities to deliver the next generation ticketing in conjunction with Indra as well as a fit-for-purpose operating model?”
“I appreciate that a lot of money is being invested in this and that the Minister will keep strong oversight of it, but it needs very strong oversight to make sure we do not have the same situation as with the train control centre, that is a €40 million overrun and two-year delay.”
“I thank the Minister and I appreciate the update. When we look at other cities across Europe, we see they have introduced contactless payments much quicker. Milan did it in 24 months across multimode transport. One of the things I am concerned about is we have a contractor, Indra, who is to work with the NTA to deliver a very complex IT deployment across Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, and Luas. It is a very complex IT project. We see Indra already is €40 million over budget on the national train control centre project, as well as two years delayed. We do not have an amazing track record at delivering complex IT projects across the public service.”
“Next generation ticketing is something we absolutely need not just in Dublin but all of Ireland. This project was first mooted in 2012, yet here we are in 2025 and we still are waiting. Can the Minister please give us an update as to where we are with this project, the oversight mechanisms and how we can ensure this project is delivered to the new timelines? Can he give us confidence as to when we will see it?”
“We need to make sure learnings from tragic deaths like this are responded to by the State in a co-ordinated and efficient way. It can be seen in the report that the ombudsman does not believe this is happening. We are not learning from these deaths and we have to do everything to make sure we can avoid future deaths.”
“The Minister will know from the review and also from engagement with the ombudsman that one of the things he is really calling for is that the reports of the NRP should be shared with families and every effort be made to remove barriers to information. The frustration with timelines and communication with families can be seen throughout the report. Like everything in life, communication and clarity are key and that people are not left ghosted and left hanging. People are really suffering when they lose someone and we need to treat them with compassion. In terms of the NRP, I would really appreciate if the Minister could make sure there is a commitment in the interim to communicating with families and delivering finalised reports to them.”
“While the State cannot control every tragedy, we do have a duty to respond to tragic deaths such as this with clarity and compassion, and that means heeding the ombudsman's recommendations. One of the ombudsman's recommendations relates to the Minister's Department where he is looking for immediate engagement with his office to find a resolution to the many limitations with the NRP in accessing information, engaging with other agencies and fundamental governance pending the establishment of a new statutory child death review mechanism. Which is the lead Department? Can we get some clarity on that? When will that happen? Will a cross-departmental group be set up and will we see progress on this? Unfortunately, these tragic deaths really underscore the need for this mechanism and we need to see follow through from the Government.”
“In light of the recent and heartbreaking death of Daniel Aruebose, I raise the urgent need for a statutory child death review mechanism. The Ombudsman for Children in the April 2025 child death review again raised his concerns as to the current system and provided clear recommendations for the Government. Such a mechanism is also provided for in the programme for Government, which is very good to see. Can the Minister provide us with an update as to where we are on implementing that commitment?”
“It is a reminder of where we have been, the progress we have made and a call to vigilance in the context of what lies ahead. It is true that Ireland has made immense strides, but this progress cannot be taken for granted. Rights must be protected, policy strengthened and representation expanded. I want every young person struggling with their identity or facing hostility to know they are seen, they are valued and they belong. The Ireland we are building is one where no-one should have to hide or apologise for who they are. Let this Pride not only honour the trailblazers of the past but also challenge us to legislate, to educate and to advocate and to be loud and proud 365 days of the year.”
“The Budapest Pride march was outlawed under the guise of child protection, with police authorised to identify and fine attendees. Despite this, on 28 June, well over 100,000 people marched defiantly, joined by 71 MEPs, including our own Maria Walsh, and Deputy O’Gorman. They stood proudly in protest. When Pride is threatened it is a bellwether for authoritarianism. When LGBTQ+ visibility is erased any voice can be next. Our Pride is a protective shield for all in our society and it must be protected. As a Member of this House and a proud ally I believe it is more important now than ever to be vocal, visible and unambiguous in our support for people to live and love as they choose. The rainbow may be colourful but our stance must be clear, loud and proud. We must never become complacent. Pride is a protest as much as it is a celebration.”
“The impact of these attacks is not only physical; it is also deeply psychological. Fear, burnout, anxiety and isolation are becoming daily reality for far too many in the LGBTQ+ community. Research from the RESIST project shows that online abuse is now a precursor to real-world aggression, with LGBTQ+ individuals and organisations facing sustained harassment, threats to employment and even attacks on their homes. These trends are not abstract but personal. They sow fear where there should be joy and fracture communities where there should be unity. They remind us that progress is not a guarantee but a responsibility. Ten short years ago, I could not have foreseen that Pride festivals would be banned in EU member states such as Hungary, where new laws criminalise public LGBTQ+ expression.”
“It has allowed me to attend the weddings of some of my closest friends to celebrate their love where they could stand in front of their friends and family and, legally and in love, commit to each other. I very much hope to attend many more. Progress is not permanent, however. Rhetoric that I once believed had been relegated to the fringes is now re-emerging loudly and dangerously in mainstream discourse, both online and in person. What was once whispered is now shouted and what was once dismissed is now defended as reasonable concern. Homophobic and transphobic attacks are rising, not just in number but also in brutality and co-ordination. Such attacks are often carried out with impunity. These attacks represent real people - friends, neighbours and colleagues - targeted for who they are and who they love.”
“I am here in solidarity and in celebration, but also in concern. Pride is not just a parade, a flag or a month on the calendar. It is the living legacy of generations who fought for dignity, freedom and equality. The rights they fought for were so hard won, but as we have seen across Europe and beyond, those rights are frighteningly easy to lose. This year marks ten years since Ireland made history by voting yes to marriage equality on 22 May 2015 and becoming the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote. It was a moment of profound national pride, a triumph of compassion, courage and collective conviction. I remember that day vividly. I was proud to be Irish and proud that over 62% of us stood up to say love is love and that equality belongs to everyone. It was a declaration of allyship, fairness and hope.”
“Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the urgent need for updated wind energy development guidelines. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the ongoing crisis of capacity at University Hospital Limerick. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - To discuss the shortfall in primary school places in Wicklow town and Rathnew for coming September. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss levels of State support to amateur drama and musical theatre in Ireland. Deputy Dessie Ellis - To discuss what plans are in place for the continuation of school breakfast clubs. Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss the need for traffic calming measures in Carlanstown, County Meath. The matters raised by Deputies Albert Dolan, Jennifer Whitmore, Pat Buckley, Paula Butterly and Darren O'Rourke have been selected for discussion.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss the design of the entrance to the Rush side of the Rush and Lusk train station. Deputy Paula Butterly - Tourism in Louth. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil - To discuss ongoing road safety issues on the Celbridge Road, Maynooth. Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss a change to the enrolment criteria for specific speech and language disorder special classes. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí - To discuss the planning issues seen in Údarás na Gaeltachta communities. Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss initiating tranche 2 of the flood relief programme for the communities of Rathcormac, Castlemartyr, Killeagh and Mogeely in County Cork.”
“The building blocks scheme was welcome, but the eligibility criteria are limited and many private providers could not apply for it. The Minister might consider reopening the scheme and widening the eligibility criteria to enable private providers to apply. There are very few public childcare providers in Dublin Fingal West. I would love to see that being prioritised for delivery in the roll-out of the scheme. The Minister should please let me know if there is anything I can do to support it. I very much hope she gets the funding she needs in budget 2026.”
“The Minister might give us an update on the progress of this unit and on when we will see high-pressure areas like my constituency of Dublin Fingal West start to see the benefits of the work of this unit, particularly in the delivery of more childcare places.”
“I very much welcome the work that has been done to date. As I stated, I hope we deliver the reduction in childcare of the lifetime of this Government, as it is essential. I also highlighted with the Minister that it is not just the cost that is an issue for many parents who are trying to access childcare; it is also the access to childcare. As she is aware, I live in the youngest area in the country. Many parents like myself in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk simply do not have access to the childcare they need. Demand far outstrips supply, which is why I very much welcome the establishment of the forward planning and delivery unit.”
“Ireland's best asset is our hard-working men and women. It is crucial that we fund childcare as an essential infrastructure. I know this is something we have talked about many times before. The Minister might give us an update on what she has done to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month and what she plans to do to make sure we achieve it over the lifetime of the Government.”
“To alleviate concerns and provide certainty to parents, can the Taoiseach also confirm there will be no reductions to existing child benefit payments in budget 2026?”
“Child poverty in Ireland is reaching crisis levels. The Children's Rights Alliance annual report revealed a staggering rise in the number of children living in consistent poverty. We must ensure families have the financial support they need to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. I very much welcome the Taoiseach's comments yesterday in which he stated that nothing is off the table when it comes to social welfare payments for reducing child poverty. Last week, the Taoiseach would have seen the ESRI reported that introducing a means tested second-tier child benefit payment of €285 per month could lift 55,000 children out of poverty. Can the Taoiseach confirm the Government will seriously consider implementing this targeted second-tier benefit to support Ireland's most vulnerable children and families?”
“Please ensure that the children of Dublin Fingal West have ease of access to a fit-for-purpose, streamlined assessment of need process allied with receiving the appropriate therapies. This should not be a privilege dictated by geography.”
“We also need to make sure resources are prioritised and allocated based on demand and demographics. North Dublin, Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk and the surrounding villages of Garristown, Naul, Ballyboughal, Oldtown and Rolestown, because of their demographics, constitute 12% of the national waiting list. It needs to be prioritised. We need to have the resources allocated to deal with the severe backlog of children waiting for an assessment of need and waiting for therapies. Please end the postcode lottery. These delays represent lost developmental opportunities for our children, frustrated families and children missing vital early interventions that really could help shape better futures for them.”
“Assessment delays also stem from staff shortages, particularly in specialties such as speech and language therapy, psychology and occupational therapy. We have to do more to grow the expertise we need in Ireland, as well as attracting the right people from abroad. The increase in therapy college places announced last year is welcome and the programme for Government commitment to double the places even more so. Will this doubling occur in September 2026 or will it be graduated over the lifetime of the Government? Is it enough? Has the Department run the numbers and projected the number of therapists needed to meet future demand? Will doubling the places satisfy this demand? Can the Minister assure us that this assessment has been carried out by the Department and that the doubling of the numbers will be enough?”
“The assessment process is confusing and filled with administrative obstacles. To fix this, we need a simplified online application system; a clear roadmap outlining the process, timelines and next steps; a reduction in unnecessary paperwork; and a streamlining of internal processes. We also need to communicate clearly with families. We need a tracking system that communicates with them. I have lost count of the number of parents who have contacted me about accessing assessments of need or therapies. We need a real-time tracking system to assure these families that their request is progressing and so that they receive regular updates, instead of feeling ghosted by the system and chasing politicians for answers who are equally frustrated and ghosted.”
“If there are 15,000 children on the waiting list nationally, my area, staggeringly, accounts for approximately 12% of the entire country. Given the length of time we all spend in this Chamber talking about this issue, as it is one of the top five queries we all receive, I think the Minister knows the system is broken. Because my area makes up 12% of the waiting list, she can imagine the number of queries I receive. Children living in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk and surrounding villages are not waiting months but years. The process simply is not working. This backlog is a combination of administrative failures, cumbersome assessment processes, a lack of resources and outdated legislation. We need to remove the bureaucratic barriers, and I welcome the Minister's comments on better communication with parents.”
“I thank the Minister for her acknowledgement and honest assessment of the challenge facing many families whose children are waiting for an assessment of need. The issue of disability has activated many of us in this Chamber to become politicians. We have seen An Tánaiste and the likes of Cara Darmody all activated on the issue of disabilities. It is a key reason we are here today. Dublin Fingal West is home to one of the youngest populations in the country. Balbriggan is the youngest large town, as I may have mentioned before, and it is rapidly growing, yet the children in my area of north Dublin face an extraordinarily long waiting time for assessments of need. Almost 2,000 children in the north Dublin health area alone are awaiting an assessment of need.”
“I thank the Minister of State. As he said, it is important that we support our SMEs with their energy costs, and it is great that we have this scheme. It is important that we have a periodic review of the uptake of the scheme to make sure it was working. If the uptake is not increasing substantially, we need to look at how we are advertising that scheme and encouraging SMEs to take it up, as well as making sure that it is quick and efficient and that the timeline to approve the grant applications is actually appropriate.”
“Are we appropriately advertising the scheme to make sure we are encouraging uptake to help support these SMEs with their energy costs at a time when they are particularly suffering with them?”
“I thank the Minister of State. As someone who has spent my recent years advising SMEs, it is important to remember that a lot of them do not have the capacity to be continually checking what grants are open for application and navigating difficult processes, so it is important that we have a streamlined, efficient process. Will the Minister of State tell me how long it is taking to finalise and confirm draft applications? In the Department's view, is the scheme working or is there anything we can do to improve it? What can we do to improve the uptake of the scheme? While it is great that there are 200 applications, there are a lot more than 200 SMEs in this country.”
“In light of recent utility price volatility, global economic uncertainty, trade wars and the threat of tariffs, it was really good to see the business energy upgrade scheme launched in November. Now that it has been under way for five months, will the Minister of State give us an update on the uptake of the scheme, how it is working and whether public bodies are utilising it?”
“Does the Taoiseach agree that the Government needs to continue the Minister's work, urgently deliver on the programme for Government commitments to appoint specialised judges for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and deliver enhanced training for gardaí and those working in the DPP’s office so that we can better support victims? The Taoiseach might give me an update on this work and a timeline to deliver on these commitments.”
“We know that domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is an epidemic in this country. The research bears this out, the reports from the Garda bear it out and I have no doubt that we have all listened to the experiences of constituents. It is still a great taboo in this country. It is not spoken about openly but it is something we urgently need to address. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, made great strides in this area in her previous role as Minister for Justice and we need to continue that work.”
“If we do not have childcare for them, we are failing ourselves as an economy, as well as parents and children who are unbelievably stressed by not having access to childcare.”
“That is very welcome news. If the 78 applicants do not take up the €25 million, I ask the Minister to urgently reopen the scheme. Seven weeks was not a very long window for childcare providers to make applications to the scheme, so I would very much like her to look at reopening it if the money is not all utilised. In addition to that, however, I would very much appreciate it if the Minister looked for additional funding. We really need to prioritise areas like mine - Skerries, Balbriggan, Rush and Lusk - and do everything we can to provide more childcare facilities in these areas. We are not just doing families, women and parents a disservice; it is also a loss to the Irish economy. Female participation over the past 40 years has really driven the success of the Irish economy. Our best resource is our highly educated women and men.”
“While I welcome the Pobal scheme, 78 applications is not a lot and 78 additional childcare facilities, or not even childcare facilities, is not sufficient for the demand we have in Ireland and it will certainly not do anything to meet the demands of the people in Dublin Fingal West. Will the Minister look seriously for more funding to support childcare providers in areas of high demand? As I said, I cannot understate the demand in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk. It is one of the youngest constituencies in Ireland - Balbriggan is the youngest large town - and we need to be doing everything we can to support more childcare providers. Fingal is littered with empty sites that are supposed to be childcare facilities and we as a Government need to do everything to make sure they are delivered.”
“As a very proud TD for Dublin Fingal West, one of the youngest constituencies in the country, I cannot understate the demand for childcare. As a mum of eight-year-old twins who has never been able to access childcare, the delivery of additional childcare places is an absolutely priority of mine and I really hope it is of this Government. The Minister might give us an update as to the uptake of the Pobal building blocks scheme to deliver more childcare places.”
“However, we need to swiftly address this issue and put the negative narrative to bed once and for all so that Ireland can maximise its potential.”
“I ask the Minister to update us, please, on discussions in respect of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. We are an island nation with an ever-growing population, expanding at a rate of 100,000 people per year. Our capital city's airport is a vital component for our national competitiveness and continued success. Dealing with the cap and putting in place a long-term plan for the airport is an opportunity for Ireland not just to attract more tourists but to increase our connectivity and attract more industry to our very well-situated island, which is a gateway to Europe and has pre-clearance for the USA. The Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, needs to play its part. It needs to be a better neighbour to the communities around the airport and address traffic management, noise insulation and adherence to flight paths.”