Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Carlow-Kilkenny · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“There is nothing any of us in this House can say that can undo the pain, harm and loss experienced by those young boys, their families and the communities in which they lived, played basketball and worked. They have had to endure a lifetime of harm, many of them carrying their suffering in silence.”
“We are listening to you, we are learning and we are acting. All of us in this House have a responsibility to ensure that our child safeguarding systems are robust. We must ensure that if concerns are raised today, they are acted on without delay.”
“Today is a profoundly important and solemn day. I want to add my voice to the full and formal State apology and to acknowledge the courage, dignity and perseverance of those survivors who fought for truth and accountability for so many years.”
“I thank the Deputy for highlighting this very important issue and the 161 recommendations. First, I thank the Joint Committee on Drug Use for its work. I welcomed the report and I am in agreement with many of its recommendations. As the Deputy will be aware, earlier this year I published a draft of the national drugs strategy.”
“The Bill and the secondary legislation, training and clinical protocols that will follow it will support the terms and conditions for this service, as laid out in the community pharmacy agreement. All secondary legislation will be in place before commencement and launch of this measure.”
“No. I thank the Deputy again for her work on the drugs committee. The vast majority of the 161 recommendations will be in the new drugs strategy but one of the recommendations was on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. It falls under section 3. That legalises drugs. It is important we tell the people of the concern.”
The complete record
Every one of 977 lines we hold for Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 20.
“We are listening to you, we are learning and we are acting. All of us in this House have a responsibility to ensure that our child safeguarding systems are robust. We must ensure that if concerns are raised today, they are acted on without delay. We must continue to strengthen our child protection structures and ensure accountability wherever failure occurs. We must ensure that survivors have access to the supports and services they need while acknowledging the State's failure to adequately provide them to these boys and young men. May today serve as an acknowledgement of the past and as a renewed commitment that children will always come first, that safeguarding will never be compromised and that such failures will never be allowed to happen again.”
“There is nothing any of us in this House can say that can undo the pain, harm and loss experienced by those young boys, their families and the communities in which they lived, played basketball and worked. They have had to endure a lifetime of harm, many of them carrying their suffering in silence. They bravely persisted in pursuing justice, and now the truth has been fully exposed. As a TD for Carlow and as Minister of State with responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy, I am acutely aware that childhood harm can have lifelong impacts on physical and mental health, relationships, education and well-being. We must never lose sight of the human consequences of these failures. I want to say to the victims and survivors that this is more than an apology.”
“Today is a profoundly important and solemn day. I want to add my voice to the full and formal State apology and to acknowledge the courage, dignity and perseverance of those survivors who fought for truth and accountability for so many years. The Report of the South East Commission of Investigation, which was published last month, lays bare not only the horrific crimes committed by the paedophile Bill Kenneally but also the failures of individuals and institutions to act when children should have been protected. As the commission's report spells out, there were opportunities to stop his most horrible abuse years earlier. The failures to investigate and respond appropriately had devastating consequences for victims and survivors.”
“Sections 1 to 3, inclusive, along with the clinical SIs to be drafted subsequently, align the relevant Acts to accurately define the new service. These sections also provide for clinical protocols, rules, codes of conduct and training provision for pharmacists who wish to provide the new service. To sum up, the Bill will improve access to hormonal contraception; widen the range of services that can be delivered in the convenience of a local pharmacy; improve patient choice and convenience; save money for private patients and, separately, for the State by reducing costs under the free contraception scheme; and provide essential additional capacity for additional women's health measures, as promised in our programme for Government, the national sexual health strategy and women's health action plans.”
“The Bill expands the definition to include retail pharmacy businesses entering into an agreement with the HSE for the provision of pharmacy prescription services to women. The service will be provided by a registered pharmacist in accordance with relevant pharmacy legislation, including this Bill. Section 2 amends section 32(2)(1) of the Irish Medicines Board Act 1995, and section 3 amends section 11 of the Pharmacy Act 2007, to support the clinical service and associated training requirements. These amendments ensure that the scheme is clearly enabled and cross-referenced through a refreshed legislative framework. Section 4 is the final section and provides the Short Title and provisions for commencement.”
“It is making a wonderful contribution to women's health, and that is so important. This Bill is another key element in widening our support for women's health. I will now take the House through the Bill to outline the content of each section. The Bill makes provision to enable registered pharmacists to issue prescriptions for certain contraceptive drugs, medicines, products and devices. For that purpose, and to provide for related matters, the Bill amends the Health Act 1970, the Irish Medicines Board Act 1995 and the Pharmacy Act 2007. Section 1 amends the definition of "scheme provider", which was previously limited to medical practitioners for the provision of prescriptions.”
“Despite periods being a normal biological process, our Healthy Ireland and health behaviour in school-aged children surveys tell us that 50% to 60% of women and girls miss school, college, work, social events or sport on occasion because of period symptoms. Endometriosis and similar conditions are at the more severe end of the scale and are estimated to affect 5% to 12% of women. Better access to hormonal contraception is part of the solution to this. Yesterday we launched the women's health action plan in Tallaght Hospital and it was wonderful to visit the endometriosis hub there. It was great to meet the staff, and I was delighted to be there with the Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. We could see the progress. We can see those changes now start to happen, which is really good.”
“This will enable more GPs and primary care centres to provide coils and implants, another measure that will add to capacity and contributes to the wider expansion of women's health that we have promised in the programme for Government. The Minister and the Government have prioritised raising awareness and building treatment services for women who may be experiencing endometriosis; early detection and treatment are key elements of prevention and care. In addition to its primary function, hormonal contraception is an essential treatment for adverse symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle. Such symptoms range from heavy bleeding or period pain and mood disorders such as pre-menstrual syndrome and endometriosis.”
“The pharmacy service is a core part of our efforts to further support women's health services in the community, as laid out in our programme for Government and the national sexual health strategy. The report of the working group on contraception, published in 2019, was clear about the need to expand the range and capacity of services, as well as addressing cost barriers. This measure is a significant step in that direction, delivering convenience and savings in both time and costs for patients, taxpayers and the State. This service will increase capacity within primary care. I also want to mention the GP training programmes that we have been supporting since 2022.”
“Pharmacists already supply emergency contraception. Furthermore, we do not envisage that contraceptive devices such as coils or implants, which require minor procedures to insert and remove, would be suitable for pharmacy prescription. At this point I would like to mention the national condom distribution scheme, which provides free condoms through a separate service. In line with introducing pharmacy prescription, we are also bringing the national condom distribution service into pharmacy consulting rooms on a phased basis. Efforts are also being made to make this service more accessible to GPs. Condoms are the only form of contraception that protects against HIV and STIs as well as unplanned pregnancy, so we aim to support everyone's health by making them more accessible.”
“The Bill and the secondary legislation, training and clinical protocols that will follow it will support the terms and conditions for this service, as laid out in the community pharmacy agreement. All secondary legislation will be in place before commencement and launch of this measure. The Bill will enable the prescription of certain forms of contraception, such as the pill, the patch and the ring, by pharmacists. However, as new contraceptive options come onto the market, there is some flexibility to include those also. The Bill will make this service available under the free contraception scheme for people aged 17 to 35. It will also be available to private patients, with pharmacies setting their own fees locally. This option may be cheaper and more convenient than returning to the GP for every prescription for those private patients.”
“The plans for this were published in 2025, with an outline of the service fully agreed with our stakeholders in the pharmacy sector and included in the community pharmacy agreement. To enable pharmacy prescription, the Bill will amend the Health Act 1970, the Irish Medicines Board Act 1995 and the Pharmacy Act 2007 and will provide for related matters. The clinical basis for pharmacist prescribing is provided by the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 and regulations made under it. Clinical provisions for this service, like those that support the common conditions service, will be finalised by secondary legislation once this Bill is enacted.”
“I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce the Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026 to the Dáil on behalf of the Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The main purpose of the Bill is to make provision for the inclusion of retail pharmacy businesses as scheme providers and to provide a subset of contraception services referred to in section 67E of the Health Act 1970, the primary framework for the free contraception scheme. The Bill proposes to include pharmacists as prescribers of contraception in clearly defined clinical circumstances, in addition to their existing role in dispensing contraceptive medicines and devices.”
“This is something that is important and that families will benefit from. I know it from working with the two Ministers of State. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, over the years, was passionate and worked hard on the funding. I know the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, will do the same. It is all about getting our services together with the pathway. Good work is being done. Well done to everyone.”
“I also attended a public meeting two weeks ago in Leighlinbridge. They did a report on dementia, the age groups and a pathway forward. It is positive that this is happening now. I think this will happen all over the country. I feel Jordan and Cian have played a huge role in that. Everywhere I went, the two were mentioned, which was a good tribute to them for their commitment and dedication to raising awareness of this and how we can move forward on this. We must also plan for our ageing population. It worries me about those with early onset dementia. We have to be more focused on the supports for that age group because early onset can be absolutely rapid and time is of the essence. I came into the Chamber today to say I am thrilled and honoured that I met Jordan and Cian. They should keep up the good work.”
“I am delighted to speak today. I welcome Jordan and Cian. I met them in Carlow a few weeks ago when they came to Barrow Brew and had a cup of coffee with me. It is important. When I met the two of them, I was so impressed because they were so passionate about the awareness of dementia. They spoke about their mammy. As everyone has said today, we are all here united in the fact that we need to make sure that we are working, highlighting and funding dementia. We talk about our family carers or family members. I am involved with the community supports. We have community cafés. We have our day centres and our partnerships with the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland. These also play a huge role for families as well. I attend meetings regularly in my own area in Bethany House, which plays a huge role. I compliment it on its good work.”
“As I said, some of the recommendations relate to other Departments. There is work being done, we are working with the committee’s recommendations and we are working with other services. My Department, the Minister and I waited so we could work with everybody. We will not get everything but at least we are working on health referral scheme. That is the way it will be.”
“Again, I have to disagree with the Deputy on that. We had a total of 15,422 cases in treatment, so we are doing work and that message needs to get out there. I visit the services around the country. I know we need to do more. The Minister and I are very mindful that we always need to put more funding into services but there are services there. As I said, there are challenges too but we are providing services. This is about everyone working together and about a health referral scheme that will give people the option to look at that. We have nine SAOR HSE workers who have been appointed across the country who will be working with this. So much work is being done on this. While this particular recommendation was the focus, I went through most of the 161 recommendations with my Department.”
“As the Deputy said, this is about the most vulnerable in our society. I have visited most services around the country. I see the affect drugs have on people and their families. It is so important that we get this right. I assure the Deputy that the Minister and I are 100% committed to this.”
“No. I thank the Deputy again for her work on the drugs committee. The vast majority of the 161 recommendations will be in the new drugs strategy but one of the recommendations was on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. It falls under section 3. That legalises drugs. It is important we tell the people of the concern. The programme for Government reaffirms the Government’s commitment to a health-led approach to drug use and to divert those found in possession of drugs for personal use to health services. I, and the Minister for justice and the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, have agreed a health referral scheme, which will commence in September. The Minister and I, working with the Minister for justice, Deputy O’Callaghan, are looking at 1 September for the new drugs strategy and the new health referral scheme working together.”
“It is important to say to the Deputy and the committee, which has done great work, that many of the 161 recommendations are relevant to several Departments, so it is not just my own one. They fall between different Departments. I requested that consideration is given to these by my Government colleagues. I am now working with my Government colleagues on these.”
“The third thing was the Joint Committee on Drugs Use. We waited until the Deputy’s committee had its recommendations, so we could work with it. That needs to be clarified. The committee's report sets out its consideration of the 36 recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use. The views of the committee will contribute to the development of an integrated and evidence-informed health-led response to drug use. I acknowledge the 161 recommendations made by the committee, several of which relate to the national drugs strategy. I have asked that these recommendations are taken into account in the finalisation of the strategy. I hope it will be finalised by 1 September.”
“I thank the Deputy for highlighting this very important issue and the 161 recommendations. First, I thank the Joint Committee on Drug Use for its work. I welcomed the report and I am in agreement with many of its recommendations. As the Deputy will be aware, earlier this year I published a draft of the national drugs strategy. I delayed it because I wanted to work with the committee. Three things happened and this was why it was delayed, by the way. It was not that we went ahead and did the drugs strategy. I delayed it because of this. The three things were: first, public consultation to ensure everything could be shared; and, second, a stakeholder engagement process on the future shape of the structure under the HSE. As the Deputy knows, we have six health regions. We were very mindful in the new drugs strategy we involved every region.”
“I thank everyone. This is my first Bill so I am absolutely thrilled. I will have a second Bill coming in a few months. This is about all of us working together. It is about our young people. We do not need single-use vapes. This is a health-led approach. We in the Department of Health are leading on this with health in mind. The EU law is expected soon. I hope there will be an EU-wide ban. That is what we are looking for in working with our EU colleagues. I again thank all of the Senators. As I have said, if they want information or updates on anything at any time, they should contact my Department.”
“It is important to have these conversations so that the Senators will know what work my Department is doing. If any Senators want any more information or if there is anything they need to know, I encourage them to contact myself or the Department. We will be absolutely delighted to fill them in on the work that is being done.”
“I understand that we absolutely need to do more, as the Senator has said. I will work with all of the Senators here. We must all work together. This is about our young people. It about awareness, information and education. As the Senator will know, I am bringing forward a second Bill. That will be later this year. It will ban flavourings and restrict the colours on packaging. I hope to have that in quite soon. On the policies the Senator has spoken about, which are vital, I will have them ready by the end of the year. It is important that everything is reviewed and that policies are in place because we need them. I again thank the Senator and everyone who has spoken but I do not propose to accept this amendment because the work the amendment seeks, which is needed, is already under way.”
“We are looking at all possible measures. That includes looking at reducing barriers to access to all the different services. The Senator spoke about enforcement. That is important. As part of this programme, 30 additional whole-time equivalent staff have been allocated to the national environmental health service. Recruitment for those posts is ongoing. We need to enforce this. I understand that. When we bring in legislation, we have to enforce it. As I have said, we are investing in 30 additional new whole-time equivalent staff. We are putting funding into this so that we can enforce the law. The Senator spoke about inspections. There were 754 inspections in 2025. This was an increase of 310 on 2024. In prosecutions, we had 38 of the 40. We are doing that. Work is being done.”
“I have done a lot of work on that. There has been a lot of work invested through my own Department whether that is through the Quit Smoking campaign, apps and working with young people. Awareness is very important and it is information and education. The Department has invested in that and we will continue to do more because we know that we need to. We are in complete agreement on the need for the work to happen. However, this amendment to the Bill is not necessary because - this is the good news for the Senator - we are already reviewing our national tobacco control policy, Tobacco Free Ireland, with the aim of bringing our smoking rates to lower than 5%. It is being reviewed. We are bringing in policy. I understand that there are concerns but that is happening. As we are currently at 17%, it is clear that we need to do more.”
“I thank everyone and understand that there are challenges. We never had the intention of ever removing the ban on disposable vapes because they are targeted at young people. As Senators have said, vapes are a blight on society and vape shops are visible in every town and village. We are very mindful of the fact that after one use vapes are put in bins or littered on streets and have no place in society. It is important for everyone to realise that the national environmental health service will report on its enforcement as it does with all tobacco-related products. The amendment also proposes a broader review of the effectiveness of the public health laws, along with the recommendations around reducing nicotine levels in tobacco and expanding support for stop smoking services and general reduction of nicotine campaign.”
“The status of all projects continues to be set out under item 10 on the Department’s website under building works for the construction, extension and refurbishment of schools. This is updated regularly to reflect projects' progress through capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction stages. The accommodation requirements at Coachford school will be considered as part of the ongoing overall Department prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities. I will bring this matter back to the Minister. I see the Deputy's concerns. The school is growing and getting extra teachers. It is important. The Deputy has been speaking to the school and wants to see if we can get a modular build in the interim.”
“The Department is committed to ensuring that appropriate accommodation is available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context outlined, ensure that each school project on the school building programme is subject to the due diligence required under the Government’s infrastructure guidelines. Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has provided €796.5 million in capital funding for Cork schools. Over this period, a total of 168 schools have been upgraded through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or modular accommodation. Twelve school projects to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 were included in the NDP implementation plan. There are currently 18 school projects in Cork under construction.”
“Interim accommodation needs will continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate solutions. The Department will continue to engage with the school regarding accommodation. I welcome this because it is important that everybody get information. At least there is some clarification there for the Deputy. I know we need to get more. The school has the teachers but needs to know what is going forward. I will go back to the Minister with this one.”
“The next tranche of projects to proceed to tender will be announced in 2027 and planning for this and future tranches will continue throughout 2026 and 2027, with projects assessed based on their progress through the design pipeline, capacity needs and overall prioritisation. This process will involve engagement with stakeholders and schools and will be supported by the findings of the energy and condition survey, due for completion later in 2026. As prioritisation continues, additional projects will be progressed where justified by urgency and readiness to proceed and subject to feasibility within available funding parameters. Opportunities for advance enabling works will be considered for the most urgent and complex projects to support delivery from 2028 onwards.”
“It is currently with the planning authority for approval as additional information was required by the planning authority. Departmental officials are awaiting the planning outcome and the submission of the stage 2b report for approval. Although this project is not included in the first tranche of school building projects to proceed to tender and construction under the NDP sectoral investment plan, it remains part of the Department’s overall pipeline. The plan emphasises maximising existing capacity and prioritising projects that address the most urgent needs, with a strong focus on special education provision. That is important for the Department. The Department will continue to progress projects on a prioritised basis to meet demand for additional capacity and the modernisation of existing facilities.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this serious issue. While a lot of work is being done in the Department, information is needed. That will be vital when I speak to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, tomorrow and bring back these issues. I am taking this matter on her behalf. The school building project for Coachford primary school was approved to enter the Department of Education and Youth’s pipeline under the additional school accommodation scheme. The project will provide a two-class special educational needs unit, one mainstream classroom and one special education teaching room. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. The school received approval to progress the project to stage 2b, detailed design.”
“I see it in my constituency with schools which I know are being prioritised. I will go back and tell the Minister the Deputy has highlighted this. I thank him for raising the matter. Communication with the different sectors and working with the Department is so important for the schools, representatives and parents. The parents and staff need answers to the questions the Deputy has asked me. That is something I will absolutely bring back to the Minister. I thank the Deputy for highlighting this really serious issue.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this. The Department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with continued roll-out of projects on a priority basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, the Department published a list of 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026–27, totalling €1.6 billion in investment. These projects will deliver 27,000 additional modernised school places. I will definitely go back to the Minister as the Deputy is right. Communication is so important. I understand, as a parent myself, that when a person has children at school, while working with staff, communication with the Department is absolutely crucial.”
“The Department has a strong track record of delivering the school building programme, with more than €6.9 billion invested since 2020. This has delivered approximately 1,400 completed school building projects and more than 4,000 small-scale improvement projects. A total capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth has been confirmed for the period 2026-30 under the national development plan. As part of the NDP implementation plan for the education and youth sector, a first tranche of projects to progress to tender and construction during 2026 and 2027 was published in January 2026. This list includes the permanent school building project for Scoil Chrónáin National School. The Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated as the project progresses.”
“The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally. The enrolment of Scoil Chrónáin fell from 381 pupils to 354 pupils, which is 19 pupils below the threshold required to retain the 16th class teacher. As a result, the school's mainstream staffing is to reduce to 15 teachers in September. The staffing arrangements for the 2026-27 school year are set out in Circular 0025/2026. As the Deputy knows, it goes on the year before. That circular contains information and application forms on the staffing appeals process, whereby schools may appeal their staffing allocation to the primary staffing appeals board. The appeal submitted by the school was unsuccessful. The appeals board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.”
“Projects are subject to relevant due diligence at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters. The Department and the design team are monitoring the current progression of the project in terms of planning permission and, if necessary, will prepare the documentation for an application to extend the current planning permission ahead of its expiry later this year. That is good and it is important to get that information back to the parents and teachers. They are looking at the planning permission ahead of its expiry later this year. They are seeking to extend it. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.”
“This project will be delivered under the Department’s employee-led design team, which uses a professional external project manager to co-ordinate and drive the design team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of architectural planning to tender and then to construction. The project progressed to tender on 28 February 2025. The tender returns were received on 2 May 2025 and tenders were evaluated by the design team. Following due diligence and discussions with the preferred tenderer, the company withdrew its tender. The Department’s design team is now carrying out due diligence in relation to the next-placed tenderer, with a view to submitting a tender assessment report for the Department’s consideration.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this serious issue. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for education. The Department of education wishes to outline the current position in relation to the new school building for Scoil Chrónáin in Rathcoole, County Dublin. Scoil Chrónáin is an all-Irish, co-educational primary school under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin. The brief for the permanent project is to provide a new 16-classroom primary school and accommodation, including two classrooms for children with special educational needs on its permanent site in Rathcoole, County Dublin.”
“There is a big plan in this regard. As I said, a lot of money has been invested. The Department remains dedicated to securing the necessary regulatory approvals and the national funding to guarantee sustained, long-term infrastructure growth. I will absolutely bring the Deputy’s concerns back to the Minister. As the Deputy said, tourism is vital. I was in Waterford and I noticed how well it looks. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue.”
“I was in Waterford recently. There is a lot of work being done in Waterford. I understand what is happening. Dunmore East is an important part of the infrastructure that supports the Irish and EU fishing fleets, and it facilitates an increased level of leisure and tourism activity. There are ongoing improvement projects that have increased the operating efficiency of the harbour. Work has been done in that regard. I understand what the Deputy is asking but the Department is working and doing this. With a total of €21.5 million having been invested since 2015 and nearly €2 million having been allocated this year alone, the Department continues to promote the development of Dunmore East Harbour. The future of the harbour will be guided by a seven- to ten-year strategic business plan, shaped directly by stakeholders’ feedback.”
“In summer, Dunmore East acts as a Port of Waterford cruise ship tender port, with an average of ten calls each year. As recently as Sunday last, 5 July, a cruise ship visited the area carrying 2,700 passengers. The Department is evaluating the responses to a tender for a consultant to prepare a seven- to ten-year business plan to enable each of the fishery harbour centres to work to clear, strategic objectives. The business consultant will look at each of the harbours, consider the characteristics and produce individual plans. It is expected that there will be town-hall-type consultations in each harbour with all relevant stakeholders to consider their needs. There will be town hall meetings in this regard.”
“Following public consultation, the project's scope expanded to incorporate leisure, fishing and cruise vessel facilities. A comprehensive technical feasibility study was finalised in 2019, as the Deputy said, to evaluate various harbour layouts. While a preferred development option is under consideration, progressing the project depends on securing regulatory consents, annual national funding and complying with the Department of public expenditure's infrastructure guidelines. Dunmore East is one of Ireland’s principal fishing ports. The main basin of the harbour has three quays for the fishing fleet. The harbour features an adventure centre, a coastguard unit and a Shannon-class Royal National Lifeboat Institution, RNLI, lifeboat station. Waterford Harbour Sailing Club runs a busy spring-summer schedule, using an open-access slipway.”
“Dunmore East has been allocated nearly €2 million for projects including cliff protection works, which have recently been granted planning permission, and preparation for a new harbour breakwater. These are likely to be multiannual projects. The Department’s engineers prioritise projects that will bring infrastructure for which the Department has responsibility up to best international standards. Some projects may be scheduled over several phases to take account of the availability of annual funding, competing national priorities and the capacity of the division to manage multiple large projects simultaneously. In 2016, the Department commissioned consulting engineers RPS to design a small craft harbour at Dunmore East.”
“The strategic objective of the programme is to contribute to the future viability of the fishing industry and the sustainability of our coastal communities. Between January 2015 and December 2025, the Department invested almost €335 million in the State’s publicly owned marine infrastructure through a mix of national Exchequer and Brexit adjustment reserve funding. Dunmore East Harbour received over €21.5 million during that period. On 16 February 2026, the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, announced an allocation of €27 million for capital projects in Ireland's publicly owned harbours through the 2026 fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned fishery harbour centres. The Department also has responsibility for the North Harbour at Cape Clear Island, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland. Investing in our marine infrastructure is particularly important to the resilience of our seafood industry. The Department, subject to project feasibility and resources, administers the annual fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme consistent with the objectives of the national development plan.”
“It is very important that we will continue to support local peatland communities through schemes such as the peatlands and nature engagement scheme and other initiatives that sustain biodiversity, and enable these sites to deliver a wide range of environmental and climate benefits. As I said, the Minister could not make it but I will definitely go back with the Deputy's concerns. There is a lot of good communication there working within the communities. I thank the turf cutters for all their great work as well.”