Jerry Buttimer
Cork South-Central · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Its priority is to provide scheduled public transport services on the TFI network. It works with event organisers, operators, local authorities and An Garda Síochána to provide additional transport supports where it is possible to do so.”
“I commit to relaying the points the Senator has made on the floor of the House, and has conveyed to me in private, to the Department of Transport. To be fair to the Senator, it was not only this morning that he has articulated this. The travelling supporters of Kerry and Mayo deserve additional transport.”
“I understand from the company that the Expressway team is currently examining whether additional services on route 22 will be added on the morning of Sunday, 26 July.”
“In this case, for Kerry and Mayo, as the Senator rightly said, it will see a high demand for scheduled and additional services. The Senator has outlined the volume of tickets sales. This is the busiest time for scheduled intercity services anyway, given that it is peak summer time, and that is a priority.”
“I understand from speaking to Irish Rail that it hopes to be in a position to confirm the number of additional services later this week - I am hoping this will be today or tomorrow - and it will advise customers as soon as these services are available to book.”
“The Senator mentioned Sneem and Ventry. He and I will remember our great friends, the late, great John Egan and Paudie O'Shea, as well as the Senator's brother Tim. I get emotional because they were great GAA people. Cork and Kerry have the best supporters of the GAA.”
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“As in the case of the River Lee, restrictions on water flow in the River Shannon are primarily as a result of the river's topography, not as a result of legislation. It goes back to the point about the management of water and how we do it. That is a fair point. We all need to have that conversation, irrespective of views. The main point the Department would make is that the Shannon flood risk management plan, published by the OPW in 2016, is the correct vehicle for managing flood risk on the river. Detailed modelling was carried out as part of the Shannon catchment-based flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, study. This is extensively reported on in the hydraulics report, the preliminary options report and the flood risk management plan for the river.”
“The removal of the water level limits from the 1934 Act neither increases the ESB's power nor provides additional flexibility in how the Shannon operations are managed. The levels referred to in the 1934 Act do not constitute mandatory operational levels. It is important to put everything in context. The new wording will not obviate the ESB's obligation to obtain planning permission or to obey both national and EU legislation on the environment. That is a key point. Given that the Bill does not change the purpose of the 1934 Act, which was for electricity generation, any works envisaged by this amended Bill will equally need to be for the purpose of electricity generation. That is a fair point by the Members.”
“I think it was Senator Murphy or Senator Noonan who referred to the slowness of the response. We saw that, although I had better be careful because we had a court case in Cork with the release of water. Anyway, the Senators know where I am going with that. I do not want to get anybody else into further trouble. There needs to be greater consultation and engagement around that piece, and this Bill does that. May I make a couple of points about Members' contributions? The Bill itself does not change the purpose of the 1934 Act in terms of electricity generation. The debate today has proposed a wider engagement, and rightly so, on our electricity generation in terms of renewables, which is good.”
“As a Government - Senator Noonan was in government and was very much involved as well - we have committed almost €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief measures up to 2030. That speaks to many townspeople here who have spoken about flooding and the avoidance of flooding. Again, I apologise to the Members. I am dispensing with some of the speech because it is not really what we are on about here. As regards the Bill the Senators have spoken about today, it is important that I make the point, on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, that the OPW has no powers to instruct the ESB regarding its works on the Shannon river. We share a collective - I took note of it - in terms of the response to the water release and the high volume of rainfall.”
“One thing Senators are right about is that people's internal resilience is getting weary. I saw it in my city of Cork, where there was a flood in the area of Douglas. We were told it was a once-in-a-generation flood, and there was flooding in Cork city in 2010. My God, there are still people today who, when they see a red or yellow wind or weather warning, panic. Rightly so. I compliment the OPW on its work because its flood mitigation, its minor flood works and its major coastal protection schemes, on which we have spent millions, if not billions, of euro, have worked quite well. We must do things differently. We must be prepared to think outside the box in terms of the CFRAM approach to the solution as regards rivers. The OPW, with the Government, must be cognisant of that.”
“We all have a role to play in how we can mitigate climate change. As Met Éireann will tell us - I am smiling at Senator Daly because he is not wrong - the intensity of our rain and our weather has changed. As a consequence of flood management, needs must adapt also. As Members will know, the OPW is the lead agency for the co-ordination of the risk management policy. The OPW has three strategic policy objectives and areas. One is prevention by avoiding construction in flood-prone areas. The second is protection in terms of being able to take feasible measures, both structural and non-structural, to reduce the likely impact of flooding. The third is preparedness in terms of informing people of flood risks and putting in what Senators spoke about, namely, resilience.”
“Sometimes, when I hear the naysayers, I ask the lads and ladies how we are to protect people. How do we act collectively, not just to ensure that weather warnings are taken seriously, but that we can mitigate climate change? More importantly, how do we protect ourselves as people - not only our families, our homes and our communities, but also our world? I had the pleasure when I was Cathaoirleach of this great House of visiting many parts of the world. I was struck by the people of Malawi, who are facing extinction. With the former Member and Minister, Denis Naughten, I visited the people of the Sahel, who are on the verge of annihilation. Today, in a different way, the people the Senators talk about are, in a similar vein, having that same experience in our country, in the middle of a modern world, exposed to weather.”
“If, as Senator Murphy said, 2% of our electricity generation comes from Ardnacrusha, if we are genuinely serious - I pay tribute to the former Minister, Eamon Ryan, who set us on a journey towards renewable energy - and if we want to take what Senators have articulated about the west coast, then this debate is that catalyst with Government policy on renewables. I know that is a different part again. Maybe there are people watching and listening to this at home. We are living in a world where there are more severe weather events. Senator Daly spoke about the soft day. Yellow warnings, red warnings and orange warnings have become part of our lexicon and they are not going away. I thank Senator Rabbitte for articulating, on behalf of an gnáthdhuine, the person who is at home, sa bhaile, ag éisteacht agus faoi bhrú.”
“I apologise to Members; I have digressed from the speech completely. I probably will not refer to the speech too much but I think they will get the gist of what I am saying. This is an important matter. It is part of why we need Private Members' Bills in both Houses of the Oireachtas, in particular Seanad Éireann. The Bill before us covers many issues and incorporates some of the views Members have articulated. They voiced discord without being discordant on the Bill. The issues they have addressed collectively in this House show that Private Members' business and this Bill are about addressing a collective lived experience of people. Senator Ryan is right - I know Senator Noonan will agree - that we are moving towards renewables.”
“I nearly felt he was going to get a bit of Semtex and blow it up - I am glad Senator Noonan came in and said it should have UNESCO world heritage status; I agree with him - but I know Senator Murphy did not say that, to be fair. Both Senators raised a very interesting, pertinent point about the site's future. Senator Dee Ryan made a fascinating contribution about the use of the river in terms of not only rowing and swimming but also ecology, comments she shared with Senator Noonan. Senators Duffy and Daly brought their insight in terms of not only practicality but also farming and the community. Senator Conway spoke about the importance of the people and Senator Collins referred to flooding. I apologise that the Minister of State is not here. As Members will know, the Government is not opposing the Bill on this Stage.”
“Tá mé fíorbhuíoch do gach Ball a bhí páirteach sa díospóireacht iontach seo. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis na Seanadóirí Rabbitte agus Daly as an mBille a chur os ár gcomhair. I have a prepared script that would not do justice to the fantastic debate we have had. That is why I love coming back to the Seanad. It is a place where we have real, proper, informative debates. We began with the raw emotion of Senator Rabbitte who painted the picture of a real, lived experience. It is not a novel, film or fabled story; it is reality, in particular, the image of checking the levels and being able to recalibrate life in a different way. Senator Murphy set out the history. I did not think he was going to want to get rid of Ardnacrusha.”
“The Deputy will see in the coming weeks and months further investment by us as a Government in terms of the local enhancement projects and other community initiatives. We are, as a Department, very aware of the benefits of women's sheds to communities and aware of the importance of them. We will work together, le chéile, to ensure we have an appropriate and proper governance, administrative structure and funding to women's sheds in the future.”
“I thank both Deputies for raising the matter. There has been significant engagement. Progress has been made and the most important point is that if we did not have engagement both Deputies would be coming in with a different set of questions in terms of governance and in terms of structures and the appropriateness of that. We have seen record investment in community by Government over the past decade. There are deficits in some cases and we will work to fill those deficits. Both the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are very committed to the enhancement and support of local community organisations because our country is a better place by the strength of the voluntary and community endeavour we have.”
“We stand ready. We will engage further post the publication of the recommendations by the facilitator and I hope that we will come to an agreement on the way forward in the new year.”
“We all share the aspiration to fund and support because it is a programme for Government commitment to continue to form both men's sheds and women's sheds. The women's sheds do not have the current umbrella body like men's sheds do and there needs to be a mechanism to channel the funding that is needed. Our Department has a number of schemes through which women's sheds can avail of support, such as LEP, SICAP and LEADER. We are committed to working with women's sheds post the facilitation to ensure that we provide support and funding. As the Deputy said, this is an important new departure, doing different work from other women's organisations, the benefit of which can be seen in our communities. The Deputy mentioned Naas as an example and it is tremendous to see what is happening there. I thank him for raising the matter again.”
“The women’s sheds representatives and the facilitator are working together to outline a work plan to determine what the next steps should be. Officials in our Department along with their counterparts in the Department of Health hold regular update meetings with the facilitator to discuss progress, the most recent of which took place last week. Discussions on the work plan are ongoing and it is expected that these discussions will continue into the new year, given the Christmas break and the sensitivities of the matter being discussed. Once the work plan has been completed our Department will review its recommendations and we will continue to engage with the women's sheds representatives to determine the most appropriate support for its implementation.”
“I am pleased that our colleague in the Department of Health, the Minister of State, Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, shares our view. A number of meetings have taken place between representatives of women's sheds and officials from our Department and from the Department of Health. Both Departments have jointly funded the provision of a facilitator to assist the representatives of the women’s sheds in their discussions on the formation of a national body. The facilitator is also providing advice to the representatives from the women’s sheds in the context of appropriate governance structures. Several meetings have taken place, both online and in person, and further meetings will be scheduled in the coming weeks.”
“I thank the Deputy for this very important question. He is right that the work of men's sheds has been tremendous. Every community has benefited and equally women's sheds are emerging. The emergence of women’s sheds has been a very positive development for communities across Ireland. They provide a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment where women of all ages can share skills, work on meaningful projects and connect with their communities. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are committed to providing any support we can for the development of a national governing body for women’s sheds to ensure that individual women’s sheds can benefit from having a strong national representative body to advocate on their behalf.”
“The next iteration of the scheme will take into account the new advancements in technology and ensure that people who require the seniors alert alarm will have it. In particular, as the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I have discussed, it is important that during extreme weather events, people will not be isolated in their own homes.”
“I will take the Deputy’s point back, including the example he raised. What we envisage is that the scheme will take into account the use of modern technology to ensure that people who are vulnerable or older and require the alarm are not left isolated on regular days, or on extreme weather days where power and communications are down. An extensive consultative process is ongoing with the representative groups. There is a potential impact given the replacement of the copper infrastructure, which is going to happen because it has to. We will have to phase that out, along with the use of remaining legacy devices. What we want to do, and are committed to doing as part of the review, is ensure that we include new technologies and broaden the target demographic, while ensuring there will be no negative impact due to what we do.”
“We must be conscious that we cannot do anything that, as the Deputy said, would regress the scheme or create uncertainty. There is an impact due to the broadening of technology. We have to work to make sure we do not negate the scheme for the people who require it more than anybody else.”
“The Deputy raises a pertinent point. The Department and its officials, in the review, are very conscious of new technological advances. However, the review will provide an opportunity to consider not just technological advancements but how to broaden the reach of the scheme to more vulnerable and older people. I will give the Deputy a flavour of it. The review has seen engagement with Pobal, telecoms operators, technology consultants and representative bodies for older people. In addition, on the Deputy’s point concerning the storm’s effect on electricity and broadband, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, has been in consultation with Eir and ComReg on the replacement of the copper networks with fibre, which is another important part. The one thing we want to do is keep the scheme broad and open.”
“We and our officials in the Department will continue to monitor funding to ensure all eligible applicants can avail of the scheme.”
“My Department is reviewing all aspects of the seniors alert scheme, including the technology and services available, and I hope to launch a new iteration of the scheme in 2026. Any new iteration of the scheme will take into account the learnings from recent weather events - we heard this morning about Storm Éowyn being the most googled term this year - and will also have regard to modern technological advancements to ensure the most reliable, robust devices available are procured. The budget for 2025 is €3.2 million and this allocation has been maintained for next year, with additional funding allocated as necessary from the Dormant Accounts Fund. As the Deputy knows, the seniors alert scheme is a demand-led scheme and to date everybody who has applied to the scheme and meets the eligibility criteria has been approved.”
“I thank the Deputy for his very important question and ongoing commitment to this particular area. When we were in the Seanad together, he raised this on many occasions. As he knows, our Department is responsible for the seniors alert scheme, which encourages community support for older people through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme for the purchase, by a registered community-based organisation, of a personal alarm or pendant. Since the scheme was launched in 2015, 156,488 participants have been approved for the alarms, including over 15,000 this year, and since 2015, 4,819 people from Kildare have availed of the scheme.”
“The clarion call from this debate is that together, let us move forward towards a future where every member of the transgender and gender-diverse community can access the care, support and recognition they deserve, at the very least they need to continue to live their best lives. We owe them that, as members and citizens of a Republic.”
“I did not hear all of the debate but I am acutely aware that information and support among gender-questioning young people and their families is one that we need to do more on. The unique challenges, navigating the complex social, emotional and medical issues in a world that is sometimes cold, where understanding and acceptance is very limited is difficult. The broader model of care must be refined to recognise the urgency of the situation. I hope the HSE will continue that. I ask all Members to have continued collaboration based on evidence, the stories of people, their lived experience, but above all, the focus on inclusion and respect, that we can and should make a substantial and positive difference in the lives of people, particularly those we serve.”
“Their viewpoint, informed by the direct personal involvement with the healthcare system is not just invaluable in shaping a model of care that is responsive, it is critical. Yes, there will be people with different viewpoints but collaboration is needed. The process, in terms of what we are looking for, is about active engagement with healthcare professionals, advocacy organisations and other relevant stakeholders. What does it do? It brings us to a model of care that reflects the full spectrum of needs and perspectives, paving a way for a system that is both truly inclusive, effective and delivers for people who need it. Transparency is also a key principle that will underpin the programme's development.”
“It is not education; it is raising awareness and that new clinical programme for gender healthcare. That programme must be about best practice from around the world, recognising that there has been an increase in the demand for transgender healthcare services but also reflecting a growing societal understanding of a gender diversity commitment to supporting people at every stage of their journey. That is why both the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, are steadfast in their belief that the new clinical programme will be instrumental in establishing a fair, balanced and effective system for gender-affirming healthcare in Ireland. We cannot ignore the inclusion of people with a real lived and living experience.”
“We must, as a society, bring about meaningful improvements for every person who wants gender-affirming healthcare. Deputy O'Donoghue mentioned friends of his who are transgender. They are not ogres, demons or predators. We should not have to say that. We should not have to qualify that. They are decent people. They are professionals and ordinary people trying to live their life as best they can, making a valuable contribution. I ask Members to walk in their shoes for a couple of days and see the reality of life. They are coming into your office to talk to you. They are friends of yours and they are struggling with mental health and to gain basic healthcare. For me, working with like-minded people, that diverse experience will bring about change. It will also bring about awareness. The Deputy mentioned education. He is right.”
“I am glad that the Government is not opposing the Labour Party Private Members' motion today. I thank members of the Labour Party for bringing this forward. There is a key phrase that we should focus on: gender-affirming healthcare. What Deputy Tóibín is saying is not new at all. I respect Deputy O'Donoghue. I know him to be a decent, honourable man. Let us listen to the stories as we pursue a willingness to listen to the experiences and the huge gaps in the services. Let us think about the gaps in those services. It is affecting people - an duine. People are being judged, harassed, beaten, chased, mocked, jeered and condemned by a Republic that is meant to treat all of our children equally. Leaders of Parliaments, by their words and actions, bring people. That is why this debate is important for me.”
“I pay tribute to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and also to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for her own lived experience and the way she has ensured that we can have at the heart of the Government a movement toward that piece that has been missing since the Gender Recognition Act. Members of the transgender community deserve comprehensive, respectful and integrated care and the support they need to live their lives authentically so that they can flourish. When we talk about the percentage of people or the numbers and volumes, it is actually quite small. Both the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, have openly acknowledged that the current public service in Ireland does not fully meet the needs of people seeking gender-affirming healthcare.”
“The sad part is some of the comments this morning will get into the paper but the real story is about the stories of the people in the Gallery here today and their quest for healthcare. I make the point to all of us, as Members of the Oireachtas, irrespective of ideology or viewpoint, to reflect on what we articulate, how we articulate it, what we say and when we say it. I get emotional when I hear some of the inflammatory language being used. Nobody wakes up today and suddenly flicks a switch from a man to a woman or a woman to a man. It does not happen. If we are to have a debate in this House, let us do so in a manner that is honest in terms of engagement on the issue of transgender healthcare.”
“The important part we should look at is this debate is about people, first, second and third. It is not about anything else. A decade on from the passing of the Gender Recognition Act, we have a lot of road to keep going as a country. As a member of the LGBTIQ+ community, I respect everybody. Deputy O'Donoghue is right that fear is driving some of the narrative. That fear is caused by some and they have to reflect on their articulation of points. I welcome the members in the Public Gallery and thank them for being here and for their battle in terms of trans healthcare. It is a battle they should not have to engage in. That is something we need to reflect on as a country and as a society because, as the motion before us from the Labour Party reflects, this is about stories.”
“I look forward to working with them further on this matter, but I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, to engage with them. I thank the Senators for making their comments, particularly as this is an important issue. I take their views seriously and will relay them back to the Government and the Minister.”
“The electrification of the fleet would provide the most significant share of emission abatement in the short and medium term. The comments posed by the Members are very important. As they will know, in the third quarter this year, Ireland exceeded its 2025 target of 195,000 EVs by the year end. While trajectory thus far this year shows a steady increase of month-on-month EV registrations, we need to continue that momentum. To sustain progress and meet our targets, demand-side interventions will be critical. EU measures such as the proposed recommendation on the corporate fleets, which would create clear obligations for corporate fleets to transition to zero-emission vehicles, is continuing. I will take the Senators' views back to the Department and the Minister.”
“I am glad the three members are in unison on this matter. I will certainly reflect their concerns and the views they have articulated back to the Minister. Senator Conway, it is fair to say that nobody from our side of the House wants to decimate the car rental market and the fleet relating thereto, which is a very important part of our offering to tourists coming in and to people who need to rent cars. The Government remains firmly committed to accelerating the electrification of private and corporate vehicles as part of its broader climate objectives. As Members will know, under the Climate Action Plan 2023, Ireland has an ambitious target of having 30% of our private fleet being electric. The transition to EVs is a key lever in reducing emissions and remains a priority for Ireland and for the Government.”
“We will also give consideration in due course to whether our existing supports for EV take-up need to be adjusted to better complement any EU regulation.”
“Officials from the Department of Transport have engaged with the car rental sector to discuss concerns about the forthcoming proposal, and I will bring the concerns of the three Members this morning back to the Department. At ministerial level, a meeting was recently held between the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Car Rental Council of Ireland, and further engagement has taken place through our permanent representation in Brussels. The Commission's legislative proposal is expected by the end of this year. Once the proposal is published, my Department will work to assess how the proposal will affect Irish businesses in terms of the number and types of company within the scope of the proposal.”
“Ireland’s focus is on light duty vehicles, cars and small vans and the measures that can be implemented quickly and complement existing national measures, which in this case typically include a mixture of tax and grant benefits. The corporate fleet sector is diverse, consisting of large and small companies ranging from additional car company executive fleets to large shipping and freight companies, last mile delivery fleets, increasing companies and short-term rental companies. Each of these subsectors has unique conditions that would make a one-size-fits-all approach ineffective. We will be ensuring that any targets reflect this diversity and do not create any unachievable burden.”
“Having set out the pathway for a transition towards zero-emission vehicles with the CO2 emission standards and having set binding targets for public charging under the alternative fuels infrastructure regulation, AFIR, it is increasingly clear that we need to consider action on the demand side in order to push zero-emission vehicles. Corporate fleets are the EU's most important market segment, representing most new vehicle registrations. Ireland is strongly in favour of the EU-level intervention that helps us to reach our 2030 EV targets in the first instance and those targets beyond 2030, and is advocating for timely, targeted legislation that can be agreed quickly and have the necessary impact.”
“I thank Senators Kyne, Conway and Byrne for their contributions on this very important matter. They raised very pertinent points regarding the localities where they are from and, indeed, about the tourist market. The greening corporate fleets initiative originates from the European Commission's sustainable and smart mobility strategy from 2020, which committed to a comprehensive policy of actions to boost the uptake of zero-emission vehicles in corporate and urban fleets. In October of last year, Ireland joined a small group of like-minded member states in writing, as Senator Kyne said, to President von der Leyen at ministerial level urging the Commission to take action on corporate fleets.”
“I give him commitment that I will go down and visit the area with him and speak with officials in the Department to facilitate guiding the next principles. The Senator is right; it is unacceptable. I agree with him on that. I will work him on the matter.”
“I hope that the Senator and I, with the different stakeholders, can determine the priorities here in getting funding provided from the grant allocations and from the council's own resources. As the Senator knows, the Minister for Transport recognises the importance of funding provided to local authorities for the protection and renewal of the regional and local roads programme. This funding is an important one, with the Minister this year committing to €713 million to support regional and local roads. I will sit down with the Senator after today to ensure that we put in place a network of meetings to look at this issue of Foildarrig Bridge. The Senator has long been a champion of this project. He has met with me privately.”
“I understand the Senator's frustration. This is unacceptable. He is representing people who are deprived of connectivity, and he not wrong to be here today advocating for them. I accept totally his bona fides and his position. There is a need for facilitation between all the different stakeholders to ensure that we avoid where we have been and where we cannot be in the future. The Government is committed to protection and renewal of our road network. As we know, we must connect people, businesses and communities. We must also connect and protect people from what the Senator referenced in his contribution. Kerry County Council has a role to play here, and it should not be let off the hook on this. It is responsible for maintaining and improving its regional and local roads. It is its responsibility to determine its priorities.”
“It is a critical piece of infrastructure and the Senator has made the point that the 16-week closure is unacceptable and, as he said, it is about the connectivity that is missing. I look forward to working with the Senator. I appreciate his concerns and those of the residents and the lack of funding in this case, but let us work together to ensure that we can apportion more funding to the project again.”
“On this occasion, the scheme at Foildarrig Bridge was not allocated funding under the climate change adaptation and resilience works programme. However, the Department will work with Kerry County Council to apportion funds and address areas of urgent and immediate concern as deemed appropriate by the local authority. This is why I think it is important that the Senator and I go back there to make the case again. While grants are based primarily on the initial selection and prioritisation of maintenance and renewal works as a matter for each local authority, there is flexibility within the State grant programme for councils to direct resources to address particular problems identified on their networks as they see fit. Senator Kennelly has made very clear the need for urgent work to be carried out.”
“It should be noted that approval to proceed with works in the river is also needed from Inland Fisheries Ireland and not from the Department of Transport. There is a need for greater connectivity between all relevant stakeholders here, and I would be happy to work with the Senator on that. The Department of Transport sought applications in October of last year for funding of climate change adaptation and resilience works on regional and local roads to be carried out by the local authorities during this year. The schemes for inclusion in the application are decided by the local authorities. Applications are made to the Department, taking into account the terms applying for the grant and the available budget for the grant programme. As the Senator knows, it is not possible to allocate funds to all projects.”
“The Department of Transport provides grant assistance to local authorities under the regional and local roads grant programme for a number of targeted programmes, including what we are discussing today here, namely, the bridge rehabilitation grant programme. Applications are sought each year from eligible local authorities under the programme for consideration for funding in the subsequent year. Councils are asked to submit applications in order of priority. This year, Kerry County Council has been allocated €930,000 for ten schemes under the bridge rehabilitation programme. Last year the council was allocated funding of €845,000 under the same programme, which did include funding for the Foildarrig Bridge to facilitate a special inspection and provision of rock protection on the embankment.”
“I should point out on behalf of the Department that the improvement in maintenance of the regional and local road network in County Kerry is the statutory responsibility of Kerry County Council in accordance with the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from the council's own resources and are, as the Senator said, supported by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority, but I would be happy to visit the area again with the Senator and to make the case that he has made, both to the Department and to Kerry County Council.”