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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“With the Acting Chairperson's permission, as there is a vote in the Dáil, I will give the Senator an abbreviated answer. She makes a good point. There is merit in what she is proposing about an extension. She will get a copy of the prepared reply as well. Since 2019, over €1.5 billion has been provided to homeowners for 228,350 home energy upgrades. As the Senator knows, the retrofit programme is a community-led home retrofit project funded by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on whose behalf I am taking this matter. It has been awarded almost €500,000 since it commenced in October 2022. Retrofit Ready serves four counties, Monaghan, Sligo, Cavan and Leitrim, and is developing a community retrofit service which is allowing homeowners to navigate access to retrofit grant schemes.”
“The programme for Government is very much committed to rolling out contactless payment, and to keeping fares affordable and equitable. As I said, in the case of Cork that new through platform at Cork Kent Station represents a landmark change in the delivery of the Cork area commuter rail programme. It will also allow for greater frequency. This platform is the first element of the Cork area commuter rail programme. It will also have other effects in terms of Glounthaune, Midleton, etc. I will raise the situation in Banteer with the NTA and Irish Rail. I am not familiar with the situation and if the Senator conducts a survey on the matter, I would be happy to convey the information on her behalf. Again, I thank the Senator for raising the matter this afternoon.”
“I will take up the remarks made by the Senator. I think she will agree with me that the Government has invested €940 million in the PSO and Local Link services for next year and that demonstrates the commitment of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, along with the Department of Transport, to a sustainable, equitable and accessible public transport network for all, irrespective of where people are from. The Government and the Department of Transport are fully committed to investing in public transport services for the improvement of our transport network, not just countrywide but also in Cork, while also maintaining the financial sustainability of the system in the long term.”
“As fleet becomes available, this will provide opportunities for service expansion on the network, which is subject to agreement with the NTA. The new DART+ fleet will add significant capacity in the greater Dublin area, and will be then redeployed elsewhere on the network, based on demand and infrastructure capacity. I have two questions for the Senator. Can she quantify the number of students who are discommoded, in terms of this Commencement matter, and cannot travel from Banteer or Millstreet to Cork city on a Monday morning? The Senator mentioned that students cannot arrive on time for their classes in the morning. What is the earliest train the students can take to travel to Kent Station? I ask because there is a good bus system between UCC and Kent Station.”
“A public consultation on phase 2 of the programme, which includes the delivery of eight new stations, provides upgrades to existing stations, including Mallow, and provides for the electrification of the new Cork commuter rail system, concluded in July. Phase 2 works will be advanced following the completion of phase 1 and subject to funding and relevant approvals. The improvements in frequency provided by the Cork area commuter rail programme will also benefit passengers travelling from stations on the Tralee line, including Banteer and Millstreet, who can interchange at Mallow station and travel onwards to Cork Kent Station. The development of infrastructure from the Cork area commuter rail programme will increase capacity and frequency from Mallow to Cork.”
“Leap card users can save up to 30% compared with paying with cash, making it a more cost-effective option for regular travel. In relation to train services, Senator Ryan and the Members will know we have invested significantly in recent years in our national rail network, particularly in Cork, to create a more efficient, safe and better service for the people of Ireland. The opening of a new through platform at Cork Kent Station last April represented a landmark day in the delivery of the Cork area commuter rail programme. This platform will facilitate Cork commuter trains to travel through Kent Station from Mallow to Midleton or Cobh without requiring passengers to change services, which will support a better rail service.”
“On the Senator's specific query regarding the need to extend Leap card fare access to students, I clarify that, as Members will know, there are currently two Leap card options available that offer 50% discounted travel for young people and students. The young adult card is available to all young adults aged 19 to 25 and the student Leap card is available to full-time students aged 16 to 18 and to those aged 26 and over. To qualify, students must be in full-time education and training for at least 16 hours per week. Any student who meets the eligibility criteria, supported by a valid student ID indicating full-time status and-or a letter from an institution, will be issued a student Leap card. The NTA encourages all customers to use the TFI Leap card to ensure they receive the best possible value on fares.”
“That said, I reassure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. To support this objective in the budget just announced, the Department secured €940 million in funding for PSO and Transport for Ireland, TFI, Local Link services, providing a significant 43% uplift, which is an increase from €658.442 million last year, the allocation of further supports for subsidised bus and rail services across Ireland as well as maintaining targeted fare initiatives such as the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of nine and the young adult card as part of the NTA’s national fare strategy.”
“I thank Senator Ryan for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Brien. I clarify at the start that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in public transport but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport passenger services nationally rests with the National Transport Authority. The NTA works with the public transport operators that deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. The NTA also has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation, PSO, contracts.”
“It is envisaged that the location of the majority of special classes, including early intervention classes, will be sanctioned by December this year, which is four months earlier than in previous years. Parents, therefore, will be able to apply for specialist places much earlier than in previous years. The Minister and Minister of State, Deputies McEntee and Moynihan, continue to meet with the NCSE and with senior departmental officials on a weekly basis to discuss the progress being made in providing special classes for the next school year. I will take the points made by Deputy Daly back to them. I thank him for raising the matter.”
“It is important that we do this with a focus on the policy of having an inclusive education model that promotes that children will be supported to receive an education that is in the most inclusive and appropriate setting possible. That is why there has been a significant increase in recent years in resources and supports provided to children with additional needs accessing the AIM programme. Where demand is identified for early intervention classes, they will be sanctioned by the NCSE and established in the relevant schools. The NCSE continues to examine the information gathered through the parents' notification system and to match that demand to appropriate schools in local areas.”
“I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I acknowledge the concerns he has articulated on behalf of the children and parents concerned. I want to make it clear that the Government, the Department, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, working with the NCSE, have committed to ensuring all children can access an education suitable to their needs. AIM is about ensuring accession and inclusion and it is disturbing to hear the Deputy's remarks regarding the testimony of parents and children. The Department of Education and Youth will continue to engage extensively and intensively with the NCSE in regard to the forward planning for new school provisions to ensure every child, including children in Kerry, have a place in an education setting that best fits their educational need.”
“I will convey the matters the Deputy raised, particularly the parliamentary question he referenced, to the Minister. To be fair, there has been significant investment in special education. However, I accept there is frustration and concern on the part of parents, which should not be the case.”
“I assure the House that the Department, the Minister, the Minister of State and the NCSE are committed to ensuring sufficient special education placements remain available for all children with additional needs. It is Important to note that within the early years sector, the access and inclusion model, AIM, under the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, continues to support a growing number of young children with additional needs. AIM provides a tiered system of support, including extra staffing for early years providers, and, importantly, it does not require a formal diagnosis for access. There has been a significant increase in resources and supports provided to children with additional needs accessing the AIM programme over recent years.”
“There is also a small number of classes dedicated to children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The classes are intended to provide early support to children with the most complex of needs before they start school and can aid their transition to junior infants. Looking ahead to the 2026-27 school year, the NCSE will have a clear picture of local demand for special class places after it reviews and assesses all the information provided through the parents' notification process, which, as Members know, closed on 1 October. The NCSE will then engage directly with school boards of management in relation to the opening of new special classes, including early intervention classes.”
“The Government is committed to building on this figure next year, placing provision in locations where it is best placed to meet existing and future demand. In County Kerry, which Deputy Daly represents and has referenced, 114 special classes are now in operation, providing capacity for up to 864 students. That provision includes 25 new special classes for this school year. In total, the number of special classes in County Kerry has almost doubled since 2020. Two of these classes are early intervention classes. Where the NCSE identifies need for an early intervention class, the class is sanctioned and supports are provided by the Department to ensure the school identified can accommodate the class. These classes are available in mainstream and special school settings for children aged between three and five with a diagnosis of autism.”
“There are 160 early intervention classes nationwide, the vast majority of which are for children with a diagnosis of autism. Many of the early intervention classes sanctioned to date have been reclassified as the children enrolled reach primary level age. This allows the children to remain in the class at the school they attended for early intervention. However, this it is not always the case, with many classes enrolling a new cohort of children yearly. As the Deputy knows, budget 2026 secured funding for 3,000 new specialist places. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is currently examining where these places would be best located for the 2026-27 school year. More than 400 new special classes were provided for the 2025-26 school year, meaning there are now 3,741 special classes nationwide.”
“I thank Deputy Daly for raising this very important matter. As somebody who was involved with the Cope Foundation in Cork, now Horizons, I recognise the huge work being done in special education and for those with disabilities in Kerry. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth. The Government is committed to the provision of additional special places for children with additional needs. The Deputy is right that there is huge frustration and stress being felt by parents, and that should not be the case. As I said earlier, as a former teacher I recognise that early intervention is critical and early years provision is so important to young children, particularly those with additional needs.”
“That blended model is the right approach, working to put our schools at the heart of our communities and further integrating them through community use of school facilities. Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.”
“I hope, based upon our conversation tonight, they can be updated based on research, feedback and curriculum development. The Deputy's contribution tonight is part of that feedback. A range of multi-use and flexible spaces exists within schools, both internally and externally. These spaces are also designed for the after-school community. I must take a look at the Adamstown model but there are areas where we can improve and do better. The installation of electric dryers is a decision for individual schools but a blended approach, in second level in particular, is one that I hope the planning and building unit in the Department will take note of and provide technical advice to schools on.”
“The Deputy is right to raise the issue of residents in the area. There is fear, property has been damaged and public transport stopped. People have been discommoded and unable to get to and from work and home tonight. It is important that we send a strong message not just to those who have rioted but to the people who are affected and living in fear. I have a huge amount of sympathy with the Deputy in regard to this Topical Issue. As a former director of education and teacher, what he is saying about community facilities and pitches makes absolute sense to me. I also agree with him on a blended approach at second level in particular. The Department has developed a suite of technical guidance documents and school design guides, which are continually reviewed.”
“The noise generated by dryers in toilet en suites within primary school classrooms can also be disruptive to the teaching and leaning environment. Also, in relation to universal accessibility, towel dispensers are easy to use with a single hand and by people with limited manual dexterity and reduced hand and arm movement. As with all areas of school design guidance, this will continue to be reviewed and considered in line with technological and regulatory developments. I do not have a specific answer in relation to the Holy Family school in Rathcoole but I am happy to go back to the Department to get further information for the Deputy.”
“Regarding the specific query on hand-drying facilities in schools, paper, cotton or linen towel dispensers are classified as loose furniture and fittings and are not part of the construction contract for new school building projects. I was not aware of that until I read this reply earlier this evening. Some schools may choose to install electric air hand dryers. However, under current departmental guidance based on previous research and an assessment of a number of criteria, it is recommended that the provision of electric air hand dryers in schools be carefully considered on health, noise and energy consumption grounds. Electric hand dryers are not considered the most effective means for children in primary schools to dry their hands with regard to the removal of bacteria as young children will not spend sufficient time at the unit.”
“These spaces contribute to the well-being of students and all of the school community. There are also a number of design layouts for specific school facilities such as for music, art, graphics, library and technology rooms, which offer a more flexible approach to creative learning. The guidance states that the architecture of the school should promote cross-disciplinary learning. The learning environment is a type of pedagogical tool as it subtly supports learning through textures, colours, materials and, most of all, the innovative use of space. In this way, the interiors can be regrouped and used flexibly for various purposes.”
“These spaces are also designed to allow for after-school community activities. As a former teacher and a former director of adult education, I concur with Deputy Gogarty that a school is best served by being able to have flexibility regarding after-school use also. At a school where I worked, I had the pleasure of being involved in the transition to a new school building as part of a public-private partnership. In saying this, I agree with the points raised by Deputy Gogarty on the use of space and buildings. The design briefs for contemporary school building projects include social spaces and active circulation areas outside of the formal classroom settings that facilitate a more flexible and multi-purpose type of environment for collaborative learning and social interactions.”
“It provides me with an opportunity to discuss the role of the Department's technical guidance documents and school design guidance documentation. To facilitate the design of new school buildings, the Department has developed a suite of technical guidance documents and school design guides, which provide guidance on a wide range of technical and building design-related issues for use by school authorities and design teams. These guidance documents have been in operation for a number of years and are continually reviewed and updated based on an ongoing policy of research, curriculum development and feedback. School design guidance documents include a range of multiuse and flexible time spaces, including general purpose halls and internal and external multiuse physical education spaces.”
“I join Deputy Gogarty in condemning the actions tonight of those who engaged in thuggery. We are, and should be, as Deputy Gogarty rightly said, thinking about the young girl who was attacked. We send our best wishes to her. We also think of the member of An Garda Síochána who was attacked tonight in the line of duty. All of us who are balanced and fair people recognise there is no place in society for what happened tonight. I am conscious Deputy Gogarty has raised legitimate questions about the concerns of residents and I hope we can address them further. I thank Deputy Gogarty for raising the matter regarding the Department of Education and Youth guidelines. I am taking this matter for the Minister for Education and Youth.”
“We must work with them and help them. In conclusion, I will go back to Article 3 of the Constitution, amended as part of the Good Friday Agreement, that states: "It is the firm will of the Irish nation, in harmony and friendship, to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland, in all the diversity of their identities and traditions". The Good Friday Agreement is our compass as we chart a path to the peace and prosperity. Let us continue to focus on delivering for our people on this island.”
“The Government will provide €25 million in funding to ensure the participation and representation of victims and families in the work of the UK's legacy commission. The Government is working at pace to ensure that, right now, we are examining the Westminster legislation on legacy to ensure that it conforms to that joint framework. As we chart a new path forward with the British Government on legacy, we will continue to be guided by our two key tests, that is, the need for compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights, which is woven directly into the fabric of the Good Friday Agreement, and the need to command the confidence of the victims' families. Families and individuals hurt by terrorist violence may, understandably, be wary, fearful or contemptuous of whatever side changed their lives forever.”
“It reflects the desire of both Governments to move forward on legacy. It is a return to an approach of partnership on Northern Ireland. That is only right, given our shared responsibilities as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, and it is one illustration of how we are ensuring that the reset in Ireland-UK relations is including and delivering for the people of Northern Ireland. It is also an affirmation of this Government's responsibilities. We will facilitate the fullest possible co-operation with the reformed legacy commission. To do so, a dedicated legacy unit will be established in An Garda Síochána. We will receive reciprocal co-operation from the British Government on Troubles-related inquiries, inquests and investigations in this jurisdiction.”
“We are determined to build a better future for this island, but we cannot gloss over the divisions of our past. The legacy of the violence of the Troubles has left behind enduring and immense pain. For far too long, too many families have been denied truth, accountability and justice. This Government has worked tirelessly as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement with the British Government on this issue. In September, we agreed a historic joint framework on addressing the legacy of the Troubles. This was the culmination of months of intense negotiations between an Tánaiste and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The framework provides for root and branch reform of the mechanisms to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and across this island.”
“It demands that all of us show generosity to each other's perspectives, other histories and other traditions. Too often, that generosity has been absent, and is absent. There is an onus on us as politicians and leaders. Each of us has friends, colleagues, contacts and neighbours, and we must urge each of them to show that generosity. Reconciliation is not a precondition to unity, but greater reconciliation is essential to whatever constitutional future you, I or whoever else wishes to see. I have been taken by the PEACEPLUS programme that I am involved with in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. This involves projects that bring people together and partnerships that bring young and old of different traditions together.”
“Complementing this work is the shared island civic society fund, which has a budget of €6 million for a two-year period from 2025 to 2027. That funding supports practical North-South co-operation and engagement through increased cross-Border civic society connections. When we speak about promoting reconciliation, this is what we mean; not a change in approach from the Good Friday Agreement. It is a commitment to prioritise the whole series of practical steps we need to take and the conversations we need to have to learn to work together better across the island, to see things from one another's perspective, to live in one another's skins. To have those conversations to have a more reconciled Ireland is the destination, but a commitment to the concept is also a part of the journey.”
“It will also recognise and include the great ethnic and cultural diversity of the island now, and engage with diaspora communities in Britain, the United States and further afield. This Government is overseeing continued growth in the reconciliation fund, which is a flagship programme for reconciliation since 1982. This year, the fund stands at over €7 million, and it will grow further next year. It was just €2.7 million in 2018. This year alone, more than 150 projects have benefited from our support, and as Members will know, demand is growing. That comes in part from a difficult funding environment in Northern Ireland, but it is also because more people see value in this work. Each year, new organisations come forward to seek support.”
“The shared island dialogue series has brought together more than 4,000 citizens and civic representatives to discuss how we can address our common challenges and connect the whole island. This April, an Taoiseach announced at a shared island forum a new dimension to the shared island initiative to commence later this year, that is, the shared home place programme. This participative community initiative will be open to people across every town on the island. It will develop new connections and consensus through engagement with our place-based heritage and culture. The programme will engage with the contributions of Irish, Anglo-Irish and Ulster Scots traditions across the island of Ireland.”
“I learned a lot from Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, and I want to remember him in my contribution tonight. Practical initiatives bring us together, but we must also be ready for challenging conversations to create a more reconciled society. We are committed to supporting inclusive dialogue with all communities and political traditions. I remember Peter Barry, a person from my own city of Cork who always spoke to me about the importance of dialogue and of listening and understanding different traditions on our island. What we are doing, and what we should be doing, is about supporting work to build better relationships within Northern Ireland, between North and South and between Ireland and Britain.”
“That is what we mean when we say we are committed to unlocking the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement and improving the lives of people on this island today, tomorrow and whatever the future of the island may hold. I agree with Deputy Gibney on respect for individuals and communities. I will invoke Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin in my contribution. I had the pleasure of serving with Caoimhghín on the health committee. We were one of the first committees to go North to have those conversations about what a future island would look like. I want to pay tribute to him for his role and his leadership. He is a man I really have great time for because he understood the importance of people and of our island being shared and different denominations and different identities.”
“In August, the Government announced an award of €16 million in funding for the Higher Education Authority, HEA, under the North-South research programme to support four multiyear research collaborations between higher education institutions. Those collaborations will range from work on cybersecurity to Parkinson's disease, arts, culture, language and identities. In October, the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of agriculture, Mr. Muir, announced a new cross-Border initiative to tackle bovine TB, which takes a heavy toll on rural communities on this island. These are some of the practical steps that the Government is taking to build a truly shared island.”
“These kinds of practical connectivity are important for better sharing on this island. That is why the Government is also supporting the resumption of the Dublin to Derry air link. We are also investing over €44 million in the expansion of the University of Ulster in Derry. Again, that is of benefit in terms of higher education, research and co-operation across the north west, as well as young people and their families on both sides of the Border benefiting. We have allocated €2.5 million to build a specialised respite and therapeutic centre for children with cancer and their families from across the island.”
“The shared island initiative is the most ambitious agenda set by any Government to promote co-operation and understanding across the island. The Government is supporting it through the allocation of €2 billion to 2035. It is about practical steps to make a difference to the lives of ordinary people North and South. It is about investing in areas where it makes sense to work together. It is about investing in people and communities. Major projects such as the iconic Narrow Water Bridge and the renovation of the Ulster Canal are well under way. Everyone who travels regularly from Dublin to Belfast or to Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry and Portadown will appreciate the transformative impact of the Enterprise train moving to an hourly service. I visited Carlingford Lough recently to see the progress of the greenway, which connects people.”
“The Government believes this can only be achieved by a sustained focus on investment and reconciliation. We are determined to realise the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement. I agree with Deputy McGreehan. It is not about slogans; it is about all of us working together to ensure our island is reunified. At the heart of the programme for Government is the enhancement of co-operation, connections and engagements with all communities and traditions to build that shared future. That is what we are delivering through North-South co-operation, the shared island initiative and PEACEPLUS in my Department. Our focus is on the promotion of reconciliation and our determination to address the legacy of the Troubles.”
“Ar an gcéad dul síos, tá céad míle fáilte roimh Kara Owen agus déanaim comhghairdeas le Paul Johnston. I thank Sinn Féin for putting the motion before us. It is my pleasure to deliver the closing remarks on behalf of an Rialtas. I echo the comments of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, at the outset of the debate, namely, that all of us in government share as a founding principle the commitment to the unification of this island. We all need to work together. Tá gach ball den Rialtas ar aon intinn faoi cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé an t-oileán seo a aontú. Táim lánchinnte go bhfuil gach Ball sa Teach seo tiomanta don tsíocháin bhuan do mhuintir na hÉireann. All of us in government in this Chamber and across the Chamber are committed to enduring peace on the island and to the unity of our people.”
“I will make reference to the issue of the Cavan regional sports campus and give credit to Deputy Smith on that. This is about the reimagining of communities and investment in areas. It is a project that will bring, as the Deputy said, profound transformation to the area. It is a shared space. It represents a new type of modern Ireland and this facility, when it is developed, will be absolutely fantastic. What we are seeing here with PEACEPLUS is investment matched by human investment. It is all good for the people and the Border counties. I welcome our Department's involvement and both the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are very committed to the project. We look forward to working with all Members of the House.”
“I would also like to make a point about the change-maker funding element of PEACEPLUS, which will provide grants of between €10,000 and €100,000 to cross-Border or community projects. This funding programme is currently open. Information is available on the PEACEPLUS website under current funding opportunities. Like the Minister, Deputy Calleary, I welcome the announcement regarding the Cavan regional sports project, which, as the Deputy said earlier, will provide a great facility to Cavan and the wider cross-Border region. Both the Minister, Deputy Calleary and I, look forward to travelling to Deputy Smith in Cavan. We might get to that match yet; you never know.”
“This represents a total of €96 million in financing over the lifetime of the programme, with a net contribution, post recoupment of ERDF amounts, of €19.2 million. Grants are awarded by the Special EU Programmes Body following an agreed assessment process. As of 24 September, 108 projects with a total value of €947 million have been approved for funding, representing around 88% of the programme value. PEACEPLUS provides funding across a diverse range of investment areas, including revitalisation of rural areas and community development. This funding will benefit people right across the programme area and there are multiple opportunities to benefit from the programme, which are available to all groups and organisations. All information is available online, as Members know.”
“I thank Deputy Smith for the question and for his leadership and advocacy. The Deputy is right. The projects, facilities and amenities in his area in particular are bringing huge, profound and important change. I thank the Deputy for being cochair of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. The PEACEPLUS programme, which runs until 2029, has a total value of €1.1 billion and funds projects across Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland. PEACEPLUS is cofunded by the Irish Government, the European Commission, the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. The project is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. Our Department, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, is committed to providing 26% cofunding for eight of the 22 investment areas.”
“To be fair, he is driven by this as well because it is important that we instill security and confidence. Any iteration of the new scheme must take into account technological advancements, even accepting that we have made huge strides with our national broadband strategy, which has proved successful. I will take the Deputy's points back.”
“We must take learnings from every storm and apply them in the round to what we can do better. The Deputy is right that there was huge success. There is merit in her suggestion about community groups being involved because they are critical to connectivity. However, the Minister and I have been clear with the officials in our Department that there must be extensive engagement. Pobal staff are involved, as are the telecom operators and the technology consultants. It is also imperative that representatives of groups for older people are involved because they bring learnings and outcomes back to people and from people. Equally, as the Deputy knows, the replacement of copper networks with fibre is the responsibility of Eir and ComReg and that lies under the remit of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. We have been speaking and engaging with him.”
“If that confidence is gone, we will work with whoever to ensure we do not lose that important connectivity. Obviously, the storm has an effect on the cables and networks and that is a different matter, but the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is engaging with the telecom companies on that.”
“Both the Minister and I are acutely aware of that. We have been anxious to ensure the distress many people felt is not replicated. That is why the review is taking place. There has been extensive engagement by our Department, and by the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, with the telecom companies. As part of that review alternative technologies are being examined and considered, because the Deputy is right. Any iteration of the scheme must take technological advances into account. Deputy Calleary and I are acutely aware. Both he and Deputy Keogh come from County Mayo, which was badly affected by Storm Éowyn. The key point is that the seniors alert scheme gives security to older and more vulnerable people at a critical time, especially in storms.”