Kieran O'Donnell
Limerick City · Fine Gael · Ireland
“The triangle of supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels services — including dementia-specific supports — plays a vital role in helping older people to age well in their own communities. Meals on wheels services provide much more than nutritious meals.”
“The organisation currently operates a day care service four days per week, supporting approximately 60 registered users, and a meals on wheels service with 104 registered users. The HSE has advised that increased funding has been committed to support the organisation.”
“I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming the Kellehers to the Seanad, which is a beautiful building in its own right. I thank Senator Kelleher for raising this important matter. He has advocated for Westgate Foundation over a sustained period of time and that has to be acknowledged. I know the work it does is close to his heart.”
“I again thank the Senator for raising Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig and the work it does on behalf of the community, particularly older people. The Senator referred to housing on-site. It is very much an integrated model. I could see how committed the staff and the board, many of them voluntary, were.”
“The Government has significantly increased investment in meals on wheels services in recent years. Funding increased from €3.5 million in 2022 to €6.25 million in 2025, with a further €2 million allocated in budget 2026 to support service expansion and maintenance.”
“The shared objective of the HSE and Westgate Foundation is to ensure high-quality day care and meals on wheels services continue to be available to older people who rely on them, particularly in the greater Ballincollig area.”
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“This framework allows local authorities to make informed decisions about future housing requirements. Details of local authority and AHB delivery are set out in the housing delivery action plans prepared by each local authority. These plans have been published on each local authority's website. The specific point the Deputy was making was in the context of the national planning framework and how that can filter down and be effective on the ground. The Deputy raised a specific point about local development plans and local area plans. I will let him come back in and then I will respond.”
“The Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, want this done as speedily as possible. Directions will be issued to local authorities in this regard. Revised national level targets and local authority tenure-specific targets will be agreed in the context of the new national housing plan later in the year. It is essential that local authorities' targets align with their needs and ensure balanced regional development. The housing need and demand assessment, HNDA, and the summary of social housing assessment, SSHA, are the key tools in determining these targets. The HNDA provides evidence-based insights into housing needs across all tenures, analysing demographic trends, affordability data and housing stock pressures.”
“Following the publication of the revised national planning framework, which was brought to Cabinet this morning and approved by the Government, work will be undertaken to translate these revised national targets into specific local authority housing requirements for planning purposes and social and affordable targets will also be progressed at this stage. Once finalised, local authorities will integrate these revised targets into their respective housing strategies and development plans, ensuring they accurately reflect local needs and facilitate adequate land zoning and infrastructure planning. This process will be supported by explicit policy guidance and methodology provided by the Department to ensure consistency, transparency and effective implementation across all local authorities.”
“The Government has acknowledged these evolving circumstances and is actively revising targets to reflect updated census information, market analysis and economic forecasting, to which the Deputy referred, in the context of the national planning framework. Under Housing for All, last year, the Government approved new national housing targets up to the year 2030. The aim is to deliver 303,000 homes in the period 2025 to 2030, equating to an annual average of 50,500 homes and building to 60,000 in 2030. The revised targets were informed by research and modelling by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, on population projections and long-run housing demand. The revised national housing targets will inform the revision to existing social and affordable housing targets at a local authority level.”
“Altogether, between 2020 and 2023, some 39,185 social homes were delivered across build, acquisition and lease. The figures for 2024 are being finalised. On a quarterly basis, the Department publishes the social housing construction status report, which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for quarter 3 of 2024, while that for quarter 4 will be published shortly. Recent years have witnessed significant demographic changes.”
“I thank Deputy Timmins for raising this in his role as TD for Wicklow. Under Housing for All, the Government has committed to delivering 47,600 new-build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022 to 2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new-build projects delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies, AHBs. The number of new-build social homes in the pipeline continues to remain strong year on year, with new construction projects getting under way regularly. The strongest national delivery of social housing since 1975 was recorded in 2023, when 11,939 new social homes were delivered by local authorities and AHBs, including 8,110 new-build homes, 1,829 acquisitions and 1,999 homes through leasing programmes.”
“I will revert to the Minister for Health, under whom this falls, to get responses to those specific points. The process is under way. The TDs for the area and for Galway want replies on those specific points. If they wish to submit a collective submission to the Minister and Department, we can also follow up on that. Perhaps they might take a joint approach. Deputy John Connolly referred to the barracks in Athlone. We will follow up on that too if he drops a note to the Department and the Minister. I want to be in some way constructive and assist the Deputies in a practical way.”
“The update we have been given is that planning permission has been secured, which the Deputies already know. The design team is finalising a detailed design, including a fire safety certificate and a disability access certificate with a view to having a stage 2C report submitted to HSE local estates review in the coming weeks. Approval will be sought to proceed to issue tender documents. There were two specific questions. Deputies have been told the stage 2C report support will be submitted to HSE local estates for review in the coming weeks and asked when that will happen. Following on from that, I referred to the approval process. More particularly, there were questions about when this will go out to tender and get to a point where the appointment of the contractor takes place, with construction under way.”
“Approval will then be sought to proceed to issue tender documents. My Department is working closely with NAS on finalising a new strategic plan that will be formally submitted to the Department in due course. The Deputies have raised a good number of points. I am a believer in process. I have given an update on the process as it stands but I want to follow up through the Minister for Health about getting the tender and getting it built. That gives the Deputies an update about where it is at this time. I can come back to the Deputies once they have made additional presentations.”
“Pathfinder is a care pathway that involves NAS and allied health professionals working together to respond and treat older people in their homes as well as providing the appropriate supports and follow-up care in order that the patient does not need to be transported to a busy emergency department to receive care. The site the Deputies refer to in Recess in Connemara was previously a health centre and is currently derelict. It is the intention of the HSE to refurbish this existing derelict health centre to provide a stand-alone ambulance base. Planning permission has been secured and the design team is finalising the detailed design, including fire and disability access certificates, with a view to having a stage 2C report submitted to the HSE local estates office for review in the coming weeks.”
“Increased funding in 2025 will provide for up to 180 additional NAS staff, including paramedics to support the delivery of essential front-line services, facilitate the expansion of alternative care pathways and the continued development of specialist services such as the NAS critical care retrieval service. Current staffing provision in the county stands at 137 whole-time equivalents. In addition, there are 18 active community first responder, CFR, groups in County Galway. CFRs are volunteers who are trained to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. Galway also benefits from the emergency aeromedical service provided by NAS in conjunction with the Irish Air Corps from its base in Custume Barracks, Athlone. This service conducted 368 missions in 2024. Galway is also served by a Pathfinder service.”
“I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue on the provision of an ambulance base at Recess, County Galway. I know how important this issue is to them. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of Minister for Health. As the Deputies are aware, this Government has a consistent track record of investment in the National Ambulance Service, NAS, with significant increases in funding since 2019. Budget 2025 confirmed this Government’s commitment to continued investment in NAS, with an additional allocation of €8 million for new service developments in 2025. This brings the allocation for NAS in 2025 to €285 million, representing an increase of €117 million, or more than 69%, on its 2019 allocation.”
“We want to continue with the work of considering water conservation in the round and more particularly, dealing with leaks, getting infrastructure through Uisce Éireann to ensure we have sustainable provision to our citizens without charge for domestic customers and dealing with water as a precious commodity we want to deliver to the public.”
“That is the Government position. Elements in Part 2 make a big contribution in how we deal with water. Fundamentally, it is all about getting that data. If Part 2 were repealed, An Forám Uisce could not longer be funded by the Government. This Part provides that the CRU should carry out a review to assess the rate of household demand. It would not be able to carry out its work either and we need that raw data. We are not introducing a water conservation charge. The public is aware of that. It is very much in the programme for Government. What Sinn Féin is trying to do here is give the impression it might be happening but it is not happening. It will not happen under this Government.”
“This additional funding will be considered as part of the NDP review, which is due to be completed in the middle of the year. This overall commitment is reflected in budget 2025 with funding for Uisce Éireann of more than €2.2 billion, which includes €514 million of the €1 billion equity investment announced by the Minister for Finance in budget 2025. This investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine areas. Sinn Féin has brought forward a Bill, which we are opposing. We have laid out the grounds for opposition. The introduction of the household water conservation charge is not in the programme for Government.”
“The strategic funding plan for 2025 to 2029 has a total funding requirement of €16.9 billion, of which €12.1 billion is voted Exchequer funding in terms of Uisce Éireann. The strategic funding plan has a capital investment requirement of €10.2 billion, of which €9.8 billion is voted Exchequer funding. To meet increased housing targets, Uisce Éireann will require addition funding on top of the strategic funding plan over the next five years, which would be ring-fenced for housing and growth. The programme for Government also commits to investing additional capital in Uisce Éireann to support reaching our new housing targets. We will prioritise water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver the capacity to facilitate housing development in our towns and villages.”
“The Government is committed to providing substantial funding to Uisce Éireann to deliver on its mandate. The national leakage reduction programme includes investment of some €250 million every year over the next five years under the find and fix repair scheme and the water mains rehabilitation programme. The Government accepts that sustained investment is needed to ensure the upgrade and repair of the country’s water and wastewater infrastructure and to support economic growth in the years to come. The programme for Government commits to funding Uisce Éireann’s capital investment plan. In this regard, the Uisce Éireann funding plan for 2025 to 2029 was approved in November 2024 and sets out capital and operational costs expected to be incurred by Uisce Éireann over a multi-annual period and how these costs can be recovered.”
“Uisce Éireann estimates that more than 208 million litres of water per day have been saved as a result of this scheme to the end of 2022. The Department and the Minister, Deputy Browne, will continue to work with Uisce Éireann, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and An Fóram Uisce to ensure that effective water conservation arrangements are reflected in the ongoing investment plans and connection policies. Many made reference to the rural side. The policy statement also extends to rural and privately-provided water services. The Government also has a plan for the long term and it does not include the introduction of the household water conservation charge. The conservation work group will be doing work in that area and will bring it to the Minister.”
“I note the acknowledgement by everyone of the work done on the ground by staff working with both Irish Water and local authorities in this area. Despite the challenges, Uisce Éireann is making progress. In 2018 the rate of leakage nationally was 46% and by the end of 2022, four years later, it was 37%. Uisce Éireann has saved millions of litres of drinking water daily and is on track to achieve a national leakage rate of 25% and to save a further 200 million litres of water daily by the end of 2030. The free fix scheme is available to domestic or mixed-use customers with a confirmed leak on the external supply pipe. The scheme aims to help to reduce the amount of water wasted through leaks on customers’ properties.”
“For the period of the policy statement, this will involve the prioritisation of multifaceted programmes around leakage detection and repair, network improvements, public awareness campaigns and funding to fix customers' side leaks. Every day we currently lose about 37% of the treated water through leaks before it even reaches our taps. Leaks can be difficult to find because they happen in the vast and complex network of pipes below ground. Many of them are now old or damaged and need to be repaired or replaced to improve our water quality and supply. As part of the national leakage reduction programme, Uisce Éireann works with local authorities throughout the country to repair bursts and fix underground leaks. Its leakage reduction crews are working hard to find and fix leaks nationwide to provide a more reliable water supply.”
“The real challenges in conservation terms lie in eliminating leakages and wastage as far as practicable and effective management of water resources and service capacity. We are all agreed on that. The Water Services Policy Statement 2024-2030, which was published in February 2024 following its approval by the Government, sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across the three thematic areas of availability and reliability, safety and quality and sustainability, which must be pursued when planning capital investment and framing current spending plans. The policy statement supports the promotion of water conservation and water resource management as an important element of water services policy.”
“It would also take away the need for the commission for regulation to assess household demand and it would limit the data available for consideration by the water conservation working group, which the Minister, Deputy Browne, intends to establish shortly to advise him, as Minister, on a future strategy for water conservation. However, it is a common theme here tonight that the conservation of water is a key policy provision for everyone. It is a key policy provision for the Government in regard to water policy particularly for the long term. Safe, reliable and high quality drinking water is a precious resource. Experience to date has shown that there is a strong willingness on the part of citizens and communities to embrace conservation measures for the greater public good.”
“There are other elements to Part 2 that are beneficial, such as amending the Water Services Act 2007 to include An Fóram Uisce as one of the bodies to which the Minister can make grants out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. It also contains a provision for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to carry out a review to assess the rate of household demand for water services provided by Uisce Éireann. If Part 2 was fully repealed, the Minister would no longer be able to give grants to An Fóram Uisce, which would impact its ability to function.”
“To deal with the topic at hand. As the Minister, Deputy Browne, has stated, we are opposing this Bill because the introduction of the household water conservation charge is not in the programme for Government. It will not be introduced. That is categorical. By way of background, the legislation to implement water charges was contained in the Water Services Act 2014, which was repealed by the Water Services Act 2017. Therefore, there is no legal basis for the provision of water charges. They are the facts. Furthermore, within the Bill tabled by Deputy Ó Broin and Sinn Féin, it proposes to repeal Part 2 in its entirety.”
“I am pleased to contribute to this debate. I have watched it from the start. There have been many contributions. I say to Deputy Healy-Rae, if I may, that my wife has Kerry roots, albeit not quite first generation as her family is second generation. He would know the family.”
“The Department of Health previously estimated that, from 2023 to 2027, between 1.5 and 3 GPs will be on board for every expected GP retirement. The ongoing recruitment of GPs under the international medical graduate programme is placing GPs in deprived areas and rapidly increasing access to GPs in those areas. In terms of the context of the matters and the particular point the Senator raises, an email from her to the Minister and following up with the HSE is the way to further address this matter.”
“Once again I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important issue. As mentioned, GPs are self-employed practitioners and cannot be directed to open a practice in a particular area. Several measures have been taken in recent years, however, to increase GP capacity and improve access to services. The increased investment in general practice under both the 2019 and 2023 GP agreements means improved fees and supports to attract more doctors into general practice. The positive impact of this is being seen in the increased number of doctors applying for and undertaking GP training and the number of applications received this year. The increased availability of GP training places will see the number of GP graduates continue to increase over the coming years.”
“I ask Senator O'Loughlin to elaborate on the chronology regarding the provision of GP services in Ballymore Eustace to give some further context. I will respond and perhaps the Senator will then follow up with the Minister.”
“It should be mentioned that there are significant supports in place for practices in rural areas. These supports were increased under the 2019 GP agreement. Furthermore, a strategic review of general practice is under way which is examining issues related to GP capacity. It will specifically consider possible mechanisms to attract more GPs to rural and under-served areas. When completed, a report will be presented to the Minister for Health containing recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice across the country. While a GP cannot be directed to open a practice in Ballymore Eustace, increasing our GP workforce should see access to GP services improved for all patients, including those in the area in question and surrounding areas.”
“The number of doctors entering GP training increased by 80% between 2019 and 2024. From 2024 onwards, 350 new-entrant training places have been made available, with 346 new entrants to GP training last year, a 21% increase on the previous year’s intake of 286. The number of GPs graduating has increased in recent years and will further increase significantly in the coming years due to the increased number of new entrants. In addition, recruitment of GPs from abroad continues under the international medical graduate, IMG, rural GP programme. As of November last year, 119 IMG GPs were in practice and funding has been provided to recruit up to 250 more GPs into Ireland this year. Placement of these GPs is targeted at rural and deprived urban areas.”
“To this end, several measures have been undertaken in recent years to increase our GP workforce. Investment in general practice was increased by over €210 million per annum under the 2019 GP agreement, providing for increased GP payments, increased support for practices and new services. The 2023 agreement further increased investment, increasing GP payments again and providing €30 million specifically for new and increased practice supports. According to the Irish College of General Practitioners, it has received almost 1,800 applications for the 2025 GP training programme. This is more than in any previous year and beats the previous record set the previous year. This reflects positively on the steps taken to increase the attraction of general practice as a career.”
“At present, the HSE advises that a GP primarily located in the Blessington practice provides a service in Ballymore Eustace two mornings a week, with additional emergency appointments provided there as required and appointments also available at the Blessington practice. It is understood the GP has capacity on those mornings to provide same-day appointments. Senator O'Loughlin provided further information, which I will bring to the Minister. I am uncertain whether the Senator has had meetings with the HSE locally. I suggest she follow up directly with the Minister by communicating with her, in writing, the additional points she raised. It is acknowledged that there is a need to increase the number of GP practices across the country to improve access to GP services.”
“I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this matter. I am responding to this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. General practitioners are a vital part of our health service, providing care to patients throughout their lives as well as providing patients with access to the wider health service. GPs are private practitioners. The HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services and most GPs - currently over 2,550 - hold a General Medical Services, GMS, contract to provide GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Accordingly, as self-employed practitioners, GPs themselves, rather than the HSE, choose where they establish their practices.”
“BreastCheck, which is currently offered to women aged between 50 and 69, provides an opportunity for those cancers to be detected earlier. Over 155,000 women availed of BreastCheck in 2022. The work undertaken by the national cancer screening service will provide important evidence on the appropriate steps. As I stated, on the specific item raised by the Senator, the Government will look at extending the age groups covered by the BreastCheck screening programme, in line with updated HIQA standards. On the additional point the Senator raised, I will bring it to the Minister's attention but I suggest that the Senator also follow up on it.”
“I thank Senator Costello for her contribution on this very important matter. I will bring the specific points she has raised to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and her officials. I will ask them to follow up with the Senator. She might email the Minister and her office directly on that particular point, but I certainly will follow it up. The officials will also have been watching this debate. It is a very important point. Early diagnosis is very important in the case of cancer. Since the first national cancer strategy in 1996, detection and diagnosis at the earliest possible stage has been a key priority. Screening in the detection of cancer cases are often found in earlier stages than those detected through other pathways.”
“There is a specific commitment in the programme for Government to look to extend the age for the BreastCheck screening programme in line with updated standards from HIQA. The Government remains committed to the implementation of the national cancer strategy in order to continue to build and improve services and better outcomes for patients, particularly women in terms of breast cancer.”
“Most changes to Ireland's programme are facilitated through established evidence-driven protocols and the national screening advisory committee, NSAC. The independent expert group provides advice to the Minister for Health. Having a rigorous evidence-based process in place ensures our screening programmes are effective and quality assured. It also ensures that the benefits of screening outweigh the potential harms. The NSAC has requested that an assessment be undertaken of available evidence and the lowering of the age for BreastCheck programmes. HIQA will begin this project this year, as the Senator referenced in her contribution, and this will inform future decisions on the change in ages.”
“The Government is committed to supporting our population screening programmes. The programme for Government identifies several priorities, including the BreastCheck programme. Page 87 of the programme for Government, under the heading of "cancer", states that the Government will extend the ages for the BreastCheck screening programme in line with updated standards from HIQA. In budget 2025 some €2.8 million was allocated to the BreastCheck screening programme for new staff and resources to assist in expanding the footprint of the programme. An increase in staffing will allow additional capacity to meet increased demand. This is in addition to the significant investment in cancer screening in women's health that has been made in recent years. The screening programme has changed over time according to the evidence.”
“To support GPs in this referral process, the national cancer control programme, NCCP, developed a referral guideline and a referral form. This guideline facilitates GPs to identify the signs and symptoms most suspicious of cancer and covers all ages. Each year approximately 45,000 women are seen in clinics. Patients who have been referred are triaged in SBDs, according to symptoms, as either urgent or non-urgent. Advances in cancer detection and treatment have been achieved with sustained investment in our health services. In budget 2025 an additional €23 million was secured for the national cancer strategy. This will mean over €105 million has been invested in the strategy since 2017. It has enabled recruitment of more than 670 staff to our national cancer services.”
“Of these, almost 60% were diagnosed at symptomatic breast disease clinics, SBDs, and one third were detected through screening. Fortunately, survival rates of breast cancer have improved. The most recent data indicate a five-year survival rate of 88% for people diagnosed between 2014 and 2018. Of course the stage of diagnosis has a significant impact on survival rates and early diagnosis often leads to better outcomes. The Senator made that abundantly clear in her presentation, and in the case of the other women she spoke about as well. Symptomatic breast disease clinics are run in each of the designated cancer centres. In one networking centre, GPs or treating physicians can refer patients to an SBD when they have concerns.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this matter and sharing her own personal story. It was very brave. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Successive national cancer strategies have delivered continuing improvements in our outcomes for cancer patients. The benefit of our strategic approach to cancer control is shown by the improvement in the number of patients living after receiving a cancer diagnosis, which currently is 220,000 compared with 150,000 when the strategy was brought to the Government in 2017. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Ireland, accounting for approximately 30% of invasive cancers in women. Almost 4,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in Ireland in 2022.”
“That examination identified the need for significant additional resources, including additional staff and minor works, to ensure appropriately child-friendly measures are put in place. As I said, and very much reiterate to the Senator, it is the intention of the Tánaiste that nearby schools be facilitated with access as soon as possible. He has requested a specific, concentrated body of work from his Department to bring forward proposals to him as Minister of Defence to look at the various options to provide that lifeguard capability within the Defence Forces pool to enable it to be accessible to nearby schools in the community. I will bring back the Senator's specific request and concerns about this to the Tánaiste.”
“I again thank the Senator for her contribution on this important matter, which she is very much committed to. I appreciate that this pool is first and foremost a training facility for Defence Forces personnel but it is the firm intention of the Tánaiste that nearby schools be facilitated with access in due course. The Tánaiste has requested a concentrated body of work from the officials in his Department to bring forward proposals to find a pathway to facilitate the pool being made available to nearby schools and the community. As outlined previously in the House, following representations received on the reopening of the pool, the Defence Forces were instructed to undertake an examination of the usage of the Defence Forces training centre swimming pool.”
“The Tánaiste has requested his officials to come forward with defined proposals to facilitate what she requested regarding third-party users for communities and local schools in the area.”
“Recent recruitment campaigns have so far, unfortunately, proven fruitless. I am informed that two recruitment competitions have been run and no viable applications received. As such, there is currently insufficient lifeguards to facilitate the reopening of the pool to third parties at this time. Department officials are examining some possible workarounds but until a solution can be identified, it is regrettable that the pool must remain closed to third parties. I assure the Senator that the Tánaiste is committed to ongoing positive engagement with local schools and clubs in allowing the use of military facilities, where possible, and that every effort is being made to progress the reopening of the pool on a limited basis.”
“The review also highlighted that pre the Covid pandemic, it was evident that the level of third-party usage was placing a strain on the Defence Forces in ensuring both the operational availability of the pool and the ability to properly maintain the facility. Two areas of investment were identified before the pool can be opened in a limited capacity to third-party users, namely, an increase in civilian lifeguards and refurbishment works to the pool, changing facilities and access control. The Senator will be aware from her engagement with the Department on this issue across recent years that a refurbishment project was undertaken in January 2024, which was completed in July 2024. The outstanding issue remains the recruitment of civilian lifeguards, which she very much alluded to in her contribution.”
“During the Covid pandemic, use of Defence Forces lands and properties by third parties, including the swimming pool in the Defence Forces training centre, was discontinued in accordance with the national restrictions then in place. Since then, most facilities previously used have now been opened up to external users on a licensed basis. In consideration of the reopening of the pool to other users, the Defence Forces undertook a review and assessment of what was required to reopen the facility. Having completed that review and in the context of existing resources and capacities, the pool was reopened for Defence Forces operational requirements only.”
“All such requests are subject to approval by the Department and the Defence Forces and signed conditions being returned by applicant organisations, which include the provision of relevant insurance. These include requests from schools and clubs for ongoing use of the swimming pool at the Defence Forces training centre in the Curragh Camp. While the Defence Forces use the swimming pool for their own activities, historically, third-party users, such as the military swimming club, schools in local communities surrounding the Curragh Camp and family members of serving Defence Forces personnel, were also afforded the opportunity to use the pool.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Harris, who, unfortunately, cannot be present. He has asked me to pass on his apologies to the House. On his behalf, I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter and thank Senator O’Loughlin for her question. There is a long-standing policy of the Department and the Defence Forces to allow third-party access to Defence Forces facilities and properties to support local communities and raise the profile of the Defence Forces among the public. This policy extends to a wide number of groups and activities, including local schools, GAA clubs, soccer clubs and numerous community groups. In this regard, the Department issues a large number of annual licence agreements for the use of pitches and facilities.”
“Paragraph 19 of Schedule 4 provides for an exemption for premises occupied by a Member of either House of the Oireachtas or a representative in the European Parliament and used exclusively by that Member or representative for the purpose of accommodating their constituency office. This exemption does not extend to constituency offices of city and county councillors or offices or premises occupied by political parties. There are no plans at this time to amend the Valuation Act 2001 to change which properties are exempt from commercial rates. This would require primary legislation and a full review to encompass all potentially impacted properties, including the properties discussed in today's debate.”