Louis O'Hara
Galway East · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“There are significant concerns about the reform that is being proposed to have CAP sit alongside a range of other policy areas. In particular under the Commission's proposal, CAP funding for Ireland would be cut by over 20%.”
“Absolutely, and that is why it is critical we get a fair allocation. In particular, the future of CAP will have a significant influence on how EU member states can support young farmers. Last year, the Department of agriculture published a report from the commission on generational renewal in farming.”
“No parent should have to worry about what will happen to their child when they can no longer provide care for them, yet years of underfunding and a failure to plan has left our residential support system in crisis and families are left carrying the responsibility even as parents themselves age into their 70s, 80s and beyond.”
“Adults with intellectual disabilities have the same right as every other citizen to live with dignity, safety and independence and the Government has a legal and moral obligation to provide these services. There are so many basic things we are not getting right.”
“I raise the case of a constituent in County Galway who has experienced lifelong difficulties and trauma as a result of historical abuse at the hands of a member of the Christian Brothers who was his primary school teacher. The individual who carried out the abuse has since been convicted.”
“They cannot just be uprooted into an emergency placement down the line. The parents need to be there for the transition to ensure that it works properly and does not cause challenges for that person or, indeed, those who will be caring for them.”
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“Many mothers who would otherwise have a short trip into Portiuncula could face an hour or more, depending on traffic, travelling to UHG, that is, to a hospital with limited parking and a maternity unit that is already stretched as it is. It is not acceptable to expect high-risk patients to have to travel long distances for essential care and sometimes emergency care. It is causing huge stress and worry for families and is a decision that does not appear to have been fully thought through in terms of the consequences. Moving these mothers from Portiuncula was not one of the recommendations from the summary review and there are serious concerns with the transparency around this whole process and how this decision was arrived at.”
“I will say at the outset that it is a disgrace that the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is not here. The downgrading of maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital is a huge issue that is causing enormous stress and worry for families in my constituency and beyond. She is accountable for this and should have the decency and courage to come in here tonight to take questions. It is deeply disrespectful to all those impacted by this. Fundamentally, this issue comes down to the health and well-being of mothers and children and ensuring the best possible outcomes for them. The consequence for mothers in my constituency in east Galway is they will have to travel to University Hospital Galway, UHG, to access maternity care.”
“People have been left behind at platforms and people actually have been injured as a result of overcrowding. As these are people who work at the hospital in Galway and students who are forced to commute into the city because of accommodation shortages, a reliable rail service is absolutely critical to them. We do not have the capacity at present. When I previously raised this with the Minister, he said he would engage with Irish Rail on this issue. Can he provide an update on that and if any short-term solutions will be implemented?”
“The question was how the Minister was going to ensure that is regionally balanced. In terms of regional balance, one issue I have repeatedly raised is overcrowding on rail services between Athenry and Galway. We have the passing loop coming at Oranmore, which is welcome, but it will be some time before that is delivered and ultimately, we need full double-tracking of that section between Athenry and Galway City. I urge the Minister to ensure that is included in his plan. In the short term, we have a real crisis for commuters travelling into Galway city from Athenry, as I have previously raised with the Minister. The 7.49 a.m. service from Athenry is the first morning service into Galway city. In recent weeks some services have been completely sold out.”
“How will he ensure it is regionally balanced? Will he be applying a particular ratio in terms of funding, between the regions? How is he going to ensure that every region gets its fair share?”
“Funding announcements are very welcome but, obviously, what will matter is the delivery of projects and it is clear there are serious deficits in our transport infrastructure across the State. We have yet to see the detail of the plan and what projects are going to be funded and delivered. As Deputy Daly pointed out, the only project specifically mentioned in the NDP was MetroLink. As I have mentioned to the Minister many times, the west and north west is one of the most underdeveloped regions in Europe when it comes to infrastructure, particularly in respect of transport infrastructure. I can think of many projects such as the western rail corridor, the Gluas, many road projects and more that are badly needed in the west of Ireland. I ask the Minister to specifically outline how this plan will be regionally balanced.”
“Could the Minister provide an update on the work his Department is undertaking following the review of the national development plan? Could he specifically outline how projects are being assessed at the moment by his Department for inclusion in the plan, the criteria he is using to assess projects and how they will be prioritised in terms of timelines for delivery?”
“These are people who are working hard and families with two incomes who are really struggling to get by. We see the Government has refused to tackle rip-off insurance costs, has refused to tackle energy suppliers and is refusing to give people any kind of short-term relief whatever by ruling out a cost-of-living package in this year’s budget. How does the Government expect people to cope with all these price rises when it is refusing to directly support them in the budget? I am calling on it to stand on the side of workers and families to protect them from the rising cost of living and to stop companies from gouging these people.”
“This motion is an opportunity for the Government to progress practical proposals to hold insurance companies to account. We have seen the previous reforms of lower costs for insurance companies but unsurprisingly these savings have not been passed on to customers. That is why we are calling on the Government to progress our legislation that will hold insurance companies accountable for not passing on cost savings. Why is the Government against this accountability when it could deliver savings for people? The motion comes at a time when many families are facing skyrocketing costs across the board. I am not sure if the Government realises this. It seems to be totally out of touch with the reality that we have a cost-of-living crisis. I have people coming into my office every week telling me they cannot pay their bills.”
“It is clear the cost of insurance is a rip-off. In advance of this motion, I spoke to my constituents. They have told me of the all too common story of insurance companies screwing them on premiums and renewals. To give an idea of this, one woman told me of how she faces an increase of over €600 between her car and home insurance renewals this year. She did not get a chance to speak to her insurance company before her policy renewed because a family member had passed away. Another man told me of how his car insurance renewal was close to double his previous premium despite having no convictions, penalty points or claims. It is clear large profits are being made off the backs of ordinary people while insurance companies face little accountability. Why is the Government letting them off the hook?”
“I appreciate that the school transport scheme is an incredibly complex undertaking but I ask that Government prioritise reforming the scheme so it can adapt to local needs and be fit for the 21st century.”
“The Minister's Department should be moving heaven and earth to ensure children with additional needs have school transport services from the very beginning of the school year. On the school transport scheme more broadly, I have submitted questions to the Minister of State regarding the development of a digital school bus pass. I have made many queries about bus tickets not being posted or being posted to the wrong address. Surely a digital pass is something that can be put in place in 2025. The school transport 2030 review has not been fully implemented. There has been no change to the nearest school distance criteria. Children who are being excluded from the scheme are being forced to walk dangerous roads to their pick-up points and there have not been serious efforts to bring more drivers into the system.”
“There is already a school bus that travels from Loughrea to Ballinasloe and passes the school the children attend but we are still waiting to be told whether another stop at this school can be added so the children can avail of the existing bus route. The communication to date it has been abysmal, as it is in almost every case. That man may be forced to take his children out of the school if this drags on for any longer. I ask that the Department sees sense and ensures a proper solution to this particular case as soon as possible. There have been many other examples recently of children with additional needs locally being left without school transport. St. Teresa's in Ballinasloe was one such example. Parents felt they had to highlight their cases publicly to get a resolution. That is not acceptable.”
“The school transport scheme is an annual crisis for families, students and bus drivers who are left in the dark at a time when they should be focused on the return to school. One case that really highlights the chaos of this scheme is that of a man living near Loughrea whose two children attend a school in Ballinasloe. They have been left without school transport since the school year started. They attend the school in question to access speech and language supports. While a school bus has been sanctioned, delays in procuring this bus means the father has had to be out of work for the past number of weeks to bring them to and from school.”
“These companies are making a huge profit out of other people's suffering. We must make sure that, as much as possible, developments are in appropriate locations and at an appropriate scale and are evenly spread across the State. People in my constituency feel very hard done by with the number of developments that are entering planning in the local area. I urge the Government to take on board the concerns of the communities I represent and to bring forward real guidelines, regulations and a plan as soon as possible.”
“Similar guidelines need to put in place for other types of development. The bottom line is that people are frustrated that these companies can bring forward applications for large-scale developments without any real consultation, engagement or proper consideration of the impact on those communities. We should remember that such developments are hugely profitable for these companies as well. They should be held accountable for not treating communities with respect and not having the decency to engage with people regarding their concerns. That drives people mad, and rightly so. I fully recognise the need for energy security. I am very much in favour of renewable energy, but the way these projects are being handled and carried out is wrong. It is proving divisive and causing much frustration.”
“It is unacceptable that the review of wind energy guidelines has taken several years. It is a dereliction of duty from the Government while these developments are causing such unease in our communities. We all recognise that this is something that will never be perfect. There will always be controversial developments, but the Government, at the very minimum, needs to step in to put some kind of plan or framework in place that regulates where these developments should be located so that the impact on communities can be minimised as much as possible. The wind energy guidelines are from 2006. They are totally out of date and have not kept up with the technological advances that we have had since then. People are suffering as a result. The updated guidelines need to be brought forward as soon as possible.”
“We could talk for a long time in detail about all of the concerns these developments are causing and the frustration with how these private companies are treating communities while they profit massively from them. The Government is failing communities due to the absence of a plan-led approach with regard to these developments. The wind energy development guidelines are completely out of date. We are told that solar guidelines are starting to be developed, but there is little information other than that forthcoming. There are no specific plans regarding gas plants. Is this something the Government will finally get a handle on? Of course, we need energy, particularly renewable energy, but this is not the correct way to go about it. What response does the Government have to these issues?”
“When it comes to large-scale developments, we need to consider the impact on the social fabric of communities. Like I said, these projects are very divisive within communities. Neighbours and families are falling out with one another because they may have facilitated land or access. The role of private developers is also causing a huge amount of frustration. They are landing these massive proposals on top of communities. The public consultation is not sufficient. People are not being made aware of it and it seems to be a box-ticking exercise. Serious allegations have been made of people being misled as to the nature of projects, as well as people being coerced into facilitating access, which is very serious. That is just a flavour of the issues coming up in the communities I represent.”
“From the projects I just outlined, the two developments in Athenry and Portumna would provide roughly 1.5 GW, or three quarters, of this target. Two proposed projects within 40 km of each other would contribute three quarters of what is supposed to be a national target. People have serious questions around safety, health and well-being and the impact on their homes, property value, quality of life and the local landscape and environment. In Monivea, there are particular concerns about the long-term impacts on the community. Will their children be able to build there in the future? What will the future of farming look like in the area, given that prime agricultural land is being taken up? There is no clarity for people on these issues.”
“In Monivea and Abbeyknockmoy, the proposed Bellville solar project led by PCRE is planned to cover approximately 1,000 acres within the community across multiple different sites. This is a small, rural community that would be left totally unrecognisable should this development go ahead in its current form. We also have a huge number of wind farms at various stages of planning in my constituency, especially in north Galway. In some cases, these involve turbines of up to 200 m high in close proximity to homes. We have a significant concentration of developments in east Galway, which is something that needs to be looked at. These are all very large developments in close proximity to residential areas and schools. There is a target of at least 2 GW of new, flexible, gas-fired generation by 2030 in the climate action plan.”
“In recent weeks, I have attended a number of different community meetings in my constituency relating to proposed energy projects. These are causing a lot of concern and are very divisive. They are all being led by private investors. To give a few examples, in Athenry, Bord Gáis Energy is proposing to build the Cashla peaker plant 2.5 km from Athenry town. This is an open-cycle gas turbine plant with a capacity of more than 300 MW and a 100 ft high emission stack. In Portumna, a reserve gas-fired generator is awaiting a decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála. This project alone would represent more than 1 GW of generation capacity, with three chimney stacks in excess of 100 ft. These two developments would be among the largest individual generation units on the island.”
“In general, yes. All these projects are very divisive. They are all being led by private investors that are only interested in extracting a profit from local resources and are not interested in the communities around them. The public consultations on these projects are nothing more than box-ticking exercises. There is no input from communities and many large-scale projects are in close proximity to residential areas. Everybody understands the critical need for energy security but this developer- and profit-led approach needs to change. Communities need to have real input and, ultimately, ownership of these projects. I ask the Taoiseach to look into the projects outlined and ensure there is real community consultation and guidelines where projects should be located.”
“I wish to raise the issue of energy developments in County Galway. My constituency has seen some of the highest concentration of wind energy projects across the State. There are proposals for a large solar project in Monivea and two large-scale gas-fired generation plants in Athenry and Portumna. These projects are causing huge unease in communities. They are extremely divisive and they are all being led-----”
“Access to care needs to be on the basis of need, not ability to pay. We need to recruit and retain more dentists and, crucially, ensure greater participation in the DTSS so medical card holders can access care in a timely manner.”
“I recently hosted a group from the Brothers of Charity and Galway Advocacy Council in Leinster House and their experience of the DTSS is grim. To quote one of the advocacy council members: Medical card holders in Galway simply cannot get dental appointments. Every time we ring, we are told we can go on a waiting list. However, we have yet to find anyone who has come off the waiting list. Not getting appointments is leading to a deterioration of people's teeth, gums and general well-being. We want services in our locality. At the minute, we are travelling miles to get an appointment and many of us cannot drive. The current situation is disgraceful. The Government is punishing ordinary families who cannot afford private healthcare as a result of incompetence and mismanagement.”
“Access to dental services is fundamental to a person's overall health. A person's income or means should not be a factor as to whether he or she can access the dental services he or she requires. However, we have seen a total collapse in the school screening programme, while adults with a medical card find it increasingly difficult to access care under the dental treatment services scheme, DTSS. Over the past number of years, we have seen the number of dentists who are participating in this scheme reduce, and people in need of dental services are forced to travel increasing distances for appointments. In my constituency of Galway East, there are just five dental practises to provide dental services to medical card holders. Not all of these will take on new patients.”
“While this is just one example, it is plain to see that profiteering is ongoing across the sector. There is a lack of transparency around supermarket profits, specifically through their stores based in Ireland. The Government needs to hold these companies accountable and all options have to be on the table, including direct intervention to stop supermarkets from hiking prices without justification. The Government must introduce a cost-of-living package without delay. Families across the State are depending on it and it needs to step up to the plate.”
“I have not seen any data to suggest that wages have gone up by the same amount. These are all basics. Families with young growing children face the choice to provide food or to manage other bills. The scale of the suffering is clear. We have seen tens of thousands of calls to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul from people seeking help to pay for food. Having access to food is a basic in a functioning society, not a luxury, yet too many families across the State are experiencing food poverty. How is this acceptable to the Government? At the same time, we see supermarkets operating in Ireland making eye-watering profits. It is certainly not the primary producers like farmers who are benefiting from this. For example, Tesco announced in April that it had generated an operating profit of over €3 billion between its Irish and British stores.”
“The cost-of-living is too high but the Government is in complete denial about this reality. It seems to believe that the cost-of-living crisis is over and it is ruling out a cost-of-living package while households struggle. It is clear the Government is totally out of touch. Every week in my clinics, I have people coming in to me who are struggling to make ends meet, with high energy costs, rent and childcare and fuel costs, not to mention the student fees that the Government is now determined to increase. People just cannot take it any more. They need support from the Government. The weekly shop in particular is going up. Between 2020 and 2025, the cost of a pound of butter has increased by 58%, the cost of a litre of milk has risen by 38% and the cost of a loaf of bread has risen by 29%.”
“I urge the Minister to listen to students and their families, and outline how people like this woman in my constituency are supposed to afford an extra €2,000 for the next academic year.”
“I raised the case of a woman in my constituency, and I ask the Minister for a response to that particular case and the questions that woman has about how she is expected to afford an increase in fees. Students need to be able to plan and budget in advance for the upcoming academic year and they need certainty around this. I want to know because this is the second time in recent weeks that students have been thrown under the bus by the Government. We had the rent reforms recently, which are going to have a disproportionate impact on students. What does the Government have against students? Students cannot just magic up €1,000. My constituents are telling me that. I know people from across the State have been writing to the Minister in recent days telling him that.”
“She needs it now, or at the very least she needs things to stay as they are, not to increase. What does the Minister have to say in response to that mother and will he provide certainty to her and the thousands of students out there who would be affected by this?”
“The comments the Minister made on national radio caused great uncertainty on this matter. We still do not have clarity on the issue nine days on. I will tell the Minister about the impact this uncertainty and the proposed hike is having on people. He said that he did not understand how people would not be able to afford this increase in fees. A mother in my constituency who has two children in college told me that she literally cried last Sunday morning when she heard the Minister on the radio. She said that finding another €2,000 for next year on top of everything else she is paying out seems undoable. It is no good to her to hear Micheál Martin and Simon Harris on the radio saying they are going to reduce fees over the lifetime of the Government.”
“Following on from the earlier questions, I again ask the Minister whether the fees will be €2,000 or €3,000 for the next academic year. I have had countless people, students and families, in touch with me to tell me that, if the fees are increased for the next academic year, they will not be able to afford them. This is wrong. It is not a position people should be put in. We need clarity from the Minister on this as soon as possible.”
“As the Minister of State outlined, the passing loop at Oranmore and the redevelopment of Ceannt Station are very welcome, as is the capacity study on the Galway to Dublin line, which was announced in recent days. Similar to the western rail corridor, the current issues and the benefits of implementing improvements are well known. Reports are one thing but delivery is another. That is where the Government has always been lacking. Commuters are sick and tired of overcrowded services, delays and restrictions because of the single track and the total absence of infrastructure, as is the case in north Galway and Mayo. We need ambition and to future-proof the rail infrastructure and, crucially, get projects delivered.”
“The benefits of rail are well known in terms of taking cars off the road, reducing congestion, enhancing freight potential and delivering a sustainable transport link for the people of north Galway and Mayo into Galway city and ultimately on to Sligo as well. There cannot be any more delays on this project, which must be commenced as soon as possible. The double-tracking of the Athenry to Galway line is critical. Athenry is at the crossroads of the Ennis and future Claremorris sections of the western rail corridor and the Dublin to Galway line. Double-tracking is needed to ensure we have a proper commuter service between Galway city and county and to cities right across the country.”
“The differences are striking when we look at a map of Ireland's current rail network compared to the network of 100 years ago. I refer in particular to the absence of infrastructure from the west, the north west and Border counties. The reality is that we have gone backwards in recent decades. Plans are one thing but we need implementation to progress new projects in a timely manner and to address the imbalance in regional infrastructure. The western rail corridor is critical to the region. It has been talked about and put on the long finger for years. If the Government is serious about regional development, this project must be progressed. We must get a move on. The project is shovel-ready and can be delivered in the lifetime of this Government. We cannot have the same debate in five years' time.”
“The Government must put a stop to these plans for making the site where the 1916 Proclamation was recited into yet another bland retail space. Stop hollowing out our national monuments and act to preserve the GPO as a memorial to the sacrifices of the 1916 rebels.”
“I come from the town of Athenry where the local community holds enormous pride in our revolutionary history. Athenry was one of the main focal points outside of Dublin during the 1916 Easter Rising. It was where Liam Mellows led hundreds of Volunteers to revolt against British rule. I commend the work of Athenry Tidy Towns and the Relatives and Friends of Galway 1916 to 1923, who have created a fantastic garden in Athenry to commemorate the men and women of the 1916 Rising who took up arms for the cause of Irish freedom. The respect and honour shown by the local Athenry community stands in direct contrast with these recent moves by the Government. What was the sacrifice of the 1916 rebels for? Was it for Carroll's Irish Gifts or Krispy Kreme doughnuts?”
“The General Post Office is one of the most respected sites on this island. It allows us to remember and reflect on the sacrifice of the 1916 rebels. It is our responsibility, as the generations who come after them, to commemorate their sacrifices and to work to realise the aspirations of the 1916 Proclamation. Therefore, the Government's plans to redevelop parts of the building into a mixed-use precinct, which would include retail and office units, are outrageous. Is this really the best idea the Government could come up with for a building of such cultural and historical significance? Sinn Féin has advocated for the GPO and the wider Moore Street area to become an historical quarter. Such a quarter would commemorate the sacrifice of the 1916 rebels in a way that was respectful and ensured that the GPO was a living, breathing institution.”
“The question that local people have is why this is not the focus for the development of tourist accommodation and why it is not included in the development plan for the site. How can the owners of the hotel, the Comer brothers, be allowed to leave this hotel, which is an eyesore and a safety hazard, in this condition indefinitely and not be held accountable? I ask the Tánaiste to look into this issue, to engage with Galway County Council and Coillte and to ensure a commonsense solution is found. I also ask him to ensure that the owners of long-term derelict properties are finally held accountable.”
“I bring to the Tánaiste's attention proposals for the development of Portumna Forest Park in County Galway being led by Coillte. This is a natural and public resource for the local community. The Protect Portumna Forest Park Community Group has carried out an extensive survey in the local community. The results show clear opposition to the idea of building tourist accommodation in the forest park and strong support for protecting and enhancing the park's natural and recreational value, yet Coillte is failing to meaningfully engage with the group and is actually excluding it from the consultation process. Bordering the park is the site of the derelict former Shannon Oaks hotel.”
“The Good Friday Agreement places the future constitutional position of Ireland in the hands of the people who share this island. There is an onus on all of us to create the debate and plan for a new, agreed, united, equal and inclusive Ireland. It is time the Government stepped up to the plate and began preparations for unity.”
“This issue has been put on the long finger for too long and we must finally have a referendum to allow all Irish citizens to have their say on who represents them as President. It is also time to begin preparations for constitutional change. Unity makes sense and will create new opportunities and new prosperity for all the people of the island of Ireland. The Government has a duty and a constitutional obligation to make preparations for unity. It is reckless for it to fail to plan for the future. The discussion on a united Ireland is gathering pace, yet constantly we hear from the Government that now is not the time. When will be the right time? The Government is behind the people on this and it needs to acknowledge the changing dynamics on this island.”
“The office of President is one of great symbolism and standing and our President is the representative of all the Irish people on the international stage. The Good Friday Agreement recognises the birthright of the people of the North of Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish, British or both, while the Irish diaspora around the world were and continue to be a driving force to encourage international support for Ireland. It is time for the Government to recognise their role, live up to the Good Friday Agreement and extend voting rights to all Irish citizens. It has been over ten years since the convention on the Constitution issued its recommendation and eight years since the Government of the day agreed to hold a referendum to extend this right.”
“Many of the pass holders are required to pay booking fees, including on Irish Rail and commercial bus services. Free travel should mean free travel. I ask the Minister of State to engage with all of the operators to address the issue as a matter of urgency.”
“Shortly after the previous service ended, the NTA stated it would provide for a public service obligation, PSO, bus service. Since then, it has been working with Bus Éireann to provide the service. However, we have now been without a bus service for nine months. How long does it take to get a bus service up and running? I ask the Minister of State to involve himself in the process and hold NTA and Bus Éireann accountable. There is considerable frustration locally and the situation cannot be allowed to drag on any longer. I recently hosted the Brothers of Charity Galway advocacy council to provide a briefing for TDs and Senators in Leinster House. One issue highlighted by the council is the current booking system for the free travel pass.”
“As the Minister of State is aware, Athenry has been without bus services to Galway city for nine months since the previous operator ended its service in September 2024. This is an unacceptable situation for a town of the size of Athenry. It is an enormous loss that has caused real difficulties for workers, students, people accessing hospital appointments and so on. It has caused particular difficulties for those who work early in Galway city because the first train does not arrive into Galway until 8.10 a.m. The lack of a bus has contributed to the serious overcrowding on rail services, an issue I have previously raised with the Minister of State. It has also inconvenienced people as the previous service stopped at the universities and industrial estates, while the train goes directly to Eyre Square.”
“The castle is an iconic cultural and heritage landmark and a very popular tourist attraction along the Wild Atlantic Way. It must not be left closed for any longer. Will the Government recognise the importance of the site to the local community in terms of heritage, employment and tourism and provide the necessary funding to Galway County Council?”