Mairéad Farrell
Galway West · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“Working people, whether unionist, nationalist or other, have been failed by partition because at the end of the day, a Westminster Parliament is making decisions on behalf of their communities. Irish unity has really got the potential to deliver for all of our communities, including those communities.”
“Is í an cheist ná céard go díreach atá chun tarlú anois. Cad iad na chéad céimeanna eile? Thug mé cuairt ar an scoil Dé hAoine seo chaite agus chonaic mé nach bhfuil go leor spáis inti. Tá sé le feiceáil go soiléir go bhfuil na ranganna riachtanais speisialta agus, ar ndóigh, an seomra ranga breise ag teastáil go géar.”
“Ar mhaithe le soiléiriú iomlán, ón méid a thuigim, bhí maoiniú curtha ar fáil don tionscnamh seo. Is léir go bhfuil sé seo ag teastáil. Cuirfidh mé chomhthéacs air seo. Is scoil bheag í seo i mBéal an Daingin, ach is scoil láidir í. Tagann daoine ó cheantair éagsúla chun a gcuid páistí a chur chuig an scoil seo.”
“I really welcome the decision by the Tánaiste and the Government to have these statements on the fiscal implications of a united Ireland. It is crucial that we continue with debates of this type.”
“That needs to change in the context of this debate because we are talking about a new and united Ireland that will include a new and different perspective on the opportunities that we see for us all from an economic perspective when it comes to a united Ireland When we are planning for this, we need to look at that in terms of the economi…”
“Without proper planning and preparation for Irish unity, we completely and utterly risk missing this seismic opportunity we have to create a new economy and seize this historic opportunity. It is absolutely essential that we begin preparations now.”
The complete record
Every one of 581 lines we hold for Mairéad Farrell, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 9 of 12.
“The Central Bank's contention is that it has only two grounds to refuse a prospectus: the imposition of EU sanctions; and what it refers to as national restrictive measures. If a state is a signatory to the Genocide Convention, which is codified in Irish law through the 1973 Act and which makes complicity in genocide an offence, does that not constitute a national restrictive measure? If it does not, I do not know what actually does. The Central Bank and the Government are using these arguments. My colleague Seán Crowe put it correctly there: if we do not act now, when will we ever act? It is the exact same tactic as we have seen with the occupied territories Bill. Leaked correspondence has shown that this is not a legal drafting issue with the legislation, but a political choice.”
“I commend the Social Democrats on introducing this important motion. Representatives of the Central Bank will appear before the finance committee today to explain its position on why there has been no action on these bonds. Therefore, this motion is timely. Thus far the Central Bank has refused to reject the prospectuses submitted for these Israeli war bonds. Its reasons not to act have been somewhat of a movable feast. Previously, the Governor of the Central Bank told us that these were not war bonds and were instead being used for general financing purposes. Thanks to reporting by The Ditch , we learned that potential investors were being informed that the best way to serve Israel and support Israel's war effort was to buy these bonds.”
“The Minister of State's predecessor, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, previously stated that skills shortages are an issue. From my previous role as spokesperson for further and higher education, I know that there are major issues in our craft apprenticeship system in terms of delays. I have often floated the idea of a craft apprenticeship guarantee scheme for the public sector in order that we can build capacity within it. The OPW is about growing its in-house capacity and using it. The organisation has staff who are qualified engineers, architects and tradespeople. Perhaps that is something we could take a look at. I look forward to hearing the contributions of other Members.”
“The Minister, Deputy Chambers, has set up a new task force on infrastructure delivery. I hope the issue of flood defence will be included in that. When we are looking at lands that can be built on, flood defence is a crucial consideration. We had oral questions with the Minister this morning. He stated that the task force will look at barriers to getting infrastructure delivered. If the length of time we know it takes for flood defences to be completed could be a particular focus of the infrastructure task force, that could be quite worthwhile. There have to be ways for us to find efficiencies, whether it is procurement or identifying steps that can be a bit too onerous - without making them not onerous enough - and that are contributing to delays in delivery.”
“I welcome the fact that approximately 940 additional properties will be protected once that scheme is complete. We were told last year that planning permission for the scheme may not be applied for until 2027. Will the Minister of State provide an update on the Coirib go Cósta scheme? Specifically, will he indicate whether he is still planning towards 2027 in respect of this scheme? Can the scheme be expedited or has it been delayed? It is very important that people have all the information in this regard. I am aware that a significant commitment has been made to Galway when it comes to flood defences as part of the national development plan. As a result, the review of the latter needs to be published soon. Is there anything in the review that the Minister of State can tell us about which might be relevant to the Galway flood defences?”
“At the moment, there are the initial phases that involve scoping exercises, scheme development, preliminary design, the planning process and detailed design, and that is before we even get to the point of doing the physical infrastructure part. It can take many years for larger projects to be completed. The Minister of State mentioned 11 years. Previously, some projects took seven years to complete. For those who are faced with the fact and fear of having their homes flooded and have previously had them flooded, this is deeply concerning. This is a situation where we have good news to the effect that flood defences will be provided but where it then takes a long time to get them in place. In Galway, there is the area of Spanish Arch, the properties around the Claddagh and the city itself. We have the Coirib go Cósta scheme.”
“We have had bad flooding in Galway city as well. At the time - almost five years ago - I stated that many of the issues were due to how long it takes to develop flood defences, as the Minister of State outlined just now. Flood relief schemes are complex, multi-annual projects in respect of which detailed analysis of the sources and causes of flooding is required. Of course, there is a need for detailed stakeholder engagement, whether that is with people who live in an area, who are affected and who have seen how things have changed. I always think it is quite interesting speaking to people who live in a locality and discovering how the nature of flooding there has changed. One of the things we all recognise is that it takes far too long for projects to go from the initial stages to completion.”
“Tá a fhios agam gur rud é seo atá fíorthábhachtach don Aire Stáit. Fáiltím go bhfuil na hóráidí seo ar siúl inniu. I recognise that this is an issue that is of particular interest to the Minister of State. I thank him for facilitating these statements, which are very welcome. I also recognise that there has been a significant increase in funding for the OPW's flood defence programme in recent years. I understand that from a financial perspective and acknowledge that more has been done with regard to flooding. As the Minister of State outlined, this is not solely a financial issue and it was never predominantly one. I remember having significant engagement with one of the Minister of State's predecessors, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, on this issue when there was bad flooding in Clifden, which he visited at the time.”
“Will the Minister provide an update on how his Department is coming at this review? Is it that the Department was ready for such a review or did pressure come about as a result of the announcement that there would be a review? Does he think that all the information required will be available when it is needed? It is also welcome that the Minister is saying there will be public consultation. That is always very welcome. As he will know, when we talk about infrastructure in the west, the problem is that we have not had investment in the basic infrastructure and that this can have an impact on everything. We consistently still have health centres in Conamara that do not have access to phone lines. We need to get that sorted because we need investment in this basic infrastructure.”
“We are all waiting to see how the national development plan will proceed. Obviously, all of our areas require a lot of investment in infrastructure. The infrastructural deficit we have, especially across the west, is something I have raised with the Minister quite a number of times. We also need to look at procurement and how it can be used to benefit areas, particularly those more rural and isolated areas where different types of jobs are not as easy to come be. If we are spending a certain amount above a certain threshold, we need to look at introducing social clauses into the contracts as well to ensure that a certain number of apprentices on board and a certain number of people who live locally hired for these projects. We could thereby ensure that the money benefits local economies and that people can stay within their local areas.”
“My question is on what actual reform we will see taking place in the OPW. I am sure the Minister of State is against these overspends and I take it he was not in office at the time but it has continued over a number of years and there have been reports over a number of years. What reform will take place in the OPW? Does the Minister of State have confidence it can properly manage its property? Is its property management function working? Does the Minister of State have confidence in it? What exactly will change organisationally? We hear about the bike shelter and it causes huge public anger, understandably, but often we only get this information because somebody like Ken Foxe puts in an FOI request and successfully gets the FOI request returned. We need to look at it in its entirety. How could we change what is happening in the OPW?”
“We are obviously talking here about the bike shelter. I see what the Minister of State says about guidance for projects under €500,000. Does he have full confidence this will be acted upon and that exactly how the OPW spends money will be looked at?”
“There are a number of reasons it is important to raise this. We have been talking about reports that were not acted upon, and I hope it will not be the same in this case. Although Deloitte's report is the latest one, it is not the first report on the OPW. We had damning report in 2014. That was an external London-based firm. Following that, there was a "Prime Time" special, PAC hearings and other examples of failure to get value for money. In 2022 we had another review; this time it was an internal Government study into how much money was spent on the portfolio. It looked at five buildings to compare rental costs with either purchasing or constructing an equivalent building. In all cases looked at, it was found to be much cheaper to build or to buy. In other words, they keep making wrong decisions when it comes to getting value for money.”
“This relates to the latest Deloitte report into the OPW. Will the Minister of State outline how he plans to reform the organisation and what his future steps will be in that regard? There was huge outcry when people saw the bike shelter and the cost of it at €336,000. You would get an ambulance for that price on Inisheer, which does not have an ambulance.”
“While the Minister has made this task force a signature initiative, we need to make sure something is done in respect of the recommendations it puts forward. Other groups have made recommendations and either nothing came of them or the Government did not listen. We need to ensure that, as in the case of Conamara, there will be serviced sites and whatever else is needed,”
“I hope this works, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. I am worried that the task force will become a place where things are said and reports are written, but that nothing will come from this. Of course, it is important to listen to expert recommendations and bring them together. Some incredibly good reports have been published. In that context, we could fill the House with excellent reports. However, these reports are never actioned. That is the issue. I want to ensure that the task force does not become some kind of a holding excuse and that it will actually bring forward recommendations that will mean we can tackle the relevant issues. The Minister said he is going to bring some of the recommendations forward in the summer. In six months' time, we will have a good idea of what is happening in terms of a progress update.”
“As he knows, there are no serviced sites in south Conamara. This is an incredibly important issue we need to tackle. I want to see actual progress resulting from these reports.”
“The reason I asked this question is because in recent years various different task forces and expert groups have been set up. We have the construction sector group, for example. I was quite puzzled as to why this new group had to be set up as opposed to its members just being added to the construction sector group. As we know, that expert group was set up to help tackle the housing crisis. I read some of its reports - they were excellent - but I never really saw how its recommendations were translated into Government policy. I am a bit worried that the new task force will go the same way. In other words, that there will be some good reports, committee appearances and fanfare but little follow-through. Will the Minister provide specifics as to how any recommendations will carry over into Government policy or legislation?”
“After those remarks, I must state that it is important the record has been corrected. I would hope that all Members carry our history with them when they make contributions and understand that there are families who can be impacted. It is important for us all to realise the importance of our words. My question relates to the accelerating infrastructure task force. What can we expect by way of the reports it will produce and how can we be assured that the recommendations it makes will be acted upon?”
“There is nothing clearer than the occupied territories Bill. The Government knows that goods account for 30% of trade and services account for 70% of trade. In the lead-up to the general election, Government parties were in favour of the occupied territories Bill being enacted but now, post the election, they want to see a watered-down version enacted, which would only include goods. I commend Sophie's bravery.”
“Chas mise le Sophie Ní Choimín ar an Luan agus chas mé arís léi inné agus í anseo sa Dáil. Tá Sophie ar stailc ocrais ón Aoine agus í ag fanacht go mbeadh an Bille um chríocha faoi fhorghabháil ina reachtaíocht. Tá sí ag fanacht air sin agus tá sí ar stailc ocrais mar go gcreideann sí go láidir gur féidir linn agus leis an Rialtas i bhfad níos mó a dhéanamh chun stop a chur leis an gcinedhíothú atá ag tarlú i nGaza. I have met Sophie Ní Choimín who lives in Galway. I met her on Monday, the fourth day of her hunger strike as she awaits the enactment of the occupied territories Bill. She came to the Dáil yesterday to meet TDs as she continued her hunger strike because she feels so strongly that we and the Government can do more. We often hear that politicians say the right thing but do the wrong thing.”
“We have the people on the ground who are committed and willing to do the work but we need that vision as well. We have schemes like ACRES, but there are huge issues with ACRES and people not getting paid and not being able to get the information as to when they will get paid either.”
“Rhododendron is a highly invasive plant that takes over entire hillsides and prevents any native plants from growing. What is very difficult for the work of the Dúlra Project, for example, is that while it is doing the back-breaking labour of removing rhododendron root by root, you can go into the local garden centre and buy the very same plant for your garden, which totally undoes, obviously, the benefit of that work. Despite EU law, several invasive species are still sold in shops across this State. One of the recommendations from the citizens' assembly on biodiversity was to ban the sale of these invasive species. We need to look at that because huge work has been done. We also need a long-term approach to improving our biodiversity.”
“I commend the fantastic work that has been done by Friends of Merlin Woods to enhance the woods in order to make it a place people can come to and use as a respite. There is also a community element. There is a community garden, litter pickups and all that kind of thing where people come together to have a sense of community and a place. Sometimes there can be not as strong a community in the new places in our cities. Friends of Merlin Woods have done huge work just this week again for Biodiversity Week organising so many different types of events. I commend them on that. Likewise, we have the Dúlra Project, run with support from Forum Connemara. It is a community-based project in its approach to protecting our biodiversity. They are doing huge work to eradicate rhododendron in Connemara.”
“By the sounds of things, we all now know what the Minister of State does in his spare time. It sounds very interesting. Comhghairdeachas on the new role. I live in Galway city. Where I live, on the east side of Galway city, we are really lucky with different nature places we can go to. One of my favourite places is Ballyloughane Beach. I love going down there for a walk. Another place is Merlin Woods. During the Covid pandemic, I think we really noticed how important those places were, especially for people like me who live in a city. So many of us were very lucky to be able to go out in Merlin Woods in Galway city. It has been a huge respite for people on the east side of the city.”
“In a statement, they clearly said they wished they did not have to do this but the inaction of our Government makes them complicit in the genocide in Palestine and they cannot let this go on. They were arrested and detained as a result of this. They want the planes searched. I want the planes searched. The Tánaiste cannot control what other world leaders do. He can only control what he can do and what his Department does, so pass the occupied territories Bill and bring in sanctions now. Enough of the empty words.”
“The cowardice in the face of this great evil is one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen in my life. At the same time, we have to take hope from the tremendous courage of citizens across the world, including here in Ireland. We have to take hope from people who know that we can do more and that we must do more. We must stop the use of Shannon Airport, stop the use of our airspace, enact the occupied territories Bill and stop the facilitation of Israeli war bonds. Women have always been to the fore of this activism. Women like the workers in Dunnes Stores who stood up against South African apartheid. We have seen the tremendous activism of the Mothers Against Genocide as they have consistently protested throughout this genocide. Only a few days ago, we saw three women protest at the continued use of Shannon Airport.”
“Go raibh maith agat. A Thánaiste, 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if food is not allowed into Gaza, according to the UN. The Tánaiste will have seen those figures. We have all seen them just as we have all seen the pictures and the video footage of harrowingly gaunt faces, bodies down to skin and bones, and bodies consuming their own muscle tissue and organs as they try desperately to avoid starvation and stay alive. One of the greatest crimes against humanity is playing out before our eyes in real time. The best some of the western leaders have to offer is hand-wringing and words of condemnation which never evolve into meaningful action. No normal state would ever carry out such atrocities against defenceless civilians. Terms like "rogue state" just do not do justice to the evil that is being perpetrated.”
“Again, there is a regional issue here with regard to people being able to access care from their homes, depending on how far and isolated they are from their local town or city. I am concerned we are once again drifting towards a situation where the State is stepping back further from public provision, just like in housing, where investment funds and asset managers of all stripes have stepped in, or perhaps been incentivised to come in. We do not want to see the same here.”
“There can also be a language element to this in the case of Gaeltacht areas and people being able to access that care through Irish. Hard-pressed families are facing major costs to pay for loved ones who require long-term care but there has been next to no investment in public care homes. From what I can see, Sláintecare 2025 does not seem to have any proposed policy framework for long-term residential care, despite it being home to more than 32,000 people. When it comes to home care, too, there is a gaping hole in the Government's plans. It has failed to deliver the statutory home care scheme, a long-term commitment of the Government. We have proposed a scheme that would give a legal entitlement to health and social care, which would try to keep people in their homes.”
“Let us remember the time during Covid when people went out to clap for our front-line healthcare workers. We were told we now recognised these workers and that things had changed. That seems like a lifetime ago. These are workers who enable people with high care needs to live with dignity at home. They are a vital support to our hospitals and nursing homes, yet carers, both paid and unpaid, are under significant and unsustainable strain due to inconsistent access to services, limited financial supports, inadequate staffing levels and regional disparities in care provision. We also know from all our constituencies that nursing homes are overstretched. I am sure many of the Deputies in this Chamber have heard from nursing homes in their constituencies that are facing significant pressures and maybe even closure.”
“Níl mé cinnte. Ní dóigh liom gur féidir nuair atá leasú as ord. Déanfaidh mé seiceáil mar tá mé nua leis seo. Ag deireadh na leasuithe i gcomhair alt 7, beidh deis ag an Teachta teacht isteach le labhairt faoin alt é féin. Is é seo an chéad uair dom é seo a dhéanamh agus tá mé beagáinín cúramach faoi. Tá muid tar éis bogadh ar aghaidh ar aon chuma chuig leasú Uimh. 23. Tuigim go bhfuil leasuithe Uimh. 23 go 36, go huile, gaolta lena chéile agus go bhfuil rangú molta le haghaidh díospóireachta. Tá siad in ainm an Aire.”
“Bogfaidh muid ar aghaidh go leasú Uimh. 21, atá in ainmneacha na dTeachtaí Ó Snodaigh agus McGuinness. Tuigim gur pléadh an leasú seo cheana in éineacht le leasú Uimh. 15. Cén bealach a seasann an leasú sin?”
“That is a serious issue for people. It is also a big issue for people who are trying to access housing. In Galway city, for example, often there are no houses within the HAP limit, which means people have to look further afield. If a person cannot drive, it is a serious issue. This issue has been raised for a number of years now and we need to get to the bottom of it. We need to tackle the issue head on. I would like the Government to listen to the proposals by all Members on it. The Government did not oppose the Sinn Féin motion in February but there has not been action. That is why we are still dealing with the issue. I ask the Minister of State to please act.”
“There were 1,106 people waiting in the centre in the Clybaun Hotel, with 299 waiting in Clifden. Between February and April, the numbers waiting increased across all Galway-based test centres. The only ones who benefit from this situation are the insurance companies which can charge higher rates for longer. Great news for them as they increase premiums as per usual. If people cannot do the test to get a full driving licence, it impacts on their lives. It has a huge impact for apprentices who might want to start their apprenticeship but it is a distance away and they need to be able to drive to it. This is a serious issue for them because they cannot start that apprenticeship. It is the same for somebody who wants to start a job in places that are more rural such as Clifden, which is one and a half hours drive from Galway.”
“The best we got was lip-service and there is probably more of that in stock today. I recently received a query from one constituent who is a young mother. She is having to pay a very high rate of insurance. She badly wants to sit her test, but it is not scheduled to take place until later this year. She is also concerned that the driving centre in Clifden could close for the summer. I have written to the Minister of State's Department about this and I understand this will be passed on to the RSA, but I have not yet gotten confirmation about it. I am certainly hoping that nothing as daft as a test centre closing is planned given where we currently are with the backlogs. As of the end of last month, 1,277 people were waiting for a test in the Carnmore centre.”
“Driving test waiting times are a shambles. This is clear from the discussion today. I regularly get emails from constituents. Constituents are given absurdly long waiting times to be called to sit their driving tests. This means people are forced to pay very high insurance costs because the Government simply cannot get its act together on this issue. I remember almost five years ago the issue was raised in the Chamber quite a lot. At the time Covid was the reason for delays in driving tests. We are, however, now in 2025 and we are still dealing with the issue. The backlog has ballooned by more than 10,000 since the start of the year. In February, Sinn Féin brought forward a motion proposing a suite of measures to tackle the issue head on. While the Government did not oppose the motion, it certainly seems it has ignored it.”
“If the Taoiseach is not aware of a change of approach, will he find out if there has been a change of approach by the Department?”
“Will the Taoiseach advise if there has been a change of approach with regard to medical cards? Over the last while, a significant number of people have come to me, especially older women who have had medical cards for a long time and whose cards are now suddenly being taken away from them. Has there been a change of approach? Figures released to me show an increase in the number of people who are applying for medical cards but a decrease in the number of medical cards being issued. As well as medical cards, a lot of people have come to me who have not been given a discretionary medical card. We see in the numbers there has been a halving in the number of discretionary medical cards issued in the last number of years. I am trying to get to the bottom of this. Has there been a change of approach?”
“Má bhreathnaíonn muid ar chathair na Gaillimhe, is féidir linn breathnú ar an easpa córas fuíolluisce in oirthear chathair na Gaillimhe, áit nach féidir tithe a thógáil mar gheall nach bhfuil sé sin ann. Má bhreathnaíonn muid ar an nGaeltacht, tá an rud ceannann céanna ann. Níl suíomhanna ná talamh ag an gcomhairle contae, áit a bhfuil na seirbhísí ann, ionas gur féidir leo tithe a thógáil. Is cinnte nach bhfuil siad in ann tithe inacmhainne nó tithe sóisialta a thógáil. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil leithéidí BÁNÚ agus TINTEÁN ann agus ag feachtasaíocht agus ag rá go bhfuil siad ag iarraidh a bheith ina gcónaí sa Ghaeltacht ach níl na suíomhanna sin ag an gcomhairle contae chun é sin a chur i bhfeidhm.”
“In the Gaeltacht region of south Connemara, the county council has no access to serviced sites to be able to deliver housing, whether it be affordable or social housing. As a result, we have seen the impact. We have seen campaign groups forming, for example, BÁNÚ and TINTEÁN, where young people are coming together to say they want to be able to live and raise families in the Gaeltacht but they cannot do so because of the lack of investment in basic and key infrastructure by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments. Tá sé feicthe agam go díreach céard nach bhfuil déanta ag rialtais de chuid Fhianna Fáil agus Fhine Gael le blianta anuas. Ní raibh an infheistíocht chuí déanta sa mbuninfreastruchtúr ionas gur féidir tithe a thógáil.”
“In Galway city and county, we have already seen the impact of the lack of investment in key and basic infrastructure on the delivery, or lack thereof, of housing. Let us take Galway city east as an example. It is the place I live in and the place where we want to see the development of more homes. We need to see the development of new homes, yet there has not been the required investment in the wastewater treatment plant. There has been a delay in that. We need to see that investment happen in order for housing to be delivered on the east side of the city. If we do not have delivery of housing on the east side of the city, it will have a serious impact. In the Gaeltacht areas, we have another issue with the lack of serviced sites.”
“Má tá muid dáiríre go mbeidh suíomhanna agus na seirbhísí sa Ghaeltacht, i gceantair cosúil le deisceart Chonamara, mar ní féidir tógáil muna bhfuil na seirbhísí ann, muna bhfuil an t-airgead ag Uisce Éireann lena dhéanamh, tá muid i bponc agus ní bheidh muid in ann brú ar aghaidh. Is iad sin trí rud a d’iarramar.”
“Tuigim cás an Aire. Tá súil agam go bhfuil chuile shórt all right leis. Tá cúpla rud is féidir leis an Rialtas seo déanamh - rudaí gur chóir go ndéanfadh an Rialtas deireanach i ndáiríre – lena n-áirítear na dréacht-treoirlínte pleanála Gaeltachta a fhoilsiú láithreach ionas gur féidir comhairliúcháin poiblí a bheith againn agus na treoirlínte iad féin a bheith againn ina dhiaidh sin. Chomh maith leis sin, bhí sé ráite againn i Sinn Féin agus ag mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, gur chóir go mbeadh ciste airgid i gcomhair maoinithe do thithíocht sa Ghaeltacht mar tá géarchéim ar leith ann. Chonaic muid an méid a bhí ráite ag Uisce Éireann an tseachtain seo nach bhfuil an t-airgead aige agus go bhfuil poll airgid aige i ndáiríre.”
“Níl na serviced sites ann in áiteanna cosúil le deisceart Chonamara nó fiú don chomhairle contae é féin i nGaillimh. Cén plean atá ag an Aire ina leith ionas gur féidir tithíocht a chur ar fáil?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Cé go dtuigim gurb é an tAire, an Teachta Calleary, a bheidh i gceannas ar na cúrsaí seo, tá an tAire, an Teachta O’Donovan, ag bord an Rialtais. Tá muid ag plé le géarchéim thithíochta sa Ghaeltacht le tamall fada. Tá mé tar éis freagra ar cheist Dála a fháil ar ais atá ag rá nach bhfuil muid cinnte cén uair a fhoilseofar na dréacht-treoirlínte pleanála Gaeltachta, cé gur gealladh iad in 2021. Cé go dtuigim gur Rialtas nua é seo, tá an dá pháirtí, Fianna Fáil agus Fine Gael, arís i gcumhacht. Bhí siad chun an cáipéis a fhoilsiú, ach níl sí foilsithe. Níl aon am luaite anois maidir le cén uair a bheidh na treoirlínte foilsithe. Tá fadhb ollmhór ann i gcomhthéacs na seirbhísí do suíomhanna ionas gur féidir tógáil orthu.”
“Cén obair atá á déanamh ag an Aire chun soláthair tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht a fheabhsú? Is géarchéim é seo. Ar ndóigh, tá géarchéim tithíochta ann ach tá géarchéim tithíochta ar leith sa Ghaeltacht. Cén obair atá á déanamh aige ina thaobh?”
“Here, the revised national planning framework does not mention housing and the Gaeltacht together. Neither does the Government's 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 refer to housing. Both documents have failed to identify this core threat to the language's continued existence. That is literally failing to plan. Ní luann an plean seo ná an straitéis 20-bliain don Ghaeilge an Ghaeilge, an Ghaeltacht agus an tithíocht le chéile. Más rud é go bhfuilimid ag iarraidh dul i ngleic leis an nGaeilge agus an líon daoine a labhraíonn an Ghaeilge i ndáiríre, caithfimid breathnú ar thithíocht sa Ghaeltacht. Is rud é sin atá soiléir do chuile dhuine nuair a bhreathnaíonn siad air seo. Ar ndóigh, táimid fós ag fanacht ar na dréacht-treoirlínte pleanála Gaeltachta. Teastaíonn siad sin.”
“Like its predecessors, this Government's estimated targets will cause it to fall further behind, as it is using the same original estimates despite an increase in pent-up demand. It seems there has not been an independent assessment of unmet demand. This is maintaining high property prices. All of the solutions seem to start with the assumption that we cannot move away from rising prices. In my constituency of Galway West, the housing crisis is not just an economic one, but a linguistic and cultural one as well. The Welsh Government's Welsh language communities housing plan commits to "taking immediate and radical action using the planning, property and taxation systems to address the negative impact that second homes and short-term holiday lets can have on the availability and affordability of housing for local people".”
“One of the big issues of the day is the housing crisis. I am sure the Minister of State will agree with that. However, the last planning framework, from 2018, significantly underestimated the level of housing need in the State. As a consequence, two successive Government housing plans failed to address the volume of housing required, although the previous Governments did not meet their targets in any case. The new framework being proposed involves a housing needs demand assessment as one of its core features but it seems to have underestimated the level of demand. The published draft targets an annual average of 50,000 homes a year for the duration of the plan but that seems way off at this point. I do not need to point it out but the further you fall behind in a race, the faster you have to go to catch up.”