Manus Boyle
Nominated by the Taoiseach · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I will raise an issue about small craft registration in Ireland. The Marine Survey Office is responsible for registering all vessels, from large cargo ships to small pleasure boats. Registration is essential for every ship travelling to ports in and out of the EU and other countries.”
“In the end, they had no choice but to register their boat in another EU country so they could continue their plans. They are proud Irish people and wanted to sail under the Irish flag but instead have been forced to fly the flag of another country because of the delays in our system.”
“Despite being approved for home care, the family was told there are simply not enough carers available to provide this woman the care she needs. Instead of receiving care at home her condition worsened to the point she had to be hospitalised in Letterkenny.”
“Many patients end up back in the hospital because the care they were promised never materialises. We need urgent investment in our home care services, recruitment and retention of carers and a guarantee that when carers are approved it actually is approved. Older people deserve dignity and families deserve support.”
“I will talk about home care for the elderly. I want to raise a heartbreaking case that highlights the deepening crisis in our healthcare for the elderly. I raised this last week and before on numerous occasions but nothing has improved. We are failing our older people.”
“I concur with my fellow Senators' comments on water safety. It is an important issue, especially in rural counties like my own county of Donegal. With the weather being so good, the beaches are going to be full this weekend. There will be large amounts of people at them. I ask people to be cautious and vigilant of what is going on.”
The complete record
Every one of 308 lines we hold for Manus Boyle, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 7.
“I thank the Minister of State for his answer. There is an onus on the OPW and Donegal County Council to get things moving. It is a massive issue in Donegal. This is only the tip of the iceberg. These people's houses in Inver are within five metres of their gardens going into the sea. It is important we get moving on it. A stitch in time saves a lot of money. We should put in the rock armour now and get it done before there are any more storms. That will give the people in the houses reassurance. The children in the houses will know that, when they go to bed at night. their gardens will not be gone in the morning. I went there after, I believe, Storm Éowyn. I saw the waves cracking in and the water coming onto the windows of the houses. It was scary. Donegal County Council and the OPW really need to get moving on this.”
“Despite an allocation of €45,000 in April 2025, no work has started. It was proposed to install rock armour along the face to help to keep the pressure off the gabion baskets, which have been there for more than 40 years. They have done a great job, but need to be reinforced. Given the urgency of the situation for homeowners, I am seeking clarification from the Minister of State about the reason for the delay. What steps is the Department taking to ensure the timely delivery of this project? This is a matter of urgency and concern for the people in the houses when a storm is forecast. When I was there, there were waves going 5 m over the thing and there are children in one of the houses. The work needs to start as soon as possible. Every week we delay, there is more erosion.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming to answer this Commencement matter. When I was canvassing in 2024, I came across houseowners in the village of Inver in County Donegal, which is badly affected by coastal erosion. Since then, I have been working hard on it with the homeowners. A few days after Bridge Street in Killybegs flooded - the Minister of State might have seen it on the television as it went national - the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, visited Killybegs and, at my request, he also went to Inver village to see first-hand what was happening there with coastal erosion. On that day, the Minister of State met Donegal County Council engineers, homeowners and the OPW on the site. I am asking about the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme and particularly the delays in Inver, County Donegal.”
“There are major difficulties here for families, with travelling distances significant. The emergency appointments are limited. Parents are told to seek advice from private dentists but this is not financially feasible for many families in my community. This situation is unacceptable and children's oral health is at serious risk. Routine dental check-ups and preventative care are essential to avoid future complications and pain, and their teeth need to be looked after. We appreciate the ongoing pressures on the HSE's dental service, but rural communities have been without a local dentist for the last six months. The absence of a school dentist is having a tangible impact on the health and well-being of children across many schools in my local area in south-west Donegal.”
“I, too, would like to be associated with the condolences to the families. We in Donegal have had our own tragedies down through the years. The loss of five young lives is so sad. It really is. They were going out, just in the prime of their lives. Today, I want to express my serious concern about the lack of dental services in the south-west Donegal region covering Glencolmcille, Carrick, Kilcar, Killybegs, Bruckless and Dunkineely since the retirement in May 2025. Since the departure of the dentist, there has been no replacement dentist appointed to the Killybegs dental clinic and it remains closed. As a result, 500 children in the area are currently without access to routine dental screening and treatment under the HSE school dental service. We understand that children are now being referred to Ballyshannon for emergency treatment only.”
“I will advocate for compassion, informed and respectful treatment of children with special needs. This is becoming increasingly common up our way. Parents should be more involved in decisions such as this for their children.”
“The child has thrived in the national school special needs unit and his parents had every reason to believe he would continue there, as other children have done. The lack of communication and respect shown in this situation is unacceptable. Decisions about children's education, especially those with complex needs, must be made together in a transparent manner and with the best interests of the children at heart. We need to ensure that parents are fully informed and involved in all decisions affecting their children; recognise that age-appropriate transitions are not always suitable for children with special needs; provide a clear pathway and support for the families navigating the education system; and uphold the principle of education and person-centred planning. Families should not have to fight for what is right and fair.”
“It is deeply concerning and, unfortunately, not uncommon that parents of special needs children often face unnecessary battles to secure what is a basic human right to support their children. I am deeply concerned about the increasing numbers of families reaching out for help to navigate the education system for their children with special needs. One recent case highlighted a troubling pattern. A parent of a child with complex special needs was informed by the school principal, without consultation or discussion, that her son would be transferred to a secondary school in September. The reason given was "age appropriate". This fails to consider the individual needs of the child, his current progress, the suitability of the school, and his happiness and experience in his current educational setting.”
“Murphy, went through a lot of what goes on in Glenveagh. He has taken that part of the script away from me. It is a national treasure for us in Donegal. I would like it supported in every way possible. I know the Minister of State comes from a background of heritage, he is passionate about it and is passionate about national wildlife. All I ask is for anything we can do to promote Glenveagh. We really love it up there. It is a national treasure and we want to keep it that way. I thank the Minister of State.”
“We are so lucky too because we have a great, dedicated staff. They really are. The few times I was there, I saw what was going on. They are working hard and keeping everything going, under challenging circumstances at times. One of the problems I have is the castle is closed on a Friday and a Monday. Those are the two busiest days of the year in the summer. It is something that the Minister of State might try to look into because a lot of tourists go to Donegal and the castle is a major tourist attraction in Donegal. This is something we need to look at again. Having the castle closed on Monday and Friday, the two busiest days for tourists in Donegal, makes no sense to me. I welcome the 208 ha that were just bought for Glenveagh. It is great and keeps adding to the situation. My colleague, Senator P. J.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming in. It is great to see a Minister of State come in to talk and we are lucky to have the former Minister of State, Senator Noonan, present. I have spoken on a number of occasions since I was nominated to the House about the wonderful place we have in County Donegal, Glenveagh National Park. I do not know if the Minister of State has been up there. It really is one of the jewels in the crown. I passed by it a couple of weeks ago and to see it at this time of year with the trees in all the different colours of red and orange, it is something we are so proud of in Donegal. It really is and we very much want to keep it there as the jewel in the crown. There are approximately 200,000 visitors to Glenveagh Castle and it is a major part of Donegal tourism.”
“I would like the Minister to come in and tell us what is coming, what can be done to ease the pressure on the people in Donegal and whether we can get this to move forward. Changes can be made that would help people. Can we get the Minister in and ask him what is going and what is going to change to try to help the people of Donegal?”
“Last week, I travelled the length and breadth of Donegal and looked at houses with defective blocks. To see the scale was overwhelming. It is enormous. I never thought it was so bad. I saw the anger and pain of people about this scheme, which is working for some but not for others. Senators can imagine how it was with my phone last night when the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, came on and announced a pyrite scheme for the people of Finglas. That is brilliant for Finglas. We have nothing against the people in Finglas. It is great they are getting a scheme but, once again, Donegal is coming up short. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Browne, come to the House for a discussion on the mica redress scheme. That needs to be done because it has been going on for 20 years in Donegal. There are supposed to be changes coming.”
“When he landed on the scene, in fairness, the local garda from Glenties came out but he had no patrol car, no signs to stop traffic and no beacons. He had to wait for a patrol car to come from Donegal town with all of the equipment because there was no one in the barracks in Glenties. Since 2009, the population has increased but Garda numbers have really gone down in Donegal. It is time we addressed this. We have five gardaí to cover the whole of the Gaeltacht communities in Donegal. We really need more resources. Communities in Donegal feel abandoned. A garda cannot be got and the gardaí who are working are stretched. They are over the limit and do not have enough resources or equipment. It is time for action. Words are not good enough. The people of Donegal deserve better. Donegal is a very large Border county.”
“I am very sorry for and pass on my condolences to the family of Sr. Stan. I also congratulate our new President, Catherine Connolly, on her election. I wish to raise the serious issue of Garda staffing and the lack of essential resources in County Donegal. Several stations in Donegal are understaffed and under-resourced. In some cases, gardaí are forced to share patrol cars across multiple stations. Basic supplies of equipment to manage emergency scenes are not readily available, which compromises public safety. Gardaí are doing a great job under serious and increasingly difficult conditions. Last week, a lady passed away in a road accident quite close to my home. My brother, Councillor Michael Boyle, was one of the first on the scene.”
“This is the third or fourth issue with Uisce Éireann I have brought up in the past couple of weeks. There was another issue in Clonmany, north Donegal. It is something we need to look at. Rural communities are being left behind by Uisce Éireann. We need to get a plan together to tell people where it will be done next and where the infrastructure will be put in.”
“I raise the urgent issue of a boil water notice that has been in operation since 15 September in the Glenties-Ardara area. Uisce Éireann has assured me and the public that everything has been done to get this boil water notice out. The reality is 3,500 residents, as well as businesses, have to endure daily disruption. Families have to boil water for drinking, brushing teeth and food preparation. Local businesses, cafés, shops and community centres are affected. This is an ongoing issue. It seems that every time there is a storm or heavy rain, this kicks up. The infrastructure needs to be changed. There needs to be a massive improvement and new infrastructure put into the Glenties-Ardara area. It seems to have been left behind. It is the old way of doing things. Can we get the Minister in here for a debate?”
“I thank the Minister of State. As he said, the information desk is open. The castle needs to be open on Mondays and Fridays. From what I hear from tour operators, the five-day opening does not work into their plans. There are problems with having enough personnel and staff. I ask the Minister of State to go back to see how many we can get. From what I was told, we appear to be short gardeners and tourism industry staff throughout the house. Perhaps we could get a report that is more tied down in the near future. I thank the Minister of State.”
“I have been told that 14 positions have not been filled in Glenveagh Castle. Will the Minister of State confirm whether there is a plan to restore full weekly access to Glenveagh Castle? What is the current recruitment plan to restore staff levels to operational needs? What funding is going to be allocated for infrastructure to upgrade over the next three years? He knows Donegal well and has been to Glenveagh many times. It is a great natural asset. We are not getting the rub of the green here. We need him to come out fighting and stand with Glenveagh. Let us get it working right. We must keep promoting the area. It is lovely, as he knows. I hope he has a reply for me.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming. I wish to raise an issue about Glenveagh Castle, which, as the Minister of State knows, is a major tourist attraction in County Donegal. The castle has been closed on Mondays and Fridays since last year. This has led to visitor frustration, especially at peak times. It is damaging to the reputation of Donegal tourism. The existing staff are dedicated and must be praised for what they are doing. They are doubling up on their work to try to keep the castle working. There are approximately 200,000 visitors annually. It supports local businesses, such as cafés, bed and breakfast accommodation and tour operators. The closure means less spending in the local area, which leads to reduced revenues for shops, coffee shops and everything else.”
“When you see big waves crashing into their garden and hitting their front windows, it is really scary for them. As a matter of urgency, we need to get something done here to protect these two houses and the families in them especially.”
“Today I want to raise a problem I raised on one of the first days I came into this House - coastal erosion. Donegal has 2,400 km of coastline. There is one particular place in Inver village, County Donegal, where two houses are very badly affected. With storms getting worse and worse in the last couple of years, these two houses are in serious danger. Baskets of stones were put there 40 years ago and they have done well, but this coast is 95 m long and we need to protect these two houses. I am getting no answers, so I would like to see if the Leader could get answers. Is funding available through Donegal County Council to do this work? When is this work going to start? What is the delay on it? At the end of the day, there are children in these two houses.”
“Maybe the Deputy Leader could try to get the Minister to do something. It has been going on for over 20 years and is really harming rural communities in west Donegal.”
“Today, I want to raise the issue of the N56. Over the past few weeks I have been contacted by four different families about planning issues along the N56 in west Donegal. This remains a serious challenge for rural communities in Donegal. At present, many young people living at home, and many living abroad who want to come home, want to secure planning permission to build on their family land but cannot do so along the N56. This is because they cannot get access onto the N56. The policy needs to be reviewed. It is unsustainable for rural Ireland. I am calling on the Minister to review this policy. Without access onto the N56 we are losing young people from our local communities, GAA clubs, marching bands and everything the community needs. An urgent review of this issue on the N56 is needed.”
“I do not want to be standing here in a years' time and asking where the traffic calming measures are now. It is something that needs to be done as soon as possible for the sake of our children going to school, their parents and the teachers. Were it not for the people who stand at the traffic lights every day and man them to make sure the children cross the roads safely, there would be an accident.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming in. It is my understanding that Dunkineely National School did not apply for the safe routes to school programme because the process would simply take too long. We do not have time in this instance. We are talking about a busy road that caters for all the traffic that is going to Donegal and Killybegs. Large lorries loaded with fish heading to Dublin pass school. The Minister of State drove past it. He understands that it is situated on a hill. I showed it to him. He gets where I am coming from. Lorries coming down the hill travel at speed. It is very hard for vehicles to stop at the traffic lights outside the school. Traffic calming measures have to be put in place throughout the village of Dunkineely. It will be too late when something happens.”
“I ask the Minister of State to provide a clear update on the status of the traffic calming measures planned for Dunkineely National School, to confirm whether the Department and TII visited the site, to explain why emergency funding was not made available to rectify this and to outline the interim safety measures that can be implemented to protect children. This is not just a matter of infrastructure; it is a matter of child safety. We cannot wait until tragedy strikes before action is taken. The community has done everything to highlight this issue. It is now time for the State to stand up and get this done before something happens. It is getting very dangerous. The parents do their bit at the school and, in fairness, the gardaí come and sit on one side to slow the traffic down. Something has to be done here.”
“I want to raise the urgent matter of road safety outside Dunkineely National School, in my locality. There has been a lack of progress on implementing traffic calming measures which have been repeatedly called for by local representatives, parents and gardaí. The school is located on the N56, a busy national secondary road that has had multiple near misses recently. The speed in the school zone is unacceptable and children, parents and staff are at risk at drop-offs and pick-ups. I have repeatedly raised this issue and I have called for an update from TII, but have received vague responses about ongoing reports. It has now emerged that funding for the road safety improvement may not be available until 2026, which is simply too late.”
“Surely somebody from the Department could have a look and see if we can get the assessment done for this little girl. It is unacceptable for Allissa. She missed a week at school last week. Surely the Department can speed things up. This wee girl wants to go to school. She is only small and she wants to learn. At the end of the day, why she should suffer just because she has type 1 diabetes? I ask the Minister to intervene here and try and sort this out. Allissa deserves better. Getting somebody up there as soon as possible would help resolve the situation.”
“I wish to associate myself with the condolences for Martin Mansergh and Senator Clifford-Lee's father. I also extend my sincere condolences to the McCloskey family on the loss of their son, Kevin, who tragically lost his life while out fishing in Donegal on Thursday. He will be sorely missed. He was one of the renowned fishermen in the port. I wonder if the Leader could get clarification for me for the mother of Allissa in County Donegal. Allissa has type 1 diabetes and needs an SNA at the school to monitor her condition. The teacher in the classroom has enough to do and to be honest, with type 1 diabetes, we really need somebody there to monitor. Last week, the SENO reached out and said it would be two weeks before the school would be assessed.”
“I implore the Minister of State that, when he goes back to the Minister, he tells him that the people of Donegal town and south-west Donegal want their building refurbished, reopened and kept in Donegal town.”
“I thank the Minister of State. When he returns to the Minister, I plead with him to ensure that, no matter what happens, we have to keep the courthouse in Donegal town. It has been there a long time. It really adds to the town with barristers coming in, coffee shops, etc. Donegal town has lost so much in the past year with the DESC moving to Letterkenny. The courthouse's roof might need to be structurally redone as well as electrical and other works, but it is a matter of the utmost importance that we keep the courthouse in Donegal town. It sets the tone for the whole area regarding justice and keeps it where it needs to be in Donegal town.”
“This issue is not about infrastructure; it is about maintaining the presence of justice in our community and respecting the heritage of Donegal town. I hope the Minister of State can clarify this issue. Donegal town has lost so much in the past year, including the Donegal Education Support Centre, DESC. We cannot allow the same to happen to the courthouse.”
“I want to raise the issue of the closure of the courthouse in Donegal town. The courthouse is located in Tirconaill Street and is a building of significant architectural and historical importance dating back to the 19th century. No warning was given about this closure. A letter was simply sent to a businessman and nobody was informed. The Donegal people are very concerned that the building could be closed permanently. I am asking for the Minister for justice to clarify a few things. Are there plans to refurbish and reopen the courthouse? What assessments have been carried out regarding the building's condition and the future of the courthouse? Is there funding in place to preserve this important civic building?”
“At the end of the day, safety comes first. Even with my children going to school, it is safety first. From what I have been told, the bus driver has no problem with turning into the avenue where the family lives to collect the child safely. This would cause no stress or hassle to anybody. I ask the Deputy Leader to determine whether she can get the Minister to look into this matter in particular. It really is urgent up in Carndonagh.”
“A child with special needs should not have to get onto a school bus on the side of a busy road. The other child has to take a round trip of 12 km every day. That child does not get on the bus and is brought to school by the parents. The parents are going through enough; they really are. The children have special needs. Their two mothers and their fathers look after them so well. The children are their parents’ world; they really are. Here we have a problem that could easily be sorted. I cannot understand for the life of me why, in light of health and safety principles, a child with special needs would be loaded onto a bus at the side of a busy main road. I emailed the Minister about this. I ask that he come to the House to talk about it, or to ring me to see whether we can get something done about it.”
“Last week, I met two lovely families with children with special needs in Carndonagh, County Donegal. As the Deputy Leader knows, sending a child to a certain school is a big decision. The nearest school to the children had no classrooms available. The families decided to move the children to Clonmanny National School, which they say is top-class. The children are so happy there and well looked after, and the staff are so engaging, but there is a problem with the school transport. The families were told the children could go to Clonmanny, that the school bus would be sorted and that there would be no problem. That has not happened. One child has to travel 200 metres onto the busy main road to get the school bus. I went down and watched it. It is totally wrong.”
“Hotels have had no water and coffee shops have been closing because they have had no water. It is really not good enough at the height of the visitor season in Donegal. We are told Irish Water has been given much more money to invest in infrastructure. I want some of that money to be invested in Donegal. We really need it because we seem to be left behind in everything else. At the end of the day all we want is a safe water scheme to run for the people in the county. I would like the Minister to come to the House to have a debate on Irish Water to see what we can do. This cannot go on for another summer.”
“I congratulate Martin Hughes and he is very welcome here. I thank Martin Groves and Bridget Doody for their kindness when I was elected to the House a couple of months ago. I wish to bring up the issue of Irish Water. It is a big problem. I thank the Irish Water staff on the ground in County Donegal. They have been kind and courteous all summer, when there have been numerous problems, and have been very good to me. Parts of Carndonagh, Clonmany, Culdaff, Malin and Falcarragh had no water for most of the summer between burst pipes and reservoirs running very low. I call on Irish Water to do a full report on the infrastructure, including the pipes and reservoirs, in these areas in County Donegal. Businesses and households have been really badly affected.”
“Now that I have Glenveagh covered, maybe the Leader could arrange for the national tolls to be done away with on Sunday for those travelling from Donegal. We have to pay for everything and it would be great if we could get through and down to Dublin without paying tolls. It is a costly day for every family and there will be four and five from every house travelling. I do not think there will be anybody left in Donegal. They will all be down. It is a proud day for Donegal and I am delighted that the team is in the final. We will give the Cathaoirleach's team a run for it; that is one sure thing.”
“The castle should be open on Mondays and Fridays. It is an essential part of Donegal tourism and anything we can get to Donegal we are more than happy with. We are very proud of it.”
“Today I want to raise the issue of Glenveagh National Park. We have a wonderful tourist attraction in Glenveagh Castle, located in Glenveagh National Park. We are now at the peak of the season but, unfortunately, the castle itself cannot accommodate visitors on Fridays and Mondays due to staff shortages. Approximately 200,000 people visit the castle every year and it is a vital part of the tourism plan for the national park. The problem is a lack of staff. We need more staff and this has been going on for the last eight months. It is a serious issue. The staff there are working diligently under challenging circumstances and are really keeping the park going. This issue first arose last September and nothing has been done. We really need the Minister to try to get a handle on this. In Donegal, we are so proud of Glenveagh National Park.”
“Pockets have been left behind such as Mountcharles and Doorian, my area and places around Gaoth Dobhair. Will the Minister of State have a look at them and see what he can do?”
“What will happen to the Ten T project in Donegal, which includes the Ballybofey-Stranorlar bypass, the Letterkenny-Lifford road and the Bonagee link? Can they progress or are they stalled now too? This has a big knock-on effect on a rural county such as Donegal. The Minister of State knows County Donegal well and is due to visit in the next few weeks. I cannot understand why this is not going ahead. We have been waiting for this for 40 years. Who dropped the ball? Was it the Irish Government or the Northern Government? Whoever did needs to stand up and be accountable. On another matter, I thank the Government for the Local Link. The service is going well in Donegal and we are appreciative of it, but there are places that need to be added to it. Towns such as Ardara, Glenties and Portnoo need a daily service. Once a day is of no benefit.”
“The Minister of State is welcome. I tabled a Commencement matter about this but I did not get it through yet. To add to what my fellow Senator said, the A5 is a big disappointment to us in Donegal. For decades, we have been waiting for it. We are really isolated in Donegal and we thought this was the way forward. I attended the football game a few Saturdays ago when Donegal and Tyrone were playing. I was inundated with people asking me what will we do and how we can fix the A5. From when I was a child, all I have heard about is the A5. People have to realise that people who come from rural parts of Donegal have no other access except through the A5 and that area coming into Tyrone. It is crucial for us to move forward. We have to rescue it, however it is done. Whoever dropped the ball on this dropped it big time.”
“It is a small issue that needs to be sorted out. It would provide great value for the rural communities. In Donegal, for example, we could be an hour and a half away from the major hospital in Letterkenny. There is no cover at the weekends. These people are turning out. I have seen them and have heard stories that they were not even on duty but they turned out. We need to get on top of this and try to get the Revenue Commissioners to make a decision on it in order that we know where it is going. I wish Donegal all the best on Sunday. I hope we will be in the final.”
“I want to raise an issue I brought up in the past but have got no feedback on it yet, namely, the issue of the benefit-in-kind scheme for the National Ambulance Service. The Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, said she passed it on to the Minister for Finance. The Revenue Commissioners have to make the decision on this. It has been four months since first I brought it up in this House, which is plenty of time for them to make a decision on it. At the end of the day, do these people not understand rural Ireland? Not all of us live in cities. Having that vehicle at the side of the house means that, when a 999 call comes in, people who are off-duty are still able to respond and go to their local communities, like GAA clubs. These workers are a great benefit to the country, to be honest.”
“They have served their communities for years and then end up the way they are. Now is the time to do something to ease the burden. From talking to people who have been diagnosed, I know it turns their world upside down and their loved ones are left to try to sort out all the paperwork. I have nothing against solicitors charging fees but we could try to do something to have these fees covered by legal aid in some way.”
“I express my sincere condolences to the family of Natalie and Ella McLaughlin who tragically lost their lives last week in County Donegal. I have met many wonderful community groups across Donegal and Ireland in the last few years. These groups do invaluable work caring for their loved ones day and night. One issue that keeps coming up is the cost of legal fees for people who have been diagnosed with dementia. People have enough to come to terms with when dealing with a diagnosis, telling their loved ones, consulting their doctors, trying to plan and get things sorted with the bank and getting solicitors. I have nothing against solicitors but it costs between €4,000 and €6,000 to get power of attorney. I call for the enduring power of attorney application to qualify for legal aid under the Irish system. These people need help.”
“It was brought to my attention by Councillors Martin Harley, Jimmy Kavanagh and Michael Boyle that the funding for the apprenticeship programme for education and training boards, ETBs, nationally will be cut by €40 million this year. This means a large number of apprentices will not be in a position to go from phase 4 to phase 6. This is ridiculous at a time when the country has a massive shortage of skilled people. We need to address it quickly, even before the summer recess, because it means apprenticeships will not be fit to go forward in September. Will the Deputy Leader try to find out where this sits? This is crucial. Our apprenticeships and our ETBs are working very well. This is something we need to get behind and back. There is a massive shortage of trained personnel out there. We are taking people in from other countries.”