Marian Harkin
Sligo-Leitrim · Independent · Ireland
“I thank Deputy Smith for raising this matter and for highlighting the significant population growth taking place in Swords. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am interested to hear the Deputy say it is the third largest town in Ireland.”
“Upon receipt of the revised stage 2a report, Department officials carried out an initial review. In early June 2025, a further meeting was held with the wider design team, school authorities and Department officials in attendance.”
“This investment will provide capacity for almost 3,000 additional homes while improving the resilience of essential services in the area. It is a clear example of how targeted infrastructure investment can unlock housing and support sustainable growth.”
“For this reason, we plan and develop public transport in line with the greater Dublin area transport strategy 2022-2042, rather than in isolation, to maximise the use and benefits of each proposal and project.”
“I thank Senator Costello for raising this matter. The Government is committed to preserving our existing roads network. This is demonstrated through the Department of Transport's provision of regular grant funding to eligible local authorities.”
“I thank the Senator. I am of course providing the answers given to me by the Department. As we know, the new Limerick bus network will provide more frequent public transport offerings to more people across Limerick. I hear what she is saying. She is talking about now.”
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“The number of registered dentists per 1,000 population has risen from 61 in 2019 to nearly 72 today. The Deputy also mentioned something earlier about an outreach centre in north Cork. The Department of Health has received a strong proposal from University College Cork, requesting €4.7 million in capital funding to establish a dental outreach centre. This would enable training of an additional ten undergraduate dental students annually, particularly benefiting Irish and EU students. While the proposal is promising, it currently delivers limited increases in domestic student places. There is a clear opportunity for both Departments to collaborate further to maximise investment and expand domestic training capacity to meet Ireland's dental workforce needs.”
“With regard to the Deputy's question on the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, I will have to look for further information on that. I only have the information in front of me, which I have already presented to him. I will ask the Minister to follow up with the Deputy on that specific question. With regard to the dental workforce, the Deputy quoted some figures but I can only quote what is in front of me. It is my understanding from the Department of Health that the Dental Council has reported a steady increase in the number of registered dentists since 2016, from 2,949 to 3,823 today. This reflects positive progress in strengthening our dental workforce. As of 2022, there were 2,420 practising dentists in Ireland, marking a 3.9% increase from the previous year.”
“The outcomes of this work, which is due to be published shortly, may have further implications for the number and type of training places needed in the coming years across oral healthcare.”
“I reaffirm the Department’s commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure any future expansion of dental education is grounded in evidence, responds to national needs and is delivered in a sustainable manner. It is my understanding that the Department of Health is conducting a scoping exercise to support a skills assessment workforce census across the oral healthcare sector. This will form the foundation for future policy and programme development. The Department stands ready to work with HEIs and the Department of Health to ensure any changes to professional scope are matched with appropriate and high-quality educational provision. I have been informed that the Department of Health is also examining the feasibility of a new mid-level oral health professional grade.”
“In 2023, the HEA carried out a targeted capacity expansion exercise across priority healthcare areas. One key outcome was the establishment of new dentistry programmes, including a new bachelor of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, commencing in 2025. This new programme will follow a community-based model of dental education and will provide at least 20 new dentistry places per annum for Irish and EEA students, significantly enhancing national training capacity. This expansion represents a landmark 33% increase in student intake and clearly demonstrates the Department’s and this Government’s firm commitment to strengthening the oral healthcare workforce and supplying the graduates needed for a modern, accessible health system.”
“Until this year, approximately 60 places were available each year to Irish and EU students on dentistry courses. The Department recognises that this represents a limited training pipeline at a time when the demand for oral healthcare, both clinical and preventative, is increasing nationally. The number of places offered is a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However, I acknowledge that due to a high level of practical work, there can be material constraints on the number of students that can be accepted onto dentistry courses. While the Department does not set quotas for student places, we work closely with the Department of Health and the HEA to explore how capacity can be sustainably expanded in key health disciplines, including dentistry.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter regarding the availability of dental training places, which I will take on behalf of the Minister. This Government is firmly committed to ensuring our healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Higher Education Authority, HEA, and higher education institutions, HEIs, plays a central role in delivering the education and training infrastructure needed to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare workforce, including in critical areas such as oral healthcare and dentistry. Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dentists is part of our broader commitment to workforce planning that supports the health and well-being of our population.”
“Twenty additional staff were assigned and attended training in December 2024 and January 2025. They have now been appointed as appeals officers and are making appeal decisions. In addition, a new appeals system, incorporating online functionality for people wishing to lodge an appeal, has been implemented. Together with the implementation of the new appeals regulations, this should reduce processing times.”
“Where the scheme area does not change the decision, the case is then considered by an appeals officer. This, of necessity, requires a full consideration of all information, including, in some cases, the use of oral hearings. The chief appeals officer continues to closely monitor processing times and every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure decisions are consistent and made in accordance with the provisions set out in primary legislation and regulation. Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to reforming and streamlining the appeals process in recent years. The chief appeals officer has put in place measures to improve processing times.”
“I thank Deputy McGrath. I listened with interest to the points he has made. I thank him for highlighting this issue. It is important the appeals process not only works quickly but with due regard to ensuring each case is properly considered. In the first instance, each appeal is referred back to the relevant claim area of the Department which reviews the appeal, including taking account of any new information that may be furnished. This is an important step, as many appeals can be determined quickly upon review by a scheme deciding officer. In order to ensure this process works quickly and transparently, the new appeals regulations set, for the first time, statutory time limits of 21 days for consideration of the appeal by the Department.”
“This is a significant increase of 45% in staffing levels and will, in time, reduce processing times. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, has met with the appeals team to discuss the measures to reduce appeals processing times and will continue to engage with officials on a regular basis.”
“These measures are intended to provide greater transparency and certainty to people making appeals and should help to improve the processing times for appeals. In addition, a new appeals business process and IT system have recently been implemented. The new process and system have significantly reduced the use of paper in the appeals process. The new system provides online capabilities to provide a more efficient and streamlined service for people availing of services. In tandem with the introduction of the new system, the number of staff processing appeals has increased significantly. As Deputy McGrath alluded to, an additional 20 appeals officers were appointed at the end of last year. These officers are in addition to the team of 44 officers already in place. Following a period of training they are now actively processing appeals.”
“Deputy McGrath will be pleased to hear that new appeal regulations, which have come into effect from 28 April 2025, have increased the time a customer has to submit their appeal from 21 to 60 days, with provision for the chief appeals officer to accept late appeals for up to 180 days in certain circumstances. This will allow customers a longer period to prepare their appeal and gather relevant documentation. The new regulations also provide, for the first time, statutory time limits for key stages of the appeals process, including the length of time the scheme area in the Department has to review an appeal. This is now set at 21 days. The new regulations have also introduced the right to seek an oral hearing.”
“Where the first instance decision is not revised in favour of the appellant, the appeal is then considered by the appeals officer, which may require the holding of an oral hearing. A significant proportion of cases are revised by the Department in favour of the appellant during the review process. This does not mean that the initial decision was incorrect. A decision can be revised because the person making an appeal provides additional information which was not made available when the decision was first made. Where new information, in particular medical information, is provided on appeal, this may require further investigation which can add to the time taken to process an appeal. Despite all of this, the overall average processing time for all appeals at the end of March was 20.9 weeks.”
“I thank Deputy McGrath. I am happy to respond on behalf of the Minister. The social welfare appeals office is an office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals officers are independent in their decision-making functions. The overall average processing time for all appeals at end of March 9025 was 20.9 weeks. The time taken to process an appeal includes all aspects of the appeal process. This includes an initial validation of the appeal to ensure that adequate grounds have been provided, followed by a referral of the appeal back to the relevant scheme area of the Department for review.”
“As the Taoiseach said after Cabinet, we are all equally appalled and sickened by what is happening in Gaza, and the Government has decided to approve bringing forward this important legislation. I will say, finally, that we are not standing idly by.”
“In fact, Ireland pushed for this. I can personally say that back in November 2023, when nobody in this Parliament was speaking about it, I personally wrote to the European Commission on a number of occasions to raise this issue. When I received no response, I worked through some of the MEPs in the Parliament. Ireland intervened in South Africa's International Court of Justice case against Israel under the Genocide Convention and, of course, we recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state. It is very clear that the Government is committed to speaking out on behalf of the Palestinian people. This morning, the Tánaiste brought a memorandum to the Cabinet requesting Government approval for the preparation of a generous scheme of a Bill to prohibit imports from illegal settlements in the occupied territory.”
“What I have spoken about are not legal abstractions; they fundamentally undermine the effectiveness of this Bill. The Deputy and I know that if legislation means anything, it must be effective. Ireland's long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict remains an integral part of our foreign policy. Personally, I am pleased to say that from my very first days in the European Parliament, that has been my own stance. The Government is working to build consensus at EU and international level to support the implementation of a negotiated two-state solution and lasting peace process. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the continuing Israeli military operations in Gaza. We support the review of the EU-Israeli association agreement, and we welcome what has happened in recent days.”
“Section 3 of the proposed legislation requires the Minister to make a determination on how moneys raised by Israel from "a particular security or class of securities" are applied. From a regulatory point of view, the EU prospectus regulation does require a use of proceeds disclosure. However, it would be possible for an issuer to arrange an issuance of securities with a use of proceeds that excludes these purposes by, for example, issuing a green bond. Therefore, in terms of trying to restrict Israel's ability to raise funding to support an action in the occupied territories Bill, this Bill completely overlooks the fungibility of such financing. That leaves loopholes in this Bill.”
“Instead it seeks to criminalise those who sell and purchase the securities themselves, as well as entities that facilitate the sale and purchase of the bonds. This raises a number of issues. First, there is the question of extraterritoriality. The Bill, as drafted, aims to prohibit all sales and purchases of Israeli Government securities caught by regulations without reference as to how the transaction would need to be connected to Ireland for an offence to have occurred. While I have likened the measures proposed in the Bill to domestic sanctions, it is important to note some difference. Restrictive measures whether at EU or UN level are designed to be temporary and targeted in nature, and critically respect the fundamental rights of individuals and entities. It is clear that this approach has not been taken in the Bill before us.”
“We implement EU and UN sanctions. When we address complex international issues, it is essential that any measures introduced be negotiated, agreed and introduced at EU or UN level. The collective power of the EU is best placed to promote the objectives of the bloc's Common Foreign and Security Policy and to bring about a change in the policy or behaviour of the subject of the measures. Any attempt to act unilaterally on matters as sensitive and complex as financial restrictions could undermine the coalition we are trying to see form at EU level. To me this is really important. Ireland has been painstakingly involved in helping to build this coalition. In this context, we need to prioritise co-ordinated action through the EU and UN. The Bill does not focus on the actions of Israel as a state.”
“I reiterate that the objective of the Bill before us as outlined by Deputy Doherty, is to end the sale of Israeli bonds across the EU. Israeli bonds are not for sale on our Stock Exchange or through any trading company we in Ireland regulate. The Bill would not impose any restrictions on the ability of the Central Bank to approve a prospectus from Israel. That is the crux of the matter because it is crucial to remember that the prospectus regulation is EU law and Ireland cannot unilaterally amend or undermine that law. As Deputy Nash explained, approval of the prospectus only requires that it complies with EU law. There is no question of the Central Bank facilitating in any way the sale of bonds. As Deputies are aware, Ireland is a committed proponent of multilateral action. We do not have a domestic sanctions regime.”
“I hold a deep respect for the principles at the heart of this Bill, our collective commitment to human rights and international law. This is the value I believe we all share in this House. The only issue that remains is how we can best act to make a real difference. As I said, we are all appalled by what is happening. My only question is how the Government can act in a way that is effective. I believe the Bill is well intentioned but we must carefully and with consideration assess the effectiveness of the Bill. What will it achieve? The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has done this. The advice received by the Government indicates the Bill will not achieve what it intends to do. When it cannot achieve its objectives, that serves nobody in the end.”
“I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate this evening with compassion and empathy. That is shared by Deputies on all sides of this House. All of us are appalled and horrified by what is happening in Gaza. I address the Dáil, fully aware of the deep sensitivity surrounding the plight of the Palestinian people. I strongly and utterly condemn the continuing Israeli military operations in Gaza. I use the word "genocide" because this has brought untold suffering on the people of Gaza. Israel's plans to expand its military operation in Gaza and establish its prolonged presence are beyond alarming and will further compound an already catastrophic situation. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains to the forefront of our minds.”
“Along with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, I was delighted yesterday to launch a new digital platform, Skillnet MMC Accelerate, at Mount Lucas to support career progression and training navigation in this important area. A national demonstration park is under development at Mount Lucas. It will open later this year as a flagship destination for demonstration, specialist training and innovation. In parallel, the Department is finalising an MMC action plan. Responding to the expert group on future skills needs recommendations, this sets out 58 targeted actions across areas such as digital construction, certification, early learning engagement and new training provision. It has been developed with Government, industry and education partners. All of this work is supported by funding of €3.5 million in 2025.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. My Department is actively progressing measures to expand training capacity in modern methods of construction, MMC, nationwide. We have quantified that using MMC could lead to a reduction of almost 10,000 in the number of additional workers required to meet domestic building and retrofitting targets to 2030, which is highly significant. Existing training capacity is being expanded through partners including SOLAS, Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board and Skillnet Ireland. New traineeships and micro-credentials are being developed and offsite manufacturing diplomas, short courses in sustainability and digital skills, and an MMC-specific portfolio of programmes are available.”
“As the Minister said, we were down yesterday at the Mount Lucas construction training centre with the modern methods of construction, MMC, accelerator platform. It was really good to see some of the positive things happening.”
“It is very good news that Galway was one of two colleges given approval to proceed to the next step under the FET college of the future major projects fund. A total of 12 colleges have been earmarked and eight of them are progressing now. The Minister announced earlier this week that Galway was one of those eight colleges. Of course, the other four are on stream. Returning to the Deputy's contribution, it is important to say when we talk about this new FET strategy that it will endeavour to respond to the OECD skills strategy review. This highlights the need for a more balanced educational and skills system. The Deputy mentioned apprenticeships. The 16 ETBs are uniquely positioned within the tertiary education landscape to address those core immediate skills.”
“As background to the strategy, its implementation resulted in significant progress between 2014 and 2019 in the development of the FET sector within the overall education landscape. Of course, we are now looking to the future. The second strategy from 2020-24 set out the role of FET in a more collaborative and cohesive tertiary education system for Ireland. Now, we are looking at the 2025-29 strategy, the third strategy. In developing this strategy, there is an acknowledgement that the FET sector has undergone a significant transformation in the past five years. It is important that we continue with the trajectory in order that FET can be a pivotal driver of sustainable economic growth, workforce development and, particularly, lifelong learning.”
“Officials from the Department worked closely with SOLAS, attending the sectoral consultation workshops. In addition, SOLAS launched a public consultation in January 2025, which resulted in more than 70 submissions from a diverse group of stakeholders. At the moment, SOLAS is considering the feedback and emerging themes from its stakeholder engagements to inform a draft strategy. That will be submitted for consideration to the Department in the coming weeks. Once agreed, the strategy will be launched, subject to the Minister's approval in line with the legislation.”
“The further education and training system is central to the delivery of skills across the country to boost national competitiveness and support inclusion. The Further Education and Training Act 2013 requires SOLAS to prepare a strategy for the provision of further education and training and submit it to the Minister for approval. SOLAS, in partnership with the Department, is progressing the development of the next strategy under these provisions, ensuring that it fully aligns with departmental and Government priorities. The process for developing the next strategy, the third national strategy for the sector, began last year. SOLAS held several consultation workshops and meetings with more than 800 individuals and stakeholder representatives across the country to identify emerging themes.”
“I hear what the Deputy is saying and I know that what she is talking about is a ring-fenced, purpose-built building. I know the envelope that is available is available to all of the 12 different colleges that are looking for this funding. All have been approved and they just have to get through this preliminary stage. I know Dunboyne is working very hard with LMETB. Without being certain about this, I would be confident that, within the next short period of time, we will get to a point where its application can be successful and progress to the next part of the process. Eight out of the 12 original applicants have got to this point and I have no doubt Dunboyne will get there soon. It is a big piece of work and very important for the region. Like the Deputy, I recognise the really good work that is carried out by the college.”
“I will begin with a comment. The Deputy spoke about a one-stage process. Whether it is a phased development or a one-stage development is a matter for the evaluation panel. The proposal is to develop fit-for-purpose accommodation on a greenfield site in Dunboyne. As the Deputy said, the college is currently located in poor accommodation in a large number of rental premises in an industrial estate. LMETB submitted its preliminary business case for evaluation in September 2024 and that needed to be refined. It submitted it again in March of this year and further refinement was needed. SOLAS is working with LMETB. Everybody wants to see a successful application from Dunboyne because, in truth, we want to get on with building this new facility.”
“Currently, the college is operating from an industrial estate where numerous health and safety issues arise. It is an absolute waste of money. I plead for the single-phase case, because since this process began in 2015 there has been a lot of to'ing and fro'ing with the Department. There has been significant engagement, including by staff members whose core function is the education of the students whom they highly value.”
“The Department and I are committed to delivering this project as part of 12 key projects that were announced under the FET college of the future major projects fund. Deputy Gillian Toole: I thank the Minister of State for her updated information. I reiterate that this college is delivering. At various times in this Chamber we have discussed the need for occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and the development of apprenticeship programmes and construction studies. LMETB colleges can deliver that. This process began in 2015 when Dunboyne was added to the building list of the then Department of Education and Skills. Currently, the rent roll is just short of €100 million a year to 23 landlords. That includes transportation costs. Such costs are unsustainable.”
“LMETB is refining its business case proposal and once completed, it will submit it to SOLAS for evaluation. The evaluation panel will be available to meet as soon as the updated business case is received. Business cases that meet the evaluation criteria will advance to the next stage of development: pre-tender, project design, planning, and procurement strategy. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines. The appropriateness or otherwise of a phased development of the proposal, which the Deputy inquired about, is a matter for the evaluation panel to determine. Funding for all projects under this programme, including the proposal from LMETB for Dunboyne, will come from within the FET college of the future major projects fund envelope.”
“I thank the Deputy for her question. I am pleased to say this is my first opportunity to respond to an oral question. I am also pleased that it relates to Dunboyne College, which I know. I am familiar with the great work that is happening there. Louth Meath ETB, LMETB, is being supported by SOLAS in developing its preliminary business case, PBC, proposal for Dunboyne under the FET college of the future major projects fund and they have met as recently as this month to progress the application. The proposal put forward by LMETB relates to the development of a new fit-for-purpose facility on a greenfield site in Dunboyne to replace the existing rented accommodation in Dunboyne. It is one of 12 projects being progressed under this fund.”
“I hear what the Senator is saying but it is my understanding that the Department of Health is currently conducting a scoping exercise and skills assessment across the oral healthcare sector, which specifically includes dental hygienists. This will form the foundation for future policy and programme development. As part of this broader review, the Dental Council has submitted revised scopes of practice that propose expanding the role of dental hygienists. If adopted, this would require corresponding updates to current education and training provision. I assure both Senators that the Government is committed to responding proactively to manage future workforce requirements, including in respect of dental hygienists, dentists and workers required in the oral healthcare sector.”
“I reaffirm my Department’s commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that any future expansion of dental hygienist education is grounded in evidence, responds to national needs and is delivered in a sustainable manner.”
“It is important to note that in 2023, the HEA carried out a targeted capacity expansion exercise across priority healthcare areas. One key outcome was the establishment of new dentistry programmes, including a new bachelor of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, commencing in 2025. This new programme will follow a community-based model of dental education and will provide at least 20 new dentistry places per annum for Irish or EEA students. That is significantly enhancing our national training capacity. This expansion represents a landmark increase in student intake and clearly demonstrates my Department’s and this Government’s firm commitment to strengthening the oral healthcare workforce and supplying the graduates needed for a modern, accessible health system.”
“Currently, as both Senators have alluded to, we have two higher education institutions - Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork - which offer programmes in dental hygiene. Between them, they produce approximately 25 graduates each year. This contrasts with about 100 dentistry graduates annually. My Department recognises that this represents a limited training pipeline at a time when the demand for oral healthcare, both clinical and preventative, is increasing nationally. While my Department does not set quotas for student places, we work closely with the Department of Health and the HEA to explore how capacity can be sustainably expanded in key health disciplines, including allied professions like dental hygiene.”
“My Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Higher Education Authority and higher education institutes, play a central role in delivering the education and training infrastructure needed to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare workforce, including in critical areas such as oral healthcare. Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dental hygienists is part of our broader commitment to workforce planning that supports the health and well-being of the population. In the context of dental hygienist education and training capacity, I point out that dental hygienists are a vital part of Ireland's oral healthcare system. They play a key role in preventing and treating gum disease and promoting lifelong oral health.”
“I thank Senators Scahill and Boyle for raising this important matter here today concerning the availability of dental hygienist training places in Ireland. I acknowledge what Senator Scahill said. I represent the constituency of Sligo-Leitrim, which is sandwiched between Roscommon, where Senator Scahill is from, and Donegal, where Senator Boyle is from. I also represent south Donegal, of course. Senator Scahill said I would not let them down, so no pressure. The Government is firmly committed to ensuring our healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates.”
“I thank the Senator. To be honest, I share his frustration. As he said at the beginning, we are talking about children, parents, grandparents, teachers and all in the vicinity who use the school. I am conscious of the importance of ensuring road safety, particularly in the vicinity of schools, but there is an ongoing process. As I am not a Minister responsible for this, I cannot say whether this can be speeded up or what could be done. If the Senator wants to contact me afterwards, I would certainly be willing to contact the Minister to see how we can expedite this in order that children attending that school and their families can feel every effort is being made to ensure the road at the school is safe for use.”
“In some cases, schools outside that programme are included in wider active travel projects if they are in the vicinity of these works. I will finish my comments after the Senator's reply.”
“A total of 932 schools applied for this programme, which is about a quarter of all schools in the country. A total of 170 schools were selected in round 1 in 2021. Round 2 consisted of 108 schools and round 3 of 141 schools in November last year. The nature of the safe routes to school programme is that all schools which initially applied will eventually enter the programme on a rolling basis. It is my understanding that Dunkineely National School did not apply for this programme. It should be noted that if a school is not currently in this programme, it does not mean it will not receive any new or improved active travel infrastructure. While there are no plans for an additional call for schools to join the programme, funding for active travel infrastructure for schools is not confined to the safe routes to schools programme.”
“Following this, a report will be prepared setting out the safety measures Donegal County Council proposes to implement, the estimated scheme costs and the expected safety benefits. TII anticipates submission of the finalised report to TII for consideration by the end of June, about six weeks from now. Once approved, any works at this location will be considered for funding in 2026 subject to funding availability. Apart from that, the Minister of State with responsibility for international and road transport, logistics, rail and ports, Deputy Seán Canney, has responsibility for the safe routes to school programme. I am advised invitations to make expressions of interest for that programme were sent to all primary and secondary schools in the country.”
“In the context of the national roads programme capital budget, which is provided by the Department to TII, significant funding has been provided towards the safeguarding of the national road network. In 2025, approximately €15.6 million in capital Exchequer funding was allocated for the protection and renewal of the existing national road network in Donegal. It is important to say that this includes allocations for minor road improvements on the N56. TII's road safety section discussed the progression of potential safety improvements on the N56 at Dunkineely National School with Donegal County Council at a meeting held in March this year. Donegal County Council is finalising an assessment of potential options at this location.”
“I thank Senator Boyle for the question. I am familiar with the area he spoke about. I had the privilege of representing Donegal for three terms in the European Parliament so I well know where Dunkineely is. The Minister for Transport is the person who has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding relating to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts and in line with the national development plan, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. A priority in the NDP is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national road network.”
“I mentioned the Barron and MacEntee inquiries. It is important to note that when a legal issue arose that would have prevented the provision of Garda material to Operation Denton, the then Minister for Justice took extraordinary steps to put in place a bespoke mechanism to allow relevant information from An Garda Síochána to be shared with Operation Denton. Of course, the investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings remains an open case in this jurisdiction. Any new evidence that comes to light, from whatever source, will be fully pursued by An Garda Síochána. I thank Senator Gallagher for his ongoing commitment to seeking out the truth in regard to the atrocity we now refer to as the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which took place 51 years ago next Saturday on 17 May 1974.”