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 Deputies will, I hope, understand that this approach will help ensure that it is considered in an integrated and holistic manner, alongside wider transport and spatial planning objectives for the greater Dublin area. An Coimisiún Pleanála published its decision to grant the MetroLink Railway Order in October 2025, and a subsequent potential legal challenge was withdrawn following successful mediation by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. This means that MetroLink secured an operative railway order, or full planning permission, in January. MetroLink is now progressing at pace towards procurement and construction. With this key milestone achieved, attention is turning to the preparation of the review of the strategy. As I mentioned, any consideration of new transport projects will not happen in isolation.”
“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. The NTA has statutory responsibility for the transport strategy and must review it every six years, meaning that the next review is due to be concluded by 2028. As part of this review, the NTA will reassess the need for additional metro lines, among other transport options, in the greater Dublin area. This review will consider updated travel demand forecasts as well as changes in land use and spatial planning policies. This background analytical work is expected to commence over the next year. The feasibility study for a metro to south-west Dublin will be undertaken as part of this broader strategic review process.”
“On behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O’Brien, I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to address this issue in the House today. As a number of Deputies have alluded to, the programme for Government commits to commissioning an independent feasibility study, continuing MetroLink from the city to south-west Dublin. The Government is committed to undertaking an independent feasibility study for a metro to south-west Dublin. For those reading my script, that is in my final response. However, given that a number of Deputies already raised this, I wanted to clarify it before other Deputies came back in. Providing an integrated transport network that lets people travel conveniently and efficiently across Dublin is essential as we encourage greater use of public transport.”
“The Minister, Deputy Lawless, has worked very hard on this. A master plan for the campus will be published in the coming months, and subject to consideration by SETU in consultation with the Department and relevant stakeholders. I do understand the Deputy's real concern on this issue and the people, students and lecturers in Carlow College. I will come back to her with any information I can glean on the transfer of undertakings. To be fair, real consultation and engagement have taken place on this issue.”
“I am stating that here in the House tonight on the record. I want it to be true and it needs to be true. I think both of us agree that should be the situation. Commitment, continuity and fairness have guided every step of this process. We have every confidence that formal discussions commenced by Carlow College with their staff and staff representatives will be carried out in a transparent and forthright manner. It is not in my response here, but I did hear what Deputy Gibney spoke about in regard to the transfer of undertakings. That is something I am quite familiar with myself. I will check that out for her. I will ask about that because it is an important point and an important issue, but there is not any information about it here. To be fair, a lot of work has gone into this to try to ensure that staff and students are protected.”
“If Deputy Gibney is fair at all, she will accept that a great deal of engagement has already taken place between the Minister, Deputy Lawless, the different institutions, the trade unions and the workers. The Deputy spoke about students there. Every current learner at Carlow College will be able to complete their studies and graduate as planned without disruption or disadvantage. Those are the facts.”
“The Minister, Deputy Lawless, has heard these concerns directly during meetings with staff representatives and SIPTU, and we understand that constructive engagement between management, staff and trade unions is continuing.”
“During the teach-out period, Carlow College will continue to deliver its academic programmes and will retain full responsibility for its staffing matters and academic governance. At the same time, SETU must operate within sustainable financial parameters and determine staffing needs based on its current and future activities. The planned transfer of the college's lands and buildings to SETU will generate significant State funding for Carlow College, providing essential support for the restructuring process, including measures related to staff. We fully acknowledge the distress and uncertainty experienced by staff, as the Deputy has outlined.”
“An independent valuation of the college was also carried out in order to establish the level of financial support that could be provided by the State. Throughout these discussions, the interests of staff and students remained the central consideration. Working together, the two institutions agreed an approach designed to protect current learners while also strengthening higher education provision across the region. The model approved by both institutions, and supported by the Department, is a teach-out arrangement that will continue until 2028. This framework provides a clear basis for protecting students, avoiding a sudden closure that could have led to immediate job losses, and ensuring that the campus continues to serve as an important educational resource for Carlow and the south east.”
“The priority of the Minister, and my priority, was to see a solution identified that protected learners, treated staff fairly in difficult circumstances and safeguarded the future educational use of the campus. With this in mind, SETU agreed in 2025 to engage with Carlow College, with support from my Department. This process involved extensive analysis and due diligence and ultimately resulted in a detailed report being provided to both institutions in early 2026. Throughout this engagement, conducted bilaterally between the two institutions, the Department did not prescribe any particular outcome. However, financial considerations were inevitably a key factor, and both governing bodies were required to assess the risks associated with the options available to them.”
“Despite its private status, Carlow College has benefited from substantial State support in recent years, including more than €3.1 million in student fee grant assistance, alongside an additional €750,000 annually since 2022. While this support helped address immediate financial challenges, an independent review completed in 2024 found that the college's financial position was not sustainable in the longer term. The intervention recently announced is a necessary response to the imminent risk of a disorderly collapse, which would have had serious implications for students, staff, the wider community and the future of higher education provision in Carlow.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. At the outset, it is important to note that Carlow College, St. Patrick's is and always has been an independent private institution operating outside the State-funded higher education sector. Decisions regarding its strategic direction and governance rest entirely with its own governing body and neither the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, nor I have a role in the appointment of its members. Additionally, as a private institution, Carlow College does not fall under the remit of the Higher Education Authority, whose remit extends to publicly funded higher education bodies. Matters such as staffing, pay and other operational costs are therefore the responsibility of the college itself as an independent employer.”
“If you answer your phone and a person says someone is trying to use your card in Berlin, London, New York or Kilkenny to purchase an item, your automatic reaction is, "No, that is not me" and then you try to stop it with the person who is speaking to you, whereas the person who is speaking to you is almost certainly the person who is trying to defraud you. That kind of education is really important. Even people who think they know what they are dealing with still get caught time and time again. I know some of those people. There is a lot of really good work going on in this area but, equally, we just need that little bit more so that people are not caught on the hop. People who think they know how to manage their financial affairs are sometimes the ones who are most vulnerable.”
“I thank the Senator. I do not disagree with a word he said, in particular in respect of auto-enrolment. That is transforming retirement for many people in the future. It is a hugely important initiative. Equally, the Senator is talking about information when it comes to financial decisions that people make. He also mentioned there was €160 million in fraudulent payments last year and that is increasing. This is not in my prepared reply but one of the ways we can perhaps try to manage that is to make sure there is enough publicity around the ways people can get into your mind.”
“This is an intelligent person who has been using banking systems for a long time. Had that person been asked whether they would ever be caught, they would have said no. The telephone calls sounded so reasonable and so normal. When asked how the weather was in Dublin, the caller was actually able to respond, even though the call did not come from Dublin. There is a lot of education needed, and individuals need to know that every single one of us, including the Senator and me, can be caught. Therefore, care is essential.”
“It has developed and launched a new set of money tools on its website, providing free and impartial financial information to support consumers to compare financial products and make the best financial decisions for their needs. The Department of Social Protection has supported consumer and employer understanding of auto-enrolment through awareness-raising. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, delivered 185 money-management education events right across Ireland, reaching almost 5,000 people. Investment education will be one of the focuses of the strategy for the next 18 months, alongside the development of the new investment account. The Senator also mentioned fraud, including scams. Only in the last week, somebody I know very well came very close to having their accounts cleared.”
“For example, there were over 55,000 individual in-person engagements with financial literacy programmes by adults and nearly 170,000 individual engagements with financial literacy programmes by students. Looking forward, there are more than 100 actions in the 2026-27 action plan. These cover areas such as digital financial literacy, understanding credit, managing debt, retail investor education, SME financial literacy and, as the Senator mentioned, fraud, including scams. On 10 June, the Tánaiste joined 65 stakeholders from across the financial literacy ecosystem to discuss how we could build on those successes and advance the strategy's mission. Among the building blocks is an initiative of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, the statutory body with responsibility for financial education.”
“The Senator asked specifically about measurable progress in delivering on this vision. He mentioned figures of 44% and 43%. I had a quick look at the report and noted he is right about those. It is also true to say, however, that Ireland performs well when it comes to financial literacy. In fact, we are placed second among all the EU countries in the OECD report whose statistics the Senator mentioned. Of course, our level is not good enough and we have an awful lot more to do, but equally, and having regard to what our peers are doing, the figures show we are making genuine progress. The Senator asked about the ongoing work to support financial literacy through the strategy. Last month, the strategy's 2025 review and action plan were published. They highlighted some of the successes that have taken place.”
“I thank the Senator very much for raising this issue. Financial literacy is an essential life skill and an important component of financial consumer protection, as the Senator clearly outlined. It does not just mean that individuals have financial knowledge; it also means that they have the skills, attitudes and behaviours necessary to manage their money well. The national financial literacy strategy, as the Senator knows, was launched in 2025. Its mission is to improve levels of financial literacy across Ireland and, by doing so, improve individual financial well-being and resilience. This is a five-year stakeholder-led strategy. It has the aim of working with Ireland's vibrant financial literacy ecosystem to improve co-ordination, collaboration and cohesion in delivery.”
“I have heard her comments and understand where they are coming from. I will bring them and her very strong concerns to the attention of the Minister.”
“Human rights are particularly important to Ireland, both at home and abroad. We consider human rights carefully when entering negotiations on new agreements. We have been carefully monitoring the human rights situation in West Papua and the Irish embassy in Jakarta engages on human rights in Indonesia both bilaterally and with the EU delegation to Indonesia and EU member states. The embassy works closely with the UN and international NGOs. The embassy also actively engages with NGO partners, providing funding through Irish Aid to country micro project schemes. I must say, and the Senator will accept, that human rights remain at the heart of our foreign policy. Ireland will continue to be a strong and consistent voice for human rights, inclusion and partnership. That does not negate what the Senator said.”
“Since 2011, every FTA signed by the EU with a partner country or group of countries establishes these DAGs. I will continue my response in my next contribution.”
“If member states or EU civil society representatives consider that trade and sustainable development, TSD, commitments in trade agreements are being infringed, they may lodge a TSD complaint with the single entry point. The Commission services will examine the allegations and consider the most appropriate course of action in that respect. It will remain in close contact with the complainant throughout the process. In 2022, the Commission presented updated operating guidelines for the single entry point, making it easier for civil society to lodge complaints regarding violations of sustainability commitments with timelines included. There are also domestic advisory groups, DAGs, which are civil society bodies advising on the implementation of trade agreements.”
“In the context of the SIA and throughout the negotiations, the Commission provided the possibility for civil society organisations to have their voices heard, ask questions and contribute to a sound, evidence-based and transparent societal debate, including through dedicated civil society dialogues, a workshop with local stakeholders in Indonesia, bilateral meetings, interviews and web-based surveys. Furthermore, during the negotiations - which, as I said, have been ongoing for nine years - and in line with its transparency policy the Commission has published on its website, and regularly updated, reports on the negotiating rounds, the text proposals, press releases, facts sheets and background information materials to ensure that the public is kept up to date on developments.”
“As the Senator knows, the agreement requires consent from the European Parliament and ratification by both the Council of the EU and Indonesia’s legislature before it can enter into force, targeted for 2027. I hear what she is saying and will relay the concerns she has articulated clearly. It is important to say that in parallel to the negotiations, the Commission commissioned a sustainability impact assessment, SIA, of the CEPA between the EU and Indonesia. The SIA concluded that the EU-Indonesia agreement was expected to have positive impacts for both parties and their societies.”
“I am responding on behalf of the Minister responsible for trade, Deputy McEntee, who is very supportive of free trade agreements, FTAs, and partnership agreements generally, particularly this one with Indonesia for the opportunity it presents to both sides to deepen our bilateral economic relationship, to which the Senator alluded. Indeed, at the most recent Government trade forum, the Minister specifically referenced the Indonesia agreement as one we would like to advance during our Presidency. The EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, CEPA, was concluded, as the Senator said, in September 2025 after nine years of negotiation. As we can see, there was comprehensive negotiation about that agreement for that period.”
“In terms of opportunities for the enhancement of higher education in the Carlow region, the planned transfer of the campus to SETU creates a strong foundation for continued investment in Carlow, ensuring this historic site remains a vibrant hub of learning and opportunity. Under SETU's leadership, there is a clear pathway to strengthen provision, expand access and support regional development. SETU will preserve the use of the site for educational purposes.”
“Our thoughts are with all of them as they deal with the news of the closure of the college and the loss of their employment. Through future expansion and development of programmes in areas of demand, regionally and nationally, there will be opportunities for the highly qualified and experienced staff of the college to apply for job opportunities but, it is important to say, through open competition. The Deputy mentioned social care. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, and his Department are running a new expression of interest across disability therapies and social care to expand provision nationally.”
“I thank the Deputy. I believe the framework agreed by the two institutions is a prudent and measured approach that protects the educational attainment and interests of students in the region. Every current learner in Carlow College will be able to complete their studies and graduate as planned without disruption or disadvantage. That commitment of continuity and fairness has guided every step of the process. At the same time, the framework provides the autonomy and responsibilities of Carlow College as a private institution and employer with a long history. Government has every confidence the formal discussions commenced by Carlow College with its staff and staff reps will be carried out in a transparent and forthright manner. Of course we are concerned about the staff.”
“All local representatives from Carlow and Kilkenny were invited to an online briefing last night to discuss these matters. A key element of this framework is the planned acquisition and transfer of the college’s land and buildings to SETU at the end of this period. In return, a significant level of State funding, based on an independent valuation, will be provided to Carlow College. This funding will be committed by Carlow College to support its teach-out and staff redundancy costs. These issues will be managed through established representative structures and trade unions.”
“In considering the proposed pathway forward, the priority has been to safeguard the interests of the college community while enabling a fair and transparent process for staff. The agreed plan provides for an orderly wind-down of academic activity over a two-year period finishing in August 2028. What has been agreed between the two parties is a structured and phased teach-out designed to minimise disruption to students and staff. The Minister has continued to engage. Most recently yesterday, he met both autonomous institutions and separately a staff delegation from Carlow College with their union. He is acutely aware of the impact of this announcement on Carlow College and its staff and has asked the college to support them through clear engagement in this process.”
“An independent mediator was appointed to guide Carlow College through the process. The engagement included extensive analysis and due diligence, culminating in a detailed report delivered to both institutions. The resulting framework is, therefore, a joint proposal arising from sustained and transparent engagement between both parties with Carlow College fully involved throughout and reflecting the preferred option of Carlow College to teach out the existing students and programmes over the next two academic years. Throughout this period, particular attention has been given to the position of staff. The Minister has consistently emphasised the need for clear and proactive communication with employees. This included direct correspondence in December 2025 urging the college's president to prioritise staff engagement in early 2026.”
“I thank the Deputy. As she will be aware, Carlow College is and has always been, a private and autonomous institution operating outside the publicly funded higher education system. Despite this, it has received substantial State support, including over €3.1 million in student fee grants, with an annual uplift of €750,000 in place since 2022. Following repeated requests for additional assistance, an independent review in 2024 identified a deteriorating and ultimately unsustainable financial position. It became clear that without intervention the college was at serious risk of imminent closure, with significant consequences for students, staff and the wider regional education landscape. Through the support of the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and our Department to prevent a disorderly shutdown, SETU agreed in 2025 to engage with Carlow College.”
“Obviously, everything is in the initial stages so I cannot say anything more than that, but I can tell the Deputy they are working as best they can to ensure that student accommodation may be provided on the site through a private provider. Even so, I must insist we still have a long way to go on it.”
“I appreciate Deputy Scanlon's considered and reasonable approach to this. I am just as familiar as he is with the history, what has happened and the fact that we had student accommodation that is no longer available to students. A lot of people are extremely concerned about that. What the Deputy has said underlines the urgency to move forward with whatever mechanism we have to provide student accommodation in the shortest possible timeframe. As I said, the Minister gave that permission to ATU but it did not proceed with the purchase of the site and now Sligo County Council is actively looking at the site and what role it could play. It is great to see that our local authority is playing such a positive role in looking at the provision of student accommodation.”
“I cannot disagree with anything the Deputy has said but I reiterate that in February 2025 the Minister granted ATU Sligo permission to proceed with the acquisition of that 16.35 acre site at Ardaghowen in County Sligo. The approval did not convey or imply approval for any proposed capital investment that ATU might be considering for the lands. ATU was directed to fund the cost of the acquisition from within its existing reserves. ATU Sligo did not progress with this site purchase. I know what the Deputy is saying about what the local authority is doing. As I said, it is my understanding that, as we speak, the local authority is in discussion with private providers to see if they could develop that site for student accommodation. Without being specific about it, right now that seems to be the best possible way forward.”
“I have spoken to the county manager in Sligo, who tells me Sligo County Council is in discussion with a private provider to see if it would develop the 16 acre site Deputy Scanlon mentioned in order to provide student accommodation. My most up-to-date information is that these discussions are ongoing.”
“In March, the Department published the national student accommodation strategy, which sets out a clear pathway to improve access to higher education by addressing supply, viability and affordability challenges, with projections showing demand for around 42,000 additional beds over the next decade. The strategy addresses barriers to student accommodation development through a balanced approach. I will not go through the list but it is quite detailed. My Department has engaged extensively with technological universities including ATU Sligo, and both the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and I will be meeting them again this week. The Department has developed multiple programmes that will be brought forward on a phased basis this year through the newly established higher education institution student accommodation programme.”
“I thank Deputy Scanlon. He has made representation on this issue to me on many occasions. To provide the background to this, in February 2025, under section 8(1) of the Technological Universities Act 2018, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, approved Atlantic Technological University’s request to acquire a 16.35 acre site near its campus, to be funded from existing reserves. However, the HEA has since confirmed that the purchase did not proceed. I will come back to that in a moment. Both Deputy Scanlon and I are aware of what has been happening on that. However, I want to assure the Deputy that I recognise the significant impact that the supply and affordability of student accommodation is having on students, including in Sligo.”
“I hear what the Deputy is saying. Tertiary education is a great pathway. It is such an opportunity for students. It is not within the CAO system, so it allows students to access tertiary education. They can start in their local ETB and, if they like, progress on to further education in third level institutions. That is available to students across the country - in Offaly just as well as anywhere else. TUS and SETU are the Deputy's main partners in all of this. That is where the third level institutions are. Of all the locations I visited in the country, the one that impressed me the most when it came to tertiary education was the national construction training campus in Mount Lucas. To me, that is a standout initiative. It offers training in areas like modern methods of construction and near-zero energy buildings.”
“Students on these courses can spend the first year of study in their local education and training board before transitioning to higher education, with no fees, smaller classes and additional support while they are in the ETB.”
“I am pleased to say that the midlands are well served by Technological University of the Shannon because it offers students from Offaly and surrounding counties high-quality university education. What I am talking about in particular today are the tertiary programmes. They offer students the opportunity to begin a course in further education before transitioning to complete their degree in higher education. We have invested €4 million from budget 2026 towards the development of these programmes. In 2026 and 2027, Laois and Offaly ETB will be offering four tertiary pathways, in partnership with SETU and TUS, in programmes including business, technology and nursing.”
“As the Deputy can see, this is a significant investment that is improving access to higher education in Offaly and the midlands.”
“As of now, it is a region in transition, but thankfully, it is being reclassified as a more developed region. However, due to its lagging status, ATU was allocated €10.5 million from this fund over the next two years. The Deputy is particularly interested in the Technological University of the Shannon, TUS. It was the third technological university to be established and the first cross-regional technological university, with its main campus in Athlone. Since its establishment, it has considerably assisted higher education access, growing regional development and providing more opportunities to students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities, serving communities in counties Westmeath, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and Offaly. TUS has been allocated €6.3 million from this fund over the next two years.”
“It is a high priority for me and my Department to support the development of high-quality and accessible tertiary education systems that reflect the full diversity of Irish society and ensure that all learners can access and successfully complete their education. Since the establishment of the first technological university in 2019, the Department has prioritised targeted investment of over €300 million in technological universities to ensure structural, high quality, inclusive education, training, research and innovation across the regions. As part of this funding, last year, my Department announced the targeted enhancement fund, which delivered €65.8 million for the technological sector and publicly funded specialist colleges. ATU operates nine campuses across the northern and western region.”
“The Government has also committed to increasing the number of college training places for therapy professions. In June of last year, the Government announced a major expansion in health and social care professional training places, with 461 new places to be delivered across nine priority disciplines. Occupational therapy places have increased from 125 in 2020 to 198 in 2025, which is an increase of almost 60%. In 2025, additional occupational therapy places were also created on a new tertiary programme. The Minister assures the Deputy that this Government is committed to ensuring that every person with therapy needs receives timely, high-quality care. The Minister continues to support efforts to address the waiting times for primary care therapy services, including occupational therapy.”
“Again, on behalf of the Minister for Health, I thank Deputy Ward for raising this important issue and the cases of the various people he spoke about. The Minister fully acknowledges that the increasing waiting times for primary care therapy services is a source of real concern for service users, their families and, indeed, the Minister herself. As outlined, a national initiative is under way to address long waiting times for primary care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy and to reduce the numbers awaiting access to services significantly by the end of the year. Furthermore, the Minister has committed to building capacity in primary care. To support efforts to reduce waiting times, an additional 200 whole-time equivalents were approved for recruitment in primary care therapy services in 2026.”
“It is very welcome news that both waiting list numbers and the waiting periods of those waiting longest are reducing. For the first time since 2021, waiting lists have decreased month on month over a three-year period. As the work continues throughout the year, we expect to see waiting lists nationally reduce and improved access times for all, including those in Dublin Mid-West.”
“As part of this programme of work, in September of last year the Minister approved proposals to address occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy waiting lists through a national initiative supported by the enhanced community care programme. The goal of this initiative is to reduce the waiting times for these three therapies to less than ten months. The initiative aims to remove over 60,000 people from the waiting lists across these three therapies by the end of this year, with efforts currently under way in a number of IHAs. The initiative has been rolled out on a phased basis to include all IHAs nationally over the coming months. Initial results show a reduction of 12,700 patients from these waiting lists for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy since the initiative commenced.”
“In response, referrals are being triaged and prioritised on the basis of assessed clinical need so those most in need are seen as soon as possible. The HSE has confirmed that the IHAs in the Dublin Mid-West area continue to progress recruitment and service improvement measures aimed at reducing the current waiting times for primary care therapy services. However, the Minister acknowledges that a lot more needs to be done to reduce waiting times. To that end, the Department of Health is currently working with the HSE on a focused joint programmatic approach to primary care therapy waiting list management to put in place considerable standardised infrastructure to address both the long waiting times and long-term capacity planning.”