Mark Wall
Kildare South · Labour Party · Ireland
“I understand that the Electoral Commission is undertaking research on this, but we really need to see changes in our voting system to ensure that everyone can take part on voting day.”
“We are seeing lower turnouts in our elections and extending postal votes to a wider range of people would be one measure that could help us all address this issue. I appreciate that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage may be waiting on the research to be received from the Electoral Commission on postal voting.”
“The Minister is 100% correct that we all want to see recruitment to our Defence Forces continue. However the figures she has given far from the 11,500 sought by the Commission on the Defence Forces by 2028. The Minister mentioned 850 a year. Is that the height of the ambition? It is not going to take us near 11,500.”
“They cannot engage in the democratic process like every other ordinary citizen because they work 24-7, 365 days a year, with no break. This Bill is a small but necessary step to ensure that family carers feel that they can use their voice by voting.”
“There is no single issue here. This is about housing, pensions, pay and conditions. Has the Minister dealt though with the representative organisations on the single public service pension scheme? She might confirm that and let us know whether there is any update.”
“I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to entitle certain persons caring for others to be entered in the register of postal voters, for that purpose to amend the Electoral Act 1992, and to provide for related matters.”
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“The Labour Party has continued to call for this because it would provide immediate relief to those struggling, but the Government continues to turn its back on workers. Workers, older people, carers and people with disabilities must be prioritised when we talk about targeted measures. We need to get greater investment in supports and grants that help these households retrofit their homes, so that they are protected from ongoing price shocks like we are seeing at the moment. We need to look at fully funded grants for these households. I want to give the Minister of State the example of an older man who called into my office this week. He is trying to access the SEAI's one-stop-shop to retrofit his home, which is in a very poor condition.”
“I want to start by thanking my colleague, Deputy Ciarán Ahern, for bringing forward this very important motion and for all of the work he is doing on this issue. Ireland has one of the highest electricity costs in Europe. Eurostat recently reported that prices in Ireland were nearly 40% above the EU average. It seems that every other week an energy provider is upping its prices once again. The Government cannot continue to sit on its hands while this happens. Many workers are just surviving, going from bill to bill, while those hardest hit like older people, carers and people with disabilities are afraid to turn on the lights or heating. Over 500,000 households cannot afford to pay their gas or electricity bills. We need a targeted energy credit to help workers and families that are struggling with the high cost of energy.”
“Hiding this game in some other country is simply not dealing with the substantial issue and is a cop-out. The facts are clear. The children of Palestine have suffered and are suffering death and injury on a daily basis. For their dreams and their safety, Ireland should not play this game. Stop this game.”
“Two in three children are now at risk of infection due to the plagues of rats, mice and insects. This ceasefire has delivered nothing but more pain and suffering for the people of Palestine. Only yesterday, Israel announced that it is closing the border crossings into the Gaza Strip. No aid will get into Gaza. There will be no access to food, water or vital medicines for a population that has had its healthcare system destroyed by Israel. This is simply why this match cannot be played. Others have said tonight, and I totally agree with them, that we are a proud football nation and we cannot and should not subject our players to having to play against the State of Israel and the genocide it continues to carry out against the Palestinian people.”
“I thank Deputy Byrne and Sinn Féin and, indeed, the Social Democrats for the two motions before this House. In making any decision, it is important to consider the facts and why we are here tonight to discuss this game of football. The facts are that over 70,000 people have been killed during Israel’s genocidal campaign against the people of Palestine. This number is growing every day of these months of a so-called ceasefire agreement. The unbearable fact is that even during this ceasefire, at least two children per day have been killed. Let that sink into this debate tonight. These children, I am sure like many children around the world, were dreaming of playing football for some far-flung favourite team or just having a game with their friends among the rubble or the tents they now call home.”
“I wish to raise St. Anne's Special School in the Curragh, County Kildare. It has been waiting ten years for a new school building. The project remains at stage 2b design, and planning permission is due to expire next year. The Taoiseach will appreciate there is very little time for the school to get shovels into the ground and start building. There is only one accessible bathroom for 40 students in the school. More than a dozen children, who are wheelchair users, have no access to inclusive equipment on the grounds at lunchtime or breaks. Due to the current condition of the school, the day-to-day operational costs are now diverting funding from essential educational and sensory equipment. I ask that the Taoiseach follow up with the Minister for education on this important project for St. Anne’s Special School in the Curragh.”
“While we are serious about free education, we are eroding the good work that has been done by Government and the Department with what is happening on the ground. Can the Tánaiste comment on that? I received a parliamentary question reply from the Minister for education, saying that she has written to all schools about the cost of Chromebooks, and it is not related to the leaving certificate. The Tánaiste might confirm something similar.”
“I raise with the Tánaiste one of a number of emails I have received in the past week or so. The school informed someone's son that as he would now be going into fifth year, students would require a Chromebook when returning in September, at a cost of €540. The school commented that this is the only practical way to manage coursework due to the changes in the leaving certificate course. The school said it cannot afford the potential €80,000 expenditure to buy Chromebooks for every student. The email went on to say that this is the first year in which families would benefit from free schoolbooks, which is a fantastic initiative, but this is being eroded by the cost of €550. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission wrote to all schools, reminding them to avoid restrictive and costly uniform policies.”
“It is just for physio and acupuncture which helps with my pain, diesel money and car parking for regular medical appointments. Tallaght Hospital costs €10 for parking. [The €10 again] Good quality shoes to help me with walking. The daily cost of living is crazy. What can I do so the Government can hear my voice? This is what is happening on the ground. I sincerely hope the Minister will listen to the motion being brought forward by Sinn Féin and that he will withdraw the Government countermotion. These are the people who need our help and they need it now.”
“Is he aware that a number of approved housing bodies where many of those living with a disability are living - and thankfully living - have recently increased their rents? In a surprise move, the AHBs have increased their rents by €10; exactly what the Government gave them in the budget. It is being given with one hand and the approved housing bodies are taking away with the other hand, and those with disabilities are simply no better off. I will finish with an email. I previously highlighted a case of a constituent of mine who has a disability and the ongoing cost of living is putting immense pressure on her and her family. It perfectly sums up the consequence of a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Government and what it has done to so many people living with a disability. She says: I am not looking for money to go and buy treats.”
“A woman who has spent her lifetime in a wheelchair came to my office recently because she is unable to afford the high cost of a special taxi to attend a regular hospital appointment that is necessary for her quality of life. That is just one example of many I could give here as to why we need a cost of disability payment now and not a promise on a piece of paper. The ongoing cost of disability is placing an immense pressure on disabled people and their families. Government cannot continue to ignore the reality that people are facing. We need to see action from Government to bring down the costs so many households are dealing with, including those for disabled people. The Minister mentioned in his speech that the Government had increased the disability allowance by €10.”
“We must remember that the DCA payment is a payment designed specifically for children who have a severe disability. Yet, I am currently supporting many families of 16-year-olds who are trying to prove they have a disability despite already receiving DCA. This is completely wrong and places emotional strain on families with the constant battle for what they are entitled to. As many of those who have contacted me said, their child's disability did not go away when they turned 16. This is the part they cannot understand. I am currently dealing with a number of cases of people with a disability trying to get to hospital appointments, turning to Alone and other such organisations to see whether they can help.”
“They include a commitment to extending free travel to children who receive domiciliary care allowance, DCA. Disabled people and their families need to see action from the Government on the ongoing costs they continue to face. The Minister will be familiar with my continued calls to raise the DCA from 16 to 18 years. This because more than 800 parents said in a survey I recently carried out that it is the right thing to do. I could recount many of the reasons people stated that in response to the survey. This is becoming a massive issue for many families. Information I received from the Minister's Department shows that between 2022 and 2025 almost 16% of children were unsuccessful in their applications to move from DCA to disability allowance. That amounts to more than 1,300 children.”
“Instead of supporting disabled people, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents who support them decided to cut the VAT rate for fast-food chains that are already making millions in profits. This VAT could have funded a new cost-of-disability payment starting at €25 per week, with money left over to do more for disabled people and their families. These are the choices the Government made and they are hurting many in this community. Only a few weeks ago, the Labour Party brought forward a motion for a mini-budget that would undo the terrible budget decisions the Government made, but again, the Government sided with big business, while disabled people, workers and families were left worse off. I counted at least eight commitments to address the cost of disability in the programme for Government, not one of which has been addressed.”
“Budget 2026 should have been the budget in which the Government finally implemented the cost-of-disability payment, but it was pushed out again for another year. Given the public consultation on the matter, I sincerely hope the upcoming budget will at least make some progress towards getting this payment into the pockets of those who deserve it most. After the choices the Government made in that budget, disabled people are €1,400 worse off and I have no doubt those costs have increased massively due to the ongoing price rises in fuel, food and rent. In my constituency office, I continue to see the consequences of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's poor decisions. Disabled people and their families are struggling to put food on the table and pay bills. Like many households in Ireland, they are just surviving.”
“I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this important motion on the cost of disability. It is important that the Minister is here to hear what the Opposition has to say about it. The Labour Party has continually raised the ongoing cost-of-living crisis that is affecting many households across Ireland and having a particularly profound impact on those with disabilities and their families who are dealing with the added difficulty of the cost of disability, day in, day out. As we all know in this House - it has already been mentioned tonight - The Cost of Disability in Ireland report by Indecon showed that people with a disability face additional costs of between almost €9,000 and more than €12,000 per year. People living on disability allowance cannot be expected to absorb such massive costs alone.”
“Unfortunately, a lot of people who come to Athy, and are very welcome to make their homes and families there, cannot get into work for 8 a.m., which is when they need to be there. That needs to change. We have spoken about how public transport can be a game changer for so many. Before I came to the Chamber I received phone calls from two people who were on a train heading to Athy and Carlow and were standing because all six carriages were full. I am sure the Leas-Cheann Comhairle would agree on the need to address this, given that the train is heading to Kilkenny as well. We need to improve train services. We need an hourly train service, something I have raised on previous occasions with the Minister. I thank the Minister for the good news he has brought to the House today.”
“The Minister and I will pose for a photograph after that. I will also mention that the Minister is also - I have spoken to him and the powers that be after he mentioned the need for more buses to get me into Leinster House early in the morning - looking at the N7. I spoke to the NTA last week about this and it is examining the issue. Perhaps the Minister can give us some more good news on the N7 project because it would make a difference to the car park it is. I appreciate what the Minister said and the legislation having been signed is very good news. In the short time I have left, I know the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will agree with me about the lack of train services from Kilkenny, Waterford and my home town of Athy to Dublin. The first train service from my home town of Athy is at 6.40 a.m.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on what is important legislation. The Minister will be aware of some of the issues I will raise. The first one is, as the Minister himself said, that this Bill is to provide a clear legislative framework for the NTA to undertake the construction of public transport infrastructure projects, such as BusConnects. Will the Minister confirm if this legislation before us will cover the legislation that is needed to allow the opening of the M4 eastbound bus priority lane, which, as he will be aware, is a project spanning from Maynooth junction 7 to Leixlip junction 5 in County Kildare? The Minister will be aware that this would allow buses to use the dedicated hard shoulder to bypass congestion. The physical infrastructure is constructed, as we all know, but it awaits legislation.”
“When will the Government get serious about delivering a fully public system of early childhood education and care that delivers affordability for parents, quality for children and fairness for small and medium providers, who are the backbone of this sector?”
“-----childcare is a major cost of living for many working families across this country. In too many cases, parents are paying a second mortgage in childcare fees while others are struggling to even find a place for their children. Many community and small providers are barely getting by while educators are leaving the sector day by day. At the same time, we hear that a major childcare chain is being sold to a UK investment firm for €75 million, a chain that has come to Leinster House with its begging bowl and lobbied hard for an increase in fees and for funding increases. Ireland is sleepwalking into a corporate takeover of childcare. The Labour Party was the first party to propose €200 childcare fees, something that all parties seem to agree on.”
“These are the measures that put the worker and the carer of this country first for once, where they deserve to be. I have listened to Minister after Minister say they cannot bring in a mini-budget in advance of the formal budget in October. It is time for the Government to put working people, those who have worked so hard to shape this country and the carers who save the State billions, first. For many of them, it is raining heavily now. If they have to wait until October for help, many will not be able to put their heads above the floods.”
“We need to put money back in the pockets of working people by indexing income tax bands and credits. We need targeted energy credits to help struggling workers and low-income households to keep the lights on and make their houses comfortable once again - those who are lucky enough to have a home. We need energy credits that will support the small businesses that need help the most at this time. We need to make "free" education actually free by abolishing exam fees and cutting school transport fees. We need to bring down the cost of the weekly food shop for working families with a €100 grocery payment on top of the child benefit. These are the real and practical measures that can immediately bring down the cost of living for so many people who are struggling in this State right now.”
“Every single day of the week, I have people telling me they are under pressure - young families and workers who earn too much to qualify for social housing but nowhere near enough to buy their own home; small businesses stretched to their limits, with some forced to close; and carers and older people afraid to turn on their heating simply because they cannot afford the bills. It is clear the Government has no plan to address the cost-of-living crisis that is impacting so many workers, self-employed people, carers and older people. This is why people took to the streets. They are looking for a lifeline but the Government simply has not delivered for these workers. Our motion brings forward a number of measures that will support the people who need help the most.”
“Fundamentally, the social contract has been torn up by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Previously, a decent salary was enough to help people buy a home but now it is just enough to get them from bill to bill. This is what shocks me most about the attitude of the Government. The Government has no idea of the level of anger and frustration out there. The people who are coming to my office in Kildare South are barely surviving, yet these same working people would have been described as comfortable not so many years ago.”
“I thank Deputy Nash for his considerable work on this motion and for bringing forward the Labour Party mini-budget. Too many workers and self-employed people who keep this country going, day in, day out, have nothing left by the end of the week, and struggle to simply put food on the table. The older people who built this Republic are forced to choose between heating and eating, while carers, who work 24-7 and save the State billions every year, get little or no recognition of the extraordinary care they provide. These are the people the Government left behind, not just in the budget of 2026, but also in the recent fuel supports, as announced. Those protests were not just about fuel costs. They were also about much more than that. They were about energy bills, renting, house prices, childcare fees, education costs and more.”
“The waiting time for occupational therapy, OT, services in Kildare and west Wicklow is now 169 weeks, or 3.25 years. I have received replies to a number of parliamentary questions related to constituents who have to wait that long to see an occupational therapist. They are waiting for motorised scooters, chairs and simple rails to help their quality of life. Some of these people cannot wait three and a half years; they are in their golden years. I ask the Minister to talk to the Minister for Health and the HSE to see what we can do for OT services. This is a quality-of-life issue. These people need assistance. They cannot wait three and a half years. I ask the Minister to ask the Minister for Health to look at this urgently for those people who need it most.”
“The costing we have on it is around €107 million but the cost involved, and we are in the middle of a fuel crisis as has already been said this morning, would make a difference to so many. The Minister knows the cost of heating, the cost of using a washing machine, etc., when you have somebody who needs that level of care. It would make a huge difference on a weekly basis.”
“I thank the Minister for that. Regarding what he has just said on providing additional supports, in parliamentary questions I tabled to the Minister, it came to light that only 4.4% of those who were in receipt of carer's allowance were getting fuel allowance, which is a very low figure. Some 106,000 people in this country are getting carer's allowance and only short of 6,000 of those are in receipt of fuel allowance. We have been told time and again, and we were told this again yesterday, that bills for those looking after their loved ones are three times higher than those who may not have to look after loved ones. Can the Minister look at something like that for them?”
“I thank the Minister for that. Yesterday, myself and a number of colleagues in the House this morning attended the Family Carers Ireland briefing scorecard for 2025 in respect of the Government. The big issue that arose for many of us at that briefing was that the Government needs to listen and to listen more. The organisation appreciated the change in the means test. Obviously, many of people there said it needed to be abolished but the problem for many of them is two- or threefold. Many people who were present yesterday were caring for a second loved one and the costs do not diminish when you have a second child but they actually increase. The Minister said there is a commitment in the programme for Government to review this but we still do not have a costing on it. Does the Minister know when he may have a costing on it?”
“I hope the Minister of State will accept this amendment and subsequent consequential amendments grouped with this amendment.”
“It preserves fair notice for witnesses while preventing rehearsed, scripted answers. It also aligns the legislation with the inquiry’s own rule 10 protocol, ensuring consistency and effective evidence gathering. The Omagh inquiry’s rule 10 protocol sets out who can question witnesses, when others can request permission and how this keeps proceedings fair, focused and non-adversarial. This amendment clarifies that any request for assistance must outline the specific topics, documents, purposes and, where relevant, the officeholders from whom evidence is sought. It replaces references to "questions" with "topics, areas of inquiry, or matters". A number of subsequent amendments that will substitute “topics, areas of inquiry, or matters” for "questions" are consequential amendments to this amendment.”
“As Deputy Carthy said during Second Stage, we were surprised when a representative for the families told us the Minister refused to meet them to discuss the draft legislation. The amendments that Sinn Féin has tabled are designed to strengthen this Bill and to ensure that the concerns of the families and survivors, as brought to our attention, are addressed insofar as is possible. I hope the Minister of State will engage with this aim in a constructive spirit, recognising that Sinn Féin’s amendments are intended to be helpful, and give genuine consideration to accepting them. Amendment No. 1 addresses a matter raised by legal representatives of the Omagh families. It replaces the requirement to pre-specify exact questions with a requirement to outline topics, areas of questioning and relevant documents.”
“While every jurisdiction has lawful national security issues, we all recognise that the question is how wide or narrow these aspects are and how they are defined in law. We have seen national security clauses used as a vague, undefined concept by the British Government to effectively veto the release of information it did not want to release, so the way the concept is applied here is of paramount importance. A number of the amendments that Sinn Féin has tabled deal with this matter. The families and survivors of the Omagh bombing also have genuine concerns that the current draft may give rise to difficulties that could undermine its intended purpose. These concerns need to be addressed.”
“There are some concerns regarding the voluntary nature of this evidence and how that might work in practice. Concerns have also been raised that national security limits could restrict disclosure because governments, particularly the Government of our nearest neighbour, often protect intelligence services and operations. Under the terms of this Bill, as they stand, officials may decline to provide evidence and broad security claims could be used to justify withholding sensitive or potentially embarrassing information. Far too often in the past, we have seen the British Government, in particular, misuse these types of provisions in relation to national security to fail to disclose information related to collusion, for example. We have to be clear that national security cannot be used to conceal failings or wrongdoings.”
“Families were not shown the draft legislation before publication and have expressed disappointment that the Minister has not met them, despite earlier commitments to place their needs at the heart of the process. This has left some feeling sidelined in a process that should be trauma-informed and centred on their experience. A number of the amendments Deputy Carthy tabled for Report Stage reflect concerns raised directly with him by representatives of the families and the victims and survivors. Under the Bill, any provision of oral sworn evidence to the inquiry by former members of An Garda Síochána, former members of the Defence Forces, former Ministers and former officeholders of Departments of the State will be done on a voluntary basis.”
“The families who have campaigned for 27 years for this inquiry deserve full transparency and full disclosure about the events that led to the killing of their loved ones. In order to ensure the fullest co-operation possible with the Omagh inquiry and to allow the inquiry to get on with its work, it is important this legislation is facilitated in getting through the Oireachtas in a timely manner. That is why we at the justice committee agreed to waive pre-legislative scrutiny but this legislation must also be done right. This is what these amendments that I will move today aim to do. A key concern Sinn Féin has is the lack of meaningful engagement with victims' families.”
“I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, to delete lines 18 to 24 and substitute the following: “(2) A request for assistance under this section shall specify— (a) the topics, areas of inquiry, or matters on which the Chairman requests that evidence be taken in accordance with this Part, (b) any documents, records, or categories of documents relevant to those topics or areas of inquiry, (c) the purpose for which the evidence is requested, and (d) where the Chairman so wishes, any office holder or former office holder of whom the Chairman requests that evidence be taken in relation to a particular topic or area of inquiry specified in accordance with paragraph (a).”. Sinn Féin supports the families of the victims and survivors of the 1998 Omagh bombing in their search for truth and justice.”
“Yesterday, when I spoke to those people from Clongorey, they had already contacted four or five different sections relating to community in Kildare County Council. They were asking me where they should go next. I believe the community section should provide that portal to ensure that when a rural community is looking for investment, they can just bring up one person or look at one website, and get the information they require.”
“There were pilot schemes relating to CCTV cameras in rural areas, which we should expand again, particularly near motorways, where there is a significant increase in crime rates and has been for a long time. I am proud to be from rural Ireland and from rural Kildare. One of the biggest issues that I face, day in, day out, and which I faced yesterday, is trying to explain to people the number of grants and sections in the Minister's Department and where they should actually go. I call for an easy to explain dialogue or diary, however the Minister wants to put it, for rural communities, so that they can actually talk to someone in Pobal or the community section about what grant will suit them.”
“He has heard me raising that before. These schemes are a must for our older population in rural communities. In County Kildare, we have been involved in two pilot schemes. One was the provision of lights for older people. I ask the community section to look at that nationally. The second was the provision of home alarms for older people to ensure that they are safe in their homes and that children ensure that their parents are safe in their homes too. It has definitely worked in rural south Kildare and I believe it can work nationally too. The lack of gardaí in rural areas has been mentioned. The unfortunate closing of Garda stations has meant that many rural communities are facing an increase in rural crime.”
“Parents are having to reduce their working hours or give up work entirely. In some cases, parents have raised concerns that they may have to move away to be closer to family due to the lack of childcare. This is a massive issue in rural areas and it can lead to people having less disposable income to spend in the local area and could lead to depopulation of rural towns and villages. The Government is telling us that it is coming up with eight pilot schemes for a public childcare model. I encourage the Minister to talk to the Minister, Deputy Foley, about ensuring that some of those pilot schemes are located in rural areas so we can see people remain where they want to remain in their local communities. I have also seen the huge benefit of the senior alert scheme, which I want to raise with the Minister again.”
“I welcome that the local and community improvement scheme has seen investment, but it must go further. I previously raised with the Minister the issues with people who have one holding or are funding their own properties for farming. They are not getting the benefit of this grant. I ask the Minister to look at that because I believe that can make a difference to those holdings. Of course, I have to use the opportunity to tell the Minister about the many people who have been in contact with my office about the childcare crisis across Kildare and areas that are becoming childcare deserts, like Kilcullen, Newbridge and Kildare town. A lack of available childcare places has now become the biggest barrier for parents trying for childcare or after school places. I frequently raise this with Government and the Minister for children.”
“I have been engaging with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, on a number of routes that are not taking off. The route 893 will hopefully service the village of Suncroft has been promised for almost two years but not yet delivered. Now we are being told it will be a number of months still. This will be a gamechanger for the village of Suncroft. We have to see continued investment in, and no stalling on, these much-needed rural transport services. As the Minister said himself, it is central to the quality of life in those rural communities. There is also an urgent need to look at official bus stops and bus shelters throughout rural communities. These must be addressed. It is simply not good enough for people to be standing on the side of the road, which I see every morning when I come to Dáil Éireann, because of the lack of bus stops.”
“A lack of proper infrastructure across rural communities is becoming a major barrier to creating strong and diverse rural communities, particularly in transport, childcare and schools, as we mentioned in our submission. As TD for Kildare South, I have been frequently highlighting the carparks that Ireland's motorways have turned into, particularly along the M9, M7, N7 and M50. The Government must greatly expand, and invest in, rural public transport. I agree with what the Minister said in his opening statement - that rural transport is central to the quality of life in many rural communities. In fact, it is a gamechanger. Some of the rural transport that has been provided in my own area has allowed those in rural Kildare to obtain employment in Kildare Village, for example. However, we have seen that stalling, as others have mentioned.”
“For many months now, we have been informed a new rural housing policy is to be announced by the Government yet I continue to deal with rural people who have grown up in the area, including farming communities, who are unable to get a one-off house for themselves. The issue of serviced sites has been raised already. Serviced sites could be a solution for many rural communities. They could sustain the schools. Today I dealt with two schools in County Kildare which are unfortunately losing staff because their numbers are decreasing. Even with the population of Kildare, this is what is facing so many rural schools. It is simply not sustainable for these rural communities. The local GAA clubs are suffering, as are the local communities.”
“Their vision is to redevelop the centre into a modern, accessible, and energy-efficient community support centre that will enhance inclusion, promote health and well-being and support lifelong learning and community engagement for all ages. As a key next step, they are seeking to undertake a feasibility study to identify the most effective and sustainable way to deliver this redevelopment and ensure it meets the growing needs of their community. I ask the Minister and the Department to support this desire and allow this great community to future-proof their association, which is replicated throughout south Kildare. There has been a lot of commentary this evening on the need for rural housing.”
“For over 25 years, the centre has supported a wide range of activities, including sports and fitness through Clongorey FC and local walking and running groups, social and educational activities such as bingo, card games, a history group, book club and many other areas including youth development and introducing children to digital skills and, most importantly, introducing them to community life as well. Its long-running fixtures include a St. Stephen's Day charity walk and run which has operated for over 30 years. However, the reason I was there yesterday is that its current facility, a second-hand Portakabin, is now in serious disrepair and no longer fit for purpose.”
“The Government should expand community hall grants to include older buildings, and local authorities should carry out an audit on these buildings detailing their current state, use and potential for refurbishment and upgrade. This is something my own local authority, Kildare County Council, has carried out. A prime example of what needs to happen in rural Kildare is the Clongorey and District Community Association. Yesterday I had a chance to visit this vibrant rural community and meet Sandra and Maureen. The Clongorey and District Community Association is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation that plays a crucial role in bringing people together in their rural community in Clongorey, Newbridge, County Kildare.”
“In my own submission on behalf of the Labour Party, I highlighted the need for the Government to continue to provide funding for converting old schools and community buildings into community hubs, public libraries and remote working hubs, given the lack of vital infrastructure in some rural towns in south Kildare. As the Minister will be very much aware, Kildare has one of the fastest-growing populations in the country, yet the infrastructure is simply not enough to meet the demands of the population. Without doubt, utilising old and out-of-use buildings will help address this infrastructure gap. Many of Ireland's community halls are decades old and in urgent need of modernisation to allow them to continue to be a focal point for communities.”