Michael Cahill
Kerry · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I call on the Minister for housing and local government to intervene in a most urgent matter in County Kerry where subcontractors to Uisce Éireann are being left to wait for two, three or four months without being paid for work that has been carried out. This is not acceptable.”
“With delayed payments, interest should be applied to overdue accounts paid to contractors similar to local authorities, utilities and other bodies that have this payment system. Why not Uisce Éireann? Why should it be allowed to get off scot-free especially with the manner in which it is blackguarding contractors and subcontractors?”
“This is inexcusable. It must be addressed immediately. Contractors and subcontractors to Uisce Éireann are experiencing unacceptable delays. There are huge issues with issuing purchase orders, POs - orders are issued weekly and often contractors wait two months to get PO.”
“On contacting payables by email, contractors are told invoices were not processed or picked up from the previous Monday and there is no payment on the Friday. Furthermore, there is no payment run at the end of the month, which means contractors are waiting another couple of weeks which has been the case.”
“People are flabbergasted by these quotations. People are expected to pay that while contractors are not being paid by Irish Water. They are waiting four months. Uisce Éireann is well able to charge people, but when it comes to payments it is a totally different story.”
“Will the Minister of State please request that Uisce Éireann addresses this incompetence in its payment systems and work with contractors to address these issues?”
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“People are flabbergasted by these quotations. People are expected to pay that while contractors are not being paid by Irish Water. They are waiting four months. Uisce Éireann is well able to charge people, but when it comes to payments it is a totally different story. Contractors and subcontractors are being put through hell and put under enormous financial pressure. This must be addressed and the sooner the better. I will raise this again and I will put down a vote of no confidence in Uisce Éireann if there is no progress on this matter.”
“With delayed payments, interest should be applied to overdue accounts paid to contractors similar to local authorities, utilities and other bodies that have this payment system. Why not Uisce Éireann? Why should it be allowed to get off scot-free especially with the manner in which it is blackguarding contractors and subcontractors? It does not pay to provide a 24-7 call-out service without payment. That is an obvious fact. A simple solution would be to put contractors on a monthly drawdown system. That would cut out red tape and delays. I will throw a spanner in the works. A few months ago, a friend of mine approached me about a quote they received for a 60 m extension to a water main to a single house. They were quoted €450 per metre. That comes to €27,000. Think of a 100 m sprint by Usain Bolt and then 60 m of that 100 m.”
“Will the Minister of State please request that Uisce Éireann addresses this incompetence in its payment systems and work with contractors to address these issues? Payments were always slow but have gotten so delayed that subcontractors are unable to pay wages or pay for fuel, etc., due to cash flow problems caused solely by Uisce Éireann. In regard to these delayed payments, there is a way of addressing the issue. It is in everyone's interests to address this matter as soon as possible.”
“On contacting payables by email, contractors are told invoices were not processed or picked up from the previous Monday and there is no payment on the Friday. Furthermore, there is no payment run at the end of the month, which means contractors are waiting another couple of weeks which has been the case. I am aware of one contractor who was informed today that he will eventually be paid on 17 July for works carried out last March. This is not good enough and has to be addressed. These people cannot continue in business this way. I plead with the Minister of State to ask the Minister for housing and local government to simplify the whole process. What is happening needs to be addressed. It is bordering on criminal.”
“This is inexcusable. It must be addressed immediately. Contractors and subcontractors to Uisce Éireann are experiencing unacceptable delays. There are huge issues with issuing purchase orders, POs - orders are issued weekly and often contractors wait two months to get PO. Another big issue is when invoices are submitted to payables, it seems it is a central invoicing email address dealing with this and they are not uploaded to the system for processing, causing further delays. These are all internal Uisce Éireann issues. When invoices are not processed, the spin-off effect is delayed payment. Local engineers have informed me that this is all removed from them, it is centralised and they have no contact details for anyone to help as payments are not received.”
“I call on the Minister for housing and local government to intervene in a most urgent matter in County Kerry where subcontractors to Uisce Éireann are being left to wait for two, three or four months without being paid for work that has been carried out. This is not acceptable. These delayed payments mean subcontractors are unable to pay wages or for diesel due to cash flow problems. This is happening right across my county in Tralee, Dingle, Killarney, east Kerry, Killorglin and Kenmare. In every corner of Kerry, this is happening as we speak. It is disgraceful carry-on by Uisce Éireann. It is not acceptable. Will the Minister of State request the Minister for housing to intervene to ensure contractors are paid within a reasonable timeframe especially after submitting their invoices? They should be paid within two weeks at the most.”
“I want to raise again the chronic shortage of respite for children with profound disabilities in County Kerry. Families are waiting seven or eight months for one or two nights' break and they are at breaking point. The same applies with regard to adults with profound disabilities in Kerry. The issue of respite for these individuals and their families must be of the very highest priority. There is a wonderful centre at St. Mary's of the Angels in Beaufort that should be developed into a centre of excellence for respite. There is also the excellent St. Francis Special School along with many services located there. I wish to avail of this opportunity to invite the Taoiseach to visit the centre, which is just outside Killarney.”
“Too many of our young people have felt they had no option but to leave because they could not secure planning permission in their own communities. Today, I am delighted to be in a position where I can say I have helped positively influence these landmark reforms. Will the Taoiseach confirm the timeline for the completion of the environmental assessment and public consultation, and reassure rural families that the final national planning statement will be in place before the end of this year? How quickly does he envisage the new draft planning statement being incorporated into county development plans?”
“I welcome the publication today of the draft national planning statement on rural and Gaeltacht housing, which represents the most significant reform of rural housing policy in over 20 years. As a rural TD for Kerry, I know at first hand the frustration, inconsistency and uncertainty that many families have faced when trying to build a home where they were born and raised. I was glad to engage consistently with the Taoiseach and our Fianna Fáil colleagues, the Ministers, Deputies Browne and Calleary, throughout this landmark policy, ensuring that the voices of rural communities like those in Kerry were heard at every stage. I have repeatedly raised the issue of rural depopulation in this House and called for the establishment of a dedicated rural depopulation task force.”
“The same applies to our uncles and aunts and their people before them. They too worked extremely hard and paid their taxes. I believe this issue needs to be addressed urgently. It is also a huge issue for the farming community and farm succession. It is a form of double taxation. I have a huge issue with it.”
“I believe we should separate the limit on the house from any other inheritance. The €40,000 cap in the case of a niece, nephew, brother or sister is absolutely ridiculous and discriminatory. In the upcoming budget, I propose that the Minister increase the €40,000 cap and we separate the house from the inheritance. The bands are less today than they were 15 or 16 years ago, as they were reduced during the recession. If the value of the house and any other assets is over €600,000, a son or daughter is liable for a €66,000 capital acquisition tax on the very same inheritance. A niece, nephew, brother or sister is liable for €184,8000. Our parents, grandparents and their parents before them worked extremely hard and paid their taxes to provide for their families and build family homes.”
“At a time when this country is in the midst of a housing crisis, should we not be doing everything possible to ensure that families are able to afford to keep their homes, instead of penalising those who do not have children and those who are left assets by their uncles and aunts? I call on the Tánaiste, in his capacity as Minister for Finance, to reduce inheritance tax, which is charged at a flat rate of 33% of the value of assets exceeding specific relationship-based tax-free thresholds, and to significantly increase those thresholds, of €400,000 in the case of a son or daughter.”
“I have raised this issue on a number of occasions. It is a huge issue and there are anomalies. We need to address this. Currently, children inheriting a family home from their parents are exempted from inheritance tax up to €400,000, which, considering the price of homes currently, is undoubtedly far too low. However, a major anomaly exists when it comes to childless couples and individuals, who often decide to leave their home and assets to their nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters. Unlike children inheriting from parents, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters are only entitled to €40,000 tax-free, leaving them with a significant tax bill which often precludes these individuals from affording the property.”
“Cahersiveen is ideally placed to become a national centre of excellence for this type of marine training and skills development. I acknowledge the constructive engagement already taking place involving Kerry ETB, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the relevant Minister of State, Deputy Timmy Dooley, but I ask that the project be prioritised and progressed urgently.”
“However, I urge that SOLAS continue driving this project forward at pace. The demand for skilled workers in hospitality, tourism and food services is enormous, and the college will help secure the future workforce for one of Ireland’s most important industries while also bringing more educational investment into Kerry. The second project I want to highlight is the proposed commercial diving and underwater welding training course, to be based in Cahersiveen and to be provided through Kerry ETB. This is an exciting and innovative project with huge potential for south Kerry and Ireland’s marine sector. There are excellent careers and well-paid jobs available in underwater welding and commercial diving but we need to ensure Irish people have access to the training required to enter those professions.”
“I want to raise again two hugely important education and economic development projects for County Kerry and ask that every effort be made to expedite both. The first is the proposed hospitality education college at the former Pretty Polly site in Killarney. It is a transformative project not just for Killarney but also for the wider south-west region. Hospitality and tourism, as the Minister is well aware, are the backbone of our local economy, and this project would create a state-of-the-art training campus focused on hospitality and skills development. I welcome the progress already made. I thank the Minister especially for the €2.375 million he made available to Kerry ETB to acquire the site from Kerry County Council and the approval given to Kerry ETB to engage with the vendor and proceed with the due diligence on the preferred site.”
“Where a partner makes a gift to his or her partner, this will give rise to both capital gains tax and a gift tax. If they were married, however, there would be no tax. The tax rate bands for married couples differ from those for partners living together. This needs to be urgently addressed, and it is a matter for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Harris, to do so. The current legislation must be amended as soon as possible. I referenced and made a couple of proposals in this regard. The current cap of €400,000 should be increased to €800,000 on the home and separated from any other inheritance. Equally, the €40,000 cap for a niece or nephew or brother or sister should be increased to €250,000. We should also be looking at the 33% tax on the value of assets exceeding the specific, relationship-based tax-free thresholds.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. I mentioned the case of the civil servant who passed away. His partner was refused the widow's portion of his civil servant pension as they were not married. This was also found to be unconstitutional. Contrast this with the current taxation system where partners are treated as strangers for capital acquisition tax purposes. This is wide open to a constitutional challenge to the current legislation. Obviously, I am aware that during the past week, the State secured a Supreme Court appeal against the judge's ruling that it breached the Constitution when it refused a spouse's pension to a man who had lived with his late partner. There are anomalies in the current taxation system.”
“Partners are now entitled to a survivor's pension if they have been living together for at least five years or two years if they have children. This arose from a court case where it was found that to deny them survivor’s pension would be unconstitutional. In another recent case, a civil servant passed away and his partner was refused the widow’s portion of his Civil Service pension as they were not married and this was also found to be unconstitutional.”
“Sadly, today in certain cases individuals are turning down inheritance as they simply cannot afford to pay the taxes. This issue needs to be addressed in the coming budget and successive budgets. It is obvious families and individuals are being taxed on the double. I call on the Government again tonight to urgently address another anomaly that exists with the current taxation system in respect of capital acquisition tax when applied to partners as opposed to married couples. Current legislation means a partner, even a lifetime partner, is regarded as a stranger for capital acquisition tax purposes and therefore the current threshold limit of €20,000 applies, with anything over that amount taxed at 33%, whereas married couples are exempted from that tax. Current legislation discriminates against partners.”
“In the upcoming budget I propose that the Minister for Finance increase the €40,000 cap up to €250,000 on a house and again separate it from any other inheritance. These bands are less today than there were 15 or 16 years ago when they were reduced during the recession. If the value of the house and any other assets is €600,000, a son or daughter is liable for €66,000 in capital acquisition tax, or inheritance tax as it is known. On the very same inheritance a niece, nephew, brother or sister is liable for €184,800. Our parents, our grandparents and their parents before them worked extremely hard to provide for their families and build a family home. The same applies to our uncles and aunts and their people before them. They too worked extremely hard to build a family home and paid all their taxes I may add.”
“At a time when this country is in the midst of a housing crisis, should we not be doing everything possible to ensure families are able to afford to keep homes instead of penalising those who do not have children and those who are left assets by their uncles and aunts? Tonight I am calling on the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to reduce inheritance tax which is charged at a flat rate of 33% on the value of assets exceeding specific relationship-based tax-free thresholds and to significantly increase these thresholds of €400,000 to €800,000 in the case of a son or daughter and furthermore, to separate the limit on the house that I proposed, the €800,000, from any other inheritance. The €40,000 cap in the case of a niece, nephew, brother or sister is absolutely ridiculous and discriminatory.”
“I again raise the issue of inheritance tax and the anomalies that exist for parents and their children on the one hand, and childless adults, their brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews on the other hand. Currently children inheriting a family home from their parents are exempted from tax on inheritances of up to €400,000, which, considering the price of homes currently, is undoubtedly far too low. However, a major anomaly exists when it comes to childless couples and individuals who often decide to leave their home and assets to their nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters. Unlike children inheriting from parents, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters are only entitled to €40,000 tax free leaving them with a significant tax bill, which often precludes these individuals from affording the property.”
“In another recent case, a civil servant passed away and his partner was refused the widow's portion of his civil servant pension, as they were not married. This was also unconstitutional. Contrast this with the current taxation system whereby partners are treated as strangers for capital acquisitions tax purposes. This is wide open to constitutional challenge to-----”
“I call on the Government to urgently address the anomaly that exists with the current taxation system in respect of capital acquisitions tax when applied to partners in comparison to married couples. Current legislation means that a partner, even a lifetime partner, is regarded as a stranger for capital acquisitions tax purposes. Therefore, the current threshold limit of €20,000 applies and anything over that amount is taxed at 33% whereas married couples are tax exempt. Partners are now entitled to a survivor's pension if they have been living together for at least five years, or two years if they have children. This arose from a court case where it was found that to deny the survivor's pension would be unconstitutional.”
“This is about safety, fairness and delivering a basic standard of education infrastructure that every child deserves. If we continue as we are, we are not improving our education system but are allowing it to fall behind. As the Minister of State knows well, the ones paying the price for this are the children sitting in those classrooms every day that are not sustainable.”
“These are basic facilities and there is no justification for delay. As schools cannot continue to operate in a system where essential projects are stuck in bureaucracy, approved funding is not translating into delivery on the ground and principals are left firefighting instead of planning, I will ask again very directly whether the Minister of State will commit to a full assessment of school infrastructure in Kerry. Will he introduce a dedicated refurbishment fund for older schools and will he ensure urgent applications like that of Presentation Monastery National School are fast-tracked without delay? At the heart of all this is a very simple question, namely, why should a child in Kerry be expected to learn in conditions and environments that would not be tolerated anywhere else in the country?”
“I thank the Minister of State for the response but I have to say it does not match the reality being experienced by many schools across County Kerry. This evening, I have raised consistent and repeated concerns from multiple school communities and I would like to return briefly to a few of them. Scoil Iognáid Rís, Dingle, has a building that is fundamentally unfit for purpose. This is not a minor works issue; it is a full redevelopment issue. In the case of Scoil Réalt na Mara, the funding model is clearly broken in that schools are expected to maintain expanding buildings with completely inadequate grants. In the case of Presentation Monastery National School, Killarney, I stress again that the climate action summer works scheme application, particularly for upgrading the pupil toilets there, must be progressed urgently.”
“Schools are being forced to fight for basic and essential infrastructure, so I am calling for three actions. The first is a comprehensive assessment of all primary and secondary school buildings in County Kerry and a proper identification of the scale of the refurbishment and modernisation required. The second is a dedicated funding stream for older school buildings, separate from minor and emergency works, to deal with structural long-term deficiencies. The third is a review of the minor works grant model so that it reflects the actual size and maintenance needs of school buildings and not just enrolment numbers.”
“The tiles in Scoil Naomh Mhichíl Naofa in Dungeagan are almost 50 years old. The school has been asked to recost the works for a second time. Can that be looked into? Financing the day-to-day running costs of Caherdaniel National School is a major struggle. The list goes on. Castledrum National School is seeking a special class. The building is already there. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, might review this decision, as the school was already turned down. I do not see any sense or merit in that. It is the same in Killarney, which has major development plans - I will talk to the Minister of State in due course about that - as has Coláiste na Sceilge in Cahersiveen. The common threads here are clear - delays, underfunding, a system built on outdated assumptions, bureaucracy and too much red tape.”
“In general, schools are waiting far too long for clarity on staffing and summer programmes. This should be provided as soon as possible to allow schools to plan accordingly and give certainty to staff. It is the least that they deserve. Beyond infrastructure, the school is also dealing with significant demographic pressures and high levels of need yet has no access to DEIS supports in the Killarney area. This must be analysed and corrected. In Filemore National School, funding has been approved under the additional school accommodation scheme but is stuck in paperwork and bureaucracy. Will the Minister of State ask his officials to progress this with immediate effect? Aghatubrid National School is still waiting on progress for an autism unit, which is a vital service for families there.”
“In Scoil Réalt na Mara in Cromane, the principal has confirmed to me that its minor works grant is just over €8,700 but a basic project like painting the school costs over €21,000 plus VAT. This is a funding model that is completely divorced from reality. Even more concerning, the school is being extended, increasing the building's size by over 50%, yet the funding to maintain it will not increase accordingly. How can that possibly make sense? We see similar problems in Presentation Monastery National School in Killarney. I call on the Minister to urgently progress the climate action summer works scheme application for St. Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School in Killarney, particularly regarding the upgrading of pupil toilet facilities. This is basic infrastructure and it cannot be delayed any longer.”
“I welcome the opportunity to again raise this important issue and to request that the Minister for Education and Youth provide additional funding for significant improvement and refurbishment works in schools. What is happening in my county of Kerry is simply not acceptable in 2026. We have a systemic problem of underinvestment and as I outlined about two weeks ago in this Chamber, it is very obvious in Scoil Iognáid Rís in Daingean Uí Chúis-Dingle. Conditions there are "outdated and dangerous", yet the school is told to apply under the emergency works scheme or the summer works scheme. With respect, these schemes are completely inadequate for what is required here. One cannot fix a 60-year-old school with structural and design failures through patchwork funding. It is not an isolated case.”
“I urge the Minister to consider targeted supports for regional tourism businesses if numbers soften, enhanced marketing through Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, particularly in North America and mainland Europe, and, critically, protect and expand regional air access, including routes that serve the south west. There is a strong case for ensuring Kerry Airport and access routes into the region remaining a priority, especially in the context of any wider aviation strategy. The message from the ground is clear. There is nervousness in the sector. I ask that additional flights for Kerry be looked at from Belfast, Barcelona and Amsterdam to boost visitor numbers.”
“I appreciate the Minister's response but I want to press the point about regional impact. This cannot be approached in a one-size-fits-all way. Kerry and the wider south west are particularly vulnerable to any reduction in air capacity. If flights are cut or become more expensive, visitors do not just delay; they often choose alternative destinations entirely. While there is a suggestion Ireland could benefit as a safe destination or from increased domestic tourism, we need to be realistic. Domestic tourism will not fully offset a decline in high-value overseas visitors, particularly in areas like Killarney, Kenmare and Dingle that rely heavily on international markets. We need to see proactive measures, not reactive ones.”
“The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has signalled the earlier growth projection of 5% to 7% this year is unlikely to be met. For Kerry, even a small drop in overseas visitors has a disproportionate impact. We are a premium tourism destination but also a peripheral one. We rely heavily on connectivity through our regional airports and on visitors making the additional journey beyond Dublin.”
“Tourism in Kerry is the lifeblood of our local economy. From Dingle to Cahersiveen, from Killarney to Ballyheigue, from Kenmare to Ballybunion, from Glenbeigh to Listowel, from Valentia Island to Tralee and right across the county, thousands of jobs and small businesses depend directly on a strong and stable flow of overseas visitors. That stability is under threat. We are seeing the early impacts of global aviation disruption, driven by the conflict involving Iran and rising jet fuel costs. Airlines are already scaling back. Lufthansa announced 20,000 flight cuts. We have seen reductions from Aer Lingus while others are adding fuel surcharges. For an island nation like ours that predominantly depends on air access, fewer flights mean reduced capacity, higher fares and, ultimately, fewer visitors.”
“I raise this issue at a time of growing uncertainty for Ireland's tourism sector. In counties like Kerry, the uncertainty is very real. What is the Minister's Department's current assessment of the likely impact of these aviation challenges on overseas visitor numbers in 2026? Specifically, what contingency planning is under way to protect regions like Kerry? What actions are being taken to safeguard air access, support regional tourism and ensure counties like mine are not left exposed?”
“That is not just outdated, it is dangerous. I am calling for a comprehensive assessment of all primary and secondary school buildings in Kerry to properly identify the scale of refurbishment and modernisation required.”
“What is happening in schools across County Kerry is simply not acceptable in 2026. I wish to be clear from the outset that we do not have a minor works problem; we have a systemic underinvestment problem. Nowhere is that clearer than in Scoil Iognáid Rís in Daingean Uí Chúis. The school is located in what is considered to be one of the most affluent towns in the country, yet the conditions in the main boy's national school are, in the words of the principal, "archaic". We are talking about children tripping on broken concrete and sustaining injuries requiring stitches, a basketball court from 1980 that is now unsafe and crumbling, a roof and window structures at risk of collapse, no proper toilets, no corridor, no hall, and no entrance space. There was a situation recently where a stranger was able to walk into the school unchallenged.”
“I again raise the CAMHS scandal in Kerry. Will the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, provide updates on the north Kerry look-back review and the compensation scheme? I thank the Minister of State for visiting Kerry recently and meeting with individuals and their families. She has always made herself available to the families. I was in Leinster House on a number of occasions over the years when the Minister of State met with them and listened to their concerns. I want to ensure that all of these children, many of whom are young adults today, are adequately compensated and that all services are regularly available to them. These individuals and their families suffered greatly. They were misdiagnosed and mismedicated. I want to ensure that everything possible is done to make their lives some bit easier.”
“The temporary oncology unit in UHK simply cannot cope with the over 5,000 patients and rising who were treated there last year alone. I am anxious for us to do everything humanly possible to get this vital project over the line.”
“As I previously stated in this Chamber, the Comfort for Chemo Kerry committee, a wonderful organisation, has already raised in excess of €1.5 million in funds, and a site has been designated for the purpose within the UHK campus. We are told one in every two will get cancer in their lifetime. When it comes to cancer, the question on everybody's lips is what is causing it. Is it the food we eat, the air we breathe or the water we drink? This project is extremely important to us in Kerry, and I am anxious that it proceed as soon as possible. Delays only mean an escalation in cost for an already costly undertaking. As I previously mentioned, this vital project would lessen the need for many Kerry patients to travel to hospitals in Cork, Limerick and Dublin, some in multiple trips.”
“I previously received confirmation that it was at stage 1 - design. Could the Minister of State say where exactly this vital capital project for University Hospital Kerry is at now? Sadly, when we look at RIP notices, the number of references to palliative care in respect of cancer patients is worrying, to say the least. As a Government, we must invest more in cancer research. A new stand-alone oncology unit for University Hospital Kerry is vital for all cancer patients and their families in our county. I impress upon the Minister of State and the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, the urgent requirement for a stand-alone oncology and haematology unit on the grounds of UHK to provide Kerry patients with the dignity, privacy and comfort they deserve during one of the most challenging periods in their lives.”
“A new permanent oncology and haematology unit at University Hospital Kerry is vital to the people of Kerry. Cancer patient numbers in Kerry are continuing to grow, with many needing to travel from all over Kerry to a hospital, such as Cork University Hospital, the Bon Secours, the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, the Mercy Hospital in Cork, and with many others travelling to Limerick, Dublin and elsewhere for intensive treatments. The travelling involved is an extra burden on all those patients, and a permanent oncology unit in Tralee with increased capacity would go some way in alleviating some of the pressure and stress for many patients and their families. With over 5,000 patients treated in University Hospital Kerry last year, I ask the Minister of State to prioritise this new oncology unit for Kerry patients.”
“They are interested in whether we can ease the pressure on their daily lives. Let us use this opportunity to work towards measures that are fair and practical and deliver real support where it is most needed. I refer to workers who drive to work and rural dwellers. I wish to call for the immediate reduction of fuel excise duties and the introduction of an emergency fuel allowance and targeted supports for workers and rural dwellers. We have to ease their pain.”
“Expanding eligibility for existing schemes such as the fuel allowance should be firmly on the table. Second, we should look again at the overall tax burden on fuels to ensure it is not disproportionately impacting those who have no viable alternative, especially rural communities. Third, we need to accelerate investment in energy efficiency and home retrofitting so that people are less exposed to those price shocks in the first place. This is not about quick fixes or political point-scoring. It is about recognising that people need help now while also planning for the longer term. There is space here for a more constructive cross-party approach, one that focuses on targeted, workable solutions rather than absolutes. Ultimately, the people we represent are not interested in who wins the argument in this Chamber.”
“There is no doubt that the rising cost of energy is placing enormous pressure on households right across County Kerry and, indeed, the entire country. For many families, it is a weekly decision between buying food, heating the home, filling the car or meeting other essential costs. In a rural county like Kerry, where people rely heavily on their cars and on home heating oil, these increases are being felt particularly sharply. It is a very genuine frustration people are feeling and while there may be differences in approach, I believe this debate presents an opportunity to all of us to focus on practical measures that can deliver real relief. In that regard, we need to seriously examine a number of options. First, there is a case for targeted, time-limited supports to help households with rising fuel costs.”
“Will the Minister of State outline what strategic planning is under way to future-proof the network, not just to maintain it but to grow and modernise it, while ensuring it continues to serve our urban centres and our rural communities equally?”
“While this funding of €75 million, or €15 million per annum, is welcome, we must look beyond the next five years. The key question now is what the long-term plan is to ensure the viability and sustainability of the post office network. We must ensure post offices are supported to diversify and expand the services they provide. There is enormous potential for greater integration with Government services, financial products, digital supports and community-based initiatives. In doing so, we can strengthen footfall, enhance revenue streams and secure their future. I am aware of a number of postmasters and postmistresses who have put their entire savings into keeping their doors open. That is wrong. We have to change that and support our post offices.”