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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“Every week since I have come up here, I am consistently raising issues pertaining especially to the peninsulas that I have named, Iveragh and Dingle. I am also a member of the joint health committee, and I am consistently raising the issues there as well. It is every week, as there is always some issue. By and large, it is in relation to staffing, be it for home care, daycare, primary care, palliative care, mental health as I mentioned already, or respite. Beds remain unopened in both the West Kerry Community Hospital and Cahersiveen Community Hospital. As I mentioned earlier, patients are being relocated to community hospitals far away and families have to spend half a day travelling to see their loved ones. It is not good enough. For that matter, these two areas in particular seem to have more problems than any other part of Kerry.”
“That is part and parcel of their charm and beauty, but many old, young and debilitated patients need to be constantly ferried to and from hospital appointments, which sometimes takes its toll on the entire family. This pilot scheme in the Iveragh and Dingle Peninsulas might provide a window into solutions, big or small, that could help ease stress in many families throughout rural Ireland.”
“In an era when we are striving to reduce greenhouse gases, it also has a large impact on the environment. Health hubs and centres of excellence play a big part in the delivery of health services in Ireland. I accept that this may be best practice but I am a firm believer in researching other delivery options. The health services in remote areas pilot scheme I am proposing would investigate a hybrid model that could be amalgamated with the present system to improve the lifestyle and health of all our residents. As the Minister of State will know, some areas of our country, particularly along the western seaboard, are really remote and accessed mainly by narrow winding roads.”
“Many residents in Iveragh are up to 100 km from the accident and emergency department at University Hospital Kerry. Why is it so difficult to get staff to these community hospitals for our mental health services, ambulance services and so on? Residents of these peninsulas have to travel long distances to receive the standard of service they deserve. That is discriminatory to many of them. They regularly have to utilise the health facilities in University Hospital Kerry in Tralee or those in Cork city. For some, this could entail a round trip of up to 340 km. They also regularly have to utilise the health facilities in Limerick hospital and in hospitals further afield. This can take its toll on patients physically, mentally and financially.”
“We should clarify why all areas throughout these regions are struggling to receive adequate health services, including mental health services, day care, primary care, respite services and palliative care and have difficulty in keeping hospital beds open in the community hospitals in both Cahersiveen and Dingle. Dingle hospital, or West Kerry Community Hospital as it is known to many, opened in 2010 and, to this day, it has never been fully operational. There are ongoing campaigns to get these beds open. Meanwhile, patients from the region are being placed in places such as Kenmare Community Hospital, which is a five-hour round trip. This is absolutely ridiculous. The town of Cahersiveen does not even have a primary care centre. This is a huge issue for the entire peninsula.”
“I propose that, as a matter of priority, the two stunning peninsulas of Corca Dhuibhne and Uíbh Ráthach, Dingle and Iveragh, in County Kerry be used for a pilot study or research vehicle into all aspects of the health service being delivered to their residents. I call for this pilot study to be initiated in Kerry, which has issues, so that it can be used as an educational tool that could be rolled out to similarly remote areas all over Ireland. I foresee this project identifying the reasons it is so difficult to attract staff to these areas given that it is cheaper to live there.”
“We all know that, no matter where you live geographically, there are pros and cons that affect your quality of life. We can have priorities like living close to family or remaining where we were born and reared. Perhaps you visited a place and fell in love with the scenery and people. In any case, you will need access to the basic human requirements of air, food and shelter where you live. However, without access to the health service, many who have chronic ailments that require regular treatment with modern equipment under the supervision of a health professional simply will not survive.”
“The combination of streamlined wastewater solutions and updated planning guidelines will help us deliver the homes that are so desperately needed in Kerry and rural communities across the country. I want to see couples around Killarney, Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Dingle, Kenmare and Castleisland being allowed to build a family home. Fianna Fáil is committed to ensuring that no community is left behind. We will continue to work towards a more flexible and responsive planning system that allows families to build homes on their own land and contribute to the growth and sustainability of our rural communities. We must provide housing. We must provide the infrastructure, such as constructed wetlands. We must provide affordable housing, social housing and low-cost sites.”
“As I have previously stated in this House, applicants and their families who attend my clinics and whom I meet on a daily basis in their homes would be more than happy with a good-quality modular home. After all, in many cases, it is all they can afford. I plead with the Minister of State to look closely at opening up our county and country to modular homes. It is the only option for many families today, sadly, but they would be more than happy with such a house. In many cases, they are of such a high quality that they would last 60, 70 or 80 years. While yesterday's announcement is a positive step forward in addressing some of the infrastructure challenges in rural Ireland, we must not lose sight of the need to reform planning policy.”
“Another area that must be addressed is the restrictions on national primary and secondary roads where unless a person's application for a house is in a section of road with a limit under 60 km/h, then they are out. The Ring of Kerry is an example of this. Other examples include the roads from Castleisland to Tralee, Castleisland to Farranfore, Tralee to Dingle, Tralee to Listowel and on to Tarbert, Killarney to Rathmore, and many others. The Government must reform these national policies to ensure that families in rural Ireland are not locked out of the opportunities to build homes where they live. We need a planning system that can be responsive to the needs of local communities and provide the flexibility to address the housing shortage in a meaningful way. We must allow modular homes.”
“I thank the Minister of State for mentioning my late colleague on Kerry County Council, Jim Finucane. Jim was a great Kerry man. He loved his county and his town of Tralee. He was involved in everything. big and small, in Kerry. I extend my sympathies to his wife and family and his wife's nephew, Councillor Mikey Sheehy. I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear this news late yesterday evening. He will be sadly missed by all. He left an impact on Kerry and that will forever be remembered. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. The national planning framework and sustainable rural housing guidelines 2005 were introduced at a time when rural areas had different needs. These policies now need to be reviewed and updated to reflect the current housing crisis and the demands of rural communities.”
“That is almost ten years, which is not good enough and needs to be addressed. As I have outlined, we must also address the broader issue of planning restrictions that continue to prevent many families in Kerry and throughout Ireland from building a family home on their own land.”
“Many of these are in a position to build a house and they can afford it, and they can afford also to get a mortgage, but we are forcing them, through these policies, onto our housing lists. The Minister's announcement yesterday is an important step towards addressing the pressing need for infrastructure development in Kerry. It is critical that we continue to look at innovative solutions for wastewater systems that will allow for faster, more sustainable development in rural areas. As I have referenced already, constructed wetlands are a far speedier and cost-effective option. Where necessary, two or three can be constructed, for example. In Beaufort, just outside Killarney, two years ago, €6 million was announced for a sewerage scheme. I was told recently by Uisce Éireann that it will take at least another seven years.”
“Kerry's rural communities in particular are struggling with these outdated policies which have hindered housing growth and caused unnecessary hardship for local families and communities. While the Minister's initiative on wastewater infrastructure is an important part of the puzzle, it must be complemented by a more flexible and forward-thinking approach to planning policy. Local authorities must be given greater discretion to approve developments based on local needs rather than being bound by rigid national guidelines that fail to reflect the realities on the ground. We are in the middle of a housing crisis, as we all know, and we must not lose sight of that. The current planning policy and conditions and the lack of infrastructure is forcing applicants onto our housing lists.”
“The national planning framework and the 2005 sustainable rural housing guidelines currently restrict many rural applicants from building family homes, especially when their land is located outside designated areas for housing development. There is a circle around most towns and villages in Kerry where no development is allowed unless you are actively farming. These are towns and villages that are supposed to be under strong urban pressure. This has to be removed or at the very least, the planning restrictions must be eased. These guidelines, though well intentioned, have often led to unintended consequences in rural communities. Many families who want to build on their own land or buy a site to build a home are unable to do so because of restrictions that were designed for a different era, when rural populations were much smaller.”
“This will help to alleviate some of the pressure on our smaller towns and villages where housing demand has far outpaced the availability of wastewater treatment options. In my own county, over 40 villages do not have any wastewater treatment facilities, while a number of others have been at capacity for 20 or 25 years. Constructed wetlands, as I previously mentioned in the House, are a cheaper and faster way to provide wastewater treatment and they are environmentally friendly. However, this is a positive move. It is essential to recognise that wastewater infrastructure alone will not solve the broader housing crisis in rural Ireland. In counties like Kerry we also face significant policy challenges that prevent many families from building homes on their own land.”
“I welcome the announcement by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, regarding the new initiative that will allow private sector involvement in developing wastewater systems for smaller housing developments of up to 40 homes. This initiative is a crucial step towards addressing the infrastructure deficit in rural areas, particularly in County Kerry, where housing development has been long restricted by a lack of adequate wastewater facilities. By enabling developers to collaborate with Uisce Éireann on low-volume wastewater systems, the Government is providing a much-needed solution that will accelerate housing delivery in areas that are currently stifled by infrastructure bottlenecks.”
“During a debate on the Private Members' motion on abolishing of means testing for the carer's allowance, I referred to the sale of St. Mary of the Angels in Beaufort. I am happy to confirm I have received correspondence from St. John of God stating that there is no sale and that the organisation has not signalled any intention to sell the property. I welcome the clarification and I and the families of children and adults with profound disabilities welcome this development. We look forward to enhancing disability services in St. Mary of the Angels in Beaufort and the provision of badly needed respite for families in Kerry.”
“This is a facility that the people of Kerry fundraised for, which was given free of charge. It should continue to be used for the purpose for which it was originally given to the people of Kerry by the Doyle family.”
“The land was originally donated by the Doyle family of Beaufort for the benefit of children with profound disabilities and now it is being off-loaded by St. John of God Community Services. I plead with the Minister and everyone involved-----”
“We have more people than ever who qualify as carers by way of assisting on a daily basis in the healthcare of our sick and elderly. We should not be placing obstacles in the way of their receiving the carer's allowance. Otherwise, the State will need to provide the staff, facilities, wages, etc. at an enormous cost. We have a huge issue with respite provision in County Kerry. I have dealt with many families who have not received a break in six or seven months. I was informed very recently that St. Mary of the Angels in Beaufort is to be sold. It is a phenomenal facility in the heart of the county catering now for young adults - originally, it was children - with profound disabilities. We also have St. Francis Special School there, which is another amazing facility. I cannot understand or accept that it would be sold off.”
“Means-testing for the carer's allowance is not fair on either carers or patients. It could end up costing the State hundreds of millions of euro. The carer's allowance is a weekly social welfare payment to people who care for someone because of their age, disability or illness, including mental ill-health, for at least 35 hours per week over five to seven days. Personal savings should have no impact on whether people qualify for the allowance. Giving of their time to care for someone who is ill takes a large burden off the State and saves it large sums of money annually. I have been campaigning for years for the removal of the means test, which is counterproductive to the State, to carers and to patients, who are the most important consideration in this.”
“I wish to take this opportunity to raise the position of horse and pony racing insurance. I have been contacted recently by people involved in horse and pony racing who believe their business is going to come to an end. They attract huge crowds every year and it is where the great jockeys - Paul Townend, Ruby Walsh and all the others - started out in life. Horse Racing Ireland, until two years ago, was giving them €80,000 towards the cost of insurance but that has now stopped. Any assistance the Minister could give to the horse and pony association would be extremely welcome. There are 26 meetings nationally, including the Dingle races which are very popular in the month of August in County Kerry, and indeed there are many more. That industry deserves our support.”
“Even if not legally required, it is desirable that insurance cover is availed of by as many people as possible to avoid heavy losses, not alone to business, but to private citizens as well. Your house and your car are usually the two largest investments for people today and loss of or damage to either can put a private citizen in deep debt very quickly or out of business. Can the Minister of State outline what controls of insurance premium price rises exist and if there are any plans already in train to tighten them up? Deputy Healy Rae mentioned flooding. I come from an area close to Cromane where houses have been subject to tidal flooding. They too have a huge issue in obtaining housing insurance afterwards and I have known many more cases around my county.”
“Car insurance, thankfully, seems to be the one type that, in recent years, has become a little bit competitive. Drivers can shop around for a cheaper quote, young drivers being the exception. They are hit the hardest of all. I have noticed that if you need to make a claim, your premium is increased for a number of subsequent years until you have reimbursed the insurance company fully. Insurance companies calling payouts or claims losses is inaccurate as they are reimbursed by the insured. This means the insurance company never loses. Controls that exist need to be tightened up to ensure that house, car, health and business insurance in general are affordable to the public.”
“Despite the enormous profits being made by insurance companies in this country, premiums continue to rocket upwards. Given that insurance is not alone essential but, in instances like motor insurance, it is required by law, the Government should have stricter control of any proposed increases in premiums. We know that increased construction costs have a large effect on domestic house insurance but increases of 20% year-on-year appear to be over the top and unwarranted. Businesses can succeed or fail depending on how well costs are controlled, and insurance premiums are totally outside the control of business managers. Businesses need confidence in the ongoing costs that they will incur going forward so they know what they can invest back into their project.”
“Their demands include each being issued with a HAA card to access comprehensive healthcare and full contributory State pensions to compensate for the years of forced unpaid labour they provided to the State.”
“There are former residential and reformatory school survivors on hunger strike outside the gates of Leinster House as we speak. I raised this matter last week with the Minister for justice in the Dáil. This is their tenth day on hunger strike. This very serious situation has reached an impasse, with the Minister for education having advised them that their demands cannot be met. The hunger strikers assure me they will see this out to a tragic conclusion if necessary. Is there nothing we can offer them to end this tragic event? After their years of suffering in the control of a State body, they have been left with nothing. Others in similar circumstances have received some compensation.”
“They will not change their minds unless they get what both they and I believe they are entitled to. I wish to put on the record of the House that I fully support the survivors. I implore the Minister to act decisively on this most urgent matter to avoid any further unnecessary suffering. Survivors of the Magdalen laundries are receiving an extra pension for the work they did while these survivors, who spent years in these institutions, are getting nothing.”
“I plead with the Minister to use his power urgently to end the industrial and reformatory school survivors' hunger strike by immediately awarding a health amendment Act, HAA, card to all survivors as they deserve access to comprehensive healthcare to deal with the lasting effects of these institutions and by awarding a full contributory State pension for the unpaid work done by them many years ago. These survivors worked long hours, unpaid, saving the State and religious orders a significant amount of money. The survivors are owed fair financial recognition for their forced, unpaid labour. They did in fact receive State apologies from the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and former President, Mary McAleese, but that will not pay their bills. I know some of these survivors personally and I am aware they are not for turning.”
“This is an issue that faces many families who will not go to the local community centre or the family resource centre because of pride. It is about getting to the homes of people who need help the most. There are other organisations that deliver food programmes in my county, including the South West Kerry Family Resource Centre in Cahersiveen, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, etc. They do tremendous work Can we do more? We can always do more, no matter how difficult a situation might be. I call on the Government and the Minister to do everything humanely possible to rid our country of food poverty and homelessness.”
“Our children are our future, so we must continue to increase our investment in their health, education and well-being generally. With intelligent investment from this budget, we can help all of our children to prosper and live in health and happiness. They can bring all of this forward to when they will be parents with children of their own. I pay tribute to Foodlink in my county of Kerry, which is operated by south Kerry development group services and which provides food in Cahersiveen, Killorglin and Killarney and many other parts of the county. It is a regular occurrence to see children waiting at the front door for food. That is a very sad reflection on society today. Many people living in food poverty are living in remote rural areas and can quite easily go unnoticed. Every day, there are thousands of meals delivered.”
“I further ask that the Government increase its support for all our children by investing in much increased respite care for the carers of our children who are physically or mentally less able than others in order that parents and guardians may cope with the stress of being full-time carers for their loved ones. Carers generosity in giving to these children is limited only by their ability to stay standing and carry on with what is a very tough task. They provide an invaluable service to the State, but they cannot continue to do so 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Regular respite is vital to them being physically and mentally able to continue to care, despite many of them suffering illness themselves as they grow older.”
“The upcoming budget will present the Government with an opportunity to put in place strong supports for these vulnerable members of our society by supporting families by means of the children's allowance, the fuel allowance, the back-to-school allowance, etc. I urge that the budget be used to improve our support for children and families by increasing the allowances that benefit them. I also ask that the hot meal scheme for schools be extended. It is a sad fact of modern life that the meals children receive via this scheme are the only hot meals many of them get. Extending it to all State schools would be a major development and would provide support and protection to society as a whole.”
“At the outset, I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this Private Members' motion on child poverty and homelessness. We are not by any means the poorest nation in the world, but poverty exists in our society. Poverty severely affects the very young, who are more vulnerable to ill-health because their bodies are not fully formed in comparison with those of teenagers and mature adults. Children are dependent on parents and guardians to look out for them and ensure they are well fed, kept warm, clean, healthy and are generally protected. However, many adults may have issues and obstacles to deal with, finding themselves in the poverty trap with children or elderly relatives to care for. Homelessness looms over them as a possible threat.”
“As I outlined earlier, the figure for 2025 is 1,022. The list grew by a massive 470% from 2022 to 2025. These figures appear to have spiralled completely out of control during that period and there is widespread fear and frustration within the families of those affected. This cannot be allowed to continue. As I stated earlier with regard to CAMHS, we have already witnessed the fiasco in north and south Kerry. We cannot allow a repeat of this disaster. I believe the Minister of State will make every effort to ensure that these issues will be addressed in the upcoming budget, with proper staffing levels and adequate resourcing. I plead on behalf of the children of County Kerry, their parents and the children of Cork and the rest of Ireland that everything possible be done to address this very serious matter.”
“I trust that his colleagues in Cabinet will see, understand and heed the most dangerous position these children have been allowed to fall into through no fault of their own. This situation has the potential to damage an awful lot of these children, who await somebody to simply see what is wrong and what has to be done to make it right. Patients and their families will endure an extreme amount to see their loved ones getting better, but waiting lists should be avoidable.”
“Does the Minister of State agree that it is indefensible that the HSE allowed this trend to continue unchecked for over four and a half years? Is this down to bad management on the part of the HSE? Is the option of replacing the management team responsible being considered? We have already witnessed the CAMHS fiasco in both south and north Kerry and in other parts of the country. Our vulnerable children who are suffering from psychological issues need to be seen, diagnosed and treated with speed, professionalism and efficiency. This does not appear to have been the case over this five-year span. I trust that as the Minister of State is taking on tonight's session, he will make his views strongly known to Cabinet in the budget formation talks as the voice of these children, who are the responsibility of all of us.”
“Do the Minister of State and the Minister have concrete plans for the employment of sufficient additional professionals suitable for the roles that are lacking in Cork and Kerry? Will provision be made in the upcoming budget for the very significant increase in funding for this obviously under-resourced health service in Kerry and Cork? Is the Minister of State satisfied that the steps being taken will show big improvements very quickly? How quickly? Is he satisfied that the steps being taken will show major improvements in this area? The shocking figures for Kerry show that at year end 2020, the number of children in Kerry registered as waiting was 217. The figure for 2025 is 1,022. Yes, 1,022, which is an astronomical rise of 470%.”
“The waiting list for children needing psychological treatment in County Kerry, and in the Cork-Kerry region, as recently outlined by the HSE for the period 2022 to 2025, shows a growth pattern that only be described as highly horrendous. The list grew by 470%. These figures appear to have spiralled out of control during that timeframe. There is widespread fear and frustration in the families of those affected. It is of the utmost importance that the Minister of State outlines to us the valid reasons why we find our healthcare community in this horrendous position and for the emergency solutions that are being implemented, along with timeframes for drastic improvements.”
“We must find a better way to both protect our environment and allow our people to live in some small comfort in a heated home. I ask that we do this initially by way of financial support and then by bringing in controls on conglomerates that appear to be a rule all to themselves.”
“I am delighted that the distribution of the fuel allowance will begin this week. That will be a big help for some but many more citizens will look helplessly at their depleting funds, which have already been impacted by large increases in the cost of groceries, car fuel, etc. We must help those people to survive. Yes, survive because that is all that many people are doing, particularly those on middle and lower incomes. The Government must not alone help and support our struggling citizens. We must also find ways to ensure that corporate greed does not consume our nation. All this comes on top of the big push to cut out the use of fossil fuels, which were a great help to the hard-working small farmers who could, by their labours, save a bank of turf to help heat their homes and families.”
“Irish householders are facing a winter of increased fuel prices following recent announcements by energy suppliers of price increases, despite the companies involved already having made significant profits. I cannot understand how these increases can be justified in light of soaring profits. It seems to be just another instance of women and men at the side of the street being milked to create corporate profits for large institutions. What can be done to control these ravenous profit mongers that are operating like the highwaymen of old? Ordinary people, especially the elderly, just have to hand over their hard-earned income if they are to keep warm and cook food in their homes. It is scandalous that there appears to be no control over the actions of these entities and no comeback for ordinary people.”
“There is other areas too, including Callanafersy, Castlemaine, Keel and Inch. The area around Castlemaine Harbour is a particular issue for us. The pilot study is long completed and it went on long enough. The Covid pandemic threw it back. I am looking forward to the Minister of State coming to Kerry.”
“I thank the Minister of State for confirming he is coming down to Kerry. I look forward to welcoming him. There are so many areas. It is a huge problem that involves expensive work. Rock armour is very expensive, as are other lines of defence. For many of the people affected, the Minister of State is General Custer making his last stand. We are pleading with him to deliver for our county and people and to give them some sort of comfort. I am getting calls all the time. Any time a storm is forecast it is particularly worrying for young families. Their homes have been ruined before. I have seen this first hand. It is not a pleasant experience. As the Minister of State knows, it creates other problems in the context of insurance, etc. It is hugely important that we get funding.”
“We are seeing more and more issues all the time. I would be delighted to welcome the Minister of State to Kerry and show him these particular areas. I have no doubt he will deliver for the people.”
“I thank the Minister of State for that response. The towns of Kenmare, Tralee, Listowel, Castleisland and lower Killorglin all need protection works at the earliest possible date. I have been inside homes where there has been 3 ft of saltwater. Rainwater is one problem, but saltwater is a different story completely. I plead with the Minister of State to come down, see for himself and provide the necessary funding. Historically, coastal erosion and flooding were at the bottom of the priority list when it came to funding. It is about time they were addressed. Other areas in Kerry also need coastal protection works, for example, Waterville and my local beach in Rossbeigh. Cromane is a particular problem. People there are living in fear any time a high tide and a storm coincide. They cannot sleep in their beds. This is happening too often.”
“I raise the issue of coastal erosion and flooding, which are huge problems in my neck of the woods. I live by a beach called Rossbeigh in Glenbeigh, County Kerry. It is on Castlemaine Harbour. That area in particular is very problematic with global warming and high tides. When the high tides coincide with storms there are particular issues. Homes are flooded and we require funding as soon as possible.”
“This would add 88 km for all users of the service, unnecessarily doubling a hazardous road journey for vulnerable people, most without their own transport. I plead with the Tánaiste to intervene.”
“Iveragh in south Kerry is remote to many of the people who live elsewhere on this island. It is a main attraction for many. For many of those living there, its remoteness is neither an attraction nor an advantage when it comes to health services, be they physical or mental. A proposal to move mental health services from Caherciveen Community Hospital to Killorglin would be a detrimental move for everybody resident from Castlecove to Portmagee, Valentia to Dromid and Kells to Ballinskelligs. The service includes 100 users and their families. Any move by the Health Service Executive would make this crucial service inaccessible to many of them. Space for the ambulance station, which is mooted for the move, is a high priority for the south Kerry area but surely not at the expense of our indispensable mental health service.”