Noel McCarthy
Cork East · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I thank the Minister for her response. There have been some positive developments recently with the approval of a safe routes to school programme application. This was good news for the school as it will greatly help its future expansion.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. I am unsure if she is familiar with the history of Kilcredan National School. It has been the central point of three smaller parish schools - Ladysbridge, Kilcredan and Ballyburden - since they merged in the 1970s.”
“An additional school accommodation scheme application was refused on the basis that Kilcredan national school has sufficient accommodation within the existing school buildings to cater for its local demand.”
“I have written directly to the Minister to highlight this. With this in mind, I ask her to provide an update on the progress of the long-term proposal for Kilcredan National School, which would see the construction of one much-needed mainstream classroom and two SEN classes.”
“I wish to address the ongoing need for the repair of the Fermoy Weir in my constituency of Cork East. I brought the matter to the Taoiseach's attention as recently as March, so I know he will be familiar with this situation, and I thank him for that.”
“I thank the Taoiseach for his positive response. It means a lot to the people of Fermoy, as I said already. The Taoiseach mentioned Councillor O'Flynn. I want to acknowledge all the councillors in the Fermoy municipal district for all the work they are doing.”
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“I thank the Minister of State for his positive response. As a result of a lack of flood insurance, residents are fearful of further damage to their homes or businesses whenever bad weather is forecast. Has the possibility of a flood insurance cover scheme to underwrite flood risk been explored? Similar reassurance schemes exist in other jurisdictions such as Flood Re in the UK. Is the Minister of State of the opinion that such a scheme could be implemented here? My home town of Fermoy has had flood protection, thank God, since 2012, which is working very successfully. However there are some commercial businesses that still cannot get insurance, even though the town is flood protected. Again, I thank the Minister of State for his response.”
“Others will not be insured again having received a payout. These are real people with real stories. In the absence of flood schemes insurance protection gaps in flood prone areas have developed. I ask the Minister of State to do all he can to ensure constant engagement with the insurance industry and relevant stakeholders. I would also like to be associated with the Minister of State's words of praise for all of the emergency services.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I know he is acutely aware of the impact of damage caused by flooding and the lack of insurance cover thereafter. My constituency of Cork East, particularly Castlemartyr, Killeagh, Mogeely, Midleton, Rathcormac and Whitegate, suffered extensive flood damage caused by Storm Babet in October 2023. Flood relief schemes and protection measures are progressing but they remain years away from completion. An individual property protection scheme to provide flood protection barriers has also been established but again the roll-out has been slow. Insurance payouts appear to be minimal in the aftermath of storms. I know of one man whose entire fleet of cars was destroyed but he was only paid roughly 10% of the value of his policy, leaving him with only the legal route to pursue his losses.”
“Nearly 24 years ago, the site of the former Fitzgerald camp Army barracks in Fermoy in my constituency of Cork East was handed over to the IDA. Unfortunately, it has remained idle since, with no formal applications to operate on the site received in the last five years. This is despite the fact that this is a serviced site in a prime location only five minutes from the Cork to Dublin M8 motorway. I am sure the Taoiseach will agree that the development of such a site would be an enormous boost for the businesses in Fermoy and the wider Blackwater region. Therefore, can the Taoiseach clarify whether the IDA still considers this site strategically viable? If not, what alternatives could be considered?”
“Could they also be included? I thank the Minister of State for the money that was given to Rathcormac but what the people of Rathcormac want to see is work to be progressed there when money is available. I thank the Minister of State for the work he has done so far.”
“I again thank the Minister of State for his response and the reassurance that he will visit Midleton in 2026. I think that is very important for the people of Midleton and the whole of east Cork affected by this. While long-term schemes are being developed, the communities affected are looking for reassurance in the short term. These towns have already endured repeated flooding events and are facing another winter feeling unprotected. Could the Minister of State outline what interim measures are being put in place to support these communities until the Midleton flood relief scheme is delivered and whether additional resources can be made available to ensure local authorities are equipped to respond quickly to future storms? Rathcormac, Mogeely, Killeagh and Castlemartyr are disappointed they are not in tranche 1.”
“Given the scale of impact on Midleton in particular, can the Minister of State commit to visiting the town and engaging directly with businesses and residents on this urgent matter? It would be a great relief and reassurance if he could visit again because of the fear they constantly have.”
“I acknowledge the work the Minister of State has done so far and his visits to these areas already. I acknowledge that and thank him. On 18 October 2023, Storm Babet flooded roughly 600 homes and 300 businesses in east Cork, with damages estimated at almost €200 million. The storm on 9 December of this year showed again that people in east Cork feel genuine fear every time a severe weather warning is issued. These storms are not slowing down, yet the Midleton flood relief scheme is still not expected to reach planning until some point next year, as the Minister of State said. Completion is even further out. In the meantime, people's homes, livelihoods and local businesses remain at risk and the State is exposed to repeated multimillion euro damages and costs.”
“I ask the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation what progress has been made to date with respect to the Midleton flood relief scheme and the introduction of flood protection measures in Rathcormac, Castlemartyr, Mogeely and Killeagh in east Cork, and if he will please make a statement on the matter.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. With the ongoing modernisation of the immigration system, many applicants are keen to see how these changes are working. Will the Minister of State update the House on how the recent digitalisation measures have affected processing times so far, and whether further reforms or improvements are planned for 2026?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I again thank his departmental staff. He mentioned Killarney last week and I know people who were there. Friends of mine got their citizenship and were very proud to do so. Again, I ask him pass on my thanks to all the staff. It is important the Department continues to plan ahead as application numbers change. In that context, does he foresee an increase in naturalisation applications next year? Has the Department put in place the necessary planning to avoid any risk of new backlogs?”
“I thank the Minister for the rural regeneration and development funding for Fermoy. It was very welcome and I thank both the Minister and the Minister of State for their support on that. While several factors contribute to rural vacancy and dereliction, one important issue is the lack of community facilities which may discourage people from moving to a particular area. In this context, what work is the Department doing to encourage the establishment of rural community halls or facilities in existing vacant or derelict buildings?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. While I appreciate the great work of the Department in supporting rural communities and the great work that both the Minister and the Minister of State are doing, vacancy and dereliction in our towns and villages remains a real concern. I appreciate that the Department of housing is the main Department tasked with tackling this problem but it is important for Departments to continue to engage directly with each other on vacancy and dereliction in order to properly address it, to actively encourage footfall and to drive local economies. I acknowledge that the Department's rural regeneration and development fund plays a major role in this regard. It encourages the reuse of vacant, derelict and heritage buildings. Given its importance, is the Minister considering any expansion of the RRDF?”
“I acknowledge the work of the Minister of State and the Government on farm safety. I note that the Department has looked for proposals that focus on farm safety, health and well-being, and enhancing farmers' awareness, and that studies are being conducted. I also appreciate that a physical and mental health awareness programme is being funded, together with the Department of Health and the HSE, and that a media campaign focused on farmer fatigue has been run in partnership with the Health and Safety Authority. These are all important and welcome steps in ensuring farmer safety. Is the Department considering any other specific safety measures aimed, in particular, at younger farmers? Will the Minister of State please confirm the exact amount of dedicated funding for farm safety measures outlined in budget 2026?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. We all agree that the health and well-being of our farmers are of vital importance. That is why I am pleased that the Minister of State and his Department are taking farm safety seriously. Nobody wants to hear of accidents or, heaven forbid, fatalities at work. Our farmers do an important job, sometimes in very dangerous circumstances. I, therefore, welcome the measures outlined by the Minister of State. I acknowledge that the farm safety capital investment scheme measure in TAMS 3 saw County Cork farmers receive the highest funding allocation of over €348,000 in 2024. This will allow farmers to improve their own safety and that of their farm. With that in mind, I ask the Minister of State if it is likely that this measure will continue next year.”
“I also acknowledge the matter is to be discussed by the Oireachtas joint environment committee at the end of the month and I really appreciate that.”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his response. I appreciate efforts are being made to establish the exact details of this incident. However, I ask that all Government agencies and stakeholders he referred to work to the very best of their ability to ensure a full investigation is conducted. Appropriate action to remediate the current issues and measures to prevent further instances of pollution from occurring must be put in place. I also ask that a full review of the effects of the pollution on the wildlife and habitat on the river be undertaken. The pollution incident in August has caused untold damage from both environmental and economic perspectives to one of the most beautiful river basins in the country. We as public representatives must therefore ensure full details of this incident are made public.”
“I understand it has met twice to date, with the Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries, Deputy Dooley, chairing one of the meetings. However, here we are over a month later and details remain to be given. While it is quite obvious to all that this incident is not a natural disaster, we are still none the wiser about the exact cause of the pollution and the full extent of the river affected. We also have no further information whatsoever about the environmental irritant used or the number of fish killed. Given the urgency of this situation, which in my eyes should be addressed as one of the worst pollution events in the history of the State, I ask the Tánaiste to intervene to see the investigation is progressed and the exact facts and figures are brought to light as soon as possible.”
“I understand there are also fears among those who fish the river this event may cause the end of a self-sustaining population of salmon in the river, particularly if urgent remedial action is not taken. In addition, the knock-on effects for local businesses and anglers have been severe and I have met local tackle shop owners and proprietors of bed and breakfasts along the river who fear for their livelihoods due to the tarnishing of the excellent reputation of the river both at home and abroad. These business owners and longtime anglers have raised serious, legitimate concerns at the lack of information since the event. I acknowledge a committee has been formed with a membership including Inland Fisheries Ireland and Cork County Council.”
“I appreciate that this issue has very much been in the media over the past month, but I wish to raise the very serious matter of the recent pollution incident on the River Blackwater. It passes through the town of Fermoy, which I live in and represent. As the Tánaiste will be aware, the Blackwater is one of the largest rivers in Ireland. It covers a major part of County Cork and five mountain ranges. The River Blackwater is a designated special area of conservation under the EU habitats directive and for such a recognised and protected area, its pollution in mid-August has caused devastation to roughly 40 km of river. The pollution of the river has resulted in huge losses of fish stocks with estimates of over 50,000 fish killed. Some are estimating it could result in the loss of up to four generations of salmon.”
“Will the Minister of State provide further information on the exact board of the implementation programme body, IPB? I understand that the IPB is set up to oversee the south coast DMAP but what is the exact make-up of the group and how often have they met to date? I believe the IPB is supported in its work by a marine ecosystems group and other working groups, which will develop an implementation plan and recommend the scope of regional land surveys. Has the membership of this group been decided yet, and if so, has an implementation plan been presented?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I appreciate the efforts that are being made by his Department to progress the south coast DMAP options. I welcome the fact that the first offshore wind option for Tonn Nua areas is expected to begin shortly, with the contracts to be awarded before the end of the year. This is significant progress since the south coast DMAP was first approved last October but it is important that we continue this progress with the development of the other areas of Lí Ban, Manannán and Danu. The development of offshore wind is vital in ensuring our climate change targets and this project promotes sustainability and the security and reliability of supply. I therefore ask the Minister that the remaining options be progressed as soon as possible.”
“I thank the Minister for his very positive response. I welcome the news about Haulbowline and Collins Barracks. It is very positive news. Could the Tánaiste give me an update on the Department's development of a national maritime security strategy? Approval has also been given for Defence Forces participating in the EU's common information sharing environment. Could the Tánaiste provide further insight into what information is being shared as part of this agreement?”
“I acknowledge that some of these projects are complex and require long lead-in times but I ask the Tánaiste to keep these developments at the forefront of his thinking and that of his Department.”
“I acknowledge the important work of Defence Forces personnel. I have seen it at first hand with family members directly involved. I firmly believe that Defence Forces infrastructure and equipment must be of a modern standard to meet their operational capabilities and defence responsibilities. I therefore welcome the revised national development plan allocation to upgrade and modernise Defence Forces infrastructure and the fact that planning is being undertaken. I believe a modern progressive Defence Forces with associated equipment and infrastructure would further encourage those who are interested in pursuing a career in the Defence Forces to enlist.”
“With this in mind, I appeal to the Minister of State for tranche II to be prioritised and for these villages be moved up to alleviate the fears of people living in these areas at risk of flooding. I sincerely thank the Minister of State for his positive response and I look forward to his visit in the next two to three weeks. It will be good news for the villages concerned.”
“I must also acknowledge that. I thank the Minister of the State and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, for their support. With reference to Rathcormack, Mogeely, Killeagh and Castlemartyr, they have been in tranche II the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme for a long period. I welcome the Minister of State's response in that regard. For these villages, flooding is a regular occurrence and residents are afraid tranche II of the CFRAM is not progressing fast enough, which the Minister of State said himself. However, I acknowledge that currently much work is going on the ground to ease their concerns. Residents in some areas, such as Mogeely, are particularly at risk given their houses are timber-framed and cannot withstand further flooding.”
“I asked this question in February and the Minister of State gave a commitment he would call to Rathcormack but I note he is awaiting funding and I appreciate this. If we could have a date for that visit, I would really appreciate that.”
“I thank the Minister of State. At this time of year, we tend to see less rain, however, this does not stop those in Cork East whose property was damaged by flood water from worrying. I acknowledge considerable flood prevention works have been undertaken across Cork East but concerns will always remain until full flood protection measures are introduced. Lack of insurance cover further increases these fears. I thank the Minister of State for visiting Midleton in April and for his commitment to calling to other areas, such as Rathcormack, Killeagh, Mogeely and Castlemartyr, when his diary allows. When might the Minister of State be in a position to meet the residents of these villages to discuss their concerns in person?”
“We recently saw over 7,500 people conferred with Irish citizenship at ceremonies in Killarney. While this is a joyous step on their journey of becoming an Irish citizen, we have seen instances where certificates of naturalisation have taken considerable time to arrive following the ceremony. Unfortunately, this can cause undue problems for the applicants when applying for a passport or seeking to pay third level fees ahead of an upcoming academic year. Can the Minister of State advise on the current waiting time to receive a certificate of naturalisation after attending a naturalisation ceremony and the actions being taken by the Department to ensure that these times are kept to a minimum?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. It is clear that the volume of applications has greatly increased over the last five years while processing times continue to fall year on year. This is very encouraging. The work of the Minister and his Department must be acknowledged in this regard. I appreciate that the Minister of State may not have the figures at hand. Does he have an indication of the likely number of applications in 2025? Is the number received in the first half of this year higher than the number received in 2024? If application numbers continue to rise, as the figures suggest, will the Minister give any consideration to further upgrading the citizenship application portal or appointing additional staff in the citizenship division?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his positive response. I cannot speak highly enough of our post office network and the service it provides, in particular when compared with its European counterparts. However, I find it concerning that the Irish Postmasters Union warned this week at the Oireachtas communications committee that there could be significant post office closures if funding is not increased. Taking this into account, and given the importance of the service, is the Minister of State satisfied with the current level of funding of €10 million annually for the national post office network, in particular in comparison with other EU countries? France and Italy have invested €2.6 billion and €1.3 billion, respectively, over the past four years, while Belgium has outlined investment of over €630 million over four years.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. Post offices are vital social links in urban and rural communities. They support local economies by providing essential Government services. However, they need further support, as the Minister of State said. Recent increases in inflation and the minimum wage have unfortunately occurred at the same time as a decline in transaction-based income for postmasters. As such, the post office network seeks to stabilise the existing network and prevent post office closures, in particular in rural and disadvantaged areas. Increased investment would ultimately provide long-term certainty for postmasters across the country, while ensuring the availability of essential Government services to citizens in all social settings. What more can be done to support postmasters and the network?”
“I wholeheartedly welcome the news about the possible move to a new building in Cork that will open next year. Are any efforts being made to increase the time period when an adult renewal application is instead considered on a first-time basis? Currently, a passport renewal is considered a first-time application if the previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago. I thank the Tánaiste for the continued work the Passport Office is doing.”
“In addition, it is my experience from engagement with the passport service that sometimes production issues can unfortunately emerge. As such, is the Department giving any consideration to further increasing passport production facilities in the State?”
“I welcome the Tánaiste's response. I acknowledge the important work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the passport service in overseeing a considerable increase in the number of passports issued over the past five years. I also welcome the rise in staff numbers over the same period. As public representatives, we often see a large rise in the number of passport queries in the run-up to the school holidays and I have no doubt this is one of the passport service's busiest periods of the year. That is why it is important additional staff are hired during this period, which the Tánaiste has acknowledged, to ensure the current turnaround times are kept and no processing backlogs emerge. What percentage of additional staff recruited for the summer period will be permanent appointments?”
“Will the Minister provide a clear timeframe for the implementation of the recommendations set out in the Funds Sector 2030 report?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. I believe the funds sector review to be an important contribution to the continued success of the asset management and investment fund sector in Ireland. According to the Central Bank, approximately €162 billion was held in deposit at the end of March 2025, earning relatively little for the Irish taxpayer. Recent reports have highlighted that Irish investors are increasingly turning to foreign banks in search of higher returns and more favourable tax treatment. At the same time, there is a wide range of Irish-based funds available, but the current tax regime is reportedly discouraging investment. In this context, I am given to understand there are potential economic implications for the domestic funds sector.”
“This has become commonplace in rural villages, such as Shanagarry, in the absence of a new wastewater treatment plant. As such, I ask the Taoiseach to engage with Uisce Éireann to see what can be done in the short term for the residents of Old Garden and what treatment plant development plans can be progressed for Shanagarry in the long term.”
“I take the opportunity today to raise an issue with respect to wastewater treatment in the village of Shanagarry in Cork East. Housing estates such as Old Garden in Shanagarry no longer have wastewater systems that are fit for purpose. These were originally installed by the developer as a temporary measure but they remain in place. The developer may have encountered difficulties in the interim and in cases such as Old Garden, the wastewater system has fallen into considerable disrepair. This has resulted in an unsafe environment for residents with the constant possibility of bad smells and leakage. I understand that Uisce Éireann’s currently policy precludes consideration of estates served by this type of infrastructure, which is not connected to its network.”
“I ask in the hope of finding a necessary solution to a problem that has continued for far too long and only seems to be deteriorating further.”
“I once again wish to raise the issue of the disruption to the water supply in Ballyhooly in my constituency of Cork East. Last month, I spoke about the urgent need to repair the water network servicing Ballyhooly as local properties continue to experience daily disruptions, with limited or no water services. This, unfortunately, means that daily chores cannot be completed, with the situation only worsening as the weather gets better. While Uisce Éireann has conducted some remedial repairs and water has been tankered to the area, residents continue to raise legitimate concerns as their issues persist and they are unable to go about their daily lives. I ask the Tánaiste to use his good offices to liaise directly with Uisce Éireann and keep the pressure on.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. I also thank her Department and the HSE for progressing this development. Midleton Community Hospital supports residents and their families across east Cork and I am delighted, as I am sure the families of residents are, to see that the staff's hard work is being rewarded with a new facility that will accommodate increased numbers. The Minister has outlined the anticipated progression of the project and it is welcome news that it is progressing quickly. What use is planned for the Midleton Community Hospital building when residents have been moved to the new unit?”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his response. I have huge respect for the Naval Service and the job it does. I have family members directly involved in the service. I was pleased to see the significant increase in funding provided to the Defence Forces in the last budget. I particularly welcome the Commission on the Defence Forces' recommendation of an accelerated programme of naval vessel replacement. In reference to this, how many of the current fleet have completed a mid-life extension programme to date, and how many are proposed to undergo such a programme in the future?”
“Will the Minister for Defence outline the Naval Service current fleet complement, the number of ships that are fully crewed and at sea, and his Department's plans for further upgrading of the fleet? Will he please make a statement on the matter?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I would also like to thank him and his departmental staff for the significant amount of work that has been put into the development and roll-out of the increased cost of business grant and the power up grant scheme. It is fair to say that these schemes were an enormous success and were greatly appreciated by eligible business owners. In fact, it is because of their success that I ask that a reintroduction be further explored.”
“I raise the urgent need for the water network servicing Ballyhooly in my constituency of Cork East to be repaired. Unfortunately, homes and businesses in Ballyhooly continue to experience regular water supply disruptions and low water pressure. This has resulted in residents being unable to conduct daily practices such as showering or washing clothes and dishes, making living conditions unbearable. I understand that Uisce Éireann has identified and repaired network leaks and implemented remedial measures. However, the issue persists. Does the Taoiseach agree that this situation should not have arisen in the first place and that, having persisted for so long, it must be addressed as a matter of urgency? Will he intervene directly with Uisce Éireann to see what can be done to fix this once and for all?”
“Therefore, I am asking the Minister to examine the matter and to liaise with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to see what can be done to finally kickstart the development of this site.”
“I wish to raise the need for the development of the IDA site in Fermoy in my constituency of Cork East. Formerly the Fitzgerald Camp Army barracks, the site was handed over by the Department of Defence to the IDA some 23 years ago but it has, unfortunately, remained idle since. This is a massive shame considering the associated infrastructure is in place on-site. However, no tenants have been found in that time. The site is in a prime location only five minutes from the M8 motorway, the main Cork to Dublin route. I am sure the Minister agrees that the development of such a site would be an enormous boost for businesses in Fermoy and across the Blackwater region as a whole.”
“Once this is confirmed, housing developers will receive certainty that they can apply for planning and will be connected while potential buyers will be heartened by the increased offering in the local housing market. I sought timescales from Uisce Éireann but these remain unconfirmed. As such, will the Minister please intervene through her good offices to get an update?”