Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Carlow-Kilkenny · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“We can tell a great deal about the strength of a rural community by the services that remain at its heart. If the school is open, the local shop is trading, the GAA club is thriving and the post office is still there, that community has a bright future. That is why this Bill matters.”
“Fianna Fáil has always believed that people should not have to leave rural Ireland to enjoy the same quality of public services as those living elsewhere. Balanced regional development means investing in the infrastructure that allows people to live, work, raise families and grow older in the communities that they love.”
“It recognises the pressures created by declining mail volumes, rising costs and changing consumer habits, while giving An Post the opportunity to continue modernising and developing the network for the future. However, this should not simply be about maintaining what we have.”
“For many older people, those living alone and those who are less comfortable with digital services, the post office remains their most trusted connection with the State and that role should never be underestimated. Rural Ireland has faced enormous changes over recent decades.”
“For people living with Friedreich's ataxia time is something they simply do not have. Every delay means more mobility lost, more speech lost and more independence taken away.”
“Like previous speakers, I raise the issue of teacher losses. I am asking for the intervention of the Tánaiste regarding Our Lady of Lourdes National School in Slieverue, County Kilkenny, where the incoming junior infants class for September 2026 is expected to consist of 34 children taught by a single teacher following the loss of a teach…”
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“I thank the Minister. I know from my experience of dealing with other primary care centres around the constituency that there is a really strong, enhanced community and patient experience at such centres. Patients can build long-term relationships with their providers, which can lead to better communication and more personalised care, which is really promising. I am really excited about the various strands of care that are going to be available in my home town. It is absolutely a game-changer and something that is long overdue, and it is going to be a fantastic asset to the town. I seek assurances from the Minister that she will look favourably on two other health centres, in Freshford and Ballyhale, which are in the capital plan and are in the process of being upgraded.”
“I know the funding is there, but getting people to fill a lot of these roles can be a challenge. I want to get the Minister's assurance that she will do everything she can for Graiguenamanagh to ensure that once this facility is complete, those roles will be filled.”
“That is most welcome news. I understand the new centre is planned to be a two-storey facility of approximately 20,000 sq. m, with accommodation for GP practices and community nursing, as well as dental services and therapies. However, the key thing about this primary care centre is its rural location, and the accessibility challenges a lot of people where I am from have in getting access to top-class care. Towns and villages like Skeaghvasteen, The Rower, St. Mullins and Borris will be able to feed into this brand-new primary care centre in Graiguenamanagh. It will be a game changer for the region. It is certainly a game changer for my town. While I know it is in its infancy, I have a concern about when the primary care centre is complete, in terms of getting bodies and roles to work in that centre. There is a challenge in the HSE.”
“Primary care centres add huge value to communities across the country, including my own in Carlow-Kilkenny. There is a lot of excitement in my home town of Graiguenamanagh about our new proposed primary care centre. I would like an update on how that is progressing.”
“Investing in our sporting infrastructure is an investment in the future of our young people and our communities. From my perspective, it is an investment in rural Ireland as well.”
“Whether someone is an elite athlete or a grassroots participant, the opportunity is there to avail of these facilities. I urge the Minister of State and the Government to continue to prioritise the sports capital grants in the upcoming budget and to significantly increase funding streams in that regard, with a particular focus on Carlow-Kilkenny. There is a huge sporting history and culture in both of those counties and we will be looking for as much funding as possible. Let us make sure that every single community, regardless of size or location, has access to world-class sports facilities, whatever the sporting interest may be. While it is important that our cities get this, we need to make sure that rural Ireland and rural communities get their fair slice of the pie as well.”
“For clubs that do not have their own facilities, the previous scheme had equipment grants of up to €70,000. Again, with the increase in costs, I believe this needs to increase to €100,000. This would make a huge difference to clubs across the country. In my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, we have had fantastic success in the sports capital grants. There has been recent funding for clubs like Highview Athletic soccer club in Graiguenamanagh, Carrickshock GAA club and the Young Irelands GAA club, which have gone through phases 1, 2 and 3. The grants have transformed communities and their access to sport. I am talking about sport for all, not just elite sport. For every single person, male or female, young or old, who wants to participate in sport, the facilities need to be there around the country. That is fantastic.”
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this vital issue of sports capital grants and their significance to communities right across the country, in particular in my own constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. I will focus specifically on the sports capital grants, which play an essential role in promoting healthy lifestyles and community spirit. The investment of €250 million over the last couple of years in over 3,000 groups throughout the country reflects the drive to improve facilities in order to offer everyone an equal chance to participate. Changes were implemented in the last round, where the maximum grants for local projects increased from €150,000 to €200,000. Given the escalation in costs and the inflation we are experiencing, I believe this figure needs to be increased to a minimum of €300,000 in the next round.”
“Could the Taoiseach give assurances to me and the people of Kilkenny today that these approved projects will be completed and fully funded?”
“We all know there is a huge amount of work to be done on flood protection and flood mitigation. I acknowledge the €1.3 billion that has been set aside under the flood risk investment programme. Flooding in Ireland can have a significant impact on homes, businesses, people and communities. While I accept the problem of flooding cannot be eliminated, it can be managed or mitigated to reduce its likelihood, severity or impact. Flood relief schemes are complex projects. They require detailed engineering analysis and public engagement to make sure schemes will work and have the support of the whole community. Six such schemes have been approved in County Kilkenny – in Graiguenamanagh, Ballyhale, Freshford, Inistioge, Piltown and Thomastown. They are all at various stages.”
“I am aware workforce planning is progressing across all staff disciplines to ensure the required competence and skill mix of staff is in place to facilitate the operational schedule but there are vacancies in speech and language therapists in Thomastown that have not been filled for the past two years, so much so that it is on its brochure that it currently has vacancies in speech and language therapy. Obviously, that cannot continue. I am looking for assurances from the Minister that this will be looked into as a matter of urgency.”
“We are looking forward to the new community nursing unit in Thomastown. It is being completed at the moment. It will be a purpose-built facility to support the older population of south and central Kilkenny. It will support discharges from St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny and University Hospital in Waterford. It will be a lifeline for many and a gamechanger for the region. When does the Minister envisage this new community nursing unit in Thomastown will be fully completed and operational?”
“My final point is on accessibility. It is too easy for a young person to get access to vapes in 2025. I spoke to a 15-year-old transition year student who, as part of a project, went to 20 vape shops right across the constituency to see if that student could purchase vapes. In 17 of the shops, it was absolutely no problem and no questions were asked even though this person was under age. Three shops asked if the student had ID and when the student said they did not have ID on them, the shops still sold vapes anyway. Such easy accessibility is a huge issue. If there are restrictions there and if people are not allowed to be served until they are over 18, there have to be strong penalties in place for shops that sell vapes people who are under age.”
“Some of these products look very attractive and that has to be changed. In relation to vaping in schools, I spoke to a young student recently and he told me that, in his school, people were able to get access to vapes in various manners. In the bathrooms of the school, they are actually selling drags of a vape for €1 or €2 a drag, which is absolutely unbelievable. We need to work extra hard with our younger people to make sure they are aware of the of the consequences of vapes. I welcome the Not Around Us campaign, a joint initiative between Kilkenny County Council and Carlow County Council, which is hugely successful. Younger people are coming together to promote smoke-free and vape-free zones. We need more of these kinds of initiatives. It has worked really well in Carlow and Kilkenny in promoting awareness.”
“I am delighted to be here today for statements on the use of vapes and nicotine products by young people. Fianna Fáil is the party that introduced the smoking ban. We have a steadfast commitment to improving public health but we have to go further. I know this legislation will tackle the rise in the use of vapes by children and young people by reducing their attractiveness and availability but I just want to make three points in my few minutes here. The first point relates to the product placement of vapes. It is absolutely unbelievable that sweets, bars of chocolate and vapes can all be side by side in a shop. We see it right across the country. We see it in Carlow-Kilkenny. Every single day when I go into shops, I see these vapes with their strong branded colours and flavours. That cannot be allowed to continue and has to be changed.”
“It is a fantastic idea because when we get in contact and get the consent forms, the speed at which we get replies from Bus Éireann is, at best, below average, and I am being kind saying that.”
“Can the application process be looked at a little earlier? Waiting until the eleventh hour to get word two or three days before a child is going back to school is, to put it simply, not good enough. Is there a way that we could open and close the application process earlier so that parents know whether they are getting a ticket? If they knew in June or earlier in the year, it would give them the chance to put alternative arrangements in place or seek funding to get additional buses where required. That is something that really needs to be looked at. If the process is started earlier, we could let the kids and their families know in plenty of time to make alternative arrangements or to arrange additional buses, if required. I agree with Deputy Wall on the dedicated helpline.”
“I implore the Minister of State once again today to do everything he can with Bus Éireann to fast-track this for the families of Knockmoylan and for the kids attending the school in Ballyhale. My good friend and previous colleague, Bobby Aylward, campaigned for this for many years. It is high time that it is sorted. I thank the Minister of State for his hard work in that regard. I wish to speak quickly on the ability to change a school bus route. I hear regularly from families and students that the bus route can be changed every now and again with no notice and that it is something that does not suit. There has to be a mechanism in that regard. It is frustrating and difficult getting answers from Bus Éireann when it comes to the changing of bus routes or slight changes that would be sustainable and good for the country.”
“We need to give those people over the age of 70, who have something to offer and are happy to make a contribution and give back, the opportunity to do so. We need to fast-track that. Sometimes, particularly in the context of rural school transport, it feels like we are being punished for living in a rural area. That is not right. In the little time I have left, I will speak about the bus in Ballyhale and Knockmoylan. I thank the Minister of State for his incredible hard work on this particular project and the fact that there is an additional bus on a pilot scheme. We know that the funding is there for it, which is brilliant, but the challenge is to get the actual bus, the service and the driver in place.”
“I cannot understand how a driver over 70 years of age is ineligible to drive a school bus under the Bus Éireann rules, but the school can ring that same bus contractor and the same driver can bring those kids to swimming or a GAA match without any problem at all. It beggars belief. While I know there is a specific measure in the programme for Government to carry out an independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 from the school transport scheme, this has to be done immediately. We want to get 100,000 additional places. The average bus size has capacity for 50 people, meaning an extra 2,000 buses and 2,000 drivers are needed. We are at full employment in this country.”
“I appeal to the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to fight as hard as possible to increase funding for rural Ireland and for rural families both across Carlow and Kilkenny and nationally. I also acknowledge the significant increase in the numbers using the school transport scheme, rising from 120,000 a couple of years ago to 178,000 today. There is a reason the school transport system is so successful in terms of its use and numbers, but we have to ensure every child has access to it and there are no barriers. My next point concerns drivers over the age of 70.”
“This year alone I have come across cases in Ballyragget, Lisdowney, Borris, St. Mullins, Mullinavat, Listerlin, Mooncoin, Dunnamaggin, Gowran, Dungarvan, The Rower, Graiguenamanagh, Castlecomer, Ballyhale and Knockmoylan, to mention just a few. The school transport scheme is a lifeline for many families in these areas but we have to do better and we have to do more. It is a specific measure in the programme for Government to include an additional 100,000 students by 2030. I welcome this vision. While it would be fantastic to see, in order to achieve 100,000 more places, additional funding will be required. I note and acknowledge in the Minister of State’s speech earlier that more than €500 million was allocated in 2024, which is a significant increase on previous years’ funding.”
“I welcome the statements today on school transport. As a rural TD, the challenges families across Carlow and Kilkenny experience with school transport come across my desk every day. I wish to make a couple of quick points. The first point relates to the importance of accessibility. Every single child in this State deserves access to safe and reliable transport to and from school. It is non-negotiable. Not only is it absolutely vital for the students, but it is also imperative for their parents who are sometimes under ferocious pressure to arrange their kids to be dropped to and from school while they are trying to go about their daily busy lives. While urban areas might have more transport options, and more power to them, there are serious challenges that have to be addressed in rural communities regarding school transport.”
“I am going to move back briefly to Question No. 6 from Deputy Lahart. After this, just to be fair to everybody, I am not going to go back any more if someone is not here. Just to be fair to Deputy Lahart, I will let him in now.”
“It is envisioned that €20 billion will be required to get to the necessary targets. It cannot be done alone. We need substantial private sector investment as well. We are in a crisis we need to deal with as a society, but it cannot be done with State investment alone. We need the private sector to play its part as well and it needs to be helped and supported to do so.”
“They remain in a rent pressure zone. The bottom line is that, as a result of these reforms, renters will have much stronger protections than ever before. All renters across the country will now be covered by RPZs, including in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, which I am delighted about. The only way we can deal with the housing crisis is to dramatically increase supply. I think everyone is in agreement about that. However, we have increased it from 2020 onwards to about 30,000 units per year. Until then, we had 20,000 units per year. We have to get to 50,000 units per year. We need public investment, which we are providing as the State is the largest investor in the housing market at the moment. Almost €7 billion will be invested in 2025 alone, but we need more.”
“While I acknowledge that the rental measures announced recently have been necessarily complex to respond to different situations in our rental market, the key message here is simple. The Government wants to provide certainty, clarity and stability for the rental sector, including for those who rent and those who let their properties. It is therefore essential, as an interim measure, for all tenants to be protected as soon as possible under the current rent increase restrictions that apply to RPZs. This Bill will provide that necessary protection for all tenants until 28 February 2026, but to be absolutely clear, for the almost 200,000 people who are renting in a tenancy that is part of an RPZ right now, absolutely nothing will change. Their rents cannot be reset after six years if they remain in their tenancies.”
“This Government is protecting renters. Not only are we protecting renters, we are moving as quickly as possible on this. In line with last week's Government approval for the urgent drafting of legislation to extend and expand the operation of the RPZs, I welcome the publication of the necessary legislation, the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill, for urgent enactment today. The reality is that if we did nothing, the rent pressure zones as they stand would have fallen at the end of this year. That is a fact. It is essential that we provide all who rent with absolute certainty and also provide certainty to those who want to invest in home and apartment building.”
“Many local parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities are funded through the local property tax. It makes a huge difference. In addition, local property tax revenue can be used to promote business development and tourism. Kilkenny is the festival capital of Ireland. We are so proud of that. Every single weekend we have a festival of stature and note. Part of that is funded through the local property tax, as are library and cultural services. Schemes such as the painted town scheme help businesses. Local property tax is here to stay, but each local authority has to retain the right to do what is right for its particular county, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.”
“When we increased the local property tax in Kilkenny by 15% a number of years ago, concerns were raised by some people, but when they saw the benefit of what was being pumped back into the community, it was most welcome. When one can see the difference it makes on the ground, it is huge. The additional revenue gathered from the local property tax in each local authority goes to funding local services, community development through reinvestment in communities, amenity grants, festival grants and infrastructure improvement. Kilkenny was able to get way more roads done as a result of the local property tax. Way more footpaths were upgraded and more additional lighting was done in towns and villages throughout county, in places such as Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown and Callan.”
“I welcome that there is more scope given to local authorities and that each local authority will continue to have the option to either reduce it by 15%, if that is what the local authority feels is the right thing to do for its residents, or increase it by 25%, which would mean even more funding would be pumped back into the local communities. Each local authority is best placed to decide what would best suit its particular county or municipal district. The widening of all valuation bands by 20% was mentioned. I would like to see the bands potentially increase a bit more to 25% or 30% if possible. The increase by €5 in the band 1 charge to €95 and the increase by €10 in the band 2 charge to €235 per annum are minimal.”
“They do what is right for their county and make sure many different projects in the constituency get looked after. I want to make a couple of specific points regarding the property tax, one of which is regarding the revised method for calculating local property tax liabilities, with the upcoming valuation period lasting for five years. I mentioned this, but it is really important that we can give certainty and clarity to every single constituent that the proposed local property tax regime will stay in place for a period of five years. Notwithstanding that, local authorities have the opportunity to increase or decrease their local property tax band.”
“-----came up with a concrete proposal as to how it was going to do this. Not once did Sinn Féin say which playgrounds it would shut down, which roads it was not going to fund, which libraries it was going to close or which community groups that get amenity grants in the constituency were going to lose funding as a result. All we are hearing from Sinn Féin is soundbite after soundbite. I will not sit here and take lectures from Sinn Féin on its economic policy. This Government does not have bags of sterling lying around. As a country, we have to make sure that each local authority has the opportunity, ability and capacity to make sure it is doing right by its county. The councillors in local authorities do a fantastic job, particularly in Kilkenny which I represent.”
“I was a councillor on Kilkenny County Council for ten years. Kilkenny County Council increased its property tax by 15%. The benefits that came to every single community in the county were unbelievable. Footpaths were upgraded and additional lighting was put in. There was investment in playgrounds and remedial grants, which went from €34,000 to €200,000. Each council had a discretionary fund which it could allocate to its communities. That 15% allocation increase to local property tax made a difference to the people I represent in every single community in my constituency and in County Kilkenny. It is important that this is noted. While Sinn Féin has opposed every single property tax amendment that was brought forward in Kilkenny County Council and actually proposed to reduce the property tax by 15%, it never once-----”
“I note that Sinn Féin is very heavily represented on the Opposition benches this evening because it cares so much about the local property tax-----”
“The income thresholds for deferral of local property tax will be adjusted to account for inflation, wage growth and increases in State payments since 2021. This decision follows a recommendation made by the 2019 review group on local property tax. The existing thresholds will increase by between 30% and 40%, depending on personal status and whether the threshold is in respect of full or partial deferral. Additionally, a change has been made to the local adjustment factor, which allows local authorities to vary the amount of local property tax collected in their area. I listened to previous speakers, particularly Sinn Féin Members on the Opposition benches. Sinn Féin has opposed property tax every single year since its inception.”
“Fianna Fáil supports the Bill, which will provide for a new method of calculating the local property tax liabilities in advance of the new valuation period set to commence in 2026. The proposed changes to local property tax will mean that most homeowners will remain in their present valuation bands, which is to be welcomed. Base local property tax charges will increase a small amount in proportion to property values. A small number of properties will pay a larger amount than before, either as a result of moving valuation band or due to their existing high value. What I am most pleased about in this particular proposal is that the next valuation period will last for a period of five years. This will give certainty to homeowners throughout the country, including in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny.”
“We are now in a situation - and it is a commitment in the programme for Government - to deliver 300,000 homes between 2025 and 2030, targeting at least 60,000 homes annually by the end of the period. We know from the ESRI and the Central Bank that it will cost €20 billion of investment, and the State - the Government, on behalf of the people - is contributing €7 billion towards that, the highest in any European country. The Government is putting more than any European country into trying to get the housing supply up. We cannot do it alone. We need to support small businesses and the small builder out there, making sure they have access to finance and that the infrastructure is there when they build. I welcome the really positive news that the county development plans are being looked at again throughout the country.”
“First, it is a specific measure and a commitment in the programme for Government to increase the level of capital to Irish Water over the next while. This is absolutely imperative. It has to be tied to new supply to enable housing and infrastructural development around the entire country, particularly in towns and villages across my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. We all know housing is the number one social issue and crisis facing this country but enabling infrastructure such as water would enable us to get more houses built more quickly and evenly throughout the country. We could get an awful lot more done. In 2013, there were only 5,000 homes delivered.”
“I appreciate the opportunity to speak here this afternoon on such an important topic. As Deputies know, the housing crisis is the single greatest issue facing this generation. I, like many of my colleagues, have spoken to so many people who still feel locked out of the property market. They are, perhaps, living at home, or are young people living abroad because they see a better quality of life and a better chance abroad. There are working families in a rental trap, unable to afford a mortgage. There are social housing waiting lists, and older people relying on a pension who are worried about their tenure in years to come. There are a lot of challenges out there with regard to the housing market. I wish to quickly talk about three things.”
“Surely to God, with the technology available to us in 2025, there has to be a simpler and slicker way to manage Garda vetting nationally. The process needs to be simplified to make it is easy as possible. Surely once a person is vetted once and qualified, this should be accepted for all organisations and groups. Similar to a passport, once a person is approved, they should be Garda vetted for a certain period of time and should then have to renew perhaps every year or every three years, but one vetting would cover all organisations. This would make a huge difference to all the groups and to the Garda vetting process and it would stop unnecessary clogging up the system with multiple applications.”
“The Garda vetting process is in urgent need of reform and is proving frustrating for volunteers in community groups and sporting organisations. I acknowledge and recognise the importance of Garda vetting in order to safeguard young people and vulnerable adults. I understand its main objective is to indicate whether somebody has a criminal record or is a threat to a vulnerable person. If someone wants to coach with their local GAA, they need Garda vetting. If they want to get involved in coaching the local soccer club, they need Garda vetting again. If they are involved in something like the community games, Garda vetting is required again. This is clogging up the system. There is a serious lack of joined-up thinking in relation to the process around it.”
“Given the fact it takes ten or 11 years to get these projects over the line and long-term solutions in place, will the Minister of State commit to progressing those particular schemes so the people of Thomastown, Inistioge, Piltown and Freshford will have the peace of mind and security of knowing their homes or businesses are not going to be flooded or destroyed as happened a number of years ago?”
“I thank the Minister of State and genuinely acknowledge and appreciate his support for new schemes. I know he is doing everything he can. We spoke privately about these on a number of occasions. Regarding tranche 2 flood relief schemes, and we spoke about Graiguenamanagh and Tinnahinch, there are other schemes in Kilkenny, such as Freshford, Piltown, Inistioge and Thomastown in particular. They are in the tranche 2 flood relief schemes. I think there are 50 schemes nationally.”
“Is there anything at all we can do to speed this up? Will the Minister of State come down to Graiguenamanagh and meet the people there? I mention the devastation that it caused nine years ago and we still do not have a long-term solution, notwithstanding all the works. I know €9 million has been approved but that was in 2018. Will additional funding be made available should the project go above that particular amount?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I get that flood relief schemes are complex projects and there is a lot of detailed engineering analysis, public engagement, etc. I will focus on the Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch flood relief scheme specifically. In 2018, funding was announced for this project following significant funding in 2016. The Minister of State was in this role in a previous Government. In 2020 I was chairman of Kilkenny County Council. In March 2020 a €9 million contract for a flood relief scheme was signed that was going to sort out Graiguenamanagh and Tinnahinch. It was a joint initiative between Kilkenny and Carlow County Councils. As the Minister of State said, planning permission has not even been applied for yet. We are looking at quarter 3 of this year.”
“I have seen first hand the devastating impact that flooding can have on homes, businesses, people, families and communities. I understand the flooding problem cannot be eliminated but it can be managed and mitigated to reduce its likelihood, severity or impact. It is in that context that I ask for an update from the Minister of State on flooding projects that are in planning or in progress in Carlow and Kilkenny.”
“It was a great weekend for my constituency. Both Carlow intermediate and Kilkenny senior camogie teams went on to win the Leinster finals, which was a massive achievement. I am very much involved with both counties and teams, so I wish all of them very well. Commiserations to the Taoiseach on Cork’s harrowing defeat, but I am sure they will bounce back. Everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home, particularly in rural constituencies. I welcome the significant increase in gardaí on the beat on Dublin streets. I have noticed this myself. While it is very noticeable, we need to see this filter down to rural communities, towns and villages right around the country, including in places like Callan, Castlecomer, Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown and Bagenalstown.”
“We need the Minister and our Government leadership team to go into the trenches for Ireland on this one, protect our agriculture sector and get as strong a CAP as possible for Irish farmers. Every single community around the country can benefit from a significant CAP going forward.”
“This must be recognised in the CAP budget and how member states allocate these funds. We must provide ambitious financing for young farmers, including the higher voluntary complementary income support for young farmers allocations. Support should also extend beyond income support. Access to land, finance, tax exemptions and incentives and training are also absolutely essential. If the EU is serious about simplification, it must show a greater willingness to address the burdens imposed on farmers by regulations outside CAP. This level of simplification is crucial to improving the economic viability of farms and reducing the administrative burden facing the sector.”