Robert Troy
Longford-Westmeath · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Only last weekend, I had the honour of representing the Taoiseach at the commemoration of those who had lost their lives at the Battle of the Somme. The presence of the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland was a very positive development. I understand that it was the first time she was present in Dublin for that commemoration.”
“People deserve to know and understand not just the aspiration but the implication for their livelihoods, public services and future. Transparency is something I have tried to foster during my term as Minister of State in the Department of Finance. People expect it and are savvy enough to find it themselves.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this debate on the financial implications of Irish unity. It is fair to say that it is an important discussion and one that deserves to be approached with seriousness, honesty and respect.”
“If we are serious about unity - I believe we all are - we must be equally serious about preparation. That includes asking the difficult but necessary questions, including about the role of the UK in supporting any transition, whether financial contributions over a defined period would form part of any agreement and how the EU could be inv…”
“While many will view these as barriers so as to delay and misinform, we need to realise that our island has overcome its fair share of barriers in the past and we have the capacity to overcome any barriers in the future. What we should be looking at are the opportunities that a united Ireland presents.”
“It can be secured through reassurance, actions and compromise. Deputy Lahart indicated some of the compromises that may need to be considered. From a financial perspective, we need to look for clarity. Some fundamental questions need to be addressed. What would happen to public services? How would taxation be structured?”
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“On that basis, I will take back what the Senator has raised to the Department of Finance and ask the officials to see whether they can quantify the number of vehicles that are in use by that service and what the cost would be, what the cost would be to the HSE if those people were not providing that service, and whether we can expand the exemptions. Honestly, though, it is not in my gift. It is for the senior Minister, in consultation at a wider Government level. However, let us first get costings in real terms for the implementation of the change but also what this valuable organisation is saving the health service. It would be remiss of me if I did not take the opportunity to congratulate Senator Gallagher on Monaghan's win over the weekend.”
“I am taking this matter for the Minister for Transport, but, fortunately for the Senator, I am a Minister of State in the Department of Finance and this is a matter for that Department. The Senator makes a very valid point about where we would be as a society if we were bereft of volunteerism right across the board, be it in sport or in healthcare provision such as this. One of the lines of the pre-prepared script that was given was on the costs associated with implementing this measure but what I would like to look at are the cost savings to the health service of this voluntary group providing the service. If we look at that and equate it with the potential costs, I would be somewhat surprised if there is not an overall saving.”
“At present, blood bikes or vehicles used exclusively for the transport of cancer patients are not subject to this exemption. Any proposal to introduce a motor tax exemption for blood bikes must be assessed in the context of the broader taxation and regulatory framework, taking account of legislative changes required, administrative arrangements and the impact on the receipts to the Exchequer in consultation with the Minister for Finance. Consideration must also be given to issues such as eligibility criteria, administrative and operational implementation, and the potential implications for other voluntary organisations that may seek similar treatment. The proposal the Senator has brought forward would require further consideration and analysis.”
“Motor tax exemptions are currently applied to the following vehicles: State-owned vehicles; diplomatic vehicles; vehicles exempted under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Regulations 1994; vehicles including any cycle with an attachment for propelling it by mechanical power, not exceeding 400 kg in weight unladen adapted and used for invalids; vehicles used exclusively for the transport, whether by carriage or traction, of lifeboats and their gear, or any equipment for affording assistance towards the preservation of life and property in cases of shipwreck and distress at sea; vehicles which are used exclusively for mountain and cave rescue purposes; vehicles which are used exclusively for the transport of road construction machinery which is built in as part of such vehicle or otherwise permanently attached thereto, carries no load except articles or materials used for the purpose of the construction or repair of roads; ambulances, road rollers and fire engines; and vehicles kept by a local authority and used exclusively for the purpose of their fire brigade service.”
“The collection of motor tax is administered by the Minister for Transport through the online motor tax system and by local authorities through motor tax offices. Motor tax is a budgetary matter and, as such, primary responsibility lies with the Minister for Finance. Therefore, consultation would be required with the Department of Finance on this subject. Current motor tax exemptions have been introduced in legislation over time and are provided for in the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952.”
“I acknowledge and thank the Senator for raising what is an extremely important issue. At the outset, the Minister wishes to acknowledge the importance of vehicles used for the transport of cancer patients and of blood bike groups that use vehicles to rapidly transport medical and clinical items to and from healthcare facilities. This voluntary service reduces demand on alternative transport methods and plays an important role in supporting the healthcare system. On 28 April this year, the Minister granted approval of Blood Bikes Medical Transport to use the bus lane network while carrying out its service. This enables it to bypass traffic congestion and reduce transit times for collections and deliveries. That is a very positive development.”
“I give an undertaking that I will relay to the Minister for Defence that it is all very well identifying the recommendations, but their implementation is key and what is expected by the wider community affected by the issue.”
“There is a very strong commitment to ensuring that we have a modern and sustainable regulatory model in place to manage the historically important landscape that is the Curragh. As the Senator acknowledged, there is a conservation plan in place and there are recommendations that put in place the foundation for the future management of the plains. Progress is happening. The difficulty is, whenever anything is identified, we are all very keen to ensure that it is implemented in a timely fashion. The Government is judged not just on identifying what the solutions are for a particular challenge - the challenge in the Curragh being what the Senator has identified - but its implementation of recommendations in a timely fashion. The Senator has made that point very clearly.”
“I am informed that this was a very positive engagement and that the appropriate next steps will be identified in the near future. I thank the Senator again for raising this matter and would like to assure her on behalf of the Minister that it is her intention to ensure that the Curragh Plains, as an important element of our shared heritage, is protected into the future, while also ensuring maximum benefit to the local population, as well as to those who come to visit the area.”
“The report also identified the need to consider a dedicated agency responsible for the Curragh or to assign responsibility for the site to an existing agency with the necessary expertise to maximise the potential of the plains. The Government is committed to the implementation of these recommendations to address both the opportunities and challenges, as can be seen by its inclusion in the programme for Government. To this end, Department officials are continuing to engage with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, which has undertaken an initial scoping of the likely requirements. I am informed that officials from the Department's property management branch met officials from the NPWS on Wednesday last, 17 June 2026, at the Curragh and undertook a tour of the plains.”
“Interlocutory orders were served on the occupants of the large encampment on the evening of Friday, 12 June 2026. Further notices to quit were delivered to the encampment on Saturday, 20 June 2026. In terms of addressing these challenges in the longer term, the Department of Defence is working to ensure that we move to a modern and sustainable regulatory model in managing this historically important landscape. In collaboration with Kildare County Council, the Curragh consultancy project was published in 2024, which identified the need for a review of the Curragh by-laws and the Curragh of Kildare Act, as well as potential amendments to provide effective solutions to challenges faced.”
“The Department of Defence does not accept that those occupying these encampments have any right to reside on the Curragh Plains and as such has been engaged regularly with the Chief State Solicitor's Office, CSSO, to ensure that all legal steps are taken promptly to protect the plains. In April, the Department initiated proceedings for relief for trespass in the High Court and in the preceding months a number of other parties were served with notices and added to the proceedings before the court. On 5 June 2026, Mr. Justice Jordan granted an interim court order against 35 named individuals and other persons unknown in the occupation on the Curragh. These orders were served on those occupants by bailiffs on the evening of Monday, 8 June 2026, with orders to vacate.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I acknowledge her continual and strong advocacy on this issue, not only in the past few weeks, but months and years. It is regrettable that the Minister cannot be here today as she is caught up with preparations for the EU Presidency, but she sends her apologies. I will read the response given and hopefully it does address some of the Senator's concerns. If not, we will see how we can take it from there in the follow-up section. Already this year, the Curragh has seen several different illegal encampments, including one containing approximately 100 caravans, which the Senator alluded to. This has caused a great deal of disruption and anxiety to local stakeholders.”
“With this in mind, Galway County Council must ensure that it is effectively leveraging all funding opportunities at its disposal and identify where it can increase its allocation by seeking more funding for projects that are ready to be delivered from the range of available funding calls. It is important also to focus on locally raised income sources. I know the council has made significant progress in this area in recent years.”
“The intention is that baselines will be reviewed every five years in line with the updated census data, as well as periodic reviews in line with LPT revaluation cycles. It would not be appropriate or equitable to examine the baselines of individual authorities outside these sector-wide reviews. Furthermore, it is important to note that the LPT allocation represents just 12% of Galway County Council's revenue income in 2025. It is a finite income source, being dependent on the level of LPT collected in Galway and across the State. Therefore, the scope for significant increases is limited.”
“I again thank the Deputies for raising this issue. As acknowledged by the Deputies across the Chamber, I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne. I will conclude by acknowledging the current financial environment in which all local authorities, including Galway County Council, are operating and the pressures facing them in respect of general inflation and higher costs. I get that from my own local authority as well. Recently, the Department has received representations from the Galway County Council executive and elected members in relation to its LPT allocation and baseline. The baseline has been increased twice in just three years, as I mentioned in my earlier contribution.”
“Apart from housing funding and LPT, in 2025, Galway County Council benefited from many other funding streams across the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, including allocations from the Local Government Fund to cover the impact of national pay agreements and the stranded costs associated with water transformation. While I appreciate the challenges faced by Galway County Council, I am confident that every effort has been made to assist the sector in recent years.”
“Galway County Council received the second largest increase of any authority. There has been a further increase in the overall baselines in 2026, in line with the expected increased yield from the revaluation. As a result of both of these changes, Galway County Council’s baseline has seen a significant increase of over €7 million, or almost 50%, in a three-year period. While Galway County Council has the second largest area and the tenth largest population of any authority, on balance, this would appear to be fairly reflected by the fact that Galway County Council now has the fifth highest baseline in the country.”
“With regard to the URDF calls 1 and 2, Galway County Council secured funding for the one project applied for, and under URDF call 3, Galway County Council secured €3 million. This is close to the average funding provided to all of the non-metropolitan area local authorities, of which the council still has €2.91 million available in its fund. In respect of LPT funding, an important determinant of this allocation for Galway County Council is the baseline, which is the minimum level of funding available to each local authority from LPT. Following a review in 2023, the baselines for each local authority were adjusted in accordance with five criteria: population, area, deprivation levels, an authority’s locally raised income and the achievement of national policy priorities.”
“The Department is an important source of this funding, and it provided €99.8 million in 2023, €114 million in 2024 and €149.3 million in 2025 to Galway County Council across a number of schemes and funding sources. The amount of funding provided under housing programmes and voluntary call schemes such as the URDF is largely determined by individual local authority ambition and activity. In 2025, a sizeable portion of funding to Galway County Council from this Department, almost €93 million, was in respect of a range of capital and current housing programmes. It is crucial to note that the Department does not provide specific funding allocations to local authorities for housing delivery, but rather recoups the relevant local authorities as projects advance and claims fall due for payment in line with the relevant scheme conditions.”
“I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter and providing me an opportunity to update the House. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. The funding system for local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of sources, including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and local property tax, LPT, as well as funding from Government Departments and other bodies. Central government funding of local authorities is made up of transfers, both current and capital, coming from a wide range of Departments and offices for a variety of purposes.”
“I will certainly impress upon the Minister, Deputy McEntee, the urgency of bringing those plans to Cabinet and agreeing an implementation plan as quickly as ever is possible.”
“Any such proposals will be brought before the Cabinet to decide on a future management structure. It is right and proper to say that the situation needs to be addressed. It is something that has been raised multiple times. As somebody who is not from the area but has heard it raised in the Order of Business both in the Seanad and Dáil, I give the Deputy a guarantee that I will impress upon the Minister, Deputy McEntee, the urgency of this situation. Plans and proposals are all very important, but what is plain to be seen now is that public representatives who represent the area want to see the implementation and delivery of the plan. This is something that has gone on for too long.”
“I thank the Deputy again for his contribution. The Minister for Defence is the custodian and the guardian of the Curragh lands, pursuant to the provisions of the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961. Under that Act, the Curragh Plains are recognised as a working environment for the State's Defence Forces, as well as being a place of historical and cultural importance, as the Deputy alluded to. As I have already stated, the Minister remains fully committed to pursuing a modern and a sustainable regulatory model in managing the historically important landscape that is the Curragh. The Curragh Plains conservation management plan will provide the foundation for implementing the recommendations identified, including the progression of proposals for the future management of the plains.”
“I am informed this was a very positive engagement and that the appropriate next steps will be identified in the near future. I thank the Deputy again for raising this matter and would like to assure him that it is the Department’s intention to ensure that the Curragh Plains, as an important element of our shared heritage, are protected into the future, while also ensuring maximum benefit to the local population and to those who come to visit the area.”
“The report also identified the need to consider a dedicated agency responsible for the Curragh, or to assign responsibility for the site to an existing agency with the necessary expertise to maximise the potential of the plains. This Government is committed to the implementation of these recommendations to address both the opportunities and challenges, as can be seen by its inclusion in the programme for Government. To this end, Department officials are continuing to engage with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, which has undertaken an initial scoping of their likely requirements. I am informed that officials from the Department's property management branch met with officials from the NPWS on Wednesday last, 17 June, at the Curragh, and undertook a tour of the plains.”
“These orders were served on the occupants by bailiffs on the evening of Monday, 8 June with orders to vacate, and the order was served on the occupants of the large encampment on the evening of Friday, 12 June. Further notices to quit were delivered to the encampment on Saturday, 20 June. In terms of addressing these challenges in the longer-term, the Department of Defence is working to ensure that we move to a modern and sustainable regulatory model in managing this historically important landscape. In collaboration with Kildare County Council, the Curragh consultancy project was published in 2024, as the Deputy referenced, which identified the need for a review of the Curragh bye-laws and the Curragh of Kildare Act, and potential amendments to provide effective solutions to challenges faced.”
“This has caused a great deal of disruption and anxiety to local stakeholders. The Department of Defence does not accept that those occupying the encampments have any right to reside on the Curragh Plains and it has engaged regularly with the Chief State Solicitor's Office to ensure that all legal steps are taken to promptly protect the plains. The Department initiated legal proceedings in April for relief for trespass in the High Court, and in the preceding months a number of other parties were served with notices and added to the proceedings before the court. On 5 June Mr. Justice Jordan granted an interim court order against 35 named individuals and other persons unknown in occupation on the Curragh.”
“I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter. I thank the Deputy for raising it. I pass on the apologies of the Minister for Defence that she cannot be here in the Chamber this evening. I acknowledge Deputy Wall's advocacy in this area. During his contribution the Deputy referred to the seriousness of this issue, which is demonstrated in the cross-party support for trying to get this addressed. I addressed this very issue with my colleague Senator O'Loughlin in the Seanad earlier today. Deputy Ó Fearghaíl has also raised this point in the Dáil. It demonstrates the seriousness of the issue and how we are working together to try to have it addressed. Since earlier this year the Curragh has seen several different illegal encampments, including one containing approximately 100 caravans.”
“The Deputy makes a very strong case in relation to the enrolment for this year, the projected enrolment next year, the high number of junior infants that will be in the school, and the challenges that presents. The Deputy said there is existing capacity within the school and there is no capital requirement for putting on additional space. I am taking on board all of these points here this evening and I commit to the Deputy that I will relay them back to the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy urgently with a reply to the points he has raised on behalf of his school here this evening.”
“Teacher numbers at primary schools have reached the highest ever level in the current school year. Currently there are over 43,000 teaching posts allocated across the primary school system. This represents an increase of just over 5,000 teachers when compared to the 2019-2020 year. This has led to a steady improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio and to average class sizes reducing in this period. The Government has significantly invested in our schools and in our teacher workforce in recent years. Deputy Scanlon will be aware that the programme for Government commits to making further progress in this area with an aim to reduce the general pupil-teacher ratio at primary level to 19:1 over the term of the Government. That is all very well but it does not answer Deputy Scanlon's point here this evening.”
“I acknowledge what the Deputy said and commit to him that I have taken it on board. He mentioned that further information has been submitted in relation to the exceptional circumstances. There is capacity within the school with an existing free classroom that can be used, putting no additional demand for capital resources, and many of the additional students are siblings of existing pupils of the school. While I cannot commit to overturning any decision this evening, I will relay to the Minister the strong case Deputy Scanlon has made on behalf of the school and ask the Minister to reply directly to him as a matter of urgency.”
“Patrick’s National School has a current mainstream staffing of an administrative principal and seven mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 177 pupils as of 30 September 2024. The mainstream staffing of the school is due to stay the same for the 2026-27 academic year based on the returned enrolment of 182 pupils as of 30 September 2025. The staffing arrangements include an appeals mechanism for the school to submit a staffing appeal under certain published criteria. The school’s staffing appeal was unsuccessful. The primary staffing appeals board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final. The staffing arrangements also include a projected enrolment process whereby schools experiencing significant increase in enrolment may apply for additional mainstream staffing.”
“I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton, who sends her apologies that she cannot be here to today. I thank Deputy Scanlon for his strong advocacy on behalf of St. Patrick’s National School. The primary staffing schedule is a long-standing feature of the primary allocation system which ensures fairness and transparency in the allocation of mainstream class teachers across our primary schools, regardless of location. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2026-27 school year are set out in Circular 0025/2026. St.”
“Along with the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, I again thank the Deputies across the House for their contributions and reiterate the Government's commitment to improving our oral healthcare services.”
“I assure the Deputies that the Minister for Health will continue the ongoing work to address both the access issues that are affecting current healthcare services and to progress work on the implementation of the oral health action plan, which sets out a body of transformational reforms. These challenges are significant but we aim to address them across a multi-year programme of work. The first phase over the next two years will have a specific focus on short-term improvements to core services aimed at improving access and reducing waiting times. At the same time, this plan will support strategic planning and progressing the necessary structural reform required to build an oral healthcare service that provides care to people, with the right care in the right place at the right time.”
“In collaboration with the Dental Council of Ireland, the scopes of practice of oral healthcare professionals, including dental hygienists, are being examined by the Department of Health to ensure each oral healthcare professional can work to the top of their licence, which is aligned with Sláintecare. Workforce reform must also be supported by a modern legislative framework. Updating the Dentists Act 1985 and introducing statutory continuous professional development are important steps in ensuring our oral healthcare services are fit for purpose and capable of meeting future demands. These reforms will help to support ongoing professional development across the dental sector.”
“Without a significant number of trained oral healthcare professionals, we cannot deliver the service to the level that is required. While it is encouraging that the number of dentists has increased by over 28% since 2019, this is simply not good enough. We still need more dentists, as well as dental hygienists and dental nurses, to provide the oral healthcare services that the public needs, deserves and requires. At the same time, we must maximise the role of dental hygienists, dental nurses and other dental healthcare professionals, including through the introduction of direct access, where appropriate, to enhance the capacity of our workforce.”
“The Department and the HSE will continue to engage with key stakeholders to inform the delivery of the plan. I acknowledge that the current school-based appointment service for children in second, fourth and sixth class is inadequate. Delays in early intervention can result in children needing more extensive treatment in later life. The action plan will address this by reducing the appointment backlog, with an initial focus on children in sixth class. While this is an important step, it is not a substitute for a service that provides early preventative oral health care for all children. This reform will be essential to improving oral healthcare services and is aligned with our national oral health policy, Smile agus Sláinte. The success of the action plan will be enabled through addressing workforce constraints.”
“The plan contains ten key action areas for implementation, including addressing waiting lists for the child dental programme and orthodontic services; a review of the dental treatment service scheme; support for recruitment, education and training for dental service positions; and support for innovation and new models of service. In the coming weeks, the Department expects to meet with the Irish Dental Association to further consult on the plan, with a view to finalising and publishing it shortly thereafter. Engagement is critically important but the publication and implementation of this plan are a priority and cannot come quick enough. I think we can all agree on this. The implementation of the plan will be overseen by an implementation oversight group jointly chaired by the Department of Health and the HSE.”
“As has been acknowledged, meaningful reform is needed to address these long-standing issues. Work is under way in this regard. The Department of Health is working in conjunction with the HSE to develop a focused two-year national oral health action plan to improve access to oral healthcare services, while long-term reform is under way. Completion of the action plan, which is at an advanced stage, will also be informed, insofar as possible, by the recommendations made by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health in its report on dental services. The action plan will respond to sustained service pressures, workforce constraints and growing waiting lists, particularly for children, people with additional needs and other vulnerable members of our community.”
“I thank all Deputies across the House for their contributions to the debate. I will not disagree with many of the arguments they made. While some progress has been made recently, it is absolutely fair to say that the current level of access to dental and orthodontic services is not where it needs to be. It needs to be improved. I know this from the various contributions that have been made tonight, having taken this debate on behalf of the Government, and from my engagement with constituents. It is important to recognise the challenges that many individuals and families are facing, whether they involve delays in accessing dental care, lengthy waiting lists for orthodontic treatment or difficulties accessing general anaesthetic. These issues are simply not good enough.”
“The Bill therefore already accommodates the scenario where an applicant is no longer being treated for cancer and is in remission but may be taking medication or undergoing therapy for preventative reoccurrence. Officials in my Department engaged with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government, representatives of the insurance industry, the Irish Society of Medical Oncology, the Society of Actuaries in Ireland and very importantly, the Irish Cancer Society, which the Deputy has engaged with, on this definition. The result of this consultation is a definition that closely follows that of the voluntary code. Additional consultation with industry has certified that, in practice, insurers do not consider medication to prevent reoccurrence as rendering applicants ineligible.”
“For example, industry has clarified that an applicant who had surgery for breast cancer five years ago and is certified as being in complete remission by an oncologist but still takes anti-hormonal medication would qualify for the disregard under this legislation. The Bill as amended clearly defines "active cancer treatment" in section 3 and explicitly provides this does not include anti-hormonal medications or any form of preventative therapy or medicine intended to reduce the risk of reoccurrence following the end of active treatment. Individuals who are receiving these therapies or medications are already regarded, for the purpose of this Bill, as having completed active cancer treatment where all other criteria are met.”
“While the intent of the amendment is acknowledged and understood, the Government does not consider it necessary to include this provision as the legislation provides "complete remission" is determined by an oncologist on request. The five-year threshold only applies to primary treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy, which is considered "active cancer treatment". Anti-hormonal medications or any form of preventative therapy or medicine intended to reduce the risk of reoccurrence of cancer following the end of active cancer treatment are excluded from consideration for the disregard.”
“In all seriousness, I acknowledge all Members of the Dáil in terms of their co-operation and their positive engagement on this legislation since it was first introduced by my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, when she was a backbench TD. I fully appreciate the amendment is coming from a position of good faith and I am not at all questioning Deputy Nash's bona fides in relation to the reason for advancing it. The Government has considered the proposal to insert a new subsection that would provide a person shall not be regarded as precluded from being in complete remission solely by reason of receiving anti-hormonal medications or preventative therapies or medicine and understands the underlying concern this is aimed at addressing.”
“What we have said is that this is a policy that has been introduced to change behaviour. It has been done in a way to protect those at the lowest income levels from unintended consequences and to generate funding that can be reinvested in permanent measures that will help people through environmental schemes in agriculture, deep retrofitting and the increases in the SEAI grants, which the relevant Minister, Deputy O’Brien, announced earlier this year. The figures I have spoken about are for 2025 and 2026.”
“What I am quoting are the figures from 2025 and 2026. I have outlined how the €1.114 billion was allocated to each Department. I cannot break it down in granular form for the Deputy here today, but what I am outlining, at a high level, is how the money collected is going back to the various Departments. When carbon tax was introduced initially, my understanding was that the first €20 was not ring-fenced and that anything over and above that was for the measures I have outlined already. I will come back to the Deputy on what he is saying about the period 2020 to 2023. The figures I have quoted this evening are from 2025 and to date in 2026. Fundamentally, the Deputy is opposed to the policy. I recognise that. He has been consistent in his approach to it, and that is fair and is his prerogative.”
“There is €566 million for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment for retrofitting programmes, just transition and the ODA green climate fund, representing an increase of €89 million on the amount for 2025; €350 million for the Department of Social Protection for targeted social welfare interventions, representing an increase of €44 million on the amount for 2025; €173 million for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for green and sustainable farming measures, representing an increase of €30 million on the amount for 2025; €20 million for the Department of Transport for the continuation of carbon tax-funded programmes; and €5 million for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the continuation of carbon tax-funded programmes. That is how the money that was collected is being spent.”
“The Deputy has had the vote, so he can go back and claim he has taken that position. The House has had to vote on his amendment. It was comprehensively beaten, not just by the Government Members but by other Members in the Dáil who support the model that has been implemented because they can see the benefit of it in terms of the money being reinvested. I will just give the Deputy a flavour. In budget 2026, €1.114 billion was allocated for climate measures and to ensure the most vulnerable would be protected from the unintended consequences of the tax increase. This is €163 million more than the 2025 allocation.”