Ruairí Ó Murchú
Louth · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“It was hardly a shock to me and many others that he decided that the simplicity that was asked for by Sinn Féin last week, such that we would consider preparations for Irish unity, was not acceptable. Most people would see this as a possibility, even those who do not necessarily like the idea.”
“I welcome that. I have spoken previously to the Minister about the necessity of providing Mr. Delaney's report on the incident to Natasha and the wider family.”
“We will all be very interested to see what the new circular is. The Minister of State said it will be announced in September. A needs-based system is what we need. I would like to think the young boy I talked about would be able to avail of this. I will use him as an example. The correct assessments were carried out.”
“We just need to make sure that the circular is fit for purpose and that the young primary school child to whom I refer will be given the supports he requires. I will just finish reading from the communication to which I referred earlier.”
“We need to ensure that the engagement with Lebanon is ongoing. Are we happy with the interaction with the UN? There had been some issues relating to the coroner's court. Everyone needs to do everything that can be done to ensure truth and justice for the family of Private Seán Rooney.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for all the flexibility she allows in this Chamber, and hopefully that will continue as we speak. I welcome an awful lot of what Deputy Devlin said.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,582 lines we hold for Ruairí Ó Murchú, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 32.
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss the disability action plan targets for additional residential places. Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss funding for the breakfast club for St. Paul's SNS, Drogheda, County Louth. Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss delays in waiting times for outpatient appointments with consultant orthopaedic surgeons in Cork. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss an application for port listing of Killybegs. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process and planned measures for simplification. Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss a full-time Garda station to serve Rush, Lusk and surrounding areas.”
“In a perfect world, we would be able to switch it over to a district heating system that takes waste energy from elsewhere. That does not appear to be a possibility at this point, but it may be a solution in many other places.”
“I appreciate that. Possible solutions for the housing estate have changed many times. Initially, the heating system was fed by biomass. It was then changed to gas but then the invasion of Ukraine sent gas prices through the roof. It is a deeply inefficient system in places and at times, and while there have been some attempts at improvements, we need a long-term solution. I welcome the fact the SEAI and the Government are open to delivering on this. It may be that the easiest solution is not to replace the communal system with another communal system but to move to individualised solutions within houses. I am agnostic once there is a scheme that is affordable for the individuals and that works out as a better system environmentally and in all the given scenarios.”
“I am aware of the €12,500 heat pump grant that is available. On one level, it does not matter whether the option is that or the support scheme for renewable heat. It is just a matter of delivering on what has been a problem. I realise that the Minister understands that.”
“On the North-South interconnector, the Minister has laid out Government policy and stated there will be no further reviews, not even the one requested. There is no difference between Sinn Féin in the North and Sinn Féin in the South on this. As I have said before, the Minister’s own party has had a significant number of people who opposed the interconnector over many years, but generally not while in government. I appreciate the answer the Minister has given. I have discussed this a number of times with him. Some of the third-party companies that are considering it are now going to assess houses in Carlinn Hall. They will have to talk to the residents about whether they want to opt for these solutions. They have engaged to a great extent with the SEAI. It is just about making sure there are no obstacles.”
“There are funding schemes, but what funding schemes are available for a communal heating system that wishes to change from being gas powered, possibly to heat pumps, in individual houses? We spoke a bit about alternatives in relation to communal heating systems. It is about whatever works, whatever can be done and whatever is cheapest, particularly for those systems. I am talking about Carlinn Hall in Dundalk, specifically.”
“We need to see a greater level of transparency. It is about delivering on renewables and then delivering not only on sustainability, but on capacity, storage and price in the long term for people who are suffering huge issues with high energy costs.”
“I am back to whether we can just get some sort of better notion of a timeline on when we will go from planning to shovels in the sea, for want of a better term. It is vital, no matter how far behind target we are, that we ensure we get back on track. We are hearing about an accelerating wind energy task force and the Taoiseach's clearing house. That all sounds wonderful. I just hope it does a better job than an awful lot of task forces have done to date. When we get these targets, are we looking at something that can do something significant as regards that other task force on reducing energy costs, which are having a huge impact? I get that some of that is the connection with the price of gas. There is a need for greater oversight powers for the CRU and whatever else. We cannot just listen to answers in relation to hedging any more.”
“I ask for an update on the timeline, on when the Minister of State sees us meeting those targets and on the infrastructural deficits.”
“In a straightforward sense, we all want to see renewables. We might not have oil fields but we definitely have a large number of areas, offshore in particular, where there is a significant amount of wind for a considerable amount of time. It is that idea, which we often talk about, of becoming a wind superpower. Am I right in thinking that we will not see these particular offshore projects by 2030? Can we get a timeline for how far behind we are? What are we doing as regards the infrastructural deficit? Obviously, a large piece of work needs to be done by EirGrid, but we have constantly heard about the issues that exist in relation to ports. I think Belfast Port is the only port in Ireland that was capable of delivering in relation to offshore wind.”
“Will the Minister provide an update on the provision of wind energy; the targets for its provision in 2026; whether there are sufficient resources in place to ensure that offshore energy can be onshored; and any other infrastructural deficits that need to be dealt with from the point of view of delivering on the wind energy promise?”
“In fairness to my wife, she probably carried the slack for a lot of it. At this point in time, as I said, he is in transition year, working on business development projects and going away on trips. He would be able to do none of this, and he would not actually be in education to the same degree, without the SNAs. We need to recognise what they do. We need to put a proper framework in place. The nicest thing I can say about the communications is that they were an absolute mess. We need to look after those people because they look after our children.”
“I welcome the SNAs. I welcome the pressure that was brought by SNAs and others on the Government that has led to this pause and reprieve, but it is not a solution. We need to see the ins and outs of the workforce development plan. We need to see a proper, workable redeployment scheme. We have to deal with the failures of the 2014 circular. This is clear to anyone who has heard the testimonies from schools where children were to lose SNA support if they did not fit into primary care. That is the reality. That is what was happening. I can speak about my own son, Turlough. He is 17 now and is in transition year in Ó Fiaich College. He was in a language class in St. Joseph’s and later in mainstream. He could not have done that without what the SNAs did. Let us say it. It was not always plain sailing.”
“We need to ensure that all that is done. I ask first of all, however, that we revisit what has been an absolute disaster and betrayal of the fishing industry. There is a very specific piece of work that needs to be done in the likes of Clogherhead and throughout the entire State from the point of view of cutting out this illegality that is cutting away from those people who have fished for generations.”
“He needs to ensure he has a sufficient level of staff. He needs to ensure that everything is done absolutely by the book. He spoke to the people who were involved in this sunken ship or boat and then he actually went to Clogherhead Harbour and saw them in operation. There were no winches and no protections. There were a number of people doing really unsafe things without the proper gear. They literally laughed him off when he told them about the issues. I brought up this issue, as did he, with Louth County Council. The council is aware of the issue. I believe it has happened in other ports and harbours. They are looking at ensuring that pressure will be put on to change this. We need to make sure that we have a full-time resource and that there is a full-time person with responsibility as harbour master.”
“We have often been in here talking about sustainable farming, but I do not think anyone has even used the term "sustainable fishing" because we have not seen it in any way from the point of view of it being sustainable for those people and their families who have done this for generations. Again, it is not the first time it has been brought up in relation to the particular issues in Clogherhead, where we have had, let us be clear, illegal operators that have put real pressure on fishermen. We are talking about operators from abroad. We are talking about health and safety and every rule and regulation being absolutely overlooked. Not that long ago I was contacted by a man who works in the field. It was about another sunken boat. He said he rightfully has to go through the ins and outs of health and safety procedures.”
“This is not the first time we have dealt with this issue. It is fair to say the fishing industry is - I would like to say apoplectic but I believe it is actually beaten down by the situation and circumstances in which it finds itself. It sees the deal a number of months ago rightfully as a betrayal of the fishing industry. It puts 2,300 coastal community jobs in immediate danger. We are talking about 57 tonnes less quota to fish each year, a loss of €94 million to the industry. Wider economic impacts are up on €200 million. We know exactly what has happened. We are talking about the closure of factories. We are talking about it not being viable in any way for fishermen and fisher communities to continue doing what they have done for centuries.”
“There are a number of these issues. We need to find a means of dealing with them because we cannot just keep talking about them anymore.”
“It will not come as any shock to the Taoiseach that I believe we need to have a proper engagement with the British Government from a point of view of a Border poll. The Government needs to get real about the possibility of constitutional change and has to prepare for this. That is an absolute necessity. There is a huge level of cross-Border issues that we could deal with now, irrespective of those issues that there are failings on - for example, issues in relation to taxation, in that remote working cannot be done cross-Border at this point in time. It is quite a big issue for a number of people in my constituency and the constituencies that border it. We have people who are being impacted now in relation to social protection payments, for example, if they were in a term-time job and are working in the other jurisdiction.”
“I am asking for your support in: Reconsidering eligibility for audiology only medical care access or Developing a non-means tested audiology pathway for congenital deafness. My daughter and her partner ... work … They pay a mortgage, childcare and commute daily to Dublin in order to be part of the working community. The main barrier to their inclusion in the workplace is hearing … We know the issue with the underemployment of those with disabilities in this State.”
“I have received the following communication: I am writing as a parent of deaf adults. I … am interested in your views. My daughter and her partner were both born profoundly deaf and rely heavily on their hearing aid to be able to work and communicate their needs. At present a pair of hearing aids cost 5,800 euro per person and must be replaced every 5-7 years. While the treatment benefit scheme provides a 1,000 refund per pair, this leaves families like theirs a cost of 4,800 per pair. Simply to access sound. They were refused a medical card on income grounds even though there primary need is audiology care. Means testing does not account for lifelong disabilities with unavoidable costs.”
“Do you think it is fair and dignified that pupils are taught in corridors because we do not have enough special education teaching rooms to house our SET teachers? A communication from the school in Louth village states that its special education teachers are teaching in a cupboard, the staff room and the corridor due to lack of space. As the school hall is out of bounds, children with additional needs are missing out on vital movement and regulation breaks. We cannot be constantly dealing with these issues. We need to find a better way. I ask that there is better communication, and also that I be made aware of that communication. In the nicest way I can put it, the communication the schools have had has been subpar.”
“However, some of that is after a considerable number of years of over and back between principals and the Department. The Minister of State can see the pile of papers in front of me. It is correspondence between the Department and these schools. There is absolute frustration among the schools. The communication from Monksland National School to the Department reads, "Do you think it is appropriate that staff do not have a staff room to have their break and lunch?" That is the reality at the minute. Talk of assessments and demographics is not going to help that. It continues: Do you think it is appropriate that pupils cannot access physical education and that their engagement with it is entirely weather dependent?”
“With regard to Ardee Educate Together, I met the design team and Louth County Council alongside the principal. In fairness, we were told there is a proposal. I accept that it is late in the game. The building project is fabulous, as I know, having visited the site. We really need to get this issue sorted or it will be chaos on the morning of the opening of the school. There are a number of autism classes. We need to ensure that the children can arrive without a level of chaos. I ask the Minister of State to follow up so we can ensure that the communication on how those proposals are going happens straightaway. It frightens me when I hear the term “under assessment”. I accept the Minister of State's point that some of these are technically new applications.”
“It is not the first time that other elected representatives and I have brought up the issue of Monksland National School. Again, plans went in for a permanent extension in 2023 comprising two autism classrooms, one support room, one common area, a kitchen, a living skills room, toilets, a storeroom and an office. It was provided with two modular units, which are being used to their full capacity. We are dealing with teachers and SNAs who are having their lunch either in storage units or their cars. That just tells us what is happening. The school is making the most use of what it has, but it is not enough. I visited the school. We need to see action in this regard. The over and back from the Department is disgraceful.”
“• Our SET teachers currently work in corridors, cupboards and staff room (which in no way is fit for purpose). • Our school building, originally built for 5 classes, is expected to house currently 8 classes, and come September it will most likely be 9 classes. That is before I go near what the parents are sending in. The Minister of State can imagine that because I read some of it into the record previously. I spoke to the Minister of State previously about additional autism classes for Shelagh National School. He came back to say there was interaction with the school, but I am sorry to say that we have not seen any real movement. The school principal is not happy in any way, shape or form, nor are a considerable number of parents who have contacted me.”
“It finished with: "Your email states that you endeavour to "ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes at a local level, where the picture can quickly evolve due to new large scale residential development." The school said that its situation has "evolved very quickly due to a new large scale residential development" but this was flagged last year and the enrolment has increased by 40 children in the past year due to construction in the area. A new development of 58 houses is nearing completion in Louth village but, again, the correspondence from the school states: It is highly likely that we will once again reach developing school status, leaving us then with 3 extra classes and teachers, with no accommodation for them.”
“That should be a demand from everybody on this floor not only in opposition but even in government. While we welcome the pause, we need to see real movement. When we are talking about appropriate accommodation and spaces, it is a question of where to start. I am going to deal with a number of schools. I will deal with St. Mochta's NS in Louth village. The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach also received correspondence on this. Unfortunately, I have had significant correspondence over and back with the Department.”
“A considerable number of Members are here to deal with issues that relate specifically to education. As Deputy O'Rourke said, unfortunately we keep having to bring up these issues about finding appropriate places for children, be that in mainstream or in special classes and schools. We really need to not be trying to deal with issues like this on the floor of the Dáil but sometimes we have no choice in the matter. This week, people were particularly exasperated about the reality of cuts to special needs assistant, SNA, numbers. We all know the huge work that is done by SNAs. I know even on a personal basis that my son Turlough would not be able to operate if it was not for the SNAs he has had in both primary and secondary school. It is more than a pause we need; we need a rethink on the criteria.”
“The wastewater treatment plant just beyond that is not due to be updated until 2033. That has a design capacity for a population equivalent of 71,000 and is to be upgraded to a capacity of 120,000. That is down to a change in the rules by the EPA because when the local authority handed it over, it was something like 169,000. Again, we do not have the capacity. We could be looking at houses being flooded with sewage because we do not have adequate infrastructure. It is a matter of short-term mitigations, long-term flood protection and dates that can be brought forward rather than put back, which is what we have seen previously. We must also ensure that Uisce Éireann infrastructure is up to scratch. The onus is on the Government to follow through.”
“We are looking at an upgrade of the Coes Road pumping station. I am told the infrastructure works, which will also take in parts of Blackrock, will start at some point in 2027. Those works in the pumping station itself, however, will not be complete until 2029 and I have actually been told by the council that it is more likely to be 2030. That is frightening. Many of the other pumping stations in Dundalk, while under pressure, can deal with the flow through them, but during heavy rains the Coes Road station cannot. It is dealing with everything coming from those housing estates that I have spoken about, which have all been added to what is very old infrastructure. It is also dealing with industrial units from WuXi right down and it just cannot deal with that.”
“We are talking about Blackrock south and Dundalk going for planning in quarter 2 of 2027, around June. We need to make sure that those dates do not fall back. The other dates that we need to make sure do not fall back relate to Uisce Éireann. The fact is that we do not have the necessary capacity in the wastewater system. When we have heavy rains, that water goes directly into the sewage system, which is a joint system. When people are dealing with what looks like heavy rain in certain places, it would not be the healthiest water you could be dealing with. I have seen what has been left behind in houses after the water has dissipated. It is not hard to imagine what that was. Let us just say there would be huge implications from a health point of view. At some level, it is disgraceful that this is happening in Ireland in 2026.”
“The same was true of certain parts of Bay Estate, particularly Hazelwood Avenue, parts of Cypress Gardens, Willow Dale, Oakvale and Holly Park. Cherryvale, where I live, had some element of pooling, but not to the same degree. As I said, we were only one really heavy rainfall away from having severe issues. The problem is that it is Uisce Éireann infrastructure. It is not good enough. At times, we hear the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, giving out about Met Éireann, but it is not good enough for him to say he has no operational control or responsibility in relation to Uisce Éireann. We have promises about CFRAM. We will probably know towards the end of 2026, or at least that is the date given, what exactly the flood protections will look like throughout much of County Louth.”
“I could talk about the failure by multiple Governments over many years to deal with infrastructure, although we are dealing with those infrastructural deficits at this point. The local authority has told me, as has the Minister of State, that money is available and that there will be no obstacles if the local authority needs certain things done with regard to those mitigations. We need that to happen. As I said, there is a specific issue in Dundalk, particularly in the part where I live. It applies to everywhere between Saint Alphonsus Road and the Red Barns Road. It is particularly apparent in Cluan Enda, Bay Estate, Blackwater Court - aptly named - Ashbrook and Greenfield Court. For multiple years, if there have been heavy rains, Cluan Enda has had a huge amount of pooling, or perhaps we should call it a river, a sea or a swimming pool.”
“While we need to see the works that are promised by Louth County Council for the River Blackwater, I recognise that what I previously called the “bunfight”, where Louth County Council and the OPW were not sure which had responsibility for the cleaning of the Blackwater, seems to have been sorted, as it should have been. We need to ensure that the Blackwater and the Ramparts area are cleaned. I am not saying that that would deal with every flood situation or every high tide, but at least it would provide some element of capacity in the rivers. If it saves a number of houses, it is absolutely necessary. Actions have been taken by the council to address issues with the Blackwater caused by what it termed over-pumping. It is about ensuring that the council has that pump capacity when necessary so that it can pump during high tides.”
“While we want to see those works in Carlingford, Greenore, Drogheda, Baltray and Ardee, and we know additional work needs to be done in Annagassan - I get that this is not always simple - I will put a certain level of concentration on Dundalk and Blackrock south. We have also seen an element of flooding in areas like the Ardee Road and Mounthamilton, where residents are constantly in fear of flooding any time it rains. I would add my voice to commending those who work in the local authorities and the fire service. In some cases, they literally kept the water from the door - just and no more - and in some cases, they actually chased it out. I have said before and reiterate that we were one major rainfall, one really bad day, away from hundreds of houses being flooded. There is a specific issue in parts of Dundalk.”
“While that might be difficult in Blackrock, the local authority said a number of such measures might be available throughout Dundalk. That needs to happen. The Minister of State has spoken strongly about the need for private property protection. I have already called on Louth County Council to ensure that work is done. Unfortunately, it did not take very long until the arrival of Storm Chandra. I do not even know what we can call the current situation, with the never-ending rain. As someone said, it is probably time to build an ark. We have had flood protection measures. Under the CFRAM scheme, major protection works have been in the offing for County Louth for a considerable time.”
“This is not the Minister of State's first interaction with me in relation to flooding. I have thanked him for visiting Blackrock and for having conversations with some of the local elected representatives, including me, Councillor Sionainn McCann and a number of others from all parties. It was following what had made its way onto RTÉ, which was the coastal flooding in what is usually a very scenic area of Blackrock. Flooding had also occurred at the same time in Dundalk, where a number of businesses were flooded. In fairness, the positive from the interaction with the Minister of State was that the local authority accepts it needs to ensure it is looking at everything from the point of view of the short-term mitigations that can be made operational.”
“I refer here to Oisín Reddin, Kyran Durnin, Vadym Davydenko and Daniel Aruebose, to some of the cases referred to by the Child Law Project and the case of the ten year old who was heinously attacked. We need to be able to provide supports in those circumstances and we need to see that follow through I have spoken about before in terms of the recommendations. Legislative changes are also necessary in the context of the national review panel. We need to make sure all of that work is done.”
“We all welcome those initiatives, which are absolutely necessary, but we must make sure we fill the gaps. We must ensure the services Tusla is meant to provide are not put under more pressure. I am aware Tusla has a new resource allocation model and is talking of new models of care in relation to the more complex cases that are arising. I ask the Minister to come back to me in writing on the detailed plan in relation to targets, not only for recruitment but for actual employment. We must ensure we have a sufficient number of social workers and social care workers, particularly in light of the figures provided by Tusla itself. We are all aware of the more complex cases.”
“We know the work Tusla is meant to do, involving everything from early intervention, supports for families and referrals to other organisations right through to looking after the most vulnerable who need to be in the State's care. We need a plan and I seek details, in a written response if necessary, on how this is going to be done and the numbers being included in the plan.”
“We all welcome initiatives in relation to workforce planning, although the easy refrain is that this should have happened earlier. The reason I am bringing this up with the Minister is the fact that Gerry Hone from Tusla spoke about unfilled positions. At the moment, there are 1,728 social workers. If we take in agency staff, the number is 1,754 but that is 300 short in terms of being able to deliver the work they do, which is phenomenal. As I understand it, there are 1,422 social care workers in the system but again, Tusla says that is 100 short of requirements. Foster carers do absolutely unreal work and we need to support them but if we are 500 people short, then we do not have the capacity in relation to delivering from a care point of view.”
“Information was provided to us at the committee on children that Tusla is short of 300 social workers and 100 social care workers, and needs another 500 foster carers. In fairness, Deputy Kerrane spoke about the need to follow up on the State pension and other particular issues that will make it more attractive. We look after those who are doing absolutely necessary work. We all know the complexity. We know the issues that have been in front of this House in relation to Tusla. It is about ensuring it is fit for purpose.”
“We need an update on what is going to happen from the Department of Education and Youth's point of view because teachers' unions, teachers and families also need to know how assessments will work in getting an appropriate school place. We need to ensure that we are not once again looking at a second-rate assessment because that is the worry at the minute.”
“The Minister mentioned the change in the legislation around assessments of need and the Disability Act. We all know the pressure families are under - not being able to get an assessment, the therapies or the necessary early intervention. While we might all support that idea of a single point of access, it needs to work. Assessments of need waiting lists have skyrocketed. I assume they are anywhere between 22,000 and 25,000 at this point and constitute a continuing breach of the law. I can accept the argument that 29% of children are found not to have a disability and the idea that 35% need autism assessments, but the fear relates to who it is that makes the determination about this. The assessment officer has the correct clinical background, which is a necessity.”
“We need to look at protections for the likes of that. Short-term mitigations can be introduced before the long-term CFRAM protections and everything. The likes of the Spirit Store in Dundalk was affected by one of the recent storms and was flooded. We all know the danger of flooding and the impact it can have. The conversation with insurance companies is absolutely necessary because they are getting off the hook.”
“It was an absolute necessity that the money was increased. We are going to be dealing with this from here on in, so it is about ensuring we can react. From the Department's point of view, it is absolutely necessary that there is engagement in terms of those works that can be done to ensure we have greater levels of protections, be they natural or unnatural protections. There is a huge number of areas that are still impacting on issues that have not been resolved over many years. I am thinking in the last while of some of those businesses that have been impacted. It is the likes of the Carrickdale. I know Councillor Antóin Watters has been working alongside them to try to get some of the short-term mitigations. When the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, visited Blackrock, he was in McQuillan's Pharmacy.”
“We need to have a conversation with insurance companies. It needs to be a very strong conversation. Does the Minister have any information, even though it is still open to 6 March, in relation to the applications that are in at this point?”
“It is vital that we have a standing support scheme. As I said, a huge piece of work needs to be done to ensure we are not looking at this constantly from here on out. When I think of my own county and the town of Dundalk, it is not only the CFRAM flood protections that are necessary but the Uisce Éireann infrastructure is not up to scratch. Unfortunately, the dates we are looking at are 2030 and 2033. That needs to be sped up. We have also engaged with the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, from a point of view of those smaller works that can be done and personal property protections. They are absolutely necessary. In the long term, that will reduce the amount of moneys that would need to be paid out. It is vital that this is available not only to sport and community organisations but also businesses.”
“The question relates to supports available to businesses damaged by flooding. We have just been through Storm Chandra and, on some level, people believe the rain will never actually stop. It is about ensuring we have fit-for-purpose defences. In my county's case, we need the OPW, the local authority and Uisce Éireann to ensure works are done, both short term and long term. We will be dealing with more of this, so we need the supports in place.”