Ryan O'Meara
Tipperary North · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The postponement of a decision this week while expert opinion was requested by the committee was incredibly disappointing. I do not know, after hundreds and hundreds of days of people waiting for a medication that they desperately need, how a committee that is paid to do a job still has not made a decision.”
“The Minister mentioned labs, which is fantastic because that is my next point. St. Mary's Secondary School in Nenagh has been approved for its science labs. The tender has been done and the proposed contractor is to be appointed. The school sent its information to the Department on 10 June and followed up on 29 June.”
“I thank the Minister for that. On her final point, I will raise one school to begin with. Presentation Primary School in Thurles originally applied in 2016 for works to its car park and school yard in terms of tarring, relining, safer access and drop-off zones.”
“The ask from this budget from the INTO is very important - 1,000 additional teachers - to help us reduce class sizes for every child to give him or her more attention, to support inclusive education, to meet growing pupil needs, to ease the workload pressure and potential burnout for teachers facing those very high numbers within the clas…”
“I want to read an excerpt from an email I got today in relation to Skyclarys for people with Friedreich's ataxia: At 19 years old, I should be excited about my future. I should be looking forward to building a career, travelling, making memories with friends and planning the life I want to live.”
“I acknowledge the work that was done by the previous Government in reducing the pupil-teacher ratio. Good work was done and, to be fair, in the last budget, good work was done in respect of the capitation grants to schools and that needs to be recognised.”
The complete record
Every one of 302 lines we hold for Ryan O'Meara, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 7.
“As a result, we are not seeing the first home scheme take off in the way we should in Tipperary. Those who would develop houses are going to be incentivised to go to the county right next door or just cross the county bounds next door. I will also touch on the delivery of affordable and social housing. We have seen a great appetite for the delivery of social housing and we need to see much more. Our targets need to be far more ambitious. We are not seeing the same delivery of affordable housing. We have not seen affordable housing schemes take off in Tipperary to date. Let us consider the young couple who may be working and who are above the income threshold for a social home but their income is below what the private market is demanding. They are caught in that trap.”
“There is scope in this regard that would at least give young people a start in life when it comes to having a home of their own. The first home scheme has not worked as well as it could to date in Tipperary. The cap for the scheme is €350,000 in the county. In County Kilkenny, it is €400,000; in County Limerick, it is €425,000; and in County Waterford, it is €375,000. It is very hard for a Tipperary county councillor, or for anyone, to tell a property developer to come to the county and build a private estate when the cap under the scheme is €350,000. The developers could go to any town or city in those neighbouring counties and very easily be guaranteed a higher price. This is not to say that the cap should be the target but it is not allowing any bit of wriggle room.”
“Building a home straight off the mark might not be an option for them but there might be an option for a log cabin type of build. Maybe that is not the proper terminology to use considering that these units are far more than what we consider a traditional log cabin to be. Planning is far too restrictive for that. I welcome the discussion to date on log cabin units or modular units behind property similar to the planning exemptions in place for extensions but there is scope to go beyond that. If planning requirements can be met, if they can meet their wastewater treatment capacity whether it is a private storage tank or they have connection to a mains supply, and if other services are in place, then in circumstances that deserve planning, we should consider planning permission for those log cabins.”
“For example, over an old shop or a pub there may have been one family unit living in one residential unit and there might be scope for that to become two different residential units. We should not get caught up in unnecessary planning delays because of that. Of course, fire safety will come into it and we have to meet the highest of requirements but we need to get this grant up and running straight away and we need to try to deal with these issues and troubleshoot them before they become an issue in the grant process. I welcome some of the movements that have been made to date on log cabins or modular homes. I will give an example of a young person in rural Ireland who is taking over the family farm. The price of building at the moment is just prohibitive for them. They might even have invested in the farm and have quite a bit of debt.”
“There is massive scope for the rapid delivery of vacant properties above commercial units in our towns and villages. This grant should not be limited to two per individual. In a number of cases we would see, for example, an old pub in rural Ireland that is never realistically going to be a pub again, and its licence might even be gone. The unit, however, would probably be big enough to hold two, three or four apartments in some cases. We need to ensure that we can get a grant for each of those. If it means getting a vacant property up and running and getting people living in, it is worth doing. We also need to consider planning exemptions for that and not letting people get caught up too long in the planning process.”
“I could also mention Ballycommon as another example in north Tipperary. Across the board in rural Ireland this is the reason we cannot build houses in those areas. Irish Water and State agencies just like that need to feel the sense of urgency that we in this Chamber feel. The people who come to me on a daily basis wanting to buy a house or build a house or get a home of their own also need to feel the same level of urgency. I want Irish Water and those State agencies to feel that exact same level of urgency. I welcome that we secured in the programme for Government the above-the-shop property grant from the Fianna Fáil manifesto. We said we would introduce a grant of €100,000 to bring vacant properties above shop units back into use. We need to act on this urgently.”
“That is without a single house being built. A planning application has been submitted for the wastewater plant in Nenagh but it looks like that will not be delivered until about 2029. Where do we go for my generation to build a house in that area or to get a house in that area? The overall reason I am talking about all of this here today is the time it takes and the lack of urgency by Irish Water and its lack of desire to deliver on these projects. That is the number one barrier to the building of houses in my area. It is the reason I cannot build a house in my own village and why none of my peers can. Affordability is expensive and we need supply to increase to bring back affordability but we cannot even get to that stage until that infrastructure is delivered. These are just two examples in Nenagh and Cloughjordan.”
“The local authority cannot build any houses because there is no capacity in the system. If commercial units go into old buildings in the village, they have never had a connection onto the system previously. It is a Cromwellian plantation and some of the buildings in the town are very old. Those commercial units cannot get up and running because there is no capacity in the system. Do we tell all of the young people or anyone who wants a house in Cloughjordan to move and build a house in Nenagh, the nearest town to me? We thought there was capacity for about 300 houses in Nenagh but when the census was done, we realised that the population growth in Nenagh had been far greater than expected. Rather than having capacity for around 300 houses in Nenagh, it now looks like we might not have any capacity at all.”
“How does our Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA club continue to have hurling and camogie teams for generations coming up along? How do we continue to revitalise a village like that when we cannot build houses? There is a private estate in the village. The majority of houses are still connected to a developer-led wastewater plant. Some 17 years after that plant was built, none of those houses can be connected into the mains because we have no capacity in the system. The eco village in Cloughjordan is known nationally and internationally. There are dozens of serviced sites there but none of them can be built on because we do not have capacity in the system. No new houses can be built because there is no capacity in the system. There are over 30 people in the small village of Cloughjordan on the housing waiting list.”
“Irish Water was still at the feasibility stage. They did not know whether to upgrade the plant or build an entirely new one. They told me it would be five to seven years at best to build that medium-sized plant. We are talking about a small town or a large village. Doing the sums, if they were to start right now, which they do not even have an appetite to do, it would take five to seven years. If a 29-year-old living in Cloughjordan wanted get planning permission to build a house, that 29-year-old would probably be 40 years of age before they could build a house in Cloughjordan. All those in my generation are facing the exact same issue. We have two primary schools in Cloughjordan, a Roman Catholic school and a Church of Ireland school. How do we populate those schools?”
“I want to speak on a local issue, but more so to highlight the issue in general. Cloughjordan in County Tipperary, where I live, has no capacity in the wastewater treatment plant and as a result we cannot build any homes. I was elected to Tipperary County Council last June as a Fianna Fáil councillor of course. For the previous ten years we had not had a county councillor in our area. The last Fianna Fáil county councillor in the area, Jim Casey, also lives in Cloughjordan. During his final years on the council he was told that this plant was a priority for upgrade; it was in the top two or three to be upgraded. There was a ten-year gap with no county councillor in the area. Representatives of Irish Water appeared before the council and I asked them for an update on the wastewater treatment plant in Cloughjordan.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here today. I appreciate the opportunity to speak on such an important issue. The housing crisis is the single greatest issue facing my generation, including young people like me trying to get a start in life, those of us who are still locked out of the property market and living at home, young people moving abroad because they see a better quality of life, a better chance abroad, working families caught in a rental trap or not being able to afford a mortgage, social housing waiting lists and older people or pensioners who are caught renting and worried about their tenure for years to come relying on a pension. I acknowledge the good work that has been done to date in increasing capacity in the system and increasing the number of builds but there are still challenges and we have a long way to go.”
“UHL offers the only emergency department for a catchment of approximately 400,000 people across north Tipperary, Clare and Limerick. It is the only emergency department in Ireland with such a large population depending on it. The people I represent do not believe one emergency department is enough for the mid-west region, with north Tipperary feeling services are inadequate, particularly while we wait for the 96-bed unit to be opened this summer. The last time I asked this question, we were awaiting the interim report from HIQA in relation to the need for a second emergency department in the region. I understand that interim report has now been provided to the Minister. Has the Minister considered that report to date? Will it be published? When is the final report from HIQA on this matter expected?”
“On rural Garda numbers, I might give the case of Cloughjordan, where a spate of robberies recently took place. In one case, gardaí had to come from Birr, which seems completely unacceptable. I know we have committed to training 5,000 gardaí and the issues in Dublin are vital at the moment, as I see myself when I am in the city weekly, but rural gardaí and rural Garda numbers must remain a priority.”
“If this gets more gardaí into the force and more gardaí onto our streets and roads and into our rural areas, I welcome it, but it should not and must not take from the vital overall provision of training the depot in Templemore provides. Templemore has been at the centre of Garda training in this country for 60 years. It should and must remain so for another 60 years and far beyond that. Investment to improve the capacity, infrastructure and facilities in Templemore is required and is something we should act on with a sense of determination and ambition to deliver. It is welcome that the Minister will be in Templemore this Friday for a passing-out ceremony. I look forward to welcoming him to north Tipperary and the depot in Templemore.”
“I also welcome the fact we will continue to support the Garda Training College in Templemore to reform the Garda recruitment and training processes, to increase capacity and to widen the talent pool, which will include expanding capacity at Templemore Garda Training College. I welcome that commitment because the depot in Templemore needs that investment. It is bursting at the seams at the moment, for the first time in a long time, and that is a positive thing. We need more facilities, spaces, accommodation and car parking. The programme for Government also commits to considering allowing Garda trainees to undergo part of their training courses in regional base universities or technical universities, examining the introduction of an accelerated graduate entry programme for An Garda Síochána and increasing the Garda training allowance.”
“I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him the best of luck in the years ahead. I look forward to working with him on a number of issues, whether crime, justice or policing. Templemore Garda College was established in 1964 in my constituency by a Fianna Fáil Government. It has a proud history as an institution of this State in training our bravest and brightest to fight on the front lines. It is not only a source of national pride but also one of local pride in north Tipperary. The Garda College is an integral part of the local economy of Templemore and the surrounding areas. I welcome the fact the programme for Government commits to training 5,000 gardaí over the course of the Government, plus Garda staff. That is an ambition but it is an absolutely necessary one.”
“They raised this issue with me and I have had extended conversations on it. The pressure being put on paramedics because of the system not working is ferocious. We are having retention and recruitment issues because of the work conditions. Putting paramedics in ambulances and telling them to spend their entire shift driving around an area, a lot of the time with regard to the Thurles base, which is outside of our HSE region, is unacceptable. They are spending time travelling around counties Kilkenny, Waterford, Wicklow and Wexford without actually getting to help someone. We really need help for paramedics in that area. I will finish there because I am out of time.”
“Thurles needs a 24-7 Shannondoc service. There is a brand new primary healthcare centre in the town. It is a fantastic facility. An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, opened it about two and a half years ago. I was there at the time. It is the ideal facility for it. There is no point in telling the people of Thurles that when they need out-of-care service by a GP, they should travel to Nenagh because, first, the service already full, second, it is too far and, third, they then get sent to UHL, which I have already said is not suitable to cater for the accident and emergency needs of the north Tipperary area. The second issue refers to the National Ambulance Service. There is a base in Thurles. I spoke to paramedics there and met one paramedic in a different town in north Tipperary during the general election campaign.”
“However, I stand fully united with my colleague, Deputy Crowe, today in that regard. I wish to briefly acknowledge the fact that Friday is Rare Disease Day. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan had representatives from Rare Diseases Ireland in the audiovisual room today. He has been doing incredible work with them and I would like to acknowledge that day. Following on from my colleague to my left, Cared Ireland also gave a presentation in the audiovisual room today. I call on the Minister to meet then as well. As the Deputy said, what we listened to in there today was harrowing and they need the time and attention they deserve. I wish to raise two issues in the Thurles area in particular that are affecting healthcare in north Tipperary. The first is that there is only one 24-hour Shannondoc service, based in Nenagh, in north Tipperary.”
“I congratulate the Minister and Minister of State on their appointments. It is my first time speaking in the Chamber with them and I wish them every success. I would like to start by strongly supporting Deputy Cathal Crowe and his statements regarding accident and emergency care in the mid-west region. It is simply not working. We are completely and utterly underserviced by emergency care in the mid-west region. I welcome the review that has been commissioned by HIQA. It is needed. The answer is obvious. I asked the Taoiseach this question yesterday: when will the initial review be expected? We expected it by the end of the month. I also call for a second accident and emergency department in the mid-west region. It is obvious and that report will I hope say that.”
“Second, we must take concrete and robust measures to protect ourselves and European partners from future Russian aggression. As the Taoiseach stated recently, it is time for us to get serious on defence. I would like the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people living in north Tipperary and Nenagh to know that they are welcome in Ireland and in my home area for as long as they need a safe place and a home to call their own.”
“We cannot forget the massacres at Bucha, the indiscriminate targeting of civilians and the brazen attempt to remove Ukraine from the map. There is a moral and security imperative for Russia to be held to account for the horrors it unleashed. In this regard, I welcome the recent progress towards the establishment of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. I also commend Commissioner Michael McGrath on his continued leadership on behalf of the European Commission. We must ensure that the €210 billion in Russian state assets frozen within the EU are fully utilised by Europe to the benefit of Ukraine and its people in reparation for the destruction caused. Whatever form a negotiated settlement takes we must be clear on two things. First, Russia is and will remain a threat to Europe and our democratic way of life.”
“Across Tipperary, Ireland and Europe, Ukrainians have been welcomed into our homes and communities with warmth, understanding and compassion. I welcome the commitment by the Government to provide further aid to Ukraine, including through donating air defence equipment. There has been much speculation and comment in recent days on the prospects of talks to end this war. Like the millions of Ukrainians displaced across Europe and those bravely fighting on the front lines against Russian brutality, I would welcome a return to peace in Ukraine. However, we must be clear that when Russian tanks rolled across Ukraine's frontier in February 2022, they passed a point of no return. It cannot be business as usual with a frozen conflict ripe for Russian manipulation in years to come.”
“Across multiple fronts, Ukraine's soldiers conducted a defence which was heroic and ingenious. Russian troops intending to take Kyiv turned tail and ran, and Ukraine survived. Since the beginning of the invasion, Ireland and our fellow European Union member states have stepped up to support Ukraine and its people in their struggle for sovereignty. Ireland has hosted over 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war. I was proud to join a march through my home town of Nenagh last Saturday to stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian community who have called Nenagh and north Tipperary their home. I am proud beyond measure that my community is so actively demonstrating our country's humanitarian, decent values in providing a place of safety for those forced from their homes by the brutal unjustifiable war of aggression.”
“Three years ago, Ukrainians awoke to a living nightmare. Russian forces had launched a full-scale invasion with the intention of destroying Ukraine's democracy and snuffing out its existence as a sovereign independent state. Russian tanks rolled across the border, Russian troops rushed to seize key objectives and Russian missiles pounded Ukrainian cities. This was not simply a land grab or an attempt to influence an election; this was Russia attempting to fully subjugate and occupy its neighbour. The goal was simple, in applying tactics not seen since the Second World War to recreate a sphere of influence which collapsed with the end of the Cold War. All of this was justified by a sophisticated 21st century disinformation campaign. Russia expected Ukraine to fold and for the rest of the world to simply accept that. How wrong it was.”
“The mid west is serviced by one accident and emergency department in University Hospital Limerick, UHL. It is my view that a second accident and emergency department is needed in the mid-west region. HIQA is currently undertaking a review into the assessment of needs for a second accident and emergency department in the mid west. North Tipperary has the capacity and the population to be served by an accident and emergency department in Nenagh. When do we expect the interim report from HIQA on the assessment of need for a second accident and emergency department in the mid-west region? It was expected by the end of this month. My second question is to ask if the Government will commit to fully implementing that report when it is published in May.”
“My question also relates to the nitrates derogation and it being essential that we maintain the level of 220 kg N/ha. When agriculture does well in rural Ireland, the rural economy does well. Our young farmers in particular need certainty about the future of the industry, particularly in respect of investment, generational renewal and them being able to see a real income from agriculture going forward. Maintaining the 220 kg N/ha derogation is essential to that. Therefore, my question is simple. Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Government is committed to the 200 kg N/ha derogation?”
“I had to use that training on quite a number of occasions doing suicide interventions with people who were my peers at the time, the same age group as me. These suicide first aid courses are desperately needed in our communities. My own community, Nenagh, is experiencing a very difficult time at the moment, with a number of suicides in recent times. It impacts a community desperately. The feeling or sense of despair in our communities when this happens is atrocious. We need to encourage our community organisations to roll out these suicide first aid courses, similar to how we have first aid responders in other walks of life. If the HSE could work with communities in doing that on a much larger scale, it would be really beneficial on a community level.”
“We are looking at anxiety rates and depression rates rising among young people. We deserve a lot better from our social media companies and we should demand a lot better. As regards the allowance of bot and anonymous accounts in this country, we see it as politicians who are posting on social media and in the abuse we get, which should not be acceptable. It seems a norm in society today. It is young people in particular who are so susceptible to that and so easily influenced by that. They are being let down by those social media companies. Finally, as regards the likes of ASIST and safeTALK training, there is massive space in this country for the roll-out of those programmes on a wider scale within our communities. I was trained in applied suicide intervention skills in a previous job I had working in student accommodation.”
“I see the Minister of State has managed to do work on that from her seat here in the Chamber today. I welcome that the Bill is now placed on Committee Stage on our legislative programme. That is very important. I wish to discuss social media in this country, which Deputy Daly touched on. The major social media platforms that are both operating and based in this country and this city are failing many of our young people. They are hiding from their responsibilities when it comes to the regulation of their platforms. Bot and anonymous accounts, in particular, are doing untold damage in being allowed to say what they want whenever they want and about whomever they want. The allowance of threatening, abusive and intimidatory behaviour online is doing untold damage, particularly to young people in this country - but not just to young people.”
“As regards the Mental Health Bill, reform in this area is long overdue. I know the Minister of State is aware of that, and I acknowledge her work on the Mental Health Bill to date. I appreciate the fact that it got to Second Stage in the last Dáil before its dissolution. I also welcome the fact that on page 95 of the programme for Government we have stated that this is a priority for us and that the passage of the Bill is essential in modernising our mental health services. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform legislation in this area, and it is the first major overhaul of policy in this area in 20 years in the State. I had intended on coming in here today, when I had written this contribution, seeking an update on the Government's spring legislative programme.”
“On policy, law and legislation in this area, while it is the Minister of State's and her Department's responsibility, we need to acknowledge that mental health and the issues around it are far beyond one Minister, one Bill or one section of Government. It is something that every Department, every agency and every Minister in this State needs to be cognisant of. While access to services is so important, it is a matter of mental health across a broad sector of society for those coming to my office who are struggling to get payments to which they should be entitled, those who are waiting on appeals and farmers who are waiting for payments under serious pressure. I do not believe mental health across all those aspects is seen across all sectors of the Government, and we need to work on how things are being siloed in this country.”
“I congratulate Deputy Butler on her reappointment as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and her new position as Government Chief Whip. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important subject in this Chamber. It is personally very important to me. I also acknowledge the Government's work in placing this on the schedule so early in this new Dáil term and giving us the chance to speak on mental health. In this country we need an open and honest discussion on mental health, and it is a very good thing, both in terms of policy and law governing the area and for us as a society, to see our politicians stand up and speak on this issue in the Dáil, possibly de-stigmatising it for people sitting at home who may see this or who may be experiencing mental health difficulties.”
“That is particularly true of the installation of traffic calming and speed bumps. It is frustrating that we in Tipperary find it so hard to get speed bumps when other counties seem to be able to do it so easily. Ballygraigue in Nenagh and the village of Cloughjordan are two areas in particular that I highlight as needing that infrastructure. We need a streamlining of policy in that regard.”
“The land has now been acquired and the route has been chosen. We now need the funding. We need the project to move to the next step. It is a safety issue. Every piece of traffic coming into Thurles has to pass through the town. There have been serious incidents and deaths in the middle of the town, particularly with the number of heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, driving through it. We need to see progress. We also need to see progress on the Latteragh realignment. Clearance works were done approximately a year ago but no work has started yet. It is the key road linking Thurles and Nenagh. We need those improvement works to start because they are wanted by my constituents. There are major differences in the road traffic measures taken by different local authorities.”
“I am not saying that the limit is a target, but the suggestion that a road in such good condition, and which is wide and straight, would require a reduced limit of 80 km/h will frustrate drivers. Road conditions dictate the speed at which we should be able to drive and changing the speed limit across the network is a blunt instrument. If local authorities are to have some leeway, they need direction straight away. In saying all of that, I fully recognise the fact that slower speeds on roads and drivers taking more care will, we hope, reduce the number of serious accidents on our roads. That is what we all want. In respect of road funding, there are two particular projects I would like to raise. The first is the Thurles inner relief road. This project has been going on for years and there has been a lot of talk about it.”
“We need to be able to inform our constituents. In respect of future changes, there are two issues I have already raised with the local authority and wish to raise here. The first relates to the existing regional network. We have many regional roads in the very large county of Tipperary. It is my view that the speed limit on the vast majority of those roads should remain 80 km/h. I believe the network and the style of the roads suit such a limit. The second issue relates to the county's two old national routes, the old N7, which is now the R445, and the old N8, which is now the R639. They are some of the widest roads in the country. The previous speaker mentioned road conditions and the conditions of the roads I have mentioned suit 100 km/h driving.”
“I somewhat question the communication of the changes to the speed limits. There has been a lot of confusion. I know our local authorities have done their best, but many people who made representations to me in recent weeks believed that every road with an 80 km/h speed limit would go down to 60 km/h when the limits for regional roads have not changed yet. I have also been questioning our local authority about the future plans for roads that have not yet seen their speed limits changed. Many of the answers that are coming back are that the local authority is still awaiting guidance, which needs to come as quickly as possible. As much as I am questioning them, I know my colleagues on Tipperary County Council are doing a lot of questioning as well, and the roads section can only tell them so much.”
“Following that, I got a phone call from a local woman who had lost her 16-year-old son to a road traffic accident a number of years ago. It was quite a profound conversation to have with someone. We in this Chamber are in privileged positions where people come to us with such stories and share the struggles they have had in life. It impacted me when that was shared with me and I was trusted in that way. The woman thanked me for speaking up and letting people know that the Deputies in this House are willing to have the conversation. Some of the speed limits on local roads have changed from 80 km/h to 60 km/h and while some people are probably unhappy, we must remember that there is a massive duty on us in this House to ensure that no other families go through what that woman went through and ensure they do not suffer a loss like that.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on road safety matters. Every one of us has a responsibility for safety on the roads, including our road users and pedestrians, and us, as policymakers. There is an onus on us to enact the right policies. In 2024, there were 175 road deaths in the country. The European Transport Safety Council published findings in June 2024 that found that 20 of 32 countries reduced the numbers of deaths on their roads in 2023 but in Ireland, our rate of road deaths rose by 32%. I was on local radio this morning and briefly mentioned that I was going to be making a statement on road safety. I did not go into what I was going to say but mentioned that there would be a discussion in the Chamber.”
“I believe there is space for the Government to support local authorities in providing municipal spaces for voluntary groups at lower rents.”
“I raise the need in our society for greater supports for both men's and women's sheds. They are incredibly important organisations in all of our communities. They provide a social outlet for people from all walks of life, particularly people living alone or at risk of social isolation or mental health difficulties. Nenagh men's shed in my hometown has announced it might have to cease operations due to overheads including rent, insurance and electricity. It has approached Irish Rail, the HSE and the Department of Defence to look for just one twentieth of an acre of ground for a cabin to operate from, but to no avail. The lack of community spaces for voluntary organisations such as Nenagh men's shed is a growing issue in Nenagh.”
“In areas such as Cloughjordan we need to see a determined and ambitious investment campaign from Uisce Éireann in infrastructure, with the full force of the State behind it, to ensure that work is undertaken in record pace if we are really to tackle the housing crisis. It is one thing putting in the investment, and we are all calling for that, but we need action urgently and we need the State to intervene.”
“Housing is the single greatest issue facing my generation. I acknowledge that the delivery of housing units, particularly at scale, is the number one priority for this Government and rightly so. However, one of the biggest barriers to housing and the building of houses in north Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny is a lack of capacity in the water and wastewater infrastructure. In Cloughjordan, my own village, we cannot build a single house because there has been no capacity in the system for years. In Ballycommon, over the road from me, 32 houses could be built in the village but there is no capacity in the system to allow that to happen. Uisce Éireann must be willing to meet developers on site in areas like Ballycommon so that they can work collaboratively on planning permission and getting houses built as a matter of urgency.”
“Our farmers need assistance to get rid of those trees both in roadside ditches where there is a public safety concern and right across the board. In my hometown of Nenagh, the power went out in certain areas. To be fair, we were very lucky and it was only for a short period of time. However, the power had been back a day when the water in the town went. The businesses had to contend with that. Cafés and restaurants had to close and shops could not continue to operate. We need back-up generators for Irish Water wherever they are needed.”
“It is not something we can do as part of an emergency response but, thinking about the future, it is something we have to consider. There is also the issue of roadside ditches and roadside trees. Through Government, our local authorities need to be equipped to enforce laws in that area to protect our power lines, phone lines and fibre optic cables. While the Minister of State with responsibility for forestry is here, I will raise the issue of ash dieback. It has come up in this Chamber and he will be familiar with it. Farming organisations and forestry groups have been calling for a programme for the felling of ash trees for a number of years now. Every ash tree in this country is now a danger. The more storms we get, the more dangerous they are going to be. None of them are going to escape ash dieback.”
“We saw it in north Tipperary in particular. The damage done by fallen trees has an awful lot to answer for, considering the power outages caused. We must have a programme that allows for the felling of trees around power lines. Particularly in areas where cables are running through forestry, we need programmes for maintenance of those cables. Many people back home have mentioned images in the media and ESB workers saying that they were essentially re-laying cables for what seemed like the very first time. I believe Coillte and private forests have much to answer for in that to ensure that the space around cabling is much wider for future storms. The undergrounding of cables has also been brought up with me. We are possibly behind our European counterparts in getting cables underground.”
“They truly deserve to be acknowledged for that, along with their colleagues who have travelled here from Europe. I want this conversation to also focus on how this country will be equipped for future storms, which we are bound to be impacted by. I welcome the Government's action to establish emergency response hubs and the humanitarian assistance scheme for those worst-affected by the storm damage. Plans must now be made for future emergency response hubs so that in the event of a major power outage such as this, our local authorities have the locations ready at short notice, and the ability to communicate those locations to constituents when they possibly cannot be communicated with due to lack of energy, lack of phone reception, and so on. Fallen trees were obviously a major issue across the country.”
“At this point, I acknowledge the incredibly hard work of our front-line staff, particularly the ESB and front-line workers, for braving the elements and working incredibly hard in tough conditions to restore power and services at a scale we have never seen in this country before. These workers left their families for extended periods. They went and worked in their own communities to get power restored before finally moving to other communities. Having spoken to ESB workers and their families in recent days, there were days on end when some of those workers were going out into the community to restore power and then coming home to their own family and home in the evening, still without power. They brave the elements after every storm, including after the snowstorm which hit us badly in Tipperary.”