Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Kildare South · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“I do not question the Minister of State or the Minister's respect for the SNAs, but the Department needs to show that respect. The trust of the SNAs has been severely damaged following the scandal last February. It may have played a significant role in the ballot outcome, as well as years of being undervalued in the system.”
“I am very aware of and appreciate the work that has gone into this in recent years, but the local bargaining agreement being off the table now is a matter of serious concern and insult to SNAs. That pay increase should have been protected and maintained, irrespective of the ballot outcome on the new plan.”
“There are also concerns around redeployment, such as insecurity of fixed-term contracts following redeployment and the loss of seniority. SNAs receive no additional payment for State examinations, no extra personal vacation, EPV, days for the summer programme and no allowances for working in special schools, DEIS schools or Gaelscoileanna…”
“SNAs are very dedicated members of our school community who work very hard with our most vulnerable children. However, many have legitimate outstanding concerns following the publication of the new circular and the workforce development plan, WDP.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le mo chomrádaí, an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh, as ucht an rúin seo anocht. An artist’s work is more than just a job An artist's work is more than just a job. It is a reflection of their creativity, their skill, and their unique perspective on the world.”
“This is not an abstract issue. Artists in Kildare and elsewhere across the State are already feeling the impact. A local photographer recently told me that she had lost work from organisations that once regularly hired her but now chose Al-generated images instead.”
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“Dhá bhliain ina dhiaidh, tugadh cead an foirgneamh a thógáil ar shuíomh difriúil. Cé gur nuacht iontach é sin, tá na costais ag dul in airde an t-am ar fad. D'fhógair an Roinn leanaí tuilleadh maoinithe le déanaí le cur leis na foirgnimh a bhí ann do sheirbhísí poiblí agus príobháideacha, agus chun foirgnimh nua a thógáil do sheirbhísí poiblí. Faraor, ní thiteann an naíonra faoi cheachtar de na catagóirí sin, agus tá tacaíocht ag teastáil uaidh. Tá tuismitheoirí fud fad na tíre ag éileamh tuilleadh seirbhísí i nGaeilge, ach tá ag teipeadh ar an Rialtas seo, cosúil leis na rialtais a tháinig roimhe. Tá deis tuillte ag páistí i mbaile Chill Dara freastal ar naíonra Gaeilge agus cabhrú leis an bpobal Gaeilge sa cheantar sin. Cé atá réidh le seasamh suas agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar an éileamh seo atá ag fás bliain i ndiaidh bliana?”
“I mo cheantar féin i gCill Dara, tá ardú tagtha ar an daonra agus ar an suim in oideachas trí Ghaeilge. Is é Naíonra Uí Shionnaigh an t-aon naíonra Gaelainne i mbaile Chill Dara atá ag cur seirbhís riachtanach agus thábhachtach ar fáil don phobal sa cheantar. Bunaithe in 2018 le 18, tá 33 páiste ag freastal ar an naíonra faoi láthair, agus níos mó ar liosta feithimh atá ag iarraidh freastal air. Mar gheall ar an éileamh a bhí ar áiteanna sa naíonra, bhí air foirgneamh sealadach a fháil ar cíos. Tá líon na ndaoine ag cur isteach ar áiteanna sa naíonra ag ardú, ach nil na soláthraí cuí ag an scoil le tacú leis an éileamh seo. Tá foirgnimh nua ag teastáil ón naíonra. Cé gur ceadaíodh maoiniú ó Chomhairle Contae Chill Dara in 2022, dhiúltaigh an Roinn Oideachais dó.”
“Cén Béarla atá ar déjà vu ? Cuirim an cheist seo toisc go raibh na príomhphointí pléite sa Teach seo as Gaeilge le déanaí faoin aistriúchán ar "bréag", agus faoin easpa Gaeilge ag an gCeann Comhairle agus ag an Leas-Cheann Chomhairle. Ní hé sin an cineál cainte gur chóir a bheidh i mbéal an phobail maidir leis an nGaeilge áfach. Mar mhúinteoir roimhe seo i scoil lán-Ghaeilge i gCill Dara Theas, tá mé tar éis an fhorbairt atá tagtha ar an teanga ar fud fad na tíre a fheiceáil, go minic in ainneoin na n-iarrachtaí atá á ndéanamh ag an Rialtas. Mar sin féin, tá níos mó ag teastáil. Agus Kneecap ag spreagadh na Gaeil óga agus na daoine óga níos faide i gcéin, ní mór dúinn an deis a thabhairt dár bpáistí anseo sa bhaile ár dteanga a choinneáil beo agus tuilleadh daoine a spreagadh.”
“It punishes those who give up everything to care for their loved ones, saving the State billions of euro only to be met with financial hardship and red tape. I have spoken to carers in Kildare South who are struggling to keep food on the table and who are forced to fight for every euro simply because their partners earn just above the threshold. These are the people working 24-7, unpaid, doing the work that our health service should be doing, and how does the Government repay them? With unfair means-testing and barriers to support. Sinn Féin is clear. Carers should be supported, not penalised. The means test must be scrapped, and a fairer system put in place. These people are the backbone of our communities, and it is time to treat them with the dignity they deserve.”
“Táim tar éis labhairt le cúramóirí i gCill Dara Theas atá ag streachailt chun bia a chur ar an mbord atá ag troid chun gach euro atá acu a choimeád; go simplí toisc go bhfuil a chomhpháirtí ag tuilleamh díreach os cionn an teorainn. Seo iad na daoine atá ag obair 24-7 gan phá ag déanamh obair na seirbhísí sláinte, agus conas a déileálann an Rialtas leo? Le measúnú ar acmhainní míchothrom agus bacainní maidir le tacaíochta. Tá Sinn Féin soiléir; ba cheart go mbeadh muid ag tacú le cúramóirí in ionad pionós a ghearradh orthu. Caithfear deireadh a chur leis an measúnú seo chun córas níos cothroma a chur i bhfeidhm. Is iad na daoine seo cnámh droma an phobail agus tá sé in am caitheamh i gceart leo; leis an dínit atá tuilte acu. The means test for family carers is nothing short of cruel.”
“Tá tuismitheoirí á n-íobairt lá i ndiaidh lae; ag scríobh litreacha, ag cur glaochanna agus ag impí ar an HSE, scoileanna agus na hAirí díreach chun oideachas oiriúnach a fháil dá bpáistí, rud atá de cheart acu agus atá na páistí i dteideal. Tá siad traochta. Mothaíonn siad gur lig an Rialtas síos iad. Cad atá le fáil ón Rialtas ach níos mó geallúintí folmha agus níos mó moill? Níl an t-am ag leanaí le riachtanais breise fanacht na blianta ar son tacaíocht. Tá cabhair agus seirbhísí de dhíth orthu anois. Freisin, tá an íocaíocht de réir tástáil acmhainne don liúntas cúramóra míchothrom agus cruálach. Cuireann sé pionós ar dhaoine atá ag tabhairt suas gach rud chun aire a thabhairt dá mhuintir, ag sábháil na billiún don Stát chun tabhairt faoi droch-chás airgeadais agus téip dhearg.”
“Táim ag labhairt inniu chun an frustrachas agus an fearg domhanda a léiriú ar son teaghlaigh i gCill Dara Theas agus fud fad na tíre atá tréigthe ag an Rialtas seo maidir le leanaí le riachtanais bhreise. Faoi láthair i mo Dháilcheantar féin, tá tuismitheoirí trína chéile toisc nach féidir leo áit dá bpáistí a fháil i scoil speisialta nó fiú áit i rang speisialta i scoil príomhshrutha. Deirtear leo go gcuirfear ar liosta feithimh iad nó nach bhfuil aon spásanna nó acmhainní ar fáil, nó plean i bhfeidhm. Is cúis náire é seo. Ní stopann sé ansin. Tá na mílte páistí i gCill Dara Theas sáite ar liostaí feithimh le haghaidh measúnú ar riachtanais AON atá de cheart acu faoin Acht um Míchumas, 2005. Ba mhaith liom a bheith an-soiléir; ní hamháin go bhfuil sé seo ina mhoill - is diúltiú ar chearta oideachais, tacaíochta agus todhchaí é seo.”
“They were pushed to the bottom of the waiting list because they did not come from that local area. She is not alone. This is a daily reality for far too many parents. We met eight different families only hours ago who are here today and who shared their individual stories. Let us be clear that this system is not working. No parent or child should have to endure the stress and uncertainty of not knowing if their child will have a school place. Ní mór don Rialtas a chinntiú go mbeidh rochtain ag gach páiste atá gan áit scoile oiriúnaí faoi láthair, agus ag gach páiste a bheidh ag dul ar scoil, bíodh sin bunscoil nó iarbhunscoil, i mí Meán Fómhair 2025, ar áit scoile oiriúnaí laistigh d’achar réasúnta ón mbaile.”
“Families are left overwhelmed and distraught not by lack of effort or love on their part but by the failure of successive governments that have left our most vulnerable children behind. I recently spoke to a mammy from Newbridge who applied to more than 30 schools for her child. She was given no support. She only found the information she desperately needed off her own back through social media and peer groups of other parents. She then had to pay for a private assessment to access the necessary report. She was left to navigate this alone. Her only guidance from the SENO was simply to apply everywhere. She did. She applied everywhere, even as far as 80 km from her home, in the hopes that her baby would get an appropriate school place somewhere, but there was another cruel twist.”
“I am honoured to speak as Sinn Féin's newly appointed spokesperson for special education. As a former múinteoir, I have cried tears of anger and frustration with parents when their child was denied an appropriate school place. Entire families are left feeling hopeless, as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and concerned that their child will be left behind because of a Government that does not really seem to care. We need a system that prioritises our children's rights and that gives every parent the peace of mind they deserve. It is utterly heartbreaking to hear the stories of the parents here today and the parents in my area in Kildare. Too many families face an uphill battle simply to secure an appropriate school place for their children.”
“Government inaction on this issue has been so prominent that groups such as Extend the Short Hop Zone have had to continue to fight and plead with the Government to get answers, only to be met with more excuses. How can we be expected to meet our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 if we are actively discouraging people from using vital transport services? I have contacted the Minister on an exact timeline as well as the reasons for the delay and I have yet to receive an answer. We need assurances that the people of Kildare South will not be left behind in this Government's lifetime and that the Government will keep its word on delivering reduced fares and educational services for our children.”
“How can we trust that this will finally be the year the Government implements services such as the Leap card and reduced fares for commuters? The Leap card for Kildare South was supposed to commence on 1 September 2024. Since then, it has been delayed several times, with the expected commencement date now April 2025. It is not good enough. Níl sé maith go leor. People simply cannot afford extortionate charges for a below standard service. A train ticket from Newbridge to Heuston Station costs up to €1,944 annually. This is in stark contrast to Sallins and Naas, where a yearly ticket costs €828, more than €1,000 cheaper. We are still in a cost-of-living crisis. Lowering fares would put money back in the pockets of commuters.”
“It was always intended that full funding for the project should have been provided by the Department of Justice's immigrant investor programme. Now, due to the programme's closure, the charity is left seeking to fill a shortfall left to complete the project and needs urgent assurances that funding to complete it will be provided by the Government. Tá tacaíocht cheart ag teastáil go géar uathu. They need Government support now. This new national child development centre can be completed to support 300 children per week. give these children with additional needs access to vital supports and reduce waiting lists in Kildare. The Government must now follow through and release the funding for these essential services. The programme for Government also stated the Government will fully commit to existing projects in the national development plan.”
“Bridging the gap that successive Governments failed to bridge, it was due to open a state-of-the-art facility in Kildare that has since been halted due to the withdrawal of funding by the Department of Justice with just one day's notice because of the closure of the immigrant investor programme. Since October last year, the facility has sat idle, yet Kildare has a waiting list of more than 2,000 children waiting to avail of therapies at this new facility, 90% of whom are on HSE waiting lists as well. How can the Government proclaim in the programme for Government that it will provide specialist services to those children and young people who need them when it will not even fund a centre that intends to do exactly that? How much longer will it make them wait? Ní féidir le daoine fanacht a thuilleadh.”
“I note that the Government in its programme has committed to deliver more targeted and effective services for children with special education needs and to improve their supports, ach is a mhalairt atá fíor. Sensational Kids is a national charity and non-profit organisation that seeks to make therapy services accessible and affordable for children with additional needs. Founded in 2007 by a mother frustrated by this country's underresourced therapy services for children with additional needs, it seeks to offer affordable, accessible and high-quality therapy services.”
“Ní píosa reachtaíochta amháin atá san occupied territories Bill. Is tástáil é ar ár moráltacht, ár bhflaitheas agus ár n-aontacht. Impím ar an Rialtas seo misneach a bheith aige, a bheith cróga agus cloí lena ghealltanas agus seasamh a ghlacadh le muintir na Palaistíne. Tá comhoibriú forleathan ag teastáil chun an cheist seo a réiteach. Is rud níos mó ná an pholaitíocht é mar is ceist dhaonnachta í seo. Mar sin, is fúinn go léir í. Tá sé in am beart a dhéanamh de réir a bhriathair. Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle.”
“Sheas mé ag Aerfort na Sionainne ag éileamh go gcuirfí deireadh le húsáid náireach ár n-aerspáis chun armlón a iompar a mharaíonn na mílte Palaistínigh. Seasaim anois os bhur gcomhair sa Dáil ag iarraidh ar na Comhaltaí an Bille seo a reáchtáil. Gheall an rialtas deireanach seasamh leis an bPalaistín agus an Bille um chríocha gafa a rith ach tugadh an gealltanas sin nuair a bhí an rialtas sin sa tóir ar vótaí. Now, when it matters most, the Government has turned its back choosing cowardice over courage, complicity over conscience. Ni fhéadfaimid tír neodrach a ghlaoch orainn agus muid ag éascú an chogaidh seo. Tá stair bhródúil againn mar thír a bhíonn ag seasamh le daoine atá faoi chois. D'fhéach an domhan orainn tráth mar chomhartha dlúthpháirtíochta. Cad a déarfaidh an stair fúinn anois?”
“If these were normal times, in my maiden speech, I would be speaking to the House about how I will fight tirelessly for infrastructure we urgently need in south Kildare, for better transport links, as a múinteoir for school places, and for the right of every child, especially those in special schools, to receive the education and support they deserve be that as Gaeilge or as Béarla. Of course I will do that but these are not normal times. We are currently in the midst of a genocide perpetrated by Israel, which has slaughtered tens of thousands of Palestinian and counting. Ó mhí Dheireadh Fómhair 2023, táim tar éis a bheith ag seasamh seachtain i ndiaidh seachtaine leis na sluaite i gcoinne an chinedhiothaithe atá á dhéanamh ar mhuintir na Palaistíne.”
“I rise today with deep gratitude and I want to begin by stating a chéad míle fáilte and ár mbuíochas to my dad Declan, mo pháistí Síog, Déaglán, Féile agus Luán, my brother Ciarán and all of those in Kildare South constituency who voted for me, and mo chairde, my Palestinian comrades and my republican family, the Grey Abbey Martyrs Sinn Féin Cumann in Kildare, for their unwavering support in bringing me here. It is because of their belief, hard work and bhur muinín ionam that I stand in this Chamber today. I stand proudly before them as Sinn Féin TD for south Kildare determined to be a strong voice for my community.”