Simon Harris
Wicklow · Fine Gael · Ireland
“There are more than 10,000 routes and thousands of buses involved and the number of students using the services is not a million miles away from 200,000. The current terms of the scheme are going to continue to apply for the 2026-27 school year.”
“I thank Deputy McDonald for raising what is genuinely an important issue. I do take the point that when we talk about this in the abstract or from a process point of view in here, that for people watching this is their real lived experience.”
“There number of children who have been supported by means of the school transport scheme, as Deputy Fitzmaurice knows and has alluded to, has grown significantly in recent years. Since 2018, the number increased from 120,000 in 2018 to more than 181,000 now. Included in that figure are 24,000 pupils with special educational needs.”
“I knew the Deputy would have to mention the GAA, especially with Galway and Limerick playing at the weekend. I wish everybody involved the best of luck. We are very committed to the school transport scheme. If the Deputy wants to see our commitment, he should look to our budget.”
“An ageing population, increasing healthcare needs, the transition to net zero and the need for continued investment in housing, energy and infrastructure will place a significant demand on public resources.”
“There is also a legitimacy to the point the Deputy made about how it is a legitimate form of transport for some people. We see this working in other European countries. We see it in our nearest neighbours. I do not want to get the regime wrong, but I think they have registration at the point of purchase that allows people to track this.”
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“We have provided financial and other supports to households and businesses in a range of ways. We have deployed the State's balance sheet to maintain jobs, livelihoods and incomes. Each challenge the world has thrown at us we have emerged stronger from, despite it. The strength of the Irish economy is clearly evident in our labour market. Unemployment has remained below 5% for 16 consecutive quarters. This is a remarkable achievement given the global headwinds. That means that over 450,000 more people are now in employment that just before the pandemic. Around 57,000 of those jobs were added in the past 12 months alone: over 200 jobs every working day. The strength of our labour market mirrors developments across the wider economy. Business investment is up and consumer spending is resilient.”
“-----particularly for those most in need, while continuing to support tens of thousands of Irish homeowners with upgrades. We are also delivering at scale for the most vulnerable, with over 8,100 homes completed last year under the warmer homes scheme, which is the highest number ever. There is always more to do and challenges will always come but in a time of enormous and rapid change, the one constant has been a Government working to secure the well-being of the Irish people. We did it through the Covid-19 pandemic. We did it together through the war in Ukraine. We have done it together through the cost-of-living crisis. We have done it through the tariff induced uncertainty and we will respond and work together again while others seek to just tear it down.”
“-----across SEAI schemes because the Government has made it more attractive and more financially possible than ever before for households to upgrade their homes. We are seeing applications for heat pumps surge by 95%, roof insulation by 81% and cavity wall insulation by 62%.”
“The energy price shock does also highlight the importance of reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels and accelerating the climate transition. As long as we remain, in this country, dependent on fossil fuels from imports we risk our economic security and well-being. We are implementing the largest infrastructure programme in the history of the State and capital investment is projected to exceed €200 billion over the next decade. Thankfully, we are seeing clear progress now with almost half - 49% - of the country's electricity generated from renewables in March, 58,000 homes retrofitted last year and recent changes we have made to State schemes have seen a strong surge in applications, applications which are of course being funded by carbon tax, which some in this House seek to abolish.”
“The minimum wage is up 40% since 2020 to make sure work pays. Back to school allowance has been expanded to preschool children. There has been the largest ever increase in child support payments. More than 55,000 families with children in third level pay no contribution fee at all, and that number is growing. Auto-enrolment has been introduced, supporting 763,000 workers to build retirement security and, for the first time, public investment in a public model of childcare to build and overhaul our childcare systems.”
“It has enabled us to do many things which are helping people in the here and now and things which are in place for the long term. One million children are getting free school books. There are hot school meals in our primary schools.”
“Were Sinn Féin's motion to tear down this Government successful, the financial resolutions which we will pass in this House later this evening would fall away and the measures we agreed on behalf of the Irish people over the weekend to try to help hard-pressed people - the very same people Sinn Féin purports to represent - would not take effect. In other words, the motion of no confidence was just another one of its stunts.”
“I join with the Taoiseach in moving this motion of confidence in the Government. This Government came together to form a stable majority with a clear mission to work hard to build a secure and prosperous future for the people of this country across five budgets. We are guided by that mission today as much as we were on the day we took office. Let me be direct about what is actually happening here. Sinn Féin decided to table a motion of no confidence before it even saw the details of the Government's package of supports. It is a package of supports which, factually, is far more comprehensive and strategically responsive than anything its members have proposed or are working on in the Northern Ireland Executive.”
“There are now 81 community teams which delivered over 231,000 appointments last year. There has been an increase in funding as well. There was €181 million allocated last year and a further €10 million has been allocated this year, leading to a ring-fenced budget of €190 million. I know there are real challenges. Sometimes, those challenges are on recruitment. On foot of the Deputy raising it here today, I will specifically ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who I know is very passionate about this area, to engage directly with the Deputy too.”
“I thank Deputy Michael Collins for raising this important issue, which I know he regularly raises. I will specifically speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, about the issues in west Cork and what further actions can be taken there on the issues the Deputy raised. Evidence shows that around 2% of children and young people should require the support of CAMHS but referrals are continuing to increase every year for the service. Referrals to CAMHS increased from 17,436 children in 2020 to over 29,000 in 2025. It is an increase of almost 70% in referrals in six years. That is an insight into the level of pressure and challenge that exists as well. We have seen CAMHS very significantly increase its acceptance of referrals. It accepted about 16,600 referrals last year, which was 14% more than the previous year.”
“We will need that capacity right across the network. That is why we have invested over €20 million in capital funding in Knock Airport over the past few years. Under the regional airport programme, I really believe we will able to make progress and along the lines that the Deputy, the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, and others are discussing. We are fully supportive of the growth and development of Knock Airport.”
“So do I and so does my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, sitting here beside me. I know Deputy Lawless does too. When I think of Knock Airport, I always think of two things. One is the visit I had there during the election campaign. It was a very good visit with Deputy Dillon, former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and others. I think it was also the place where the late Pope visited when he came to Ireland and I think he said "Mayo for Sam". Sure look, the dream lives on. These are the things in my mind but I know it is an incredibly important part of the airport infrastructure in this country. We are an island nation. Our airports play a massive role, as too does Knock Airport. We should never, ever have a situation in this country where we think it was a choice between growing what happens at Dublin Airport or the regional airports.”
“These fees were last charged in 2019. They will be at the same level they were since 2012 which means in real terms, they will be a lot less. Crucially, protections for students in need financially, through that medical card system which means they are fully exempt, remain in place.”
“Do not tut-tut at me, please. If it is that we should target supports at those most in need and if it is Sinn Féin's position that every cost-of-living measure that was in place pre-Covid should remain in place post-Covid, that is a very different sort of Ireland. We made it very clear we were moving to sustainable, permanent reductions in core areas; the permanent reduction in college fees, the permanent progress we want to make on childcare and making targeted interventions here as well.”
“I get confused sometimes as to the Sinn Féin economic position. Is it everything must be free or is it that we should we target supports at those most in need? If it is that we should target supports at those most in need-----”
“For families who are most in need, the protections remain in place and I want to say that. The protections are in place for any student with a full medical card, anybody covered under their parent's or guardian's card will continue to be fully exempt-----”
“The first annual savings and investment forum will take place next Tuesday, where we will begin to parse through with stakeholders how that might be developed. I am looking at what other countries have done and I think Sweden has done well with this. The Deputy is also right that we need to look at what we can do around existing taxation structures on retail investment. He will know we took a first step last year in reducing the rate of tax applying to investments in Irish and offshore funds to 38%. The overall policy rationale for deemed disposal is the issue here that we need to explore and try to make progress on. I am very confident we can make progress together in the time ahead.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue again. I know it is one he is very keen to see progress on - as am I - and I assure him that work is under way to ensure this. We cannot be in favour of a savings and investment union at an EU level, which we passionately are, and not make sure our citizens are able to benefit from that here. There are so many people in this country who are trying to do the right thing and put away small amounts of money for themselves, their kids and a rainy day. I am talking about small amounts of money here and middle Ireland. People are playing the rules and are not getting any return on it. In fact, it often loses value in real terms too. I am very keen to establish those investment accounts in Ireland. Work is ongoing on this.”
“I thank Deputy McCormack for raising this issue about his constituents and Blue Ball, the impact that is having on them and his concerns regarding the delay in terms of the restoration of the service and the understandable anxiety that is creating in the community as to whether the service will be reinstated. On foot of the Deputy raising it here today, I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, who has ministerial responsibility for our postal services, to engage with An Post and come back to the Deputy directly.”
“There are clear rules and laws that need to be followed. There is also the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. We have seen some examples of where people tried to deviate from the law. That cannot be allowed either and was not allowed in the case that was highlighted in this House recently. The RTB has a very important role to play in this too.”
“More broadly, and we have different views on this, I will make the point that the rental reforms we brought in aimed to create a balance in increasing the supply of tenancies and rental markets, and providing a suite of new protection measures for tenants, including the six-year tenancy and the extension of rent pressure zones nationwide.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It has also been raised by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, who represents Sligo. There are a specific set of circumstances in that a private owner of a facility has decided to sell. I do not mean to call it a facility; it is people's home. It would be worth inquiring whether there are any solutions that can be explored through local authorities or State agencies to assist there. I am not yet apprised of the full facts but it seems to be a particular set of circumstances.”
“I thank the Deputy for flagging this important issue. I will make some further inquiries on foot of her raising it with me. My initial sense and awareness of this issue is that the Department of Social Protection was extraordinarily proactive in promoting auto-enrolment, not just with private sector employers but also with the public service. There was a very long lead-in time for individual Departments and agencies to make their preparations and necessary resource allocations for this through the normal budgetary process that every Department has. The Deputy has got data that suggests some Departments have given different answers than others. I will certainly make my own inquiries and come back to the Deputy directly. I would also appreciate any information she has. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to look at that.”
“The former education Minister, Deputy McEntee, worked on it, as did the current Minister, Deputy Naughton. This Government delivered it yesterday. There are 121 schools - 96 primary schools and 25 post-primary schools - that will get enhanced support. They are the most disadvantaged of the disadvantaged, factually. This is a start. It is an important start that will make a real difference in tackling educational disadvantage. There will be more than 400 additional roles, 350 extra teaching posts benefiting 700 schools nationwide and the expansion of the home school liaison programme to 130 additional schools. The Deputy should please continue to advocate for more schools in his community-----”
“Hang on a second. The Deputy used very emotive language when he asked whether this is "a box-ticking exercise". Let me be very clear that as of yesterday, for the very first time in the history of this State we now have a DEIS plus programme. I do not usually do this, but I remember Aodhán Ó Ríordáin looking for this when he was in this House. He is now Labour Party MEP for Dublin. This is something that has been called for across this House for a long time.”
“The good news is that in planning for the next capital programme, Longford has reiterated that Ballymahon is a priority project for the county in terms of fire services. I understand the fire service is now actively working on identifying a preferred site. I have clear indications from conversations I have had very recently that this project is moving in the right direction. There could be positive developments on it very shortly. It would be premature for me to get ahead of the finalisation of the new programme, but I assure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy Browne, will keep in close contact with him on this. I will keep a close eye on this as well because the case the council has made is compelling. It has been clear in relation to Ballymahon being priority project number one.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I join with him in praising our firemen and firewomen, firefighters across the country and all those involved in our fire services for the vital work they do. It is important we show our gratitude, not just in words but in investment in them and their facilities. I thank the Deputy for raising this. He has been a consistent advocate for Ballymahon fire station. I know how important this is to the community in south Longford for all the reasons he mentioned, including the many people who now visit Longford as part of the incredible success that Center Parcs has been. Providing fire services is a statutory responsibility of individual fire authorities, or local authorities, under the fire Acts.”
“I am pleased to say that the community centre investment fund, which has already had a transformative impact in communities across Ireland, was opened this morning by the Minister, Deputy Calleary, for the fourth round of applications. The 2026 fund is going to focus on the refurbishment of existing facilities in communities across the country. Scouting and girl guides groups that can satisfy the conditions can, of course, apply. The conditions require that they are not-for-profit organisations, under which requirement the two organisations qualify, must be in existence for at least years, which I imagine many of them have been, and must currently manage an existing centre and be open to the wider communities. Those are the criteria, and scouting groups and girl guides can certainly apply on that basis.”
“I thank the Deputy. I will ask the Minister to further engage with him and Deputy Ward. I know the Deputy previously raised the issues of the Gaelscoileanna and those autism classes in his community. We will try to make progress on that together. Déanaim comhghairdeas le Lucan girl guides on their success and the pride they brought to their community. The Deputy is right to highlight the hugely positive work that is carried out in communities across Ireland, including his own constituency of Dublin Mid-West, by girl guides organisations and scouting groups. We all had an opportunity to see that in a very visible way during the St. Patrick's Day parades that took place in all of our communities. We need to support them.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will talk directly to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, about the issue. At a time when we are seeking to open more classes and there is a school, and indeed a new school building, willing to accommodate those classes, I would be supportive of that proceeding. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and ask them to come back to the Deputy to see if we can make progress on the matter.”
“The OPW is now actively working with the Garda and the Department to identify and appraise the most suitable site. The funding is now there. It is ring-fenced and clear. We now need to see the momentum so the project can go to construction by that time at the latest. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, keep the Deputy closely apprised.”
“I thank the Deputy for again raising this issue. I am conscious that, as he rightly said, he has been raising this issue since his first day in this House, and indeed even before that. I know it is an important issue to his constituents and communities across Dublin north. I assure him that real progress is now finally being made. Following the review of the national development plan, the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, secured over €2 billion for a justice sectoral investment plan out to 2030. Some €911 million of that money is allocated to Garda projects. That is a significant level of investment. It includes the completion of new Garda stations and a new headquarters for the Dublin north region. I am pleased that there is now a timeline against this commitment, and the project will go to construction by 2028.”
“The Government will remain nimble and agile in respect of those issues. This week was about excise duty and doing what we could to alleviate the cost increases in petrol and diesel, to help those most at risk of fuel poverty and to provide crucial assistance for the supply chains in our economy around the haulage sector. I am aware of the pressures that other sectors of the economy are under or may come under in the time ahead. That is one of the reasons that the Government has brought in these measures for a time-bound period. It will give an opportunity to come back. I will keep in touch with the Deputy because I know it is an important issue that impacts his community and many people across the country.”
“I would make the point that there are limitations on what it is legally possible to do to excise duty. This week, the Government took measures on excise duty, fuel allowance and the diesel rebate. Some members of the Opposition are asking me to reduce the non-carbon excise element of home heating oil, which does not exist. I cannot do that. There are also rules around the energy tax directive. There is a limit - I am just being honest - to how much we can do in relation to the excise duty on green diesel. However, farmers will benefit from the reduction we made and the pause of the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy. The total benefit will be around 5 cent. I recognise that farmers and the agrifood sector may, like other sectors in the economy, require assistance in the time ahead.”
“It sounds good in a clip, but there is no link whatsoever with a Bill that will enable the Minister to say that a flood relief project or a wastewater treatment plant in a particular town is urgent and to ask people to get on with assessing it. There is no link at all.”
“I do not. It might sound reasonable to people listening at home, based on how the Deputy has framed it, but the critical infrastructure Bill is very straightforward legislation that is urgently required to give the Minister and the Government of the day the ability to prioritise certain projects. It is enabling legislation and it is extraordinarily straightforward. There is urgency around building homes and water and wastewater facilities. Energy is an issue we are talking about right now. If the Deputy wants to sit around and talk about it for months, that is fine, but we do not. We want to get on with it. To draw comparisons is just misleading.”
“We need to have absolute clarity in relation to issues like family reunification. The reforms the Minister is bringing in are sensible in terms of asking people to show an ability to be able to support their family before they come to the country. That is common sense and is in line with what happens in many other countries.”
“I thank Deputy Coppinger. I will certainly raise the IRP backlog with the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan. I will also ask the Minister to look at Iby's case on compassionate grounds, as she has asked. Without knowing the details of the case, obviously my heart and feelings go out, as do those of Deputy Coppinger, to Iby and her family at this time, in terms of her own cancer journey. I will ask the Minister to look at that. More broadly when it comes to the rules, it is perfectly within the right of a Government, if not the responsibility, to make sure there are clear rules in place in terms of who can come into this country. We want people to come to Ireland, to work here and to make a positive contribution and many do. I fully acknowledge that our health service would fall over if it was not for people coming here.”
“This has enabled CHI to have access to the hospital which has meant that 3,245 pieces of equipment have been deployed to the new hospital, 930 pieces of ICT equipment and 1,100 pieces of electronic health records. While we are continuing to do everything we can to protect the taxpayer and to keep the pressure on in relation to BAM, I am pleased that in parallel to that, the early access is allowing the hospital to begin to be actually equipped so it can be ready to treat the children of this country.”
“The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is doing a lot more than just writing letters. She is taking a very hands-on approach in relation to this issue. She has the full support of the entire Government in getting this project over the line. It is a project that will transform children's health in this country. The Minister is continuing to work hard on this. She met with the international company, Royal BAM, recently so it is unfair to suggest that she is just writing letters. She is doing a hell of a lot more than that. The other thing that the Minister has worked on with the Department, the HSE and CHI is early access. I am sure Deputy Rice heard about that at the committee yesterday.”
“Just bear with me for one second. I spoke to the Minister in relation to it. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has confirmed that he anticipates that next week he will be in a position to announce the reinstatement of the midday service and the overnighting of the aircraft in Donegal.”
“I think Deputy Donnelly's colleague would like me to answer the question that has been raised about Donegal. It is a very important issue and one I want to acknowledge. I thought people in Donegal, in terms of the politicians in this House, were working together on it. I know that my party colleague, Senator Manus Boyle, along with Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, Deputy Doherty and his colleague Deputy Mac Lochlainn, and Deputy Charles Ward, have all engaged on this issue with the Minister and the community. I met with the Irish Cancer Society on this issue and we discussed it last week. This is a very serious issue for people in Donegal, particularly but not exclusively for cancer patients.”
“I know the Government, Deputy Callaghan, and the Minister, Deputy Caroll MacNeill, are fully committed to this. I take heart from the fact the hereditary cancer model of care will be rolled out by quarter 3 of this year in a number of cancer centres. This is a big step forward in terms of offering genetic testing and pre-counselling to those at most familial risk. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and ask that she engages with Deputy Callaghan and we will keep in touch on this.”
“I thank Deputy Callaghan and I send my thoughts and best wishes to her close friend in Thomastown. Deputy Callaghan's experience and story is one we in the House all share. It is something that touches and impacts all of us in our lives, our work, our communities and everybody in this country. We have made good progress as a country. Our doctors, medics, scientists, nurses and healthcare system have made good progress in our cancer survival rates but, as I say this, there can be no room for any sense of complacency. We have to continue to see how we can do more and do better in terms of prevention and early detection. Deputy Callaghan is quite right to be bringing forward ideas as to how we use the best innovations and best science, and what is recommended by international evidence, to do better in our health service.”
“This is the immediate move that will take place this year as we begin to develop the next national cancer strategy and the next steps forward. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and asked that she engage further with Deputy Callaghan.”
“There is an opportunity to try to progress this in the next national cancer strategy. The hereditary cancer steering group oversees the implementation of the hereditary cancer model of care. They are now working to mainstream genetic testing as part of the hereditary cancer model of care. They hope to have this in place in a number of cancer centres in our health service by the third quarter of this year. This will make pre-test counselling and genetic testing available through the treating oncology team for certain patients with a diagnosis of cancer, including breast cancer, which will be a significant step forward. We have also provided funding for posts to include two genetic counsellors, three service support staff, four advanced nurse practitioner posts and two consultant medical oncologists with a special interest in genetics.”
“It is important to note the HSE does this in line with best international practice rather than through broader population screening programmes. A genomic test directory for cancer is constantly being developed in the health service as well, and the national cancer control programme is now funding a number of tests in adult cancer, including colorectal, melanoma, lung, ovarian and other cancers. Tests have been developed, I am pleased to say, at CHI Crumlin for all known significant mutations in paediatric and young adult solid cancers. On foot of Deputy Callaghan raising this today, I will specifically speak with the Minister for Health and ask that she further engages with Deputy Callaghan and anyone she has been working with in Carlow and Kilkenny on this.”
“We are absolutely committed to improving cancer care. As I have said, we must also continue to see what more we can do in terms of being innovative in better early identification and better prevention. The current national cancer strategy identifies the need for genomic testing and hereditary cancer care management. The national cancer control programme hereditary cancer model of care highlights the need to further improve access to genetic testing for patients with cancer and their relatives. We are committed to ensuring this happens. Where a cancer patient is suspected of having an underlying cancer predisposition syndrome, they are typically offered multigene panels to look for changes in relevant genes, if identified, and there is testing for close family members also.”
“I thank Deputy Callaghan for raising this issue. She is right to say there is not a family or community not impacted by cancer. We all have to do more and challenge ourselves and our system, and support our health service, researchers and scientists in terms of what more we can do to prevent cancer and to earlier identify cancer. I think of our colleague, Deputy Peter Roche, who lost his brother Vincent in the early hours of this morning, and I extend my sympathies to him. I met the Irish Cancer Society last week and we discussed a range of issues, including this in the context of developing the next national cancer strategy. I thank Deputy Callaghan because raising this is timely as we prepare to develop the next national cancer strategy. Deputy Callaghan has been a vocal advocate for cancer care, cancer prevention and cancer treatment.”
“Based on this, it will just nudge into quarter 2 in that it will be in April instead of March. The Deputy raised a very specific number of days; I will see if his information is even more detailed than mine but the most important point is the review is almost complete. It will be completed by the month of April and published swiftly thereafter.”