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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“One sure way to run down supplies is to not allow them in and out when we only had one refinery in the country. I am glad that situation is resolved because at a time of global insecurity regarding energy supply, it is important that we continue to make sure that supply of energy to this country continues. I recently met NORA, not a female but the National Oil Reserve Agency, and was pleased to say that it gave a significant assurance to the Government about our supply of energy, even with the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. On the third point, truthfully, I do not know the answer, although nothing was filled with concrete by former Minister, Eamon Ryan, who served this country. We can agree or disagree with him but he was a good public servant and an honourable man.”
“I thank Deputy Wall for engaging with the Minister for education on this. He is right that the general direction of travel that all of us in this House want to see is reducing the costs that families face when their children attend school. That is why we have had the hot school meals and the free schoolbooks. It is why we are genuinely trying to work with the CCPC and others on uniform costs. It would be extraordinarily disappointing and counterintuitive if we saw the cost of technology eroding some of that benefit to families. I share the Minister's view that there should not be a cause and effect between leaving certificate reform and the need for that technology. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will speak directly to the Minister, Deputy Naughton.”
“I thank Deputy Ní Raghallaigh for raising the issue. I truthfully do not know enough about that train station, other than that she makes a compelling case about how population growth needs to be met by improved public transport. Her suggestion that a train station that previously existed could be reopened certainly merits the Minister engaging with her on that. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and ask that he come back to the Deputy with an informed view on the suggestions she made.”
“The Deputy is so right. It is disgusting, despicable racism, and it is not who we are as a people. The people of Galway showed that with the very significant vote Labour's candidate received. I was pleased to meet Helen Ogbu over the weekend and to congratulate her on her campaign. The Deputy's point about the powers of Coimisiún na Meán are valid. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to come back to the Deputy directly but my view on this is that we should take a much more robust legislative approach. We ask social media companies nicely if they would mind doing this or that. It has gone beyond that now. I see huge benefits to social media. I also see the sewer that it can become, with toxicity, division, misinformation and disinformation. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to reflect on the Deputy's points.”
“I thank Deputy Cummins. On foot of her raising this, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to come back to her directly. I take the point she made. It is a very busy time for schools, with lots going on in the school community. However, we have also provided funding certainty to the Department of education and made a decision, which we debated earlier, to quite rightly provide significant additional resources to education this year. From a Government point of view, there is funding certainty for the Department of education. Therefore, we need to make sure that is conveyed to schools, particularly special schools, as a matter of priority. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to look at this and come back to the Deputy urgently.”
“I thank Deputy Dolan for raising the issue and the analytical approach he always brings to issues in this House. It is a fair point he is raising. We are obviously increasing our investment in public transport, but the affordability and fairness of public transport across all parts of the country is, of course, a legitimate issue that the Government will consider. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in relation to this. I will also ask him to correspond with Irish Rail and ask it to give consideration to the matter, too.”
“We will be considering that across the Government in the time ahead and I will keep in touch with the Deputy on those specific Offaly school projects, too.”
“I thank Deputy Clendennen for raising this important issue and listing a number of the important school projects across Offaly that are in need of progression. Being blunt, quite a lot of schools are at stage 2B. We, collectively as a House, want to see as many of them move on as possible, and the Deputy has obviously advocated strongly for the schools in Offaly. The Minister for education has published what we can call the first tranche of a significant number of school building projects. I want to be very clear that this is not the final word on the matter and the Government will be making further allocations in regard to capital in the time ahead. Even in the medium-term fiscal plan we have published, there is unallocated capital during the lifetime of this Government.”
“If you ask a question here under the rules of the House at the moment, it gets ruled out of order. There is no logic behind that. I have raised this in the Government and will continue to raise it. We should change it together. Uisce Éireann should be answerable to this House.”
“I thank Deputy Dempsey for raising this issue, as I know she has on a number of occasions. On foot of her raising this, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy James Browne. I think there is a broad issue in relation to this. I have spoken to the Minister on this and he shares that view. We need to look at better accountability structures for Uisce Éireann to elected Members of this House. It is not about us; it is about the people we represent and the Deputy is clearly vocalising, quite correctly, the frustration on behalf of her constituents. I do not understand. I say it here regularly that Uisce Éireann should have to answer parliamentary questions. If you ask a question to the Minister for Health, she will say it is a matter for the HSE and refer it to the HSE, but you can ask a question and you will get a response.”
“I thank an Teachta Daly for raising this issue and I will certainly speak directly to the Minister of education on this. There was discussion earlier around the additional budget for education. One of the drivers behind that is the recognition that there will be a need for more special classes now than was even envisaged at budget time. If there is a school ready to assist in that and if there is a need in the community, I know that is something that the Minister will ask the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to look at seriously. I will ask her to come back to the Deputy directly.”
“I thank Deputy O'Rourke for highlighting this issue. I also wish to acknowledge the point that he made the point that sometimes delays can be on the side of the company. That is an important point of balance to make. I do not actually have the detail in relation to this but it is important that everybody in the process work in an efficient way so that we at least get a decision and clarity as early as possible. The drugs budget is growing in this country, and quite rightly. I am sure this is a very anxious time for the families impacted and I will certainly convey the Deputy's views to the Minister for Health.”
“I thank Deputy Roche. He did indeed speak with me on this issue yesterday. I am pleased that the Government has decided that the portal will reopen in the coming days to provide a better window for schools to apply. This Government's record on special education and children with additional needs is one of investment and growth. There were 8,767 children benefiting from the summer programme in 2016. Over 70,000 benefited last year. I would be surprised if that number was not higher again this year. When it comes to things like special classes, the roll-out of therapies in special schools and the size of the budget in special education, we have a lot of work to do but it is a priority area, as it should be.”
“I fully agree with Deputy McGrath in terms of the importance of reopening the application process. I am pleased to tell him that will happen. The Government will be in contact with schools today and the portal will reopen early next week. We have seen an increased number of primary schools, post-primary schools and special schools applying this year. I see that as a good thing in terms of trying to meet the need. The portal will reopen.”
“The Deputy mentioned the pensions issue. Auto-enrolment is a very important future-proofing step to take now. I would also point out that there are many parts of this country well outside the Dublin area thriving. I spent a lot of time in Galway recently where there are key infrastructural projects we need to deliver, like the ring road and the BusConnects project. Down in Cork, there is the Luas project as well. I do not like the phrase "commuter hell". While there are very serious traffic congestion issues in this country, there are many parts of this country that are thriving and where people are proud of their communities, but they want to see us deliver infrastructure more quickly to help and we intend to do that.”
“There are a couple of aspects to that question. In respect of balanced regional development, the new national planning statement in relation to the ability to build a one-off home in rural Ireland will be a help. That is because there are many people finding themselves having to leave their communities due to a too-rigid planning system or at least an inconsistent application of the planning system across counties. That is one thing that can be done. The Deputy will know I am going to continue to say that housing supply is really important, and we need to get 300,000 more homes built by the end of 2030. My Department has produced research in terms of Ireland 2040 and where Ireland will be demographically by 2040. It will be a very different place on the basis of a no-policy change. Therefore, I think of a number of policy changes.”
“That review is due to commence shortly and the matter he has raised can also be considered as part of that. On foot of the Deputy raising this today, I will ask that the Minister, Deputy James Browne's Department note it for that purpose, too.”
“I thank Deputy Ward for raising this issue. I send my sincere sympathy and solidarity to his constituent and their family for all they have endured. The point Deputy Ward makes about being able to see the detail is an important one. I understand why any homeowner may wish to see a report from an engineer in order to really understand the rationale behind the option being recommended or proposed. That is understandable and logical. My understanding is that the Housing Agency will, upon request, issue the report to homeowners. That would be an important step to take because that would inform the homeowner in question as to the query raised. In addition, and as Deputy Ward will know, there is a requirement in the 2022 Act to undertake a review of the operation of the Act.”
“The Department of Health wrote to the HSE CEO on 18 March setting out concerns regarding the continuation of private practice and seeking full compliance with public-only consultant contracts, but I will ask the Minister to come back to Deputy Rice specifically in relation to her view on the implementation of the contract and how many other hospitals may have similar issues.”
“I thank Deputy Rice for raising this. The Minister for Health and the wider Government expect the agreed terms of any contract to be applied fully and consistently across all hospitals. We expect everybody to comply with the terms of their contract of employment. That is a general basic thing, and just because somebody is a higher paid member of the public service does not mean they can deviate from their contract. If people have issues with their contract, that is a different matter, but actually signing up to a contract and then not adhering to its terms is not a small matter.”
“The CRU's large energy user, LEU, connection policy very much shows how the Government intends to deliver on its renewable energy targets, with data centres above certain thresholds being required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new additional renewable electricity generated in the Republic of Ireland.”
“The Friends of the Earth report needs to be read in the round. It does basically put it up to us, as a Government and an Oireachtas, that if we can do more to speed up the move to renewables, under what it calls high renewable growth scenarios, annual average residual demand, including data centres actually falls below zero in the years ahead. In other words, accelerated renewable development is presented in this study as sufficient to displace significant reliance on gas as a dispatchable source of energy in the future. As the Deputy acknowledged, there is a genuine economic benefit to data centres but I would dispute the characterisation of the Government's position as an unfettered approach.”
“It is a matter for the governing body, which in this case is UEFA. My views on the genocidal activities of the Government of Israel are very clear and I think this Oireachtas and the people of Ireland are utterly appalled by the genocidal behaviour being undertaken by the Israeli government.”
“I join with the Deputy in congratulating and commending Jordan and Cian Adams. They have inspired literally the entire country with 33 marathons across our island. I know many of us look forward to welcoming them to Leinster House later today but, more important or as important, is working with them on the issues around dementia, research and care pathways. I thank them for all they have done. I agree with the Deputy on the point about Séamus Coleman. The Irish players who wear the jersey do so with pride and nobody should put any pressure on them at all. Séamus Coleman captured that very well in his comments yesterday. I would also make the point that the FAI gave its view on this. The FAI was very clear on this. UEFA as the governing body ultimately made that decision and that is the position. It is not a matter for the Government.”
“Regarding vacant homes, we have already seen 20,000 homes come back into use via the vacant property grant, we are bringing in a new derelict property tax in the next budget and we have also expanded grants for shop conversions. The issue of vacancy and dereliction in the housing emergency is rightly identified by the Deputy as a key issue on which we want to make more progress.”
“Please do not heckle me on this because we have to be respectful when we debate these issues. The Government is making a number of changes in relation to Ukrainian accommodation and some of the issues highlighted by the Deputy because, in our view, we do need to make the model sustainable because we want to be able to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. The emergency approach that we have had to date does need to be replaced with a more sustainable approach and that is how we are going to do it. In saying that, I acknowledge the positive contribution that Ukrainian people are making. As the Deputy pointed out, many people are coming to Ireland and are working in this country.”
“I always believe in an honest debate around migration but the honest debate has to be grounded in facts. People who arrive in Ireland from abroad through a variety of circumstances do not have an automatic right to social housing. The Deputy knows that too and he knows that in Kerry as well. People from Ukraine contribute very significantly to our economy as well. Obviously, they do have the right to work and indeed many businesses around this country tell me how reliant-----”
“Of course, we always have to balance that with protecting the rural character of countryside and preventing urban-generated sprawl as well. I am really looking forward to the new national planning statement coming to Government very shortly and I think it will be of significant benefit to rural communities.”
“The intention now is to have a new national planning statement on rural housing prepared under section 25 of the Planning and Development Act, which will ultimately require Government approval and then will be issued by the Minister for housing. The new statement will refine, update and replace the existing guidelines as well as provide more clarity and more consistency across the planning authorities by defining where and how rural housing can be developed. I believe it will make it easier for people, including young people, to be able to build a home in their own community. The benefits of that socially and economically for rural Ireland, including parts of County Kerry, will be significant. We need to facilitate rural housing for those with a local housing need where they need to live or work in a rural area.”
“It is not about a free-for-all and it is certainly not about people from one part of the country building a holiday home in the other. It is about people who have a social and economic connection with the community being able to live in their own community and build their own home. It is about people who are not asking the Government to do anything other than allow them to build their own home and if we are being honest, until now, the rules have been inconsistent. The rules depend on whether you live in this county or that county, which is not fair. This is a small country and it is a small island and we need to have a consistent approach to rural planning guidelines.”
“The Deputy made points regarding mortgages and the amount a person can borrow. These are issues that I genuinely hear from people but we also have to get the balance right because we do not want to arrive back at the place we were in the past with a very high level of mortgage indebtedness and the difficulty that arises from that. We, as a Government, have a number of schemes in place and have commitments in the programme for Government to keep them under review. We have to do more on rural housing. We have to make sure that people have an ability to live in their own community. It is a really important part of balanced regional development and the regeneration of rural communities and we have got to get it right.”
“I thank the Deputy for the question on housing and how we give our young people hope in terms of the ability to own or indeed in some cases to build their own home. I do not say this in any way disrespectfully to the Deputy but taxes are an important part of funding the State and we cannot just reduce or abolish them all. We have taken a number of measures recently to reduce the cost of construction and to try to assist around viability but we have also taken a number of measures on the tax side, particularly the help-to-buy scheme, which has literally helped tens of thousands of people get some of their own tax back towards a deposit for their home. That is a scheme we are very committed to as a Government and we are committed to keeping it in place until the end of the mandate of this Government.”
“I want to say this. The Friends of the Earth report will be considered. That report says things the Deputy did not mention. It concedes that under the high renewable growth scenario, we actually see a situation where accelerated renewables are presented as sufficient to displace significant reliance on gas. The message the Deputy should have taken from the report is that we need to accelerate the move to renewables. That is what this Government is committed to. If Aontú is willing to finally step up and accept that climate action is needed, I welcome that conversion.”
“The rules are that the Deputy asks the question and I get a chance to answer it. For people sitting at home, I want to outline the reality of the situation. Aontú, on behalf of Friends of the Earth, is suggesting that data centres are costing all of this money. That ignores the fact that I put on the record of the House the economic analysis available to me, as Minister of Finance, in terms of the benefit to this country in terms of taxes and employment. The Government does not have the luxury of ignoring that. If we did ignore it, the Deputies would be the first to come into this House and condemn the loss of jobs.”
“The Deputy is ignoring the point I am making. It sounds very good in short clips and sound bites, but the reality is that he is ignoring the economic benefit of the data centres. He is ignoring the economic benefit in terms-----”
“Data centres play a very important role in having a competitive digital economy. We cannot just dismiss that or ridicule it. If we are going to do so, we must at least be honest with the people about the economic and tax impacts that could have on Ireland. If the Deputy puts it out there that a data centre is about four or five lads sitting around with a dog or something and nothing else in terms of economic activity, that is an economically illiterate point to make in relation to data centres.”
“It is easy to slice up the pie, but it is a hell of a lot harder to bake the pie and bake a bigger pie in terms of economic success for this country. It is also important to say that in the context of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities' large energy user connection policy, we have been very clear that data centres above a certain threshold will be required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new additional renewable electricity generated in the Republic of Ireland. Government policy firmly aims to enable the twin transitions of digitalisation and decarbonisation. We cannot pick and choose; we have to address both of them. We are talking about AI. We are talking how about how we support AI jobs and how we deal with the fact that there is going to be a significant churn in the labour market.”
“I am the Minister for Finance, and the evidence available to the Government is that across the six sectors in Ireland that are identified as being most dependent on data centres, it is estimated that of the order of €100 billion in annual gross value added, 875,000 jobs and €14.6 million in annual employment-related taxes were enabled by data centre capacity located in Ireland. It has also been identified that the hyperscale data centres sit at the heart of Ireland's global digital competitiveness. When I make all these changes the Deputy is calling on me to make in relation to data centres, what does he want to do when we do not have the benefit of the taxes? What does he want to cut? What does he not want to fund? It is so easy to come in here and ask us to spend more.”
“There have been some constructive suggestions from Opposition and Government Deputies around how we can do more in relation to making it easier for people to make that transition in terms of their homes or businesses. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has already introduced a range of measures that are helping make their homes warmer. Hundreds of thousands of homes have now benefited from direct Government grants to retrofit and replace windows and doors. Of course, there have also been changes regarding electric vehicles. I am interested in the Deputy's position on data centres. It is easy to say that data centres are bad or to make them the bogeyman.”
“What was definitely not on my bingo card for 2026 was Aontú quoting Friends of the Earth, but politics throws new things at you every day. The issue relating to the cost of electricity and the energy crisis in Ireland is a serious one. That is why this Government, through the Minister, Deputy Calleary, is expanding the fuel allowance. We extended the allowance for a further month in order to help people like those the Deputy referenced. It is also why we have taken a number of decisions to reduce excise on diesel and petrol. The benefit of that from an inflationary point of view is worth about 0.5% in keeping general downward pressure on a rising inflation rate. It is also why we need to accelerate the move towards renewables.”
“It will need to have targets and specific timelines and the Government will need to fund it, but I want a better shared understanding of what the direction of travel looks like. Not every person with a disability is the same, and no one is suggesting they are. Some might be able to continue to live in the community and the family home, some might need a specialist residential service and some might need local authority housing. For some individuals, none of these options might work at all. A plan that tries to address that breadth is important. We should facilitate detailed engagement in this House on that.”
“I am going to commit to meeting the group in June. I am happy to engage further with the Deputy on this matter after that. This is an interesting area in respect of which extra funding is 100% required but where monitoring the impact of that funding on the systems in place also matters. For example, we are increasing respite funding by €25 million this year. We are also increasing funding for home support and personal assistance hours this year. I can say that, and it is true, but then there are demographic and planning issues and the issue of how the money is deployed. If it is deployed in an emergency capacity, it ends up having less impact because it costs more than in a planned capacity, which, I think, at a high level, is the point the group is making. We need a housing plan when it comes to people with disabilities.”
“I can think of where in my community there is a small housing estate with a relatively small number of homes and specialist staff in place, and it works. The points the Deputy makes are valid. We will need a plan. I take the point about targets. We want to house people, but at the same time we need targets. The Deputy stated that there needs to be specificity around them in the context of funding and timelines. That is a fair point. Whatever is the best way to do this, whether it is at an Oireachtas committee or in this House, I am happy to have debate on how we get this right. This group is putting it up to us as a country to do better, and we simply have to.”
“There are far too many emergency situations whereby if the State had planned earlier and better, would not have needed to arise. Second, we need a rebalancing towards more placements with non-profit providers and social housing and away from privately funded housing. The Deputy's point is right. If it is a criticism, it is right. We are using quite a lot of private for-profit providers. It is better to use them than not to have any option available, but the direction of travel is to ensure that local authorities, as the housing authorities in communities, are stepping up to provide housing for persons with disabilities in the same way they would when it comes to broader social housing. We can and should be doing more to support non-profit providers to build homes. This used to happen.”
“None of that takes away from the point he has made, which is valid, accurate and reflects the lived experience of far too many people in this country. We had a good meeting of the Cabinet committee on disability a couple of weeks ago in respect of housing specifically. This was motivated by the campaign of the Before We Die group. At that meeting, a number of things were agreed. I acknowledge the role the Ministers, Deputies Browne and Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, will play in respect of this matter. We need everybody to pull together on it. A number of principles were set out in the context of shifting away from a crisis response to commissioning specialist residential places and towards a planned approach. The Deputy is right.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. It is good to see his colleague Deputy Ennis settling in well beside him. I think I have been in touch to arrange to meet them. I will be meeting them in June. The Taoiseach has also met them, as have the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins. When I say "them", I mean the Before We Die group. I thank them for their work and advocacy and for shining a spotlight on this situation. Sometimes you just have to stand up in this House and admit that where we are is not where we need to be. This is one of those occasions. I have a load of figures here and can tell the Deputy that we are going to do more residential placements this year, which we are. I can tell him we have increased the disability budget, and we have.”
“It is a prudent and sensible thing to say to those charged with expending that money, "Can you do better? Can you reform? Can you get value for money?" That is what households and small businesses do; it is about time the public service did it.”
“People can come back in with further questions as well. There were 40 minutes of unallocated time there. We are very accountable to this Oireachtas, and I want people at home to know that. I also want people to know that the rising of the Dáil has nothing to do with this at all because these are figures that will affect 2027, when there will be a significant opportunity. We will have a summer economic statement, a national economic dialogue and plenty of opportunities. I believe in good, honest politics. So does Deputy Nash. I fully accept that. It is important we are transparent in relation to all these things, but it is also important, in the spirit of honesty, that we make the following point, and people at home know this. Public spending is growing very fast in this country relative to pretty much any other European economy.”
“I just want to be clear. The budget oversight committee met. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I were there to answer every and any question anybody wanted to ask, and it ended with 40 minutes to spare, which the Chairman then filled.”
“Respectfully, Ministers not being held to account is baloney. We had a budget oversight committee meeting the other day. In fairness, the Deputy was at it, he contributed and he asked all his questions. Others did not bother turning up. The meeting ended 40 minutes early. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I were there looking for questions to take, and the Chairman-----”