I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, to the House.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important Commencement matter and I thank the Minister of State for attending today. While I know he is not the Minister for Health, he does have a health portfolio and brief. I thank him for giving of his time in coming here. I know it is an exceptionally busy day in the Oireachtas.

My Commencement matter deals with the escalating GP shortages, with rural communities being hit the hardest. I took a look at the parliamentary questions put down in the other House over the last 12 months. The responses were continuously about a review mechanism and a review group. I have no doubt the Minister of State will tell me about these in a few moments. I want to hear a bit more. I want to hear when this review group will have completed its work because the various Deputies who continue to ask parliamentary questions on this matter are getting the same response. Surely time must be up, but I will deal with that in a minute.

The latest study carried out by the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, analysed the distribution of GP practices across the country. The Minister of State will know I like figures, particularly those regarding local electoral areas, LEAs, which are represented by our city and county councillors. The study used the model of the LEAs of the city and county councillors for this research. The Minister of State will be familiar with it, or he should be. I am certainly happy to share a copy with him afterwards. The authors came up with an exercise based on this demographic mapping. This confirmed for once and for all what had already been confirmed by the ICGP. Indeed, it was recently reported on RTÉ's news feeds. This new ICGP data shows that the areas of pressure where GPs are needed most include the north west, with Donegal, north Mayo and Leitrim at the top of the scale, and the north-east Border areas of Cavan, Monaghan and north Louth. My colleagues in the Seanad who are from these areas will have great interest in and knowledge of what is going on there. These areas of pressure also include the mid-east commuter belt, especially parts of Kildare, portions of Meath and the north Dublin areas of Finglas and Coolock, the south-east LEAs of Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford, and the mid-west regions of east Clare and east Limerick. The Minister of State will be very familiar with the last area I mentioned. Commuter belt areas are clearly under enormous strain and pressure. Their population growth and new development are outpacing the number of new GPs coming on stream.

As of today, there are 4,600 practising GPs in the country but this organisation's data estimates that there is a need for 6,000 GPs to provide coverage at this point in time. This shortfall stems from delays in developing primary care centres. It also has an impact on general practices, particularly in rural areas, where GP succession is a major challenge. It is not always a problem, but it is a challenge. Of course, people have relationships with their GPs. We tend to stay with our GP all our life. Someone told me that, if I was ever looking for a GP, I should make sure he or she is younger than myself so they can at least see me through to old age. Older patients relying on their GPs are also suffering and being left out. There is a challenge in terms of community care.

I will push on a few issues to demonstrate my understanding of the problem from having talked to GPs around the country over Easter to ascertain the difficulties. They tell me that the challenges include a retiring and ageing workforce, rising demand, recruitment and retention, the rural-urban imbalance, and the workload pressures on patients and those in the profession. With regard to the impact this is having on patients, some patients are arriving at surgeries and cannot get cover. Other challenges include the difficulties associated with registration, and rural discrepancies and disparities in different parts of the country. What I really want to hear about are the Government's proposals. I am driven by solutions so I want to hear about the solutions from the Minister of State. In wrapping up, I will say that it is important that we look at the strategic review the Minister initiated over a year ago. It must be well advanced. How is that going to progress?

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The Government recognises the need for more GPs not only to meet current demand, but to meet the future needs of our growing and ageing population. A strong and sustainable general practice is essential to our health service. As Senator Boyhan has said, GPs are a vital component of our health system. They do great work.

For that reason, the programme for Government commits to increasing the number of practising GPs through a combination of increased training places and international recruitment, while several steps have already been taken in recent years to increase GP capacity.

To make general practice in Ireland more attractive as a career and to increase the level of services provided to patients, investment in general practice has increased by over €340 million under the 2019 and 2020 GP General Medical Services, GMS, agreements. The 2019 GP agreement provided for an enormous 50% increase in capitation payment rates for GPs and a 10% increase to rural practice supports. Improvements to GP maternity and paternity leave arrangements were also made and a support for practices in urban areas of deprivation was introduced. The 2023 GP agreement introduced a new grant for additional practice staff capacity and a support for staff maternity leave taking. It also provides a locum sourcing support for rural GMS practices; the Senator alluded to rural practices.

The annual intake of doctors into the GP training programme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 215 new entrant training places made available in 2024 and again in 2025. The number of new entrant training places has been increased by a further 50, which brings it to 400 places this year in 2026. As a result, the number of GPs graduating has increased and will increase more in the next few years. Future increases in the number of GP training places will be kept under consideration. In addition, the recruitment of GPs from abroad commenced under the international medical graduate, IMG, rural GP programme in 2023. Under this programme, GPs work in general practice while undergoing two years of self-directed learning after which they can register under the medical council specialist register and take up a GMS contract themselves.

As of 2019, there were 111 doctors in practice under the IMG programme. Fifty-eight more have completed a two-year programme. The placement of IMG GPs in practices is targeted at rural areas and difficult to fill posts in various locations around the country. In addition to the ongoing work to increase GP numbers, a strategic review of general practice is currently under way. I anticipate the Senator will enquire when it be completed. The Department advised me that it will be completed this year. The review is led by the Department of Health with support from the HSE and input from stakeholders. It examines a range of important issues affecting general practice around capacity, training, out-of-hours services, ehealth and the need for further and revised supports for general practice. The potential for HSE-employed GPs as well as other possible measures to bring more GPs to underserved areas is also being examined. Continuing to train, increase GP numbers and recruit more GPs from abroad will see our GP workforce grow, while the work of the strategic review will provide the basis for the future sustainability of general practice.

Before I call the Senator, I welcome guests of the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Verona Murphy, to the Gallery from Piercestown National School. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I am sure the Ceann Comhairle told them that when they visit Seanad Éireann, part of the experience is that they have no homework for the rest of the week. I ask them to make sure if there is anyone giving them any homework that they write to me and I will sort it out.

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. Hopefully, the review will identify arrangements necessary to improve the current system of GPs. It is going on a long time. Clearly, Deputies will continue to ask parliamentary questions. We will continue to table Commencement matters. I thank the Minister of State and the Minister for her commitment to the review.

I thank the Irish College of General Practitioners for following the local authority electoral areas to do its research and give such qualitative responsive research. That has helped me today to do my work here, which is to advocate for these communities. I would also like to give a word of caution. GP shortages are putting rural patients at risk. That is an important call. I am saying that here and now on the record of this House. GPs are telling me and elderly people in our communities are saying that they feel they are risk. Many people are telling me that they cannot get a GP. They are arriving at doors in Limerick, Cork, Monaghan, Donegal and Dublin. They are being told, "Sorry, you can go a list, but I am not really interested" or "Are you a private patient? I might fit you in, but I have no more room for public patients." We have a two-tier health system. GPs are not being given the support they need. I look forward to, hopefully, the strong recommendations that will come out of the Minister's review, which is mandated to report to the Minister.

The Minister will consider it and has given the commitment to publish at some stage in the future, so I thank the Minister of State.

I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming the group from Piercestown National School. It is great to see so many young budding politicians seeing the Seanad in operation.

I again thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important matter. As stated earlier, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The Government acknowledges there are existing pressures in general practice. The recent ESRI report on GP capacity shows that our ageing and growing population, which Senator Boyhan has referenced, along with the shift to provide greater care in community-based settings, will increase demand for general practice services in the coming years in all areas, with more GPs and general practice nurses required to meet this additional demand.

The report identifies the need for between 943 and 1,211 additional GPs and between 761 and 868 GP nurses by 2040. The number of new GP training places is to increase to 400 this year. We have nearly double the number of new entrant places available since 2020. In addition, trained GPs continue to be recruited from abroad and other international medical graduates and placed in practices in rural and underserved areas, providing an immediate increase in service provision for those areas where more GPs are most needed. When completed, the report and strategic review of general practice, as set out by the Minister, will provide for a more sustainable GP service into the future. The points the Senator has raised will be brought to the attention of the Minister for Health and the Department.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O’Donnell, chuig an Teach seo inniu. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House this afternoon, and I thank him for taking time out to be here.

As the Minister of State is well aware, floods have brought havoc to many parts of our country. Unfortunately, these are no longer rare or isolated events and with climate change being what it is, they are going to increase with the passage of time. In an instance like that, when floods are potentially going to affect homes, they can be devastating for many families. It is natural that in such circumstances, when people fear that their homes are going to be flooded and when they call the emergency services, they should get a response, which is exactly what happens 99% of the time.

However, I was contacted about an event recently in the north west of the country where homeowners feared their houses were going to be flooded, and with good reason. They contacted the fire services only to be told that, unfortunately, the fire brigade had no responsibility when it came to a non-risk-of-life situation, which that would have been, to be fair. I fully understand the fire brigade is a first responder and must be available at all times, not just for fires but for many other incidents, including cardiac arrest and many other emergencies. However, when people fear their homes are going to be flooded, who are they meant to call?

It is important we give complete clarity on that because, as the Minister of State knows, it is a very stressful situation when you see water levels rising and you know it is only a matter of time before your house is flooded. You need to be able to pick up the phone and speak to somebody. There appears to be a level of confusion as to who that first phone call should be made to. I am talking about responses regarding fires, storms and heavy rainfall. It is only proper that each time we talk about that, we talk about the response our emergency services give in situations like that, be it a local authority, the fire services, the ESB crews who go out to try to restore services or phone crews who go out to try to repair lines. Everybody puts their shoulder to the wheel.

This particular instance in the north west of the country was a very frightening experience for the people concerned, and when they rang up and were told that, they felt totally isolated in that they had nobody to call. It is vital that our citizens and communities know who to call in the event of an emergency and they should expect to get a response when they do make that call.

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and providing me with the opportunity to clarify the role of my Department and the local authority sector in relation to flood response. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne.

My Department is mandated to undertake the lead government function for the co-ordination of a whole-of-government response to exceptionally severe weather events. The national directorate for fire and emergency management, NDFEM, carries out this function within my Department, as assigned under the strategic emergency management framework.

Local authorities are designated with the responsibility for the response to severe weather emergencies, including flooding. It is widely acknowledged that local authorities consistently demonstrate both leadership and capacity in dealing with severe weather incidents. All local authorities prepare and operate individual severe weather and flood plans, relevant to their local flood risk and response capabilities, that guide their response to flooding and other severe weather events.

After Storm Éowyn, my Department undertook a comprehensive review of severe weather and flood plans across all 31 local authorities. The review identified a wide range of good practice but it also highlighted variations in structure, terminology, clarity of roles and varying level of operational detail. Examples of good practice have been circulated to support learning and continuous improvement in the evolution of local authority plans. This was followed by a workshop aimed at strengthening severe weather and flood plans in November 2025, attended by all local authorities and other relevant agencies. Local authorities have now been tasked with reviewing and updating their plans. These will be reviewed in 2026 by the NDFEM as part of the ongoing national preparedness and assurance work.

In the context of my Department, a number of measures were taken in advance of the 2025-26 winter season to ensure a co-ordinated response to severe weather and flooding events going forward. A priority following Storm Éowyn was the development of the community hub concept into community support centres. Guidance on community support centres was issued by the national directorate for fire and emergency management to all local authorities in June 2025, and it was updated in December 2025. A further review will take place in quarter 2 2026 to incorporate learnings from the recent winter season. Community support centres were activated in Donegal during Storm Amy in October 2025 to assist impacted communities. A community support centre was also activated in Aughrim, County Wicklow following flooding in January 2026.

In addition, local authorities have undertaken a procurement process to obtain mobile generators in conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. These generators will be available to be deployed rapidly when required to support community support centres. To facilitate the operation of the generators at individual community support centres, the installation of a changeover switch is required to enable the premises to switch from mains power to the generator. My Department is providing funding to all local authorities to enhance the resilience of designated centres through the installation of a suitable manual changeover switch that can be utilised with the local authority mobile generators funded by the Department of Community and Rural Development and the Gaeltacht.

All local authorities prepared for this winter season, increasing supplies of sandbags and salt for road treatment. Programmes of clearing debris from gullies, etc., have been managed through the past number of months. The sector has worked with local contractors, such as forestry and agricultural contractors, to formalise arrangements for the speedy activation of road clearing and other services when required. The sector also continues to work with the Department of Transport and TII to co-ordinate winter preparedness for road networks, including availability of salt stocks for local authorities as necessary throughout the winter season.

My Department continues to engage with all relevant sectors on the co-ordination of the response to severe weather and major flooding events, maintaining a close working relationship with the local authorities and co-ordinating appropriate response arrangements as necessary. Local authorities are the first responders. They are the ones that receive the calls when roads are flooded or trees are down. The local authorities are the first responders, but I will come back to the Senator in this regard.

I thank the Minister of State. At least we have got through winter and it is now spring.

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. I fully accept that he is taking this on behalf of the Minister. I welcome that he is bringing complete clarity to the situation so that if someone feels their home is going to be flooded, the first call they should make is to the local authority. It is the local authority that decides – I am assuming based on the gravity of the situation - what the next step in that process will be. I welcome the clarity the Minister of State has brought. It is important the message goes out there that, in an emergency, people are very clear as to who to call.

I thank Senator Gallagher again for raising this important issue, which I have taken on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne. It is important to acknowledge the vitally important work undertaken by local authorities across the country during incidents of flooding and severe weather events more generally. Local authorities are the first responders. They receive the call when roads are flooded, trees are down, riverbanks have broken, and homes and critical infrastructure are at risk. Fire services, road and outdoor crews, and emergency management teams are ready to deploy to assist their communities 365 days a year. I am sure I speak for everyone when I thank them.

The time, effort and planning that goes into being ready to respond to such events should be acknowledged. Local authorities have plans in place that they continue to refine and enhance. They are also implementing resilience measures, such as having generators ready for community support centres to ensure communities can be supported during high-impact events. My Department continues to work with all local authorities as they develop their resilience and continue to invest in the fire service, which is the principal response agency in the context of severe weather and flooding. As can be seen in the fire service capital programme just announced by my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne, the 2026-2030 programme will see €28.5 million invested to strengthen fire and emergency services nationwide so they are able to respond when communities are at risk.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for his time and for taking two Commencement matters.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, who will take the next two Commencement matters.

I thank the Minister of State for attending to discuss the growing concern about public transport in Carlow and Kilkenny. I recently met with representatives of the National Transport Authority, NTA, who outlined their ambitious plans for Carlow and Kilkenny after I raised a long list of concerns that had been brought to me by residents. The NTA representatives outlined plans for improved connectivity, enhanced rural links and climate-aligned transport policy. It is absolutely fantastic in theory, but the issue is that it is all very much theory at this stage. I was told directly by the NTA's representatives that there is simply no funding available to implement their plans. The Department of Transport is not providing any funding for increased public transport infrastructure for rural communities. Without funding from that Department, those commitments are simply aspirations. It would seem that many will remain aspirational when we consider that the Connecting Ireland and all-Ireland rail review capital spend is down €1 billion from the plans adopted by the previous Government. If the overall capital spend is down by €1 billion, how is the NTA meant to deliver when its budget is so severely reduced?

There is no funding to address the new plans, but there is also no funding to address the gaps caused by private providers pulling out. Communities are left dealing with real and immediate service reductions instead of the much-needed enhancements. One of the recent changes last year was to the 717 route operated by JJ Kavanagh & Sons. The axing of key segments of this route through rural parts of Kilkenny, particularly Castlecomer, has had a tangible impact on the people who rely on it daily. As well as being a direct link to Dublin Airport, these are essential links connecting people to their work, education, healthcare and social life and are now gone. Rural communities already face structural disadvantages in accessing transport and decisions like this only deepen that inequality. I have been in touch with the NTA multiple times regarding this route reduction. Following a review, it was deemed a necessary route, which is great, but the NTA told me once again that there is no funding available to fix the gap. If we are serious are balanced regional development, we cannot allow routes like the 717 to be hollowed out and we must provide a public service in its place.

Two weeks ago, commuters heard about the axing of the Expressway route 4 service through local media, which is absolutely the wrong way of doing things. It has caused significant concern for the people who depend on that route daily. The NTA has acknowledged that this route carries a public service obligation. That recognition is important, but I was contacted only last night by a representative from the NTA who told me that any plans to maintain this route will depend on funding availability. The NTA representative also said that it should be noted that any measures proposed to be introduced will depend on funding availability. Can the Minister of State give me a clear and unequivocal guarantee that there will be no break in service and no further cuts to the route 4 service, and that the Department for Transport will provide the funding for its continuation? Anything less risks leaving entire communities isolated.

Rail services present another set of challenges. The Kilkenny to Waterford line, for example, does not provide a viable option for commuters who need to be in Waterford by 9 a.m.

That is a basic requirement for any functioning commuter service, but it is unmet. Capacity issues persist due to infrastructure decisions, including the reduction of platform length in Kilkenny. This has resulted in fewer carriages being used and that is limiting the capacity on commuter trains. I am a regular commuter on this train. I took it this morning and as with most mornings, it was standing room only from Athy onwards to Dublin. This train is always packed. This is an issue that urgently needs to be addressed because limiting passenger numbers at a time when we should be encouraging greater uptake of public transport makes no sense. The lack of late-night train services to and from Dublin on the line is also another glaring gap.

At a time when we are urging people to reduce energy consumption and asking people to shift away from car use, the absence of flexible services sends the completely wrong message. I wonder often whether the people making policy on public transport actually use it. I personally depend on the Expressway route 4 and the JJ Kavanagh route 717 to get to and from the airport. I use it all the time either from Kilkenny or Leighlinbridge. I know how crucial these services are for rural communities but when they are systematically cut, it feels like the people implementing these policies do not take the train or bus. I encourage policymakers and Ministers to do so regularly as part of their commute to address so many of these issues.

Public transport has to be designed around how people live and work, not confined to narrow operating windows that fail to meet demand. Will the Minister of State commit to the continuation and protect the bus route, Expressway 4, that goes through Mullinavat, Ballyhale, Thomastown, Gowran and Leighlinbridge?

I thank the Senator for raising this important Commencement matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I will make clear to the House that neither I, as Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for rural transport, nor the Minister, is responsible or involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport services.

The decision by Bus Éireann to withdraw some Expressway routes from 24 May this year is a commercial decision taken by the company. While the majority of public transport services in Ireland are delivered under the National Transport Authority's public service obligation, PSO, programme and supported by State funding to the tune of €940 million, which is a 43% increase, as the Senator will know, there is also an important component of the network made up of commercially operated services provided without State subvention. As she also knows, Bus Éireann operates both PSO services funded by the State subvention and Expressway intercity services, which operate on a commercial basis and do not receive any State subvention.

I understand that the recent decision to withdraw from certain services was made following a comprehensive financial and operational review carried out by Bus Éireann regarding Expressway performance over recent years, which sought to ensure long-term sustainability and viability of the semi-State company as a whole. The decision to withdraw these services was due to significant losses that have become unsustainable for their commercial operations. Where a commercial operator ceases a service, the National Transport Authority has a clear statutory role to assess the impact on connectivity. This includes determining whether a replacement PSO service is required to meet identified social and economic needs.

Under European Union law, a public service obligation is an arrangement by which the NTA procures the service of a bus operator through a tendering process. The winning bidder is then obliged to operate a specified bus service for a specified period of time in return for the payment of a subsidy by the NTA. As Members will know, the PSO is aimed at routes that are not commercially viable but where there is a socially desirable advantage to transport being available. We have seen the success of rural link and rural transport across the country as a testament to the commitment of Government to improving connnectivity.

In the context of the question raised by the Senator, I understand that the NTA has completed its assessment of the affected routes, which are publicly available on its website. For example, it has determined that the withdrawal of Expressway route 4 would create a significant service gap and has recommended the introduction of a PSO service on the Carlow to Waterford corridor to maintain connectivity. It is also important to note that following such determinations the NTA must allow a period of time for the market to respond, including the potential for alternative commercial operators to step in. This ensures that any intervention is proportionate and does not displace viable private services. Once this position becomes clearer over the coming weeks, the NTA will respond as appropriate taking into account passenger needs, available resources and the overall funding envelope for PSO services.

Similarly, with regard to other services referred to in the Senator’s question, the route is commercially operated and does not require any State intervention or subvention. While the NTA acts as the regulator for such services, any decision to amend the route is a commercial decision for the company, and as such the NTA's powers are primarily focused on licensing and assessing social need if and when changes occur to the route.

I assure the Senator that I fully recognise that transport connectivity is very important for people who live, work and study in Ireland. As I know quite well, it is key to revitalising our villages, towns and urban centres. Indeed, I have been in Carlow with Deputy Catherine Callaghan and I am due to go back there next week or the week after. I use the bus myself. We have a very good bus service in my city, Cork. The importance of transport connectivity is why the NTA’s role in determining that if there is a loss of connectivity once a commercial route ceases to operate is critical. I assure the Senator that the Minister for Transport, Deputy O’Brien, the Minister of State in his Department, Deputy Canney, and I are very much aware of the importance of connectivity and I thank her for raising the matter.

The Minister of State talked about the market needing to respond. My concern in this regard is that there will be period for which we will have to wait, meaning there will be a gap in service. Effectively, the Minister of State is telling me there will be a gap in service for the affected communities.

We have outsourced and privatised everything in Ireland to the point that nothing is functioning, including this service. We are seeing insufficient-----

We have not privatised everything. The Senator should not say that, to be fair.

We are talking about private routes here. You are saying that the 717 cannot operate-----

Sorry, but the Senator should continue through the Chair.

The Minister of State has mentioned that the 717 is a private service that is going to be cut. We have talked about the Expressway service being a private service that has a public service obligation, but that we have to wait for the market to respond. I understand the market to mean the private sector. The Minister of State might clarify whether the market means something else within this context. My concern is that there will be a massive gap for people. I appreciate that this does not pertain to the Minister of State’s Department but it is a question of rural connectivity. There is a huge gap.

The NTA has told me there is no funding available to fill these gaps, so the Department needs to make a commitment. I do not see that the market, or the private sector, is going to respond in any clear way, since we know that Expressway has already said it is not financially viable for it. Why would it be different for a different provider? What we actually know is that the NTA has said it does not have funding to deal with these routes.

I reiterate that the Government is firmly committed to ensuring that people in Carlow, Kilkenny and elsewhere across Ireland, including those living in rural and regional communities, will have access to reliable, accessible and sustainable public transport options. I refer the Senator to Rural Link and the changes announced last week concerning hackney licences.

Connectivity is fundamental to supporting economic activity, social inclusion, access to education, healthcare and people's overall quality of life. I fully understand the frustration over the withdrawal of certain commercial activities by the operator we have referred to this afternoon. That is a matter for the company itself. There are robust mechanisms in place, through the NTA, to assess and respond to the gaps that may arise. This is how Local Link arose. The PSO framework ensures that where there is a clear social need and services are not commercially viable, the NTA intervenes in a targeted, proportional manner to maintain essential connectivity.

The significant allocation of €940 million for PSO services in this year's budget represents a 43% increase on the previous year and demonstrates the scale of our ambition for connectivity, rural transport and what we have been talking about this afternoon. I thank the Senator for the remarks. I will relay them to the staff in the Department and the NTA.

I thank the Minister of State and Senator Stephenson.

Members and indeed many Ministers will have heard me talking about the absolute need for a second bridge, a vital piece of infrastructure, for Newbridge and its environs. The bridge is an essential part of the southern outer orbital route. About 25% of the route has been completed, and much of the remaining 75% is at the stage of completion. Why is the bridge needed? Newbridge is a town of around 30,000 people.

There are five schools practically sitting on the bridge that we have, which is the only way in and out of Newbridge. I travel through that bridge as well and you can appreciate that at school start time and with congestion - a lot of people coming into or leaving Newbridge to work - we all have to time it and to try to stagger our timings because if you are caught, you are badly caught. I am sure the Chair knows it too. There have been huge delays basically for commuters and people going to school. If there is any issue like flooding or roadworks or whatever, everybody is just held completely to ransom. Having a second bridge has been on the cards for a long time but there absolutely has been progress. Planning permission was given last September 12 months to the company that owned the land where the approach to the bridge would have to be taken. Last September, the business case was accepted by the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien. We had hoped that with some more negotiation the construction would start in 2027 and I still believe that we can do that, but there has been a fly in the ointment since then. The company that owned the land had a planning permission request with An Coimisiúin Pleanála, ACP, and two weeks ago that was turned down. I have no doubt but that the company will put in for another planning permission based on the report it got. To be fair, at all times the company indicated that it was willing to work with Kildare County Council and the Department should it not get planning permission. There is a real fear from people around Newbridge that the bridge will not go ahead because of the refusal. I do not believe that to be the case but I have no doubt that an update has been given to the Department because it does see this as a priority project.

I appreciate that the Minister of State is here to take this Commencement matter. I want to seek reassurance that this is still a priority for Kildare County Council and for the Minister and the Department. It is absolutely vital to the growth of Newbridge, which is growing exponentially. It is a town that is well served by our railway line. We have a lot of new housing. We need to be able to have traffic moving smoothly. It is so important, so this bridge is a priority. Having a town bus - which I raised before with the Minister of State - is another priority. However, in this instance, we are talking about the bridge. We want to have assurance around its delivery and around the timelines because the last timeline I had was that it was hoped to start in 2027. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could respond to me.

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this very important matter and again for being a very strong champion and voice for the people of Newbridge. She is quite right in terms of the growth, the schools, the access and the egress. I apologise that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, cannot take this Commencement matter.

The Senator referenced the refusal by An Coimisiúin Pleanála in respect of the Great Connell strategic housing development. The Senator's contribution and question is in relation to that second bridge, which links Great Connell Road and Athgarvan Road over the River Liffey. The Senator is right. The comment she made that there will be a second application is a good one. It is important that we, as a Department, working with Kildare County Council, reaffirm, as the Senator has said, our support for the project. This is about a town that has grown exponentially, as the Senator said. It has changed from when I was a student in Maynooth to today. It is no longer just a county town: it is the hub. The Senator is right that the Department of Transport is committed to this. As she knows, Kildare County Council submitted a primary appraisal application, I think in 2023, to the Department of Transport on the orbital relief route scheme. Senator O'Loughlin has articulated that what we need to do in planning and transport with the Department of local government is to have traffic flowing in our urban towns.

This is an example of it successfully done in Kildare. In the case of this project, the business case was developed by the council to substantiate the need for the scheme. The Department made an allocation last year in support of the preparation of a business case for the Newbridge southern orbital route. The updated business case was submitted by the council for review last year and it was ultimately approved.

Kildare County Council obtained planning approval for the remaining section of the scheme in 2023 and it is currently in advanced discussions with landowners regarding land acquisition. In 2026, €200,000 has been allocated to the scheme. The recent decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála is being reviewed by Kildare County Council. In turn, the Department of Transport is also liaising directly with Kildare County Council on the matter.

The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are committed in our regional and local roads programme to protecting, enhancing and upgrading the existing road network. While the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a matter for the local authority, the Department will ensure we have funding prioritised to see our roads network enhanced. That is why the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, announced an Exchequer investment of €718 million for our regional and local roads earlier this year. This will facilitate an increase in funding allocation of €26 million this year for road protection and renewal works.

It is important that we work together on this project. Under the strategic grant programme, the Department makes decisions on a case-by-case basis. Working with local authorities all projects will be considered. They must comply with our infrastructure guidelines. Kildare County Council received €20 million for maintenance and improvement last year, of which over €19 million was allocated to road protection and renewal.

The points the Senator made this afternoon are good ones and we must take cognisance of them. We need to remember that Ireland's road density is the seventh highest in the European Union. The volume of traffic is putting pressure on towns like Newbridge, Kildare, Maynooth and others in County Kildare. The points the Senator has made make eminent sense and I look forward to bringing her comments back to the Department.

I thank the Minister of State for his response. A key area I asked about related to engagement with Kildare County Council. Based on his reply, I am very satisfied that that is ongoing. The second element was to ensure that this remains a priority. Again, I am absolutely happy from what he has said that this is an absolute priority. It is great to have the €20 million investment in roads in Kildare. A lot of the roads in the county are regional roads that people have to go through both on the western side and the eastern side of the M7. A lot of money is being spent on those roads.

I accept that the Minister of State appreciates the importance of this project. Will the timeline be pushed out? The last update was that it would be starting - there is always a caveat - hopefully in 2027. We hope that the money is ring-fenced for that. Does the Minister of State feel that timeline will be pushed out because of this?

I will answer the last question first. I do not know. I hope that the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála will not postpone the process too much. Engagement with Kildare County Council is ongoing. It is important that we have that interconnectedness that the Senator spoke about. Our Department is fully committed to the protection and renewal of our road network. I hope that this project - I will make the case that the Senator made this afternoon - remains an absolute priority for the Government.

The Senator spoke about the regional and local roads in Kildare. As she knows, the allocation is €20 million for this year, with the initial selection and prioritisation on maintenance and renewal works a matter for the council. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are committed to the restoration and maintenance of our road network and recognise the importance of it. Based on the points the Senator has made, it is critical that we enhance connectivity between rural and urban areas and allow people to be able to travel seamlessly in our country.

I hope in Kildare, under the strategic improvement grant programme, we will see that continue.

I thank the Minister of State.

I thank the Minister of State for giving his time. I know it is a very busy day in the Dáil so I appreciate it.

I will be back later.