I thank Senator Ruane for tabling this motion. It is crucial that we discuss poverty, which does not get as much discussion time as it should. I represent Roscommon and Galway in the west, counties which have dispersed populations, many of whose members experience rural isolation. Senator Ruane spoke about her background, and I would like to speak about mine. I was the first person in my family to go to college. I grew up on a small farm. Both of my parents farmed and had part-time jobs on top of that, but we were …

The Technological University of the Shannon opened a learning gate today. One might ask what a learning gate is. I learned this morning that it is a place where students can come and study. Ballinasloe Area Community Development hosts a place for start-ups, enterprise and companies but it also has meeting room space and this is where students will now be able to come and learn, meet with other students or carry out research for the college they are attending. This is the first of 11 that will be opened by the Techn…

I thank the Minister of State, who is here in her capacity of having responsibility for special educational needs. It is fantastic that we have this new programme. The July provision was always one of those titles that was slightly confusing and it is great to see the name change to the "summer programme". I spoke with a couple of school principals this morning to get some feedback. The timing of the announcement is extremely welcome. The late announcements around the programme in previous years were very challengi…

I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to be here. She and I attended a meeting on Monday evening in the Shearwater Hotel at which GPs from the Ballinasloe and south-east Galway area came together. They came from group practices, including the Marina House and Dunlo medical centres, which are well known in Ballinasloe town. These cover a huge area, not only of County Galway but also of south County Roscommon because we are right on the county boundary. It includes places like Taghmaconnell, Moore, Aughri…

I know this is not an easy situation but we need that meeting with the Minister, as the Minister of State has mentioned. That has to happen. It is incredible to say we cannot support a network of GPs who are, as the Minister of State said, entering into retirement age and who have no support in place. We cannot talk about legacy issues here because right now we are talking about families and people living in Galway and south Roscommon who will not have access to GP support. They will not have access and yet we are …

I thank the Minister of State for her time.

I join my colleagues in congratulating the Irish women's soccer team. It is phenomenal. It was great to hear the players speak about how inspirational it is and will be for future generations of young girls watching the team now. They will consider taking on football and, it is to be hoped, will play again. A local player, Heather Payne from Galway, came through Ballinasloe Town AFC and is playing with them as well. I acknowledge the incredible funding that has come through the Department of Rural and Community Dev…

I thank the Chair for allowing me to contribute after the Minister of State. I thank the Minister of State for addressing the motion. I also thank my colleague, Senator Pauline O'Reilly. We need to start thinking outside the box about how to increase the breastfeeding level. Ireland is lagging behind globally, including in Europe, I suppose. In my area, Ballinasloe, a parent group called Cuidiú has started to encourage and support women, particularly first-time mothers, with breastfeeding. It is a real challenge be…

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. It is great to see we are looking at consumer rights and at strengthening them. I heard the Minister of State's opening remarks and understand there have been delays and challenges around the fact it has been so complex and that this has been a key reason for the delays. It is crucial we are looking at consumer rights. A section I wish to highlight is that it is going to be possible to get a price reduction on faulty goods and flawed services. When you are looking at som…

I thank the Minister for being with us here today. We have spoken numerous times about many projects, in particular around Galway. I was involved in the local campaign for the Galway to Dublin cycleway. It is fantastic that the bridge in Athlone is now getting built. It is an amazing project. It is three pieces of infrastructure, and they were brought over further down the Shannon and the bridge is being set up now. In Athlone, people are walking, bringing prams and out on their bikes. I am amazed at how many pedes…

Tens of thousands of people came into Ballinasloe this weekend for the Ballinasloe Fair and Festival. It was wonderful because it has not run for the last two years. This was its 300th anniversary. It was about meeting family and friends and about having a lot of craic and ceol in the town. We had music and bands, particularly those that are well-known locally, although they are well-known nationally as well, from Mike Denver to Rachel Goode. The committee, together with Galway County Council, had put together an e…

I again thank the Senators who have brought forward the motion. I welcome the update from the Minister of State on the achievement with the Passport Office this year. It has been a challenging time, something that is understood by everyone. The Department of Foreign Affairs put measures in place. As the Minister of State has noted, the demand for online passports is incredible. I understand the online service will issue in excess of 1 million passports this year. Our population is growing and is now more than 5.5 m…

Some are in their 80s or 90s.

The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, is doing a press conference in the Department of Education. She has announced that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will meet the costs of the families who have been waiting for the remaining concessionary bus tickets. This is crucial. It is something I have campaigned for within Fine Gael with Senators Lombard and McGahon. We had a motion at Government level last week that was passed in the Seanad. It is crucial this measure is implemented as soon as possibl…

I thank the Senators who tabled the motion, which allows us to discuss the issue of young people and the challenges they face. We know that we are in uncertain times, that there is a lot of anxiety and that the past two years, when we had to deal with Covid and the lockdowns, have been harrowing. This has impacted all age groups but particularly young people. As a spokesperson for further and higher education, research, innovation and science, I am very aware of that. I am a member of the Joint Sub-Committee on Men…

I note that what we have seen today is a budget of more than €90.4 billion. It is an increase on last year's budget and it is to help families at a time of crisis. Supports are being put in place. There is an increase in the pension, more social welfare supports and greater numbers of people are able to access the fuel allowance. All of this will tackle issues for the most vulnerable, those who are in need and those who are waiting to get energy retrofits done and cannot get access to or are waiting months for the …

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming. This is a cost-of-living budget of more than €90 billion. We see the Government responding to a need and an energy crisis for families throughout Ireland. We hear from the Opposition that retrofitting needs to be done but we need people in place to do that job. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, has provided for 4,000 additional places on the apprenticeship programme. This will ensure people are trained up …

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. In terms of the expenditure we are seeing today, this is one of the best budgets we have seen in a long while. It is to manage the cost-of-living crisis. The questions I have are specifically on education. In recent weeks we have had a big call on school transport. More than 6,000 families are waiting. I understand there will be with a review of this through the budget that is being allocated through education. If the Minister of State has further information o…

I am delighted with all that is happening across the country this week. The National Ploughing Championships commenced yesterday and continues today and tomorrow. Very many people attended yesterday and are there today. I look forward to getting there tomorrow at some stage. However, one needs to know where one is going because the event is so huge that it feels like a jungle due to the amount of stands and everything else. Many agricultural shows have resumed. In County Galway, the Ballyforan Fair will take place …

There are a range of amendments. Where the composition of these governing bodies is concerned, it is important that students be included and that the student voice be heard. It has traditionally been a closed shop to students. Senator Higgins referred to the principle of nothing with us without us. It is true that the student voice needs to be heard. It is important that students' unions play a key part within our university bodies. There is always a healthy tension in trying to achieve a students' union's objectiv…