It was a fantastic weekend. Gaillimh abú. It was a thrilling performance and a fantastic win for Galway. It was a little more difficult on the Donegal side of things, but I know Donegal will be back again. The players gave everything and we really cannot wait for the all-Ireland final. There is huge demand for the regional bus network. I call for a review of Bus Éireann's No. 20 Expressway service that ran from Galway to Dublin. It was removed a couple of years ago. However, there is a great need for everyone in so…

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. Scoil an Chroí Naofa in Ballinasloe was established in 1996 with an understanding at that time from the Department of Education that there would be a new school build. Families, teaching staff and the board itself have been waiting 28 years. This is a school with more than 300 children. It is really a shocking indictment of delays in the system. We have fantastic teaching support in the school but children and teachers are freezing every winter. These buildings da…

I appreciate that the Minister of State is taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Education but the Department has responsibility to the families in that school and the people of Ballinasloe. It said itself that is the most significant project the town needs. I do not see the urgency. I would like the Minister of State to ask the Department what resources are being allocated to this. What other projects are on the design team's plate? Where is the priority being given to this project for Ball…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for taking so many of our Commencement matters this morning.

The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, is very welcome here today. He is taking the Commencement matter for Senator Lombard.

I thank the Minister of State and Senator Lombard.

This is a very sad week in which we have lost an absolute giant in the world of sport and politics, John O'Mahony. Our deepest sympathies go to John's wife, Geraldine, his daughters and all the O'Mahony family on their loss. Many Oireachtas colleagues knew him well and have spoken of their feeling of loss. His death is shocking to many because he was only in his early 70s. He grew up with a love of football and for Fine Gael. He lived on the boundary between counties Mayo and Roscommon. His was the last house in th…

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to the House to talk about the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024. The rent-a-room relief scheme is crucial. That programme has been brought in for people to have additional income, of course, and to be able to give a space to others. I see it in my hometown. Nurses and doctors who come to work in Portiuncula Hospital for six-month stints find it impossible to find accommodation. At a basic level, I do not know if the Minister is aware that the Aircoach serv…

I acknowledge the people who are with me here today. They are my friends from Ballinasloe. They have come with their families and the next generation. I acknowledge people who have known me up and down and in and out. We know our life here can sometimes be very intense and we know that our lives as Senators and public representatives can be full on. Sometimes our friends and families take a back seat. I want to acknowledge that I am very fortunate to have very good buddies and pals. They keep me grounded. They know…

I thank the Minister for being with us to address this Bill. To follow on from what my colleagues have said, it is important we see this sector is managed well, supervised well and monitored. It is about ensuring we have the same level of care, attention and so on across all providers. That is very understandable. I agree with Senator Currie. It is important we give reassurance to those sectors that were not engaged by regulation that they will be and can be encouraged and supported by supports from Tusla on this. …

Comhghairdeas to Senator Kyne as well on his new post as Deputy Leader of the House and leader of the Fine Gael group. I pay tribute to him because he has been involved so much in guiding and mentoring many of us, especially when we were new here way back. It seems a long time ago now when we first came in as new Senators. I also congratulate Senator Regina Doherty, who is our new MEP. She has done fantastically well and will now be working for us representing Ireland, along with our other MEPs, Nina Carberry, Mari…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, to the House in his new role at the Department of housing. It is great that he is overlooking and reviewing the third-largest Bill to come before the Houses. I very much take on board what the Minister of State referred to in his opening statement concerning the engagement with so many groups across the board. I refer to the amendments proposed as well. The officials in the Department have looked at this aspect and taken on board nearly two thirds of these amendments.…

I pay tribute to a group that is visiting us today, comprising councillors and candidates who ran in the local election. I pay tribute to people who put their names on the ballot paper and who, sometimes with the help of family and friends, go out and about and want to represent their local communities. I want to pay tribute to two of those people, Dympna Daly-Finn and Councillor Gareth Scahill, who, along with their families and friends who supported them, are here today. The visit is an acknowledgement and encour…

Hear, hear.

I appreciate it. I thank all the Senators here. Students from fourth, fifth and sixth class in Cloontuskert National School are here today. They met Senator Flynn earlier. These young people are our future generation. They were finalists in VEX Robotics. This small school in the west of Ireland, located a few miles outside of Ballinasloe, competes at the highest level. I am also told that the school's students are county finalists in the football. That is very important. This school goes over and above. It is the s…

Today there was an announcement of just transition funds. That is over €80 million of Exchequer funds combined with EU just transition funds of another €80 million. That is €160 million for the counties in the midlands, including Roscommon and the Ballinasloe municipal district in County Galway. I compliment the groups, community groups and entities that will receive funding. For example, Aughrim is village located a few miles from Ballinasloe. The Battle of Aughrim visitor centre will receive €100,000 to come up w…

I welcome the Minister of State. I acknowledge Senator Kyne, as a Senator from the west of Ireland, for tabling this motion. In 2022, we attended a presentation by Professors Michael Kerin and Maccon Keane. These consultants took time out of an unbelievably precious schedule to visit Buswells Hotel and give a presentation. Senator Kyne raised a key point about a cancer centre in the west of Ireland. As Senators who represents counties Roscommon and Galway, we can inform the Minister of State that there are worse ou…

Roscommon town was today named the best-kept large town. This is an all-island accolade. Towns in Northern Ireland also go forward in this competition. I am really proud to see that Roscommon town has won this all-island accolade. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, is a big promoter of Tidy Towns, with the awards presented in conjunction with SuperValu as the partner here in Ireland. It is incredible to see the funding that has come into Roscommon town. There has been urban regener…

The 50-bed ward block at Sacred Heart Hospital and Care Home on the Golf Links Road in Roscommon is going to take a leap forward today. Senator Eugene Murphy is here and this has been a major issue for him and many other public representatives. They have stressed the urgent need for this development and have advocated for it for years. The Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, Deputy Mary Butler, will attend the turning of the sod ceremony at 3 p.m. today. This is a residential h…

It is an absolute honour to speak with iarUachtarán Mary Robinson. She is a woman from the west of Ireland on the world's stage. Mrs. Robinson has spoken about the 1990s and the winds of change that came to Ireland. She was an inspiration to me and an inspiration to all the young schoolboys and schoolgirls who were here. She knows what it means to be a symbol, which is what she is. Earlier she spoke about the importance of symbolism. She is a symbol to us of how women can drive change and reach their potential at a…