I thank the Acting Chair for affording me the opportunity to contribute on this Private Members' Bill on behalf of the Government. It is important to reiterate that the Government recognises the importance of having an open and transparent planning system. The inclusion of prescribed bodies in the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, is a key part of the planning process and provides planning authorities the opportunity to request submissions from such bodies on particular issues, for example, our…

I thank Senator O'Reilly for bringing this important matter to my attention and for the opportunity to address this topic. In recent years, my Department has invested significantly in rural water and waste water infrastructure to support our rural towns and villages. As the Senator said, it is crucially important for quality of life measures and to enhance vibrancy within rural communities and areas so that people there can have a good quality of life. To live, raise a family and work, it is essential that they hav…

I thank Senator O'Reilly. The points he made are valid. It is a challenge, absolutely, and I am very much aware of the issue that he and the councillor who contacted him have raised. We will continue to examine actively ways to continue to support and improve wastewater connections and water services in rural areas in need. I can certainly work with the Senator and the relevant local authorities to try to achieve a solution to the problem the Senator raised. If he wishes to pass on the contact details, I will be mo…

I also welcome all the guests joining us in the Seanad. To return to more serious issues, I thank Senator Currie for raising this important matter about Coolmine Community School. I am taking this Commencement matter on the funding of roof works under the emergency works scheme on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. I acknowledge Ms Patricia McPhillips, the former principal mentioned by the Senator, and the wonderful service she has given to her community and the impression she has left on many young people's liv…

I thank the Senator. She has made a compelling case in advocating on behalf of Coolmine Community School and the students, teachers and staff who have to deal with this on a daily basis. I will take all the information that she has presented back to the Minister, Deputy Foley. As we move into the winter months, it is obvious that this case is exceptional. There is a need to rectify the situation on the basis that we will have inclement weather conditions over the next number of months. I have no doubt that if the s…

I thank Senator Lombard for raising this important matter. I have listened to him many times raise it previously and I know how passionate he is about it. I am sure that many of the 13,000 students want to see the same change sought by the Senator. It is time for action. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley, and the Department of Education. I assure the Senator that the State Examinations Commission takes very seriously its obligations in providing access to the certif…

In once sense Senator Lombard's frustration is justified. I will absolutely relay his sense of disappointment regarding the timeline. We need an accelerated delivery programme on this reform. That is really important in the context of what he has advocated on behalf the young people who have special education needs and who in the future will sit their State examinations and need that additional level of support. The review needs to be expedited and we need to have a clear pathway for how this reform will be underta…

I welcome budget 2025, which was announced yesterday by my colleagues, the Ministers, Deputies Donohoe and Chambers. It will make an enormous difference to people's lives, particularly to those of many families. Turning to my own Department, budget 2025 provides very important funding in areas under my responsibility. In the area of planning, budget 2025 makes provision for the largest ever budgetary allocation to An Bord Pleanála, totalling more than €38 million. An additional €6 million has been provided to the b…

I thank Deputy Troy, a person who has, as he has said, vast experience in public life, for proposing this important draft legislation. I also thank the other Members who will contribute to this debate for their interest in the question of local authority public administration. As Minister of State with responsibility for local government and planning, I am particularly interested in this Bill and the questions it raises. Over ten years ago, we started what is perhaps the most significant process of reform of local …

I thank Deputy Troy for proposing this Bill. We must put the citizens relying on local government and those we represent at the heart of everything we do. The desire here is to ensure the large range of services provided by local government can be delivered more effectively and efficiently. This legislation is to be welcomed in that regard. I am also sure, and I am sure my colleagues in this House will agree, that local government provides an enormous and diverse range of services and functions. At the last count, …

I like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. Before I address the specific issue raised, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023 - 2024 school year over 163,000 children were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This figure includes over …

I again thank Deputy O'Sullivan for this important matter and providing us with the opportunity to respond with the script that has been provided by the Minister, Deputy Foley, and her Department. While it is extremely regrettable that a number of contractors had issues delivering a service at short notice, Bus Éireann is prioritising the establishment of a new service for the small number of families affected. As the Deputy said, it is of paramount importance that they act swiftly and urgently to deliver service. …

I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this important matter. I know how passionate he is about the delivery of sporting facilities in conjunction with the schools building programme. I thank the Deputy for allowing me to provide information on the provision of sports facilities at the Carrigtwohill school campus in east Cork. The Carrigtwohill school campus project, as the Deputy said, is the largest single school building project ever undertaken by the Department and will serve a school community of more than 2,400 p…

I again thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I will refrain from reading the scripted closing statement. I agree with some of the points the Deputy made. He has a very strong argument in respect of the issue at hand. I will go back to the Minister and her officials on it. We need proper usage of State land when it comes to the provision of services. As already stated, we are delivering record investment in community sports facilities. We must maximise what we have at our disposal. As the Deputy said, 13 ball co…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. The Government is not opposing this motion put forward by the Regional Group and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. The Government is very aware of the valuable work being carried out by family carers and this is evidenced by the extensive measures that have been taken to support carers in recent years. The approach to date has been targeted and has involved increased payment rates, in conjunction with earnings disregard increases and targeted cost-…

The Government is not opposing the Bill.

I move: That, notwithstanding the Order of the Dáil of 16th December, 2020, or the Order of the Dáil of 15th May, 2024, the sequence in which Leaders shall be called upon to put questions between 2nd October, 2024, and 16th January, 2025, inclusive, pursuant to Standing Order 36( ca ), shall be in accordance with the rota contained in the report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform dated 23rd September, 2024, entitled " Rota for Leaders ' Questions pursuant to Standing Order 36 from 2 October 2024 to…

It is great to be back in the Seanad. I hope everyone had a lovely recess. I will address amendments Nos. 1, 6 and 16, as tabled by Senators Boyhan and McDowell, and amendments Nos. 17 and 22 to 25, inclusive, as tabled by Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn. These amendments all relate to Part 1, which contains the general provisions, including the Long Title, commencement and definitions. Amendment No. 1 seeks to amend the Long Title of the Bill. At present, the Long Title includes, among other matters, that…

These references must be updated and the Department has undertaken significant work in recent months, in consultation with other Departments with responsibility-----

I will address the Aarhus Convention again later.