I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important Topical Issue matter. I also thank the Minister, Deputy Ryan, for being in the Chamber. It certainly is a statement for him to be here in relation to the importance of this project for the west. One of the single most valuable pieces of infrastructure in the west of Ireland, and Ireland as a whole, is the western rail corridor. The campaign for its reopening has been ongoing for the past two decades. I commend West on Track for its dedication and commitment t…

I thank the Minister for his response. I appreciate his statement on broadening the lens regarding the importance of the western rail corridor. I understand the stumbling blocks regarding the publication of the all-Ireland strategic rail review and the pushing ahead of a draft review that needs to set out what is contained within it. However, a lot of work is taking place in Mayo. A lot of the multinationals, which are key employers throughout the county, are looking at their own corporate responsibility objectives…

Our public dental services are at crisis point in County Mayo. We have more than 55,000 medical card holders served by only ten dentists. That is a staggering average of more than 5,500 patients per dentist. The dentists are overwhelmed and are no longer accepting new patients. Medical card holders are suffering. They are stuck on long waiting lists or contemplating seeking treatment abroad. In February, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, promised a review of a modern, streamlined dental treatment service schem…

I commend the Government on its delivery under Housing for All, but I will now address the status of affordable housing goals, especially in counties previously overlooked by Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage targets. While we acknowledge the critical need for social housing, it is essential to foster a balance with affordable housing catering to those who seek homeownership. Previously, I brought this issue to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, emphasising a realistic targ…

While I welcome recent benefits in the area of childcare costs in Ireland, costs are still a huge barrier for families and those returning to work. What does the Minister intend to do to decrease the costs of childcare in budget 2024?

I thank the Minister for his response. He must be commended on his response with regard to the NCS but also for the increased funding to the sector with the additional €173 million in 2022 via the core funding scheme. That was a huge statement of intent by this Government in terms of addressing the pay issues within the sector, which resulted in pay increases for more than 70% of early years managers and educators. I must bring to the Minister's attention that there is an ongoing concern about the lack of crèche fa…

I thank the Minister for his response. I certainly welcome his response in relation to childminders. They are pivotal in rural areas, where many children are cared for in the childminder's home. Bringing them into the scheme will certainly entice a lot more people to use childminders, which will complement the crèche facilities within community settings or private settings. That is really important going forward. We should also address the ongoing issues around capitation. We have heard from the early childhood pro…

I want to raise the utmost importance of the deployment of anti-drone technology at Dublin Airport. It has been brought to my attention that despite months having passed since the disruptive incidents caused by unauthorised drones, the necessary measures are still not in place. While the required technology was procured weeks ago and the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, boss stated it would be deployed within weeks, the final regulatory approval necessary for its deployment is still pending. The delays are preventing…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter. At the outset, I must outline my disappointment that the senior Minister, Deputy Foley, is not available tonight to discuss this matter. The Minister is familiar with the school, which is Davitt College in Castlebar, as she visited it on 15 September last year. I have no doubt that the Minister understands the importance of this project for the school community, its staff and its management. I wish to raise s…

I thank the Minister of State for the response. He received a script from the officials in the Department of Education which fails to address any of the points I raised. That is not surprising. What I find even more staggering is that it fails even to address any of the engagements that civil servants, at principal or assistant secretary level in the Department of Education, had in calling the school directly and not availing of the devolved arrangements through the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Bo…

Castlebar Educate Together National School is urgently appealing for immediate and resolute actions to be taken by the Minister for Education to address the growing demand for equality-based education. An application is sitting in her Department. Castlebar Educate Together National School is a multidenominational school, consisting of four teachers and one SNA, with an enrolment of over 120 students. It has been in existence for the past seven years and had a mere 12 pupils back in 2016. One of the school's signifi…

It was very positive to see our economy perform so strongly in recent years, despite ongoing geopolitical tension, inflation, and other challenging issues. Yesterday's World Competitiveness Ranking placed Ireland in second place behind Denmark. That should not be overlooked or taken for granted. We have a strong track record of competitiveness and in how we compete for foreign direct investment. We have seen record unemployment levels that are the lowest in the history of the State with thousands of jobs created th…

I welcome the pupils and teachers from Dooagh National School, Achill Island, who left at 6 a.m. this morning to be here. I hope they enjoy their visit to Dáil Éireann. Following the Taoiseach's attendance at the EU leaders' meeting in Moldova, I would like to raise two key areas of great importance to the people of Ireland, the first being the discussion of high energy prices and security of supply, which is of the utmost importance. The Taoiseach emphasised the need for a transition to green, renewable sources to…

I am delighted to contribute to today's discussion on the progress and the effectiveness of our youth justice strategy, specifically focusing on the implementation and impact of the youth diversion projects that form an integral part of our comprehensive youth justice strategy. Under this strategy, the youth diversion projects have experienced a new and expanded mandate throughout the country, reaffirming the importance of diversion in our youth justice system. As Deputy Jim O'Callaghan outlined, we must recognise …

It was great to see the recent announcement of €2.5 million dedicated to the construction of the Daisy Lodge facility in Cong, County Mayo, for cancer services for children. It is great to see the Government utilising the shared island fund to support these cross-Border initiatives, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on people's lives. Given the organisation's connections between North and South, the announcement today will play a crucial role in facilitating the construction of the much-needed therapeut…

It is widely accepted that anti-drone technology will play a crucial role for governments to ensure the safety and security of their citizens. Drones have become increasingly accessible and can pose significant threats such as unauthorised surveillance, smuggling and even acts of terrorism. Implementing effective anti-drone measures and robust policies helps the Government protect its airspace and critical infrastructure from potential risks. To what extent has the Department explored advanced technology that can m…

Anti-drone technology is a really hot topic right now. Unmanned warfare is taking centre stage, especially in the Ukraine war, where Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has raised the profile of drone warfare with some 600 unmanned aerial vehicles from both sides estimated to take flight daily. However, locally, the threat from drones is far broader. Commercial drones are typically sold with preset geofencing that prevents their flight near sensitive locations. However, these guardrails are easily hacked. We all w…

The question relates to the implementation of this anti-drone technology. From what the Tánaiste has said, it seems that it is currently not up to date or is not in operation. While I accept that the DAA has drone detection systems, that does little in terms of protecting our air spaces or implementing take-down measures through a number of provisions. I wish to ask about progress across Departments to strengthen our ability to deal with drone incidents. The Departments of Justice, Transport and Defence all have ro…

I welcome the Taoiseach's comments regarding the additional allocation of €240 million for the community healthcare networks. The implementation of the Sláintecare vision for primary care facilities is crucial for creating a more accessible and effective healthcare system. There is certainly a focus on increasing the capacity and availability of primary care centres, but one issue I draw to the Taoiseach's attention relates to the delay in the provision of the Ballyhaunis primary care centre, which has been on hold…

In recent years, Ireland has made several applications to host large-scale sporting events, including the Ryder Cup 2026, the UEFA European Football Championship 2028, and the Rugby World Cup 2023. However, we encountered challenges in making a substantial impact once these bids were submitted, primarily due to the lack of co-ordination among Departments and sporting organisations. The independent evaluation report following the decision to award the Rugby World Cup 2023 to France highlighted significant deficienci…