I thank the Minister for her response. In Mayo it was well received by 30 community groups and organisations that received funding in the region of €640,000. Some of the awardees locally were Partry, Ballyhean, Turlough, Cong, Islandeady and Balla and the feedback has been tremendous. I also want to compliment the Minister on her earlier points in regard to sporting bodies such as Charlestown Bellaghy recreational development centre and Mayo Gaels GAA club. They received essential funding for the upgrade of lightin…

It is no coincidence that there were more than 1,000 applicants on the basis that the Department scheduled a number of online events in May and June. That was central in order to support communities in the application process. As public representatives, it certainly made our job easier in promoting this scheme. It is positive to hear that the Government is increasing the national pot next year to €20 million. I look forward to the applications opening in 2023 and to further announcements for categories 2 and 3.

The RRDF is crucially important for some vital projects in Mayo that are currently in planning and development stages. I ask the Minister to provide an update on the fund, which is a lifesaver for many rural communities.

It is good to hear the Minister outline that Mayo's record in the delivery of RRDF projects is the second highest in the country, with over €30 million worth of projects delivered. One such project is the Connaught GAA centre of excellence and air dome based in Bekan outside Ballyhaunis. It is a fantastic facility that is used by so many young people and up-and-coming underage footballers. I would also like to make the call for Ballinrobe civic arts and amenity centre, a hugely important project for the community i…

The issue of the long-awaited phase 2 and phase 3 of the western rail corridor from Athenry to Galway and from Claremorris in Mayo must be addressed. It is absolutely critical that the economic argument for the western rail corridor, both freight and rail, is included in the all-Ireland strategic rail review report to boost sustainable connectivity and address regional imbalance. I attended a conference in Tuam on achieving regional balance. There is cross-party support throughout the entire western region for the …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Finance Bill 2022. I acknowledge the Minister's continued management of our economy, especially in challenging times, which has enabled us to make an €11 billion intervention without borrowing - a substantial achievement - while also placing an additional €2 billion aside this year and a further €4 billion next year in a reserve fund to protect Ireland from shocks in the future. Given the difficult winter that is facing us all, I welcome the progressive measures contained w…

I thank the Acting Chairman and for the opportunity to speak on the National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill. I acknowledge the increase in funding from €300 million to €500 million. Tourism is one of Ireland’s most important economic sectors and its significance as a source of employment and regional development cannot be underestimated. The substantial increase in funding will allow Fáilte Ireland to better support tourism, enterprise and projects, as well as the development of tourism facilities a…

I welcome the suite of recent budgetary measures, especially for young people. They are practical measures that would help students and families with the cost of education and the cost of living generally. There are over 1,736 students in Mayo who will receive the additional student grant repayment. This is very welcome, on top of the €1,000 fee reduction. On the Minister's hard work on the cost of third level education through the funding the future policy, can he provide an update on how we can reduce fees in the…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputies Paul McAuliffe and Cormac Devlin - to discuss the Go-Ahead Ireland bus service in Dublin and ongoing issues with provision and reliability of bus services in Dublin. Deputy James Lawless - to discuss the student levy that Maynooth University imposed for several years for a building that will not now be built. Deputies Louise O'Reilly, Aengus Ó Snodai…

There has been an immediate call from early childhood care providers to increase capitation for the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme, from €69 to €76 per week, at a cost of €30 million per annum. I have been contacted by several providers in Mayo who state that their businesses will no longer be viable if increased capitation is not put in place. Despite positive support for employees in early childhood care in this year's budget, the Federation of Early Childhood Providers is asking for more fun…

Like many on both sides of the House, I have stated that the energy crisis and fuel costs in general comprise one of the biggest challenges facing citizens in this country, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Many households and businesses throughout the country are worried heading into the winter months. The cost of energy and that of doing business are also rising, food and shopping bills are increasing and interest rates are going up. The scale of the energy crisis has without doubt shifted the Govern…

I welcome the increased funding for the NCSE and our SENOs. That is an important area that needed to be strengthened, especially the engagement with principals and educators in both primary and secondary schools. How swiftly will these 160 additional staff posts be advertised and is there a breakdown of the allocation per county as a result of this €13 million investment in the NCSE?

I ask the Minister to provide an update on the current status of the review of the DEIS identification model.

I thank the Minister for her response. I welcome the recent major expansion of the DEIS programme, which demonstrates the Minister's commitment, and that of the Department, to inclusive education and supporting students facing disadvantage. However, I am concerned about the identification model, which the Minister has stated is objective and statistics-based. I regularly meet with many principals and boards of management of schools in the DEIS programme in my own constituency, including in my own town of Castlebar.…

I welcome the expansion of the programme. Within County Mayo, an additional 15 schools were included in the expansion announced in March of this year, which was most welcome. However, I wish to highlight the inconsistency of there being no DEIS schools in west or south Mayo. All the schools allocated DEIS status are in north or east Mayo. Certainly, while I understand that the model is a statistics-based one, there are issues around trying to get clarifications for principals and boards of management who are in des…

The emergency department at Mayo University Hospital remains under significant pressure. The hospital is postponing a number of elective day cases and inpatient procedures due to high admission rates and pressure on the site. The signs for the winter ahead at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar are not promising due to these issues. Given that the hospital and the HSE are aware of significant demands on the Mayo University Hospital emergency department and past failings in terms of treating patients in a timely m…

Housing is the number one issue on the doorsteps. It affects many young people, individuals and families. The shortage of housing to rent or purchase in my county, Mayo, is a serious concern and certainly hurts its future economic development. I have been beating the drum for some time on the delivery of an affordable housing scheme, in all Mayo's main towns, following our exclusion from the national affordable housing five-year delivery plan, despite the existing problems. I welcome Mayo County Council's recent su…

People living and working in Crossmolina are anxiously awaiting final approval for the long-awaited flood relief there. The town was devastated by flood water from the River Deel sweeping through it on 15 December 2015. We are approaching the seventh anniversary of that happening this year and the community in the town faces another worrying winter of unknowns ahead. Will the Minister of State please provide an update on the progress of this scheme?

I thank the Minister of State for his response. As I said, this scheme has been ongoing for close to seven years now. While I welcome the update, does the Minister of State agree that urgent reform is needed regarding the planning system concerning these types of projects to avoid similar delays for future developments? What role is the OPW playing in driving reform in this area?

I thank the Minister of State for that update, but, again, for the people of Crossmolina watching tonight they are still affected by a situation where a judicial review of a scheme in County Cork is jeopardising 116 properties in Crossmolina that have been subjected to repeated flooding. Those people's safety and livelihoods are at risk. I know the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, are doing their level best to get this scheme progressed through the confirmation stage, h…