The Minister of State is aware that youth is a time when incidence of mental health disorder peaks, be it anxiety, depression, psychological distress or suicide, but it also is a time at which access to coherent and user-friendly primary care services is largely absent. The key principle underpinning the implementation of youth mental health care is early intervention. Organisations and individuals have highlighted to me how children and young people have been greatly impacted by delays in access and lack of resour…

The death of Ashling Murphy has united communities throughout Ireland. It is probably only in recent days that the realisation of her loss has begun to settle in her community and county of Offaly. I offer my sincere condolences to her family. What happened in Tullamore two weeks ago has brought about an incredible sense of national solidarity. We must also be respectful of the fact that many other communities have experienced similar losses and shocks over the years. However, the tide has changed strongly and our …

Counties in the west are disproportionately suffering from high rates of residential vacancy. We need to ensure that our local authorities are prioritising resources to target vacancy and boost existing housing supply where it is lying idle. What is being done within the Department to ensure that full-time staff are in place in local authority vacant housing offices?

I welcome the positive news of the increased departmental funding for supports for vacant homes officers. Having those positions on a full-time basis will strengthen local authorities in combating vacant properties. The latest GeoDirectory residential building report for quarter 4 of 2021 showed that Mayo has the second highest residential vacancy rate in the country, standing at 11.9%. For many it can be disheartening to feel locked out of purchasing a home in the area of their choice while walking around their lo…

Solving the current housing crisis will certainly require the most innovative solutions. The Minister of State made reference to the vacanthomes.ie website, which was developed by Mayo County Council. That provides a starting point of contact for each local authority. I acknowledge Tom Gilligan, the website's founder, and his work in this area. Maybe it would also be useful to develop a website into a one-stop-shop model highlighting the various grants and incentives in place to alleviate the vacancy crisis. The De…

It is vital that increased effort is made to streamline the delivery of large capital projects. Too many communities are awaiting the delivery of important capital projects. Any changes to or delays in timelines are simply causing a loss of good faith when it comes to informing the public. What is the Minister’s Department doing to deal with this issue?

I thank the Minister very much for his reply. One very good example is the Crossmolina flood relief scheme. Local communities desperately need to see this project commence as soon as possible. They have waited patiently as it has gone through formal process after formal process. We must look seriously at the need to speed up such a process into the future. I am particularly disappointed with the delays relating to this project because I was previously advised in replies to parliamentary questions I submitted last D…

I appreciate the Minister's commitment and that of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to deliver this project. I note the announcement on the formation of the major project advisory group last month. I understand that the group's primary role is to ensure strong governance at critical junctures in the context of the delivery of major projects, which is very welcome. I hope that we would operate on the basis of streamlining project timelines for delivery as opposed to adding further delays. I would appreciate…

I ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Crossmolina flood relief scheme and the reasons for the delays in the Department's timeline for review. The people of Crossmolina are eagerly awaiting further news on this. As we start the new year, I would appreciate an update from the Minister.

I thank the Minister of State for the update. As he is aware, I have raised this matter a number of times in the House. The people and businesses in Crossmolina that are affected by the risk of flooding have major concerns about the progress of this enormous capital project. The benefits of it would be huge. I compliment Mayo County Council, its engineers and the staff of the OPW on the work they have done to date for the people of Crossmolina. However, we need this project to progress to tender and project build a…

I too commend both the Minister and the Minister of State on their work. As someone who has been involved in many sports throughout my lifetime, the importance of the sports capital programme to many clubs and communities is enormous. It is good to hear the Minister of State is fighting for additional funding in this regard. As I understand, each county will receive a set amount from the national total fund. It would be important to get clarity on that. That money will then be distributed among the clubs within eac…

The impact of recent increases in energy prices and the rising cost of utility bills are having an enormous impact on households and businesses. You only have to ask those who filled their car at the pumps or got a fill of oil for their home in recent weeks. What engagement is the Department of Finance having with utility companies and what can we do to address this for consumers?

I welcome the measures that have been introduced. Anything that helps should be prioritised. I welcome the tax and social welfare adjustments and the announcement this week in respect of the €100 credit for account holders. These are important to counter rising costs of living. I still feel we need to do much more in the longer term. We have seen commentary in recent weeks that energy prices are the main driver of inflation at present. We have seen the road hauliers crying out for relief on fuel costs. Typical home…

If we consider the number of people who on Government advice are now working from home, it is obvious that they are using more household energy, resulting in higher bills. Consumers are facing massive price hikes by utility companies. We have taken some first steps this week, but more needs to be done. With Christmas just around the corner, people are concerned about more money coming out of their pockets. Can we give any further subsidies? The situation is impacting those in particular who are on tight budgets and…

The roll-out of the national broadband plan needs to be seriously ramped up and pushed up a gear in the coming year. We are drifting towards a risk of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory if we do not capitalise on the opportunities presented by remote and hybrid working throughout our rural communities. We expect more than 4,800 households to be connected in townlands around Castlebar and Ballina before the first quarter of 2022. I understand this significant first step from Mayo is facing additional delays. …

The time has elapsed. I ask that we conclude the debate.

I thank Deputy Naughten for clarifying that.

It is vitally important we protect our landmark buildings in our towns and villages, as they are often an important centrepiece in their communities. It was great to have the Minister in Swinford last May, where she saw, first hand, the remodelling of the old courthouse into the new DigiWest hub. Many towns and villages in Mayo are working to achieve similar outcomes to what was done in Swinford. In places like Balla, Partry, Bohola, Ballycastle, Ballycroy, Belmullet and Louisburgh we have rural communities who are…

I thank the Minister for her response. I know Our Rural Future aims to expand the town and village renewal scheme as a key enabler in bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into multipurpose spaces and for residential use. I raised the issue of dereliction in our towns and villages at a Topical Issues debate with Deputy Stanton, who is in the Chamber. I note with interest the mention of appointing town regeneration officers, announced as part of budget 2022. It would be useful to have more information on the p…

On a similar matter, our hotels, restaurants and bars have been heavily impacted by recent changes to public health measures. I am aware of many businesses throughout Mayo that have had their Christmas trading significantly reduced, with high levels of cancellations, following those changes. It is one thing to see a change in public behaviour but the reduction in the EWSS is rubbing salt into the wound. Even extending the full rate of the scheme would be an incredible sign of support for this sector. I acknowledge …