I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The use of these advanced building solutions by IDA Ireland is critical in levelling the playing field for regional locations such as Mayo. The construction of high-spec commercial infrastructure greatly increases our attractiveness for inward investment. I am conscious that some companies have delayed on-site visits due to public health restrictions over the past 18 months. We must ensure progress in making plans for these facilities to maximise the desired inward inves…

We need a timeline for this exciting new project for County Mayo. I hope that IDA Ireland will engage with the new chief executive of Mayo County Council on the development of industrial lands. The county council has acquired 149 acres. This would be very important in how we strategically develop inward investment and also for the strategic development zones at Ireland West Airport Knock and at the IDA Ireland lands in Ballina. I re-emphasise the importance of IDA Ireland putting the advanced building solutions int…

Our schools need access to multipurpose spaces that will allow for greater physical activity and a safer space for school communities together. There is easily one school in every constituency where the communal spaces are inadequate. Greater availability of such spaces has become a real necessity with the onset of the pandemic. Additional spaces would allow for greater flexibility in our schools and promote physical activity during inclement weather. I am hoping to see allocations of these types of projects increa…

I thank the Minister. Recently, I had discussions on the sports capital and equipment programme with the Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, and I know this scheme has been opened up to schools and education and training boards, provided that they make a joint application for local sports organisations. That is welcome but does not go far enough to address the infrastructural deficits in some of our schools, which are in desperate need of facilities. There is an opportunity to better highlight the availability…

I thank the Minister. I understand that Project Ireland 2040 commits to spending €8.8 billion on primary and post-primary school buildings. It is welcome that this ensures students in all post-primary schools will have access to appropriate facilities, such as PE halls. It is hugely important that we ensure PE halls and the modernisation programmes are rolled out as quickly as possible and that we have upgrades and refurbishments to the existing school stock. Those should be prioritised in coming years. I listened …

I wish to highlight a new report on the Atlantic rail corridor, specifically the Galway-Mayo rail link. I welcome the Bradley report, which forecasts a very favourable economic outlook in respect of the reopening of the old rail corridor between Athenry and Claremorris. Unlike other reports before it, the extensive on-the-ground and field research presents a favourable cost-benefit ratio, which demonstrates a positive economic return to the region. The report mentions the opportunity offered to County Mayo with a p…

The development of local sports and recreational facilities has both immediate and long-lasting effects on communities. It is encouraging people of all ages to get physically active while simultaneously increasing the membership of local sporting clubs. It would be useful to know if any communication has taken place with applicants on the sports capital and equipment programme since they submitted their applications. It may be useful to consider sending an update on the information outlined by the Minister of State…

Considering the number of applicants and the popularity of this programme, it is welcome to hear that consideration is being given to increasing the funding allocation. This would be welcome. Sporting clubs and organisations will be key in counteracting the mental health challenges which have resulted from this pandemic. We need to increase the quality of our outdoor sporting infrastructure after a period of social interaction having been kept to a minimum for many people. Increasing the funding to this programme s…

I want to raise an issue on behalf of the Mayo industries which are incredibly disappointed to learn of the decision by Dublin Port to cease facilitating the rail freight service from Ballina. I understand Dublin Port took this decision without prior consultation with Irish Rail and its customers. The service has not operated since this day last week. Irish Rail has confirmed it is seeking the restoration of these services and will continue to engage with Dublin Port to achieve this. There is increasing demand for …

I thank the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, for facilitating today's question and answers on the important CAP negotiations. It is also important to be sensitive when discussing the range of farming payments and the impact of potential changes to these payments. Often, they are critical income for farming families and particularly so in counties such as Mayo which I represent. It is also important to recognise that the value of CAP payments has significantly shifted from east…

I wish to raise an issue on behalf of Mayo's island communities. The Clare Island passenger ferry and road transport service tender was recently published. It is a five-year tender from 2021 to 2026 but, dramatically, falls short on the expectations of the Clare Island community. Twice daily return services will not suffice from my engagement. That equates to only 728 sailings per annum to Clare Island. This is especially hard to swallow when compared with Tory Island which has over 1,800 sailings; Cape Clear, 1,40…

I met members of the north Mayo pyrite group at their socially distant demonstration last Saturday in Ballina and their story paints a grim picture, through no fault of their own. Pyrite has caused considerable distress, both financially and mentally, and this is compounded by the response of the quarries that supplied the blocks. Their demand is simple; there should be parity of treatment to terms available under the pyrite remediation scheme. In contrast, the defective concrete block grant scheme requires a finan…

It goes without saying that our aviation sector is incredibly important for our island but it cannot afford to wait much longer before travel starts to resume internationally. Devastated tourism and aviation industries have been crying out for a plan and the position is becoming increasingly frustrating as vaccine roll-out progresses. We have seen non-essential travel between Britain and the North resume and we must act now to harmonise the common travel area by aligning with the UK position. The European Union’s d…

I thank the Minister for her tremendous work in the rollout of the remote working strategy. We need to maximise the opportunity and momentum which presents itself to rural Ireland in making our remote working network a reality. I thank the Minister and welcome her allocation of €5 million last month for the development of Ireland's national hub network. This funding will go a long way to putting in place the infrastructure to build on the planned rollout of the national broadband. Remote workers require much more t…

I am delighted to hear that the Minister will visit Mayo next Monday. The digital hub being established in Swinford is evidence that the Government is delivering for rural Ireland. It is a fantastic project and will be of major benefit to the town and the community. The Western Development Commission has done amazing work throughout the Atlantic economic corridor in mapping the remote working hubs available. To answer Deputy Kerrane's question, Clare Island has a broadband connection point. I had the pleasure of vi…

I raise the issue following the resignation of a permanent GP from the general medical services, GMS, practice in Kiltimagh, County Mayo. The handling of the situation by the HSE has been hugely disappointing. There has been no stakeholder engagement with the local community or public representatives in assisting to fill the permanent GP position. Little or no clarification is available from the HSE about efforts to recruit a locum GP or about why this has not been done. Elderly people were shocked to be informed l…

I wish to ask the Minister for Education to provide details of the funding available to schools for the development and enhancement of education facilities and if funding programmes such as the minor works schemes could be expanded for the improvement of special education facilities.

I thank the Minister. I see a great opportunity to expand the funding schemes in the Department, with specific emphasis on empowering local schools to increase their special education resources. I am thinking specifically about repurposing the minor works scheme and the summer works scheme. I am aware that the Department has increased the rate of capitalisation per special needs pupil in a school but it does not allow for meaningful projects in many rural schools with low pupil numbers. There are other avenues to i…

The Minister might be aware of the recent clarification by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the housing adaptation grant that can be used by families to install sensory rooms in their homes. That is why I have raised this question today. It is very welcome news for many families and children with autism and will certainly make the home an improved learning environment. I know of many families around Mayo who will be looking to the minor works funding to make significant improvements in the…

Will the Minister indicate the number of additional special class teachers in 2021, the number of special class places provided by way of additional recruitment and whether speech and language therapists, among others, are being directly recruited by the NCSE?