I raise with the Leader an issue he has heard me speak about before. It relates to Portumna Forest Park. Regrettably, in the past two weeks, Coillte has decided not to include it as part of its strategic master plan. It has chosen other sites in Roscommon, Wicklow and Cork as its top three. Regrettably, we have been left off the list. Coillte walked off the pitch in Portumna 20 years ago when it was to do a strategic investment. It has only been recently that it started working with the local authority, Galway Coun…

I welcome this debate on the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) (Amendment) (Work Equipment) Bill 2026. I, too, compliment Senator Murphy. Coming from east Galway, the Senator and I both understand the plight of tradespeople who have been victims of these offences that have been going on not just for weeks or months, but continuously. I would go one step further than Senator Murphy and extend the Bill beyond construction tools. I think of musicians and the only tools they have, be they the harp or their ge…

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister, Deputy Foley, and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins.

With that, we will move to Senator O'Loughlin. We have six speakers. If it is agreeable, will we give them three minutes each in order to let everybody contribute. Every voice is important here today. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before I go to the next speaker, is it okay if I take off time from the Minister of State's speaking time, so I can give everybody more time? The Senators cannot say it in one minute. They need the two minutes.

It is really good. Do not tell the officials.

The Minister of State will have eight minutes to respond. That two minutes was well stretched.

I thank the Minister of State and everybody else for their co-operation. I know I may have cut some people's time short, but I thank everyone for their co-operation and for their very lived and passionate contributions that were brought to the floor this afternoon.

I thank the Minister for being in the House this evening. I, too, support the motion and welcome the publication of the accelerating infrastructure report and action plan. Coming from rural east Galway, which the Minister knows having visited Portumna many times, I stand in solidarity with my colleague Senator Murphy when it comes to the wastewater treatment plant. The largest town in our county, which is outside the constituency of Galway East, is Ballinasloe and after that it is Tuam and beyond that everything is…

That is what is happening. Mullagh had to amalgamate with Kiltormer. Tynagh and Abbey-Duniry amalgamated. That is the trend that is developing. It would be remiss of those of us from rural communities to not speak to that point. Tribalism and community is part and parcel of it. The Minister’s work on this is really welcome. We do not need it to the level they need it in the cities or larger towns. We need the projects of 20 to 40 houses and for there to be the capacity to carry a developer-led project which can com…

I will raise an issue that the Leader will be aware of. Tomorrow morning at Galway County Council, there is a protest taking place and it is unfortunate that residents from Cregmore, Grange and Ballymoneen find themselves standing outside Galway County Council. It will be a very peaceful protest but they are raising an important issue. It is related to key community concerns around inadequate original assessment, materiel change, proven local risk, homeowners' financial loss and procedural unfairness. The Leader wi…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter and I thank the Minister of State for being here to take it. While it is not a Commencement matter specifically on special educational needs, I am delighted I have a Minister from the Department of Education and Youth here. Tiernascragh National School in County Galway has 56 pupils attending. It has grown its numbers over the last number of years. The growth is down to good leadership in the school from the principal, staff and board of management. M…

I thank the Minister of State for both his contribution and his leadership regarding how to move to the next phase. With regard to the short-term position, I hear him very clearly. The community centre is about 250 m down the road but, as outlined, there is no footpath. I would welcome it if there were a ray of hope that this was a very short-term solution while we wait for a modular unit to be leased or for planning permission to come through. No doubt there will be a planning permission query, even if we are putt…

I thank the Minister of State.

I have allowed latitude on that because it is an issue of such gravity at the moment. I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I thank the Senator for raising this matter.

Before I call the Minister of State, I welcome pupils from Scoil Eoin Naofa from Ballymore, County Westmeath, who are in the Gallery. They are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Troy. Other members of their class were here earlier. It is a big school and a lot of them are here today. They are welcome. We have a Senator and Minister of State here this morning. I have been told to tell them they have no homework for the rest of the week.

I give a warm welcome to Lucan Educate Together National School. Today, I am raising an issue to do with national schools. I would like a debate in the Seanad on education but particularly regarding the provision of additional classrooms that are required in rural national schools in particular. I know of a rural national school that has only two classrooms but three teachers and they are expected to teach four classes in each. They are being asked by the Department to do team-teaching and they also have to do the …

I thank the Minister for being here. It is important, as a Senator who is a member of a Government party, to make a few things clear and straight. I am disappointed that Senator McCormack has left the building because I would like to give her a few answers. This Bill will give renters far more legal protection than they have ever had in the history of the State, while increasing the supply of homes available on the market. It is about striking a balance but it is also a necessary intervention. We are in a housing c…

I thank the Minister of State for being here this afternoon and for her detailed response and in-depth presentation to us. It was not a whistle-stop tour she has given us, but a really good analysis of where maternity services are at in Ireland. I acknowledge the work of Senator Cosgrove and of the Cross-Party Group of Senators Noonan, Harmon and Stephenson in bringing this motion forward and giving us the opportunity to put the spotlight on the need to have a conversation around maternity mental health supports an…