Táim tar éis é seo a rá sa Teach seo cúpla uair anois. Nuair a thosaíonn daoine le míchumas ag obair, tá seans go gcaillfear an pas saor in aisce don taisteal. Níl sé sin féaráilte ar chor ar bith. Níl sé cothrom. Má táimid ag iarraidh go mbeidh an méid is mó daoine le míchumas gur féidir leo a bheith san fhórsa oibre páirteach ann, bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr mura raibh siad chun an pas sin a chailliúint. Le bheith ionraic, má táimid ag iarraidh é sin a chinntiú – bhí mé ag caint leis an Aire, an Teachta Calleary…

Nuair a bhí na horduithe dianghlasála i bhfeidhm, bhí faic le déanamh i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh agus bhí go leor daoine ag snámh san fharraige. Tá sé sin an-mhaith don intinn agus don tsláinte. Maidir le well-being, will the Department commit to more funding for north Dublin's swimming areas? Regarding Bá Bhaile Átha Cliath, tá an méid pollution atá ann uafásach. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil a lán airgid ag dul isteach sa Ringsend centre but for the Dollymount Dames, Blue Balls Ireland, and the swimmers at Dollym…

Come up to the north side.

Táim an-sásta a bheith ag caint i nGaeilge arís. Ar dtús, gabhaim buíochas le hAodhán Ó Deá, Julian de Spáinn agus Pádraig Mac Brádaigh as an obair ar fad atá déanta ag an triúr acu. Tá grúpa WhatsApp againn agus táim i gcónaí ag cur ceisteanna isteach ionas go mbeidh an ceart agam sna rudaí atá á rá agam. Bhí cúpla ceist agam don Aire cúpla seachtain ó shin. Táim lánsásta le Gaelcholáiste Reachrann i nDomhnach Míde i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh. Bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr dá mbeadh níos mó eolais ag teacht amach,…

Nach bhfuil an t-ádh dearg orm a bheith ag caint ag deireadh an chomhrá seo. Bhí mé ag éisteacht le go leor daoine a bhí ag caint sa Teach seo. Aontaím le go leor rudaí a bhí le rá acu. Is gá dom buíochas a gabháil leis na lads a bhí san audiovisual room inniu. Bhí siad go hiontach. Tá brón orm nach raibh mé ann don rud ar fad - bhí mé sa choiste. Gabhaim buíochas le Pádraig as a chabhrú. Táim i ngrúpa WhatsApp darb ainm “Gaeilge Policy” le Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, Julian de Spáinn agus Aodhán Ó Deá. Dá mbeadh leath de…

Today, I raise an issue I have raised multiple times in this House and that is the issue of north Dublin's grassroots clubs being effectively blocked out of a centre. The Oscar Traynor centre was sold for €500,000, despite its 2022 evaluation of €4.25 million. I have no problem with a professional club getting a good value-for-money deal. However, I do have an issue with young women and young boys in an area I represent being effectively blocked out from playing football. Could the Minister of State give me an expl…

I understand and appreciate that but when I raised this with the Tánaiste months ago, I asked how many Troy Parrotts or Denise O'Sullivans there would be. We just saw the Irish women's team lose two to one to France. North Dublin has a proud history of providing some, if not the best, footballers to the Irish football team. Now, these young men and young women in the area I represent are effectively being blocked out. I have parents, teenagers and children sending me messages to say they cannot train or play the sp…

I appreciate that and I understand the remit the Minister of State's Department holds but I would love if he could chase up how the FAI allowed a grassroots facility serving thousands of young players I represent to be handed over to a club without committee approval. Why was one person allowed to execute the transfer of the site? What checks are in place to prevent this from happening? What role did the FAI play in facilitating a deal that removed community access for north Dublin children who are directly benefit…

I welcome the opportunity to raise this matter. I finally got it accepted. It relates to the north city arterial main, NCAM, project and issues along the Howth Road and James Larkin Road and in surrounding areas. Hundreds of my constituents have been contacting my office every day. I have been trying to get access to information from Uisce Éireann and the contractor, but to no avail. As a public representative, the Minister of State can understand how frustrating that can be. The residents of north Dublin understan…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I know how things work. I am in here 15 months. The Department gave this question to Uisce Éireann and Uisce Éireann has given its reply to the Minister of State. I understand that the Minister of State is very busy and I welcome all the work he has done on other issues. Uisce Éireann gave us a briefing on 22 January. A week later, it had a briefing for the public and the week after that the project commenced. Two weeks' notice for public representatives to give feedback on a ma…

From listening to speakers across this House, there is clearly huge pressure on our national GP system. I acknowledge the extent of the work by Deputy Toole during the formation of the Government. The knowledge she has from her first-hand experience in healthcare is something we need to listen to. Whether it is our SNAs, teachers or any sector, the workers and the people who are on the ground know what is best. Too often, we see they are not being listened to. The clear solutions Deputy Toole has constantly raised …

Aontaím go hiomlán leis an méid a dúirt an Teachta Toole ar deireadh ansin. Bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr dá mbeadh "all needs assistants" an t-ainm ar SNAs. Bhí mé i go leor scoileanna i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh. Má tá tú i scoil ar bith sa tír, feictear duit go ndéanann na daoine seo gach rud. Tá sé sin soiléir dom ó mo chuid ama féin sa scoil nuair a bhí mé óg, agus leis an méid atá tar éis teacht amach sa dá sheachtain tar éis an ruda seo. I welcome last night's confirmation by the Government but this should n…

The announcement of almost €26 million for healthcare disability projects in north Dublin today is very welcome. I have had ongoing engagement with the Government about these priorities at Beaumont Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Francis Hospice, St. Michael's House and Chanel College in Coolock. I have consistently highlighted how urgent this investment is for the northside. I really appreciate the constructive approach taken by the Government. Nonetheless, the reality is that older people and people with dis…

First, I thank the Minister of State for the investment in Howth Harbour as part of the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme. It is great to see him out on the northside again and it is great to see that investment in safety works. He knows how much dredging and accessibility will help the fishermen and coastal community that I represent. The fishermen, marine workers and the wider community were very grateful to see the Minister of State there. However, I am seeking clarity on what he a…

I welcome all the SNAs in the Gallery. I apologise that I could not stop to chat to them; I was running to a committee. I recognised some of them. I was not being rude; I swear. I thank the Minister of State for his visit to St. Michael’s House today. I have often seen him in special schools in north Dublin. It is great to see him there, taking that hands-on approach. What we saw today was the SNAs at work, and the pride they showed could not be more topical for this debate. We saw that investment is needed in Bald…

It comes as no surprise that I will be raising the north side of Dublin again. Regarding the care and work done for people with disabilities and the elderly in north Dublin, the teams are amazing but St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Francis Hospice, Beaumont and St. Michael's House need supports, particularly for the elderly and people with disabilities. Will the Minister give an update on what the Department is doing to support these great teams and to add to care in the north side? The north side has been neglected for…

Aontaím leis an Aire agus táim an-bhuíoch den airgead atá ar fáil do dhaoine le míchumas. An pointe atá á dhéanamh agam ar son na ndaoine i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh is that the families are struggling and I again call for more adequate funding for the facilities in the institutions I mentioned. I also want to bring the Minister's attention to the case of Seán Horan, a resident in St. Michael's House in Ballymun. I would really welcome the engagement with the Department about it but the system needs to be changed.…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Táim fíorbhuíoch as an airgead sin. My predecessor Finian McGrath, a former Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues, would also be very proud and I spoke to him again this morning. One of my staff in the Oireachtas has a disability. I have raised this issue in this House previously. We, as policymakers, should have people with disabilities as close to us as possible, but we cannot avail of the wage subsidy scheme. My parliamentary assistant is working as hard as he…

Sula bogfaimid ar aghaidh, I would like to give the young visitors in the Gallery today a big welcome to Leinster House - céad míle fáilte.

Go raibh maith agat.