Last year, the Parliamentary Budget Office published data on the number of households eligible for but not yet in receipt of social housing in my constituency of Offaly. The Parliamentary Budget Office analysis was based on what it would have cost to house the number of households on the social housing waiting lists, plus the households in receipt of the housing assistance payment. The cost for County Offaly and for the county council list was put at €338 million overall. That figure really sums up all of this. It …

Under the programme for Government, there is a commitment to balanced regional development, rightly so. However, in my county of Offaly, we are particularly disadvantaged given that we have endured the brunt of the just transition, with 53% of the job losses. This is coupled with the fact that Cardinal Health in Tullamore, the main town in the county, will see 315 job losses at the end of this month. It is vital that every possible intervention is made to urgently create more jobs in County Offaly. What actions wil…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on what has become an issue of major public and community concern. There can be no doubt that we are witnessing a significant escalation in knife-related incidents and antisocial behaviour and, in many cases, a rapid deterioration of respect for the rule of law. If you talk to communities or retailers away from the glare of the public spotlight, they will tell you that preteens and young adults are engaging in dramatically high levels of unchecked intimidation, vandalism and petty…

Fuair mé freagra ar cheist parlaiminte cúpla seachtain ó shin ar cheist a bhain le Gaeilge mar ábhar scoile. Sa fhreagra sin, bhí ionadh orm nuair a chonaic mé na huimhreacha maidir le díolúintí atá faighte ag daltaí ar fud na tíre seo. I mo chontae féin, Contae Uíbh Fhailí, fuair 400 dalta díolúine ón nGaeilge. Baineann formhór na ndíolúintí seo le hoideachas dara leibhéal. Fuair 320 dalta díolúine ón nGaeilge. Mar gheall air sin, ba chóir dúinn scrúdú éigin a dhéanamh ar an gcóras maidir leis na díolúintí Gaeilge…

I want to raise issues regarding the Mercosur deal in its proposed format. There are huge concerns among farmers. I have met all of the farming organisations about this issue. They have raised concerns directly with me. More than 170,000 people are employed in our agrifood sector. Farming livelihoods that must be protected at all costs. Farmers need straight answers on the Government's position on this proposed deal, which is reckless, and that is not to mention the health concerns in terms of hormones in the beef …

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar na ráitis sláinte anocht. The demographics are all pointing one way and that is towards a predominantly older population and decreasing birth rates. It is a phenomenon that we are witnessing across the western world and in dramatic forms in Asia, including China, where population replacement levels are collapsing. Clearly this will present enormous challenges for our healthcare system, especially in the context of an already overburdened nursing home sector where closures in recent years ha…

I with the Minister well in her role and look forward to collaborating with her on many issues. In County Offaly, 525 children are waiting on assessments of need. Two CDNTs, networks 10 and 11 cover the county. I am very concerned about this. I am also concerned about the fact that there are no preschool places in Edenderry for children with autism. I actually met a parent this morning who told me that. I was shocked. I knew it was an issue at primary and a secondary level but not at preschool level. I hope that ca…

I wish the Minister, Deputy Heydon, the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, well in their roles and I look forward to collaborating with them as we go forward. I welcome the opportunity to speak briefly on this core pillar of our indigenous and export market sector. It is very important and the sector has kept the lights on in this country in the bleakest of times. It is a huge contributor to the economy and therefore it is vital we protect farming livelihoods. W…

I have been informed that schoolchildren within my constituency of Offaly, who should be seen by the HSE dental service three times before the age of 12, are actually only seeing a dentist for the first time when they are well into secondary school. These concerns were raised with me by the Irish Dental Association at an emergency meeting in Portlaoise three years ago. I was shocked to hear, however, how far the services have deteriorated since that time. We now know that children in Offaly are not receiving the fi…

Tá áthas orm an deis seo a fháil labhairt ar an gclár Rialtais inniu. Whether we agree or disagree with the contents of the programme for Government, the fact remains that we need a programme for Government that truly addresses the chronic level of need that exists across so many areas and indeed so many sectors. For example, while I welcome the Government's commitments to increase supply of housing by ramping up construction to meet demand, aiming for 300,000 new homes by 2030, the fact remains that going on past …

I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of rural GPs and the shortage of GPs in many rural areas. In my constituency of Offaly, in 2024 there were 81 applications from people looking for access to a GP. I have been contacted by many residents in Daingean, County Offaly. This is just an example of one town. It is a common problem across this State, but in my own county it is particularly acute. I want to acknowledge the fantastic work our GPs do, but unfortunately they are at full capacity and there is a shorta…

I am glad to get the opportunity to speak on this matter. I will start by commending the workers in local authorities and the ESB workers. I pay particular tribute to those workers who were out in dire conditions and who certainly are still doing their level best to get power restored to all areas of the State. It was concerning, however, to see a lack of planning, particularly concerning people with medical conditions. I was contacted by the families of many people with special needs and pensioners who were on oxy…

I will add to that contribution in respect of Deputy Naughten. We also convey our best wishes. The Deputy and his family are in our thoughts and prayers. Last week, I was privileged to facilitate a briefing in the audiovisual room from parents and educators associated with the national Therapists in Special Schools Alliance. There was a very encouraging level of cross-party attendance. That was very welcome because I, for one, have absolutely no interest in seeing this issue used as a political football. Everybody,…

I thank the Minister for his reply. Everyone certainly needs to work together, but this is an emergency situation. Private therapists need to be brought into our special schools quickly. The only way that can be done is if all the REOs are directed to provide the funding to allow for these private therapists in the meantime, because the children are really finding it difficult. It is extremely challenging for the teachers. This week, I visited Offaly School of Special Education, which is in my constituency. I heard…

To clarify, I am merely speaking to the motion. My colleagues are not here today.

That is fair.

I am going to be very blunt about this motion and this report. Quite simply, the adoption of the recommendations contained in this report would represent the crossing of an ethical and legislative Rubicon that is almost too terrifying to even contemplate. If adopted, the Oireachtas will have opened up a Pandora’s box where the likelihood of grave injustices being visited upon one of the most vulnerable groups in our society will move from grim possibility to absolute certainty. The recommendation to proceed with le…

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar an rún seo inniu. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta McGrath agus a fhoireann a rinne sárobair ar an mBille seo. Members may recall that the famous UK Labour Party parliamentarian Tony Benn developed five questions which he proposed should be at the heart of any democratic process when it comes to holding the powerful to account. These questions apply equally to institutions that wield power over the public, such as An Taisce. I will remind the House of those five questions. What power have y…

The Irish Road Haulage Association has called on the Government to review urgently the operational role and effectiveness of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, following the latest examples of traffic gridlock at Dublin Port tunnel. Following a series of night-time closures at the tunnel, unacceptable delays and congestion were experienced at peak times due to the mismanagement of traffic flow by TII. This, of course, has led to traffic being backed up on the M1, the M50 and all approach roads, which results in…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I have raised the issues relating to approved housing bodies on the floor of this House a number of times. I have engaged with the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority in the past few weeks on its efforts to monitor compliance with approved standards. I acknowledge the very constructive and open response I received from the communications lead within the authority. I was particularly glad to see that, with respect to monitoring compliance with approved standa…