When we speak about road safety, speed is one of the key talking points. Undoubtedly, one of the major causes of accidents on our roads is people driving too fast. However, we cannot ignore the impact on road safety of the quality and standard of our roads. In my constituency of County Waterford, I see it all too often. A major contributing factor to accidents, including very serious accidents, is the condition of the road. There are stretches of road where adjustments to junctions are needed. Dangerous bends need …

This programme for Government offers absolutely nothing new or different from what we have come to expect from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in coalition. It is almost a carbon copy of the programme for Government that was presented to us five years ago, a copy-and-paste job majoring in previously unmet targets and unfulfilled commitments. The lack of vision, ambition or urgency is a charter for failure. It seems the only thing that the coalition parties have learned from their last term in government is to avoid that …

Sular toghadh mé anseo go dtí Dáil Éireann, bhí onóir orm a bheith mar chomhalta boird ar Fhoras na Gaeilge. Prior to my election to this House, I was vice-chairperson of the board of Foras na Gaeilge so I share the concerns raised by Deputy Moynihan regarding the crisis of funding that is threatening €800,000 of cuts to community language projects all across this island. During my time as vice-chair of Foras na Gaeilge, I had occasion to meet and engage with the Tánaiste's predecessor, the current Taoiseach when h…

-----because the Irish language is enjoying a moment at present. It is crucially important that we address this crisis.

The shortage of special education spaces across Waterford city and county did not happen overnight but it has now reached crisis level. As I have outlined in correspondence to the Minister and the Minister of State, and by way of parliamentary questions when that resulted in no response, there is an alarming situation in Dungarvan where 20 children have been told there will be no space for them in St. John's Special School this September. Given the limited spaces and high demand, the school was forced to pick names…

The Minister of State has stated the need for additional school spaces and capacity in County Waterford will be kept under review but September is coming quickly for these families. There is no certainty and they have no information. The Minister of State has stated they should contact the SENOs and the NCSE. They are blue in the face from doing that. They have them on speed dial. There could not possibly be more engagement but what they need are answers and certainty. I implore the Minister of State on behalf of t…

Is mór an phribhléid í dom seasamh anseo mar ionadaí tofa do mhuintir Phort Láirge agus labhairt ar a son. Táim fíorbhuíoch de gach uile dhuine a thug tacaíocht dom san olltoghchán agus déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall gach uile lá chun freastal ar an dúshlán agus ar an bhfreagracht mhór a tugadh dom. Beidh mé buíoch i gcónaí de mo bhean chéile, mo pháistí, mo chlann agus mo chomrádaithe. It is a great honour for me to speak here this evening for the first time as a Teachta Dála for Waterford. I want to thank my wife and …

One cannot imagine the anxiety they feel every time a storm is forecast, not knowing if the River Bride will burst its banks again and if their homes will be destroyed once more. Over a year on and they have received nothing from this Government - no delivery, no plan and not so much as a visit. Is féidir Cé Heilbhic, cé iascaireachta i nGaeltacht na nDéise, a lua mar shampla eile. De dheasca gainimh agus siolta, ní féidir le báid iascaireachta nó an bád tarrthála imeacht nó filleadh ar an gcalafort. Tá saolta á gc…