I thank the Cathaoirleach, Senator Daly, for his good wishes and place on the record of the Oireachtas my congratulations and thanks to the Mayo team for the lift they have given us all this year. For a Kerryman to do that is particularly special but even more special is to see Senator Goldsboro back looking hale and hearty. It is so good to have her back and it was great to see her coming in there. I thank Senator Gallagher for raising the important issue regarding men's sheds and I will include women's sheds in m…

I thank Senator Gallagher and the Senators who have approached me. My priority and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, is to ensure the allocation and the application process is streamlined for local sheds, that the funding is targeted and is distributed effectively and efficiently. We really want to reduce the stress on volunteers but at the same time this is taxpayers' money that has to be managed and controlled. I look forward to working through the IMSA proposals and bringing absolute clarity to thi…

Tairgim: “Go léifear an Bille an Dara hUair anois." I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the Social Welfare, Civil Registration and Charities (Amendment) Bill 2026 go dtí an Dáil. The Bill contains measures to amend the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, the Civil Registration Act 2004 and the Charities Act 2009. This reflects the wide range of areas under the remit of the Departments of Social Protection and Rural and Community Development and the…

I thank all of the Deputies for their contributions, particularly those who serve on the joint committee. I thank Deputy O'Shea for chairing it and I thank the clerk and the team. I will respond to a number of the issues raised; a number of specific issues were also raised, about which I will engage with Deputies also. Over the years the Department has been asked why the PSC, which is State issued, cannot be used by a cardholder to prove identity if they wish to do so. Other Government documents, such as a passport…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, pursuant to Standing Orders 103 and 188.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta O'Rourke as ucht an t-ábhar sin a ardú. As he has said, the school meals programme is important. That sometimes gets lost from people who maybe think they do not need it, but it is needed in all of the schools. It was rolled out quickly in the context of moving from a pilot programme in 2019 to 3,200 schools in September 2025. I know Deputy O'Rourke looked at some of the more negative responses, but the survey also found that 85% of children liked their lunch, 81% of parents reporte…

I thank the Deputy. I have an invitation to go up there and I will go. It is important. School meals have been provided in a lot of communities for a long time and we have just ramped up the system. It is also important to note that the debate is often presented as a choice between commercial and not-for-profit community providers. Community involvement is possible within the existing programme and we can work with not-for-profit community organisations, charities, social enterprises and Meals on Wheels. I would al…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí Collins agus Tully as an rún agus le gach Seanadóir atá tar éis labhairt anocht. Is príomhthosaíocht don Rialtas seo tacú le tuath na hÉireann, agus fáiltím roimh an deis labhairt i Seomra an tSeanaid faoi na ceisteanna tábhachtacha seo. Mar Aire, agus mar Rialtas, tá tiomantas agus uaillmhian againn do thuath na hÉireann agus muintir na tuaithe. Tá pobail tuaithe nasctha, acmhainneacha agus cuimsitheacha i gcroílár ár bhfíse don fhorbairt tuaithe. Gan tacaíocht agus infheistíoch…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an Seanadóir Keogan as an ábhar seo a ardú. There is not much that I disagree with the Senator on but, as she knows, there are considerable practicalities in much of this, which I will go through. The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services in this State for those eligible. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as the Luas a…

I thank the Senator. Technology is absolutely very much part of our lives but it does, as the Senator will always point out in debates, need guardrails. We have to protect the data of those who use our passes on both sides of the Border. That is important. While we have no objection, and I will ask my officials to examine all the options and bring the Senator's issue to the attention of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, any changes will require cross-Border agreement, as well as integrated IT systems. Bearing in mind t…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. I will begin by acknowledging the importance of having appropriate facilities in communities such as Citywest. Community centres are vital for bringing communities together and providing an outlet for services and for social, cultural and community activities. The community centre investment fund, CCIF, was introduced to provide high-quality community facilities that are available to all groups in all areas. Earlier this year, the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I launched …

That is why the then Minister, Heather Humphreys, brought in the community centre investment fund. It is also why she expanded it to new builds. We will launch that again in 2027. To date, over €988,000 has been awarded to 23 community centres. Citywest sounds like a place that needs a community centre. We have a track record of investing. For example, Newcastle in Galway is an urban centre. We have worked with Galway City Council and with the local community. I had the pleasure of turning the sod on that developme…

I assure the Deputy that I will not be washing my hands of it but, equally, the council has to show interest and intent. I am not going to spoon-feed the council. We have councils and, in fairness, South Dublin County Council is very proactive in relation to the scheme for the refurbishment of centres. When we launch the scheme next year, we will launch it in partnership with local authorities around the country. It is a very substantial investment programme on the part of the Department. It provides centres and pl…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis as an mBille um intleacht shaorga. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis as an obair sin. Mar is eol don Teachta, is í an Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta atá freagrach as an dréachtráiteas náisiúnta pleanála ach is cinnte go bhfuil plé idir na Ranna éagsúla atá faoi mo chúram maidir leis an dréachtráiteas seo. Faoi láthair, níl aon mhodh comhsheasmhach ann d'údaráis phleanála áitiúla nuair a bhíonn forbróirí ag cu…

Tuigim é sin. Tuigim na buarthaí atá ag grúpaí cosúil leis an gconradh, BÁNÚ agus na Teachtaí féin ach níl aon chaighdeán náisiúnta ann ag an bpointe seo. Athraíonn sé ó údarás áitiúil go húdarás áitiúil. Táimid ag iarraidh caighdeán náisiúnta a chur air. Beimid in ann é sin a phlé tar éis sin. Chomh maith leis sin, cé go bhfuil na coinníollacha ann, an bhfuil na cainteoirí ann? Tá sé tábhachtach é sin a scrúdú freisin. B'fhéidir go bhfuil obair le déanamh againn air sin. Tá na coinníollacha pleanála ann ach an bhf…

Aontaím go mór leis sin. Tá na Gaeilgeoirí ann agus tá siad ag iarraidh bogadh abhaile nó go dtí an Ghaeltacht ach tá fadhb agus dúshlán ann le tithe saoire freisin. Tá daoine nach bhfuil suim sa Ghaeilge acu atá ag iarraidh bheith sa cheantar. Dream níos tábhachtaí ná sin is ea iad daoine a rugadh sa Ghaeltacht nach bhfuil Gaeilge acu. Tá muid ag iarraidh balance a shroicheadh idir na daoine le Gaeilge atá ag iarraidh bogadh isteach go dtí an Ghaeltacht chun a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid agus na daoine as ceantair Ghael…

Is é Gaeilge365 an chéad aonad nuálaíochta a oibríonn trí mheán na Gaeilge sa tseirbhís phoiblí agus é mar aidhm leis deachleachtais a chruthú i dtaobh na modhanna is féidir le húdaráis áitiúla a úsáid le tuilleadh deiseanna labhartha Gaeilge a chruthú don phobal. Bhunaigh Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Gaeilge365 mar thionscadal píolótach in 2023 le tacaíocht airgid ó chlár Éire Ildánach, tacaíocht a bhí fíorthábhachtach le tús a chur leis an tionscnamh. Ba é aidhm an tionscadail phíolótaigh sin cur chuige …

Ar dtús, ba é an aidhm a bhí agam le haghaidh Gaeilge365 ná airgead a chur ar fáil dó le go mbeadh sé in ann dul ar aghaidh leis an obair thábhachtach i mBaile Átha Cliath. Tá sé tar éis 150,000 deis chainte Gaeilge a thabhairt do dhaoine a bhíonn ag úsáid seirbhísí sna ceithre údarás áitiúil i mBaile Átha Cliath. Leis an airgead atá ag teacht ó mo Roinn, agus leis an obair atá idir lámha agam agus ag an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Buttimer, beidh an t-airgead sin ann agus beidh sé in ann leanúint leis sin. Gabhaim buío…

Tá deiseanna iontacha ag teacht as Gaeilge365 maidir le húsáid na seirbhísí. Léiríonn sé seo go bhfuil suim againn sa Roinn oibriú le daoine a bhfuil ideas nua acu. Níl gach rud ar eolas againn sa Roinn, agus níl gach rud ar eolas againn sa Teach seo ach an oiread. Déanaim comhghairdeas le Daithí de Buitléir agus an fhoireann i nGaeilge365. Mar a dúirt sé, bíonn a lán rudaí ar siúl, cosúil le binse comhrá ina mbíonn binsí sa chomharsanacht áitiúil agus ar an trá. Tá an togra, snámh le spraoi, ann freisin. Baintear …

The town centre first, TCF, policy, published in February 2022, is a joint initiative between my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The policy sets out a framework to facilitate and resource the regeneration of Irish towns to ensure they are vibrant, viable and attractive places to live in, work in, invest in and visit. Important progress includes the establishment of a dedicated national TCF office and the appointment of town regeneration officers, TROs, in 26 local authoritie…