I mentioned the river navigation aspect because my officials said to me that it slightly complicates matters. That is an issue that Meath County Council must consider. However, that should not stop us. I agree with the Deputy that the time it takes us to deliver transport projects is too long and deeply frustrating. We often engage in public consultation and then it is only years later that something materially happens. We also have real problems in our planning system that lead to delays and projects being held up…

That is an important link. With e-bikes and so on, people would be able to use that as a real connection. I agree that we need to speed things up. The Deputy should address with Meath County Council why it is dealing with the project in that way.

TII has a key role here. It is very good at delivering infrastructure. It has been doing it for several decades. It has delivered motorways and other programmes. It is systematic in its approach. Deputy Tóibín is correct that we should extend the route from Trim to the Royal Canal greenway, which would result in mesh networks. Many people will go for a 60 km, 70 km, 80 km or 100 km spin on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Those longer routes where greenways join up will be used. We must think strategically about a nat…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 76 and 187 together. I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to clarify this important issue. As Deputies are aware, as part of budget 2022, I secured €25 million in funding for the introduction of a young adult card. It is my firm view that the young adult card will be of great benefit to young adults and will not only promote modal shift among that cohort of the population, but also contribute towards a reduced reliance on private transport with the associated benefit…

We will look at that as well. In response to Deputy Higgins's question on the timeframe, it will be within weeks. This has to be done quickly. It took a lot of work to get this done, especially to incorporate private bus operators. That was not a small project because of all the management and co-ordination involved. To have the ability to regulate, in effect, or monitor fares in a way we previously did not took time. I do not expect this to take a similar length of time because much of that work has already been d…

I will announce that on budget day, but I will be very much arguing for it because it is a very direct way of addressing the cost of living, especially for many students and younger people who face very high rents and difficulties in that sort of area. It is important we give them options around public transport. As I said, this measure can and will be introduced quickly. I am very glad it will assist the Students' Union in UCD, with which I am very familiar, in addition to other colleges throughout the country. To…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 15 together. In March 2021, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Naughton, and I launched the safe routes to school, SRTS, programme, which aims to support walking, scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools and to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities, through the provision of infrastructure interventions. This should help alleviate congestion at school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to s…

I agree with both Deputies. There is nothing restricting us from carrying out projects outside of this scheme. I think of examples in my constituency of Dublin Bay South. There was a brilliant scheme, presented, as it happens, by a Fine Gael councillor with the support of my Green Party colleagues, to develop a quiet route to link up most of the schools in the suburbs around Ranelagh, Rathmines, Rathgar and down to Sandymount. Unfortunately, it died. It would not have incurred very significant costs. It mainly just…

I am very glad to hear that Glór na Mara National School in Tramore is leading the way. I agree with the Deputy. It is not just about the area around the local school but also about the routes used to get to that school. The prize here is a freeing up of parents' time if they do not have to drive but also great independence and freedom for children. Whether travelling by bus, on foot or on a bicycle, there is great learning and independence associated with that. It is also about making the traffic system work for e…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: - the Government is acutely aware of concerns around security of energy supply, particularly gas and electricity; - the Government has put a €2.4 billion package of policies and support measures in place since October 2021; - 99 per cent of domestic electricity accounts have now been credited with the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme payment of €172.66 excluding Value Added Tax, and the total c…

-----and, in turn, the impact on gas and electricity bills that is the cause of the risks that we face over the coming winter and beyond. We have not faced an energy challenge like this since the early 1970s, but this is a challenge we will have to face and we will protect consumers through it.

It has also been a summer when we have seen that climate change is the single greatest threat facing humanity. Our Government commits to react comprehensively to the challenge to rapidly reduce and then reverse our impact on the climate. The fossil fuel-based economic model is detrimental to human progress and we must make the necessary structural changes to break that link and dependency on fossil fuels, which is the cause of our problem. The solution is heading in the direction of relying on our own natural resou…

These are environmental, technical and financial. The countermotion also notes that broader energy policy or energy security considerations have no bearing on the regulatory process. To answer Deputy McGrath's question, I expect it shortly, within the coming weeks. The countermotion notes that the Department does not publish information on individual applications while they are under consideration. It would be inappropriate for me or the Department, from both a legal and regulatory perspective, and would offend due…

We absolutely acknowledge that these price rises are hitting and hurting our people and businesses across the country and we have to do everything to protect them. We also have to at every time remind our people that the reason for that is the war in Ukraine and the Russian Government’s use of energy of a weapon of war, which is a direct attack on our people. We will continue, as we have done over the past year, to look at the best way to do so. I do not believe the Sinn Féin plan is the right one. I want to set ou…

To think this is simple in terms of how one reforms the market or in terms of immediate measures does not serve the Irish public because it is anything but simple. At the energy council, however, we have been centrally involved in working with the Commission. I brought many of the energy ministers to Dublin last week, where we continued to discuss what is the right approach. Every country has slightly different circumstances. The five-point plan presented by the Commission for the immediate response in the next six…

The fifth measure has not been drafted into precise regulations but has our support. In terms of engagement with the energy ministers, the Taoiseach and I-----

It is capping price using our purchasing power at an international level.

The Deputy just does not like the answer.

The first message we have to give to people is that, yes, we have to be smart and clever, but we also have to stay warm and comfortable through the winter and protect everyone's health. No one should be getting any message that involves restricting that comfort and basic health. The CRU appeared before the Oireachtas committee yesterday to addressing questions in respect of this and other issues. It is important, however, to give confidence to people, particularly the most vulnerable, that they will not be left in …

It takes time to work out what is the best regulatory system. We can and will look at this issue in regard to what the regulatory and market structures are but first things first because we have to get through a tough winter. We have to stand up to Mr. Putin in doing that. The first and most important thing is to protect the most vulnerable. We have a reduced use campaign, social welfare payments, protections for businesses and credits for customers. That is the combination of measures we are going to apply. I beli…