While I have the opportunity, I wish to extend an invitation to the Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, to visit Sligo Garda station to witness first-hand the current working conditions, and to address the ongoing staffing shortages. The proposed Garda division headquarters at Caltragh has faced repeated delays, stemming from earlier plans to merge the Sligo-Leitrim division with Donegal. The existing station at Pearse Road is not fit for the future needs of An Garda Síochána in the region. The OPW has confirmed refu…

I welcome these statements on this important sector. Recent years have been extremely challenging for the haulage and road freight sector. In my own area of south Sligo, there are three haulage companies operating: O'Dowd's Haulage in Gorteen, which employs 60 people and uses 20 trucks; Stephen Mullen's haulage company in Tubbercurry, which employs 55 and has 25 trucks; and Strandvaus in Collooney, which employs 97 people and operates 40 vehicles. When you listen to those companies, you hear the reality of the esca…

I seek the support of the Minister in the Department of housing and local government to increase the number of personnel and improve efficiency in Tailte Éireann, formerly the Land Registry. There is total frustration as to how it is currently handling dealings. I have received numerous complaints from constituents and those in the legal profession regarding significant delays, some exceeding three years, in the registration of properties. Previously, once a dealing was lodged, it went through all departments, and …

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I will take this opportunity to appeal to the Minister of State to extend the enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme to County Leitrim. In Leitrim, there are numerous homeowners grappling with the devastating impact of mica. Families are facing immense financial burdens and emotional stress as they watch their homes crumble before their eyes. The crisis extends far beyond structural issues. It strikes at the very heart of family well-being and stability, im…

This is a significant budget. It represents a critical investment for the future, with a total expenditure of almost €117 billion, alongside an additional package of €9.4 billion. These are substantial figures that reflect the Government's commitment to enhancing services and supporting those in need. I particularly welcome the emphasis on increasing the number of residential care places and home support hours and expanding respite services. These are practical, day-to-day solutions that can transform the lives of …

I am grateful for the opportunity to address a matter of great importance to my community, which is the urgent need for a Local Link service along the N17 corridor from Bellaghy to Sligo. The commitment outlined in the programme for Government to increase Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities underscores the Government recognition of our need for improved connectivity. In addition, the intent to integrate Local Link transport routes with health services shows a holistic app…

I thank the Minister of State. I urge the Department to actively support a Local Link service along the route I outlined. It is essential we engage with the NTA and Local Link to conduct an engagement survey and take any necessary steps to advance this initiative. The current public transport options for students attending ATU Sligo are simply inadequate. Those students are left without a reliable service that would allow them to arrive on time at ATU or St. Angela's College. As it stands, for example, the Expressw…

The programme for Government outlines a commitment to reduce costs, minimising red tape, reforming our planning system and promoting direct delivery. Because there is a national housing crisis, I believe the Government needs to urge local authorities and planners to actively support individuals applying for planning permission. People feel disconnected from the process and feel they are unable to effectively deal with the local authority. We need a designated point of contact with local authorities for planning, al…

The programme for Government contains a commitment to increase Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities and that this Government will work to integrate Local Link routes with health services to improve access and will provide extra funding for the improvement of the transport network. We urgently need a Local Link service along the N17 corridor from Bellaghy to Sligo town. Transport for Ireland, TFI, indicates the national primary route is serviced by Expressway services but t…

As the Taoiseach knows, parts of my constituency of Sligo-Leitrim and south Donegal saw some of the worst damage, with areas still reeling from the effects, particularly in forested areas of Leitrim and Sligo. As recently as yesterday, we had constituents contacting our office whose phone lines are still out of service, some of them since Storm Darragh. I have said on the record before that it is crucial for landowners, including forestry operators, to understand their responsibilities in maintaining safe distances…

I welcome the establishment of a Cabinet committee to deal with the nitrates derogation. It is imperative that we work with farmers and industry to secure Ireland's derogation at EU level by implementing the nitrates derogation renewal plan in support of retention. It is crucial that this project move on quickly to let farmers know exactly how they can farm into the future because, with the weather we have had and all the rain that has fallen, it is difficult to farm by calendar. This is an important issue.

I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Burke, on his appointment, and his Ministers of State, and wish them the very best of luck for the future. I would like to ask the Minister about employment in our regions, and specifically if he will provide the details on how many jobs were supported by Enterprise Ireland in Sligo and Leitrim in 2024. Additionally, how does this figure compare to the end of 2020 for each of these counties?

I thank the Minister for his detailed response regarding the job support figures for Enterprise Ireland for Sligo and Leitrim. It is encouraging to hear about the growth in job numbers and the positive impact that targeted initiatives have had on our local economy since 2020. We know the economic landscape has undergone significant changes over the past few years and the support provided by Enterprise Ireland has been pivotal in fostering job creation and retention. I appreciate the job growth figures the Minister …

While the statistics are promising, will the Minister elaborate on the strategies being implemented to ensure this growth is sustainable and part of a long-term vision for economic development in our region? His insights into these matters will greatly aid us in understanding how we can further enhance support for Sligo-Leitrim's economic potential.

As it is my first time to speak in the Thirty-fourth Dáil, I thank my supporters, my canvassers, my wife Anne and my family for the great work they did in the recent general election. This was the worst storm this country has experienced in living memory; there is no question about that. Were we ready? I do not think we were because it was the worst ever storm I ever experienced anyway. Lessons must be learned from this one. We were not ready. There are many things we need to do. We have to learn from our experienc…