I was in a supermarket in Hong Kong. It was a really small shop, but I remember seeing a T-bone steak in a package that cost €25. I was really proud. I told myself that it was wonderful that we are able to get this margin-----

-----but unfortunately, and I am just going to talk about lamb, that was not being passed on to the farmer back home. It was Irish steak, but it was not passed on to the farmer. We need to get into these new markets such as the United States, which we are trying to get into, and many others. We need to get the margin. Any business that cannot get the margin is in trouble. We need to ensure, and Opposition and Government Deputies will agree this is the challenge, that the margin is passed on to the markets. That is …

That person said we have to make it worthwhile and-----

We have to ensure that if we are giving incentives as a Government, we have got to take it from other sectors. There is nobody better than the farmer to look at something that is worthwhile from a monetary point of view but also from an environmental point of view. There is nobody better than the farmer or farm families to ensure they will deliver-----

-----what needs to be delivered. My role as the only Government Deputy in Sligo–Leitrim, north Roscommon and south Donegal is to bring that message to my party and to the Government. I will do everything I can in government to support these people who badly need help at this very difficult time.

The recruitment crisis in the childcare sector is reaching crisis point. The Government must bring forward measures to assist managers and childcare operators to retain staff. Only last week, parents of 59 children in Tobercurry, County Sligo, were shocked to hear of the closure of the local crèche called Lollipop Lane. Many private operators and some community operators are choosing to leave the sector or refocus their services due to the difficulty in the childcare sector, which is a business decision. There are …

I welcome the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, and thank him for taking this very important issue. I remind the House that making Sligo Garda station a divisional headquarters was an issue before I became a Deputy for Sligo-Leitrim in February 2020. My predecessor, Tony McLoughlin, pressed this issue very hard during his time in the House. In fact, the Office for Public Works, OPW, purchased a site for a new divisional headquarters in Caltragh in Sligo. In recent years, some major refurbishments and renovations…

I am disappointed with the response. I really feel Sligo should be a divisional headquarters. The headquartering of the armed support unit in Tubbercurry or Ballymote, or elsewhere around Sligo, is very important. I come from a family and tradition that are very proud of the men and women of An Garda Síochána. My grandfather was one of the first gardaí. We have always had great respect for the Garda. The Garda saw very difficult times and held the line for democracy in this country. That is something I will never f…

I have raised issues affecting the primary school in Carrick-on-Shannon many times. The school campus was originally built in 1952. It was extended in 1983 and amalgamated in 2013. Scoil Mhuire in Carrick-on-Shannon is no longer fit for purpose. A technical report by the Department of Education has painted a damning picture of the school principal, staff and pupils having to cope in packed undersized classrooms with major defects and identified issues that need immediate attention. Since the amalgamation with the b…

I thank the Minister of State. The board of management at the school have over the years since amalgamation fought hard to have facilities improved and with the Department co-operation through emergency works, summer work and occasional exceptional funding, ensured the best possible facilities for the pupils and staff. The board of management fully recognises that those facilities and working conditions are well below what should be available to the parents and above all to the staff and pupils who daily provide an…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, for bringing forward this motion approving the establishment of a Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use. I also thank all of the other stakeholders, the Members of the Dáil and Seanad and the many people who have pursued this in a very measured way. I am delighted that, after many years, the citizens’ assembly will start. I want to highlight that the national drugs strategy that is in place for the period 2017 to 2025, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, has brought a healt…

I am delighted to have the opportunity to ask the Minister for Transport if he can provide an update on the proposed N4 upgrade bypass works for Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, and for the eastern Garavogue bridge scheme in Sligo town. These are two key pieces of infrastructure that would provide a much better connection with Sligo, the north west and Dublin and would provide similar connectivity to what Galway, Cork and Limerick have, reducing the current regional imbalance that has been well documented in rec…

I thank the Minister. As he said, the eastern Garavogue bridge is part of the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and is a key to the development of Sligo in that it will link communities and facilitate development within Sligo town, not least the east ward. Much good work has been done in respect of traffic management on Hughes Bridge, which has alleviated traffic congestion, while the Collooney to Castlebaldwin road has been open for more than one year. When I drive from Castlebaldwin into Collooney, I get a grea…

Something is happening in Sligo and the wider north west, including Carrick-on-Shannon. Since Covid and Brexit, many people have moved there and, with the Atlantic Technological University, the eastern Garavogue bridge would connect the two areas of that river between the three colleges, the university, the hospital and the business park. It is vital. The bridge in Carrick-on-Shannon was built in 1846 and a new bypass has been selected. A new bridge would help Carrick-on-Shannon to breathe but also allow traffic to…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is committed to establishing a citizens' assembly on drug use at the earliest opportunity in 2023 along with a citizens' assembly on the future of education. The terms of reference and the timelines for the citizens' assembly on drug use will be presented to the Oireachtas for approval. I am very positive about the potential contribution of the assembly to the Government's health-led response to drug use and the strategic priorities for the remaining period …

There is an An Bord Pleanála appeal on the supervised injection facility in Merchants Quay. We hope it will be taken as quickly as possible. It is part of the overall national drug strategy. I am very fortunate as Minister of State to have the national drugs strategy to which there has been more than 20,000 submissions. It has had its mid-term review. That is about reducing harm and supporting recovery and is a health-led approach. The Department has commenced preparation for a citizens' assembly on drug use and di…

I thank the Deputy for his informed and measured remarks. The Government is committed to a health-led approach for those in possession of drugs for personal use through the health diversion programme that will divert them away from the criminal justice system and connect them with health services. The terms of reference for the citizens’ assembly will be a matter for the Oireachtas to agree. We need to meet the diverse health needs of people who use drugs and how to prevent harmful impact of drugs on families and c…

I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. The Government is committed to delivering real and tangible solutions to enhance services to better support the needs of children with special needs in Ireland.  The current delays in accessing therapy services, directly related to vacancies across the children’s disability network team, CDNT, network are acknowledged. Work is ongoing by the HSE to maximise the capacity of CDNTs via recruitment campaigns. Funding has been provided for ad…

I assure the Deputy that the HSE is committed to delivering efficient, high-quality occupational therapy to all eligible service users. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is aware of the situation. I understand that she has met with representatives of CHO 5 in the hope that it can be resolved. She is aware of the issue. The Government is committed to delivering real and tangible solutions to enhance services to better support the needs of children with special needs. The current delays in accessing therapy ser…

I thank the Deputy again for raising this issue. The HSE is continuing to explore a range of options to enhance the recruitment and retention of essential staff across all aspects of the health service. The Deputy suggested there is a role for the Department of the Minister, Deputy Harris. I absolutely agree with him. We can highlight these vacancies but also the opportunities for young people. In addition, the HSE is working collaboratively with the CDNT lead agencies at CHO level to market CDNTs as an employer of…