I share the Deputy's view. The strategy has not been delayed. As I stated previously, this will be Ireland's first overarching strategy for public procurement. It will set the direction of travel to 2030 to support delivering the Government's commitments. Given the scale and ambition of the strategy, it is important that it is informed by extensive stakeholder engagement, a robust evidence base and careful consideration of implementation arrangements. It is important to note that significant work has already been u…

I am very mindful of how time-poor small businesses are. We want to put them at the centre of the strategy from its inception. The idea for the strategy derived from a programme for Government commitment to review the public procurement process and make it much more transparent. We are trying to support SMEs in identifying and pursuing public procurement opportunities. In most businesses - and I was part of a business myself - you would work all hours of the day and would you want to step in a back office and go th…

My Department has responsibility for public procurement policy development, guidance, systems and advisory services, as well as the establishment of central buying solutions that serve the needs of public service bodies, PSBs. My Department provides a wide range of supports to assist public service bodies in the procurement of information and communications technology systems and services, both through practical procurement assistance and the provision of guidance and central procurement solutions. The public procu…

My Department provides broad governance, oversight and strategic supports for digital and ICT initiatives. The arrangements for the oversight of digital and ICT-related initiatives in the civil and public service require PSBs to obtain approval from my Department before commencing new digital or ICT initiatives, publishing procurement documentation or entering into commitments involving expenditure. These arrangements promote early engagement, support whole-of-government co-ordination and help to avoid duplication …

I take the Deputy’s valid concerns on board. While my Department provides extensive guidance, oversight and procurement supports, individual PSBs ultimately retain responsibility for determining the suitability of their requirements, governance arrangements, project delivery approaches and the successful implementation of ICT projects under their remit. There is support for the Public Appointments Service and for digital and ICT initiatives of significant scale, risk or strategic importance, including all projects …

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this very important matter. As he knows, in May 2024 the Government appointed the Dublin city task force, chaired by David McRedmond, to take a holistic view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin city centre, north and south. The aim is to make Dublin city centre a more thriving, attractive and safe cityscape and a desirable location to live, work, do business and visit. The Dublin city task force report published in October 2024 made a series of recommendations, known as …

I thank Senator Boyhan for his measured and informed approach and observations and his support and desire to work together on the rejuvenation of Dublin city. This is where at all matters. The approach of the Dublin city task force on the roadmap for delivery provides a good example of how State agencies and key stakeholders can work together to try to plot a course for a major city's rejuvenation. We look forward to seeing progress and the establishment of a special purpose vehicle by Dublin City Council in the co…

I thank Senator Kennelly for instigating this discussion on the subject of the retirement age for retained firefighters. Many Members are dedicated advocates for the terms and conditions of retained firefighters and that advocacy and support is greatly appreciated. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to address the House and update Members on progress to date on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Senator Kennelly raised the question of the retirement age of the retained firefig…

I thank Senator Kennelly for raising this important issue. It affects us in all our constituencies, towns, villages and cities. The focus has been on making the role more attractive and sustainable. We have done a lot for better work-life balance, have increased financial security and career opportunities and have raised awareness. I thank the members for all their work. Retention and recruitment of personnel in the fire service remains a key priority. Supporting retained firefighters through appropriate policies, …

I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important issue. I will be answering on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The State acknowledges the importance of access to new and innovative medicines for patients and is acutely aware of the plight of patients diagnosed with diabetes. By way of background, CGM systems provide an alternative approach for self-monitoring of blood glucose. These CGM systems comprise sensors, transmitters and a mechanism to display results. Under the Health A…

I will bring the Senator's views to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I assure her that the Minister for Health really appreciates the importance of ensuring that patients with diabetes in Ireland have access to the latest treatments. The Minister for Health met Diabetes Ireland in April of this year and attended its conference in May. She has been made aware of the group's perspectives on access to CGM sensor technology. As the Senator has outlined, there has been a significant shift in the q…

No.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O’Brien. I would like to clarify that the Minister has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. I am familiar with Loughshinny, Donabate, Rush and Portrane. My grandfather was the sergeant at Rush back in the 1940s, and my mother grew up there and w…

The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services nationally, working with the public transport operators that deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. In this regard, while it is the NTA's priority to provide scheduled public transport services on the Transport for Ireland, TFI, network, it works with event organisers, operators, local authorities and An Garda Síochána to provide additional transport s…

I assure the Deputy that the NTA meets all public transport operators on a regular basis and advises event promoters about what, if any, additional public transport services are available for particular events. Some events are organised without any input or involvement from the NTA. As a result, the authority may not be aware of them until a very late stage. The NTA suggested that there may be a need for more scrutiny of transport availability when licensing such events, in particular when different local authoriti…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned fishery harbour centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl, under statute. It also has responsibility for Cape Clear, Cleggan and some piers, lights and beacons. Fishery harbour centres are established under the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 as centres in which to promote, develop and carry out sea fishing, including the production and sale of fish and …

I thank the Deputy for his measured approach. The process taking two years is reason enough for him to raise this important issue here. It is welcome that the Department maintains an open and proper relationship with the tenant and is always available to provide an update on progress or to address any queries. As recently as 25 June, the Department provided an email update to the tenant on the current progress. This was in addition to in-person meetings at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre on 26 May this year and 27 Nov…

On behalf of the Minister for children, I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue and affording her the opportunity to respond. The Minister would like to make clear at the outset that the safety and well-being of the children in the care of Oberstown, and of the staff who support them, is and will remain the highest priority. The Minister notes that Oberstown, as the employer, is engaging directly with staff representatives through the appropriate industrial relations mechanisms, including conciliat…

The Minister and I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which is a priority for the Department and I will bring his concerns back to the Minister. In the medium term, there has been a significant increase of €5.75 million in capital funding for Oberstown under the National Development Plan 2026-2030. This sustained investment reflects the Government's commitment to ensuring the campus is properly resourced and projects are under way that will alleviate occupancy pressures. However, in terms of the cur…

I thank Senator Kennelly for raising this matter. As he may be aware, under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority, or RSA, has statutory responsibility for the national driver testing service. This includes full responsibility for operational matters, including scheduling of tests and all decisions in relation to the opening of new driver testing centre locations. Neither the Minister of State with responsibility for transport or the Department have any function or powers in deciding on the …