I am getting a briefing on this matter this afternoon. I will bring forward plans on the recreation scheme in due course.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce this Bill to the House. The purpose of the Bill is to make some technical changes necessary to facilitate the roll-out of a new Garda operating model. In September 2018, the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland was published. The report presents a clear vision for the future of An Garda Síochána. The consultation by the commission led to the development of ten key principles for the future of policing in Ireland an…

I thank Deputies for their contributions and for their support for this Bill. I would like to mention a number of amendments I intend to introduce on Committee Stage. They relate to the drug testing of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as trainees, civilian staff, reserve members and applicants. The amendments were recommended by the Garda Inspectorate in its report from last year, Countering the Threat of Internal Corruption, which states that the proposed changes would bring An Garda Síochána into line with i…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1). Question put and agreed to.

I take on board the points the Deputy raised. To be clear, local employment services are something we very much need. The service has been provided through a number of different providers over the years. As stated by the Deputy, some of them have been operational for as long as 22 years. We have legal advice that we must put these services out to tender. I have put four areas out to tender in respect of which there are no employment services. I am awaiting the results of that process. We will take on board the lear…

On the citizenship applications, Covid has of course meant things have been slowed down somewhat but we have been doing them. It was a pleasure for me to attend an online citizenship ceremony and we are working our way through those lists and I will get an update for the Deputy. On antisocial behaviour, the Government is determined to tackle it. I regularly meet with the Garda Commissioner and An Garda Síochána continues to implement high-visibility policing plans to address public disorder-related issues and antis…

At the outset, it important to say the past few weeks have not been Fine Gael’s finest hour. I am disappointed that at a time when we should have been talking about one of the most successful vaccination roll-outs in the world, about our economy reopening and about hundreds of thousands of people getting back to work, we have instead spent most of the last eight weeks talking about somebody who lost their seat in the previous election. We have nobody to blame for that but ourselves. It is important we acknowledge t…

He is one of the most decent men you could meet.

You only have to look at his record-----

As someone who comes from just outside Clones, a few miles from the Border, I know the genuine fear that existed in communities at the prospect of a hard border returning to this island. There was one person more than anybody who fought on Ireland's behalf to ensure that did not happen. That was Simon Coveney. Often, that meant leaving his young family at three or four o'clock in the morning to travel across Europe, fostering relations with our EU neighbours and ensuring Ireland’s interests were protected in the Br…

Fine Gael is a party full of ordinary decent public representatives doing their best for the people they represent. We were not born with silver spoons in our mouths. We are very much out there on the ground. We are in touch with people. We are helping people with housing, medical cards and the issues that matter.

I just wanted to say finally that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has my full confidence. I can honestly say that his loyalty to this country and his dedication and commitment are second to none.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The local improvement scheme supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities but which represent vital infrastructure for rural residents. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the local authorities. Nearly 2,400 roads have already been funded for repair works since the scheme was relaunched in 2017. Prior to then there was no funding for this scheme for a number of years. I launched the…

I thank the Deputy. There was €10 million for the LIS in 2020, so I have more than doubled that this year, with funding of €21 million being made available. That is a 110% increase in funding, which is not bad going. I know the Deputy acknowledges that. I accept that the lists are long nationwide. That is why I have not been found wanting when it comes to providing additional funding. I am familiar with it. Like Deputy Kerrane, I am from a rural constituency and I know the benefit of this scheme. The Deputy will be…

I do not have the details of every county but my officials have liaised with local authorities and asked how many lanes they can deliver. When I launched the scheme on 14 May, local authorities were given until 11 June to provide a list of roads to be completed. All of those have now been received and approved, with one exception, which is Westmeath, for some reason. We have shown flexibility for local authorities that required more time. Local authorities will now be able to claim up to 10% of the net cost. My off…

I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this issue. As she said, playgrounds are an important resource with positive impacts for communities. Funding provided by the community enhancement programme provides small grants to community groups to enhance facilities, including playgrounds, in disadvantaged areas. Funding is allocated by my Department to each local authority area, and the local community development committee, with support from their local authority, administers the funding in that area. In 2021, total funding…

The Deputy is right in stating that Bandon is a fine town and it should have good playground facilities. However, in many cases, applications have not been put in. That is often a problem as we must get quality applications. All of them are assessed when they come in. I do not know the specific reason Bandon has not received funding but there are many different sources of funding it should be looking for, such as the CLÁR programme. I am not too sure if Bandon is in a CLÁR area or not, but that programme is availab…

I do not have specific information on the area the Deputy raised. Many playgrounds have been funded, however. I have had the pleasure to visit many of them and I have seen the benefits they bring to schools and communities. In addition to the funding that is provided through my Department, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, launched the summer of play initiative. The initiative will roll out grants, information resources and other supports over the summer months…

The development of a new islands policy is one of the key elements of Our Rural Future, the Government's new rural development policy. The central objective of the islands policy will be to ensure that sustainable vibrant communities continue to live on the offshore islands. The consultation process undertaken by my Department has assisted in identifying the main challenges faced by communities living on the offshore islands. Issues highlighted by the island communities included education, health, housing, energy, …

I thank the Deputy. I agree with her. I come from a landlocked, inland county but I hope the Deputy accepts my bona fides in being absolutely committed to supporting island communities. It is my plan to visit a number of islands the week after next to meet the residents and to have conversations with them to see at first hand the issues, challenges and opportunities they are presented with. As the Deputy knows, I have approved the business case for Inis Oírr. I am meeting with representatives of Tory Island next we…