I wish to ask the Taoiseach about yesterday’s top story in the Irish Examiner . Once again, it was news about the Redbarn Quality Hotel, where approximately 370 people going through the asylum seeker process have been based. This was done without consultation. As a local Government TD in the constituency, I only learned this was happening, and the number of people who have been placed in the hotel, from the report in the Irish Examiner . The community is wondering whether this is coming at the detriment of the 450 …

I want to ask the Tánaiste about housing data that came out in recent days. It is, to some degree, worrying. Twice in the State's history in the past 15 years, we had two comprehensive national plans - the national economic recovery plan in 2011 and the State's response to Covid - where everything came in under one roof to try to solve the issue. Is this something that could be looked at in the new programme for Government, under the guise of infrastructure or through the Department of the Taoiseach, to try to get …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue and congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, on his appointment. I had the privilege of serving for four years in the previous Dáil term as the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on transport, being a member of the Oireachtas committee on transport and getting an opportunity to see first-hand the operations and functions of that Department and the agencies that work under it. I take great pride in the work we did as a committee, and on the public accounts committee…

As this is my first time speaking here since the general election, I take the opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the good people of Cork East and to my canvassers, family, supporters, neighbours and friends on being re-elected to the House. I walked in here at the age 22, and I am back at the age of 27. I have to admit that it is a privilege to be here. It is always special to be in the Oireachtas, but to be here as a Member is an enormous privilege. I have great respect for the House, as an institution…

As east Cork residents are continuously hit with long-lasting water outages and boil water notices, can we see a commitment from the Government that the new Whitegate water treatment facility, which Deputy Stanton and I have worked very hard to deliver, will be delivered, and also some focus on water outages in Ballyhooly? I acknowledge the huge frustration being caused locally for people we represent. The year 1997, the year Deputy Stanton was elected to the House, was the year I was born. I wish him a happy retir…

I want to ask the Minister for Transport about the updating of the Local Link services. In my constituency, where they have been rolled out, they have been successful. That is good but we have villages, such as Lady's Bridge, Ballymacoda, Lisgoold, Shanagarry and Garryvoe, that need further services. In some cases, including many of the villages I have just referenced, they have no Local Link services and we need further services in those areas. Is this something the Minister could look at for the east Cork region?…

I thank the Minister for that information. He is right in what he is saying. Passenger numbers are looking positive. Services have been rolled out in the towns that have been mentioned, in Youghal, Mitchelstown and Mallow. On behalf of the people of Ladysbridge, Ballymacoda, Lisgoold, Shanagarry, Garryvoe, of those important local villages in the east Cork area, I want to make the case here in Dáil Éireann that it is really important we improve connectivity by having regular services. Ladysbridge is the only one. I…

I appreciate the Minister's engagement on this. It is probably our final exchange in the current Dáil term. I do not know if we will be back again for another round of these parliamentary questions. Throughout your term, Minister, I have enjoyed dealing with you. We have very different political views on many issues. I wish you a long and happy retirement from this House. You have done a lot of work for the State. The Local Link service has been one of the shining lights of Government policy in recent years in how …

I raise the issue of the rampant growth in the number of solar farms being developed in the east Cork area, ranging in size from 450 acres to 1,200 acres, one of which will potentially remove the largest single cow herd in the country. This is something that is hugely concerning to the people of east Cork, as we see, potentially, our green fields turning grey. I know Government guidelines will come out in quarter 4 of 2024. Is there any concentration in the Government on preserving top-quality agricultural land tha…

I wish to raise the issue of the withdrawal of funding for TII schemes. A number of national road schemes throughout the country have been impacted this year by very substantial funding uncertainty. Schemes such as the N72 in my own constituency, along with schemes in other parts of Cork, such as the N71 in Bantry, and others in counties Tipperary, Wexford, Roscommon and Longford have been prevented from being progressed because the funding was not available as of August 2024. To update the House, of the projects t…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I acknowledge that within it there was reference to moneys spent. What I want to discuss, however, is money that has been allocated for expenditure in this calendar year but is not being spent. Normally, Transport Infrastructure Ireland's budget is agreed by its board, in consultation with the Department of Transport, generally in the second week of December. That was the case before this Government came to power and before we had a Green Party Minister in the Departm…

My question concerns the eligibility rules for medical cards and GP cards in respect of people with chronic and incurable autoimmune diseases. This is an important issue for those it affects. These are difficult healthcare conditions that come with a lot of ramifications for quality of life and in terms of costs. People need access to community healthcare at a fair and affordable price. Will the Minister look at expanding eligibility, acknowledging that this is a huge issue for those it affects?

I see the point the Minister is making. It does not necessarily mean I wholeheartedly agree with it, but he is right to outline that. We do this best on the basis of age. I acknowledge the Department with its enormous resources has to prioritise what it feels is in the best interests of caring for the needs of our population around this expenditure and providing the best access to healthcare. However, from the perspective of somebody who has come to me and told me their story about suffering from this illness, it b…

I know I have raised this with the Minister previously, but in that specific area around Rathcormack and in north Cork generally, people accessing healthcare services has been a huge difficulty and a huge challenge. In particular, I think of the town of Mitchelstown. I have raised here many times cases of a concentration of the healthcare resources in a primary care centre that is privately operated and run. I meet so many people in that constituency who cannot access their local GP. They have a range of different …

Once again, I take the opportunity to raise a constituency matter with the Minister. It relates to Youghal, County Cork, my home town and new capital developments there. I am really delighted with the progress that has been made under the HSE capital development plan. I worked very hard with the Minister and Minister of State, Deputy Butler, on delivering a new community nursing unit and a new primary care centre in the town. However, is there is an opportunity to deliver a new ambulance training college in Youghal…

I welcome that. I am delighted there has been progress since we last spoke about this matter. I met the Minister in his office with departmental officials about this, and it is something we have been working on together. Youghal, as a town, has taken a hammering historically. There were 4,000 people directly employed in traditional industries there and Kodak flash cameras were made there. The town has really been a victim of time, poor government investment and a lack of strategic thinking, and its people feel aban…

I am very pleased with that information. I am delighted to hear that the Minister will be in Youghal and about the difference the capital development will make. I recognise the contribution the ambulance service makes to our community. It is under huge pressure, as its staff tell me. Above all else, the new facility will bring a new generation of young people into the service, making a difference for the entire region. Youghal will be a very worthy home for it. Beyond the election, I believe it is important that th…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, for sharing time. I join in the congratulations to my colleague the Minster, Deputy Chambers, on his first budget. I do not doubt that it was a difficult task for him and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to piece together the budget over recent months. I want to share some of my thoughts and feelings on the budget. There are very obvious positives around the reduction in income tax for households. There has also been a small reduction in the universal social charge. Other…

I raise the important issue of Garda resources and numbers in my constituency. I ask the Minister of State to set out the number of gardaí in each district in the Cork East constituency and if to make statement on the matter. I raise this issue because we have seen a substantial decline in the number of gardaí in my constituency. According to our latest available figures, we are down now to under 100, coming from having 109 in 2020. I wish to raise this issue with the Minister of State and see what can be done to a…

I thank the Minister of State for that information. Above all else, I am here to represent the people of Cork East and it is an honour to do so. It is a constituency that is growing incredibly quickly. A sign of this was the latest census and constituency boundary review. More than 20,000 electors have been moved to different constituencies and this just gives an idea of the scale of the growth in the area. I am raising this issue because when I speak to constituents, especially around the issue of rural crime, inc…