The real facts are that the plan is imminent. To put this in context, the budget was in December. The Department gave the NTA its allocation. To be fair to it, it is working through the process. This is the first week of January. The Deputy used the word "trust". Look at the Government's commitment in terms of its investment in rural transport. Some €84 million has been invested and there has been a 36% increase in the budget for this area this year. As a Government, we are committed to rural transport and want to …

I thank Deputy Keogh for raising the issue. As Minister of State in the Department of Transport with special responsibility for rural transport, with my colleagues, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, we are, as I told Deputy Whitmore, investing considerably in services throughout the country under the NTA’s flagship Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, supported by funding allocated by the Department of Transport. I thank the Deputy for being a constant advocate in her own co…

I will conclude on this. There is €31 million ring-fenced for rural transport, a 38% increase on funding from last year.

The map paints a very good picture and I accept there are challenges. There are the provisions we have to bring and we want to see a further enhancement of the service. As I said earlier to Deputy Whitmore and I will say again now, we await the NTA service plan. As the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said to Deputy Carthy in terms of road funding, we will listen to all requests. We have a finite budget, as the Deputy will appreciate, but with the NTA, we will work to ensure we continue to invest in our rural transport. I…

The Deputy is right that it is about boxing clever and TFI Anseo is a success. I fundamentally agree with her. She mentioned Knockrooskey. It is about that joined-up approach in terms of the local authority with footpaths, the NTA and Bus Éireann. What I would like us to do further as a Department is better linkage in terms of more accessibility and highlighting what the Deputy referenced in terms of the child who wants to do swimming lessons being able to get on a bus, the footpath, the lighting, and having a bus …

The Minister, Deputy Naughton, sends her apologies. For my part, I was a teacher for 17 years. I fully concur with many of the comments the Deputy has made. She is right that the importance of this issue is such that it requires a rigorous and methodical approach and evaluation by everybody. I have always been of the same view as the Deputy that it is about following the student. She is right about that and I agree with her. I thank her for raising this very important issue. Educational disadvantage is a key priori…

I thank the Deputy for raising many pertinent points, which I do not disagree with. She is right that it is not just about funding. During my own career, it was not just about funding. This is about that wraparound service and that engagement. It is not just about being able to measure but being able to have students reach their full potential. It is not just about literacy and numeracy. The Deputy mentioned the arts but it is also the socialisation piece and, for example, the hot school meals programme. She is rig…

I thank the Deputies. I am taking the matter for the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, who apologises that he cannot be here. As both of them know quite well, 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 operations of the public transport service. That rests with the NTA, which both Deputies articulated. I will not insult them by telling them that. I appreciate and acknowledge the remarks they both m…

Deputy Murphy might forward that to me because it is important that we bring feedback to the NTA. I assure the Deputies that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, and the Department, fully recognise that transport connectivity is hugely important for people who live, work and study. Deputy Boyd Barrett mentioned the link to Heuston Station. It beggars belief that there is no link from Heuston Station to the colleges he referred to. From a Government point of view, public transpo…

Please do. I encourage the Deputy to do so. If we do not take the experiences of the travelling public on board, then we cannot learn. There are mistakes and gaps. I would be the first to say that. I see it in my city of Cork. I am not living in an ivory tower. I use the bus in Cork. I recognise this when I meet people. Going back to the Deputies' fundamental point, it is crazy, in a world with the technology we have, that an app cannot have correct real-time information for members of the travelling public. That d…

I thank the Senator for raising the matter, which is a very important one. I join him in commending the volunteers in our communities. He is right the growth of defibrillator provision has been of extraordinary value to our communities. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. As the Senator knows, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, has statutory responsibility for the national driver testing service under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006. The driver theory test is a requirement under EU la…

I again thank Senator Gallagher for raising the matter. As I explained in my reply to him, there is a movement by the Government and the RSA in terms of the transposition of the directive published in November. As he knows, it will take two years to be transposed. That gives us an opportunity to consult widely. This morning has been a useful exercise. I hope the Irish Heart Foundation can be involved in that. As you look at the road safety strategy, it is about committing to renewing and enhancing the learning to d…

I thank Senator Kennelly for raising the important matter of the Local Link, particularly around Abbeydorney. He is right. It is about connectivity and opportunity. It is a success story. As the Senator knows, the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport but we do not have involvement in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for that rests with the National Transport Authority. The NTA works with the public…

I thank the Senator again for raising the matter and being an advocate of connectivity. In recent years in County Kerry, for which he has been a strong advocate and champion, we have seen considerable investment in the rural transport programme, with funding having increased by 71% between 2023 and 2024 to over €4.7 million. Passenger numbers on the regular rural service routes in Kerry have seen a 41% increase year on year. I take the Senator's point regarding deficits that exist. I am fully committed to deliverin…

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary, as she knows. This is a very important issue. I acknowledge that she has raised it in the House already by way of Commencement matter and that the Minister responded to her at the time. The Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 principally amends and extends the Civil Registration Act 2004. As was previously outlined to the Senator, the Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill was signed into…

I thank Senator Keogan for raising the matter. We all welcome the commencement of section 6, which will provide an opportunity for all father's names to be recorded in the register of births. As Senator Keogan knows, the number of birth registrations that do not contain a father's name is very low. It stands at less than 3%. However, it is the Government's view that, where possible, all children should have the right to know the details of both of their parents. I remind everybody in the House that the new section …

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Noonan agus gabhaim buíochas leis as an díospóireacht seo a chur os comhair an Tí. Táim ag caint ar phlean gnímh don Ghaeilge, go mór mór sna scoileanna ina bhfuil an Béarla mar chéad teanga. Cloisim tuairimí an tSeanadóra. Táim ag éisteacht leis. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for education. In recognising what the Senator said, it is important to acknowledge that we continue to make progress in terms of the advancement of the action plan for Irish in Engl…

Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an Seanadóir. Tá an plean gnímh tosaithe amach. Tá sé sách maith agus nua. The publication of the action plan is the first. It is a new direction and a significant milestone in the teaching, learning and use of Irish, ár dteanga dhúchais, in both Irish- and English-medium schools. I share the Senator’s ambition of all of us having that grá but also the ability to have that conversation. We are fortunate that both the policy and action plan reflect the Government. Tá an Rialtas ag tabhairt…

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Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí Sherlock agus Boyd Barrett as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a thabhairt chun cinn. I agree with Members that our identity and reputation are so inextricably linked. I am taking this matter on the behalf of the Minister, as the Deputies know. This Government places great value on culture and the arts sector. As outlined in the programme for Government, we recognise that they are essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagemen…