I pay tribute to Republic of Ireland captain, Nathan Collins, who, like me, is a native of Leixlip. We both went to the same school, Scoil Bhríde. That is where the similarities end. On the football pitch, we were very different. Nathan is a lovely fella. He has been around the town and is a brilliant role model. I was also lucky enough to grow up on the same estate as Emma Byrne. I was across the green from her. She is another brilliant role model for Ireland. She was excellent with Arsenal. She was the year below…

I speak here tonight on a fascinating day in its own way. In here in the Dáil Chamber, we saw many different things happening. At the same time, this ultimately is really important legislation before us here tonight. I have seen many contributors from different sides, some positive and some negative, but it really speaks to the importance of infrastructure for us and within our own areas. Many people spoke about their own towns and their own villages because ultimately, that is the infrastructure they are all aware…

My question was grouped with Deputy McCarthy's. The Minister of State has partially answered it. I asked what the status of the diaspora strategy is and if the Minister or the Minister of State would make a statement on the matter, considering both of them are there. I know the Minister of State has specific responsibility for the diaspora. Coming on the heels of St. Patrick's Day, we know how important the footprint that Ireland has and that the people have had through multiple generations. As was said, it is not …

I am delighted that the Minister of State referenced college football because we have seen the tremendous impact that has had. Not only are we bringing the games but we are bringing people over. A lot of those people spend a lot of time in Ireland. The game offers a window to Ireland in America with huge numbers watching the games. They see the best of what Ireland has to offer from a sporting facility perspective but it also gives us the opportunity to promote ourselves the week before the season starts. The colle…

The issue I wish to bring up today is something I have raised a number of times since I was elected. Like the Tánaiste, I believe that an Irish savings and investment account model, especially for young people, can make a huge difference. However, I also continue to believe that tax reform for ETFs would offer an effective and impactful means too for those people who already might be in a position to invest. The goal we have as a Government and one I know the Tánaiste has been really pushing is to transform investm…

The Minister referred to her discussion earlier with Deputy Daly, which I listened to, about the need for GPs and how we roll them out. He was speaking about both the rural and urban areas in his area, but where I see a real need is in those urban centres of Leixlip and Maynooth. They are two large towns with a university on top. There are 60,000 residents and there is not a primary care centre between them. Likewise, there is a huge need for GPs. I have known of many cases where people have come into our towns and…

Often when we talk about an area like north Kildare with a population that has grown so significantly, we can talk about physical infrastructure, Uisce Éireann or the need for housing. Ultimately, however, we also need the social infrastructure, in whatever guise that comes in, be it locations for elderly people or, in this case, GP services. Social infrastructure makes a community what it is and that is what everyone needs. While I will continue to advocate for new GPs, I am conscious of the expenses associated wi…

I wish to raise the topic of URDF or its successor, the new cities and towns initiative. I welcome the Taoiseach's announcement yesterday that the housing Minister had raised this at Cabinet and that a new round of funding will be provided for populated areas which are in desperate need of it. In my constituency of Kildare North, towns like Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Naas are all areas which have seen huge population growth in the past 15 years and new housing continues to be built in these areas. This is bei…

Today we are all talking on the issue of post offices and post offices being retained. I want to emphasise the need for post offices to be retained in our town and village centres. All too often we talk about retaining the service but the key for me is that we retain them in the town centres. In my home village of Leixlip, we lost our post office from the town centre when it was put into a shopping area outside the town. That has had a huge impact on the other traders and the other businesses in our town. We have t…

Chuala mé an focal “faitíos” ón Teachta Farrell. D’úsáid sí an focal sin. Sin an focal a bhfuilim ag smaoineamh faoi anois agus mé ag caint as Gaeilge. My Irish would not be as good as many people’s Irish. I did not get the opportunity to go to the Gaelscoil in Leixlip growing up, but I did go to the Gaeltacht. I actually got to learn quite a bit of Irish afterwards. I try to use it when I can. I am going to speak about access to Irish-speaking schools in our area. Ceapaim go bhfuil sé an-tábhachtach. Mar a dúirt m…

I welcome to the Gallery my son, Liam, who is taking a mid-morning break from school. He is welcome. I wish to ask how many transport surveys have been carried out over the public transport networks to ensure there is adequate capacity on routes and efficiency in delivery; and to ask the Minister of State to make a statement on the matter, especially pertaining to north Kildare.

Yes.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit for the response. The reason I raise the issue is that in the fast-growing area of north Kildare, which has had a huge population increase, we have significant challenges when it comes to transport and public transport. As we all know, the roads, including the M4 and the N7, are full coming into Dublin in the morning. We want to give the opportunity to as many people as possible to use buses and trains. Ultimately, many of those buses and trains are full. It is good to hear that …

While we are discussing north Kildare specifically, there are a couple of projects that have been set in train. The M4 bus corridor, for example, has been built. I was recently in touch with the Minister's Department looking to ensure that we get the legislation passed so we get that bus corridor open. That would be one way to take traffic off the motorway. DART+ South West has been delayed. We really need it because there has been that increase in population all the way down towards Naas and all along that corrido…

I am raising the very serious issue of St. Patrick's Primary School in Celbridge, which opened in 2008. It is housed in a prefabricated building that was only supposed to be in place for five years. Unfortunately, 18 years later, the school is still in that building. In June 2025, a report was submitted after the work had been done at the end of March. It states: I am of the opinion that the existing building in the current condition is not fit for the purpose to operate without considerable risk to the occupants a…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I just want touch on a couple of the matters. The two modular units have been set down and the children are using them. However, the units are very small and way too cramped for proper classes. Also, there are no toilets in the modular units, which are located away from the school building. That poses its own difficulties. I was at the school yesterday morning. The scaffolding has been put up. There is no work going on and the scaffolding is blocking some of the fire …

I thank the Minister very much for his response. I know he is very passionate about this issue, which the Joint Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery has seen. As Vice Chair of that committee, I am very focused on it. As a councillor, I saw a lot of houses being built in north Kildare, for example. I am sure the same applies in the rest of the country. In Celbridge, we need a second bridge. In Leixlip, we need development at the top of Confey and in Maynooth, a relief road is required. …

I really sympathise with the Minister's final point. Potentially mistakes will be made and we must ensure that people will be backed through the various projects. I am a member of the public accounts committee and we look retrospectively at decisions. We need to ensure that people are backed. The main thing is that they are supported and that proper guidelines are in place so they are not afraid to make decisions. This is at all levels, including at the highest level. The Minister has taken responsibility himself c…

Today I want to highlight the issue of school spaces, or the lack thereof, and the desperate need for joined-up thinking between Departments to ensure early indicators are there, so we know where we will have issues. More conversations are needed between the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Social Protection, potentially, around the number of ECCE applicants we are seeing in local areas, which I do not believe is taking place. Otherwise we need to look at the census data from year to year to …

I am Vice Chair of the infrastructure committee. I know the Minister will be coming to the committee later on and we may be able to discuss some of these topics in detail. I welcome the national development plan of €102 billion, which is a huge amount of money to spend. Ultimately, we are only playing catch-up on the money that probably should have been spent in previous years. The percentage that we were spending was not commensurate with the 16% that we are going to be spending in the future. I also welcome the a…