I again thank Senator Crowe for raising this matter. The delivery of healthcare education programmes is complex and requires multiple parts of the health and education system working together. Practice education is a fundamental part of a student’s learning experience. The Department of Health provides supports to the HSE and other stakeholders to ensure essential practice placements are available for HSCP students. It is recognised that many students in higher education experience financial difficulties. Consequen…

I thank Deputy Feighan. On a general category, this year home support has increased by €122 million. That is the largest ever. It is at €838 million. The Deputy did not reference a specific area so he might come back to us.

Sligo-Leitrim. The funding is there. It is back to the individual regions themselves. The Deputy might come back to us so our Department can follow up with the HSE locally to ensure the funding is in place for that provision.

I wish to acknowledge that we have three Deputies representing Kildare in the House: the Ceann Comhairle; Deputy Durkan who, as the Ceann Comhairle said, is relentless in his pursuit of this, and his concern is very genuine; and his constituency colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy James Lawless.

I mentioned the Ceann Comhairle.

When I came into this role a relatively short time ago, I wanted to resolve the issue in Castletown. In doing so, I chaired the meetings in Castletown myself. We have held four meetings and a fifth will take place tomorrow. I intended holding a meeting on Tuesday but unfortunately I was the Minister of State on duty here that day and had to be here much earlier so I deferred the meeting with the patience and acceptance of the members until tomorrow at 10 a.m. I have a script but I will deal with the main components…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. It continues to be the strategic objective of the OPW to reunite all of the lands of the former Castletown estate. The OPW remains open to negotiations with the landowners to purchase all or that part of the subject lands. In line with a commitment I gave to the working group, I met with the owners to discuss this further. Engagement between the OPW and the landowner is ongoing. The OPW and I are also engaging with the Office of the Attorney General in order to have the most comprehensi…

The core point the Deputy raised about the legal situation and right of access is the kernel of the work being done by the Attorney General at the moment. Other aspects are being looked at, but that is a key element. I hope to have that. A significant body of work is also under way in the Attorney General's office with regard to the personnel and resources involved because we want to ensure that the advice is comprehensive. I know that is also Deputy Durkan's desire. It remains a strategic objective of the OPW to r…

That was the clincher.

I thank Deputy Pringle for raising this issue. I am very aware that the risk of coastal erosion has a significant impact on communities. In the first instance, coastal protection and localised flooding are matters for each local authority to investigate and address. The OPW provides support to local authorities through the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme, which has been in operation since 2009. The scheme provides funding to local authorities to undertake minor works or studies to address…

Is that because it is on private land?

What if it was on public land?

The commencement and progression of the minor works scheme at Inver, County Donegal, for which funding has been approved, is a matter for Donegal County Council. The money has been approved. I will ask the OPW officials to engage with Donegal County Council to see if there is any misunderstanding. The Government is developing a whole-of-government approach to the challenge of coastal change. Among the key recommendations of a report from the interdepartmental group on national coastal change management is the assig…

I thank the Senator for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I would like to clarify that the Minister has responsibility for policy and overall funding in respect of public transport but neither the Minister or his officials are involved in the day-to-day management, operation or planning of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the Nationa…

On behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, I thank Senator Dolan for raising this important matter. The Minister and Department recognise the importance of connectivity to people who live and work in Ireland. It is key to bringing life back to our villages, towns and urban centres. As indicated in my initial response, the NTA, which is responsible for public transport in the context of the specific point the Senator raised regarding buses, is working on two proposals along the corridor with Local Link Ga…

I thank the Acting Chair. I thank in particular Senator Sherlock for raising this important matter. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I would like to clarify that the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is responsible for policy and overall funding of public transport. Neither the Minister nor his Department is involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport, including the small public service vehicle, SPSV, sector. T…

I thank Senator Sherlock. As previously stated, the NTA, as independent regulator for the SPSV sector, sets the standards and requirements for the sector which include rules about vehicle standards and vehicle age limits. For safety, emissions and quality reasons, standard taxis and hackneys must be less than ten years old to operate. Once a vehicle reaches its maximum permissible age, the licence holder may not apply to the NTA for the renewal of a licence with that vehicle and a younger replacement vehicle must b…

I thank Senator O’Loughlin for her inquiry on the implementation of phase two of the National Transport Authority fare determination and, more particularly, its impact on the commuters of south Kildare. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan. From the outset I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister nor hi…

I reassure Senator O’Loughlin that the Government is strongly committed to delivering a cost-efficient and sustainable public transport network. The ongoing review of existing fare structures has a key role to play in achieving this goal. The Minister for Transport has welcomed the publication of the NTA’s fare determination which represents the first step in delivering the national fare strategy. However, the Minister fully acknowledges the frustrations of commuters and of Senator O’Loughlin on behalf of the peopl…

I thank the Senator for raising this very important matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future includes the interest to develop innovative support schemes for amateur drama and musicals. In 2021, with the support of the Department, the Arts Council provided funding to the resource organisations that support the amateur drama and musical societies. For example, the Drama League of Ireland received Arts Council funding of €135,000 and t…