Musical theatre is an amateur pursuit for most of those involved and it has established a sustainable model of operation. It relies on voluntary commitment and enthusiastic audiences. As the Senator mentioned, 130 musical societies throughout Ireland are members of the Association of Irish Musical Societies. This involves approximately 14,000 people directly involved in musical theatre, engaging an audience base of in excess of 1 million. It is a hugely positive activity for those involved and for the wider communi…

I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, who is unfortunately not available tonight. I also thank Senator O’Loughlin for tabling this Bill and Senator Chambers for seconding it. The fact that Senator O'Loughlin has proposed these measures shows how necessary they are. The Minister for Defence is the custodian and guardian of the Curragh lands, pursuant to the provisions of the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961, which the Senator referen…

A good Limerick man.

I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, who unfortunately is not available. I thank Senator Chambers for bringing forward this Bill. The Government will not be opposing it. The Minister looks forward to engaging with Senator Chambers in particular on these issues. I share the deep concerns expressed by the Senator in relation to behaviour and safety on the Internet. It is undeniable that online services have brought incredible benefits. One only has…

I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important matter in respect of the Coast Guard projects in Courtown and Arklow. I saw that this had been tabled as a Commencement matter, so I wanted to come in as Minister of State with responsibility to provide him with an update. I will do it slightly out of sequence to the response and deal with Arklow first. The Irish Coast Guard division of the Department of Transport has 44 units based in 58 Coast Guard stations. The Coast Guard building fund, which includes for the pro…

I welcome Senator Byrne's comments on Arklow and I appreciate his frustration about Courtown, County Wexford. A preferred site was selected in final consultation with the Department of Transport in March 2024. The OPW is still in negotiations with the owner of the preferred site but, as has been said, it is at a commercially sensitive stage. I give the Senator my commitment to follow up and personally come back to him over the week on this particular matter. I thank the Senator for raising the issue of both Coast G…

Before I get to this very important matter, I join others in expressing my sympathy on the passing of the lady of the House in her time, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, to her family. Deputy Andrews is opposite. When we were first elected in 2007, Mary O'Rourke was a senior Member of the House. She was very vibrant. She was that combination of intellect and robustness. More than anything else, however, it is a sad passing for her two sons and her family. I acknowledge her contribution to Irish society. I thank Deputy Durkan …

I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this important matter. I note the point he has raised. I have stated, in my time as Minister of State, that Lime Avenue is not a permanent access point. There are varying views in terms of it being a temporary access. As far as a permanent access is concerned, however, that is not something I am looking at. The Deputy is right; there is a need for a permanent solution. Equally, we have to find some way to get the staff back in to bring the grounds back up to standard because they a…

Is the Deputy talking about IPP?

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. My colleague Deputy Stanton is here as well. It is a major collective interest for the Deputies in the east Cork area. I know Deputy O'Connor is involved in the debate as well. To recap, I visited Midleton after Storm Babet. I am fully aware of the impact that this event and other flooding events in the town and elsewhere in east Cork has had on families, businesses and communities. After my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, I vi…

Gleann Fia. Specific works are being carried out there at the moment in terms of hydrological tests. We want Cork County Council to be in a position to submit a minor works application to us shortly for funding for mitigation works in Mogeely. I hope this will happen. I will keep going as I want to deal with the interim measures that are ongoing, as I said. There is a substantial amount of work done. In terms of the main planning consent route for the Midleton flood relief scheme, a lot of consideration is being gi…

The Deputy might follow up on the last item he brought up in an email to me so I can follow up with my officials in the OPW and Cork County Council.

How much time do I have?

I appreciate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's indulgence. I ask Deputy Buckley to send me an email on the last particular point he made so I can follow up to see if there are possibilities there. Deputy O'Connor can go through the script but on the particular issues, I approved €155,000 on 17 September to deliver flood mitigation works in Castlemartyr and Killeagh. This was made available from the OPW's minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme that provides local authorities with 90% of the funding. In…

It is occasionally good to be regarded as the exception.

The minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of this demand-driven scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. Since 2009, the OPW has approved €66 million across some 900 unique local flood relief projects that protect some 7,900 properties through…

I take on board the points made by Deputy Smith and in my consideration of the review of the scheme, I will take those factors into account. I note the points he makes and I also note the points made by Deputy Durkan. In terms of the review of the scheme, I will take everything in the round. My officials are the professionals in the area but I am a practising politician like the Deputies and I always build into what is happening on the ground. It might interest Deputy Smith to note in relation to applications from …

Yes, it is ongoing and the Deputy's points are duly noted.

On the point about local communities, I come from a constituency which has lived with flooding for many years. The local community, including local farmers, have a knowledge base that is really invaluable. I know from dealing with the local authority in Limerick that it very much values the input of the local community. On cross-Border co-operation, that continues but if the Deputy wishes to raise flooding issues specific to the Border area that he represents, I ask him to make direct contact with me and the OPW an…

What question are we dealing with?