I have only held this portfolio for a short time, but my understanding is that the ICML brought forward a proposal to build a science centre. That centre has ended up being the subject of arbitration in 2013 and 2021, with a decision having been made in June 2022. That decision from the arbitrator was that the OPW had the legal obligation to build the national science centre. It went through planning and it was appealed to An Board Pleanála, with a final decision made by that agency in March 2024. The arbitrator ha…

No, it is being built by the OPW.

I will deal with the core point brought up by Deputy Andrews. My understanding is that it will not encroach on Iveagh Gardens.

It went through a legal process. The legal process has gone on for many years and dates back to 2003. There was a Government decision at the time. It was before my time and ultimately ended up in arbitration. The most recent arbitration was in 2021. The arbitrator made a decision in June 2022, which basically said the OPW is legally obliged to build it. The next steps were that the OPW had to apply for planning permission. It was appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the two parties. An Bord Pleanála made its final decis…

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senator Seery Kearney for raising this important issue about the cromlech in the Phoenix Park. I acknowledge the work of Chapelizod historical society and it is a project that Senator Seery Kearney has been with from the start. To give context, the cromlech has many names. It is called the Knockmaree or Knockmary dolmen or cist, the Knockmaree Linkardstown grave or simply the Linkardstown tomb. It is, as the Senator said, around 5,000 years old. The capstone measures around 2 m in leng…

I again thank Senator Seery Kearney for raising this important issue regarding the cromlech in the Phoenix Park. I will make three points. As for the officials, during my short time there I have seen a genuine intention and appreciation among the staff to try to preserve what we have in terms of the natural environment. Second, I will follow up with the Chapelizod historical society with regard to what has been implemented for Ballina, County Mayo. Third, I will find time to visit the cromlech together with the Sen…

Once again, I thank my esteemed colleague, Deputy Durkan, for his long-standing, genuine and heartfelt interest in Castletown House and estate. As I have said previously, it is something on which the Deputy has worked over a considerable period through our parliamentary system, and he has dealt with it publicly as well. I take this opportunity to thank all members of the Castletown House and estate stakeholders working group, of which Deputy Durkan and his fellow public representatives are members. This working gro…

I again thank the Deputy. I reiterate I want to stick with the process, as I agreed with the working group and the Deputy. We will continue to speak to the landowners, look at Batty Langley Lodge for temporary access for staff, examine the legal case the Deputy made about the right of access and consider the Kildare campus. I am exploring every conceivable avenue to work with everyone to find a resolution to this. We all want the estate to be reopened and we are very conscious of the issues that are arising. I want…

The Deputy has latitude.

I thank Senator Seery Kearney for raising this important matter. This is a debate I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. The particular area of well-being falls under her direct remit. This debate gives me an opportunity to update the House on the mental health supports for primary and post-primary schools provided by the Department of Education. As always, Senator Seery Kearney is up to date on where things stand but I can certainly add a few elements. As the Senator said, this is something that the …

I thank Deputy Feighan for raising this matter today. I am taking this Topical Issues debate on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley. I can see the passion Deputy Feighan shows in this area. It is an area that comes up on the ground for all of us, including my good self. I know how important education is for parents. Before I address the specific issue raised, I would like to provide an outline of the extent of the school transport scheme. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed…

I thank Senator Seery Kearney for her contribution. I note that she is looking at the programme in a very structured fashion. The Senator will appreciate the fact, as she has already referenced, that there is a need for an evaluation both on a qualitative and a quantitative basis. That will take place. The Senator raises a very interesting point in terms of play therapy and the hours being provided. I have no doubt it is a matter that she will put serious thought into, in terms of polishing it. It is something I am…

The Department and the Minister will learn a lot from the two pilot schemes. To provide a final context, the most significant change to the current eligibility criteria for the mainstream that will come in 2024-25 will be to reduce the current distance criteria and remove the nearest-school criterion. The proposal over time is to reduce the distance criteria to 1 km from 3.2 km for primary schools and to 2 km from 4.8 km for post-primary schools. All children who meet these criteria will be accommodated on transpor…

I would also like to welcome our guests from north Dublin. For the previous school we had in here, we were told that there was no homework for them until June so I am wondering what the position is for our guests today.

Exactly. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin. I thank Senator O'Loughlin. I can see how important Kildare is to her. The Tánaiste asked me to offer his apologies on his behalf to the House. He welcomes the opportunity to respond to this matter and thanks the Senator for her question. The swimming pool in the Defence Forces Training Centre, DFTC, in the Curragh is an important Defence Forces asset and, as she knows, has previously been offere…

I again thank the Senator for raising this very important matter of an update on the upgrade works on the swimming pool at DFTC in the Curragh. She will be well aware that there is a long-standing policy in the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces to allow third-party access to Defence Forces properties to support local communities and to raise the profile of the Defence Forces among the public. This policy extends to a large number of groups and activities, including GAA clubs, soccer clubs and numerous co…

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien. I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline today the funding and Government support for local authorities, with particular reference to Longford County Council. The Minister acknowledges the current financial environment in which all local authorities, including Longford County Council, are operating, but specifically the negative impact on the commercial rates income caused by the closure of Lough Ree power station in Long…

I will conclude by referring to the Government supports to Longford since 2020. Across all schemes and funding sources, the Department provided €30.7 million in 2020, €48.5 million 2021, €36 million in 2022 and €52.9 million in 2023 to Longford County Council. Included in this is the unprecedented level of support provided by central government to local authorities during 2020 and 2021 in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic. A review of the LPT was completed by a working group in 2023 and the baseline for 2024 has bee…

To conclude, the purpose of this interim funding is to alleviate the unprecedented and unexpected loss of commercial rates in the period to the end of 2026, in line with the recommendation of the just transition commissioner. I have been assured that the Department will continue to engage with Longford County Council in this regard.

I join Senator Boyhan in congratulating John Moran on his election as the first directly elected mayor of Limerick and commend all candidates who took part in a very engaging and constructive debate. It put Limerick city and county to the fore national and internationally. I want to acknowledge the cross-party support in the Seanad, as well as in Dáil Éireann, when I brought through the legislation for the directly elected mayor. People were very engaged and we took on quite a number of Opposition amendments and th…