I am used to calling the Senator "Nessa".

I do.

I thank the Senator. I am very pleased to be able to respond to her and to do so on behalf of the Department. It is important to note the vital role the 28 education support centres throughout the country have on the delivery of national programmes of teacher professional learning. I am aware they also are an invaluable local resource for teachers in their catchment areas and are providing tailored and responsive professional learning opportunities for teachers to meet their identified needs in the region. The Depa…

I thank the Senator. The information that I have outlined shows that a decision to relocate was taken after a period of consultation and consideration by the management committee of Donegal Education Support Centre. The Department of Education, following detailed engagement, was satisfied from a governance and funding perspective that it could support the decision to relocate. I will say this much to the Senator. I have already had a meeting with all Donegal representatives, including Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher,…

I welcome all our visitors, wherever they come from. We are delighted they are here and can listen to our discussion, even if right now they have to leave. I thank the Senators for outlining their position on the financial situation of the Sacred Heart Junior National School in Killinarden. I take this matter on behalf of the Department of Education. The Department has been made aware of the financial position of the school and is committed to offering all available and appropriate support to the school as quickly …

I thank the Senators. Of course, I cannot comment on the response from the Department of Education but as a TD in this House I fully understand what both Senators are saying to me and the awful shock it was for parents and families. I thank the Senators for giving me the opportunity to outline the situation with regard to the financial situation at the Sacred Heart Junior National School in Killinarden and the ongoing support the Department of Education is providing. While the FSSU, on behalf of the Department, pla…

On behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy Butler, I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. The Minister of State is very familiar with the work of Save Our Sons and Daughters, SOSAD, which makes a significant contribution to counselling service provision in north-east Leinster and the midlands. It is important that is acknowledged. SOSAD is currently funded by HSE Louth-Meath mental health services. The Minister of State is aware that in August 2023, SOSAD applie…

I cannot comment on promises that were made. I am just here answering questions today. The Senator is aware that grant aid agreements with NGOs must be compliant with necessary spending and governance codes as evidenced by audited accounts and other information such as the details of the organisation's board of directors. My time to respond is short, but the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, recognises the frustration of SOSAD. However, these steps are essential and the HSE is not in a position to provide funding i…

I thank Deputy Lahart for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House on behalf of the Minister for Education the position regarding the financial situation in Sacred Heart Junior National School in Killinarden. The Department of Education has been made aware of the current situation regarding the financial position of this school. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to the school as quickly as necessary to avoid any further uncertainty. In order to support the schoo…

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the position in relation to the financial situation in Sacred Heart school, Killinarden, and the ongoing support that the Department of Education is providing. I speak on behalf of the Minister for Education. That is what I can do. I hear what the Deputy is saying. I hear that circumstances are such that the advice being given to the school is probably not advice it is in a position to take. Reaching out to the community probably is not possible, as the De…

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House, on behalf of the Minister for Education, the position regarding the financial situation in St. Cronan’s Junior National School in Swords. I fully accept that the school does extraordinary work. The Department of Education was not made aware of the current situation regarding the financial position of this school. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to the school as quickly as necessary to avoid any f…

I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the position regarding the financial situation in St. Cronan's Junior National School in Swords and the ongoing support the Department of Education is providing. In addition to the grants I mentioned, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This additional funding announced in budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-…

Along with others, I mark this historic day, as the House has elected the first woman Ceann Comhairle. She follows in the footsteps of Cathal Brugha, our first Ceann Comhairle, who was elected on 21 January 1919, just over 105 years ago. I was very pleased to nominate Verona for the role of Ceann Comhairle, as I was to nominate Catherine Connolly as Leas-Cheann Comhairle five years ago, because of their competence and diligence and their suitability for this important role. In that context, I recognise the sterling…

It is appropriate that my second last contribution to the Thirty-third Dáil is on the issue of how we care for carers. I put forward a Private Members' Bill on this issue during this Dáil, which carried on from my work in the European Parliament where I chaired the carers interest group for ten years. One of the pieces of legislation we were successful in bringing forward was recently put on the Statute Book here and guarantees carer's leave. We are talking about how to support family carers who care for people who…

On page 36 of the programme for Government, it states: As Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, we do not believe that it makes sense to develop LNG gas import terminals importing fracked gas ... We do not support the importation of fracked gas ... Yet the Government has done a U-turn with the amendments to the planning Bill, which means we will end up importing large quantities of fracked gas to feed either an onshore or offshore LNG terminal. The Government must take responsibility for the negative health impa…

That is a classic non-answer.

It is a non-answer.

Thank you, Deputy.

We still have to keep to the time.

I was happy to allow Deputy Phelan a little leeway as it is his last speech.