This morning, it is all about improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare, which remains one of Fine Gael's central commitments under the programme for Government. We have been clear from the outset that supporting children, families and communities requires sustained investment in long-term planning. The latest updates from the Department of children and equality show that this work is progressing at speed. Over the past three years, capacity in early learning and childcare has grown si…

I welcome the Minister. I also welcome Mr. Pat Moylan, who, like me, is a former councillor. Having spent many years as a county councillor in Kerry, I know all about infrastructure and the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. Over the past number of years, we have not seen anything developing in rural Ireland. I wholeheartedly support this motion, which has been brought forward by Fianna Fáil. I call on the Minister to clearly outline how the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan will b…

That is right.

I welcome the Minister. Today, I need to highlight a serious issue that affects communities right across rural and urban Ireland, one of that is being felt particularly strongly in counties like Kerry. I refer to the growing problem of irresponsible dog ownership, including dog fouling and uncontrolled dogs that are causing savage harm to livestock, wildlife and, in some cases, people. The Minister is well aware of this. This is not a new problem. For years, local authorities have relied on enforcement systems that…

I am glad there is ongoing work to promote public awareness of dogs and lambing season. The Minister said that the Department is open to the potential role of DNA in the future development of the canine traceability system. I am glad about that. It is results-based no matter what we do or what public awareness campaigns are launched. Last week, we discussed road safety in the House and this week, we are discussing safety with regard to control of dogs. I respect the Minister's response. I hope that at the end of 20…

I warmly welcome the announcement of €65 million in funding for local and national roads in County Kerry last week. This is a significant investment, and it will make a real difference to communities right across the county. I acknowledge the Minister and his Department for recognising the scale of the need in Kerry and supporting the work of Kerry County Council in maintaining and improving our road network. However, while the roads funding announcement was very welcome, I must raise an issue that has been a sourc…

I welcome the Minister of State. I wish to raise an issue of growing concern in County Kerry regarding the operation of the tenant in situ scheme. The purpose of the scheme is very straightforward and commendable, but straightforward it is not. It allows local authorities or approved housing bodies to purchase properties where tenants are at risk of homelessness. It ensures continuity of tenancy for households in receipt of the housing assistance payment, HAP, or rental assistance scheme, RAS, and it prevents the l…

The scheme was introduced for people facing homelessness so tenants could be put in a place where properties could be purchased without leaving the properties and facing homelessness. Properties cannot be got when a notice to quit has been served on a family. They cannot be sourced. There is nothing to rent or lease. There is nothing to be got. People are falling through the cracks because they cannot get any other local property. When the crack that nothing is available is identified, why can the council not buy t…

I offer a warm welcome to all our MEP colleagues. As a proud Kerryman, I hope the House will allow me to direct my question on LNG and Ireland's energy security to Seán Kelly, MEP. As a full member of the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, ITRE, he has been closely involved in Europe's evolving energy strategy. How does he view the role of LNG as a secondary or back-up energy source for Ireland, particularly in terms of energy security, more so now than ever, and its diversification and…

As the bell for the Dáil was ringing, the Minister was saying that this is a very important Bill. I am pleased to speak in support of Senator Harmon's Education (Leave for Injuries) Bill 2025, which is before the House this evening. First, I acknowledge the work that has gone into developing this legislation, not only by Senator Harmon but also by Fórsa and the INTO, and by the campaigner, Sophie Cole, and her husband, Shane. I welcome them to the House this evening. Sophie's advocacy has been charmed. She is leadi…

I wish to highlight a very real and deeply felt loss for the people of County Kerry, namely the lack of a paediatric dermatology consultant in Kerry University Hospital to serve our children. There is no dedicated paediatric dermatology consultant who covers Kerry. This means that children suffering from chronic skin conditions, including severe eczema, psoriasis and rare complex disorders, must travel long distances to access care. Families are being referred to Dublin, where ten paediatric consultants are current…

I welcome the Minister of State. Tonight, our support has to go on the motion brought forward by my colleagues. Everyone fully supports this. The two biggest safety issues going on in the country right now are road safety and online safety for our children. In the term of this Government, we must come down hard on offenders that are causing distress to people online and using our roads. Because of the safety on our roads, our communities and every person who uses them demand urgent, practical and sustained action. …

I welcome the Minister of State and Katelyn Cummins to the Seanad tonight. I am a very proud Kerryman. I was putting together my few words for tonight. My son is in phase 5 of an electrical apprenticeship. When Ms Cummins won the coveted crown as Rose of Tralee last year, she really elevated the apprenticeship model for the female sector. The figures in that respect are very low. We will talk about that later on. It was a really proud moment for the skills sector. It really enticed ladies into apprenticeship scheme…

I welcome the Minister to the Seanad. Storm Chandra has once again highlighted how exposed our communities are in relation to serious flood events. We see the disruption and the havoc that it caused, even in areas that were coded yellow. I do not know which level of warning we need to take more seriously: yellow, orange or red. Storm Chandra caused significant damage. These flood events happened in areas other than my area, on which I have been beating the drum on the floor of the Seanad since I came here. Localise…

I also welcome the Minister of State. I wish to raise the escalating cost of private health insurance and the growing financial pressure it is placing on many individuals and households. What we are seeing is not a marginal increase or a gentle upward trend. Premiums have risen sharply, and sometimes multiple times in a year. This has pushed many families to the brink. These are people who do everything right. They work hard, they pay their taxes and they try to protect their loved ones by maintaining health cover …

I thank the Minister of State for his response. Without stating the obvious, there is a trend that people are not taking out health insurance because they cannot afford the premiums. I welcome the news that budget 2027 will be looked at thoroughly in relation to getting some reduction and tax relief for the people who are doing it because, as I said, the pressure on the public system will intensify. We need more people taking out health cover. It is disappointing to see that it is estimated that the number of peopl…

I rise to speak about the devastation caused by the recent flood events on the east coast that destroyed homes, businesses and entire communities. This latest incident has deeply unsettled people in my area in places like Listowel, Killacrim, Tralee and Kenmare. In November 2024, Listowel experienced its worst flooding event in more than 60 years. Following that event, the OPW, in partnership with Kerry County Council, undertook emergency work valued at more than €500,000 to stabilise the banks of the River Feale a…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, to the House. My Commencement matter is on the need for the Minister for Finance to specify what plans are in place to support our citizens returning to Ireland to live and work, specifically in relation to mortgage approval, car insurance, health insurance and all the other issues they face. It is genuinely great news for Ireland, and for families and communities across the country, that emigrants are returning home to live and work. Over 61,500 people have returned to…

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. On paper, it sounds good. There are checks and balances in every business, especially among banks and insurance providers, relating to the history of people who are returning. Like anything, it is a paper trail. It is about looking deep into a person's history, whether they have been away for five or ten years, or six months. It is not working with these institutions. Applicants are providing a lot of payslips and so on but some people cannot go back five years or whatev…

The tenant in situ scheme, which was introduced to prevent homelessness, is not fit for purpose in its current form, particularly from Kerry County Council's point of view. The fundamental flaw is that while funding is provided to purchase properties, there is no adequate funding to carry out the works required after purchase. Any remedial works to address dampness or poor insulation, outdoor electrics, heating systems or general compliance must be paid for out of a council's existing maintenance budget. Herein lie…