The ambition of this Government is to bring about a step change in the services for people with disability in Ireland. The Minister of State with responsibility for disability and the Government are committed to the expansion and reform of disability services in order to maximise people's independence and help to support them to live their lives on the same basis as all other citizens. In addition to the open routes project already referred to, during 2024 the Department of Children, Disability and Equality support…

I thank Senator McCarthy for the opportunity to address this important issue. Ireland's climate action plans recognise the need for the electricity sector to become more adaptable and flexible, in response to the ever-increasing volume of distributed renewable energy sources on the grid. To ensure reliability in such a distributed energy system, as well as to minimise the network upgrades needed to accommodate peaks in demand, it will be vital to align our electricity use with periods of plentiful, low-cost renewab…

The rapid expansion of renewable sources of energy is critical to lowering costs and protecting those in or at risk of energy poverty. As we move to higher levels of variable renewables, it will be necessary for electricity demand to become much more flexible to match when renewable electricity is plentiful and prices are at their lowest. The Department is leading on a new cross-Government energy affordability task force that aims to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for…

I acknowledge the very fine work of my colleague, the Minister, in this area and, indeed, the work that has been done across government and beyond to implement the zero-tolerance strategy. The fight against domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is one we all need to engage fully with. As we have heard from the Minister, effecting substantial change in this area is possible. We can, and will, drive real progress in combating these horrific crimes because we are committed, determined and taking action. It is 202…

I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality are committed to promoting safe and high-quality practices in areas of alternative care. The Child Care Act 1991 is the statutory framework for child welfare and protection in Ireland. The legislation places a statutory duty on Tusla to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving ade…

To be clear, the Deputy has told me that he has already written to the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and the Minister, Deputy Foley, with regard to this. Arising from today, I will speak to the relevant officials within our Department, and I will ensure that the correspondence and communication the Deputy has sent to the Department via the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan's office, is acted on promptly and that he is reverted to with its view with regard to it.

That is fine.

I thank Deputy Ward for raising this important issue. I also wish to extend the apologies of the Minister for State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Naughton, for being unable to attend today. She is currently on a delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina on behalf of the Government to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. The Minister of State has also asked that her sincere sympathies and condolences are extended to the Browne family following the passing of their beloved Jacqui. Jacq…

As previously referenced, in July 2024 an enhanced package for health and social care supports for thalidomide survivors was announced. That included prioritised and simplified access to local health and social care professionals, access to therapies, both clinical and holistic, independent living supports to include housing adaptations, car adaptations and home supports, annual health assessments and a free travel pass. As the Deputy will be aware, there is a thalidomide resolution process under way facilitated by…

As we know, the problem of disinformation is not a new one. What is new is how easily mistruths can be produced, how sophisticated and convincing they are, and how they can be amplified and circulated at astonishing speed. According to the Digital News Report 2025 published just last month, 68% of people said that they are concerned about what is real and what is fake online. This is clear evidence of how important it is to counter disinformation. The Future of Media Commission recognised this in its 2022 report an…

As I set out, the national counter disinformation strategy explores the challenge of disinformation in Ireland, its harmful effects on society and its complexity as a policy issue. It is important to state that it is not the role of our Government or, indeed, any regulator to decide on individual instances of disinformation. As mentioned, one of the fundamental aims of the strategy is to promote resilience in people to support media literacy and high-quality journalism to help people to make their own decisions abo…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the current position regarding the major building project for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire in Parnell Square. The Minister and the Department of Education and Youth are fully committed to delivering a new school building for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire as quickly as possible. Department officials are in regular contact with the school authorities, meeting approximately every six weeks or more frequently when requir…

To recap, the project brief was for a large-scale capital project, namely the construction of a 16-classroom primary school consisting of a four-storey, 13-classroom block with ancillary rooms facing Dominick Street, a five-storey block with administration, services, library and resource rooms on the corner of Dominick Place and Dominick Street, an elevated first floor bridge block containing three classrooms facing Dominick Place and a general purpose hall with a basement for services to the rear of the site at Gr…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, recently announced €35 million in funding to support digital learning in schools. A total of €35 million in grant funding for information and communications technology has issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. Through the ICT grant and the minor works grant schemes, schools are directly funded for their ICT infrastructure. Schools have autonomy to determine which infrastructure to implement, includ…

The Government recognises that back-to-school costs each September can place real financial pressure on families. The Department of Education and Youth is keenly aware of the challenges faced by educators and parents in regard to these costs. To help address this, schools are expected to follow guidance from the Department, which includes using school uniform items that are generic and affordable and regularly consulting with parents on ways to reduce costs. Schools should also provide a full list of required items…

I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to speak to the House about the important issue of aircraft noise and the aviation sector more generally. I am confident we can all agree, even though it is so often stated, that, as an island nation, aviation plays a crucial role in our economy and society. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Government’s position on Second Stage of this Private Member’s Bill, the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation (Transfer of Functions) Bill 2024. The Bill proposes to repeal se…

I thank all of the Deputies for their contributions today, the points they have raised and Deputy Smith for bringing this important topic to the House. As set out in my earlier remarks, the Government fully recognises the importance of having an open and transparent noise regulation system. The development of Dublin Airport in a sustainable manner that considers the impact on local communities is something for which the Minister for Transport has always strongly advocated. The Minister has committed to ensuring all…

I am pleased to be here with Members of Seanad Éireann today to seek approval of regulations under section 64 of the Data Protection Act 2018 in respect of the Data Protection Commission, Office of the Information Commissioner and the Comptroller and Auditor General. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the GDPR established the protection of personal data as a fundamental right and a core value of the European Union. In Ireland, the Data Protection Act 2018 gives further effect to the GDPR and supports its prac…

I thank all Senators for their contributions and support for the motion. There is no doubt that GDPR is hugely important and has significantly benefited many people in terms of protecting their rights, enhancing their privacy and ensuring that their personal details are held properly and safely. That is really important. As Senator Wilson said, sometimes friction arises in the area of public representation, and we are all public representatives. The initial legislation on GDPR recognised and provided for the role o…

Our Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 is a whole-of-government plan that takes a strategic approach to all issues connected to children and young people at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system. The key principles of the strategy are linked to the standards endorsed by the international community to uphold children's rights and include early intervention and preventative work, family support, diversion from crime, court processes and facilities, supervision of offenders, detention and reintegr…