It is not the case that I am waiting for these reports before I can do anything in the sectors. We are really trying to make progress already. I have, for example, proposed mandatory segregation of waste on commercial operators, which was never there. People in their homes have to segregate their waste but there was no obligation for businesses to do that. I am also changing the rules on construction and demolition waste, because that is the largest sector and opportunity for improvement. As a result of new nationa…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. Ar son an Aire Oideachais, gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an ábhar seo a phlé. Tugann sé deis dom eolas a thabhairt don Seanad faoin dul chun cinn atá déanta mar gheall ar an bhfoirgneamh nua do Ghaelscoil Ruairí. The school building project for Gaelscoil Ruairí will deliver a new, eight-classroom primary school and accommodation and that includes two classrooms for children with special educational needs. The project will be delivered under the Department's…

Like all public representatives, I am familiar with the process of new schools starting up. There is a lot of enthusiasm at the start and then there are the challenges of trying to find the school buildings. There are temporary buildings at first and then there are permanent buildings along with the process of planning permission and so on. I understand it is frustrating and difficult to start a school. It is a challenge. Gaelscoil Ruairí started in 2019. It had just 13 pupils and now has 113 pupils for the 2023-24…

I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter. The challenge posed by rising sea levels is clear. The practical implementation of measures to mitigate these risks, particularly for coastal communities, is of critical importance. I welcome the opportunity to bring some clarity on the matter. Ireland’s coast faces many challenges associated with climate change, for example, due not only to projected sea level rise but also from increased storm frequency and intensity. These challenges have complex and multifaceted ef…

There is a railway line that runs from Dún Laoghaire, which is in my constituency, to Wexford. Along that route, Irish Rail has done a lot of work to map out where the likely erosion risks are within my own constituency and within Wicklow, near Wicklow town and probably within Wexford as well. Historically, that railway line has been moved back from the coast, close to where I live. Over 100 years ago it was moved back and I wonder whether it will have to be moved again. There are houses that are closer to the coas…

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, asked me to answer this and gave me a comprehensive answer. I hope I have time to read it. He wants to provide an update on the new moving together strategy, which is currently out on public consultation. As well as extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders during development of this draft strategy, I understand the Department of Transport is planning further engagement with critical stakeholders over the coming…

Kinsale is really a special place. It is one of the most beautiful towns in Ireland. It is thriving because there is so much demand. It is famous not only for its restaurants but also for its beautiful buildings, its landscape, its bay and sailing. This is reflected in the demand for holiday homes and so on and the vast number of visitors. I certainly had some very nice holidays there. I am delighted that the Senator has a vision for the town that involves fewer cars, more life in the centre and streets coming back…

I thank Senator Ahearn for raising this important issue and for offering the Minister the opportunity to respond and update on the progress being made toward the regulation and registration of childminders. The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, is very aware of the level of concern among childminders at present. The Bill to amend the Child Care Act 1991 is progressing through the Houses. It deals with a number of reforms, including the removal of the exemption from regulation for childminders and allowing for the extensio…

I agree with everything the Senator has said. The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, has told me he is committed to regulating childminders in a way that is appropriate and proportionate and he is committed to ensuring sufficient resources are in place to ensure the path to registration is as supportive as possible. The national action plan for childminding was underpinned by extensive consultation with childminders and parents. A total of 1,000 inputs were received during the public consultation and these included online …

Is the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, here?

I thank Senator Garvey for raising this issue. Older homes, built until around the 1940s, usually fall into the category of being traditionally built. These homes were generally built with solid walls, often with a lime or earthen based render finish and include stone-built dwellings. The main difference between traditional and modern construction is the way moisture is managed. Traditional materials and construction techniques allow for the natural transfer of heat and moisture. Solid masonry walls rely on their t…

I thank the young people from the school in Glasnevin. Senator Garvey raised the case with such passion. She is a passionate and eloquent advocate for rural Ireland, as everybody saw on television last night. The case she is making is that people in very old houses, particularly stone dwellings, are often the people who need energy upgrades the most. They live in remote areas, are on low incomes or are older people, and they need their homes to be made warm. A primary function of any government is to keep old peopl…

I thank the Senator for the opportunity to discuss this project. It remains a key Government commitment to extend the greenway from Athlone to Galway city. The Galway to Dublin cycleway will be Ireland’s first ever dedicated inter-city segregated route for cyclists and walkers and an iconic cycleway of international appeal. The 106 km greenway from Maynooth to Athlone town is complete and fully open. The greenway follows the towpath of the Royal Canal to Mullingar and along the old rail trail between Mullingar and …

I thank the Senator. As I said in the reply the information provided to me by the Department of Transport is that contractors will be appointed for both phases of the scheme in the fourth quarter of 2024. Beyond that, I do not have information about the other stages of the project or what its likely completion date is. Projects around the country have been completed in Waterford, Mayo, Kerry and so forth throughout the country. There is a good bank of experience in the delivery of greenway projects. Infrastructure …

Before I start my reply, the answer is "No". I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on the matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers. Both the Minister and Minister of State are very aware of the impact of decisions relating to changes in An Post operations have on communities and individuals in both rural and urban areas. An Post is a commercial State company. It has a mandate to act commercially and, as such, day-to-day operational matters, including…

The question is whether the Minister has consented to the sale or disposal of the An Post post office in Rathmines. The answer is that An Post has not sought such approval and would need it. It would need consent, it has not asked for it and, therefore, the Minister has not granted it. The Senator went on to ask about what the plans are and whether An Post will continue to operate a postal service within that particular building. The Minister believes he cannot intervene in matters that we as an Oireachtas have giv…

I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this important issue which provides an opportunity to have a debate on heat pumps. The National Heat Study considered potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of dwelling and business types. It found that heat pumps are the optimal decarbonisation pathway for domestic heating systems. Heat pumps are now the dominant heating technology for new builds with CSO data showing that heat pumps were installed in 95% of new dwellings during the first three quarters of last year.…

These are all reasonable points. The general problem is that Deputy O’Rourke is talking about unease and suspicion from experience he has had anecdotally from people coming to him. Of course, we all make our decisions based on constituents coming to us with issues, but we need more than that to be sure there is a widespread problem or to be sure of what kind of approach we need to mitigate it. As I have said, the SEAI does random inspections. They are risk-based and it tries to cover all the contractors. It makes s…

I thank the Deputies across the House for their contributions to this debate. As the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, has noted, an additional €15 million in core funding since 2019 and 2020 and a further additional €17 million in once-off funding has been supporting the ongoing work to reduce waiting lists and to address access to services through policy implementation. I assure Deputies that the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and his Department appreciate the difficulties being experienced by people seekin…

I wish to make a clarification. A number of speakers stated that the recruitment embargo affected the recruitment of dentists. It does not affect the recruitment of dentists.