I welcome the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Norma Foley.

As it is my first time to address and put a question to the Tánaiste as Minister for Finance, I wish him very well in his new role. On budget day, Dundalk and Drogheda were cited as two of the towns that will be part of the new living cities initiative. Will the Tánaiste be so kind as to outline the next steps and how we will get it up and running in 2026?

When two of the five towns identified are Dundalk and Drogheda in such a wee county, the Tánaiste can obviously imagine that the wee county is jumping for joy because we see this as a vote of confidence in the county in the famous, or infamous, M1 corridor. Drogheda and Dundalk have huge potential but let us acknowledge the fact that we have a lot of underutilised and older buildings - a lot of stock that can be regenerated. When these maps are sent in by the local authority, and I have it on good authority - pardo…

This is not only about bricks and mortar. This is about restoring vibrancy and safety. Let us not undervalue the fact that when we get our town centres regenerated, working again and bustling, there will be the important effect of passive surveillance. People feel safer on the streets, but also at night-time, when you have people living above the shop. There is an added layer of security. When I say it is not only about bricks and mortar, it is about reviving communities. It is about faith and confidence in the loc…

I could not but help but put my hand to ask a further question when I heard a Deputy talk about something being fundamentally Irish. When I hear the words "whiskey" and "beer", I am automatically reminded of the farmers and tillage farmers in particular. While I know this is a request that will require cross-consultation with the Minister for Finance, the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister for enterprise, Deputy Peter Burke, we have to look at an incentive or a tax regime that will allow till…

The Celtic interconnector will connect the Irish electricity grid from France. The cable will have enough capacity to power up to 500,000 homes. Within the next three years, we will be importing from France and Britain. Indeed, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, said this year that the interconnector is a major strategic infrastructure project that will play an important role in Ireland's energy security, which is expected to be operational by 2028. This is absolutely great news, but is it not time that the grow…

The housing plan 2025 to 2030 presents a valuable opportunity to rethink how we design and deliver homes in a sustainable way. A key element must be a shift towards building up rather than building out, ensuring we protect greenfield land while promoting compact growth. This does not mean high-rise development but well-designed, high-density urban living that fits the character and scale of our town and cities. It is time we explored how ports like that in Dublin could be relocated and reconfigured, as has been ach…

Today, like many of my colleagues, I would like to raise one of the most important ongoing humanitarian disasters, the unfolding civil war in Sudan and the sheer amount of civilian death and tragedy unfolding in its wake. The war in Sudan is not a simple conflict. It is a catastrophe causing the slaughter of innocent women and children and the starvation of millions. It is a conflict that strikes at the very heart of human dignity and the rights we have fought for for so long and so hard are now under threat. The f…

I call on the Minister of State to make his concluding statement which shall not exceed ten minutes.

That concludes statements on Sudan. I thank the Deputies and the Minister.

The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2025: Vote 34.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Conor Sheehan - To discuss punctuality issues on the 304A bus service in Limerick city. Deputy Keira Keogh - To discuss establishing an NCT centre in Erris, County Mayo. Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the lack of school places in Scoil Mhuire, Allenwood, County Kildare. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the lack of respite beds available 24-7 to famili…

I thank the Deputies.

I ask the Deputy to move the Bill.

Will the Minister outline his assessment of the current distribution of film industry infrastructure and funding across the State? Will he indicate whether he will consider targeted supports or new initiatives to promote film industry growth and production capacity at a regional level?

While all of this is very welcome, it is essential that funding and infrastructure be distributed fairly across the State and never concentrated in a small number of locations. County Louth provides a strong example of the potential that exists regionally when investment and opportunities are made available. The film "Skintown", produced by Keeper Pictures with the support of Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen, was filmed in Dundalk in 2025, further cementing the area's role as an emerging regional hub for …

I have been following the statements this afternoon. Many colleagues have given a good idea of the shape and size of haulier firms throughout the country. We have 4,779 hauliers across the island of Ireland and 70% of them have no more than three trucks, yet they contribute €3.7 billion per annum to the economy. Unusually, these are not multinationals. These are small firms that operate in local communities. Indeed, they spend locally, they employ locally and they do good for the local economy. Many of my colleague…

I would like to ask the Minister about community groups, essential youth services that provide vital services in the community, particularly those in County Louth. Has provision been made to combat the cost of auto-enrolment and the increase in the minimum wage? Have they been factored into their budgets and will there be additional budgets for them in 2026?

I obviously am going to welcome any increases in budget and she is right when she says there are pockets across the country where the demand is far in excess of the places that are available. In County Louth we have 114 childcare services but only 31 of those offer places for children under the age of two. That equates to less than 30%. While maternity leave has been extended, for a family that needs one or both parents to go back to work unpaid maternity leave is of no benefit as they have bills to pay and they ne…

Do I have another minute?