I want to put the spotlight on the primary certificate criteria. I understand there have to be criteria but they are very rigid. There are people with profound autism issues and sensory processing difficulties and people who are visually impaired. I dealt with a young gentleman recently who lost his arm as a consequence of a cancer diagnosis. To be refused the primary certificate is quite insulting. I ask for the criteria to be revisited with regard to those who would be eligible, taking into account all of the are…

Rather than adding to the contributions that have been made thus far, I will take the opportunity to read a letter from a child to an SNA: I wanted to say thank you. When I walk into school in the morning, I look for you first. When I see you, I feel calm. I know I am okay. Sometimes school feels very loud in my head. The classroom can be busy. The bell is noisy. People talk fast. Sometimes I don’t understand straight away. You help me. You help me remember what to do next. You help me when the words are hard. You …

In the past hour I came away from a meeting of the committee on social protection and rural affairs. There was a considerable, interesting discussion on Citizens Information and Money Advice and Budgeting services. One of the things that struck me was 20% of people cannot get access to those services. There are 89 centres nationally and about 140 information officers. That equates to about 1.5 staff officers per centre. The people who are especially affected are those with literacy and digital difficulties and othe…

Tomorrow will being a dignified and respectful protest to University College Hospital in Galway, where people will be campaigning for a dual-pathway system in our emergency department. People who present in emergency departments with acute mental health issues need a different environment in which they can be triaged separately and given a moment to become calm and to have their concerns heard by the appropriate personnel. They are there because they are seeking help and support. They want to meet the people who wi…

I want to shine a light on an anomaly that exists with regard to eligibility for the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant. I refer to mature students, if you like, who continue to live at home with their parents for obvious reasons because they cannot acquire a property of their own. The parents' income is assessed as part of the eligibility, which is a little bit of a burden on the applicant. The same applies to students returning home from abroad. If they do not have private accommodation, or their own …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on water infrastructure, in particular, the role of private group water schemes, which remain essential in rural communities. Many of these schemes have benefited from grant assistance over the years, and that investment is clearly delivering results. Many are operating at an exceptionally high standard, with regular testing, ongoing monitoring and strong local management. What concerns me, however, is the increasing and, in some cases, disproportionate pressure and threats now be…

Last Saturday I and other public representatives attended a public rally in Dunmore town in east Galway. The campaign was orchestrated by Dunmore tidy towns and the Dunmore business people association because of dereliction on both sides of the street, where most properties are privately owned. They are dogged with tiles and slates falling off the roofs onto main street, where children and indeed their parents and teachers gave testimonials. It is a horror story in terms of the length of time it is going on. It is …

Like previous speakers, I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025, which represents a significant and long-awaited step in reforming how home support services are regulated in this State. I want to quickly touch on my hope and expectation that this legislation becomes a real enabler of access to home supports across our country, particularly in regions like the west, where the need is acute. In the west, we are crying out for home care supports. I have many cons…

I want to bring to the Minister's attention the lack of mobile phone coverage in one of our busiest little towns in east Galway. I refer to Mountbellew, which hosts quite a lot of activity in terms of national schools, two secondary schools and a the new third level college, namely the Atlantic Technological University, ATU, campus. The one thing that is really dogging those who live and work in Mountbellew is the lack of mobile phone coverage. We need a plan in terms of making Mountbellew an attractive place to do…

I thank the Minister for that comprehensive response. People have made calls to the relevant service providers. Unfortunately, that has not changed matters as they stand. My concern is that Mountbellew is a thriving town. It needs the interconnectivity to which I refer. What is happening is not just an inconvenience. Obviously, safety is an issue. Older people all require access to mobile phone coverage. Regrettably, people have to drive at least two or three miles outside the town of Mountbellew before they can us…

Just by way of conclusion, Mountbellew has people, businesses, educational institutions and ambition but what it lacks is the urgent need for basic, reliable mobile phone coverage.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on Second Stage of this Bill. At its core this legislation is about clear principles in protecting public health, especially the health of our young people, while tackling a growing environmental problem in our community. On that basis, I fully support the intent of the Bill. In my constituency, it is impossible to ignore the extent of the issue. Almost every town and village has at least one vape shop. Never before has nicotine been so accessible in our society and with that acce…

My question relates to first-time Irish resident permits and registration appointments. There are considerable delays and there is considerable anxiety for those who wish to avail of an appointment to seek employment, particularly critical employment. Those positions of employment are often in the medical care sector. I am anxious to understand exactly how that process can be expedited to ensure it does not go on for months.

I appreciate the Minister of State’s response but I am in receipt of an email that I received for what is described as a critical skills employment permit. The position the individual applied for was a critical nurse manager in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. The employment was to start in early January but the earliest date they got for any appointment was 10 March 2026. That worries me. A position remains unfilled and the skilled person who wishes to take up that role still has not had an appointment. Therein …

I have raised my concern. Maybe there is a need for better and more collaboration. One thing that is sure and certain is that, when we require skilled people to take up critical posts in critical positions, there is an urgent need to expedite that process. I certainly have plenty of email evidence to suggest that there are considerable delays. Whether it be the Department of justice or otherwise, when it comes to the employment permits unit, maybe, as the Minister of State said, it can work collaboratively and more…

I want to focus again on education and school facilities. Right across east Galway, a number of schools are particularly challenged in terms of wanting to improve their situations. These include Dunmore National School, Trinity Primary School in Tuam, Carrabane national school, St. Ita’s National School in Loughrea, Coláiste an Eachréidh in Athenry, and Gort Community School, just to mention a few. How will schools fall into the Government’s plan to reform infrastructure delivery? I will be engaging more in this re…

Yes.

Of course.

All Members hold constituency meetings with constituents and issues that affect them are presented to us. In the case of Galway East, one issue that has repeatedly come to the attention of my office is the re-evaluation of commercial rates. I refer to two small businesses, one a nail manicure outlet and another a hair salon, that had commercial rates heretofore of €600. That has risen to €1,448, which is a 200% increase. One of the liveliest and busy but well run filling stations in Headford, County Galway provides…

I would be the first to acknowledge Government supports for businesses such as those we have spoken about. I have suggested for quite some time that our local authority, Galway County Council, is chronically underfunded. As a consequence, our poor councillors have had to make that ultimate bad decision. The consequences of that have been felt because businesspeople do not want to condemn, criticise or complain. They are in the business of making money, if they can, employing staff and ensuring that they are doing t…