I thank Deputy Kerrane for the question. Since the first finding of ash dieback in Ireland in 2012, my Department has introduced reconstitution schemes to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from or which were associated with plants affected by disease. A total of €10 million has been expended to date on these schemes, which includes a grant for site clearance as well as replanting. In July of last year, my Department launched the latest of these schemes, the reconstitution sch…

I accept people’s frustration. They have been waiting a long time, but it is important that we get this right. This is not just a decision for me to make in my Department. Rather, it requires engagement across the Government, in particular with the Department of public expenditure. In the meantime, and as I have stated repeatedly, it is important that the farmers affected by ash dieback who wish to engage with the reconstitution scheme do so now. They need to get that done. It is essential that those trees be clear…

I assure the Deputy that meetings on this issue are happening every day in order to get it over the line and get it right. The independent review group did good work. The Deputy made some disparaging comments about its work-----

-----and claimed that it had simply told us everything we already knew.

That was not quite fair. We doubled the clearance rate grant. One of the recommendations was that we increase that. The reconstitution scheme is the first step towards any support that might be put in place for farmers. They have to go through this step. There is no point in waiting; people will just be further down the list. That is why I have been forceful in encouraging farmers in this regard. The scheme is the first door they must go through, and if they do not, they will have to wait until later to do so. The …

My Department has committed to the development of an enabling framework, which can potentially reward farmers and landowners partaking in emissions mitigation and carbon removal activities. However, we are awaiting direction from Europe on this. On 20 February 2024, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached a provisional agreement on the carbon removals and carbon farming, CRCF, regulation, establishing the first EU-wide voluntary framework for certifying carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon s…

I acknowledge the families of the 48 victims of the Stardust tragedy, their friends and the wider community, who for 43 years have waited for justice and who today have received a State apology from the Taoiseach. Neither last week's verdict of unlawful killing nor the Taoiseach's apology today can ever make up for the loss of their loved ones. I hope, however, that the recognition of the truth of what occurred 43 years ago and the apology for the further hurt and pain they endured at the hands of the State will be…

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this issue. I know that many elected representatives, public representatives, political parties and others are preparing for the local and European Parliament elections in June. Polling day for both sets of elections is an important event in our democracy. In electoral law, the polling day for all elections and referendums is set when the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage makes the relevant order. These orders include the date and times that polling will take pla…

I accept the frustrations and concerns that exist about when the date will be. I will have the conversation with my colleagues around that. All that said, the Minister has committed to making that polling day order in early April. That will be two months out from the date. Two months is plenty of time for the challenges around literature publication but I accept the frustration that exists. We will have the date within the next couple of weeks.

I sincerely thank Senator Chambers for raising this really important issue and allowing me the opportunity to provide an update on this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Coveney. It is important to first acknowledge a high level of vacancy does not represent a productive use of commercial infrastructure. However, it should also be noted that vacancy levels can rise and fall depending on economic activity as well as in response to broader economic trends. For example, the shift in work patterns initially prec…

I thank the Senator. I am sure the Department will examine the report in full. As she highlighted, the figures are stark. Just to reiterate, the Government is committed to addressing vacancy and maximising the use of existing building stock. It is essential we consider the best means by which to ensure vacant properties are brought back into effective use. Beyond ensuring the most efficient use of our existing buildings I am also aware that from a climate and sustainability perspective there is a strong incentive t…

I thank the Senators for raising this issue. It is a very pertinent issue and one I can relate to, being from County Mayo. I am aware of the importance of the post office in any town. I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on this matter today on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers. An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to act commercially. As such, day-to-day operational matters, including decisions in relation to the size, distribution an…

I have copies here. No one ever came up to me to ask for them.

I appreciate the concerns about this. I cannot really speak to what the plans are for this particular building but, as the Senators have said, it is an iconic building in the town and it has a great connection with the community. It is important that, whatever happens, the post office remains a central facility for people in the town to use. An Post tells me that the services will remain the same wherever the post office is located and that there will not be any falling back on the services. That is important becau…

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for her Commencement matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic. I want to clarify that the Minister has responsibility for policy and overall funding as regards public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services nationally rests with the Nation…

The Senator is right that the whole thing has to be integrated and connected. The call for Local Link to bring people to the train stations is an important aspect of this. It is something I will bring back to the Minister, Deputy Ryan. I understand the wait is a challenge but, as the Senator says, this is good news for these towns. I hope it is the start of something we will see rolled out further. I remind Senators that more and more people are using public transport. I think the reduction of fares we have seen ov…

I thank Senator McGreehan for raising the issue of farms flooding in north Louth. I understand that the Minister has discussed it with her a number of times. We recognise that there has been some damage to agricultural property due to flooding last year and in previous years. In such circumstances, farmers should first liaise with their insurers. However, the Minister acknowledges the representations from Senator McGreehan regarding her request for consideration of a Government scheme and he continues to liaise wit…

For one, Senator-----

I thank the Cathaoirleach. For one, it is unfair to say that my Department does not support farmers. That is what it does-----

It does that largely through taxpayers’ money, so we have to make calls on what is appropriate to spend money on and what is not. I do not think it is sustainable - and I do not even think the Senator believes it is sustainable - for the Department or any other Department to pay out one-off measures in response to some-----