I thank the Minister of State for his response and I appreciate that he is reading a response he received from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Unfortunately, the content of it does not inspire me or offer me much hope with regard to roads funding. I ask respectfully that the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, bring a message back to him on behalf of the people of Monaghan and Cavan and indeed many other parts of rural Ireland. It is that the local road network is the only show in town we have to get from A to …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. She is very welcome to the House. Some 34,000 cases of domestic abuse were reported to Women's Aid last year. It truly is a shocking figure. I very much welcome the fact that Ireland is one of the first countries in Europe to provide paid work leave to victims of domestic abuse. Statutory domestic violence leave will provide up to five days of fully paid absence annually to employees impacted by domestic violence. This legislation is a significant step and is part of the Governmen…

I thank the Minister of State for her positive response. I am delighted this Government has prioritised the location of a refuge centre in either County Cavan or County Monaghan. It is imperative. I am heartened by the urgency this issue has been given, because it is vitally important that we have a refuge centre to protect these poor victims of domestic violence. The quicker that happens, the better. The same is true of the wraparound services we need to go with that for the women and their children. It must be an…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. The N2 Ardee to Castleblayney road has become infamous for its high collision rate. Sections of the road have been classified as having twice the expected collision rate and the death toll, unfortunately, is alarming. There have been 17 fatal collisions in the last ten years and 24 within the past 18 years. This has left so many families and lives broken, so much grief and a lifetime of heartache. As traffic volumes continue to grow, collision frequency and severity is a…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I acknowledge that he came to Monaghan County Council on this particular issue. I know he does not have direct responsibility for everything that goes on within this Department, but I ask him to bring the message back to someone who does - the Minister, Deputy Ryan - that funding is required in order to progress this road. We are talking about approximately €1 million to keep this project alive and moving forward. This is the least we can do for all those landowners a…

The Minister is welcome back to the House. I, too, very much welcome the establishment of this new body, which, as the Minister said, will be referred to as Cuan, which means "harbour" as Béarla. It is very much welcomed. A number of counties, numbering seven to nine, currently have no refuge centre. In County Monaghan, and as my learned colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, who is based in County Cavan, will know, we do not have a refuge centre that will accommodate people in both counties. Work is going on at local le…

It is estimated that four out of ten shoppers - that is about 40% - plan to complete their Christmas shopping for gifts of non-food items on Black Friday at the end of this week. I was very taken by the campaign launched to encourage everybody to turn Black Friday into "Buy Green Friday". The campaign highlights the massive importance of people supporting local businesses and service providers, either online or by going in person to purchase local goods. Every euro we spend locally is worth five to the local econom…

I raise the issue of housing and pay tribute to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, for the raft of measures he has introduced to try to encourage homeownership. It is fair to say that any reasonable assessment would conclude that we are definitely making progress and building momentum. We all know much more is needed. One of the schemes introduced recently was the scrapping of development levies. That was an incentive to reduce the costs for young people who are trying to build their own home. Development levies paid to…

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House this afternoon. Yesterday, the management at Cavan General Hospital issued a statement to local media requesting that in non-urgent cases people should not attend the hospital because of the high volumes the hospital is experiencing. Instead, patients with non-critical issues were asked to contact their GP or pharmacy for assistance. This brings into focus again, from our perspective in Monaghan, the role that Monaghan hospital and, in this instance, the injuries u…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. As I said earlier, the development in Roscommon is very positive and it makes perfect sense that a similar protocol be put in place in Monaghan. The injuries unit is thankfully now operating seven days a week, as the Minister of State noted. The staff are very dedicated and caring people and provide an excellent service. From my inquiries, I understand this protocol is working very well in Roscommon and I see no reason it would not be introduced and rolled out in Monagha…

At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

I would like the House to join me in wishing the Holy Family School, Cootehill, a very special 50th birthday, which it celebrates today. Celebrations are kicking off around now, at 11 o'clock. The Holy Family School is a special school for children aged between four and 18 years and its origins date back to 1966 in Carrickmacross. It then moved to Cootehill in 1973. The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, was there last year opening the brand-new, state-of-the-art facility - and it really is state-of-the-art. The…

The Minister is welcome back to the House this afternoon. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I compliment the members of Young Fine Gael on their work on this issue. I also commend all Members of this House who fully support this very important legislation. Senator Doherty outlined a specific case in her area. I am sure there are cases throughout the country. Spiking is a horrible, devious and despicable act to carry out on any individual. I am glad to see legislation specifically dealing with the offence. I can u…

Cuirim fáilte ar ais go dtí an Teach seo roimh an Aire Stáit inniu. I thank the Minister of State for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. I, like many other sports fans in the country, was delighted with the successful bid by the UK and Ireland to host the 2028 European championship. This has given sports fans a major tournament to look forward to. I commend the Minister of State on his input into the successful bid. However, with the logistics of the tournament and the investment to be made in Antrim’…

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I issue an invitation to him to visit Clones to see St. Tiernach's Park for himself. I have no doubt that he will be hugely impressed with it. In many ways, the future of Clones depends on the future of St. Tiernach's Park. We certainly do not begrudge the redevelopment of Casement Park one penny but the Government must also not forget Clones in that process. I am confident that with the Minister of State at the helm, this will not happen. I am not apply…

I welcome the Minister back to the House. I, too, extend a warm welcome to Lucia and Jim and their two daughters. I take this opportunity to pass on my sincere condolences to them on the tragic loss of their dear son, Shane, at the early age of 23. No parent should live to see that happen. To lose a child in sudden circumstances is a traumatic and life-changing event for any family. To lose a child in the circumstances in which they lost Shane is truly heartbreaking. They carry a life sentence with them and my hear…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Byrne, go dtí an Teach. The World Health Organization estimates that one in 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, but some studies have reported a figure as high as one in 59. Whatever the figures, we all know that the number of children being diagnosed with autism is continuing to rise. That is a worrying development and a statement that poses many questions. ASD, as the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, knows, entails a wide range of symptoms, including pr…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. As I outlined, quite a number of parents from Monaghan town are transporting their children to different parts of the county in order to access special needs provision for their children. They ask genuinely whether there should be more places available in Monaghan town where the families themselves reside. I welcome the fact that the NCSE and the Department wrote to all schools asking them to come forward with project…

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo inniu. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House and I thank him for taking this Commencement matter. Unfortunately, we are all very aware of the problems caused by the increased incidence of flooding in many parts of this country in recent years. For those affected, flooding can have devastating implications for their lives, their income and, in many cases, their businesses. Climate change has considerable implications in terms of floods…