I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for choosing this Topical Issue. It is a matter close to my heart. It is my local school and my former primary school that I attended until 1987, and I thank the Minister for attending here this morning in person. I acknowledge that Scoil Mhuire was one of 105 schools on the list of priority school buildings for the years 2026-27 as part of the €1.6 billion investment for this initial tranche published in January of this year. I thank the Minister for her involvement in this and…

I thank the Minister for the response and for the excellent news that this project will go to tender in the coming weeks. I take it, therefore, that the Minister has engaged with the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, and that this project has been or is ready to be sanctioned by the Department of public expenditure. I acknowledge the progress with other schools as well. We were out yesterday at Coláiste Cholmcille in Indreabhán ag casadh an fhóid - turning the sod - on that extension. Work is also going ahead at Clif…

I wish to raise the future of Galway Port with the Minister this morning. I believe he has an important role to play, as Minister for Public expenditure and due to his previous role as Minister of State at the Department of Transport who had responsibility for ports and who visited and engaged with Galway Port CEOs, the harbourmaster and the chairs of the Galway Port company over the years. Under the national ports policy 2013 Galway Harbour Company transferred ownership to Galway City Council. The transfer changed…

I thank the Minister for his response. He spoke about renewable energy. The Port of Galway presently handles about 20% of Ireland's onshore wind development components. Unfortunately, the Port of Galway has been judged by its existing tonnage capability rather than what it can achieve and will achieve in its new port extension. It was a different world and a different era back in 2013. Many people, including members of the Minister's own party, quite rightly criticised that ports policy, but it is continuing now in…

While solar energy has an important role to play in achieving Ireland's renewable energy targets, there is growing concern across Galway about the scale and location of proposed solar farm developments. Many constituents have raised concerns about solar proposals, including the projects being pursued on productive, top-tier agricultural farmland and in close proximity to rural homes and communities. The closest panels in the case of the Lackagh proposal in County Galway are within 50 m of some homes and within 100 …

In University Hospital Galway over recent years we have seen investment in a 75-bed en suite ward, a temporary emergency department and the new radiation oncology building, but so much more is needed. The master plan, including the 300-bed ward blocks, the oncology centre, new laboratories and a new emergency department, is hugely important to the future. I am looking for a timeline for progression of this project.

I thank the Minister for that response. Certainly, the appointment of the design team is hugely welcome and a positive step. She will be aware of the Mater Hospital during the Covid pandemic and the 98-bed block that was built in two years. These things can be done where there is urgency. We have lost a lot of time in Galway, through no fault of the Minister's, because we have debated for too long whether we will redevelop UHG or move to Merlin Park. We have lost years, unfortunately, as well as money. There is a s…

Yes, there will be public engagement later today and again tomorrow. Residents in the Shantalla area hope to be able to pop in there tomorrow as well, and councillors will be engaging. I will certainly pass on the Minister's strong view on pushing on with a decision on the transfer of land in relation to the helipad project. Block A and block B comprise 150 beds and the bed shortage is critical to this project. There are other very important projects, including the new laboratories, which have been in poor faciliti…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for selecting this Topical Issue for debate this morning, and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, to the Chamber. As he knows, I raised this matter in the Upper House on 18 March, and due to its importance for coastal communities, I wanted it to be the first issue that I raised as part of a debate in this House. This is, as the Minister of State knows, a classic big guy versus small guy issue. As it stands, small harvesters are providing seaweed product to big and sm…

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I welcome the fact that he expects the MPPS to be brought to the Government in the coming weeks. May I assume, therefore, that MARA is not granting licences pending the MPPS? Is that in abeyance? Is there a formal process? Is it involving itself in consultation on the best way forward in relation to the harvesting of seaweed and the licensing thereof? It is a relatively new agency. It is an issue that no licences have been granted for a number of years. …

I am seeking an update on the work of the national energy affordability task force; when the action plan will be produced; the implementation timelines; and what will be done to assist households and businesses in advance of the coming winter.

I acknowledge the work of the Government in assisting those in fuel poverty and under pressure, the extension of the fuel allowance season and the continuation of the reduction in VAT on electricity and gas. We saw during March and April significant increases in the price of home heating oil. Thankfully, that has now come back to a degree but it was certainly a shock to the budgets of many homeowners. While I acknowledge the medium and longer term role of retrofitting as well as the moneys being spent from the carb…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I agree that the action plan needs to be flexible in relation to such shocks. I know this is not just an issue for his Department, and requires a whole-of-government response. During the winter period, demand for and usage of home heating oil will increase in Galway and Mayo. We will have colder nights and people will stay in for longer. I certainly hope that there is, in the action plan and in the Department, work taking place to engage with the Minister for Finance …

I thank the Minister of State for the response. It is good to see the statistics from Irish Business Against Litter showing a reduction of can and bottle litter. It is certainly welcome. There have been some concerns raised about the accessibility of the machines to wheelchair users, where the unclaimed deposit money will go and how long it is in the system, as well as how the machines' screens are not photosensitive, meaning they are bright at night when they do not need to be and are therefore using excess energy…

It is important that unclaimed deposits be kept under review. Are there any regional differences in the uptake of the scheme? Is that something that could be examined, in particular whether particular parts of the country are lower? It is likely to be the case. There would be an average level and there would be some with higher rates of use and others with lower rates of use and return. We could engage with such communities to see what the issues, problems, stumbling blocks and impediments are to the uptake or what…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for sharing his time with me. As this is my first opportunity to give a speech, I will thank all members of the public in Galway West who voted for me and gave me the distinct honour of coming back to this House for a second chance to represent the people of Galway West. I thank everybody who voted for me in that election, whether they gave me their number one or a transfer. I acknowledge all of the other candidates who stood in the by-election. It was a clean and competitive elect…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus aontaím gurb é tithíocht an rud is tábhachtaí trasna na tíre, an Ghaeltacht ina measc. Cuirim fáilte roimh an méid atá leagtha amach sa chlár Rialtas maidir leis an ról lárnach a bheidh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil sé sásta an comhoibriú sin a dhéanamh leis an rialtas áitiúil. Tá sé sin fíorthábhachtach, agus leis sin go mbeidh ról lárnach idir an t-údarás, na comhairlí contae agus Uisce Éireann chun leanúint ar aghaidh le tithe sóisialta agus tithe ar phraghas…

Cuirim fáilte roimh ráiteas an Aire go bhfuil sé sásta breathnú ar scéim phíolótach maidir leis sin. Tá a lán áiteanna ina bhféadfaí leanúint ar aghaidh nó breathnú isteach ar scéim phíolótach cosúil leis An Fhairche i gConamara, áit ina bhfuil scéim séarachais faoi láthair. Áit eile is ea Baile na hAbhann, a bhfuil a lán rudaí eile ó thaobh fostaíochta de ann. Tá scoileanna, séipéil agus tithe do dhaoine aosta sa bhaile sin freisin. Mar sin, tá áiteanna a bhféadfaí breathnú orthu sa chomhthéacs seo. Leanaimis ar a…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan. I am not sure why the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, had to leave seeing as he works in the Department of Transport, but nonetheless the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is very welcome. I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this matter. It concerns the National Transport Authority, NTA, with which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, works, in the Department of Transport. The NTA originally had…

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. It is clear to me that this proposal makes sense to him. I thank him for coming in and for the response from the Department of Transport. I am sure he will agree that the NTA is delivering for regional Ireland, including County Galway. It has a very important remit but it could do even better. It could do things even quicker and have better decisions by having more local, on-the-ground representation in relation to the points I have raised. Further consi…