I note the Leader has taken green principles to her heart of late, and I wish to raise the issue of bus transport. As part of the programme for Government, one of the headline figures is €1 million a day is spent on walking and cycling, which is positive, and on public transport. The issue that arises, however, is that there is no point saying we have additional bus services if the buses are not usable. I wish to draw attention, as I have done before, to route 431, which is from An Cheathrú Rua to Claremorris, and …

They were welcoming the package.

I welcome the Minister of State and acknowledge his initiative in heading down to Lough Funshinagh at the earliest opportunity, to see for himself the issues at stake there. I have not personally been down. I have seen the news footage and the social media commentary. It is very difficult and I acknowledge the work of all the local Senators and Deputies for the area, particularly Senator Dolan and Senator Murphy, who have raised the matter here on the floor of the Seanad on numerous occasions. I know Senator Dolan …

I acknowledge the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Burke, and congratulate him on his new position. I understand this is his first time in the Chamber since becoming a Minister of State. I wish him well in his role in the months ahead. I wish to raise the minor works grant and the ICT grant for primary and post-primary schools across the country. On 1 April, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, made an important announcement from the Dep…

I welcome the announcement of the minor works grants being processed and issuing to schools in the coming days. That is welcome as long as it happens. When this announcement was made initially, it was that they would be paid soon, so I welcome that the Minister of State said they will be processed in the coming days. I also welcome what was said on the ICT grants. I have been contacted by a number of principals in recent weeks and indeed at the weekend about this payment, so I am delighted it has now been paid. I l…

I thank the Minister. I take this opportunity to welcome the students and teachers from Lanesborough Primary School, County Longford. They are very welcome to the Chamber today and I hope they enjoy the day. I also welcome the guests of Deputy Grealish, the Galway branch of Network Ireland. They are very welcome as well to the Chamber and I hope they enjoy the hospitalities that will be afforded to them, no doubt, over the course of the day.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this matter and I welcome the Minister of State. I acknowledge the range of supports and investment provided by the Government to the Department of children to assist parents in affording childcare, which has been greatly beneficial. I acknowledge also the work of the city and county childcare committees, whether through the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme or the national childcare scheme, to assist parents who are looking for places and families who are looki…

I thank the Minister of State for the response. We have to wait and see how the new supply and management unit in the Department, which has been operational since January 2024, responds to the issues in a locality. Yes, the local childcare committee can identify where there are vacancies and where there is need but there is no point in telling someone in Rosscahill or Oughterard that there is a place on the far side of Galway city or in Clifden or in Carraroe. Obviously in most cases, as well as bringing children t…

Before I move on to the Minister of State, I welcome the pupils and teachers from Hewetson National School in Clane, County Kildare. I hope they enjoy the day and I hope the teachers treat them later on. Gabhaim buíochas leo agus tá fáilte rompu go léir.

Before I invite the Minister of State, I welcome the pupils and teachers of St. John's National School in Longford to the Seanad Chamber. I hope they enjoy the day here.

I thank colleagues in Fianna Fáil for tabling this motion. Being in elected politics since 2004 at council and Oireachtas level, last year was the most difficult I have come across with regard to school enrolment pressures. This coming year also looks somewhat challenging. Hopefully, it will not be as bad. However, I had not experienced this before and certainly not to this level. I am concerned that the issue will be with us for a period of time. The pressure and stress on parents and, of course, their children is…

The Minister is very welcome. I thank him for the measures he has put in place in recent weeks in this unprecedented period. The national fodder and food security committee is very important. It needs to be ingrained in farmers that they can plan for an average year, but if they have an average year, therefore, they have years that are not average. There are years that are quite good, with an early spring and a late autumn or late winter, which is great, but where there is a year at the other extreme, with an early…

I welcome Senator Malachai O'Hara and his mum to the Chamber. They are very welcome. I also congratulate Deputy Simon Harris on his election as Taoiseach and all Ministers who have taken up new or reshuffled positions in Cabinet or as Ministers of State. I also pay tribute to the outgoing Taoiseach, Deputy Leo Varadkar, for his support and friendship over the years. The Committee of Public Accounts was scheduled to further examine the affairs of Inland Fisheries Ireland on 7 March but, unfortunately, the CEO became…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this matter. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá an Ospidéal Cheantar an Chlocháin dúnta le seachtain anuas gan aon fhógra ón HSE. Thug an tAire Stáit cuairt ar an ospidéal sin an samhradh seo caite agus chas sí le cairde an ospidéil agus le hionadaithe poiblí. Tuigeann sí chomh tábhachtach is atá na seirbhísí cúraim faoisimh. Tá éileamh ar na seirbhísí agus tá Ospidéal Réigiúnach Pháirc Mherlin faoi bhrú agus tá leapacha ar…

I thank the Minister of State for her response and welcome her commitment to have this unit reopened as quickly as possible. She is absolutely right that respite is hugely important to those families who need and deserve it. They work to keep loved ones out of full-time care and everybody needs a break from that level of work. There is unfortunately still confusion as to whether the posts are funded. That is the crux of the matter. There are two issues. The first is whether the posts are already recognised and fund…

Tá sé an-láidir i gConamara cinnte, nó in áiteanna i gConamara ar aon nós. Cuirim fáilte roimh an tAire Stáit, an Teachta O’Donovan, agus roimh an tAire, an Teachta Martin, freisin, atá díreach imithe. Tá sé fógartha i dtorthaí an daonáirimh in 2022 go bhfuil beagnach 200,000 duine ábalta an Ghaeilge a labhairt go han-mhaith trasna na tíre agus beagnach 600,000 duine a labhraíonn í go maith. Caithfidh mé a rá go dtugann na torthaí sin léaró dóchais dúinn san obair a bhíonn a dhéanamh againn. Tháinig thart ar 100,00…

Before I move to the next speaker, I welcome the mná beoga group from Monasterevin, County Kildare, to both sides of the Gallery. I hope you enjoyed your tour and the deliberations here in the Houses today. Our next speaker is Senator Frances Black.

Without interruption, please, Senator Warfield.

Without interruption, Senator Cummins.

Please allow Senator Cummins to continue without interruption.