As I noted earlier, the Minister is at a Cabinet meeting. That is why he cannot be here and it is only fair to put that on the record. A key overarching goal for the zero tolerance strategy is to ensure every woman and child who needs a refuge space gets one and the Government continues to work towards that. In the most recent budget, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence funding was increased to €70 million. This is more than treble what was available at the start of the previous Government's term and is a fu…

I thank the Deputy for the good wishes. I apologise that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, cannot be here this morning. He is attending the Cabinet meeting. The Government Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 seeks to improve road safety in Ireland and make our roads safer for all road users. The strategy is based on Vision Zero, which is an aspiration to have zero deaths or serious injuries by 2050, and it has been adopted across the European Union. The introduction of more consistent and appropriate speed limits will help …

I reiterate that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is at the Cabinet meeting so he cannot be here. He would like to be here. In my previous remarks, I outlined the roles of TII and the local authorities, which are significant in all this. It is important that people work with TII and the local authorities on this. The Department is already doing so. It is important that we provide speed limits that will improve safety for all road users and that is what is happening. The Government is confident that the new limits will…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an ábhar seo a ardú ar maidin. As Deputy Stanton is aware, the power up grant scheme was announced in the budget to deliver a grant of €4,000 to eligible businesses right around the country. The scheme follows the success of the increased cost of business, ICOB, scheme which has paid out more than €244 million to 75,000 SMEs, including 39,000 SMEs in the retail and hospitality sector. The power up grant was introduced in recognition of the difficulties that businesses in the reta…

I thank the Deputy very much. As I said, the reasons I have stated are the reasons the Minister has given. I will certainly forward the issues the Deputy raised directly to the Minister. He does recognise these issues. Any business that is having difficulty registering for the grant should certainly contact their local authority, which has the responsibility for administering this. On the bigger picture, however, I will certainly pass the Deputy's comments to the Minister.

Níl freagra agam as Gaeilge. Tá brón orm.

Tuigim an Teachta ach níl an freagra atá agam i nGaeilge.

Tá brón orm nach bhfuil an ráiteas atá agam trí Ghaeilge ach déanfaidh mé iarracht. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú ar maidin. Tá an t-ionad cuairteora suite ar an taobh thiar d'Inis Mór sna hOileáin Árann. Tá aithne againn go léir air. Is é sin an pointe rochtana do chuairteoirí do Dhún Aonghasa féin. The site marks the entry point to the reserved pedestrian route. Tá sé sin ciliméadar amháin ón suíomh ársa é féin. Mar is eol do chách, seasann an suíomh sin ar an aill álainn sin…

A new interpretive exhibition will be there in the visitor centre exhibition space. There will be improved external signage and interpretation at the visitor centre, a redesigned reception and ticketing zone and improved staff welfare and accommodation facilities. As the Deputy mentioned, staff are very important. There will be improved visitor movement and circulation through the centre and on to the monument and compliance with building regulations, health and safety standards and DAC requirements. Other initiati…

The OPW is working with stakeholders to consider parking arrangements, which the Deputy mentioned, relating to both bicycles, buses and cars, and the horses and carriages. This is part of an ongoing process around the segregation of motor vehicles and other modes of transports.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Aontaím leis. Rachaidh mé ag caint leis an Aire agus leis na hoifigigh in Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí maidir leis an gcás atá déanta ag an Teachta Ó Cuív maidir le páirceáil. Tá sé ráite againn cheana go bhfuiltear ag obair le Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ina leith seo. Tá an Teachta Ó Cuív ag iarraidh go mbeidh níos mó déanta. Tá súil agam gur féidir linn réiteach a fháil ar an bhfadhb seo. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cuív. Tá súil agam go dtoghfar mé arís, ach níl a fhios…

-----sa chéad Dáil eile. Bhí go leor comhoibrithe déanta agam leis an Teachta Ó Cuív le 17 bliain anuas. Bhí mé ag rá leis inné nuair a bhí mé ag déanamh an teastas sóisearaigh, bhí a ainm ar an scrúdú cluastuisceana an t-am ar fad maidir leis na rudaí a bhí á rá aige sa Dáil. Is onóir dom a bheith ag freastal ar an Dáil in éineacht leis. Gabhaim buíochas leis.

In September 2023, the Department of Transport published a speed limit review. This review made key recommendations that the default speed limit on national secondary roads should be reduced from 100 km/h to 80 km/h, on local roads from 80 km/h to 60 km/h and on roads in built-up areas from 50 km/h to 30 km/h. These changes were legislated for in the Road Traffic Act 2024, signed into law in April. The Deputy will recall that national legislation sets default speed limits for different classes of roads but the fina…

I will certainly pass the comments of the Deputy to the Minister for Transport. The speed limit issue has been dealt with and the local authority and local councillor colleagues of the Deputy can engage with TII. An allocation of almost €30 million was provided to Donegal County Council for national roads in 2024. There are six major projects in the county, including Dungloe to Glenties and Mountcharles to Inver on the N56. There has been a lot of investment in roads in Donegal. We want to make sure those roads are…

Over the past year, we have witnessed the unfolding of a humanitarian catastrophe of staggering proportions in the Middle East. Israel's military operations continue in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, with dire consequences for a civilian population caught in the violence. With the brutal attack by Hamas on 7 October last year, more than a year ago, over 100 hostages still remain captive or unaccounted for in Gaza. The humanitarian situation is Gaza is truly horrific. Israeli aerial, land and maritime bombardments…

-----a complete about-turn from their position a number of months ago when they stated it was very important. The Government has consistently expressed its intention to file a declaration of intervention in this case. The Government previously confirmed to the House that its long-standing intention was to file this declaration after South Africa had filed its memorial. South Africa filed its memorial last week and the court's order gives Israel until 25 July 2025 to submit its counter-memorial. The Government has t…

I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this very important matter. I also convey the apologies of the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee. As the Deputy will be aware, by law, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of Garda members and resources between the divisions and stations. The Commissioner is also responsible for operational policing, including policing plans. The Minister has no role and she cannot direct the Commissioner. I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to build…

We have the rural safety plan up to 2024. There is a lot to go on and there is more to go on. We have achieved a lot and we need to achieve a lot more. I know Ballaghaderreen well. My wife is from Sligo but Ballaghaderreen is her local town, so I know it only too well. The Deputy may be interested to know that this week a focused Garda operation took place targeting organised criminal group in connection with widespread burglaries in Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath and Sligo. An investigation team was establis…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Mhic Gabhann. Tá áthas orm an freagra seo a chur os a chomhair. Gabhaim buíochas leis as an mbuíochas a ghabh sé liom maidir leis an ionad spóirt i gContae an Chabháin. I was really happy to meet officials from Cavan GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association but also with Cavan County Council at the Deputy's request. I am delighted that the Department of sport was able to approve really massive funding, the second biggest in the country after Dalymount Park. It is what we want to see. We wa…

Go raibh maith agat. Over the coming months, the Department of Education, with other education agencies and partners and other Departments and State agencies, will work to develop tangible actions informed by the recommendations set out in the OECD review. This will include consultation with school communities and St. Patrick's National School in Shercock would be very welcome to participate in this process. These actions will aim to build on the success of the DEIS programme, which, as the Deputy knows, is a key a…