One of my first contributions in this House as a TD was on this topic of the assessment of need and early interventions. In the time since, countless parents have contacted me to tell me that they are still waiting beyond the statutory timeframes for an assessment of need and for the supports their children require. We simply cannot continue to have a system where delay is normal and compliance with statutory timelines is an exception. We must deliver the necessary supports for these children on time and without de…

As Deputy Ardagh mentioned, there are many young people going around this city dressed up, "ballied" up, on scooters, on scramblers and so on. These young people are targeted by older criminals because they are vulnerable and impressionable. They are induced by adults with the promises of a life of luxury cars, expensive clothes and a simple get rich quick message. The grooming of young people into criminality destroys these young people's lives, their families and does untold damage to their communities. Under the…

Among the concerns of the representative associations is that, while this has been negotiated and agreed at the top level, there has been no audit of the provision of services that are currently lacking and no new bespoke budget has been created to start delivering these provisions or services. Any improvements that are being delivered seem to be somewhat haphazard or delivered by local engagement. The representative associations do not seem to be aware of any budget, plan or direction being provided despite having…

The Tánaiste mentioned Wi-Fi as one of the things being looked at but there are other deliverables, including additional or increased bottled water and rations for overseas locations and improvements to laundry and recreation facilities across Defence Forces locations at home and overseas. Perhaps something in that regard could also be looked at.

Over the recent bank holiday weekend, DART services were suspended due to maintenance work. While I accept this maintenance work has to be done, does it really have to be done over a bank holiday weekend, particularly when the Dublin city marathon, with more than 20,000 participants, was taking place? Many of my constituents found themselves unable to use public transport because the DART was not running and buses were full as a result of increased demand. More broadly, there is an issue with the punctuality of bus…

I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate. I welcome John Lynch from Howth, who is the CEO of the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation. I thank him for the hard work that he does in this area. Ireland has a very proud fishing tradition right across our island. I was glad to see that a stand-alone Minister of State for fisheries was re-established as part of the programme for Government, reflecting the Government's commitment to this sector. It is important that, as Members of these Houses,…

Tá scoláirí, tuistí, oidí agus an pobal máguaird gar do Ghaelcholáiste Reachrann ag fanacht ar bhuanfhoirgneamh le 24 bliain anuas. Tháinig an t-Aire amach chun na scoile i mí an Mheithimh agus fágadh gach duine leis an tuairim go mbeadh foirgneamh na scoile ag dul amach le haghaidh tairiscintí an mhí seo caite. In ainneoin ceisteanna parlaiminte, táimid ar fad ag fáil na freagraí ceannann céanna. Cut and paste atá ann mar a dúirt an Teachta Sherlock níos luaithe. Is léir ó na freagraí nach bhfuil a fhios ag éinne …

Tá mé ag éisteacht le leithscéalta ón Roinn le blianta fada anuas agus níl sé maith go leor. Tá freagraí dearfacha i scríbhinn ag teastáil.

This is not a utopian budget. It is not a budget that solves every problem. Despite what the Opposition proclaims, no budget ever could. The budget serves two main purposes. The first is to rein in public expenditure, which has been on the rise significantly since 2020. I welcome the budget's approach to reducing the trajectory of the spending of taxpayers' money. It is a prudent budget. The second plank of the budget is to finance the single most significant social issue of our day, which is the lack of housing. I…

I commend Deputy Gogarty on tabling the motion, which is very timely. It reflects a lot of the commitments in the programme for Government, which the Minister is very committed to implementing. Much of the behaviour we see around north Dublin is not antisocial behaviour. We should call it what it is - crime. Changing the term to antisocial behaviour seems to downgrade it and dilutes effective responses to it so we need to call it what it is. It is crime. It damages public spaces, discourages positive community use …

I wish to raise an issue relating to Howth Harbour. Howth has been a harbour and fishing village since the Middle Ages. Boats are experiencing an issue with the harbour's depth. It has not been dredged since the 1970s. That is almost half a century ago. Boats, especially the larger boats, which have a clearance of 5 m or less have a much narrower window to get in and out of the harbour than they used to have because of the silting up of the harbour. Dredging is due to be carried out. There is a programme to build a…

I thank the Minister of State for the positive outline of the general scenario in regard to the fishing industry, which I of course welcome. I have spoken to the Minister of State directly on the EPA consent regarding Howth and he is aware of it and of the urgency of the issue. I wanted to raise it with the Minister of State on the record, that it is much wider than that. The leisure sector is affected by this as well. I know the Howth Yacht Club, for example, has a very significant investment in a new marina, whic…

Last week, the Minister for housing, James Browne, approved significant equity loan funding for the development of 85 new cost-rental homes in Belmayne in Dublin 13 in my constituency. As the Taoiseach knows, many renters find themselves earning too much to qualify for social housing and are not able to afford the market rents. This project and funding, therefore, is very welcome and I would love to see far more of these projects and certainly more affordable housing as well. On cost rental, is it possible for the …

Since my election to this House, I have been contacted by numerous principals, teachers and parents of primary school children who say they are finding the management of the capitation grant of €224 per pupil becoming increasingly difficult. The increasing energy costs, insurance costs and other operational costs have increased the financial burden on schools and stress on school principals, in particular. Can this be examined in the context of the upcoming budget? The ask of some of the principals is that there be…

I warmly welcome the provision in the programme for Government for the construction of Thornton Hall and the additional places the Minister mentioned. The current prison population is 14% over capacity. The Irish Penal Reform Trust, IPRT, has expressed serious concern about the current situation. The Minister is doing his absolute best in that regard. I have concern about the appearance of a revolving door situation. It can be demoralising for members of An Garda Síochána who have spent a lot of time and resources …

I warmly welcome the Minister's comments in relation to alternatives to custodial sentences and that he is reviewing the alternatives. Community service is something that could benefit society more widely.

The Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 was introduced in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing. That terrible and cruel atrocity by the Real IRA took the lives of 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured more than 300 others. The review group tasked with examining the Offences against the State Acts stated: [W]hile the threat from republican paramilitary groups has diminished, a number of such groups persist in attempting to undermine the State by their efforts to overthrow the democr…

The programme for Government contains a commitment to reduce class sizes to 19. Two schools in my constituency, Belgrove Infant Girls' School in Clontarf and Scoil Mhuire in Howth, have classes amalgamating due to falling numbers. This will result in pupil-teacher ratios of 35:1 in both classes. Can the Taoiseach expedite the programme to introduce the 19:1 ratio in these schools as soon as possible?

I also wanted to raise this matter. I welcome that the task force is there and has been proposed. There is some concern at city council level about the task force's level of funding to achieve the goals it sets for itself, which are welcome, including the creation of an attractive, safe streetscape and a desirable location to live, work and do business in and visit. Many of my constituents on the northside of Dublin have voiced the view to me that they are afraid to come in to the city. Some of the work done by the…

As the Taoiseach will be aware, in 2019 the Government proposed to develop a national security strategy. The new strategy at that time aimed to set out a whole-of-government approach on how the State could protect its national security and vital interests. Over a period of five years, from 2020 to 2025, the current and emerging threats have changed significantly and the threats have increased significantly, particularly given the international context in which we find ourselves, to which other Deputies have alluded…