2026-05-07

Ever since entering this House, I have always made it clear that my politics are pragmatic and solution focused, and I will not say things that cannot be backed with real figures. I understand that money cannot grow on trees. I am a realist. I like to be inside the tent not on the outside throwing rocks and getting nothing done. I was an engineer before I came in here, so I have always been focused on solutions. One of the most frustrating things to me is that since negotiating the programme for Government, I have learned how the systems in the Dáil need to be changed. If we take Dublin, for example, it is the economic engine of the country. My constituents would like to know how much of our local property tax is going outside of Dublin. We generate hundreds of millions annually and while distribution is needed in some cases, I would like a clear answer on how much is being given out. The delays in Dublin City Council projects, the conditions of some of the public places in the area I represent and the lack of basic amenities are not good enough. Yesterday, we debated the Oliver Bond flats and I believe this needs to be addressed immediately. I will suggest one of the ways we can get some funding for this. In the programme for Government, we committed to examining the Dublin Airport cap as soon as possible. However, I would like an announcement on what is being done there because from speaking to airport officials and from meeting Michael O'Leary last week, nothing being done in the Department. We need to remove the cap because if we remove the cap, we increase the number of people who can come here. If we increase the number of people who can come here and if we give local councils the option of opting into a tourism tax, this would give councillors and councils more money to benefit the areas they represent. We need money and do not have an endless money tree. I was contacted by a constituent recently about Kilmore. We need to address the Stardust all-weather pitch. Money generated by the removal of the cap and a tourism tax could be used by Dublin City Council. From her previous role, the Minister will be very familiar with Gaelcholáiste Reachrann. There is so much that needs to be addressed and my support is based on my priorities being addressed. Dublin Bay North needs proper sports facilities and investment in Dublin Bay but we need the money to do that. What is the update on Dublin Airport's passenger cap? Is there an update on the removal of it? Will the Minister give an update on the 2024 consultation on plug-in solar? As legislators trying to decide whether plug-in solar should be allowed, the submissions from private and public entities should be given to us because I want to know who is stopping apartment dwellers from reducing their bills and what they are saying to the Department. Do they have vested interests? Plug-in solar is used in the UK and Germany. Let us get to work and give it to the Irish people.

The Deputy will appreciate he covered a lot of areas there, so I will try as best I can to touch on all of them. When it comes to our capital city, we all want to make sure we are investing in a vibrant and growing capital city. It is not just about tourism but that people are able to live and work here and that we are investing in our schools and infrastructure while at the same time making sure the offer is a big as it can be. Obviously, the airport plays a huge role in that and that we open it up to as many people as possible. The programme for Government includes a commitment to work with stakeholders with the objective of lifting the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. This means working with local communities, not just in Dublin but in my county of Meath and the surrounding areas as well. The commitment the Minister for Transport made is to progress legislation that would empower him to make an order to amend or revoke the passenger cap. In advance of making such an order, he has to engage with An Coimisiún Pleanála, which will screen for, and if necessary, undertake a full assessment in line with overall environmental law. Pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme is nearing completion, with the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport expected later this week. In parallel, drafting of the Bill has been progressed and is at an advanced stage. A lot of things are happening at different stages that need to progress. In that regard, the Minister for Transport intends to finalise the Bill this month and at that stage will be bringing it to Government for agreement to publish. The commitment is to enact that as soon as possible, so it is very clear that actions are happening and progress is being made in that regard. More broadly, the Deputy mentioned education and specific schools and investment in our sports facilities and complexes. While I do not have the timeline exactly, we do know that in the coming period we will have a new sports capital grant. This grant was introduced by a previous Fine Gael Government to specifically and directly invest in sporting facilities across our communities, in particular, but not limited to our cities, towns and villages. In Dublin, we have seen a huge investment in our sports campuses and I have no doubt that when that opens up again, appropriate funding will be provided for Dublin. We have also seen significant investment in education. In the past number of years alone, over €6 billion has been invested directly in our schools. Of course there is a plan to do much more than that as well. When it comes to investment overall in Dublin city centre, of course, a huge amount of property tax is taken in but a huge amount is also being reinvested, whether through the national programmes or directly by Dublin City Council. Of course, we want to work with the Deputy to make sure all our priorities and all these important projects can progress at various different stages.

My constituents saved up, bought houses and are paying the property tax. What proportion of that directly affects them? Regarding the lifting of the passenger cap, the programme for Government clearly stated it should be as soon as possible, so that needs to be addressed. Regarding the 2024 plug-in solar, I know I have raised a lot of issues, so I hope the Minister's officials are watching and will get back to me. I believe this needs to be addressed. When I wrote this speech, I was under the impression the Tánaiste would be here but since the Minister here, I would like an update on when the occupied territories Bill will be enacted and an update on what actions she has taken on the illegal abduction of Irish citizens on Global Sumud Flotilla. I was abducted by the IOF. I have seen how they brutally treat people who are trying to bring food and aid to a starving population under genocide. How are they able to have impunity in the EU? We need to act and bring in sanctions.

In terms of the solar programme, the Deputy should speak to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. Everyone in government is open to a way in which we can ensure individual householders and home owners can reduce their bills. I mentioned figures earlier in terms of the investment that has already taken place. Some 250,000 homes have been retrofitted. Over 73,000 homes are targeted for this year. How can we do more and go beyond those overall targets? We need to ensure that for any new scheme, we have the right oversight in place and the right type of technology. When you look at the UK, which has moved farther ahead than us on this, problems have arisen in older homes where the wiring and the network is not capable of sustaining or taking on the new solar panels. With anything we do, we have to make sure there is oversight and that it is put in properly so that problems do not arise. There is very much an openness to delivering this and working with innovative companies that have solutions to reduce overall bills. Regarding the occupied territories Bill, I am committed to bring it forward. A process has been taking place over the past while with the Attorney General but I intend to make progress on it soon.