Barry Heneghan

There is a commitment, is there?

When I raised this through a parliamentary question on 10 April, I welcomed the Government's commitment to special needs assistant numbers with new posts by 2025 but good intentions are not enough. I asked the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, how the numbers were proposed to be distributed, and specifically for me how they would be allocated to schools in Dublin Bay North where families continu…

The NPF is a critical tool in how we shape our housing infrastructure, services and communities. I welcome the revision placed before the House following public consultation and a comprehensive review. However, we need a plan that reflects the major changes our country has seen in recent years. Planning is not just about numbers and maps; it is about the kind of people and communities we build. T…

9. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [15512/25]

Right across Dublin Bay North and, indeed, the entire country, vacant and derelict buildings are sitting idle while people are crying out for housing. Hundreds of people email me weekly. They are dying to get into these houses on the same street they are in in north Dublin. Local authorities are struggling with enforcement. I urge that there be an investigation into Dublin City Council and Fingal …

7. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out any cross-simulation or cost analysis of the fines Ireland may incur if it fails to meet its 2030 climate targets; his views on whether equivalent investment would be better directed towards domestic climate action measures rather than paying fines to the EU; and if he will…

Go n-éirí leis an Aire ina phost nua. Has the Department carried out any cross-simulation or cost analysis of the potential fines that we are going to face if we do not reach our 2030 climate targets? Does the Minister agree that we should put the equivalent investment into our country rather than paying other EU countries, as a tap on the back, for the hard work they did? I want to know what the …

In the context of the climate action that we need to take, there is really only one show in town for Ireland, and we all know that is our offshore renewable energy. While I welcome the fact that there has been a €90 million investment in Cork port, it is not enough. We need to be investing hundreds of millions of euro in our ports because we need to extend them out and widen them. Otherwise, the g…

I welcome the fact the Minister has been engaging with me on private wires legislation and I know he has a huge job ahead of him. I wish him the best of luck in his phost nua. The Government is currently paying for research, funded by Research Ireland and conducted by Dr. James Carton, my previous professor in sustainability engineering at DCU, and his colleagues at UCD. What they are telling us …

I thank Uisce Éireann for coming in to meet me recently. It was a very good and informative meeting. I understand that it plays a critical role in managing one of the most essential services that we all rely on every day. Uisce Éireann had a huge portfolio when it began ten years ago, including the treatment of infrastructure and environmental standards. It is really doing its best. However, since…

Le tús a chur, tá mé chun rud éigint a chur amach faoi Ghaelcholáiste Reachrann. It is still waiting for an update. The Department was saying that the design team is looking at it and it is a priority for the Department. I am in a group chat with 450 concerned parents. All we are asking for is a written update on the current status of the permanent school and an urgent update on what is holding it…

I strongly condemn the decision by President Trump to impose 20% tariffs on EU exports, especially those that affect Ireland. Let us be clear here: this is not a negotiating tactic but an act of economic aggression by President Trump against our long-standing relationship. Let us call it what it is; it is reckless and short-sighted and will be deeply harmful to Irish jobs and businesses and the br…

When we talk about crime and antisocial behaviour among young people, we often focus on the consequences but we need to ask what is causing it in the first place. It reminds me of a story I heard at an event by Peter McVerry. It is a story I come back to which goes, if you see people floating down a river, you jump in and rescue them. Then you see another person floating down, and you jump in and …

It is great to see a united party effort on this issue. We all attended the information evening in Belmayne. It is very clear we need another special school in Dublin Bay North. The issue is the option for phase 2 of the Belmayne Educate Together school has been offered by the school. It is clearly a better solution than putting these kids into prefabs. On the night we were all there, we heard par…

I also thank the Minister of State for coming to the cross-party meeting on autism. When I raised this matter with him, he looked at it straight away. All the TDs in Dublin Bay North have raised this matter because they have been fighting for it since before I was elected. There is a prefab pandemic in Dublin Bay North, as those involved with running Gaelchólaiste Reachrann have noted. People have…

Deputy O' Flynn said there are no Government TDs here. Have you not been calling me a Government TD for the last three months? It is ridiculous. I do not have sympathy-----

I am here now. I do not have sympathy-----

The Minister has a huge task ahead of him and I wish him the best of luck in his role. I urge everyone from all sides of this House to work together as we see in the committees. We are here for one reason, which is to work for the Irish people. As a newly elected TD, it is ridiculous what have seen in here for the last few months. There is something clearly wrong with regulations where developers…

135. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline Ireland’s response to Israel breaking the ceasefire and launching new phase of aggression against innocent civilians living in Gaza and in southern Lebanon. [15540/25]

I raise an issue I raised with the Taoiseach three weeks ago and that was also raised this evening by Deputy Carthy. I am seeking clarification on the occupied territories Bill, the reinstatement of which was included in the programme for Government. In a meeting with the Palestinian ambassador, she asked whether the Bill, when it is reintroduced, will include provisions regarding natural resource…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire for that update. It is very important that we keep the public informed of developments. I welcome his indication that he will meet with Senator Black next Tuesday. I thank him and his Department for the aid already supplied. It is very important that when the occupied territories Bill comes back to the House, provisions regarding resources are included, especially the…

I thank the Tánaiste for taking up the case. I will give him the details with regard to that.

Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus leis an Aire Stáit. I want to reflect on the recent European Council meeting and what it means for Ireland and our role during these challenging times. As I have stated previously, I welcome the Council’s continued support for Ukraine. The suffering caused by the war remains immense. I am grateful to see the compassionate role that we ha…

15. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the role of accessibility officers in Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council; what oversight is in place to ensure future housing developments meet universal design standards; and if additional measures are being considered to improve accessibility in social and affordable housing…

Go n-éirí leis an Aire ina phost nua. Will the Minister provide an update on the role of accessibility officers in all councils, but particularly Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council? What oversight is in place to ensure future housing developments meet universal design standards? Are additional measures being considered to improve accessibility in social and affordable housing projects?