Barry Heneghan

137. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken by her Department and the HSE to ensure continuity of care for young people with disabilities transitioning from child to adult services, particularly in CHO areas serving north Dublin; whether additional residential, respite and personal assistance capacity is planned; and if she will make…

This issue has been raised and it is represented in a large part of my constituency. I speak of the Before We Die campaign. Its representatives were in the committee yesterday and I met the parents involved. I welcome the statement from the Minister of State in response to other Deputies who raised this matter today that it is being reviewed. I hope it will be examined. It is a very simple and pro…

I welcome the working day services, especially the service for north Dublin. It is much needed but the area needs more investment. We need more respite centres and we need to give parents and children with disabilities support. On the Before We Die campaign, the parents are in absolute fear. We must focus on solutions. I welcome the Minister of State's comment to other Deputies on giving consider…

I welcome the fact that the Minister of State has visited Remember Us. It is an exemplary example of what can be done. The increase in the budget for disability services was welcomed but fast-tracking personal assistance hours in these critical cases needs to be examined. Right now, these families feel like they are in the system. We need to move by making it planned for with centred supports. I w…

The new school building for Gael Coláiste Reachrann in my constituency was moved to tender. Parents have been waiting 25 years for a permanent school building. We do not want any more broken promises in the sense that the school was told the project would move to construction in the second quarter of 2026 as previously indicated. Will the Tánaiste outline any risks to this timeline and provide a d…

Go raibh maith agat.

Happy Earth Day, with thanks to Deputy O'Gorman. I want to begin with solar, including plug-in solar. People always say that this Oireachtas has one of the highest numbers of Gaeilgeoirí, which it does. It also has one of the highest numbers of beekeepers, including me, Deputy Paul Lawless and Senator PJ Murphy. Bees are one of the most fascinating creatures in Ireland. They feature in our Brehon …

I too welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. At its core, I believe the Bill is about something we can all agree on. It is protecting public health. From speaking to my constituents and knowing someone who has vaped, nicotine is addictive. It is very addictive and I do not think anyone should be able to walk into a shop when they are paying their bills and see a giant green package …

14. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress his Department is making in tackling child poverty. [28391/26]

Last weekend, I listened to constituents in apartment dwellings who are struggling with the rising cost of energy, particularly single parents. A singular plug-in solar system would have a payback period, depending on grant size, of between 12 and 24 months. In conjunction, if we used 500 W and 800 W, it would really help people who do not have access to rooftops to reduce their energy bills. Is t…

22. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach for an overview of the Budget 2026: Spotlight on Disability report recently published by his Department. [28392/26]

I welcome the improvements for disabilities that were highlighted but I would like to raise some issues I would love to be addressed as well. We would love some more attention in Dublin Bay North for Stapolin Educate Together National School. I have raised this multiple times. It has great staff. I visited again recently and it has a fantastic campaign on behalf of the children I represent in Dubl…

It has not had the special class sanctioned because it has no room in the school, so it needs a modular building. I have spoken to the SNAs across my constituency as well and they-----

Stapolin Educate Together National School in Baldoyle. I have spoken to those SNAs and some of them are involved in the Save our SNAs campaign, which has developed an alternative circular. Also, last week we had the residential placement for people with intellectual disabilities in north Dublin from the Before We Die campaign. I am sorry for raising two matters with the Taoiseach.

Aontaím le go leor rudaí agus Teachtaí a labhair sa Teach seo inniu. Is gá go dtabharfaidh muid, mar Rialtas, an deis do gach uile páiste sa tír seo. Every single child deserves the chance to thrive. I welcome and thank the Minister for visiting schools across Dublin Bay North, including St. Michael's House Special National School, Baldoyle. St. Michael's House Special School Foxfield in Raheny wo…

She knows there is a lot more to do. I will continue to work with her as she does so.

96. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position communicated by Ireland at EU level regarding reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels from geopolitically unstable regions; the role of his Department in EU level discussions on responding to recent disruptions in global energy markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22801/26]

Go háirithe sna laethanta atá inniu ann, tá na rudaí atá ag tarlú timpeall an domhain thar a bheith suimiúil agus tá sé soiléir gur gá dúinn athrú an-mhór a dhéanamh ar ár gcuid fuinnimh. With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the risk to global security, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, how are we positioning ourselves to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels? I have been pushi…

Aontaím go hiomlán leis an Aire. It is definitely unprecedented but the price shock is not limited to the oil markets. It is also spreading rapidly through global gas markets in Europe and Asia. That just proves the importance. Roughly one fifth of the global LNG trade normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar remains one of the cornerstone suppliers to the world's markets, which means a…

Tá sé an-mhaith go bhfuil an tAire ag rá sin, go háirithe inniu. It is a very interesting concept. If something is not safe, the Germans would not be doing it. The government there has been definitely allowing it and there has been a huge uptake of it. North Dublin, which I represent, has apartments. These apartment dwellers cannot use their rooftop. The plug-in solar systems which can be bought a…

I welcome the chance to speak on the Bill. I also welcome Deputy Tóibín recognising that people need financial supports and that we need a stable government to bring them in in the next few months. It is great to see that.

I would not be looking for a few seats to make the Irish people worse off at a time of geopolitical turmoil. What we need right now is people who are going to stand up and lead. I will give the Minister solutions. I welcome that he referred today to the progression of plug-in solar. Has the Department investigated the cost of a temporary free public transport scheme? What would the estimated cost …

Táimid i gcónaí ag caint faoin rud seo. Is é an rud ná nach bhfuilimid ag déanamh an rud is fearr gur féidir linn, go háirithe agus muid ag smaoineamh faoi curtailment and dispatch down. I have spoken about this before. One of the biggest solutions introduced by the German Government, which was a quick fix, was to allow plug-in solar. I have raised this in the Committee on Climate, Environment and…

Aontaím le go leor rudaí a bhí daoine sa Teach ag rá. While I fundamentally disagree with the policies of Sinn Féin, I commend two of their Deputies on record. First, I commend Deputy Pa Daly on his invitation to the football match in Mountjoy. It was a very good match. Now, I could not hit snow off a rope and we did lose the match. I am more of a rugby player by build. I would also like to acknow…

I know where this motion comes from. People are under real pressure. Energy prices are too high and families and businesses in my constituency are contacting me daily. I will be clear about today's motion of confidence and why we need a functioning Government to bring in these measures. I heard people across the Chamber say that Independents have betrayed the people. Betraying the people would be …