I thank the Deputies for bringing forward this motion. It is an extremely important one. I will focus on the small towns and villages programme. On 6 November last, Uisce Éireann appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts and stated that, in revenue control 3, €98 million was allocated to that programme. This began 243 projects across the country, seven of them in Cork. Does the Minister of State know how many …
We have to have a debate in the House on how special classes are allocated and how the announcements of these classes are conducted. I have received many queries from parents and even school principals asking if the schools in their areas have been allocated special classes. I could not answer those questions, but if I was a Government TD, I probably could. Yesterday, backbenchers and Ministers announced classes for …
The Labour Party will support the motion from Sinn Féin. I thank Deputy Martin Kenny for bringing it forward. I stood on the floor of the Dáil with my colleague, Deputy Lawlor, when Deputy Kenny brought a motion on the Mercosur trade deal forward on 18 November. It is a shame that we have to speak about it again in the Chamber.
It is one of the most important trade agreements that will ever happen in this country. T…
I wish to address the ongoing failure to implement the CIÉ pension proposals that were accepted by the CIÉ staff on 15 August 2025.
Before addressing the delay itself, it is important to acknowledge how this agreement came about, because it did not happen by accident and it did not happen easily. This deal was secured through Trojan work by CIÉ employees and former workers, that is, pensioners who refused to be brus…
I appreciate the reply from the Department. I want to give some context to the significant issue I raised. Yesterday, in my office, I met a former CIÉ worker, a pensioner. This is the fundamental issue he is facing right now, as it is for those he meets for the monthly cup of tea or coffee - the conversation they once had in their staffroom. On the new defined contribution scheme, the Minister acknowledged the positi…
I want to speak first on the grave concerns in the fishing industry with the announcement of the new deal from the EU on fishing opportunities for 2026. The loss of 57,000 tonnes of quota will without doubt have a hugely detrimental impact on the over 2,300 jobs in the industry. The Seafood Ireland Alliance has said that it expects somewhere between a €100 million and €200 million loss in value for 2026. Those are st…
I am taking this question on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith. This is something he and the Labour Party as a whole have championed for many years. Will the Government commit to the reinstatement of the supplementary pension facility for uniformed services to ensure that retention and recruitment can increase?
On the face of it, that is a complete and utter "No". Do Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and the Government for many years now, not realise that the men and women in our Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, fire services and Prison Service go above and beyond? What we have right now in all of our public service, but particularly in our uniformed services, is a retention and recruitment crisis. All of those groups I mentione…
Mr. Karl Dalton, the Prison Officers Association general secretary, said, “If the last government believes that extending the retirement age alone addressed the concerns of Prison Officers, Gardai [sic], Firefighters and members of the Defence Forces, this survey [which was carried out] shows just how little they understand these services and the people who work in them.” I know the Minister does not want this to be …
89. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans to deliver pension parity for school secretaries and caretakers as of December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70181/25]
I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, for securing a school bus for Rahan National School. That is essential, and I thank him for his work. We have worked extremely closely on that school bus.
I wish to focus on secretaries and caretakers across the country and their pension parity and leave entitlements.
The Minister of State said that the same package that was agreed with secretaries will be offered to caretakers. That package is a load of rubbish. I would not even offer it to the caretakers. It is a matter of disrespect. I would not offer it to them.
I know, and the Minister of State knows that I know, about this issue first hand. I live at home with my grandmother, who has been a secretary for nearly 30 years. Sh…
I appreciate the Minister of State's response and I am sure that my grandmother would appreciate the kind comments. What we do not want is what happened at the beginning of this academic year, when secretaries and caretakers were outside schools and the Dáil Chamber, protesting for fairness, dignity and respect. That is what this is about. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael backbenchers were standing outside schools, getting …
Yesterday, we saw the announcement from the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, that the Government will replace the existing assessment of need process with a new system. However, I have deep concerns about the proposal announced to replace the requirement for a formal diagnosis when determining access to a special class or special school. As a former teacher, I cannot overstate the seriousness of this development. This p…
The question was simple. Who will carry out these educational assessments? Will it be teachers? Will it be SENOs? Who will it be? John Boyle from the INTO said this morning that teachers were not consulted, briefed or even informed in advance of these proposals. It is grossly unfair that Government Departments are using vulnerable children as political footballs after failing to provide them with timely assessments a…
I never said that. What I asked was who will carry out these educational assessments. That was quite clear. The Taoiseach did not answer that question.
The question is fundamentally clear. Will the Department of education have this programme established by October next year? Right now, to me, it seems that it will not. The Government cannot even answer as to who will carry out these educational assessments. That is the question I am asking. Will it be teachers? Will it be SENOs? Who will it be?
I did not, not once.
That is not true.
Who will do the assessments?
I am delighted to speak on this motion. It is timely in that it has been only a matter of weeks since we had homophobic attacks on the streets of my home city of Cork. This behaviour is repulsive and should be roundly condemned by all in this House. No one should walk our streets in fear, no matter who they are.
One of the best things this Government could do to address issues of homophobia and transphobia would be …
It has been suggested that this motion is not called for and that other, more important issues should be raised. To that, I tell Deputies to look around them. This is a big Chamber with over 170 Deputies. The spectrum of issues we all raise is massive. I have spent my time in this Dáil raising various issues that affect this country. I would never suggest that one of these issues is more important than another becaus…
Me too.
I move amendment No. 2:
In page 3, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:
“(2C) A payment for a purpose specified in subsection (1) in respect of works referred to in subsection (2B)(b) shall, where practicable, be made subject to the condition that tenders for the procurement of those works shall include as a condition that apprenticeships or training opportunities, of such nature and number as are spec…