Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are no strangers to hollowing out our cities and public spaces for corporations. There is no such thing as public space in our capital any more. Scandalously, there is but a single public bathroom in the entirety of Dublin city today. Selling off our dearest national monument as corporate prey is one more step in that direction, and another in a series of affronts to our …

No one said that.

The Minister of State said that.

Cultural vandalism.

More than a decade ago, a citizens' assembly gave a clear recommendation to change the Constitution to give citizens outside the State the right to vote in presidential elections. Tugadh comhartha soiléir. Vótáil 78% de bhaill an choinbhinsiúin ar son cearta a thabhairt d'Éireannaigh atá ina gcónaí lasmuigh den Sé Chontae is Fiche. Sinn Féin promptly brought forward legislation that would give leg…

It is only a fortnight since Sinn Féin introduced the Israeli genocide bonds Bill. In voting against that Bill, the Government squandered an opportunity to stand on the right side of what will, no doubt, be remembered as a decisive moment in history. I thank the Social Democrats for returning to this issue and giving the Government a second chance to make good on its supposed commitment to the Pal…

An estimated 90% of Travellers report ongoing mental health difficulties while 11% die by suicide, which is over seven times the national average. Four out of five Travellers say they have been directly affected by suicide, with nearly half losing someone in their own family. These are not just shocking statistics; these are families devastated, communities grieving and lives lost far too young. W…

No, the Deputy's colleagues kept talking.

This week I spoke to a woman in Kildare town who is facing the prospect of homelessness. She told me, "I have done everything right, and now the State is slowly killing me." The pain and dread she is feeling as the clock runs down is absolutely crippling. Her landlord is selling up and she simply cannot afford to re-enter the private rental market. Just a few weeks ago in this Chamber, we discusse…

Half a million Gazans are starving. Thousands of children are dying from hunger alone because of the Israeli blockade. Yesterday, while very little aid was being distributed, Israeli troops fired at desperate Palestinian civilians. Enough food was given to feed 2% of the Gazan population for half a week. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation director overseeing the delivery resigned in protest, stating…

As a teacher for 20 years and an SET múinteoir for ten, I have seen at first hand the power of education to break down barriers for children. From my own experience of growing up in Ireland's education system, I know how one good teacher can change a child's life, nurturing confidence, curiosity and a sense of belonging. This is especially true for those without much support at home. I thank the t…

After the longest blockade yet, Israel is starving the population in Gaza. Israel brazenly continues its airstrikes and full-scale ground offensive, advancing its openly stated imperial imperative of the total occupation of the Gaza Strip, regardless of the human cost. Yet, our Government still places zero sanctions. Ireland, a State with a proud history of principled neutrality and human rights, …

Yesterday, expectant mothers in Kildare received word with very little notice that the community midwife service at Athy primary care centre had been cancelled. This service has provided crucial prenatal care to women in Athy, Castledermot and surrounding areas. This care was local, consistent and accessible. The sudden withdrawal of this service now means that women will have to travel to Portlao…

Staffing issues.

Kildare has the highest number of overdue AONs, second only to Dublin, with 1,700 children on waiting lists. I want to take this moment to speak about Isaac. He is 14 years old and has four siblings. He first got onto the AON waiting list eight years ago and has yet to receive a written diagnosis. Back in 2017, Isaac was first seen for an occupational therapy, OT, assessment and was diagnosed with…

Arís eile, táimid ag caint faoi thithe a d'fhéadfaí a thógáil, ar chóir dúinn a thógáil, ach atá á gcur siar mar gheall ar theip leanúnach an Rialtais seo infheistíocht cheart a dhéanamh i mbonneagar criticiúil. Níl aon áit go bhfuil sé sin níos soiléire ná i gcóras uisce dheisceart Chill Dara. Idir 2018 agus lár 2024, thaifead Uisce Éireann os cionn 15,500 gearán ó chustaiméirí i gCill Dara amhái…

The Schuman Declaration that we commemorate today begins, "World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it." Military neutrality and our triple lock system are the kind of bold policy instruments that are in keeping with this European vision of world peace laid down 75 years ago. Last year saw the highest number of state-based…

Gabhaim míle buíochas le Páirtí an Lucht Oibre as ucht an rún tábhachtach seo a chur os comhair na Dála inniu. Tá sé thar am dúinn éisteacht le guthanna na dtuismitheoirí atá ag fulaingt i gcóras a bhfuil ag teip orthu. Tá mé tar éis bualadh le han-chuid tuismitheoirí thar cúpla mí anuas, go háirithe North Kildare SEN Action Group, agus tá obair na gcapall ar siúl acu ar son a gcuid páistí. Inniu,…

103. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the number of new special classes and special schools sanctioned for September 2025; if she will guarantee these will all be open by September 2025 and fully resourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16978/25]

Iarraim ar an Aire nua-shonrú a thabhairt ar líon na ranganna speisialta nua agus na scoileanna speisialta a cheadaíodh i Meán Fómhair 2025. An féidir léi a dheimhniú go mbeidh gach cheann dóibh oscailte roimh mhí Mheán Fómhair na bliana seo? I would like the Minister to provide an update on the number of new special classes and special schools sanctioned for September 2025. Can she guarantee that…

Cuirim lánfáilte roimh na figiúirí agus na huimhreacha a thug an tAire Stáit dúinn ach is iad na focal is tábhachtaí ná "they are provided" agus "they are sanctioned". It is important these are actually open. As a former primary school teacher of nearly 20 years, with at least eight of those in special education, and now as Sinn Féin's spokesperson on special education, I am deeply concerned for t…

Tuigim an tábhachtacht a bhaineann leis na huimhreacha atá curtha ar fáil, ach is é an rud is tábhachtaí ná go mbeidh na spásanna oiriúneach do na páistí. There is another issue that is coming up. I and my colleagues have had many parents contacting us regarding SNA allocations. In one case, 15 students were told on Friday that their SNA allocation was being withdrawn on Monday. In two other schoo…

There has been no change; this is just a coincidence.

Do something on the settlements.

Act on Shannon.