Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh

14. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to address outstanding concerns of SNAs in view of rejection by members of a union (details supplied) of the workforce development plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53897/26]

SNAs are very dedicated members of our school community who work very hard with our most vulnerable children. However, many have legitimate outstanding concerns following the publication of the new circular and the workforce development plan, WDP. Will the Minister of State tell me his plans to address outstanding concerns of SNAs in view of rejection by members of a union of the workforce develop…

I am very aware of and appreciate the work that has gone into this in recent years, but the local bargaining agreement being off the table now is a matter of serious concern and insult to SNAs. That pay increase should have been protected and maintained, irrespective of the ballot outcome on the new plan. Will the Minister of State reverse this decision to allow talks to continue in good faith? S…

I do not question the Minister of State or the Minister's respect for the SNAs, but the Department needs to show that respect. The trust of the SNAs has been severely damaged following the scandal last February. It may have played a significant role in the ballot outcome, as well as years of being undervalued in the system. The community of SNAs simply does not have reason to trust the bona fides …

Gabhaim buíochas le mo chomrádaí, an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh, as ucht an rúin seo anocht. An artist’s work is more than just a job An artist's work is more than just a job. It is a reflection of their creativity, their skill, and their unique perspective on the world. Every piece of music, every photograph, every painting, every written work represents countless hours of effort and something de…

13. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider decoupling funding for greyhound and horseracing industries; if he will commission a report on the economic viability of the greyhound racing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52289/26]

Public funding should be earned through transparency, and given the evidence on welfare, declining attendance and serious questions about the industry's economic case, that transparency is clearly lacking. The figures repeatedly cited by Government that greyhound racing contributes €132 million annually are at best unclear, and at worst, misleading. The figure includes hare coursing, which Governm…

We have heard over and over about where the funding is going, the measures in place and the traceability system but I would like to focus on whether the level of public spending is justified by clear independent evidence. At present, I do not see that is, with over €20 million allocated each year on the basis of unclear figures and an economic case that does not stand up to proper scrutiny. The M…

It is more than ten years since marriage equality was achieved. It is an achievement of which we all can be proud but it is important that we continue to strive forward until equality is achieved in every aspect of life for LGBTQI+ citizens. As we make statements on Pride in this House and as thousands take to the streets for Pride festivals around the island, it is easy to miss how much inequalit…

The three-day wait has to go. I am glad to get the chance to speak on this Bill. I welcome Sinn Féin's constructive and consensus-seeking approach on this key issue affecting every woman in this State in one way or another. It is a modest proposal, doing the bare minimum in implementing a key recommendation of the O'Shea report. The three-day wait is backward, causing harm to women and forcing th…

I wish to raise the issue of community safety in Kildare South. My constituents have reported serious concerns in both Kildare town and Newbridge, including violent incidents involving teenagers in public spaces as well as persistent antisocial behaviour, such as vandalism, intimidation and retail crime. While I welcome recent increased Garda presence on the back of public outcry, the visibility o…

The Ireland-Israel match must not go ahead - not here, not anywhere. The point of this action is to send a message to Israel and the international sporting community that genocide will not be tolerated or normalised. Moving the fixture abroad is just turning a blind eye and prevents the Irish people from expressing their right to protest. The majority of the Irish public is supportive of the boyco…

I would like to raise a proposal to reopen Kildangan train station, which has lain dormant since 1963. The population of Kildangan in south Kildare has doubled in the past ten years and is set to increase further on foot of recent rezoning. There is a huge rural hinterland and people would take the train from Kildangan if parking was available. Many of these people currently commute to Kildare tow…

Disabled people and their advocates made their requests clear well in advance of the budget. They were simple and reasonable, and called for the Government to address the additional costs of disability. This was not a new demand or an unknown issue. The Government itself had commissioned research into the cost of disability. In the context of a €9 billion budget surplus, you would think that actin…

Biodiversity is a key aspect in ensuring a sustainable future for all citizens of this country. Our continued prosperity and that of future generations depends on a vibrant natural environment. Our built infrastructure and the economy rely on a happy and healthy natural infrastructure supporting it underneath. This is by no means the reality in Ireland today. We are in the grips of a full-fledged …

The housing situation in Kildare has reached a point of crisis. The overwhelming majority of cases raised by constituents who come into my office looking for help relates to housing. New figures show that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the RTB received 250 notices of termination in Kildare, an increase of almost 100 compared to the same period last year. Nationally, evictions rose by 50%. The…

Is é inniu Lá Idirnáisiúnta na nAltraí, ina dtugaimid aitheantas do na daoine a choinníonn an córas sláinte ag feidhmiú lá i ndiaidh lae, go ciúin agus go dícheallach ar bheagán buíochais. Go raibh maith agaibh. Today is International Nurses Day, a day to give thanks to the people who are the backbone of our health service, the unsung heroes doing so much of the heavy lifting of care work in our h…

This is not the first time we have brought forward proposals on special education during this Dáil term, nor is it the second or the third. This is Sinn Féin's fourth Private Members' business on special education. Despite our best efforts, every time we have brought forward solutions, the Minister and her Government have consistently let families and their children down. The issues are only getti…

Ireland’s upcoming fixture against Israel should not go ahead. I want to state clearly that I condemn UEFA for its handling of this issue, a handling that shows a flagrant disregard for its principles. When Russia invaded Ukraine, UEFA acted swiftly to sideline it from the competition. Yet in the face of Israel’s devastating and ongoing assault on Gaza, we see no such action. Why the double standa…

Tá an mhuinín caillte agam agus ag muintir na hÉireann as an Rialtas. Tá cosmhuintir na tíre ag streachailt agus ag fulaingt le costais mhaireachtála le fada agus níl an Rialtas tar éis dóthain a dhéanamh chun an brú a laghdú. Tá an Rialtas scoite ó shaol an ghnáthdhuine agus caithfidh sé imeacht. My office has been inundated with messages from hundreds of people in Kildare to express their lack …

Thirty years ago my mam was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. At that time, she went to her GP with a lump on her neck. She was told it was a cyst. She went back again and was dismissed again. It was only on the third consultation that she was referred for cancer screening. Had the cancer been detected in the first instance, my mam's journey would have looked very different. I commend Profess…

Today we are marking International Women's Day, a day to celebrate women's achievements but also to remind ourselves how far we still have to go. In Ireland, women continue to face inequality in ways both visible and hidden. Women earn less than their male counterparts, carry out the bulk of unpaid care work and remain under-represented in politics and leadership. Violence against women is rampant…

Can we restart the clock when the Minister is finished?

Tá an timpeallacht dhigiteach lena bhfuil ár gcuid páistí ag idirghníomhú deartha ar bhealach andúileach ionas go gcaitheann úsáideoirí an méid is mó ama ar an ardán. Is tríd am an úsáideora a dhéanann na comhlachtaí teicneolaíochta brabús. Mar sin, déanfaidh siad pé rud chun aird a choinneáil ar an scáileán, beag beann ar an tionchar sláinte. Is fiú a bheith an-soiléir faoi seo. Tá rath-ardáin Me…

Families in south Kildare are already feeling the effects of the illegal war of the US and Israel against Iran in their pockets. Táimid ag feiceáil cheana féin na héifeachtaí boilscithe de bharr chogadh mídhleathach na Stát Aontaithe agus Iosrael in aghaidh na hIaráine. Tá teaghlaigh i gCill Dara ag aireachtáil an bhrú seo ina bpócaí. Cuireadh ar an eolas mé aréir gur mhéadaigh comhlacht amháin at…