Louis O'Hara

The lack of Garda presence and visibility in our communities is having a serious impact. Many people in my constituency are living in fear, particularly elderly and vulnerable people and those in rural communities. People are having to take drastic measures to increase security in their homes. We know that burglaries are on the rise. There were 386 burglaries reported in Galway in 2023, an increas…

107. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport the progress being made towards reopening the western rail corridor; if a decision on reopening the rail line will be made in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8894/25]

I ask the Minister of State to outline the progress that has been made towards the reopening of the western rail corridor. Will a decision be made in respect of that rail line in the near future? As the Minister of State will know, it is a long-awaited project that is absolutely critical to the west of Ireland.

I thank the Minister of State. The benefits of this project are clear and well-known. I know that the Minister of State knows the benefits very well. I recognise that he has been a long-time supporter of the rail line. I hope he will now deliver on it in government. It is critical for economic development in the west, people's mobility, taking cars off the road and addressing the chronic traffic p…

This is a very important motion given the lengthy delays people across the State face in securing driver tests. More than 72,000 people are currently waiting - an increase of 60% since 2022. This has been an issue for years, but it is at crisis point now and action is needed to urgently address the backlog. We know why we are in this situation. It is because there has been a failure to recruit en…

The funeral of Adam Loughnane is taking place in Galway today. Adam made the decision to end his own life in the River Corrib in Galway city last week. I have been contacted by his family in relation to this, which has obviously had a devastating impact on them. Adam had a very traumatic life and was registered with mental health services in Galway. He previously made an attempt to take his own l…

I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion. As a young person in my mid-20s, I know all too well the impact of the housing crisis and Government inaction and the suffering it has caused for those who are homeless or in insecure housing situations. When I look the Government's record in my own constituency, it is little wonder we are in this situation. Not one affordable home has bee…

I am very conscious that today, on day 19, some people in my constituency remain without electricity. I do not think anybody can comprehend the difficulty of going without power for two and a half weeks unless they actually experience it themselves. It is desperately difficult for people who have faced extended periods without electricity and that needs to be recognised and compensated for by the …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus le gach duine a thug tacaíocht dom agus a chaith vóta dom sa toghchán seo. Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall a bheith i m'ionadaí láidir. I thank the people of Galway East who have put me here as the first republican TD for the constituency in over a hundred years. I will represent them to the best of my ability. I want to pay tribute to those involv…