Eamon Scanlon

While I have the opportunity, I wish to extend an invitation to the Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, to visit Sligo Garda station to witness first-hand the current working conditions, and to address the ongoing staffing shortages. The proposed Garda division headquarters at Caltragh has faced repeated delays, stemming from earlier plans to merge the Sligo-Leitrim division with Donegal. The exist…

I welcome these statements on this important sector. Recent years have been extremely challenging for the haulage and road freight sector. In my own area of south Sligo, there are three haulage companies operating: O'Dowd's Haulage in Gorteen, which employs 60 people and uses 20 trucks; Stephen Mullen's haulage company in Tubbercurry, which employs 55 and has 25 trucks; and Strandvaus in Collooney…

I seek the support of the Minister in the Department of housing and local government to increase the number of personnel and improve efficiency in Tailte Éireann, formerly the Land Registry. There is total frustration as to how it is currently handling dealings. I have received numerous complaints from constituents and those in the legal profession regarding significant delays, some exceeding thre…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I will take this opportunity to appeal to the Minister of State to extend the enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme to County Leitrim. In Leitrim, there are numerous homeowners grappling with the devastating impact of mica. Families are facing immense financial burdens and emotional stress as they watch their homes crumble before their ey…

This is a significant budget. It represents a critical investment for the future, with a total expenditure of almost €117 billion, alongside an additional package of €9.4 billion. These are substantial figures that reflect the Government's commitment to enhancing services and supporting those in need. I particularly welcome the emphasis on increasing the number of residential care places and home …

I am grateful for the opportunity to address a matter of great importance to my community, which is the urgent need for a Local Link service along the N17 corridor from Bellahy to Sligo. The commitment outlined in the programme for Government to increase Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities underscores the Government recognition of our need for improved c…

I thank the Minister of State. I urge the Department to actively support a Local Link service along the route I outlined. It is essential we engage with the NTA and Local Link to conduct an engagement survey and take any necessary steps to advance this initiative. The current public transport options for students attending ATU Sligo are simply inadequate. Those students are left without a reliable…

The programme for Government outlines a commitment to reduce costs, minimising red tape, reforming our planning system and promoting direct delivery. Because there is a national housing crisis, I believe the Government needs to urge local authorities and planners to actively support individuals applying for planning permission. People feel disconnected from the process and feel they are unable to …

The programme for Government contains a commitment to increase Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities and that this Government will work to integrate Local Link routes with health services to improve access and will provide extra funding for the improvement of the transport network. We urgently need a Local Link service along the N17 corridor from Bellaghy …

2. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Taoiseach the engagements he had with the National Emergency Co-ordination Group in the days before, during and after storm Éowyn. [6488/25]

As the Taoiseach knows, parts of my constituency of Sligo-Leitrim and south Donegal saw some of the worst damage, with areas still reeling from the effects, particularly in forested areas of Leitrim and Sligo. As recently as yesterday, we had constituents contacting our office whose phone lines are still out of service, some of them since Storm Darragh. I have said on the record before that it is …

2. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Taoiseach the engagements he had with the National Emergency Coordination Group in the days before, during and after Storm Éowyn. [6488/25]

9. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Taoiseach for an update on the establishment of a Cabinet committee on water quality to co-ordinate water quality improvements across all sectors; and when it will hold its first meeting. [6489/25]

I welcome the establishment of a Cabinet committee to deal with the nitrates derogation. It is imperative that we work with farmers and industry to secure Ireland's derogation at EU level by implementing the nitrates derogation renewal plan in support of retention. It is crucial that this project move on quickly to let farmers know exactly how they can farm into the future because, with the weathe…

7. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs supported by Enterprise Ireland in Sligo and Leitrim in 2024; how this compares to the end of 2020 for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6671/25]

I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Burke, on his appointment, and his Ministers of State, and wish them the very best of luck for the future. I would like to ask the Minister about employment in our regions, and specifically if he will provide the details on how many jobs were supported by Enterprise Ireland in Sligo and Leitrim in 2024. Additionally, how does this figure compare to the end of 20…

I thank the Minister for his detailed response regarding the job support figures for Enterprise Ireland for Sligo and Leitrim. It is encouraging to hear about the growth in job numbers and the positive impact that targeted initiatives have had on our local economy since 2020. We know the economic landscape has undergone significant changes over the past few years and the support provided by Enterp…

While the statistics are promising, will the Minister elaborate on the strategies being implemented to ensure this growth is sustainable and part of a long-term vision for economic development in our region? His insights into these matters will greatly aid us in understanding how we can further enhance support for Sligo-Leitrim's economic potential.

As it is my first time to speak in the Thirty-fourth Dáil, I thank my supporters, my canvassers, my wife Anne and my family for the great work they did in the recent general election. This was the worst storm this country has experienced in living memory; there is no question about that. Were we ready? I do not think we were because it was the worst ever storm I ever experienced anyway. Lessons m…