Tom Brabazon

I welcome that last contribution and I look forward to seeing the fruits of that work.

1. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs will meet next. [16803/25]

Like Deputy Shane Moynihan who spoke earlier, I have serious concerns about e-bikes, e-scramblers, e-scooters and ordinary scramblers, which are the scourge of people's lives across the city. Aside from the dangers these modes of transport create on our roads and footpaths and across our open spaces and parks, we often see users not wearing any helmets being "ballied up" - for want of a better phr…

I wish to raise an inequity that has arisen as a result of changes in the pension arrangements for the uniformed members of Dublin Fire Brigade, An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service and the Defence Forces. A group from Dublin Fire Brigade delivered a letter to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage last year calling for an urgent meeting to discuss this issue, which is resulting…

As this is a justice-related issue, I first want to offer my personal condolences and commiseration to the family and colleagues of Garda Kevin Flatley, who tragically lost his life at the weekend in the course of his duty. The issue I wish to raise with the Taoiseach is that of the 999 dispatch system, particularly in respect of the Garda. People in general are not aware of the changes that were…

I thank the Taoiseach and I welcome the fact he will raise the matter with the Minister for Justice.

Looking at the whole problem, it is evident the national average waiting time for a driving test is 27 weeks. Waiting times in Raheny test centre in my constituency are up from 15 weeks in April last year to 33 weeks in April this year. That means if you book a test now, you may not get it until December or January. In Killester test centre, waiting times are up from 17 weeks in April 2024 to 25 w…

5. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [13976/25]

Like some of the other Deputies, I raise the tenant in situ scheme. A recent motion passed by Dublin City Council, the second-largest democratic chamber in this country, asked for the previous tenant in situ scheme to be reintroduced. Not only have Dublin City Council and other councils around the country run out of funds, but there are changes in the system whereby a tenant in situ applicant must…

21. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Taoiseach for an update on the work of the policing reform implementation programme office in his Department. [14726/25]

I ask the Taoiseach in respect of policing reform whether reducing paperwork for rank and file members of An Garda Síochána is a priority. I know from interaction with local gardaí, particularly in the Coolock district, which is the second busiest station in the country, that they are burdened with increasing levels of paperwork. Fianna Fáil has pushed over many years for the reduction of the pape…

As we all know, water is the basic element of life. It is essential to all aspects of life. I welcome the commitment in the programme for Government to invest heavily in our water infrastructure, which is critical and needed to deliver additional new housing units across our capital city and the country. I welcome that the strategic funding has a multi-annual spend of €16.9 billion up to 2029, a h…

There is no justification for the tariffs being imposed, except to pull the wealth generation of multinational corporations from Ireland, Europe and other parts of the world back to the US. However, that does not recognise that these companies are in fact multinational by nature and by location, often having manufacturing, research and development, corporate headquarters, administration and tax ba…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. I have a lot of sympathy for what many of the speakers said, in particular the contribution Deputy O'Flynn made today. There is a lot of youth crime, certainly in the constituency I represent. There are young lads going around on scramblers and e-bikes, masked up so their identities cannot be known. They are effectively untouchable; they are above …

I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment and wish him well on it. I know he is very committed to the area of special needs. I am very conscious that today is World Autism Awareness Day and I certainly do not want to be seen to be pitting one group of children against another, particularly given that the special school the Department wants to put into prefabs, which is totally unacce…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. Like other Deputies, I feel a visit to the school would open his eyes to the potential there for the solution that has been proposed by those on the ground. In 2004, Dublin City Council, in developing Belmayne and Clongriffin, set up what was called the North Fringe Forum. The Department was invited to engage with the forum and was told at that stage…

I echo the remarks of my colleague, Deputy Devlin, especially regarding the appointment of Jim O'Callaghan as the new Minister for Justice. I wish him well in that regard. I have a number of points to make about this area. They are small points but nonetheless very important. The use of the 999 number is counterintuitive. For years 999 was used by the public for genuine emergencies such as a homi…

36. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will next meet. [9245/25]

I raise the issue of prefabs. Will they be discussed at the Cabinet committee? I have serious concerns about prefabs being used as long-term or even medium-term solutions for education provision. For example, in Gaelcholáiste Reachrann in my constituency pupils and teachers have been left sitting in prefabs for over 24 years. The new school has been at planning stage 3 for at least 12 months and t…

Tá an-áthas orm labhairt ar an ábhar seo sa Teach anocht. In recent years, it has become very apparent that the State has failed many neurodivergent children. Many have been left languishing for years waiting not just for assessments but also for timely early interventions. It is often stated by the HSE and its representatives, and by the child experts, that early interventions are key to helping …

11. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Finance his plans to engage with the Central Bank to review credit union lending limits to enhance their ability to serve their members. [5037/25]

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom a rá gurb é an chéad bhabhta dom a bheith ag labhairt os comhair an Tí seo. Teastaíonn uaim buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil leis na daoine i nDáilcheantar Chuan Bhaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh a chuir anseo mé. Is mór an pribhléid agus an onóir dom a bheith anseo agus teastaíonn uaim buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil le mo bhean chéi…

I welcome that there is a substantial section in the programme for Government on credit unions. I also welcome the pledge that has been honoured to retain a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for financial services, credit unions and insurance. I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment to that role. I also wish to mention the former Minister of State, Deputy Fleming who …

The whole idea of increasing the lending limits will introduce a better service to the credit union membership as well as increasing competition within the financial services sector which is very welcome. I look forward to that. Has the Minister of State had a chance to engage with the credit union movement on this proposal since his recent appointment? Has consideration been given to bringing th…