Jerry Buttimer

I thank Deputy Keogh for raising the issue. As Minister of State in the Department of Transport with special responsibility for rural transport, with my colleagues, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, we are, as I told Deputy Whitmore, investing considerably in services throughout the country under the NTA’s flagship Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, suppo…

I will conclude on this. There is €31 million ring-fenced for rural transport, a 38% increase on funding from last year.

The map paints a very good picture and I accept there are challenges. There are the provisions we have to bring and we want to see a further enhancement of the service. As I said earlier to Deputy Whitmore and I will say again now, we await the NTA service plan. As the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said to Deputy Carthy in terms of road funding, we will listen to all requests. We have a finite budget,…

The Deputy is right that it is about boxing clever and TFI Anseo is a success. I fundamentally agree with her. She mentioned Knockrooskey. It is about that joined-up approach in terms of the local authority with footpaths, the NTA and Bus Éireann. What I would like us to do further as a Department is better linkage in terms of more accessibility and highlighting what the Deputy referenced in terms…

The Minister, Deputy Naughton, sends her apologies. For my part, I was a teacher for 17 years. I fully concur with many of the comments the Deputy has made. She is right that the importance of this issue is such that it requires a rigorous and methodical approach and evaluation by everybody. I have always been of the same view as the Deputy that it is about following the student. She is right abou…

I thank the Deputy for raising many pertinent points, which I do not disagree with. She is right that it is not just about funding. During my own career, it was not just about funding. This is about that wraparound service and that engagement. It is not just about being able to measure but being able to have students reach their full potential. It is not just about literacy and numeracy. The Deput…

I thank the Deputies. I am taking the matter for the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, who apologises that he cannot be here. As both of them know quite well, the Minister has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operations of the public transport service. That rests with the NTA, which both…

Deputy Murphy might forward that to me because it is important that we bring feedback to the NTA. I assure the Deputies that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, and the Department, fully recognise that transport connectivity is hugely important for people who live, work and study. Deputy Boyd Barrett mentioned the link to Heuston Station. It beggars belief th…

Please do. I encourage the Deputy to do so. If we do not take the experiences of the travelling public on board, then we cannot learn. There are mistakes and gaps. I would be the first to say that. I see it in my city of Cork. I am not living in an ivory tower. I use the bus in Cork. I recognise this when I meet people. Going back to the Deputies' fundamental point, it is crazy, in a world with th…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí Sherlock agus Boyd Barrett as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a thabhairt chun cinn. I agree with Members that our identity and reputation are so inextricably linked. I am taking this matter on the behalf of the Minister, as the Deputies know. This Government places great value on culture and the arts sector. As outlined in the programme for Government, we recognise tha…

I hear what the Deputies are saying and will bring their contributions back to the Minister and the Department. It is fair to say that the Minister is supportive of investment in physical infrastructure for cultural and arts venues at a regional level and in regional locations to ensure support for vibrant local cultural life with high-quality programming. The Department has an extensive grant pro…

I thank Deputy McGreehan for raising this very important matter. I thank her for speaking up, advocating on behalf of volunteering and referring to the forthcoming second national volunteering strategy. As the Deputy rightly said, in Irish society volunteering is part of who we are. It is woven into our communities, our culture and our sense of identity. From the GAA pitch to the soccer pitch to t…

I thank Deputy McGreehan and I share her ambition in terms of recognising volunteering and its importance. We are ambitious. The Deputy is right that volunteering is the cornerstone of our society. Volunteers play a critical role and we are the better for it. It is articulated and reflected in the programme for Government commitment in terms of the second national volunteering strategy being publi…

I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this very important matter. I hear her frustration. I am not particularly familiar with the area. The Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, sends his apologies but he could not be here today. As the Deputy knows, the Minister is responsible for policy and overall funding but is not involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services, for which the…

I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this matter and for her co-ordination and engagement with residents. I understand her frustration. The NTA has announced that it will fast-track delivery of a planned walkway and steps from Chapelizod to bypass the Chapelizod Hill Road. That will make it easier for residents of Chapelizod village to access bus services, including C spine services. As the Deputy w…

As someone who has engaged on BusConnects in Cork, I genuinely appreciate where the Deputy is coming from. I will bring her views back to the NTA and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. The issue she raises is that commuters have genuine concerns. The NTA has a duty and obligation to listen and to continue to engage. I will certainly convey the points the Deputy has raised here this afternoon because th…

I thank Deputy Cullinane for raising this very important issue. We both share an ambition with regard to offshore renewable energy, investment in job creation and collaboration with the South East Technological University. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister. I apologise that he is not here. At the beginning, I will reaffirm that the Government is committed to facilitating the devel…

I thank Deputy Cullinane again. I reiterate that Government remains committed to supporting our commercial State ports, including the Port of Waterford, in their plans to build enabling infrastructure for ORE. It is my understanding that the Department of Transport has established the ORE ports co-ordination group to facilitate discussion with both the commercial State ports and other ports and up…

I thank Deputy O'Reilly for raising the matter. As a former teacher and director of adult education, I share a lot of what she says. Not everyone plays sport and some people need that safe space to be themselves and to be creative. As a citizen, I concur with the Deputy. As a Minister of State, I will certainly articulate the views she shared. I acknowledge the Minister, Deputy Naughton, is not he…

I thank the Deputy again for raising this important issue. I assure her that the Department officials will continue to actively engage with Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB, local youth services and young people themselves to ensure there is the appropriate provision for young people in Balbriggan. This commitment builds upon the significant work already undertaken through targeted funding, collaborat…

I will not make it out before Christmas. We will go after Christmas.

The Ceann Comhairle has not lost the skills.

I thank the Deputy for his very important question and ongoing commitment to this particular area. When we were in the Seanad together, he raised this on many occasions. As he knows, our Department is responsible for the seniors alert scheme, which encourages community support for older people through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with co…

The Deputy raises a pertinent point. The Department and its officials, in the review, are very conscious of new technological advances. However, the review will provide an opportunity to consider not just technological advancements but how to broaden the reach of the scheme to more vulnerable and older people. I will give the Deputy a flavour of it. The review has seen engagement with Pobal, telec…

I will take the Deputy’s point back, including the example he raised. What we envisage is that the scheme will take into account the use of modern technology to ensure that people who are vulnerable or older and require the alarm are not left isolated on regular days, or on extreme weather days where power and communications are down. An extensive consultative process is ongoing with the represent…