Micheál Carrigy

I welcome the Minister's comments on prioritising those most in need. That is what we need to do, particularly for low-income families, carers, those with disabilities and part-time workers. I welcome consistency in the future. As a public representative, I do not see consistency in how applications are treated. People who are ultimately entitled are turned down on one or two occasions and have to…

I welcome this legislation. As the Chair of the housing committee, I also thank its members from all parties for waiving pre-legislative scrutiny at a meeting yesterday so this Bill could be on the agenda here today and passed before the week is out. I just wanted to put that on the record. Ultimately, this Bill is about protecting tenancies and trying to create an environment to get inward inves…

I want to highlight the excellent physio service we have at St. Joseph's care centre in Longford. Following a recent HIQA report, however, there were queries about the location of it with regard to the older persons who were in the care centre and who have had to move location on site. There are now fears among staff and the 4,000 people who attend that service in the care centre that the service …

The programme for Government commits to improving our services throughout the health service. Specifically, I refer to St. Joseph’s campus in Longford. Recently, following a HIQA report, the physiotherapy department which serves the people of Longford and the patients in St. Joseph’s Care Centre has had to move location in the centre into a building that is due to be demolished in six months due t…

Physiotherapy.

For St. Joseph’s Care Centre in Longford.

Thank you.

Thank you, Deputy Ó Murchú.

The next speaking slot is-----

Thank you, Deputy Ó Murchú.

Next we have the Labour Party slot. I call Deputy Lawlor.

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is deferred until the weekly division time this evening.

Notwithstanding significant investment in special education, and the Taoiseach spoke earlier about 400 additional classes, we still find ourselves in a position where some children do not have school places for September. For St. Christopher's Special School in my county of Longford, the children of three families do not have a place for September. Sacred Heart national school in Granard has an ea…

In August 2024, the autism innovation strategy was launched by the Government. Today I ask the Government to action its pledge in the programme for Government to place this strategy on a permanent legislative footing. This must be followed up with the appropriate investment and implementation. The strategy contains over 80 actions that reflect the priorities of autistic people, address the daily c…

I thank the Minister very much. I welcome the commitment from the Minister on behalf of the Government to legislate for the autism innovation strategy. Key to it is giving every child the same chance in life and the opportunity to be the best they can be. I welcome the huge amount of work done in the Minister's Department with regard to new school places for September 2025. However, I ask that th…

The programme for Government commits to improving urgent and emergency care, yet since February advanced paramedics, some of our most skilled emergency responders, have been barred from bringing home their marked National Ambulance Service vehicles, preventing life-saving out-of-hours responses in local communities. Between 2022 and 2024, these managers, again out of hours, responded to over 200 a…

I thank Deputy Ó Murchú.

I thank Deputy Ó Murchú.

Next is Deputy Wall, who is sharing time with Deputies Eoghan Kenny and Lawlor.

I feel the same with regard to the local improvement scheme, coming from the rural county of Longford. Significant funding has been provided in recent years through the Department when the previous Minister, Heather Humphreys, was in that role. If the Minister, Deputy Calleary, looks at his list he will see that every penny allocated to Longford County Council was spent. I wish to highlight that w…

The Minister of State highlighted in his reply the funding for community centres. They recently had a round of the community centre funds announced. I want to ask a question about that with regard to an appeal mechanism on that. I had a parish hall in Newtown Cashel, County Longford, that was unsuccessful due to an error in a letter of comfort as regards the length of time the hall was available. …

The programme for Government states under the transport heading that it will enhance the road connectivity to the north west, increase funding for roads and provide multi-annual funding. The N4 recently announced an emerging preferred route from Mullingar to Roosky through County Longford. It is the only region that is not serviced with motorway or dual carriageway access. An emerging preferred ro…

I also wish the Minister and the two Ministers of State well. I have every confidence in the three of them as rural TDs who will work on behalf of farmers throughout the country. I have known the Minister for a long number of years. From meeting with of as Minister. The agrifood sector has been the cornerstone of the Irish economy and rural communities for generations. It is not just about farmin…

The programme for Government states that a statutory home care scheme will be designed to allow people to stay in their homes for as long as possible. In my home county of Longford, numerous families are struggling to look after family members. Based on medical need, they are being allocated hours but the reality is that there are no staff employed by the HSE to provide the hours. Families are now…

I rise today for the first time as a Member of Dáil Éireann. I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Longford for giving me the honour of representing them. I follow in the footsteps of General Seán MacEoin from my own native Ballinalee. I thank my family, the local Fine Gael organisation, my colleagues on Longford County Council, the members, my campaign team and those who have adv…