Albert Dolan

I appreciate the reply. It is also welcome that the IQ measure has been removed but, as I said, the Government has highlighted that bringing therapy back into special schools is a key priority. However, there is a cohort of children with disabilities and speech sound disorders in mainstream education who have a critical need for in-school speech therapy. In 2005, the Department's report noted that…

It is arranged.

8. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the plenary meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum which he recently chaired. [33562/25]

I appreciate the update on the Labour Employer Economic Forum. I wish to ask about a separate matter regarding multiple schools in my constituency which have been in contact with me in the past week. National schools spread right across Galway East, including in Castlehackett, Esker, Annagh Hill, St. Oliver's special education school and Peterswell, have raised significant concerns with me around …

This question is important in the context of our economy. Across our economy in health, ICT and engineering, there are skills shortages that need to be filled. Will the Minister of State provide an update on his plan to expand the list of occupations?

Are there plans to expand the lists? The programme for Government does not just mention visas; it also refers to merging the visa and employment permit systems into one user-friendly, single-application procedure supported by a new ICT system. I understand that a new permit system has been rolled out, and Deputy Mattie McGrath also raised this issue. Concerns have been raised with me by constituen…

It is welcome to hear that a review will take place and that such reviews happen periodically. Is there a date for when submissions will open? Are they made on a rolling basis? If I go back to my constituents in Galway East and across the network, it would be great to be able to give people an update. I would appreciate an update on the permit system. As with any new system, there have been teethi…

8. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of jobs in Galway currently supported by Enterprise Ireland and by the IDA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33001/25]

In Galway, we have a fantastic economy that has grown over the past few years and has only gone from strength to strength. A significant number of people are employed across our IDA and Enterprise Ireland clients. I ask the Minister to provide details of the number of jobs in Galway in either IDA- or Enterprise Ireland-related companies.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. That tells the story. I was expecting to hear numbers like that. A 7% increase in Enterprise Ireland employment numbers across Galway in 2023 to 2024 alone is phenomenal growth and the type of growth we want to see, not just for Galway, but for all of the west. There are two important aspects I wish to highlight. The first is the planning process for new compa…

I appreciate the commitment by the Government to tackle the planning issues, but we did not have that problem in Athenry, fortunately. It was an eight-week planning process and permission was granted with the necessary conditions to ensure nobody was impacted negatively. It was a positive news story and something we as a Government should promote more to the wider world to show that companies can …

11. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when a new western regional enterprise plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33000/25]

This question is essentially to ask when a new western regional enterprise plan will be published. Will the Minister of State provide some detail on that? The previous western regional enterprise plan from 2021 to 2024 has been a success. It identified a Galway to Athenry economic corridor in which we now see enterprises developing in the form of Dexcom, but we have also seen other developments ri…

The western regional enterprise plan must have significant consideration of AI and a dedication to it. Ireland has benefited massively in the past 30 to 40 years from having incredible educational opportunities, ultimately leading many people into high-paying, knowledge worker roles. The problem is that, with the speed at which AI is changing, it is a threat to many of the knowledge worker roles. …

I appreciate the Minister of State's commitment to digitalisation, but I want to hammer the point home. An AI hub for the west is something we need in order to be as competitive as the rest of the country, and world, into the future. The final point I want to raise relates to agritech and the agrifood sector. There is a role to be played between agritourism, the food sector and what we have alrea…

93. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a decision will be made on the allocation of a special needs assistant, SNA, for a school (details supplied); when the subsequent appointment of the SNA will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30791/25]

I am looking for an update on the status of a request for SNA support for Gurteen National School in County Galway. Gurteen has applied, gone through the process, had its review and was hopeful that over the Easter break it would have been able to interview people. Can I please get an update on the status of that application for SNA support?

That is fantastic news for Gurteen. I thank the Minister of State and the Minister for their commitment to special education. It is vital and the needs have to be met. The most important thing is that every child have a fair chance in school and get the support he or she needs to thrive. I attended the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, INTO, briefing yesterday. Its proposal for special educa…

18. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [22997/25]

In the first three months of the year, venture capital investment in Irish firms has surged to €587 million. This is a huge sign of confidence and hope for indigenous businesses. However, as the Taoiseach knows, we are going through global upheaval and massive global uncertainty, which require that the Government ensure these businesses have stability and a pathway forward. Does the committee have…

26. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Taoiseach Cabinet committee that deals with rural affairs and community development will next meet. [22658/25]

I intend to raise the issue of development levies later tonight as a Topical Issue but wish to say now that, since the development levy waiver was taken away, many young people in my constituency, Galway East, feel like they are being scammed. I realise that sounds harsh, but what I mean is that a young person in east Galway today building a one-off home can pay the local council up to €5,000 or €…

128. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payments under ACRES; when the issues are expected to be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25678/25]

Not a week goes by in which I do not have a farmer in east Galway contacting my office regarding the delays to ACRES payments. What has gone so wrong with ACRES payments? Why has there been such a delay? What lessons will be learned to ensure this does not happen again?

I had the fortunate opportunity to study at Mountbellew Agricultural College over the past two years for my level 5 and level 6 qualifications. I met many young farmers who want to get involved in their family farms and to be part of the farming future of Ireland but we have to bring them with us. We have to show them that if they sign up for a scheme that will commit to paying them X amount, they…