Mairéad Farrell

Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil deacrachtaí le múinteoirí a earcú agus a choinneáil sna scoileanna atá againn faoi láthair ach tá sé deich n-uaire níos measa agus muid ag caint ar an nGaeloideachas, agus deich n-uaire níos measa fós nuair atáimid ag caint ar an oideachas sa Ghaeltacht nó ar na hoileáin amach ón gcósta. Tá cúpla rud gur féidir linn a dhéanamh chun é sin a dhéanamh níos éasca. Ar an gcé…

Hear, hear.

99. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the BusConnects Galway bus network redesign; and the timeline for the implementation of the project. [9474/25]

I would like an update on the delivery timeline for BusConnects in Galway.

Go raibh maith agat, a Aire Stáit. It is good to be talking to a Galway Minister on these issues. The latest I have on this states the dates for implementation of the new service have not yet been set but it is anticipated the changes would happen in 2027. I thank the Minister of State for his response but it is disappointing to hear that the BusConnects network changes have been pushed back again…

We all understand how difficult the traffic situation is in Galway and how it impacts people's lives every day when they are commuting, but my questions are specific because I have been dealing with it for a while. Does the NTA intend to implement new contracts with City Direct between 2025 and 2027? I am aware the new network will replace all current services. Does the Minister of State mean tha…

I am sure.

Thank you.

I thank Deputy Coppinger for bringing forward this motion and for campaigning inside and outside this Chamber, as well as all those people who have joined us today because it is such an important issue. In the last year, we have seen reports of domestic violence to the Garda rise by 8% across the State but by 11% in Galway. We have already seen women violently killed in 2025. My thoughts are with …

Hear, hear.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Comhghairdeas leat as do phost nua, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I want to reiterate what has been said in the Chamber. Many people, especially young people, are waiting ridiculously long periods of time to access a driver test. In Galway, for example, the waiting list is over 3,000. That is 3,000 people who are waiting to get a driver test so that they…

Over the last year or so I have had an increasing number of parents of children of secondary school-going age who have not been allocated a school place. For a small number of people, this goes on months into the next school year. There is an added complication whereby on the school waiting list it is not clear what children have already been allocated a place in another school or are already in a…

Rents in Galway have been far too high for many years and they are only continuing to rise. We see, in Galway city, that the average rent is now over €2,100. In Galway county, it is over €1,500. That is a 70% increase just in the past five years. This is when rent pressure zones were supposed to keep rents at an affordable level but like so many of the previous Government's housing policies, they …

Hear, hear.

61. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform his plans to improve the quality of infrastructure in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5052/25]

Tá sé feicthe againn le coicís anois cé chomh dona is atá an buninfreastuchtúr san iarthar agus i leithéidí Chonamara. We have seen the lack of good quality infrastructure across the west, and particularly in Connemara, over the past two weeks. The Minister has responsibility for infrastructure. What are his plans are to improve the quality of infrastructure in the west?

Mar gheall go raibh an tAire ina Aire Stáit le freagracht as an nGaeltacht, tá a fhios agam go dtuigeann sé go maith an easpa infreastruchtúir atá i gConamara. I know, from the Deputy Chambers' time as Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, he travelled around the Gaeltacht areas. He travelled extensively around Connemara. That gives the Minister good insight as to the real issues in terms of that b…

I thank the Minister. The review of the NDP is something I will contribute to. I hear what the Minister is saying. We need investment in roads. We need investment in public transport as well across the areas in question. When I am talking about basic infrastructure, I mean those 38 KV lines and the lines that run directly into people's homes. Everything is crumbling. If the Minister travels acros…

63. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on his new proposed legislation on super junior Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5054/25]

This question follows our discussions last night on the Minister's proposed legislation on super junior Ministers and on increasing their number. Will the Minister give an update on that? The legislation was railroaded through last night and the same thing looks set to be done today in the Seanad.

I said last night and will say again that the Bill was railroaded through the Dáil yesterday. It was, again, jobs for the boys, and Mercs and perks. What sickens me is the fact we are always told that things cannot be done overnight but things can be done overnight when it means certain people get more perks, money and all of that. When we see the types of crises we have and the type of waste of p…

I do not think the Minister answered my question from last night when I asked which super junior Minister would be impacted by the legislation. If only three were being allowed, which super junior Minister was not getting the full whack money if he or she was the fourth super junior Minister? Maybe the Minister can enlighten us on that. He is missing the point here. He is talking about what is hap…

With agreement from Teachtaí Nash and McGuinness, may Deputy Ó Murchú take Question No. 80 now, before he takes the Chair? Agreed.

Brevity.

I would like it if the Minister detailed the steps that are going to be taken to ensure that planned expenditure on projects under the national development plan are properly costed and that the projects have realistic start and completion dates. Many have been frustrated in that we have seen far too many cost overruns and a lack of completion dates.