Aidan Farrelly

I have raised many Topical Issue matters and very rarely is the line Minister here for them so I thank her for that. St. Farnan's Post Primary School in Prosperous is the only post-primary school in that community. The work undertaken at this school under the stewardship of Mr. Andrew Purcell is nothing short of exemplary but the conditions in which people have to work, learn and develop are simpl…

I thank the Minister for that comprehensive reply. I am trying to read between the lines as to what that will mean for St. Farnan's specifically where the implementation plan is concerned. We need this. The community needs this. I accept Deputies throughout the House will be saying the exact same thing to her about various projects in their community but we are ten years on with St. Farnan's and t…

I commend the work of Deputy Whitmore in preparing this legislation that has come before us today. "We're full and still they come" were the words of Limerick Animal Welfare in the media yesterday. It described 2025 as unprecedented, with a year-round surge in puppies and kittens being surrendered to it. This is in advance of what it and many other rescues will see in the swathe of animal surrende…

Jesus.

Cancer patients in Kildare not only have to contend with a significant commute to access treatment, but they will also likely face the double cost of paying significant car parking charges. According to the Irish Cancer Society, this puts a substantial and unnecessary strain on a person receiving cancer treatment. The programme for Government committed to exploring further ways to reduce hospital …

I commend my colleague, Deputy Sinéad Gibney, who has done and continues to do such extraordinary work in this area. I am speaking to the Minister of State today through the lens of children’s and young people’s rights. Here we go again. In the past year, the latest moral fear and pan-societal concern for our young people unfolded when we all watched the series “Adolescence” and learned about the…

Before I speak to this Topical Issue, I wish to commend Deputy Ó Muirí on raising a really important issue in the House. I fully agree with his sentiments, having been a youth worker for so long. I will be the first to stand here and critique, but on this issue I can attest to the improvements the previous couple of Governments have made in this regard. I know the app the Minister of State mention…

There were 255. I raise this issue because it appears that this has become an acceptable norm in Naas General Hospital. Year after year, the same number of patients receiving care on trolleys. The numbers may fall or rise slightly, but it has become something of a predictable crisis. In the same way that young families have to plan early for basics like crèche and school places in Kildare, I ask …

I thank the Minister of State for her considered response. It is really useful. I hope she can see I am not trying to play politics with this.

It is an issue that has maintained over years and will continue, notwithstanding the matters of merit in the Minister of State's response in terms of capital works and an increased budget. The budgets are increasing in tandem with the population increase. I do not think that will address this meaningfully. I spoke with someone today who works in Naas General Hospital and their words are more impo…

Hopefully the Tánaiste will agree with me in the same way he has agreed with Deputy Stanley.

The Tánaiste does not need me to tell him about the importance of the DART+ South West project. We have seen now is that the project has been shelved for a minimum of four years before any works will take place. We have heard at length about the impact judicial reviews have on delaying significant infrastructure projects. This project has no judicial reviews. It has full planning permission. An Co…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Mattie McGrath - To discuss the delivery of the N24 Cahir to Waterford upgrade project. Deputies Conor D. McGuinness, David Cullinane - To discuss the Irish Coast Guard SAR aviation service. Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss flood mit…

The Minister of State's time is up.

The Minister of State is 20 seconds over now.

You can finish in your second slot-----

The time is up. We are 20 seconds over-----

Minister of State, listen-----

The Minister of State's time is up.

The Minister of State is 45 seconds over his time.

You have been nearly five minutes speaking at this stage.

Your speech is written out here and we can all see it.

I call Deputy McGuinness.

I thank the Deputies. The next Topical Issue, in the name of Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, is to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to discuss outbreaks of TB in cattle in Kerry.

The Deputy's time is up.