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equality, diversity and inclusion standards. Local community safety partnerships were established under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which commenced in 2025. These partnerships represent a significant step towards a more collaborative, responsive and locally driven model of community safety. An Garda Síochána has continued … trained and supported to actively engage with and attend to the concerns of minority, diverse and hard-to-reach communities. They aim to provide reassurance, build trust and extend the accessibility of the Garda service. A review of the Garda diversity officers' network took place in November

simply not true. Government commitments under the national development plan and in the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan will strengthen rural economies and communities. It means investments in new and existing public transport infrastructure and increasing connectivity, particularly for those who live outside of major towns and cities … February 2027. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, and I are actively working on behalf of Government are to finalise a scheme which will deliver this funding to the farmers most impacted by higher fertiliser costs and as quickly as possible. The consideration of additional national funding

Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 and the establishment of the Votes for two new statutory agencies, the Policing and Community Safety Authority and Fiosrú and, therefore, I seek the approval of the House this evening to a Further Revised Estimate for the Justice Vote. The Revised … applicants and integration policy, under one Minister and Department creates a cohesiveness to the management of all aspects of international protection and builds on what was, up to 1 May, a close working relationship between officials in international protection in my Department and those with responsibility for accommodation

have only ten days supply in this country. Never mind industry, many people's homes in this country are heated by gas. We are speaking in this House today about home heating oil, many houses, particularly in the commuter belt in Kildare, Dublin, Meath and Wicklow, are heated … considered, particularly when a lot of hard-pressed families have to pay an increased cost for home heating oil. HVO and biodiesel can, however, deliver fuel to this country that is sourced primarily within the European Union. When we look at what is happening in the Strait

investing in our youth, we are investing in the future of Ireland. We are building a society where young people can achieve their potential, positively impact their communities and escape cycles of crime. Funding for youth justice services has increased substantially from €18 million in 2020 to just … unfortunately all too aware of the immensely damaging impact these organised crime gangs can have on communities. This is yet another key step as we strive to deliver on our commitment to criminalise those who target some of the most vulnerable in our society, namely our children

sleepover and held hostage for 50 days. Let us not forget that Israeli families still wait for loved ones held hostage to come home, after 19 inexpressibly cruel months. These are truly unspeakable and despicable crimes. Hamas is responsible and must be accountable but let us remember also … relief of their suffering. We will continue to work with like-minded partners, including in the region, to build a political process that can deliver peace and security for Palestine and Israel - two states, the only sustainable solution. We will pursue that goal, including though the global alliance

have not received the respect or treatment from IPAS that they deserve and who are living in a substandard building. Notwithstanding that, they continue to contribute to the community in Dún Laoghaire. The problems many local people foresaw with their arrival simply have not materialised. In Blackrock, where … there are two IPAS centres, albeit right next to each other, the families living there have contributed so much to the community. They are part of the Tidy Towns organisations and have joined local clubs. They are contributing in so many ways, including working in local businesses

continuing to work with our partners in government while the measures outlined in the programme for Government are being implemented. We talk about delivering change in our society. Some of the people who make such a difference every day in our lives are carers. While in opposition … that. Every elected Member of this Chamber has stories about their communities and people who are really struggling to get homes. We are working to improve matters in order that people across the country can access homes of their own. The revised national development plan has housing

take place regarding the current criteria and eligibility for potential projects under the community safety innovation fund. Sinn Féin has long advocated for the reinvestment of the proceeds of crime back into the communities most affected by crimes. In fact, my party colleague Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh first … Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú and I introduced the Proceeds of Crime (Investment in Disadvantaged Communities) (Amendment) Bill 2021. This would have seen the proceeds of crime reinvested into communities to build resilience through our drug task forces, family resource centres, youth diversion projects, unemployment services, sports clubs

same basis as a mortgage system, where they will build it, give it back, and it will cost a euro. If they do not have the funding to deliver it now, they will deliver the project within two years to help people save lives. How many more people … lives will it take before the Government listens to businesspeople and lets them deliver the infrastructure and buildings for it? It can then invest in the healthcare that needs to go into these buildings. How many more people will die before we do that? We are at Christmastime

Simon Community Night Light. You go in at 11 o'clock at night and leave at 8 o'clock in the morning. He was going to work at 4 o'clock. He was in the ambulance service. He was not sure what time he would be home … drop in homelessness by a small bit in December. I know some of the people. If they have kids, they try to go home or get into a friend's house so that their children can have Santa Claus. In January, they have to go back into

remediation scheme for all those impacted by defective concrete blocks and related building materials. That is also fair because asking individuals who never thought they would be project-managing the rebuilding of their homes to take on that responsibility, whether they are young or old, single or married … ground, he will know there are people who will not be able to rebuild their homes. Therefore, in five years or ten years, this issue will not have gone away. The affected homes are going to deteriorate and crumble, and their owners are going to be prisoners within

Taken together, the reforms being delivered under the EU pact on migration and asylum, the ongoing transformation of our accommodation system and the transition measures being implemented for beneficiaries of temporary protection reflect a broader objective. The Government is working to build a migration system that is fair … barriers to naturalisation. The objective is not to reward educational achievement but to ensure individuals can navigate daily life, communicate effectively with their communities, participate fully in the workplace and perform the important duties of citizens, including voting and, where called upon, jury service. The scheme also proposes

security of our communities right across the range of justice, home affairs and migration. People are concerned, and rightly so, about crime in their communities. High-visibility policing is important to the safety of our communities and that theme has run through most of the contributions today … targeted operation. At the heart of our approach to community safety is the principle that every community has the right to thrive and flourish. Youth justice is a vital part of that vision to create safe and secure communities, which is something the Minister of State, Deputy Niall

work of the community and voluntary sector, which plays a central role for Tusla in delivering early intervention, prevention and family support services at local level. Last year, Tusla provided approximately €231 million in funding to community, voluntary and charitable organisations delivering services for children and families … work programmes, counselling supports, parenting programmes, community-based family supports and family resource centres. As the House is aware, I have increased the number of family resource centres across the country by 15, to 136. Community, voluntary and charitable organisations delivering services for children and families with Tusla

will have retired before that project will be delivered. The damage the Government is doing to people's lives is an absolute disgrace. The lack of infrastructural development in this country is tearing at the very fabric of communities and lives. I will give an example of this … take Uisce Éireann to fill the gaps in the water infrastructure in this country that are currently putting blockages on the building of homes. They said 2050 is the hold up. I do not see anything in this Bill that is going to change that necessarily, other that

scenes Deputy Sherlock rightly mentioned in relation to young children and babies. There is no one in this House who wishes to deliver well-meaning statements. There is a whole array of people, including hundreds upon hundreds of people in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade … Ireland, it is regrettable that it is only much too belatedly that a more united voice is being found among the international community in response to the war crimes and genocidal activity that we are witnessing. I want to clearly restate this country's position. We unequivocally condemn

State brought the Minister there but he did not deliver. The previous Minister was down there about 12 months ago; he has not delivered. The bottom line is the river needs to be cleaned and the pearl mussel is the problem. I have nothing against the protection … Ballinascarty or stand outside the community centre in Ballyhennessy. There are so many good people there who work hard and who re willing. They are looking at water literally coming into their beautiful community centre, which they basically killed themselves to build, all the while knowing they

very difficult decisions that families make to put a loved one into a nursing home. It is an admission that the needs are too great and the capacity in the home or the community is too small. As one woman said to me, for many families, it feels … sector that saw 26 nursing homes close between 2020 and 2023, the vast majority of them with fewer than 40 beds, while the growth is now in nursing homes with 100 beds or more. Of the 16 nursing homes under construction in 2023, nine had 100 beds

chance to visit this vibrant rural community and meet Sandra and Maureen. The Clongorey and District Community Association is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation that plays a crucial role in bringing people together in their rural community in Clongorey, Newbridge, County Kildare. For over 25 years … simply not sustainable for these rural communities. The local GAA clubs are suffering, as are the local communities. A lack of proper infrastructure across rural communities is becoming a major barrier to creating strong and diverse rural communities, particularly in transport, childcare and schools, as we mentioned

housing remains a critical concern for many individuals in society. The damage this Government is doing with its housing policy is crippling communities. These are communities that have struggled, survived and thrived at various times over the years, but are now facing great harm from this Government … Oliver Bond should not be one-bedroom apartments and studios. It should be one-bedroom, studio, two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes. The whole panoply of community should be allowed to live there for the next 90 years and beyond. It should not be about the bottom line

culture means celebrating the people living in the towns, villages and communities right across our island. Shared Island, Rural & Community Development & the Gaeltacht This Government is committed to supporting vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland where people can live, work and connect. We will continue to support … communities thrive when people feel safe, protected and supported. SECURITY AND SAFETY Justice A Cheann Comhairle, everyone who lives in this country should feel safe in his or her home and community. With this in mind, I am announcing €6.17 billion for the Department of Justice, Home Affairs

Government has been equally clear Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. Our view was the legitimate concerns of the international community could best be addressed through dialogue. We regret more time was not allowed for diplomacy; we now face conflict in its place. The brutal … including international humanitarian law, regardless of how abhorrent the Iranian regime has been. Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and residential buildings, wherever they are, are violations of international law. Our priority is to bring this conflict to an end quickly. We need to see urgent

Sláintecare vision is a more community-centred healthcare service, which Deputies have name-checked, with care provided to more patients closer to home in primary care settings. Access to GP services is essential to realising this vision. GPs provide care to patients over their entire lifespan. They develop … helps to bring care for chronic disease further into the community. It has been successful in shifting care away from hospitals, with over 90% of patients on the programme managing their conditions in the community. In 2025 alone, over 650,000 GP-led patient reviews were provided under

country, the cost of getting from A to B has become a genuine source of stress for many households, workers, small businesses and communities, particularly those in rural Ireland. This is as much an issue of economic fairness and social inclusion as anything else. It demands a response … progress in recent years with the roll-out of Local Link routes. We need to build on this. We should also continue to build on the reduced fares introduced in 2022 and deliver safe cycling and walking infrastructure, particularly in commuter towns. Even talking about private