I need assistive technology for the ringtone. I thank the Minister of State very much for his response. The review of the schemes took place in 2024. An awful lot of the recommendations have been enacted, which is wonderful. That is not something we are used to. It shows that the Minister has listened and adapted and changed the schemes. There is a scheme to provide solar panels to medically vulnerable individuals. I was trying to see if I could get a generator or a back-up battery to support the individual. It is …

I support Senator Ryan's call on dental care. I would go a step further. I have called in this House previously to expand the role of hygienist to potentially increase capacity in the system. I would appreciate it if we could have a further discussion on that in the House. Today, I acknowledge the report just published by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use. It put nine months of extensive work into the report and I look forward to reading the recommendations. From what I have read so far, the committee too…

The Minister is welcome to the Chamber. I commend Senator Fitzpatrick and her Fianna Fáil colleagues on tabling this motion. The first line reads, “a cornerstone of balanced regional development”. It was only last week we had a discussion and I called for more balanced regional development. I come from the north west, and we always feel that we do not get our fair share. We need a lot more investment to deliver the infrastructure we require. In the past three weeks, I had the Minister for tourism, Deputy Burke, in …

He pays it too, actually. Businesses in major cities and other urban spots that have tourism footfall are already paying substantial rates. They are paying for services that they should already be receiving. I am going to go back to the top line again, which is regional development and delivering the infrastructure that we need. I would love a further discussion on this to potentially look at a development fee being introduced in our major airports. I had this conversation with my colleagues, especially Senator Pár…

I, too, would like to be associated with the congratulations to Senator Ahearn. I congratulated him on Thursday in his absence. We met Liam, his father, last week. He was here a day early prior to the announcement. It is great to have Laura, Daniel and Jamie here. I must shake hands with Jamie and Daniel. From what I have heard, one if not both of them will be future soccer stars. We want to get the photographs in early. I would also like to congratulate Councillor Domnick Connolly, who was elected cathaoirleach of…

I, too, would like to be associated with the good wishes to Senators Ahearn and Cathal Byrne on their appointments. When the announcement was made, I was wondering did they get the right Gareth in the first place, but there were 17 good candidates in the race and a good decision has been made. We are in good hands for the remainder of the term. I also welcome the planning green light for Coillte's development in Lough Key Forest Park in Boyle. It was just announced this morning. There will be redevelopment and upgr…

-----before Senator Comyn gets in and tries to convince everyone to go to Louth again.

It is too late.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I know this is not her brief, but I thank her for attending. I welcome the opportunity to raise this important issue. I call on the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to make a statement on the community support fund and similar issues. My message today is very simple. While capital funding for community projects is welcome and important, many community groups are struggling most with their day-to-day running costs, and they need support no…

I thank the Minister of State very much. She is right that so many people across this House have come through the voluntary sector. Last Thursday the Minister, Deputy Calleary, opened the Castlerea swimming pool. He welcomed the provision of €73,000 from the community recognition fund for the Castlerea Town Team, in conjunction with Roscommon County Council. It is an organisation of which I have been secretary for the past three years. I am a former chairperson of the organisation. I think of the Suck Valley Way. I…

The Minister of State is welcome once again to the Chamber. I reiterate the welcome so many of the previous speakers have given, including Senators Flaherty and McCormack, for these guidelines. We are happy to see them. We see the Minister of State addressing what we have all looked for. Well done on that. This is building on the success of the croí cónaithe and vacant property refurbishment schemes. In my county of Roscommon, at the end of 2025 there were 459 applications, 325 approvals and 119 homes brought back …

I raise an issue that has been brought up with me by a number of families recently in relation to domestic wastewater treatment systems. The local authorities through the national inspection plan have an onus on them to inspect a certain number of domestic water treatment systems annually. Unfortunately my area in Roscommon has historically had a very high failure rate. In 2025, the failure rate was 85% of the systems inspected. Thankfully in 2026 that is down substantially to about 50%, I think, so far this year. …

I welcome Kathleen, Kevin and Alison here today. Kathleen may be retired but she is probably as busy now as she has ever been with the Tidy Towns Association. She is building on the great effort she has put into that down through the years. I wish Kathleen continued success. It is just coincidental I am bringing this up at the moment. I welcome and commend Councillor Emer Kelly for, once again, raising the ongoing parking crisis in Roscommon University Hospital at the regional health forum recently. The response th…

They have confirmed that.

The MEPs are all very welcome. Europe often speaks about balanced regional development. The Midlands-North-West constituency still faces major deficits in transport, connectivity and economic investment. Addressing those challenges requires every level of government to work together properly. This is why the relationship between our MEPs, the European Committee of the Regions and our regional assemblies is important. REGI exists to represent local authorities and regional voices in Europe. It gives councillors and …

Give him two.

The question was on the initial remark. It is to withdraw it. That was the question.

I wish to be associated with the congratulations to Deputies Seán Kyne and Daniel Ennis. I will highlight the issue of access to education for people with disabilities. We have a focus on the WorkAbility programme, a major initiative running through to 2028, which has a budget of approximately €36 million. It is designed to help people with disabilities transition to education, training and employment. As well as this, we have a focus on the higher education access programme, the national access plan, which aims to…

I propose that we suspend the House.

The Minister is once again welcome back into this Chamber and I welcome the opportunity to speak on student accommodation and supports. With two minutes, I am going to have run through a lot of the other things and not go through things that have been said already. I welcome the student accommodation strategy. The Minister put it very well when he spoke about viability, allowing to build, and affordability, enabling and empowering the students to be able to afford the accommodation. The 42,000 beds by 2035 is a goo…