Funnily enough, this was not mentioned during the general election campaign because the Minister knows this is something the Irish public does not support. This has never been about conservation or tackling excessive use from the Government’s point of view. It is simply an attempt to bring domestic water charges in through the back door. If it was about conservation, we would have proper investment in our water infrastructure and underground network. The Government should ensure that Uisce Éireann has funding to ad…

The approach to this scheme has been unnecessarily petty and insulting to many of my constituents who suffered enormously after Storm Éowyn, particularly elderly and vulnerable individuals who were left to fend for themselves in many cases. Many in my constituency feel they were abandoned despite the assurances given by Government that everyone would be looked after. I have been inundated with queries from people whose humanitarian assistance scheme, HAS, applications were rejected. I have had people who cannot und…

This legislation is long awaited and much needed for bereaved partners who have been discriminated against for a long time. While it is very welcome, it is regrettable that it took a grieving partner to take a court case to make this change happen and recognise the changing make-up of modern families and relationships. We know that many couples choose to live together without formalising their union through marriage. This choice does not diminish the love, the commitment and the partnership that these couples share…

I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion. The work of young carers in particular has not been recognised. That needs to change. They need to be supported in order that they can pursue their education and live their lives as young people. I am going to share the experiences of some carers in my constituency with whom I have spoken in recent days. While this is just a small sample, all of those I have spoken to feel forgotten and totally unsupported. Frances told me about her mother who cares for her…

What support can the Minister of State and his Department provide to support the development of public swimming pools, particularly in the town of Loughrea in my constituency? The Minister of State might be aware that there have been efforts for some time to develop a public swimming pool there but there are challenges with funding to get this project off the ground.

I thank the Minister of State. There is a huge need for this in Loughrea. There is no pool within 25 km of the town. The town itself has a population of 6,500, with a further 15,000 or so people in the hinterland. There are five schools in the town and many children who cannot access swimming facilities on an ongoing basis. We know all the health and wellbeing benefits that this kind of project can bring to people with disabilities, the elderly and everybody in the community. There are specific challenges for the s…

I welcome the Minister of State's willingness to engage with the local authority. Galway County Council has asked Government for support of €3 million to assist it in developing proposals for swimming pools, including project development, site design, and planning permission, to put it in a position to access capital funding. Will that be considered? Can that form part of the Minister of State's discussions with the county council? Like I said, Galway County Council is a particular case and raising the local proper…

I wish to raise the issue of dereliction. The former Shannon Oaks hotel in Portumna, County Galway, has lain idle and derelict for close to 15 years. The site is an eyesore and is attracting antisocial behaviour. It is a serious health and safety issue because the site is not properly secured. It is being entered very regularly, which is very concerning because it is a very unstable structure that has been damaged after a fire. It is an accident waiting to happen. Galway County Council is not willing or equipped to…

The lack of Garda presence and visibility in our communities is having a serious impact. Many people in my constituency are living in fear, particularly elderly and vulnerable people and those in rural communities. People are having to take drastic measures to increase security in their homes. We know that burglaries are on the rise. There were 386 burglaries reported in Galway in 2023, an increase of 8%. The most recent figures published this week show levels of burglaries continuing to rise across the west and ac…

I ask the Minister of State to outline the progress that has been made towards the reopening of the western rail corridor. Will a decision be made in respect of that rail line in the near future? As the Minister of State will know, it is a long-awaited project that is absolutely critical to the west of Ireland.

I thank the Minister of State. The benefits of this project are clear and well-known. I know that the Minister of State knows the benefits very well. I recognise that he has been a long-time supporter of the rail line. I hope he will now deliver on it in government. It is critical for economic development in the west, people's mobility, taking cars off the road and addressing the chronic traffic problems in Galway. There are significant numbers of commuters in our constituency, including students and people attendi…

This is a very important motion given the lengthy delays people across the State face in securing driver tests. More than 72,000 people are currently waiting - an increase of 60% since 2022. This has been an issue for years, but it is at crisis point now and action is needed to urgently address the backlog. We know why we are in this situation. It is because there has been a failure to recruit enough driver testers. We have been totally over-reliant on temporary testers. We do not have enough test centres and it is…

The funeral of Adam Loughnane is taking place in Galway today. Adam made the decision to end his own life in the River Corrib in Galway city last week. I have been contacted by his family in relation to this, which has obviously had a devastating impact on them. Adam had a very traumatic life and was registered with mental health services in Galway. He previously made an attempt to take his own life seven years ago. Adam's brother, Joe, was informed that Adam contacted his mental health support worker from COPE Gal…

I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion. As a young person in my mid-20s, I know all too well the impact of the housing crisis and Government inaction and the suffering it has caused for those who are homeless or in insecure housing situations. When I look at the Government's record in my own constituency, it is little wonder we are in this situation. Not one affordable home has been delivered in Galway East. We are told that affordable housing is not viable or needed in most parts of County Galwa…

I am very conscious that today, on day 19, some people in my constituency remain without electricity. I do not think anybody can comprehend the difficulty of going without power for two and a half weeks unless they actually experience it themselves. It is desperately difficult for people who have faced extended periods without electricity and that needs to be recognised and compensated for by the State. Many in my constituency are absolutely furious, and rightly so, that they are receiving bills, including the PSO …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus le gach duine a thug tacaíocht dom agus a chaith vóta dom sa toghchán seo. Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall a bheith i m'ionadaí láidir. I thank the people of Galway East who have put me here as the first republican TD for the constituency in over a hundred years. I will represent them to the best of my ability. I want to pay tribute to those involved in responding to the storm, including workers from the ESB, Uisce Éireann, county councils, emergency services, commun…