The recent decision to hike fares by 15% is baffling. For some of my constituents in Kildare those increases will be closer to 20%. This will mean a €290 annual increase for Newbridge commuters and a €545 annual increase for Athy commuters. These are huge increases at a time when families are already struggling with rising energy, grocery, education and insurance costs. This decision is completely out of touch with reality. Access to public transport is essential for workers, students, older people and those attend…

We are here again. There are so many children in my constituency in south Kildare who do not have an appropriate school place - or any school place - yet this year. I raise the case of two particular families. They are families who have done everything right. They engaged with the NCSE and applied to schools across their area and well beyond and yet their children remain at home while their peers and siblings are in classrooms. It is having a devastating impact on their development. One child, Kayden from Monastere…

Tá teaghlaigh ar fud Chill Dara Theas ag streachailt le billí fuinnimh, go háirithe iad siúd atá ag brath ar cheirisín agus gan an dara rogha acu foinse eile a úsáid. Tá praghas ceirisín tar éis ardú suas le 75% gan faic déanta ag an Rialtas chun na teaghlaigh seo a chosaint ó na hathruithe ar phraghsanna. Caithfidh an Rialtas éisteacht le cosmhuintir na tíre agus tacú le réiteach Shinn Féin ar an bhfadhb. Families in south Kildare are struggling with their energy bills. We are heading into another difficult winter…

Hear, hear.

Gabhaim buíochas le Pobal seachas Brabús as ucht an rún seo a chur os ár gcomhair and for giving me the opportunity to highlight the disaster that is the Jigginstown Herbata data centres in Naas. The people in Kildare have serious concerns about the development of these data centres. Profits of corporations are being put before the liveability of the town as well as the livelihoods and well-being of its residents. The scale of the proposed project in Jigginstown is terrifying. If built, the Herbata complex would sp…

SNAs are very dedicated members of our school community who work very hard with our most vulnerable children. However, many have legitimate outstanding concerns following the publication of the new circular and the workforce development plan, WDP. Will the Minister of State tell me his plans to address outstanding concerns of SNAs in view of rejection by members of a union of the workforce development plan, and will he make a statement on the matter?

I am very aware of and appreciate the work that has gone into this in recent years, but the local bargaining agreement being off the table now is a matter of serious concern and insult to SNAs. That pay increase should have been protected and maintained, irrespective of the ballot outcome on the new plan. Will the Minister of State reverse this decision to allow talks to continue in good faith? SNAs rejected the plan because they felt more and more was being put on them without adequate recognition or compensation.…

I do not question the Minister of State or the Minister's respect for the SNAs, but the Department needs to show that respect. The trust of the SNAs has been severely damaged following the scandal last February. It may have played a significant role in the ballot outcome, as well as years of being undervalued in the system. The community of SNAs simply does not have reason to trust the bona fides of the Department. Yes, huge consultation has gone on, but we need to go back to the negotiating table and put together …

Gabhaim buíochas le mo chomrádaí, an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh, as ucht an rúin seo anocht. An artist’s work is more than just a job An artist's work is more than just a job. It is a reflection of their creativity, their skill, and their unique perspective on the world. Every piece of music, every photograph, every painting, every written work represents countless hours of effort and something deeply personal to its creator. That is why so many artists are deeply concerned about the rise of unregulated Al in the ar…

Public funding should be earned through transparency, and given the evidence on welfare, declining attendance and serious questions about the industry's economic case, that transparency is clearly lacking. The figures repeatedly cited by Government that greyhound racing contributes €132 million annually are at best unclear, and at worst, misleading. The figure includes hare coursing, which Government states is now said to account for €70 million. Presenting them together creates confusion and inflates the value of …

We have heard over and over about where the funding is going, the measures in place and the traceability system but I would like to focus on whether the level of public spending is justified by clear independent evidence. At present, I do not see that is, with over €20 million allocated each year on the basis of unclear figures and an economic case that does not stand up to proper scrutiny. The Minister mentioned the Jim Power report. That report is now outdated and methodologically flawed, which only reinforces th…

It is more than ten years since marriage equality was achieved. It is an achievement of which we all can be proud but it is important that we continue to strive forward until equality is achieved in every aspect of life for LGBTQI+ citizens. As we make statements on Pride in this House and as thousands take to the streets for Pride festivals around the island, it is easy to miss how much inequality still exists. It is important that we remind ourselves every June of where Pride really again, which was on the street…

The three-day wait has to go. I am glad to get the chance to speak on this Bill. I welcome Sinn Féin's constructive and consensus-seeking approach on this key issue affecting every woman in this State in one way or another. It is a modest proposal, doing the bare minimum in implementing a key recommendation of the O'Shea report. The three-day wait is backward, causing harm to women and forcing them to go abroad for essential healthcare. When the Irish people voted for repeal, they voted to trust women, give them ow…

I wish to raise the issue of community safety in Kildare South. My constituents have reported serious concerns in both Kildare town and Newbridge, including violent incidents involving teenagers in public spaces as well as persistent antisocial behaviour, such as vandalism, intimidation and retail crime. While I welcome recent increased Garda presence on the back of public outcry, the visibility of gardaí is not yet sufficient and policing alone will not resolve these issues. It is important to acknowledge the lack…

The Ireland-Israel match must not go ahead - not here, not anywhere. The point of this action is to send a message to Israel and the international sporting community that genocide will not be tolerated or normalised. Moving the fixture abroad is just turning a blind eye and prevents the Irish people from expressing their right to protest. The majority of the Irish public is supportive of the boycott. Fans, players and unions are all against the match going ahead. Some 93% of FAI members voted for Israel's suspensio…

I would like to raise a proposal to reopen Kildangan train station, which has lain dormant since 1963. The population of Kildangan in south Kildare has doubled in the past ten years and is set to increase further on foot of recent rezoning. There is a huge rural hinterland and people would take the train from Kildangan if parking was available. Many of these people currently commute to Kildare town, and that car park is oversubscribed. We need more transport capacity to serve one of the fastest-growing population c…

Disabled people and their advocates made their requests clear well in advance of the budget. They were simple and reasonable, and called for the Government to address the additional costs of disability. This was not a new demand or an unknown issue. The Government itself had commissioned research into the cost of disability. In the context of a €9 billion budget surplus, you would think that acting on its own findings would not have been a difficult decision. Instead, the Government chose to do nothing. In fact, as…

Biodiversity is a key aspect in ensuring a sustainable future for all citizens of this country. Our continued prosperity and that of future generations depends on a vibrant natural environment. Our built infrastructure and the economy rely on a happy and healthy natural infrastructure supporting it underneath. This is by no means the reality in Ireland today. We are in the grips of a full-fledged crisis when it comes to Ireland’s biodiversity. Our unique habitats are diminishing left and right, our landscape is les…

The housing situation in Kildare has reached a point of crisis. The overwhelming majority of cases raised by constituents who come into my office looking for help relates to housing. New figures show that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the RTB received 250 notices of termination in Kildare, an increase of almost 100 compared to the same period last year. Nationally, evictions rose by 50%. These figures are a damning indictment of the Government's recent housing policy. Renters are being squeezed to breaking po…

Is é inniu Lá Idirnáisiúnta na nAltraí, ina dtugaimid aitheantas do na daoine a choinníonn an córas sláinte ag feidhmiú lá i ndiaidh lae, go ciúin agus go dícheallach ar bheagán buíochais. Go raibh maith agaibh. Today is International Nurses Day, a day to give thanks to the people who are the backbone of our health service, the unsung heroes doing so much of the heavy lifting of care work in our hospitals and communities. However, one day of appreciation is not enough. Respect for nurses must be shown every day of …