Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate – Dáil Éireann (34th Dáil) – Thursday, 1 Oct 2026

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Tourism Industry

Deputy Michael Cahill

I wish to again raise the Ring of Kerry road. I acknowledge the €10 million provided by the Minister for Transport. That funding was obviously very welcome. This is Ireland's premier tourist route. It is in a shocking and dangerous condition. It has lags, humps and hollows. It is 70% substandard. It has been underfunded for decades. In Cahersiveen town, the road and footpath are in a disgraceful condition. It is completely lopsided and there have been numerous accidents. This is a national secondary route.

Residents in Killorglin are also looking for the road there to be upgraded. From Laune Bridge to Dunmaniheen and on to Anglont, where the RDI Hub is, the residents have been campaigning for over 50 years for a new realignment and footpath. I would like to see that progressed. Kerry County Council has informed me if it received €150,000 from TII, it would cover the planning process. I ask the Minister of State to refer that to the Minister and TII officials.

My own village of Glenbeigh urgently needs new footpaths, public lighting and a pedestrian crossing. There are many other sections that require urgent attention along the Ring of Kerry, including Waterville, Caherdaniel, Castlecove and Sneem, among a number of others.

Traffic congestion and long delays are an everyday occurrence in both Killarney and Killorglin. The bypass is progressing for Killarney. There is a bypass required in both towns. I ask that TII senior officials look at both towns to see if we could come up with some short-term measures that would help alleviate this congestion.

I also wish to raise hedge cutting on the Ring of Kerry. The Ring of Kerry is Ireland's premier tourist route. It is on the Wild Atlantic Way. We have magnificent scenery and yet most people who use it cannot see the ocean even though it is right beside them because it is all covered in with trees. What is required here is funding from TII to provide a long reach hedge cutter and specialist climbers who would climb down as a lot of the trees are growing from under the cliff edge. It is a huge issue and everybody is on about it all the time. The road is dangerous as a result.

I ask the Minister of State relay my concerns to the Minister. I raised the same issues yesterday with the Taoiseach. That is how important it is to the people of Kerry and to all visitors to our county.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I will go through the format first and then come to the points he raised. The matter of infrastructure investment to support road safety as well as the quality of life for people who rely on the N70 is an important one. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding but TII, the national roads authority, and the local authorities are intertwined in relation to these projects.

Deputy Cahill mentioned a number of issues along the Wild Atlantic Way and, more importantly, the N70, and a number of concerns he has about it. I concur with the Deputy's concerns. I travelled the road this summer and it is a premier tourist attraction. From the Cork side, we do not like giving that to Kerry but we accept the Ring of Kerry and all of its beauty. It is hugely important that we understand and I will certainly be taking the issues the Deputy raised back to the Minister for Transport and TII as well. He has outlined a number of issues on which locals have been campaigning for decades in terms of road improvement. That shows the level of commitment he has in supporting them. He mentioned his own community of Glenbeigh as well. It is right on the Wild Atlantic Way and the Ring of Kerry.

It is important and very much incumbent on Government, at a political level, and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, in conjunction with the local authority, to make sure we are preserving and enhancing the primary tourist routes across the country, that is, the Wild Atlantic Way but also the Ring of Kerry, which is famous in terms of tourism going back centuries. I will be taking those issues back.

As the Deputy mentioned, there is a huge amount of money being invested in County Kerry, which I know he has been advocating for, not just while he has been in this House but for a long number of years, working hard with the local authority and TII. They are progressing but the issues he raised today, including the issue with hedge cutting, is not lost.

That is a hugely important piece. We have to revisit and look at the policies on those premier tourism routes, both at local authority level and the level of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, to make sure we are offering the best possible to those who come to Kerry. A huge number of livelihoods are dependent on tourism in the region Deputy Cahill talks about. They are two of the most important pieces. I will certainly raise with the Department of Transport both the issues and the points the Deputy made. He mentioned Sneem, Blackwater Bridge and other places. They are hugely important tourism routes. We meet many tourists going on the Ring of Kerry either by bus or otherwise, and it is important we show off to the best of our ability the great facilities, scenery and communities we have along the Ring of Kerry and the N70. I will convey the Deputy's request for funding back to TII and the Department of Transport as a matter of urgency.

Deputy Michael Cahill

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, and the Members for accommodating me. I am happy enough now.

An Ceann Comhairle

I thank the Deputy's colleagues for the flexibility shown towards the Deputy.

School Staff

Deputy Louise O'Reilly

This concerns the reckless decision of the Government to remove a teacher, the 11th mainstream teaching post, from St. Patrick's Junior National School in Skerries. I will refer to what a parent wrote to me. I have spoken to parents and teachers. They are absolutely frantic. She said the school currently has 267 pupils, which is above the standard retention threshold of 258. This raises an important question. Why is a school that remains above the normal teacher retention threshold losing a teaching post and doing so in a way and at a time when there will be the maximum amount of disruption on 23 October? That means we have 22 days to change the Minister of State's mind and for him to reverse this reckless decision. Parents have written to me and what they are saying is that it seems like this Government is failing their children. This will put the class size at 33. We know that the Minister is aiming for 21. At the moment, the number is 22, but it will move it to 33. That is absolutely reckless. This decision must be reversed.

Deputy Grace Boland

I know the school very well. It is where I started my own schooldays. I share my constituency colleague's concerns. It is simply unacceptable to have a class size of 33. Will the Minister of State engage very proactively with the school? There are huge additional needs in this particular year, but as he knows, in all years we have very challenging needs. That puts undue pressure on pupils, students and SNAs. First, a class size of 33 is simply unacceptable. Second, will the Minister of State go back and look at the threshold? This school is meeting the threshold. There has to be some flexibility here to retain the teacher. Parents, teachers, the wider school community and I am at a loss as to why we are going to lose this teacher. I urge the Minister of State to proactively engage with the school and do everything he can to retain the teacher.

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue

I back my two constituency colleagues and thank them for sharing time with me. The north county is exploding in its demographics and school supply is lagging behind there as it is. St. Patrick's Junior School in Skerries needs to retain the 11th teacher for a number of reasons. The second class is going to go from 22 to 33 students if we lose the 11th teacher. I worked in a secondary school, so I know at first hand the impact increasing the number in a class by that size has on the attention students are going to get. With all the will in the world, if we add 50% to a class, it is so much more difficult for any teacher to address their needs. This is at a time when, as my colleague mentioned, we are looking at having 21 students per class. Could we please look at this again? Could we have some flexibility in this case?

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I thank the Deputies very much for raising the issue. It is always great to see TDs raising issues on a cross-constituency basis. It shows the importance of the issue being raised, so I thank them for raising it. The primary staffing schedule is a long-standing feature of the primary allocation system, which ensures fairness and transparency in the allocation of mainstream class teachers across primary schools, regardless of location.

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at an individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and the enrolment of pupils on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2026-2027 school year are set out in circular 25 of 2026. In the 2025-2026 school year, St. Patrick's Junior School in Skerries had a mainstream staffing of an administrative principal and 12 mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 281 pupils on 30 September 2024. The school enrolment fell to 249 on 30 September 2025 and so the mainstream staffing at the school was due to be reduced by two classroom teachers for 2026-2027. Staffing arrangements included a projected enrolment process whereby schools experiencing significant increase in enrolment may apply for additional mainstream staffing. In order to qualify for such a post, schools like St. Patrick's Junior National School, which had more than seven teachers, required an increase of 23 pupils on the previous September's enrolment. The projected enrolment figure must be five more than the appointed threshold for teachers as set out in appendix A of the circular 25 of 2026. An additional classroom teacher is allocated on a provisional basis pending confirmation that the school reaches the required enrolment on 30 September. In the case of St. Patrick's, a projected enrolment of 272 was required in order to qualify for the post. As the school advises of a projected enrolment of 273 pupils for 30 September, the school was given a provisional sanction for a projected enrolment post. Obviously, as today is 1 October, we are awaiting the figures as of yesterday, 30 September.

The staffing process also contains an appeal mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal to the independent primary staffing appeals board. One of the appeals criteria is aimed at schools that received a projected enrolment post but do not meet the required enrolment on 30 September, while another is aimed at schools experiencing pressure on class sizes at infant level. Such schools may submit an appeal to the October meeting of the primary staffing appeal board. The information and application forms are available from the Department and on circular 25 of 2026. The closing date for the application or appeal is 13 October. I might address the other issues in my closing remarks.

Deputy Louise O'Reilly

The school is due to lose the teacher on 23 October. In his closing remarks the Minister of State might advise us how this is going to work, given that the deadline is looming. He might also advise us whether he believes that 33 children in a classroom is acceptable. I will tell him on my behalf that 33 children in a classroom is very much not acceptable. That is not a good learning environment for children to have. That is not a good environment for teachers, SNAs and the wider school community to have to deal with. That is not an environment that is conducive to being able to do the best for children with additional needs, and there are many in this school. Parents are frantic. Of course they can engage in the appeals process, but the date they are due to lose the teacher is 23 October. I urge the Minister of State to tell me if he thinks 33 children in a classroom is okay. When we know the OECD average is 21, the EU average is 19, we are looking at 33 in a junior school in Skerries. It is not acceptable. The Minister of State might confirm in his remarks if he or the Government think it is acceptable, because I really do not.

Deputy Grace Boland

I have only just received the Minister of State's answer, but I was trying to follow him. He says the school had 249 pupils and it needed an additional 23 on the previous September's enrolment, which it has. It has exceeded that. I am not sure what the threshold figure is but there has to be some flexibility here. The school has exceeded its enrolment by 23 pupils. Pressures are going to be placed on the students in the classroom, in particular with all of the additional needs.

The Minister of State is the Minister of State responsible for special education. He has to agree it is simply not acceptable to have 33 students in a class.

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue

Enrolment is a tricky at this level, namely, going from school into secondary school and going from early years into primary school, when parents must apply to numerous schools to get one place. I do not have the answer as to how we make the system better for mainstream schools at primary level but I do think it is something we can knock our heads together on and make a better system. I know from experience that the classroom environment functions better with fewer numbers. I know the Minister of State knows that and agrees with us on that, so that is why we are asking him to bear in mind the pressure on students and the pressure on teachers who have to take 33 students instead of 21. I ask him to please reconsider.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I thank the Deputies for the questions. I would nearly bet that the school has probably committed to and sent in the enrolment for 30 September at this stage because schools are very efficient bodies and I am sure this school, St. Patrick's, is no different. We will reflect on that figure when it is sent in.

I take the point. We have to have a staffing schedule. If we look at the average of our schools, it is even fewer than 20 when we take every teacher into account. I take the point the Deputies made about 33 pupils in a classroom. Governments over many years have been reducing the pupil-teacher ratio to ensure we have smaller classrooms where children can thrive.

I have no doubt the school has contacted the Department, so I will ensure it liaises directly with the school on the figures and advise it accordingly as to the next process. There is no point in me standing up here, whether I agree or not with the issue. Unfortunately, we have to have a staffing schedule that is part of the system and a system of governance that applies right across the education system. However, when cases like this are brought to my attention, I will reflect very carefully on them and see what has come back from the school in order that we make the appropriate decision.

An Ceann Comhairle

I thank the Deputies for their flexibility towards their colleague. Ultimately, it is not setting a precedent.

Childcare Services

Deputy John Lahart

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue and the Minister of State for being present to take it. The Minister of State will agree that when it comes to childcare, parents need certainty. Close to work, on-site, or, as in this case, on-campus childcare is as good as it gets with parents working in close proximity to where their child is minded. Oakview Crèche, based in the grounds of Technological University Dublin, TU Dublin, in Tallaght ticks all the boxes I have just mentioned.

The first thing we need to agree on is that this facility, regardless of who owns it, remains in place. Deputy Murphy and I have spoken in the Chamber about this particular crèche facility previously. The crèche serves TU Dublin staff on site, the children of some students and families from the wider community. TU Dublin has confirmed that the operators of Oakview Crèche exercised a break option in their contract in May 2026 and that the current licence expires on 31 December of this year. The university has also stated that the continuation of the crèche would require a new procurement process and that this is not currently proposed because the building requires investment.

Parents are seeking clarification on what steps were taken between May and September to preserve childcare provision on site? Why is no replacement procurement process currently proposed? What works are actually required and what are they expected to cost? Does continued childcare remain an option for the building? Do historical public funding obligations in relation to this facility - I am particularly referencing Pobal funding - remain relevant?

Deputy Paul Murphy

This seems like an incredible situation. It is very stressful and shocking for the parents. Literally, on Monday gone they got a notification that their crèche place would be gone. What are they meant to do? They rely on this crèche. There are 44 kids in the crèche in TU Dublin in Tallaght. It is a mixture of children of staff, students and people from the community. If this goes ahead, the impact will be horrendous. One mother is quoted in the Tallaght Echo as saying she is in her second year of college and might have to abandon her studies as a consequence of losing this crèche place.

There is obviously a dispute between the operator of Oakview Crèche and TU Dublin as to the cause of this. There is some underlying issue. Work needed to be done in the building. The provision of air conditioning was required because the temperature was too high as identified a number of years ago by Tusla. That work has not happened. Then there is a dispute about exactly what has gotten us to this point and whether the parents should have been informed earlier by the operator of Oakview Crèche. That seems to be the case on the part of TU Dublin.

From my perspective the issue here is the rights of the parents, the children and the fact there is a building which can serve as a crèche and could remain open in January without any of the works taking place. Obviously, there will not be high temperatures in January. The works could take place. This building needs to operate as a crèche.

The main thing in terms of the Department is to contact TU Dublin to get to the bottom of this matter. If funding is necessary for the capital works that have been identified by Tusla to make this place work 100% appropriately as a crèche, then that funding should be provided rather than losing these crèche places when there is no prospect of these families getting any other crèche place for January. Do not throw parents into that disastrous situation.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I thank both Deputies for their collaboration and for raising this important issue and offering me the opportunity to respond.

The Department is aware of the decision to close the service as the university prepares to repurpose the current facility. It is acknowledged that this is a deeply stressful time for the parents, children, the staff affected and the local community. South Dublin Childcare Committee is collaborating with the private provider to review alternative premises and to secure a new location for the service. The childcare committee has continued to provide support to the provider with information on the options available. However, the Department does not directly operate or manage early learning and childcare or school age childcare services. Decisions about the day-to-day running of services, including their chosen business model or base of operations, ultimately lie with the provider.

If the provider would like to relocate, they have to apply for a change in circumstance application to be made to Tusla early years inspectorate. As part of this process, the inspectorate requests relevant statutory documentation that evidences the proposed building is safe and secure for children in the new setting. This includes, but is not limited to, fire safety certification, building regulations compliance, and other documentation required under current legislation. A fit for purpose inspection is also required once all relevant documents have been received.

Timeframes for change in circumstance applications, which are set out in regulation 8 of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, require at least 60 days advance notification for changes to a service. This is to allow sufficient time to ensure that all providers meet the relevant statutory requirements to ensure the safety, quality of care and the support of children in these settings.

I would advise the provider in question to engage with the inspectorate directly in relation to this matter as a matter of urgency. It is hugely important both Deputies relay that to the provider. In the event that a suitable alternative location cannot be secured, the Department will continue to work closely with the South Dublin Childcare Committee to assist affected families in identifying alternative options in the area.

South Dublin County Childcare Committee can provide contact information for parents should they need help to secure alternative places. Parents and guardians can also use a website to find core funding partner services in their area. It is also important there is engagement with the inspectorate directly to process the matter and see what options are open but I take on board the concerns the Deputies have raised.

Deputy John Lahart

I thank the Minister of State for the answer but that line in the early part of his reply that "the university prepares to repurpose the current facility" is the issue that I have a problem with. The point I made earlier was that close to work on-campus or on-site childcare is as good as it gets.

That is what the university here should be aiming for. The solution is along the lines of the solution announced by the Minister for children earlier this week with regard to State-led early learning and childcare capital projects, a number of which were announced. This is the way to go. The Minister should look at the campus of the technological university in Tallaght with a view to using that facility and entering into a partnership with TUD to initiate a State-led on-site childcare facility on the Tallaght campus.

Deputy Paul Murphy

Any parent, and many others, will know that getting your child into a crèche is no small task these days. As far as I know, there are massive waiting lists for every crèche in Tallaght. A solution must be found for the crèche in TU Dublin. It is fine if that solution involves relocation to somewhere in the area. There may be an idea that many of these parents are going to find alternative crèches in January, but that is just not going to happen. If TU Dublin or Oakview knew that this was only going to run until December well before the parents were told, it was a very bad decision not to tell parents before they applied in September, thinking they were getting a whole year. If funds are the issue in terms of the works that need to be done on the building, my bottom-line question is whether the Government will commit to stepping in and providing those funds so the building can be used for its current purpose, that is, as a crèche.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

The Deputies have spoken about having proper childcare facilities on campus. Ideally, that is the way to go. The announcement of a number of crèches and of childcare funding earlier this week shows the correct process to do that. However, that is little comfort for the Deputies' constituents in the challenges they will face in a couple of months' time. I reiterate that it is for the providers to go back. The Department and I will ensure the concerns the Deputies have raised are taken up and that everybody, including the county childcare committee and the inspectorate, are working together to find a solution. It is very difficult. The point regarding how short the notice given to families has been is not lost on me. It is hugely challenging and difficult. From dealing with families across my own area, I know what it is like and I know what the challenges are. Right now, we have to try to find a solution for the immediate future. In the long term, it is the right thing to do to ensure there are proper facilities on campus but, right now, we have to deal with these issues. I will give an undertaking to ensure the Department engages on whether an alternative can be found, which I know it is willing to do. We will work with the Department to try to find a solution and make sure any engagement towards finding that solution is meaningful.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

Moatview Early Education Centre plays an absolutely vital role in the local community in Moatview, Dublin 17. If it closes - if action is not taken, that is exactly what may happen - it will leave a huge gap in the local community that will not be filled. It does excellent work. It takes in a lot of children with additional needs and looks after them very well. It has a huge funding deficit. Part of this arises from the centre not getting core funding a couple of years ago and this funding not being restored. Pobal needs to engage with Susan Russell, who is a brilliant manager, with Sinead Tucker and with all of the staff and work with them to resolve this issue. To date, Pobal has not engaged with Ms Russell, the manager. Public representatives have asked to meet with Pobal on the issue but Pobal has not met with them. I urge the Minister of State and the Government to act and to get Pobal to engage so that we can protect this really important childcare facility in the local community.

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí

I echo Deputy O'Callaghan's points. I have visited Moatview Early Education Centre and I have met Susan Russell and the staff. They do great work. It is an area of serious disadvantage. This service has lasted since 1992, through many years, providing absolutely vital early learning education to local children. I cannot countenance the area losing this service. It would be an absolute travesty. I do not think it will. There is a tactical funding issue here. I think the centre is viable in the long term given that it has done so well since 1992 but there is a gap in funding because of the loss of core funding from Pobal. To echo Deputy O'Callaghan's point, we need Pobal to get involved and to work with the directors and the team to get these issues resolved in order that the service can continue, which I believe and hope it will, and in order that the children and parents get the education and service they deserve locally.

Deputy Barry Heneghan

This issue has been raised and it will continue to be raised. We have all met Susan Russell and Sinead Tucker. The Department has confirmed to us that the budget has been approved. That sounds positive but the centre has still not received any money. Speaking to the parents would break your heart. The Department told me that the funding would enable the centre to remain operational while the board, Pobal and Dublin City Childcare Committee work together. However, I have again been contacted by the service, which says that it has had no meaningful contact from Pobal. To echo Deputies Ó Muirí and O'Callaghan, those involved do not feel supported. They feel abandoned. Pobal then confirmed that the funding is not intended to provide reimbursement. There is a serious issue there because people have used money to cover salaries, food and basic day-to-day running costs. Those contributions were fully disclosed. If that is disputed, somebody needs to sit down with the service and explain clearly what is covered and what is not. No one is argued against the need for things to be transparent but there also needs to be a sense of urgency. In the area I represent, parents are ringing me up and crying on the phone. We have all raised this through direct means. Children who have additional needs and who require support to be cared for in a service need support from Government. Will the Minister of State raise this issue with Pobal and with the Department with a view to arranging an urgent meeting with the staff?

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I thank the Deputies for raising the issue of support for Moatview Early Education Centre. The Department supports the ongoing development of existing and new services in the sector through its range of funding schemes and support infrastructure, including city and county childcare committees. In particular, core funding offers supply side funding to services. Core funding is a grant to providers designed to support quality, sustainability and enhanced public management with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency. It incorporates funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff. The introduction of core funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector. This increased year-on-year and core funding is now worth €482 million in the current programme year.

I can confirm that the service in question is signed up to the core funding scheme for the current programme year. This will ensure the Department can continue to support the service’s sustainability. Following engagement with Dublin City Childcare Committee and Pobal in July, the Department approved a sustainability funding request from Pobal on 7 September totalling €22,342. Funding will be provided to top up the shortfall between overall income and identified operating costs with due regard to any efficiencies arising as operational changes are implemented. As a result, the overall grant value issued to the service is under consistent review and may either increase or decrease throughout the defined period of transition agreed by the board of directors of the service. This funding will enable the service to remain operational while the board of directors, Pobal and the Dublin City Childcare Committee determine the full scope of financial and non-financial supports required to place Moatview Early Education Centre on a sustainable footing for the new programme year. Payment will issue to the service provider once the Department is assured that the newly established board is fully aware of its legal responsibilities and that appropriate financial controls and oversight mechanisms are operational prior to the signing of the sustainability funding contract. The Department requires this assurance as it has a responsibility to safeguard Exchequer funds.

It is worth noting that the Department does not directly operate or manage early learning and childcare or school-age childcare services. Decisions about the day-to-day running of services ultimately lie with the board of directors. In this instance, it is a decision for the board of directors whether to fully engage with the Department's case management and sustainability funding process or to wind down the service.

The Deputy made the point that the Department and Pobal must engage fully with the service. I will ensure to take that point back. It is only with engagement that we can put it on a sustainable funding mechanism and continue to support it. I take that point loud and clear. I might answer further questions in my concluding remarks.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

My apologies, but I will have to leave early. Why is Pobal insisting on dealing simply with the board of directors? Why will Pobal not deal with the manager, Susan Russell, who runs this small community childcare service and has done for decades? She has been running this successfully, day in, day out, for years. She is the person who, through her blood, sweat and tears, has run this and kept it open over the years. She is the person who is trying to engage with Pobal, but Pobal will not engage with her. Pobal has its criteria for how it wants to operate, but it is ignoring the manager on the ground who is running it. It is not working. That is what Pobal needs to do. I implore the Minister of State to work on that.

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí

This is a good response. It sounds like there is a gap between the board of directors and the service. As Deputy O'Callaghan has mentioned, a very good and capable manager is running the service. Based on what we have heard, it looks like we need to get the directors to the table as well. I understand that the directors run what is a legal entity, and that is how Pobal will fund it. I get that. I appeal to Pobal and the directors. Let us get everybody around the table with the support of the Minister of State and Pobal, and get this resolved with the directors there as well, so that everything is clear.

Deputy Barry Heneghan

I welcome the Minister of State's confirmation that the funding was approved on 7 September. That was sent to us. What the service is still telling us is that it is operating with minimum staff and may have to close classrooms. The outstanding question is when the money will be paid. Will the Minister of State urgently bring Pobal, Dublin City Council and Moatview together to resolve this immediately? The staff do not need another acknowledgment email. The parents are under immense stress. I welcome the statement from the Minister of State and thank him. What we need is a meeting, for the board of directors to be overseen, and for Susan Russell and Sinead Tucker to be dealt with directly.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

This is very important. As with all childcare facilities across the country, it is vital that this is maintained. Moatview has been in operation since 1992, which is 34 years. It is probably putting the second or third generation through its hands at this stage. This is important. I will undertake to ensure that from the Department side and Pobal’s side, there will be serious engagement with the board of directors and the managers. I have no doubt that after operating for 34 years, the managers must be at the top of their game to keep facilities like that going. I will ask about this. The point the Deputies have made is that we need to bring everybody to the table to thrash out the issues. I will report that back to both Pobal and the Department, and ensure that engagement is meaningful so that Moatview can move forward.

Dáil Éireann debate - Thursday, 1 Oct 2026