Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate – Dáil Éireann (34th Dáil) – Wednesday, 25 Mar 2026

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Animal Welfare

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan

Here we go again. I have raised the issue of wandering ill-treated horses many times over the years. It remains an ongoing and worsening concern in Limerick and other areas. Recently a horse was euthanised in a green area on a local estate in Limerick city. The very ill horse was abandoned on Friday, 13 March, unable to rise from the ground. A vet finally arrived on the Sunday and euthanised the horse, and the carcass of the horse was removed on the following day, Monday, 16 March, four days after the horse was abandoned. This incident started on Friday with a horse clearly dying, abandoned on a green area in the middle of a housing estate full of families. It was an ugly sight, particularly for children, to witness. While I appreciate the animal was finally removed, the incident highlights the plight of these animals, their mistreatment and the lack of enforcement of chip and pin and other urban horse legislation.

There are no consequences for those who mistreat their animals. Legislation that is not enforced is not worth having. The Control of Horses Act is under review and has been for some time. I have submitted parliamentary questions on this, including one four years ago and one in October 2022. One response stated the Control of Horses Act is under review with a view to simplifying and further improving the legislation and that plans are advanced. Another response thanked me for raising the important topic and stated it is one the Minister takes very seriously but here we are, four years later, with no progress. I urge the Minister that when the legislation is amended that an enforcement mechanism is included. Allowing those who abuse, misuse and assault their animals to simply replace a dead horse with new foal must not be allowed to continue. Allowing people, often young children, to ride these horses on our national road network, delaying traffic and causing distress to the animals, must end. Allowing people to purchase horses and ponies without adhering to chip-and-pin legislation must end.

Equine legislation requires that all horses are micro-chipped, have adequate land to graze on and are kept in a safe environment. This simply is not the case in many urban areas and has been ignored. The issue was raised in the Dáil almost 50 years ago by the late Limerick TD Mick Lipper, and it is this extremely disheartening and depressing that I have had to raise this issue myself on many occasions since I was first elected more than a decade ago. We have not got to grips with this challenge. The mistreatment of these poor animals has been tolerated for far too long.

Some months ago I drove through three of Limerick's urban estates and during a 45-minute drive I encountered 50 horses. Many times since, I have noticed that the number of horses on the public green spaces has not changed whatsoever. The placement of horses in public spaces in more affluent areas would simply not be tolerated. Can we imagine a dead horse remaining in situ in a more affluent area? It would not have happened and it would not have been tolerated. It would not have been there for four or five days. Why are we expected to tolerate this in working class areas? Why is this acceptable? Green spaces should be available for all. They should be spaces where children can kick a ball and play. We need to reclaim our public spaces for everybody in the community. What we have in many urban estates are limited green spaces being claimed by a small few, who allow horses to graze on these public spaces. They often destroy them and prevent other children and other people from using them. These are community spaces and communities must be allowed to reclaim them.

There is an important role for the local council and the Garda to play in addressing the issue of wandering urban horses but overall responsibility for the issue ultimately lies with the Minister and the Department. It is time to get heads together so a permanent solution can be found, and the people in these estates can reclaim their public spaces and we finally deal with the issue of urban horses being mistreated, wandering and causing stress and chaos in many parts of our cities.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)

I thank Deputy Quinlivan for raising this important matter. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for all policy and legislation in relation to the Control of Horses Act 1996. Operation of the Act comes under the remit of local authorities. Any report of welfare issues received by my Department, including breaches of the animal welfare legislation, is acted upon and investigated. Appropriate enforcement action where breaches or shortcomings are identified is undertaken by my Department and authorised officers are appointed under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including but not limited to An Garda Síochána, customs agents, local authorities and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, NSPCA.

Primary responsibility for protecting the welfare of equines rests with the owner or keeper. Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines, including prohibiting horses in certain areas, issuing licences and seizing horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which includes horses put on land without the owner's permission, including public land as Deputy Quinlivan has described. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders. While my Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the costs of these seizures, local authorities are responsible for the operation of the Control of Horses Act. My Department collects information from local authorities on a quarterly basis in respect of the overall number of equines seized by them. The number of horses seized in Limerick in 2025 was 70. This number is down from 2024, when the number of horses seized was 87.

The Government is fully committed to supporting sustainable initiatives in line with the programme for Government and Working Together for Animal Welfare, which is Ireland's animal welfare strategy for 2021 to 2025, with work progressing on the replacement strategy. As part of this commitment, my Department has continued to support urban horse projects nationwide, working with local authorities, charities and community stakeholders. These projects have proven very successful and are aimed specifically at equine welfare and marginalised communities. The projects can foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for young people. An exemplar project of note is one which Deputy Quinlivan is familiar with. This is the Moyross project, which has been in operation since 2016 and has helped so many young people from disadvantaged communities.

From 2015 to date, over €2.1 million has been spent on urban horse projects by my Department, with €170,000 allocated for these projects in 2026. The urban horse projects greatly benefit the welfare of equines and of young people from disadvantaged communities or backgrounds. There are seven live projects and my Department would welcome new submissions from local authorities to develop urban horse projects in their respective areas. In December 2025, my Department awarded funding of almost €6.5 million to 94 animal welfare charities throughout the country, under the animal welfare grants programme. Of that figure, just over €4 million was awarded to charities involved in the care and welfare of horses. More generally, in 2025 my Department published a report by Professor Paddy Wall on equine traceability and welfare, and has also prepared an action plan to implement its recommendations.

The report by Professor Wall, which has 22 actions, is greatly advanced.

I am working closely to ensure its implementation across a whole range of measures relating to urban horses and equines, and otherwise. What happens in this area is important.

We completed a public consultation on the Department's animal welfare strategy in January. I am collating the many submissions we got on that. Equine welfare has featured in some of those points. That will feed into our new animal welfare strategy for 2026 to 2030.

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan

I thank the Minister for his response. I will seek clarification on the number of horses collected, year on year. The reason they are not being collected is that the local authorities have, in many cases, simply stopped collecting them. They will say that themselves. When we collect horses in Limerick, for example, we need to ensure we have gardaí available and that the pound is available. The pound is only able to collect four horses. Gardaí tell us it is not worth their while coming out to collect four horses so the collection of horses has simply collapsed. It is not that there are fewer horses there. Unfortunately, there are far more horses there. The Minister will have to come to see it for himself to believe what is going on.

I have tried to bring people together on this issue. I recently attended a meeting with the directly elected mayor and the director general and their staff to discuss this issue. I provided them with the detail of the numerous parliamentary questions I have asked over the years on this ongoing issue. I am sure the mayor, like the rest of the council, wants to see this matter addressed, but the direction and leadership must come from the Department. It comes back to providing resources to ensure the enforcement of the legislation. The level of impunity can be frustrating for so many people.

I know that many urban horse owners do not mistreat their animals and care for them. There are some fantastic urban horse projects, as the Minister mentioned, across the State where those with an affinity for animals can learn how to care for them and do so with pride. I have no issue with those good horse owners whatsoever. However, I take massive issue with those who abuse their animals, leave them shackled day and night and unable to roam, often with no water or food, regardless of the weather. I take issue with the legislation that is there to protect these animals not being enforced. Some will argue that the keeping of ponies and horses is a tradition but, to be clear, riding horses through our public spaces and wrecking them is not a tradition or culture. It is a display of lawlessness and an affront to those who abide by the rules. We need a solution. We need to bring together all the stakeholders, such as horse owners, An Garda Síochána, Limerick council, animal welfare organisations, projects such as My Lovely Horse and the Department of agriculture, to work to set a timeframe - I would suggest six months - after which horses will not roam in public areas in Limerick. We need a change of direction here. The hands-off approach has not worked. We must take the reins and ensure we finally address this issue.

Deputy Martin Heydon

I thank the Deputy for his dedication to this topic. He has raised it on more than one occasion. I absolutely agree that this issue merits attention. From my perspective, there is no shortage of resources being put in from my side. I take on board the Deputy's points about co-ordination. I am happy to work with other stakeholders - the Deputy mentioned An Garda Síochána, the county council and the different entities - to ensure we have a targeted response in key areas.

I agree that there are as many people who are passionate about their horses in urban areas as there are in rural areas and they care for them greatly. However, in normal, everyday society, we need to have a clear understanding of what is acceptable activity and what is unacceptable activity in our urban areas, where many people live and share common spaces, and beyond. More important than that, and the legislation is clearly set down and comes under my Department, is the welfare of animals. We have lead responsibility for that issue. I take animal welfare seriously and committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are rigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. It can sometimes be about the need for additional measures to be legislated for in this House. It is sometimes about the implementation of legislation that exists. With the local authorities, the other relevant authorities and the Garda, there is a key role to play.

My Department keeps animal welfare legislation under review with respect to the developments in the area of animal welfare and the practical lessons learned from operating the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department also operates a confidential animal welfare helpline, through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation. We work with all the relevant stakeholders in that regard. I thank the Deputy for raising these points.

Medicinal Products

Deputy Colm Burke

I thank the Minister of State for making himself available to deal with this matter. March, this month, is endometriosis awareness month. I am raising this issue to highlight a drug to which I will refer in this matter, namely, Ryeqo. It is available in over 27 countries across Europe. While it is available to purchase in Ireland, it is not available under the general medical services, GMS, scheme.

In October 2025, the Minister for Health launched a national framework for the management of endometriosis in Ireland. The HSE, together with the Department of Health, has established a number of centres around the country, including in Tallaght University Hospital, Cork University Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe hospital, University Hospital Limerick, Galway University Hospital and the National Maternity Hospital. We have developed all of these centres to provide care for women. It is estimated that one in ten women will be affected by endometriosis.

I know of the case of a 20-year-old girl who has undergone surgery. Two different consultants have recommended that she use the drug Ryeqo but she cannot afford it because it is not available to her under the GMS scheme. She is 20 years of age. She has gone through the surgery and the drug is not available.

In 2022, the drug was submitted for approval under the drugs payment scheme, but it was turned down on the basis that it would not be economical to have it in the GMS scheme. I would argue with that. A huge number of women require care. It is not just surgical care. They also require the use of medication. This particular medication is not available but is being recommended by consultants. If you are lucky enough to have the income, you can purchase it, but if you do not, you are in difficulty, and in many cases there is no alternative. I ask for this matter to be reconsidered and given the priority it deserves.

I fully understand that each year, there is a budget for the purchase of pharmaceuticals and drugs. However, 27 countries across Europe have this drug available under their health schemes but it is not available here in Ireland. In October 2025, the Minister set out a clear timeline to try to make all care available to women who had this medical condition. We have developed the surgical approach. For instance, we now have specialist units in Cork and Tallaght to deal with the condition, and other units are providing care across the country. It is wrong that we are able to provide surgical care now but are not prepared to provide the medication that is required either before the person is identified as requiring surgery or after surgery is completed. I ask that the matter be reviewed. We should go back into the negotiating process so that an agreement can be reached to have this drug made available. I ask for that to be done at the earliest possible date.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan)

I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of endometriosis. It is something that for too long we have not spoken about. There still is not enough awareness of what it is and the challenges and difficulties that women across Ireland face when they have this condition. There are women across Ireland living in severe pain because of endometriosis. There are woman across Ireland who experience heavy bleeding. There are women who have to undertake serious surgery to treat endometriosis, which is very painful and has a long recovery time.

There are couples right across Ireland who, because of endometriosis, are facing incredible challenges with reproduction. These are all things that for far too long we have not spoken enough about publicly. We have not raised enough awareness about it. I am really heartened that Deputy Burke has raised the issue here today and that women right across Ireland are speaking out about it and about the necessity to treat it and, more important, to get access for women to treat this condition. That is the most important point. I commend the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on tackling this issue head-on and putting it front and centre as something she wants to address. I just wanted to say that at the outset.

In 2025 and earlier this year, the Minister engaged directly with women on a one-to-one basis through the patient voice forum and listened to their personal experiences of endometriosis. The national framework for the management of endometriosis in Ireland was published in October 2025. This marks a milestone in the evolution of women's healthcare in Ireland. The framework establishes, for the first time, a defined clinical care pathway for women and girls living with endometriosis. In conjunction with this framework, the Minister has written to all GPs, consultants and other clinicians to raise awareness of endometriosis in their clinical assessments. Moreover, the expansion of endometriosis services provided in Ireland is supported through the HSE's national service plan.

Regarding Ryeqo, I will provide some background for our colleagues and then address Deputy Burke's question. Relugolix, estradiol and norethisterone acetate, marketed under the trade name Ryeqo, is a medicine used for the symptomatic treatment of endometriosis in women of reproductive age with a history of medical or surgical treatment for their endometriosis.

The European Medicines Agency, EMA, granted marketing authorisation for this product in July 2021. The company marketing this medicine made an application for addition to the HSE's reimbursement list in May 2024. The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE. Formal processes govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded or reimbursed. The HSE commissioned a health technology assessment, HTA, in July 2024. Just under a year later, in July 2025, the applicant submitted a full HTA dossier to the NCPE. Further engagement between the NCPE and the applicant has taken place in the interim, and the application remains under consideration. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.

The Deputy can see from those milestones that it took considerable time for the State to receive the necessary dossier. We cannot progress reimbursement applications without timely engagement. We strongly encourage all pharmaceutical companies to apply for reimbursement here in Ireland and to submit fully prepared HTA dossiers in a timely fashion.

Deputy Colm Burke

I thank the Minister of State. My information is that it was in February 2022 that the NCPE concluded that there was insufficient evidence of cost-effectiveness for the drug to be approved for reimbursement by the Health Service Executive. Obviously, there is a new application in. The Department of Health has taken decisions previously where the NCPE turned down a particular drug because of its cost-effectiveness, but it is about far more than just cost-effectiveness. There is also the issue of patient care. Sometimes when we look at cost-effectiveness, we look at the immediate cost of the drug rather than the long-term benefit. If having a drug available means we will reduce the number of times a person has to go to their general practitioner or consultant or to hospital, then that is a cost saving in real terms. All the evidence that has been presented to me clearly indicates that if this drug was made available, it would be beneficial to women who have this medical condition.

The example I gave is a true and accurate one of a 20-year old who has no other drug available except ordinary painkillers, which are not really adequate for the difficulty she has. She has gone through surgery. This is the recommendation of two consultants but she cannot get access to this drug. This is a time when we need to be really pragmatic about taking a decision on something. Sometimes an issue may cost more than what it seems on paper, but in real terms there is a real saving for the State.

Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan

As I said, the HSE cannot comment on the outcome of this application. That is fair enough. There is a process to go through. I can probably comment more freely. I agree with Deputy Burke. There are obviously different levels of endometriosis but the surgery is costly and painful and there is a long recovery time. I am not a doctor, but the surgery does greatly increase the success rate for reproduction. Nevertheless, endometriosis can come back. If there is a treatment that can prevent that, it should be looked at and it should be accessible. I agree with Deputy Burke in that regard.

In fairness, the statement says this is under consideration. The HSE probably cannot comment any further on the outcome, but I agree with the Deputy's request that the result of this application should be made known as soon as possible so that women like his constituent and women right across Ireland know where they stand, and so that we can address this hidden condition, which for too long has meant women have lived in severe pain with excessive bleeding and reproductive challenges, and address it head-on. I again thank Deputy Burke for raising this issue.

Deputy Colm Burke

I thank the Minister of State.

Defective Building Materials

Deputy Joe Cooney

The defective concrete block issue is causing huge concern for those affected. The process is long, complicated and stressful. Those who have been approved but who have appealed that decision also find themselves in no man's land, with no information on how their appeal is being dealt with.

In January I submitted a parliamentary question asking for the number of appeals made to date under the defective concrete blocks scheme, the number of appeals that had been heard by county and by year, and the current timeline for determination on appeals lodged. All of these would appear to be a reasonable ask of a body tasked to do this work. Nobody asked for personal details, just a breakdown of the work of the panel on a regular basis.

The reply I received was not good, which is why we are here today. While I fully agree the appeals panel should be independent of the Minister, the Department and the Housing Agency, that does not mean they should not ask for and receive regular updates on the work being delivered. When elected Members such as me ask for that information, I should get it without any delay. The fact that I do not raises questions.

I understand there were up to 180 appeals at the end of 2025, with a number of them coming from my county of Clare. Some of them have no idea as to when they will get a decision, which is disappointing. One family who were in touch with me lately are ready to start but can do nothing until their appeal is heard. They surely have a right to know when that will happen so they can make plans. It is in the interests of the people who have appeals in the system to have them dealt with as fast as possible. It is not too much to ask that they might have some guideline as to how long the appeal will take. It is also in the public interest to know that a body doing work on behalf of the State is held accountable for it. We cannot manage what we do not measure. If there is no obligation for the panel to provide such regular updates, then there is little hope this work will be delivered in a timely manner.

I am not asking for a State secret to be shared. I would just like for the work of the panel, the number of appeals submitted and decided and the length of time taken to reach the decisions, which is important, to be published on a monthly or quarterly basis, as the affected householders deserve.

Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan

I thank Deputy Cooney for representing the people of his constituency in Clare who have been affected by this issue. I appreciate the issue of defective concrete blocks is particularly emotive for households and sympathise with all who are caught up in this distressing situation.

The establishment of the appeals board was an important step in offering those affected by decisions made by the Housing Agency and local authorities an opportunity to have their cases assessed by an independent group of industry experts. The chair of the panel and the rest of the panel members have undertaken to examine each case thoroughly. It should be noted that the appeals panel is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions of the senior Minister, Deputy Browne, the Department of housing and the Housing Agency. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provides administrative support during the initial stage of the process, in that appeals submitted by homeowners are forwarded to the panel. Recently, in recognition of the challenges facing the panel, the Department provided additional funding for the engagement of a direct staffing resource to work directly with the appeals panel chair. I understand this is now beginning to pay dividends, as evidenced by the recent issue of determinations by the panel.

The powers granted to the appeals panel are outlined in legislation under section 39(10) of the Act. The appeals panel may either affirm the decision that is the subject of the appeal, or annul it. In the case of an annulment, if the appeals board considers the Housing Agency has made a serious error in law or fact that amounts to a serious or significant error, it can direct the Housing Agency to reconsider its decision in accordance with such directions as the appeals board may consider appropriate, or replace the decision with such other decisions as it considers it appropriate to make in accordance with the Act.

Like in any appeals process, there is a continued focus on the further roll-out of determinations. Importantly, in line with statutory commitments, the panel operates within the legislation. The chair and panel must be allowed to continue their work. There is no role under statute for the Minister, Deputy Browne, or me as Minister of State in this regard. We hope that continued engagement with appellants will take place with a view to properly assessing appeals so those who still suffer the awful weight of their experiences can be satisfied. We are aware of the urgency of this work and I recognise the vulnerability of a particular group of homeowners. It is an absolute priority for the Department. It is my understanding that in recent weeks a number of determinations have been issued to homeowners and I expect this process to continue to accelerate as the appeals panel continues its work.

The main point is that we have to, at all points, respect the independence of the appeals board. It cannot be under any influence in any way, shape or form from the senior Minister or the Department. However, I take the Deputy's point. He is seeking pretty important and basic information in the specific details he has asked for. I will go back from this discussion to find out if we can get access to any of that information, as long as it does not unduly influence any of the decisions. I do not see why we cannot make that request and get some of the specific answers the Deputy looked for in his opening contribution.

Deputy Joe Cooney

I thank the Minister of State. I agree that we must respect the independent appeals board but it is important that people get the information, at least get updated information about what is happening in the appeals board. I am aware of householders who have been waiting almost 12 months and have heard nothing whatsoever. Their appeals went in. They were notified they were received but did not get any further information whatsoever. That is not good enough. These people are under enough stress at the moment without having this stress, with the cost of inflation. The cost of building materials is increasing and it is putting additional pressure on them. When they get the result of their appeals, they will have to get a contractor. There is a lot of work to be done going forward and they are concerned about the costs and whether they will be able to afford to rebuild or redevelop their house, as the case may be.

There is also a serious concern about the technical review that is going on at the moment. When will that be published? That could also be holding up these appeals. Will the Minister of State give the House an update on when the outcome of the technical review will be published? Also there are a number of people living in houses in social housing schemes, which are unfortunately badly affected. Is there an update on a scheme to carry out work on those houses going forward?

We have a serious issue on our hands. Unfortunately, in the time of a housing crisis, it is putting a lot of pressure on families and it is time for more action and to try to get these families confident going forward.

Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan

It is my understanding that the appeals panel is aware of the understandable desire of applicants to have their cases dealt with in as expeditious a manner as possible. The time taken to assess appeals has in many cases been longer than originally envisaged. We have to accept that. However, I understand some of the time taken to consider applications and issue decisions has been taken up by requests for further information, either from appellants or other stakeholders. I am informed the panel has taken this approach to allow appellants to have the full facts of their situations properly assessed. A corollary of this inclusive and holistic approach is that it has added time to the overall process.

The programme for Government commits to undertaking the planned review of the defective concrete blocks scheme. This refers to the fact that the legislation mandates the Minister to review the scheme within three years of the Act's commencement and the appeals process will form part of this review. The Deputy asked for the specific time it will be published and I will get that information for him. Key here is that we have to keep that independence but time and the access to information are the major issues the Deputy is addressing. We have already given the panel additional resources to get appeals decisions out in a more timely manner. Requests for further information can sometimes take a bit of time with the back and forth. I am sure the people the Deputy represents are so anxious to get their decisions that they will get information to the appeals board as quickly as possible. I do not think there is an issue with that. If it is the case we need to resource the board further, we will look at that.

I assure the Deputy I will come back to him on his specific question about the technical review with a specific time. There will be officials listening to this response and they will issue him with information about when it might be expected.

Schools Building Projects

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Aindrias Moynihan)

Bogfaidh muid ar aghaidh chuig an chéad ábhar eile in ainmneacha na dTeachtaí Ardagh agus Ó Snodaigh.

Deputy Catherine Ardagh

I raise St. Seton's Secondary School in Ballyfermot, which the Minister of State is very familiar with because his late uncle, Brother Paul Moynihan, was a former principal of the school. The school was awarded DEIS plus status and that in itself tells a clear story about the level of need in the area and the level of support needed by the young people who attend this school. Despite that recognition, the school is still waiting for something basic, a permanent building for the children.

We in this Chamber all know that these children deserve a new school. St. Seton's was formed from the amalgamation of three schools on the clear understanding that a new, modern, single-site campus would be delivered. That commitment was given to the school community at the time of the amalgamation. Yet, it is fair to say that commitment has not been honoured. Instead, the school continues to operate across two sites and that brings real, day-to-day challenges, not only for students, but also for staff and the wider school community.

The school is doing everything right. It is inclusive to the core. It has multiple autism classes. It supports children with additional needs. It supports children from marginalised backgrounds and communities and a wide range of backgrounds. Nothing is too much for this school. I acknowledge the board of management and the principal, Ms Sarah Green, and her staff who are doing exceptional work in challenging circumstances. I have visited the school where I had the pleasure of participating in a podcast and I really enjoyed it. It highlights the welcoming culture of the school and the pride these students have in their school. However, pride is not enough and this is not what they deserve. We cannot ask the school to just continue with these amazing achievements and fantastic projects.

We know they are doing great stuff. It is great that they have been recognised with DEIS plus status, but what they really need to absolutely thrive is basic infrastructure. I ask the Minister of State to please go back to the Department and look at this project and see what can be done to ensure the school is first on the list for a new building when the time comes around next year. It is so important for the people of Dublin South Central and for the children in this area.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Like Deputy Ardagh, I also commend the school community and in particular, those students who are attending the school who have had to put up with two campuses, which is a very difficult thing when a person is trying to concentrate on his or her studies and education. I commend Sarah Green, the school principal, and the whole team and the board of management on their work in trying to hold this together. This project is an amalgamation of three schools: Caritas College, St. John's College De La Salle and St. Dominic's College. This was sold - and that is the word I am using - to the school community and the public at large as a step forward. They were told that a single campus would be best and would serve the educational needs of Ballyfermot and the children best and would also address special needs education on a single campus. Yet, despite the fact that the planning for this started well before Covid and the amalgamation happened in 2023, there is no sight of any progress of any type in relation to the new build that was promised and the special education units and classrooms, six of which were promised. Despite the fact that parents were told by Catholic Education In Irish Schools Trust, CEIST, along with Le Chéile, that it would only initially be over two campuses and that this was the best thing for students into the future, they were told that progress had already been achieved. When we look at where they are now in terms of a school build, that seems to be a lie. There was no movement. There is still no movement. At this rate, it will be 2030 before any new build will be completed.

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

I thank the Deputies for raising the issue in relation to the secondary school in Ballyfermot. From childhood, I have heard of the St. John's College on Le Fanu Road, Ballyfermot, so it is no stranger to me. I know the school. I have been in the school a number of times in a private capacity, and I have also met with some of the team there in different roles over the past 12 months. I take the opportunity of thanking the Deputies for raising the issue. They spoke about the three colleges coming together, St. John's, St. Dominic's and Caritas College, and amalgamating two sites and bringing them to St. John's College and Le Fanu Road site as the planned location for the new school building, which has the junior element of the amalgamated schools, and St. Dominic’s College, which is the senior element. The Minister, Deputy Naughton met recently with the school principal and representatives and both Deputies have been engaging constantly with the school management on this issue. This is a hugely innovative, proactive and exciting project for Ballyfermot, St. John's and indeed, the entire region.

My commitment to the Deputies is that the school building project is currently planned to be delivered as part of phase 2 of the Department's ADAPT 4 innovative programme. I take their points on when the amalgamation was coming forward. It is always fiercely exciting when the Department comes in and says, "If you do an amalgamation, we will ensure the project is moving forward at pace.” We need to make sure that does happen and that in terms of getting school boards of management and communities to amalgamate together, we follow up with decisions in a timely manner.

This campus is aimed at providing over 1,000 places for second level education, which is hugely important. My commitment is that we will go back and re-engage, and I will take the concerns the Deputies raised. I will also take my own personal commitment to and involvement with the school. I could nearly name some of the teachers who taught in St. John's over many years, including people from my own community. I know the expertise, commitment and determination of the people involved in relation to it, and how they want to see this through. They are true educators and people who are really seriously committed, not just about making sure they have the day-to-day running but having the future education requirements of the greater Ballyfermot area at heart. l undertake, as a result of this Topical Issue this morning, to re-engage with the Department to ensure decisions are made in a timely manner, to ensure this project can move forward and to give substance to the commitment that was given at the start of the amalgamation process, that this would be dealt with in a timely manner. I would love to see this project moving forward for a variety of reasons, but most importantly, for the communities and people and future direction of education for the people of Ballyfermot. I take into consideration the commitment the community has to special education. I will make a few more comments in my closing remarks.

Deputy Catherine Ardagh

I really appreciate the Minister of State’s genuine response. He has a family connection to the school. As I said, I do not know how the school fell so behind on the list when it was promised a new building. Let us hope we can change that and do something to ensure that St. Seton's is a priority school when it comes to the Department's school building programme. We would love to have the Minister of State out to visit St Seton's Secondary School and to see first hand the amazing work the school community is doing. I thank him again. I really appreciate the effort he has promised to make to the school. Hopefully, we can follow that up in the next few weeks.

I thank my colleague also for supporting this. Both of us are working together to ensure this happens for Ballyfermot.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Cosúil leis an Teachta Ardagh, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit as díriú isteach ar an gceist seo.

It is important the message goes out here that progress will happen. It is pity that it did fall well behind because we still do not have even the integrated project team in place. For anything to happen that has to be in place, and planning permission has to be sought, along with tenders for that building. I do not wish to be dismissive in some ways, but given the answers I have received in recent times, it does not look like any building works will be on this site for at least the next two to three years. We want that to be fast-tracked to ensure those pupils who went in for first year in 2023 see some progress, rather than continuously, year after year, going in and being spread over two campuses. The reason they got DEIS plus status is along with the pressures on the community already, there is additional pressure because this build has not happened.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I certainly will take up the invitation to visit the school as soon as is humanly possible. I know there is a lot of great work going on at all levels of education within the school campuses. On foot of this debate, we need to make sure that the practical steps are being taken as regards the project team and planning permission, and on to other work. We need to make sure that we have sight of this and that there is meaningful engagement between the Department and the school communities. There is always huge excitement with amalgamations but we must follow that up with actions. There are particular building blocks to make sure a project is completed or started so we need to make sure that those blocks are in place and that there is real, tangible movement. I give a commitment to go back to the Department and engage very seriously with the officials and my senior colleague to make sure this project moves forward.

I give an undertaking as well to visit the school for a variety of reasons. I have a personal interest in it. I would like to see Ballyfermot moving forward as well. It is the right thing to do, not just for the school communities who have amalgamated and the school authorities who have engaged in a very good faith way to amalgamate but also for the education of the communities in Ballyfermot into the future. I undertake to visit and also to engage seriously with the Department to try to make sure this project moves forward and that there are tangible and measurable steps taken to ensure we bring it to amalgamation and to construction.

Schools Building Projects

Deputy Alan Kelly

I was very disappointed, as were the people of north Tipperary, that in the recent capital announcement under the national development plan of 105 schools, only one in the area got funding. St. Anne's School in Roscrea got funding for an extension, which is very welcome as it is a brilliant school. However, a range of schools, and four in particular that I will mention, received considerable correspondence from the Department that to my eyes said they would be included. All are ETB schools. The correspondence is very detailed, they had been advancing these four projects for many years and to say the volume of school projects announced in the likes of Galway when compared with north Tipperary looks skew-ways would be an understatement.

I commence with Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré. Roscrea has many socioeconomic issues but fantastic people. This is one of the largest schools in Tipperary and has needed a new school building for many years. I believe it has been in the capital plan for over a decade. It received confirmation it was getting a new school in 2021. I have the letter here. The school had gone for planning for a new replacement 800-pupil school with a 4-class SEN base on the existing site. It was expected this would be an absolute priority given the catchment area and socioeconomic context but it was not included.

Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed in Thurles was built in 1981 and the school building is in terrible shape. It has a fantastic principal and fantastic people. The school had approval to build seven mainstream classrooms, a music room, two multimedia rooms, two science labs, a preparation room, an art room, HSCL tuition rooms and a 2-class SEN base. The school building is leaking in many different locations. There was a meeting about this recently in the Department. The school needs a complete rebuild. The idea that you can stick some modular units on this site is a joke; with the modular units at the moment, you could stick your hands through them.

Newport College has received planning approval for its development, which will be a mix of one-, two- and three-storey buildings with a total floor area of over 3,500 sq. m in 20 rooms. It will include 13 classrooms, eight specialist rooms, an SET room, two SEN units and an outdoor play area. Newport is one of the fastest-growing towns in the mid-west. It is a stone's throw from Limerick. It has taken an awful lot of change in the past 30 years given the issues in relation to regeneration in Limerick. An awful lot of social issues have been dealt with hugely by people in the area and by my councillor there, Fiona Bonfield, yet this school was left out.

Finally, Nenagh Community National School has approval for three classrooms, staff and children's toilets. It bought the GP surgery next door. This school is in a situation where it does not have a classroom for sixth class and those students are going to have to use the gym. The Department is telling the school there is enough capacity in other schools. Say that to my wife, who is a teacher in the school next door to it. This is the only non-denominational primary school of large scale in Nenagh and it has been turned down for funding. There was nowhere for the sixth class to be educated last year, bar a gym. It was a big undertaking by the ETB to take on this school, which used to be the boys' national school, yet it has been left out of this funding. Why are these four schools not in the capital plan and is there any plan to put them in it in the coming weeks and months?

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. We published the plan indicating the amount we will put into the NDP and the sectoral plan on education over the next three or four years. While we have the large figures and a huge amount of capital investment in it, and we announced which schools would be going over the next while, there is continuing engagement in the Department. The Deputy has raised four schools and the challenge we have is to ensure that when commitments are given by the Department to build, extend and refurbish schools, those commitments are honoured. We must either give commitments to say we are doing it or hold back on them until such time as we can meaningfully deliver on them.

The Deputy raised Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré, Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed, Nenagh CNS and Newport College. He outlined the issues in relation to Nenagh. I do not know the exact issue as I have not been there, but he mentioned the issue of using the gym as a classroom. I have serious concerns about the challenges we have in the education system. We are not looking at the hallaí, as they are called in most schools, or the gyms to turn them into classrooms in the short term. That can only be a short-term solution because all these buildings are important infrastructure for the education of young people. We have spent a huge amount in north Tipperary over the past number of years, in terms of the projects that have been delivered. There is also a huge number of other projects we are doing. We are upgrading, over the course of 2026-27, about 10% of the school estate. There is serious investment by Government in the form of capital expenditure. We are spending money and we must ensure we get the best possible value for it.

I will endeavour to go back to the Department about the schools the Deputy mentioned and try to come back with some meaningful discussion on what is happening with the four schools. We visited north Tipperary some time earlier. If I had a second I could nearly put a date on it, but we had a very successful visit to north Tipperary that day. It was, dare I say it, one of the great moments I have had since being appointed. I note the schools the Deputy has raised and will endeavour to go back to the Department. I will report back to him fully on those schools. On the overall side we have put a huge amount into the national development plan to invest in education because we believe every penny invested in education is the right thing to do. We have ongoing work in the Department on school projects. The commitment I will give is to go back and try to get direct answers on the four schools the Deputy raised.

Deputy Alan Kelly

I thank the Minister of State and do not doubt his sincerity. I will ask one question very quickly. Will he meet me, and dare I say it, Deputies Lowry and O'Meara along with the ETB about these four schools? Will he please ask the Department to do that? This is not about politics and I want the other two Deputies included. These four schools are in serious trouble. The ETB is very worried, annoyed and angry about what has happened here. In his reply, will the Minister of State also confirm whether any supplemental funding will be available for capital projects or will the school projects I mentioned be pushed out until after 2027?

On Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré, I believe there is discrimination going on against Roscrea. It is not a political priority. It is a huge school. The enrolment is dropping. More students are being bussed to Thurles because of the condition of the school.

There is an excellent board of management and an excellent chair of that board of management. This is totally wrong. The management of Coláiste Mhuire in Thurles has been managing roof leaks and suspended ceilings, which are health and safety issues, for years. This will be a health and safety issue, if it is not dealt with. Newport College cannot sustain where it is going. It does not have the capacity to manage the volume of students. Let us look at the population index for that area and wonder where the students are going to go if this project does not proceed.

Finally, I am going to say it straight out. There are young students in Nenagh who have no classroom facing into September and sixth class, one of the most formative years of their education. They have no classroom. It is as simple as that. A huge amount of investment and time has gone into the school over the years. I know because I helped with it. Those are the four schools I am referring to. Will the Minister of State please come back to me? Can we have a meeting with all three Deputies on these four schools? Will more money be coming before 2028?

Deputy Michael Moynihan

There is ongoing engagement. We have given information in terms of the projects that are going to go ahead. As always, there is constant engagement with all parties to make sure we understand and deliver. We want to constantly deliver in terms of education in respect of our projects moving across the country. Deputies from all sides of the House have identified challenges that we have, no more so than in the previous Topical Issue matter I dealt with. There is ongoing engagement in the Department at all times in relation to how we can move other projects on. I will give a commitment that we will organise a meeting with all Deputies. I take the point that the Deputy has taken this issue out of the political domain and that he wants to have the entirety of the constituency involved in it. I take that point, so I will organise that meeting.

The Deputy also again very forcibly raised other issues in Roscrea, in Coláiste Mhuire, in Newport and in relation to the school in Nenagh. I will go back, and then endeavour to come back to the Deputy directly on those issues. We will undertake to get a meeting as soon as possible. The education and training boards, ETBs, are doing huge work in terms of being the project managers for many projects across the country, and I thank them for that. I also thank the school communities the Deputy mentioned, and school communities the length and breadth of the country, for the amount of work they are doing. I refer to the leadership in the schools, the boards of management, and how they are trying to make sure they are giving the best possible education to their school communities. I thank the Deputy once again for raising these issues in relation to north Tipperary, and we will engage further on them.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Wednesday, 25 Mar 2026