I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for local government who would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. It is a shame he was not here because were he here he could hear the passion with which the Deputy has spoken on behalf of his constituents. I thank him for bringing this important issue to the floor of the Dáil. The Deputy will appreciate that the operation of the public water supply, together with operational issues locally are matters for Uisce Éireann, which has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. Under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, neither the Minister nor the Department has operational function in the matter to which the Deputy refers. However, the Minister has made inquiries and is informed by Uisce Éireann that an upgrade of the existing Macroom water treatment plant is planned to commence in the next few weeks. This upgrade will provide critical investment of more than €6.5 million which will benefit Macroom residents and businesses by ensuring compliance with current drinking water regulations, improving the drinking water quality and providing a safer more reliable water supply. The Macroom water supply is included on the Environmental Protection Agency's remedial action list, which identifies water supplies that need improvement. The planned upgrade will address these issues. The Minister understands that Uisce Éireann provided an update on Macroom water treatment plant directly to the Deputy last month and has committed to continuing to provide updates to the Deputy as the works commence. Uisce Éireann has also committed to providing regular updates to the community and elected representatives regarding the progress of the water treatment plant upgrade. The Minister welcomes this upgrade of the water treatment plant which, he understands, supplies a population of more than 4,000 across County Cork. The proposed upgrade will address the frequent boil water notices that the people of Macroom have experienced over the last number of years. In addition, Uisce Éireann also continues to progress a major €21 million upgrade to the Macroom wastewater treatment plant to protect the environment and support the long-term sustainable growth and development of Macroom. This project has reached a major milestone with more than 50% of the works now complete. Throughout 2025, Macroom residents will begin benefiting from the upgrade as part of the new wastewater treatment plant comes into operation, improving the quality of treated water discharged into the river. This year, the old wastewater treatment plant will be decommissioned, allowing the new infrastructure to become fully operational next year. These two projects represent major investment by Uisce Éireann to support the long-term sustainable growth and development of Macroom.

Sentiment score: 0.33

I appreciate the Deputy’s frustration about the lack of information from a State body or a body working on the ground. Ultimately, however, there is good news. The upgrade of the existing water treatment plant is a very welcome development for the residents and businesses represented by the Deputy. Uisce Éireann has committed to holding an elected representative briefing to mark this commencement. The Minister has been informed that an invitation will be issued shortly to all those in the Macroom municipal district and a communication on this has been sent to the Deputy directly. That is probably the best opportunity for the Deputy to engage directly with Uisce Éireann to be able to answer the specific questions he has about contractors and when ground will be broken. With the existing wastewater infrastructure in the village overloaded and out of date, it is really positive that the works are now progressing on schedule to modernise and improve the performance of wastewater treatment in Macroom. The next phase of the project is now commencing. It will bring significant benefits to the communities the Deputy represents and the surrounding areas in terms of growth, health, environmental protection and improved water quality in the river as well. Uisce Éireann has a dedicated hotline and email address. I appreciate the Deputy has had trouble getting information from that. I am glad that there will be a meeting and a briefing set up with Uisce Éireann and all representatives from the area. There have been record levels of investment in water services by Uisce Éireann in the last five years which will continue over the funding period of 2025-29. The overall investment will deliver significant improvement in our public water and wastewater services. I am pleased the Deputy’s constituents will see the benefits of that.

Sentiment score: 0.36

I can hear the Deputy's frustration loud and clear about the fact this issue has gone on for a long time. It has been raised by him, by Deputy McAuliffe and by others in this Chamber on multiple occasions. I am here to take this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education. Quite a lengthy response has been provided, but I will skip to the bit that is going to be of most interest to the Deputy. He spoke about confusion over the site. What I have today is confirmation that an agreement is in place with Dublin City Council regarding a proposed land swap. This will facilitate any future development relating to the school based on the outcome of the national energy and conditions survey, evolving demographic requirement and allocated capital funds. As the Deputy may be aware, the Department is examining demographic requirements across the country including in the context of current and planned residential development activity. Any major capital works for Gaelscoil Cholmcille will be considered in the context of the review of demographics for the Beaumont-Coolock Dublin 5 school planning area. As the Deputy will be well aware, Gaelscoil Cholmcille is a primary school in Coolock under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta. The school had an enrolment in September 2024 of 221 pupils. The school has a current staffing allocation of a principal, ten mainstream class teachers, two special education teacher posts and one shared SET post. The school is located in the Beaumont-Coolock Dublin 5 school planning area. There are currently ten primary schools in this school planning area, with Gaelscoil Cholmcille being the only school providing all-Irish-medium education. All applications from schools for major capital works must be considered in the context of capacity requirements and climate action commitments. The priority of the Department continues to be the provision of required additional school places to meet demographic requirements as well as for children with special educational needs. The Department is required to manage the allocated capital funding across all schools in the country. The Department’s approach is to maximise the usage of existing capacity in schools and, in tandem with this, to manage the progression of the existing pipeline of projects within available budgets and in line with the Government’s infrastructure guidelines. The Department can identify opportunities to transform existing schools as part of energy retrofit projects, and the Department’s pathfinder programme has been developing effective solutions in this regard, as we plan for a future wider roll-out. The plan for working this through at national scale will be informed by the outcome of an energy and condition survey of all schools which is currently under way and is due for completion by the middle of next year. The subsequent analysis of this significant amount of data will take some time but it will help determine priorities going forward in respect of retrofitting and refurbishment projects. The overall process is particularly valuable in facilitating a proportionate assessment of a school's accommodation upgrade needs relative to all other schools, and allowing effective prioritisation of capital investment. Prioritising allows the Department to keep a strong focus on the provision of additional capacity to cater for demographics, new housing developments and the roll-out of additional special classes for children with additional needs. This approach reflects the Department's fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child. The pace of delivery of additional residential developments in school planning areas like the Deputy's, along with the updated enrolment and demographic data, needs to be kept under review and to inform strategies. As stated, we have confirmation now that an agreement is in place with Dublin City Council regarding a proposed land swap for this school. I hope that is welcome news to the Deputy, to Deputy McAuliffe, to the parents and to the school community.

Sentiment score: 0.29

Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. The Government absolutely values the Irish language. We have had a record level of investment in school buildings this year again. This will increase the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact will be felt in communities right across the country, including in the Deputy's constituency. The key drivers of capital investment in the school sector are going to include demographic growth, particularly at post-primary level. Demographic growth absolutely covers the Oscar Traynor Woods site the Deputy has spoken about and all the new homes and families we will be welcoming there. Increased demand for special education needs provision will also be one of the key drivers. So, too, will the alignment of school place provision with new housing developments, such as Oscar Traynor, and climate action objectives, including deep energy retrofit. The programme for Government recognises the importance of strong capital investment in the school building programme and supporting this with enhanced allocations through the national development plan process. The Department is committed to continuing to update An Foras Pátrúnachta in relation to the factors influencing capital investment for the new school, Gaelscoil Cholmcille.

Sentiment score: 0.38

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister for Transport has asked me to take it on his behalf. The Minister has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in respect of the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TII under the Roads Acts and in line with the NDP, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, in this case Laois County Council. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and, most importantly, the NDP. The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending on new national road projects from 2021 to 2030. That is all under the NDP. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country and compact growth, which are key national strategic outcomes. The funding will provide for the development of numerous national road projects, including the completion of projects that are already at construction stage or close to construction stage, as well as the development of a number of other projects. Since the greater portion of this funding will only become available in the second half of the decade, there is a constraint on the funding available for new projects this year. However, approximately €502 million of Exchequer capital funds have been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities so far this year. Regarding the Mountmellick relief road, Laois County Council has completed a preliminary appraisal of bypass options. An allocation contribution was provided to Laois County Council in 2020 to carry out a strategic assessment report. However, a proposed bypass of Mountmellick is not included among the projects identified for development during the period of the national development plan. Therefore, advancement of the proposed scheme cannot be accommodated in the national roads programme at present. However, a review of the NDP is being undertaken and the outcome of this review will inform TII on the schemes to be progressed over the coming years, pending the availability of sufficient funding. It is not included in the NDP at the moment. That is the constraint, but the NDP is up for review. I urge the Deputy and the organisations and residents' associations he is working with in Mountmellick to take this opportunity to engage.

Sentiment score: 0.20

The Deputy will be pleased to hear Laois did figure in funding this year. An allocation of €1.147 million has been provided to Laois County Council for national roads so far this year. That comprises €701,300 for capital protection and renewal and €445,949 for current protection and renewal. Approximately €502 million of Exchequer capital funding has been provided to TII for national roads so far this year, and almost €1.2 million of this has been allocated for Laois County Council, which I am sure Deputy Stanley is pleased to hear. This is in line with the NDP and Government policy. In line with this, TII has sought to allocate national road funding to local authorities in a manner which seeks to achieve the protection and renewal of existing national road networks, and the progression of major projects in or near construction. I appreciate Deputy Stanley saying this could be a shovel-ready project if it were to be in the national development plan. It is not in the NDP so the next step is to get it there, if this is what Deputy Stanley is looking for, and I will absolutely remind the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Tánaiste, Deputy Harris, that it is not in the NDP at present. It also looks to progress major projects at an earlier stage of development in the pipeline. A number of the new road projects included in the NDP have already been delivered. They include the N22 project, the Dunkettle interchange, the N5 Westport to Turlough route and the bypasses of Moycullen and Listowel. The programme for Government commits to increased funding for new roads as part of the NDP review and to the maintenance of existing roads.

Sentiment score: 0.19

I thank Deputy Lawlor for raising this important matter. My very first job after I graduated was working for Fáilte Ireland so I have been following these statistics with great interest. I am taking this matter on behalf of the relevant Minister. The latest CSO figures for overseas visitor numbers were published last Friday, as Deputy Lawlor said. These figures were specifically for February 2025 and showed that 304,300 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland in that month, and these visitors spent €196 million in Ireland, excluding their fares for getting here and leaving. The visitor numbers and the associated revenue represent an approximate 30% reduction compared to February of the previous year. In relation to how the data provides an insight into the outlook for Irish tourism this year, it is important to recognise that the figures published to date for 2025 only cover January and February. In recent years, these two months typically have accounted for less than 10% of the total annual overseas visitor spend. Furthermore, I understand that sentiment from the tourism sector itself is far more positive, with research showing that 39% of businesses anticipate an increase in visitor levels this year, while 47% expect growth in overseas visitors. Earlier this week, officials from the tourism division met with the CSO and the tourism agencies to discuss these overseas visitor figures. I understand a meeting with tourism industry representatives, the tourism agencies and the CSO will take place tomorrow to consider other sources of data that could assist in gathering a more complete picture of the recent overseas tourism performance. This will assist the tourism agencies to put in place targeted activity for the rest of the year to ensure we achieve our long-term growth targets. In this regard, it is worth remembering we are coming off the back of a strong year for tourism in Ireland, when overseas visitors spent more than €6 billion, representing an increase of 11% compared to 2023. I am, however, well aware of the challenges that lie ahead for Irish tourism. With macro-economic uncertainty in the world now, there is a risk that consumers will become more cautious, including when it comes to travel. On the positive side, there are also many opportunities to take advantage of our wonderful tourism offering. As Deputy Lawlor is aware, the Dublin Airport cap is on hold for the summer months, and it is encouraging to note that we will have 110% of the air seat capacity we had last summer from key source markets such as the United States and Canada. Tourism Ireland will be supporting partners operating new routes, such as Indianapolis and Nashville, with demand generation and partnership activities. In the longer term, the review of the Dublin Airport cap is an important commitment in the programme for Government alongside our support for regional airports. We can ensure the air capacity is there to enable real tourism revenue growth in the years ahead. We can also look forward to major sporting events that will bring significant tourism benefits to our shores. The hosting of The Open at Royal Portrush in July will ensure golf enthusiasts travel to other areas of the island to experience at first hand our exceptional golf courses. We will also be playing host to significant US visitors on foot of the American college football game in August and the NFL game later in the autumn. We know ongoing Ireland's selling points to visitors are our scenery, culture, history and craic. Tourism Ireland will be launching a new campaign in June, focused on helping people get around the regions and explore the island. Earlier this week, the Meitheal event was held in Killarney. This is a flagship tourism trade event. The Tourism Policy Framework 2025-2030 was published by the previous Government last November. I understand my colleague, Deputy Peter Burke, to whom ministerial responsibility for tourism is transferring, has asked officials to consider how commitments in the new programme for Government align with the policy framework, and to prioritise the finalisation of a new tourism policy which reflects the programme for Government and other commitments. Once this work is complete we will have more insights into this.

Sentiment score: 0.32

I thank the Deputy for that kind invitation. I attended the Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford last year and it was fantastic. As the Ceann Comhairle will be aware, it was fantastic to see the town buzzing and to see so much activity and spin-off trading. I thank Deputy Lawlor for raising this important issue. Since the Covid pandemic, tourism has shown its resilience time and again and it has played a significant part in our economic recovery. Last year was a strong one from a tourism perspective. More than 6.5 million overseas visitors came to our shores and, in terms of tourism sentiment, it is encouraging to note that the strategic research and insight findings from Fáilte Ireland's tourism barometer earlier this year showed that 39% of businesses expected their visitor levels to be up this year. Overseas visitors underpin the positive expectations, with 47% of businesses expecting an increase from that market. While CSO figures for the first two months were disappointing, like the Deputy, I look forward to being updated on the engagement between the CSO, the tourism industry and the tourism agencies to further examine this data and the context to give us more insights into it. There are real grounds for optimism in the months ahead. In this regard, intensive marketing campaigns are under way in all our main overseas markets to ensure growth returns while Fáilte Ireland continues its domestic activity. As we approach peak tourism season, the tourism agencies are continuing to work hard with all their partners, including air and sea carriers, to ensure Ireland is seen as a must-visit destination. From a Government perspective, what we discussed earlier around the cap is important and it is also important to see those new routes coming onstream. I take the Deputy's feedback about Savannah and that is perhaps something we should look at. The programme for Government comprehensively sets out the Government's ambitious plans to strengthen and enhance the tourism sector, and I look forward to working with the Deputy on that.

Sentiment score: 0.50