10. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he plans to introduce a scheme to support sports clubs with the cost of purchasing land for playing pitches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31768/26]
Sentiment score: 0.19
I ask the Minister of State if he plans to introduce a scheme to support sports clubs with the cost of purchasing land for playing pitches. I could include buildings. My question is about providing clubs with a permanent home, whether playing pitches, boxing clubs and so on. It is a big issue for clubs across the State, particularly in urban centres and, in my case, in the commuter belt area, where the State does not own land.
Sentiment score: 0.19
Both the Minister and Minister of State have to be aware that this is a major issue. We are here for oral questions every six weeks or so. Every time we are here, this question comes up, particularly in the urban areas, Dublin and the wider commuter belt. The issue is that there are public parks and they are oversubscribed and, certainly in my area, that the State does not own land. The first question I asked when I was a county councillor elected to Meath County Council in 2014 was to show me the land that the council or the State owns in the area I was elected for. It is minuscule. Clubs are entirely dependent on negotiation or some sort of deal under the county development plan. They are renting and are sent from pillar to post. It is a major issue and there needs to be a solution for it. Whether it is the Minister's Department or the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, we need a solution for this.
Sentiment score: 0.10
I could name any number of soccer clubs, including Stamullen FC, Killegland AFC and Kells Celtic FC, and boxing clubs which are in precarious situations. For example, they may be renting a corner of a gym. Many important sporting clubs and organisations have been without a permanent home for a long time and a solution needs to be provided. I have heard the Minister of State mention this developer-led approach where there can be negotiations and conditions on planning applications. I have also heard and have experience of working with educational facilities. It is very slow. An Teachta Seán Crowe was here before to address a specific roadblock. I have experience of people going for a sports capital grant on school facilities who did not get the okay and had to pull out of it. It is not a permanent solution but where it works, it works. In an awful lot of cases, it does not work. We need the State to step in and say it will build communities and support people doing it.
Sentiment score: 0.05
73. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence to provide an update on the personnel number of the Defence Forces for 2026, 2025 and 2024; the steps she is taking to increase numbers and strengthen the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31761/26]
Sentiment score: 0.25
I ask the Minister to update the House on the Defence Forces personnel numbers for 2026, 2025 and 2024. What steps are being taken to increase those numbers and to strengthen the Defence Forces?
Sentiment score: 0.36
I do not agree. I will be interested to see the figures, which I understand the Minister will provide. According to the latest information we have, which is from the end of 2025, the target for the Naval Service, for example, was 1,094 personnel and the target for level of ambition 2 for 2028 was 1,794 personnel, whereas the number in situ in late 2025 was roughly 784. That means we needed more than 1,000 additional members to be recruited by 2028. Is that going to happen? What are the latest figures the Minister has for the Naval Service? My concern is that we are a long way off that level of ambition 2 figure.
Sentiment score: 0.03
The Minister has acknowledged that recruitment is a challenge and will be a challenge until 2028. I hope she will acknowledge that retention is also an issue. Defence Force members in County Meath, the Minister's constituency and mine, raise with me the issues of breaches of the working time directive and recognition, respect and fair pay for our Defence Forces and for the overtime they do. Does the Minister recognise that is a contributing factor in terms of the recruitment and the retention of Defence Force members? How will she address that?
Sentiment score: 0.28