13. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the position regarding investment in critical infrastructure in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70765/25]

Sentiment score: -0.10

It will come as no surprise to the Minister that I am raising the issue of critical infrastructure in the west. Thankfully, the storm this week did not hit Connemara in the way Storms Éowyn, Bert and Darragh did last year. However, we still have the aftermath and impact of those storms. The Minister knows Connemara well. If he travels around Connemara now, he will see there are still wires on the ground and poles hanging to one side. What is his plan for the west?

Sentiment score: 0.06

I understand what the Minister said about things not being done in an area-specific way but, rather, in terms of Departments. I also know that he is the Minister for infrastructure, and he has an understanding of the west of Ireland. He has links to the west and knows Connemara well from his time as Minister for the Gaeltacht. I know, and I am sure the Minister knows, the serious lack of basic critical infrastructure in Connemara in particular. Safe roads and safe bridges are lacking. We still have the repercussions from Storm Éowyn, and all of these things will worsen unless specific capital investment is made in the area now. I ask the Minister to look at what can be done through his Department to ensure the area has basic critical infrastructure so that people can live in and go about their daily lives in the area and jobs can be created in it.

Sentiment score: 0.06

When I look at infrastructure in the west I see it in two veins. There is obviously the serious capital investment needed for those bigger projects. The Minister has outlined some of them. Any investment there is welcome but there are also thee basic things that need to be done immediately. The Minister will remember the snow during Storm Bert, which had serious implications across Connemara. We then had Storm Darragh and when we had Storm Éowyn, Connemara did not have a chance. The impact of those storms on that basic infrastructure, which was already eroding, was devastating. We need to see some kind of plan from the Government - whichever Department sees fit but the Minister is obviously over infrastructure - to make sure we have those basics in order that this does not happen again. We still have wires on the ground as a result of Storm Darragh, not Storm Éowyn. That work needs to be done and a boost or push from the Government would really help in that regard.

Sentiment score: 0.05

In relation to the expected commencing of the construction of school buildings, I am aware the Minister of State recently visited Lakeview School, which is an important school on the east side of Galway city. As he will know, unfortunately, it is only able to place five students for the 2026-2027 school year. There is a waiting list of 11 children who cannot be accommodated due to space constraints. The school has the physical space but what it needs is complete refurbishment, which will allow more children to be able to use that fantastic school. This is the school's third year looking for more appropriate classroom space. I know the Minister of State is aware of this project and has been to this school. Will he progress this to ensure more children in Galway city can be accommodated in Lakeview?

Sentiment score: 0.19