Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí Sherlock agus Boyd Barrett as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a thabhairt chun cinn. I agree with Members that our identity and reputation are so inextricably linked. I am taking this matter on the behalf of the Minister, as the Deputies know. This Government places great value on culture and the arts sector. As outlined in the programme for Government, we recognise that they are essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. As the Deputies are aware, The Complex is a multidisciplinary arts and creative venue in Dublin's north inner city, governed by a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. The Complex has been leasing its building, a former fruit warehouse off Capel Street, from a private landlord on a site ring-fenced for redevelopment. It is my understanding that the centre has been in negotiations with the developer for a partnership in which The Complex would be given the opportunity to buy back two floors. The Complex CLG has, in principle, secured a loan of €1.5 million towards the purchase. I understand that The Complex has stated that talks took place with the Department of Finance, the Department of public expenditure and reform and Dublin City Council to assist with the finance of this offer, after an initial business case was undertaken by Forvis Mazars. However, as Members will be aware, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport was not part of this engagement. The Department provides grants as a contribution towards maintaining and enhancing existing arts and culture facilities but does not provide funding for the purchase of any property. The provision of local arts and cultural infrastructure is, as Deputy Sherlock heard this morning, a matter in the first instance for local authorities. Officials from the Department met with the chair of The Complex and other members of the team in December 2024 and advised them of this position. Further communication in June 2025 reiterated that position. In any event, no funding was sought from this Department for the purchase of the building by The Complex. I am informed that any grant for refurbishment support would require chargeable title to be in place. It is my information that at present, The Complex has been given notice to quit in January 2026. As we have heard and as the Deputies have articulated quite eloquently, I am sure that this is a matter of huge distress not just for the staff and the board but for all of the artists who use The Complex on a regular basis and others. While I understand that negotiations are still ongoing with the developer, I am informed that the CEO, Ms Vanessa Fielding, has written to the Department advising that they will be looking for a meaningful space to move into should there not be a positive outcome to those discussions. While the Department does not own any properties and is, therefore, not in a position to assist The Complex in this regard, it is my hope that Dublin City Council may be able to assist in this matter. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is acutely aware of the pressures that artists and creatives face in finding suitable workplaces and workspaces, especially here in our capital city. The lack of space has been a significant barrier for artists, limiting their ability to create and exhibit work. The Department recognises that local authorities can play a vital role in delivering the infrastructure necessary to provide a number of artists' workspaces nationwide. That was why, in 2023, the Department allocated €3 million in funding to Space to Create, an initiative that aims to provide up to 60 artist workspaces in Dublin city, in partnership with Dublin City Council. In addition, the Department launched the artist workspaces scheme in June 2024. That is a €6 million pilot capital funding scheme for local authorities to increase the provision of artists' workspaces across Ireland. The primary focus of this pilot scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to enable them to provide additional capacity and availability of artist workspaces in their regions on a sustainable basis. Local authorities are invited to propose projects which can accommodate and address the demand for artist workspaces in their regions and produce workspaces that are fit for purpose, design-focused and accessible. I hear what the Members are saying. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister and will articulate their views to him. I understand that the reply does not give them the answer they desire but I am aware that, as the Deputies know, the Department is genuinely looking for a satisfactory resolution. I hope there will be resolution. Mar fhocal scoir, gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as ucht an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a chur chun cinn.

Sentiment score: 0.21

I hear what the Deputies are saying and will bring their contributions back to the Minister and the Department. It is fair to say that the Minister is supportive of investment in physical infrastructure for cultural and arts venues at a regional level and in regional locations to ensure support for vibrant local cultural life with high-quality programming. The Department has an extensive grant programme as a contribution to maintaining and enhancing arts and culture. However, as Deputy Sherlock heard this morning, it does not provide funding for the purchase of buildings. Perhaps that is a matter that needs to be considered in the wider context. The Minister strengthened funding for arts capital in the budget and a €6 million allocation has been made available for a new funding programme for arts and cultural centres that he plans to launch next year. As previously stated, the Minister is acutely aware of the pressure that artists and creatives face in finding suitable workspaces, in particular here in our capital city. I agree that the lack of space has been a significant barrier and is a source of frustration as it limits the ability to create and exhibit work, in particular. The Department has two schemes to support local authorities across the country to provide for additional capacity and availability of artists' workspaces in the regions on a sustainable basis. In this instance, I am informed that the Department is not in a position to provide funding for the purchase of the property that has been mentioned. It is important, as Deputy Boyd Barrett said, that arising from tonight's meeting there is ongoing negotiation and consultation. I will bring the Deputies' views back to the Department and I thank them for raising the matter.

Sentiment score: 0.22

I thank Deputy McGreehan for raising this very important matter. I thank her for speaking up, advocating on behalf of volunteering and referring to the forthcoming second national volunteering strategy. As the Deputy rightly said, in Irish society volunteering is part of who we are. It is woven into our communities, our culture and our sense of identity. From the GAA pitch to the soccer pitch to the parish hall and from community gardens to climate action, people living in Ireland have always understood that a strong society is built not only by Government or policy, but by people who look out for one another - our volunteers. The gift given by volunteers is priceless. It changes people’s lives for the better and makes our country and our communities, as the Deputy said, a haven and a place to call home. Volunteering keeps our communities resilient, compassionate and hopeful. As Members will know, the first national volunteering strategy was launched in December 2020. It was developed in collaboration with stakeholders from the sector across the country. It is a whole-of-government framework to support volunteers, their representative groups and a range of not-for-profit organisations. It comprises five strategic objectives with 56 associated actions aimed at achieving its vision of "a society where volunteering is [not just] promoted, [but is] valued, facilitated and supported so that people can contribute to developing and maintaining vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities". The Government has allocated increased funding each year to implement the strategy. Funding has risen from €3.1 million in 2020 to €7.3 million last year. This includes core funding for the network of volunteer centres across Ireland, and for Volunteer Ireland, a national advocacy body. Funding is also made available each year to support capacity building in volunteer-involving organisations, and to carry out research and projects to support the implementation of actions in that strategy. Additional supports for volunteering were provided during the Covid-19 pandemic and additional funding for the volunteering response to the Ukraine crisis, broadened to include integration generally, has been provided since 2022, with €1 million provided each year in 2023, 2024 and 2025. As the first strategy comes to a close, and having engaged with the sector and met Volunteer Ireland, I note there is a commitment in the programme for Government to publishing a second national volunteering strategy. Our Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht is currently working to develop that new strategy. A review of the approach taken in the first strategy has been commissioned from TASC, the Think-tank for Action on Social Change. That work is ongoing and is focused on consultation with the community and voluntary sector and other stakeholders. That is well under way. This continues the collaboration and co-operation that has characterised the current national volunteering strategy. I hope we will have a second one as well. I heard the remarks made by Deputy McGreehan and I will certainly feed them back into the review. Our Department has supported volunteer centres across the country to consult with their volunteers and volunteer-led organisations and officials. We have seen officials from our Department travel across the country to receive feedback and input from each of the volunteer centres. Deputy McGreehan is right. She referred to County Louth, but the volume and value of what is being done by our volunteer centres across the country is extraordinary. In addition to what I referred to already, meetings have also been held with national stakeholder organisations, including Volunteer Ireland, the Local Development Companies Network, Comhlámh and the Irish League of Credit Unions, among others, to hear their views. Officials are collaborating with The Wheel and Sport Ireland to consult with their many stakeholder groups on priorities for the new strategy. In conjunction with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, young people involved in Comhairle na nÓg have also been consulted to gather their views on the issues. To ensure that the new strategy is a cross-governmental policy, a series of bilateral meetings will be held with Departments to ensure volunteering under each area is reflected. In conclusion, while the process of consultation is still under way, I do not wish, as Minister of State with responsibility for volunteering, to anticipate the areas that may be focused on in the new strategy. I can guarantee to Deputy McGreehan, however, that the second strategy will build on the progress we have made through the first one, strengthening our long-established volunteering infrastructure and continuing to progress areas of best practice to ensure that support for and recognition of the value of volunteering is sustainable into the future.

Sentiment score: 0.29

I thank Deputy McGreehan and I share her ambition in terms of recognising volunteering and its importance. We are ambitious. The Deputy is right that volunteering is the cornerstone of our society. Volunteers play a critical role and we are the better for it. It is articulated and reflected in the programme for Government commitment in terms of the second national volunteering strategy being published. As the Minister of State with responsibility in this area, I emphasise to the Deputy that we have a huge value in volunteering. We are very much committed to supporting volunteers and to putting in place a programme of consultation to ensure that in the second iteration of the strategy as many voices as possible are heard. In that way, we will ensure that the objectives in the new policy will reflect the issues on the ground, as articulated by Deputy McGreehan today. Again, I express my appreciation, and that of everyone in the House, for the huge work and contribution being made by volunteers across the country. Deputy McGreehan mentioned County Louth in particular and it is the people from the wee county and across the country that are making our society a better place. For my part, as Minister of State with responsibility for this area, along with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, we are committed to supporting and celebrating volunteers and volunteering as an important part of who we are as a country. Volunteers are at the heart of the development of vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities.

Sentiment score: 0.52

I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this very important matter. I hear her frustration. I am not particularly familiar with the area. The Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, sends his apologies but he could not be here today. As the Deputy knows, the Minister is responsible for policy and overall funding but is not involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services, for which the NTA is responsible. I heard the Deputy's articulation of engagement with the NTA, which has statutory responsibility for the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, as well as in Dublin. The NTA works with the public transport operators to deliver services and has day-to-day responsibility for same. That being said, I assure the Deputy that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable, realistic and sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. I agree with Deputy Cummins that residents and communities should not have to be protesting because it does sap energy. In order to support the Government's objective, the Department secured €940 million of funding for public service obligation, PSO, and TFI Local Link services in the recent budget, a 43% increase on last year's budget of €658.4 million. Regarding Chapelizod and the issues of concern raised by the Deputy on behalf of residents regarding the performance of route 80 introduced under phase 7 of the BusConnects network redesign, I am informed that BusConnects, which I see in my own city of Cork as well as in Dublin, will be transformative. It is a significant level of investment in the bus system, with the aim of providing better bus services across our cities. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the State. On 28 November, following customer feedback and engagement with public representatives, the NTA announced a two-stage plan to revise route 80. I have heard everything Deputy Cummins said this afternoon and am aware that my reply may not give her and the residents the solace they seek. I am informed that from early 2026, route 80 will operate from Liffey Valley to Chapelizod on a revised alignment along the quays, crossing the Liffey at O'Connell Bridge rather than Bridge Street, and running through College Green to South Great George’s Street. This temporary measure will improve access to the city centre ahead of the planned pedestrianisation of College Green. Later, in quarter 2 of 2026, route 80 will link with route 130, continuing along the north quays and O’Connell Bridge to Eden Quay and northward through the city centre to Clontarf. This alignment will maintain a ten-minute peak frequency and provide new connectivity to the Luas green line at O’Connell Street and the DART at Connolly Station, offering passengers more options for onward travel. I am aware that the Luas green line is not operational today which is causing bother for commuters and I apologise to them. The NTA acknowledges that for a variety of reasons, including city centre congestion, route 80 did not meet expectations following its introduction. When rolling out phases of the BusConnects network, the NTA commits to monitoring new services, identifying issues, and implementing fixes where appropriate. These changes reflect that commitment. In planning the redesigned network, the NTA considered Dublin City Council’s plans to transform College Green and Dame Street into a pedestrian-friendly plaza, which will restrict east-west bus movements through College Green. This was why route 80 was originally routed via Bridge Street. However, customer feedback indicated that continuing along the quays to O’Connell Bridge would provide greater benefits, including improved bus priority measures and enhanced connectivity to O’Connell Street and onward transport services. The NTA has reviewed this feedback and agrees that the changes make sense. While the NTA considered terminating route 80 at Merrion Square, replicating the former route 26, it concluded that linking routes 80 and 130 offers greater benefits, including improved interchange to bus, Luas, and rail services, and better access to the docklands and Connolly Station. Those travelling to Merrion Square will continue to have multiple onward connection options.

Sentiment score: 0.25

I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this matter and for her co-ordination and engagement with residents. I understand her frustration. The NTA has announced that it will fast-track delivery of a planned walkway and steps from Chapelizod to bypass the Chapelizod Hill Road. That will make it easier for residents of Chapelizod village to access bus services, including C spine services. As the Deputy will know, the walkway forms part of the BusConnects Lucan to city centre scheme, which has received planning consent from An Coimisiún Pleanála. Construction is scheduled to commence next year. In her reply, the Deputy said that she was going to engage with the NTA soon. It is important that there be engagement on the redesign of the network. It is critical that the NTA engage with people living in the area, commuters and public representatives. We will never all get what we want. The Deputy knows that herself.

Sentiment score: 0.17

As someone who has engaged on BusConnects in Cork, I genuinely appreciate where the Deputy is coming from. I will bring her views back to the NTA and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. The issue she raises is that commuters have genuine concerns. The NTA has a duty and obligation to listen and to continue to engage. I will certainly convey the points the Deputy has raised here this afternoon because the whole point of BusConnects and investment in public transport is ultimately to make whatever redesigned network we get easier for people to use, to get more people onto public transport and to ensure there is connectivity providing direct links for residents, commuters and those working in the city centre and elsewhere. I commend Deputy Cummins on her work. She has had a number of public meetings on this matter and has had active engagement. I hope the NTA will listen to and engage with us as public representatives. We are elected to speak on behalf of residents. I hear what the Deputy has said about the residents and I will take her views back.

Sentiment score: 0.36

I thank Deputy Cullinane for raising this very important issue. We both share an ambition with regard to offshore renewable energy, investment in job creation and collaboration with the South East Technological University. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister. I apologise that he is not here. At the beginning, I will reaffirm that the Government is committed to facilitating the development of all commercial State ports, such as the Port of Waterford, to develop enabling port infrastructure for the offshore renewable energy industry. In 2021, the Government recognised the need for additional port infrastructure in a policy statement on the facilitation of offshore renewable energy, ORE, by commercial State ports in Ireland. This policy statement sets out that a number of ports will be required for deployment activity and a multiple will be required for operations and maintenance activities. The Government endorses a multiport approach to offshore renewable energy deployment on the basis that this will maximise the attractiveness of Ireland for offshore renewable energy industry stakeholders seeking to invest. In September of this year, the Port of Waterford took a significant step in submitting its planning application for a development at Belview. Ministers and officials in the Department of Transport welcome the submission of the Port of Waterford’s planning application. If the port is successful in its planning application, it will enhance the port’s ability to start advance conversations with investors around the financing of the project. The scale of the proposed development of infrastructure at Belview is significant. The project will consist of a 250 m quay wall extension with 2 ha of quayside space. The port will also provide new quayside operator support facilities with workshops and warehouses, berthing pontoons and two separate three-storey office and staff buildings for offshore renewable energy operators. This will allow the port to act in a supporting role for the construction of offshore wind farms, particularly through the storage of ancillary components for offshore wind, such as subsea cables. The marshalling and assembly of large-scale components, such as foundations, blades and tower sections, is expected to take place in other ports. Along with the Port of Cork and Rosslare Europort, the Port of Waterford is strategically located to service the south coast designated maritime area plan approved by Government last year. The first auction for the south coast designated maritime area plan, SC-DMAP, for the Tonn Nua site took place in November. This auction successfully procured 900 MW of ORE capacity to be delivered by ESB and Ørsted, marking a significant milestone in Ireland's offshore renewable energy ambitions. Subsequent auctions are due to take place in the coming years, providing a sufficient pipeline of projects for ports to service. This is expected to bolster the case for investment in ports infrastructure and enhance the viability of ORE port facilities such as those at the Port of Waterford. The port is also ideally positioned to support phase 1 of offshore renewable energy development currently in the planning system. The national ORE DMAP, due by 2027, will further enhance the case for investment. The objective of the national DMAP is to designate sufficient maritime area to deliver a target of 20 GW of offshore renewable energy by 2040, inclusive of the 5 GW target for 2030. Regarding investment in the Port of Waterford, the current national ports policy does not allow for direct Exchequer funding for ports. However, as Deputy Cullinane knows, this policy is currently under review. I am aware the Department plans to conduct a public consultation on a draft version of the revised national ports policy in quarter 4 of this year, subject to the completion of the relevant associated environmental assessment of the draft documentation. Once complete, it is hoped to bring the revised NPP to Government in the first quarter of next year. Again, I thank Deputy Cullinane for highlighting the importance of the Port of Waterford. As he rightly said, it is of strategic importance to the south east.

Sentiment score: 0.33

I thank Deputy Cullinane again. I reiterate that Government remains committed to supporting our commercial State ports, including the Port of Waterford, in their plans to build enabling infrastructure for ORE. It is my understanding that the Department of Transport has established the ORE ports co-ordination group to facilitate discussion with both the commercial State ports and other ports and updates in the ORE sector. This group provides a forum for the Department to provide both Government and industry with presentations on the sectors and on the ports and allows the ports to raise any issues that may be of interest or concern to them that they may be encountering in their projects in their ports. This is in addition to the Department's role as a key member of the offshore wind delivery task force, which is chaired by the Minister for Transport and the recently established ORE Government clearing house hub, which is chaired by an Taoiseach. The Department is actively engaged with industry stakeholders with a view to maximising all potential financing options for ports, which includes financing partners such as the European Investment Bank, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland. Regarding our national ports policy, it is important to recognise that the draft is due for a second phase of public consultation very soon. I, as Minister of State, and all of my colleagues will welcome submissions from all interested parties on the development of a national ports policy during a second phase of the consultation. The point we are making is that the proposed developments at the Port of Waterford will build upon developments, for example, in the Port of Cork, link with the proposed developments in Rosslare Europort, and would provide us as a country with significant port infrastructure to allow us to meet our ambitious ORE targets. I assure the Deputy that we will be committed to this and Government will work with all the different interests. I thank him for raising the matter because it is a very important point.

Sentiment score: 0.45

I thank Deputy O'Reilly for raising the matter. As a former teacher and director of adult education, I share a lot of what she says. Not everyone plays sport and some people need that safe space to be themselves and to be creative. As a citizen, I concur with the Deputy. As a Minister of State, I will certainly articulate the views she shared. I acknowledge the Minister, Deputy Naughton, is not here today. I take this opportunity, on the her behalf, to set out the provision in respect of youth work in Balbriggan, which the Deputy articulated very eloquently. The Deputy made the important point that 33% of the population of Balbriggan is under the age of 17. That percentage is quite high. Supporting youth services and youth work is an absolute priority for the Department of Education and Youth, which is committed to ensuring that young people in Balbriggan and across the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board, ETB, area, and, indeed, across the country, have access to valuable resources and opportunities that enable them to thrive. The Deputy mentioned the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, which is the Department's largest funded youth scheme. It targets young people in the age group of ten to 24 years who are identified as marginalised, vulnerable and at risk of not flourishing. The scheme provides a foundation for local youth organisations to deliver tailored supports that meet the needs of their communities. Last year, €51 million was allocated to the scheme, with more than €9 million going to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB for its delivery. The Deputy rightly praised Foróige in Balbriggan. As Minister of State with responsibility for community development, I will happily visit the organisation with her. It is delivering the UBU project from the Castlemill Education Centre. Everyone here, including the Ceann Comhairle, will pay tribute and testify to the importance of Foróige. In the case of the Balbriggan branch, it delivers needs-based, targeted youth services that support young people in their social, personal and educational development. For me, as Minister of State and as a former teacher, it is all about young people. The Deputy referenced screens but it is about more than just screens. It is about ensuring the safe spaces, positive relationships and meaningful opportunities young people deserve and need can be provided in order that they can grow, develop and flourish. The strength of the UBU project lies in having a place-based and needs-led approach. It is also about the tailoring of services, including in Balbriggan, to allow young people to be supported and empowered. We are all struck by the power of young people. I join the Deputy in praising and supporting the senior youth worker and the two other youth workers in Balbriggan for their engagement, commitment to inclusion, helping to give young people a sense of resilience and confidence and teaching them skills, not just for life but also to go on to work and further education. To underpin that work, the Department allocated €142,560 in UBU funding to Foróige Balbriggan last year. Recognising that organisations often face additional pressures, the Department also operates the Resilience and Effectiveness initiative. This measure is designed to strengthen UBU-funded organisations by addressing specific challenges, whether financial or operational, and enabling them to expand service provision where demand is high. Last year, Foróige Balbriggan received an additional €60,417 under this initiative, following a recommendation from Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB. In addition to Foróige, the Department also funds Remember Us Balbriggan under the UBU scheme. Remember Us provides a vital service for young people aged ten to 24 in the north Dublin area. The Deputy has a copy of my reply, so I will not use the time remaining to me to go through the rest of it. The point I want to make is that there is more that unites us than divides us on this important issue. I will convey the Deputy's views to the Minister. I hope the Department will actively continue to review and strengthen youth work services across the country to ensure they are responsive to the evolving needs of young people, including in Balbriggan, and that they are effectively resourced to enable them to provide the positive outcomes for young people that they deserve.

Sentiment score: 0.26

I thank the Deputy again for raising this important issue. I assure her that the Department officials will continue to actively engage with Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB, local youth services and young people themselves to ensure there is the appropriate provision for young people in Balbriggan. This commitment builds upon the significant work already undertaken through targeted funding, collaborative initiatives and the overarching efforts to strengthen youth services and expand opportunities for inclusion and development. I will not lie to the Deputy and say there are no challenges; of course there are. The Department of Education and Youth is committed to remaining steadfast in its support for inclusive, needs-based youth work that empowers young people to thrive and contribute positively to their communities. The Department and the Government will maintain a proactive approach to ensure services in Balbriggan and across the country remain responsive, accessible and impactful for all young people. If the Deputy sends me an invitation to Balbriggan by email, I will happily go there. I have huge admiration for the work being done by Foróige. As Minister of State with responsibility for community development, I recognise the need for and importance of engaging in a collaborative conversation, not just in a back-and-forth way in this House but locally as well. I look forward to visiting the services with the Deputy. I ask that she send me an email. I assure her I will go out there.

Sentiment score: 0.49

I will not make it out before Christmas. We will go after Christmas.

Sentiment score: 0.00

The Ceann Comhairle has not lost the skills.

Sentiment score: 0.24