Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As this is my maiden speech in Dáil Éireann, I take the opportunity to thank the people of counties Carlow and Kilkenny for putting their faith and trust in me to represent them, their communities, families and businesses over the next five years. I will endeavour to do my very best to do so. In particular, I take this opportunity to thank my family, my wife Brenda and my four daughters, the communities that have rallied behind me, and indeed the Fianna Fáil family for helping me to get to this position. I will leave no stone unturned in my determination to put this country into as strong a place as possible.

At the centre of the programme for Government is the theme of making communities safe. Everyone has a right to be safe and to feel safe in their communities and homes. I absolutely welcome the funding to provide an additional 5,000 new Garda recruits and additional Garda staff over the next five years. This will benefit towns and villages right across the country, and in my constituency, including Piltown, Kilmacow, Slieverue, Ferrybank, Glenmore, Tullagher, Rosbercon, The Rower, Inistioge and Mullinavat. All of these villages will benefit from an additional Garda presence. That is to be absolutely welcomed, and I look forward to seeing it implemented. I also look forward to participating in the new rural safety strategy, and supporting An Garda Síochána to expand different successful approaches to tackling rural crime. Rural crime is an issue, and it is one this Government is going to meet head on, and I look forward to playing my part in that.

I welcome the significant increase in investment going into our road network. Local authorities around the country have been underfunded over the last number of years, particularly with regard to rural roads. I am delighted to see that this Government is putting significant funding in that. I particularly welcome the provision of multi-annual funding and clarity for roads budgets so that agencies can plan accordingly. In my own constituency, we have a couple of really big priority projects that are in the NDP, such as the N24 and N25 in south Kilkenny, which the Ceann Comhairle herself will be aware of, and the Kilkenny ring road northern extension. This is absolutely vital, crucial and critical to the development of Kilkenny as a city, and I am adamant that this project needs to be completed as a matter or urgency. I will be doing everything I can to get that over the line.

As Deputy Cahill mentioned, there is additional funding for local improvement schemes and community involvement schemes. These will make a massive difference to rural towns and villages that I represent right across Carlow and Kilkenny, and I look forward to seeing a significant increase in the number of these schemes that can be progressed in the months and years ahead.

The third element of my speech relates to supporting sporting and rural communities. Over the past five years, the Government has put record investment into sports groups across the country. I am thinking of towns and villages such as Callan, Thomastown, Graiguenamanagh, Tinnahinch, Skeaghvasteen, Castlecomer, Ballyragget, Lisdowney, Borris, Rathanna and Ballymurphy. All of these towns and villages can benefit from significant investment in our community hubs and sporting facilities. I look forward to working with all of those communities in the coming years to help deliver for them.

I welcome in particular the support in the programme for Government for local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches and help to build livable communities. This is a fantastic addition and I look forward to working with Carlow and Kilkenny County Councils to achieve same for those local authorities in the coming years.

Garda vetting was of huge inconvenience to many people involved in sporting groups. I am delighted to welcome the commitment of the Government to improve the Garda vetting process for people involved in sport.

In terms of the speed of flood relief, we have approval for six schemes in Kilkenny, in Freshford, Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown, Inistioge, Piltown and Ballyhale. While these schemes have been approved under the capital flood programme up to 2030, the speed of delivery needs to be improved. I will work hard to try to get these schemes over the line as quickly as possible.

The programme for Government is committed to delivering for all people in all regions across our shared island, including my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, over the next five years. The goals that have been set are ambitious and managed by a tireless focus on delivery. We are committed to working together on the basis of this shared programme to provide a secure, caring and progressive society for all. I look forward to playing my part in the coming years.

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