Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I note that the Government in its programme has committed to deliver more targeted and effective services for children with special education needs and to improve their supports, ach is a mhalairt atá fíor. Sensational Kids is a national charity and non-profit organisation that seeks to make therapy services accessible and affordable for children with additional needs. Founded in 2007 by a mother frustrated by this country's underresourced therapy services for children with additional needs, it seeks to offer affordable, accessible and high-quality therapy services. Bridging the gap that successive Governments failed to bridge, it was due to open a state-of-the-art facility in Kildare that has since been halted due to the withdrawal of funding by the Department of Justice with just one day's notice because of the closure of the immigrant investor programme. Since October last year, the facility has sat idle, yet Kildare has a waiting list of more than 2,000 children waiting to avail of therapies at this new facility, 90% of whom are on HSE waiting lists as well. How can the Government proclaim in the programme for Government that it will provide specialist services to those children and young people who need them when it will not even fund a centre that intends to do exactly that? How much longer will it make them wait? Ní féidir le daoine fanacht a thuilleadh.

It was always intended that full funding for the project should have been provided by the Department of Justice's immigrant investor programme. Now, due to the programme's closure, the charity is left seeking to fill a shortfall left to complete the project and needs urgent assurances that funding to complete it will be provided by the Government. Tá tacaíocht cheart ag teastáil go géar uathu. They need Government support now. This new national child development centre can be completed to support 300 children per week. give these children with additional needs access to vital supports and reduce waiting lists in Kildare. The Government must now follow through and release the funding for these essential services.

The programme for Government also stated the Government will fully commit to existing projects in the national development plan. How can we trust that this will finally be the year the Government implements services such as the Leap card and reduced fares for commuters? The Leap card for Kildare South was supposed to commence on 1 September 2024. Since then, it has been delayed several times, with the expected commencement date now April 2025. It is not good enough. Níl sé maith go leor. People simply cannot afford extortionate charges for a below standard service. A train ticket from Newbridge to Heuston Station costs up to €1,944 annually. This is in stark contrast to Sallins and Naas, where a yearly ticket costs €828, more than €1,000 cheaper. We are still in a cost-of-living crisis. Lowering fares would put money back in the pockets of commuters. Government inaction on this issue has been so prominent that groups such as Extend the Short Hop Zone have had to continue to fight and plead with the Government to get answers, only to be met with more excuses. How can we be expected to meet our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 if we are actively discouraging people from using vital transport services? I have contacted the Minister on an exact timeline as well as the reasons for the delay and I have yet to receive an answer. We need assurances that the people of Kildare South will not be left behind in this Government's lifetime and that the Government will keep its word on delivering reduced fares and educational services for our children.

See this speech in context