Results 1-20 of 2,771 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Childcare Services (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: Early learning and childcare is an area that has seen rapid and significant developments and has had a substantial increase in investment in recent years. In particular, we have made good progress in affordability for parents, pay for staff and the inclusion of children with disabilities. However, we need to go further in the coming years. We need to support parents and educators and make...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: The Government approved new housing targets up to 2030. Some 303,000 homes are expected to be delivered from 2025 to 2030. This equates to an average of approximately 50,500 homes, building up to 60,000 homes in 2030. To meet these very ambitious targets, it is necessary to use many different ways of delivery. Modern methods of construction are a key pillar in this housing delivery...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Childcare Services (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank Deputy Gannon for raising this important issue and offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare is a key priority for the Government. Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. An annual sector profile demonstrates an 8% increase in enrolments between the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy again for raising the question. I will of course convey back to the Minister the additional points he raised here. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department of Education and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that all children have access to education suitable to their needs. The Department of Education continues to engage...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and providing the opportunity to update the House on this important matter. Modern methods of construction are a key measure to support the delivery of housing under Housing for All and the programme for Government and have the potential to boost productivity, increase efficiency and improve sustainability in the construction sector. Modern...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I will of course convey the Deputy's views to the Minister. In summary, transport connectivity is obviously highly important for people who live and work, as we know, throughout Ireland. It is key to our villages, towns, and to Dublin and our other cities to encourage urban centres and have strong local economies. I believe, as does the Minister, in expanding the public transport network...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for asking the question. I stress that enabling students with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is an absolute priority for the Government. It is the Government's priority to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that necessary supports are provided to our schools to allow children with special educational needs to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Community Safety Partnerships (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I agree with the Deputy that it is really important to get them up and running quickly, to get community buy-in and to get that feeling that we are moving forward in this area. I think we are. The implementation of the Act will have a tremendous effect. The resourcing of it is there and I have no doubt, from my own community where I have dealt with a host of issues in this area, that there...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I would not be quite as nice to Meath people at a Leinster final or on an All-Ireland Sunday, as the Deputy was there. I thank her for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and achieving our decarbonisation goals. Achieving these goals has been...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Educational Disadvantage (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I fully hear what the Deputy is saying. He is making an important point on that funding issue. I am more than happy to take that back to the Minister. The Deputy mentioned our constituency, which has a similar situation with regard to school funding. It is important. Obviously, the FSSU plays an important role. It is an issue I will highlight to the Minister and I have no doubt the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Community Safety Partnerships (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I am well aware of the incredible work the Deputy does with local communities on this issue and how she has championed it. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter today. The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and community safety as a whole-of-government responsibility. Community safety is about much...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Educational Disadvantage (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position relating to financial funding for schools. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to the schools that have contacted the Department or have been referred to the FSSU. The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: On behalf of the Minister for State, Deputy Healy-Rae, I thank Senator Collins for this question on supports for ash dieback. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the supports in place to assist affected forest owners. The Minister of State is keenly aware of the impact this devastating disease has had on forest owners who planted ash. The need for support is well recognised...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank Senator Collins for her contribution. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, is committed to supporting those forest owners who have been so adversely affected by ash dieback. He encourages all to avail of the financial help and very generous support in the programme the Department has put in place.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Weather Events (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Senator and apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Heydon. I know the Senator has spoken to and engaged with him directly on this issue in the past. He sends his apologies that he cannot be here to deal with the matter in person today. I will make a few points on his behalf. Like the more recent Storm Éowyn, Storm Bert is part of a pattern of extreme weather which...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Weather Events (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I fully hear Senator Kyne and the excellent and valid points he has made. I will, of course, take his remarks back to the Minister and I know the Senator will engage with him further on this matter. It is important to reassure the Senator that the Government will continue to prioritise policies to protect and enhance farm incomes, including those in the sheep sector. Under the programme...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Child Safety (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to present to her on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor. Apologies for her absence today. The Healthy Ireland framework and action plan form our national road maps to support good physical, mental and sexual health well-being, including children's health priorities such as preventing obesity, increasing physical activity levels...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Child Safety (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: That is no problem at all. I am sure the breakdown is worth chasing. The Senator's points are well made. As I said in my contribution, it is something that needs to be examined because cybersupport for parents to tackle these issues is important.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Care Services (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I join Senator Byrne in acknowledging my friend and former colleague, Damien English, who was a source of great wisdom and advice to me in all my years in public life. It is lovely to see him here today with his guests. I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important issue and affording me the opportunity to respond. We know there are many reasons people seek residential supports. For...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Care Services (3 Apr 2025)

Colm Brophy: I will, of course, take the case to the Minister. In the Senator's contribution, she highlighted the important point that a humane approach should be taken in the devising, development and implementation of services. It is so important we take account of how an individual service in a smaller community can have an impact. This is something the Senator has campaigned and worked on very...