Malcolm Noonan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have several items to raise. I agree with Senator Ahearn's point on the progression of the N24 but the 2:1 split on transport spending by the former Minister Eamon Ryan has led to a transformation in rural public transport, particularly Local Link services, the reduction in public transport fares and free transport for children aged under nine. This has been transformative for rural Ireland. It has reconnected many communities. It was the right decision, notwithstanding the need to progress the project. Eamon Ryan increased funding for regional roads and spoke of his support for regional roads and bypasses throughout the country.

I would welcome the opportunity to have a debate in the Chamber on Storm Éowyn and extreme weather events generally. I travelled extensively during the Seanad campaign, as we all did, and more recently around Roscommon, Leitrim and Mayo. I spoke to contractors working on the removal of trees and making the roadsides safe. Regarding calls to remove all trees from roadsides, there is a broader debate to be had. Putting a fund in place to manage roadside trees might be a more appropriate measure. Senator Boyhan might know about this as a fellow horticulturist. I would welcome the opportunity to have a debate on putting in place a fund to support local authorities which could be used for tree surgeons to make roadside trees throughout the country safer, rather than removing them altogether.There are going to be targets for standing wood, dead wood, in our nature restoration plan. It is important we can use this as an opportunity to embed resilience in our rural communities in particular around trees in our countryside. They are an important and vital asset and they provide vital ecosystem services in terms of flood retention and carbon sequestration. Calls for removing them completely from our roadsides are ill-judged. It is important we have a debate on that as soon as possible.