Deputy Brendan Smith has welcomed the establishment of seven new special classes in Cavan and seven in Monaghan.
Every one of these special classes will have six pupils, one teacher and one special needs assistant.
Deputy Smith has welcomed confirmation from Minister for Education Norma Foley that this budget funding has been used to provide seven new special classes each in Monaghan and Cavan for the forthcoming 2024/2025 school year.
“I welcome the news that there are going to be seven new special classes each in Monaghan and Cavan in September. I want to thank all our local schools who are working so hard to make this happen in conjunction with the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education. This is a sign of this government’s commitment to delivering an inclusive education for all our children,” the Deputy said.
In total, over 375 new special classes will be delivered in September for around 2,300 children with additional educational needs. Additional building work is being carried out in schools across the country to provide either new classrooms or refurbish existing classrooms for the new special classes.
Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said: “The new special needs classes coming on stream will bring the overall number of special classes in our education system to more than 3,000 nationwide. This will provide places for over 20,000 students. I want to thank all those involved in delivering the new special classes, including the schools, the staff and the building firms.”
“We now have more than 40,000 professionals working in special education – over 21,000 special needs assistants and over 19,000 special education teachers. That is the highest number of SNAs and teachers ever working in the area of special education. We have also delivered 11 new special schools during our term in government so far.”
The Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education are actively engaging with school patrons and a small number of schools to finalise the arrangements necessary for the remainder of special classes to open for the coming school year in the areas where they are needed. The number of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) who help parents to find school places and health services for their children has increased from 73 to 120.
Minister Foley said: “I know that there are still challenges delivering school places for children with additional educational needs in their nearest school. It is my absolute aspiration that it will, in time, come to a point where every child with additional educational needs will be able to attend their local school and that there will be no distance for them to travel. We are making progress in that respect, but there is more to be done.”

Urgent progress needed on status of Undocumented Irish in the US

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has said there must be a renewed effort to solve the plight of the Undocumented Irish in the US who are seeking permanent status.

The Cavan Monaghan TD raised the matter in the Dáil earlier this month during Taoiseach’s Questions.  

“We need to secure legal pathways to visas and citizenship for Irish people who are working, paying their taxes and rearing their families in the US,” Deputy Brendan Smith said.

“Unfortunately, those people are not able to come home to Ireland if there is a family bereavement or celebration. Despite their taking part in normal day-to-day activity in the US, they cannot come home if they need to, provided they do not have visa status. I sincerely hope the matter can be kept on the agenda.”

He acknowledged immigration reform in the US is difficult but he said consideration should be given to introducing an Irish-specific category of E-3 visa.

Taoiseach Harris, in response, told Deputy Smith he would continue to keep the issue of the Undocumented Irish on the agenda. He said innovative work was being done in respect of the E-3 visas and that “trying to find a way forward is important”.

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed the commitment to repeal and replace the controversial Legacy Act.  

The Cavan-Monaghan TD said the decision is long-overdue and that needs of the victims must be considered as part of any revised approach.

“The law is entirely unacceptable as it stands,” Deputy Smith said. “It banned the cessation of inquests, criminal investigations, prosecutions, PSNI and Police Ombudsman investigations concerned with events that occurred during the Troubles.  It is wholly inappropriate and not fit-for-purpose. It needs to be repealed immediately.

“I’ve repeatedly called on the former British Government to remove this law so I’m pleased that the new British Government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has committed to repealing and replacing the Act. 

“It is not compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive, collective and victim-centred approach to legacy issues.” 

______________________________________________
For Written Answer on : 11/07/2024
Question Number(s): 129 Question Reference(s): 30734/24
Department: Foreign Affairs
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
______________________________________________


QUESTION

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his recent discussions with Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP; the plans for future meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

I had a positive first call with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, on 5 July immediately following his appointment, to congratulate him on his appointment and to welcome his Government’s commitment to reset the East-West relationship.  We agreed to meet in  person as soon as possible.

In our conversation I expressed my desire to work with the new Secretary of State with a sense of renewed purpose as partners and guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. A strong and visible joint approach is foundational to securing positive progress on a range of issues related to Northern Ireland. In that context I warmly welcome the new British government’s strong statement of its enduring commitment to the Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions.

We had a constructive initial conversation on legacy issues and committed to work together on a path forward. I welcomed the British Government’s intention to return to the principles of the Stormont House Agreement. We agreed on the importance that any next steps fully respect the European Convention on Human Rights and the needs of victims and families.
The redevelopment of Casement Park was also among the priority issues discussed. On 20 February, the Government announced an allocation of €50 million from the Shared Island Fund as its contribution towards the redevelopment of Casement Park in time to host EURO2028 matches in Belfast. The Government will work with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government towards this objective.

I look forward to working closely with the Secretary of State, bilaterally and through the institutional structures of the Good Friday Agreement, including and in particular the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference.

______________________________________________
For Written Answer on : 11/07/2024
Question Number(s): 130 Question Reference(s): 30735/24
Department: Foreign Affairs
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
______________________________________________


QUESTION

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his recent discussions with Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP; the plans for future meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

I was pleased to have my first call with Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP on Friday 5 July following his appointment to the role earlier that afternoon.

I congratulated the Foreign Secretary on the Labour party’s success in the elections and on his appointment.  The focus of our call was on both the bilateral relationship and international issues.    

Reflecting on the breadth of relations between our two countries, we agreed that there is now a significant opportunity for a reset of the bilateral relationship. We agreed, in particular, on the vital importance of the two Governments working in partnership as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement in order to safeguard peace and promote prosperity for people across these islands,

The Foreign Secretary and I also exchanged views on a range of foreign policy issues. This included the conflict in Gaza, which we agreed must end, and our continued shared support for Ukraine.

I very much welcome this positive early engagement with the Foreign Secretary. Both he and I agreed on the importance of now finding an early date to meet in-person.  There is much for us to discuss, including the importance of EU-UK relations as a positive context for bilateral relations.  I look forward to working closely with the new Foreign Secretary and his Government colleagues over the period ahead.

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has confirmed farmers will begin to receive payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme from September 18.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD also received confirmation that the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) payments will start on October 16.

Deputy Smith was informed of the dates by his party colleague, Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue TD, in response to a parliamentary question on the matter.

“I’m delighted that farmers will begin to receive ANC payments from mid-September and BISS payments in October. These two schemes are hugely important for farmers, providing direct financial aid to ensure their continued sustainability and viability,” Deputy Smith said.  

Minister McConalogue said he was fully aware of the importance of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) schemes as for many farmers these form a significant proportion of their annual payments.

The planned 2024 payment dates for the ANC scheme and the BISS scheme, are as follows:

•     September 18th, 2024 – ANC Advance payments commence.

•     October 16th, 2024 – BISS Advance payments commence.

•     December 2nd, 2024 – Balancing payments commence.

Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) provides a direct income support to Irish farmers through CAP.

The Areas of Natural Constraints scheme provides payments to people farming land in designated areas face significant hardships from factors such as remoteness, difficult topography, climatic problems and poor soil conditions.

Asked about the planned payment dates for the Agri-Climate Rural Environmental Scheme (Acres) Minister McConalogue said for 2024 advance payments are scheduled to commence in November.

For 2023, the first payments made were in December when €88.35 million was issued in advance payments to almost 20,000 Acres general participants.

Interim payments were issued to allow other participants in Feb and March this year.

Scheme year 2024 advance payments are scheduled to commence in November 2024.

Minister McConalogue said: “My Department commenced balancing payments on the 19th of June. A total of 31,808 participants have been paid to date, with total payments made to ACRES participants since last December now amounting to just under €234 million. Further balancing payments will continue to be made on a fortnightly basis as cases are cleared.”

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has described the investigation into missing Cavan woman Jean Tighe as totally inadequate.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD, who is friends of the Tighe family, told the Dáil the family are distraught by her disappearance.

His remarks coincide with the four-year anniversary of Ms Tighe’s disappearance. Ms Tighe was last seen in Parede, a Portuguese holiday resort, on July 13, 2020. She was 38 years old when she went missing.

Despite repeated efforts from Irish authorities it took three years before her name was added to a missing persons database in Portugal.

“Very understandably, Jean’s loving family are distraught and have been at their wits’ end over her disappearance. Those concerns are shared by their many friends in the community in Cavan and neighbouring areas,” Deputy Smith said.

“To put it mildly, the investigation into Jean’s disappearance has been totally inadequate. It is simply just not good enough.”

Deputy Smith has raised the issue repeatedly with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach. As Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar raised the case directly with his Portuguese counterpart.

“The Tighe family has got no response whatsoever as to why the Portuguese police authorities did not use modern investigative and search tools to trace Jean,” he said.

“The family is very patiently awaiting results but sadly they have had no substantive updates from any authorities.  The Government and our authorities must be robust and demanding in their ongoing contact with the Portuguese authorities to get an update on what has been done and what has not.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris in response told Deputy Smith he understood that Portuguese police have been investigating Jean’s disappearance but that sadly no strong leads have materialised as of yet.

“A member of An Garda Síochána in Portugal, the Irish Embassy in Lisbon and the ambassador have engaged with Portuguese police a number of times,” the Taoiseach said.

“The Tighe family has also been working with a family liaison officer.  In August of last year, An Garda Síochána and the Portuguese police met via video conference and Ms Tighe’s photo and profile was added to the Portuguese police’s missing persons website.

“My predecessor raised the matter with the then Prime Minister of Portugal. I will now directly seek an update myself.  I say to the Tighe family that I am very happy to raise the matter with my counterpart in Portugal and to come back to Deputy Smith directly.”

ENDS 

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has said families urgently need in-person services at the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) in Cavan town resumed.  

The Cavan-Monaghan TD told the Dáil the halting of services due to staff shortages had caused significant issues for service users, their families and staff in the IWA.

“The lack of in-person services is a very serious loss to those people who depend on such vital support week in, week out,” Deputy Smith told the Dáil.

“To the credit of the local IWA staff, they have put in place outreach and online services pending a return to in-centre services.

“I appeal again as strongly as I can on behalf of service users and their families that the HSE should respond positively to the business case put to it by the IWA for some additional small-scale resources which are critical to facilitate a return to the level of services needed in the Cavan centre and have the centre re-open at full capacity to meet the needs of service users.

Minister of State, Anne Rabbitte TD, in response, said a meeting is being organised between the Department of Health, the IWA and HSE with the aim of bringing about an “immediate resolution” to the issue and a return of in-person services at the day centre.

ENDS   

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed €1.69 million in additional funding for regional and local roads in Cavan and Monaghan damaged by persistent rainfall over the winter and spring months. 

Cavan County Council will receive €916,500, while Monaghan County Council has been allocated €773,500. 

Deputy Smith’s party colleague Minister of State Jack Chambers TD today announced €30 million in emergency funds to deal specifically with the impact of climate change, which has contributed to a deterioration in the surface quality of certain parts of the roads network.

“I’m delighted to receive confirmation from my party colleague Minister Jack Chambers that €1.69 million has been allocated for regional and local roads in Cavan and Monaghan. 

“We need to keep our roads safe. This emergency investment will give Cavan and Monaghan county councils the funds necessary to repair potholes and other damage on our roads caused by the extremely heavy rainfall over the winter and spring months.

“In persistent wet conditions, water seepage contributes to damage such as the development of potholes or pavement collapse. 

“This investment will significantly improve the worst impacted areas of the road network.”

He added: “Fianna Fáil in Government is committed to supporting local authorities in the maintenance and renewal of the regional and local road network.”

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed the announcement by his party colleague and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly that 74 new acute hospital beds will be put in place in Cavan Monaghan Hospital.

Today, Minister Donnelly announced a plan to deliver 3,352 new beds (2,997 net new hospital beds + 355 replacement beds, in addition to the 1,015 hospital beds under construction and/or committed to, bringing the total number of new beds to be delivered by 2031 to 4,367. 

Since 2020, the Government has already delivered 1,218 net additional acute hospital beds.

Deputy Smith said: “I warmly welcome confirmation from Minister Donnelly that there will be 74 new acute hospital beds for Cavan Monaghan Hospital. In total in the HSE Dublin North East area a total of 623 new beds are planned between now and 2031. These new beds are much needed in the two counties and I know they will be of enormous comfort to families in the region.

“Delivering healthcare for everyone is a cornerstone of Fianna Fail’s approach in government.

“We are improving access to health services, with reductions in waiting times and waiting lists, lower costs for treatment, more entitlement to free GP services than ever before, and Ireland’s first ever Women’s Health Strategy.

“We’ve cut the amount of money families need to spend on healthcare, abolished hospital charges, introduced free contraception, reduced monthly medicines bills and rolled out free IVF.

“Today’s announcement is further evidence that Fianna Fáil is committed to tackling the issues we are facing in our healthcare system head-on.”

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has received confirmation that plans for a major building project at Cavan Institute are being progressed under the FET College of the Future projects.

Speaking in the Dáil Deputy Smith described Cavan Institute as a very successful institution since it was established.

“I am very anxious that this proposed building project should proceed as soon as possible and that additional permanent accommodation is provided, adjoining the existing institute,” he said. “There is ample space on site to build additional classrooms and ancillary accommodation.”

Minister Patrick O’Donovan in response to a parliamentary question said the Cavan Institute is being progressed under the FET College of the Future project.

“Cavan Monaghan ETB is now further refining its proposal to bring a clear focus to meet the infrastructure requirements,” he said.

“Once the business case has been refined and updated, it will be evaluated by SOLAS. I know I stated in my initial reply that a number of these projects are progressing, but they will not progress together based on which one is the slowest. Whichever ones can move at the quickest pace will be the ones that will be advanced. We will not be holding them back.

“I have heard quite a lot about the Cavan campus and it is my intention to visit it as soon as possible and to meet the local ETB in this context.”