Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate – Dáil Éireann (34th Dáil) – Wednesday, 18 Jun 2025

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

An Garda Síochána

Deputy Alan Kelly

After the confusion of last week, I thank the Minister for coming in himself to deal with this issue. There are a range of issues relating to resources for An Garda Síochána that I discussed with the GRA and the AGSI yesterday. Today, I specifically ask about the resource the public knows as our Garda stations. In particular, is the Minister aware of the report done by the Office of Public Works, with the State Claims Agency and An Garda Síochána, in December 2016 on a review of asbestos surveys of Garda buildings? Will he confirm whether he is and whether the Commissioner or Department has informed him of this or not? The report states that 74 stations are affected by asbestos. The director of the State Claims Agency at the time, Mr. Pat Kirwan, said that 12 Garda stations in particular were very badly affected and remedial works would have to commence within three months. That was nine years ago. The work has not happened. The 12 stations are Mountjoy, Kevin Street, Naas, Santry, where some works have happened, Bandon, Kilmainham, Ashbourne, Newcastle West, Baltinglass, Tramore, Blackrock and Blessington.

On 3 January 2017, this report was sent to the head of Garda health and safety and copied to the head of the Garda estate. It was titled as "necessary attention". We then had nothing. It went into the abyss. We then had an issue at Santry Garda station, which the Minister is probably aware of, where the station ended up having to be closed in January of this year because of an issue with asbestos. I have a query about the certificate given for reoccupation and where that stands. He might come back to me on that. There is a real issue here regarding health and safety, obviously, in the exposure to gardaí, the public, contractors, etc., but also in respect of the correspondence in the report, where Mr Kirwan, director of the State Claims Agency, said that unless the remedial work was undertaken, the State Claims Agency would be unable to defend future claims. Why was that not acted on? Have we exposed the State to considerable liability?

This is before, as I am sure the Minister is aware, the asbestos directive from the EU has to be transposed into law by 21 December this year. That provides for a ten times decrease in maximum occupational exposure limits. We did not act from 2016 until now to the scale required. The SCA said in 2016 that we were exposed in respect of these Garda stations; I have a list of those stations and what is required in all of them. If we are exposed to that level and this directive has to be transposed by 21 December this year, where does that leave us as regards any gardaí who have been sick in the intervening years, who have had respiratory issues or possibly had issues in relation to cancer, where Garda members have been pregnant, where there have been issues regarding contractors and maybe even issues in respect of members of the public? Where are we on this? Was the Minister aware of this? What remedial actions are happening? What is the plan? Was the Minister told about this issue by the Garda Commissioner? It looks like he tells the Minister very little.

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Jim O'Callaghan)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I publicly apologise for the fact there was confusion last Wednesday. Deputy Kelly put down this issue for last Wednesday but I was not here through some confusion in the office.

To answer the Deputy's question directly, I am not aware of the December 2016 report he referred to, which was commissioned by the OPW and the State Claims Agency, in respect of asbestos in Garda stations. However, I am fully aware that very many stations in this country need to be refurbished and upgraded. Last Monday, I was in Castlepollard Garda station with Deputy Troy to look at the station there. It is clearly a station that is archaic. It needs to be modernised. I am sure that is also the case in respect of other stations throughout the country.

Deputy Kelly raised the issue, which is his primary concern and is obviously also of concern to me, of the safety of people working within An Garda Síochána stations, whether they are attested members of An Garda Síochána or Garda staff. Everyone who is working is entitled to ensure that they are working in a safe work environment. I would be extremely concerned if it were the case that they were not working in a safe environment. I will go back and look at the report in respect of what the Deputy raised. Obviously, the concern is an individual within An Garda Síochána getting ill as a result of the presence of asbestos. Fortunately, that has not been brought to my attention as of yet and, hopefully, that is not the case. It is certainly the case when it comes to older buildings throughout the country, I regret to say, that very many of them have asbestos. It was a material that was perceived as being acceptable many decades ago. This is not just an issue that is of concern to An Garda Síochána. It has a broader concern.

I note what the Deputy said in respect of how we will be able to defend any claims. As of yet, I am not aware, and if the Deputy is he might bring it to my attention, of any claims that have been instituted by retired or current members of An Garda Síochána claiming that they sustained injuries as a result of the presence of asbestos in Garda stations. If that is the case, it would obviously be a serious matter from the point of view of both An Garda Síochána and the State. The Deputy mentioned that the State Claims Agency indicated in a subsequent report from 2017 that if it was the case it would be difficult to defend any such claims. I cannot comment in respect of that, but it is certainly the case that if claims were put in and there was liability on the part of the State, I would then ask that the State, in line with the Attorney General's guidelines, would adopt a very principled approach to that. For any member of An Garda Síochána who sustained an injury, which was caused as a result of the known presence of asbestos in the building that exposed that Garda to danger, there would then have to be a liability on the part of the State for that.

The Deputy also mentioned the asbestos directive. I am not trying to diminish my responsibility but I am conscious there are a lot of issues on my desk in respect of An Garda Síochána. The Deputy raised an issue from 2016. I will look at the report, but ensuring that the directive is transposed into Irish law is an obligation we have under European law. We would have to ensure that it is complied with. I will inquire what the level of safety in An Garda Síochána is, but I have not got direct complaints in respect of concerns that members of An Garda Síochána have from working in the stations. I have met the GRA on many occasions. In fact, I met a representative of the GRA last Monday. It is the case that this issue has not been brought to my attention, but I will look at the report. I thank the Deputy for bringing it to my attention.

Deputy Alan Kelly

It is very difficult for there to be claims when there is no awareness. How could there be claims if people were not aware that these buildings had high levels of asbestos?

How could there be claims? How did they even know? I repeat that the head of the State Claims Agency said that unless remedial work was undertaken, the State Claims Agency would be unable to defend future claims. That leads me to believe there has already been a claim. This report was done by the State Claims Agency, An Garda Síochána and the OPW. Very little has happened and the State has been exposed to claims. Gardaí, contractors and, possibly, members of the public have been exposed, who are not aware and may have been ill. How could they make a claim if they were not aware and did not know they were exposed? Does this not create a huge risk which the Minister needs to put close to the top of his pile as regards issues the Commissioner has not told him about? I read recently that the Minister said he can only ask questions. Perhaps he needs to have a truth and reconciliation meeting with the Commissioner. Perhaps he needs to sit down and say, "Hey, Commissioner, do you know what, you are out the gap on 1 September. Is there anything else in the long list of issues you have not told me about?" Perhaps he should say, "As Minister, I should not have to ask the question." He should tell the Commissioner, "There is a thing called section 41 where you have to tell me things. Maybe you should have told me about this. Maybe this is an exposure of the State. Maybe I should have known. Why has nothing been done in relation to it?" There are many other issues. I guarantee many still have not been brought to the Minister's attention. I encourage the Minister to have that truth and reconciliation meeting very soon. Otherwise, I will be coming to the House on many more issues he is not bloody well aware of.

Deputy Jim O'Callaghan

A person is only entitled to take a claim for personal injuries if they have sustained an injury. First, there has to be an injury before somebody can bring a claim and then allege the injury was caused as a result of, in this instance let us say, the presence of asbestos. If people have sustained an injury, it will be diagnosed when they go to the doctor and complain about a specific illness. That diagnosis will be of assistance to an individual if they are told they are suffering from asbestos exposure. Most people will look around to see where they have been and what could have exposed them to asbestos.

On a truth and reconciliation meeting with the Commissioner, I have quarterly meetings with him. I meet him regularly. I meet senior management in An Garda Síochána. Prior to my appointment, I was always impressed with the rank and file members of An Garda Síochána and the excellent job they do. Since being appointed as Minister, I have met a lot of senior personnel in An Garda Síochána and I am extremely impressed with them as well in the work they do. The Deputy is perfectly entitled to highlight the issues of concern to him but as Minister for justice and the person who has political responsibility for An Garda Síochána, I have to look at the broader level of work done by the Garda on a daily basis, whether that is the rank and file members of the force out on the streets in the towns, villages and cities of this country or the great work they do in bringing people to justice before the courts. I cannot adopt a myopic approach trying to identify issues which might get some media attention. I have to have a broader assessment of what is in the best interests of An Garda Síochána.

Deputy Alan Kelly

That is very condescending.

Deputy Jim O'Callaghan

That is why when I engage with the Commissioner, I probe him. The Deputy has brought things to my attention, which I welcome. When he does that, I say I will raise them with the Commissioner and I do. The same will apply to other Members of this House. I have huge respect for this House. If a Member raises an issue of concern with me relating to the Garda, I will bring it to the attention of the Commissioner and seek an answer.

Local Authorities

Deputy Rory Hearne

I wish to discuss housing maintenance, in particular the impact of mould and damp on tenants of social housing in my constituency and throughout the country. It is an area I have worked in for almost two decades in an academic capacity doing research on the impact of mould and damp on residents and tenants and working with communities. Mould and damp are endemic across social housing in this city and the country. There is a systemic failure to provide people, particularly families, children and vulnerable people, with housing of a decent standard. A basic human right to housing includes at its core the right to adequate housing, which means housing does not have defects that impact health. The World Health Organization outlines clearly that mould and damp have major impacts on health, through asthma for example, and on other areas, even mental health.

There appears to be no urgency, transparency or accountability. Worst of all, no empathy is shown in how tenants are responded to as regards voids and housing maintenance. We need to go back to what worked, namely, in-house maintenance teams in local authorities. They were the backbone of housing upkeep. They could turn homes around quickly but they were decimated during the Celtic tiger period and again during austerity. I spoke to a man called Craig who contacted my office. He has lived in Ballymun all his life. He started working when he was 15. After experiencing homelessness, he finally secured a local authority home, which was a chance to rebuild and recover. That home has become a nightmare for Craig and his mother. Mould is destroying his clothes, bed linen and belongings. It covers the walls and ceilings. He is only 23 but now he cannot work because of the health impacts of living in these conditions, which include congestion, facial pain, headaches and disrupted sleep. His doctor had to write to Dublin City Council, pleading for action. Is this what social housing looks like in a wealthy republic? If Craig gives up and leaves that home, how long will it sit empty before it is restored and made habitable? Will it be weeks, months, a year?

This is just one of many cases. Another case that came to the attention of my office is that of an older resident of Ballymun in her seventies who is experiencing a distressing housing situation. Her home is also filled with mould and destroyed with damp. She is 71 and has her own health issues. This impacts her physical and mental health. She contacted the council and was told it would be eight or nine weeks before someone would be able to come out and even look at the property. How can older residents be subjected to this unacceptable wait time?

I also raise the issue of Cromcastle Court. It is now so dilapidated that residents wonder if it is already vacant and why has it taken ten years for regeneration. Similar estates across the city include Dolphin House, Pearse House and others. In my constituency in Finglas there are major issues with mould and damp. How long will tenants be left living in substandard accommodation that impacts their physical and mental health? We need more action and support for local authorities.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy John Cummins)

I thank Deputy Hearne for raising this matter. I assure him the Minister and I and our Department take it very seriously. It is important to note there are just over 150,000 local authority-owned social properties in this State, which have an estimated market value of more than €25 billion. The proper management and maintenance of this valuable State asset is a very important matter. Of equal importance is the requirement that local authority tenants occupying those properties and paying their weekly rent live in homes that provide good comfort levels for their occupants.

In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the rental standard regulations 2019. Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities to manage and maintain their own stock, the Department of housing provides annual funding support to local authorities for management and maintenance under a number of grant programmes such as the planned maintenance, or voids, programme, the energy efficiency retrofit programme and the disabled person grants programme, with the selection of homes and nature and priority of works for inclusion in the programmes a matter for the local authority.

From 2013 until the end of 2024, Exchequer funding of more than €59 million was provided to support local authority work in this area. Furthermore, funding is available under the regeneration programme. This funding will support ongoing projects, with a focus on building new homes as well as the refurbishment and rebuilding of some of the oldest flat complexes in Dublin city and local authority estates in various parts of the country. For 2025, €50 million has been made available under this programme.

As is the case across all of our housing stock, local authorities continue to receive and address repair requests in a standard manner. Furthermore, the Department of housing will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area. In particular, I note all 31 of the local authorities are now live on the new asset management ICT system, which provides the ability to carry out and gather the data on stock condition surveys which will inform future work programmes. To that end, €10.1 million has been ring-fenced to support these surveys and subsequent works arising.

In addition, I want to see best practice adopted with regard to the turning around and re-letting of council properties. This is a matter which the Deputy rightly raises and I have addressed on the floor of the House previously. It certainly should not be the case that it takes some local authorities up to a year to re-let a property, while others can turn a property around in between 12 and 14 weeks. That is an issue I interrogate when I visit local authorities. Contrary to the comments the Deputy made on the in-house teams, which are important for the ongoing maintenance work, the National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, indicator reports show that local authorities that have put frameworks in place to enable the quick turnaround of properties are able to turn properties around much quicker.

The Department is open to suggestions. We need to see properties turned around and re-let and they need to be of good quality and to a good standard for tenants.

Deputy Rory Hearne

I thank the Minister of State for his response and engagement on this matter. To iterate the scale of this crisis of mould, damp and poor conditions, it was seven years ago that the European Committee of Social Rights found the Irish State to be in violation of human rights and failing to take sufficient and timely measures to ensure the right to housing of an adequate standard for families living in local authorities housing. Seven years ago, the committee found against Ireland on the basis of the presence of sewage, contaminated water, dampness and persistent mould and it raised serious concerns about habitability. It noted in particular the high number of residents in certain estates in Dublin complaining of sewage invasions and issues of dampness and mould.

This is not acceptable. We have to look at what the structural problem is here. Why are local authorities unable to respond in the way they should be able to? We need to go back to in-house maintenance. Local authorities need the funding and resources to systematically and quickly respond to these issues. Children are growing up in social housing in this country whose lives are being damaged by mould and damp. It impacts their education, mental health and life chances. It is a breach of their human rights. We are breaching the rights of children who are growing up in social housing because of the State's failure to act. This is the State's responsibility; that is one of the most frustrating aspects of this issue. These people are tenants of this State. The State, which is the landlord, should be leading on responses and treating tenants of social housing with dignity and respect. That has to change from the top down and local authorities have to change as well.

Deputy John Cummins

I reiterate that it is important that local authority tenants who are paying weekly rents are provided with good quality and good comfort levels in their homes. No one will hear me disagreeing with that. It is set down in the rental standard regulations of 2019. Local authorities are obliged to provide that for their tenants. I have also set out what the Government is doing in providing funding to local authorities to assist them. Under the planned maintenance and voids programme, €31 million is available this year. Under the energy efficiency retrofit programme, €90 million is available. Under the disabled persons grants, a further €25 million is available. Within the regeneration programme, I mentioned €50 million being provided. This funding is expected to provide for upgrade works to more than 6,200 local authority homes this year.

The Department is working with the local authority sector, through the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, to drive a planned maintenance approach so that we can target local authority homes. There will be stock condition surveys carried out on all 150,000 social homes as part of that programme. The Department will continue to provide local authorities with funding support, including through the schemes I mentioned. It is important to note that local authorities have to move to a position whereby all the rents they are collecting from tenants are ploughed back into the maintenance and upkeep of properties because they receive a significant rent roll.

The Government is working with local authorities to ensure we have proper, adequate and comfortable homes for tenants.

Business Supports

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

I am glad to get the opportunity to discuss with the Minister of State the promised appeals process for business grants where businesses were misclassified, including the power up grant. When will this appeals process begin? In the past few days, we have been in contact with our local authority and it has not been informed of any appeals process or it is not sure if it will happen. In addition to those who qualify - retail, hospitality and beauty businesses - other businesses believed they were wrongly excluded from the increased cost of business, ICOB, and power up grants. Garages, body shops and plant hire and repair companies, all if which paid rates, felt they were not included or they did not know about it. That is the other thing. Other businesses in the first category were not aware of the scheme. Can they be considered?

The ICOB grant was introduced in March 2024 and people could apply until 29 May. Allegedly, businesses were to receive a once-off grant payment as a contribution towards the rising costs they faced, including the rising costs of rates. Around that time, perhaps during the previous year, Tailte Éireann revalued and reclassified people's properties and significantly increased the rates. In some cases, they were increased by two or three times the amount the business used to pay. While the Government did great work by introducing this business payment as a once-off payment, we are worried about how people will contend with the rates bills they will receive.

Those that did not qualify for the ICOB grant did not qualify for the power up grant the following October. As I said to the Minister of State, some businesses were misclassified. It is very important that we try to give these people assurances that they will get paid as soon as possible. That is why I am raising this issue. I believe the Minister of State took a question on the payment on 1 May and stated it was to be brought in very shortly afterwards.

I ask the Minister of State to make things clear this morning, because so many people are under financial pressure and do not know what is happening. Many people are under financial pressure that they are not used to or never been under before because of the cost of everything, including materials and supplies, and Brexit is not helping. I ask the Minister of State to provide certainty and to tell me what is happening.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Alan Dillon)

I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for raising this important issue. Last year, the Government introduced two business support schemes that were designed by my Department and administered by the local authorities. The increased cost of business, ICOB, scheme was launched in March of 2024 and was delivered in two phases. The first phase was a broad scheme that distributed over €154 million to 75,000 SMEs in all sectors of the economy in recognition of the higher costs of doing business. The second phase was targeted specifically at businesses operating in those sectors that were most impacted by increasing costs and was focused on the retail, hospitality and beauty sectors. Almost 39,000 SMEs in those sectors received their second ICOB payment. A total of €90 million was paid out in the second phase of ICOB in 2024. As part of budget 2025 last October and in recognition of the continued high energy costs the Department introduced the power up grant. Under this scheme over 39,000 SMEs in the retail and hospitality sectors received a flat grant of €4,000 in the final months of the year. In total, over €158 million has been paid out through the power up grant. Taken together, the grant schemes paid out over €400 million to small and family-owned businesses right across the country in a very short period.

Following the launch of the power up grant, the Department and local authorities became aware of issues where many businesses were misclassified and were subsequently not eligible for the second ICOB payment and the grant. To address this, the Government recently approved an appeals process that will give those businesses in the retail, hospitality and beauty sectors that were not eligible for ICOB and the power up grant because of the misclassification issue the opportunity to register for these grants. I emphasise that this is not a reopening of the grant scheme. This is designed solely to allow those who were originally misclassified the opportunity to register for the grants. Subject to the agreement of the local authorities, we are working extensively with many of the local enterprise offices, LEOs, and intend to open the appeals as soon as possible. Local authorities will contact eligible businesses. They are currently working through those who were misclassified and did not receive a second payment under ICOB. We will inform those businesses of the necessary steps to reapply for the second phase of ICOB and the power up grant in the coming period.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

I thank the Minister of State, but I am a bit confused now. First, I thank the Government for bringing in these two schemes. I also my local authority and all of the local authorities around the country for the great work they did in delivering those grants to the people involved who had applied. The Minister of State has just said that the local authorities are working through the misclassified applications at the moment but my local authority has said that it has not heard anything about the appeals process and was not made aware of it. I am a bit confused in that regard.

The Minister of State also stated that it is not a reopening, but many people did not know about first scheme and did not apply for it as a result. Obviously, they were then not entitled to apply for the second one or did not meet the criteria. I am concerned about that. Is there any way that those people can be accommodated? Some people feel aggrieved that they were not considered in the first place because they were in neither of the three categories that were outlined at the start. Many people are facing fierce financial pressure at the moment. I know the Government is also under tremendous pressure but these people are the backbone of rural communities. Sadly, some of them have departed the scene. Last year, many small companies could not carry on. I wonder whether the grant would have helped them. I am sure it would. Will the Minister of State consider reopening the scheme to accommodate those who have been left out?

Deputy Alan Dillon

I again thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As outlined, my Department is actively working with local authorities and the LGMA to finalise the details of the appeals process. This process will allow businesses that were misclassified to have their cases reviewed and, where appropriate, be given access to the supports. This is a priority for the Department. We want to ensure that we do everything possible to commence the appeals process without delay. We need to get it right, and we are finalising matters with the local authorities. We will contact eligible businesses in that regard.

Under the first phase of ICOB, over 75,000 SMEs registered and were given a flat payment. Under the second phase, 39,000 were eligible. We need to determine how many of those who were deemed ineligible were actually eligible. That work is currently being undertaken. This Government recognises the vital role that SMEs play within local economies, towns and villages. I am sure that Deputy Healy-Rae has been a big advocate for the SMEs in Kerry. We want to ensure that we can alleviate some of the significant pressures they are under. That is the importance of ensuring that SMEs get a cash injection. We placed a particular focus on the retail, hospitality and beauty sectors because they were the most impacted. A paper commissioned by the Department detailed rising operational costs and identified that the greatest cumulative burden fell on those sectors in terms of cost changes and regulatory burdens. The Department will continue to work with local authorities to ensure that there is a speedy process put in place to deliver for those businesses who need it most.

Heritage Sites

Deputy Louis O'Hara

Dunguaire Castle is an iconic cultural and heritage landmark in Kinvara on the Wild Atlantic Way but it remains closed off to the public. That is a huge loss for Kinvara and south Galway as a whole in terms of tourism, heritage and employment. This loss is being felt as we enter the summer months. Dunguaire is a 16th century castle with great history, but it has been closed for two years. Huge numbers of tourists pass it in buses every day and while many will stop off, they cannot enter the castle. In the past, there would have been tours, banquets, performances and so on. The castle was a real asset and of significant benefit to the community. This is a real missed opportunity in terms of the castle itself but also for the village as a whole. The castle is right on the edge of the village and is within walking distance from there. Its closure is most definitely impacting on footfall in Kinvara.

Galway County Council has been in talks with the Shannon Group on acquiring the site but it needs Government funding to progress this purchase. It has estimated that it could cost in the region of millions of euro to bring the castle up to a safe standard. Significant remedial works are required to do that. The council's request for the necessary funding has not been granted. The council has been engaging with the Ministers responsible for local government and tourism, as have I.

They both said they do not have discretionary funding streams available to facilitate the purchase and necessary works. I have also raised this with the Minister of State responsible for the OPW, but he said he cannot direct the OPW to intervene and purchase the site because it is not designated as a national monument. These excuses are very frustrating for the local community, especially as it seems the castle will remain closed indefinitely, with no Department seemingly willing to take responsibility and allocate the necessary funding. Somebody has to take responsibility. The reality is that the if there is political will, the castle can be brought back into use.

Where is the Government commitment to the Wild Atlantic Way and towns and villages like Kinvara along the route, for which tourism is critical? Kinvara must not continue to be neglected, and Dunguaire must not be left closed indefinitely. While the funding required is significant, it should be seen as an investment rather than an expense, considering the spin-off benefits for the local community and the increases in tourist and employment numbers.

Can the Minister of State outline whether the Government decision not to provide funding to Galway County Council to acquire Dunguaire Castle to bring it up to a safe standard and ultimately reopen it to the public will be reconsidered?

Deputy John Cummins

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien.

As members may be aware, Shannon Airport Group informed the Department in summer 2020 that it was necessary to consider a comprehensive and radical adjustment of its structure to secure the long-term future of the Shannon Heritage business and employees. Several challenges had arisen, including the lack of expertise in maintaining the sites in the group, the capital investment required to maintain the heritage sites and the impact of the onset of Covid-19. Subsequently, Shannon Airport Group engaged extensively with the relevant local authorities on the transfer of sites and the business. King John's Castle was successfully transferred to Limerick City and County Council in April 2022 and the Shannon Heritage business and four sites in County Clare were transferred to Clare County Council in May 2023.

Dunguaire Castle is the only remaining site under the ownership of Shannon Airport Group. The Minister understands that Galway County Council has engaged with the group on the possible transfer. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has informed the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, that the national monument service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage received a funding request from Galway County Council in November 2024 in relation to the castle. He understands that in response to this request, the National Monuments Service wrote to the CEO of Galway County Council in December 2024 advising that a voted funding stream to facilitate the purchase of heritage sites by local authorities is not available. However, he is aware that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage funds a range of relevant grant streams intended to support local authorities and other owners in respect of the repair and conservation of archaeological and built heritage sites.

Where the structures concerned are protected or are within a designated architectural conservation area, the built heritage investment scheme and the historic structures fund can provide support for the repair and conservation work. The built heritage investment scheme provides grants of between €2,500 and €50,000, while the historic structures fund offers funding of between €50,000 and €200,000 for works on a larger scale. Where the structure is an archaeological monument, the community monuments fund can provide grants of up to €100,000 for conservation works, where eligible. In 2025, the community monuments fund awarded 122 projects €7.5 million in funding.

All of these grants help owners and the custodians of archaeological monuments and built heritage assets alike to safeguard them into the future. In recent years, these conservation schemes have allocated in excess of €50 million for works on archaeological monuments, historic buildings and the public realm, which is a testament to the dedicated and hard work of all involved, including local authorities, community groups, private owners, the professional heritage sector and officials within the Department, to ensure the ongoing protection, conservation and maintenance of our heritage assets.

In addition to the aforementioned conservation schemes, local authorities seeking funding should, depending on the exact nature and circumstances of the structures and buildings in question, engage with the urban regeneration and development fund, the rural regeneration and development fund, the LEADER programme or Údarás na Gaeltachta funding schemes.

Deputy Louis O'Hara

The issue is not just the purchase of the castle but also bringing it up to a safe standard. As outlined, Galway County Council estimates that could cost millions of euro. The grant schemes the Minister of State has outlined, such as one offering €100,000, will not be sufficient for Galway County Council to acquire the castle and bring it back into use.

The Minister of State mentioned some of the Clare assets of the Shannon Group that were purchased by Clare County Council. Government funding of €6 million was provided at the time to facilitate the purchase of those assets. If the Government is prepared to do this for Clare County Council, why not Galway County Council? The Government needs to step up to the plate and ensure Dunguaire Castle is brought back into use. We are receiving excuses as to why this cannot happen, but something similar has happened before. That is the reality. The funding provided at the time was an acknowledgement of the importance of heritage sites like the one in question and the need to support the Wild Atlantic Way and villages like Kinvara.

Our local authority in Galway is cash-strapped. It is one of the worst-funded local authorities in the State as a result of consistent Government underfunding over many years. Our council is not in a position to take this on without Government support. It is very frustrating for us in Galway that we seem to be constantly neglected by the Government, particularly in this instance. Funding was provided to another local authority but not that in County Galway.

The castle is an iconic cultural and heritage landmark and a very popular tourist attraction along the Wild Atlantic Way. It must not be left closed for any longer. Will the Government recognise the importance of the site to the local community in terms of heritage, employment and tourism and provide the necessary funding to Galway County Council?

Deputy John Cummins

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. There is no question but that investment in our archaeological and built heritage delivers great benefits to the public through enhancing the character of an area. I acknowledge the representations the Deputy has made on this specific case.

As indicated, Shannon Airport Group operated Sharon Heritage on a commercial basis in line with its commercial mandate, meaning the sites were likely to open only on a seasonal basis. The Deputy referred to the transfer of four sites to Clare County Council, which did receive support through funding, but the Deputy must acknowledge that the transfer of four sites was exceptionally complex and involved the transfer of staff. St. John's Castle was transferred to Limerick City and County Council without any financial support from the Government. That is why I have outlined several schemes available to assist local authorities in maintaining and upgrading our built heritage assets. Those schemes are set out as I set out in my original remarks and I will be more than happy to work with Galway County Council regarding them, but there is a difference between providing funding to one site as opposed to four whose transfer was complex and involved the transfer of staff. I acknowledge the Deputy's representations on this matter.

Dental Services

Deputy Colm Burke

The issue I wish to raise, which I am aware was raised in the House recently, relates to the number of places for dental students in Ireland. In UCC in 2023, 61 students qualified as dentists. Of these, 25 were European, including Irish, and 36 were from outside Europe.

In Trinity the same year, 41 students qualified. Of these, 25 were Irish or European and 21 were non-Europeans. We have a huge shortage of dentists who are prepared to provide a service for public patients, yet they are providing treatment if you attend as a private patient. The number providing public care has dropped from 1,450 to 810. The latter is the most recent figure available and relates to 2023. The number has, in fact, fallen below 810 at this stage. The number receiving treatment who are public patients dropped from 393,000 in 2012 to 283,000 in 2023. That is a decrease of 110,000.

There is also a substantial problem with regard to people who have intellectual disabilities in that access to care is not there for them. I had one case recently where the family involved had to pay out for private care that cost more than €10,000. Care is available but there is a substantial waiting time of anything up to 12 months, even for the most urgent case. This issue needs to be dealt with, first in the context of engagement with the Irish Dental Association and trying to get more dentists to take on public patients or people with medical cards. The second issue is training. We have got to dramatically increase the number of students who qualify each year who are more likely to stay in Ireland.

I fully accept that the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland intends to start a new training programme, which will involve at least 20 Irish students. I do not think that is sufficient for the demand that exists. For instance, within a mile radius of my constituency office in Cork, two dental practices have closed because the owners could not get anyone to take them over. They wanted to retire. We will have a huge number of dentists retiring out over the next five years. We have got to deal with this challenge now. The other figure given to me by the Irish Dental Association is that 75% of dental practices that wanted to recruit someone in 2023 failed to fill the vacancies that were there. We have got to deal with this as a matter of urgency.

It is not a case that universities have to take on extra staff. It is a case of reducing the number of non-European students taken in and increasing the number of Irish students taken in. This will really help. Even if we do that in the morning, we are still five years off having those qualified dentists available. This now needs to be given priority by the Department. It has to be done in the next three or four weeks before the universities make final decisions about admissions of students for 2025. That is why I am raising it a second time in a very short period.

Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)

I sincerely thank Deputy Burke for raising this important issue. This is his second time to raise it in a number of weeks. It relates to the availability of dental training places in Ireland.

The Government is committed to ensuring that our healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. In fact, my Department has just progressed an immediate expansion of 461 places in key health and social care professions. I know dentistry is not included, but it does show the commitment of Government to ensuring that we expand the health and social care workforce.

To come back to the issue at hand, my Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the HEA and higher education institutions, plays a central role in delivering the education and training infrastructure needed to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare workforce, including critical areas such as oral healthcare and dentistry. Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dentists is part of our broader commitment to workforce planning that will support the health and well-being of our population.

Until this year, 60 places, as the Deputy said, were available each year to Irish and EU students on dentistry courses. My Department recognises that this represents a limited training pipeline at a time when the demand for oral healthcare, both clinical and preventative, is increasing nationally. The number of places offered is a matter for the higher education institutions in line with their autonomy. I acknowledge, however, that due to a high level of practical work, there can be material constraints on the number of students that can be accepted into dentistry courses.

While my Department does not set quotas for student places, we work closely with the Department of Health and the HEA to explore how capacity can be sustainably expanded in key health disciplines, including dentistry. In 2023, the HEA carried out a targeted capacity expansion exercise across priority healthcare areas. One key outcome was the establishment of new dentistry programmes, including a new bachelor of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, commencing in 2025, as the Deputy mentioned. This new programme will provide at least 20 new dentistry places per annum for Irish-EEA students, significantly enhancing national training capacity. This expansion represents a landmark 33% increase in student intake and clearly demonstrates my Department’s and this Government’s firm commitment to strengthening the oral healthcare workforce and supplying the graduates needed for a modern, accessible health service.

My Department and the HEA are currently liaising with RCSI as they develop capacity for further expansion of 15 additional places from 2027, subject to approvals. I reaffirm the Department’s commitment to working with all of the relevant stakeholders to ensure that any future expansion of dental education is grounded in evidence, responds to national needs and is delivered in a sustainable manner.

It is also my understanding that the Department of Health is currently conducting a scoping exercise to support a skills assessment workforce census across oral healthcare services. This will be the foundation of future policy development.

Deputy Colm Burke

I fully accept that the Minister of State and her Department are working very hard on this issue, but there is a crisis here. We have got to deal with it before the college places are awarded in UCC and Trinity. That is the reason why I am asking the Department to engage with them.

The other issue that needs to be dealt with - and this is a case where both the Department of Health and the Department of higher education need to work - is that there needs to be a clear plan put in place to deal with the number of dentists retiring over the next five years. Even if we increase the number of student places, we will still not deal with that issue. There are figures available. I am surprised that the Department of Health did not look at far earlier. I am concerned by what the Minister of State said about its engagement in a process. Engaging in a process may take two years. This is a priority. The figures are clear. Some 110,000 fewer people are being seen under the public scheme for dental care. In addition, there are 30,000 fewer students in our primary schools being reviewed by dentists. That figure is from 2017.

The other issue that has come to my attention is training for dental hygienists. For instance, I understand that in Trinity last year, there were 12 people taken in on the dental hygienists' programme. There were more than 200 applicants. Again, dental practices are not able to recruit people because there are not enough people available. People are going abroad to train in that area. Likewise, students who cannot get into the Irish system for dental training are going to places like Poland for training.

It is an absolute disgrace that Irish leaving certificate students who are competent and want to go into this area have to go abroad while 44% of all dental students in Irish colleges are from outside the European Union. That has to be addressed.

Deputy Marian Harkin

I assure the Deputy, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Lawless, that we are committed to responding proactively to future workforce requirements, including dentists and all other professionals required within the oral healthcare sector. We are working in strong partnership with the Department of Health, the HEA and the higher education providers to ensure our education and training system supports the delivery of a modern, sustainable and people-centred health service.

The Deputy mentioned UCC. The Department of Health has received a strong proposal from University College Cork, requesting €4.7 million in capital funding to establish a dental outreach centre that would enable the training of an additional ten undergraduate dental students annually, particularly benefiting Irish and EU students. This initiative will offer students earlier clinical exposure in real-world primary care settings, which enhances their skills and readiness upon graduation. Discussions are currently ongoing between the Department of Health and my Department to try to progress this proposal with a view to maximising Irish and EU places to obtain value for money for this proposal. Officials from my Department, the Department of Health and the HEA are meeting UCC next week to discuss the proposal. I expect to have more information and can give a further update to the Deputy after that date.

The Minister, Deputy Lawless, is visiting UCC next week for a separate engagement, and he looks forward to discussing this proposal and other important future developments with the UCC president.

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2025