Carol Nolan condemns housing targets, N52 delays and therapy shortages
Carol Nolan challenged the Programme for Government’s proposals on housing, infrastructure and public services, arguing targets are unrealistic and urgent supports are delayed. She welcomed the proposed 9 per cent VAT cut for food and catering but called for immediate implementation, warned the Parcheen Weir to Dublin pipeline risks major cost and delay problems, and demanded prioritisation of the N52 Dorough road and more child therapists in Offaly.
Carol Nolan said that regardless of agreement with the Programme for Government’s contents, the state needs a programme that truly addresses the chronic level of need across many areas and sectors. She cited the Government’s commitment to ramp up construction to meet demand, aiming for 300,000 new homes by 2030, but called that target almost farcically ambitious without a major revolution in how the problem is addressed.
She said she issued a statement only yesterday calling for a more focused level of debate around the link between supply and demand and the impact soaring immigration is having on housing. Nolan insisted the conversation cannot be avoided if targets are to be realistic and effective.
While welcoming supports for Iska Aran to deliver strategic water projects crucial for housing development, she expressed major concerns around the proposed pipeline from Parcheen Weir to Dublin. Nolan warned she fears the project has “all the characteristics of turning into another National Children's Hospital debacle” in terms of costs and delays.
Nolan welcomed the reduction of VAT for food and catering services to 9 per cent but criticised the government for delaying implementation. She said businesses are struggling to keep doors open and cannot wait until the next budget for relief.
She criticised ongoing aspirational rhetoric on rural public transport and road connectivity, giving the N52 Dorough project in Offaly as an example left without funding for years and calling for it to be prioritised and delivered before fatalities occur. Nolan also highlighted an acute shortage of speech and occupational therapists for children in Offaly, saying a small number of therapists are trying to hold a broken system together; she noted she visited Offaly School of Special Education and organised a briefing in Leinster House last year to press the issue.
Demand for a realistic programme
Carol Nolan said that regardless of agreement with the Programme for Government’s contents, the state needs a programme that truly addresses the chronic level of need across many areas and sectors. She cited the Government’s commitment to ramp up construction to meet demand, aiming for 300,000 new homes by 2030, but called that target almost farcically ambitious without a major revolution in how the problem is addressed.
Housing targets and supply-and-demand debate
She said she issued a statement only yesterday calling for a more focused level of debate around the link between supply and demand and the impact soaring immigration is having on housing. Nolan insisted the conversation cannot be avoided if targets are to be realistic and effective.
Parcheen Weir pipeline concerns
While welcoming supports for Iska Aran to deliver strategic water projects crucial for housing development, she expressed major concerns around the proposed pipeline from Parcheen Weir to Dublin. Nolan warned she fears the project has “all the characteristics of turning into another National Children's Hospital debacle” in terms of costs and delays.
VAT cut and business urgency
Nolan welcomed the reduction of VAT for food and catering services to 9 per cent but criticised the government for delaying implementation. She said businesses are struggling to keep doors open and cannot wait until the next budget for relief.
Local road safety and child therapy shortages
She criticised ongoing aspirational rhetoric on rural public transport and road connectivity, giving the N52 Dorough project in Offaly as an example left without funding for years and calling for it to be prioritised and delivered before fatalities occur. Nolan also highlighted an acute shortage of speech and occupational therapists for children in Offaly, saying a small number of therapists are trying to hold a broken system together; she noted she visited Offaly School of Special Education and organised a briefing in Leinster House last year to press the issue.
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Transcript
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Whether we agree or disagree with the contents of the Programme for Government, the fact remains that we need a programme for Government that truly addresses the chronic level of need that exists across so many areas and indeed so many sectors. For example, while I welcome the Government's commitments to increase supply of housing by ramping up construction to meet demand aiming for 300,000 new homes by 2030, the fact remains that going on past practice, this is almost farcically ambitious without a major revolution in how we address the problem. I issued a statement only yesterday calling for a more focused level of debate around the link between supply and demand and the impact soaring immigration is having on housing. We cannot be afraid to have that conversation. In terms of some of the supports for Iska Aran to deliver strategic water projects crucial for housing development, that too is welcome. But I have expressed major concerns around the proposed pipeline from Parcheen Weir to Dublin. I really do fear that this has all the characteristics of turning into another National Children's Hospital debacle in terms of the costs and in terms of the delays. In terms of the reduction of VAT for food and catering services to 9 per cent, certainly that cut was long overdue. But why the delay? Why can that not be implemented straight away? The businesses are really struggling to keep the doors open and their bills cannot wait until the next budget. With respect to public services and infrastructure, I am quite fed up hearing the aspirational rhetoric around investment in rural public transport infrastructure, including road and rail connectivity across this island. I give the example of the N52 Dorough project in my own constituency of Offaly. That has been left without funding for years now. We need the N52 Link Road in Dorough prioritised and, more importantly, delivered by government before we have fatalities along that road. So I would appeal to government to please prioritise that particular road. We also have a situation with the lack of therapists for children. Particularly in Offaly, the situation is particularly acute. We have a small number of therapists who are trying to do their level best, but they are trying to hold a broken system together. It is just not fair on the therapists who are there or on the many parents and indeed teachers who are frustrated over the delays in terms of children being able to access basic services such as speech therapy and occupational therapy. And I know I visited Offaly School of Special Education and made representation and indeed organised a briefing here in Leinster House last year to have this issue addressed. It needs to be addressed. Thank you very much. Good. Thank you.