Crowe welcomes investment in regional airports and renews calls for broadening eligibility criteria

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Clare Fianna Fáil TD and party spokesperson on Aviation has welcomed the allocation of almost €8 million in funding to support Ireland’s regional airports and has renewed calls for the expansion of the scheme to increase the eligibility to the programme.

According to Deputy Crowe: “The Regional Airports Funding 2021-2025 provides state funding for airports that have fewer than 1 million passengers per annum. The programme supports vital safety, security and sustainability operations and activities at airports such as Kerry, Ireland West and Donegal.

“During the international travel restrictions during the Covid years, Shannon Airport fell into this passenger bracket and received considerable state funding which allowed them to significantly enhance airside infrastructure and to invest in baggage screening facilities and features which have made the airport safer and more efficient for passengers.

“However, since the lifting of travel restrictions, Shannon Airport has boomed and there are now a considerable number of flights which brought 2.1 million passengers through the airport in 2024.

“Whilst it’s disappointing that Shannon Airport didn’t receive funding from the Government in today’s announcement, this was inevitable given the passenger numbers far exceed the threshold under the Regional Airports Programme.

“The Regional Airports Programme will end this year and a new Regional Airports Programme will be devised for 2026. I am hoping that the passenger threshold can be raised so that airports such as Shannon and Cork can also benefit from the programme.

“Last October, the Government allocated €1.94 million to Shannon Airport for sustainability projects and whilst this funding was very much welcome for Shannon, I think a lot more could be achieved vis-à-vis the Regional Airports Programme.”

State to end contract to house Ukrainian war refugees at Lisdoonvarna’s Hydro Hotel – Lisdoonvarna

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The State is to end its contract to house Ukrainian war refugees in the Hydro Hotel in Lisdoonvarna this summer and the residents are to be relocated, Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe has confirmed.

Additionally, Crowe confirmed that the 171 residents of the hotel are to be relocated on Friday 4th July 2025 and will not be replaced with new tenants.

According to Deputy Crowe: “It has been confirmed to me that the State contract with the Hydro hotel in Lisdoonvarna will not be renewed. The contract will expire in early July and the Department of Justice have confirmed they have no intention to further extend it.

“Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Hydro hotel has accommodated hundreds of Ukrainian families but now with the prospects of a peace deal in sight, the European Union overall, and indeed the Irish State, have to take a more measured approach to contract renewals. Equally, the crisis of accommodating people seeking international protection, which the Government faced over the past two years, has stabilised somewhat.

“I think it’s right that accommodation for Ukrainian war refugees and International Protection Applicants in Lisdoonvarna should be scaled back. It is a fact that Lisdoonvarna has played a role greater than any town in Ireland in terms of meeting the needs of these people. In the last four years, the population of Lisdoonvarna has increased four-fold and whilst at the beginning of the crisis there were many boots on the ground and stage agencies supporting the local community, unfortunately much of this help dwindled in the past two years and it is evident that the town is struggling.

“It’s time for other towns in the country to play their role and I have, on many occasions, told my colleagues in Government that while the people of Lisdoonvarna can be proud of the welcome they showed these people they have done their fair share.

“I am urging the Government to not renew any other contracts in Lisdoonvarna at this time. It is vital that this North Clare town, so iconic on the West of Ireland tourist trail, has a chance to recover and return to tourism and hotel accommodation.”

State needs to do more to protect horse welfare

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The State needs to do more to clamp down on those abusing horses and other animals, according to Clare Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe.

Deputy Crowe raised the issue in the Dáil, where he outlined instances of animal welfare abuses he had seen and had been made aware of in recent weeks, and called for tougher sanctions on those who do not properly care for their animals.

“I was sent a photo recently by an American tourist who had visited Clare and they saw a horse tethered to a metal pole outside a supermarket. This happens all the time around the country and it is inexcusable. The law is robust but the enforcement is not.

“Nobody in this country can claim to have a cultural or traditional entitlement to own horses. If you want to own horses, you should buy land, rent land or pay for a livery but do not tie them up outside a supermarket or let them die in a ditch with a rib cage that’s hollowed out.

“It is happening far too often and paints a very poor picture for animal welfare in this country.

“There is no cultural right to own a horse. Every single member of the Dáil, if you go back two or three generations, they will come from land at some point, where there were horses or horse and carts but we moved on. No one has a God given right to own an animal and certainly if they can’t control it or look after it that animal should be taken from them. The State needs to get far tougher on this.

“For too long we have turned a blind eye to ‘long acre’ grazing and urban ponies. This approach to horse welfare is ludicrous, grossly unfair to the horses and presents a woeful image of our towns and cities. We should not accept owners allowing horses to gallop across open spaces that were intended for our children to play on.

“The 1996 Control of Horses Act very clearly sets out that those who wilfully or recklessly endangers a horse, person or property, who does not adequately keep, feed and water their horse, or whose horse is kept somewhere where it causes nuisance to people or neighbours, can have their horse taken from them and a ban on ownership imposed.

“The legislation is there to crack down on these offenders and it is high time they saw the consequences of their inaction.”

Access to rural ATMs and cash services vital, says Crowe

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Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe has welcomed Dáil approval for a Bill which will ensure people in rural areas have access to ATMs and cash services.

The Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Bill 2024 was passed by the Dáil this month and now moves to the Seanad for debate. The Bill includes provisions for ensuring that a specified percentage of the population but be within a set radius of not more than 10km of a cash service point and contains pathways for identifying and addressing locations which have deficiencies in cash services.

Speaking in the Dáil recently, Deputy Crowe asked the Minister for Finance and his Department to work with pillar banks to ensure that rural communities have proper access to banking services.

According to Deputy Crowe: “I see the progression of this Bill as being transformative. We know all too well in County Clare, how damaging it can be to a local community when a bank branch closes. Many people, but particularly an older cohort of our population, rely on the availability of a bank network in order to complete transactions.

“Where a bank isn’t readily available, an ATM becomes a necessity but unfortunately, we have large swathes of rural Ireland currently without access to a nearby ATM.

“This Bill will ensure that communities have a mechanism through which they can identify and make complaints about deficiencies of ATMs. The Central Bank will then engage with banks and other credit institutions to address these gaps.

“I think that in a county like Clare, this Bill will have a very positive effect and will hopefully lead to us having more ATMs around the county.

“Many ATMs just dispense cash but I note that in the last few years, ATM machines in bank branches have a much wider availability of services including cheque lodgements, fund transfer and a bill paying ability. I hope that the pillar banks can roll out such ATMs on a more widespread basis and I will be raising this directly with the Minister.

“We have to ensure that people are not left behind and we must avoid the risk of financial exclusion. The important role that cash continues to play in our lives must be recognised and it is a role that I am determined to protect.”

Crime stats show need for increased Garda numbers in Clare – Crowe

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Clare Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe has renewed calls for additional Gardai to be assigned to County Clare following newly released figures which show over 3,300 instances of crime in the county in 2024.

Deputy Crowe made the comments following reporting from the Irish Independent this week which showed that while the number of crimes has remained static since 2019, seven Garda stations have reported increases in crimes.

Deputy Crowe said: “While I welcome decreases in stations such as Kilrush, Ennis and Shannon, there are concerning increases in areas such as Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ardnacrusha and Killaloe.

“Killaloe had the highest number of crimes reported (210) outside of Ennis, Shannon and Kilrush, and witnessed a 32% increase in crimes, while Sixmilebridge has seen an increase of 34% in reported crimes – the largest of any Clare station.

“Miltown Malbay, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Scariff and Tulla also saw increases in reported crime, which is of concern to residents of those areas.

“With Garda recruitment in Templemore finally on the rise, the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, should soon be able to bolster Garda numbers in different divisions. I will be making the case to him and the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, for a particular emphasis to be put on the Clare-Tipperary Garda Division.

“Whilst I fully and wholeheartedly support the efforts of the Chief Superintendent of this Division, and her team, but it is a fact that Garda numbers in Clare have been down for some years now and the most recent crime stats would show that we are in need for additional policing.

“Crime stats can be looked at in two ways. Firstly, it shows that the Gardai that we have working in our county are achieving a lot with limited resources and manpower in terms of crime detection, but it also means that the public are making more complaints, vis-à-vis 999 emergency calls and this is an indicator that more needs to be done in our county to have people feeling safer and to curb lawlessness.

“The trend in recent years has been for graduates of Templemore to be immediately posted to stations in Dublin City and whilst there is an understandable need for our capital to be well policed, the lack of new recruits coming to Clare is definitely showing and needs to be addressed.

“I have also mentioned to the Minister for Justice that the number of Guards stationed in County Clare needs to be counted differently to other counties, given that the policing of Shannon Airport, which is a national, state-owned piece of infrastructure, is also in their remit.”

Crowe calls for expansion of Regional Airports Programme to include Shannon Airport

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Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe is calling on the Government to broaden the criteria for access to the Regional Airports Programme to ensure that Ireland’s regional airports, including Shannon Airport, have access to assured annual funding.

The Regional Airport Programme supports Ireland’s smallest regional airports which provide scheduled passenger services and handle fewer than one million passengers per annum. The programme, which has a budget of €18 million this year, supports vital safety, security and sustainability operations and activities at airports such as Kerry, Ireland West and Donegal.

The Programme for Government commits to continuing to invest in the Regional Airports Programme and to develop a new Regional Airports Programme from 2026 – 2030. Deputy Crowe believes this revised programme should contain enhanced passenger footfall to include other airports like Shannon Airport.

According to Deputy Crowe: “The Regional Airports Programme has provided a vital funding stream for Shannon Airport in recent years.

“Access to the Regional Airports scheme is determined by the number of passengers that an airport has each year. For many years, the passenger flow through Shannon was too high to access this funding but during the Covid years, there was a sharp decline in those using the airport due to travel restrictions and this meant that Shannon automatically became eligible for funding.

“With that funding, Shannon was able to revamp its airport infrastructure and in particular invest it in baggage screening facilities, features which have made the airport safer and more efficient for passengers.

“I have raised the need to increase the passenger threshold in the Dáil and the Taoiseach has directly responded. The matter will now be considered by the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien.

“Raising the passenger figure would ensure that there isn’t annual uncertainty for Shannon and other airports in the West of Ireland. It would make an annual funding stream more certain for them and with that they could plan for multi-annual improvements in their airports.”

Crowe appointed Chairperson of Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth

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Clare Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe has been appointed as Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth.

The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon by Taoiseach, Micheál Martin.

“I am delighted to have been appointed as the Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin,” Deputy Crowe said.

“As a member of the last Dáil, I served on this committee and really enjoyed getting my sleeves rolled up to work on a wide array of educational issues.

I bring experience to this role because prior to my election to the Dáil, I worked for 14 years as a primary school teacher in Parteen National School and I also served in the role of Assistant Principal of the school.

“I’m a graduate of Mary Immaculate College and the University of Limerick and I hope to be a strong voice for children in education and also for those who work in the sector, including principals, teachers, special needs assistants and secretaries.

“In recent years, Government has put a major emphasis on inclusive education, that is to say that children with additional needs can have those needs met in their local area and ideally by their local school.

“Much work needs to be done in this area and hopefully our committee will examine how this area can be further enhanced over the next number of years.

“This committee also has the Youth dimension to it and at the beginning of this month I met with representatives of Clare Youth Service to talk about their hopes and aspirations for the Clare youth sector.

“Whilst my Chairing role will require impartiality, I hope to use the platform which I have now been given by the Taoiseach to raise the profile of quite a number of educational issues in my home county of Clare, and beyond.”

Crowe criticises ‘misleading commentary’ from fellow Clare TD over water charges

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Clare Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe has strongly shut down suggestions that the Government is not seeking to introduce water charges and has hit-out at ‘disingenuous’ social media comments relating to water charges from Clare’s Sinn Fein TD, Donna McGettigan.

 

A Sinn Féin Bill on Water Services was debated in the Dáil in early April and was defeated following a vote. Over the Easter weekend, social media commentary from Deputy McGettigan accused Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independents of allowing water charges to be introduced following the vote.

 

However, Deputy Crowe has hit out at the accusation and has clarified that the Government will not be introducing water charges.

 

“I think that it’s important that Clare’s voters know how their TDs are representing them in the Dáil and it is important that this false accusation is corrected,” Deputy Crowe stated.

 

“Deputy McGettigan posted a picture which states that both Deputy Joe Cooney and I voted against banning water charges, and that Minister Timmy Dooley was absent for the vote. Furthermore, Donna said that – and I quote – ‘Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Independents allow for water charges to be introduced’.

 

“The phrasing that Deputy McGettigan has used on her post is very disingenuous and is not accurate. Let me explain why: Legislation to implement water charges has already been repealed. This was contained in the Water Services Act in 2017.

 

“I want to be clear on this: this Government has no intentions to introduce water charges. It is not in the Programme for Government and there has been no work done on the relevant Statutory Instruments that would be needed to change this.

 

“The 2017 Act includes provisions to charge households for excessive water usage. This is where a house exceeds 213,000 litres per annum and this came into effect all the way back on the 1st January 2018. This is a huge amount of water and was calculated as being 1.7 times the average household use and this limit is there to encourage considerate water usage to protect both the environment and the water infrastructure.

 

“This Sinn Fein motion, if passed, would have had the opposite effect as it would have removed this provision and would have required replacement legislation. The Government has a massive legislative programme to get through in the lifetime of this Dáil and the introduction and progression of a bill to change anything to do with water charges would not be a productive use of Oireachtas time.

 

“Let me say it again: this Government has no intention of imposing water charges and Sinn Fein know this. I am disappointed that such inaccurate and misleading information was shared with the people of Clare.

 

“It is only natural that we should differ on matters relating to policy and legislation, and indeed it is the basis of a healthy democracy. However, this attempt to misrepresent the actions of other TDs within the same constituency does nothing to serve the constituents of this county and I would say it does them a disservice.

“The recent re-establishment of the cross-party Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group, which all four Clare TDs are members of, is a timely reminder of the duty of Oireachtas members to work together where possible to further the interests of their constituents. This collegiality is welcome and is of benefit to the people of Clare.

“However, this recent misleading commentary from Deputy McGettigan shares worrying shadows of the spiteful and disjointed politics we often see play out in other major Western countries and I would certainly not welcome its arrival here.

 

“All four Clare TDs have a mandate from the people and – as another elected representative said this week – this “makey up stuff” benefits no one.

Cross-Party Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group re-established

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TDs and Senators from the constituencies of Clare, Galway-East, Limerick City, Limerick County and Tipperary North have banded together to re-establish the cross-party Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group.

The Group’s aim is to advance the cause of Shannon Airport and advance policy areas that support and enhance Shannon Airport.

A priority of the Group will be to seek continued State funding under the Regional Airports Programme and to also support the development of new routes in commercial aviation and cargo traffic in and out of the airport. The Group will be chaired by Deputy Cathal Crowe.

In the next few weeks, the re-established group hopes to have an on-site meeting with Mary Considine and her management team at Shannon Airport.

The terms of reference of the Group are as follows:

  • To maintain a degree of familiarity with the business and activities of Shannon Airport.
  • To routinely meet with the Chief Executive of The Shannon Airport Group and/or members of the board of The Shannon Airport Group and/or senior management of The Shannon Airport Group.
  • To be advocates for increased business at Shannon Airport.
  • To promote, at all opportunities, the use of Shannon Airport for inbound / outbound commercial passenger flights and cargo activities, including new route development.

• To lobby for policies that promote the aviation sector in Shannon, further the cause of Shannon Airport and promote balanced regional development in both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann.

Crowe welcomes €1.8 million funding for Clare greenways

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Clare Fianna Fail TD, Cathal Crowe has welcomed €1.8m in funding for Clare greenways, which will support the progression of three projects around the county.

The funding for Clare was announced today by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, as part of a €67 million investment for Greenways and National Roads Active Travel infrastructure through Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in 2025.

Welcoming the announcement was Deputy Crowe, who said: “As my party’s Spokesperson on Tourism, I am delighted to see this very welcome funding announcement.

“The allocation will support the progression of Stage 1 (Kilrush to Kilkee) and Stage 2 (Ennis to Ennistymon) of the proposed West Clare Greenway, with a total of €1.35m awarded to this project today.

“Additionally, today’s funding allocation will see €300,000 directed towards the progression of the O’Brien’s Bridge to Scariff section of the proposed Limerick to Scariff Greenway, and a further €100,000 given to advancing the proposed Shannon to Bunratty route.

“There is huge potential in the proposed greenways around Clare and looking at the positive impact felt by communities around other notable greenways nationwide, such as in Mayo and Waterford, the addition of these greenways here will bolster our already attractive tourism potential.

“Additionally, these greenway projects will offer people all around this county with safe and enjoyable nature walk and cycle routes through some of the most scenic parts of Clare.”

Announcing the Greenway Allocations, Minister Darragh O’Brien said: “The allocation of €360 million in 2025 for active travel and greenway infrastructure demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to expanding sustainable transport options. This funding will support the development of high-quality walking and cycling facilities in cities, towns, village and rural areas. Today, I am pleased to announce €67 million of this investment, which will help deliver key greenway projects all over the country.

It is expected that approximately 24km of Greenways will be delivered in 2025.