I wish to discuss accessibility in our towns and villages. On 29 May 2026 we had Make Way Day, which was the day when historically our local authorities go out with a number of organisations led by Disability Ireland to highlight the lack of accessibility around many of our towns and villages. I have raised this issue a number of times before but I do not believe it is being looked after properly. The NTA is predominantly responsible for funding this within the local authorities. We look at such issues as tactile paving, dropped kerbs, many pedestrian crossings, safe walking and wheeling routes. I have raised the issue repeatedly within the local authority. Whenever the NTA gets involved, matters seem to become more complicated that needs to be the case. I was out with a group of people within the past 12 months. We looked at trying to bring a wheelchair to the local train station. When we got close to the train station we had to turn around, go back about 500 m to where there was a dropped kerb, cross the road and then cross the road at two other points before we could actually get to the train station. It is a simple thing. An engineer has one idea as to how something should be done but we really need to look at the lived experience. I would love a conversation in this House whereby some discretionary funding could be allocated to local authorities in order that, rather than all of us going out on Make Way Day to take a photograph and then wait 12 months to do it again, some action could actually be delivered in the 12 months in between to make towns and villages more accessible.

A little time has been allocated for this. I wish to promote the local festivals in my area over July and August, starting with the Boyle Arts Festival next Thursday, 16 July. I encourage people to check out the website for that. From 25 July to 2 August there is the famous Castlerea Rose Festival, quickly followed by the Castlerea Agricultural Show on the bank holiday Monday. Tickets for that are available on the Castlerea Rose Festival social media page and on the website as well. For anyone who has not had their fill at that stage, there is the Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival, which kicks off on 1 August.

I started it.

Yes, the Senator did start it, but we may as well all get the promotions done. It is a great opportunity to promote.

We will have to send out a circular.

When people are finished in Rush they might come and see the wonderful offerings we have in Roscommon. I wish the very best of luck to all the voluntary committees that have put extensive work into that.