Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I move:

Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of meeting of the Joint Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking Community in Galway city (without debate)

- Statements on the Second Anniversary of Russia’s Full-scale Invasion of Ukraine (not to exceed 1 hr 52 mins) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Paediatric Orthopaedic and Urology Services, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be: - Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committee (without debate)

- Motions re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2024 (to conclude within 57 mins)

- Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 5.30 p.m. or after 1 hr 46 mins, whichever is the later)

- Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill 2022 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to commence no earlier than 5 p.m. and if not previously concluded, to adjourn after 2 hrs)

- Court Proceedings (Delays) Bill 2023 (Report and Final Stages) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 8.30 p.m. or after 1 hr, whichever is the later) Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Healthcare Provision in Rural Communities, selected by the Rural Independent Group.

Thursday's business shall be the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Second Stage, resumed, if not previously concluded) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 4 p.m. or after 2 hrs 16 mins, whichever is the later).

Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2023.

In relation to Tuesday’s business, it is proposed that: 1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that private members’ business may be taken earlier than 6.12 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of the Statements on the Second Anniversary of Russia’s Full-scale Invasion of Ukraine, with consequential effect on—

(i) the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business, namely, oral Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Social Protection, and topical issues, and

(ii) the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of meeting of the Joint Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking Community in Galway city shall be taken without debate; and

2. the Statements on the Second Anniversary of Russia’s Full-scale Invasion of Ukraine shall not exceed 1 hour and 52 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:

(i) the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 100 minutes, and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023, providing for two minutes for non-aligned members;

(ii) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(iii) members may share time.

In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that: 1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that the weekly division time may be taken earlier than 8.45 p.m., and shall in any event be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on the Courts Proceedings (Delays) Bill 2023, or where those proceedings conclude within the allotted time, on the conclusion thereof, with consequential effect on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;

2. the proceedings on the Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committee shall be taken without debate;

3. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 57 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:

(i) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-

- opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State - 10 minutes;

- speech by representative of Sinn Féin - 10 minutes;

- speeches by representatives of the Labour Party, Social Democrats, People-Before-Profit-Solidarity, the Regional Group, the Rural Independent Group and the Independent Group - 5 minutes per party or group;

- speeches by non-aligned members – 2 minutes; and

- a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and

(ii) members may share time;

4. the proceedings on Second Stage of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 5.30 p.m. or after 1 hour and 46 minutes, whichever is the later, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday;

5. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill 2022 shall commence no earlier than 5 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned after 2 hours, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday; and

6. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Court Proceedings (Delays) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 8.30 p.m. or after 1 hour, whichever is the later, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday.

In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the interruption or conclusion of any resumed proceedings on the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, or where Second Stage of that Bill concludes before Thursday, immediately following the SOS, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2023, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and

2. any resumed proceedings on Second Stage of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 4 p.m. or after 2 hours and 16 minutes, whichever is the later, and the Bill shall not be resumed on Thursday.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is that agreed?

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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It is not agreed. I ask that the Government provide time to discuss the Children's Rights Alliance report card to which reference was made on Leader's Questions. The Taoiseach engaged in a great deal of spin regarding a range of areas in the context of the report that was given to the Government. One area where the Government was given a failing grade, namely, an E grade, was in mental health and children in adult psychiatric services. That should come as no surprise to anyone in this House because we have failed far too many of those children for too long. It is not just report; reports from the children's ombudsman, the Mental Health Commission and many other entities have criticised the Government in this regard. An E grade is an absolute disgrace, particularly when we are talking about extremely vulnerable children. Given that the Taoiseach engaged in a great deal of spin and the he thinks he has a story to tell - I do not believe he has - I am making a reasonable request that the Government provide time for a debate on this matter this week. If that is not possible, I ask that we do it next week. It is really important that these issues are properly debated.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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I join with others in asking for a special debate this week on the Children’s Rights Alliance report card in respect of children’s mental health services. For three years in a row, the Government has received an E grade. This is based on the fact that children are still being moved into adult mental health units, that the number of beds relating to children’s mental health services has decreased from 70 to 50. It is also based on the Government’s hopeless performance in relation to CAMHS whereby more than 4,000 children are waiting for access to services. Last summer, the Mental Health Commission compiled an in-depth report on the operation of CAMHS. It made 49 recommendations, the principal one being that the Mental Health Commission must provide independent regulation of CAMHS. When are we going to address this issue in a comprehensive way. There is a serious responsibility on the Government to tackle this matter. We were promised that vulnerable children would have additional services as a result of the work of the unit in the Taoiseach’s Department. We are yet to see any improvement at all in those services. We need a debate urgently.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I ask the Minister for a debate on the Children's Rights Alliance Annual Report Card. It is quite damning that 4,000 children find themselves in homeless accommodation. The effects on those children who do not have a voice here is incalculable. It is very important that we have a debate very soon on the effects on children who are in homeless accommodation.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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I speak on behalf of my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group on the lack of gardaí in our country. Since the trouble in Dublin, gardaí are coming up from Tipperary and every other county to man the situation here in Dublin. Places like Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Tipperary Town, Cahir and Roscrea are very short of guards. They have pathetic numbers if people knew the real numbers, when sickness and gardaí confined to barracks and working night duties are taken into consideration.

We see this morning another sticking plaster from the Minister for Justice where she is looking to bring the number of Garda reserves up to 1,000. This is a serious situation where we need a proper debate here because our people do not feel safe. We had a number of incidents at the weekend in Roscrea and in towns and villages all over the country which are being investigated. There is fear in our communities and there is no response from gardaí because they are simply not there. We need the numbers.

The Government keeps telling us in answers to questions that we have the numbers. We do not have them because they are on office or court duties and are on everything else but they are not able to serve the public, and the public are worried. We need a proper, honest and open debate here about our Garda numbers.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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On behalf of the Independent Group I support the calls which are being made here for a debate on Children's Rights Alliance Annual Report Card which is important in terms of responsibility for the mental health of our children. It is very important we have such a debate and it is in this House that this should be discussed and addressed. I echo those calls which have been made in that regard.

It is also vitally important that we debate the ongoing situation in Gaza and that it should be on the agenda again this week. I thank the Ceann Comhairle.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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First, I want to be associated with the statements which were made in expressing condolences with the family of Michael O'Regan. I have been in this House for nearly 26 years and he has been a feature of political commentary all of that time and longer. He was a great storyteller, someone with a great sense of humour, someone who loved an argument but who also listened to other people's perspectives. He will be missed by many people close to him and his family. I want to be associated with the condolences and comments which have been made.

On the understandable requests for a debate in this House on the Children's Rights Alliance report and score card, there are positives and progress there but also areas where there is serious work to do. I share the concern, as I think everyone in Government does, that there are still children in psychiatric wards. That needs to change and we would welcome an opportunity to have a debate on those issues and to update the House on the Government's response. I do not believe it will be possible to do it this week but I hope it can be arranged in the Business Committee for either next week or the following week. If Opposition parties would be agreeable, we will certainly try to accommodate that as best we can.

One Deputy Mattie McGrath's request for a debate on Garda numbers, there has been a great deal of discussion around security, crime, making our streets safer and on Garda numbers. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is making significant progress in this space. Garda recruitment is accelerating. There is strong interest, I am glad to say, in joining An Garda Síochána at the moment and, of course, we are now going to set more ambitious targets in terms of the Garda Reserve. There is much happening there, I say to the Deputy, and there are plenty of opportunities for him to raise concerns, whether it is through parliamentary questions, through Leaders' Questions or during Private Members' time also. That is something I would encourage the Deputy to raise at the Business Committee if he wants to create time and space for that.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Are the proposed arrangements for the week agreed? Agreed.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the announcement by the Cabinet this morning of a significant commitment to jointly fund crucial all-Ireland infrastructure projects in partnership with the Northern Executive. This is an example of what we can achieve working together for the benefit of all people on the island. The delivery of projects like Casement Park, the Narrow Water bridge and the Battle of the Boyne site will have practical and important benefits far beyond the communities of Belfast, Down, Louth and Meath. The completion of the A5 in particular must be delivered. Too many lives have been lost on this road. The completion of the A5 could unlock the potential of the north west. I look forward to working with the Government to see this happen in the time ahead. It is welcome that the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, is in Belfast today to meet with the Minister of Finance, Caoimhe Archibald. We now want to see an early meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising those issues. This is a very positive story. The Government announced a significant funding package of €600 million as part of the A5 north-west transport corridor, which is going to be of major benefit to Northern Ireland but which will also connect Donegal with Dublin and the east coast. That is a project we have been committed to, as the Deputy knows, for many years. It was important that the Government was very clear on the extent of our financial commitment as it is today. I hope that will allow more ambition in respect of the pace of delivery on the A5 project and a range of other projects under the shared island initiative. This includes moving ahead on construction of the Narrow Water bridge-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The time is up.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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-----and beginning work on Casement Park, which I hope will be upgraded shortly. This is a good example of how the Irish and British Governments can work together with the Executive in Northern Ireland and the Ministers there to make things happen in a way that, perhaps, was not possible a few months ago when we did not have an Executive. Let us try to reinforce the positivity that marked the events of recent weeks. The Government is certainly leading in this regard in light of the significant package announced earlier.

On the North-South Ministerial Council, it is really important that happens as soon as possible. I have already been up North meeting my counterpart, Conor Murphy-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is just one minute for responses, Minister, not three or four.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The sooner that happens, the better.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Deputy. The time is up.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Of course I am aware of the tragic death of a 16-year-old in Limerick accident and emergency on 29 January. I express my sincere condolences to the family at what is a very tragic time. The HSE has carried out a preliminary assessment in accordance with its policy and procedure. The outcome of full HSE assessment is awaited. I cannot really comment further, as I think the Deputy will understand, until that work is completed. On the more general point, we accept that there is work to do in terms of supporting UHL in the context of the pressure it has been under.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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3 o’clock

The Climate Change Advisory Council has warned that Ireland is unlikely to meet the targets of its first carbon budget for the period from 2021 to 2025. That will make meeting our climate targets after 2025 so much more difficult because there will be an awful lot of work and catching-up to do. That means Ireland now faces the prospect of multibillion euro fines under compliance costs applied by the European Union from 2030 onwards. While this Government excels at climate rhetoric, we do not, unfortunately, see good enough climate action. The reality is we are running out of time and we need climate action that is ambitious enough to meet the scale of the work we have to do. We really cannot do nothing. Nothing is not an option. Not doing enough is also not an option for us. Will the Minister therefore outline what changes the Government will make to change the trajectory it is on, which would mean that it would fail to meet its climate targets for 2025?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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We have not accepted that we will fail to meet targets for 2025. There is an enormous effort across government, in virtually every Department, to-----

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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The independent experts say-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please, let the Minister answer.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Yes, the independent experts have said that targets will be difficult to meet, but we are not at 2025 yet. It is up to the Government to accelerate delivery as regards climate action, which is exactly what we are setting about doing. We have broken it up sector by sector. A lot of those targets are difficult to meet, but the Government has been transparent about how we will go about this. It is not easy, but this Government is more ambitious for climate action than any Government we have seen in the past, and we will go after those targets.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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I raise the issue of historical sex abuse of children at St. John Ambulance. Mick Finnegan, one of the survivors of that abuse, is in the Gallery. It is almost a year since the publication of the Shannon report into this. It will be over a year since the organisation received a copy of that report. It made a series of recommendations, one of which was the employment of a full-time safeguarding officer. Now, almost a year later, St. John Ambulance has come to the Government saying it does not have the funding to pay for that, and the Government has agreed to fund a €100,000-a-year post.

First, does the Minister agree that it is not acceptable - in fact, it is outrageous - that a year has passed and, at the end of that year, St. John Ambulance discovers all of a sudden it does not have the money to fund this, when it was supposedly in the process of employing the person, and now says it does not have the money and needs the Government to step in? Second, will the Minister agree that the Government needs to make a condition for this money? It needs to be conditional on a clear-out of the board of anyone who was a senior officer at the time of the disclosures or who was on the board at the time of the disclosures and the full implementation of all recommendations?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy. The time is up. It is one question on one matter. Minister, you may take only one of the questions.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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What I said to Mick Finnegan on behalf of survivors on Thursday when I met with him, and what I have said to the Oireachtas joint committee subsequently, is that I am frustrated by the lack of progress on protection and a child safety lead in the organisation. To expedite that and to ensure we can have protection for the young people who continue to work in St. John Ambulance, the Government will step forward and make a contribution for the first year towards the cost of that role and, importantly, link that to an agreement with the organisation in terms of a service level agreement to allow us have a greater level of oversight and a greater level of accountability, accountability we do not currently have with the organisation.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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Last week, it was announced that the largest hotel in Drogheda, the D Hotel, with 113 rooms, is to become an accommodation centre for 500 international protection applicants, starting from 5 March. We were told the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will manage the arrival of the people. We were told that the provision of accommodation, health, education, income and other supports will be a whole-government emergency response, and we are told that the D Hotel signed a two-year contract. There was no communication with the people, the local authority or voluntary bodies. What resources and supports will the people of Drogheda get?

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy for his engagement, the Drogheda Deputies for theirs and all the Louth Deputies on this. There was communication with them and with the local authority.

Absolutely, however, we need to make sure we have the supports in place for a significant number of vulnerable people in family groups who will be using the D Hotel as their accommodation. Our Department will work, for example, with the Department of Education and local education and training board through the REALT system in the provision of education supports. I will be meeting with people in the business improvement district and chambers of commerce to understand their wider concerns on economic issues. We will filter that back into the work our Department does.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Last year, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, announced a postponement of development fees and water connection charges in an effort to encourage people to build amid spiralling construction costs. Huge delays are being experienced by individual self-builders and, indeed, bigger builder waiting for connection from Uisce Éireann. There is a fear now among these people that the delays will mean they will not be able to achieve the goal of having the houses built and completed by 1 April, which they are supposed to be and when the scheme is supposed to conclude. The scheme is too narrow. I ask the Minister to extend that scheme from April this year to at least the end of 2024 because of the delays that have been caused by Uisce Éireann and other planning matters, such as getting planning permission and everything else. People want to do it and engage to solve the housing crisis, but the window is too narrow.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The waiving of development charges and the cost of getting water connections for developers has been very successful. It has certainly accelerated developments that otherwise might not have been viable financially. Obviously, the Government needs to consider the question the Deputy is asking, but it has not made a decision on that yet. That approach has worked in terms of delivering more homes. I am not in position to say whether it is likely to be extended. That will be a matter for Government in the next couple of weeks.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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People whose homes are affected by defective blocks are stuck between the banks, which say mortgageability over remediated properties is dependent on certification by engineers, valuers, surveyors and others, and engineers who have raised issues over certifying based on the remediation options that are outlined in the Government scheme. This leaves property owners in an impossible situation. These concerns must be addressed. The Government needs to commit to a cross-sectoral response to the issue of mortgageability of homes under the scheme.

I was very disappointed to hear that the defective concrete block subcommittee that was due to take place tomorrow has been cancelled. The Government needs to start standing up for homeowners. I met with a Donegal woman in her 70s recently who is looking at at least €80,000 in excess of expenses on top of the redress scheme. She does not know how she is going to come up with that money. This is a so-called 100% redress scheme.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy. Time is up.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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People whose homes are affected by defective blocks have already waited years too long for the response they need and deserve.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Time is up, Deputy, please.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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What steps is the Government going to take to address the mortgageability of remediated homes?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am not sure why that meeting tomorrow has been postponed. I will try to get that information for the Deputy. My understanding is the Minister is engaging with banks, in particular, to try to ensure homeowners are getting fair treatment. I will get the Minister to come back with a more specific answer for the Deputy because I do not want to give him a bland answer.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Today, I met with constituents from east Cork regarding funding for roads and access to grants and social welfare to help them rebuild their lives after Storm Babet. Cork County Council estimates damage of between €50 million and €70 million to the roads and bridges in east Cork. Will the Minister clarify at what stage Cork County Council will receive adequate funding to help repair that damage?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising that issue. As he knows, I am pretty familiar with that part of Cork. There has been enormous damage since the floods happened a number of months ago. We tried to put the largest ever funding package in place to support businesses that have been hit by effectively redesigning a new scheme for extreme flood damage.

However, there is, of course, significant infrastructural damage as well that Cork County Council has to repair and for which it ultimately has to pick up the bill. The way this works is that Cork County Council needs to itemise the infrastructural damage that has happened as a result of that storm and then make a submission to Government on assisting with the cost of that repair work. I understand we are awaiting that detail from Cork County Council but when we get that the Government will be in a position to consider it.

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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The Minister spoke to this in the general but I will ask him a specific question. The chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, Marie Donnelly, confirms we are in danger of missing our 2025 targets with all of the attendant consequences, including a lost to the Exchequer of some €8 billion as outlined by the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, last week. We are seeing good reductions and good progress in some sectors. Energy is a prime example and we are doing well in agriculture as well. However, construction is difficult in terms of how we balance a housing crisis against the needs to act within a climate crisis. The problem is concrete. The solution - or at least part of it - is timber. Our use of timber in construction in Ireland is far lower than that of our counterparts, in Scotland in particular. It can be literally home grown, locks up carbon for the long term, and should sit well with modern methods of construction for rapid-build social homes, for example. The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, instituted a new inter-departmental and industry steering group on timber in construction in November of last year but I want to know when we will see some sort of implementable outputs from that forum.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of questions there but they are all very relevant. I am glad to hear the Deputy recognising that we are making progress in the context of agriculture and energy. On construction, we discussed that in Cabinet today, that is, the use of modern methods of construction, MMC, in the building of social housing, so that the Government can lead by example in this. There is a lot more structure and delivery now in terms of social housing being built using modern methods of construction, more timber, more timber laminate and less concrete. This is obviously trying to drive down the carbon footprint of building the home but also trying to ensure a reduced need for energy in the home afterwards. Therefore, significant progress is being made here and I can send the Deputy on some of that detail after questions.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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I was listening to "Liveline" as I drove in. Two women were on speaking about a Government decision made today to cut the products provided to breast cancer patients post-surgery, including a change that provides one post-surgery bra to women instead of two. The allowance is to be cut by more than half. I am sure the Minister will agree this is a very small support at a very low cost to Government for cancer survivors. I am raising this issue in the hope that he will correct it and confirm it is not the case. The issue was raised that there is a lack of equality county by county and that what is available differs. However, I ask if that is being standardised across the board that it would be done using the most available under the allowance and not cutting it in the first instance.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I will have to check that for the Deputy. I was in Cabinet today and do not recall any discussion on that issue. I will make sure I check because if it is being raised by the Deputy it is obviously an issue about which people are concerned. I will try to come back and clarify that issue as quick as we can. I will check with the Department of Health.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I raise the crisis in student accommodation. Just to let the Minister know what is happening, there were eight students in accommodation in Galway who, at the end of November, got an email stating they had to move out of the apartments they were in because of renovations. They moved out and they were moved into similar accommodation in two groups of four. Within two or three days, families were moved into the accommodation the students left with no renovations done. Last year, these students paid €8,000 for their accommodation. This year, they have got quotes of €10,000, which is an increase of 25% in a rent pressure zone where rents are supposed to be going up 2%. The reason they could do that was that they moved the students into accommodation they said was renovated. The students went to seek alternative accommodation locally and when they did, they were told that 2,000 applicants had applied for 200 vacancies. That is the crisis that exists in student accommodation. What is the Government doing about it? It is beginning to be unaffordable for families and for students to go to college.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Will the Deputy put some of those questions in writing to me? My understanding is that student accommodation is covered by the limitations to increases within rent pressure zones. If that is not being abided by, we will have to look into it. I am not familiar with the individual case in Galway referred to by the Deputy but even if a premises has been renovated, that does not mean it is a new rental premises; it just means it has been renovated. If the Deputy sends on the individual details I will take a look at it to make sure they are abiding by the rules.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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I ask about actual promised legislation, namely, the marine protected areas Bill. As the Minister knows, this proposed legislation will allow Ireland to designate 30% of our oceans as protected areas with 10% of this area to be designated as highly protected. It will be vitally important for the protection of our marine life and to help reduce global carbon emissions. We need to manage our oceans better. The Bill has gone through pre-legislative scrutiny. When will it be published? More important, will the Government do everything possible to ensure the Bill is enacted by the Oireachtas during the lifetime of this Dáil? I know the Minister has an interest in marine matters, therefore I hope he can give me a positive response to this question.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I know the Deputy appreciates this area, as do others in this House, and he knows the waters of the south-west coast of Ireland pretty well, some of which need to be protected. The Government is committed to this. I have been told that drafting is under way. It is being prioritised and is scheduled to be published this session. It is a complex area though and is not as straightforward as it might sound but the Government is committed to that 30% figure, which is a very significant body of water. When you think about the scale of Ireland's sovereign territory, our sea surface is approximately nine times what our land surface is and we are talking about making 30% of that area a marine protection area and 10% highly protected. It is an important piece of work. We are committed to doing it to protect our marine ecosystems and I hope we will see that Bill published this term.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are way over time and have five Deputies remaining. We will take 30-second questions from each of them.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I raise the issue on the shortage of radiation therapists. My understanding is that there is a 30% shortfall around the country. In fact, in Cork University Hospital, there is a 39% shortfall in radiation therapists. The basic issue is that while the Minister for higher education has met with me and with both University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin about growing the number of places, the problem now is that the private sector is offering bonuses to people who will sign up with it. There is a master's course in Cork that costs €12,000 per annum, therefore people are very attracted to this offer and are not coming into the HSE. Will the Government look at this issue?

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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In one fell swoop last week, Drogheda lost 60% of its hotel beds. The D Hotel will now be used exclusively to accommodate families who are IP applicants. Government policy on accommodation serves neither vulnerable children nor families of the local economy well. The Minister will know that extremists organised a protest in Drogheda on Saturday. Some 300 people attended; 40,000 people from Droghedians did not. I have told the Minister, and he knows this, that this is only about losing tourism beds and there is the evidence. Drogheda is famed for its social solidarity and for its tolerance and that will continue. However, Government policy risks turning fair-minded people hostile. I made two constructive proposals on this issue last week. I said the D Hotel should be put to dual-use, that is, tourism and contracted use. There are no child protection issues-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Time is up Deputy, please.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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-----because we know that Ukrainian families are also hosted in hotels providing accommodation for commercial use as well. Where there is a shortfall in accommodation-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, please.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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-----the local authority should be supported to use taxpayers' money to turn around and repurpose local buildings for accommodation and long-term community gain. Will the Minister accept my proposals?

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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Do we actually have the capacity to effectively police this State anymore? I ask because once again I was summoned to a coalition of residents' groups in a Dublin 1 area, from Buckingham Street around to Talbot Street. Their issues are ones that have been replicated over the last number of years. There is chronic law-breaking and open drug dealing and when the residents call the gardaí none arrives.

The Minister will be familiar with the area. It is where the Minister for Justice took a much-lauded walk a couple of months ago to prove the city was safe. Those residents certainly do not feel safe anymore. There is drug dealing outside their doors, chronic lawlessness and absolutely no capacity for gardaí to intervene. It is a decision. We have resources but a person should also have minimum expectations when they open their door and that is not being met in the inner city right now.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The annual report card by the Children's Rights Alliance was published today. The report shows how the State is continuing to fail on the delivery of children's mental health services. In Wexford, local mental health advocate and parent, Raymond Shannon, has been campaigning for improved mental health services for children in Wexford for years. The Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, stood with Raymond in protest lines in 2019 and five years on, CAMHS in Wexford remains in tatters. Referral acceptance is at an all-time low. It is absolutely shameful. Families cannot access the services. They are at breaking point. With children unable to function in their everyday lives, experiencing suicidal ideation and with their families crying out for help, I ask the Minister when the Government will put in place delivery of a robust mental health service.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are four questions for the Minister.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I am not sure how much time he will give me for all of them. Maybe it will be five minutes, which is excellent.

First, with regard to Deputy Colm Burke's question, I know he had a good meeting with the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, on these matters. The Minister's Department met the Department of Health, UCC and Trinity on increasing the number of undergraduate courses available. Further information is being provided to the two Departments by TCD and UCC on the proposal to increase places and the requirements for personnel and placements in the health sector arising from any increases in student numbers. The Deportment of Health has allocated some funding to help with the development of the sustainable practice education broadly for health and social care professionals this year. The national health and social care professionals office in the HSE is co-ordinating this process and leading on a number of programmes to support practice education for health and social care professionals, which will include identifying essential requirements. The Department of Health will continue to engage with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and higher education institutions with regard to the radiation therapy courses.

Deputy Nash asked a question about the D Hotel and I will ask my colleague the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to respond quickly.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy for his engagement on this issue over the past week. We are examining the potential of undertaking dual-use of the D Hotel. There are challenges to that, particularly where a hotel is hosting families. That was the proposal with regard to the D Hotel but we are examining that. I can confirm I will meet the Drogheda Business Improvement District and the Drogheda and District Chamber to discuss their concerns about the impact on tourism.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I would say to Deputy Nash that I think it is a helpful suggestion and I hope it can be the basis for moving the issues forward.

On antisocial behaviour and policing, I hear what Deputy Gannon is saying with regard to the pressures on Garda resources. The Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and the Garda Commissioner have focused significantly on increasing Garda resources, presence and visibility in the inner city and I hope that is having a positive impact-----

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is not.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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-----even if there are cases where more gardaí on the street is what is needed and there is a focus on doing that by recruiting more gardaí and making sure they are more visible and are given the equipment they need to do the job they need to do.

With regard to the Children's Rights Alliance annual report and scorecard, we agreed earlier that we would, I hope, provide time to debate that report and scorecard next week - the good, the bad and the challenging in that report. I am glad to say there are more areas of improvement than areas where there is a significant pressure but undoubtedly-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Not in Wexford.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I hear what the Deputy is saying and I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to respond briefly to her specific question.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for her question and for her continued advocacy for improved mental health services. As she knows, I visited Arden House in Wexford last year. I need to point out that we have two CAMHS teams in Wexford. The one in Arden House is currently not running a waiting list. I met the team-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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That is because they do not accept the referrals.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, we cannot get into that, Deputy.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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That is why we have to-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, we cannot get into that.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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It is why we have this debate continuously. The Minister of State does not accept what is being told.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, let the Minister of State respond.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Can I respond, please?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes, please.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I visited Arden House and I met the team. There is a very good and comprehensive team working in Arden House. When someone looks to be supported by a CAMHS team, it is not the politicians or the parents who will determine whether they meet the criteria or not but it is the consultant psychiatrist in the multidisciplinary team.

There has been a lot of comment today about children's rights. I did not receive a copy of the Children's Rights Alliance scorecard until this morning so I did not have a chance to respond prior to this. In 2023,12 children were admitted to adult wards. In 2019, for example, there were 54, so we have been making significant progress. There are occasions when a consultant psychiatrist will make a clinical decision that an appropriate placement for a young person for their own safety may be in a psychiatric adult ward. Anybody who was placed in a psychiatric adult ward last year was aged 17-plus. Sometimes if they are not placed in that ward there can be an adverse response. If there is a situation with regard to life or death, I will take life any day of the week.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Wynne has a very brief question.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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I have raised the satellite haemodialysis unit in Ennis on a continual basis. In regard to a recent parliamentary question in respect of the UL Hospitals Group, it was stated that the tender process is now complete, which is welcome, but that funding and HSE board approval is now required. The Minister might remember back in 2021 that taxi costs for transporting patients from across the mid-west rose to more than €1.6 million. We would all agree that money would be far better spent developing the site - the unit - rather than dragging people from as far as Loop Head or Ballyvaughan into Limerick for their treatment, which is three days per week. Will the Minister give clarification today and maybe a commitment to secure the funding and approval for this vital project-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Deputy.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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-----in order to give a better quality of life to the people of Clare.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the question but, as I think she probably knows, I cannot commit to funding for an individual project. I will certainly pass the question on to the Department of Health and the HSE which can respond to the Deputy directly.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are way over time. We have completed Questions on Policy or Legislation.