Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Could the Taoiseach tell the Dáil when the Government will move the writ for the Carlow-Kilkenny by-election? There is a vacancy there. The previous Government was forced by Deputy Pearse Doherty's High Court action to call by-elections within six months so I would like to know when the people of that constituency will have the opportunity to elect a Deputy to represent them.

My other questions concern the working group on Seanad reform, the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2015 and the health (transport support) Bill. Mar is eol don Leas-Cheann Comhairle, an tseachtain seo caite d'fhoilsigh an grúpa oibre maidir le athchóiriú an tSeanaid a thuarascáil. This report falls far short of what Sinn Féin and others believe is needed to make the Seanad a genuinely democratic and representative elected Chamber mostly because of the restricted terms of reference it was given. The fact that the Taoiseach retains the privilege of appointing 11 nominees is wrong. Other issues include the failure to deal with university representation, gender equality or the representation of ethnic groups, particularly the Traveller community. The numbers to be elected by universal suffrage are too small. Having said all that, when will the Dáil have the opportunity to debate this report and when does the Taoiseach expect the Government to produce legislation?

Tá ceist eile agam faoi Acht atá an-tábhachtach, namely, the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2015. We are told that this Bill is about making school enrolment more structured, fair and transparent. It also provides that a school will not discriminate on the basis of religion but if I understand it properly, it then goes on to provide for discrimination by allowing schools to refuse to admit certain children in order to maintain the ethos of the school so this means a school can still discriminate based on religion or faith. The Minister for Education and Skills has also said that she favours allowing schools to admit 10% of pupils if their parents are past pupils. Clearly, this also discriminates against children who do not have that distinction. What is the Taoiseach's view of this and has the Government set a date for the Second Stage reading of this Bill?

I have raised the next issue many times with the Taoiseach. I have noticed over the past few months that the Government is almost ticking boxes with regard to issues that have been raised here. These are very important issues that do not cost an awful lot of money. It is almost as if the Government is trying to close down these issues of discontent as it prepares for the general election. The health (transport support) Bill is a major injustice. In 2013, the Government closed the mobility allowance scheme and the motorised transport grant, affecting 5,000 citizens and their families.

I have raised this with the Taoiseach on a number of occasions and he has acknowledged that what is happening is wrong. The excuse given by the Minister at the time was that the Government could not afford to keep the scheme open. It is interesting that this was brought to the attention of the Dáil because it was ruled to be in breach of equality laws. We were told that the issue would be resolved by the health (transport support) Bill. Two years later, there has been no progress. Two years later, these people are still being denied this necessary grant. According to the legislative programme, it is not possible to indicate when this Bill will be published. Perhaps the Taoiseach will clarify for the House when the health (transport support) Bill will be published. Address of this issue would not cost the Government or taxpayer a great deal of money but would alleviate great difficulties for these citizens and their families.

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