Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On another day, we can debate whether we think we should get rid of all data centres or if there is a function or a role for data centres in a digitalised economy. I would like and appreciate hearing the Deputy's perspective on that. Nevertheless, TBESS is an emergency scheme being brought in as a temporary state aid framework under the auspices of the EU to ensure companies do not go to the wall and we can protect jobs. That is the motivation behind it.

Deputy Quinlivan raised the matter of the income thresholds review. It is under way and the Minister has indicated he will act on that review once he gets it.

As I said to Deputy Bacik, it will be before the end of the year before the scheme itself would be designed. It is unlikely, therefore, that it will be in the Finance Bill, although we have to go through Committee and Report Stages and amendments can be made to it. It is a stand-alone scheme for apartment defects and is not necessarily dependent on the Finance Bill.

To respond to Deputy Tóibín, the Minister for Education has dramatically reduced costs for thousands of people through the initiative she took on free school transport. This is €650 per family that she saved and an extra 21,000 people, above the 100,000, availed of the scheme. The increased demand then, unfortunately, led to some people not being able to avail of it. The option would have been not to do anything but, in fairness, this initiative has had a major beneficial impact on thousands of families. The Minister is working flat out with CIÉ and others to ensure we can get everybody covered and get more buses in place to cover anybody who has not so far been covered by the concessionary scheme.

Deputy Barry also raised the eviction ban and I have given the answer to that in terms of who is covered. Deputy Brendan Smith-----

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