Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)

Mar is eol don Taoiseach, there are hugely critical recruitment and retention problems for public service workers, go háirithe i mBaile Átha Cliath, i gCorcaigh agus i nGaillimh. These workers include nurses, teachers, gardaí, social workers and paramedics. All of them our key in keeping our public systems functioning. The reality is they are being paid the same whether they are living in Longford or they are living in Lucan or Coolock. They cannot afford to live in the communities they are being asked to serve. In light of this, I ask the Taoiseach if there is any consideration for targeted reliefs, like the key worker scheme that was once used in London, to ensure essential workers can afford to live near their workplace. This is not about preferential treatment. It is about keeping hospitals staffed, classrooms open and our streets safe.

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