Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is proposed to take No. 2, Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 7, Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 - Second Stage (resumed).

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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There are no proposals to be put to the House.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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On the health information Bill, it is reported that the HSE sent correspondence to the Department of Health in which it sought a budget increase of €1.4 billion for 2015. This would represent a net increase of approximately €900 million. As the Tánaiste is aware, the HSE was only granted an increase of €115 million in the budget. The Minister for Health is on record as denying that any request such was made or that he was seeking anything like that amount that was requested. What happened in the period between the correspondence in question being received in the Department of Health and the announcement of the budget? There has been a deafening silence in respect of this matter. Perhaps the Tánaiste will provide a commitment that the relevant information will be made available to the House.

In the context of the industrial relations (amendment) (No. 2) Bill, the Tánaiste will be aware that the trade union Mandate is in the process of balloting its members in Dunnes Stores. Retail workers in Dunnes Stores are encountering extreme difficulties in terms of how their zero-hours contracts are being implemented. I understand their grievances have been brought to the attention of management. What is happening is very unfair to workers because they face losing part of their salaries if strike action is taken. Surely it must be possible for an intervention to be made in order that a satisfactory solution to the dispute might be found.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I anticipate that the collective bargaining legislation to which the Deputy just referred will be introduced later this year. As the Deputy knows, the HSE received significant increases in its budget for this year and last year. It was also the recipient of sizeable supplementary budgets. I understand that major challenges remain in the context of improving both the health service and levels of delivery within it. This year, the HSE received its first significant budget increase in a very long time.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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This morning we learned that the HSE's CEO, Mr. Tony O'Brien, warned the Government that its failure to provide sufficient funding for the health service this year will lead to significant clinical risks for patients. Mr. O'Brien's memo to the Department of Health indicates that these risks are most acute in the context of accident and emergency departments-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Deputy seeking a debate?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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-----maternity care, vital procedures and primary care. In light of what I have just outlined, there is an urgent need for the Minister for Health to make a full statement to the Dáil on this issue. There have been conflicting accounts from the Government in respect of funding requests from the HSE in respect of the health service. It is essential that the Minister come before the Dáil to set out the position in clear and unequivocal terms, particularly in the context of contacts he has had with and the nature of requests made to him by the HSE.

I have raised the matter of the Constitutional Convention with both the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach but I have not got very far with either of them. It is clear that the Government is not going to hold referendums on a number of proposals and recommendations made by the convention, much less schedule debates on the issues involved. Will the Tánaiste at least clarify the Government's position on the removal of the women-in-the-home clause from the 1937 Constitution, as the convention recommended? Does the Government share the view that this clause should be removed from the Constitution?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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On the question of the Minister for Health making a statement or taking part in a debate in the House in respect of both the additional funding provided to the health service for this year and the way in which the Minister is seeking better deals with regard to drug prices, I am quite sure the Whips, subject to discussions among them, would be happy to arrange for this to happen at an appropriate time.

The Government has received the reports of the Constitutional Convention and it is committed to holding two referenda in the early part of the summer in respect of marriage equality and the age of qualification for those who wish to stand as candidates in Presidential elections. We do not have any proposals to hold further constitutional referenda at this point. The Government has received the convention's recommendation regarding the women-in-the-home clause in the Constitution. However, no date has been set for a referendum in respect of that matter.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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What is the Government's position on it? Does it agree with the commission's recommendation?

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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No answer.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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When will the children and family relationships Bill be introduced? It has been promised for a long time but there appears to be an undue delay with regard to it being brought forward.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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My understanding is that the children and family relationships Bill, which was the subject of a briefing given by the Minister for Justice and Equality to Deputies of all parties both yesterday and this morning, will be brought before the Government next Tuesday. I anticipate that the Second Stage will take place, subject to agreement among the Whips, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday next and 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Monday week. It is anticipated that Committee Stage will be taken shortly thereafter, followed by Report Stage. The Bill will, therefore, pass through the House in the coming weeks. I understand the Minister for Justice and Equality has offered briefings on the legislation and that the opportunity to avail of these has been accepted by a number of parties. If the Deputy is interested in availing of a further briefing, I will ask the Minister to make arrangements in that regard.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Is the Tánaiste aware that a group of families and parents of children with Down's syndrome are threatening to bring a legal case against the State regarding the lack of resources available to their children in national primary schools? I ask this question in the context of the Down's Syndrome (Equality of Access) Bill 2013, which I brought forward and which was agreed to by the Government and Fianna Fáil. That legislation, had it been enacted, could have been used to resolve this issue. Now, however, parents are going to resort to taking legal action and the State will be obliged to spend money defending cases before the courts. Will the Tánaiste intervene, as a matter of urgency, to ensure that proper resource hours are allocated to children with Down's syndrome?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware, a group has been advising the Minister for Education and Skills and her Department in the context of the provision of resources and supports for children with special needs, including those with Down's syndrome, in our schools. The Minister is proposing that a series of pilot projects be put in place in the coming years. I have met the parents of children with Down's syndrome and I am aware that the Minister is determined to address this issue. With the possibility of being able to provide increased resources as the economy recovers and begins to perform better, I hope the issues that have given rise to concern will be addressed.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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When will the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (amendment) Bill and the proceeds of crime (amendment) Bill be brought before the House for debate?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In the context of the proceeds of crime (amendment) Bill, consultations are taking place with the Criminal Assets Bureau. I do not have a date, as such, in respect of the introduction of either item of legislation.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I call Deputy Troy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Durkan is next. I have called Deputy Troy.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Not quite as good, Deputy Durkan, not quite as good. As the Tánaiste is aware, the mobility allowance scheme was discontinued in respect of new applicants.

Granted, existing participants were allowed to retain their allowance. The scheme was discontinued a number of years ago on the promise by the Government that legislation would be introduced to deal with this matter. No new applicant has been able to apply under the scheme for the past two years, despite repeated promises by the Government that a new one would be introduced. When will we see the necessary legislation to give effect to the new scheme so new applicants will be able to apply?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I do not have a date for it but realise it is an issue on which the Minister is anxious to make progress.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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In actual fact, that was the first issue I was going to raise. I am delighted to see that the Opposition is equally concerned about these matters. I emphasise the importance of the legislation.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It is a pity the Government did not show some concern and has not resolved it at this stage.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I hope it can be brought forward at the earliest opportunity.

Also on promised legislation, what is the status of the apprenticeship Bill, which is particularly important at present to enable young people to enter the workforce?

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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We could have done it today.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On promised legislation, what is the position on the mediation Bill, which has wide implications in many areas? I hope both Bills will be before the House soon.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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On Deputy Troy's question and the health (transport support) Bill, the legislation has been included in the legislative programme of the Department of Health for 2015.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It was included for 2014 also.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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As I stated to Deputy Troy, work is ongoing on the policy but I do not have a date.

On apprenticeships, Deputy Durkan may be aware that the apprenticeship council has been constituted under the chairmanship of the CEO of the ESB. Happily, the ESB, Irish Rail and, more recently, Eircom and other large companies have begun to advertise a significant number of new apprenticeships. These have been strongly supported in terms of applications. I do not have a date for the apprenticeship Bill itself. I anticipate that the mediation Bill will be introduced later this year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Tánaiste.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The travelling public expects a reliable, quality train service, be it at home or abroad. When can we expect the international travel by rail Bill before the House?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I do not have advice on a date for that yet.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Can the Tánaiste assure us about the development by the Department of Education and Skills of an online database for primary schools? Will the database be used to cut capitation grants or reduce teacher numbers when parents do not consent to the forwarding of PPS numbers and other sensitive information by their children's school to the Department? I have raised this on the Order of Business before. Replies to parliamentary questions I have received indicate that what I have described is the Department's intention. Can the Tánaiste assure us that the Government will not go down that route?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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That is a subject for another parliamentary question.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to refer to the point made by Deputy Finian McGrath on children with Down's syndrome. In light of the Department's announcement that it will not be proceeding with the revised model for allocating special needs teaching hours and resources, will the Tánaiste ensure that as of this coming September children diagnosed with mild, as opposed to moderate, Down's syndrome will be granted a specific number of resource hours rather than being specifically excluded, as they are currently?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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It could be a Topical Issue matter also.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The question on children with Down's syndrome is more a matter for detailed discussion with the Minister for Education and Skills. The Minister is interested in seeing additional resources directed towards children who need supports and resource hours in school. Having secured an additional 1,700 new appointments, including approximately 350 special needs assistants, in primary and secondary schools this year, I certainly hope circumstances will improve as additional resources are allocated.

With regard to PPS numbers and the primary online database, my understanding — the Deputy may ask detailed questions of the Minister and raise this at committee level for detailed discussion — is that the model in question is the general model of using data to help with the allocation of resources. The good news is that as the economy has been improving, we have been building new schools and allocating significant additional resources for education. I expect this will continue.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Is the Tánaiste in a position to convey to the Dáil today the current status of the sale of alcohol Bill, the purpose of which is to codify in law measures related to the consumption and sale of alcohol?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I understand it will be later this year.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In the context of the Irish Aviation Authority (amendment) Bill, the Tánaiste would accept that there has been considerable public controversy recently over the fact that Russian military aircraft entered very heavily trafficked Irish airspace. They did so without any notification and were pursued out of Irish airspace, I understand, by the British air corps. When will the Bill be forthcoming? Will it address the issues that have arisen in this context? I refer to the resourcing of our own air corps, the adequacy of our radar systems and, ultimately public safety.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I do not yet have a date for the Bill.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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The tenant house purchase scheme was suspended some time ago. Many council tenants are paying high prices for rent because they are means tested. They are anxiously awaiting the introduction of a new scheme. Recently, the Central Bank announced new lending rules for first-time buyers which should make it more attractive to tenants who are first-time buyers who wish to buy their homes from the local authority. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, has said he will introduce a new tenant purchase scheme and that it will come under the housing Bill. That Bill keeps getting pushed out further but it is extremely important that we deal with this as soon as possible. There are hundreds of people across this city waiting anxiously to purchase their own homes.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am aware from my contacts across the city and tenants that there is a great deal of interest in a new tenant purchase scheme. However, I do not have any date for it as we speak.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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In light of the insolvency legislation, is the Government working with the Department of Education and Skills? In recent months I have come across many people who are going through the insolvency process. They have sons and daughters whom they will be sending to college. Their overall earnings are above the threshold but the reality is that they earn but €24,000 or €25,000 when everything is subtracted. Is the Government doing something to facilitate these people? Alternatively, will the people in middle Ireland who are going through what I describe be left out such that their sons and daughters will not be able to go to college?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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If somebody has a change of circumstances arising from debt issues, it really should be conveyed to the Department of Social Protection when calculating means for grant purposes. There have been no changes in this regard but if the Deputy has some detailed proposals on it, it might be appropriate to raise them with the line Minister or, perhaps, at the committee so as to have a detailed discussion.