Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Yesterday and today Deputies across the House, myself included, have been receiving phone calls from school principals who are very concerned that the minor works grant will not be paid by the end of this year. It is a crucial grant, amounting to €50 per student which, for a 100-student school, means €5,000.

If these schools do not receive it, they will have to ask parents for the money instead. It is absolutely unacceptable that the Government would stand over it. I ask the Minister for an update today on the status of this payment, and a commitment that the minor works grant will be paid to every primary school in the country before the end of this year.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I outlined the position to the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Declan Breathnach, yesterday. This is a grant that has been paid in most years but is not an automatic payment. The situation is that we are reviewing our capital budgets. There is huge pressure coming from the need to provide 20,000 additional places every year. The Department is reviewing the position to see what would be the timing that could be achieved for the payment of such a grant. Work is continuing at the Department. I am not in a position to make a clear statement at this stage.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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In the programme for Government, a whole chapter is dedicated to ending the housing shortage and homelessness. It speaks of ending the need for rough sleeping by providing a high level of funding for homeless services and supporting emergency beds and accommodation options. This month, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive quarterly rough sleepers count revealed a 33% increase in the number of people forced to sleep on the streets in November. The only real accommodation solution for rough sleepers with complex needs is the Housing First programme. To date, only 180 Housing First tenancies have been created by the Government. This is well short of targets for 2017.

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

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I just wanted to note that the man who was found dead in a tent in Ranelagh this week was on the priority list for a Housing First home. I say that to underscore the importance of this issue and to offer our sympathies for the loss of that man and others. I want to know at this stage what the Government will do to make good this commitment? I do not want a list of statistical-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I know, but the Deputy is out of time-----

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I know-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----and her own colleagues will not be able to ask questions.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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-----but such is the tragedy of it. We are in an emergency situation. Will the Government accept this and do something about it?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy may not want a list, but well over 80 items are being pursued vigorously to try to address this issue. Among these is planned additional extra emergency accommodation before Christmas that will be available to ensure no one has to be on the streets over that period. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, the Housing First initiative is being rolled out and a new co-ordination group is being put in place to ensure that we effectively use the resources available. The Minister has pointed out his plans, for example, to double next year the number of social houses being built. Every action is on a very rapid ramp-up by the Government. No money has been spared in backing these proposals to make them a reality on the streets.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill was published last July. Last summer, it was the stated intention of the new Minister to get the Bill through before the summer recess. Meanwhile, a new Social Welfare Bill has been published and is progressing. We are now waiting nearly half a year for detailed amendments to come from the Government that would address the complex issue facing defined benefit pension schemes. It is not acceptable simply to park a piece of legislation that was to be fast tracked. When will we see these amendments and when will the Bill be advanced?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I understand it is awaiting Committee Stage, but I do not have more detail at this point on what amendments are necessary for Committee Stage. I will seek to get confirmation.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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A key recommendation of the national rare disease plan of the previous Government was to establish a rare disease technology review group. I understand there is a chair but no members. The Minister understands and is cognisant of the serious situation in this country whereby citizens cannot get certain drugs because of a very flawed process. This is a life or death situation for citizens and the Minister is aware of this. Will he comment on when this will be set up?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Kenny for raising the issue. He is entirely correct. When it comes to a number of rare diseases, which affect a small number of people in the country, the quality-adjusted life year, QALI, test alone will never make it possible. As he correctly said, Professor Barry, the head of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE, is undertaking a working group on this issue. Recently, I highlighted to him the priority I attach to this and I expect its work to commence very shortly. I will keep the Deputy informed.

Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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Page 48 of the programme for Government refers to An Post. The survival of the An Post network will be dependent on the introduction of a community banking network to post offices. The Departments of Finance and Rural and Community Development have committed to producing a report on community banking and its introduction to the post office network. Will the Minister confirm the Government is committed to the principle of introducing community banking into the post office network? When will the report be available?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I regret to say I do not have that information to hand. I have no doubt there is a lot of work going into this, but I do not know the timing of when that report will be made available to the House.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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For the past 18 months, the Minister, Deputy Ross, has informed the House his officials have been working on either a statutory instrument or primary legislation to make the Irish Aviation Authority the competent authority to deal with noise regulation at Dublin Airport. Four weeks ago, we learned this is no longer the case and he cannot tell us who will be the new competent authority. When will the Government recognise the significant importance of having a second runway to the economic development of our country? When can we expect to know who the competent authority will be to deal with noise regulation at Dublin Airport? When will the necessary legislation come before the House?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I suggest that a parliamentary question might be the best way. I know there is a European directive-----

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I have been asking about it for 18 months.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister will come in and answer directly to the Deputy.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I would not be so sure.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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There is a European directive, as the Deputy knows, which has to be implemented. There is an onus to identify a compliance authority and the Minister will have to be satisfied that whatever appointment he makes is a robust appointment that will deal with this important consideration.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister ask the Minister to respond to me?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy might table a Topical Issue.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have a question for the Minister for Health, which also relates to the Minister for Justice and Equality. The gambling control Bill is on the draft legislative framework. A report commissioned by Dr. Crystal Fulton proposed a national gambling strategy, under the remit of the Department of Health, with regard to addiction. We have one of the highest rates of addiction and gambling per capitain the world. Will the Minister consider initiating this? According to the Fulton report, it is important that we see progress on a national gambling strategy.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Chambers raises an important point. Gambling addiction brings real difficulty to so many houses and families throughout the country. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, is looking at the area of addiction, and I will raise this with her and ask her to revert to the Deputy directly.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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There is no national database of claims, which makes claims harder to track. The Government working group on the cost of insurance is trying to recommend that data protection legislation be amended to allow names to be shared in a national claim database. This is already operating in other jurisdictions. Insurance fraud adds €50 to the average motor insurance premium, and an additional €35 is added for uninsured drivers who go missing after an accident. When can we expect the Bill to come before the House?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Michael D'Arcy, has been working on this, and he made an announcement on progress in more than 33 initiatives put in place to tackle the cost of insurance. It is a complex issue, but I know this claims data is a high priority. I will revert to the Deputy to get a clear timescale for the legislation.

Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Page 140 of the programme of Government deals with the Government's mandate as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. I acknowledge the sharing of information, particularly with the committee on the Good Friday Agreement on Brexit issues and the Border, and the engagement mentioned this morning with party leaders on the sensitive issues of solving the Irish Border issue. My question relates to the concerns of many others in the House, particularly Deputies from the Border region.

We need a full appraisal and consultation in order that we can be informed before the next summit about our position in those negotiations. We are representing people in various sectors who are worried and concerned and, although I am aware of the sensitivities involved, we should be given information in advance of the summit so that we can have clarity for our constituents about what is happening.

Finally, I will not take lectures from Sinn Féin on Fianna Fáil's stance on Brexit. We have not sat on our hands or hurled on the ditch. Sinn Féin had an opportunity to participate in government in the North and-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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So had Fianna Fáil.

Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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-----to represent the party in Westminster, but it did not take that opportunity.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Fianna Fáil looking for people to go to Westminster is pathetic.

Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It is in Sinn Féin's hands.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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It does not even know its own history.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are losing valuable time.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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There is a shared concern across the House about this matter. The various structures of the committees of the House and the debates in the Chamber offer such an opportunity. If, however, Deputies wish to bring certain issues to the attention of Ministers privately, the latter are always available to respond to their concerns.

John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On the legislation promised to facilitate continued support of the Pobal-funded network of social economy projects, the increase in the minimum wage will have a significant impact on the ability of Pobal projects to pay staff. There is no increase in the wage grant for projects funded by Pobal. I raised this matter in a parliamentary question but the reply I received stated that staffing matters are an issue for the social economy projects and have no direct impact on Pobal. Either the Department misunderstood the question or it showed a blatant disregard for the problem I am trying to solve. This issue falls within the remit of the new Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Madigan. I ask that it be addressed in the context of projects across the country. Otherwise, many of these beneficial projects will be put out of business.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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These budgets have been set for 2018. Agencies must work within the budgets that are set. At this stage there cannot be a revision of budgetary provision. That would make it impossible to have reliable budgeting. While I am sure Pobal, in the context of its allocations and choices, will attempt to accommodate applications, I cannot see how an across-the-board change in budgeting could be possible.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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On page 4 of the programme for Government, there is a reference to creating a social economy and a number of points are made. One of the first of these relates to sound public finances and a stable and broad tax base. Senior officials from the Revenue Commissioners appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts this morning. They informed it that eight out of ten of the highest earning companies in the country paid zero tax last year and that some even got tax rebates. It is time the Minister for Finance came to the House to explain this. This is not about whether we should have the 12.5% rate of corporation tax - that is a separate argument - it is about the companies that pay zero tax. At the same time, small businesses in my constituency are being hounded by the Revenue Commissioners for the smallest of misdemeanours, such as when they miss their VAT payments by a couple of weeks and so forth. Why does this imbalance exist? It goes to the heart of everything we are doing here. We debate all types of issues relating to health, housing and so forth and we have no money for them, yet these companies are getting away with paying zero tax. Will the Minister come to the House to give a statement on these matters?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Over the past couple of years ,Sinn Féin has not exactly been exemplary in broadening the tax base. It opposed water charges, local property tax and the universal service charge-----

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Please deal with the point.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Those are its credentials on broadening the tax base.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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We proposed a wealth tax.

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

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Revenue Commissioners apply the legislation passed by the Oireachtas to every tax with absolute vigour and determination. If a company does not pay tax because it has legitimate expenses which offset its tax, that is its entitlement.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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It is a loophole being exploited.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Unless and until the legislation is changed, that will remain the case.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Change the legislation.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The position regarding the Revenue Commissioners enforcing the tax rules against companies is absolutely clear. They will go through a company for a shortcut if it is failing to meet its obligations.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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What about Apple?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I have seen that in every case I have encountered over a number of years. The Revenue Commissioners are relentless in pursuing the legitimate taxes that are owed by companies.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That concludes questions on promised legislation. My apologies to the six Deputies whose questions were not reached.