Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I move:

Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion reReport of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform entitled “Orders of Reference for Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community” (without debate)

- Motion reProposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2023 (without debate)

- Motion reProposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Section 181) Regulations 2023 (without debate)

- Motion reProposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2023 (without debate)

- Motion reProposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. X) Regulations 2023 (without debate)

- Motion reProposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. Y) Regulations 2023 (without debate) Private Members' business shall be Second Stage of the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Statements on the CSO Sexual Violence Survey 2022 (not to exceed 210 minutes)

- Social Welfare (Child Benefit) Bill 2023 (Second and remaining Stages) (Second Stage to conclude after 1 hr 55 minutes and any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage but no earlier than 7 p.m.; Committee and remaining Stages to be taken no earlier than 7 p.m. and to conclude within 90 minutes)

Private Members' business shall be the Motion re Targeted Investment in the Health Service, selected by the Independent Group.

Thursday's business shall be Statements on the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy (not to exceed 210 minutes).

Thursday evening business shall be the Motion reReport entitled “Issues impacting Dog Welfare in Ireland”.

Proposed arrangements for this week's business

In relation to Tuesday's business, it is proposed that: 1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(i) parliamentary questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) shall not be taken and, in accordance with the Order of the Dáil of 25th April, 2023, oral parliamentary questions to the Minister for Defence shall be taken for 90 minutes at the time when parliamentary questions to the Taoiseach would normally be taken; and

(ii) private Members' business shall be taken on the conclusion of oral parliamentary questions to the Minister for Defence, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the items following in the ordinary routine of business, namely, parliamentary questions to the Minister for Education and topical issues, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;

2.the Motion reReport of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform entitled “Orders of Reference for Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community” shall be taken without debate;

3. the Motion reProposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2023 shall be taken without debate;

4. the Motion reProposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Section 181) Regulations 2023 shall be taken without debate;

5. the Motion reProposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2023 shall be taken without debate;

6. the Motion reProposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. X) Regulations 2023 shall be taken without debate;

7. the Motion reProposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. Y) Regulations 2023 shall be taken without debate; and

8. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 170(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after two hours. In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that: 1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(i) parliamentary questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) shall not be taken;

(ii)the sitting shall be suspended pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) at the time when parliamentary questions to the Taoiseach would normally be taken, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Government business; and

(iii)the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Social Welfare (Child Benefit) Bill 2023, with consequential effect on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;

2. the Statements on the CSO Sexual Violence Survey 2022 shall not exceed 210 minutes, with arrangements in accordance with those agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 200 minutes, following which a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, and members may share time; and

3. in relation to the Social Welfare (Child Benefit) Bill 2023, the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) on the proceedings on Second Stage, speeches shall be confined to a single round in accordance with the arrangements agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for the first round on Second Stage, save that the times shall be halved in each case, and on the conclusion of the round, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply, which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings on Second Stage shall be brought to a conclusion; and

(ii) the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages shall be taken no earlier than 7 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Social Protection.

In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that: 1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of the Statements on the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the Motion reCommittee Report entitled “Issues impacting Dog Welfare in Ireland” and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and

2. the proceedings on the Statements on the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy shall not exceed 210 minutes, with arrangements in accordance with those agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 200 minutes, following which a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, and members may share time.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is that agreed?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is not agreed.

I too rise to condemn the outrageous, appalling attack over the weekend at Sandwith Street in Dublin. However, I listened to the Minister's fielding of questions from colleagues on this matter and I have to say she is most unconvincing in her presentation. The reality is that in a First World wealthy state, we have endured a housing crisis for more than a decade. Irish people find themselves homeless.

Irish people find themselves sofa-surfing or living in their mother's box room without hope or prospects. Now we have the additional crisis of people arriving to our shores, decent people seeking sanctuary here, and being left on our streets. That is a scandal. That is shameful and responsibility for it lies with those in government. I ask that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, present themselves to the House and set out their plan to get every person off the streets to resolve finally-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is over time.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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-----this outrage and take questions on those matters.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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It is very rare that I stand up on the Order of Business but I feel desperately that we need as a Legislature to have a debate about the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. What is going on at the moment is outrageous. Its latest decision is to prosecute a garda for pursuing three members of a well-known criminal gang, with more than 200 convictions, because he did his duty and followed them until they went down the M7 motorway and, unfortunately, got killed. He then went to the scene to try to help. The people of this country are outraged at this. Over the past number of days, €32,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe page for this garda, mostly by his colleagues. I know this garda-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Kelly, you need to be very careful about what you say.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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I know; I am being very careful. I know this garda to be a diligent worker and as diligent as they come. As I stand here, and I can verify this as of now, he still does not know what he is being charged with. We all know how the media had the story before his family did. We as a Legislature need to look at GSOC. We also need to ask ourselves in this Chamber who in the name of God, and I represent Templemore, would join An Garda Síochána when a garda is being treated like this. What are we saying to the criminals of Ireland - that gardaí are not going to go after them if they go the wrong way down a road? This is not acceptable. It is not acceptable behaviour and we as a Legislature and the Government have to lead on this to show the people of Ireland that members of An Garda Síochána who are doing their duty will be respected and will not be treated this way.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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In April this year, the High Court found the State was in violation of Article 1 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union when it comes to its treatment of migrants in this country. Article 1 has ten words. It simply states:

Human dignity is inviolable. It must be respected and protected.

In the month that has passed, we saw tents continue to build up outside the international protection office on Mount Street, to the point that last weekend it resulted in an attack of unimaginable magnitude that should be condemned by all parties. It was absolutely shocking to hear the Taoiseach say yesterday that not only were those people not afforded accommodation but that we can no longer afford them protection. We need a full debate on this issue. I echo the sentiment that we need the Ministers, Deputies O'Gorman and O'Brien, to come before the House but I would go further and say we need the full Cabinet for a question-and-answer session to ensure everybody is doing their job, as they claim to be, but also so we can have some responses and a back-and-forth. I would like to have that this week or next week at the earliest.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Following a violent attack on an encampment of asylum seekers, with tents and belongings burnt out, many believe it is only a matter of time before Ireland's far right claims its first killing. The Government made asylum seekers an easy target by forcing them to sleep on the streets. It made 500 other asylum seekers do so as well. It ignored warnings that its sleep on the street policy might lead to something of this kind. We need an urgent debate on the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers and we need it this week. I will put the matter to a vote if it is not agreed on the Order of Business.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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There was a sharp increase in excess deaths in Ireland in 2022, continuing in 2023, with our excess mortality rate the fourth highest in the EU. Ireland's excess mortality used typically to be below the EU average. Ireland's excess rate is currently up 25%, which is a shocking figure.

We are all approached on a daily basis by people concerned about this. On 1 February last, the Taoiseach told the Dáil he would ask the Chief Medical Officer for her opinion on this. Has she expressed an opinion yet? Will she come back? We need a full debate in this House. I will write to the Business Committee to ask for that. The 25% increase in excess deaths is a huge concern. We rub our hands and just ignore it. It is not acceptable and it must be investigated. We must have a proper and meaningful debate on this.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Chief Whip will engage through the Business Committee to arrange a debate on the issue raised by various Deputies about what happened at the weekend in Dublin regarding international protection applicants.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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This week.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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She will discuss it with the Deputy at the Business Committee.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Ministers present make statements and take questions?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Chief Whip will engage with Deputies to try to work that out. I do not know if it will be this week. It could possibly be next week.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will consult the Business Committee on foot of what the Minister said and see what can be arranged.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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What about my question?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Minister address the cases of Deputies McGrath and Kelly?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Regarding what Deputy Kelly raised, a decision to prosecute or not cannot be discussed in the Dáil, unfortunately.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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I am not asking the Minister to.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Legislation is going through the Houses at the minute so perhaps that would be an opportunity to raise the issues the Deputy spoke about.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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I think we all agree on what the issue is.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There will be an opportunity at that stage to raise the important issue that the Deputy raised. I am not sure what Deputy McGrath-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Excess deaths.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Maybe that can be discussed through the Business Committee.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Are the proposed arrangements, therefore, agreed to? Agreed.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Some 1,300 people with disabilities or acquired brain or spinal injuries live in nursing homes. These settings are entirely inappropriate to their needs. We all agree that people should get the support they need, ideally to live in their own homes or, failing that, in appropriate settings. None of this will be news to the Minister or the Government because the inappropriate placing of people with disabilities, acquired brain or spinal injuries in nursing homes has been raised time and time again. We need a plan to end this with clear timeframes and resources. When might that plan be put in place?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There is a clear Government commitment to produce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes. In this context, work has been ongoing with the HSE to address nursing home care of people aged under 65 who can, and wish to, live elsewhere. In 2023, specialist community-based disability services received funding of €2.5 billion to deliver a range of services in the areas of residential and respite services, day services, home support services and therapeutic supports. We are committed to providing the services and supports for people with disabilities that will empower them to live their lives and provide greater independence in accessing the services that they choose.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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Just two hours ago, along with fellow Oireachtas Members, a large number of us took to the streets on our bicycles to mark National Bike Week. I thank all those Oireachtas Members who took part, along with Oireachtas staff and cyclist.ie. Bicycles are the transport of the future. They are good for the planet, good for cities and towns and good for our health. Right now, far too many people in Ireland are reluctant to cycle. They feel it is not safe to do so. There is too little provision for cycling and too little commitment to ensure more safety of cyclists. While I welcome increased provision of cycle routes and active transport infrastructure, it is still unsafe to cycle in many parts of the country.

We need to see a transport revolution with cycling, pedestrians and wheelchair users put to the fore and prioritised and where we see a commitment to reducing reliance on private car transport and to scaling up public transport along with cycling and active travel infrastructure. Will the Minister and the Government commit to scaling up investment in cycling provision and ensuring that Ireland becomes a safer country to cycle in?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. There has been unprecedented investment in recent years in active travel. The Department of Rural and Community Development is assisting by providing better facilities through our outdoor recreation fund. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, is committed to increasing the number of people who can safely use bicycles. The Deputy is correct that, especially in rural areas there are no bicycle lanes, as in my part of the country, and it can be quite dangerous. The Government is committed to expanding the availability of cycleways throughout the country.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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Yesterday, the Taoiseach said something extraordinary. He said he did not believe there are enough gardaí on the streets in Dublin to protect asylum seekers living in tents. This was an astonishing statement for a number of reasons. First, it was incredibly cynical. It is not the job or duty of gardaí to ensure that people who come to this country seeking safety and support have a secure place to stay; it is the Government's responsibility to do this. It is failing in this legal and moral duty. Second, the Taoiseach's comments were also incredibly worrying because they seemed to imply we should now get used to seeing hundreds of asylum seekers sleeping rough on our streets. Was he telling us this is the new norm? Is this what the Government is now willing to accept? The Government cannot, and should not, outsource its responsibility to protect asylum seekers to overworked and under-resourced gardaí. After more than a year of this crisis, when will the Government live up to its own responsibilities and stop deflecting blame for this catastrophic failure?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. The Government takes full responsibility. I do not agree with her assertions. The Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, and I all want more gardaí on the street. We want more gardaí on the beat in communities. This is why we are recruiting more gardaí, with more than 300 recruits in Templemore as we speak. We have new classes every 11 weeks. The Minister for Justice has spoken to the Garda Commissioner who has assured him he has adequate resources to police such protests. The Commissioner says he has the operational integrity to police the protests. I will provide some statistics on Garda strength.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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I am not asking for an update on Garda figures.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The figure is up from 12,800 in 2015 to just over 14,000 now.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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I am asking about the Government giving responsibility to them to look after asylum seekers living in tents on the streets.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot get into a conversation.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have given some statistics. The number of people who have been recruited into An Garda Síochána is increasing all the time. We are committed to more gardaí on the beat and on the street.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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It should not be up to them to ensure people are safe in tents.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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More than 70 residents of Beaumont Residential Care in Cork city face an uncertain future after the owners of the centre told relatives last week that they will exit the fair deal scheme at the end of May if the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, does not increase payments to them. Does the Minister agree that no resident should be evicted from any nursing home and that the State has a responsibility to ensure this is the case? Does she also agree that it is not acceptable to give three weeks' notice of such an outcome? Given that the owners of this nursing home own a chain of 14 nursing homes throughout the State and is, in turn, owned by the giant French corporation, InfraVia, does the Minister further agree that its books should be open to inspection not only by representatives of the State, but also by representatives of the relatives?

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. The nursing home sector in Ireland is very fragmented, with 15 companies owning 10,700 beds and, on the other side of the equation, we have small family-run community nursing homes the length and breadth of the country that are embedded in the community. Last week, I met NTPF officials to discuss ways to support the sector where necessary and appropriate to complement the normal process of negotiating rate increases where contracts are renewed.

However, my priority has to be the residents. Some 22,500 people are supported every year to remain in nursing homes. Last year, the cost to the State was €1.4 billion; one twentieth of the entire health budget was paid out, with €1 billion being paid to private nursing homes. I have to make sure the budget lasts from 1 January at the start of the year to 31 December, the last day at the end of the year, to support older people to remain in nursing homes.

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the German Bundestag along with members of the German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce and we also had significant people there from the wind energy development sector. The main purpose of the visit was to highlight to Germany how Ireland can be a significant contributor to green hydrogen in the coming years. The current German national hydrogen strategy shows it will need to import more than 70% of its hydrogen needs by 2030 while Ireland will have significant resources at that end. At the moment, the German Government is engaging with countries such as Chile, Ecuador and Australia, while we have yet to publish our hydrogen strategy or enter any memorandum of understanding with the German Government in to advance joint hydrogen initiative projects. I ask the Minister to push the Government, first, to publish our hydrogen strategy. Second, will she also add momentum to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to co-sign a declaration of interest to co-operate in the field of green hydrogen development?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to give the Deputy an update on that particular matter. I do not have details to hand but I am happy to make sure that he responds to the query he has raised.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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I am glad the Minister for Justice is present. Clonmel has been waiting 64 years for a new Garda station. Superintendent Ruane and his team there, and the public, need a fit-for-purpose building, which they do not have. There have been statements today by a backbencher that we have decoupled the situation regarding the Children Court building from the two Garda stations involved in the public-private partnership, PPP. I hope that has happened and I have asked for it to happen. This should never have been allowed to happen in the first place. We have planning, we have the site and we need this to proceed. I notice that in the Minister's statement, he said it can proceed quicker. I want to know when we are going to have the Garda station, when we will have the funds to go to tender for a PPP for Clonmel Garda station and how soon it will be built and delivered.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is a great day for Clonmel. I can confirm, and I have confirmed by way of a statement, that we have made the decision to decouple both Clonmel and Macroom Garda stations from the PPP bundle. This means they will both be able to go direct to Exchequer-funded build and I expect Clonmel Garda station to go to construction next year.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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A few weeks ago, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, visited Sligo and indicated to council officials that no funding will be available for the Knock to Collooney N17 road scheme for the foreseeable future. This means the effective abandonment by the Government for this upgrade because “not in the foreseeable future” means more than 20 years away and less than 100. At that point, it is more likely to be “Beam me up, Scotty” than laying concrete. I remember the fanfare when the Government launched Project Ireland 2040 in Sligo before the last election and the N17 was a central part of its plan. In the interests of those who live and work in the north west and west, and who, for example, rely on the N17 as the main artery to a cancer care centre of excellence in Galway, will the Minister confirm that it is the policy of the Government to provide the necessary and timely funding for the upgrade of the N17?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm it is the Government’s policy to improve vital pieces of infrastructure, and a number have been mentioned in the House. I will raise the issue of the N17 with the Minister for Transport. I appreciate that, as the Deputy said, it is a main artery to a hospital.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Two weeks ago, I tabled a number of questions to all 15 Departments asking about their use of ChatGPT and other AI platforms. Having received responses from all Departments, I have serious concerns about the inconsistency of approach across them.

3 o’clock

Some have acknowledged that they are using the platform, others have used it in the past and have ceased using it, while still others are giving discretion to their officials as to whether they use it or not. There is an absolute inconsistency of approach across all of the Departments. I urge the Government to engage with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate Action and Communications, Deputy Ossian Smyth, who has significant personal expertise in this area, to ensure that the National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC, issues a request to all Departments to immediately cease their use of ChatGPT until such time as the centre has had time to assess the implications of its use and give expert guidance to those involved.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Cannon knows a lot about ChatGPT and the wider artificial intelligence area. He has raised concerns about it and I fully understand that. This issue is being looked at by the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, and we are awaiting advice from the NCSC. I will make sure to raise the issue and the important points made by Deputy Cannon with the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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To meet our climate change targets, plans are advancing to change the biofuel content in petrol for cars from E5 to E10. That is very much needed and most cars will be able to cope with the change. However, older cars will find it difficult and motorists are very concerned about this. What consideration has been given to meeting the needs of drivers of older vehicles? It is not just vintage cars but many of the older cars that are on our roads daily that will be affected. Their metal tanks, fuel lines and rubber seals could be compromised by the use of E10. What consideration has been given to their needs and to ensuring that there will be a just transition? Could an E5 pump remain available on forecourts to facilitate a transition period?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy makes a reasonable point and I will certainly raise it with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who has responsibility for this area.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Louise O'Reilly is next on the list but she is not here, so Deputy O'Dea is next.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Contact was made with the Ceann Comhairle's office-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have no record of that but Deputy Munster may proceed. I am supposed to be notified of any changes.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We did make contact with your office.

I want to raise the alarming issue of Louth local authorities being forced to close to applications for housing adaptation grants, housing aid for older people grants and mobility aid grants due to a lack of Government funding. Shamefully, there are currently 600 people on the waiting list, many of whom have been waiting for years. There will be more vulnerable people applying in the coming months but the door will have effectively been closed in their faces. I am sure the Minister will agree that this does not make financial sense in the long term because it will cost the State more if people are forced into respite or long-term care.

Before anything is said about funding, I want to let the Minister know that Louth local authorities have drawn down all and any funding that is available. They are now forced into a situation whereby they are closed to applications for grants for the most vulnerable in society. These are people who want to live at home but who need their homes adapted. Given there are already 600 people on the waiting list in Louth and the authorities are closed to new applications from some of the most vulnerable people, will the Government consider giving additional and adequate funding to the local authorities to allow them to accept new applications and to deal with the 600 vulnerable people currently waiting for home adaptations?

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Munster will be aware that there was a recent allocation of Government funding for housing adaptation grants. I take the Deputy's point about waiting lists. A review was carried out by the Department on the housing adaptation grant scheme and I am giving that serious consideration at the moment. The Government and the local authorities are very conscious of this issue. All I can say is that an allocation of funding was given quite recently for the current year. I have just received a proposal from my Department following its review of the housing adaptation grant scheme and I will certainly take under advice the points the Deputy has made.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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The unacceptable situation at University Hospital Limerick continues unabated, with unacceptable delays, excessive use of trolleys and so on. The situation is now being compounded by the fact that ICU nurses are on a work-to-rule because of the conditions under which they have to work. At the beginning of this year the Minister for Health committed to providing a surgical hub in the Limerick region to alleviate the situation. What progress has been made on this? We are six months down the road now.

Has a location been identified? Has it been kitted out? In short, when can we expect this facility to open? The present situation cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. He continues to raise the challenges they have in University Hospital Limerick with overcrowding. On the surgical hubs, five were announced at the very same time, including one for University Hospital Waterford. There is a total of €100 million for five surgical hubs, which will have a huge impact when they are up and running. My understanding is that the majority of these will be modular build but I will get a detailed response from the office of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and pass it on to the Deputy.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is crucial that we take immediate action to expand the role of pharmacists within our healthcare system. The challenges faced by many individuals accessing GP services are well documented and often prove to be a significant hurdle. The shortage of GPs, particularly in rural areas like my own, compounds this issue. To address the situation, I ask that the Government conduct a comprehensive review of legislation governing the role of pharmacists. In Northern Ireland, pharmacists have dual responsibility around advising, supplying and prescribing medication. Although Irish pharmacies do not currently possess independent prescribing rights, I ask that we establish a collaborative agreement between GPs and pharmacists, as such arrangements would enable pharmacists to prescribe certain medication or make adjustments to existing prescriptions within agreed protocols. This approach would streamline the prescribing process and reduce the necessity for routine GP appointments. I ask that Government consider this proposed review.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I agree with a lot of what he said. I understand that a number of pilot schemes have been rolled out across the country. I will raise the matter with the Minister for Health and get him to come back to the Deputy.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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Waterways Ireland was established in the late 1990s as a cross-Border authority responsible for the management of the inland navigable waterways. Its corporate and business plans are approved by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage here. In February 2022, Waterways Ireland stated to the then Oireachtas Committee on Public Petitions that it was only in 2021 that it had established a group to focus exclusively on first registration. At that time, only 52% of its property portfolio was registered or at an advanced stage of registration. It was stated also that encroachment had been brought to the agency's attention back as far as 2012. Why did it take 23 years for Waterways Ireland, a statutory body, to begin establishing what it legally owned? When will it be 100% registered? What engagement has the Department had regarding the unauthorised developments extending and expanding on waterways along the Shannon system, including in areas of special conservation and special protected areas? The Irish Government provides 85% of recurrent and maintenance funding to Waterways Ireland.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I am familiar with Waterways Ireland in that it is a cross-Border body and it does a lot of good work in making sure that our waterways systems are kept in good order, as the Deputy will know particularly around Athlone and the Shannon system. The Deputy has asked me some detailed questions. I cannot give her an answer but I am happy to raise it with the Minister and get him to come back to the Deputy.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are out of time but I am going to take 30-second questions from the four remaining Deputies.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Yesterday there were several reports in south County Wexford on the Waterford estuary, believe it or not, that there was pollution coming from the gas power station at Great Island. I ask the Minister to request the Environmental Protection Agency to look into this as a matter of urgency. It is not the first time. There is a severe die-back of the bivalve shellfish in this area and it is having a significant impact on the livelihood of some of the fishers.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The tenant in situpurchase scheme could be in serious trouble if recent examples are anything to go by. We have had Tathony House where, despite repeated requests from Dublin City Council to buy the property to prevent evictions, the owner has simply ignored the council. I highlighted an eviction last Friday that actually took place because a receiver refused requests from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown to buy a property to prevent an eviction. There are other examples. We need emergency measures by the Government to ensure that local authorities and approved housing bodies have first refusal in these situations.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I commend an excellent report in the Business Postby Lorcan Allen, Daniel Murray, Killian Woods and Catherine Sanz on energy, housing, water and planning and how Ireland is on the brink with regard to those basic essentials we need. The common denominator in our failure in energy, housing, water and planning is the Green contribution to this Government. The sooner Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael wake up to the fact the Greens are going to drive us all into the ground, the better. Look at the nonsensical proposal that came out the other day about workers coming to work no longer being allowed use the car park that has cost millions and millions of euro wherever they are working.

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

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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It was said they should instead park miles out of town and make the last bit of the journey on a bicycle, walk or try to get a bus, if they are able to.

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

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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It is absolutely ridiculous, and the sooner somebody calls it out for what it is, namely, insanity-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Mind your blood pressure there, please.

I call Deputy Duffy.

Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I congratulate the Minister and her Cabinet colleagues on the status of our current fiscal space. With this, can she consider one-off funding for school buildings in this year's budget? I am grateful to the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, for her ongoing work in my constituency. However, I can identify at least three schools there that are beyond remedial works. I hope the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, can see this opportunity to future-proof our education infrastructure for the next 50 years by utilising some of our fiscal space.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Duffy. As much as I might like to give him commitments on how the money is going to be spent, I do not think the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform would appreciate my assistance in this matter, but I will certainly raise it with him.

Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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I thank the Minister.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Verona Murphy raised the pollution in Waterford estuary. I will raise that with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and ask him to get the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to look into it.

I did not get a chance to read the article Deputy Healy-Rae referred to, but there are pressures on different aspects of our society. However, it is all part of an economy that is growing. We have more people working than ever before. It is nearly like the growing pains of a country that is getting bigger. What we need to find in every solution is a balance, and one that works for people on the ground. We all know we have to deal with the issues around climate change, but we have to do that in a way that is acceptable to people as well and get that balance right.

The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, is going to take Deputy Boyd Barrett's question.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I would hate the impression to go out that the tenant in situscheme is not working, because it is. It has proven to be a very successful scheme to date. We have well over 1,100 applications in process. We have put a target of 1,500 and we want that exceeded. I am not privy to the particulars of the cases the Deputy brought up, but I might discuss them with him to see what we can do. The scheme is there and I think every Member of the House will have had people come to them, we have contacted the relevant local authority and the homes have been purchased under the scheme. I might discuss the particular cases with the Deputy after this.