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

Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Statement of Estimates for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (without debate)

- Motion reSittings and Business of the Dáil (without debate)

- Statements on School Transport 2023/2024 School Year (not to exceed 147 minutes) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion reChildcare Fees, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be: - Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to stand adjourned either at 6.30 p.m. or after 3 hours 41 minutes, whichever is the later)

- Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022 (Report and Final Stages) (to be taken no earlier than 5.30 p.m., and if not previously concluded, to stand adjourned after one hour)

- Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022 (Amendments from the Seanad) (if not previously concluded, to stand adjourned after one hour) Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re An Garda Síochána, selected by the Regional Group.

Thursday's business shall be: - Motion for aSupplementary Estimate for Public Services [Vote 40] (back from Committee)

- Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 (Second Stage, resumed, if not previously concluded)*

- Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 (Second Stage)* *Please note: if reached and if not previously concluded, proceedings on any Government Bill to stand adjourned at 6 p.m.

Thursday evening business shall be Second Stage of the Seller’s Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill 2021.

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

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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It is not agreed. On 17 October, workers in section 39, section 56 and section 10 agencies will be taking industrial action. As the Taoiseach and I know, this is the last thing they want to do. It is very much the last thing that service users and their families want to happen. Can we put time aside this week to discuss that dispute? The families are watching this debate and feel like they are being ignored. We cannot let the two weeks that are left go without us having an intervention. We need to make time for a debate.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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Earlier, our justice spokesperson, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, raised with the Taoiseach the crisis in the criminal justice system today, noting that the business of the criminal courts has been halted due to the withdrawal of services by criminal barristers and solicitors because of the lack of pay restoration moves. We have also seen a crisis in An Garda Síochána, with the work-to-rule ongoing today and on future Tuesdays including, it seems, Hallowe'en. The response the Taoiseach gave was effectively that of a bystander to these issues. Will he set aside time in the House in order that we can debate these issues and ensure there is a speedy resolution so that our criminal justice system can again work for communities and victims of crime?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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I too want to raise the issue of workers in section 39, section 56 and section 10 organisations. The last thing they want to do is engage in industrial action. They are at the coalface of looking after our most vulnerable, in organisations such as the Irish Wheelchair Association, RehabCare and children's disabilities services, which are being shamefully neglected by the Government. We have to support these workers. It is disgraceful that they work beside colleagues who earn an extra €4 an hour. They do not want to go on strike. They offer a lifeline to the people they look after every day and provide them with a sense of hope. They light up their lives. They want to be with them, not on picket duty. I am looking for a debate on this issue, and my Rural Independent Group colleagues want a debate on this issue. The strike is imminent. Gardaí and barristers are on strike. Does the Government want the whole country to be on strike? These workers are a dedicated group of people and provide specialised services willingly and happily, but they want and need parity of esteem.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Last week Dáil Éireann, to its shame, gave a round of applause to a parliamentary delegation from Azerbaijan, which included representatives of its ruling party. This was despite the fact that the Azerbaijani state organised a blockade for ten months of Nagorno-Karabakh, which resulted in starvation for some, seized the territory, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds, including children, and forced 100,000 Armenian people to flee the territory, de factoethnic cleansing. I request that the business committee meet this week and, when it meets, considers how this stain on the name of this Parliament can best be dealt with and removed.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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I had anticipated, given that it was raised several times last week by Deputy Catherine Murphy, that we would have statements this week on section 39 workers, who will strike in two weeks' time? I do not think there is a person in this Chamber representing a constituency who will not be affected if over 4,000 health and voluntary workers remove their labour to some of the most vulnerable people. This is not a decision they want to take but there seems to be a lack of urgency. We need statements and to reassert the principle of equity between section 39 workers and section 38 workers who, in so many instances, do the same job. I am asking the Government for urgency on this issue. We need statements this week because the strike is imminent and the people who will be impacted by it simply cannot be affected.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I rise to support my colleagues regarding section 39 and section 56 workers. Everyone in this House knows the impact this will have on services. All of us have received correspondence from parents, families and service users who are extremely anxious about it. Because next week is budget week, we will not get the opportunity to debate this. Could we have an emergency meeting of the Business Committee later today to see if we can facilitate a debate at some stage this week on this issue, because it is important? All of us in the House agree that it needs to be debated and addressed, particularly in advance of the budget. If the Chief Whip and the Ceann Comhairle's office could facilitate that, we could find a resolution.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that engagement is taking place regarding section 39 and section 56 agencies. All of us on all sides of the House are very conscious of the vital services those bodies provide. The issue can only be solved, and it can be solved and the strike avoided, through engagement over the next two weeks.

Regarding time being provided, I spoke to the Chief Whip. It is possible, through the Business Committee, to provide time next week for statements notwithstanding the fact that it is budget week. As Deputies will know, Opposition parties have dedicated time each week and it is up to them to prioritise the issues they want discussed during that time.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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For the past two years the north inner city has been without any drugs and alcohol task force. For those two years the HSE has consistently and wrongly claimed the task force acted outside of its remit or beyond its powers in its appointment of its new chairperson. The HSE and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, issued a statement yesterday that they will reconstitute the drug task force. There was no consultation with the local group. The statement goes on to say the HSE will recruit and appoint a new chairperson. The behaviour of the HSE in this episode has been quite disgraceful. I have raised this previously with the Taoiseach. I raised it with his predecessor, Deputy Micheál Martin, when he was Taoiseach. I have raised it with countless Ministers. I ask that the Minister for Health comes before the House and makes a statement on this matter.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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Absolutely. I agree 100%.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I will answer this question. The north inner city drug and alcohol task force plays an invaluable role in addressing drug problems in line with the national drugs strategy and in the north-east inner city. The decision to reconstitute the task force followed extensive consultation with former members of the task force and local stakeholders. I have been in this role for the past six months and from my point of view it is very important that we get this task force back up and running. We want to make sure we have adequate services that are funded. More than €2 million is being allocated to services in this area. I want to make sure we get the task force back up and running and those services rolled out. This is my priority as Minister of State with responsibility for this area.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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The fact of the matter is the HSE has toppled the community leadership there. It is disgraceful behaviour by the HSE and the Minister.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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Last Thursday, I raised with the Tánaiste the scourge of vacancy and dereliction throughout the country. He indicated this was really a matter for local authorities to tackle but it really is a matter for central government to take a lead. This is such a blight on our communities throughout the country. It seems that State agencies and public bodies are directly involved. Yesterday, an investigation by Ferghal Blaney of theIrish Mirror revealed the HSE owns more than 250 empty buildings throughout the country. There are several in my constituency of Dublin Bay South, including Baggot Street hospital and the old Meath Street hospital main building. Both of these could, and should, be repurposed for accommodation in a housing crisis. Tonight I will host a public meeting in Rathmines on vacancy and dereliction. We will look for much more urgent and concerted Government action to address the scourge of vacancy and dereliction. In particular, what will the Taoiseach do to ensure that public bodies such as the HSE are not hoarding land, vacant sites or vacant buildings that could be used for housing?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. Under Housing for All, each Department and agency, including the HSE, was requested to examine its existing portfolio of properties and to place them on the market if they were not suitable for their purposes and may be suitable for conversion to residential accommodation.

3 o’clock

My Department chairs the State lands and property subgroup, which reports to the public service delivery group under Housing for All to monitor progress being made on this action by the HSE and other agencies. We have seen a reduction, albeit an insufficient one, in the number of disused properties held by the HSE. There are currently 26 sites of ongoing interest to local authorities, and they are ready to progress to the next stage of investigation and determination.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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There is hardly a greater avoidable tragedy in Irish society than child poverty. It destroys and limits lives. It affects everything, including emotional development, educational attainment, mental health, physical well-being, career opportunities and income in later life. Poverty does not just contribute to bad outcomes. It has a direct and negative causal impact on children, particularly when it starts early in childhood and persists throughout. It does not only have a human cost in scarred and damaged lives but also has a financial cost for the State. It has been estimated that child poverty costs the State approximately €20 billion every year. Therefore, not only is it in children's interest to end it but it is in the State's selfish interest to abolish it. The Taoiseach said that ending child poverty is a core ambition for the Government. I hope that ambition will be reflected in the budget next week. Will the Government substantially increase targeted payments to vulnerable children, introduce a DEIS+ programme for preschools in the most disadvantaged areas and increase core social welfare rates by €25 per week?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Child poverty and well-being will certainly be a theme in the budget when it is announced on Tuesday. If we go back to 2013 and the aftermath of the great recession, approximately 13% of children experienced consistent poverty, the worst form of poverty. That had fallen to approximately 5% by 2021. It has gone up again slightly because of the cost-of-living crisis. We are determined to bring it back down again. I cannot obviously make any commitments on what is or is not in the budget until it is agreed and presented to Cabinet on Tuesday.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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There are seven days to go now. I see the Minister for Finance is out of the House, no doubt doing his sums. We need a budget for the millions, not the millionaires. We need real change, not spare change. It is clear, however, and becoming clearer by the day that the Government plans to give less than last year and is trying to lower public expectations. One small example tells a tale. Last year, the moratorium on gas and electricity disconnections lasted for four months. This year, it has been cut back to two months and, once again, it will not apply to people with prepaid meters. Electricity and gas prices are still way above the normal prices we would have been used to. The cost-of-living crisis has not gone away - not by a million miles. People need to raise their voices-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Deputy.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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-----and demand a better deal. I will conclude on this, a Cheann Comhairle.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Time is up, Deputy.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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I appeal to people to join the national cost-of-living protest in Dublin this Saturday.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The decision on the moratorium with regard to energy is made by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and not by the Government, as the Deputy may know. This will be a budget for the 5 million people who live in the State. It will include an income tax and USC package, which will reward work and ensure that more people get to keep more of the money they earn. There will be a cost-of-living package, which people will see reflected in their pockets this side of Christmas, helping families in particular with high energy and fuel bills. There will be a focus on child poverty and child well-being, as I said earlier. There will be help for business and farmers. In addition, there will be funding for the Garda and law order. That will benefit everyone, all 5.3 million of us.

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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The free schoolbooks for primary school children scheme is working very well across the country. It is taking a lot of pressure of hard-pressed families in every constituency. The problem now is getting children to school in order that they can take full advantage of this scheme. As we know, the national school bus transport scheme has been under a lot of pressure in the last couple of years. A review of the scheme is ongoing, although it seems to have been going on forever. When does the Taoiseach expect the school bus review to be completed in order that we can get a bus transport system that is fit for purpose and get our children sent to school safely?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This year, more than 149,000 children were transported to school every day, at primary and secondary levels, throughout the country. This is an increase of 12%. Fees have been reduced considerably by the Government. I am advised that the review of the school transport scheme is nearing completion. The review is being conducted to ensure it serves students and their families adequately. The final report of the review will include recommendations on the future operation of the scheme. Once approved by the Government, it is planned that the review will be published. I also understand that the Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley, will make statements on that matter sometime this week.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Home support services are dire at present. Elderly and vulnerable people who are sick are being told they have been approved for home support hours but it is not possible to get staff to fill these positions. When is the HSE going to wake up, smell the coffee and decide it must have better conditions and supports for these very valuable workers as part of an effort to retain these workers and recruit more of them? The HSE cannot just wipe its hands and say "Tough" and it cannot get staff. Across the economy, businesses and everybody else are struggling with staff, so the HSE must adapt. It is just not good enough to tell people they have been approved for home support. People's hours are now being approved very quickly but the HSE is then telling them there is nobody available. People are getting a standard reply. It is not acceptable. People need home supports. It keeps them out of hospitals and frees up hospital beds. It is a win-win situation for everyone if this is done right.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I will have to double-check but my understanding is that an agreement was reached recently on increased pay and improved terms and conditions for people who work in home care. I hope that will make a difference. The other area where we have made a change is in work permits. We are allowing people to come here from outside Europe to work in home care, which had not been permitted in the past. People could come from overseas to work in nursing homes but not in home care. That change has also been made.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Today is the last day of the operation of the Leitrim community car scheme. It is run by the Leitrim Volunteer Centre out of Carrick-on-Shannon. It has more than 35 volunteer drivers and has transported 533 people in 14 months, 90% of them to hospital appointments in Sligo, Galway, etc. I raised this issue many times with the previous Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and the HSE but there has been no progress. All this group needs is €20,000 to run the scheme for one year. A round-trip taxi fare to the hospital in Sligo from Carrick-on-Shannon costs €210. The 533 trips made by the community car scheme would have cost €111,000 at the same rate, yet €20,000 cannot be found to fund this scheme. It is finishing today. I ask the Government to either fund the current scheme or immediately put in place a pilot community car scheme, similar to the one run by Fingal County Council in partnership with Local Link and GoCar. I ask the Taoiseach not to leave people in County Leitrim stranded without transport.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. If the scheme is run under the auspices of Local Link, it is possibly the responsibility of the Department of Transport. I will be happy to talk to the Deputy about the issue. I understand as well as she does how important it is to have transport services in rural Ireland. I will speak to the Deputy afterwards to get the details. If I can give any help, I will certainly do so.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Justice and I are very aware that communities all over the country, in urban and rural areas and in Dublin, Limerick and elsewhere, are affected by crime and need a decent police service.

The Garda Commissioner has confirmed to the Minister for Justice that there are no plans to move any Garda members formerly appointed to specialist units as part of the reintroduction of the previously agreed Westmanstown roster. Specifically, neither community policing nor divisional drug units will be disbanded. An Garda Síochána remains committed to community policing and drugs enforcement. Any temporary changes to unit allocations will be reconsidered and addressed through the ongoing recruitment process.

Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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The Housing Association for Integrated Living, HAIL, provides housing primarily to people with mental health difficulties. The success of the organisation is monumental as it supports our most vulnerable to live securely and independently by providing housing and tailored services. I am certain that without HAIL, the level of homelessness and hospitalisation of our most vulnerable people would be higher. Ahead of the budget, will the Taoiseach consider the merits of the services HAIL provides and be cognisant of meeting its funding needs?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am not familiar with that particular service but it sounds like a very valuable one. The Minister and the Government will have regard to such considerations when it comes to any budgetary decisions. However, decisions of that nature will not necessarily be made next Tuesday. Once Ministers have their allocations, they will want to develop their service plans on foot of that provision.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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When will the Taoiseach address the chronic shortage of GPs in rural Ireland? We have a situation in Lahardane whereby the whole parish of approximately 1,000 people is left without GP services, with people being told to look to the nearest town. That is not acceptable. In Achill, more than €1 million has been spent on temporary locum cover. Money is being wasted and people are being deprived of an absolutely essential service, namely, a relationship with their GP, because of the inaction of the Government. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Health not to leave it all to the HSE, which is not accountable to anybody? There is no consultation with communities and no communication. People are just deprived of services. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister to intervene in those situations?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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We are acting on that. We have increased the number of GP training places considerably, with up to 300 new trainees coming through this year. We have increased the rural practice allowance for rural practices and appointed more practice nurses. We are making it easier for GPs from overseas to take up positions in our health service. There is a particular problem with single-handed practices that is very difficult to fix. The world has changed and people's willingness to work on their own in a single-handed setting has changed fundamentally. There is a move towards group practices and co-working that I am not sure any Government can reverse.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The term "intergenerational trauma", which is a new term to me, is being used increasingly by non-governmental organisations and stakeholders to describe the impact, particularly on young people, of life in severely challenged and disadvantaged parts of the country. Given the ongoing and relatively positive impact of the north-east inner city initiative established under the previous Government, which was predicated in part on the scoping inquiry undertaken at the time by Kieran Mulvey, does the Taoiseach accept that such an approach is very much merited elsewhere, including in parts of my constituency such as west and south Tallaght? Will the Government look positively at engaging a similarly suitable and qualified person to undertake a scoping inquiry into south Tallaght?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I very much agree with the Deputy's sentiment. Work of that nature is under way. Targeting small areas of population that are in the greatest need can produce good results. We have seen some results in the north-east inner city. It is not a case of one size fits all but there is an approach like that happening in Drogheda at the moment, and the Cherry Orchard-Ballyfermot area is also under consideration. We certainly can take west Tallaght into account but it is not possible to apply that approach to every area.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Tomorrow, the Union of Students in Ireland, USI, will lead thousands of students from various student unions in a march to the gates of Leinster House. The message they want to send to the Taoiseach is that given the huge budget surpluses now available to the Government, it is absolutely unacceptable if some portion is not used to address rampant, endemic student poverty and, in particular, the student housing and accommodation crisis that is leaving thousands of students couch surfing, commuting huge distances and forking out fortunes on public transport just to get to college, where they are then being hit with all the cost-of-living hikes, registration fees and so on. They want to know whether the Government will address these issues and, in particular, if it will provide affordable on-campus student accommodation on the scale that is necessary to deal with the student housing and accommodation crisis.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Students will not be forgotten in the budget next week. In the previous budget, we increased the SUSI grant and made it available to more people. We reduced student contribution fees, provided the rent credit to students and increased funding for student accommodation. Hundreds of additional beds are now being provided every year on our university and third level campuses. While I cannot say what will be in the budget next Tuesday because it is not agreed yet, the approach we took in the previous budget was valid and we will seek to apply it again.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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In the shadow of the looming budget, I refer to the importance of putting carers at the heart of it. As the Taoiseach knows, family carers save the State approximately €20 billion a year, which is the equivalent of a second HSE. In my constituency of Clare, some 6% of the population, or more than 8,200 people, provide unpaid care. In addition, the number of Clare people providing over 43 hours of unpaid care a week more than doubled in the last census. These are good people providing round-the-clock care to friends and family members. I encourage the Taoiseach to use budget 2024 to introduce a suite of meaningful measures to assist carers, such as phasing out the means test, extending eligibility for the fuel allowance, introducing a statutory disregard for carers on local authority rents and increasing payments. I ask that carers not be left out in the cold in budget 2024. They are the backbone of this country.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We are all conscious of the huge contribution carers make. I made some considerable changes in last year's budget to the carer's disregard in terms of savings allowed and an increase in income limits such that people can earn more money and still qualify for the carer's allowance. I keep all these matters under review. Carers certainly will be a focus in this budget, along with people with disabilities, many of whom are the people being cared for, and pensioners.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Earlier, the Taoiseach said An Bord Pleanála will help to resolve the housing crisis. Let me tell him that An Bord Pleanála is actually making people homeless. Only 27% of its cases in the first eight months of the year were decided within the statutory 18-week period. I refer to one family out of several in a similar situation who appealed a decision of the board in September 2022. This family was told there would be a decision in January, which was then moved to April. They are now on notice that they will be evicted next month. They have no correspondence from An Bord Pleanála and cannot get an answer to their queries. They acted well in advance of being given notice of eviction. People are being made homeless because the process is so slow. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has not addressed this issue. The CEO of An Bord Pleanála appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts and said she was dealing with the issues, there was now a full complement of staff and things would start to move. Things have not moved, however, and this is contributing to the homelessness crisis.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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An Bord Pleanála is not working the way it should be. There is no denying that. Its 2022 annual report was approved by the Cabinet today. It showed that fewer than 50% - only about 45%, in fact - of appeals were adjudicated within the statutory timeframe.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Only 27% were decided in that timeframe.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Whether the figure is 27% or 45%, it is bad. I am not going to argue with that. What are we doing about it? A full complement of board members has now been appointed and the board has sanction for 300 additional staff. We know more staff are needed. Today, we published the Planning and Development Bill 2023, which will make the deadlines for decision statutory. It will no longer be the case that An Bord Pleanála can just look for more information or more time. It will have to make decisions within the specified timeframe.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach spoke about next week's budget and we all have our own submissions in, which is important. There are huge issues with retention, recruitment, pay and conditions across the public sector from community workers to section 39 workers, and those who are upholding and guiding people in law and those who are serving in emergency services. I am very aware of the great work that is being done in my own area of Carlow but there are also huge issues. What can we do to support those who are about to withdraw services such is their frustration right now?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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If we look across the country there are problems with recruitment and retention in the public sector and the private sector, in big companies and small, and in well paid areas and in poorly paid areas. That is a feature of the fact that we do not just have full employment in Ireland we are now beyond full employment and there are many more vacancies than there are people with the skills to fill those jobs. What we can do about it? We can increase training and education so that more people have the appropriate skills, encourage people to enter the workforce who are not currently in the workforce, have better terms and conditions and provide work permits and work visas for people with skills to come here from overseas.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That concludes Questions on Promised Legislation. I thank all Members for their co-operation.