Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Across Cork, there are dozens of children with special educational needs who do not have a place for September. In the past three weeks alone, I have been contacted by eight parents of children who need a place in a special school for September who do not have one. The pressure this is putting on them, the anxiety they are carrying, the uncertainty they are facing and the worry they have for their children is absolutely enormous. They are doing everything they can. One mother I spoke to had her child's name down on nine waiting lists. I will be joining several of these parents on a march in Cork city on Saturday. Will the Minister tell me when will the additional special school for Cork be delivered? Will he commit to ensuring every child who needs a place in a special school for September will have one?

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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If the Deputy had given me an indication that he was going to raise a single school in Cork, I would have been in a position to perhaps answer his question. He did not. What I am able to do is to give an indication of the absolute commitment the Government has to trying to make more special classes and schools available. There are 3,336 special classes in operation nationwide to do what we can to support those who, early in life, need the educational support. They deserve it and we are working hard to give it. For this school year alone, more than 400 new special classes have been sanctioned on top of the 1,700 that have been sanctioned in the past five years and the 11 new special schools that have been opened, with five more to come. That is our commitment and I am sure the Minister for Education will be working and doing her best regarding the important school in Cork.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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On a brief point of order, the Minister said to me-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, there is no point of order. We are on Questions on Policy or Legislation. I call Deputy Duncan Smith.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will there be a space for every child?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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There is no point of order. These are Questions on Policy or Legislation.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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If I have not made the point of order, how does the Ceann Comhairle know if it was a point of order?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Because we are on Questions on Policy or Legislation. The Deputy has had his time. I call Deputy Duncan Smith.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister adverted to something in relation to me that was not correct.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy can write to the Minister.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will there be a space for every child in September?

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I made specific reference to a specific school, unlike what the Minister said.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputies, please. You are encroaching on other Members' time.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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While an awful lot of attention has been focused on the deteriorating security situation in Europe, less focus has been placed on the appalling action of the Trump Administration in the freezing of the USAID programme, which accounts for 40% of all global development aid. Vulnerable, sick and poor people all over the world are struggling to access programmes, including HIV care, tuberculosis care, and famine prevention programmes. Medication is locked in warehouses. While Europe is discussing more bombs and bullets, Trump has dropped a financial bomb on the global aid programme and it has a chilling impact on NGOs, which are afraid to speak out because they fear if they speak out, the freezing will become a permanent cut. What can Ireland, with our allies, do to help ameliorate this some of this immoral, appalling action by Trump?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I genuinely thank Deputy Smith for raising an extremely important issue. As we see, the way in which the world conducts itself and the rules it depends on can be changed and challenged. We should redouble our efforts to ensure those who have the very least do not pay the most, which is a risk due to the decision that regrettably has been made with regard to USAID.

Deputy Smith asked what we are doing about it. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will be at the United Nations next week as part of her St. Patrick's Day bilateral engagement. We will engage with the United Nations on this issue to see what support we can offer. We have many bills coming in but I assure the Deputy we will do our best on this issue. Second, regarding the two programmes we jointly fund with USAID in Zambia and Malawi, and I have been in Malawi itself and know how much it needs this support, we are looking at what options or decisions we can take to support those projects.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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In May 2024, the Government the Minister was part of formed the city centre task force for Dublin with an aim of restoring our beautiful city to what it can be. In September, that report was delivered to Government by the overseer of the report, David McRedmond. In November, the report was released to great fanfare and much PR. It features in the programme for Government. Whenever I ask, however, or whenever a question is raised in Dublin City Council, for example, seeking an update, we are told no funding stream has yet been allocated. The Minister walks the same streets I do and understands the need for investment. He is the Minister for Finance. When can we see a funding stream allocated to the city centre task force for Dublin so that we can bring our city back to what it should be?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. He and I are really lucky to represent the north side of the city centre. I agree with him about the importance of that report. I am meeting a number of councillors on a cross-party basis from Dublin City Council tomorrow on this issue. I can see the changes that are happening in the city centre. I can see more gardaí. I can see the efforts the city council is making to keep it cleaner and safer. The Deputy will also be aware of the opening of the new healthcare facility by the Rotunda in the heart of our city centre.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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The funding stream, Minister.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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That, Deputy Gannon, is indeed funding. It is evidence of the commitment we have to make a difference. In conjunction with our budgetary process, which is the way all these things have to come together, we will look at how we can support that report and make sure it gets the funding it needs, just as we have done with the north inner city task force

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Shocking new figures were published in The Mirror today about Irish horses slaughtered in English abattoirs. They suggest that 782 horses with Irish passports were slaughtered in England last year. A total of 538 of those had racing industry passports. In other words, they were racing horses. At least 46% of these were five years old or younger. To be clear, these were not euthanised. They were stressfully transported and then slaughtered for meat in abattoirs. Why are horses barely a few years into their lives being slaughtered for their meat rather than being rehomed when this industry receives €80 million a year in public funding? What has happened to the Government commitment to leave no stone unturned following the "RTÉ Investigates" programme into what happened at Shannonside and other slaughterhouses? Are we going to address the issue of rehoming horses? Are we going to deal with the issue of systemic overbreeding of horses? What is happening in Horse Racing Ireland?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Murphy is raising an important issue. The welfare of horses is critical to the future of our breeding industry here in Ireland and we also need to ensure the right standards are adhered to to fulfil the commitments we have to animal welfare. I will have to revert to the Deputy, and I will, with a detailed answer to his question because it is important and I do not have a briefing in front of me today that allows me to give the answer the Deputy's question deserves.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate the Minister on his return to the Department of Finance. I raise a matter related to that raised by Deputy Duncan Smith. We have heard a lot in recent years about the fact that the planet's poorest people have suffered as a result of the ravages of climate change but the geopolitical situation that we find ourselves in now has rejuvenated and turbocharged the arms race. As we in Europe in particular justifiably and understandably seek to spend more and more on defence, will the Minister assure us that the commitment in the programme for Government that we will defend the funds we have ring-fenced for development aid will be protected? How will the Minister use his enormous influence in the European Union to ensure other member states of the Union protect their funds reserved for development aid too?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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It is really important we have two Deputies here today raising an issue that is so important to global welfare and to many countries that need further support at this time of difficulty. Deputy Ó Fearghaíl asked two questions. The first is about our commitment. I confirm that we will uphold the commitments we have at the moment. Unfortunately, that is not the case for every country at the moment due to the pressure they face, but we will protect the commitments we have to investment in multilateral bodies and our overseas development aid. In conjunction with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, we will do what we can to build upon them. To answer the Deputy's second question, I will be making the case for this to my colleagues but I appreciate that many of them are facing moments of great danger and risk and are having to make hard choices, which just adds to the responsibility of Ireland to do our bit to make a case for this funding and to add to it where we can.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I apologise. Deputy Gogarty was actually next.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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We import in excess of €6 billion in energy every year. From a strategic point of view, given the dangers that we are facing in the world, energy self-sufficiency is more important than ever, yet there is nothing tangible in the programme for Government and we have done very little on wave energy investment. We are lagging behind Scotland, Australia and Portugal. There are huge untapped resources. An energy company called NoviOcean estimated that there is a theoretical potential of 440 TW annually, which is about 16 times our current electricity consumption.

Foras na Mara said a little more modestly that we could meet 75% of our electricity requirements. One way or the other, we could be a net exporter of wave-generated energy or convert it to hydrogen. That would save us money in the long term. From a Government perspective, we need to put in the investment and shift our policy towards energy self-sufficiency.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Deputy. I disagree with him that the programme for Government does not contain a reference or a commitment in relation to that. It does.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I said “significant”.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is correct that we have to accelerate our path to energy self-sufficiency and do that through green energy. The three ways in which we will do it are: first, through the support of MARA and the implementation of the new planning framework off the shores of our country; second, by continuing to put in place the investment that we are committed to putting in place in our ports and directly, where we can, into the energy sector to allow private sector investment to flourish; and third, through the co-operation we can have with the United Kingdom and the European Union to deliver very large projects. I am pleased that this kind of co-operation was discussed by Prime Minister Starmer, the Taoiseach and their ministerial teams this morning. That kind of co-operation is vital.

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise the need for the development of the IDA site in Fermoy in my constituency of Cork East. Formerly the Fitzgerald Camp Army barracks, the site was handed over by the Department of Defence to the IDA some 23 years ago but it has, unfortunately, remained idle since. This is a massive shame considering the associated infrastructure is in place on-site. However, no tenants have been found in that time. The site is in a prime location only five minutes from the M8 motorway, the main Cork to Dublin route. I am sure the Minister agrees that the development of such a site would be an enormous boost for businesses in Fermoy and across the Blackwater region as a whole. Therefore, I am asking the Minister to examine the matter and to liaise with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to see what can be done to finally kickstart the development of this site.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the role that Deputy McCarthy is playing in trying to support the development of the IDA site in Fermoy. I agree with him regarding the potential it has and the important role it could play in supporting jobs in his community. The IDA is committed to looking at how good and productive use can be made of this site. While it has received some approaches, that has not yet translated into the jobs the Deputy is looking for and that should be available. I will raise the issue. The IDA is aware of it but I will also make sure that the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, is aware of the point that the Deputy has raised today. The IDA will continue to work with large employers to identify how we can make use of the site and lands to get more jobs into the Deputy’s community and ensure that international employers continue to want to be present in Cork. I thank Deputy McCarthy for his work in this regard. I will make sure the Minister and the IDA are aware of it.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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The current wind energy guidelines are now 19 years old. Last year, the Taoiseach promised that the new updated guidelines would be published by the end of 2024 but the date is now quarter 1 of 2025. At the same time, rural communities are being forced to battle with large companies, sometimes after repeated planning permissions are submitted. We have a particular issue in south Roscommon and north Galway. Some rural communities are banding together to try to gather money and, in some cases, are ending up in court. We need to see updated wind energy guidelines. Will the date of quarter 1 of 2025 be the actual date on which we will see the updated guidelines?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know that is the commitment with regard to the publication of these important guidelines. I am not aware if there is any reason why that deadline will not be met but I also know there is a new Minister in that Department, and I am sure the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, will want to consider this issue carefully. I am sure he will want to publish them as soon as possible and having the Deputy raise this in the House today will only add to his awareness of it as an important matter. I am sure it will happen soon. I will make sure that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is aware that Deputy Kerrane has raised the matter.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I want to raise the issue of the storms six weeks ago. Most people in my part of the country were without power for some time, some for a long time, and dozens of people still have no phone line, in particular elderly people living in rural areas. Dorothy, who is in her 80s and living in north Leitrim, has no phone line and had no electricity for three weeks. She has a panic button in case she falls or anything happens in her home because she is elderly, but it does not work without a landline. Open Eir is supposed to be bringing in these landlines, putting up poles and so on, but it is not doing it and that is not happening for many people. Kathleen was 38 days without power and still has no phone service. Rosemary, a woman in Aughavas who has a child with disabilities, only got her phone service back the day before yesterday. Tess and Dan in Carrigallen still have no phone line and they were four weeks without power. I want to particularly mention Terence in north Leitrim, who is an elderly man living up in the hills. He has been without a phone line. He is very vulnerable and has a lot of home help coming in to him, but he cannot get Open Eir to put the phone line back.

I know that ComReg has a role and the Minister has a role. It is totally inappropriate that critical infrastructure like this has not been replaced six weeks after a storm.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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It is important to emphasise that the fact those lines have not yet been connected is not because the Government does not care. It is because a huge amount of damage was done.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I understand that.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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We have been successful in working through the regulator and the Department to see the majority of the connections repaired. I agree with the Deputy that for anybody to be in a situation where they do not have contact with loved ones, their local community or the health service is a significant problem. I will ensure that the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, is aware of this issue. I know that huge efforts were made to bring back connections as soon as possible and to put back in place vital infrastructure, but we have to keep going until everybody is connected.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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Under the programme for Government, there is a commitment to balanced regional development, rightly so. However, in my county of Offaly, we are particularly disadvantaged given that we have endured the brunt of the just transition, with 53% of the job losses. This is coupled with the fact that Cardinal Health in Tullamore, the main town in the county, will see 315 job losses at the end of this month. It is vital that every possible intervention is made to urgently create more jobs in County Offaly. What actions will the Government take to ensure that priority is given to job creation in County Offaly? If we are to achieve balanced regional development, it is counties like Offaly that need the focus. A focus needs to be put on our county.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the bad news that the Deputy’s county has had to confront in terms of job losses. I know the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs will work hard to support those who are losing their jobs at a moment when there is already uncertainty across the world. With regard to Offaly, I want to reassure Deputy Nolan and the communities and constituents she represents of the commitment that the Ministers, Deputy Peter Burke and Deputy Dara Calleary, have to balanced regional development and the investment in place behind that. I know, of course, that the Deputy will want to see proof of that so those who have lost a job have confidence they can get another job. That is why the State agencies will work hard to create an environment in which that can happen.

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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The lack of HSE ophthalmology services across south Tipperary is deeply concerning and is a growing source of frustration. This follows the planned retirement of a consultant ophthalmologist in August of last year. In correspondence that I received from the HSE on 14 January, it was confirmed that the post has been approved and is currently in the recruitment process. I appeal to the Government to intervene directly. The Minister will agree it is unacceptable that children across my constituency have been left without essential eye care.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Murphy for his question and his focus on this issue. With regard to the specific post in question, which is a badly needed post, as the Deputy said, it is approved for filling and the process for recruitment is ongoing. One of our biggest challenges where we have funded positions is to make sure those positions are filled, and filled quickly, because patients need that, as the Deputy has highlighted again today. I will raise it again with the HSE and look for a further weekly update on the process of recruitment. However, we are in need of the staff to come into the system as well.

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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Could the Minister provide me with an update on the 243 bus service from Newmarket to Cork city? The NTA published a consultation on this in October 2023 and there was good feedback from the community regarding it but we have been waiting for the NTA and Bus Éireann to make an announcement on the proposed service. Many people in my area are looking for an enhanced service. There is an enhanced proposal but the NTA has not finalised it. We are looking for an update on that as quickly as possible.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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To return firstly to the previous matter raised by Deputy Michael Murphy, I acknowledge that he has been raising his issue with me but as the Minister for Health is here, I thought a direct response from her was perhaps more helpful to him.

In response to Deputy O'Shea, I acknowledge the importance of the issue and thank him for raising it. I know an awful lot of work has happened on this. Funding for rural transport went from €12 million to €57 million in 2024. It is planned to put in place significant improvements to this service this year. The NTA is engaging with Bus Éireann on this matter. It has informed me that it will be able to introduce the enhancement in the coming months. I will follow up with it to find out the date of the announcement and to make sure it is aware of the Deputy's interest in and support for this proposal.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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It is not often that I find myself in agreement with the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, but this morning, he tweeted that the Government had opened the door to commercial LNG facilities becoming part of the energy mix in Ireland and I fear he might be correct. Could the Minister clarify whether the Minister of State is wrong? Will the Minister commit that this Government will follow the policy of the previous Government and oppose commercial LNG facilities becoming part of the energy mix in Ireland?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Yesterday, the Government made a commitment regarding a State facility. It made this commitment in order to ensure we will have available to us emergency reserves that could be used if we find ourselves in a position where supply into our country is in some way threatened. We want to identify if there is any role for the private sector with regard to this. I emphasise that the announcement the Government made yesterday is about a State-led and State-owned facility. For me, that is the key point.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Jigsaw is a youth mental health charity that provides free, non-judgmental and confidential therapy to young people between the ages of 12 and 15. It also gives families, educators and those who support young people's mental health ways to cope and the skills to be there for young people. Thankfully, after pressure from public representatives, this service was established successfully in County Tipperary, based in Thurles, and has been up and running successfully for a number of years. A commitment was given to establish an outreach centre in Clonmel. A totally inadequate token one-day-a-week service is available in Clonmel, which one of the biggest towns in the country. I ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to follow up this matter and provide the resources necessary to establish this service properly in Clonmel.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the Deputy's role, and that of Deputy Lowry and other colleagues, in raising the issues regarding Jigsaw. We established Jigsaw in Thurles and a commitment was given to extend a kind of hub-and-spoke model. The mental health budget last year supported Jigsaw to the tune of €14.5 million. It has 70% physical coverage in the country but has 100% online coverage. It has also made some changes to its model of care in how it provides its supports and has been looking at all its organisational roles to see how it can best support our young people. It told me when it was moving to expand supports from the hub-and-spoke model that it would be certainly be led by the demand it is seeing. I will raise the matter with it to see what kind of figures are coming through its offices from the Clonmel area and revert to the Deputy.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has committed €1.3 billion in funding to flood relief programmes under the national development plan 2030. Six of these schemes are County Kilkenny at Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown, Inistioge, Freshford, Ballyhale and Piltown. The scheme in Graiguenamanagh is one of the first 100 schemes in the first tranche. The scheme was approved in March 2020 and consultants were appointed but we are still only at stage 1, five years later. I am looking for a commitment from the Government that there will be renewed urgency in getting going not just with the Graiguenamanagh scheme but also with flood relief schemes around the country. This is a significant issue. The funding is there but we need to see more urgency in getting these schemes over the line for the peace of mind of those towns and villages.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in relation to Graiguenamanagh. The introduction of these flood relief schemes does two things. Firstly, it increases confidence in moments of flood risk. Secondly and most importantly, these schemes work. I have experience of flooding in my constituency on a very different scale from other parts of the country. I have seen at first hand the harm and stress it causes. The work of the OPW is really important in terms of the larger flooding events we are trying to avoid. I confirm that funding is available to the OPW to move forward on these projects, as the Deputy acknowledged in his question. We are aiming to change and have changed our planning system so that key projects like this are in a position to move forward. I will ensure that the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is aware of the issue in Graiguenamanagh raised by the Deputy and ask him whether anything more can be done about it. I will pass on the Deputy's support for the project.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister managed to mention Graiguenamanagh more times than Deputy Cleere.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to raise the issue of dereliction. The former Shannon Oaks hotel in Portumna, County Galway, has lain idle and derelict for close to 15 years. The site is an eyesore and is attracting antisocial behaviour. It is a serious health and safety issue because the site is not properly secured. It is being entered very regularly, which is very concerning because it is a very unstable structure that has been damaged after a fire. It is an accident waiting to happen. Galway County Council is not willing or equipped to deal with the issue of dereliction. The last time I checked, there were only four properties on the county's derelict sites register, which is nowhere near an accurate reflection of the situation on the ground. Shannon Oaks is not on that register so there are no penalties for the owners of this site, Brian and Luke Comer, who are very wealthy individuals, that would encourage them to bring the hotel back into use - this is what the people of Portumna want above all else because it was the only hotel in the town and crucial for the area - or, at least, address the safety concerns and encourage them to give it to somebody who will bring it back into use. Will the Government finally get its act together on dereliction and empower and resource local authorities to deal with this issue and enforce the derelict sites register?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government has redoubled its efforts regarding dereliction. The previous Government did so with the introduction of a number of grants that are being used in a very successful way to turn derelict properties into homes. There is a derelict sites register that is used at the moment. I am sure Galway County Council does not lack will regarding the issue. It sounds like the hotel mentioned by the Deputy is of a bigger scale than a mere home. I will pass on this issue to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and its local authority unit to see what can be done. At the bare minimum, any site like that should be made secure and should not be adding to any difficulties that a community is facing.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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There are 26,700 residents in private nursing homes and 5,600 residents in public nursing homes. The enhanced community care programme and the chronic disease management programme were agreements between GPs, the HSE and the Department, but GPs are not paid under these programmes for dealing with residents in public and private nursing homes. As a result, private nursing homes face a significant problem in getting GPs to provide care in these nursing homes. As a result, some of these nursing homes are physically paying GPs to provide care for medical card patients. This is about keeping people in nursing homes and out of hospitals. The only way to do this is by having a comprehensive medical card programme provided by GPs in each of these nursing homes for the residents there who are entitled to it.

What efforts are being made by the Department to engage with GPs to make sure we can have that scheme put in place for all residents in all public and private nursing homes?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am going to deal with this issue because it is an issue of such importance to Deputy Burke. He has raised it with me on a number of occasions in addition to raising it with the Minister for Health. As he knows at the moment the capitation fees that are paid to GPs in respect of nursing home residents are the highest paid in respect of any patient recognising the complexity of health needs that I know Deputy Burke will understand probably better than I do. I know this is a difficult issue because we need to find ways in which we can meet the care needs of nursing home residents but we also know the demands on GPs at the moment and the challenges they are already facing. The Deputy has raised this issue with me and the Minister of Health today. We will look to see if any steps can be taken which are affordable and sensible that will better meet the needs the Deputy is referring to. He is right because if we do not meet these needs, the health needs of patients only grow and the functioning of nursing homes becomes more difficult.