Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

Tuesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Nomination to Appoint the Deputy Police Ombudsman (without debate)

- Motion re Fourth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection (without debate)

- Statements on the publication of the report of the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes).

Tuesday's private members' business shall be Motion re GPO and Moore Street regeneration as a 1916 Cultural Quarter, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Statements on All Island Strategic Rail Review recommendations (to adjourn after 1 hour and 30 minutes and resume on 9th July)

- Statements on the Middle East (not to exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes)

- Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Report and Final Stages) (to be taken no earlier than 6.30 p.m. and if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 9.12 p.m. or after 2 hours, whichever is the later)

- Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) [changed from Social Welfare Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025] (to conclude within 1 hour)

Wednesday’s private members' business shall be the Motion re Nursing Homes, selected by the Labour Party.

Thursday's business shall be:

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level*

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the application of the ‘safe third country’ concept*

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union and repealing Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, Council Directive 2001/40/EC and Council Decision 2004/191/EC*

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the transition out of temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine*

*Four separate motions to be debated together and brought to a conclusion after 3 hours and 32 minutes; question to be put on each motion separately

- Statements on the publication of the report of the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes).

Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Ministers and Secretaries (Attorney General) Bill 2023, sponsored by Deputy Ivana Bacik.

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:

(a) the only Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) which may be answered shall be those under the aegis of the Government Chief Whip, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Government business; and

(b) private members’ business may be taken earlier than 6.12 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of the Statements on the publication of the report of the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business, namely, oral Parliamentary Questions to the Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and topical issues, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;

2. the proceedings on the Motion re Nomination to Appoint the Deputy Police Ombudsman shall be taken without debate;

3. the proceedings on the Motion re Fourth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection shall be taken without debate; and

4. the Statements on the publication of the report of the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

(a) the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(c) members may share time.

	Gov	SF	Lab	Gov	SF
Mins	25	15	10	10	3
	SD	Gov	SF	IPTG	Gov
Mins	10	10	3	9	10
	SF	ITG	Gov	SF	OM
Mins	3	9	10	3	5

In relation to Wednesday’s business, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as set out in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(a) the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time; and

(b) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the weekly division time, which may be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 [changed from Social Welfare Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025];

2. the Statements on All Island Strategic Rail Review recommendations shall be interrupted and stand adjourned after 90 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

(a) the arrangements for the statements shall be in accordance with those contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(b) any speaking slots which are not reached may be taken on Wednesday, 9th July, 2025, in accordance with the agreed sequence; and

(c) members may share time;

	Gov	SF	Lab	Gov	SF
Mins	25	15	10	10	3
	SD	Gov	SF	IPTG	Gov
Mins	10	10	3	9	10
	SF	ITG	Gov	SF	OM
Mins	3	9	10	3	5

3. the Statements on the Middle East shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

(a) the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(c) members may share time;

	Gov	SF	Lab	Gov	SF
Mins	35	25	15	15	5
	SD	Gov	SF	IPTG	Gov
Mins	15	15	5	12	15
	SF	ITG	Gov	SF	OM
Mins	5	12	15	5	8

4. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 shall be taken no earlier than 6.30 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 9.12 p.m. or after 2 hours, whichever is the later, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday; and

5. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 [changed from Social Welfare Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025] shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour 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 may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of the Motions on Participation by Ireland in the Adoption and Application of New Proposals in the Field of Return of third-country nationals, International Protection and Temporary Protection, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Ministers and Secretaries (Attorney General) Bill 2023 and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and

2. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level, the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the application of the ‘safe third country’ concept, the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union and repealing Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, Council Directive 2001/40/EC and Council Decision 2004/191/EC, and the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the transition out of temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 3 hours and 32 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:

(a) the four motions shall be debated together, with separate questions put on all proceedings thereon;

(b) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be in accordance with those contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(c) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 22 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and

(d) members may share time.

	Gov	SF	Lab	Gov	SF
Mins	35	25	15	15	5
	SD	Gov	SF	IPTG	Gov
Mins	15	15	5	12	15
	SF	ITG	Gov	SF	OM
Mins	5	12	15	5	8

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to?

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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No. Last Friday, on Highland Radio, the Minister of State, Deputy Marian Harkin, stated that she secured a surgical hub for Sligo University Hospital as part of the Lowry Independents' negotiations for Government. In Donegal, we have been standing together to look at a surgical hub. Our services are in absolute crisis and our emergency Department is threatened. Will the Minister clarify if a deal has been done with the Lowry Independents for Sligo University Hospital to have a surgical hub? Is the Government seriously looking at a surgical hub in Letterkenny?

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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After a very successful Pride at the weekend, and given the fact that we are coming up to ten years of the Gender Recognition Act being passed, I am calling for statements on Pride, particularly regarding the issues in trans healthcare and the fact people have to go abroad when they should not have to.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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We need to have statements today on higher education, especially on the confusion regarding fees. Since the announcement, lot of parents have told me that they are having discussions around their tables about whether their child will go to college and whether they can afford to send the child to college or not. That is not a discussion that families should have. Our children and young people want to educate themselves. We need to have statements in this House. I have been asking for statements on education regarding class sizes and capitation grants at primary level, but this relates to higher level.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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Under Standing Order 35(3), I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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We are not there yet, Deputy. We will hear Members dissenting first.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I support for the call for statements on Pride. I also call for a debate and a motion to be brought forward by the Government, if it wants us to sign up to this European armament programme called SAFE. It is part of ReArm Europe, and entails €150 billion worth of loans, effectively to be paid for by the public into the pockets of the armaments industry in Europe. It was announced on Friday that the Irish Government and State intends to participate, but it does not intend to bring it before the Dáil for a vote or a debate. Surely, at the very least, people should have the right to vote on whether we participate in this arms race.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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I propose an amendment to the Order of Business in relation to statements on LNG. It was reported today that An Coimisiún Pleanála has written to the Minister seeking a clear position from Government on commercial LNG. It is time for the Government to stop talking out of both sides of its mouth with regard to LNG. We need clarity on that.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Hear, hear.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Whips for the issues they have raised-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I am sorry to interrupt the Chief Whip. Members, please put your phones on silent. That is about the fourth mobile phone to go off in session. The Chief Whip, without interruption, please.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Whips for the issues they have raised. I will take on board everything that has been raised, but we had a meeting of the Business Committee last Thursday morning. The Ceann Comhairle was present at the meeting. Apart from one issue with regard to the time allocated, the Order of Business for this week was agreed.

I will, however, take on board comments that have been made. There will be statements on the Middle East tomorrow afternoon for three and a half hours. Next week there will also be post-European Council statements, which have been scheduled in. I agree wholeheartedly on having statements in the House on Pride and transgender healthcare. I would welcome that very much. I will work with the Whips and with my office to see what we can fit in for next week but as everybody knows there is only a limited amount of time. If some of the various parties and groupings would like to use their Private Members' time for some of these issues, they would be more than welcome.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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What about the surgical hub issue?

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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And the LNG issue.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I am sorry Deputy.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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There was no response on it.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Sorry, Deputies, the Chief Whip-----

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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It is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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It absolutely is.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I will ask the Chief Whip if she wishes to address Deputy Mac Lochlainn.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Apologies. Deputy McAuliffe seems to be responding instead of the Ceann Comhairle.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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What was stated on Highland Radio in Donegal last week is not a matter for the Order of Business but------

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Of course it is.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Sorry, Deputy.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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-----we can discuss having health statements, if the Deputy so wishes, on the issue. An amendment to the Order of Business was moved under Standing Order 35(3). I will not be accepting the amendment today.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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We move to Questions on Policy or Legislation. We will begin with Deputy O'Rourke. I ask Deputies to pose their questions within their time of one minute.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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It is scandalous that, every year, schools are forced to rely on so-called voluntary contributions from parents to plug funding gaps due to the Government's failure to provide proper investment. Parents already pay €54 million in contributions and now, as the funding crisis in schools escalates, it looks like they will be asked to pay even more. The Catholic Primary School Management Association, CPSMA, says it has never been contacted by as many schools in financial distress as it was last year. It says that voluntary contributions will have to be increased unless the Government steps up with realistic funding. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has committed an extra €24 per child in capitation, but this goes nowhere near covering increased insurance, energy and electricity costs. As with the €1,000 third level fee increase, if last year's cost-of-living package is not repeated, schools will be down funding next year. Will the Minister assure parents that schools will be adequately funded and will not have to bear the financial burden of so-called free education? Will there be a cost-of-living package for schools?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, this Government and my Department are committed to supporting our schools and ensuring that they have adequate funding. Capitation increased only in the last few weeks. This was secured in last year's budget. Any negotiations and agreements on next year's budget will be happening in the coming weeks.

I am also interested in not only providing more supports for schools but also making sure we can, where possible, reduce costs. That is why our climate action plan is so important in making sure we retrofit buildings and reduce bills. We should also look at other costs schools are incurring around insurance and in other areas. The Deputy can be assured that we are absolutely committed to supporting schools in as many ways as possible.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In response to a question I put to him a number of months ago regarding autism supports and services for children in my constituency, the Taoiseach said he was of the view that many of these services should be provided through schools, and I agree. That being the case, why are so many schools in Dublin South-West being denied additional special needs assistants, SNAs, despite a clearly identified need? I have been contacted by many schools in my constituency, such as Firhouse Educate Together, Cnoc Mhuire Senior School in Killinarden and Scoil Aoife Community National School in Citywest, to name but a few, which have all be denied additional SNA allocation by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, despite significant evidence of need being submitted and despite recommendations by special educational needs organisers, SENOs, who carried out the reviews. I would like to clarify why so many schools in Dublin South-West and around the country are being denied the additional SNAs they desperately need. Is there in effect a recruitment freeze in place?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. SNAs are an integral part of schools in supporting children and I acknowledge the work they do. By the end of this year, we will have more SNAs than we have ever had before. There will be more than 23,000 SNAs, including the 1,600 additional SNAs provided for in last year's budget. They are allocated through the NCSE and that is based on recommendations by SENOs who look at the needs of the entire school, as opposed to individual children. As the Deputy will be aware, in recent weeks, schools were written to by the NCSE highlighting the allocations they would receive. Schools that are to see a reduction will not see it until next year when we have a redeployment scheme in place to make sure we provide stability and clarity for SNAs and schools. I am aware that some schools received an increase in their SNA allocation while for others the allocations remained the same. It is important that it is done through the NCSE and is based on the needs of individual schools. A further increase in SNA allocations is something I will work towards with my colleagues through the budget negotiations.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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The scale of the crisis in primary care services for young people is so serious that the HSE is avoiding parliamentary questions about it. Only after 11 weeks did I receive a response from the HSE Dublin and north-east region on its psychology waiting lists, and no wonder. The longest waiting time there involves a child who was initially referred to disability services an incredible nine years ago. I have not received any response yet from the HSE Dublin and midlands region 12 weeks after submitting a parliamentary question, despite repeated follow-up by me. Primary care services for young people were neglected by successive Governments, long before the current recruitment restrictions and long before the official embargo. In addition, many young people are being redirected from children's disability network teams to primary care without the necessary staff being recruited to see them. Families are being passed from one waiting list to another for services that are so out of reach that they may as well not exist. Will the Minister commit to a comprehensive recruitment drive for primary care child and adolescent services? We cannot continue with a Government ideology-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy Quaide. I call the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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-----that sees staffing of essential services as a cost, not as an investment.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I will repeat some of the things that have been said about recruitment. The numbers are up by 25% over that period. The pay and numbers strategy resulted in a net increase of 2,000 people into the health system, with 2,000 people who had temporary contracts made permanent, 2,000 vacancies and a net uplift of 2,000 people. I will be happy to provide the detail to the Deputy.

Nevertheless, we continue to recruit. We have several thousand more people to recruit this year. We are doing our best to meet the targets. I met CORU as recently as yesterday in respect of trying to get people onto the register as quickly as possible to be able to meet many of the therapeutic needs children desperately need.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Does the Minister remember the promise of €200-per-month childcare that vanished into thin air, which he and Fine Gael promised before the election? The problem is that there is no childcare available to parents in any case. In the Blakestown area of Dublin West, we hear that Ready, Steady, Learn, a not-for-profit early learning childcare service catering for 43 children, could close. A parent from the Blanchardstown-Castleknock area contacted me who is a full-time working parent and despite best efforts cannot get any after-school care for her daughter.

Does the Minister agree that private or for-profit childcare cannot work? Can you run a school or college at a profit? No, you cannot, and you cannot do it with childcare either. Parents, the children or the workers will end up paying for the Government's broken promises and lack of investment.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is completely ignoring what is after happening over the last number of years. Childcare investment has quadrupled from €260 million in 2015 to €1.37 billion in 2025. This is significant State investment in childcare, along with the affordability supports that underpin it. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is ambitious to continue to do more to support parents with the affordability of childcare. It is unfair to dismiss many small and medium enterprises that provide a really important service in the communities we represent in west Dublin or elsewhere.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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I did not dismiss them.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy dismissed them in how she described them. They provide a really important part of supports for childcare across communities in this country. They also need to be supported in how we manage the budget process.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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This is a terrible deflection. I did not mention that. I said there were not enough.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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Island funding is crucial for many of our islands but its distribution needs closer scrutiny. The Bere Island Projects Group, which covers Bere Island, Whiddy Island and Dursey Island, has three full-time staff and must manage office, utilities and running costs from a budget that saw only a 2.1% increase. This is insufficient for standard cost-of-living requirements, in comparison to smaller islands like Inishturk and Inishbofin which received much higher increases of 28.4% and 16.6%, respectively, despite Bere Island having approximately 100 more residents than Clare Island, which received a 23% increase. We do not begrudge these islands the extra funding they get, as all non-Gaeltacht islands face sustainability challenges. Bere Island simply asks for parity with other islands. Without adequate investment, Bere Island, Dursey Island and Whiddy Island face further depopulation and loss of culture and sustainable business and tourism projects. Will the Government reconsider the funding allocation to better support the Bere Island Projects Group and ensure parity with other islands?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Collins. The Government and the Minister, Deputy Calleary, are committed to continuing support for the islands. This is reflected in his submission to me as part of the national development plan but also in advance of budget 2026. I do not have specific detail relating to the individual allocations for the different islands the Deputy referred to but I will ask the Minister to revert to the Deputy directly. I know the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, has been similarly reflecting the need to support Bere Island.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In the past decade, according to figures provided by the Minister's Department, the number of civil servants has increased from about 36,000 to 53,000, which is an almost 50% increase. In figures provided to me by the HSE with regard to whole-time equivalents, the numbers employed by the HSE have increased from 107,274 to 148,268, a 38.2% increase. We have seen today a report from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council that overspending by Departments this year is set to top €2 billion. While I totally agree that, with a growing population, more complex needs and a traditional under-resourcing of certain areas of government and the health service, we need to expand. I have two related questions. How can we ensure that these increases in both staff resources and spending are resulting in improved delivery to citizens? Second, in the event of a global economic downturn, how can we ensure that public current expenditure will be kept under control?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2015, the population has been growing significantly and we have had a clear policy intent to support increased provision of public services in health, education and disability services. Part of the work we are doing as part of the medium-term expenditure framework is assessing what the appropriate number is in for the medium term in the context of the pay and numbers strategy, and what the envelope will be to fulfil that need. Separate from that piece of work, there is a need to drive and focus on outputs and delivery across public services, which is something we are all centrally focused on.

The Deputy referenced that IFAC has pointed out potential overspends this year. Some of the interventions we have made are on education, for example, with respect to the increased demand, provision and need in special education, and also additional supports around social and affordable housing, which is a pressing need, as we know, across communities. How we calibrate and assess the broader medium-term need of pay and numbers will be an important decision as part of our medium-term expenditure strategy.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I welcome our guests in the Public Gallery from Cushenstown Women's Shed.

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The N81 national road runs from Tallaght in south Dublin through west Wicklow and onward to Carlow. It functions as the principal transport artery for west Wicklow and parts of counties Kildare and Carlow. I will make two major points. The N81 is one of the most dangerous roads in the country, as proven by several studies. Second, the N81 is the only national road out of Dublin that has never been upgraded. It carries major traffic volumes. A preferred route option was chosen but shelved in 2018. This needs to be put into the national development plan, NDP. I ask that it be considered for inclusion in the new NDP.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. A number of road safety interventions have been made and are being made to the N81. Funding of €400,000 has been provided for realignment of the section near Stratford-on-Slaney and technical advisers have also been appointed to develop this scheme through a planning application. Funding has also been allocated to provide for traffic calming measures on the N81 adjacent to Hollywood village as well as for smaller safety interventions at Blessington and Baltinglass. When it comes to the national development plan and the prioritisation of roads projects on which the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, will engage, we are clear that we want to see many of the roads projects in the NDP, which are important across our country, advance. The Minister will have to revert to the Deputy directly regarding the N81. However, it is important that we continue to support the measures being taken around the existing road and the road safety interventions which will make a difference.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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We have a domestic violence epidemic in this country, North and South. Every single week now in my weekly clinics, women disclose domestic violence to me. Reporting of domestic violence has increased everywhere, including in Domestic Violence Response Galway. It is clear that something needs to change. I understand and recognise that is an enormous task to undertake, as domestic violence is an epidemic. However, there are certain things we can help with, especially when it comes to housing being a particular barrier for women who have left a domestic abuse relationship. Councils do not deal with women who have left an abusive relationship as a category under their hardship terms. This is something that the Government needs to look at. There should be more help in place for women who have left domestic violence.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. I will start by acknowledging the bravery of so many victims of domestic and gender-based violence in speaking out. These voices are a stark reminder that although improvements have been made, we need to keep the momentum going to achieve our objective of zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This topic was discussed at the North-South Ministerial Council and is obviously an issue reflected throughout our island. There have been significant increases in funding, which has tripled since 2020. With the establishment of Cuan, we want to continue to build momentum. There will be an additional 80 refuge spaces by 2026. We are happy to work with the Deputy in driving that in the coming period.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister today commit to honouring the programme for Government promise to continue to reduce the student contribution fee during the lifetime of this Government? The policy has had a real impact, reducing the cost of education and easing pressure on families. This Government must stick to our commitment to support working families, deliver on the student contribution fee promise and build on the progress already made.

Does the Minister realise what has happened with regard to this €1,000? It is putting 100 hours extra work on all young students who are working hard during the summer in fast food takeaways and shops, milking cows or driving tractors. That is what this €1,000 is doing. Not every student, indeed not many at all, has parents with deep pockets who can come up with this €1,000. There are young kids in every one of our communities who now have to work an extra 100 hours during the summer in order to pay the extra €1,000. The Minister referred earlier to extending SUSI grants and all of that but the bottom line is that they have to have that money when they go to college in September. I am pleading with the Minister not to go ahead with this.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I am not sure whether he was here during Leaders' Questions when I responded to many of the Deputies who raised this issue. What has been stated up to this point is that the one-off temporary measures taken in the past 12 months are not continuing in the context of budget 2026. However, there will be a real focus on affordability of public services in education, childcare and healthcare. That is something many Government Ministers want to prioritise. In the aftermath of the summer economic statement, we absolutely acknowledge the need to support students and those in an education setting, whether at primary or third level. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, will engage in that as part of the budget process. We have to respect the budget process in advance of it actually occurring. We are due to commence that over the coming weeks. We will be able to set out on budget day what decisions we will take for budget 2026.

Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I ask that time be provided for a Private Members' Bill I introduced before Christmas, colloquially known as the right to be forgotten Bill, in order that it could proceed to Second Stage. The Bill seeks to prohibit financial service providers from discriminating against cancer survivors who have completed treatment and have reached key milestones. It aims to ensure that a person's past illness does not continue to unfairly restrict their access to life insurance or other financial products. The Bill progressed to Committee Stage in the previous Seanad in Private Members' time with strong cross-party support, support from the Irish Cancer Society and the backing of a former Minister for Finance. It also gives effect to a clear commitment in the programme for Government to enshrine the right to be forgotten for cancer survivors in Irish law. Cancer survivors deserve to move on with their lives without facing ongoing barriers rooted in their medical past. I urge the new Minister for Finance to prioritise this legislation and ensure time is allocated for its advancement.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the good work Deputy Ardagh has done in this area, both in this Dáil and in the last Seanad. She galvanised support across the various political parties to ensure that cancer survivors who have come through cancer for a prolonged period can access life insurance when availing of a mortgage. Owing to the good work the Deputy has done and the legislation that has been drafted, I am pleased to advise that my Department will be uploading an electronic submission for the Cabinet's consideration next Tuesday. If the Cabinet is duly minded, I would hope that we would be able to introduce the legislation before the summer recess, recognising a commitment in the programme for Government. We would not have been able to move it at the pace we have moved it were it not for the Deputy's work. I acknowledge that and thank the Deputy.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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Jordan Devlin is an Irish citizen. He is one of the Filton 18. He has been held on remand in Wormwood Scrubs since August 2024 on charges, among others, of criminal damage and violent disorder. The charges relate to dismantling weapons, including a quadcopter drone which is used in the relentless attacks on Gaza.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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A question, Deputy. Is this a live case?

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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I am coming to the question.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Is it a case that has been prosecuted?

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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He is being held on remand at the moment in Wormwood Scrubs.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I urge caution.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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The trial is not until later in the year. I am asking the Minister to take up this case with the British Government because Mr. Devlin is being held on charges which are not counter-terrorism charges, even though that is the method being used to keep him on remand. He and some of his co-accused will be in jail until next year. I ask the Minister to take up this case as urgently as possible to have him released on bail.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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This issue obviously involves specific, individual circumstances which relate to the Ministers for foreign affairs and justice. I can ask the Ministers to respond to the Deputy as appropriate.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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I raise the issue of students. It has been a bad couple of weeks for them. I listened carefully to the Minister's earlier answers. He framed this in the context of a once-off measure, as did the Minister, Deputy Lawless. However, the programme for Government states that the Government will continue to reduce student contribution fees over the lifetime of the Government, to ease the financial burden on students and families, at the start of each academic year - not some academic years. Some of the Government Deputies are jumping up and down about this as well. That is no harm but we need some real discussion about this because the Union of Students in Ireland, USI, is saying students will be deferring degrees as a result of this or even studying abroad. We are back to the €3,000 fees.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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A question please, Deputy.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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I have the question. I ask the Ceann Comhairle to bear with me for a moment. The rest of the Deputies got good latitude.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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They did not, I will have you know. The Deputy's time is up. I thank him. Will the Minister respond? It is the same question.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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Was the reduction just for last year because there was an election?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy is way over his time limit and did not ask the question as prepared.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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Was it just an election stunt for last year or is the Minister going to turn this around and do the right thing? That is the question.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Everybody else is entitled to fair time and everybody got fair time. The Deputy is out of order. I call the Minister.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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They try to work part-time jobs.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Many others have raised it and as I have said to others, this is a matter for budget 2026. We will engage with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, in that context. All measures and priorities are reflected in the budgetary discussions that the Government will undertake in advance of budget 2026. The same applies to the issue the Deputy has raised, as it does to many of the other priorities reflected across this House. The parameters we will set in July will outline what is possible for 2026. That is how the Government will proceed over the next period of weeks.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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All the money was just for the election.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy's question time is over. I call Deputy Cummins.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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Some of the parents in our school system are having to act like fundraisers because the schools are not fully funded. I know the Government has increased the capitation grant, which is welcome. However, having spoken to many different schools, DEIS schools in particular, I know that fundraising is very difficult because families are struggling with general day-to-day costs. The same is true in special schools. Parents are exhausted from the level of care needs. At what point in the future will we be able to get rid of these voluntary contributions altogether? They are there to help schools. We would love for the funding raised to pay for the icing-on-the-cake stuff but it is the bread-and-butter stuff the money is covering, including the heating, lighting and all that stuff. At what point will we be able to eliminate that altogether and be fully funded? I totally appreciate everything that has been said about budgets-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. Time is up.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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-----but I am wondering about forward planning. I thank the Minister.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister to respond.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. Voluntary contributions are by their nature voluntary. It is up to each individual school to decide what it asks parents for. My objective as Minister is to ensure they have the support, funding and capitation they need for the day-to-day basics. That is why we recently increased the capitation. For next September, the rates for primary and post-primary schoolchildren will increase. Of course, there is a clear commitment in the programme for Government to increase that further. As I mentioned earlier, I want not just to see how we can increase funding for schools but also how we can reduce their overall costs. I do not just want to reduce the cost of electricity, lighting and heating but also the cost of insurance and costs in other areas. It will always be up to the school to decide whether or not it wants to ask parents for voluntary contributions, whether for school tours, technical equipment or otherwise. My objective is to ensure that in respect of the day-to-day costs of books, ICT equipment and other things, schools are supported and provided for through the annual budgets. Of course, this year's budget will be no different.

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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When will the Government publish the long-awaited policy framework on the use of commercial drones in this country? It was due in 2023. It is now 2025 and we still have nothing. All the while, Government Ministers, when abroad on trade missions, have been promoting Ireland as a destination for unmanned aircraft or drones. Of course, drones can have a positive impact, particularly in the area of health, but there is a reality that communities are crying out for some sort of protection. All the while the Government has been stalling on introducing that policy, while inviting companies into the likes of Blanchardstown and Glasnevin, the communities the Minister and I represent, and treating them like guinea pigs.

I submitted a freedom of information, FOI, request for some of the briefing notes that the Minister got in his time in the Department of Transport and elsewhere. Those notes described Ireland as a prime unmanned aircraft system, UAS, testing environment. They state that Ireland has the edge of an uncluttered airspace. I could go on. When will the Government finally publish the policy framework for unmanned commercial drones in this country?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. As she knows, this issue is regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority in the context of the EU legislative framework that exists for drones. I know the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is working on finalising the draft policy framework and expects it to be published this summer. There was previous consultation on the framework and extensive has been work carried out in the aviation division of the Department of Transport. That is the latest position I have been given relating to the publication of policy.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The programme for Government pledges to explore the provision of an additional surgical hub for the north west in a timely manner. On 24 February, I attended a meeting with HSE executives, who, after pressing, indicated that Sligo was the preferred choice. Shortly after that, the Minister visited Letterkenny. She came in listening mode. She listened to the professionals there and met the TDs and Oireachtas Members. She had a meeting with the consultants and representatives of the 171 GPs who favour a centre in Letterkenny. She is again meeting them this evening. I thank the Minister for doing that. She was in listening mode. I have every confidence that she will take the right decision for the people of the north west.

Of course, we took all of that in good faith. We had meetings with the-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Time is up, Deputy.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I know I am being squeezed out-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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You are not.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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-----but this is important.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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That was the Deputy's minute.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Ceann Comhairle would appreciate if this-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Under Questions on Policy and Legislation, Deputies have one minute. The Deputy's time is up. We are over time so I am giving the Deputy latitude by taking the question at all. I ask him to pose his question to the Minister.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Government confirm that a decision was taken in a back room with the Lowry supporters? Was a decision taken that the additional surgical hub would be in Sligo at the expense of Letterkenny?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Lo and behold, the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, is here in the House-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister to respond.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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This is important to Donegal.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy should understand the format. There is one minute-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I do understand it.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy is over time.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I understand it, but the Ceann Comhairle was not as severe with others.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, I am not being severe. I am asking you to stick to the format.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Can I ask the Minister, the Government-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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To be fair to all colleagues-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I could have placed the question now.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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You could, but you should have placed it in your time. I ask the Minister to respond.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I want to say very clearly in this House that I am a Donegal man and I am not going to accept that people from outside Donegal would take decisions for Donegal. I want to know if this decision was taken by the Government in a back room.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy has asked the question. I thank the Deputy. I call the Minister to respond.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Do not thank me at all.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I know and understand some of what is being said around Letterkenny and surgical capacity for the north-west region. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has been engaging with the Deputy and other representatives of the north west in the context of the surgical demand that is there. She is engaging in that process in good faith. Over the coming period, we will set out the future plans around surgical capacity for the north west, where there is significant demand. She is listening to the community and the clinicians. She will continue that process over the coming period and will then set out her plans in the context of the capital provision over the medium term.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Would the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, not respond?