Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

Announcement of Business for the Week:Tuesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025 (without debate; any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hours 34 mins; any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday)

Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Cost of Disability, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Statements on Tillage (not to exceed 3 hours 32 mins)

- Budget Debate [Financial Resolution No. 5, resumed] (rolling sequence of 135-minute speaking rounds, to adjourn either at 7 p.m. or after 2 hours 15 mins, whichever is the later)

- Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to commence no earlier than 7 p.m. and to conclude within 3 hours)

- Further Revised Estimate for Public Services 2025 [Vote 34] (back from Committee) (without debate; any division claimed to be taken immediately)

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025 (back from Committee) (without debate; any division claimed to be taken immediately)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Reform of the Defective Concrete Redress Scheme, selected by Independent and Parties Technical Group.

Thursday's business shall be the Second Stage of the National Training Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025 (if not previously concluded, to adjourn after 3 hours and 24 minutes).

Thursday evening business shall be the Education (Amendment) Bill 2024, sponsored by Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú.

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 Dáil may sit later than 10.48 p.m.;

(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 private members' business, which may be taken later than 6.12 p.m.; and

(c) private members’ time shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of the Second Stage of the Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business, namely, Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and topical issues;

2. the proceedings on the Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;

3. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 3 hours and 34 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:

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

(b) on the conclusion of the first speaking round or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 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; Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday; and

(c) members may share time.

	Gov	SF	Lab	Gov	SF
Mins	20	20	20	12	4
	SD	Gov	SF	IPTG	Gov
Mins	20	12	4	20	12
	SF	ITG	Gov	SF	OM
Mins	4	20	12	4	20

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

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

(a) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m.;

(b) in the event that the Budget Debate [Financial Resolution No. 5, resumed] concludes before 7 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 7 p.m., when the order of business shall resume with the Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025;

(c) any motions to be taken without debate shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025; and

(d) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on any motions without debate, and the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time;

(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

(a) the speaking slots from the last speaking round taken on Thursday, 9th October, 2025, shall be continued from the point at which they were adjourned;

(b) members may share time; and

(c) when there are no further members offering, the debate shall be adjourned, and in any event, the debate shall be adjourned either at 7 p.m., or after two hours and 15 minutes, whichever is the later;

	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

(a) subject to subparagraph (ii), the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned after 3 hours and 24 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

(i) the arrangements for the first speaking round shall be in accordance with those contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(ii) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 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; and

(iii) members may share time; and

(b) the proceedings shall not be resumed on Thursday.

	Gov	SF	Lab	Gov	SF
Mins	20	20	20	12	4
	SD	Gov	SF	IPTG	Gov
Mins	20	12	4	20	12
	SF	ITG	Gov	SF	OM
Mins	4	20	12	4	20

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

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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They are not agreed to.

Under Standing Order 35(3), I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, namely to have statements and questions and answers from the Minister for Health and from the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, on the ongoing scandal regarding children with scoliosis and spina bifida who require spinal surgery and why they are continuing to be failed and left on waiting lists, and also to have a report from both the Minister and the Tánaiste on the establishment of a statutory public inquiry into Children’s Health Ireland.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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While I will not be calling a vote on this, I believe that, given the significant developments in Palestine in the past couple of days, it would be of relevance to the House if we had an update on the overall situation in Palestine, particularly in relation to the provision of aid, both emergency and structural, and Ireland's role in that. What does the Tánaiste mean by having an open mind on peacekeeping?

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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I support Deputy McDonald’s call for a public inquiry into Children’s Health Ireland. In addition, I propose an amendment under Standing Order 35(3), namely to call for statements on the peace plan for Gaza. All of us are being contacted in our offices daily by people who are seeking to understand what exactly the plan means and hoping it will bring peace. We want to know what it means in relation to the occupied territories Bill-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We just had Leaders’ Questions and no one asked that.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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-----and reaffirming our commitment to the ICC judgment-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank Deputy Gannon. I call Deputy Paul Murphy.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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-----supporting South Africa through the ICJ.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I have written to the Business Committee about, and raised with it, the need for statements and questions and answers with the Minister for justice on the scenes of Garda brutality we saw the Saturday before last, with the indiscriminate use of pepper spray and batons against peaceful protesters at the docks - people protesting in solidarity with Palestine.

We need to hear whether the Minister for justice agrees with this or if we are going to go down the road of Germany and other countries.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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I called last week at the Business Committee for an urgent debate on the fishing crisis in this country and the recent proposals. The International Energy Agency has found that retail energy prices in Ireland are three times higher than the wholesale prices. Irish households are basically paying the highest electricity prices in Europe, leaving energy providers laughing all the way to the bank as householders are left in tears. We need a sincere debate here in the Dáil on how this situation can be turned around.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. I call the Chief Whip to respond.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank all the Deputies for their proposals. We had a lengthy meeting of the Business Committee last Thursday. As everybody understands, we have three pieces of important legislation to deal with this week. We spent a lot of time wondering where we could eke out more time in relation to fisheries, for example. I understand the amendments that have been put forward under Standing Order 35(3) by both Deputy McDonald and Deputy Gannon in relation to Gaza. We have just had Leaders' Questions, and I am surprised that nobody raised Gaza-----

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I facilitated statements on Gaza on three occasions last week, on every day I was asked to do so. I am amazed that the matter was not important enough to be raised on Leaders' Questions.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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It is not the Minister of State's decision to make.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to what was raised regarding the Minister for justice, again we are in contact with the Minister. As I am not in a position to accept any of the proposals under Standing Order 35(3), the Order of Business stands for this week.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State and the Deputies. Are the proposed arrangements agreed to?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Not agreed.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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3 o’clock

Before we move on, I welcome a group from County Wexford, the Rosebuds Ladies Group from Clongeen. They are all very welcome, including their bus driver, Daniel, the picture-taker.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The bus driver is very important.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The bus driver is very important; the Taoiseach is right. We will move to Deputy McDonald.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I give a warm welcome to the yellow bellies. Fáilte isteach, ladies.

For all of the Taoiseach's big talk about phasing out the carer's allowance means test over five years, we got the truth of his position in last week's budget. Instead of allocating the €133 million that would be required for this phase-out, only €10 million was allocated for next year. At this rate, it would take 30 years to remove the means test under a Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil Government.

He gave his word to carers to abolish the means test. How can he so brazenly go back on his word?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have committed to ending the waiver over the lifetime of this Government, which is five years and five budgets. We made a significant start on this occasion which will enable us to do it in five years. We have significantly increased the income disregard. It is the highest ever. If you look at some of the income levels now entitled to the carer's allowance when compared with some years ago, it is quite extraordinary in itself. It is a 60% increase. A single carer can earn just over €54,000 per year and receive a full carer's payment. The income disregard for a couple increased by €750 to €2,000 per week. A person caring in a household where their partner earns up to €108,000 a year will receive a full carer's payment. These are the largest ever increases in the carer's income disregard. We will be in a position to fulfil our programme for Government and manifesto commitments.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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This week marks Baby Loss Awareness Week, an opportunity for people to mark the personal tragedy of a pregnancy loss. Miscarriage in the later stages of pregnancy gives women the right to take maternity leave but those who lose a pregnancy earlier in the term have no right to paid time off work to recover. We in the Labour Party brought forward legislation to give women paid time off, up to 20 days, for early pregnancy loss and up to ten days for employees accessing reproductive healthcare treatments like IVF, leave for when it matters most and for more compassionate workplaces. We brought this Bill forward in the previous Dáil term. Many Government TDs and Senators voiced support for it. The Government did not oppose it but put a stay of 12 months on the Bill. In this new Dáil, given research has been undertaken in the meantime on the potential impact of the measures in our Bill, will the Taoiseach look into taking it further? We will be happy to work with the Taoiseach and the Government on this matter.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue. I accept fully her bona fides in moving this measure. As she said, we tabled a timed amendment to the legislation last year. I will talk to the relevant Ministers and the Government about the implications of adopting such a measure. We have made significant improvements in this wider area of the past number of years. We will look at it in the context of what is available. The case has been well made.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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Over 300,000 households are in electricity arrears, while 1 million will see hikes in their electricity bills this month. At the same time, wholesale energy prices have dropped by 75% from the peak of the energy crisis. Earlier the Taoiseach asked where the pressure was on these energy companies. I agree 100% with him. Where is the pressure on these energy companies? That is his job. Families are struggling between eating, electricity costs and heating their homes. I remind the Taoiseach the Government is currently sitting approximately €190 million from the windfall taxes brought in over the past couple of years. Why is the Government not using that money to alleviate the pressures on families who are really struggling? They will continue to struggle over the course of the winter.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are using that money. We have used substantial resources in terms of the retrofitting programme-----

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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That money is just sitting there.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----fuel poverty, the increase in the fuel allowance payment-----

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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You have not spent that money.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and extending it into the working family payment will which will bring in a significant cohort of working people who are on relatively low incomes. We are spending an unprecedented amount on funding, targeting the measures. The quote the Deputy used is a bit distorted because I said it in the context of Deputy Murphy wanting universal credits for everybody, irrespective of income or wealth. That was the context because that would bail out the energy companies, ultimately, and incentivise them to keep increasing prices. There needs to be pressure on the companies.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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Put pressure on them.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is engaging with them. We need to do everything we can to get prices down.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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Put the pressure on them.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Other Deputies have already raised the case of the elderly, vulnerable people on hunger strike.

I think they have been 22 days on hunger strike outside Leinster House. They are survivors of industrial and reformatory schools who are putting their health on the line to try to access justice for themselves and their fellow survivors. They were failed once by the State when they were committed to these heinous institutions and they are being failed again now. Their ask is very simple and very modest, to access a full Health (Amendment) Act, HAA, medical card and a full State contributory pension, based on what has been awarded to survivors of similar institutions but which these survivors have been excluded from. It is not enough that the State acknowledges it has failed survivors historically. If it excludes survivors from redress for these past wrongdoings, it is showing it has not learned lessons. It is obviously getting to a very grave situation when we are at 22 days for elderly people. I am asking if there can be an intervention here.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I met the group last Friday week. I asked them in to Government Buildings and we met in the Taoiseach's offices and had a lengthy discussion. Deputy Murphy knows the history. I established the inquiry into the industrial schools. That was followed by a comprehensive redress scheme and other measures that were taken. We are willing to engage and I have asked my officials to look at all the various requests from the group, but there are repercussions elsewhere and it is not as simple or straightforward as has been presented. We are willing to engage and quite a list of issues was discussed. I have asked my officials to look at those issues and I am also meeting the Minister for education, whose officials have offered to meet the group on her behalf. I would like this resolved but there has to be a bit of flexibility so we can get into a process. I would like them to come off the hunger strike because it can be damaging health-wise. I would like them to come off it in good faith that we would engage on issues and try to improve what is there already.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Rip-off Ireland is alive and well. I have seen incredible figures that energy prices in Ireland are three times the wholesale price, which is one of the highest gaps in the world. The gap between the retail price and the cost of producing it is again one of the biggest in the world. Electricity companies are failing to pass on savings they are making, and why would they? The ESB is a semi-State, it delivers Government policy, it is one of the biggest players in the market and it is profiteering as well. This is a dysfunctional market. It is the Government’s market and the Government is responsible for it. In response to another TD, the Taoiseach mentioned the €190 million energy support fund, which he said is being paid out. Just €3.9 million of that €190 million has been paid out. That is outrageous. The Taoiseach mentioned earlier that the electricity price is tied to the price of gas. Again, that is the Government's legislation.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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No, it is not.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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It is. It is in the remit of this Government and it is absolutely bonkers that that is actually happening.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy, your time is up. The Taoiseach to respond.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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This Government is literally prevaricating-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, your time is up.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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-----while the people of Ireland are freezing.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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You are taking other Deputies' time. The Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have the eighth-highest cost - and it is too high - of energy across the EU 27 when taken in the context of purchasing power parity. That is the situation. We have a very dispersed energy system. We have to invest very significantly in the grid over the coming years. We will have to triple the investment in our energy grid over the next number of years-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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They are tripling their prices over the wholesale price.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and we have grown exponentially.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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It is not a back-and-forth.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is a European framework. Gas is the price-setter.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Iberia came out of it.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are, unfortunately, importing too many fossil fuels and the sooner we can get to more and more renewables, the cheaper our energy will eventually become. In the meantime, we will keep the pressure on the companies. We will talk-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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What pressure?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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There is no pressure on the companies.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We will talk to the CRU. There is a regulator there. The Deputies know that.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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It is not working, clearly.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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One voice.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The regulator does not agree with Deputy Tóibín's position, but at the same time, we understand fully the pressures on people and that is why are focusing-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach, and your time is up. Deputy Crowe.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----on those on lower incomes-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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They need more than the Taoiseach's understanding, though.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----as opposed to giving wealthy people energy credits.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Crowe.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The way radar interacts with aircraft is that a little ping signal goes up and back, positioning at all times the aircraft on a vertical and horizontal axis on an air traffic controller's screen. The Irish Aviation Authority has said very clearly in recent planning files that it is unsafe to put wind farms in close proximity to radar. It distorts the signal of where those aircraft are. It jeopardises passenger safety. It also puts at risk the national asset our radar infrastructure is. A huge number of flights from America to Europe pass over Irish skies, including Woodcock Hill in Clare, every day. An Coimisiún Pleanála has decided to flatly ignore this safety advice from the Irish Aviation Authority. The authority's staff are the experts on air safety and the Government should insist that when An Coimisiún Pleanála does not have in-house expertise, it should listen, especially where safety is concerned, to the expertise of the likes of the Irish Aviation Authority.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for, as usual, a well-researched and detailed presentation.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry, Deputy Cullinane, but it was. Safety in the air is first and has to be prioritised. I will follow this up and talk to the Minister for Transport in respect of it. I know from my neck of the woods that there is a safe zone around Cork Airport where you cannot do anything or build anything and that has been the way for decades. I will pursue the issue the Deputy has raised.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Taoiseach. On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle, let the record show-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, there is no point of order during Questions on Policy or Legislation.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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-----that Deputy Cullinane sniggered at this issue, which is very real in Clare. Let the Sinn Féin voters in Clare know about this.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy Geoghegan.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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We have been waiting for guidelines for about 20 years.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputies, please. Deputy Geoghegan.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle. The Taoiseach will be familiar with the Baggot Street hospital. It is an iconic building in the middle of Baggot Street that, scandalously, has been left vacant for a number of years by the HSE. The HSE told us and local residents that it had been placed on the OPW disposal register, which, as it was explained to me, means every Government Department and State body would be offered an opportunity to put that building into reuse. TheJournal.ie reported yesterday that the Department of housing said it has never been offered use of this building. Now the HSE has put it on the open market. I and with residents across the area want to see this being put into an active use, but they will be horrified and scandalised if it is the case the Department of housing never explored whether it could be put to use for housing. We need absolute clarity and certainty on that because this has gone on for some time. There is an opportunity to redevelop the front part of that hospital and put it into active use. We just need clarity on that from the Minister for housing.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That hospital has been closed for a long time. It may not be easily available for housing, or amenable, given the investment that would be required and the historical nature of the building. Aspects of it are probably listed. I do not know that but I presume so. Every Department, therefore, has to look at it from a value-for-money perspective. It is in a prime location and it would seem to me that it needs to be reused, but whether that is private sector-driven reuse or not, I would be open, given its location. There is an architectural heritage dimension to it, I imagine, as well as a purely utilitarian perspective in terms of what the building gets used for. Again, I recall at the height of the emergency in respect of-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Cullinane.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----the emergency accommodation for Ukrainians-----

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach might just follow up with the Minister for housing to clarify where we are at.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, you will have to write to the Taoiseach. Deputy Cullinane.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is not just the Minister for housing. It is the Minister for Health and the HSE as well. They are all involved. Come on.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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It was the Department of housing that said it had never been offered it. It is just to get clarity on that point.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, you can send an email. Deputy Cullinane.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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I raise with the Taoiseach again investment for Waterford Airport. It is something I have raised with him dozens of times. The airport's management has always made well-researched, very detailed propositions to Government on the need for the runway extension. Is the Taoiseach aware of a new consortium or investor that is prepared to put €30 million, it seems, on the table? Has he been briefed on that? In the past there was an ask for Government funding, which it seems will not be needed if this proposal is genuine. It has to be approved by the local authority but I understand it also has to be approved by Government and by the line Minister. Is it something the Taoiseach has been briefed on? Is he aware of this? Is the Government supportive and will it sign off on this if it comes across its desk?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister has been briefed in respect of this and I will be engaging with a number of Ministers on this as to what the current situation is. When the Deputy says "approved", does he mean by the Minister for housing?

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister for Transport.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is the Minister for Transport from an airport perspective, but if the local authority is engaging and is facilitative, it may not require its line Minister to approve it also. It probably does not. The new injection of private capital is a very significant development. I will talk to the Minister for Transport in respect of it.

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Rural communities in Kildare North are experiencing increasingly frequent power outages. These are often outside of severe weather events. I am cognisant of the colder weather and darker days that are coming upon us. Areas such as Newtown Dunfierth, Donadea and Johnstownbridge are being consistently impacted, which is impacting households, families, farms, small businesses, etc. Will the Taoiseach liaise with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline what specific grid resilience upgrades are planned for rural areas, specifically in Kildare. I know a lot of planned investment is in train for the grid. However, rural areas are particularly impacted. How can we ensure there is resilience specifically in those rural areas?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That speaks to the point I have been making all afternoon. The need for grid resilience is enormous. The expenditure will be enormous. There are huge costs on the taxpayer for the expansion of the grid. I will talk to the Minister in respect of the specifics regarding the towns in north Kildare the Deputy outlined. That is perhaps a manifestation of the challenges we face with the growth of industry and population growth, in particular in Kildare where it has been quite exponential. I will ask about more specific short-term measures. There is no doubt we require a massive investment in the grid.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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How does the Taoiseach propose to support workers and families who do not qualify for affordable housing, HAP, cost rental or any of the other schemes provided by local authorities when their income is simply not sufficient enough to secure an adequate mortgage to meet the current market price? Every week I meet people in my constituency of Laois: SNAs, nurses, gardaí, teachers, administrative and healthcare assistants, hospitality staff and many others - all hard-working people who contribute so much to our communities. They want to know what measures are being taken to ensure that they have a fair and realistic opportunity to own their own homes so they can build a better future and settle in the communities where they work.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are three significant schemes: the help-to-buy scheme, which is a substantial help; the first homes schemes, which is where the State injects a degree of equity and; third, the derelict and vacant homes grant, which is quite substantial and has enabled about 3,000 houses to become available, whereby people have refurbished such houses and got a substantial grant for doing so. Sometimes, it is possible to combine grants such as the help-to-buy and retrofitting. Those are the measures so far. I acknowledge that people are above the threshold which puts them in difficulty regarding the affordability of housing. We are constantly trying to see if we can bridge the affordability gap.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The cheapest house in Portlaoise is €500,000.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy's time is up.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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I must highlight once again to the Taoiseach across this Chamber the way in which the Minister for education, the Department and the Government as a whole are treating Scoil Gharbháin i nDún na Mainistreach, i gContae Phort Láirge, and other schools, particularly Gaelscoileanna, across the State. Dúirt an Roinn gur ceadaíodh dhá sheomra ranga riachtanais speisialta, ceithre sheomra ranga príomhshrutha agus trí sheomra teagaisc oideachais speisialta trí mheán na Gaeilge i mí Eanáir na bliana seo. The school received a departmental update in February, stating its application was with the Department’s professional and technical division that would produce the project briefing costings. They were told this team would be in contact with the school within six weeks. Eight months later, there is still no word. It is three months since I last raised this with the Taoiseach in the Dáil. Tá an halla spóirt anois mar sheomra ranga sealadach agus tá ar thuismitheoirí a bpáistí a chuir chuig scoileanna Béarla mar gheall ar an easpa spáis sa scoil seo. This, coupled with last week's budget-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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-----has shown the utter disregard of the Government for Gaeloideachas.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call on the Taoiseach to respond. Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. Your time is up.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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After months of delays, could we arrange to get an answer for Scoil Gharbháin?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Tá an-infheistíocht ag dul isteach sna scoileanna, agus ní hamháin sna scoileanna speisialta agus na ranganna speisialta. Tá scoileanna i gcoitinne i gceist freisin. Tá an-infheistíocht ar fad ann. Déanfaidh mé fiosrú leis an Aire maidir leis an scoil seo. Níl an t-eolas agam go mion faoi cad atá ar siúl idir an scoil agus an Roinn nó oifigigh na Roinne ach táim muiníneach go mbeimid in ann dul chun cinn a fheiscint sa togra seo sar i bhfad. Is féidir liom é seo a ardú leis an Aire.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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I wish to raise reimbursement support for continuous glucose monitoring sensors. The scheme is currently only available for people who have type 1 diabetes, so patients with type 2 diabetes are excluded. I am concerned at the increased volume of emails I receive on this issue from my constituents. In particular, I was alarmed by a case where a man was undergoing treatment for cancer who happened to be a type 2 diabetic. He applied to the medicines management programme in the HSE and went through the appeals mechanism but he was still refused. I find this very concerning, in particular as the patient was undergoing cancer treatment. At what point would a person's appeal be upheld to use this route? Could the system please be reviewed in the interests of fairness?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue for her constituent, and more generally, as it could affect other people. I will ask the HSE and the Minister for Health to investigate the matter and to provide a note on it.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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I want to raise the early years sector with the Taoiseach today. Much has been made of the Government's failure to live up to its pre-election promises in this area. I want to focus on a specific area, that is, the community not-for-profit and voluntary sector for early years. In the wider Fingal area there are 291 early years service providers but only 16, or 5%, of them are from the community not-for-profit sector, with 95% being for profit. This is the youngest and fastest growing county in the country. It is leaving families being ripped off with high prices for early years. Will the Government commit to a policy whereby the preferred model for early years crèches, which are being built on public land or being run from public buildings, would be a voluntary, not-for-profit or community childcare facility?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We would need to have a much broader outlook than that. We cannot make decisions on this on the hoof. I understand where the Deputy is coming from but, on the other hand, we have developed a model of childcare over two decades which involves either community provision, private sector provision, or some State provision. The State has tended to support access through grants and the development of the curriculum, as well as access to early education for children with special and additional needs. We had a price freeze in recent years through significant allocations to the existing providers. A State- or community-based provision may not be permanently based. There are three areas: price, in other words, affordability; the volume of places; and career pathways for those working in childcare.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Thaoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Career pathways need to be better in terms of remuneration and future prospects.

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

Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)
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Ten years ago this country proudly affirmed marriage equality through a referendum. The LGBTQI+ community in the United States also won equal marriage rights in that same year. I have been deeply concerned by the rising anti-LGBTQI+ sentiment there and elsewhere. One couple in my constituency were married in the United States and are particularly worried that if a state or US court invalidates their marriage they may lose legal recognition or protections in Ireland or in other countries. What happens to those couples if those marriages are deemed void by the state which granted them? Could I get assurances from the Taoiseach and the Attorney General that marriage equality will be upheld here in all circumstances and that the Government will ensure Ireland will be a safe haven for all, even if threatened elsewhere? What else is the Government doing to protect the rights of the LGBTQI+ community here and abroad?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Internationally, we have been to the fore in advancing the rights of the LGBTQI community, in particular at European Union level. Some member states are beginning to resile in respect of rights for the LGBTQI community.

The law is the law in Ireland insofar as we can control that. I will certainly discuss the potential of what was outlined with the Attorney General but I surmise that we would be in a position to continue to recognise valid marriages and so forth. Our position as a society is clear on this.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Bhí mé ag caint leis an Taoiseach faoi seo cheana féin. Given the clear deficiencies in port capacity which threaten our ability to meet Ireland's offshore wind targets, as we discussed earlier, what are the plans to bring forward legislation amending the functions of the Irish Maritime Development Office to include a statutory mandate for planning, prioritising and advising of the funding for offshore wind energy port infrastructure? There is a clear bottleneck there. Can we commit to a concrete timeline for budget and oversight mechanisms to ensure that it becomes operational within the next 12 months?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I said that there would be a policy of prioritisation. We are working with Ireland's Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, and indeed with others towards that end because some significant projects need to be progressed in the interests of the common good be it energy, water, particularly offshore wind and so forth.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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That maritime Bill is on the publication list.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Go raibh maith agat.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. It is good to see Deputy Heneghan back safe and sound. Well done on your efforts.