Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Tánaiste, I have a document here that is 107 pages long. I read it this morning. It nearly put me to sleep ten times. There is nothing in it. I swear to God Almighty. Has the Tánaiste read this document? I have read it.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I helped to write it.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Do you know what I could not figure out? There are tens of thousands of boarded-up houses across the State that people are looking at every day. There is nothing in this for them. Do you know what I will tell you? There are thousands of houses owned by local authorities that are destroying communities because they are boarded up for years. There is nothing in this document for them. The Government gives local authorities €11,500 towards repairing vacant properties when the average cost is €31,000. Where is the extra €20,000? Will the Tánaiste commit? I am asking him and the Minister of State sitting next to him a straight question. Will they commit to funding local authorities to repair all these boarded-up houses that are destroying communities?

Can the Tánaiste imagine walking down the road and coming across people sleeping rough? I know a woman who is going to be evicted next week. There is nothing in this for people who are being evicted or who are sleeping rough. I know a woman who has her toddler and her mother in the same bedroom.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy’s time is up.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I have one last case, and I will leave it at that. I know a woman who does not qualify for social housing because her job is too good but who does not earn enough to get an affordable home. Where is she going to go after Christmas? She has an eviction notice now.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Deputy Gould.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Can the Tánaiste tell me that? I tell him that there is nothing in this. It is a waste of paper.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I admire the Deputy's passion, but I question his accuracy. For the people listening in and the-----

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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What page?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will tell you now.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Tell me the page.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am about to. There is information on page 52, page 53, page 54, page 55, page 56-----

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I read it. There is nothing in it.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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-----page 56, page 57 and then a nice summary on page 58. Please do not mislead the people of Ireland.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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There is no money for councils.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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No, it is not there.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Please give me a chance to speak. Deputy Gould is right in relation to dereliction and vacancy. It is also factually correct to say that we are making substantive factual, statistical progress on that. It is also that we have now appointed and funded vacant housing officers in each local authority. It is also that we are planning in this plan-----

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I suggested that three years ago and you told me I was wrong. Then you adopted it. That is my policy. Myself and Eoin Ó Broin brought that to the House three years ago.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Then I am sure you welcome it.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Why are you giving out about it? You are giving out about your own suggestion.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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For the Deputy from Cork specifically, we have a commitment in relation to a Cork city centre task force, which will also make a real difference in looking at issues like vacancy, dereliction, over-the-shop living and the regeneration of the beautiful city that he represents.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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The Tánaiste appreciates the role community groups and community sports complexes play in communities across this country. I want to speak about the Mayfield Sports Complex and the urgent need for funding for it. When originally opened, the complex was designed to serve the local community and the school in Mayfield, as well as the wider public on the northside of Cork city. It was a joint project between the then Department of Education and the then Cork Corporation.

As a former teacher in Mayfield Community School, I am absolutely aware of the role the sports complex has played in the community. Over recent decades and despite the efforts of staff and local volunteers, Mayfield Sports Complex has become a relic of what it once offered the people of the community. There are severe roof leaks, outdated electrical and lighting systems, safety regulation issues, outdated facilities and below-standard changing rooms. The complex received €50,000 in funding through the Community Recognition Fund but it is simply not enough. I ask the Tánaiste, the Minister for education and the latter's Department to engage with the operators of Mayfield Sports Complex. The complex has sought engagement, and the Department has not responded, on the urgent need for funding, redevelopment and a renewed commitment to the original objectives set out for this vital amenity. The Tánaiste appreciates that such infrastructure is vital to communities and should be maintained and protected at a sufficient standard.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Kenny. I agree with him on the importance of community infrastructure. We talk frequently about building homes, which is vital, but having community infrastructure in place is also vital, as the Deputy will know as a public representative and teacher. I am pleased to hear that Mayfield Sports Complex received some funding from the Community Recognition Fund, but I hear the Deputy loudly and clearly that this is not enough, given the scale of the challenges it faces.

I will ask Deputy O’Donovan, as Minister for sport, and Deputy McEntee, as Minister for education, to engage with the Deputy on this matter. I am aware of the significant funding we have committed for sports under the national development plan. There will be new sports calls opening early in 2026, but I will ask both Ministers to determine how they can support the Deputy.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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Two incredibly disturbing cases this week have further highlighted the dangers that children face on social media. Alexander McCartney spent years grooming children, mainly on Snapchat, before abusing them. He was jailed in the North last year but a review of the case found he was free to continue to use the Internet and abuse children online while on bail. One of those children, twelve-year-old Cimarron Thomas, died by suicide during that period. In a separate case, a man was jailed in Dublin yesterday for the rape of two children, one of whom was just ten, after he met and groomed them, also on Snapchat. Snapchat, like other social media platforms, is supposed to have a minimum age requirement of 13.

Children engage with the online space differently than we do, but the laws and policies we expect in real life are not replicated online in any way that meets similar standards of safety. Social media companies must be regulated, but it is not just a legal framework alone that is required. We need to empower regulators and the Garda so there is adequate enforcement of those laws.

The last time we had an exchange on this, the Tánaiste invited greater discussion, but can he tell me what active steps the Government is taking to improve enforcement specifically? Is he satisfied that bail conditions in this jurisdiction that require defendants to stay off the Internet are properly enforced?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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No, I am not. I have three points. First, I agree with the Deputy on this issue and I am quite alarmed in terms of online media, including social media. We talk a lot about the positive impacts, but not about the negative and detrimental impacts in many areas, most particularly child safety. To use parliamentary language, I am irked – this is a very weak word – by some of the advertisements I see from social media companies in national media telling us they are doing this, that and the other. That is not what we want. I do not wish to speak for the Deputy but it is not what I want. It is not what we are talking about here; we are talking about a minimum age below which children do not go on social media. Not anything else, not any sop. I just wanted to say that.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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That is not a panacea, though.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am not disagreeing with the Deputy on that, so just let me finish.

Third, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy O’Donovan, is engaging with the Attorney General and others across government to examine what is possible within domestic law to take further action. I expect he will have proposals on that very shortly, and I hope within this calendar year.

Fourth, since entering this House in 2011, I have never called for a debate on any issue, but I actually think having one on this is something we would really welcome. We should have it. The Government will support the Deputy at the Business Committee in trying to find time to tease through what our practical proposals would be in this area.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Taoiseach delivered a strong speech to an international audience in Belém last week, yet back home today, the Climate Change Advisory Council concluded Ireland would overshoot its first carbon budget by 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The report has really highlighted Ireland's addiction to fossil fuels as a key reason the carbon budget will not be met. This Saturday, thousands of people will join the national climate demonstration, focusing on how Ireland's fossil fuel addiction remains a huge risk to affordability because it leaves Irish householders exceedingly exposed to spikes in gas and oil prices like those we saw after the Ukraine war.

The Climate Change Advisory Council has a clear recommendation: the Government should conduct a full review of national energy taxes and fossil fuel subsidies and reform the system fairly in advance of budget 2027. There is a year in which to do this work. Will the Government listen to the recommendation from the climate council?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Gorman. The Climate Change Advisory Council has acknowledged today that progress has been made, particularly on the roll-out of retrofitting and the use of renewable energy and solar in our homes, but it is also crystal clear that the progress being made is not enough and that we need to do much more. It is important that we not be fatalistic about climate change. The Deputy is certainly not fatalistic about what we can do. There has been significant progress. Ireland's emissions have fallen for the past three years. We now have the lowest level of emissions in 35 years, despite our population having grown by 50% over that period. That is quite a startling statistic. However, the Climate Change Advisory Council's annual review highlights the scale of challenge to remain within the carbon budget envelope. We are taking steps to implement the renewable energy directive. It is complex and wide-ranging, but it is a really important element.

Meeting our targets will be very challenging and that is why we are now strengthening governance arrangements. The climate action plan programme board has already met three times, involving senior officials from all the main sectors, including energy, transport and agriculture. Its remit now is to focus on the delivery of the action required to accelerate delivery and close the emissions gap. We will be taking very seriously and, of course, reflecting on today’s report of the Climate Change Advisory Council.

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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I congratulate President Catherine Connolly on her remarkable success and wish her well as Uachtarán na hÉireann. However, there has been a crisis of democracy - a huge democratic deficit in democracy - in this election. Three hundred and seventeen thousand people either spoiled their votes or voted for a withdrawn candidate. In some constituencies, the proportion of spoiled votes was north of 20%. Many boxes across the country showed that the number of spoiled votes was actually higher than the number of votes received by the candidate who came second. This was not an accident, nor was it the result of apathy. This was frustration. These people went to their ballot papers to voice their frustration over the huge deficit reflected there. The Tánaiste himself dictated to his councillors so as to prevent independent voices and members of smaller parties from gaining access to the nomination paper. The number of spoiled ballot papers in 2025 was almost as high as the combined vote for the Social Democrats, the Labour Party and the Green Party. That is the level we are talking about. It points to the biggest democratic deficit in the history of the State. In fact, the biggest democratic deficit in the history of European elections was registered here last month, yet nothing has been done about it.

Aontú has already introduced a Bill seeking to reduce the threshold. What have we and the Government learned from what has happened? What is the Government going to do to reduce the threshold to ensure rich and vibrant democracy in future presidential elections?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am not going to comment on our President, because we do not do that in this House, other than to congratulate her on her election and wish her well. I also thank all of those involved in the inauguration this week. It was a moment of immense pride in our country. We have had only ten Presidents. The inauguration was done very well. We have our elections, we have our ruaille buaille and then we pull together as a country. We all send every best wish for strength, resilience and joy to our President. I thank the Defence Forces, the Garda, the ushers and everybody involved in making the inauguration such a memorable occasion for our country.

I reject out of hand the diktat comment but I do not have time to get into it now. I wish we had the overall majorities on local authorities that the Deputy thinks we have. There are six Fine Gael councillors out of over 30 on Kerry County Council, for example. Our councillors decided, through our democratic structures, how they wished to engage.

The Deputy is not wrong, however, on the issue of spoiled votes. Just to be clear, I do not ignore that. People got in their cars, got on their bikes or walked to turn up at their polling stations - they did not sit on the couch - and they took a decision to spoil their votes, which is a democratic act that they had every right to do.

I do not think there is one homogenous reason people did it, but people found the field narrower than they expected. Quite frankly, it was narrower than I expected. We are happy to reflect and engage on that. We will not have another presidential election for another seven years. Aontú has put forward some proposals. If anything were to be done in this space, it would require Government and Opposition support. Some of Aontú's suggestions are interesting and I am happy to constructively engage in that regard.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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An Post is one of our core public services, one that has many fantastic people working within it. Over the past two weeks, I have had the opportunity to engage with two groups of people who have concerns about our post service. The first group relates to post delivery. The Grove Park and Glasnevin areas of my constituency have had significant disruption to their post services as a result of issues around recruitment, rosters and so on. As the Tánaiste knows, people rely on their post services. I have had examples of bank cards arriving late and people missing oncology appointments as a result. It is really important. It is important that An Post is able to respond to that challenge as well.

I met with a group of urban postmasters, which is a group that is often forgotten, about the viability of urban post offices. Local post offices in villages right across the northside of Dublin are having viability issues, but it is their rural colleagues who are often talked about. If we do not have a reliable postal service and post office network, we will suffer. I welcome the viability funding that was provided by the Government. That is important. I ask the Tánaiste to assist me in trying to improve the post service in the local Grove Park and Glasnevin areas. He might contact An Post on my behalf. Will he assure me that we will support urban postmasters?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will certainly do those things on behalf of both the Deputy and his constituents. I will make contact, via the Minister, with An Post regarding the local postal service disruptions that people are experiencing. When I think back to the Covid period, which was a difficult period of time in our country, some of the unsung heroes I think of are the postmen and postwomen. I remember that we did not even have to ask them. They contacted the Government to say that they knew where the vulnerable people lived in their communities because they went to their houses every day. They offered to do things and they did them. There was no talk of terms and conditions. They just rolled up their sleeves and got involved. They represent the very best of our community spirit.

The Deputy is also right, in that it is important when we have these conversations that they do not neatly divide between urban and rural. I am proud that we are in a Government that has a good track record in supporting the postal network. I will certainly raise the specific issues the Deputy has raised with the Minister for communications, Deputy O'Donovan, and ask that he raise them with An Post.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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In Australia, there are high numbers of people affected by flu. Likewise, the UK is expecting the same thing to happen. Here in Ireland, the take-up of the vaccine is very low. For instance, take-up of the vaccine stands at 17.5% of healthcare workers, 53.7% of fair deal residents, 42.6% of adults 60 and above, and 11% of those aged between two and 17. As we face into the winter months, there is always a new strain of flu. Taking the flu vaccine is important. When it comes to the Covid vaccine among healthcare workers, for instance, there is only a 5% take-up. What are the Tánaiste's Department and the Department of Health going to do to raise the importance of taking the flu and Covid vaccine in order to avoid adverse outcomes? Now is the time. I know we have had good weather in the past number of weeks, but we need to get the message out there. We need to get a greater take-up.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Burke for raising this matter and his work on promoting vaccination during his time in the Department of Health. I know it is an issue on which he worked very hard. I am told that we generally have one of the highest flu vaccine up-take rates for older adults in Europe. That is positive. I join the Deputy in reiterating to everyone the importance of getting that vaccine. Based on the trends he has referenced, we could very well have an intense flu season. Vaccination provides people with important protection, as does the Covid vaccine. I am also pleased to say that we now have the children's flu vaccine. I know the HSE is seeking to expand the provision of the children's flu vaccine into schools. I am told the HSE has launched an extensive communication campaign, which will continue throughout the winter season across national and local media, targeting people who are eligible to receive the flu and Covid-19 vaccines. In fact, I think I heard one of those ads this morning.

The specific issue in relation to healthcare professionals and others is an important one. It is an issue that the Minister for Health is focusing on, as is the Chief Medical Officer. I understand the Minister recently wrote to a number of training bodies to request their support in the promotion of flu vaccination among their trainees, members, fellows and staff. There is work under way through the HSE national immunisation office in terms of peer-to-peer champions in our hospitals and community healthcare settings. I will follow this up with the Minister of Health on foot of the Deputy raising it here today.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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Today, the Government launched its housing plan. To be honest, the failure to date and the failure to mention any additional funding in the plan for voids leaves me with huge concern. I have raised this specific issue on a number of occasions in the Dáil. My council in Limerick is probably one of the better ones in dealing with voids, but it still cannot deal with the voids if it does not have funding to do it. A total of €11,000 on average is allocated per house to do voids up. Many of the houses are over 90 years old and some of them could be 100 years old. They need a lot more than €11,000, so they lie vacant for years.

These are not just homes that could be used to house families because when they are boarded up, they become magnets for antisocial behaviour. They lead to criminality and dumping, which often continues for years. Would the Tánaiste live next to one of these voids? I do not expect anyone to have to live next to one. They would not be tolerated in middle class areas across the State but they are put into local authority, working class council estates and often left for years because the council does not have the money to do them up. The Government's plan today does not have any additional money to deal with the voids. It is an average of €11,000. I have spoken to my local authority, which is beyond frustrated because it does not have the money to do it itself. It is the simplest way to put people back into homes.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We fundamentally agree with the Deputy that turning around vacant homes in a quicker manner, particularly turning around council stock in a quicker manner, is really important. It is one of the specific items we bring up each time we meet with local authority chief executives. We had four meetings in the past couple of weeks. We will meet with the Deputy's local authority very shortly. I am happy to have a conversation if there are funding issues we can assist with, but I would make the point that the figure of €11,000 does not include, obviously, additional money that is available through retrofitting, for example, which a lot of the voids might require.

There is a significant discrepancy, both around cost and time, across the country. In a country as small as our island, we are seeing some councils taking over one year to turn around a void, while some - I take the Deputy's point that his council is very good in this regard – have it done in less than 16 weeks. I will specifically engage with the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, with regard to Limerick on foot of the Deputy raising it and I will come back to him.

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The issue I wish to raise today is the whole issue of ownership of IPAS centres and, indeed, who exactly the beneficial owners of those centres are. In the public accounts committee recently, it was highlighted that €1 billion was spent on commercial providers, of which €230 million was given to seven providers, with one of those receiving close to €50 million. As one of my following questions, I asked a straightforward question of a senior departmental official about whether the Department always knew who the beneficial owners in these companies were. The answer given was that the Department did not necessarily always have that detail. Separately, I asked whether it was possible that someone with a criminal background could have a beneficial interest in a centre and I was told that the Department "could not say for sure on that." For me, that was not good enough and I immediately sought a recommendation that any owners of IPAS centres who applied to house IPAS applicants must declare and confirm as a legal obligation who the beneficial owners of the centres applying were. This would ensure full disclosure and transparency of ownership. I ask the Tánaiste that this be actioned immediately.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I agree with that. Let me first say that none of my comments is in relation to anyone in an IPAS centre. Everyone who comes to our country deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and to be safe. We all condemn some of the callous, disgusting and despicable criminal acts we have seen in recent times. It is legitimate, though, and, indeed, important that we debate some of the issues the Deputy is talking about, particularly when taxpayers' money is being expended in this area. We scrutinise the spending of taxpayers' money right across our public services and we should also scrutinise the spending of public money in relation to migration policy. It is an entirely appropriate and perfectly legitimate area of debate and I think the Deputy's suggestion is a good one.

In fairness to successive Governments, particularly the past Government and, indeed, the start of this Government, we have obviously been dealing with a variety of emergency situations and trying to respond in real time to a significant increase in the numbers. We need to move now from an emergency footing to a more planned, organised system. That includes the issue of accommodation and having greater clarity around it. Deputy Neville's suggestion is a constructive one in that regard. I intend to discuss it with both the Minister for public expenditure and reform and the Minister for justice. This is an area we would expect to be dealt with like any other area of public money. It should be like that in this area too.

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will appreciate the great work done by the Passport Office. I wish to raise a specific issue with him in regard to that office. When a family has travel plans made, has a date booked and is waiting on a new passport for a child, great stress can be brought on that family when that passport application is returned. Very often this is close to the issuing date because the Passport Office has failed to secure verification of the Garda witness. As the Tánaiste may know, the Passport Office now telephones the Garda station. If it does not get through on three occasions, the office will return the application to the family, resulting in huge frustration and stress.

I put it to the Tánaiste that there is a more efficient way of doing this verification. I appreciate it is an important part of the process but I strongly suggest that verification should be done by an email system. It would be more efficient, transparent and speedy. I ask the Tánaiste, as the Minister for foreign affairs, to please take this issue up with the Passport Office and try to introduce this change. I raised this issue previously under a Topical Issue matter a number of months ago. I just want to try to continue to highlight the issue because I think we can avoid the level of stress and frustration brought on families when they have a travel date pending.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is entirely right. It is an enormous stressor. Verification is really important. The Deputy has made that point and it is absolutely correct. Child protection and all those aspects are really important and no one in this House would ever do anything to weaken that. We can move on from wondering if somebody will ever answer the telephone in a rural Garda station. Gardaí are very busy people. They are doing a great job getting out and about, and we want them out and about. By the way, I am really proud of the passport service and of its turnaround times. It is a great example of public sector reform. I am very interested in working with the Minister for justice to try to develop a better protocol that will move us towards the 21st century in terms of how this is done. In fact, I think we could further enhance further the protection of a child through the use of technology in relation to this. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, and we will be back on this matter.

Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Drogheda is the largest town in the country, with an expectation of becoming Ireland’s next city. The design of Government policy has meant it has become a commuter town, with little to no investment in infrastructure to serve it. Almost 20 years ago, a train station for Drogheda's northside was included in the Drogheda northern environs plan. To this day, it remains an objective of the Louth county development plan.

Notwithstanding the already high population figures we have, we are due to see a population boom in the coming years of approximately 20,000 people with the housing along the port access northern cross route. Combined with an IDA business park and new sporting and amenity facilities planned for the area, the train station on the north side of the town is needed more than ever. Will this Government pull the relevant stakeholders, including the NTA, Irish Rail and Louth County Council, together and make this long-standing ambition a reality? No obstacle is insurmountable if the Government wants to deliver it.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have had the honour of meeting a number of people in Drogheda in terms of the Drogheda city campaign but also regarding this idea of making sure the town is adequately resourced and supported from a local authority point of view, the whole tug between the two counties and the likes of that.

Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yes.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of all that too. On the specifics relating to the train station, I ask the Deputy to allow me to ask the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, to take a look at this issue and to come back the Deputy directly and see what can be done.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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The recurring theme of my time in this Chamber is talking about special education. Today I want to bring up the NCSE asking parents to notify it before 1 October if their child needs space in a school. This is fantastic because it means the process is supposed to move on further.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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I have been assured by both the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, that despite the fact 1 October has passed, this will not prevent any child who gets a diagnosis or a letter of eligibility afterwards from being considered. This is not the experience of many parents who have contacted me. Some of them are from the Tánaiste’s constituency. If you look at the website today. and go on to the portal, it says it is closed. There is no way to navigate that.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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No.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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I am able to say to parents what I have been told and they are able to get around it that way but this must be much clearer for parents. It is very difficult. I am speaking on behalf of other parents who have told me it is difficult to have a child with a disability and additional needs and navigate that system. Will the Tánaiste please ask the Minister to get the NCSE to clarify that situation for parents, so they are not in this loop. They seem to be stuck in a gap.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this issue. She is right. I have heard from people in relation to this issue too and I am pursuing it through my office. I will absolutely do as the Deputy has asked. The Minister and the Minister of State brought in a welcome reform, which I know the Deputy welcomed too, to try to get ahead of this and be able to properly plan earlier each year for the next September to reduce the stress, anxiety and worry of parents and their children with additional needs. I take the point, however, that if they are logging onto a website, seeing the portal is closed and finding the system too complex and too difficult to navigate, this is not where it should be. I will ask the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to speak with the head of the NCSE and get back to the Deputy directly.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Last week, Limerick Chamber contacted the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, about the Mackey roundabout and the safety issues there to formally request €2.2 million in funding to advance the next stage of improvement works to the roundabout. This is a critical priority for the safety of people in the mid-west but also for our economic development. It is a key interchange in the east of the city, connecting the M7 motorway to the R445 Dublin road. It is a primary gateway to Limerick into the University of Limerick, UL, and National Technological Park. There is a huge volume of traffic there and it frequently causes persistent backups right up the motorway. It is a car park at peak times. It is really quite dangerous and we are lucky someone has not been killed because when you are coming along the motorway, you literally come to a sudden stop with no warning. Basically, the Limerick-Shannon metropolitan transport strategy identified this as one of four key pinch points. While some work has been completed, the project cannot proceed to the next stage without the additional €2.2 million. I hope the Government will release that funding.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Sheehan for raising this matter and highlighting the issue Limerick Chamber has also raised with the Government. I thank the Deputy for the useful description he has given me of the issue in terms of not just the congestion, the traffic issues and the environmental issues that causes but also the dangers in terms of cars coming to a sudden halt. On foot of the Deputy raising this issue, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and ask that he examine how the Government can assist and respond to the Deputy directly.

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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It will be a very positive day in Templemore tomorrow when 194 new recruits will be passing out. Unfortunately, many of these new recruits will be allocated to the metropolitan cities while in my constituency the key towns of Tipperary, Cashel, Cahir, Fethard, Carrick-on-Suir and my hometown of Clonmel will be left behind. I am sure the Tánaiste will agree that maintaining law and order is not just a challenge for our cities. It is a challenge for every town, village and community across Ireland. I am very proud of Clonmel but maintaining law and order is an enormous challenge. Of the four allocations this year, we received four additional gardaí but many more have transferred out. At the end of this year, Clonmel will have fewer gardaí than we did at the beginning of it. I appeal to the Tánaiste to intervene.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Murphy very much for raising this issue. Garda attestations are one of the most joyous occasions I have attended in a variety of roles. Putting on the uniform of An Garda Síochána is an ultimate act of public service and I join with the Deputy in wishing everybody well tomorrow. I presume the Minister for justice will be in the Deputy's county tomorrow. I will ensure the Deputy has an opportunity to raise this matter with the Minister directly.

In the first instance, the distribution of gardaí is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I will ensure the Deputy’s views are conveyed directly to him. I do, however, take the point the Deputy made. We have gone through several challenging years in terms of Covid, the college being shut down and the likes. We are now back with a very steady pipeline, for want of a better phrase, of gardaí going in and out of Templemore. I know the Minister has plans to further increase the capacity in Templemore as well. The programme for Government also commits to exploring other opportunities to recruit and train more gardaí. Making sure that every part of Ireland gets a fair provision based on the needs of the community, including Clonmel, Cahir and other towns, is important. I will certainly support the Deputy in making sure south Tipperary is adequately resourced, and I will speak to the Minister.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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We all accept that mobile phones now play a major part in the social and working lives of the vast majority of our citizens. We become more and more reliant on them as the weeks and months roll by. Can we ask the Minister for communications if works are planned to improve mobile phone coverage in County Kerry and all over Ireland in those blackspots we all come across in our daily lives? These blackspots, for whatever reason, be it mountain shade or otherwise, continue to interrupt the social and business lives of our citizens if they are only passing through them but more particularly and deeply if they happen to live within blackspot boundaries.

This issue must be addressed, especially to allow us to deal with emergencies. In my county of Kerry, there are several locations where mobile phone coverage is either non-existent or subject to regular interruption. These include the Tralee to Dingle road, Camp, Anascaul, Glencar, Gneevgullia, the Black Valley, Ballintleave, Curraheen near the Kerry bog village, Mountain Stage, Dromaclaurig, Ballinskelligs, to name just a few. These areas suffer regularly due to an unfulfilled mobile service.

Could the Tánaiste clarify with the Minister if the Department has plans to deal with this issue? Can we get timelines for delivery of 100% mobile telephone coverage to all of Kerry and Ireland?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this issue and for the comprehensive list of towns and townlands in County Kerry where there are challenges in relation to mobile phone coverage. I know the Minister for communications has a blackspot task force operating in his Department to identify these. It is quite peculiar how this happens. There are areas very much in the heart of urban and rural Ireland that are experiencing these issues. I will ask that the list the Deputy has read into the record of the Dáil be given directly to the Minister for communications and that he raise that with the relevant authorities under his remit and come back to the Deputy directly.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Within the last while in Dundalk, County Louth and across the State, parents have made applications for their primary school children to get a place in secondary schools. Unfortunately, a number of those in Dundalk and its environs have had to make contact with me. I will go through these very quickly.

My daughter got rejected. We are absolutely devastated.

[...]

My son has not been selected for any school for next year.

[...]

My son is now the only boy from his soccer team, Gaelic team and hurling team that does not have a school place for next year. A lot of his friends have had multiple offers.

Here is the crux of the matter:

Surely this could be changed to a process more like the CAO, where kids can put their choices in order of preference and each child be allocated one school place.

That has been done in certain places - I am not saying perfectly - and it needs to be looked at.

If the Tánaiste would allow me a certain element of flexibility, does he have an update in relation to the pension case of John McNeela, the father of Michael McNeela who was killed in Lebanon? In an answer to a parliamentary question, he said this may or may not require legislative change. I know he is committed to dealing with it but we would obviously like to get it dealt with as soon as possible.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy always makes a very efficient use of his time. There are two important issues there. On the John McNeela case, it will require legislation. I have asked my officials to explore the most expeditious vehicle with which to take that forward. I will ask that a written update be sent to the Deputy very shortly on that.

On the issue of school places, the Minister for education, Deputy McEntee, is doing what the Deputy suggested by putting in place that kind of common application system - I think that is the phrase. It is rolled out in a number of areas to test it. This year, it is hoped that it may be rolled out more broadly in the time ahead. We are also trying to bring forward dates for enrolment and the like. I take the point the Deputy made. I will ask the Minister to specifically look at the issues in relation to Louth and come back to him directly.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Could the Tánaiste provide a route map? These people here should be-----

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I call Deputy Healy.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will ask the Minister to look at that too.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I appreciate it.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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On Monday last, Clonmel lost one of its most distinguished daughters, Monica del Bigio, née Cullen, from Albert Street in Clonmel. She was an exceptional talent, a soprano of the highest rank who passed away in Italy. On behalf of the people of Clonmel and on my own behalf, I extend sympathies to Monica's family, her daughter Paola, son Patrick, extended family, relations and friends both here in Ireland and in Italy.

Monica made her operatic debut with St. Mary's Choral Society in 1953, taking the leading role of Serpolette in a production of The Bells of Corneville. She trained professionally with the Abbey Theatre, continued her vocal studies in New York and completed her training in Italy, where she won numerous awards. Throughout a very successful career, she performed in all major opera houses in Europe but she never lost touch with her home town of Clonmel and her beloved St. Mary's Choral Society. She performed professionally with the society and officially opened the South Tipperary Arts Centre in Clonmel. Monica was a wonderful ambassador for Clonmel, Tipperary and Ireland. Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a hanam uasal.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I am sure we all join in that.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish to extend the sympathies of everybody, including my colleague, Deputy Michael Murphy, with Deputy Healy in relation to the people of Clonmel and the family of Monica del Bigio. It sounds like a remarkable life and contribution. May she rest in peace.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Sarah Costello from Trim in County Meath was treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, in a hospital in Belfast for endometriosis. Her surgery went horribly wrong. She had to have an emergency bypass to save her life. She had a cardiac arrest and needed 15 litres of blood. She was left disastrously injured by the operation. Today, she is in bad health and in pain. When Sarah sought help from the Mater hospital she waited for a year. She was told to go to Belfast to see her primary doctor but, of course, she has no doctor in Belfast. She was forced to go privately to a consultant in Galway at a cost to herself. Her scans show that she has an 80% blockage, that she needs a stent immediately and that if this does not happen, her life is in significant danger. She is actually in immediate danger of losing a limb. She was told to have that operation. She has to pay between €45,000 and €50,000 and cannot afford it.

The NTPF told Sarah to just switch from the waiting list in the Mater hospital to Galway. The problem is that if she simply switches waiting lists and there is not an immediate operation, she will be in trouble. I ask the Tánaiste to make sure that Sarah receives the operation she needs now. The operation happened under the NTPF and it is responsible for the operation happening. It has a responsibility now to make sure Sarah receives the necessary operation so she can survive.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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This sounds like an extremely difficult and concerning case. I cannot, because I do not have information, make commitments on the floor of the Dáil in relation to people having medical procedures. I cannot do that but what I can do is ask that the transcript of what the Deputy has outlined be sent to the Minister for Health and that she would ask that the NTPF consider the Deputy's request and come back to him directly on behalf of Sarah. We are thinking of her at this difficult time.