Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Over the last 48 hours, parents of leaving certificate and junior certificate students received letters telling them that the Government was bringing back examination fees. That will be a bill of over €100 for many families across the State. I cannot believe the Government is sending these letters out in a week when families are under so much pressure. It was the wrong decision in the budget, and we called it out at the time, but it is a worse decision today. Working households cannot catch a breath with the constant price hikes. The last thing they need now is another bill landing in their door. Parents are watching every euro and working miracles to stretch household budgets. Things are really tight for folks. Now, the Government is going to force them to pay out over €100 for each child sitting their State exams. I believe this is wrong. I ask the Government to reverse this decision, give hard-pressed families a break and scrap these exam fees.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government works in a number of ways to try to help and assist families. We have brought in many services to assist people with the cost of education, including the free schoolbooks and hot school meals programmes. It was well known that the leaving certificate fees were reverting this year.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, decided that three more gardaí in Limerick should not be prosecuted for fixed charge offences and perverting the course of justice. This follows on from five gardaí, one a retired superintendent, being found innocent in a recent court case. Two more gardaí had their suspensions lifted after five years, and one other garda is in mediation at the moment.

Sitting where the Tánaiste is sitting, the Taoiseach a few weeks back said there should be an inquiry into what happened in Limerick. Why was Limerick picked on? These 11 gardaí have had their lives destroyed because once you are suspended or charged as a garda, nothing is ever the same again. The morale of the force in the mid-west has collapsed. The prosecution of many criminal cases never went ahead. It is likely that these 11 gardaí will sue the State, and rightly so.

Given that it seems the whole house of cards for all of these cases revolved around retired Superintendent Eamon O’Neill’s collapsed prosecution, and everyone else being collateral damage, will the Tánaiste support an inquiry into what happened in Limerick, why this went ahead, and why those in other divisions and senior gardaí, who would also have been acting in a similar way, were not prosecuted like these 11 individuals? Will the Tánaiste support an inquiry in relation to this? I am not going to stop until one is launched.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Kelly for raising this matter. I know he is somebody who has consistently highlighted this issue and his significant concerns in relation to it.

I do think there needs to be further examination and inquiry into these matters. The form that takes or how that is brought about is obviously a matter in the first instance for my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. I have not had a chance to discuss this with him, but I do share the view of the Taoiseach, as previously articulated in this House. I can only imagine the lives put on hold and the stress, strain and family pressures that all of this has caused people. Those people deserve answers and an explanation.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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Younger generations, renters and workers are being broken by the Government's housing policy failures. Today, we hear that last year there were 20,000 eviction notices issued to private renters, the highest we have seen since the Famine, and up 41% in the last quarter, made worse by the rent hike Bill. We are seeing evictions increasing on a scale we have not seen in this country. These evictions are causing a trauma to every person who is experiencing them, while house prices are also spiralling out of control. Younger generations cannot afford the rent hikes. They cannot afford to buy a home. They cannot afford to start their lives or to start a family. Does the Tánaiste accept that for younger people and workers in this country the housing crisis and the Government's policies are causing a social catastrophe? We need an emergency ban on no-fault evictions. We need a State construction company to build affordable homes that people can actually afford to buy across this country. Will the Tánaiste do that?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We have a State organisation in the Land Development Agency that is making a real and positive impact in relation to the delivery of homes right across our country. I have been on many sites with it in recent weeks and months. We do live in a housing emergency, of that there is no doubt, but it is important to quote the report in the round. I note that we did see the number of terminations actually fall in the final quarter, down 3.6% in quarter 4 compared with quarter 3 of 2025. We also saw the number of tenancies increase during that year as well. We have debated in this House before the unintended consequences of a no-fault eviction ban, as Deputy Hearne envisages, and we saw the outworkings of that in quarter 2 of 2023. We brought in a series of protections for tenants - very robust protections - in our recent rental reforms. That is an important step to take, in terms of six-year tenancies and additional protections for tenants. I look forward to people seeing the benefit of that in the time ahead.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Children with special needs, just like every child, have a right to an appropriate education. I heard the Tánaiste say earlier on that there have been lots of announcements about special classes and places, and even that once the Government gives the green light, these things are delivered. I have been asked by the Equality in Education Dublin North West campaign and my colleague, Councillor Conor Reddy, to raise the issue of Finglas Parochial National School where children were enrolled in two special classes last September but the physical delivery of the classes has not happened. It now looks like it may not happen this September. The parents have written to the Minister seeking a meeting. Apparently this is a mess-up by the project management company not submitting stuff relating to further information to do with the planning permission, and maybe the Department of education's building unit. The children have been enrolled in a class which got the green light but there is no physical building or class and the parents do not know whether their children with special needs will have a classroom to go to this September. They want to meet the Minister, and they would like an affirmative response.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett very much. I know we are not allowed to do a back-and-forth, but could I ask him if the children are in the school?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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They are enrolled but there is no physical place for them. There is no physical building.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Sure. I thank him for raising the issue on behalf of his colleague, Councillor Reddy. I will speak to the Minister for education today and see if she or somebody on her behalf can engage with the equality in education campaign to see how we can bring progress to this as quickly as possible.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I seek clarification. I see the Minister of State with responsibility for housing is here. A month ago I asked a question about the exemption for modular houses at the back of properties. I note that in the media in the last week they are saying that the regulations could be done within the next week or two. Are they coming forward? Could the Minister of State inform me about that?

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. We have sent the finalised regulations for screening and once the screening is done we will bring them before the Oireachtas joint committee. That is in relation to the domestic exemptions. The next set of regulations is the infrastructure exemptions, which are being finalised as well.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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When will they be ready?

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The screening usually takes four to six weeks and then they will go to the Oireachtas joint committee.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Tomorrow we will all collectively celebrate Daffodil Day and we will support the Irish Cancer Society. I see many Members across the House donning the daffodil today. In Galway last year, 1,332 people were diagnosed with cancer and in 2024, sadly, 531 people died at the hands of this disease. One thing we in this House can do is try to alleviate some of the pressures people face when they are battling cancer. I want to ask a very simple question. Has this Government any plans to tackle the financial burdens that arise when somebody is diagnosed with cancer? What are the Government's plans to deal with same?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Dolan very much. I appreciate him raising this issue today as Daffodil Day is tomorrow and this House will not be in session. I am meeting the Irish Cancer Society this afternoon. I am sure this is one of the issues that it will want to discuss too. I do not want to pre-empt what the Government may do in future budgets. Deputy Dolan would give out to me at an Oireachtas committee if we did that. We do need to look at this. Thankfully, people are living longer and cancer survivorship is increasing, but there are real burdens that go with cancer in terms of lost income and pressures on the family as well. This Government has a proud record of supporting the development of cancer services, but how we can do more to support people as they are on their cancer journey is something I am eager to explore with the Deputy and with the Irish Cancer Society. I will meet it today and I am happy to report back to the Deputy after that.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I want to speak to the Tánaiste about the tragic case of Claire Cullen from Riverchapel near Courtown in County Wexford. Claire was killed in a hit-and-run incident while attending her brother's wedding in the Dominican Republic approximately five months ago. Claire is survived by her husband Ronan and her three kids. Claire was an extremely kind, popular and talented young woman and her death has left a huge void in the close-knit community of Riverchapel. Her family appreciate the efforts of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, the consulate in Colombia and the Department of foreign affairs in the repatriation process. This is quite simply any family's worst nightmare. As the family are all based in Ireland, they are now seeking assurances from the Department of foreign affairs and the Government that all efforts will be made to assist them in their pursuit of justice, which is what Claire's family thoroughly deserve.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Brennan for raising this issue. First and most importantly, I want to express my deepest condolences to the family of the late Claire Cullen. It is an incredibly heartbreaking case for the Cullen family and the community in Courtown in Wexford as well. I want to assure him and the House that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is very much aware of this tragic case. It also wants to extend its sincere sympathies to Claire's family. I am assured that consular support is being provided to the family through our teams and our embassy in Colombia and through our consular unit in Dublin. A dedicated caseworker has been appointed to this case. As with all consular cases, we do not comment on individual cases, but that is in order to protect the privacy of all of those who receive assistance. I do want to assure Deputy Brennan that on foot of his question the family can be assured that the Department will provide every consular support that is possible, both via the team here in Dublin and in Colombia.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I want to ask the Tánaiste about the Government's stance on scrapping the cost of blister packs for the consumer. A lady in my constituency said her 96-year old mother relied on her blister pack, as her eyesight is failing and she could not tell which tablet was which. An employee of a local pharmacy said that many of the patients who had prepacked blister packs knew exactly what meds to take. They felt safer knowing all they had to do was look at the packs. Safety is extremely important when taking medication. There will be overdoses and underdoses if people cannot afford to pay for their blister packs. We know how many elderly people and people with disabilities are struggling with the ever-increasing cost of living. Last year I was one of the first TDs to highlight the cost of the blister packs and how it was going to have an effect on many of my constituents who rely on this service. These are people who may have a disability, Alzheimer's, dementia, and so on. With pressure from Sinn Féin and others, we have seen a three-month pause, but now we need to see a real commitment from the Government. Will the Government completely reverse the health Minister's decision and ensure vulnerable people can continue getting their blister packs free of charge?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Guirke for raising this issue. I want to clarify that this was not a decision taken by the Minister for Health but it was, indeed, a change in pricing practice by a number of pharmacies across the country.

The position in this regard is as it always has been. I ask that pharmacists engage with their loyal customers on the issue and reflect on the comments of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I will ask her to provide the Deputy with the most up-to-date information on her Department's engagement with pharmacists on this matter.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Evictions have been notified to 14 tenancies on Ballybane Road in Galway city. This is a devastating and frightening time for those who are affected. This is the third time in recent weeks that we have seen larger-scale evictions come into play. It is the first time we have seen it in Galway city, where there are serious housing pressures, and it is very worrying. It is a frightening time for those involved. What does the Government intend to do about these large-scale evictions we are seeing? What protections will be put in place and what hope can be given to these families, who are feeling very worried?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On foot of this matter being raised by the Deputy, I will make myself aware of the details. I do not want to comment on any specific legal actions or outworkings that could be ongoing because such cases require the law to be followed. There are protections in place, with clear rules in relation to tenancies outlined by the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. I expect all of those rules to be adhered to. Without commenting on individual cases, we have seen instances in the past where a practice was being considered and then was stopped because it clearly was not in line with the rules. I am happy to look into this matter further and to ask the Minister for housing to get back to the Deputy.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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A couple of weeks ago, I raised with the Tánaiste the disgraceful allocations for local road restoration in counties like Monaghan and Cavan, to which he responded that he would engage with the Minister for Transport on the matter. Has he had that engagement with the Minister, as committed to, and can he now assure the House that there will be a substantive increase in funding for local and regional roads? Since our last interaction, local Oireachtas Members have met with officials and councillors from both Monaghan and Cavan county councils. Their reports were stark. They told us that under the announced funding allocation, road conditions will deteriorate and fewer roads will be repaired than were repaired last year. At a time when the cost of driving is going through the roof, the state of the roads people have to drive on will deteriorate. Will the Tánaiste assure people in rural communities that an increased allocation of funding for local roads will be made, and made soon?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy said, he raised this issue with me a number of weeks ago. I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who committed to getting back to the Deputy. I will follow up with the Minister on foot of our interaction today. We keep the allocations we make for roads and transport under review as the year progresses. The Deputy has highlighted a specific concern in relation to Cavan and Monaghan and has engaged with officials there. I will ask the Minister to get back to him directly.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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I raise the situation of a child in Cork who has been on a priority one waiting list since January 2025 for an augmentative and alternative communication, AAC, assessment and device trial through the HSE. According to the response given to my office, the appointment has been postponed for more than three years, with no clear timeline offered and no interim supports put in place. Without these essential supports, this child is being denied the ability to communicate, learn or participate and may even have to leave mainstream school, where the child has been doing well so far. Without the communication support needed, the situation is impossible. What immediate actions can be taken by the Government to address these delays of up to three years? Will the Minister for Health intervene to ensure priority one is actually treated as being of the first priority? It cannot be the case that priority one means being on a three-year waiting list. The urgency must be applied in practice.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I take the Deputy's point that saying something is a priority but asking someone to wait for three years clearly is not what people would rightly expect. On foot of his raising this issue, I will speak to the Minister directly to ask that she look into the matter and revert directly to him.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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We are hearing really awful reports from the UK about the viral meningitis outbreak there. Unfortunately, two young people have died and there have been 27 cases in total. There has also been a case in Belfast but I understand the two instances are not connected. In this country, teenagers and young people were not part of the vaccination program that was rolled out in 2016. What is the Government doing to warn parents about symptoms and to monitor the situation in the hope that the outbreak does not spread from the UK to Ireland? Are there plans for a catch-up programme for the young people and teenagers who were not part of the 2016 vaccination programme?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Department of Health and the HSE are aware of the outbreak recently reported in the UK and are actively monitoring the situation. Based on information available, the HSE assesses that the overall population risk in Ireland related to the UK outbreak remains very low. This aligns with the assessment of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control that the risk to the general public in the EU remains very low due to the very small probability of exposure and potential infection.

Our immunisation programme is based on the advice of the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC. We have MenB, MenC and MenACWY vaccines to protect from diseases caused by meningitis A, B, C, W and Y. The MenB and MenC vaccines are included in the primary childhood immunisation program for babies born since October 2016. The MenB vaccine is offered at two and four months of age, with a booster dose given at 12 months. The MenC vaccine is offered to children at 13 months. Following a NIAC recommendation, since 2019, the vaccine has been offered as part of the MenACWY vaccine to students in first year.

NIAC does not currently recommend a MenB vaccine programme for adolescents but it continues to review the epidemiology of it. It is carrying out an evidence review of the MenB vaccine in adolescents and young adults. Following that review, should there be a need for action, we will, of course, act. I know the Deputy will agree it is important that we follow the advice of NIAC.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I raise an issue relating to rare diseases. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I recently attended a meeting with sufferers of Friedreich's ataxia. The Tánaiste will be aware of the quest by people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to have givinostat approved. I do not expect him to comment on that because it is subject to negotiation at the moment but the same thing is happening with a different cohort of patients. Some have come to this building to attend audiovisual room briefings and so on, all in the hope that they can access some rare clinical trial or rare medicine. That will keep on happening in perpetuity unless the system actually adjusts and changes. An early access scheme was mooted in the programme for Government. Has that work commenced and, if so, where are we at with it? Before long, we will be halfway through this term. If we do not get on with that job of work, we will be facing into the next election with nothing done.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge, as I always do, that this is an issue the Deputy has prioritised since he came into this House. It is something about which I know he feels passionately. I will check with the Minister for Health where we are at in terms of the roll-out of the early access scheme. I assure the Deputy, and, most importantly, the people who have rare diseases and parents of children with rare diseases, that the Government absolutely intends to make significant progress on this during our term of office. We have already taken a number of steps in that regard. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to get back to the Deputy directly on the early access scheme.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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There have been three mass evictions that we know of this year. A total of 20 families were served with notices of termination from The Park on Lord Edward Street in Limerick, along with 14 families, as stated earlier, on Ballybane Road in Galway. The RTB data from this morning is stark. The Government is presiding over the largest level of evictions since the Famine. Last year, 20,033 people received notices of termination. That is the population of Swords. There was a 41% increase in the number of notices of termination in quarter 4 of last year alone. We need emergency action. There must be an emergency moratorium on evictions. If we bring forward legislation on this in the coming weeks, will the Government work with us to progress it?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We will always work constructively with colleagues on housing. I acknowledge the Labour Party has brought forward constructive proposals in relation to housing in this Dáil and the previous Dáil. I have a different perspective in terms of the Government's position on housing. In our rental reforms Bill, we brought forward very significant protections for renters. We introduced security of tenure, with tenancies of a minimum duration of six years, and what is, in effect, a ban on no-fault evictions. From quarters 3 to 4, we saw a reduction of 3.6% in notices of termination.

This Government is presiding over the largest number of social homes built, if not ever, certainly in our lifetime. That is part of the record of this Government. Housing remains an emergency and remains the number one domestic priority for Government.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I want to raise the unacceptable levels of understaffing of An Garda Síochána across south Tipperary. It is now an absolute rarity to see gardaí on foot patrol on the beat. Staffing levels are so low that increasing numbers of gardaí are going on duty alone. I was contacted by a constituent at the weekend who told me that she had failed to make contact with a Garda station by phone at night. More distressingly, I was contacted by another member of the public who told me that a female garda on duty alone had been assaulted in Cashel on Friday. Thankfully, two members of the public came to her assistance. Garda staffing levels across south Tipperary are unacceptably low. I ask the Tánaiste to intervene with the Minister for justice and the Garda Commissioner to have garda staffing levels increased to ensure the safety of the public and the safety of An Garda Síochána members across south Tipperary.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Healy for raising this issue. We are seeing very significant increase in the number of gardaí entering training in Templemore. It is a huge priority for the Government to increase the number of gardaí. I am absolutely disgusted and angered to hear about any assault on a member of An Garda Síochána. When I was justice Minister, we changed the law to increase the sentencing available to the courts for anybody who assaults a member of our emergency services, including a member of An Garda Síochána. An attack on a garda is an attack on our democracy and an attack on all of us. One of the reasons we are rolling out bodycams is to provide protection for gardaí. People often stick a camera in a garda's face and the garda is left having to endure that. It is really important that bodycams are rolled out. I will speak directly to the Minister who, I know, will raise the Deputy's view on garda numbers in south Tipperary with the Commissioner.

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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We had very severe flooding in the basements of apartments in Clongriffin during Storm Chandra some weeks ago. There is a bit of a question over whether the emergency response payment scheme actually works for apartment dwellers. In following up with the Department, we got a response saying that the Department does not track addresses against claims under the ERP. It is very difficult to understand how we could determine whether a scheme is working or not, particularly when handing out State support, when we are not recording an address against it. I find it very difficult to believe. I ask the Tánaiste to raise this with the departmental officials ahead of future events so that we have that information and can determine whether the schemes work for apartment dwellers.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ó Muirí for raising this matter. I know the flooding experienced in his constituency of Dublin Bay North was really horrendous. I remember witnessing the video footage of it. We all saw the videos in particular of the basements of apartment blocks being flooded, and the fear and anxiety that created. The emergency response payment administered by the Department of Social Protection does not exclude apartments from supports. That has been confirmed to me by the Department. However, the Deputy's broader point is absolutely right. We are living through a time when we are seeing more incidences of severe weather. We are therefore spending more on trying to assist people. Along with spending a lot more on resilience and adaptation measures, we need to review how effectively the use of taxpayers' money through these payments is assisting people. In the aftermath of a variety of adverse weather events, this is an area we want to look at, from both a social protection point of view and an enterprise point of view. We need to make sure the schemes we have in place are working well. Data is a key part of that. I will certainly follow up further with both relevant Ministers and revert to the Deputy.

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome confirmation of an intervention to address rising fuel costs. This is critical for diesel, petrol and home heating oil in particular. Our motorists, businesses, householders and hauliers need support and need intervention. I know it is being finalised at present and the Tánaiste cannot reveal the details today. I ask that it be brought in place as early as possible next week after the Cabinet meeting. As we know, the country has battled inflation in recent years and we have managed to get it under control, down to 2.2% last year, which is very welcome. As we know, fuel costs ultimately affect everyday items in a shopping basket and we have to ensure that does not happen. That is why it is critical that these supports are brought to bear as soon as possible. I ask that they be as broadly based as possible and implemented once they are agreed early next week.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I agree with everything the Deputy has said. It is our intention to finalise a package. It is our intention to agree that package at Government next week. One of the criteria that we have set for measures we bring forward is whether they can be put into effect quickly. While I am not talking about the Deputy, people in this House, often those on the Opposition benches, have ideas, even some good ideas, but actually it is about looking at what we can do quickly and also providing ourselves with the flexibility to respond to a fast-moving and evolving situation. Anything we do in the first instance should be for a short period of time to allow us that agility, as a State, to respond.

The Deputy is right on inflation though and this is a concern I have as Minister for Finance. Today, the focus is on energy but the longer this conflict goes on, the greater the impact on inflation is. The country has made a lot of progress on inflation. Real wages are rising now and inflation is falling. That is why, alongside the interventions, we need to continue to call for de-escalation. That is, of course, the best economic intervention we can seek.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I am looking for an update on the action on the night-time economy. I raised this previously in a parliamentary question and raised it with the Taoiseach twice following recent announcements by Helen McEntee. Will the Tánaiste meet representatives of the Give Us the Night campaign who have highlighted the scale of the crisis? We have seen an 84% collapse in nightclubs since 2000, from over 500 to just 80 today, alongside the loss of more than 2,100 pubs, one in four, since 2005. We have a very good chance of qualifying for the World Cup when matches will be played late into the night. Will the Tánaiste accept that the current system is not fit for purpose? For people to watch a match in a controlled, safe and regulated manner, it would make sense for them to stay in a regulated setting rather go to unregulated house parties to watch the match.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I do not want to jinx it, but I think there is a compelling case for providing flexibility in terms of people being able to watch us qualify for the World Cup and then, God willing, get to the World Cup. I wish our team all the very best starting next week in what is a crucial period of time for Irish soccer. The Deputy's point is a really important one and it is also an economic point. When people come to our country, they want to be able to access our hospitality. We need to make these things as simple as possible for publicans and provide them with the flexibility as well. Obviously, we need to do all this while being conscious of public safety, conscious of Garda resources and conscious of access to transport. I recently spoke to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on this. I know he is working his way through this matter and I will ask him to come back to the Deputy with an update. There are a number of things in this Bill and sometimes they are all viewed as some kind of homogenous package. I think we should be trying to move ahead as quickly as we can with measures that would specifically help our pubs, which are a vital part of our economy.