Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister for Finance bizarrely claimed, in an attempt to defend abandoning 750,000 households who rely on home heating oil, that there is no excise duty on home heating oil. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle may remind the same Minister for Finance what he told the Dáil just a few weeks ago, which was that liquid fuel for motor or heating purposes is subject to excise duty in the form of mineral oil tax. If the Minister for Finance is not aware of these basic facts, I will send him the Revenue manual later.

On the issue I want to raise today, the people of Donegal are being abandoned once again. On Sunday we will lose our midday flights, which are crucial for connectivity between Donegal and Dublin. Cancer campaigners have fought bravely to get the Government to see sense after it entered into a contract with an airline that will see the ending of these flights on Sunday. The campaigners were given to believe in commitments from the Government that decisions would be made last week but this can has been very firmly kicked down the road for a number of more weeks. On behalf of all of those, in particular cancer patients, who rely on these midday flights that will not now operate, when will the Government make a decision? Will the Government commit that the midday flights will return to Donegal and that the aircraft will be grounded overnight in the county?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On a point of clarification, I have a table I can show Deputy Doherty which states mineral oil tax non-carbon, in other words what we refer to as-----

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You are caught out.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is zero euro and zero cent.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You are caught out.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Carbon tax, which Sinn Féin wants to abolish-----

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You are caught out.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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-----but the rest of the Opposition does not and the NORA levy, which we have got rid of-----

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You are caught out.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will send Deputy Doherty a copy after Leaders' Questions because this is one of three errors he has made this week.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Admit when you are wrong.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Quite frankly, a little bit of competency after 16 years as our country's Opposition spokesperson on finance would be helpful.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You are the Minister for Finance and you do not even know what the Revenue-----

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Doherty for that.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Admit when you are wrong.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is there for anybody to read that it is zero euro and zero cent.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Blame all you want.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is protesting too much now.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will make it available to the Deputy.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I am blushing for the Tánaiste.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Bring back in the football; that is all I can say. Deputy Lawlor, please.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Sorry, on the very important issue of Donegal-----

George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)
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Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Sorry. My apologies to Deputy Lawlor but there was also a very important issue in relation to Donegal. I just needed to correct that issue. In relation to the Donegal-Dublin -----

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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What about the time?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Please, this quite an important-----

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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The Tánaiste is eating into every one else's time-----

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I think Deputy Donnelly's colleague would like me to answer the question that has been raised about Donegal. It is a very important issue and one I want to acknowledge. I thought people in Donegal, in terms of the politicians in this House, were working together on it. I know that my party colleague, Senator Manus Boyle, along with Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, Deputy Doherty and his colleague Deputy Mac Lochlainn, and Deputy Charles Ward, have all engaged on this issue with the Minister and the community. I met with the Irish Cancer Society on this issue and we discussed it last week. This is a very serious issue for people in Donegal, particularly but not exclusively for cancer patients.

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

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Just bear with me for one second. I spoke to the Minister in relation to it. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has confirmed that he anticipates that next week he will be in a position to announce the reinstatement of the midday service and the overnighting of the aircraft in Donegal.

George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)
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I want to raise with the Tánaiste the urgent and rapidly evolving situation with coastal erosion in Rosslare Strand. County Wexford is suffering more than many counties with coastal erosion as we move along. I am glad to see that the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is also in the Chamber. Perhaps he could also give a response to this. We have a crisis in Rosslare Strand at the moment, particularly in the area adjoining the famous and iconic Kelly's Hotel.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I know it well.

George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)
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This family-run hotel has been in existence for 131 years. Mr. Bill Kelly has said that the hotel will come under serious pressure if we endure another bad winter. It has to be said that €7.5 million was made available in 2018 for coastal protection works on the strand, but that is still at the planning stage. The strand and this particular area of the strand will not sustain another winter of storms, and we will be in a situation of economic catastrophe for the area of Rosslare Strand because of the impact on Kelly's Hotel. I ask the Tánaiste and the Minister of State to give a commitment that emergency works will take place before the summer.

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Before I take that question, I want to raise an issue with Deputies continuously referring to us in this Chamber as "lackeys". If I stood up in this House and called anyone a lackey, he or she would feel it and I would have to apologise. We represent a group that went into government. I represent the people of Longford-Westmeath who elected me as a TD, not as a lackey. I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to correct Deputies when they refer to us like that in the House. The name calling has to be called out.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I will bring it to the attention of the Ceann Comhairle.

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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In relation to the issue Deputy Lawlor has raised, I have met with Wexford County Council in recent weeks. My team met with the council again in the last few days to discuss the emergency on the coast at Kelly's Hotel. We have asked the council to fast-forward a minor works scheme that we will fund in the near future. This will happen imminently. The application will be back into my Department and we will rescue the area of the beach in question. I know the level of vulnerability, I know what is at stake in terms of the hotel and I know the suffering that people are enduring but I can assure the Deputy that in the next few weeks he will see action on the ground.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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After more than €2 billion of public funds and a decade of construction, we still have no idea when the national children's hospital will open. When we were told yesterday at the Oireachtas health committee that the 18th completion deadline will be missed, it was not a surprise. I am beginning to wonder why we get project deadlines from BAM at all. We would be better off asking Mystic Meg at this point. BAM is giving the run-around to the Government, the hospital development board and ultimately, the Irish people. The Minister for Health was told at a meeting earlier this month that more construction workers would be put on site to get this essential project finished, but this has not happened. The Minister now tells us that she is going to write to BAM again. I am sure it is shaking in its boots. This farce has gone on long enough. The only way this project will be completed on time is if BAM provides enough workers on site to do the work but it has repeatedly reneged on its commitment to do this. Why is the Government not in the High Court today to seek an urgent undertaking from BAM that it will deliver on its own promise? This would not be a lengthy court action. It would be quick and on that net issue to ensure that the hospital can open as soon as possible in order that children across the country who desperately need it can be treated there.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is doing a lot more than just writing letters. She is taking a very hands-on approach in relation to this issue. She has the full support of the entire Government in getting this project over the line. It is a project that will transform children's health in this country. The Minister is continuing to work hard on this. She met with the international company, Royal BAM, recently so it is unfair to suggest that she is just writing letters. She is doing a hell of a lot more than that. The other thing that the Minister has worked on with the Department, the HSE and CHI is early access. I am sure Deputy Rice heard about that at the committee yesterday. This has enabled CHI to have access to the hospital which has meant that 3,245 pieces of equipment have been deployed to the new hospital, 930 pieces of ICT equipment and 1,100 pieces of electronic health records. While we are continuing to do everything we can to protect the taxpayer and to keep the pressure on in relation to BAM, I am pleased that in parallel to that, the early access is allowing the hospital to begin to be actually equipped so it can be ready to treat the children of this country.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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I want to raise the pain and suffering being caused to people doing essential work in this country due to the massive backlog and delays in issuing Irish residence permit, IRP, cards. Some people who had to leave for funerals or because of family illness in India and elsewhere have not been able to get back into the country. I also want to raise the family reunification rules and to mention a woman called Ivy, who is working as a healthcare assistant in our country. She applied for visas for her two children some time ago. Ivy has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing oncology treatment. Due to this, she has been medically unable to travel to India and has not seen her children for three years. Her husband had to come over here to support her recovery so both parents are away, causing terrible trauma and depression for the two children in India. She is continuing to work in our system. In a further twist, because of the fall in her income due to having no sick pay, she is under the financial threshold now for her children to come here. I am asking the Tánaiste to look at her case on compassionate grounds. We cannot inflict such suffering on workers who are here caring for our older people and expect them to be able to survive here. Do we just want guest workers in this country or do we want human beings who have rights, who have community and who are not forcibly separated from their children? I ask the Tánaiste to look into this and to clear the IRP backlog as well.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Coppinger. I will certainly raise the IRP backlog with the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan.

I will also ask the Minister to look at Ivy's case on compassionate grounds, as she has asked. Without knowing the details of the case, obviously my heart and feelings go out, as do those of Deputy Coppinger, to Ivy and her family at this time, in terms of her own cancer journey. I will ask the Minister to look at that.

More broadly when it comes to the rules, it is perfectly within the right of a Government, if not the responsibility, to make sure there are clear rules in place in terms of who can come into this country. We want people to come to Ireland, to work here and to make a positive contribution and many do. I fully acknowledge that our health service would fall over if it was not for people coming here. We need to have absolute clarity in relation to issues like family reunification. The reforms the Minister is bringing in are sensible in terms of asking people to show an ability to be able to support their family before they come to the country. That is common sense and is in line with what happens in many other countries.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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It is a disgrace.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Yesterday the health committee heard that the national children's hospital will not be open, possibly, until autumn 2027. The opening of the hospital has now been delayed 18 times. The hospital that the Tánaiste signed off on is record-breaking for all of the wrong reasons. When the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, was asked recently when the hospital will open, she said that the opening date was in the hands of BAM. This is a startling admission. The Minister admitted that she has no control over the delivery of the biggest infrastructure project in the country. Yesterday, at a meeting of the Oireachtas infrastructure committee, Government TDs voted against pre-legislative scrutiny of the new critical infrastructure Bill. On the day that the national children's hospital was postponed for the 18th time, the Government voted against pre-legislative scrutiny of the new critical infrastructure Bill. Does the Tánaiste not recognise the jaw-dropping irony here?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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No, I do not.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Given the billions of euro in waste and the wholesale incineration of taxpayers' money by the Government on the national children's hospital, does the Tánaiste not think that pre-legislative scrutiny would be a good idea for critical infrastructure in this country?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I do not. It might sound reasonable to people listening at home, based on how the Deputy has framed it, but the critical infrastructure Bill is very straightforward legislation that is urgently required to give the Minister and the Government of the day the ability to prioritise certain projects. It is enabling legislation and it is extraordinarily straightforward.

There is urgency around building homes and water and wastewater facilities. Energy is an issue we are talking about right now. If the Deputy wants to sit around and talk about it for months, that is fine, but we do not. We want to get on with it. To draw comparisons is just misleading. It sounds good in a clip, but there is no link whatsoever with a Bill that will enable the Minister to say that a flood relief project or a wastewater treatment plant in a particular town is urgent and to ask people to get on with assessing it. There is no link at all.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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There is no link between critical infrastructure and the national children's hospital problem.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There really is not.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste and other members of the Government indicated clearly on Tuesday that the introduction of other relief measures would be kept under constant consideration in light of the serious difficulties facing households and businesses due to the increase in energy costs. I suggest that the omission of the farming community and agri contractors from meaningful support in that announcement should be addressed as a matter of urgency.

I understand that three weeks ago, green diesel cost 96 cent per litre. Today, it costs at least 163 cent per litre, which is an increase of upwards of 70%. The excise rate of green diesel needs to be revisited quickly. The silage season is less than two months away. We know that with present prices, the cost of making silage would increase substantially, impacting farmers and agri contractors who would be spreading much dearer fertiliser. Making silage and spreading slurry will be key and essential farm activities over the next number of weeks and the increases will put huge pressure on farm costs and incomes. This is at a time when the prices paid to farmers are stagnant, if not falling, for some sectors. The significant increase in fuel costs is a cause of great anxiety and concern for farmers and agri contractors. We all know that increased energy costs adversely impact other essential farm inputs. For the consumer, food prices will also go up. In his role as Minister for Finance, I ask the Tánaiste to revisit this as a matter of urgency.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I would make the point that there are limitations on what it is legally possible to do to excise duty. This week, the Government took measures on excise duty, fuel allowance and the diesel rebate. Some members of the Opposition are asking me to reduce the non-carbon excise element of home heating oil, which does not exist. I cannot do that. There are also rules around the energy tax directive. There is a limit - I am just being honest - to how much we can do in relation to the excise duty on green diesel. However, farmers will benefit from the reduction we made and the pause of the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy. The total benefit will be around 5 cent.

I recognise that farmers and the agrifood sector may, like other sectors in the economy, require assistance in the time ahead. The Government will remain nimble and agile in respect of those issues. This week was about excise duty and doing what we could to alleviate the cost increases in petrol and diesel, to help those most at risk of fuel poverty and to provide crucial assistance for the supply chains in our economy around the haulage sector. I am aware of the pressures that other sectors of the economy are under or may come under in the time ahead. That is one of the reasons that the Government has brought in these measures for a time-bound period. It will give an opportunity to come back. I will keep in touch with the Deputy because I know it is an important issue that impacts his community and many people across the country.

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The proposed new Garda headquarters for DMR north at Northern Cross is a project has been in the works for several years now. In my first speech in this Chamber, I raised this issue as a priority for the growing communities on the north side, in Belmayne, Balgriffin and Clongriffin. Despite the money being allocated in the sectoral investment plan in December, which I welcomed, it seems we are no closer to getting all our ducks lined up. We have been told again and again this year that the Office of Public Works, OPW, is in the process of identifying a site for this new station. The Tánaiste knows the area. It is growing rapidly and the need for a strong and visible Garda presence is clear. Can we get negotiations between the OPW and Dublin City Council on site acquisition over the line? It is important for our community.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for again raising this issue. I am conscious that, as he rightly said, he has been raising this issue since his first day in this House, and indeed even before that. I know it is an important issue to his constituents and communities across Dublin north. I assure him that real progress is now finally being made. Following the review of the national development plan, the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, secured over €2 billion for a justice sectoral investment plan out to 2030. Some €911 million of that money is allocated to Garda projects. That is a significant level of investment. It includes the completion of new Garda stations and a new headquarters for the Dublin north region. I am pleased that there is now a timeline against this commitment, and the project will go to construction by 2028. The OPW is now actively working with the Garda and the Department to identify and appraise the most suitable site. The funding is now there. It is ring-fenced and clear. We now need to see the momentum so the project can go to construction by that time at the latest. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, keep the Deputy closely apprised.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Gaelscoil na Camóige has been operating out of prefabs for over 30 years. It is a school I know very well as my three children attended it. The building of the school building, alongside the new school for Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin, is progressing, and that is welcome. However, the schools were notified that the autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes will not now be built. The ASD expansion was agreed and given the go-ahead in 2024. Planning permission was in place. In January, the schools were informed by the Department that they had broken their agreement on the ASD classes. The school is due to open in September. This is unacceptable. Gaelscoil na Camóige is moving to a two-stream intake this year. It projects that it will be up to full capacity in three years' time. The Department might save €2 million today, but it is going to cost a hell of lot more in years to come. No doubt, I will be back here and arguing the same case. I ask that a common-sense solution is found so that our most vulnerable children can have their educational needs met.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will talk directly to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, about the issue. At a time when we are seeking to open more classes and there is a school, and indeed a new school building, willing to accommodate those classes, I would be supportive of that proceeding. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and ask them to come back to the Deputy to see if we can make progress on the matter.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I associate myself with the comments of Deputy Ward. I raised the same matter on the floor last week. I hope we can get a common-sense solution.

I pay tribute to uniformed organisations that work with young people in Ireland, including Scouting Ireland and the girl guides across the country. I congratulate the conNÈCKt team from Lucan Girl Guides on their victory at the first Lego league national final this week. They won the best team placard award. This victory and the work of these organisations, as I know from my experience in my constituency in Lucan, Clondalkin, Neilstown and Rathcoole, showcase the best in youth innovation and show the value of the non-formal education, leadership skills and resilience which they provide. I know that Scouting Ireland has been on a journey to ensure it is a safe organisation for young people. It became one of the first scouting organisations in the world to be awarded the global Safe from Harm standard. This afternoon, will the Tánaiste join me in ensuring that organisations such as Scouting Ireland and the girl guides are supported and engaged with appropriately by the State to ensure they can avail of funds, such as the community centre investment fund that was announced this morning, in recognition of the value of the non-formal education and resilience they provide for young people? We want that to be recognised by the State in its engagement with them.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I will ask the Minister to further engage with him and Deputy Ward. I know the Deputy previously raised the issues of the Gaelscoileanna and those autism classes in his community. We will try to make progress on that together.

Déanaim comhghairdeas le Lucan girl guides on their success and the pride they brought to their community. The Deputy is right to highlight the hugely positive work that is carried out in communities across Ireland, including his own constituency of Dublin Mid-West, by girl guides organisations and scouting groups. We all had an opportunity to see that in a very visible way during the St. Patrick's Day parades that took place in all of our communities. We need to support them. I am pleased to say that the community centre investment fund, which has already had a transformative impact in communities across Ireland, was opened this morning by the Minister, Deputy Calleary, for the fourth round of applications. The 2026 fund is going to focus on the refurbishment of existing facilities in communities across the country. Scouting and girl guides groups that can satisfy the conditions can, of course, apply. The conditions require that they are not-for-profit organisations, under which requirement the two organisations qualify, must be in existence for at least years, which I imagine many of them have been, and must currently manage an existing centre and be open to the wider communities. Those are the criteria, and scouting groups and girl guides can certainly apply on that basis.

Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I wish to refer to the capital investment programme for fire stations throughout the country. I highlight the work of over 60 firefighters, both full-time and part-time, throughout all the stations in County Longford. I thank them for all their good work. They are highly trained and committed to keeping us safe in our communities.

I am seeking investment for a new fire station in Ballymahon. There is a population of over 3,000 in the town and the station serves over 10,000 people in the wider community. It is home, as the Tánaiste will know, to Center Parcs, a €230 million tourism investment. I spoke with the general manager in the past couple of days. By the end of this year, another €100 million will be invested. Hundreds of thousands of people will come to stay in the over 500 lodges in that area.

However, we need investment into a new station. I am looking for a commitment in the capital budget for 2026 that we will secure funding to deliver that new station to the people of south Longford.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I join with him in praising our firemen and firewomen, firefighters across the country and all those involved in our fire services for the vital work they do. It is important we show our gratitude, not just in words but in investment in them and their facilities. I thank the Deputy for raising this. He has been a consistent advocate for Ballymahon fire station. I know how important this is to the community in south Longford for all the reasons he mentioned, including the many people who now visit Longford as part of the incredible success that Center Parcs has been. Providing fire services is a statutory responsibility of individual fire authorities, or local authorities, under the fire Acts. The good news is that in planning for the next capital programme, Longford has reiterated that Ballymahon is a priority project for the county in terms of fire services. I understand the fire service is now actively working on identifying a preferred site. I have clear indications from conversations I have had very recently that this project is moving in the right direction. There could be positive developments on it very shortly. It would be premature for me to get ahead of the finalisation of the new programme, but I assure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy Browne, will keep in close contact with him on this. I will keep a close eye on this as well because the case the council has made is compelling. It has been clear in relation to Ballymahon being priority project number one. We have given a significant allocation to the fire service capital programme. I expect progress on this very shortly.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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Next weekend, many of us will be at the 1916 Easter commemorations honouring those who fought and died for Irish freedom. The Proclamation references "cherishing all the children of the nation equally". Just last week, I met the local management committee for school completion at Blakestown Community School. Like all school completion committees, it works with the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in our communities. It has not had an increase in funding in years, with larger numbers of students leading to effective cuts every year. Yesterday, the Government announced the DEIS plus scheme, a new set of additional plans and funding for schools in very disadvantaged communities. The feedback I have got from schools is one of utter shock and dismay. One school has been selected for DEIS plus for the entire Dublin 15 area. Rath Dara Community College is a post-primary school that is a stone's throw away from the only primary school that was selected, Ladyswell National School, but it is not on the list. Blakestown Community School and Scoil Mhuire, which are both DEIS schools, did not make it. Is this just a box-ticking exercise to claim the Government is doing something for disadvantaged students? If not, will the Minister commit to revisiting the allocation? At the end of the day, it is not just Dublin 15. There are communities all over that are absolutely baffled as to how their local schools were not selected for DEIS plus.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Any local TD will always have a view that their constituency should or should not receive additional things.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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It is one school. One.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Hang on a second. The Deputy used very emotive language when he asked whether this is "a box-ticking exercise". Let me be very clear that as of yesterday, for the very first time in the history of this State we now have a DEIS plus programme. I do not usually do this, but I remember Aodhán Ó Ríordáin looking for this when he was in this House. He is now Labour Party MEP for Dublin. This is something that has been called for across this House for a long time.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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Absolutely.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The former education Minister, Deputy McEntee, worked on it, as did the current Minister, Deputy Naughton. This Government delivered it yesterday. There are 121 schools - 96 primary schools and 25 post-primary schools - that will get enhanced support. They are the most disadvantaged of the disadvantaged, factually. This is a start. It is an important start that will make a real difference in tackling educational disadvantage. There will be more than 400 additional roles, 350 extra teaching posts benefiting 700 schools nationwide and the expansion of the home school liaison programme to 130 additional schools. The Deputy should please continue to advocate for more schools in his community-----

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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What were the criteria?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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-----but he should not be so populist.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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What were the criteria?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Sinn Féin should not be opposing for the sake of opposing. This is a really positive development.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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It is not about opposing.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is a really positive development.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Tánaiste to withdraw that. This is not about opposing.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Some 700 schools will benefit overall and 121 will get enhanced supports. It is not box-ticking; it is transformational.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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Will you publish the criteria as to how these schools were selected?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The criteria are very clear.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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They are not.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Do not try to taint a programme that has so much scientific support behind it in terms of educational advantage.

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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My question relates to auto-enrolment. From January this year, all employers in the State have to make the payment on behalf of their employees. Yet, employers providing services on behalf of the State are not consistently funded to pay this vital payment. I say "consistently" because some Departments are making provision and some are not. The Department of justice has made specific provision, particularly through Cuan and the Probation Service, for auto-enrolment. When I asked every other Department and Government agency, they completely washed their hands of making provision for that auto-enrolment payment. The Department of Social Protection and Tusla said "No". The Department of Health said "No" but also said it would be gathering data this year. I raise this because it is an enormous issue for home care providers, family support organisations, child support organisations and many section 39 organisations across this country. There was a pay deal last year but it was a pay deal - it had nothing to do with making provision for pensions. Will this Government ensure that services funded by the State are given proper provision for that auto-enrolment payment year on year?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for flagging this important issue. I will make some further inquiries on foot of her raising it with me. My initial sense and awareness of this issue is that the Department of Social Protection was extraordinarily proactive in promoting auto-enrolment, not just with private sector employers but also with the public service. There was a very long lead-in time for individual Departments and agencies to make their preparations and necessary resource allocations for this through the normal budgetary process that every Department has. The Deputy has got data that suggests some Departments have given different answers than others. I will certainly make my own inquiries and come back to the Deputy directly. I would also appreciate any information she has. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to look at that. I will come back to the Deputy with a more considered response.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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I will raise the issue of evictions, which I raised last week. The Tánaiste has probably heard that a number of people are facing eviction from a retirement village in Sligo. I am completely shocked by this. It is described as involving people in their 80s and couples. One couple in their 80s have a child with disabilities in his 50s who is facing eviction from this place, which is a retirement home. There is another example in Galway, with a mass eviction at Cúirt Éigis in Ballybane, where 14 households have received a termination to quit their home. We are seeing thousands of these cases across the country. I am really concerned that the lack of action from this Government to prevent these evictions is leading to huge misery and trauma. People cannot find properties within the housing assistance payment, HAP. The tenant in situ scheme has been cut. The new measures do not apply to hundreds of thousands of existing rental households. What is the Government doing to prevent more evictions, to prevent these people from being evicted and to ensure these people have somewhere to go to? Where are these elderly people going to go?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It has also been raised by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, who represents Sligo. There are a specific set of circumstances in that a private owner of a facility has decided to sell. I do not mean to call it a facility; it is people's home. It would be worth inquiring whether there are any solutions that can be explored through local authorities or State agencies to assist there. I am not yet apprised of the full facts but it seems to be a particular set of circumstances. More broadly, and we have different views on this, I will make the point that the rental reforms we brought in aimed to create a balance in increasing the supply of tenancies and rental markets, and providing a suite of new protection measures for tenants, including the six-year tenancy and the extension of rent pressure zones nationwide.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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What about all these people now?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There are clear rules and laws that need to be followed. There is also the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. We have seen some examples of where people tried to deviate from the law. That cannot be allowed either and was not allowed in the case that was highlighted in this House recently. The RTB has a very important role to play in this too.

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to raise the continued delay in reinstating full An Post services at Doolan's in Blue Ball, County Offaly. This matter has been ongoing since Christmas. It is causing real hardship, particularly for elderly and vulnerable residents who rely on having essential services available within their community. While An Post has indicated that the outlet will be reinstated, the length of time this process is taking is increasingly difficult to understand. This is especially the case given that An Post has acknowledged that the level of business previously conducted there exceeded that of many of its own full post offices nationwide. My concern is that this prolonged delay may be a tactic to have people become accustomed to travelling elsewhere only for a decision to be taken not to reinstate the service. Will the Government now facilitate urgent engagement with the relevant Minister to ensure this outlet is restored without further delay?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy McCormack for raising this issue about his constituents and Blue Ball, the impact that is having on them and his concerns regarding the delay in terms of the restoration of the service and the understandable anxiety that is creating in the community as to whether the service will be reinstated. On foot of the Deputy raising it here today, I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, who has ministerial responsibility for our postal services, to engage with An Post and come back to the Deputy directly.

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The issue I wish to bring up today is something I have raised a number of times since I was elected. Like the Tánaiste, I believe that an Irish savings and investment account model, especially for young people, can make a huge difference. However, I also continue to believe that tax reform for ETFs would offer an effective and impactful means too for those people who already might be in a position to invest.

The goal we have as a Government and one I know the Tánaiste has been really pushing is to transform investment behaviour in Ireland and assist personal wealth growth. This would complement the auto-enrolment scheme that we have already put in place but this would have minimal cost to business and the Exchequer, too. It would also help counter the growth in Irish deposits and provide an opportunity for personal wealth creation.

One thing I want to highlight with ETFs is the deemed disposal rule that it only really exist in Ireland. It further acts to discourage international funds from being offered to Irish retail investors. Can we work towards ensuring the abolition of the deemed disposal rule forms part of the Government's retail and investment plans in the coming term?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue again. I know it is one he is very keen to see progress on - as am I - and I assure him that work is under way to ensure this. We cannot be in favour of a savings and investment union at an EU level, which we passionately are, and not make sure our citizens are able to benefit from that here. There are so many people in this country who are trying to do the right thing and put away small amounts of money for themselves, their kids and a rainy day. I am talking about small amounts of money here and middle Ireland. People are playing the rules and are not getting any return on it. In fact, it often loses value in real terms too. I am very keen to establish those investment accounts in Ireland. Work is ongoing on this. The first annual savings and investment forum will take place next Tuesday, where we will begin to parse through with stakeholders how that might be developed. I am looking at what other countries have done and I think Sweden has done well with this. The Deputy is also right that we need to look at what we can do around existing taxation structures on retail investment. He will know we took a first step last year in reducing the rate of tax applying to investments in Irish and offshore funds to 38%. The overall policy rationale for deemed disposal is the issue here that we need to explore and try to make progress on. I am very confident we can make progress together in the time ahead.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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I raise with the Tánaiste the decision of Government to reintroduce the leaving certificate and junior certificate fees at a time when families are under such immense financial pressure, between energy arrears and struggling with the rising cost of food and fuel. This is also the week when the annual direct debit for the local property tax came out of many people's bank accounts. One parent put it to me that the last thing her family needs is another bill coming through the door and that they simply cannot get blood from a stone. These fees are a tax on learning and they are hitting most working, struggling families and hitting them the hardest. At a time when households are at breaking point, this is tone deaf, quite frankly. Will the Tánaiste please review this decision? Families simply do not have this money.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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For families who are most in need, the protections remain in place and I want to say that. The protections are in place for any student with a full medical card, anybody covered under their parent's or guardian's card will continue to be fully exempt-----

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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Not all will. What about the others?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I get confused sometimes as to the Sinn Féin economic position. Is it everything must be free or is it that we should we target supports at those most in need? If it is that we should target supports at those most in need-----

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Do not tut-tut at me, please. If it is that we should target supports at those most in need and if it is Sinn Féin's position that every cost-of-living measure that was in place pre-Covid should remain in place post-Covid, that is a very different sort of Ireland. We made it very clear we were moving to sustainable, permanent reductions in core areas; the permanent reduction in college fees, the permanent progress we want to make on childcare and making targeted interventions here as well.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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There is no childcare.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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These fees were last charged in 2019. They will be at the same level they were since 2012 which means in real terms, they will be a lot less. Crucially, protections for students in need financially, through that medical card system which means they are fully exempt, remain in place.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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The Tánaiste knows that is not true.

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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It is 40 years this year since Knock Airport opened in County Mayo. At the time, it was thought impossible to build an airport on a foggy, boggy hill but such was the determination and vision of Monsignor James Horan. Since then, it has been incredibly successful and a really key piece of infrastructure for Mayo and the west of Ireland.

It is at somewhat of a crossroads at the minute. It is due to exceed 1 million passengers this year, having already handled 950,000 passengers last year. Under the regional airport support scheme, once an airport exceeds 1 million passengers, it triggers a tapering off of funding. However, this funding scheme is vitally important and has been critically important for the airport in previous years. The management team is incredibly successful and it has many more ambitions for capital infrastructure and to expand passenger numbers.

My question to the Tánaiste is: what steps will he take to ensure Knock Airport is not penalised for growth? What steps will the Tánaiste take to ensure we continue to the investment in the west of Ireland? This airport is really important and I want to see it continue to be supported.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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So do I and so does my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, sitting here beside me. I know Deputy Lawless does too. When I think of Knock Airport, I always think of two things. One is the visit I had there during the election campaign. It was a very good visit with Deputy Dillon, former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and others. I think it was also the place where the late Pope visited when he came to Ireland and I think he said "Mayo for Sam". Sure look, the dream lives on.

These are the things in my mind but I know it is an incredibly important part of the airport infrastructure in this country. We are an island nation. Our airports play a massive role, as too does Knock Airport. We should never, ever have a situation in this country where we think it was a choice between growing what happens at Dublin Airport or the regional airports. We will need that capacity right across the network. That is why we have invested over €20 million in capital funding in Knock Airport over the past few years.

Under the regional airport programme, I really believe we will able to make progress and along the lines that the Deputy, the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, and others are discussing. We are fully supportive of the growth and development of Knock Airport.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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The CAMHS service in west Cork is now in a state of crisis. The entire service is operation with just one psychiatrist and there is no psychologist. There is no mental health nurse, no social worker and no therapist on the team. These roles are essential to any functioning CAMHS service. For years, the HSE has claimed to be recruiting. Yet, no staff have ever been appointed. The situation now is so serious that the sole psychiatrist, who is due to retire in the coming years, may retire early due to the overwhelming pressure. That would leave no CAMHS service at all in west Cork.

Recently, a GP urgently referred a 14-year-old experiencing suicidal thoughts, only to be told that the psychiatrist already had 17 emergency cases ahead of them with no timeframe for assessment. What immediate actions will the Government take to stabilise CAMHS in west Cork, ensure urgent recruitment across all professional roles and guarantee that vulnerable children are not left without any mental health services?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Michael Collins for raising this important issue, which I know he regularly raises. I will specifically speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, about the issues in west Cork and what further actions can be taken there on the issues the Deputy raised. Evidence shows that around 2% of children and young people should require the support of CAMHS but referrals are continuing to increase every year for the service. Referrals to CAMHS increased from 17,436 children in 2020 to over 29,000 in 2025. It is an increase of almost 70% in referrals in six years. That is an insight into the level of pressure and challenge that exists as well.

We have seen CAMHS very significantly increase its acceptance of referrals. It accepted about 16,600 referrals last year, which was 14% more than the previous year. There are now 81 community teams which delivered over 231,000 appointments last year. There has been an increase in funding as well. There was €181 million allocated last year and a further €10 million has been allocated this year, leading to a ring-fenced budget of €190 million.

I know there are real challenges. Sometimes, those challenges are on recruitment. On foot of the Deputy raising it here today, I will specifically ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who I know is very passionate about this area, to engage directly with the Deputy too.