Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I return to the issue of the liquidation of tickets.ie. As I mentioned yesterday when I raised this issue, as somebody who is a director of a not-for-profit music festival, I understand the challenges festivals face across the State. In the past, I have raised the fact we have lost about a dozen major festivals across the State in recent years. The liquidation of tickets.ie has had a devastating impact on a number of festivals, including some that are not for profit, such as the Rory Gallagher International Festival in Ballyshannon in my county. The potential hit there is €283,000, which is literally wipe-out territory. That cannot happen. This is an excellent festival that attracts people internationally and keeps the name of Rory Gallagher alive. It is also very important for the local economy. Others have also been mentioned, including Liberty, Rockathon and other events. There is a serious flaw in the legislation that has to be fixed. This should never be allowed to happen and it has to be dealt with. However, the immediate priority here is ensuring we do not lose these festivals. What interaction has the Minister had with the parent company, which has a multimillion euro turnover in Germany? What is the Government looking at to make sure these festivals are rescued in terms of grant support?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Doherty for this important question. It is an area on which I can empathise. Many community groups have given so much of their time to bring in festivals that contribute to the local economy. I spoke with Barry O'Neill about the Rory Gallagher festival earlier this week and the concerns he has, some of which the Deputy outlined. I have to be careful about what I can do as regards contacting the parent company. When an entity goes into liquidation, the rules are very clear and prescriptive in legislation. Obviously, there has also been a High Court challenge taken. As I said to Deputy O'Flynn, when that takes place and crystalises, I will look at what I can do in the years proceeding. Some of these festivals will be key to local areas going ahead in the next few years. I do not want to make any promises because it is very early days yet. This has only happened in the past ten days. We want to see the events crystalise. I will do all I can, working with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. I want to see festivals take place in the communities that derive so much from them.

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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How many children experiencing poverty is too many for this Government? The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have both said child poverty is a priority for the Government. Everything seems to be a priority for this Government, but outcomes are not improving and we see that justified in the Children's Rights Alliance report this week, which told us that one in 12 children is experiencing poverty in this country. The Minister will tell me about school meals or he might talk about school books as if they are silver bullets. We know they are not. What families need is income equality. We have been told, through the rumour mill, that a second tier of child benefit is in the mix. Can the Minister confirm if this is still in the mix for budget 2027? Families also need access to quality public services, such as childcare that is affordable, diagnoses, assessments and therapeutic services. Is one in 12 children experiencing poverty too many or is it one in ten or one in eight? What is the acceptable level of child poverty in this country?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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No one in this House, in any political party or none, wants to see any child in poverty or deems it acceptable, might I add, that any child would be in poverty. That is why we are doing everything we can as a Government to ensure we are assisting. Let me demonstrate some of the facts. First, regarding the target, in figures produced by the CSO, we have reduced child poverty from 8.5% in 2024 to 7.8%. That is too slow, but it is progress. Our child poverty unit is doing a huge amount of work. In budget 2026, we increased the under 12s child support payment by 16% and the over 12s payment by 25%. We increased the income disregard for one-parent families and increased the fuel allowance. We provided hot school meals and free school books to support families who are under pressure. We had a €320 million package in budget 2026, specifically to address child poverty. That is the policy the Government has embarked upon. We have a child poverty unit to try to ensure children get access to care and the therapies they need, as well as being supported in their family unit to ensure, in every way possible, that we are reducing child poverty. I have no doubt this is something that drives everyone in this House every single day.

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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I want to bring forward a practical and potentially long overdue reform. Early years educators are currently not permitted to work July provision, providing supports to children transitioning from ECCE into primary school. I have been contacted by several early years educators from my constituency in Dublin Fingal West who have built trusted relationships and deep knowledge of children's individual needs, but are excluded from participating in July provision. This creates two clear problems. First, children are left without the consistent support they are entitled to during a critical stage of transition. Second, early years educators are left unemployed over the summer months, despite being willing and able to deliver this care. Allowing early years educators to participate in July provision would improve continuity for children, strengthen capacity where recruitment has failed and make better use of experienced educators who already understand these children best. It is a simple and practical step that would keep children at the centre of care. I would appreciate if the Minister would consider this.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the Deputy's contribution. I will raise the matter with the Ministers for education and children.

As a Government, we really need to ensure that children get access to early intervention. I know the July provision has been a huge success but we have to do better. I will take the Deputy’s contribution and bring it to the attention of both Ministers.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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A 23-year-old woman from Portlaoise was not diagnosed with scoliosis until she was 17 due to inadequate services. She had surgery last December and four weeks later developed tremors in her leg, which have affected her ability to walk meaning she has to use a rollator or a stick. Her condition has worsened. She has serious mobility problems. She is facing a four-year wait for the Mater neurological clinic to get services. She has been refused access to other neurological clinics as they are full. She is meeting a brick wall. After having to wait until she was 17 to have a diagnosis and 23 to have a surgical intervention, she is left in limbo. Caoimhe is anxious to get back to work but she cannot. She has no access to adult occupational therapy, OT, services - nor does anybody else by the way - as there is none in County Laois. I have raised this many times in the Dáil and with the Minister. Research has found that 58% of neurological patients in the midlands have no access to community rehab. In the midlands, and in Laois in particular, there is a four-year wait to get to a clinic and see somebody, 58% have no access to community rehab and we have absolutely no adult recovery or OT servicesinr primary care. I ask the Minister to ask the Minister for Health to address this.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy has a significant concern in relation to his constituent who is absolutely waiting too long. I will raise the issue with the Minister for Health. However, we have done a huge amount in relation to primary care improvements and reducing waiting lists. We have had an intervention specifically to reduce waiting lists. I will raise this specific issue which the Minister for Health and bring it to her attention.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Everybody has been shocked by the brutal attack that happened in Belfast this week and by the subsequent riots. Hadi Alodid has been charged for the alleged attack. The Chief Constable in the North of Ireland has said that this individual is a Sudanese national who came to Belfast via Dublin from Paris but no information has been given by the Government as to his movements in this jurisdiction. How long was he in this jurisdiction? I have heard it was 24 hours. Is this true? Did he apply for asylum here? Was the application refused? Did he have a visa? Did he have a passport? Was he checked for criminal records in his background? The world is asking these questions and all we have is dead air from the Government at the moment. Was any of this specific information shared with the authorities in the North of Ireland or is it the case that the Government simply does not know any of this information whatsoever? The Government’s silence is damaging the people's confidence in its ability to manage immigration on an all-Ireland basis. It is creating an information vacuum. Will the Minister tell the people the background of this individual?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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We have had a very strong response to immigration with the asylum and migration pact, which this House has adjudicated on and voted on, and which the Council of State has also adjudicated on. We are now very clear in terms of processing applications quickly in a 12-week period-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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This question.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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-----ensuring that we have a very strong robust network throughout Europe to deal collectively what immigration. One thing I will not do is lean into people's fears like the Deputy is. I will not validate prejudice like he tried to do.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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That is a disgraceful load of rubbish.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Tóibín-----

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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What I will do is work to ensure-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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I am simply asking factual questions that everybody understands.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I will work with the Minister for justice, Deputy O’Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, to ensure that we have a firm immigration system-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Will the Minister answer these questions?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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------that we have a fair immigration system and one that is hard on traffickers and smugglers, and where we decide the policy ourselves.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Why will the Minister not answer any of those questions? That is a disgrace.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Rathcorick day centre is the location for County Cavan’s day activation unit. This unit provides adult day services for persons with complex needs. Unfortunately, this centre is totally outdated and needs to be replaced as quickly as possible. The adults attending a day activation unit deserve to have modern state-of-the-art facilities. It is not acceptable that these services are provided in totally inadequate accommodation at present. Day services provide a vital support for adults with disabilities to enable them to participate in day-to-day activities and to realise their own potential. A considerable time ago, approval was given for the provision of a new activation unit in the in the general Cavan town area and it is essential that this new accommodation be provided at an early date. The existing centre urgently needs to be replaced and relocated.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue for his area. I will raise it with the Minister in question. I do not have the knowledge of the specific issue in question but will raise it with the Minister and get her to revert to him directly.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for her very important question on tourism. Since December, we have had a new plan, A New Era for Irish Tourism, which seeks to increase employment to 250,000 from 228,000, bring our domestic revenue up to €5.8 billion annually and bring our overseas revenue up to €9 billion, which will be significant growth for the tourism sector. Mayo will be front and centre to that development. I look forward to working with the Deputy on a number of capital projects we have in gestation to ensure that we are supporting the key infrastructure there. Westport has a huge ability to attract visitors. I was with the Deputy visiting a number of the organisations and people who work to support Westport as a town. I know the great work she does in supporting them through Government policy. Westport House is another key area that we can support through Government intervention. I look forward to working with the Deputy to ensure that Westport and, indeed, Mayo benefit from our tourism strategy.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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I again want to raise Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara. The Minister is well aware of the situation there. I am getting hundreds of emails from locals and from tourists who cannot understand why this situation is being allowed to continue. They are rightly frustrated because this is an iconic landmark on the edge of Kinvara village and on the Wild Atlantic Way that has been closed indefinitely it seems. It is a huge loss to the local community and to the wider region. This issue comes down to funding for Galway County Council. What is the hesitation from Government in providing the funding that is necessary for the council to acquire the castle, bring it up to a safe standard and reopen it to the public? At this stage, people in Kinvara are sick and tired of the excuses coming from Government, passing the buck between Ministers and between Departments. We need to get this castle reopened. I call on the Minister to put a real proposal on the table and come down to Kinvara, meet community representatives, visit the castle and see for himself the situation there. It cannot be allowed to persist any longer.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the Deputy and the work we are trying to do on this significant asset. As he knows, we had a meeting with the key players who have the decision on this - the Department of Transport, Galway County Council and my Department through Fáilte Ireland. At that juncture, I advised them that our capital expenditure schemes would open from September of this year but I need a proposal that I can work with. I cannot fund through Fáilte Ireland the full capital and acquisition costs to bring this up to a level that would be amenable for visitors. I need to work with other parties to do that. If I get a proposal through Fáilte Ireland, I will be happy to work to bring it to fruition. The issue has been raised by a lot of people. Senator P. J. Murphy has been very much the forefront on it as well. We will do anything we can with the local authority and the Department of Transport but we have to work together. That is the key message I have.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Recent legislative developments have not addressed practical barriers that continue to delay and prevent many people from setting up an enduring power of attorney, EPA. Before the Easter recess, the Government expedited the passage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026 through the Dáil and Seanad. The Act’s primary purpose is to enable High Court to extend on a case-by-case basis the timeframe for discharge of wardship. The legislation represented a missed opportunity to address well-documented challenges within the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, particularly those seeking to establish an EPA. In principle, any individual should be able to put an EPA in place.

That is not currently the case. The process is fully digital and must be completed via a decision support service online portal. This system has proven complex and difficult to navigate. It leads to delays and, in some cases, abandonment of the process by a member of the public. The programme for Government commits to review the Act. Can the Minister confirm a timeline for delivery of this solicitor portal as per the programme for Government?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy has raised an important area. I will have to revert to the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, to get a timeline because it is not under my jurisdiction. It has progressed through the Houses significantly. We will find out where it is at for the Deputy.

Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)
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The Minister drives from Mullingar most weeks when he comes to Dublin 2, which is in my constituency. He might have noticed the state of the roads in Dublin city. They are in a huge state of disrepair. It is problematic for many residents. The Minister must imagine my surprise when I received an email this week stating that the area engineer for this area does not have any budget remaining for the remainder of 2026 for road surfacing and footpath reconstruction. Did the Government knowingly underfund Dublin City Council to not start any new road resurfacing projects in the last six months of this year? Does the Minister and his Government care so little for this capital city that they use every week?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I will forward the query to the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, but I am not aware that we underfunded any local authority. We give local authorities funding, particularly for roads, but they have to, essentially, prioritise their budget on where the acute need is. It is important that Dublin City Council has a budget to repair roads. To have it committed this early is pretty alarming. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and forward the Deputy’s concerns in that regard.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I raise the issue of givinostat. I know it has been raised repeatedly but there was a packed audiovisual room briefing. There was welcome news on it yesterday. This is givinostat for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It was recommended for reimbursement by the HSE drugs group and it is with the senior leadership team now. There are two specific asks I wish to raise with the Minister. First, this process must happen speedily. These children still do not have access to this drug, and they need access to it. Every day counts. The second ask is an important one. When it is recommended and reimbursed, it must be consistent with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NICE, guidelines in Britain so that everyone who can stand or walk, with or without support, is included in the scheme. That is an important point. I would appreciate it if the Minister would bring that back.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising an important point around the support for people with muscular dystrophy. It is a very debilitating condition. Obviously, from the interest and number of people who turned up to the audiovisual room, the will to support can be seen. I will raise it with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. A significant amount of resources went into the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, and the drugs approval process in the context of budget 2026. New people were hired to get through the process quicker. I will raise the Deputy’s concerns with the Minister and ask her to revert to the Deputy directly.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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I raise the Local Link 199 bus route. It was approved last year. I was told by the NTA in May last year that it was funded. It went out to tender last summer. The company that won the tender bought a bus and hired four drivers. It was meant to start in September but it has not yet started. I held a public meeting last week on this. This bus is to go from Laragh to Glendalough, Roundwood and Bray. Some 150 people turned up to the meeting. It is a big issue.

My major concern is the lack of transparency and information about why this route has not started. The Tánaiste, whom I was hoping would be here today to answer, has been telling constituents that the firm date for that service should be available this week and that the service is financed. In the past number of days, however, I have received an email from the NTA that states:

We require funding to operate this service. No funding is available. Unfortunately, a precise date for commencement cannot be provided at this time.

They are two very different statements. People – myself included - are frustrated at mixed messaging coming from the Government and the NTA. The communities in Wicklow who rely on the route deserve answers. They deserve clarity and a single message from the Government as to when the service is going to start because they are making life decisions based on that service, such as whether to go to college or where to get a job. They deserve transparency and the truth.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I absolutely know the value of our Local Link services. I see it clearly in my constituency in bringing people of all ages to their destination, be it for education, appointments or just to bring people into their local town to do their grocery shopping. I will raise the issue of the 199 service with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and ask him to get a response from the NTA. In good faith, I hope the service goes ahead because Local Link is an absolute gem to rural communities. It is important we prioritise its increased proliferation right across the country.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to raise a cross-Border issue with regard to the poultry industry. North of the Border, the poultry industry is an important and large industry. Of course, a byproduct of that is poultry litter. Poultry litter contains a high level of phosphates. As a result of the North already having an abundance of them, and the South having a deficit, poultry litter has traditionally always been exported South of the Border under licence from the Department of agriculture. However, the Shared Environmental Services, SES, in the North – it is kind of a State-fund organisation similar to An Taisce down here – has raised questions about the export and spreading of this litter, particularly its impact on designated sites.

That has brought us to a situation where, in fact, there has been a suspension of licences being issued. The poultry litter cannot come across the Border and it is having a serious impact on farmers down here. As we know, the price of fertiliser has gone through the roof. They will have to buy fertiliser to replace this. It is a serious problem for both sides of the Border. Farmers in the North cannot get rid of it and farmers down here who want it are not being given a licence to get it. We need to get this resolved. I raised it with the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, in the past. He said he is trying to work something out. The Government needs to engage with the environmental services and the Department of agriculture, as well as with our counterparts north of the Border, to get this issue resolved as quickly as possible.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to raise it with the Department of agriculture and the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, to get a response for the Deputy. I am not fully appraised of the situation and, therefore, I do not want to put anything on the record that I may not be fully aware of. If it was suckler cows, I might have been able to come back to the Deputy directly. When it comes to poultry, I cannot do so, unfortunately.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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On Monday, the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, opened a new, 50-bed rehabilitation unit in Tower and Blarney in my constituency. A total of 30 beds are geriatric rehabilitation beds, while there are 20 neurosurgery rehabilitation beds. The whole idea behind the geriatric rehabilitation beds is that the person will be in unit for between 30 and 35 days going through rehabilitation, rather than being inside in a hospital where they would not have access to the same level of treatment. Will the Government identify sites around the country to develop and build these rehabilitation and step-down facilities so that we can free up hospital beds? Will a programme be put in place? This is an innovative way of trying to get people out of hospitals faster. At the same time, it will ensure that, when people go home, they have gone through a full rehabilitation programme and are ready and fit to go back to their homes and get suitable support thereafter.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Burke for raising this important issue. I know he is a strong supporter of healthcare, particularly through his work on the health committee, to ensure that people of all ages get the adequate care they deserve. I will raise the concerns he has with the Minister for Health. Hopefully, we will have a capital programme. The Deputy quite rightly pointed out the saving that we have embarked upon in the acute hospital setting through capital infrastructure to support people like that. I will absolutely raise it with the Minister for Health. I know he is very much engaged with her on those key issues that affect people in their daily lives.

Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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I again raise the issue of scramblers, e-bikes and e-scooters. We have to get a grip on the import and supply of these vehicles. We also need to have a far greater accountability from the suppliers of these vehicles, which are wreaking havoc in communities across the country. I have spoken previously of gangs of youths wearing balaclavas when driving on scramblers, etc., but they are not even wearing balaclavas anymore. They do not care and they are not afraid. They are not being pursued and are being given free reign.

From speaking with representatives of the GRA, gardaí are afraid of pursuing them for fear of disciplinary action or, worse, prosecution. Will the Government introduce a statutory indemnity protecting gardaí who pursue, within reason, scramblers? Will the Government introduce a separate professional driving licence for gardaí so they can go about their duty?

Will the Government bring in stricter measures so that we can get rid of this scourge once and for all? Grace's Law on its own is insufficient. We need a comprehensive suite of measures that includes a ban of online sales in this jurisdiction to rid us of this scourge once and for all.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his important question. I know the Minister for justice is linked in with the Garda Commissioner in this area because adequate cover for An Garda Síochána to do the enforcement work that is necessary in this area to fulfil the requirement to ensure communities are safe has been raised. I will bring it to his attention that the Deputy raised it. I know the Minister is working on a solution with the Garda Commissioner for An Garda Síochána.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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Last week, the Minister for children, Norma Foley, said that she was not familiar with the sexually explicit book What's the T? when asked whether it was appropriate for a recommendation by the State-funded body and promoted by Raidió Teilifís Éireann to children as young as 15. Since then, the former Minister, Charlie Flanagan, has publicly stated that he raised concerns with the Minister, Deputy Foley, in December 2023. He asked her to read that book. The question is: which is it? Is it the word of the Minister for children currently serving with the Minister for enterprise in Cabinet, or that of the former Minister, Charlie Flanagan, a member of his own party? Was the Minister, Deputy Foley, misleading the public with her knowledge of the book, or is the former Minister, Charlie Flanagan, mistaken when he said he raised the matter directly with her in December 2023? Is the Government satisfied with the standard of transparency and candour expected of a Minister in this particular case?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I do not propose to engage in "He said, she said" on the floor of the Dáil because I am not-----

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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It is important.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I am not aware of the debate myself in connection with-----

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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It is about transparency.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I am not aware of the debate. I am not a witness to have heard what was said where and when between the two individuals the Deputy referred to. I cannot be because I was not there. He is asking me an absolutely impossible question.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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Will he question the Minister?

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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Sixteen-year-old Paudie Coady from Cork is living with Friedrich's ataxia, a rare and degenerative neurological condition. Last year, his younger brother, Rory, died from the same disease. Paudie's mother is also living with advanced Huntington's disease. Paudie's father, Craig, has said that he is in a race against time to secure access to Skyclarys, the first treatment shown to slow progression of this devastating illness. He has rightly stated that if there is a price tag on every child in this country, it is a sorry country to be in. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics said in December that it would not recommend that the HSE provided it because it was poor value for money and it was unsure, based on the available clinical evidence, of the meaningful improvements it could have. Families facing rare diseases cannot afford bureaucratic delays while conditions continue to progress. Will the Government commit to expediting the decision-making process on Skyclarys? Can the Minister give a clear timeline on when patients like Paudie will finally have access to this life-changing treatment?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I cannot imagine the trauma that Paudie and his family are going through. It is a very distressing case that the Deputy has outlined, particularly on a number of fronts. I will raise it with the Minister for Health. I do not have the knowledge of the individual case to give a substantive response, but I will raise it as a priority with the Minister. I hope things get better and that approval does come.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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I want to raise school places in my constituency, specifically in Portmarnock. It is two months to the day since I stood in this Chamber and requested an urgent meeting with the Minister for Education and Youth on the severe deficit of school places in Portmarnock. I have had no official response to that meeting request and I have followed up with the Department a number of times. It is not good enough. It is not what the parents and the children deserve. The parliamentary questions I have tabled are getting the same copy and paste answer with duplication of applications being given as a reason and that this problem will work out itself, when we know that they will not. We have done the figures on the ground

I can understand why the Minister may not want to meet, but it is impossible to defend the Government's inability to deliver proper infrastructure where new homes are getting built. It just is not good enough. The Minister's colleague, a former Minister for housing, Deputy O'Brien, knows the area very well and was involved in assisting with the houses there. He is also aware of the school places issue. Will the Minister please contact the Minister for education on our behalf in order that we can provide assistance and assurance to the parents of Portmarnock that this Government is not giving up on them?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I will revert to the Minister in relation to the Deputy's query. Crucially, we have seen through negotiations over the past number of weeks the very significant budget that the Department of education has right now to support families across our country and to ensure that children get the education they need and deserve. I will raise the Deputy's concerns with the Minister and ask her to revert to him directly.