Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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We now move on to the Order of Business. In accordance with Standing Order 35, I call on the Chief Whip, Deputy Mary Butler, to move the arrangements for the week's business.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

Tuesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Sections 51(3) and 60(6)) (Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)

- Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (1) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)

- Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (2) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)

- Motion re Appointment of Committee Cathaoirligh (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)

- Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes and any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday)

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 2 hours)

- Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour)

- Finance Bill 2026 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 2 hours)

- Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour)

- Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 1 hour)

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences and amending Directive (EU) 2024/1260 (to conclude within 1 hour and any division claimed to be taken immediately)

- Motion for Further Revised Estimate for Public Services 2026 [Vote 26] (back from committee) (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)

- Motion re Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Meath County Council) Order 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)

- Motion re Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Carlow County Council) Order 2026 (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)

Thursday's business shall be:

- Statements on Rare Diseases (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)

Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business:

In relation to Tuesday’s business, it is proposed that:

1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders:(a) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the Dáil may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and

(b) private members’ business shall be taken following proceedings on the Second Stage of the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business;2. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Sections 51(3) and 60(6)) (Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;

3. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (1) shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;

4. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (2) shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;

5. the proceedings on the Motion re Appointment of Committee Cathaoirligh shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;

6. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across);

(b) on conclusion of the first speaking round, or where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday; and

(c) members may share time; and

	Gov	SF	SD	Gov	SF
Mins	20	20	20	12	4
	Lab	Gov	SF	IPTG	Gov
Mins	20	12	4	20	12
	SF	ITG	Gov	SF	OM
Mins	4	20	12	4	20
					Total: 3 hours 24 mins

7. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Water Services (Repeal of Water Charges) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours.

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

(b) the Order of the Dáil of 9th June 2026 referring the Finance Bill 2026 to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Sector Reform, Digitalisation, and Taoiseach is hereby discharged and Third Stage of the Bill shall be taken in Committee of the whole Dáil;

(c) any motions to be taken without debate shall be taken on the conclusion of the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences and amending Directive (EU) 2024/1260; and

(d) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on any motions without debate;2. the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages of the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration;

3. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration;

4. the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages of the Finance Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Finance;

5. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Finance;

6. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour, and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment;

7. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences and amending Directive (EU) 2024/1260 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:(a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-

— opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State – 10 minutes;

— speeches by representatives of Sinn Féin, Social Democrats, the Labour Party, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group – 7.5 minutes per party or group;

— speeches by non-party/group members – 7.5 minutes in total; and

— a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes;

(b) members may share time; and

(c) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;8. the proceedings on the Motion for the Further Revised Estimate for Public Services 2026 [Vote 26] shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;

9. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Meath County Council) Order 2026 shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately; and

10. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Carlow County Council) Order 2026 shall be taken without debate and any division demanded thereon shall be taken immediately.

1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. with consequential effect on the commencement time for Motion re Report entitled ‘Report on Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities’, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and

2. the Statements on Rare Diseases shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:(a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across);

(b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(c) members may share time.

	Gov	SF	SD	Gov	SF
Mins	25	15	10	10	3
	Lab	Gov	SF	IPTG	Gov
Mins	10	10	3	9	10
	SF	ITG	Gov	SF	OM
Mins	3	9	10	3	5
					Total: 2 hours 15 mins

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

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

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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They are not agreed. I listened with interest to the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris's, confirmation of Fine Gael's plans around Irish reunification. We are waiting to hear what the Taoiseach's plans are. For weeks, we have asked for statements on Irish unity. Later today, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald will introduce a Bill for constitutional change about responsible planning for Irish unity, a citizens' assembly and a Green Paper. We would love to hear the Taoiseach's plans. Maybe he could do that through statements in the Dáil as soon as possible on Irish unity.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Where is the Deputy's Green Paper?

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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We are waiting for the Taoiseach's plans.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Where is the Deputy's plan?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Please, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Farrelly.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Chancer.

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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It looks like the Government is hell-bent on introducing a social media ban for young people under the age of 16, despite the research and experience from other countries telling us it simply will not work. I am asking for speaking time on this really important issue so the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, instead of speaking on podcasts and in media interviews, can come to this House to debate it.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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There is significant concern in relation to the new workforce development plan proposed for special needs assistants, SNAs, right across this country. A significant amount of SNAs have contacted TDs in this House on the wording and the extra responsibilities they will have to undertake because of this plan. I understand there was stakeholder engagement on the plan. That is to be welcomed but that is not the feeling on the ground among SNAs. It is important that this feeling be heard in this House.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I have repeatedly asked for statements in the House about the use of Shannon Airport by the US military and about the use of our airspace to transport weapons to Israel while it continues to slaughter people in Gaza. Every single day, people are being murdered by the Israelis in Gaza, and we have very likely facilitated some of that either through the US military using our airports-----

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

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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-----or our airspace being used to transport weapons to these mass murderers.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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We are back to square one again in relation to the short-term lets. This was discussed at the Cabinet meeting today. One Minister has said it is going to include strong enforcement laws and the Revenue Commissioners coming down hard on short-term lets. The Taoiseach said in a statement here in the Dáil that any short-term let over seven years would not need planning permission. Is that the case? Yes or no?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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We need statements on it.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank all the various Whips for their commentaries. We can discuss all these matters again on Thursday. To clarify, statements will be held on Irish unification, as the Tánaiste has said previously, very shortly. I can confirm it this on Thursday but the Order of Business stands. We have a huge amount of legislation to get through, as everybody can see.

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

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

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Sinn Féin is this evening bringing forward important legislation to end the mandatory three-day wait for women who need an abortion. This wait is causing real damage to women. It has pushed some beyond the 12-week period, meaning they cannot access services here in Ireland and have to travel. Women who have suffered sexual assault or who live with domestic violence or coercive control are left in a really awful situation and it has meant hardship for many women who struggle to get a GP appointment in their county. Changing the law and removing the three-day wait would ensure that women could access healthcare when they needed it. I believe we can do this together and I hope every TD will look to trust, to care and to compassion when they cast their vote on this matter tomorrow night.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I recognise that this is a very sensitive issue. There are a range of opinions and perspectives in this House and, indeed, among the public. The people voted to repeal the eighth amendment in 2018 and to provide free, safe and legal access to termination services. We have made a lot of progress since then on the implementation of the Act. I am aware of the arguments for and against the removal of the three-day waiting period. It is important we have a respectful debate in the House. I intend to vote for this to go through to Committee Stage. On Committee Stage, there will perhaps be a need for consequential amendments, which I think the Minister has flagged with Deputy Cullinane. That only relates to the actual issue and does not undermine - in fact, it enhances - the intent of the amendment.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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People are sick of seeing derelict buildings across this country when they cannot get a home of their own but the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste's blaming of councils is shameless. The Taoiseach was in government during the Celtic tiger when councils were gutted. Fine Gael has been in government since 2011 and has starved local authorities of funding. The reality is the new derelict sites tax, just like the vacant homes tax, is designed to fail. There are over 20,000 derelict properties but it is only going to apply to those on the register, which is in the region of 2,000 homes. The tax will actually apply to a fraction of derelict sites and buildings. Will the Government give councils sufficient capacity to ensure that every derelict building is put on the register? Will it bring in the tax immediately for all derelict buildings? Will it ensure that councils have the funding to compulsorily purchase derelict buildings on the register and turn them into homes?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First of all, councils have not been gutted.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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Of course they were.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is a ridiculous statement and a stupid statement to make.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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It is not stupid. The Government did it during austerity.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There have been very significant investments made. There has been very significant allocation of resources to local authorities.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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The Government absolutely destroyed councils' capacity.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, out of respect for other Members, we need to stick to the time and the rules.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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The stupid statement is the Taoiseach's.

A Deputy:

Withdraw it.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy Hearne, please. I ask that you refrain.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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He just said I made a stupid-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I do not care. Everybody else has to have an opportunity.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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It hit a bone because it is true.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There has been very significant allocation of resources to local authorities and we have increased funding on a whole range of fronts. The bottom line is we are moving to Revenue to impose a tax. A lot of work has to be done to do this properly. That work is under way and will be resourced. It is very important that we do this with good precision and we do it comprehensively. I believe that this move, because it is Revenue and is a tax, will change the psychology around this and the implementation of it. It did not happen under local authorities for a long, long time-----

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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That is the Government's fault, not theirs.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and the Deputy cannot use the lazy excuse of resources.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call Deputy Bacik.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I want to raise the very serious issue of road safety with the Taoiseach. Ireland is now one of the few European countries where road deaths are increasing despite an official target to halve fatalities by 2030. Behind the figures of fatalities and injuries are lives lost, families devastated and communities traumatised. The Crowe report on roads policing was clear about the need for stronger enforcement but there has been a fall in the number of checkpoints and breath tests for motorists and there are nearly 400 fewer gardaí on our roads than there were in 2009.

The Government's road safety strategy is not being delivered. In addition, today we see a concerning report from thejournal.iebased on a study it has done, showing that almost half of all speeding prosecutions never reach conviction in the courts and showing some disturbing regional variations across different court districts.

How does the Taoiseach propose to address these issues and ensure that our roads are safer? In particular, how can we address enforcement and see an increase in the number of roads police?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First of all, I agree that every fatality on Irish roads is one too many. For well over a decade or two, we had seen dramatic reductions in road fatalities and injuries, but in the last number of years, post-Covid in particular, there has been an incremental increase with some moderation of that.

We have a clear road safety strategy. Progress has been made to deliver on phase 2 of the action plan for the period 2025 to 2027. There have been 12 primary transformative actions and 77 support actions.

Progress to date includes the following. The default speed limit was reduced from 80 km/h to 60 km/h on rural and local roads in February 2025. Local authorities are now working to lower speed limits, where appropriate, to 30 km/h in urban and built-up areas by March 2027. The first national safety camera strategy was published on 29 April. There is much more I do not have the time to go through here.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The time is up. I call Deputy Charles Ward.

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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I have raised this multiple times over the past few months. I welcome that the Minister of Health has signed off on the end-to-end review for funding of new drugs in Ireland but we have said on many occasions that for children suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, DMD, time is muscle and children with DMD face a blatant inequality under the current system.

I am sure the Taoiseach will be aware of two boys in Donegal. Diarmuid O’Sullivan has DMD, as does has his brother. His brother is on a trial and has access to the medicine, but Diarmuid does not. Aaron Langan lives in Laghey, ten minutes from Belleek, County Fermanagh, where the drug is readily available. Can the Taoiseach give us a timeline on the review of Ireland's approval system for drugs such as givinostat? The families cannot wait. We need to make sure we get on this now.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are three points. First, we are acutely aware of the pressures and anxieties in families in relation to a number of drugs pertaining to rare diseases. There was good news last week in terms of the HSE drug group approving givinostat and sending it forward to the senior leadership group, which will now consider it. Hopefully we can get this progressed as quickly as possible. There are other drugs. Skyclarys is on the agenda, among others. In fact, we are increasing the number of approvals on a year-by-year basis. The recent pharmaceutical agreement arrived at with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, IPHA, and the Government provides for better timelines in terms of getting drugs approved.

The Minister has also signed off on a review, which, I think, is very important, but only made that decision following work up from her Department officials who have given considerable thought to this because what we will see now and into the future is a greater volume of what used be called orphan drugs for rare diseases. Where companies in the past never invested, now they are. That is going to come at us fairly significantly.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call Deputy O'Flynn.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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Cork alone has 1,788 derelict properties. Nationally, nearly 19,000 homes sit idle while people sleep on sofas or in their cars, working adults are in their parents' box rooms and there will be over 17,000 people in homeless services tonight. The Government has a derelict levy which is obviously not working. The Government has watched some of the local authorities fail to collect a single cent. The Minister for Finance is now blaming local government. It is worth noting that 31 of the local authorities are largely controlled by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors. There are 493 Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors out of 949. Will the Taoiseach now own his own failures - every empty house, every family on a waiting list, every night someone spends in emergency accommodation? Will the Taoiseach explain, not only to this House but to the 61,000 households on waiting lists, why the Government answer to its own failure is always the same - to find someone else to blame?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach to respond.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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In this case, the Government is blaming its Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy was a long time a councillor. He knows the intricacies of this more than anybody does in terms of the application and enforcement of derelict site levies. There has been very significant progress in Cork in terms of housing. There needs to be more and we need to do more but in terms of the housing schemes that have started, been developed and are continuing, particularly along the docklands and, more recently, the schemes at Creamfields, Ballyvolane and many more, there are a lot of big housing projects under way in Cork. Moving from a levy to a tax will make a difference.

The other key issue is that the grants are very substantial for derelict and vacant houses, at €70,000 and €50,000, respectively. That is having a huge impact, with about 17,000 applications. Nothing like that had happened before we introduced it in 2022. It has made a big difference and will continue to make a difference in respective of this.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I raise the ongoing challenge of providing adequate home support hours to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Every week, families across Carlow and Kilkenny contact my office after being told that approved hours cannot be delivered because there simply are not enough carers available. Older people and people with disabilities are being left without the support they need to remain safely and independently in their own homes. In many cases, family members are forced to step in, often at considerable personal and financial cost.

We all agree that supporting people to live at home for as long as possible is the right approach but that commitment means little when approved services are unavailable. The situation is causing distress and huge pressure for families, hospitals and residential care services. What immediate actions will be taken to ensure approved home support hours are not just approved on paper but are actually delivered in practice?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue for many people across the length and breadth of the country. We have a target for 2026 of 26.7 million home care hours. Additional hours will be delivered through a mixture of public and private provision, with a focus on addressing persistent waiting lists in certain areas of the country. Preliminary data shows that as of 31 March, 6.55 million hours were provided in the year to date, which is about 541,000 more hours than in the same period last year. A total of 61,000 people were receiving home support at the end of the month, while 66,000 had received home support since the start of the year.

There had been issues previously in respect of recruitment and so forth but the Minister has made, and continues to make, significant progress in relation to that. We will continue to allocate resources to this. It is a growing issue and we will continue to look to address it.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I raise the urgent issue of waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery, especially hip and knee replacements, at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. In recent months, I have received numerous queries from constituents who are in severe pain and unable to engage in day-to-day life while they wait for surgery. Many of them have been told by their consultant that they are a priority but they are still waiting more than eight months, and longer in some cases, without any confirmed date for surgery. This is not acceptable. It is also very frustrating for patients to learn that the same treatment is available across the Border with almost no waiting list. People who can no longer endure the pain are being forced to look outside the State for timely care. Those who cannot afford to do so are left waiting indefinitely. This is not equality. We must increase orthopaedic capacity, reduce waiting times and ensure that those who require urgent surgery undergo their procedures without further delay.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I will raise the points he made regarding Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore with the Minister for Health as to whether there are specific issues there. There is a lot of work under way in terms of development of surgical hubs, the National Treatment Purchase Fund expanding its programme in regard to particular specialties - the public-only contract should help in that regard - and continued investment in capacity. We acknowledge that more needs to be done in terms of getting the waiting times down. The sooner people can have intervention and surgery, the better the outcomes. We will continue to address the issue the Deputy raised.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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Applications for the very much-needed special school that is due to open in Balbriggan closed on 29 May. It is very likely to be oversubscribed.

As the Taoiseach can imagine, there is quite a number of anxious parents wanting confirmation that this school is going to open. I am concerned at the fact that I have now been contacted by SNAs who cannot find any information about the recruitment process, which leads me to believe it may not open in September as has been promised.

I am not expecting the Taoiseach to have the answer here this afternoon - it would be unfair of me to expect that - but I ask him to engage with the Minister for education to get confirmation that the much-needed special school for Balbriggan will open in September.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will raise this issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Minister for education, Deputy Naughton, in respect of that new school for Balbriggan. I do not have the specific details here, but we are working flat out to get as many places available through classes and new schools as quickly as possible to make sure pupils have places in September.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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The people of Wicklow are constantly being let down by chronic failures in public transport. The badly needed 199 Bray to Glendalough bus service promised in 2024 and procured last year is still not operating there. People in Wicklow are equally frustrated by the two-year delay in upgrading the chronically unreliable 132 route, leaving west Wicklow commuters stranded, with buses continuously breaking down. For months now, the Department, along with the NTA, has repeated that no funding is currently available for new services in 2026, and discussions are ongoing. How much longer must Wicklow communities wait? There has been €7 million spent on storing electric vehicle buses due to a lack of charging infrastructure; €20,000 on storing another 98 buses for God knows how long; and a failing IT system in Irish Rail, with €50 million being written off. The question has to be asked: where is the so-called Minister for Transport in this? When will the Minister finally take responsibility for-----

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

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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----- his ministry, do his job, stop the waste and deliver services?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There were about 15 questions there but I think the Deputy started with the 199 Bray to Glendalough route, which I understand is a significant issue; other Deputies from Wicklow have also made that point to me. Obviously, there has been a significant expansion in transport services in recent years, with considerable public expenditure allocated to it. We are continuing to look at other services that need to be expanded and the Minister will be working with the NTA and TII on a range of issues in that respect.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Aontaím leis an Teachta. Tá géarghá go dtuigeann na daoine a bhíonn ag obair Domhnach is dálach go mbeidh faoiseamh le teacht. I am confident that in the forthcoming budget we will have a comprehensive framework to try to programme decisions on tax and other areas to help middle-income and low-paid workers with their tax burden.

We have significantly reduced the tax burden for the low-paid. In particular, the number who are not paying tax has increased significantly in recent years. Without question, there is a need to provide tax relief to workers. We will take the opportunity in the next budget. Obviously, a lot of work and discussions have to continue with the three parties in government before the finalisation of proposals in respect of the budget. That is one of the issues that is certainly under active discussion.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I wish to speak today about the proposed reforms to the criminal legal aid system, which include the introduction of a flat fee payment model for legally aided District Court cases. It is proposed that solicitors would receive a single payment of €455 for District Court criminal cases, regardless of the number of court appearances involved. Members of Criminal Justice Solicitors Ireland have raised serious concerns and are urgently seeking engagement on this matter. They have already begun withdrawing service from certain aspects of criminal legal aid work until further notice. This will have a detrimental impact on the operation of courts and the administration of justice. Further engagement must be opened as a matter of urgency.

I have spoken to solicitors in Wexford and Wicklow who have told me of one case where a solicitor made as many as 27 appearances on behalf of one client. How is this a reasonable payment for that level of work?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We need to be careful on all fronts in the sense that the Minister fully recognises the critical role played by the legal profession in the effective administration of criminal justice. There is no intention here to reduce the cost to the State of providing criminal legal aid. I will just point out that expenditure on criminal legal aid in the District Court has nearly doubled, from €19 million in 2015 to €37 million in 2024. The reform here is primarily aimed at improving efficiencies, speeding up case resolution - there is an issue if there are 29 appearances - and reducing unnecessary adjournments, while ensuring fair and sustainable remuneration for legal practitioners. There is a lot of merit in what the Minister is proposing. He met with the Bar Council on 27 May and the Law Society on 29 May, last week. The Department will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders, including the Law Society and Bar Council, in advance of the reforms being introduced.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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Garda vetting is an important process to ensure the safety of children in many settings, such as schools, creches and sports clubs and, in the case of bus drivers and escorts, school buses. It takes at least three to seven weeks in some instances to get Garda vetted. Could this process be streamlined? Many people find themselves having to be Garda vetted three or four times if they are driving a school bus or working with schoolchildren, even as a volunteer. People working in creches have to do it if they want to work in different creches. Going back to the school buses, I could have a driver who is Garda vetted but cannot drive for the fella down the road who might be stuck for a driver of a morning because he would need to be Garda vetted for that person as well.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach to respond.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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Could it be streamlined? Could we have a card or something like a driver's licence-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy has asked the question and his time is up.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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----that would show a person had vetting for a number of years? The card could be used in each place.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy is being unfair to his colleagues.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will raise the issue with the Minister. Garda vetting is an important mechanism but, from my understanding, the legislation provides for or obliges repeated securing of vetting for different functions or roles. There is a case to be made for some streamlining of that. If a teacher or escort, for example, receives Garda vetting, then I take the point that there is a need to look at whether they should need a second Garda vetting for another activity a month later.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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Ballinacurra Weston in Limerick is one of the most disadvantaged areas in this State. This time last year, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, acknowledged it was an area forgotten by the State and that it now has Government support. He made those comments while visiting Our Lady of Lourdes Community Centre. That same centre is now facing the daunting task of telling local families there are no early childcare places for their children. We are not just talking about a few families but, rather, 214 children on a waiting list who are unable to access early childcare places in Our Lady of Lourdes early years service. While staff are busy preparing for September, there are no playschool places available at all. The stark reality facing many families is that the majority of local children will not have access to integrated early years education and family supports, and parental choice simply does not exist. Staff in the area are having to tell families they have no place for their child. Early intervention, as the Taoiseach knows, particularly in more disadvantaged areas, is critical to child development.

I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that local demand will be met------

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach to respond.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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-----or will Ballinacurra Weston once again be forgotten by Government?

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

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Is it that the existing service has been closed?

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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No, the waiting list has 214 children on it. It is completely overwhelmed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will raise the matter with the Minister to see if any intervention can occur there.

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Many communities I represent in north Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny want to know when the Government is going to introduce updated guidelines for onshore windfarms. Last December in this Chamber I received a commitment that we would see regulations this year to update the 2006 regulations we are currently dealing with.

In April I received a response to a parliamentary question which stated that a review of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines had been undertaken as part of a national planning statement on wind energy under the Planning and Development Act 2024. Included in this was noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligations, community dividend and grid connections. It appears that some progress might have been made but a clear commitment was made to me here last December. When will the Government produce new guidelines for modern technology for onshore wind farms?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the raising of the issue. There has been work done and the review is under way, as the Deputy has said. The Minister for energy has engaged with the Minister for housing on this. One Department has the responsibility for the planning statement under the Planning and Development Act but the energy Department has significant responsibilities here as well. A further public consultation process will take place on the draft NPS and accompanying SEA environmental report. Communities, organisations and individuals will have the opportunity - we are hoping in the latter part of the year, perhaps late autumn. I will not have a specific date until the engagement between the two Departments is finalised and we are in a position to bring forward a draft statement.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Successive governments have been derelict in their duty to respect and properly manage the extensive national resource that is the 5,000 acres of the Curragh Camp. The Government proposes to rectify that problem with a proposal in the programme for Government to bring forward a new management structure. A year and a half into the Government, we have yet to see that. In a year in which there is greater misuse, greater abuse and greater degradation of the plains and when a greater number of illegal encampments are taking place, there is huge public cynicism about what is going to be done. I ask the Taoiseach to give the House the commitment today that the Government will bring forward before the end of this year the necessary legislation to rectify this problem.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Deputy’s raising the issue. It is a very serious issue and it has dragged on for a number of years between different Departments and Government agencies. I have intervened. I spoke with the National Park and Wildlife Service to see if it could take a stronger role in terms of the Curragh because it is an important landmass in itself. The Department of Defence has obviously had a key role there historically. Part of our discussions centre on whether we can develop a national park as part of this but there is still some work to be done. I am engaged on it with the relevant agencies and Departments and I will continue to do that until I get a resolution.