Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will do that. Senators Horkan, McDowell, Conway-Walsh and Norris raised the issue of homelessness following today's announcement. It is disappointing to see the current figure. The issue is a priority of Government. Rebuilding Ireland provides for an investment of €6 billion in multi-annual funding. We accept that there is a crisis in the homelessness area. It is distressing and disappointing. However, it is also important to acknowledge that work is being done. To listen to people from some quarters one would swear nothing was happening. A lot of work is being done. We understand it is unacceptable to have people who are homeless or in hotel rooms but the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has put together a package of measures that will take time to produce results. I listened to Sister Stan this morning on the radio.

Part of the difficulty we have is that we did not plan in the past for student accommodation in university towns such as Cork, Galway and parts of Dublin. While it might not be achieved, the hope is that by building dedicated student accommodation that will free up houses. In Washington Street, in the area surrounding University College Cork, this week Cork City Council gave planning permission for new student accommodation. We hope that when it comes on stream houses will be freed up which could be bought by the council for social housing and areas would become gentrified and people would buy there.

I agree with Senator McDowell that there is a need for joined-up thinking between the Department and local authorities. The all-party committee on housing that was chaired by Deputy Bailey produced a report. Let us look at the issue and be a bit more adventurous. Some say we should not have private landlords while others say we should not have the construction sector involved. Where would we be without them? Perhaps we need to take a different viewpoint in terms of how we look at the crisis. Another point which is important, and which Senator McDowell touched on, is that all of us aspire to buy and own our own home. We should never take that dream away from people. The Minister and the Government are committed to Rebuilding Ireland, which is delivering solutions. People are exiting hotels and emergency homeless accommodation, but to listen to some people one would swear nothing was happening. We accept progress is slow but it will take time.

Senator Horkan referred to councillors' pay and conditions. The debate will resume on 24 April. It is the third occasion in this calendar year to have such a debate and it will resume again. The points made by Senators Craughwell, Leyden and Horkan are valid ones on the body politic and how we value politics and the work of politicians. Members were criticised for making comments in the past but I hope we will never allow our democracy to become like others, where big business can fund politicians and where it is only the chosen few who can run for office or be elected. I hope we will not allow that to happen in our country. As a consequence, we need to look at how we pay people. That is not a very popular thing to say but if we need to do that then let us look at how we can provide remuneration. I assure Senator Craughwell that I am happy to have such a debate in the coming months.

Senator Horkan also raised the Good Friday Agreement. I welcome the commemoration that will take place on 10 April. The Senator is correct that we have had significant stabilisation in terms of peace in our country. That is because of the ability of all people on the island to reconcile and to move forward. Unfortunately, it looks like we will not have devolved government in Stormont for the anniversary but I hope we can see that happen soon. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Karen Bradley, have been working with the other parties to achieve that end. I hope it happens in the short term.

The shortage of teachers was discussed yesterday on the Order of Business. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, has convened a specialist group to examine the matter, which is under his remit. It is also worth saying that we have seen investment in education increase by €1 billion in the past two years. The Minister has provided 5,000 additional teaching posts in the past two years. Notwithstanding that, the Senators are correct to highlight the fact that there are deficiencies, for example, in home economics, science, Irish and in other subjects, as Senators Lombard and Gallagher mentioned yesterday. Since 2013 there are now 8,900 more teachers working in schools. I accept there are issues that need to be addressed. We have seen educational establishments offer more places, for example, St. Angela's in Sligo, in terms of home economics. The teaching conferences are coming up next week and it is a very important time for teachers in terms of debating their conditions. I am sure we will have such a debate following the conferences. I hope we will have positive engagement on the various interventions the Minister is making to address the supply of teachers.

In terms of the opening hours on Good Friday, Senator Lawless's Bill was the catalyst for the pubs opening tomorrow. I sincerely hope that people will drink sensibly and will not go overboard. It is a new day in terms of pub openings on Good Friday and it is one that I am sure will be met with opposition in some quarters and with joy in others. I hope it does not turn into a drink-fest and that people are sensible.