Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators who raised issues on the Order of Business. Senator Ardagh spoke about housing. Obviously, we are facing major challenges in the housing sector, but we are making progress, with 14,500 new homes built in 2017, which represented an increase of 50% on the figure for the previous year. We expect 20,000 new homes to have been built when the 2018 figures are released. Budget 2019 provides for the largest amount of money a Government has ever spent on housing in a single year. The allocation is €2.4 billion, €500 million more than was provided in 2018.

Many of the key indicators indicate that there has been an improvement. I accept that it is frustratingly slow and note Senator Warfield's comments in that regard.Senator Ardagh also raised the issue of the costs of electricity and gas. Vulnerable people need to be protected from price rises, and it is disappointing to hear that Electric Ireland is anticipating a 4% increase for gas and electricity this year.

Senator Freeman raised the issue of gaming. She and others have highlighted some very worrying aspects of gaming for children, and the pervasive nature of social media. It can be very difficult for parents to know what to do. In concluding her remarks the Senator said that it is hard to know what we can do about it. Like many of the Internet-related issues we speak about in this House on a regular basis, this is really a societal issue. It is hard to know what policy makers or legislators can do to improve matters. There is also the issue of the sedentary lifestyle associated with gaming. Parents believe they are doing their child a service by providing him or her with a Nintendo or other console, but it means that the children are sitting down and playing games. Their minds are active and they socialise through those games, but it also creates all sorts of lifestyle problems for the future.

Senator Devine also spoke on gaming, which she has raised regularly in the House. The gummy bears game she mentioned is frightening. It is hard to credit but again, it is hard to know what we can do about it. There are certain things we could ban, but it could be argued that a ban sometimes makes them more attractive. Children are finding ways around these things anyway. Education is key, as is teaching children about how to protect themselves online at primary school level. On the Momo game that Senator Byrne mentioned, I have heard of a case of a teacher telling children in a school not to discuss the issue. That is worse in a way, because-----