Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are in fine voice today. Many issues were raised on the Order of Business. Senator Ardagh raised the hostel on Thomas Street. The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, DRHE, has been using the Brú Aimsir hostel temporarily since 2016. The hostel operates on a one-night only basis and has been accommodating 105 individuals. That property was always available temporarily to Dublin County Council from the Digital Hub Development Agency. The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive works continuously to ensure there is adequate emergency supply. The facility will close on 27 June. However, 120 new beds will be provided to replace those previously provided at this facility and by 10 July, the DRHE will increase the supply of emergency beds by 45, meaning that 165 new beds will be provided.The majority of the new beds being put in place - approximately 95 - are supported temporary accommodation. The Senator will be pleased to hear that nobody in Brú Aimsir will be left without accommodation.

We all regret the stabbing in the Liberties area and we all want to avoid crime. The Government remains committed to a vigorous and comprehensive response to knife crime in our cities and generally. A comprehensive and robust legal framework is in place in respect of knife crime, including heavy penalties for a breach of the law concerned. An Garda Síochána has an extended power of search without warrant in relation to knives and offensive weapons. This is an important issue, especially in Dublin, where many of these crimes are occurring. It could certainly be debated in the House in the near future.

Many Senators raised the strike by HSE workers. The dispute began at 8 a.m. and will have a significant impact on 38 hospital healthcare facilities from today. I support the comments made by Senators Burke and Conway who noted that €17 billion is now being allocated to the health service, the highest such allocation in the history of the State. We all differ on various aspects of this issue but I encourage all parties to go to the Labour Court. The court was established to deal with cases such as these and I am at a loss to understand why it is not being used. An additional 300,000 people have been taken on in the health service, which adds a huge cost to the bottom line of the HSE. Genuine efforts have been made by the Government and I encourage all involved to go to the Labour Court.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of the Defence Forces. The Taoiseach will not come to the House to speak on this issue as he has had a bereavement. We will arrange a debate on the impact of the Public Service Pay Commission report on the Defence Forces as soon as possible. It was never officially stated that the report would be published this week. The Minister of State stated today that it will be available next week. The issue has been raised in this House on numerous occasions, not least by Senators Craughwell, McFadden and Wilson. Given that it has been raised for nearly a year, taking another few days to get it right should not make a difference and it will be before the House next week.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the important issue of carers. Family Carers Ireland has made many laudable suggestions in its pre-budget submission and I expect the Minister for Finance will take many of them on board in advance of the budget. We will receive many pre-budget submissions in the coming weeks.

I addressed the issue raised by Senator Nash. On the issue of teachers, it is worth noting that the Government has significantly increased the number of special needs assistants.