Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and the Government for the €18 million in funding provided for central Dublin to improve walking and cycling infrastructure. More than ten years ago, when I was first elected as a city councillor, I looked for a greenway on the Royal Canal and I am really glad to see it has progressed. With this funding we will be able to have a high-quality greenway all the way from the docklands through Ballybough, North Strand, Phibsborough, up through Cabra and all the way to Ashtown. It is very welcome. Money has also been included for the Liffey cycle route and other routes and improvements at Broadstone plaza, Glasnevin and Fairview.

There has been a lot of talk today about Covid. I concur with Senator Buttimer's request that when we move to the next stage of the living with Covid plan the Government protects those who are most vulnerable and also prioritises our young people. Young people are really struggling mentally and physically in the pandemic. The issue of them being put back into classrooms, where they will be eight hours a day with a mask on their face, yet they cannot train outdoors in pods of five or 15 has to be looked at. I urge the Leader to urge the Government to do this.

It is hugely stressful for 2021 leaving certificate students to hear the debate being conducted over the airwaves. It sets a very poor example to them when adults have talks about having talks or have talks and withdraw from them. Teachers are working very hard. Parents are working very hard. For anybody to suggest they would down tools because there would be no leaving certificate is deeply insensitive and deeply disconnected from these young people. This is their future. There is nothing more important to them than to be able to progress from secondary school and move on with their lives. They are being frightened out of their lives with thoughts of extra points for the CAO and an extra 2,000 CAO applications. Still today, having lost five months of classroom learning from their senior cycle, they have no certainty. I urge the Leader to urge all of the partners to return to the talks and give these students certainty and choice.