Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will try to get through this as quickly as possible. A number of interesting issues were raised. We started with Senator Crowe speaking about the judicial review on the Galway ring road. He said that Galway has been left behind in terms of infrastructure and the ring road is necessary both from the point of view of business, commuters and tourism. As somebody who has attempted to traverse the traffic in Galway, I agree with him 100%. As Senators Crowe and Kyne outlined, this was agreed in the programme for Government. I fully appreciate how disappointing it is to see another judicial review. We do need the Minister to come to the House and we will certainly request that he comes.

Senator Kyne also supported the ring road project and the need for it. He also mentioned that the cost of public transport must be sufficiently competitive that people will avail of it when they can. I fully agree with that. He also made a point about the need for access to paying by smartphone at toll booths. We should not need to have coins for all toll booths. That is certainly something we will pass on.

Senator Keogan spoke about the divestment of schools in terms of school patronage. She remarked that only 12 primary schools had taken part in spite of a programme for Government commitment regarding more divestment. Her key question was how the Minister plans to achieve this. We can ask the Minister to come and talk about it. I know about the issue from schools I liaise with. I agree that parents should have an element of choice in terms of schools and the ethos of schools their children attend, but in several church-led schools it is very difficult to get volunteers to go on boards of management. That is part of the problem. Where there is a very good administrative network set up, such as with education and training boards, it can be easier to manage the many different aspects of a school. We will seek such a debate.

Senators Pauline O'Reilly and Boyhan gave the other side of the story regarding the Galway ring road. Senator O'Reilly said she is concerned about more congestion. I do not agree with that personally, but that is her view and she is entitled to it. She is also concerned about an attack on the judicial process. We note that and we look forward to a lengthy and interesting debate between all of those involved.

Senator Gavan spoke about the Big Start campaign for the early years sector, which was launched this morning. I listened to a little of it before I came in here. He is correct that the statistics he mentioned are shocking, with 66% of workers earning less than the living wage. Some managers earn €15 an hour and one in five people must have a second job. That is not even looking at the fact that many do not have a pension or sick pay and they do not work during holiday time.

This is one of the most fundamental conversations we need to have in society, in government, in this House and in the other House. It is important to note that on 7 December the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, announced major reforms and spoke about core funding and establishing a Government regulation order to improve pay and conditions in the sector. It is vital for the functioning of society and business. We will send the message to the Minister on that issue.

Senator Hoey spoke about students and the funding crisis they have both in terms of the cost of living impacting on them and the fact that there is a possibility of fees being reduced. We all support that, but we must ensure that colleges and universities are not left without core funding. This brings us right back to the Cassells report. Six years later there is no report on it. I understand that at the time the Minister did seek economic funding from the European Commission. I also understand that is back with the Department. It is vitally important that we have a debate on that issue.

Senator Hoey also mentioned the Joint Sub-Committee on Mental Health and the difference in the prescribing of medication between Australia and Ireland. I have no doubt the doctor said that but I find it very hard to believe that almost 100% of people in Ireland get prescriptions. From a conversation yesterday, I know that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is doing an audit of CAMHS because of the situation in south Kerry. One of the three areas being examined relates to prescription, to make sure that there is not over-prescribing. We cannot have a system that is relying on that. We must have a situation that looks at all other areas and techniques. There is a programme for Government commitment on SUSI eligibility. That is important and it is ongoing at the moment.

Senator Ruane spoke about being nearly defeated but never defeated. I would never see her being defeated by anything because of her passion, involvement and interest in the subjects she champions. I urge her to keep us all on our toes. I know she will continue to do so.

Citizens' assemblies are very important for the conversations we have in society. We have seen the benefit of them both within society and politically.Often I feel that what comes from the citizens' assemblies really is ahead of the whole political curve and I welcome the one on biodiversity. The one on education is hugely important and I hope we see that advance in 2022.

Senator Ruane said, "someone will die of an overdose every day this year". That just shows us the huge urgency regarding this matter, and that is without all of the other impacts on people's lives. We all know lives that are absolutely being destroyed by addiction and by drugs. We need to put a huge focus on this matter. I disagree that there is a lack of urgency because there is work happening behind the scenes and we need to show that. We will seek a debate on this matter.

The Senator mentioned that she thinks addiction and chronic drug use are a response to inequality. That may well be but I do not think we can take it just like that because every sector and community knows about addiction, drug use and the havoc all of that causes.

Senators McGreehan, Murphy, Paddy Burke, Fitzpatrick and Carrigy spoke about the national retrofitting plan. They mentioned that it is important to be proactive, and increase and support people to avail of the plan through the one-stop shop and other ways. All of them spoke about the need to provide low interest loans. They also emphasised the need to encourage people to take up trades in order that we can deliver this very ambitious programme.

Senator Conway supported Senator Ruane in her call for a citizens' assembly. He spoke about the disparity whereby restaurants and gastropubs have not been included in the Fáilte Ireland brief. He called on them to be included and I can approach the Minister about the matter. It makes sense because when we support tourism we are encouraging people to eat in the towns that they go to and support local cuisine.

Senator Boyhan responded to the tension between the Galway Senators, who come from all different parties. He spoke about wind farms and about Government party members being opposed to wind farms in counties Galway and Clare. I opposed the establishment of wind farms in County Kildare because I felt that the narrow roads infrastructure was unsuitable. There is a place for wind farms and in my view they are more suitable to being located offshore. We need to consider energy guidelines and we will ask for a debate on this matter.

Senator Ardagh supported the call made by Senator Ruane. She said it is an important issue and I agree. Apart from the health issue, for anybody in a wheelchair or anybody who must push a buggy getting dog dirt caught up in the spokes of a wheel is awful and soul destroying. We need to do far more to tackle the problem of dog fouling. The Senator mentioned that Leitrim County Council has piloted a DNA profiling system. I do not know how that will work but I am interested in learning about the technology.

Senator Boylan spoke about daft.ieand rent increases. Yes, there are rent increases. We need to reduce accommodation costs and the Government is doing a lot to resolve the issue, which was outlined by Senator Fitzpatrick. Yesterday, when I was in Kildare, I was happy to talk about the cost rental scheme and the fact that there will be 180 houses in Newbridge and Kildare where people can avail of a minimum of 25% below the market price in rent. I understand that the scheme hopes to deliver almost 5,000 houses around Ireland. We have to consider many ways to tackle housing issues. It is a fact that 20,000 houses were delivered last year and 30,000 units were commenced. When we take that into account, even Part V in terms of social and affordable housing, then that is a very good start but the Senator said it was not and sought a debate. Last Thursday night there was an interesting debate on this matter on "Prime Time” to which we could refer.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the investment in housing and the retrofitting plan. Senator Carrigy spoke about the warmer homes scheme and the fact that there is a 22-month wait, which is appalling. He mentioned that the RTB needs to be overhauled to support balance, and support landlords and tenants, with which I agree. When we are in a situation where we depend on landlords to provide houses to rent then we need to ensure that there is a balance of rights.

Senator Murphy spoke about the outrageous attacks on older citizens, which is an issue that Senator Crowe has raised previously in this House. The thefts and harm are absolutely shocking. Senator Murphy is correct to say that we need to consider sentencing and legal aid. We also need to consider the bail laws. We should also call for a debate on this matter and invite the Minister for Justice to come to this House.