Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join others in supporting the call for a debate on the situation in Palestine. I also support the call by Senator Flynn for a debate in the context of her remarks on Travellers and Traveller Pride Week. I support the calls for those debates.

Every year, there are issues with secondary school places. The issues generally sort themselves out in time but I have come across several cases in Galway that are taking much longer than normal to sort out. It is upsetting for children who still do not have an allocated secondary school place to hear their friends talking about the school they will attend next August or September and making plans in that regard. It is upsetting and frustrating for the parents, who have tried everything and are engaging with Tusla and the Department to ensure there is a place.I have raised this matter before in the House. I have raised it with the Minister, Deputy Foley. It is just so exasperating that the system does not allow for additional places to be announced within schools in order that children can have certainty. It is now July. We are talking about the end of next month and these children have no school places. It is difficult to find out the numbers. I am dealing with a small number of parents whose children do not have school places. It is so upsetting for those children.

We met yesterday with the campaign for a pension increase. I was happy to be able to say that there will be an increase in the pension in the forthcoming budget. I certainly could not commit to what they were seeking. A number of points were made. Pensioners who are living alone have higher costs. The point was made that they cannot put on the lights or other electrical equipment. The costs are there for those households. I certainly hope that as well as pension increases, there will be a substantial increase in the living alone allowance in the forthcoming budget.