Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also want to welcome visitors to the Gallery. We have members of the early years sector educators from Mayo, who were at the demonstration outside. They are very welcome to the Chamber. They will be glad to know, as I said to them outside, that many Members here today raised the issue that they raised outside; namely, the challenges being faced by the early years sector. I will deal with that in my reply.

The first Senator to raise an issue this morning was Senator Dolan. She welcomed the additional beds in Portiuncula Hospital and the doubling of capacity there. Senator O'Loughlin spoke this morning about our former colleague, Councillor Damien O'Reilly. I concur with her remarks and thank all Senators across the House for expressing their sympathies to the Fianna Fáil family on the passing of a dear colleague. Damien was just 40 years of age. He leaves behind a fiancée and a young baby, and a very devoted mother as well.Among the parliamentary community and the councillor community, he was well known to many of us. He worked with Senator Davitt. We were all deeply shocked and saddened by his sudden passing. He knew all of us very well. Nothing happened in politics without Damien being aware of it and on top of it. He was a very esteemed colleague and we are still coming to terms with his passing. He will be sadly missed. I extend our sympathies to our colleague Senator Davitt, who is feeling the loss of Damien very keenly. I also convey our sympathy to Damien's partner, Lisa, his mum, Phil, and his daughter, Carly. It is a really sad and tragic event. Nobody could have foreseen such a young man losing his life in that way. I attended the wake, as did many others, which took place in Damien and Lisa's almost new home. They were just starting their life together as a couple. It is really sad. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about the ongoing challenges many communities are facing, including in Newbridge, where 100 international protection applicants will be located. She rightly made the point that it is really important that people are given information in advance. As public representatives, we are often the first port of call for people seeking information. Without information, there is a vacuum and that breeds trouble. I am glad the Senator highlighted this challenge because it is one we all face in our communities.

Senator O'Loughlin also raised concerns around the student accommodation sector, as did Senator Warfield and other colleagues. I have requested a debate with the Minister, Deputy Harris, on that issue. My understanding is that he will come to the House next Wednesday. We are just finalising that date and a time. He is keen to come before the House to discuss this challenge, which will impact on many families across the country.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the demonstration this morning outside Leinster House by the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, as did Senators Black, Dooley, Sherlock, Ardagh and others. The demonstrators were very clear that as a sector and as business owners, they are struggling to meet the costs of running their businesses. Particularly in the past couple of years, with the energy crisis and food inflation, their costs have gone through the roof, far beyond what anybody could have anticipated two or three years ago. We did not know we would be in the place we are in today. There is acknowledgement from the sector that we have managed to reduce fees for parents. The cost of childcare has come down by 25% this year, with €400 million put into the sector by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in the past three years and €221 million this year. A significant package for next year is being worked out for inclusion in the budget.

There has been significant investment in the sector but it has not addressed the challenges facing providers because their fees are frozen to allow for the subsidy to go straight to parents. That has meant they have not been able to increase their fees in line with the rise in their business costs. That is a particular challenge. As I said to providers earlier today, there will be a meeting between my party and the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, this evening. Other parties will also be engaging with him to see what kind of sustainable and workable solution we can find for the sector to make sure providers can run their businesses. Sometimes, people are afraid to say they are running a business, not a charity. The providers do fantastic and valuable work that enables many working parents to get to work every day. That is the challenge this week. The providers are allowed to make a profit and a living. It is okay to say that. We have to acknowledge that they must make ends meet and make a living in running their businesses. That needs to be said.

In terms of childcare policy in the State, I have particular concerns about the direction in which we are going in that we are not facilitating ECCE providers in the same way we are funding those providing full day care. That may be something we need to reflect on and discuss. Ultimately, we want to ensure parents have choices. I have requested that the Minister come to the House for a full and substantive debate on this issue. As soon as I have a date for that, I will let Members know. It is a topic we all want to debate fully in the Chamber.

I have addressed the point raised by Senator Warfield regarding the student accommodation crisis.

I acknowledge the points raised by Senator Moynihan in regard to the Iveagh Markets. In fairness, she referred to the investment of €9 million announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, but rightly pointed out that because of inflation in construction costs, that provision is unlikely to meet the cost of the project. We will need to reflect on the fact construction inflation is impacting on the delivery of all public projects across the country. We need to get back to the table and try to address that.

Senator Black raised the childcare issue. As I said, I will come back to colleagues with a date for a debate on that issue.Senator Clifford-Lee spoke about the shortfall in funding to meet the national development plan commitments that was highlighted in the Irish Daily Maila number of days ago. I will request a debate on the issue. The Senator raised the issue of metro north and the connection to Dublin Airport, which other Senators have raised previously. We will have to look at the projects that were listed and see how we can pay for them. Significant tax receipts have come in and there is scope to increase spending on capital projects so there is room for manoeuvre. I think people will acknowledge that the increase in construction inflation was not something we could have foreseen but it is something we must deal with as a Government.

Senator Conway spoke about the impact on businesses of the significant numbers of refugees from Ukraine and other locations coming to the country. The fact that they have been housed predominantly in the hospitality sector, in budget accommodation, hotels and bed and breakfasts, is having a direct impact on businesses on the ground in terms of footfall. I raised this issue before the summer recess and we will continue to engage on that and try to seek a debate on it.

Senator Keogan spoke about the need for a debate on crime. The Senator will note that the Private Members' business tabled by Fianna Fáil for tomorrow concerns justice, crime and antisocial behaviour and challenges across communities, so there will be an opportunity to debate that issue tomorrow with the Minister for Justice. I congratulate the Senator's daughter Aoise, who was recently awarded the freedom of the City of London, which is no mean feat, at the age of 29 for her work in social enterprise and her business in that area. I am sure it is a proud moment for the Senator as a mother. Achieving that accolade and recognition for her work is a phenomenal achievement for Aoise at the age of 29 so well done to her.

Senator Dooley spoke about school transport, the shortage of bus drivers and the need to address that. Money has been provided and the Minister wants to address the challenges faced across all communities when we cannot get certain children who have tickets on to buses because we simply have no bus drivers. This is something we need to address. A plan needs to be put in place on that. We will engage with the Minister on that. Senator Dooley also raised the issue of childcare.

Senator Cummins asked for a debate on housing to get a progress update on the delivery of Housing for All, so we will request that debate. Senator Gavan spoke about his work at the Council of Europe, the Armenian people and the challenges there. I note the Senator's comments.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about Rosslare Europort. I agree with the Senator. A silver lining in the Brexit debacle has been the fact that Rosslare Europort has received significant investment and has grown at a significant rate to provide extra capacity for roll-on roll-off and connections direct to mainland Europe. It has adapted very well and capitalised very well on the opportunity in that business. The Senator is right about the need to invest in infrastructure and connections to the port because it has expanded. He very cleverly linked that, however he managed it, to succession planning in agriculture and farmers living in that area. On a more serious note, succession planning in farming is a challenge for us. The age profile in farming is certainly at a more mature level and younger farmers need to be supported because agriculture is one of our core industries. It is a key part of our economy that supports thousands of jobs across the country so we need to support it. I will request a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on that issue and the issue raised by Senator Lombard, namely, the harvesting of grain. As some farmers have not managed to do that this year because of the extreme weather we have had in terms of heat and wet weather, I will request a debate with the Minister on that.

Senator Flynn spoke about Traveller education and the report on the use of reduced timetables for Traveller children, which is a really important issue to bring before the House. I suggest the option of tabling a motion on the issue in order to have a debate in the House but outside the Chamber we can discuss how the Senator wants to proceed to get a debate on the issue. It is very important that this House deals with the issue and puts it on the record and I thank the Senator for raising it and for her work on the joint committee as well.

Senators Sherlock and Ardagh raised the issue of early years providers. Senator Ardagh raised the issue of the lack of availability of baby rooms. As somebody said to me very recently, the ratios for babies mean it is often not sustainable for a business to have a baby room because the cost of running it does not equate to what it gets in fees, which is a challenge.

Senator Joe O'Reilly spoke about the need to deal with CAMHS. It might be worth tabling a motion on this issue to get a more substantive debate in the House and a full update but I can discuss it with the Senator afterwards in terms of the information he wishes to get hold of. This is one option we could look and I would be very happy to table a debate.