Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Senators for their contributions on today's Order of Business, starting with Senator Goldsboro who raised matters pertaining to the Department of Education. I will ask the Minister to come in for a debate on matters of special education. A lot of progress has been made by her and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan. They have made a good start and I hope they will continue that work. I will ask the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to come to the House to talk about funding for the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. This year's budget was set last year, so starting a debate now about the next budget is important.

Senator Goldsboro also requested funding for storm damage for local authorities. She mentioned the N62 at Horse and Jockey. The Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, funding was announced a few weeks ago by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I am not sure whether there will be any supplementary roads funding, but I think we would all support additional funding for local authorities for roads maintenance. There are always projects that need to be done and I certainly support the call for additional funding.

Senator Boyle spoke about the National Ambulance Service, NAS. It is an important and worthy topic. Paramedics do amazing work. They are the first point of contact for illness and tragedies. It is a matter for the Department of Finance. I have invited the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to the Chamber to talk about matters of tax and the economy and the Senator should continue to apply pressure as we advance towards the next budget. It is a worthy thing to do in advance of next year's budget.

Senator Joe Conway spoke about driver behaviour and I absolutely agree. We see it every day on our roads. We had a discussion a number of weeks ago about road safety. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, was here at that time. One of the main topics raised when I am out canvassing and knocking on doors is speed through villages, on country roads and everywhere. It is a real concern people have. There is always a call for traffic cameras, speed bumps, rumble strips and those kinds of matters. It is an important issue. I will ask the Minister to come to the House to talk about crime and such matters and I hope to include something on Garda enforcement and the role of local authorities. Senator McCormack talked about the National Ambulance Service, and I extend my sympathies to her and her family. She talked about the ambulance service in County Laois. There has been investment in different areas to increase the number of paramedic training places for the National Ambulance Service. There has also been an increased investment in different parts of the country. I know that western areas have the lowest response times, but new bases have been established over recent years in Belmullet, Tuam and Galway. As needs are requested, there is investment, for example, an additional team in Galway. A number of issues have been raised, such as response times, deployment bases and benefit-in-kind, so I will request a debate on the National Ambulance Service.

Senator Dee Ryan talked about the Team Limerick Clean-up. I wish its members well in their tenth year and it is to be hoped they match the number of 22,000 people who volunteered last year. Such groups and Tidy Towns groups do very important work throughout the country. I certainly wish Team Limerick Clean-up well. If there is something that can be learned from them, then it is an important lesson for the rest of the country.

Senator Brady mentioned St. Joseph's Daycare Centre and a damning HIQA report. I can only imagine what is in the report. We have seen similar issues in other parts of the country. Our loved ones, the most vulnerable, are in these places so we want and expect them to be treated well and that people, services and conditions are good. Whatever issues are highlighted in the HIQA report must be resolved. If it is investment or management decisions, I hope the HSE is on top of this and, on behalf of all families in Longford, is dealing with the issues that have been raised. If the Senator tables a Commencement matter, he may get an update directly from the Minister on what they are doing on it.

Senator Craughwell has again raised the issue of search and rescue and the Bristow contract, and the delay in the full takeover of that contract from CHC. He asked who will pay for the gap in service between now and the end of November. I presume Bristow is paying CHC. I cannot imagine the State is paying in addition to what has been agreed under the contract. The Senator may wish to table a Commencement matter on the issue.

Senator Murphy O'Mahony talked about school transport, an ongoing issue that has been discussed for a long number of years. We know the benefit of cheaper tickets. We also saw in recent years, however, where tickets were effectively free, there was a huge demand from people who were not actually using the service but got the tickets. There is always a balance to be struck to ensure the people who get tickets actually use them because they are denying other people a ticket. There are a number of possible solutions, including monitoring usage of a ticket by some sort of app, whereby you could buzz in, as it were. The Minister is very conscious of this matter.

I agree with what the Senator said about bus drivers retiring at 70 years of age. It is an issue we have raised in the House. I know that the issue is raised within my parliamentary party and I am sure it is the same within the Senator's party. The Minister is engaging with Bus Éireann on this matter. A solution must be found because it makes perfect sense to use this valuable cohort of drivers. If drivers have reached 70, 71, 72 or 73 years, are medically fit and their eyesight and whatever else is good, they should be able to drive a school bus.

Senator Nelson Murray called for apprenticeships in furniture and upholstery, with which I agree. I suggest she contact the Minister directly on the matter as consideration is given to needs every so often. There is a wonderful furniture college in Letterfrack in County Galway. Our colleague, Senator P. J. Murphy, is a past pupil of the college and he went on to do good things in the sector as well. I am not sure whether upholstery is included there but I know that there is a proud tradition of it in Navan so I think the industry has a future. I urge the Senator to contact the Minister directly or table a Commencement matter. Senator Fitzpatrick sought a debate on the future of Dublin. I absolutely agree with her because it is important to have a strong capital city. That is not to take away from the rest of the country, but there is always a balance. I will request a debate on the future of Dublin. I expect that will be with the Minister for local government, but I am not sure which Minister would be involved. I will put out a request on the matter.

Senator Kennelly raised the important issue of scammers and the targeting of vulnerable people. It is something I have come across in my time. People come in and tell an elderly person they will cut down a tree or something like that and are paid a lot of money. They even pretend they are somebody else, like a worker for a State company. There are vulnerable people. I would advise anyone who is approached like that to say they will contact their son, daughter or neighbour and take the phone up and ring somebody. We could instil in people that if somebody arrives, they tell them they have to talk to their son, daughter or neighbour before they can engage. It is deplorable that people are taken advantage of. I am not sure what is the exact solution. It is something on which An Garda may be better placed to give advice, but I will ask the Minister for Justice to come to the House to debate that important issue and to see if he can offer any solution.

Senator Sarah O'Reilly raised issues of autism and the Little Angels special school in Letterkenny. It is an important issue and she spoke about a teacher’s tax credit for the summer programme, which I like. It is a very good idea and I ask her to pursue that. It would make perfect sense if it assists in encouraging more people to come as part of the summer programme. She could perhaps also table a Commencement matter on that. I will certainly also raise it with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe.

Senator Keogan raised the issue of labels on alcohol bottles and that we have taken steps alone ahead of, or in isolation from, the EU. I do not know the latest on it. I know concerns have been expressed. I will engage with the Minister on this matter. We obviously do not want to do anything that will jeopardise markets and cause upset to trading partners and colleagues. We led on smoking, through the now Taoiseach, Micheál Martin. He led, and this country led, on that matter. Whether this is a road we need to go down, I do not know. We all know that alcohol has harmful effects. Whether that needs to be on labels on bottles, I do not know, but I will certainly seek an update on that matter.

Senator Boyhan has talked of the shared island forum, and I wish the Taoiseach well on that. I have written to him on my behalf and on behalf of the Deputy Leader, Senator O'Loughlin, requesting the Taoiseach to come to the Chamber, if possible before the recess, to talk about the shared island forum and our all-island economy. We are awaiting a response to that letter, and it is to be hoped he will be able to facilitate us on that before the summer recess or when his schedule allows.