Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)

I will raise two important issues. The first is housing adaption for disabled people. We all know about the housing adaption grant, and how valuable it is to older people and people with disabilities. More than €3 million is the budget used by my local authority, Meath County Council, which does an excellent job. However, a couple, say, earning only the minimum wage and working full time, are only entitled to €20,000 towards any building works in their home. I have been speaking with Tracy Carroll, who is a strong advocate for all children with disabilities and their parents. If someone has a child with highly complex needs, some of the extensions you need, including downstairs bedrooms, adjusted bathrooms, adjusted kitchens and some outdoor space, can come in at more than €100,000, never mind €20,000. How are couples supposed to pay for this? I appreciate we are doing a good job on disabilities, but when it comes to children with complex needs and adjusting their homes for them and their families, we should allow a reduced VAT rate for building works, when it is for the benefit of the person and his or her family. The UK allows ramps to be built, as well as widened passageways and walls and adaptions to bathrooms, etc., to be totally VAT exempt. I call for us to have a look at this, please.

The second issue I will raise is that of hedge cutting for the safety of people driving. The Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, prohibits hedge cutting and destruction of vegetation in hedges between 1 March and 31 August to protect nesting birds and other wildlife. This ban applies to local authorities just as it does to private landowners and other entities. While the ban is in place, there are some exemptions, for example, cutting or destroying vegetation for road safety reasons is allowed at any time of the year. However, what I am hearing a lot from people in rural areas is that it is getting more and more difficult to get hedges cut, particularly at this time. If people look at the weeds in their garden, they will see how much they are growing at the moment. There is a serious road safety issue.I know this even myself. I live on a rural lane. When you walk up and down and then stand in for a car going by, you are standing in on brambles. It can be a bit dangerous, and for older people driving as well. If we are encouraging people to go out walking and cycling, the situation can be dangerous for them and for people driving if they are at a particular junction. Should we be looking at revising these dates? I know it is a bit contentious, but with climate change, the rigid dates do not always suit weather patterns. Equally, not all hedges are rich in wildlife. In fact, many roadside hedges are not and perhaps modern farming needs a bit more flexibility. I would really like a discussion on this topic to see if we should be bringing the date back into August from 1 September.