Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I add my welcome to the ambassador and our distinguished guests from the Netherlands. It is an honour for us to be able to mark the Dutch national day.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the State's participation in a Council decision to resume vehicle registration data exchange with the United Kingdom for the prevention and investigation of criminal offences, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to conclude at 12.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed five minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed five minutes each, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each, and the Minister to be given no less than five minutes to reply to the debate.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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I rise today with a deep sense of responsibility because there are children in our care system who do not have a voice in this Chamber and yet their lives are shaped by the decisions we make here. The recent statement from the Irish Association of Social Workers once again exposed the reality of a system under strain, a system increasingly reliant on special emergency arrangements, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and unregulated settings for children who deserve much better. Let us be clear; these are not just placements. These are children, children who have already experienced trauma, neglect and instability, now placed in an environment that cannot offer the safety, consistency and belonging that they need to heal.

At the centre of this is Tusla, the arm of the State with responsibility for both preventative supports and emergency responses for children and families. However, we are seeing an over-reliance on emergency care beds and placements rather than a system built on early intervention, family support and planned care. This is not sustainable and, more importantly, it is not acceptable for the children living it.

We have heard powerful testimonies in recent days from young adults who have left care and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their courage. However, where are the voices of the children still in care today? Where are the voices of those under 18 living the reality right now, often without language, protection or a platform to speak? Their silence is not absence; it is a silence we are responsible for. The Ombudsman for Children and EPIC play a critical role in amplifying the lived experience of children and young people in care. However, they cannot do it alone. As legislators, we must ensure that children's voices are not just heard in hindsight but actively shape the system that they are still within.

Today I am calling for the Minister to come before the House in the coming weeks to facilitate dedicated statements on children in care, not broad discussions but focused urgent engagement on Tusla's over-reliance on emergency care beds and unregulated placements, the shortage of foster, kinship and appropriate residential care options and, critically, how we are capturing and responding to the voices of children currently in the system.If we are honest, this is not a new crisis. It is a known failure, one that has been building for many years. We must move beyond managing emergencies and begin building a system rooted in prevention, early intervention and family support. Keeping children safely within their families and communities must always be the priority, where possible, supported by meaningful investment and not just intention. Where that is not possible, every child must have access to stable, nurturing and properly supported care, not temporary or unsuitable placements.

None of this will matter if we do not listen. We have to actively create a space where children can speak. I believe in that. Perhaps the Deputy Leader might consider bringing children here and having a dedicated day for children in care.

Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)
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There are major concerns in Enfield, County Meath, due to the removal of a long-standing school warden from near St. Mary's Primary School. For 32 years, a long-serving warden, who we used to call a lollipop lady, has looked after the children going to and from the school. The position has now been removed. As is completely understandable, community members and local representatives have expressed real concern, citing high traffic volumes during the school run and the risk to children. My office wrote to Meath County Council expressing the concerns of the community of Enfield and we were advised that the current school warden, who operates at the Main Street and Johnstown Road junction, will soon reach the mandatory age of retirement from public service and will not be replaced. The county council mentioned that school wardens would not continue and that it was satisfied that safe crossing points were provided on the street in the form of traffic light-controlled pedestrian crossings. The reply referred to a table and railing guide to guide pedestrians at the crossing points. However, between 150 and 180 children cross the road and they are used to having a school warden.

This particular junction is very busy. Last Friday, I had a clinic in Enfield. When I walked up Main Street, I went to cross over at the junction to go towards St. Mary's Special School. The green man was on the pedestrian crossing and, lo and behold, a bus came straight through the junction. Luckily, I had turned right and did not put a foot onto the road or God knows what would have happened. I can only imagine what would have happened to a child. That incident happened at lunchtime.

The county council has said the junction should not have a school warden. Although I represent Enfield, I am not from the area. Even I can clearly see the junction needs more support for children going in and out of school. Meath County Council outlined that, as each school warden retires or resigns, each location is reviewed. It also said that it was satisfied that the junction was functioning and safe and that no other measures were envisaged.

We in this House constantly discuss the safe routes to school programme, and we need to continue to speak about it and how important it is for schools. The school warden was doing an excellent job of getting kids across the road safely. While there is no safe routes to school programme at that junction, surely we should not consider taking away the school warden until such time as the safe routes to school programme is reintroduced and the school can apply for it. Removing school wardens before safe routes to school programmes are fully and effectively implemented is not just premature, but potentially dangerous.

School wardens perform a role that goes far beyond holding a sign and stopping traffic. They are a visible and human safeguard at some of the most unpredictable points on road networks. They work at crossings near schools where children's behaviour can be impulsive - they can be excited going in and leaving school - and traffic patterns are chaotic. If the goal is for schools to transition towards safer and more sustainable school travel, sequencing matters. Safe routes to school programmes should be fully funded, widely implemented and demonstrably effective before any serious consideration is given to removing wardens. Safe routes to school programmes should be available for all schools. I again call for that.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I remember the second French peacekeeper who has now died as a result of his injuries in south Lebanon. That brings me to the issue of the wars raging in the world at the moment. The more I read, the more I ask where the regulators are, those who examine what might be regarded as corrupt dealings. We constantly see circumstantial evidence that 15 or 20 minutes before the President of the United States makes a statement, there are massive transactions on the stock exchange. People are making money out of war. The Ukraine war is no longer a cash cow because there seems to be zero interest in it despite the fact that hundreds of people are being killed every day of the week.

During his campaign, the current US President criticised previous Presidents for going to war in the Middle East because the US would never win a war there. He started a war in the Middle East. Every time a statement is made, the stock market jumps up or down. Trades are being made on futures or the rising stock market. Billions of dollars are being made and circumstantial evidence suggests that people close to the President of the United States are making massive amounts of money. Where are the regulators, the people who look after the little people of this world? Are we now playing with the lives of thousands of people?

The war in Iran does not just affect Iran and the United States; it is causing a massive recession throughout the world. This war will take ten years to get over, but Mr.Trump is not yet finished. He obviously has not made enough out of it at this stage. It behoves all of us in political office to call out this corruption because that is what it is. I am not sure whether Trump is making money out of this, but there are certainly people who are. The circumstantial evidence is there for everybody to see. They need to stop, look and see what is going on. It is absolutely criminal. Innocent people are dying.

I visited Tehran in 2017 with a delegation from the State. The ordinary people of Iran are no different to you and I. They drink coffee, play with their kids, shop and do all of the things normal people do. The mullahs, on the other hand, need to be taken out. By God, Trump's method of taking them out will not work. You cannot change a regime from 35,000 ft. Threats of putting boots on the ground will do great for the arms industry and anybody who has a few bob on the stock exchange, but we need to call it out as politicians. This country should take a very strong stand against Netanyahu, Trump and the mullahs.

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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I agree with Senator Craughwell's observations.

This week, former Secretary General of the Department of Health, Robert Watt, was appointed to lead the Dublin City Regeneration Authority. The authority was established as a result of the findings of the Dublin city task force, which put forward ten key steps to revive the city centre of Dublin. The report made clear the extent of the neglect of our capital city by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and made recommendations that are glaringly obvious for people living in the inner city who are confronted by dereliction and crime every single day. I hope Robert Watt's appointment is a positive move and will lead to the authority finally delivering for the people of Dublin. Results are desperately needed in the inner city, which has struggled with chronic underinvestment for decades.

That said, the task force report was first published 18 months ago and so far nothing has come of it. There is a very real risk that these recommendations never leave the paper they are printed on. Big announcements are this Government's speciality but, unfortunately, delivery is not. One example is the refusal by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to meet the residents of Pearse House, which is undergoing deep retrofitting. Unfortunately, it is not regeneration but it should be. The Minister will also not meet residents of the Irish Glass Bottle Site Housing Action Group in Ringsend, which is disappointing.

Robert Watt will be on a salary of €280,000, which is astronomical compared to the average wage in the inner city. There is a cruel irony in such a large salary being handed out when the actions of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have made life so unaffordable for ordinary people in the city. The Government has allowed the cost of living to balloon out of control and is failing to deliver affordable housing or childcare. It is also choosing to hike rents significantly for Dublin City Council tenants. The regeneration of Dublin city centre has moved at a snail's pace and key places in our city, like O'Connell Street and College Green, desperately need investment, ambition and delivery for the public.

The south inner city has countless areas in need of regeneration, in particular Pearse Street and the flat complexes from Ringsend to Cuffe Street. These parts of the city urgently need the attention of Dublin City Council and the Government.Dublin cannot afford to let this opportunity to slip by. I ask that the Minister come here to discuss the regeneration of flat complexes in the city and support communities that have been neglected for decades.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome Scoil Uí Riada from Kilcock. You are all very welcome here today. As is customary here in the Seanad, there will be no homework for the rest of the week. I hope you enjoy your visit here today.

Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to commend the Garda on its massive success with Operation Thor. Members may have seen the figures related to it, which were announced yesterday. There was a 14% drop in burglaries throughout winter 2025-26 compared with 2024-25. On average, only two residential burglaries are reported per day across An Garda Síochána's north-western region, which includes ten counties, including my own of Galway. Operation Thor was launched in November 2015 and is designed to tackle the anticipated increase in the number of burglaries and associated criminal activity that usually occur in the winter months by undertaking targeted enforcement. It has been a remarkable success in the 11 years since. Recorded residential burglaries during the winter phase have dropped by 80%. Just over 2,600 residential burglaries were reported in the 2025-26 winter phase, compared with over 12,000 residential burglaries reported in the 2014-15 winter phase.

Like everyone else, I have family and friends who struggle after being the victim of a burglary. It can be very difficult from a mental health perspective for victims. To see an 80% drop in residential burglaries over a decade is something I would not have thought possible. It is a tribute to the outstanding work being done. There have to be lessons we can learn from this that can be applied to other areas. It would be worth getting into the finer detail of how this transformation has come around.

For today, let me conclude by offering my thanks to senior gardaí and those gardaí on the front line for their outstanding work.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise the shocking increase in the levy on local radio stations announced yesterday by Coimisiún na Meán. As we know, local radio stations across the country are the beating heart of every community. They provide updates in times of emergency and keep us informed on issues of the day such as local democracy, justice, sports or community involvement. This levy is a devastating blow for local radio stations. Coimisiún na Meán is there to regulate radio stations and puts enough pressure on these independently-owned broadcasters as it is. However, to then follow it up with a 39% levy to further resource its regulation seems totally counterproductive. It is causing huge distress and frustration for local radio stations, many of which have contacted me, including Midwest Radio in my own area. I know others across the country are equally affected. Coimisiún na Meán needs to reverse this decision. I totally reject it. I have been in touch with the Minister on it. They are independent of it but it falls under the remit of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. There needs to be a total reversal of this and a way around it. We must support our local radio stations. They have gone through so many different challenges over the years, with constant innovation and, most recently, social media and other different challenges and headwinds the sector has faced. They are a valuable asset for local communities and to be penalised with a 39% increase and for that money then to be used to regulate these local radio stations further is totally counterproductive. It needs to be rejected by the House and needs to be reversed. I call on Coimisiún na Meán to reverse it. I call on the Minister to make a statement on it. We need to support our local radio stations. If we compare it with TV, those stations are levied at 1.21% of turnover compared with radio at 2.8%. It is totally unfair that broadcasters in local, independently-owned radio stations are being unfairly burdened with this levy. It needs to be rejected and I call for support across the House on it.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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Last night's "RTÉ Investigates" programme was horrific and very disturbing. It showed a system for children in care that is not working. Not only is it under pressure but it is definitely failing the children it serves. We heard the story of Max and some other kids. Max is from our own area. He was living in a car park under the Tusla offices, two miles down the road from me. My reaction was that this is indefensible and should not be allowed. We also heard other stories about young children who were being neglected or sexually abused in care and given fast food as their main diet, instead of proper food. In this House we have a case to answer. It hit home for me. I came from a dysfunctional household. I remember as a 13-year-old going in to the Eastern Health Board, as it was then, to try to look for help and there was a closed door. However, 40 years later there should not be a closed door for these individuals.

Many years ago, I spoke about the private care system, that is, special emergency arrangements, SEAs. These are privately-funded care homes for children and they are not working. They are profit centred and it is all about money. I know many well-meaning people who have worked in them but they are not qualified to look after these children. It is more like security than care.

I approached Tusla five or six years ago about setting up a facility in Kildare. I was told that there was no demand for such a facility. We went ahead anyway and set up Jigginstown Manor, of which the Deputy Leader was supportive. We did it with Kildare County Council and Homeless Care. This has transformed the lives of many people who were experiencing youth homelessness in County Kildare. Many had come from the care system. I commend Kildare County Council on making a difference here. After last night, I want to say that there is a case to answer regarding children in our care. As we are the ones making the legislation, we need to look at this.

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Fianna Fail)
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I want to talk about the SEAI warmer homes scheme, which I think we all agree is a very good one. Unfortunately, in many cases it is taking over two years from start to finish with this application, which is too long. As many people who could benefit from this scheme are vulnerable people, two years is obviously a very long time to be waiting. Over the past few months I have been contacted by many councillors who have helped people with these applications. They are concerned that the applications are taking so long to process. I suggest that we ask the Minister to come here to discuss the scheme. We need to ask him to engage with the SEAI to speed up the process. Shortening the process by even three or four months would make a big difference.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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Surprisingly, I was going to raise the same issue as Senator Murphy O'Mahony. Yesterday there was an announcement of a 96% increase of households applying for home energy upgrades compared with the first three months of 2025. That is 29,000 applicants for home energy upgrades. This is on the back of a €640 million investment in budget 2026, €558 million of which is coming from the carbon tax. We have a target of 73,000 houses to be upgraded this year and we are well on our way to hitting that target. There is a clear and obvious upward trend and demand for this.

At the same time, as was pointed out, we all know the delays with the warmer homes scheme and a study has just been published by the south east regional skills forum. This identified that plastering apprenticeships are facing a severe shortage now. Currently, there are 25 plastering apprentices training in the country. About 12 graduates per year are being produced. We are talking about externally wrapping houses, either in the warmer homes scheme or with the energy upgrades, but how will we ever meet the demand if we are not producing the skilled craftspeople?This is something I have regularly raised in this House and called for. The reason for delays in the warmer homes scheme is there is not the manpower on the ground to do the work. The money is there for all these houses and for the local authorities to draw down.

In the recent public consultation committee in this House, I called for Ireland's apprenticeships to address regional skills gaps and future workforce needs. We need to ramp that up and press it forward and that is something we can do within this House. Plastering is just one area but the skills gap is there for many other apprenticeship needs at the moment. We are creating and funding policy that is creating this demand. We need to look at that and ensure the apprenticeships are there to deliver on it.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I am looking for a review of a mechanism local authorities are using more and more to deliver projects, including some commercial projects. That is designated activity companies, DACs. In my view, DACs are a way for local authorities to keep certain projects at arm's length so as to reduce risk. That is fine but many DACs have loans guaranteed by the local authority and they are in commercial arrangements. Many of them are not effective and are losing money. I wonder if it is an appropriate mechanism for local authorities to obfuscate, in some respects; distance themselves, in other respects; eliminate their own risk; and maybe create risk for others.

The other problem I have with them is the potential in terms of worker's rights - workers who are not working for the local authority but are working for the local authority, because ultimately the local authority is their boss. Some of these DACs work very well but some do not. I will not name any this morning but perhaps I will in due course. Why are we making things so complicated when it comes to local government in this country?

I do not think it is right that local authorities can come up with a creative structure to channel money that is not even under the auspices of the Comptroller and Auditor General. If these DACs were audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, given they are in many cases more or less commercial operations, I would have more confidence because some of them could be brought into the public accounts committee. Because local authorities are audited by the local authority auditor, however, these DACs are by extension audited by the local authority auditor. A full review of them is needed and stress testing of their effectiveness and of the exposure for workers and the taxpayer.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the ten Senators who contributed to the Order of Business.

Senator Rabbitte started with some observations and a request in relation to children in care. She referred to a report from the Irish Association of Social Workers about the system being reliant on ad hoc placements. I have been thinking about it a lot over the past 24 hours since a lot of these reports came out. We have so many good people working in Tusla. I find now when I meet somebody working with Tusla they are shy and reticent about saying they do so because, unfortunately, Tusla has such negative connotations. People think automatically that things are going wrong all of the time. They are not. Obviously, there are many challenges, which I will go into, but I think of all those people working with Tusla and doing an excellent job of supporting children and families who need it. Many children and families are in very vulnerable situations and, as the Senator said, are coming from trauma and trying to fix that trauma, which is very difficult.

At the end of last year, there were 5,879 children and young people in foster care and residential care and 2,985 receiving aftercare support. About 85% of those in care are with foster parents and we always need foster parents and prospective foster parents to step up and provide a home. The vast majority of these do an excellent job in loco parentis. I have often heard psychologists and psychiatrists say there is never a substitute for a family and we should do more to support families in crisis to stay together as a family that can give support.

Senator Rabbitte met Shane Griffin with me a number of times - a young man in care who felt he did not receive the supports he needed. He was in 13 different foster homes. He said his younger brother, who I had the pleasure of meeting too, had a very positive experience and it had worked for him and his younger sister. Shane left at about 14 to care for his mother. He wanted to be with his mother and felt if his mother had been given the supports she needed, he and possibly his brother and sister would have been able to stay at home and that would have been better, certainly for him. No two families are the same when they are vulnerable or in crisis.

There are some young people I have been trying to support, as I know many here have been, both while they are in care and outside the care system. I organised an audiovisual presentation with EPIC quite a few years ago about that vulnerable pinch point when young people are 18 and have to leave the foster home. Speaking to foster parents, they want to give them extra supports for at least another two years. Eighteen is a very sensitive age. Young people are on the cusp of adulthood and of going on to work, education or taking a trade. To have a situation where the State will pay for an apartment or other accommodation but not support them with that supportive element is a huge problem.

We need to have the debate the Senator asked for about supporting vulnerable children, those who cannot be with their families. Part of the conversation is how we help the family to keep the children. That is an important part of the work being done. The Senator is right to say children's voices need to be heard. Rather than just those brave young people speaking out after they leave the care system, we need to ensure those in the care system can speak of their experience.

There is an over-reliance on ad hoc arrangements. We could talk about this forever but we need a better system in place, while acknowledging the good people giving their very best and the people working in the system who are broken by trying to give so much and not necessarily getting the supports they need either. We will certainly look for that debate.

Senator Nelson Murray spoke about concerns in Enfield about the school warden who is retiring and is not going to be replaced. School wardens play an important role in the lives of young people. They look forward to seeing them on those two occasions every day. I have seen it myself.Ultimately, it is within the remit of the local authorities. They are the ones that finance it. It would be disappointing - and it is not clear from the answer sent the Senator - that it is for financial reasons that the position will no longer be there current warden retires. Certainly, we hope it would be looked at by the local authority. Everybody is vulnerable when crossing a road. It does not matter how many lights are there.

Having been in a situation where I was on crutches for a year following an accident, I am so nervous crossing the road, even at lights. Small youngsters are more vulnerable. They see their friends on the other side of the road and may be inclined to run across. Maybe their parent has said goodbye to them and then they realise halfway across the road that they forgot to bring their lunchbox and go back. Where possible, we need to have school wardens. Not only do they provide a great service, they also love their work. It is a really important role, so we certainly hope that Meath County Council will revisit its decision. We will look for a debate on safe routes to school. We can discuss the wardens and the policy, but, again, it is the councils that make the decisions.

I thank Senator Craughwell for raising the very sad situation where a second French peacekeeper has died in Lebanon. I offer our very deepest sympathies. I know I speak for everybody in the House when I say that we are beyond sad about the two French peacekeepers who have lost their lives. We are pleased, obviously, that our Irish UN peacekeepers are all safe. Thank God. Many of us, particularly those who live in Kildare, know many who have served in Lebanon over the years. I know some who are out there now. It is a very valuable experience for them. The bond they have developed with the Lebanese people is very special. People who have returned have supported the Lebanese in different ways. It is a very sad situation. We hope it will be resolved soon.

The Senator also spoke about the need for regulation and concerns about what happens with the stock market when something that clearly does not reflect any sort of decision is said in a very ad hocway that gets a response. We have to be very concerned about the possibility that stock markets are being manipulated by off-the-wall statements that are clearly being made in other jurisdictions as opposed to here. To be honest, I am not sure where this needs to go, but I will speak to the Minister for foreign affairs and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs to see if this is something they can raise in a global context. It needs to be monitored at that level.

Senator Andrews spoke about the appointment of Mr. Robert Watt to the regeneration task force. It is great that we have somebody who has clearly delivered previously being appointed to that really important task force. The Senator, who is not here for the response, spoke about failures of the Government in relation to it. He was previously both a councillor and a TD for a Government party, so it is very clear that he felt differently at that time than he does now. He brought up the same issue last week in respect of the Irish Glass Bottle site and Pearse House. I will give him the same the response that I gave him last week. The Minister for housing cannot meet every group that wishes to meet him. He has an incredibly demanding schedule when it comes to trying to put in place schemes that will support people who are in need of housing, and not just social and affordable housing. We need to make sure that the development of private housing is happening apace too, but I have no doubt that the Minister is right across this. I suggested to the Senator that he table a Commencement matter in relation to both issues.

The Senator stated that there is not enough State investment going into Dublin. I mentioned during the Order of Business on Tuesday that in an analysis carried out in respect of investment, it was discovered that €1,716 per person is being invested in Dublin. In my county, the amount is €720. Clearly, money is being invested. Having said that, we all want to see the regeneration of Dublin and our city centre. Our capital city is very important to us, and we want to see it working well.

Senator Ollie Crowe spoke about Operation Thor. He was right to thank our gardaí on the beat and those at middle and senior management level. We depend on them a lot. They deserve our gratitude. It is a job worth doing, and we need to encourage people to apply to join the Garda now that the age limit has been raised. The Senator mentioned the significant drop in the number of burglaries. Residential burglaries are down 80%. That is incredible. Having recently experienced a burglary, I can say that the gardaí involved were really efficient and very good to deal with. The Senator is right to highlight that it is very difficult for the victims of burglaries. It is a trauma in itself, and, to be fair, gardaí, in my experience, are understanding and supportive in that regard.

Senator Mark Duffy spoke about the increase in the levy on local radio stations of 39% which was announced yesterday. I missed the announcement, but he is right. Local radio stations give us an incredible service. I often hear our colleagues in Dublin talking about the fact that they feel they do not get the same service. It is always an opportunity to highlight different issues or a campaign to highlight the positive things going on in the community. If my local radio station, Kfm, were to close, it would be at a huge loss to the area. I say that not just from the point of view of being a public representatives but also in the context of the fact that people can hear about concerns and issues and be provided with valuable information. I am thinking particularly of older people who are living in isolated areas and may not be using smartphones to get information. They get their vital information from their local radio stations, which provide an incredible service. Their standard of broadcasting is absolutely excellent.

We certainly support the Senator in the context of what he spoke about and what he requested. We need a reversal on this. We will ask the Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, to come before the House. I accept that Coimisiún na Meán is separate, but the Minister certainly has a vital role to play. We have been looking for him to come to the Seanad for some time. He has not taken up the invitation. I would appreciate it if the Senator would speak to him about the matter and inform him that we will be sending him an invitation later today to come here for a debate on the importance of local radio importance and on the need to ensure that the decision regarding the levy is reversed. What has happened is simply not good enough.

Senator McCarthy spoke about last night's documentary. I was at a meeting. I am really sorry, but I did not get to see it. I will get to see it over the next few nights. From everything I have heard - I listened to "Morning Ireland", and Max, who was mentioned and who is from my area, spoke on it - it is absolutely harrowing. We need to do so much better to support these. The project Senator McCarthy referred to in Jigginstown Manor is a really good one. I was very happy to work with Kildare County Council and Senator McCarthy in relation to it. Naas Men's Shed was very involved also, and I would like to give it a shout out. There are very good models in place. These are not just economic models; they are social care models. We need people who are passionate and who are be able to give of their time and energy.

Senator Murphy O'Mahony spoke about the SEAI scheme, which is an excellent scheme. I heard the statistic to which Senator Scahill referred yesterday, namely, that the level of uptake was 96%. It is a brilliant scheme, and it is wonderful that so many people want to take it. Senator Murphy O'Mahony is right. The delay that is there is very lengthy. We have asked in the past that people would be prioritised for health and care needs and that their cases would be progressed. The Minister committed to that, and I think that is good.It is an excellent scheme and ties in with what Senator Scahill said about the apprenticeship scheme. I always remember the then Minister, Catherine Martin, speaking about this at the education committee. She spoke about how we need to try to develop the green apprenticeships that will help us with energy. Senator Scahill talked about the fact there are only 12 plastering apprenticeships coming through a year. That is a crisis. We have the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, coming into the Seanad in the next few weeks. He has committed to that. We will ensure he addresses that. To be fair, he is doing an excellent job with higher and further education. Apprenticeships come under that. The Minister of State, Deputy Marian Harkin, will deal with the apprenticeship issue as well but it is at a crisis stage when we only have 12 apprentices coming through.

We just need to make sure that young people are so well aware of their options and there is that parity of esteem between college and apprenticeships. Earn as you learn is a fantastic scheme but there is a job of work that career guidance teachers and schools need to do so that parents will encourage their children. Unfortunately, in many instances, while ambition is absolutely important, people are sometimes not suited for university but they can have such a wonderful career. They can go on to university through their apprenticeship schemes as well. We need to address the regional skills gap.

Senator Conway spoke about a review needed for the DAC scheme. He is absolutely right. To be honest, I am not overly familiar with the scheme but the fact that the Comptroller and Auditor General does not have the potential to look at how money is spent there means it seems to be a vehicle that is being used - I am not saying to avoid scrutiny or transparency because that would be wrong - and the same accountability is not there. The Senator is right in saying that in some places it works very well and in some it does not. We will request a debate about that because if it is there, there should be very clear criteria, regulation and accountability for it.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge those from Duiske College from Graiguenamanagh, who were guests of Deputy Peter "Chap" Cleere. They were in the Gallery with other guests. I hope they enjoyed their visit here today.