I know the Taoiseach will be familiar with the huge work that is being done on reducing the waiting times for driver tests. However, I need to draw his attention to the clumsy way AXA Insurance and the Road Safety Authority have combined to cause learner drivers to fail their test, resulting in them having to wait an extra 15-20 weeks. AXA has issued black insurance discs, not the green ones we are familiar with, and the RSA fails people presenting for a test with a black insurance disc, puts them back on the waiti…

There are employers who struggle to get skilled workers in a range of different sectors. They look across the world to find people but when they are recruiting, they struggle both with getting a permit and then possibly a visa to enter the country. What is the up-to-date position on getting the single visa application process up and running?

In areas such as healthcare, farming, timber and other sectors, employers have struggled to get skilled staff. When they look abroad, it can be a slow and difficult process, between finding the person, his or her employment permit and the visa to enter. Each one after another can be a challenge. Employers could end up finding the person but not a visa to enter the country. The Minister of State outlined the plan to move ahead with the single permit. Will he outline what milestones he sees along the way? What are th…

I have two different questions on that. On phasing, the Minister of State said a 2027 completion date was being aimed for. Will a switch be flicked in 2027 and everybody will apply? Is it being phased in sector by sector from then or just before it? As regards collaboration between his Department and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, some of the sectors will be more difficult. For example, there are a small number of larger employers in healthcare, whereas in farming or timber, there are a lot o…

Pharmacists have shown time and again their great capacity to expand services and provide more and more services to communities locally, for example, vaccinations, repeat prescriptions and in so many other different ways. Will the Minister outline the next steps in expanding the role of pharmacies in community care?

I thank the Minister. She has kind of pre-empted my next question on GPs.

They are under pressure in the complexity and range and the load of the increasing population. GPs in many places are under pressure, especially in rural communities, and medical experts are available beside them with a willingness to expand out and give support. On the common conditions, it is good to hear that the Minister is aiming to get that done in the months ahead before the end of the year. There is a limited number of conditions the Minister is focusing in on. What is the plan for expanding that out? Have …

Pharmacists have been raising with me the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Act 2023 and the dispensing of medication for animals. The implementation of the statutory instrument on that is due shortly. They feel very much that this restricts the capacity to make available veterinary medical products, between the cost of getting a prescription and integration with the computer system and in so many different ways. Can we ensure there would be greater integration in, availabilit…

There is a need to upgrade the surface of the N22 between Macroom and Ballincollig. TII did not approve funding to the council for the upgrade earlier this year. What options are now available to the council to improve this surface and make the road safer?

Some 32,000 vehicles travel on this section of road every day. There is a big flow of traffic coming from west Cork. It is a key artery into the city for many people. Road surface is a major aspect of road safety. Traffic travelling at 100 km/h hitting large holes is just dangerous. Drivers trying to avoid these holes by swerving around them present a danger too. Did the council make a specific application for funding for this work this year? Across the country, projects come under pressure during the year. There m…

The Minister's intervention is hugely appreciated. This is a vital section of road. The Minister mentioned safety works being approved in Castlemore and Kilcondy. Those junctions are vital, as are so many others along the road, but at those junctions in particular, we have, unfortunately, seen many major accidents and tragic loss of life. The council is moving ahead with those works. This year's allocation will not be enough to build any of it but it will move the project towards construction. Can those much-needed…

Parents in different parts of mid-Cork have raised with me the difficulty they have in getting available after-school childcare. They are possibly travelling long distances or waiting a long time to get a place, if they are lucky enough to do so. Could the Minister outline what steps are being taken to make available additional places across mid-Cork?

Last August in Cloghduff, the only provider in that area withdrew from the core funding and left local parents in a very difficult position. This is an area that has seen considerable building of houses in recent years with more homes currently under construction and strong demand for childcare nearby. Another mum was in contact with me who said she had signed up with nine different facilities, chasing after school services around Ballincollig, Cross Barry and the Farran area. She was told it would be 2026 before s…

Tá dúshlán breise ag pobal na Gaeltachta toisc go dteastaíonn uainn ár dteanga a thabhairt slán don chéad ghlúin eile. Is baolach gurb amhlaidh go bhfuil níos lú roghanna againn dá bharr sin. Ní féidir taisteal chomh fada agus níl an rogha céanna ann. Tá muintir Ré na nDoirí ag lorg ionad cúram leanaí a chur ar fáil chun freastal ar dhaoine tar éis scoile. Tá muintir Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh tar éis a bheith ag streachailt le heaspa foirgnimh ar feadh i bhfad, Tá gá le hionad cúram leanaí i mBaile Bhuirne chomh ma…

Residents in areas where anaerobic digesters have been proposed have been raising concerns about the suitability of the infrastructure in the area. They have been pointing out, for example, the absence of planning guidelines. When will the biomethane implementation group publish its charter and set out guidelines to clarify the situation for community groups, local authorities and promoters of such projects?

The implementation group was established last year and tasked with drawing up the guidelines and the charter. We know that the various stakeholder groups are going to find a way to have an input into that charter. Where do community groups stand? What level of engagement has there been with various different community groups? What opportunity have they had to have their voices heard at the table? To what extent has there been engagement with local communities, particularly in areas where these plants are already be…

Residents in the areas where anaerobic digestion plants are proposed have raised concerns about the digestate, for example, and whether it would be grass based or municipal waste. Would the charter and guidelines set out and specify that? How would we monitor that? Would the charter have teeth in order to be able to back that up and enforce it? Will the guidelines set out land usage policy, whether areas around a facility would remain in farming or steered towards grass production for the anaerobic digesters? In th…

Veoza offers an alternative to HRT for women at menopause. It is a game-changer for so many, especially those for whom HRT is contraindicated. These are typically cancer survivors for whom hormone therapies are just not an option. Veoza was introduced into Ireland early last year and costs approximately €80 per month for the women using it. The pharmacoeconomic assessment has been ongoing since last spring. The Minister of State will be aware that Ireland has one of the slower processes across Europe for approving …

While the assessment is ongoing, this is costing €80 each month for women who do not an alternative option available to them. It has been a constructive move to get free HRT available to people. However, it is almost like it is dangling out there and there is a cohort of women who are not able to avail of it and damn it they have already had a hell of a challenge seeing off their cancer. It does not make sense to have a game-changer drug available and just not made available. We have what appears to be one of slowe…

The next Topical Issue listed for debate is in the name of Deputy Kelly and it is to discuss the need for greater investment to resource An Garda Síochána with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.