It is right and proper that there would be proper checks and verification and a thorough examination of all of the different applications. The experience that I am hearing from my constituents is that it takes approximately 18 months or more. I understand that there is a target of 12 months. Even that target seems lengthy, and it is difficult for families. Is it the case that it is slow because there are not enough people to deal with the backlog? Is there a need for additional staffing to clear a short-term backlo…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Sorca Clarke - To discuss access to neurology services in the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar. Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss delays in reimbursement under the cross-border healthcare directive. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan - To discuss the need to advance bus services for people living west of Cork city. Deputy Joe Neville - To discuss the natio…

I need to raise with the Minister of State the need to improve bus services on the western side of County Cork, from Cork city, up the Lee valley towards Ballyvourney, the upper Blackwater valley over as far as Millstreet and along the Bandon Valley too. Students need to be able to get to college on time. People need to be able to get to work on time and to use public transport to do that, and to be able to get back home again in a timely way as well. These are growing communities west of Cork city. Large numbers o…

I thank the Minister of State for outlining the various works under way. I readily acknowledge that there is headway being made in different places. In this regard I have referred to bus shelters, including for the No. 40 route. Time and again, I have raised here the need to advance the 233 bus service. It is a vital service that goes up and down the Lee valley, serving the area from Macroom to Cork. However, it does not serve those settlements alone as it also services a huge number of people in growing communitie…

Seanad Éireann has passed the Health (Amendment)(Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 without amendment.

Leanfaimid ar aghaidh leis an gcéad ábhar eile, an tairiscint maidir le freagracht an Stáit maidir le coinneáil priacail i leith bunsraithe i dtithe le coincréid lochtach.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss industrial development and employment opportunities in the mid-west region. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss provision of a permanent two-classroom SEN facility and PE hall for Balscadden National School. Deputies Sorca Clarke and Martin Kenny - To discuss the Peterhead Ten. Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the status of the …

I thank the Deputy. He will have a further two minutes.

Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit nua. Go n-éirí an t-ádh lei ina phost nua. I offer the Minister of State many congratulations on her new role. I call on her to move the Government’s amendment.

AI is not simply about technological change. It is about whether Ireland continues to offer a fair and functioning pathway from education to employment or whether AI will risk closing the door on the next generation before it even gets a chance to start. Will the Minister outline what his Department's latest assessments show about AI impacts on employment, in particular on graduate and entry-level jobs?

The data suggests it is not a collapse in opportunities, but more a fundamental restructuring of how graduates enter the workforce. Research indicates that almost half of employers are reducing their entry-level roles, directly linked to AI adoption, and 83% of recruiters say that hiring is now more selective and strategic. While almost 40% of employers increased recruitment earlier this year, that growth was concentrated in specialist roles. Even in sectors like IT and telecommunications, where 56% of employers ar…

Ireland has strong growth in AI and high demand for skills but those entry-level roles are reducing and graduates are going to struggle to gain the experience required in that growth and to be ready to take part in that growth. A whole cohort of new graduates finished their exams a few weeks ago and are waiting on results and preparing to enter the labour market. Ireland's economy, as the Minister says, is especially exposed to AI with about 63% of employment estimated to be affected to some degree or another. That…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the loss of staff at Bunscoil Chríost Rí for 2026-27 school year. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss provision of a permanent two-classroom SEN facility and PE hall for Balscadden National School. Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss industrial development and employment opportunities for the Shannon region. Deputy Marti…

The Minister of State will respond.

We now have Deputies Paul Murphy, Ciarán Ahern and Seán Crowe to the Minister for Education and Youth to discuss the exclusion of St. Dominic's National School, Tallaght, from the DEIS plus programme. There are three names on it. If only two Deputies are speaking, we will split it half-and-half with two minutes each.

Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta.

The Minister of State-----

Deputy, you will have an opportunity again in a moment.

Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. Tá an t-am caite.

Seanad Éireann has passed the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 without amendment.