The silence of those living with motor neurone disease is now speaking volumes. The voice of their struggle is becoming all the louder and significantly raising awareness of the issue that they face daily. As people prepare to gather at Mayo's Croagh Patrick and countless other hills and mountains around the country to climb with Charlie Bird, it is important to highlight the need to increase funding and support for those living with motor neurone disease. University Hospital Galway is the western regional centre f…

-----resources and services for people suffering with motor neurone disease.

I thank the Minister for being in the Chamber and facilitating this debate. The recently announced national retrofitting scheme is, thankfully, at a level of significance to make a real impact in modernising Ireland's housing stock. It is an incredible investment with the potential to bring the energy rating of thousands of older homes up to a much more pertinent BER of B2, leading to significant energy cost savings. For instance, the new national home energy upgrade scheme and the 2030 target encompass 30% of the …

I call Deputy Berry.

Okay. I call Deputy Michael Healy-Rae.

Questions are not permitted.

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time tomorrow evening.

The Select Committee on Justice has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2022: Votes 20, 21, 22, 24, 41 and 44. The Select Committee on Environment and Climate Action has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2021: Vote 29.

This question will be taken by Deputy Niamh Smyth on behalf of Deputy Cathal Crowe.

The regional enterprise plans are soon to be published. We need to align courses, apprenticeships and training provision to meet local needs and future skills needs. The establishment of the Atlantic Technological University in my own region will certainly strengthen further investment in job creation. We can build better capacity within our life science sector, look to be more innovative with regard to green technology and expand growth within our tourism and business sectors. We need a cohesive approach across De…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber and for facilitating this question and answer session. I wish to raise two items, one in regard to the deployment areas and the second in regard to delivery of service. There is a situation just outside Castlebar where some premises are in a precarious position, with some townlands ready to go live, whereas, just across the road, there are house owners who have been informed it will be 2025 or 2026 before they get connected. My understanding is that the roll-o…

Much more information must be made available on the Covid recognition payment. At present there is a serious information vacuum, leading to enormous confusion about eligibility. A range of staff in Mayo and around the country remain uncertain. I refer to providers in section 39 disability services such as Western Care Association and administration staff working closely with patients in acute mental health units as well as contract cleaners and caterers in hospitals such as Mayo University Hospital and nurses worki…

Regarding the protocol of the House, we should avoid displaying images in the Chamber.

Deputy Connolly is sharing with Deputy Harkin.

We will now proceed to questions and answers for a period not exceeding 20 minutes. I ask Members to be concise in their questions given the short period of time for both questions and answers. I call Deputy Brady.

Sorry, Deputy-----

The Deputy should restrain from contributing. If any other Member has a related topic to the question being asked, he or she should raise a hand and I will try to include the Member on the same topic. I call Deputy Boyd Barrett.

We are having statements on the European Council meeting on 18 December 2021 so let us stick to the subject title. I call Deputy Boyd Barrett.

That concludes the time allocated for questions. The Minister of State will now make his final contribution to the debate.

I thank the Minister of State. That concludes statements.