What are the Minister of State's plans to increase the number of places on the CE scheme? Will he make a statement on the matter?

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I recognise the full value of the CE schemes, especially for participants in rural communities. They provide vital social and community services that otherwise could not be afforded by many organisations. These include childcare, including early childhood care, environmental and resource work, bus driving, caretaking and other work of this kind. They are very much part of the local voluntary and sports organisations. Participants do fantastic work within their communi…

We understand that the CE scheme is used as a stepping stone back to employment and that positions are neither full time nor sustainable over a long period of time. I am aware that the former Minister, now Senator Doherty, agreed to an interdepartmental group, IDG, to explore social inclusion schemes. The current Minister previously mentioned that she recently chaired a group meeting. Can she provide an update on where that IDG report is at and when it will be published?

It is not only Members but also businesses who are eagerly awaiting news of where we will emerge on the living with Covid-19 roadmap during the essential Christmas and new year period. Many commercial sectors are depending on having a good Christmas, especially retail and hospitality. It is a vital time of year and preparation must begin now if these sectors are to make a success of it. The coming weeks are a time to cherish and one that allows families to spend time together. It is also an important time for relig…

I thank the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, for facilitating this debate on rural and community development. Revitalising our communities will be more important than ever in the months ahead, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to raise some important issues in this regard. First, I welcome the appointment of the new board to the Western Development Commission last week. The commission does excellent work in economic and social development in the western region. I w…

Will the Minister set out what level of LEADER funding will be allocated for the project in 2021? What funding will be provided for the delivery and administration of the LEADER programme? When will the interim national rural development plan for 2021-23 be published?

I thank the Minister for her detailed response. I wish to acknowledge the excellent work she has done in her Ministry to date. She has built on the progress made since the establishment of the Department of Rural and Community Development in 2017 by the former Minister, Deputy Michael Ring. I thank the Minister for her comments on her work alongside the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, and the confirmation that the Northern and Western Regional Assembly will continue to be used as…

I have one final question on the consultation process and the steps that the Minister will undertake with the various stakeholders. Will the Minister elaborate on that as we move into this transitional LEADER programme?

I thank the Tánaiste for facilitating the debate and for his hard work over the past number of months, along with the Ministers of State, Deputies English and Troy, as we enter the final months of the transition period. I was impressed with the level of detail in the content of the Brexit readiness action plan published last month. It was clear from the document that the remaining preparations have taken account of the added pressure related to Covid-19 being experienced by business owners. I welcome the clarity th…

I thank the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputies Feighan and Butler, for facilitating today's debate on the Roadmap for Living with Covid-19. This document is a useful guide for business planning and provides hope for future economic recovery. The onus is on us as parliamentarians to display leadership and hope. It is more important than ever that we focus on the language of economic recovery. In times such as this, a rising tide lifts all boats. This document and the Return to Wor…

I thank the Minister for facilitating this debate. It is very encouraging to see that the winter plan has strongly accounted for building capacity and service continuity and ensuring pathways of care during the pandemic era. It is welcome that more than €600 million will be spent as part of the plan, under which the largest spend will be on home support and Home First, totalling in excess of €130 million. Many of us expressed our support for the healthcare workers on the front line, be it those working in our hospi…

I thank the Minister, the Minister of State, and the Department for their continued work in ensuring transport connectivity, especially public transport connectivity, has remained operational during the past few months. Mayo's Inishturk and Clare Island rely on ferry services as there are no alternative options available, so it is important to recognise the efforts of those working in our transport sector to ensure these services keep moving. Having used the ferry services myself recently, I know they form critical…

First, I thank the Tánaiste and Minister with responsibility for enterprise, trade and employment as well as the Ministers of State, Deputies English and Troy, for their work in providing an update on the range of business supports now available. Confidence and certainty are critical sentiments required by local businesses and enterprise operating in the real economy. Thankfully, this week we have moved to a medium-term framework following the publication of the resilience and recovery plan for living with Covid. W…

First, I wish the Minister of State the very best in her new portfolio. I welcome the opportunity to highlight the incredible effort and sacrifice made by our older people in recent months as we navigated the Covid-19 era. I cannot overstate the significant changes Ireland's older people made to their daily lives in order to adhere to public health guidelines and those efforts must be commended. For the countless grandparents the length and breadth of Ireland who missed their grandchildren's birthdays and for those…

On 20 June, the Government set up a task force to report to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Government on the restructuring of the aviation sector. The task force report was sent to Government on 10 July. How is it proposed to deal with the task force's recommendations? Are they to be referred to a special committee or dealt with by the Covid-19 committee? If they are referred to a different committee, which Department will oversee its work? Will there be an opportunity for interested bodies t…

I raise a Topical Issue matter relating to the difficulties facing insurance policyholders with regard to claims arising from business interruption. I can speak of two serious cases that have been brought to my attention by local retailers in recent weeks - and I am sure there are many more nationally - in which claims under business interruption cover were refused despite very clear wording in the policy documents. Our way of life changed earlier this year with the onset of Covid-19 but the Irish public and our en…

I will continue. I thank the Minister for providing an update tonight for the business owners who genuinely feel let down by insurance products that they thought they could rely on. In any case, it remains the case that retailers continue to be distracted by something they feel should be straightforward and takes away from them getting their business operating to the best of their abilities in the new normal. They have adapted to the challenges. However, it is unfortunate that some of the responses I have seen to d…

I also want to extend my best wishes to the Ministers of State, Deputies O'Donovan and Ossian Smyth. I wish them every success in their new roles and portfolios. I look forward to working with them both in the period ahead. One particular project of vital importance in the Mayo constituency is ensuring that the Crossmolina flood relief scheme goes to tender as quickly as possible. As we are discussing the Revised Estimates for the Office of Public Works today, I welcome the funding that has been allocated to the Cr…

I will take this opportunity to wish the Minister every success in his new portfolio, which will be critical in the period ahead. The legislation under debate is one of the public health measures that will make a real difference to countless families. I welcome this Bill, as it benefits both older and younger people by increasing access to free GP care. It removes what can be a significant barrier to people visiting their GPs, namely, cost. I cannot imagine the distress caused to parents who are unsure about bringi…

I also extend my congratulations and best wishes to the Minister and the Ministers of State on their new portfolios. What are the views of the Minister and Ministers of State on Údarás na Gaeltachta? Is it using the same assessment criteria as county LEOs in applications for assistance for small businesses and start-ups?