My question in relation to Question No. 54 is to do with the process that the NTA engages in response to overcrowding on service provision which is an ongoing issue. They are not responsive enough. I have seen this in my constituency. I have seen this on DCU-bound services from the north east, which would, of course, include counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Meath and even Westmeath, where services are full when they reach the outskirts of Dublin or even at source and the NTA does not seem to be able to respond quic…

He answered the question. The Deputy was not listening.

Deputy Gannon could have raised this issue during Leaders' Questions. He had a slot with the Taoiseach and he did not ask him to answer those questions.

Deputy Gannon knows the Taoiseach is not going to be here to answer those questions.

Deputy Gannon could have asked him about this issue during Leaders' Questions.

This is pointless grandstanding.

It has nothing to do with the issue; it has to do with the Deputy's timing. The Deputy had loads of time to deal with it.

The Deputy is just grandstanding now.

Timing is everything. I would like to ask a question about the Minister's vision for budget 2025 and the further investments he proposes to reduce the cost of childcare for parents up and down the country but also in addition to the question that has been legitimately asked, and that is about public childcare funding. I am delighted to hear the Labour Party reiterate its position on that. It is one the Minister has reiterated and one I have stated over many years, including as a former Chair of the committee on chi…

I am delighted to see the level of funding being allocated by the Department. I commend the Minister, his officials and the Government on the level of attention paid to this crucial area. The national childcare scheme has been a game changer for hundreds of thousands of people, which is tremendous, but there are some constraints, particularly in large urban settings where childcare places are difficult to come by. There is also the cost. I know the Minister spends much time, as I do in a neighbouring constituency, …

The Minister's colleague in Dublin West, Senator Currie, has brought this up and brought it to the Minister's attention before. I am delighted to hear the Minister has been so proactive as to get together with local authorities across the State. It is crucial. On the publicly funded model of early years education, I wonder whether the capital scheme would involve the Department constructing such facilities on contract and then leasing them to providers, thereby reducing the cost base for providers and ensuring cost…

I welcome the question and the answer. I particularly welcome the reference to the recreational use of cocaine, which is an absolute scourge on our society. It is right across this country. It is not confined to any particular community; it is everywhere. One of the big issues I have is bringing awareness to those recreational users that they are directly funding organised drug groups, those who target our children in particular and who prey on the vulnerable, addicts and people like that. I would very much welcome…

I welcome the discussion and I very much welcome the investment in people and places. It is very important that we diversify the option for the purposes of ensuring in the first instance that we can keep people out of tents in the city centre. That is an objective I think we all share in this House. I make the point to Deputy O'Callaghan that one does not necessarily need to be the local TD to make that observation. I certainly agree that in the protection of those individuals and the processing of those applicatio…

I wish to ask a question regarding the pilot scheme for body-worn cameras for members of An Garda Síochána who are policing our streets. As has been said many times, they are the only group of individuals at events, protests, etc., in the city centre and other places who are not filming. I ask the Minister to update the House, please.

That is very positive to hear. I am sure my colleagues and I, particularly those of us on the justice committee, will be very pleased to hear that this investment has been so effective, even during the relatively short period in which these trials have been taking place. There is no doubt about the arsenal of options that members of An Garda Síochána should and do have as a result of the unprecedented levels of investment, which the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, outlined in a prior reply to my colleague from Co…

I do not really have anything to add other than that I very much welcome the opportunity to assist the Minister and An Garda Síochána in ensuring this matter receives the right attention and that this trial scheme that has been established is a success. The Minister might clarify in her final reply as to whether there have been any instances of failures across the three divisions with the technology that is presently being used or whether that kind of granular detail is available at this point. Could she outline ho…

I contacted the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, about this matter this morning and I regret he was not able to attend the Dáil this afternoon. I want to raise the very important issue of the recent timetable changes across the Irish Rail network that have resulted in the introduction of an appallingly unpredictable service in what had been heretofore a relatively good and reliable service for commuters, students and others right up and down the country. On behalf in particular of the people using Balbriggan, S…

I welcome the opportunity to speak today on this important issue. However, its ongoing presence in the news is not particularly welcome. I commend the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and her departmental officials who have made significant efforts and progress in the lifetime of this Government to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Work achieved thus far includes Cuan, the new DSGBV strategy and the increase in the maximum sentence for those convicted of assault causing harm, from five to ten years, meani…

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. I have discussed this matter with the Taoiseach and other members of the Government in the recent past. I am always pleased to hear he is cognisant that listening to children is extremely important but figuring out how to turn that into policy is just as important and, therefore, it is encouraging to hear that, and what the Government does in the forthcoming budget will be crucial to improving childhood poverty rates. One area I will focus on is the school meals programme, wh…

I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this debate. Immigration is one of the most pressing issues facing the international community. We can see this across European member states, the UK and within our own country. Therefore, I welcome the Government's decision to opt into the EU migration and asylum pact. It is not only a necessary agreement, but one that will lead to a stronger, more robust and more responsive immigration system at home and abroad. To that end, I pay tribute to the Department of Justice…