My question relates to the Minister's and the Department's engagement with local authorities regarding the CCTV scheme that was rolled out recently, following the passage of legislation which enabled local authorities to actually get these schemes up and running. They are a long-required benefit to communities up and down the country to make people safer in their own communities.

I thank the Minister. I alluded to the fact that these schemes are just so important. They provide people with peace of mind that if there is an incident, it can be looked back at. If there is an event, for instance, like the concerts that take place in Malahide Castle every summer, it is important that there is the opportunity for An Garda Síochána to engage with the local authority to make sure that everything is running as it should be. I am glad the Minister mentioned the GDPR element because that has been, fra…

I thank the Minister. I do not have much to add other than it would be helpful for us to have another conversation about this in the autumn regarding the uptake, to make sure the scheme is operating as effectively and efficiently as possible, and perhaps then to determine whether an ongoing fund could be provided to it year on year as part of the annual Vote for the Department of Justice. It would underscore the commitment for us to make sure that we deliver stronger, safer communities in which people feel confiden…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for pointing out that she had some time for me. I thank the Minister for her response. I am encouraged by the number of recruits who applied once the age limit was changed. That is really encouraging. It is something that I had called for, along with the training allowance to take account of that older age group who may have financial commitments and for whom, therefore, quitting work and going to Templemore on a small allowance was not appealing. I am encouraged by that. I am cons…

Yes. I made an entrance.

My question relates to the autism innovation strategy and the Minister of State's view on the results of the strategy, the implementation of it, and her general view on its capacity to be effective.

I genuinely admire the Minister of State's ambition as she has set out. With regard to the public participation, a very good number of autistic individuals engaged with this. I do not have the numbers in front of me but I think it was approximately 40% from what I read earlier this morning. I am encouraged by that but overall numbers were quite low so the Minister of State's call for participation is absolutely timely. I was taken by a couple of the remarks in the published report mentioned by the Minister of State…

I just left an all-party autism committee meeting to ask this question and made a bit of an entrance as I did so. The key question I have on this process is twofold. The first part relates to the sharing of information between various Departments and agencies as to the number of autistic people across the State so that we as a House, a Government, as a Legislature can appropriately apply budgets for the provision of those services across all Departments. We really do need to be able to set that out and I hope it wi…

My next question is about the Minister of State's Department's priorities for 2024 regarding the action plan for disability services 2024.

I thank the Minister of State. That is a very comprehensive response, which I very much appreciate. As she will be aware, in March 2023, specialist disability services were transferred to her Department. The area that I want to focus on with regard to the disability action plan is early intervention, and in particular the assessment of need, staffing levels in general and the children's disability network teams, CDNTs, among other things. I note the ambition to hire 600 additional whole-time equivalent staff in thi…

I am encouraged by that answer, and it is very good to hear. If I look at CAMHS in my constituency - and again, I appreciate the cross-departmental view but disability support is critical - our numbers are moving in the right direction. As the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman will be aware, Fingal, with the youngest, fastest-growing community in Ireland, has acute needs, and those needs are unfortunately stacking up. I welcome the news that there are up to 500 individuals who have applied. How quickly can those individual…

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this worrying trend across Ireland, which is an illustration of ignorance and hatred that cannot be allowed to take hold or accepted as normal, or, indeed, a consequence of doing what is right. It must be investigated with the appropriate vigour by An Garda Síochána. I thank Deputy Murphy for making clear earlier that there was no legislative gap, a point that I entirely agree with. These incidents of arson are extremely reckless and, by their very nature, serious crimes, especi…

Okay. We must also advocate for any improvements or changes to how applications are processed. I note the quite remarkable change from 26 months in 2022 to 65 days in 2024. I commend the Minister, her Department and her officials on that. By any measure, it is a very significant change. Applications by people from other countries take longer and the process of verifying details can be more lengthy. The average time for a decision has reduced from 18 months in 2022 to 13 in 2023. Within these figures is a positive n…

That concludes-----

Sorry, the debate is finished.

Deputy, you cannot.

Deputy, take your seat.

Deputy, take your seat now.

Take your seat then.

Deputy, you can express your disappointment all you like but you may not do so outside of the orders of the House. You are here long enough to know better.