I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter and providing me with an opportunity to raise it in the House. I thank the Minister of State for his presence. There is no doubt that the change to foster care payments detailed in budget 2024 is to be welcomed as a positive step. It is the first time the allowance has been increased since 2009. We should be more ambitious in our delivery. There are a number of measures outlined in the budget, all of which are extremely welcome, particularly for foster families.…

I thank the Minister of State for his response on behalf of the Minister. I completely understand the matter of competing demands. I had the privilege of chairing the Committee on Children and Youth Affairs for a number of years in the previous Dáil and I fully appreciate the budgetary constraints in Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. One only has to look at the childcare demands the Government has added to the Department to understand the level of investment being ma…

Hear, hear.

I welcome the opportunity to make a contribution on this, my 14th budget in this House. I heard reference to the fourth of Deputy Higgins. I know the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and I were here 12 or 13 years ago, in February 2011, and shortly thereafter, we passed two budgets in that year. I am pleased to be able to make another contribution on another budget, which is budget 2024. I believe it will have a serious, positive impact on individuals and families up and down the country. While no budget will e…

Thank you, Minister of State. That was a Castleknock 20 seconds, I think.

I call the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, who is sharing time with the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth.

Next we have the Rural Independent Group. I call Deputy Nolan, who is sharing time with Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. Deputy Nolan has three minutes and 15 seconds.

I call the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, who is sharing time with the Ministers of State, Deputy Heydon and Senator Hackett.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill which will have important ramifications for criminal justice procedures with specific regard to sexual offences and human trafficking. The Bill will make a range of changes to existing procedures, modernise our approach to such cases, provide for better victim experiences of the judicial system and protect vulnerable people from exploitation and abuse. With specific regard to sexual offences, I welcome the provisions that will see greater sensitivity provide…

I thank the Minister of State for her presence. It is very important that we have this discussion. There is absolutely no doubt that school transport provides a really pivotal role in the day-to-day life of many families right across the country, my constituency included. The population is growing, and the geography of our communities is expanding. In the case of my constituency, which includes a large population in Swords, we must ensure that service is adequately provided to children relying on school transport t…

The Tánaiste is on his feet so I ask the Deputy please to take his seat.

Deputy, please.

I call Deputy Brendan Smith.

That is enough. Deputy Brendan Smith, please.

I am sorry, Deputy Smith. Deputy Ó Laoghaire should take his seat. Maybe he should be somewhere else.

Tánaiste, please.

The Deputy is completely out of order.

Is the Bill opposed?

Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

I raise the tenant in situ scheme which has already been raised this afternoon. Unfortunately, as was mentioned earlier, there is a diversity of application of the process by different local authorities across the State. It has been brought to my attention that where a property is not in compliance with building regulations, however minor, such an application is deemed to be invalid. Perhaps the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage might be in a position to enhance the scheme to ensure that a tenant…