I want to be associated with the remarks that have already been made on the passing of Tommie Gorman and Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh and recognise the huge contributions they both made in their respective fields to this country’s society, politics, public life and sport in general. While I do that, I might also mention our own colleague, former Deputy Bernard Allen, who similarly made a great contribution to society. I want to briefly comment on the sad events that should not have happened in Limerick in the past week…

-----with a view to identifying some kind of regularity.

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply and acknowledge its content. An issue, however, is imminent, with the situation where people have been given notice to quit their rental properties or, sometimes, have had an extension over and above the normal waiting time for eviction. They are going to be removed from their homes. It is going to be done in the next four weeks, to put it at its widest. Some evictions may come before then. We do not have the ways or means to provide emergency accommodation for such families at t…

These vulture funds are only interested in one thing: getting a hold of the house and property and satisfying their own particular needs.

I am sorry, Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for going on about this issue, but it is really serious. I would like the Taoiseach to be able to give some reassurance to those people now.

I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this issue. I have listened to the debate so far. I was intrigued by the tone it took at some stages, which was reminiscent of the debate that took place in the UK before Brexit. It would appear that we had decided we were going to assert ourselves in a way we had not known about before, we were going to go it alone and come up with our own solutions to issues and so on and so forth. All I can say in relation to all of this is that there are people in this House, from ti…

Can it be determined where the requirement for student accommodation is most acute? I am only seeking rough figures. To what extent, if any, are planning permissions already indicated likely to meet that requirement?

Regarding the accommodation information that may be available, have any universities or third level institutions been identified? For instance, Maynooth University has already been identified and has achieved some progress in that area. The previous Minister made that information available to the House. Does that apply to any other third level institutions?

What is the degree to which it is anticipated the need can be met in full, insofar as is possible, given the information available about catchment areas of various colleges or universities?

Given the information that is available and the planning permission that has been taken up and is viable at this stage, if numbers can be calculated from that, what number will be available in the next academic year and in subsequent years, with a view to ensuring that we get before the problem before the problem accelerates and gets before us?

I thank the Minister.

I have raised this question on a number of occasions before and I believe it is important. I am asking about the extent to which an adequate supply of graduates or suitably qualified postgraduates are available to meet the demands of the workplace at the moment and as we go forward.

I note the often-sighted notices to the effect that various organisations are hiring, which is repeated many times in all aspects of employment all over the country. Having regard to that demand right now, to what extent is it possible to meet the challenge of supply and demand as it stands? If that can be achieved, what will it be like in a couple of years? Can we plan for that now in order to improve supply?

I had in mind looking in the most positive way into that crystal ball, with a view to identifying the most likely outcomes in the situation that is presenting, and on that basis making a good stab or guess - more than a guess, in fact - at what is likely to happen in the future, given the trends.

I strongly agree with the sentiments that were expressed by the Minister and the last speaker. I congratulate An Garda Síochána for its successes in this area. However, for every success, there is growing evidence of an extension of the drugs empire all over the place. It is the drugs empire that is feeding its own market in a way that ensures it has a steady income from that area. It has established fear among the community and the school children. Almost all second-level schools are affected by this problem now, …

This question seeks to focus on the manner in which criminal gangs associated with drug racketeering manage to work their way into new estates, of which there are many in the eastern region. All that is required is to bypass the vetting system, get in there, get a distributor in there and very soon the whole area is polluted with the nuisance.

I thank the Minister for her reply. I am drawing attention to the fact that vetting is supposed to take place in local authority housing estates and approved housing bodies. That does not seem to be effective because all that seems to happen is that people get through the system with impunity and as the result of that, they set up a whole network. Very soon the whole estate and surrounding estates are then polluted with the same problem. Parents are showing increased levels of concern and have been intimidated them…

In her reply, the Minister described exactly the kind of thing that is happening. It is not just restricted to local authority estates. When a complaint is made by a resident, the response from the housing body, for instance, is not always great. Let us not forget that criminal gangs and the criminal world have sufficient resources at their disposal to buy a house or an apartment anywhere. On one recent occasion the complainant seemed to be blamed for causing a nuisance. Of course, the nuisance was that the housing…

This question seeks to ascertain the extent to which the Minister proposes or hopes to engage throughout the country with local, voluntary, rural and urban communities to enhance their position, especially those in areas of social or economic deprivation.

I thank the Minister for her reply. Naturally, the question refers to the whole country, where I appreciate there are many challenging issues. There are questions of integration that need to be looked at carefully. Questions of social exclusion, or attempts at social exclusion, need to be looked at in particular. While I am obviously concerned about the whole country, I have a soft spot for County Kildare, and especially north Kildare; Kildare North is my constituency. I compliment the Minister on her success and i…