I can seek clarification for the Deputy and respond to him. My understanding is that he will be there but I can respond to the Deputy on that.

I commend Deputy O'Connor on submitting his question. It was specific to Cork city and county but it is an issue throughout the country, as he quite rightly pointed out. There is a great opportunity in the budget in two weeks' time to help address this issue and a number of measures could be implemented. One such measure I feel strongly about relates to the thousands of properties people are sitting on throughout the country. There is no incentive for them to go to market and the supply just is not there. The Gover…

I am raising this question today because many parents have been in contact with me because they want to know more about the air quality monitors, the carbon dioxide monitors. They want to know whether they are working and effective. A concern people have is that, as we move into the winter months and as windows are closed and classrooms have to be kept warmer, the monitors will not be effective. Could the Minister update the House on their effectiveness?

It is important that all classrooms have these monitors in place. It is regrettable that some have not been able to avail of them to date. I acknowledge, however, the work done on providing these important pieces of equipment for the vast majority of classrooms in a relatively short period. It is important that the Department try, where possible, to monitor the data, including data on where outbreaks of Covid occur, to determine whether there is a correlation between classrooms that are not particularly well ventil…

I want to raise with the Minister the Right to Read Campaign by Children's Books Ireland. This is a campaign to restore the school library fund. The budget previously included a grant to help schools stock their school libraries but this was cut in 2008. It has not been restored since. There is a great opportunity now with the forthcoming budget to restore that grant. It is very important. Reading really does matter to children. It is hugely important in their lives. I say that as a father of two young readers, as …

By the way, could I say, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

-----there was a remark made there.

I was just briefing the Tánaiste. If the Deputy cared, so much he would have raised the matter on transport questions this morning.

The Deputy did not even apply. There is no question tabled.

He did not even apply for the lottery. He could have applied and he did not.

What did Deputy Healy-Rae do?

It is beneath anybody to come in here and make such a snide remark about a constituency colleague.

There is no need for that.

No. I was named. I will defend my good name always.

When someone uses a Deputy's name, it is perfectly within a Deputy's right to respond.

I apologise, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

The question relates to farm safety. It is a very important issue. I know it is an area the Minister and the Minister of State have prioritised so far during their Ministries. Will they update the Dáil not only on initiatives to date but also on initiatives that are planned in respect of this very important area?

An approach that sees every death on Irish farms as one death too many is very important. The Minister of State rightly pointed out the disproportionate number of workplace fatalities that take place on farms versus the wider workplace. I commend him on how enthusiastic he has been and the approach he has taken to date to this matter. We can look at statistics over a long period but, thankfully, this year has seen a reduction in the number of deaths. However, that is no consolation whatsoever to the families who ar…

As someone who grew up surrounded by farms, I believe a focus on the wider community is important as well in order to emphasise to people that proximity to farms is a danger, particularly for small children. In those terrible conversations we have when we meet the bereaved and people who were lucky to survive farm accidents, the word "complacency" very often comes up in conversation. That seems to be one of the real dangers, that when you do something day in and day out all your life you sometimes drop your guard. …

I thank the Minister wholeheartedly for the fantastic news this week of the additional allocation of €10.5 million in funding for local improvement schemes. When I tabled this question, the funding had not been announced. The Minister effectively doubled the budget for this year with her announcement yesterday. It is great news. I would like to discuss the matter further with the Minister today.