I thank all Members who contributed to the debate and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. In the debate today some useful issues were raised and useful points were made to inform our thinking on this. The health budget is €22 billion. I am the last person on this side of the House who would not argue for more money, but the Minister of State has had the health brief for two years, and she will be aware that even if we fill an articulated lorry with money and deposit it at the Miesian Plaza or at the hea…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion calling for a costed emergency budget to address the cost-of-living crisis. Our proposals would provide much-needed supports for workers and families, who deserve and need a break. The State is projected to take in €5.6 billion more in tax revenue this year than was expected when budget 2022 was framed. Sinn Féin is calling for €874 million to go into an emergency budget. Workers have been hit by transport costs and the rising cost of home heating oil. As the Ministe…

I will raise the issue of the provision of universal healthcare and the commitment in the programme for Government. The diabetic clinic in Portlaoise has 7,000 people with diabetes registered from the catchment area of Laois, south Kildare, Offaly and north Tipperary. The insulin pump service is available for children and adolescents only and not adults. When people reach the age of 18, they have to go to Dublin and go private at more than €500 a pop. That is the only option. There is no dietician for the adult ins…

-----and people get sicker and sicker, if they do not get insulin pump services when they need them and they cannot afford them. If we are to move to a public health system and a national health system in this country as per Sláintecare, this service needs to be provided in the midlands. I appeal to the Taoiseach, and note one of the Ministers responsible for health is in the Chamber, to take up this matter with the HSE. The heads of the hospital group are delaying this.

They are moving at a glacial pace and it needs to be moved on. I appeal to the Minister and the Taoiseach to move it on.

I welcome the opportunity to address this issue with the Minister of State. The news of the planned closure of Erkina House came as a bombshell to the 12 residents, the staff and the local community. The facility is entering its 26th year of successful operation. It has been accepted by the local community right from the outset. The facility has demonstrated a stand-out, best practice way of doing things. There was no consultation regarding this closure and no appraisal. I acknowledge the intervention of the Minist…

With regard to the information on Erkina House's closure, it had nearly happened without anyone knowing, including local Deputies and the Minister of State. I will deal with the line about Erkina House having limited access to community services and public transport. There is a Local Link bus. Residents do not go far. Normally, there is transport from within the facility. I outlined the local community services that the residents need. They need access to the local health centre and community hall. They need somewh…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. The cost of living crisis is causing serious financial hardship for ordinary families and workers. Some of this is beyond the control of the Government but some of it is not and this evening, Sinn Féin is proposing one solution that would provide some relief and a much-needed break. In response to the most recent surge in the costs in the food sector, we are proposing that those earning less than €30,000 would receive a once-off payment of €200, while those earning…

Global warming is accelerating, of that there is no doubt. Peat harvesting in the midlands was to be phased out over a ten-year period. It was phased out in ten months. The people of the midlands, who were most impacted by that, in particular those in Laois-Offaly, sucked that up. Those people have borne the brunt of that and have got on with it. However, Bord na Móna is currently facing legal threats from a group which is trying to block the removal of harvested peat. This is peat that was harvested four or five y…

I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion. What Sinn Féin is putting forward is very important. It is part of our strategy to tackle the housing crisis by significantly increasing the number and delivery of affordable homes to buy. It is important we have that big element of home purchase in our housing programmes. That would make a massive difference to people throughout the country, especially in Laois-Offaly, where the housing crisis is having a devastating effect on the lives of too many people. We have …

I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion. The Government's proposed ban is the wrong measure at the worst time. We must introduce climate action measures that are workable, affordable and bring communities with us rather than alienating and punishing people. This is not a just transition. This measure will affect the entire country but it will hit Laois-Offaly hardest. More than a quarter of people in the constituency have no alternative to solid fuel, which in many cases is turf. They cannot afford retrofi…

I thank Deputy Funchion for bringing forward this important motion. I acknowledge her work, along with others, in the childcare sector. It is important that we get this right. Many families are struggling to meet the cost of childcare. Parents in my constituency of Laois-Offaly tell me about the costs they are paying per month, which are often well in excess of €800 and in some cases over €1,000. We have one of the most expensive childcare systems in the European Union. I was involved in establishing and running Tr…

I raise the absence of any accommodation in the midlands for victims of domestic violence. Nine counties do not have any such accommodation, including Laois and Offaly. Children and victims are sent as far as three counties away, to Limerick, to domestic violence refuges. More than 100 families went from Laois alone last year. This cannot continue. There is a shortage of places in the State overall. We need to increase the numbers of beds and accommodation. We all know that people are at their most vulnerable when …

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Yesterday, an extra €46,000 of taxpayers' money was allocated for the centre in Portlaoise. That is welcome because the services there are stretched. I agree that prevention is key. We need to reduce the amount of domestic violence and change attitudes and culture in society. However, we also have to live in the here and now. I welcome that the Tusla review recommends eight family places for Portlaoise. That is suggested for prioritisation and as a starting point. That i…

Rubbish.

Hear, hear.

I welcome the legislation, which is long overdue. I brought forward a Bill in a previous Dáil in respect of return and reuse of waste. It is important that we have fairness in a just transition. That needs to be at the heart of climate action. Citizens need to play their part but we must also get big business and large multinationals to do their bit. We have to move away from the throwaway culture of single-use plastic. Of course we want people to change their habits and use less plastic. However, large companies c…

I raise the 2013 report published by the Government and entitled Keeping Communities Safe - A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland. There are 2,065 retained firefighters operating out of 197 stations across the State and there is a problem with staffing. I have raised this before because there needs to be a sense of urgency around this. In May 2021, the management board of the National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management was mandated to set up a review of the model of retained fire services. That is still …

I ask the Government to move on this. We cannot take a year and a half to put together a simple report. It is just taking too long to get these things done.

Is the Acting Chairperson taking Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together? They are on the same issue.