I thank the Minister. Will the terms of reference be published prior to the review going ahead? No. The Minister is going to go outside the Department for an external group to run it. When does he expect that to be completed? What exactly will it be looking at? I realise our opinions on this differ. From anecdotal evidence on the ground and the figures, I do not believe the scheme has been successful at what it is supposed to be doing. In the Minister's previous answer, he referred to 60% of people needing help wit…

It is not "any tax measure"; it is a tax measure to assist people with the deposit when buying a house in a most serious housing crisis that is getting worse every day. I watched these developments as a councillor locally. I recall exactly when the construction started because we used to get quarterly reports telling us how many houses would be constructed and where. It stopped in 2009. The final column stated: "Construction suspended". From 2009 until a year or two ago, not one single social house was constructed …

Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I was asking the Minister a very specific question on the publication of the report and he has clarified that it has been published which I am aware of. The misunderstanding was on my part as I thought that the Department of Finance itself was carrying out a report. Can the Minister address in his reply, moving on from the fact that the report has been published and I have it in front of me, where we are going on the findings of that report? I thank the Minister.

I have read the paper and it is not an easy paper to read. It is the second working paper that has been produced by the Minister’s Department along with the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI. I fully accept that without the support, all of these businesses would have been much worse off. I am on record in supporting the Government on quick action. That is not what I am asking here. I am asking where we are going next. When one looks at the figures, for example in the 2021 report from the same group of pe…

The Minister's approach, as opposed to divide and conquer in a classroom, is to have the good student and the not-so-good student who he fails to understand. It is beneath the Minister and it does not do him justice with regard to the issue being raised. I did not ask him about the extension of the programmes he has. I asked what was the follow-up from the report that identified serious difficulties with small to medium-sized enterprises, particularly going up to 2024. I asked him to focus on that. I acknowledged t…

This is a stand-up comedy.

That is what the Minister did.

I did not ask the Minister that question, but I will keep my mask on to stop me talking.

This is a factual question. I was not expecting it to come up.

I always strive to end on good terms so I will use my 30 seconds to bring the Minister back into good humour. He might address himself to the factual question here regarding the status of the research by the Department and the Minister relating to the collection of data on property vacancies and so forth. I will not use up the time as the question has been set out.

I thank the Minister and accept his answer on this. I wish I could use the time to go back to the other question, but the rules preclude me from doing that.

I would be delighted to follow up on the last question relating to the small and medium enterprises which have been identified. If the Minister chooses to answer that in the spirit that it is asked, I will be delighted. As the backbone of the country a substantial proportion of the small and medium enterprises are in trouble, notwithstanding all the Government's supports which must come to an end at some stage. However, targeted supports are what is needed or a targeted response. We know that as well from another D…

Baineann mo cheist leis an bpolasaí atá beartaithe do na hoileáin, polasaí atá beartaithe le fada an lá. Cá bhfuil sé? Cén uair a bheidh sé foilsithe? My question relates to the policy for the islands. I know the Minister is very familiar with it. I am more than familiar with it. Going back to 2019, the Government of the day accepted that we needed urgently a policy for the islands underpinned by legislation, as in Scotland. My question today is, what is the position in relation to the policy and when will it be pu…

I am amused at the need for more time. First, I appreciate the work being done, but a task force was set up in 1996. No policy was ever produced. In contrast, in Scotland there is policy underpinned by legislation and the population is increasing. We know from the most recent census that the population declined on a certain number of islands. There are 30 offshore islands, of which eight are in the Gaeltacht. Gaeltacht islands account for more than 70% of the offshore population, so it is a particularly acute probl…

I thank the Minister, but the words "very soon" are very elastic, are they not? The 1996 interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on island development did not include representatives of the island communities and neither does the current committee. I see that it went out to communicate, but it was a fault from the start that an interdepartmental committee was set up that, of its nature, excluded island representatives. We then had the position that the committee was going out top-heavy to talk down. I hope that i…

Baineann mo cheist leis an struchtúr bunúsach. Baineann sé le stádas forbartha ché an Chalaidh Mhóir. Cá bhfuil sé? Cad é an costas iomlán agus cén uair a fheicfimid an togra seo críochnaithe? The Minister is familiar with this issue. I know she took a particular interest in the Caladh Mór pier on Inis Meáin. What is the precise status of the project?

I welcome the update. I am sure my colleague, an Teachta Ó Cuív, will come in on this issue. He has asked many questions about it. The first and second phases were completed in 2008, almost 14 years ago. The college in Cork is now being asked to look at a simulation exercise. When will that be complete? Do we need to wait for it to be complete before the business case begins? Has the business case already begun? Can the two be done comhthreomhar le chéile - parallel with each other? It is now 2022 and it is unaccep…

That was my question - whether the meeting in February had taken place. We knew from a previous reply that it was to take place. It is going take place on Friday. That is progress. I cannot emphasise enough the consequences of not having the third phase completed, especially in the context of safe access to the pier for cargo ships, for the factory and for the businesses there that rely on importing and exporting either materials or the final product. Will the Minister be in attendance at the meeting taking place t…

Ag dul ar ais go dtí na hoileáin, an uair seo go hInis Oírr. Baineann mo cheist leis an gcéibh agus an obair atá beartaithe uirthi le fada an lá. Tagraím go háirithe do stádas na dtascanna atá riachtanach roimh an fhorbairt atá beartaithe. My question relates to Inis Oírr and the pier development. It has been promised for years. Previous questions were asked by me and my colleagues in Galway West. We have specifically asked for times and dates. I am asking today about the pre-construction issues. Can we have clarit…

I note the words "robustly" and "continue". They are appropriate in the context of this island because the planning permission dates back to 2008. Here we are again. I welcome that there is a steering committee and I welcome the fact that it is meeting regularly. It would be more helpful if the minutes were available so we could all be part of that, because that would bring openness and accountability. What is worrying in this case, however, is that the business case was agreed, I understand, last April. The busine…