I thank the Minister of State for the update. The news was great, but it was announced almost two years ago. Progress has slowed down a little, which is a concern. The project of Galway and Roscommon ETB, which used to be the vocational education committee, on which I sat, has been in planning for a very long time. Although we welcomed the announcement almost two years ago, it was after 20 years of frustration. With regard to the announcement of €430 million for four different sectors, one allocation was for ongoin…

What is the date for submitting the revised business plans?

Is the Minister of State aware of whether Galway and Roscommon ETB has submitted its business case?

Given the time allowed, I am sure I will be forgiven for being parochial. Did Galway and Roscommon ETB make its submission?

They will be considered at the point.

So they will not be at a disadvantage.

And the robustness of all the business cases will be considered afresh. Will the Minister of State indicate the timeline? What will happen at the pre-tender and design stage? What time is envisaged for that?

Will the Minister of State send me the breakdown of the profile?

There are many issues I would like to raise, but I am raising Palestine and Lebanon. I am raising it because we are inundated with emails and the Government is completely out of touch with the concern on the ground. It has been over four months since we recognised Palestine. There will be no Palestine left to recognise. The Taoiseach is going over to America to meet Biden, who has clearly stated over and over that he stands shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand with Netanyahu, who is before the highest internationa…

You have gone way over time on that.

That is okay. I have allowed it given the sensitivity of the topic.

My question is very specific. I am asking for an update on the status of the State-owned reception and integration centres due to accommodate people coming to our country. I ask this question a quarter of a century after direct provision was introduced as a temporary measure. A quarter of a century later, we have had a White Paper and the Day report but we still have no State-owned reception centres. Could the Minister give me an update?

I thank the Minister for that clarification. I realise and openly acknowledge that the Minister inherited this issue. However, we have known for a very long time that direct provision does not work. It isolates people, creates a stigma and is inhuman. The High Court recently ruled in August of this year that the State had utterly failed in its duty to provide for basic needs, including accommodation for international protection applicants and so on. There is any number of reports and judgements telling us that this…

Can the Minister provide context on what State-owned facilities we will have, when we will have them and what are the numbers we are talking about? Unfortunately, the Minister referred to the Peter McVerry Trust, which leaves serious questions to be answered and there are ongoing investigations into it. We are also at this stage now because the successive Governments has failed to deal with the problem. I recognise the influx of people from Ukraine and the strain that has put on the Department but what has happened…

I welcome a second opportunity to make a contribution on the budget. I also refer to the fact that we have had a chance to reflect on it. With the size of the budget and the money involved we will need a lot more time. Again, to quote Social Justice Ireland, this budget will leave a "regressive legacy". It welcomes the good things, as do I, but overall it points out that a couple with only one earner on €100,000 is better off by €73.35. That includes TDs like myself in the Dáil. We are all better off as a result of…

Deputies, please.

I call the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, who has just under five minutes.

Is féidir leis an Teachta Ó Snodaigh teacht isteach anois nó is féidir leis fanacht. Níl aon duine eile anseo.

There are further slots for the Government but this one has not been used up. The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, is down for a later slot. I will go back to Sinn Féin and call Deputy Thomas Gould for a five-minute slot.

The Parliamentary Budget Office prepared a paper for us, which stated: "It has to be acknowledged that the political cycle provides little incentive to plan for medium or long-term needs." It acknowledged that point, and that each Government is driven by short-term needs. However, notwithstanding that acknowledgement, the continuation of that approach by this Government is particularly shocking, particularly worrying and unacceptable given the challenges we face. It is 75 years since we made that wonderful declarat…