Okay, fair enough.

What are the Department of Finance's plans, if any, to encourage greater take up of the R&D tax credit for small domestic companies?

I thank the Minister of State for that response and his reply to my earlier question. Is he able to give me some idea about the take up? What kind of rebates are we talking about? What kind of refunding and credits are we talking about? What percentage of companies are involved in this? What plans has the Minister of State to encourage more to get involved and to advertise and promote it?

The second part of that question was what plans has the Minister of State or the Department to encourage companies further to take up this credit and also to promote it. Would the Minister of State agree with me that many companies do not know about this? There is a lack of awareness. How is the scheme to be expedited and promoted?

Will the Minister of State outline the progress made in the refurbishment of Barryscourt Castle near Carrigtwohill? The Minister, Deputy McGrath, is probably aware of this castle although I am not sure whether he has ever visited it. It is an amazing building that was built around 1550. The Office of Public Works, OPW, is doing amazing work and recently opened up Annes Grove House and Gardens in the area, which is fabulous. What progress is being made and when might we see Barryscourt Castle reopened to the public?

I thank the Minister of State for his response and for indicating that work is ongoing. I understand it is complicated. It is a very old building and the conservation rules are quite demanding. I would be grateful if the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, to whom I have spoken about this, could impress upon those involved the importance of this particular building to local tourism. It very much links in with Fota House, Fota Island Resort and the town of Cobh. I know the Minister, Deputy McGrath, will be visiting…

I thank the Minister of State for his response, his interest and his comprehensive narrative with respect to the castle's history in which he mentioned the murder hole and other things that are in there. It is an amazing building. Obviously, it is imperative. I know the OPW is doing its best. It is doing great work around the country. I just want to emphasise the importance of this particular building and to get it open as soon as possible. I thank the Minister of State for his response.

Will the Minister indicate when it is proposed to publish the assisted decision-making (capacity) (amendment) Bill 2021? I understand that pre-legislative scrutiny has been completed. Is it still the intention of the Minister to commence the Parts of the main Act in June as reported?

Will the Minister outline the current status of the proposed upgrade of the N25 national road between Midleton and Carrigtwohill? He will be aware, of course, that Cork County Council and his Department had agreed that this should be a very important upgrade, so much so that they have spent €1.2 million on a feasibility study. I think €1.2 million has been spent so far on a feasibility study. Perhaps the Minister can let me know if that figure is correct, and where he plans to go with it now.

There are a few issues that I wish to draw the Minister's attention to, and ask questions about. First, is he aware of the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, project and the plan to build thousands of houses and housing units close to the railway line at Water-Rock? Is the Minister aware that the road infrastructure that he has spoken about is not up to standard, and that TII has objected to the housing close to the railway line because the road infrastructure is not up to standard? One half of th…

For the Minister's information, the development to which I was referring is in a different place. It has nothing to do with this particular land.

It is. It is on the other side of Carrigtwohill. It is west of Carrigtwohill. It is not between Carrigtwohill and Midleton. That is what I am talking about. The LIHAF project is at risk.

The developers tell me that the development of thousands of houses may not go ahead. TII has objected to the development. It has written to me and told me that the road is unsafe. It has asked the local authority to carry out safety measures on that roadway which could cost millions of euro. Could the Minister not allow this route to progress to make the road safer and to allow the housing development to go ahead? Housing is the biggest crisis that we have at the moment. Is the Minister aware that for the last 12 y…

Is the Minister aware that the road is already at capacity?

That is the reason TII has raised issues with respect to its concerns regarding the operational safety of the national road network. It is located in an area considered for a future national road scheme. The proposed development could prejudice plans for the design of this scheme. However, it will not allow the scheme to go ahead. It is a catch-22. It is objecting to the housing development because the road is not to be allowed. It will not allow the road to go ahead, so the housing development cannot go ahead. It …

The Minister did apologise.

It was not.

Is the Minister happy that the work done to date may be wasted? He is talking about managing budgets. He is now telling me that this may not happen for years without giving any indication. Can he in some way let the people on the route know whether or not their houses will be subject to a CPO? The route has been identified but it is very wide. There has been no contact with the people and it is not definite yet. I cannot find out and I cannot tell my constituents whether their house is going to be taken from them t…

The Taoiseach will be familiar with my part of the country in east Cork and he knows that there is a concern about the N25 development not proceeding, which poses a threat to housing and new schools. The road is dangerous and the old Amgen site is still sitting there because the road network is not up to standard. The Government might move on this matter. On top of that, at least 60 primary school kids cannot get into secondary school in my area. The Taoiseach might relay this to the Minister. I am getting calls ev…

This question has to do with the supports that the Department has put in place to encourage the installation of solar panels on farms. I am interested in the Minister's take on this matter.