The people needed a game changer in this budget. It seems that this has been spread too thin and we have not got that game-changer, particularly on the big challenges facing society in housing, health and the cost-of-living crisis. The Government's energy proposals do not give the certainty the Sinn Féin proposals would have given to families, workers and business. A credit is still vulnerable to significant price increases in energy that could drive up prices again. What we proposed would have cut energy prices to…

I will make two brief final points. I welcome the allocation for special education. It closely resembles what we called for ourselves. The point with regard to special education is that it is not just a matter of the budget. The situation that arose last year was a matter of planning, not the budget. We need to make sure that we do not have a repeat of it next year. The budget should be in place but now that the powers are in place, we have to get the planning right this year. The reduction of the pupil teacher rat…

The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will be aware that there is enormous concern about how families, particularly elderly people and the vulnerable, will heat their homes this winter. That is not scaremongering but the truth, as the Minister of State knows. It is also the case in many other countries throughout the world. There are undoubtedly international factors at work but there are also factors within our control. We have left ourselves incredibly vulnerable - more vulnerable than most of our neighbours - in …

Households are facing the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. Ordinary workers and families and indeed small businesses cannot take any more and they certainly cannot face into a winter with bills that continue to skyrocket and could cripple them. Households need long-term solutions to this cost-of-living crisis, not one-off measures which will do nothing to fix the root cause of the problems households are facing. It is predicted that households can expect to pay a total of €1,200 for gas and electricity …

I thank People Before Profit for bringing forward the Bill. We agree it should proceed to Committee Stage and we, of course, support the principle of reducing rents in the private rental sector. There are issues to be teased out in committee but I urge the Government to allow the Bill to proceed. Rents in Cork in the first quarter of this year were more than 10% higher than in the same period in 2021, with the average rent in the county up 111% from its lowest point. This is scandalous and it makes it extremely dif…

I recently attended a protest by some of the families who have been affected by the fact their babies' remains were incinerated without their consent. It was held outside the gates of the Cork University Maternity Hospital, CUMH. I spoke to several of the fathers and mothers, and they are absolutely at a loss. It is worth stating, and I am sure the Minister of State will understand, that these are parents who had already suffered significant pain, significant trauma and significant loss. Some of these babies were s…

The Minister of State has just given a timeline of the occasions on which these parents have already been disappointed. We are none the wiser as to when this will come to pass. A total of 18 updates have been received from the HSE. All the updates said, more or less, is that the HSE did not have the report ready. That is all the parents have learned. They are still no wiser. Even if the Minister of State cannot give me a date, can he give me a sense of when it will be published? Will it be published in the third qu…

It is within that envelope.

Although my amendment No. 7 has not been grouped with this amendment, both amendments seek to address the same issue and have the same objective. It is challenging for Members of the Opposition to raise issues in relation to resources, given the Standing Orders. It has been well articulated by schools, parents and campaign groups that a special class does not just comprise four walls. It is the resources that go with it. This goes beyond the Department of Education. It is vitally important that adequate resources a…

I think it is in a different group.

I am satisfied I have addressed amendment No. 7 in the previous group.

I partially addressed his matter in the previous amendment, but I will take the opportunity to discuss it. I will be brief because I am anxious to move to the next group of amendments. The Minister may say there is no question of resources not being in place but we hear from schools - maybe more so special schools than special classes but the legislation relates to that - that resources are not being put in place. The primary issue is typically the availability of therapists. It is not the only issue. Certainly, th…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 7, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following: “(11) (a) The Council shall publish, concurrent with the giving of such a direction referred to in this section a report outlining the adequacy of resources provided by the Department, the NCSE, and the HSE and other relevant organisations to the Schools, and stating whether in the council’s view if the resources meet the needs of the school community and the children in the Special Class or School. (b) These resources shall includ…

I also raise the issue Deputy Barry raised relating to the incineration of babies' organs without the consent of parents, causing enormous upset and trauma. The parents have been told numerous times that the report relating to Cork University Maternity Hospital, CUMH, would be published. It is simply not good enough that the date keeps being pushed back. Can we get an explanation for the delay? When might it be published?

I move: That leave be granted to introduce Bill entitled an Act to make provision whereby the Minister for Education shall make regulations governing the implementation of an affordable school uniform policy in schools; and for this purpose to amend the Education Act of 1998. Bogaim an reachtaíocht seo a bhaineann le cultacha scoile inacmhainne. The purpose of this Bill is to tackle the costs relating to uniforms. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. We are seeing the lists come through the door for boo…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that: — the costs of returning to school each year cause enormous financial stress and pressure on parents, a fact likely to be exacerbated by the rising cost-of-living crisis; — according to a survey undertaken by the Irish League of Credit Unions in 2021, 63 per cent of parents found covering back-to-school costs a significant financial burden, with 24 per cent of families getting into debt, and 21 per cent of families having debts of over €500; — according to the same survey…

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le gach Teachta a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht seo agus le gach duine a thacaigh leis an rún seo. Is ábhar fíorthábhachtach é seo agus tuigimid go léir go mbeidh go leor tuismitheoirí agus teaghlaigh faoi bhrú millteanach sna seachtainí beaga amach anseo. Beidh an-imní orthu nuair a gheobhaidh siad na litreacha ag iarraidh fordheontas, na liostaí leabhair, liostaí na gcultacha scoile, agus na táillí eile a bhaineann leo sin. Níl aon dabht ach gur géarchéim í seo gach bliain ach go…

-----and from other organisations as well. I welcome the steps that have been taken. They will undoubtedly help those on the lowest incomes, but there are many people who will not benefit. As I said, people will watch the news tonight who will say these measures are good and will wonder what they will get out of them. These people could be struggling on quite low incomes, but they will not benefit. A family with a combined household income of more than €620 per week, with one child in school, will not qualify. That…

I will pick up on the point just made by the Minister of State on amendments. We have submitted five amendments. If it is of assistance to the Minister and the Minister of State, I can send the amendments to them directly. If they are of use, they may want to consider them and make any technical adjustments that might be needed. If it is not possible to agree to them in the Dáil, there will be an opportunity to do so in the Seanad. I appreciate the tight timescale. If it is of assistance, I can send on the amendmen…