I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — Leaving Certificate students faced significant disruption to their learning when school buildings were closed between January and March 2021, particularly those without access to electronic devices or a stable internet connection; — many Leaving Certificate students have had lengthy periods of self-isolation, as they unfortunately contracted Covid-19 over the course of the last year, or were named a close contact of a positive case; and — many Leaving Certificate subject tea…

I agree with the Minister in applauding the extraordinary work of so many school staff, particularly in the challenging period since Christmas. I do not agree with her on the amendment. As Deputy Carthy outlined, it effectively commits this House to nothing at all. Therefore, we will be pressing our motion. I am not sure if the people who do not have a child in school or are not in regular contact with schools understand the level of disruption that has been caused. Since they came back, almost half of students mis…

Leaving certificate students and their families are eagerly awaiting this afternoon's meeting. What they want is certainty; they want to have a decision today. They do not want this to drift further. We all can remember our leaving certificate examinations. The examination is stressful and difficult in any year, but we did not have to contend with over two months of school closures, self isolation of staff and of students and all the anxieties of the pandemic. The Tánaiste will tell me there is a meeting today. Tha…

Listening to the contributions on this legislation, I think there is a sense of sombreness but maybe a sense of weightiness too. I think everyone is taking the Bill very seriously. I do not believe it is being treated in a partisan way. I think people understand the weight of what is involved here. It is also worth acknowledging that this is an advance on previous iterations of this legislation. That shows the importance of robustly challenging sometimes conservative advice that can be given to Governments and push…

I first want to echo Deputy O’Sullivan’s points in the previous debate. There is a very serious issue in relation to the allocation of special educational classes in Cork city and suburbs. I give specific mention to the issue of post-primary in Ballincollig. Much has been made of the fact that this is not the same situation as last year. Of course, that is true, it is not precisely the same. However, it is the case that this is not a normal year and it is nothing like a normal year. Students faced months outside of…

We all anticipated that the Minister's response would kick this question into tomorrow's meeting. I understand how things work. What I did not anticipate was that her response so far does not even contemplate giving students the choice, even though the Government has stated it is open to that. I am hoping the Minister will say in her next reply that she is open to that. I urge her to take that decision early because the situation students are in at the minute is unbearable due to the uncertainty, stress and pressur…

Taxi drivers feel that when it comes to transport issues, they are last on the agenda and the last group to be listened to and heard. They felt like that again. I welcome that they can now apply for the PUP, though as Deputy Duncan Smith said, there seem to be difficulties in practice. I am not even sure the Government would have done that except for pressure from taxi drivers, and indeed the Opposition, to ensure they got the PUP. More than that is needed. As has been said, the late-night sector is crucial because…

I am glad the Minister of State mentioned the taxi advisory committee because the feedback I get from taxi drivers in my constituency is that it is a paper tiger which is not fit for purpose or representative. It is dominated by other interests, such as hospitality, hotels and the apps. It is not that they should not be taken into account but it is a taxi advisory committee and the taxi drivers feel they are a relatively marginal voice in it, that the committee has no real power or weight and is a fob-off, gesture …

I suppose everyone is entitled to a break but it is so important the Department of Education takes time over the Christmas period to ensure we get schools right and ensure they are safe. Keeping schools open and functioning well is so vital. The latter aspect is important; it is not just about them being open but that they are functioning well. Now, over the Christmas period, is our chance to get that right and ensure children are returning to school buildings in January with all the mitigation measures necessary t…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. This legislation represents necessary housekeeping that has been identified and it is a constitutional requirement that relates to the mandate and powers to ensure that money is expended. As a general point, this pandemic has taught us about public spending and the role of the State and that, contrary to some of its critics, it is capable of being agile, responsive and innovative when required and when the political will is there. That is not to say that all public expendi…

We would love if the senior Minister was here, but it is apt that the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is here to discuss Noonan Road. He accepted the offer of the previous Deputy to visit a particular location. He might also come and look at Noonan Road where I am sure he would be welcome. Noonan Road is the main thoroughfare, but there are three or four little side streets off it, including Fort Street, Dean Street and Finbarr's Road. We can talk about Noonan Road in general. The flats were built in the 1960s an…

The Minister of State was trying to figure out where Noonan's Road is in Cork. To be helpful, it is just behind the Bandon Road and Barrack Street area. The area is very much associated with the late Toddy O'Sullivan. I take this opportunity to put on record my condolences to his family. I am reading the Minister of State's response and it does not acknowledge the many applications made between 2009 and 2019 which did not succeed. With regard to the November 2019 funding, I am not saying it was not welcome but that…

The recent change in the circulars regarding income thresholds has had a seriously adverse impact on many families. It has knocked people off the housing list who have been on it for eight, nine or ten years in a way that is arbitrary and wrong. I do not believe that there was any intention for that to happen. It is an unintentional consequence, but it is a problem that I would like to be addressed. I ask the Minister to give it his attention.

There are a few points I wish to raise. I will provide examples of what this policy change is doing. I will re-emphasise that I do not think there is any agenda here. These are unintended consequences, but they need to be fixed. The Minister of State has emphasised the point regarding discretion. That is not the local authorities' understanding of it and it is not my experience of it in Cork. From listening to other Deputies, it is also an issue in other local authorities. It is not a case of one or two local autho…

Both Ministers will receive examples today. We can be critical of local authorities at times, but my experience of the officials who are involved in these assessments is that they want to enable people who need housing to get it. They want to work with these families. It is more likely to be an issue in the large urban centres, where incomes and rent are probably that bit higher. I think €37,500 is the highest net income threshold for a couple with children. It does not take very much for a double income family to …

I welcome this wide-ranging Bill, as other speakers have. It includes many sensible provisions. The issue of scramblers has been raised often and it is a big problem in our urban areas and needs to be addressed. The Bill also deals with the issue of insurance. I am concerned with the slow pace of reform in this regard. Some progress has been made, although there are significant issues outstanding. Insurance companies in this State continue to rip off their customers. Costs are extortionate. Companies still use dual…

Discussions on issues such as this can sometimes become a bit abstract but we need to remember the concrete realities of this and what it will mean for individual families. It should be obvious but we need to keep it in our minds that a cold house is a terrible thing. It is a horrible thing to experience. What is equally horrible is the fear that many families have that their services will be disconnected over this winter. They fear that they will be without energy or heat for days, or perhaps weeks, because they d…

Cuirim fáilte roimh na ráitis seo. Tá an eolaíocht fíorthábhachtach ó thaobh ár seirbhísí poiblí. An aidhm atá ag an tseachtain seo, agus na feachtais a théann léi, ná daoine a chur i dtreo staidéir a dhéanamh ar an eolaíocht agus dul ag obair san eolaíocht, ach go háirithe daoine níos óige. Tugann sé an-luach ó thaobh ár seirbhísí poiblí, mar a dúirt mé, agus ó thaobh oideachais agus go leor gnéithe eile. Science Week is very positive. It is focused on making sure that young people look towards STEM and science in…

The ability of schools to function well is a priority for us all. However, pretending there are no problems helps no one. Three weeks ago, I asked the Government to introduce a revised form of contact tracing. That is still not in place. We also have an extremely serious substitution crisis, which is debilitating schools. One principal gave an example of 11 rejections from the substitute seeker programme in nine days. Principals are cancelling board of management meetings and continuous professional development tra…

Come on now, Taoiseach, in all fairness.