As I have stated several times during Leaders' Questions and Questions on Promised Legislation, the Government tends to follow public health advice because it is a good north star to follow in these times. However, one sometimes wonders what the rationale for particular decisions is. In the instance cited by the Deputy, I tend to agree with him. The restrictions to which he referred are a remarkable imposition on and difficulty for expectant parents. Anyone who has been in that position knows that being present whe…

As I stated, the Government is asking colleges and universities to show flexibility, particularly where they have control of the accommodation. The impact of the pandemic on college life must be a great disappointment, particularly for those who are starting college this autumn. For those who are lucky enough to attend third level, it is an incredible time when one meets new friends who often turn out to be friends for life and when one begins learning in a new way. I hope that we can bring our numbers back to stab…

It is my understanding that the Department of Education and Skills was standardising the process and has a staged process that aims to smooth out the difficulties in order that schools are built quickly. If the Deputy provides me with details of the case in question, I will forward them to the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Foley, and ask her to identify the best possible timeline for the delivery of the school.

On the Waterford cath lab, which is critically important for the region, it was unfortunate that there were delays due to Covid-19 but it is intended that the project will now go to tender. The HSE advises that funding was allocated in the 2019 capital plan, as the Deputy said. The fire certificate was granted in June of this year. The disability access certificate was granted in April of this year. Preparation of contract documentation has commenced and the contract selection is complete subject to a cooling off p…

I am sure the Deputy would not be alone among the Deputies from Waterford in asking that it would be expedited. I will certainly pass that on and try and make sure that the timeframe shortened as best we can.

Starting with Deputy Ó Murchú, we were here on the Topical Issue debate the other night on the issue of testing centres. If my memory serves me correctly, the issue about the need for one in Drogheda, Louth and Dundalk was raised. I am trying to recall what the Minister of State said at the time. I understand he did not rule out the delivery of that testing centre.

I will come back to the Deputy if I have any news on that. I would have to say the same to Deputy Tully. I will have to provide a written reply. I will ask the relevant Minister to provide an assessment. I do not have the figures here in front of me. I will forward the question to the Minister and ask that he replies. Lastly, I agree with Deputy Nash. I refer to the problem in the Irish banking sector in the past 40 or 50 years. It is not a recent phenomenon. There has been a range of instances dating right back wh…

No.

I thank Deputy Cannon. The Government very much shares the ambition for the twin tracking of the rail line between Athenry and Galway city the Deputy mentioned. The programme for Government makes a strong commitment to fundamentally change the nature of transport in Ireland, and to deliver on this commitment we need a whole-of-system perspective across all modes of transport, whether that is active travel, bus or rail. Getting that perspective requires evidence-based and plan-led transport infrastructure developmen…

I thank the Deputy. On the first issue, one of the critical things needed to make this work effectively for the quality of life of people, but also for the economic viability of all of these investments, is that the local authorities all play their part by ensuring that the development plans concentrate development in areas close to public transport hubs. What makes this a viable proposition is when we integrate land use and transport planning. That is going to be a critical element in making these projects work. W…

I will be sharing time with the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. I welcome the opportunity to address the Dáil on the Covid-19 pandemic and the huge impact it has had on the transport sector in this country. Since taking on the role of Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in June, the Minister of State and I have met a range of stakeholders from the transport sector. It is clear that the pandemic has had a catastrophic effect on people working in the industry, on businesses and on the commuters a…

In the ten minutes I have, I will group into ten subjects the responses to what I have heard. I will not have sufficient time to deal with any one issue, but I will reflect on what I have heard Deputies say. I will start with the contribution made by Deputy O'Rourke. Aer Lingus workers are in real difficulty with regard to back pay and the temporary wage subsidy scheme. I understand the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection said earlier this week that the Department is awaiting the relevant forms fr…

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this important issue. As he is aware, the provision of electronic communications services, including the repair and restoration of telephone services, occurs within a liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, ComReg. As the Deputy referred to, it is responsible for the regulation of the electronic communications sector under European and national legislation. I recognise, as the Deputy said, how vital telecommunications services are to citizens for so many aspect…

I hope the new national broadband scheme that we are rolling out, and about which I will be answering questions later, will close the gap where there is a shortage of service and an inability for customers, particularly in rural areas, to get broadband. We will ensure that not a single house is left out. That roll-out may also have knock-on benefits for building up the pole network and other infrastructure networks. I hope that will benefit and help other customers as the backhaul and other parts of the network are…

The programme for Government commits to the development of microgeneration and to letting people sell excess power back to the grid by June 2021. The climate action plan that my predecessor introduced included the delivery of a framework for microgeneration, while ensuring principles of equity, self-consumption and energy efficiency first are incorporated. There are a range of measures in place to deliver on these commitments. A microgeneration working group, chaired by my Department, is examining an enabling frame…

I have not seen that research but I will read it if the Deputy could forward it on to me. I will happily respond to the Deputy once I have read and reviewed it. I agree with the Deputy. Roof after roof in the North has solar PV panels and it is not exactly the sunniest place on the planet. We have failed to do that in the South. During my previous term in this office, 12 years ago, we introduced a microgeneration support price scheme of 19 cent per kWh. That was at the start of the solar revolution. Unfortunately, …

The roll-out is starting. While everything in this country has been somewhat delayed by Covid, I do not think it has been particularly badly affected. The initial delivery comprised 250,000 meters in the latter half of last year and the start of this year. We expect 500,000 meters to be installed in each of the next four years. The Commission for Energy Regulation, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and the Data Protection Commissioner have strong and stringent rules around the use of any data and the purpo…

The Covid 19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of good reliable broadband to ensure that citizens across Ireland can avail of remote working, education and other essential online facilities. This is reflected in the commitments in the programme for Government where delivery of the national broadband plan will be a key enabler to many of the policies envisaged particularly around increased levels of remote working. The programme for Government has also committed to seek to accelerate the roll-out of the nation…

I will discuss local matters in County Wexford. I will happily put the rest of the reply on the record for the benefit of other Deputies. The national broadband plan is seeking to accelerate the development of this scheme. It has been delayed somewhat, as I said in my previous reply, due to Covid. Part of the difficulty is that some contractors from the UK have not been able to come to Ireland and the ability to provide a safe environment in which people can carry out work is a challenge. There are extensive plans …

The Deputy is correct. The reason we are looking to accelerate and explore the national broadband operators is because the Covid pandemic showed the importance of remote working and the urgency of us providing that at this time. We are considering accelerating aspects of the plan. It has been scheduled, after several years of preparation, to be a six and seven year process. Those discussions are very serious and have been committed to on the basis of us wanting to see the project accelerated. It requires detailed t…