I thank my colleague Deputy Smith for working tirelessly to get these statements on the agenda of the House. I pay tribute to the senior women’s team on their win last night. Soccer is often seen as the sport of the working class. From the outset, when clubs and teams were established by workers in industry and in working-class communities, up to the present day, soccer clubs have played a pivotal role in communities. Modern professional soccer may be dominated by money and the wealthy, but it is ordinary working p…

I thank my colleague, Deputy Ahern, for allowing me to share time with him. I am extremely disappointed that those who criticised my party have not waited for a response. I did not want to speak about this tonight but if people want to stand here and criticise my party, scrapping the carbon tax would have allowed a €1 billion hole in the public finances. I am not sure what I would say to an elderly person who has made an SEAI application to retrofit their house or to get their house wrapped if I was a hypocrite and…

When we speak about Bessborough, we are not speaking about an abstract planning file or a routine decision before a local authority. We are speaking about a place that goes to the very core of who we are, or who we claim to be, as a republic. There are moments when politics must step back from process and confront conscience. This is one of those moments. The history of mother and baby homes is not distanced or detached. It is raw and painful, and remains unresolved for far too many families. Bessborough, in partic…

I thank my colleague, Deputy Alan Kelly, for bringing this extremely important motion forward. I start by acknowledging the gardaí on the ground, particularly in my own area, who do extraordinary work in very difficult circumstances. They deal daily with antisocial behaviour, drug intimidation, thefts, public disorder and repeat offenders, and they are doing so often with limited numbers, limited resources and increasing pressure. We need to be honest about every situation that is facing An Garda Síochána. Recruitm…

I want to raise an issue in Mallow General Hospital, which is in my home town. Over the past six months, the day ward has been closed on several occasions to facilitate overcrowding in Cork University Hospital, the Mercy Hospital and Kerry University Hospital. It is entirely unacceptable that day procedures would be halted for several days to facilitate overcrowding. People in genuine need of these day ward procedures have often been told on the morning of their procedure that it has been cancelled. This issue has …

The previous Deputy, Seán Sherlock, would have as well.

Will the Taoiseach provide a date on the opening?

I raise a deeply serious and sensitive issue, namely, children with additional needs and their rights to an appropriate education. In recent weeks, I have spoken directly with parents who are anxious and in many cases still without clarity on where their child will go to school this September. The Tánaiste knows it himself. Every parent asks the same simple question this time of the year, "Where is my child going to school in September?" However, for these families, that question is still unanswered. When I raised …

I appreciate the Tánaiste's response. I return to what Department officials have confirmed. They said the Government is aware of this increased need but they also made it clear further analysis is needed to ensure that need can be met. The Tánaiste referenced that with regard to not using the word "demand". He said that the level of need has increased significantly. The question that is being asked by parents is very simple. Will their child have an appropriate place for this September coming? Can the Tánaiste guar…

There is no doubt that families across this country are under real pressure. I see it every day in my constituency, with people coming into my office looking for help and non-political point scoring. That is exactly why I stand here. I am looking for real, tangible solutions to what the people of Ireland require and need. People are worried about their next electricity bill, the price of home heating oil and the cost of filling the car just to get to work. For many working families, the cost-of-living crisis has no…

We did, actually.

It was clearly outlined to me just now at the Committee of Public Accounts that the Department of education does not have the number of special classes and special school places available to match the level of need and provide for the number of applicants. Therefore, right now we have children without a place for the next academic year. I was told that all Government leaders are aware of this. When was the Tánaiste made aware of this? Will he put on the record that every child that requires a special class or a spe…

I thank the Social Democrats and Deputy Rice for bringing this motion forward. I will primarily focus on one aspect of the motion. The motion calls on the Government to "expand the ... [chronic disease management programme] to include severe and enduring mental health difficulties, epilepsy and other conditions as appropriate, in consultation with GPs delivering the service". I am an epileptic. That is something I have learned to live with but that would not have been possible without the support of my consultant, …

The Chair should be respected. Over the past two weeks, the Government has let down children with additional needs, special needs assistants, parents, school communities and now special educational needs organisers, SENOs. That is why tonight, across the country, these very people will take to the streets and protest outside the Dáil at 5 p.m. At every opportunity, the Labour Party has welcomed developments in our education system. I welcomed new special classes, new special schools, new SNAs and the proposed roll-…

I welcome that.

Did the Taoiseach not know about the levels?

I do not need lectures from the Taoiseach on the role of an SNA-----

I do not need lectures from the Taoiseach on the role of an SNA. I know what they are about. I said at the beginning that I welcome the development of SNAs. I did not need the figures. I know the figures and I welcome them. As a State, we have to accept the reality. The level of resources did not keep up with the level of need. That is the reality. We were able to get €19 million overnight. Was it penny-pinching all along? Was it the Taoiseach's deputy leader, Deputy Chambers, keeping the money away from the Depart…

That is completely untrue.

You are telling untruths.