While I welcome the Pobal scheme, 78 applications is not a lot and 78 additional childcare facilities, or not even childcare facilities, is not sufficient for the demand we have in Ireland and it will certainly not do anything to meet the demands of the people in Dublin Fingal West. Will the Minister look seriously for more funding to support childcare providers in areas of high demand? As I said, I cannot understate the demand in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk. It is one of the youngest constituencies in Irel…

That is very welcome news. If the 78 applicants do not take up the €25 million, I ask the Minister to urgently reopen the scheme. Seven weeks was not a very long window for childcare providers to make applications to the scheme, so I would very much like her to look at reopening it if the money is not all utilised. In addition to that, however, I would very much appreciate it if the Minister looked for additional funding. We really need to prioritise areas like mine - Skerries, Balbriggan, Rush and Lusk - and do ev…

I ask the Minister to update us, please, on discussions in respect of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. We are an island nation with an ever-growing population, expanding at a rate of 100,000 people per year. Our capital city's airport is a vital component for our national competitiveness and continued success. Dealing with the cap and putting in place a long-term plan for the airport is an opportunity for Ireland not just to attract more tourists but to increase our connectivity and attract more industry to our…

I welcome the draft legislation coming before the House and thank the Minister, Deputy Burke, and Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, for their work on it to date. As other Deputies have said, the Bill, when enacted, will see the implementation by the Government of one of the key commitments in response to the pensions commission's recommendations and implementation plan. This legislation reflects an understanding of the changing dynamics and demographics of Irish society and the importance of ensuring all workers, e…

The Minister might tell us what the plan is to support the school building unit to deliver school buildings and extensions to school buildings in an efficient and timely manner. In my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, there are numerous projects that are taking an extraordinarily long time. Some cases are taking decades. It is essential the Department works collaboratively with principals to deliver our school buildings and extensions quickly, efficiently and as soon as possible to meet the growing demands.

I thank the Minister. I acknowledge that there has been a lot of investment in school buildings. However, my constituency of Dublin Fingal West is one of the youngest constituencies in the country. Balbriggan is the youngest large town in the country. We are rapidly growing. The towns of Rush and Lusk were tiny villages when I was a child but are now full of young and growing families. We are not delivering schools quickly enough. In Rush in particular, three schools have been waiting for decades. We need to see fa…

I thank the Minister. Schools are an investment in our future. We need to move away from patching up prefabs that have been there for ten, 20 or 30 years when they were only intended to be used for a few years. We need to invest in our schools and invest in the future and in our children and teachers, by providing good, accessible, reasonable school accommodation. I would like to see a specific time limit introduced for the Department to respond to principals. A common theme in representations I get from principals…

It is good to see the Ceann Comhairle back in the Chair. The Tánaiste already touched on the topic this evening but will he give an update on his engagement with the EU trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič?

I thank the Tánaiste. The European Commissioner is a very experienced negotiator. It is reassuring that he seems fully in control of the situation. What is happening in America, however, is completely and utterly unpredictable. I urge the Minister to also take into consideration the impact of any trade tariffs on our SME sector. I am delighted he established the trade forum but the SME sector will need support and protection. Will the Minister let us know what he is doing in that regard?

I thank the Tánaiste very much. I appreciate all the work he is doing on this front. I wish him the very best of luck in the coming days.

The Tánaiste touched on his St. Patrick's Day trip. Will he give us an update on the outcome of the various St. Patrick's Day missions, particularly regarding the business and trade aspect?

I thank the Tánaiste. Will he let us know what sense he got on his trip from the politicians and members of the business community he met as to how they see things going in the next six months? How nervous are they for their country and its trade domestically and internationally?

The programme for Government highlights a commitment to focus on actions to improve literacy and numeracy. Dublin Fingal is Ireland's youngest county and Balbriggan, located in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, is the youngest large town in the country. My constituency's population is rapidly growing, resulting in significant strain on the school system, with long waiting lists for autism classes, special education places and reading class placements. Today, I would like to focus on reading class places. Readi…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the crisis in funding for primary schools in Dublin's north inner city. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the Killarney to Farranfore bypass. Deputy James Geoghegan - To discuss the extension of the red line Luas to Poolbeg. Deputy Ciarán Ahern - To discuss the provision of speech and language therapists in Dublin South-West, …

I call Deputy Emer Currie to speak on the first Topical Issue matter.

As we gather here today to celebrate International Women's Day, I find myself reflecting on my own journey to this Chamber. Growing up in the eighties, I dreamed big. Playing with my Barbie dolls - office, doctor and astronaut Barbie - I imagined a future where I could be anything I wanted to be. Encouraged by my parents and inspired by Barbie, I believed that hard work would make those dreams a reality. When I entered the workforce, though, I quickly realised the playing field was far from even. Promotions were no…

Having limited access to childcare options is inhibiting predominantly women from returning to the workplace and their absence is a loss to the economy. The one thing they need for return to the workplace is simply not available to them. Childcare needs vary from family to family and the Government needs to be dynamic and urgently support the delivery of more childcare options, especially in areas like my own constituency of Dublin Fingal West, which is one of the youngest areas in the country and is rapidly growin…

The new national fare structure for train fares announced by the NTA will see the implementation of the Dublin city zone later this year. Skerries and Balbriggan, two towns in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, have been excluded from the Dublin city zone; unlike Maynooth, which is in the county of Kildare and Bray, which is the county of Wicklow. This exclusion poses an additional annual financial burden of up to €440 on people living in Skerries and Balbriggan. I have already received numerous emails from peo…

I wish the Minister, Deputy Foley, well in her new portfolio. I thank the Ministers of State for coming to the Chamber today. Tackling the deficiencies in disability services is a significant challenge. It is imperative that all of us, as elected representatives, collaborate with the Minister and Ministers of State to bring about much-needed transformation in disability services. In the short time I have, I will focus on my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, which falls under CHO 9. I highlight that the two CDNTs …

I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, on her appointment. I also congratulate the Minister, Deputy Foley, on her new portfolio. I ask the Minister of State to outline her Department's plans to reduce the number of children waiting longer than three months for their assessment of need in CHO 9.