There has been no legal or administrative change. They are working together to try to deliver an operating model that allows them to continue that important work.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." We are here to begin our consideration of the Finance Bill, which will give the necessary legal basis to the decisions announced in the budget and make a number of other necessary updates to tax legislation. I will highlight some of the key measures contained in the Bill, but first it is useful to look at the context in which it is set. On 1 October, I gave my first Budget Statement to this House, outlining the positive progress this Government has made since it to…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

The Minister, Deputy Foley, announced details of an unprecedented education budget of €11.8 billion. Part of the €9 million which has been allocated for new mobile phone pouches to support schools is to implement a policy which is about mental health, well-being and the dignity of children. Deputy Doherty should never play politics when it comes to the mental health of young people-----

-----or of children in schools in our communities.

The investment in children's welfare, mental health and dignity at school is never a waste of money. If this helps one young person in a school who has had difficulties, for example, with the use of mobile phones in schools, is it not a progressive and practical initiative to help support young people and their learning in schools? This policy is underpinned by clear evidence internationally. The UN and many European and other jurisdictions are demonstrating that this a research-based initiative. The initiative is …

That is the purpose of this investment. If you take it in the context of our wider investment in education through this budget, we are investing €2.9 billion in special education, we are extending the provision of free schoolbooks to all students in the senior cycle and a €75 million increase to capitation funding. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has secured that but she is also cognisant of the concerns of parents across the country when it comes to the use of smartphones in schools. This is a practical measure to giv…

-----by the enormous damage caused by smartphone use during the day? This will make an impact and a difference. We should never play politics when it comes to the investment in our young people and in initiatives that will help their mental health and well-being. That is what is at the centre of this initiative that the Minister, Deputy Foley, has sought to do.

Again, Sinn Féin's populist politics is driven by anger, with a shallow attack on an initiative that will make a difference. This is part of a wider well-being and mental health policy in schools. If Deputy Doherty looked at all the international research from the UN and others, this makes a difference when it is being introduced.

Smartphone bans in schools have an impact on young people's mental health.

As I said previously, an investment in children's welfare, in their mental health and well-being in schools is not a waste of money.

The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is beside me. She has secured record funding over the last five years - a 43% increase in funding for our mental health services across the country. We are supporting the improved recruitment within our mental health services in community health organisations across our country. Complementing this initiative is an unprecedented investment in our health system to support the growth of our mental health services. Sinn Féin should not go back to its stock position of attacking ini…

Sinn Féin is a party that looks to spend day in day out. In all budgetary positions outlined in the pre-budget submissions, it is a party policy defined by more spending on everything.

In fact, that is Sinn Féin's pre-budget submission on all issues.

It is high spending. This is a policy to protect children, to protect their mental health and well-being in schools. It is disappointing to see Sinn Féin attack an initiative that will make a difference.

I acknowledge the difficulties many families face when it comes to accessing therapies, supports and assessments of need in communities across the country. This is something I see in my constituency office. I know all of us collectively share the priority in trying to advance progress when it comes to people with additional needs and disabilities. The Deputy referenced what the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, has sought to advance in budget 2025. There has been an unprecedented investment of €11.8 billion in …

As I said in my previous answer, this year's budget is a record €3.2 billion, which is an increase of 11.6% on 2024. That has been set out to me by the Department involved. What this will result in is further progress on many of the initiatives established by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. In the first half of this year, regarding the waiting lists initiative, there has been improvement in the number of assessments of need completed, which is a 28% increase on the same period last year. Regional hubs have …

The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and others have secured record levels of investment in our health system. This is making a difference for patients, families and communities across our country. Over €25 billion is being spent in 2025. The recent budget will see a further €180 million in new measures, including support for cancer care, cardiovascular and stroke care as well as rare diseases. The impact of this investment in healthcare by the Government is seen in the ve…

I agree with the Deputy about the huge amount of work that front-line staff do across our hospital system. I commend them on the work they do in difficult circumstances. The Government’s investment in healthcare is achieving outcomes. There is faster access to services, with numbers of people on trolleys in the first eight months of the year down by 11%, for example. That demonstrates the commitment and ongoing progress we are seeing in our health system. There has been enormous progress in Tullamore and the midlan…

I thank Deputy Collins very much for her question. I obviously cannot comment on a specific WRC case or something that is subject to legal proceedings and I acknowledge, as the Deputy has said, that the case has been through the WRC and that there has been interaction between the worker and Cobh Heritage Centre. The Government is committed to supporting low-paid workers in our economy. That is why the national minimum wage will increase to €13.50 per hour from 1 January 2025, where an estimated 195,300 workers will…