The Labour Party was in government in 2011.

The Labour Party should be clear.

No.

I thank Senator Currie for raising this important issue on the process under section 254 of the Planning and Development Act for telecommunications infrastructure. Senator Currie was a leading proponent of remote working and the need for broadband in that regard. Long before the onset of Covid and long before the Senator was elected to this House, she led the charge for remote working and highlighted the benefits that could be brought to society at large by introducing remote working in a broad way. Of course Covid…

I totally understand that, Senator. We must strike a balance between providing consultation but ensure there is no capacity to block or delay it because these things do need to be delivered. On the questions about whether they are all needed and juxtaposed on the same street or whether they need to be spread out, and what coverage is being provided and by what provider, those are normal transparent pieces of information that people should be able to expect. I agree with what the Senator said about the fee. It seems…

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising the matter. I could not agree more that it is time to publish the guidelines. The last set was published in 2005 and it is now 2023, 18 years later. Following the passage through these Houses of the national planning framework and the legislation that went with it in 2018, it is crucial that the guidelines be published, and published shortly. They were due to be published at the end of last year but it was necessary to conduct an additional environmental assessment. They are to be…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Department has been in contact with Kerry County Council directly on the matter of Old Killarney Village and Birch Hill estate. I understand a report and submission are being prepared by the council. I am assured by the Department that upon receipt of that submission, the matter will be dealt with as quickly as possible. I would be surprised or concer…

I thank the Senator. I am not sure I can add much more to what he said. I completely agree. Balancing the need for additional housing where required and the need for development to be in keeping with the environment is our shared objective.

I appreciate the points made by the Deputy, which is why it is so important that a detailed submission is made by the council. We all understand the construction price inflation issues that are there but it concerns any additional costs that are different from the proposal that was granted funding at an earlier stage. As Minister of State in the Department of Finance, I am not in a position to commit to funding on behalf of any other Department. More broadly, it is important that funding requirements are set out by…

I thank the Senator. It is always very satisfying to talk to him about any housing matter. The Senator's suggestions have been taken on in many cases. I hope his suggestions in the latter part of his contribution will be taken on in this instance. I am not often in a position to deliver good news, but it is intended that the refurbishment scheme the Senator described will be extended to include properties, which will be made available for rent from 1 May, as well as reviewing the grant rates applicable. That was on…

The Senator is absolutely right to identify that social housing delivery is always needed and continues to be needed. I, like the Senator, have constituents who have received social homes in the past number of weeks and months and are happy about that. There is a positive trend on which we must continue to work. However, the particular point of difficulty at present is the group who are not eligible for social housing. The waiting list has come down by more than one third in the past number of years. We also know t…

I thank the Deputies for raising this really important matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Department of Education and the Minister for Education. They have asked me to outline the current position on the major building project that is so necessary for Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise. I understand it is a major building project providing a new eight-classroom school for pupils with very special educational needs, plus ancillary accommodation and associated site works adjacent to the current location, which b…

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I cannot imagine how difficult and stressful it is not to have a place in school for a child going into secondary school, especially given the important transition and the important age at which it happens. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. She would like me to clarify the current position relating to post-primary school provision in Galway city. She states that for school planning purposes, the Department of Education divides the …

The Deputy knows that the one thing I could never do is promise something I could not deliver. I am completely honest about that. What I do know is that the Department of Education has, over the past two years, secured real delivery of projects for children with additional needs. Even in my constituency, there are, I think, 13 new classes that were not in existence prior to 2020. There is a genuinely different approach to delivery for children with special needs. Deputy Stanley is right that I have a long-standing …

I thank the Senator. I will certainly do that. I am told the priority for the Department is to ensure there are places available for every student for the next school year and that it will continue to engage with patrons and school authorities in this regard. I completely agree with the Senator. I imagine the principals are working quite closely to ensure they do not have duplication of applications with confusion arising as a consequence. I do not represent that side of the country but I am aware of the scale of d…

I hope I will not disappoint the Senator with my answer but I am afraid I cannot add much more information. I would, however, say that I am deeply interested and invested in the passage of this legislation, in addition to the correct receipt, review and consideration of that very important report and what needs to follow from that. I thank the Senator for the opportunity to be here although I appreciate he would have preferred to have the Minister here on this occasion. I do not know what he is doing. I imagine he …

I appreciate that. I imagine he is working in the Department, but I do not know. In any event, the Senator will be aware that the Front Bench cover try to do the best they can to get information to Members. I totally agree that nobody should be harassed, insulted or intimidated in any way, frankly, at any healthcare setting but particularly involving a matter of such sensitivity. People should not have their decision to access lawful healthcare services subject to attempted influence in an unsolicited way by strang…

I understand that I do not have more detailed information for the Senator, but the broader point is how it was a Fine Gael Government that introduced this legislation to put to the people in relation to the referendum. There is certainly no lack of commitment about the provision of appropriate healthcare services for every person in this country, on my part or the part of my party. There is a body of work to be done within the Department of Health. It is not a Department that produces a great deal of legislation. I…

I thank the Deputy for raising the question, which speaks to a broader issue about access to individuals in key financial services and being able to talk to somebody about decisions. I will take that back and address it with Revenue and I will come back to the Deputy with a response.

Stop.