Oh, I have my own slot - that is perfect. I just saw eight minutes on the clock-----

I will take the eight minutes. That is fine.

Absolutely. A 51-week tenancy does not suit most students, including post-graduate and medical students. As more and more landlords look for such agreements, we need to put in place rules now to keep everything fair. Most students study during college terms and then take work during the summer months, which subsidises their education. They work to help to pay for their education, which reduces the burden on their parents and provides a degree of balance. Many of them return to their home towns to work, leaving thei…

I thank the Minister. I welcome and acknowledge her commitment, hard work and dedication to addressing this; however, as she knows, gender-based violence occurs in many forms and most assaults go unreported. We need society and the political system to address this and take an honest look at how the system responds and meets the needs of victims of violence. One key action of the third national strategy, of which I know the Minister is aware, is the doubling of the number of refuge spaces to 280. I have had many a m…

People are being denied disability allowance and are not being given oral hearings. Every case I am working on gets a standard reply asking for further information. I respect that this change happened during Covid, but it is important that hearings be brought back, as this approach is affecting people and their illnesses. They need to have these hearings. I ask that the Taoiseach examine this matter. Another issue is that of carer’s allowance appeals. It takes eight months for appeals to come through. Again, each r…

Like previous speakers, I would like to welcome the increase in the number of judges in the Court of Appeal, which is important. The most important element of the Bill is that the amendments reach across many aspects of people's lives and have the potential to make significant changes. The Minister spoke about night crime, which is worrying. We have to make sure that we have enough gardaí and support. In my area, Carlow-Kilkenny, one of the biggest issues being raised in my clinics on a daily basis is drugs. We nee…

The Health Research Board has advertised that cocaine addiction among Irish women has risen by almost 400% in six years. Last year, 1,300 women sought treatment. What is the Government doing to address this? What measures are being taken to stop large shipments of drugs? What additional supports are being given to our gardaí and service agencies?

First, I welcome the good work that has been done by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Although we have much more to do, a lot of houses have been built. A lot has been done by the local authorities under the Derelict Sites Act and so on. However, we are now getting to a different phase. I am aware of applicants for social housing who have been removed from the housing list without being made aware of it. Letters are sent, but they are posted to old addresses and the applicants do not receiv…

I accept that staff are doing their best.

I am not taking that from them but a lot of things must be looked at.

I will talk about the planning guidelines in general and about issues that others have brought up. In the past year, a great number of young people in Carlow have come to me asking about the beautiful new timber cabin homes. As they cannot get mortgages, they are now looking at these lovely new cabins. Some of them have lovely sites and should be able to get planning permission. Some of these are what would have been called backyard developments on planning applications years ago. The parents of some of the people …

I raise the issue of nursing homes. I was contacted recently by a nursing home because residents who need to see a doctor to have their ears syringed are being charged €35. These residents have medical cards and they are on the fair deal scheme. They must also pay for a taxi which costs between €65 and €75 and, furthermore, the nursing home has to get a member of staff to go with them in the taxi. I welcomed what the Taoiseach said about people living longer and he is right that it is good news but as people live l…

I have spoken about this issue several times here in the Chamber. The grant has been extended for two weeks. My understanding is that the deadline is now Wednesday, 29 May, but there is huge confusion about this. Sorry, I will wait until the Minister has finished speaking to the Minister of State.

That is good. This is really important and I have been on about this grant for the last few weeks. The deadline is next week, 29 May. It needs to be extended more. I see the Minister of State shake her head but the uptake in Carlow is not good. I know this because I have been speaking with all the businesses. I contacted the Chamber of Commerce and some businesses myself because of the uptake. I feel we need to do more. The worrying thing for the Department is why the uptake is so low in most areas. Carlow County C…

A taxi driver in Bagenalstown was refused a licence because the NTA said there were nine existing services. There is only one taxi service in Bagenalstown; the other eight have to come from Carlow. The man in question spent more than €20,000 on his car. Some 50 or so people have signed letters calling for the service in Bagenalstown, which is a rural part of the county. Carlow County Council granted the licence because it said it was needed. Then the NTA refused it. Is the NTA forgetting about rural Ireland? We nee…

I thank the Minister and her team. I am not on the committee but I thank the members and everyone involved. This is an exceptional Bill. It will be crucial from the point of view of employers and employees. The reason I am contributing now is that I have been speaking to employers and employees. I know the Minister will give them what they are asking for, which is proper information and communication, some kind of public awareness campaign and for everybody to work together. We always talk about red tape and who ca…

Rural Ireland wants to use public transport but we are making it very difficult. The 800 bus through Tullow town only meets the Arklow train to Dublin and not the Carlow train to Dublin. It is also stops far short of the new ETB campus on the Kilkenny Road in Carlow. The Taoiseach will know there are thousands of learners there but it is not served by public transport. We need to address all of these issues. We need to look at the services to make sure they are there for people. While I am speaking to the Taoiseach…

Okay, that is fine. Thank you. I thank the Minister for coming to Carlow last week. Carlow is one of many rural towns and counties where I always say that while we always need more housing, we are doing very well. It is always important we recognise the work that has been done. We have seen it in the past four years of the Government. More houses have been built than in the previous nine years combined. I know the Minister's priority is and always will be housing for those on low and moderate incomes and people who…

I welcome universal healthcare. It is important, but I want to talk about the basic issues I face every day in my clinics. I have people with full medical cards coming in to me with some doctors charging them for their blood tests. I also have people applying for a grant. When people are aged 66 or over, they can apply to Carlow County Council for a housing adaptation grant or a grant for windows, doors or a bedroom extension. Some doctors charge them for their notes or medical reports. People with a full medical c…

I want to raise the summer programme in schools. As the Taoiseach knows, there has been a reduction in capitation rates this year. I have been in contact with the Department of Education and other Departments in recent weeks. They told me the summer programme has significantly expanded over the past three years. The problem is that the capitation rate in mainstream schools, which was originally €45 per week in 2023, has now gone down to €30 per week for 2024 which is a reduction of €15. Loads of schools in County C…