-----things are happening, but we are getting to a stage where we cannot let this happen to the Carlow people.

I too want to welcome the progress being made on housing, including in my own area of Carlow. I welcome the improvements, although I know we have a lot more to do. There are still many challenges. In 2021, I introduced the Housing (Housing Assistance Payment Waiting Times) (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Bill. I am very disappointed that I am still waiting for it to be put on the system. Can the Taoiseach do anything for me in that regard? The purpose of the Bill is to set out a new statutory deadline for th…

Last week we all saw the devastating floods in Cork. I have to say that we were very lucky in Carlow because we have a great flood relief scheme. There was only a small amount of flooding in Carlow and Kilkenny. I want to ask the Tánaiste about the fact that we do not have a live national flood warning system and it is my understanding that we have no plans to make one publicly available. I contacted the Department about this and the latest update I received is that the Guide to Flood Emergencies by the Department …

It is important.

I will.

He is excellent.

We have all been shocked by the recent loss of lives on our roads. I want to express my condolences to the families around the country and in my own county of Carlow for the loss of their loved ones this year. There really has been a worrying increase in road fatalities this year, after many years of progress in making our roads safer. I welcome the review of speed limits around the country, which may see recommendations to lower speed limits in dangerous areas. I know we all see this in our daily lives when we go …

I have so much more to say. Am I finished already?

It is important that we get all of these issues sorted, including driving licences and people waiting on their driving test, which is another huge issue.

Like previous speakers, I want to compliment the Chair of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, Deputy Michael Moynihan; the Vice Chair, Deputy Tully; and the team working with us. I am honoured to be on that committee. Excellent work is being done. As previous speakers have said, we are listening but we have huge challenges. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, she has always been helpful to us and she came to every meeting. Even now, on a Thursday evening, the Minister of State is here to t…

One in eight homes is now in arrears on its energy bills. This includes homes in County Carlow. Further electricity cost emergency benefit payments are very welcome. I welcome the three €150 benefit payments to be made in December 2023, January 2024 and March-April 2024. These are very important, but the continued high level of global energy prices is causing massive problems for every household. I am disappointed that the delayed Bill on the windfall tax only covers the six months between last December and June of…

I want to speak today about school builds. There are 27 projects ongoing under the large-scale and additional accommodation schemes in County Carlow. Just nine modular accommodation projects are under way. To date in 2023, more than €425,000 has been paid in emergency works funding to Carlow schools. Yet I know of so many schools where children are being taught in prefabs and overcrowded and dated accommodation. One school in Carlow has not progressed beyond stage 2A of the additional school accommodation scheme, e…

While capacity has expanded, this is not enough. I wish to make the point to the Taoiseach that we have no special educational needs organiser, SENO, now and it is very hard for children to get places.

Last year volunteers in citizens information branches in Carlow were told they were no longer needed. They were really good information providers. I can speak for them because I know most of them there. The move towards going online since Covid has meant a reduction in the face-to-face services being offered. This is a huge issue for me. When we are losing face-to-face contact it becomes a huge issue. In my area the outreach services in Callan, Graiguenamanagh, Mooncoin, Tullow and Baltinglass have been closed. Wha…

I also thank the Minister for the hot school meals programme. It has been so beneficial to children and families that have always been under pressure with their children going to school. It is an excellent scheme. We set up St. Clare's Hospitality Kitchen in Graiguecullen, County Carlow. There is no funding there. We are feeding children. We are giving out food parcels. There are approximately 100 food parcels going out a week. There are families coming in for dinner in the evening. I know the Minister's commitment…

That is very good.

The once-off payments before Christmas and shortly after Christmas are really welcome but there still are families feeling the pinch. I am working with a man at the moment who, through no fault of his own, got very sick. He is on a social welfare payment now and is trying to pay a mortgage. I am trying to get help for him and his family, particularly with their heating bill. People can go to their social welfare office and get help with bills like that. We need to do more to promote that provision. I refer the Mini…

I agree with Deputy McAuliffe. I too work with a lot of people who apply for the carer's allowance in Carlow. I live in the same area as Catherine Cox, who is a spokesperson on this issue, and the means-testing is a serious issue. Again, it involves constantly filling out forms and looking for bank statements and this, that and the other. There has to be a change of system. It is not working and it takes weeks before the applicant even gets payment. It needs to be looked at and the means-testing is a huge issue.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I acknowledge the work the Minister is doing, but people coming to my office have told me the disability allowance system has shown them that an illness is nearly starting to cost them money. More than 14,300 people in Carlow were recorded as experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty in census 2022, or 23% of the county's population. That is a huge issue. Moreover, according to the same data, one in five people is unable to work due to a disability and lives i…

I welcome that County Carlow was part of the second phase of the landmark pilot that rolled out counselling services in primary school settings, in-school support and in the form of education on well-being. As we know, mental health teams in clusters of primary schools are important. I ask the Minister about the follow-up. It is great to see intervention in schools but more is needed. In my constituency, there are no occupational or speech and language therapists, there is no CAMHS access and children's disability …