I, too, have been inundated with calls from my constituents about the poor state of broadband in County Carlow. This is especially true in rural parts of the county. Now more than ever, a robust Internet connection is required for all constituents working from home and also to prevent isolation in these challenging times. It is important for us to keep connected, and there is an urgency around this matter. There are parts of Carlow where people are really struggling to get basic-level Internet to carry out normal d…

I mentioned Myshall but I did not go through all of the names.

As I said, I did not go through all the names because there are so many. I welcome this €32 million for broadband for County Carlow. It is essential now more than ever that we make sure the delivery is quick. I know from working with Carlow County Council that it will be fully supportive of this. I know the people of County Carlow will welcome this. We must make sure it is there for everybody because everybody deserves broadband. It will be part of life that we have a proper connection and a proper service. It is s…

Is that agreed? Agreed.

The next group is the Regional Independent Group with ten minutes. Is Deputy Mattie McGrath sharing time?

The Rural Independent Group. That is what I said.

That is what I said, Rural Independent Group.

No, I said Rural Independent Group.

We all watch with pride the decrease in the number of reported cases of Covid-19 and we look forward to coming out of level 5. I am conscious that we must have a Christmas that is as normal as possible after the year we have all had. Will the Government look at how we can safely provide a way for the selling of real Christmas trees, which is a sustainable industry in Ireland? The Taoiseach knows Christmas trees are sold throughout the country from various outlets, including casual trading, filling station forecourt…

Last year we all accepted Brexit was the main immediate threat to the economy. This year, while we still face Brexit, we now have the coronavirus. We are still unclear what the outcome of Brexit will be, even with an agreement on a trade deal. It is still the case that the UK is leaving the EU whether we like it or not. This will certainly bring changes. It is important we are ready for these changes for citizens and for businesses. After years of austerity, it is heartening to see that with budget 2021, the larges…

We all got a shock when we realised that we had to go to level 5 this week. Many people are doing the right thing by washing their hands, wearing masks and reducing contacts while businesses have spent thousands of euro modifying their premises to protect their staff and customers. They were all stunned when they realised that no matter how hard they tried, the virus had taken control and seems out of control. We owe it to those good people and businesses to work very hard for the next six weeks to eliminate transm…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving me this time. I am raising the issue because of the seriousness of it and in light of the report in the Irish Examiner of the concerns expressed by the Data Protection Commissioner. I voted for what I thought, and what I was told, was a Bill to preserve information. I did not vote to lock away that information for 30 years and make it inaccessible to people. We need to stop the Bill's progress in the Seanad. It must be brought back to the Dáil and we must look at it agai…

I will also wish to raise the issue of testing and tracing. On Friday, a child at a school in County Carlow was diagnosed with Covid-19. The pod, of course, was sent home straight away and the school showed excellent compliance. The school, however, rang the HSE on the Friday which immediately referred it to a Dublin number. The person at the Dublin number rang back and said no nurses were available. On Saturday and Sunday, again, they contacted the public health team and on Sunday evening they had to contact the l…

The Select Committee on the Transport and Communication Networks has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for the Public Service for the year ending 31 December 2020: Vote 31.

I appreciate the time given to me to discuss this matter. I have raised this issue over many years and frankly I am disappointed to have to do so again. I have a number of questions about an ambulance base in Carlow and look forward to a reply to them. Some years ago, I was told that €350,000 was being allocated under the capital funding for the building of a fit-for-purpose ambulance base. I was recently told in a written reply that only €50,000 was allocated and spent. Where is the rest of the money? Has a health…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply, although I am confused by some of it. I welcome that a safety audit was carried out on 19 October. Is it the first audit or have they been done regularly? There are 18 excellent staff doing a great job. As we know, even with their extra duties, paramedics are going into houses and testing for Covid, particularly for people who cannot travel or are not able to leave their homes, so we cannot give them enough praise. However, I have been there and although I am not a healt…

The Deputy talked about the HSE. I have had calls from non-essential HSE staff who have been told they are not allowed to work from home, despite the current situation with the rise in the number of cases.

My understanding is there is a ban in respect of HSE staff, regardless of whether they are essential or not.

It is similar. I need to get an answer as it serious, especially with the rise in the number of cases. I will repeat my question. I have had calls from non-essential HSE staff who have been told they are not allowed to work from home, despite the current situation with the rise in the number of cases.

The Tánaiste might come back to me on that as it is serious. If NPHET is going by these rules and we must abide by them, then it is important.