The Deputy has 30 seconds remaining.

We will bring in the Minister who has six minutes to respond.

A number of Members have submitted two questions. Deputy Lawless has two similar questions and is entitled to two minutes as a supplementary, as it Deputy Paul Murphy.

I ask the Minister for Transport for the number of persons who are awaiting a driving test appointment by county and if he will make a statement on the matter.

This is a real problem, particularly for young people in rural parts of County Clare. A large number of people get in touch with me and I subsequently get in touch with the RSA. Some have been waiting for six months to get a test and it is just not good enough. The target timeframe is ten weeks but the figures show that people are waiting 19 weeks to get an invitation. I can give many examples of where a test date is nearly due and then the appointment is put back by another month or two. It is not good enough. The…

That number should be increased dramatically to try to reduce these figures.

I thank the Minister of State and I welcome his interest in trying to bring about a resolution. Every effort must be made. He has to set out a timeline to achieve those target waiting periods of ten weeks. I am encouraged by his comment that even that is not acceptable and that it needs to be reviewed. We need testers in place to reduce the number of people who are waiting. There is a particular issue on the west coast, particularly in County Clare, regarding the availability of testers to carry out the tests. The …

The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach has completed its detailed scrutiny of the Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Private Members) and, in accordance with Standing Order 178, has recommended that, for the reasons outlined in its Report, the Bill should proceed to Committee stage.

Next is Deputy Ó Broin, who is sharing time with Deputies Patricia Ryan and Ó Murchú.

I welcome the Bill. It has been a long time in drafting. I commend the Minister of State and his officials on their work on the Bill. I also give due credit to the Minister of State's predecessor, Deputy Stanton, for his work. This sector has seen many dramatic changes since the Betting Act 1931 and the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. Most people would consider the greatest such change has been the introduction of online betting and gambling with the use of the mobile phone. Nearly all the betting and gambling carri…

Deputy, please.

Will the Deputy put a question?

The Deputy will have to introduce hurling to County Monaghan first.

I will not repeat it.

I too warmly welcome this reform. It is expansionary. The Minister is to be commended for replicating what was done with the medical card for those aged over 70. The Minister might have the figures for County Clare, which I would be interested in seeing. I have received a lot of queries about the scheme. Some people may qualify for it. Does the Department have any plans to inform the public of the change?

On the form itself, the Minister said she expects it to come out in early December. It is important it is a simple form that is understandable and readable and that it can be turned around quickly. Is there a closing date for the application period or will it remain open? Will individuals be able to apply on an ongoing basis?

I wish to raise the plight of the Burren programme in County Clare. This flagship farming and conservation scheme, which takes place on one of the most sensitive landscapes in the world, has been a win-win for farmers and the environment since its introduction. While the new agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, will lead to better outcomes for farmers and the environment, it will also lead to a reduction in income for Clare farmers and farmers in the Burren area and in the Slieve Aughty area, in east Clare…

We are coming from a dark place as we emerge from the impact of Covid-19. I acknowledge the work of the Minister and her officials in County Clare and throughout the country in respect of what the Department has done to support our most vulnerable people. Little did we think we would have a war break out on the Continent, and an illegal war at that. God knows when it will finish. The Government needs to respond to this situation. I believe strongly that the Minister has shown great leadership. She made a strong ple…

We move to the Labour slot. Deputy Sherlock has ten minutes.

I thank Deputy Leddin for putting forward this question. It is an issue we have both worked on. We have had meetings with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. There really needs to be a coming together. Why not have a joint venture between both Departments? There is an identified solution there. It was originally costing €20 million. Both the Minister and the Minister of State will be aware of the fact that all these prices are escalating. The quicker we do it the better val…