I welcome this important debate on water policy. Developing a water policy with so many complex issues and competing demands is not an easy task. Over the past decade we started to make some inroads. The two main issues are to provide safe, clean water to all of us and to treat all our wastewater so that when it is returned to the environment it does not cause damage to our health, to the rivers and seas or to other fresh water supplies. A multitude of other issues are involved in developing a water policy. I will …

We need energy for heat, light, transport, communications, agriculture and every aspect of our daily lives. Over recent months, we have become much more aware of the importance of energy security following the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin and his use of energy as a weapon. In recent weeks we have seen him target energy facilities and water supplies in Ukraine. Putin’s use of energy as a weapon is not just affecting Ukraine; it has sent shock waves across Europe. Ireland has been affected, so it is …

I wish to raise the case of early years providers and in particular, those services which are reliant on the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme. This vital sector has sought and requires an immediate increase in their capitation. The Taoiseach will be aware that ECCE was introduced in 2010 at €64.50 per child per week. That capitation has remained static over the past 12 years. Spiralling costs are putting the viability of ECCE-reliant services in question. We cannot really afford to lose these vit…

I welcome this Bill, which is about increasing capital investment in our tourism sector from €300 million to €500 million. This is on top of the investment this Government has made over the last three years to support the tourism sector to survive during the pandemic. The last three years have not been good for the industry, even if we have achieved a significant recovery in recent months. Maybe we can learn a few things from these difficult times. The collapse of air travel in this period should allow us to drive …

Our next slot is for Solidarity-People Before Profit. Unfortunately, there are no Deputies from that grouping present.

I am sure you could. We will move to the Government slot. I call Deputy Murnane O'Connor.

I welcome this important Bill, which is another part of the jigsaw the Minister has been bringing before us in reforming and updating the criminal justice system. I congratulate the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on bringing this important Bill before the House today. I am aware this Bill comes before us as a result of the Minister’s determination to modernise this system, not only to reform the system but also to streamline the process and ensure that if you do the crime you do the time, and to deter others, particular…

I welcome this important Bill and I congratulate the Minister of State on bringing it before the House. Over the last year, I have made many representations to him and his team in the Department on behalf of employers concerning employment permits. This legislation is before us because of the Minister of State's determination to modernise the system. This includes not only reforming it but also streamlining the process, which is welcome. In fairness to the Minister of State and his Department, turnaround times for …

I seek an update on plans announced at the end of March for a reimagined senior cycle

The Minister has given a broad outline of what the new senior cycle will look like but the detail is light. What subjects will be available? What will the curriculum consist of? What form will the exams take? What form will the continuous assessment take? There is little time available to give the answers to those questions. If we learned anything from the pandemic, it was that the leaving certificate needs to be reformed in its entirety. Sitting that exam is not the be-all and end-all for all students. The reform …

I still believe there is a need for more clarity for students, parents and teachers. I acknowledge that the Minister's press statement in March outlined her aspirations and she has outlined them again. There is need for clarity for students. In recent months junior cert students have experienced uncertainty in waiting for their results. We certainly do not want our older students to be in that position also. I appeal to the Minister to do her utmost to engage with students and teachers to plan out what she has in m…

I ask the Minister for her views on the assistive technology scheme and if she will provide an update on the review of the scheme.

I acknowledge how important the assistive technology scheme is for those students. I recognise the Minister of State's work in securing an additional €2 million for the programme, bringing it up to €5.5 million. The number of students throughout the country who benefit from the scheme is 3,766, including 62 students in County Clare. The Minister of State has given an indicative timeframe for the review to conclude by May 2023. What type of work will take place between now and when the Minister of State hopes to hav…

Students with physical or communicative disabilities are among our most vulnerable students. It is imperative that we continue to adapt this important scheme to ensure we meet the needs of all those students. I accept what the Minister of State has just said. The addition of the €2 million is significant, representing a 60% increase. I very much look forward to the outcome of the review and I ask the Minister of State to keep me informed because this issue is very important to many families who have students who ar…

Will the Minister of State provide an update on the number of special class places that have been sanctioned for the 2022-23 school year?

I thank the Minister of State for that response. Special classes play a significant role in the development of children with special education needs. I acknowledge the Minister of State's really welcome work in securing €2.6 billion in the recent budget, which is the biggest budget in the history of the State for special education. The priority of the Government and the Minister of State has been to ensure that every child in the country has access to a school place. I had the pleasure of working with the Minister …

I want to pay credit to the Minister of State for her intervention in bringing forward emergency legislation during the year to strengthen section 37A. She must be commended for that whole process. Every school community should be encouraged to open a special class. I have seen first-hand the positive impact it has. I look forward to welcoming the Minister of State to County Clare in the next number of weeks when she will visit Scoil na Mainistreach in Quin to perform an official opening of its two new autism spect…

In May of this year the Minister for Transport and the National Transport Authority, NTA, launched a 50% reduction in public transport fares for young people aged between 19 and 23. Issues quickly emerged regarding the scheme, in particular its extension to private operators and on the age limit. The Minister secured additional moneys in the budget to extend the scheme to commercial operators, which is welcome, but there still continues to be an issue with the age limit. The Minister has committed to changing it bu…

The Housing for All plan sets ambitious targets with the aim of delivering 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030. Last week's budget provided a record €4.5 billion of capital investment to achieve these targets. Of the planned 300,000 new homes in this plan, these will include 90,000 social homes, 56,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost-rental homes. The first signs of growth in this sector are now appearing after a decade of undersupply due to various factors such as the banking collapse, and the subsequen…

We move to the Labour Party slot. I call Deputy Ged Nash.