Deputies Cian O'Callaghan and Cairns from the Social Democrats are sharing time.

We now move to the Regional Group and Deputies Canney, Fitzpatrick, Tóibín and Lowry. Each Deputy has two and a half minutes.

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 5 October 2022.

I welcome this opportunity to discuss this important document, Towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy for Clare, and its findings and recommendations. Clare PPN is a network of 331 community and voluntary groups in County Clare. The Minister of State will be familiar with their work through their sister organisation, Meath PPN, in his constituency. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission awarded Clare PPN funding through its grant scheme to carry out its research. Its report presents the findings from a nine-month…

I wish to acknowledge the presence of Sarah Clancy of Clare PPN in the Public Gallery. There is a need to address the issues highlighted in the report. For example, the whole question of attracting and retaining GPs, particularly in rural areas, needs to be addressed in a comprehensive way. It is clear that the rural practice allowance that is there is just not adequate. These issues need to be teased out and resources and policy changes need to be introduced. I am proposing that the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O…

I want to ask the Minister the measures that he intends to introduce in order to help businesses deal with the cost of energy.

I thank the Tánaiste. I get a huge number of contacts from companies, firms and retailers in County Clare in regard to the cost of energy and the impact it is having on their business, their ability to trade and their ability to retain employees. We are seeing a doubling and a trebling of costs. It is not before time that a significant package is put in place to help these traders. The Tánaiste mentioned a €55 million green transition fund. That is very welcome but the retail sector is not eligible for that. I woul…

I thank the Tánaiste for agreeing to look at the proposal for accelerated capital allowances for retailers, in particular, to upgrade refrigeration units. I very much welcome that. There is a need for an immediate response for both the short and long term because this issue will not go away any time soon. There is a chance for some premises to install solar panels on their roofs and get energy supply into their units, but they are being prevented from selling that electricity back to the grid. We need to cut up the…

Will an urgent review and reform of the work permit system be carried out with a view to introducing a more effective and streamlined process to facilitate recruitment for the private and voluntary nursing home sector, given the severe challenges being experienced by private and voluntary nursing homes in respect of staffing?

I recognise the work of the Minister of State on this issue. I refer to the changes and reviews. He is a very hands-on Minister of State. I recall him facilitating a workshop with members of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce several months ago. It was very informative for the businesses that engage in the context of the work permit issue. A particular issue, however, is emerging regarding recruitment for our nursing homes sector. Basically, there is a shortage of healthcare workers in Ireland and throughout the EU. W…

On that review group, when does the Minister of State expect it to report and when will its recommendations be implemented? I ask this because I can see on the ground that this is an issue now. Nursing home proprietors are contacting me regarding this issue. They have managed to get some people, but the delay in trying to process applications is what is in question here. I welcome the addition of occupational therapists and physiotherapists to the critical skills list. The important aspect, however, is to ensure pe…

The Government decision over a decade ago to establish the Shannon Group led to a transformational change in the Shannon Free Zone itself. I look forward to the official opening of MeiraGTx tomorrow by the Taoiseach. It is a progressive company. It is a real example of what has been done in Shannon over the past decade. Many of those firms have been in touch with me in relation to the question of energy, the issue of blackouts and the Government message around that. They are looking for assurances around this quest…

I agree with Deputy Ó Cuív on trying to collate the actual cost throughout the State. I also have to acknowledge the contribution of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, of €2.64 million over the past two years to County Clare. She actually doubled the funding this year, which is greatly welcomed. I also believe that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in the Department of Transport should be contributing to this scheme. I also acknowledge the Minister’s reference in that regard where she has reached out to the Minister, D…

I raise the Croí Cónaithe housing scheme that was set up to tackle the blight of vacant and derelict homes. It was launched in July and was very welcome but its criteria are very restrictive. Properties must be in areas with a population of 400 people. I ask that the criteria be re-examined and that rural areas outside towns and villages be included in the scheme.

I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to section 4(2)( f )(iv) of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Acts 2003-2021, hereby authorises the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to defend Workplace Relations Commission proceedings against a member of Dáil Éireann entitled: Complaint ref: 00049205 , and which proceedings arise solely out of the performance by the member concerned of their parliamentary functions as a member of Dáil Éireann.

I understand that the €1,000 Covid recognition payment has been made to clerical and other staff at Ennis Hospital. This is very welcome but it has been brought to my attention that nurses who are based at the hospital have yet to receive this payment. I ask that the Tánaiste raise this issue with the Minister for Health and ensure that these hard-working front-line staff, the nurses based at Ennis Hospital, receive this payment as soon as possible.

I welcome this opportunity to contribute to this important debate. The summer economic statement is a testament to how the economy has been managed in the past decade in a careful, balanced and prudent way. The balance between taxes and expenditure and managing a prudent economy is always made up of difficult choices. It is easy to promise everything to everyone, an approach those on the Opposition side of the House have been practising since the last election. Over the past decade, various Governments have had to …

Kaftrio is a miracle drug used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis patients. The drug was approved for use for use by the European Medicines Agency in January 2022. Some 140 children are already using this miracle drug but a further cohort of 35 children do not have access to it. I have previously raised this issue on the floor of the Dáil. I have also met representatives of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the drug manufacturer, who are anxious to do a deal on this. I am calling for a meeting between Cystic Fibrosis Irela…

Deputy Flaherty is sharing time with the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan.

Budget 2022 made a provision for the establishment of the new community safety innovation fund. It was exciting that applications were invited from 11 April to 8 June. I want to establish the number of applications to the new fund.