I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, for facilitating this important debate on apprenticeships and the absorption of the apprentice programme into the new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Apprenticeships have given lifelong careers to Irish people working around the world. The creation of these vital skills is crucial to the further development and growth of nearly every sector of Irish society. Apprenticeships have long been the tradition of trainees and indiv…

Householders in County Clare are anxiously awaiting admission to the enhanced defective concrete block scheme. Further laboratory analysis of affected homes in County Clare has taken place and categorically demonstrates the presence of pyrite. The work was carried out by Clare County Council, in conjunction with the engineer, Mr. Simon Beale. It clearly warrants the immediate extension of the defective concrete blocks scheme to County Clare. Will the Taoiseach confirm to the House that the enhanced defective concre…

Will the Taoiseach confirm there will be legislation as opposed to statutory instruments?

The Irish men's sheds movement has been in existence for the past ten years, and over that period a network of 360 sheds has been established the length and breadth of the country. There are 11 in my constituency, in County Clare. Men's sheds offer a really important social outlet for men, offering them a collaborative space in which to meet. They are very valuable. They can work with their communities. Today the Irish Men's Sheds Association held a briefing ahead of its pre-budget submission. It is time the Govern…

I will bring in Deputy Bruton to conclude on this question.

Deputy Ó Broin has a brief supplementary question.

I will let Deputies Ó Murchú and Ó Broin ask two brief supplementary questions on this.

I want to raise the issue of the Limerick northern distributor road with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The NTA confirmed to us last week that because of his intervention this critical infrastructure for the mid-west region has been removed from the strategy. Does the Minister realised that Clare County Council is firmly behind this proposal? Does he realise that the Limerick Chamber of Commerce, and all of the chambers of commerce in Clare, are behind this proposal? Does he realise that the industrialists who pr…

How many were opposed?

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue for discussion. On 21 April, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, recorded a figure of 126 patients on trolleys awaiting admission at University Hospital Limerick, UHL. That was the highest number of patients on trolleys ever recorded at any hospital in Ireland. Of the patients, 65 were in the emergency department, with the remaining 61 in ward overflow areas. The number was triple the next-highest figure on the day, recorded at St. Luke's …

I thank the Minister of State. The Sláintecare plan recommends that three elective-only hospitals be built - one each in Dublin, Cork and Galway. Given the continuous overcrowding at UHL and the compelling case that has been put to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, by the executive management there, Government policy clearly needs to change. Priority must be given to delivering an elective-only hospital for the mid-west. I want to establish what the Minister's position is on the provision of that hospital. It …

I welcome this Bill, which has been long awaited in this House. The main provisions of the Bill include the establishment of a circular economy fund by way of the charging of a levy to encourage people and suppliers to move to reusable alternatives; the recycling of certain single-use items; a prohibition on the supply of certain single-use items where suitable alternatives are available; the making of a national food waste prevention strategy; and, importantly, amendments to various Acts to allow for the detection…

As Ireland celebrates 100 years of being an independent, democratic country, Dáil Éireann is to pass without dissent this motion, which condemns in the strongest terms Russia's acts of aggression against Ukraine and reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. We condemn the destruction of a much newer democratic country and the brutal, savage murder of its population. The artillery attacks on apartment blocks, schools and m…

Will the Minister for Justice prioritise the enactment of legislation on CCTV schemes and make a statement on the matter? I tabled this question in the absence of legislation to enable local authorities to erect CCTV cameras as a tool to combat illegal dumping. This is an issue that has been raised with me on numerous occasions by councillors and local authority officials in Clare. It needs to be resolved.

I welcome the progress that has been made on the legislation that has been drafted. I look forward to that legislation coming through the House. It is incredible that local authorities cannot put up cameras and that the footage they secure cannot be used to successfully bring these people to justice. This issue was communicated to local authorities by the Data Protection Commissioner, which was unwelcome. In some areas, local authorities were forced to take down cameras. This is ridiculous and I look forward to leg…

I ask the Minister when it is anticipated that the funding from the new community safety fund will be allocated and if she will make a statement on the matter.

I congratulate the Minister on her initiative to set up the fund. It is important that communities can engage in it and make applications. I know three pilots have been set up in Longford, Waterford and north inner-city Dublin. Local community safety partnerships are to be set up throughout Ireland on the back of the pilot schemes. Will the Minister explain the pathway for communities to come forward and make applications? Is it limited to the partnership committees that are to be set up? Will the Minister give cla…

Criminal gangs and their activities in drugs and organised crime are a blight on society and are having an impact throughout Ireland around the larger cities and spilling over into rural Ireland. I welcome the establishment of this fund. The Minister is right that communities need to see this money spent in their communities in order that they can feel safe. When will the pilot projects conclude? When does the Minister envisage that the partnerships will be established in County Clare and other counties?

The loss of Pádraig Ó Céidigh as chairperson of the board of the Shannon Group is very disappointing news. His appointment last year was warmly welcomed by the mid-west and western region. Mr. Ó Céidigh rolled up his sleeves and in a post-pandemic world we have seen transatlantic services restored and the restoration of the vital hub at Heathrow. Ryanair services have multiplied. Indeed, there are 108 services this summer from Shannon. He has done a wonderful job. It is going to be hard to replace somebody of the c…

I have slots available for the Regional Group of Independents and the Rural Independent Group but unfortunately we do not have any of their Members present. I therefore call on the Minister of State to reply to the debate.