In the middle of September, a significant breakthrough was made on the issue of the pay and conditions of school secretaries and caretakers. The Department conceded that all school secretaries and caretakers should be placed on the public service clerical officer scale, bringing an end to the two-tier pay system. The deal will also do away with the requirement for most secretaries and caretakers to sign on during school breaks. The deal was welcomed at the time but it seems to have stalled. Can the Minister update …

I strongly support the Taoiseach's comments in the House encouraging people to take up the third dose or booster vaccine. Initially, when the vaccine programme was being rolled out, a number of issues arose in regard to getting the vaccine to housebound people. I am getting those same complaints now in terms of the third dose. The family of a 99-year-old person from east Clare has been in touch with me looking to get the third dose for that person. I am dealing directly with the HSE on this and I hope we will get t…

I seek an update on the provision of a network of primary care health centres in County Clare.

I thank the Minister. The previous Fine Gael-led Government laid the foundations for these primary health care centres in County Clare and I thank the Minister and the HSE for continuing that work. The Ennis site on Station Road is a really striking building and is a state-of-the-art facility. I have been in touch with the Minister, his officials and the HSE throughout its development. When is it expected that the doors will open in this facility? Will the Minister give some more detail on the Tulla Road site? I kn…

Sixmilebridge is a really important project. It has met with some hitches and has been re-advertised. Can the Minister give a detailed explanation of the next steps and when we can expect movement on that site? Will he give more detail on the sites that are planned for Ennistymon and Kilrush? Kilrush has experienced a number of glitches over the years. I would appreciate an explanation on a path forward.

I seek an update on the ongoing overcrowding at the emergency department in University Hospital Limerick and on the efforts by the Minister and the HSE to address the situation, particularly as we face into a very difficult winter period.

I thank the Minister. I join him in complimenting our front-line staff at UHL. They are under extreme pressure. We are unfortunately a permanent fixture at the top of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's Trolley Watch figures. Today there are 47 people on trolleys in the accident and emergency department of UHL. It is a frightening figure. The next highest figure is in Cork University Hospital where there are 26 people on trolleys. I recognise the work, including the addition of 98 more beds to the system o…

I thank the Minister, including for his commitment to the 96-bed unit. It is a really important project. However, with respect to the short and medium term, will the Minister explain what efforts are being made to deal with this in the coming weeks to avoid the really chaotic scenes we have seen in recent times, when there were 98 people on trolleys at UHL? What measures are going to be introduced to ensure that situation is not replicated in the coming weeks and months?

I want to raise the issue of the defective concrete blocks scheme that was launched yesterday. Significant concern has been expressed to me about the sliding-scale element, which I understand was introduced at the last minute. I had a call this morning from Ms Mary Hanley, the vice-chairperson of the pyrite action group in Clare. She has a 2,500 sq. ft house. On the sliding scale, she will be asked to pay €67,000 for her house. I welcome comments made by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Depu…

Deputy Shortall was in possession and she has seven minutes remaining.

There are five speakers in the next 20-minute slot. Deputies McGuinness, Michael Moynihan, Durkan, Cathal Crowe and Haughey have four minutes each.

I call Deputy Danny Healy-Rae of the Rural Independent Group. He has six minutes. Does he know if his colleagues are coming? This is a 20-minute slot and the Deputy is listed to speak for six. He can take the entire slot if he wishes.

I am a member of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. The Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, will be aware of the extensive pre-legislative scrutiny that took place on the general scheme of this Bill dating back to January last. The reason we as a State are introducing this legislation is that Ireland has had an illegally constituted Marine Casualty Investigation Board for some time. This Bill seeks to rectify that situation following the embarrassing judgment of the Court of Justice of the Europea…

The four elements believed essential to life are earth, air, fire and water. It seems that human actions and inaction have damaged all these elements, especially over the past 150 years. We have seen the earth exploited through increased cultivation of our land, destruction of our forests and the increased use of landfill to dump our rubbish. We have seen a marked decline in our air quality, especially in increased CO2 levels in our atmosphere and greater levels of all types of pollution in the air we breathe, lead…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021. It includes provisions related to automated vehicles for the first time in roads legislation. These vehicles are already being designed, built and tested in a new research hub in Shannon's industrial complex, with links to drone technology using the airport in Shannon. I have had the pleasure of visiting the cutting-edge facility of Jaguar Land Rover on many occasions. It uses cutting-edge technology. High-end research is involved. The faci…

It is very clear we need a more comprehensive strategy to assist the redevelopment of derelict and vacant properties. If properly implemented, such a strategy could play an important role in helping to address the housing crisis while also helping to rejuvenate our towns and villages. A number of welcome measures have been introduced over the past number of years, such as a repair and leasing scheme and the buy and renew scheme, aimed at turning these dwellings into social homes. Some local authorities are better a…

The number of vacant and derelict buildings dotted throughout our towns and villages needs a much more comprehensive response. The schemes currently available are insufficient and must be opened up to allow the further development of affordable and, indeed, private homes. I welcome the initiative by the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, in bringing all the Departments together. I also believe the Minister of State needs the backing of the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. I thank the Mi…

I seek an update on the extension of the defective concrete block scheme to County Clare. Affected homeowners in the county deserve clarity. This question will give the Minister a good opportunity to provide much-needed clarity. I also expect him to give a date for when the vital scheme will be extended to the county.

I recognise the hard work of Dr. Martina Cleary, the chairperson of the Clare Pyrite Action Group, along with the vice chair, Mary Hanley. It is a very dedicated voluntary group that has led from the front on this issue, raising awareness about pyrite in concrete blocks in houses in County Clare. I also recognise the director of services in Clare County Council, Anne Haugh, and the engineer, Tony Neville, for their work. The Minister visited the home of Mary Hanley in the county. Five houses were part of the core s…

Will the Minister explain what are the issues the Department has with regard to the submission made in July? There was a meeting in recent days between the Department and the local authority. As he said, the issues are not insurmountable. Will the Minister provide clarity on this? It would be welcome. Once it is resubmitted, will he then be in a position to extend the scheme to County Clare?