I am.

I echo my colleague's sentiments. I look forward to the publication of the new strategy. I compliment the Minister of State and the Department on the work done on the strategy to this point. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, and I last week visited the college of further education in Galway city. We saw the range of skills taught in that institution. Following that, it is very welcome that the college has been given approval to progress to the next stage of the design for its new campus. A high level of tuition is ongo…

The NTA advised me of its decision to defer the development of a new transport strategy for Galway. The original strategy was developed in 2016. This puts us at odds with other cities such as Cork, Limerick and Waterford, all of which had their strategies reviewed in the process of the development of a new strategy. The NTA also informed us it has delayed or deferred the introduction of the new bus network in Galway. All of this seems to be pending the outcome of the assessment of An Bord Pleanála of the N6 project…

The Taoiseach mentioned the Cabinet committee's role in the area of local area disadvantage. Earlier this afternoon the Taoiseach spoke about the positive health statistics in the country. It is important to recognise that they are not universal. There are minority groups and some disadvantaged communities where those health figures are not as good. Yesterday we also saw that there is a greater impact on disadvantaged communities in regard to the challenge of school attendance. The programme for Government commits …

I ask the Minister to outline the level of funding he has provided to housing authorities for the provision of emergency accommodation in 2024 and 2025. I understand that it may not be possible to present all of the data here in tabular form but I would appreciate it if I could get that information.

I thank the Minister for the response. I also thank him for noting that we need to develop solutions to make sure that we can reduce this bill as we go forward. It is a very necessary but, unfortunately, very high bill. The figure of €385 million is quite startling but it is very necessary. Of all the problems we have in housing, and many of them have been discussed this morning, the one that causes me most concern is the level of homelessness, particularly the number of homeless children in our society. Outside of…

I thank the Minister. It is important to note that emergency accommodation and homelessness services are organised on a regional basis. In the west region there are four local authorities, namely Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Mayo County Council and Roscommon County Council involved but Galway City Council is the lead authority. I am concerned that additional resources, both human and financial, have not been provided to Galway City Council to carry out that role. I am aware that staff within the hous…

I wish to ask about the basic income for artists pilot scheme. It is almost three years to the day since the application process closed for applicants who wanted to participate in the scheme. Over 9,000 applied. Some 2,000 were successful in the pilot scheme, which had a three-year lifespan and comes to an end this August. There have been a number of interim reviews of the scheme and reviews by bodies external to the Department, which have noted the positive impact it has had for the artist and the creative industr…

I welcome the Minister of State's initial comments where he outlined the measures he had taken to try to repair this system which is clearly broken. While I recognise that this is something he has inherited, the measures he outlined at the outset of the debate will go some way towards remediating the issues presented here. As has been well outlined by others, it is deeply frustrating for people who want to move on. They may have a professional opportunity. I am familiar with the case of someone who wants to emigrat…

I share the sentiment of my colleagues on the left regarding the work of NESC and the extensive research it undertakes. One concern I have is that following much of research it undertakes, it goes on to suggest action points or new departures the Government should make. Is there a particular formula for putting these into action? I speak particularly about recent research on Ireland's future power system and economic resilience, which noted that the transition from fossil fuels in the energy sector is heading into …

Like previous speakers, I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate. I echo the sentiment expressed so well by the speaker before me in complimenting the Minister on seizing the opportunity that has been afforded to the country to attract new talent and new research opportunities in the third level sector through the global talent initiative. In early monastic times, Ireland was known as the island of saints and scholars. I am not sure we can still own the saints tag but this welcome initiative certainl…

This question is similar to Question No. 80. I am surprised they were not grouped because they are very similar. I want to ask the Minister about the number of employers who are employing people with the support of the wage subsidy scheme. There are three strands to the scheme. I asked about strand 1 and strand 2 and I am not sure why I left out strand 3 but if the Minister has that information, it would be welcome as well.

I put my question.

The review is very welcome, because those figures are quite low. I thought there might have been greater uptake of the scheme by companies. There is great capacity in the scheme to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and enhance the workplace by increasing diversity and making it more accessible. I welcome the review and the fact it has suggested changes that, hopefully, will increase awareness of the scheme and bring in new companies that might be inclined to enter the scheme and hire pe…

I thank the Minister for his response and his openness to looking at the subsidy that is available. Perhaps there will be an opportunity in the next budget to increase the subsidy. I look forward to the information campaign around the scheme. I am sure the Minister will share that with all his colleagues in the House. We will be available. I agree with him that the opportunity for employers to employ people with a disability increases diversity in the workplace, which is beneficial for companies and employees alike…

I recognise the Minister of State's full commitment on this. I have engaged with him on this issue. I have heard him talk about it at parliamentary party meetings and he has shown great commitment and enthusiasm in this role. There has to be some recognition that in the space and time he has been allowed 400 special classes will be introduced from September. I am not sure if that is a record but it is certainly significant. I understand fully and I agree - and the Taoiseach says it frequently - that it is no consol…

I welcome the publication of the revised framework. It has been somewhat signposted as part of our response to the housing crisis. I hope it will have that impact as it goes on in the alignment between national, regional and local planning policy. The revised framework reaffirms the commitment of the 2018 framework to balanced regional development, where 50% of the population's employment growth will be shared between the Dublin and eastern region and the rest of the country, essentially, through the north, western…

The Minister of State cannot get involved with An Bord Pleanála. However, will he ask it to make its decision as quickly as possible?

Bhí na sluaite amach ar an R336 an Chéadaoin seo caite, agus beidh amárach, ag glacadh páirt i siúlóid agóide mar gheall ar cé chomh contúirteach is atá an bóthar sin agus an easpa muiníne atá ag tuismitheoirí a bpáistí a ligint dul ar scoil ag siúl nó ar rothar. Tá a fhios agam gur faoi dhualgas na comhairle contae atá an tsábháilteacht bóthair, ach ba mhaith liom aird a tharraingt ar an dul chun cinn mall atá déanta againn ar an scéim um bealaí sábháilte chun na scoile. Some 421 schools were included in the origi…

There are nine phases of approval through the scheme. We need to look at it again.