It is in Rathfarnham.

Yes, there are.

I am very grateful for that comprehensive response. While the Department of Education website gives schools an update as to where exactly they are in the planning process, it never explains on a spreadsheet why projects may have been paused or stalled. The Minister of State outlined that, among other things, there had been budgetary pressures arising from high construction costs, inflation in construction costs and the requirement to provide school places for the influx of refugees. I absolutely support and have no…

My question concerns the issue of pre-school and post-school therapeutic services for children with additional needs. It is a subject on which this Government has made great strides in the last number of years. Many parents in Dublin South-West have specifically raised the costs of paying for these invaluable therapeutic interventions because very often they have to pay for them privately. Those kinds of therapeutic interventions include play therapy, art therapy, sports therapy and animal therapy. Indeed, a group …

Is the Bill opposed?

There is a limited time for the debate, but I would take full advantage of the fact that the clock is not visible.

That was an acronym-filled speech. I call Deputy Lawless to conclude.

The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022 and has made amendments thereto.

It is worth noting that there is literally no Opposition Deputy in the Dáil Chamber right now. As I look across at a phalanx of empty benches, it is a point worth noting. This is a good budget for families, small and medium enterprises and businesses generally, schools, students, those who police our streets, those who are at the receiving end in terms of need in acute healthcare, public transport users, employees, schoolchildren and the most vulnerable in our society, including those who are addicted and their fam…

We will go back to Question No. 2 in the name of Deputy Tóibín.

We will skip Questions Nos. 7 and 8 and proceed to Question No. 11. I thank Deputies Lawless and Tóibín for facilitating Deputy Brendan Smith. We will revert to her questions.

I know the Deputy from Dún Laoghaire will be interested in parts of this. It is disappointing not to have a Minister from the line Department present. Were it anyone else but the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, replying I would postpone the matter until next Tuesday. I know the line Department will be watching this. I know the Minister of State will bring back the content and comments faithfully. She has done so before and I really appreciate it. Neighbours of mine was very excited recently because their son ga…

I thank the Minister of State; she made a valiant effort I am about to blow a gasket, really.

I appreciate it. Are we surprised that passenger numbers are less than they were before Covid-19 when we have bus services as poor as that? I am a great supporter, and the unions know this, of the public service bus and Dublin Bus. The fact is that I simply have not had a complaint about a route that Dublin Bus operates. All four routes that brought to the Minister of State's attention are operated by Go-Ahead Ireland. I have found that the NTA tends to be much more sympathetic towards Go-Ahead Ireland in its parli…

The penalties are not enough for the customers.

The urgency.

Silently.

People need to have confidence in An Bord Pleanála and what has happened in recent months has shaken the confidence not just of the public, but of the people who represent them. I welcome the opportunity for statements on the matter. The landscape around planning has changed dramatically in the last decade but, as the previous speaker said, it was changed very dramatically by the introduction of and the acquiescence of Government to the strategic housing development process in 2016. For people listening who might b…

This is one of my great areas of interest in terms of advocacy, insofar as a politician can advocate on anything, and it has been since my party was in opposition. I want to focus on some of the things I believe have improved but I also believe we have stalled a little bit, that we need to do much more and that we are facing a crisis. A case that has stuck in my memory is that of a parent who had more than one child with autism and who made a daily journey, starting at 6 a.m. or 6.30 a.m., to transport one child to…

I thank Deputy Naughten. I apologise again for bypassing him earlier.