It is as bad now.

It is the action plan.

I am taking Questions Nos. 63 and 122 in substitute for my colleague, Deputy Carroll MacNeill.

Is it fair, a Chathaoirligh Gníomhaigh, that I take Question No. 63 on its own, that Deputy Farrell take Question No. 106 and that I then take Question No. 122 separately, which is six and a half minutes per slot?

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I wish to deal with what I regard as a very successful policy initiative on public transport where we have seen a 20% reduction in public fares. This has been a great success. I have two questions. First, will the Minister of State look to extending the scheme beyond the end of 2022 and certainly into 2023? Second, has the Minister of State and the Department of Transport looked at further reductions in public transport fares? We want to encourage people to use public transport …

I greatly welcome the commitment from Government and from the Minister for Transport to look towards extending the reduced public transport fares into 2023. This is a very welcome initiative both in the 20% general reduction and for the young adults, where that is effectively a 60% reduction because it is 50% after the 20%. In my own constituency of Limerick City, adult fares have gone down within the city from €1.68 to €1.35 which is a 33 cent reduction. For young adults, one is looking at a reduction of 60%, wher…

I am asking about the initiatives that have reduced public transport fares, especially the initiative to extend half-price public transport for young people. That is effectively 70%, because it is 50% after a 20% general reduction. Is the Department giving consideration to extending that to other age groups, such as young adults who have just left college and are taking up their first jobs? What has been the take-up of the half-price public transport measure for young people?

The Minister of State spoke about the scheme being extended to commercial bus services. When does she anticipate that will happen? This scheme is for those aged between 19 and 23. Many young people have left college and are starting or already working in their first jobs. There are various categories of young people. Will the Minister of State consider extending this scheme to include those in that group? We want to encourage more people to avail of public transport. When will the scheme come into place on commerci…

Obviously, we cannot expect decisions to be made today, but will the Minister of State commit to speaking with her colleague, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, about extending the age groups covered by the scheme? It could have significant value if it was extended to those aged up to 25. The Minister of State spoke about extending the general scheme, which includes the 20% PSO fare reduction, to commercial operations. Will she be extending that to commercial routes and operators in general? It is important to have c…

The Minister for Health, together with the HSE, appointed an expert team to look at the urgent situation at University Hospital Limerick. That review started on Friday, 13 May and will conclude on Friday, 10 June. We are more than two weeks into the process this week. Yet, when I look at the figures since the review commenced, the numbers for the emergency department have gone up. The number was 62 on 13 May and it is 98 now. The average over the past week has been above 104. Where is the review at and what additio…

When we have debates, they need to deal with the issues of the day. The burning issue for the public at the moment is that of the delays at Dublin Airport. For future reference, it is critical that any Minister coming in would address many other issues but would also address the issues of the day. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has had to leave the Chamber, but I have no doubt the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, will convey this back to him. Aviation needs to be front and centre. The Minister is meeting r…

In the latest draft of the Limerick Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy, phase 2 of the northern distributor road is not included. The National Transport Authority was before the transport committee recently and stated that it would be in the revised draft. It has now informed us that it is not in the revised draft because of a direct intervention from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who wrote to the NTA and directed it not to include it. Is that correct? The northern distributor road, phase 2, is very im…

Did the Minister write to the NTA?

The Taoiseach is aware of the great pressures on University Hospital Limerick in Limerick. There are 111 patients on trolleys this morning and there were 113 yesterday. I urge him to expedite a proactive measure. The Taoiseach is aware that a block for 96 acute beds is in the capital plan for University Hospital Limerick. UHL estates has gone to tender at this time. It is with HSE corporate, seeking approval to allow it to appoint a contractor to commence the building. It is an 18-month build. I ask the Government …

I thank the Minister for taking such an interest in this issue. It is ironic that modern technology is bringing back rural Ireland. This affords people with the opportunity to work in their local village and support their local shops and community daily, without being required to commute all the time to cites to work. I recognise, therefore, the funding being invested in this area. It would be very worthwhile, whether it is done through National Broadband Ireland’s website or the Department's website, to outline cl…

When does the Minister expect the app will be up and running? It is hugely important that people see that and that there be encouragement for every town and village to have a remote working hub. It is something I passionately believe in. We have towns throughout east Limerick and north Tipperary that it would work very well for but it is about knowledge and people's awareness, so that towns and villages that do not have them would say they are a vital infrastructure requirement and pursue them. I assume the Ministe…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for facilitating me in bringing up this important issue. King John's Castle is synonymous with Limerick city. If one looks at items in the media, the first place one sees and thinks of is King John's Castle. It has been part of the Shannon Group for many years and prior to that it was within the Shannon Development Group. An agreement has been reached between the Shannon Group and Limerick City and County Council that King John's Castle will be transferred to Limerick City and Coun…

I thank the Minister of State for that positive update. I welcome the fact that the OPW is taking care of the structural repairs on King John's Castle. I welcome the fact that it is formally coming under the guardianship of Limerick City and County Council. As the Minister of State is aware, Limerick City and County Council had Grant Thornton prepare a funding gap report which she referenced. I very much welcome that detailed discussions are taking place, spearheaded by her Department, involving the Departments of …

Today, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, announced the preferred routes for rail and road for the M20. It is very welcome. I have two questions. TII is proposing bypasses of Banogue, Charleville, Buttevant and Mallow, and it is then proposing that it will be a choice between tier 1, the highest level of dual carriageway, or motorway on the route itself. TII advised me today there is no difference in the cost between a tier 1 dual carriageway and a motorway. I would like it to be a motorway as we will just get …

I want to get value for money.