There is a Government commitment to establish a citizens' convention on the appropriate model of local government for Dublin. It was supposed to be set up when the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality was finished. As the latter has now completed its work, I anticipate we will have the new convention set up quite soon. It will be very exciting to have that discussion about what local government should look like, not just in Dublin city but in the county as well. In regard to the functions the Deputy mentioned, mos…

If the Deputy wants to provide me with the details of those cases later today or before the end of the week and give me permission to make representations on behalf of the families, which I need, I would be happy to look into them, check out what the story is and see whether there is any way we can help. Certainly, I do not think we could possibly have either of those families ending up on the streets or without accommodation. That would not be acceptable to anyone in this House. They are going to need help but I n…

As the Deputy knows, the help-to-buy scheme, as it is currently constituted, is only for new-build properties, which include own-build homes, including in rural areas. It is designed to encourage the provision of more new builds that are affordable for first-time buyers. The suggestion has been made by the Deputy, as well as Deputy Griffin and others, that we should extend the scheme to cover vacant properties that are brought back into use. I think there is some sense in that. I see a lot of properties around the …

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As she knows, the budget provides additional funding for more teachers, special needs assistants and special education teachers, as well as a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio. That money has been allocated but it does not necessarily mean schools will be able to find people who are appropriately qualified. If the Deputy passes the details of this case on to me, I will make sure the Minister, Deputy Foley, gets them. I will ask that she perhaps contact the school direct…

I would like to join the Deputy in welcoming the significant package for women's health contained in the budget, which includes real funding to implement the national maternity strategy. That is a strategy I was privileged to be part of drawing up when I was Minister for Health. A new scheme providing free contraception to women aged 17 to 25 will be set up next year. It is a start and we will get it going. We may be able to extend it to women above 25 in future years but as is always the case with a scheme like th…

I will ask the Minister, Deputy Harris, to take a look at that. This is the first student grant increase in 11 years. Not only is there an increase in the grant but the budget is making the eligibility limits bigger so that more families qualify and there is a change around the distance. I am not across the exact detail of that but I will ask the Minister to see if there is anything we can do. It is designed to help students so we would not like to leave anyone out if we can include them.

The legislation to outlaw fur farming in Ireland is progressing and I understand it will be brought to the Cabinet by the end of this month or perhaps early next month with a view to getting it enacted in this House before the end of the year. There is provision for compensation for the farms that are being forced to close for obvious reasons. I do not have any more information on that but perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, can add to that.

I am afraid I do not have an update on that. I have not seen the report and it has not come to the Cabinet yet but I will make enquiries with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and get back to the Deputy with a further answer later in the week.

I confirm that is the intention of Government but we need primary legislation to put a new scheme on a statutory footing. If we cannot get that done in time we intend to continue the existing arrangements on an administrative basis if possible. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to confirm that but that is my understanding of the position.

This issue is ongoing. It has been going on for too long at this stage and is causing difficulties for a lot of people. Unfortunately I do not have an update on it but I will ask the Minister for Finance to talk directly to the Deputy and brief him on the state of play.

Sure.

I am afraid I do not know but I will ask the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to contact the Deputy directly on that. It is welcome that the budget made another specific allocation to hospice and palliative care, which will be welcomed by all of the House. That money will be paid before the end of the year.

There is a delay, unfortunately, but it is still anticipated that approximately 60,000 homes will be passed this year. Work is happening with the contractor to try to speed up and regain lost ground over the next couple of years. There were issues with Covid and delays in getting the necessary licences for poles and ducts from local authorities. National Broadband Ireland had difficulty in getting staff. Even though the staff in question were essential workers and allowed to work during the pandemic, I understand t…

We have not made any decision yet on the planned easing of restrictions on 22 October. We will do that during the early part of next week, probably on Monday or Tuesday. We will have more data and a better read on the epidemiological situation by then. However, no decisions have yet been made in that regard. We will have to consider matters as we see more data over the next few days. The vaccine booster programme is progressing. We are waiting on advice from the national immunisation advisory committee, which I hop…

I am afraid I cannot confirm that, but I will see the Minister this afternoon. I will let him know that the Deputy raised the matter and ask him to revert to the Deputy directly.

There have been many changes to and real reforms of the NAS and its service model in recent years. The service works more like a fleet now than a series of bases. Often, the ambulance that is nearest to the person is the one that is sent regardless of the distance from the base. The budget provides an additional €8.3 million for investment in the NAS. That will continue to develop and improve the service and also extend the hear and treat model, which is used successfully in other countries. Sitting suspended at 1.…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on budget 2022. I would like to share time with the Ministers of State, Deputies Damien English and Robert Troy. This is my second budget as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. We have experienced many ups and downs since I spoke last year, including a serious third wave of the virus and prolonged periods of lockdown but also a highly successful vaccination programme and a substantial reopening of the economy. We certainly have not alw…

The Deputy was not here for my speech.

I move: (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 72 of the Finance Act 2005 (No. 5 of 2005), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 13 October 2021, by substituting the following for Schedule 2 to that Act (as amended by section 26 of the Finance Act 2020 (No. 26 of 2020)): “SCHEDULE 2 Rates of Tobacco Products Tax (With effect as on and from 13 October 2021) ”. (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect un…

I thank Deputies for their remarks and contributions to the debate. It is important that we have a debate on this matter. Nobody should be pilloried for their views on this issue. It was interesting to hear the various arguments from different Deputies. The proposed amendments to Financial Resolution No. 1 would reduce the proposed increase in excise duty for tobacco which will apply from midnight tonight. The increase proposed is 50 cents, inclusive of VAT, on a packet of 20 cigarettes for the most popular price c…