I thank the Deputy. We agree on one point, which is that we need more supply. We need more homes and social housing, and we need more homes that are affordable for people to buy. It is encouraging to see that every week, 700 mortgages are issued to first-time buyers, the highest number since the Celtic tiger period. Perhaps 400 or 500 couples and individuals are now buying their first homes every week. That is the highest number since the Celtic tiger period and that is encouraging. It is difficult for the Deputy t…

I thank the Deputy. The answer to his question is that I will. Helping middle Ireland and middle-income people has always been a priority for me and is a priority for this Government. We have done a lot already in recent years but there is always more to do and I acknowledge that. One of our major priorities in the forthcoming budget is to help middle income people and middle Ireland with the high cost of living. There are a number of different ways in which we can do that. As I often say, any household budget has …

I thank the Deputy. He is right that more than 1 million people pay the highest rate of income tax in Ireland. One hits the highest rate of tax at a much lower level than would be the case in the majority of our competitor countries. We have raised that threshold. Not so long ago it was €33,000 a year and it is now €40,000. We want to raise it further in forthcoming budgets. We will do as much as we can afford to do within the budgetary constraints with regard to the tax package. The Deputy should bear in mind that…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. At the outset I want to say that I support the gardaí and the work they are doing. In particular today, I want to commend the phenomenal work done by An Garda, the Defence Forces, the Revenue Commissioners and the customs service in interdicting a vessel off Wexford which may be the biggest interdiction of illegal drugs in Irish history. That would not have happened without An Garda, the Defence Forces, the Revenue Commissioners and, indeed, international partners. This is an example of…

That is a cheap shot. Just like him, we live in our communities and just like him we are of our communities and we know what is happening on the ground. Our constituents talk to us as much as they talk to him and none of us would be here and we would not have an elected mandate if we were not in touch with our constituents and with the people who vote for us. As is always the case in any disagreement or dispute, there are two sides to every story and, often, the truth lies somewhere in between. There is a pathway t…

I thank the Deputy. I want to join everyone in this House in thanking and commending the members of the joint task force, including An Garda Síochána, Revenue, the customs service and the Naval Service, which in co-operation with the Air Corps and the Army Ranger Wing successfully intercepted a major shipment of controlled drugs at sea yesterday in very challenging conditions. The operation resulted in the detention of a bulk cargo vessel originating from Latin America with a significant volume of illegal drugs on …

There have been Dáil debates on this matter and there is no reason there cannot be such a debate again. The Deputy has the option of using her own time for this. Alternatively, the Business Committee can prioritise it for discussion in the Chamber. Of course I extend my sympathies again to the O'Farrell family. There have been quite a number of reviews into this case. There has been a court case and there have been independent reviews by a retired judge. They speak for themselves. I encourage people to read them be…

I am afraid I do not have a date for the publication of the review. I will make inquiries with the Minister, Deputy Foley. I appreciate that this is a big issue around the country. I know from reports from our constituency offices that many children who are entitled to school transport have not got it this year. Some of this is down to driver shortages but we need to find solutions.

We very much value the work carried out by these organisations and the people who work in them. As I have said before, it is important to understand that they are not public sector employees. We do not determine what their salary is, what their pensions are, who gets hired or who does not get hired. They are outside of the public service. However, the Government is the main funder of all the services they provide. That is why we absolutely have a role to play in funding these organisations. An offer of a 5% pay inc…

We have a system according to which we decide what roles qualify for work permits. Employers have to meet a set of minimum terms and conditions so that workers are not exploited. Employers need to make an effort to recruit from the entire European Economic Area, from which they may recruit, including places like Romania and Bulgaria, for example, where many agriculture workers come from. If they are not able to recruit, there is a system by which every six months we decide what professions and what occupations qual…

I appreciate this is an important issue for the Deputy and her constituents. I cannot speak on behalf of the NTA which has its statutory remit and does not have to get Government approval for decisions of this nature. However, I know the NTA has met with community representatives and residents before, and I do not see why it should not on this occasion.

I will make inquiries.

While it might not have been an inquiry, I understand a review of that nature was done which I think the Deputy has seen. I would need to talk to the Minister for Justice and the Deputy offline as to what the next appropriate steps might be.

It is really shocking to see the increase the number of road fatalities in the past year. Given so many years of progress to see such an increase this year is really shocking. I know the condolences of the House will be extended to all the families and communities affected. The quality of our roads forms part of road safety but it is not the only part. Driver behaviour is much more significant as is enforcement and other such matters. We should not lose sight of what the major factors are. Regarding funding for roa…

That issue has been raised on a number of occasions in the House and I have never received a satisfactory explanation as to why that rule exists because private bus operators have drivers aged over 70. I understand that on occasion Bus Éireann will contract private operators with drivers aged over 70. It may be linked to their pension scheme or to an agreement with unions. I do not honestly know, but it definitely should be revisited.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I know that Dublin Mid-West, not unlike my constituency of Dublin West has a rapidly growing population and therefore needs many new schools and school extensions. They are happening. I know many have already happened in Lucan, Clondalkin and Rathcoole. We have a very big school building programme with funding of over €1 billion a year. Of course, it will never be possible to build every school as quickly as we would like to, but we do have a pipeline of developm…

I do not think it is correct to say that the Government expected the offer would be refused, because a very similar offer was accepted by the community and voluntary sector when it was put to a ballot. There was an 80% vote in favour. On this occasion, a decision was taken by the unions not to put the offer to a ballot of their members. It is unfortunate that did not happen. I believe there is time for engagement between now and the date that has been set for strike action. It is to be hoped it can be averted.

I cannot speak for Lough Neagh. That is in Northern Ireland. As the Deputy points out, perhaps others can answer those questions. Regarding water quality, we have a big investment programme in improving our water quality, led by Irish Water. Many things contribute to pollution in our waterways. It is not all about farmers. It is not right to speak to them as if they are entirely to blame for everything that is wrong with our water quality. There is human waste as well and industrial waste. All of that needs to be r…

I thank Deputy Ryan for raising the issue. It is difficult for me to answer it without knowing the details. I know that hospitals and GP surgeries have access to dressings. Maybe there is a particular dressing in this case. It is difficult for me to answer without knowing all the facts, but if the Deputy wants to correspond with me or the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, on it, we will try to come up with a more suitable answer.

We treat people coming here from Ukraine differently from those seeking international protection. People coming here from Ukraine are coming from a country at war. It is a European country. They have the benefit of the temporary protection directive, which gives them particular rights under EU law that people claiming international protection do not have. That is the reason for the difference in treatment. We are constantly looking at what our offering is for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine versus what is offer…