I rise today to raise a number of issues. First, I congratulate the artist Mr. Roger McCarthy, a Limerick-born Cappamore artist, on his contribution to the Limerick Art Society on its 80th anniversary. He was awarded a silver medal recently at the society's 80th birthday celebrations for his contribution not only to life in Limerick but also to the greater mid-west and to Ireland. He had a number of students. I myself was honoured to be one of his students over many years. He has given his love for arts and culture…

I rise today to raise two matters. First, I welcome that nine primary schools in Limerick have been accepted into the Creative Schools initiative, namely, Castleconnell National School, Donoughmore National School, Presentation Primary School, Limerick city, Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh, Scoil Áine Naofa, St. Canice's Special School, St. Clement's College, Thomond Primary School and Courtenay School, Newcastle West. They will receive a grant for a creative professional who will work with them and implement their bespok…

I rise to acknowledge the fantastic work done by carers. I do not know if any other Senators heard "Drivetime" on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday, where they interviewed a number of carers. We have to remember that one in every four carers is in receipt of carer's allowance or benefit. All the rest receive nothing. There are so many carers within the home who do not receive any payment. I think of the resilience carers had during the Covid-19 pandemic and how they kept their loved ones and more vulnerable people in society s…

I rise today to raise two matters. First, I welcome the business supports that we are putting in place in the budget to tackle the high energy costs and rising bills and other costs for small businesses. I know that they have to go to the Revenue Commissioners. I am going back to an old chestnut that I have raised here. The Leader wrote to both the Minister and the Revenue Commissioners at the time. Revenue offices are still not open to the public. People are trying to get information. Did the Leader get a response…

I thank the Minister of State for coming here to discuss this all-important topic. That Ireland is a strong supporter and is able to contribute to the IMF fund to help out other countries is an important message. As Senator Casey has said, this is a very technical Bill. It makes sure we are in the right position to be able to give support to countries like Somalia that are in need. The Minister of State highlighted the war in Ukraine and Covid, which were both unprecedented and things none of us knew were going to …

I welcome the news from Ryanair that it will create another 2,000 jobs between now and 2030. It opened a hangar in Dublin this morning. I often speak about balanced regional development. A total of 200 of the jobs will be at Shannon Airport where Ryanair is investing more than €10 million in a hangar. This is good news for people not only in Clare and Limerick but also in the mid-west. Many people travel to Shannon for work from around the mid-west. This is a welcome addition to the already developing Shannon Airpo…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important topic and the Minister of State for coming to the House to address the issue. I recently met members of a concerned support group which works with diabetics in the mid-west. The issues they raised included long waiting lists, having to wait for appointments and insufficient staff numbers. As late as yesterday, I spoke to somebody who has been waiting for eight years to see a consultant endocrinologist at University Hospital Limerick, UHL. Yesterday, the individ…

I thank the Minister of State of her comprehensive response. I welcome the fact that staffing levels have increased. However, for quite some time there was a limited number of staff and that has created a fear factor among people who have the condition. As I said it is a serious condition but once managed, people can have a good quality of life. It is most welcome that staffing levels have increased in recent times. It is totally unacceptable for people to have to wait eight years for an appointment. I welcome the …

I rise today to highlight two issues. One of them is the launch recently of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, programme between Johnson & Johnson and the University of Limerick. It is a collaboration. This year Tús has been accepted into the programme. It is about encouraging young women to participate in science projects. It is also about supporting these young women in mathematics and the different sciences. It is about encouraging them to go forward and to study science subjects. Certai…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, for coming to the House to discuss this very important topic. I commend the Minister of State and the Ministers, Deputy Paschal Donohoe and Deputy Michael McGrath, on a very welcome budget. It is offering support and it is putting money back in people's pockets, but it is also helping employers and helping employees to be kept in jobs, which are two core messages today. I would first like to welcome the increase in the tax band as people will now earn over €40,000 befo…

Hear, hear.

I wish to share time with Senator Lombard.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss the budget, which I will address along with other issues mentioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I welcome the social welfare increases, one-off payments and lump sums. I welcome the fact that people over the age of 70 will now receive the fuel allowance because many of them did not qualify for it for quite a while. The expansion of the scheme is welcome, particularly now because a substantial number of citizens need the allowance…

I wish to draw attention to the fact that 18 September was International Equal Pay Day. I attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage this morning that was also attended by the Minister of State, Deputy Burke. The committee was engaged in pre-legislative scrutiny of a Bill concerning maternity leave and maternity pay for councillors. In the adjoining room, the Joint Committee on Gender Equality was discussing equal pay. There is a lot of discussion of these issues currently a…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this important topic. My concern is around the rent-a-room scheme. There has been so much encouragement for people to join the scheme. I come from County Limerick, where there are three third-level institutions. This morning I received a response from one of them to say that unfortunately, they have no accommodation for the number of people on the waiting list. It is a really serious issue. We, as a Government, have announced that people can earn up t…

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. I am a little disappointed because the Minister has not stated that he will carry out a comprehensive review but rather that a comprehensive review is required. He has not committed to anything and that is really disappointing. In this day and age, when students do not have accommodation and when older people face increased costs of living, the Minister needs to review the policy and bring forward a proposal. I ask the Minister of State to revert to the …

I wish to raise two issues. First, I wish to congratulate Shannon Airport on being shortlisted as being an age-friendly airport. That is good. The airports in the west were both shortlisted. I wish them both the best of luck with that, particularly as the services they provide to older people are phenomenal. It would be good to see the other airports offering the same level of service. I also raise the issue of the €1,000 pandemic payment for staff who work in the medical profession. Many people who worked in the H…

I will raise an issue I raised previously relating to the Revenue Commissioners. They must be the only public service that is not open to the public. Every other public service building in this country is open but all the Revenue Commissioners' offices are still closed. People cannot go into their premises for an appointment. I have written to them and have got the Department to contact them previously. I was told that they were going to be opening. Five or six people from different places have contacted me about t…

I rise today to welcome two things, the first of which is the fact that the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has released more than €2 million and we will see 25 affordable homes being built at Brú na Gruadán in Castletroy. This is most welcome news. It is an area where affordable housing will be really welcome and will help so many people in terms of setting up their new homes. I know that people worked through the council in terms of qualifying for the 25 homes. It is certainly very welcome news for Brú na Gruad…

I would like to be associated with the condolences to the ambassador and the people of the UK. Student accommodation is crucial. We have three third level institutes in Limerick: the University of Limerick, TUS Limerick and Mary Immaculate College. I have received many calls from people not just in Limerick but throughout the country who cannot source student accommodation. The students' unions in the three third level institutes have started a campaign encouraging people to rent a room. That is something that has …