I understand that Senators McCarthy and Keogan are sharing time,

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the sister and nephew of the Ceann Comhairle - Martina and Colm Murphy - to the Gallery. They are both very welcome. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House today.

I thank the Minister for coming to discuss this all-important issue. In 2021, I organised a meeting of women's shed groups with his predecessor, Heather Humphreys, and they came from throughout the country. I did so because I was conscious that men's sheds are very well organised. They have a national forum and regional forums and are in receipt of funding. We gathered together to look at how we could set up a national forum for women's sheds because there are so many shed groups out there. I compliment both the me…

I thank the Minister. This is a good news story because only during the week I received a phone call from the Limerick shed because they have a new management team. When they saw the funding, they were asking how they can go about applying for funding because everything costs money. I compliment the Minister on and thank him for being so committed to this. I look forward to working alongside him. I have a lot of contact with many of the sheds because, when we set it up, people contacted us. I have many contact deta…

I rise to welcome my relations in the Gallery. I hope they enjoy their visit to the Houses of the Oireachtas today and particularly to the Seanad. I raise the issue of BusConnects, particularly in Limerick. There has been a delay in rolling it out. Back in 2021, Limerick Chamber, along with the business park outside Annacotty, commissioned a report which showed there was no bus connection to the business park. The nearest bus stop is 2.5 km from the business park, where there are more than 3,000 people working. Bus…

I believe Senators Collins and Andrews wish to share their time.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I understand Senators Noonan and Cosgrove are sharing time. Is that agreed? Agreed.

There are five speakers left and about 15 minutes on the clock, so I propose that each speaker will have three minutes. Is that agreed?

I know, but I have to bring in the Minister of State at 6.05 p.m.

Is it agreed by the House? Agreed. There are five speakers with three minutes each, including me. I call Senator Lynch.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to discuss this all-important topic. I come from a local background, having served on Limerick council for 17 years, served as mayor and been an Oireachtas Members for a number of years. The workload has increased tenfold through the years, I think, certainly for councillors. I think back to when I was first elected compared with when I was finishing up as a councillor to come to the Seanad, and the work has increased. The position of a councillor is a full-time role and I t…

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Imelda Goldsboro - The need for the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to undertake an urgent review into the delay in water connections for housing developments. Senator Mike Kennelly - The need for the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on the implementation of a dedicated Bus Éireann secondary school transport route to Tralee along the R557, specifically to service the co…

The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, is very welcome.

I welcome students from Alexandra College, Milltown. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. As is customary in the Seanad, they will have no homework for the rest of the day.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Margaret Murphy O'Mahony - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the expansion of the criteria for eligibility for the disabled person's parking permit to cover designated parking spaces for individuals with hidden disabilities. Senator Manus Boyle - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on future funding allocations to the low-cost accident scheme and other cap…

I welcome the Minister to the House.

Before we move to Order of Business, I welcome Creagh College from Gorey. They are guests of Deputy Malcolm Byrne and I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House and the Seanad today.