I thank the Minister.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for coming to the House to address my issue. My question is for the Minister for Social Protection and relates to means testing and the ongoing review. Means testing is necessary for many payments in the social welfare system. It applies for carers, people on jobseeker's allowance and pensioners. A man came to me recently and told me that he downsized and bought an apartment in a seaside area, which is taken as capital even though he does not let it and uses it himse…

I thank the Minister of State. I understand there is a comprehensive review going on. There are many key areas. I welcome the fact that the Minister and the Department have made an awful lot of changes, especially around agricultural supports. Farmers often must have a second job to compensate. I believe those changes have been welcomed. I also acknowledge the changes around disability. However, there are a couple of small areas that always seem to fall through the net. Many people are slightly over the thresholds.…

I wish to highlight the issue student nurses are facing. On 13 December 2022, the McHugh report suggested a €9 million package and recommended a €500 per year payment for student nurses in years 1 to 3. It also outlined an €80 allowance for overnight accommodation being introduced, together with an increased weekly cap of €300 for students who need accommodation away from their homes. Student nurses and midwives can also avail of a reasonable cost-of-uniform laundry service during periods of overnight accommodation…

I welcome the fact that Limerick has been included in the defective blocks scheme. I have been working with residents on this for quite a while. It was announced in the past couple of days by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. It is certainly welcome news because so many people have been affected not only in Limerick but in Clare, Donegal and Mayo. It is an enhanced scheme and residents who rectify the defects in their homes can avail of up to €450,000. In many cases it will not …

I welcome Aodhán McCormack and his son Cian and daughter Áine from Limerick who are in the Gallery. We also have other guests in the Gallery. They are equally welcome.

I welcome the €1.4 million that was announced for St. John's hospital in Limerick last Friday, when the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, visited the hospital. It means the medical assessment unit at St. John's hospital will now operate seven days a week. This is really welcome. With that comes ten extra staff in the medical assessment unit, including a consultant, two doctors, nursing staff, a porter and an administrator. It will create more than 2,000 extra medical assessment unit places per annum in the mid-wes…

I pass on my sympathies to the family of Senator Aisling Dolan on the passing of her dad. May he rest in peace. I rise today to highlight the use of cash. A report by the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland recently highlighted that there has been an increase of 18% in contactless payments. There are over 3 million card payments a day. The report does not mention the use of cash. I have been contacted by many older people who still like to use cash. They cannot get used to using cards. Recently, on two separate o…

Now.

I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to discuss my matter. I understand the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is currently undertaking a review in regard to PhD students and their status as a student versus an employee because, in many cases, people are lecturing, carrying out research, are working with companies, and are being sponsored by companies. My question is about PhD students and access to PRSI. While the PhD students are s…

I thank the Minister of State very much for his response. It is good to hear the Department is considering looking at the issue of PRSI. This is very important because so many people are now going on to third-level education and some are even taking the long route, as the Minister of State would be aware, because I know that under his own brief how very involved he is with the whole apprenticeship side and how people are progressing up through different levels. It is very important PRSI is a key component to this r…

I issue an invitation to Members. There was good news this morning, announced during the 9 a.m. news, that International Rugby Experience at Limerick was voted Ireland's favourite building. I congratulate International Rugby Experience because it opened just a couple of months ago. The Rugby World Cup is coming up and many of us are involved in club rugby, or maybe in supporting our province or the international team. The key aspects of International Rugby Experience are passion, discipline, integrity, solidarity a…

I acknowledge Nick, Nicola, Ursula, Nicholas and Seán from the Jackman family along with nephews Ray and Brian. Also in the Gallery are her friends, the Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, Deputy O'Dowd, the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, Deputy Frankie Feighan, and the former Deputy and Senator, Michael Finucane. I also have apologies from former Senator Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, who was a great friend of Mary's and wished to be here today. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, she co…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House on behalf of the Minister for Education. My question relates to the inconsistencies that have arisen in respect of leaving certificate 2023. I am sure the Minister of State has heard the reports on the radio and perhaps she herself has been contacted about this. Students in the area I represent who are sitting the leaving certificate or junior certificate were very upset and a great deal of stress and pain was caused to students by the lack of consistency. Eight…

I appreciate that. I hope I am not insulting the Minister of State in pointing out she is not the Minister for Education. I appreciate her acknowledgement that students have been through a lot, as the Minister, Deputy Foley, has acknowledged as well. I hope some leniency is given to students. They are in the middle of the second week of examinations. It has been a really awful time for students and they are still very upset and downbeat about it. I hope leniency will prevail because the situation is not fair on the…

I thank Senator Boylan. Before I go to the Minister of State, I welcome the students from Lahardane National School. I believe they are from County Mayo by looking at the jerseys. They are very welcome. To my left, we have some guests from Florida in the USA who are also very welcome to our Chamber today. I call the Minister of State, Senator Hackett.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.