I apologise if my understanding of where I was on the list of Commencement Matters differed from the Leas-Chathaoirleach's understanding.

These things happen.

I wish to raise the important matter of Bookshare Ireland, a facility run by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, NCBI, to allow blind and visually impaired people to access books. It is a facility where books are accessed from various libraries all over the world and shared. By its name, Bookshare means the sharing of books and other texts for people with disabilities such as those who are blind or have a visual impairment or dyslexia. Imagine walking into a bookshop and finding 90% of the shelves empty.…

I thank the Minister for his reply. The information he provided is factually correct. This service is not currently funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. There is a proposal from the NCBI for a service level agreement or partnership approach to funding it. This week, the State announced free school books for everybody but if this service is not funded by the State, a voluntary NGO will not have the resources to keep supporting this project. I would hate to see w…

I again raise the issue of Shannon Heritage and its proposed takeover by Clare County Council. I do not think any provision was made to provide the €4 million in essential funding that Clare County Council needs to make Shannon Heritage sustainable, or that it was announced in the budget. Perhaps it is in the detail somewhere. I again call on the Leader to intervene with the Minister to see what exactly is going on with Shannon Heritage. When will the funding council needs to make the facilities sustainable be made…

This is the day after the budget. This year's budget was a very different budget because it had to be. It had to be a budget that reached out and supported people not just in 2023, but now. Some of the measures announced are extremely welcome and are needed. I acknowledge the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, for the work she did in securing not just increases to the old age pension and welfare payments in general but also for the once-off payments that are needed this month, next month, at Christmas and going forward in…

The Minister of State is welcome to the House on what is a good day overall in light of all the difficult, challenging and worrying days people are facing. We know the costs of electricity and energy are the big-ticket items. What we do not know is what the small, hidden costs will be. These are the costs people face as they go about their daily lives, such as when they go into the supermarket to buy a tin of fruit and discover it is almost double the price it was. I refer to own-label goods, not any fancy brands. …

I will conclude now, although another three minutes would be appreciated.

My conclusions are usually long. The budget is very welcome. It is an important step in supporting families that need our support at this time. I commend it to the House.

I rise today because I am quite concerned about many of the projects funded by Pobal and the various local development companies with regard to the rising costs faced by people who have been able to secure funding and grants. As we all know, a grant could be issued and approved for somebody two years in advance but by the time builders get around to commencing the work, it could take 18 months to two years. There is significant cost inflation so if somebody was approved for €100,000 two years ago, that sum will onl…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. At the outset, I acknowledge the great work that an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Senator Seery Kearney, is doing as part of the Committee on Disability Matters in advancing the cause of people with disabilities and, indeed, the need for equality in this country. We have spoken many times on these issues with the Minister of State and her enthusiasm never ceases to amaze me. Even two years into office, I see how determined she is to make a difference. She has made a dif…

As there are no other Senators offering, I ask the Minister to conclude.

It is open-ended.

Marvellous.

We have every confidence in the Minister of State.

I support the reasonable pre-budget requests made by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland. For example, the society has called for €600,000 to be invested in its national care centre to fund the great work that is done to provide respite to people and people who visit on a daily basis. I wish to point out that the physiotherapy that people with multiple sclerosis, MS, need is not like what one sees when somebody runs on to a GAA field with a bag of ice. I mean MS sufferers require physiotherapy on a weekly bas…

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I know she has a very busy day ahead of her. Covid-19 has dominated our lives for the last two and a half to three years and has cost billions of euro but much more tragically, it has cost lives. While we have had a significant number of fatalities and families grieving as a result of Covid-19, what we also have are lots of people who got Covid-19 and are still suffering from it. I refer to those with what is termed long Covid, whereby people still have symptoms m…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. She has provided a lot more detail than I had heretofore, which is very welcome. However, the sum of €2.2 million equates to less than €50,000 per week and I certainly hope that in the budget of 2023, that figure will be substantially increased. I welcome the fact that we will have six long Covid clinics in the various hospital groups but I am disappointed that the figures have not been collated to date or that we have not been given, at the very least, preliminary fi…

I do not wish to repeat what Senator Ahearn and others have said, but I believe the campaign for a zero VAT rate is worthy of our support. I support Senator Seery Kearney's call for a debate on the bureaucracy leading to delays in getting vital drugs recognised and into the system in the country. Before the recess, I raised the issue of Shannon Heritage, which is currently part of the Shannon Group. It has been agreed that Clare County Council would take over the Shannon Heritage properties because Clare County Cou…

I, too, wish to acknowledge the presence of the British ambassador, although he is not here now, and pass on condolences on the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Yesterday at Dublin Castle, the Ceann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach led an event aimed at increasing the participation of diverse and minority groups in politics. It was an excellent event, with three segments; one relating to diversity; another to young people's participation in politics; and another to female participation in politics. Each of the three seg…