It is great that we have it. You guys did not want it.

We have had the debacle of the Government's bicycle shed, its security hut, the doubling of costs for modular homes, €9 million for phone pouches and, of course, the mind-blowing cost overruns for the national children's hospital. The list goes on and on. We discover now, however, that over six months the Government has spent almost €500,000 of the people's money on private jets to meetings in Europe.

That, to me, is an astonishing sum over such a short period of time. Can the Taoiseach please give us some response as to how that represents value for money? That is €500,000 on travel for the Taoiseach on private jets. Even by the standards of Fine Gael, that is certainly extravagant and self-indulgent at a time when students, families and workers are struggling. How does the Taoiseach justify such wastage and extravagance on himself?

No.

Scoil Mochua in Clondalkin provides education and disability supports to approximately 76 children from Dublin and the wider Leinster region. The children who attend the school have profound physical and intellectual disabilities. For 30 years, the school, its staff and its parents have worked together to transform the lives of hundreds of children. The school's patron is the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC. Scoil Mochua receives €2.65 million a year from the Department of Education, which pays for the school's staff …

For all that, schools are generally underfunded. This specific school is underfunded to the tune of €125,000, which is needed for heating, cleaning and insurance costs. The CRC has provided a backstop for the shortfall in money coming from the Department of Education. The Minister can tell the House if this has changed but the information I have been given is that Department is flatly refusing to make up this shortfall or to allocate any additional money. If there is now engagement between the Department and the sc…

It was not.

There are more than 11,000 children with disabilities waiting for an assessment of needs to be completed. As the Taoiseach knows, they are legally entitled to that assessment within six months, yet over the past decade we have seen a frightening lack of progress from Government in getting children access to their assessment on time. A parliamentary question response to my colleague, Deputy David Cullinane, shows that fewer children had an assessment of needs completed in 2023 than almost ten years ago in 2014. Wait…

The only problem with that perspective is that the legal obligation for an assessment of needs within six months is set out in law. As we speak now, the State continues to break the law. The Taoiseach will concede and accept that.

I hope he also accepts that this is not a tolerable situation. That has to change and for it to change, he needs to name a date, in my opinion. That is also the opinion, as the Taoiseach knows, of Cara Darmody, of her father Mark, and everybody who has campaigned very hard on this issue. I mentioned Jaden and Ciara to the Taoiseach. Like many parents, Ciara is not on her own. There are 11,000 waiting for their assessments of needs. She is frantic with worry now. She completed the forms in January, and she is waitin…

-----although he is not an exception. There are many others in that situation. Rather than questioning the commitment for the six-month rule, can the Taoiseach make a commitment that the law will be respected and that the six-month rule will be upheld? The Taoiseach knows that is the campaign of Cara Darmody in the end - yes, private provision in the meantime and the finance for it but she said loudly and clearly to the Taoiseach, as he stood in photographs with her, that he should get the State to obey the law and…

That is for sure.

I take the issue of child protection very seriously. There is nothing more important than protecting the safety and well-being of children and responding effectively when they are harmed. Ensuring that children are safe and cared for is a responsibility we all share, no matter who we are or our walk of life. It is something in which I passionately believe as a public representative, as the leader of a political party but also as a mother who has raised two children of her own. Let me also state clearly that I belie…

The political cut and thrust-----

The political cut and thrust can be bruising, and I accept that this comes with the territory, but as we now get ready to go to the people and as we ask people for their votes and their trust, we should remember there is a fundamental responsibility to the children and young people at the centre of these matters and that responsibility, and that responsibility alone, should be the priority for all of us.

Last Friday I was in Monaghan. While I was there, I met with a group of parents of children with profound special needs. Their stories were very familiar to me - all too familiar, in fact, because I hear similar in every community visit that I make. They battle the system every single day to try to secure for their children the services they need, such as assessments of need, occupational therapy appointments, speech and language therapy, resources and school places. They are looking for fair play and for someone t…

I wish the school in Clontibret and educators beyond that all the very best in Monaghan, but Deputy Carthy brought me to meet these families. They are who we met and they could recite the stats just as well as the Minister, maybe even better than her. They are still left with the reality that there is no special school in Monaghan. The special classrooms have their place and are extremely valuable. Investment in them is important. I acknowledge that. It is not the whole story, however. That is precisely the point t…

Is that a "Yes"?

So that is a "Yes".

Carers do extraordinary work all across Ireland. They show incredible dedication to vulnerable loved ones they care for: parents who care for children and young adults with complex needs, those who look after their elderly parents and those who care for family members with disabilities. Caring is work done with love, but it is work. It is 24-7 every day and every night non-stop. Carers do not get to clock out; they keep going. The work they do saves the State billions, yet there is very little recognition from the …