I asked about alternatives. Why is the Taoiseach not putting alternatives in place?

The way to resolve that is to provide people who use solid fuel with an alternative.

The Taoiseach should provide alternatives.

Before the summer break?

I wish to speak to amendment No. 1 in respect of applications to the EPA for licences. I highlight to the Minister of State an anomaly of which I am sure he has been made aware. It relates to polyethylene terephthalate, PET, plastics and the ludicrous situation whereby we have the facilities to recycle those plastics in this State, but according to information Deputies and Senators have received, a substantial quantity, if not the vast majority, of PET plastic collected in this State is exported internationally for…

You left €30 million on the table.

He never mentioned forestry.

The Government cannot even manage its speaking time.

That is not true.

The Tánaiste does not listen.

Will the Minister outline the steps that have been taken to improve the pay and conditions of professionals in the childcare sector and to reduce the cost of childcare to parents?

Families do not need to see their childcare costs frozen; they need to see them reduced dramatically. Sinn Féin has launched a document, Delivering Affordable Childcare, which outlines how we, in government, would reduce fees by two thirds. That is the type of support families and workers need in the here and now. Ireland has higher childcare rates than almost anywhere else in Europe. In that context, it is an absolute travesty that the very professional and well-qualified workers in the sector are among the lowest…

To be clear, in our alternative budget last year, we outlined mechanisms that would improve the pay and conditions of people working in the childcare sector and reduce childcare costs for families and workers. None of those things has happened. Many would argue that whatever was in the Government's budget amounted to a stunt. Childcare costs have not come down and the pay and conditions of workers in the sector have not improved. I asked a specific question on what will happen this September. How many childcare fac…

You do not understand the budget process.

No, it is not. You do not understand the process.

The Central Bank has estimated that inflation will hit 10% next month and much of that, as we have just heard, has been driven by soaring energy costs. Many families will be simply unable to heat their homes come the autumn. They are in despair with worry as to how they will make ends meet. It is in that context that I have to say that it is bizarre that the Minister next week plans to bring forward, according to his previous remark, proposals to ban the sale of turf, considering that such a ban would remove the on…

There will be no ban on the sale of turf. That is what I am asking.

Will there be a ban on the sale of turf?

Does the Minister have nothing better to do next week than-----

I commend Deputy Ó Laoghaire not only on this motion but on forcing the Government to a point where, despite its protestations, it was unable to hide from the fact that measures had to be introduced to support families with the costs of sending their children back to school. I welcome the measures that were announced today. I particularly welcome the announcement of free school transport, and I hope it will become a permanent measure. I also hope the school transport scheme will be expanded so we can get rid of the…