I am taking Question No. 61 on behalf of Michael McGrath. I ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage about the expertise grants that are available to advise owners bringing vacant traditional houses back into use, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Minister of State will realise the issue for many of the properties we are speaking about. While the grant is a welcome contribution to getting the professional advice for it, in some instances, depending on the property and the age of the property, the grant itself does not cover the financial cost of getting proper conservation officers. The Minister of State alluded to this in his contribution in relation to different types of windows etc. that would have a detrimental effect on the actual structure of the b…

That and the vacant property grant have been a seachange in terms of the way young couples in rural Ireland in particular look at older properties when a short number of years ago they were not being looked at all regarding the possibility of being renovated. Right across the north Cork and the Duhallow regions, the uptake has been hugely positive, it has brought stock back in, as have the SEAI grants. It is important that the expertise grants, the vacant property grants and the SEAI grants continue as they help yo…

The disability matters committee published its recent pre-budget submission, which contains a number of asks relating to the unmet need in the community. There are a number of issues, such as pay parity for section 39 organisations. The Taoiseach alluded in his earlier contributions to recruitment and retention. There are issues in regard to making sure that kids in particular have access to services, as well the provision of multi-annual funding in order that we do not have to debate it every year. There is a part…

I ask the Minister for Finance about the actions he and his Department are taking about the future evolution of cash infrastructure in the State, both to ensure cash is legal tender and acceptable, and that it is managed in a fair, orderly, transparent and equitable manner.

It is hugely important that the Bill be brought in as a matter of urgency because, as the Minister stated, it is important that cash is available. It remains a critical part of our economy in so many ways. There were issues with cash being withdrawn from various banks and so forth in rural and urban communities. That has thankfully stopped, but it is important there is a sound basis in legislation for it. The Minister stated he hopes to get Government approval for the Bill shortly and to bring it before the Oireach…

It was remiss of me during my previous question not to congratulate Deputy Chambers on his appointment as Minister for Finance. I offer him every good wish as he endeavours to take hold of a very important Department. Doing so is well within his grasp. I thank him for his co-operation in the various portfolios he has held over the past four years. It has been a pleasure working with him. The disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme is no longer fit for purpose. I am Chair of the Joint Committee on Disability…

I thank the Minister for his response. The Joint Committee on Disability Matters held an all-day meeting on 8 April. One of the main issues raised that day related to the criteria for the primary medical certificate. Some of the legislation that acts as the basis for the certificate dates from the late 1960s. Many people have said that the DDS is not fit for purpose but that the various other schemes and grants available to people to provide transport have been done away with over the years. A report was sent to th…

On the primary medical certificate criteria, we had an awful lot of submissions for the all-day meeting on 8 April, particularly on single amputees who had been involved in accidents in which they acquired injuries that changed their lives. This in particular was one of the issues raised. We had many correspondents from throughout the country on this. I cannot underestimate the frustration people have with the scheme. I ask the Minister to do whatever he can in his role to make sure the report is published as a mat…

I thank the House for allowing me the opportunity to raise this issue. The Crann project in Ballincollig in County Cork is a fantastic innovation that has been developed over the last number of years. The board of directors and the team there have developed fantastic facilities for people with disabilities, therapeutic facilities for rehabilitation and indeed play therapy. They are also providing innovative training centres for different challenges that people with disabilities have, whether they are disabilities t…

Yes, I did attend the meeting. In the first instance, I commend what the section 39 or charitable organisations are doing throughout the country in providing services on behalf of the State. This is one of the charity organisations that is providing services which are not being provided by the State but should be provided by the State. The State is failing to ensure that money is provided up-front for these vital services. Many families and people with acquired injuries are using the Crann Centre in Ballincollig. T…

The home help service is a hugely valuable service throughout the country that is enabling people to stay longer in their homes. Families and people who avail of the service build up a rapport with the home help staff they have been working with for two, three, four or maybe ten years. Now, the HSE has, in its wisdom, said that it will rotate the home care assistants and that they will only be working with a patient for one week out of every three or four. There would be no continuity in the care that is provided i…

What progress has there been to date under national strategic outcome 10 of the national development plan? I am especially interested in hearing an answer in the context of disability matters.

I thank the Minister. There are a number of issues with the strategic outcome, particularly relating to childcare. Huge sums have been rolled out in respect of the development of the capacities within childcare facilities, whether preschool, afterschool or full childcare. To make sure moneys are spent and capacity is developed, it is important that in every review of the outcomes and of the progress being made, the stumbling blocks and the bureaucracy that has developed must be monitored. On schools and education, …

On that point, when I meet families, as I am sure the Minister has done, whose child has completed primary education and has nowhere to go for post-primary education, the challenge has to be addressed in large part within the mainstream schools but also within special schools. The National Council for Special Education has been doing great work in looking at where in the country the special schools have to be in place but I would ask the Minister, in collaboration with the Minister for Education and the Minister of…

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On the funding that was allocated on the capital programme last year, does much of that, if any, remain unspent?

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I will speak on the various aspects of the Bill. It is important that the Bill is passed to ensure that the provisions within it are brought into law in order that survivors of institutional abuse are looked after. It is very difficult. Like all public representatives, over the years I have met individuals who have suffered. I do not want to discuss their names but this calls to mind many conversations I have had over many years with people who have suffered enormousl…

It is quite sickening to listen to people who talk in an ill-informed manner about the agriculture industry. Rarely, if ever, have I commented on any contributions by any other Member of the House in my time here, but I must take a deep intake of breath after the previous speaker's comments. I am a small farmer. I was a dairy farmer, and I come from a farming heartland. We would like to think that we are small to medium-size farmers within our community. To equate the farmers who have worked particularly hard over …

I will follow on from Deputy O'Sullivan's questions. I welcome the provision of two special schools in Glanmire and Carrigaline but there is a chronic need for special schools throughout County Cork. I was approached yesterday morning by a board of management that intended to seek the provision of a special school. At the moment we have a massive challenge in terms of kids coming out of primary school. We also have kids with additional needs and complex medical needs who have nowhere to turn. They are faced with co…