As Cathaoirleach of the Committee on Disability Matters, people with disabilities must be considered here. We have had a number of meetings and the building of capacity for people with disabilities across the country is hugely important. Over the last number of years the same level of investment has not been there and this area has been slow to get investment because of different regulations and hoops people must go through. We have surplus funding and that is welcome. Moving into Ireland’s future it is hugely bene…

One can get an eye test or dental treatment through PRSI contributions. I propose that people who have PRSI contributions would get an annual visit to their GP for an annual check-up. We have seen people who have not gone to the doctor and then have a serious illness. I think it comes under the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. There could be a measure in the budget to make an accommodation for people who have PRSI contributions, whereby they have an annual visit to th…

I thank the Minister of State for sharing time and for her forthrightness, the way she has been dealing with the issues across the spectrum and the way she has tackled the system. The system needs to be tackled. There are a number of issues. As was stated earlier, the capacity in the system needs to be increased. Many of the section 38 and 39 organisations and other voluntary organisations have advanced plans for projects. Funding should be allocated to ensure that shovel-ready projects do not need to go through al…

I ask the Taoiseach about the unmet needs of children with additional needs. Is the Taoiseach satisfied that, as students transfer from primary school to second level, enough is being done to ensure that there are places available for people with additional needs? I also raise the transport section of the Department of Education, particularly dealing with kids with additional needs. Answers are not being provided to families who changed plans from the grant aid to transport being provided mid-stream because of fami…

Balanced regional development is very important. In light of everything that is happening with the cities, the shortage of housing and everything else, it is the way forward. In that context, there is particular need to prioritise the M20 connection road between Limerick and Cork and beyond. The recent tragedies on the streets of Charleville are a major concern for all those representing the area. It is very important that the M20 gets the go-ahead. It needs to be prioritised in order to address the issues relating…

On the Taoiseach's reference in his response to the 84,000 people who have come in and for whom the State has provided shelter, what engagement have State agencies had with people who have come in, and are willing to work or participate, in the context of the labour shortage right across sectors? Will the Taoiseach give us an update on that, please?

I welcome the opportunity to raise the issue of road safety in the town of Charleville, County Cork, a town that will be known to the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. This has been a major concern for a long time. Unfortunately, several people in the town have died while crossing the road there. I extend our deepest sympathies to those bereaved because of the tragic loss of people on the street in Charleville. The town is at the heart of Munster and is a very busy market town. Many people are employed around it and there i…

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. The two last paragraphs in the script were the important ones. TII identified a high-collision location in the town through the network safety analysis undertaken in 2019. This is not just about collisions but about life and death. People are losing their lives on the main street in Charleville. I do not want to exaggerate the issue, but it has happened and is happening. We must ensure urgency is brought to bear on this issue. Can we get representatives of TII and the lo…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2023. I know a huge amount of work has been done on this at departmental level. In the first instance, it examines the licensing authority and looks at the various challenges with health and safety within the construction industry. There are a huge number of aspects to the Bill, which include looking at the licensing authorities, their decisions and who they are. Many contributors have spoken about apprenticeships and how we are going to g…

What about "Ryan's Daughter"?

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023. I welcome the Bill because it is hugely important that we preserve our historic and archaeological monuments. The legislation makes it compulsory for the State to tighten the laws and regulations to make sure that our historical artefacts and buildings are protected for future generations. I want to speak about the courthouse in Kanturk, which has not been used as a courthouse since 2010. I sit on a local committee and we have…

The building is owned by the Courts Service. It was signed into ownership by the State in 2004, almost 180 years after it was built. The point I am making is, there is a trajectory of funding that has to be done but there is an immediacy about what we are trying to do in order to preserve what we have. There is a bigger plan but what is in danger of being lost before our eyes is the graffiti and the drawings that are there since the War of Independence and the Civil War. We got commentary on RTÉ about the shame it …

I understand the legislation relating to benefit-in-kind was brought in in 2019. It has affected companies, particularly companies in the Duhallow region that I represent. We recently visited a number of small indigenous companies who have people travelling and have bases in Dublin and everywhere else. They spoke of how the benefit-in-kind impacted on key people they have, particularly on sales but also in meetings and so forth. It is fine to look at the public transport system into and out of Dublin but many compa…

How many employers applied for the disability awareness support scheme in 2022, how many were successful and received this funding, are there plans to promote the scheme among the business community, and will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

I thank the Minister for her reply. Employers are looking to this scheme to see how they can support people with disabilities. Has the Department considered people with disabilities who are returning to the workforce? I welcome the Minister's recent initiative on increasing the money that people can earn from work. Each week, our committee examines the available supports that encourage people with disabilities who want to return to the workforce for its therapeutic value and the sense of self-worth it provides as m…

I look forward to the report. Many people will be trying to put forward views on the report when it is published. The Minister stated it will be published in May. Will there be a period thereafter when Members will have an opportunity, either at committee level or in the House, to discuss the report and put our views forward? Many Members will have views about how we should go forward and try to encourage employees into the workforce and employers, not only for employment purposes but also for a sense of self-worth…

I wish all women a happy International Women's Day and thank them for everything they do for us and for society in general. The question I have this morning relates to land for industrial development in Charleville, County Cork. Over the past 20 or so years, the Railway Road industrial park in Charleville, which was designated as an industrial site, saw a number of initiatives such as the business expansion scheme. All the sites on it have been developed. Charleville is an engineering capital. It developed out of t…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The issue here is how we build upon the successes in the engineering hub in Charleville that grew out of decades of Golden Vale. How do we make sure Charleville is available and able to have the critical infrastructure and land available if there is further industrial development? It is quite obvious there are people looking for land for development within the Charleville region. The land banks are there. There is very little left in Charleville. How do we ensure there i…

I will take about six minutes and then defer to Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on her new role and wish her the best in it. I should state that I have a vested interest in this. I am a member of Newmarket Credit Union in County Cork. I pay tribute to Dorothy and her team for the excellent work they do. We are well served by credit unions in Kanturk, Rathmore and Mallow, the latter of which has branches in Millstr…

Is there not three minutes?