I formally second the motion. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the Chamber and acknowledge the support and work that she has done in that Department. It is a difficult role but it is one she has taken on to make positive changes, and I know she will make further positive changes. I am speaking as a Member of the Oireachtas but I am also the parent of a young autistic son, so I have a certain knowledge. I am by no means an expert but I know that as a parent, I am in a very lucky position compared…

I also wish to be associated with the comments of my colleagues concerning the late John Connor. As Senator McGahon said, he represented Longford-Roscommon for a term, alongside the late Louis Belton. It is ironic to lose these two stalwarts of the party in a short time. Our deepest sympathy goes to the Connor family. I wish to raise the issue of the school building programme. I have been chatting to representatives of several schools in my area, including Ballymahon Vocational School and St. Columba's National Sch…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words. I want to thank a number of people who worked on this project and drove it. First, in particular, I thank the members of the committee who put to the Houses of the Oireachtas that this was something they wanted to see implemented, including Senators Ardagh, Wall, Garvey and Flynn. It was taken on board by the Cathaoirleach, the Ceann Comhairle and the Secretary General, Mr. Peter Finnegan, as a project they wanted to see implemented. It was a challenge to be one of the …

I welcome the students and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the Chamber to take this Commencement matter about setting up one-stop shops in Ireland to provide for all those on the autism spectrum. One may ask what one-stop shops are. They are basically community-based supports for young children and adults on the autism spectrum. They were first introduced in Scotland as part of its autism strategy. The services provide barrier-free supports to individuals and families created by autistic person…

I thank the Minister of State. First, I must highlight the fact of the funding she made available to AsIAm for the information line for parents. There is an access point there which must be complimented because as a parent, on hearing those words, you do not know where to go or where to turn. It is important that these supports were put in place. The Minister of State has highlighted the fact that support is colocated within the community. There is a model there and it works. We have met the officials, as has the M…

I want to echo the strong words of colleagues and wish good health in retirement to Tom. I thank him for all his work. He is a fantastic servant to the Houses of the Oireachtas and a friendly face to us all every day when we come in here. I wish all the staff, Martin Groves, all the Seanad staff and ushers across the whole complex every good health and best wishes for the Christmas season. A Chathaoirligh, it is just 12 months since you took up the role and you have been excellent in it. I congratulate you on your …

I raise the disparity in overnight rates between the public service and the Civil Service. It has been highlighted to me, with regard to Garda overnight rates, that if a Garda has to come from somewhere such as Belmullet in County Mayo to the Central Criminal Court in Dublin and stay overnight for a case, the maximum payable is €107. As all of us know, we will not get anywhere to stay in Dublin for that. The HSE rate will be increased next week to €195. I do not believe there should be disparity between public serv…

I know they are independent but public representatives are not treated fairly or in the same way as other citizens. Our families do not get the respect they deserve when people admit and plead guilty to doing something. I am highlighting something that is a fact. A little bit more respect needs to be shown to us and our families. This issue was highlighted to me on Wednesday, the day after the court case, when Meta, TikTok and Google attended a meeting of an Oireachtas committee. These are three social media compan…

I support the call by Senator Cassells for a discussion on media. I was delighted to organise the briefing yesterday by the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, IBI. There was a fantastic attendance and it was obvious from the organisation's requests that it needs support into the future. A discussion on this issue would be timely, as would an examination of the sound and vision fund. The make-up of that fund was highlighted yesterday and how difficult it is for IBI to get support from it for certain types of progr…

The Minister of State is very welcome. I thank him for taking this Commencement matter, which relates to the voids programme. Under the Housing for All action plan, each local authority was targeted by the Department to reduce vacancy rates within its council housing stock. Longford County Council was given a target of reducing its 2021 vacancy rate of 7.2% to 3.5% in 2023. This was an ambitious target that was set for the local authority but I know the council was fully committed to achieving it and significant pr…

I thank the Minister of State for what was a negative reply. Basically, the query I put concerns the fact that local authorities are being asked to deal with voids but they are not being compensated for the cost of doing so. The figure of €11,000 per house was decided in 2020. I have given the Minister of State figures on the increase in inflation, not just from the local authority but from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, an organisation that has put forward figures on the increased cost. It is only rig…

I raise the national broadband plan and suggest we have a discussion with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, about the advice given as to where builds take place. I will speak in particular about one area in south Longford, the town of Ballymahon, and the general area, which is where the largest tourist infrastructure project and investment in the country is located, but the area is not included in the current build phase of the fibre network. A significant number of businesses are looking to locate in the area and t…

I welcome the Minister of State. I concur with all other Senators that increased funding is needed for sporting facility infrastructure. It is well known that it is important for young people to be involved in sports and to keep active for their well-being, physical and mental health and the benefits in later life of having been involved in sport. There was a recent announcement regarding the European Championships that will have a knock-on effect on soccer in particular in Ireland. Will there be significant fundin…

Is that for new applications?

My matter relates to Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre in Keenagh, County Longford and the monastic site on Inchclearaun in Lough Ree. Corlea Trackway is a 2,000 year old Iron Age highway, which was uncovered in the bogs in south Longford. It has been developed into a visitor site, managed by the OPW. Visitor numbers are quite low because it is not being promoted well enough. The range of features on the site that people can visit needs to be expanded. This is why I am bringing the issue here today regarding the monas…

I am glad the Minister of State recognises the Corlea trackway is unique. We want to see further investment and expand the visitor numbers to the centre. I do not understand why clarification of the ownership of these items is being sought. They have been in the ownership of the OPW for the past 33 years and it is ironic it is now wondering about ownership and the requirements that will have to be put in place to protect them. They have been protected and kept in storage for the past 33 years since they were brough…

I welcome to the Public Gallery Jack Fagan and Alex O'Brien, transition year students from Ardscoil Phádraig in Granard, who are here for the day to see what goes on behind the scenes in Leinster House. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 9 be taken before No. 1. I pay tribute to a former friend, colleague and political adviser of mine and of all of us in Fine Gael in Longford, Louis Belton, who passed away last weekend. The slogan back in the 1980s when Louis was campaigning to regain the Fin…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend and extend the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and to provide for related matters.

Next Tuesday.

The Minister is very welcome. There are just a couple of points I wish to bring up. I am speaking as an ex-smoker for a long number of years. I have been off them for 20 years, thank God. I was in a school in Longford, with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, approximately 18 months ago, where a lady named Grace Kearney from the local family resource centre, Bridgeways in Ballymahon, spoke with first and second years about vapes. It was only through conversation with her that the actual situation as it was on…