-----then their livelihoods will go down. I do not understand Sinn Féin's position of opposition to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, particularly as it would damage Irish farming.

First, Cork is quite happy to accept the underdog label-----

-----that the Deputy has clearly ascribed to us. I would never have the degree of confidence he would have. We are humble people.

In respect of the cost of living, fundamentally, since Covid and the war in Ukraine, there has been volatility, uncertainty and turbulence in world markets. Supply chains have been disrupted. That has been a factor in the very high inflation we experienced in the immediate aftermath of Covid and during the energy crisis caused by the war and the Russian invasion. One of the problems now is with the tariff policy adopted by the US Government. The latter is creating further uncertainty and volatility in markets, whic…

-----that have to be addressed.

That is a bizarre assertion.

What the Deputy said about forestry.

The Government has not turned anything into anything.

The new forestry programme is the biggest and best-funded forestry programme to date in Ireland, at €1.3 billion. A huge allocation has been made.

It provides unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees. This can provide a valuable addition to farm income and help to meet national climate and biodiversity objectives. The forestry programme offers a very generous package to farmers, with premiums increased by between 46% and 66% and the length of premiums increased to 20 years. One licence is required now to plant a forest. There are strong environmental requirements around planting, particularly on peatlands, so that will not be there. Then th…

There are cultural and behavioural issues-----

-----around adoption of forestry for agricultural use.

In respect of guardianship, there has been change.

The Deputy has to acknowledge that. The Minister for justice has moved on that matter legislatively. I do not have the background in respect of the NPWS and how it is dealing with this, but I will find out and come back to the Deputy.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is obviously a matter of real concern to people in Ardgroom, Eyeries and Castletownbere. I have had discussions but not specifically on this issue. I did not realise the Deputy was going to raise the matter this morning, but I will follow up on it. I have asked Uisce Éireann, in respect of rural communities in particular, to develop bespoke solutions to deal with water supply and wastewater treatment under the umbrella of standards and facilitating an inspection regime s…

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. There is a lot of merit in what he is saying. The Government is endeavouring to develop greater flexibilities for people in rural Ireland in particular. I understand guidelines are under consideration in that respect to enable people to build their own homes. With the vacant grants and the grants to restore derelict houses, we have facilitated quite a number of people in rural Ireland, and young couples in particular, to establish homes. However, I know what the Deputy is s…

AI is an enormous issue of enormous consequence for the future of Ireland and the future of the world in terms of economy and society. Its impact will be as significant as the industrial revolution of the 19th century. I spoke to the Minister of State, Niamh Smyth, on this after the committee meeting. Certainly, we will give consideration to this. I did attend the AI summit in Paris. It was a significant and enormous event involving governments across the world and was co-hosted by the Prime Minister of India, Nare…

I thank the Deputy. I do not have the details of the individual case. The model of general allocation is one that was favoured by school bodies and principals when it was originally introduced, giving more flexibility to schools to deal with the numbers of children they may have in respect of additional needs. I introduced the SNA system back in the late nineties when I was Minister for education and we had no SNAs in mainstream schools. By September, we will have 23,179 SNAs in the country. That is double the numb…

I thank Deputy Crowe for raising this issue. The National Council for Special Education, I understand, has advised that Sixmilebridge national school has resubmitted a previous special needs assistant review request, which now includes additional new junior infants due to start in September 2025. The NCSE has confirmed that the SNA review will be completed and the outcome notified to the school in advance of the new school year. It is important that that would happen. I gave the figures in an earlier reply but, by …

The Minister moved early in terms of the national planning framework and the follow-through on that is a circular to all local authorities on zoning and to get more land zoned for residential use. That is absolutely vital and we expect every executive and every county council to follow through on that and to zone more land because that will be essential for the level of housing we require in the coming decade. The Minister had to go through certain procedures before the direction could issue. I will get the exact d…