-----highlighting in particular that I would like to see additional supports for students with disabilities and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and through SUSI and thresholds to help a broad range of students.

First, it is critical that the recommendations of Dr. Shannon be implemented and that our focus is on that. There have been many calls for inquiries in many areas. The Government yesterday took a very significant decision on the establishment of a commission that will have an enormous body-----

I know but I am just making the point. I have made the point previously about the most effective way to investigate or have inquiries into matters of this kind, given the enormity of what had to be covered in the decision yesterday. I had no issue with that, obviously, but I have broader concerns about the commission of investigation methodology and model as a basis for dealing with issues of this kind.

As the Deputy heard earlier, there are no delays in issuing of visas and there is no wrangling going on. There have been about 45 in total, adults and children. The original WHO agreement was one on one but we did not observe that in many respects because there are complex issues involving families, siblings left behind and the need for carers. Logistically, evacuating children from Gaza is very difficult and much of it is not within our control. We work with the WHO and others. Rest assured everything that can be …

-----out of Gaza as quickly as possible will be done.

The Minister met with clinicians in Letterkenny recently and there has been significant investment in Letterkenny hospital over the years. There can be challenges. There have been contributions from the Republic in investment in Altnagelvin. Looking at Donegal geographically, particularly Inishowen, the cross-Border services and capacity need to be strengthened to facilitate access. Under earlier cancer strategies, Galway was the main centre for the north west, which is a significant distance. We need to look strat…

An Garda Síochána will be to the fore in examining this and the background to it. I cannot comment on the case. Perhaps it is still under investigation and, potentially, a follow-through on that. I will talk to the Deputy afterwards. I was not aware of the ownership there.

I thank the Deputy for raising this serious issue. I agree on the need for additional capacity in the planning sense within local authorities and generally within the planning system. I was in the House yesterday and a question about solar panels and agricultural land was raised. People also want guidelines to restrict onshore wind. We need a general debate on how we plan this because renewables are the most sustainable way forward into the future. I will examine with the Minister the issue of guidelines on anaerob…

I thank the Deputy. I will ask the Ministers to examine that. That seems very precise detail and I do not know what timeline governs it but I will certainly have it examined.

The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, met with the Minister yesterday on this topic.

Last Wednesday, sorry. Business cases are important and all projects have to go through the gateway process in terms of the Department of public expenditure. As the Deputy knows, on another day in here - his own party is fairly adept at it - expenditures that are just approved without going through those gateways-----

It is not 60 years.

If the project had not gone through those gateways, the Deputy would be the first to attack it in terms of expenditure.

It is going through a process. Hopefully, we will get it to come out the other end.

In November 2022, the European Commission adopted Ireland's territorial just transition plan and associated programme. That was launched in April 2023. There is a total commitment of €169 million to the just transition process in the midlands designated territory, as approved by the Commission. Of the total, €84.5 million is from the EU just transition fund out to 2027. The Deputy's question relates to whether we could create a zone. I refer to the legislative framework under which such a zone would be created in t…

I thank Deputy Dempsey for raising this issue. It is unacceptable there are such high waiting times for those seeking driving tests. As she has acknowledged, the Road Safety Authority has developed an action plan. We are beginning to see a reduction, as she said. We have to continue to focus on that. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, has been very much on top of this and he has been in discussions with me to make sure we maintain this downward trajectory. The Deputy's point is very valid. We need to focus on th…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Bheadh sé deacair rátaí difriúla a chur i bhfeidhm ó chathair go cathair ach admhaím go bhfuil fadhb ann. There is a problem in terms of the cost of housing for workers and key workers. Through housing, I would like to see if we can create specific, affordable housing provision for key workers in given locations and whether that would it work side by side with the broader housing developments. I want to see if that could that happen and whether we could focus on that side of it. In…

Yesterday, I read the education indicators. Approximately 94% of all children between the ages of three and five are now in early years services, which is a huge increase from where we were a decade ago. It represents substantial progress. When we talk about State-led care, we have to be very clear as to how we intend to increase that provision and the methodology by which we would do it. A lot of people have invested a lot in the existing childcare infrastructure. We have to make sure we do not disrupt that in any…

I will ask the Minister to examine that and see what we can do to help.

I will talk to the Minister responsible in this area. I need to get the background to this before I commit. There are obviously reasons why that is the case right now. On the surface, it does not seem equitable but I will have it examined.