I am not providing an umbrella of statistics. There is a fundamental issue here. The statistical data from the OECD shows that Ireland now has the second-highest rate of practising nurses per 1,000 of population, among reported EU countries. However, let us put all that to one side. There is no doubt that health expenditure has increased exponentially. Yes, the population has grown as well and there is pressure on hospitals. I accept that. There are organisational and reform issues that we have to look at as well. …

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am in a position to report to the House that a statement will issue shortly from our Defence Forces, stating that all Irish troops in Lebanon are accounted for and well. This is a relief to us after the reports that had been circulating prior to this session of leader's questions starting. I also want to pay tribute to our soldiers in Lebanon and all of the peace-keepers in UNIFIL from 50 contributing countries, totalling some 10,000 in theatre, at the moment. They are d…

-----to bear witness to what is happening and potentially, if diplomacy can triumph and get the war stopped, then UNIFIL could play a significant role in the restoration of peace. The Deputy raised some very important hypothetical questions about if a similar force had been in place in Gaza. There are no guarantees and we cannot be certain about any particular outcomes but already the Arab peace initiative envisages an international security presence as the optimal way of creating a post-war situation in Gaza that …

I spent two to two and a half hours on Sunday morning listening to numerous presentations from our military leaders, the Chief of Staff, the deputy chief of staff and the director of operations, and the Defence Forces have advised that, despite recent media reports, there is both fresh food and contingency food packs available, certainly at UN position 2-45. The outpost has about 20 days' worth of food and water supplies because our Defence Forces leadership sensibly sent out forward supplies in August in anticipat…

I agree with the Deputy. I will have to follow this up with the Minister. Is the Deputy talking about the Dublin Airport passenger cap?

That has to stop. We need regional connectivity. The north west particularly suffers from a lack of connectivity by rail and by road, because of the A5 debate. We have to keep the air links to the north west open. If I had my way, I would prefer Derry to also have an air connection. This is something that can and needs to be sorted.

I certainly can. I am not familiar with the background but it seems systems can tie themselves up in knots unnecessarily. I do not see how else prescription medicines can be administered, particularly to senior citizens, people who are infirm and so on, if not by family members or carers, in accordance with guidance-----

-----from the GP and medical authorities. I will contact the Minister for Health.

In the first instance, we need a full and comprehensive report regarding the reports we heard when coming into the Chamber. I do not have a comprehensive report on what transpired in respect of UNIFIL positions in Lebanon prior to us coming in here. It would be wise to wait for a comprehensive account and report of the situation. Suffice it to say, a ceasefire should be immediately agreed between Hezbollah and Israel and the bombardment of densely populated areas of Lebanon should stop forthwith. Too many innocent …

As Deputy Barry will know, Deputies Pádraig O'Sullivan and Christopher O'Sullivan have been relentlessly pursuing this issue on behalf of St. Killian's. Yesterday, they received communication from the HSE in respect of St. Killian's and the use of funding to provide therapeutic support. I have spoken to the principal on this issue. My clear position is that we need school-based multidisciplinary teams in all special schools. There has been resistance to this idea, which I have put forward in Government, from the HS…

It will have to be continued. Whatever has started has to continue until we get a different system.

I pay tribute to the Minister of State, James Browne, for his championing of the gambling legislation. He has put significant work into that. I hope the House can get that Bill passed through both the Dáil and the Seanad-----

-----before anything else happens in the time ahead. I appeal to everybody in the House for co-operation in getting that legislation through. I agree with Deputy Shanahan about that gambling block. I will talk to the Minister and engage with the other banks about following the lead given by Allied Irish Banks with that initiative. Gambling has created enormous harm for families and individuals throughout the country. At long last, the Oireachtas is taking it seriously with the legislation. We need to follow through…

I did not quite get the overall import of what the Deputy was saying. My understanding is that relates to material for adults. Is it teacher training material for SPHE or RSE?

I will refer the matter to the Minister and ask her to come back to the Deputy on it.

There is no excuse for empty local authority houses. The local authority should get going. I remember in 2020 and 2021 that we provided additional resources to get voids done. Thousands were done across the country. It is unacceptable that houses have been left idle after they have been vacated. Local authorities really need to get going on the voids too. Social housing is the key way to deal with homelessness.

Last year, about 12,000 social houses were delivered. Of those, 8,500 were new builds.

What I am drawing from the presentation is that the local authorities in Galway need to increase the output. I will talk to the Minister and ask him to review the situation in Galway to see what the issues are.

I agree with the Deputy and I agree with the concept of extra time. In fact, when I was Minister for Education and Science between 1997 and 2000, I introduced an extra half hour for dyslexia. At that time we did not have a State Examinations Commission, but then when I left education, it changed and they took it back again. They said some people were complaining it was too long for students, but a review should not take an inordinate length of time. I would say to the State Examinations Commission that sometimes it…

Obviously, changes in this area can have repercussions and implications. I will refer the matter to the Minister for Social Protection and ask that a response would issue to the Deputy in respect of the issue he raises. I understand the point he is making, which applies in means-tested situations. I will come back to him.