The bottom line is that we need more therapists and children need more access to them as fast as we can possibly provide it.

First, the Minister for children will bring a memorandum to the Government in the next while to get a positive decision on the ratification of the optional protocol. The Government has significantly expanded the number of people entitled to the fuel allowance.

In the past two years in particular, we dramatically provided additional supports for those on the free fuel allowance-----

-----in respect of the energy crisis and the increased costs. We have gone over and above what would have been the norm in respect of the amounts of money allocated in the past two years.

The Government has undertaken a lot of work in respect of an evaluation of how the nation did in respect of Covid-19, which was an extremely traumatic and devastating time for many families across the country who lost their loved ones. No doubt vaccination changed the course of the pandemic and enabled us to live with Covid into the future, but it still is a dangerous virus, particularly for older people. That is why vaccination is essential, in my view, and why we urge people to get their annual vaccination in res…

First, I will talk to the Minister for Education in respect of this specific issue. I am surprised that Bus Éireann has not conceded yet. Given that Deputy Murnane-O'Connor is in weekly engagement with them, I would have thought-----

-----that, given the manner in which she approaches these agencies with her tenacity, they would have caved in by now. Anyhow, in a serious vein, it is a serious issue. I think there is an issue with some people getting tickets but not using them and then taking up seats that other people would use. We need to resolve that. I will talk to the Minister to see what we can do.

Mar a dúirt an Teachta, is iontach an scéal é go bhfuil otharcharr nua in Inis Mór anois. Níl aon ionadh orm go bhfuil muintir Inis Oírr ag lorg otharchairr chomh maith. Fuair an tAire Sláinte an-chuid airgid i mbliana agus, faoi láthair, don bhliain seo chugainn tá sé ag lorg níos mó airgid agus áiseanna. De réir dealraimh, tá sé fós ag caint leis an Aire caiteachais, an Teachta Donohoe. Laistigh den mhéid airgid atá aige, b'fhéidir go mbeidh sé in ann níos mó airgead nó infheistíocht a chur ar fáil d'Inis Oírr. C…

Is it the absence of cardiologists in Cavan-Monaghan?

Okay. I will talk to the Minister for Health in relation to that. There should be alternative pathways of referral for people with challenges in respect of cardiac disease notwithstanding the fact that they are currently recruiting, as the Deputy said, for a cardiologist. I will talk to the Minister for Health.

First, I thank the Deputy, who has been pursuing this issue for quite some time. In my view, on the pilot scheme, I would prefer a much wider scheme. We are three parties in government. I have very clear views as to what we need to do now and that is a wholly school-based multidisciplinary delivery model. On the issues around recruitment of therapists, the HSE clearly has issues in terms of recruiting therapists. This was a pilot that was agreed between all of the different parties - the National Council for Specia…

The council has the wherewithal. The criteria are clear if there are issues like that. Clearly young Frankie has real issues and that justifies emergency provision of alternative housing for that child and family. I cannot comprehend how that has not happened. If the Deputy gives me the details, I will see what I can do to pursue that specific case and the broader issue. I have dealt with the optional protocol and have already spoken about the broader issue, although on limited time because it is only a minute. It …

Yes.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue in respect of the employees of Bord na Móna. I will talk to the Minister and alert him to the fact that the Deputy has raised this with a view to him engaging with Bord na Móna to see if this issue can be resolved.

Which standard?

I will discuss this with the Minister for housing. The Government has been anxious to progress this scheme to get houses remediated, repaired, restored and built anew if that is required. I will certainly talk to the Minister, but the agenda of the Government is to work with people to get these houses-----

I did not say that. I said I will talk to the Minister. He is dealing with this in a more detailed manner.

Beidh mé ag caint leis an Aire Oideachais níos déanaí. Níl aon amhras orm go bhfuil rudaí atá freagrach as an moill. Bhí mé ag caint leis an gComhairleoir Naoise Ó Cearúil chomh maith agus tá a fhios agam faoin gceist seo. Tá mé sásta go ndéanfaimis ár n-iarracht an scoil a thógáil chomh tapa agus is féidir linn.

Ar dtús báire, cuirim fáilte roimh an Chéad-Aire sa Tuaisceart, Michelle O’Neill, agus roimh fheisirí nua Pharlaimint na Breataine chuig ár dTeach. Ní aontaím leis an mhéid atá ráite ag an Teachta Doherty. Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil an-chuid infheistíochta curtha ar fáil ag an Rialtas d’úinéirí tithe agus do theaghlaigh a bhfuil an-chuid damáiste déanta dóibh de dheasca míoca. Tá suas le €2.5 billiún curtha ar fáil ag an Rialtas don scéim seo. Is scéim i bhfad níos fearr í ná an scéim a bhí ann cheana in 2019, scéim a…

-----grant of €420,000 per dwelling; grant rates in keeping with advice from the Society of Chartered Surveyors; and a Government guarantee in the form of a second grant option, if required, for a period of up to 40 years. That was not in the previous scheme, which Deputy Mac Lochlainn was happy with.