I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I acknowledge a long-term Covid diagnosis and the existence of the Covid sick pay scheme is a very serious issue. I will talk to the Minister of Health on this matter. I will also raise with the Minister for public expenditure the fact that it has been raised and there have been discussions. I will see what the situation is and revert to the Deputy.

Yes. It is the ESB's job to make sure the meters work. The Opposition obviously does not think I am a man of many talents, but fixing smart meters is not one of them anyway. I have to confess it is not my area of expertise. I take the Deputy's point on the policy, however. There is probably room for moving the time, although it should be kept away from peak time as much as possible, but that would then involve the regulator. I will talk to the Minister regarding the points raised.

What stage is it at?

Has it gone to design?

Some progress has been made. I will talk to the Minister in respect of where that project is and how we can expedite it.

First, I acknowledge the difficulties on the N25. I met recently with the county manager in County Hall in Cork, who was very concerned about the condition of the N25 from a road safety perspective and as a key artery between Midleton, Youghal, Carrigtohill and Waterford - thank you, Deputy Butler - and it has not really been upgraded for a long time. Last year the Department of Transport spent all of its money. I was told this as late as yesterday by the Minister, who said all of the capital was spent. We have to …

I know of the work the Deputy is doing on prisoners' issues and I would generally acknowledge that. I will talk to my own Department officials to raise this issue on the particular prisoner Deputy Ó Cuív has referred to and the fact that there has been such extensive scanning. We have over the years made representations in respect of Maghaberry Prison and I will revert to the Deputy.

Tá an Rialtas ag déanamh gach aon iarracht an Ghaeilge a chaomhnú agus, go háirithe, áiseanna a chur ar fáil do scoileanna lánGhaeilge agus scoileanna sna Gaeltachtaí. An bhfuil an Teachta ag labhairt faoi scoileanna laistigh de na Gaeltachtaí?

Cén fhadhb atá ann?

An é nach bhfuil stiúrthóir ann faoi láthair?

An bhfuil duine ann anois?

Níl cumas sa Ghaeilge aige nó aici, an ea?

Níl sé riachtanach. Caithfimid déileáil leis an Aire faoi sin.

Tá an dlí ann agus déanfaidh mé fiosrú faoi sin.

I am aware of the issues and I have spoken to the Minister for Health generally in respect of the recruitment issues to see if a resolution can be found more expeditiously on that. I will speak to the Minister again. A very significant investment has been made in Nenagh in respect of the community nursing unit where, I believe, up to €20 million has been allocated to it under the community nursing unit programme. In my view, there can be various debates around this. When we start out with a new community nursing un…

We have ramped up the school building programme over the past two years and additional allocations are to be made in respect of the national development plan, NDP, as outlined by the Deputy. I expect all of those issues to be resolved very quickly so, therefore, we can hopefully have progress on the schools referred to by the Deputy.

I cannot give that commitment today to the Deputy. I do not know how long the committee sat for. It was probably nearly a year where it deliberated upon a very complex issue. Deputies in my own party participated in that and commented on the report with regard to the comprehensive work that went on, the consultations that took place and the hearings that happened. The Government should be allowed some time also to examine and read the report as to any proposals that it might consider bringing to the Oireachtas. Peo…

I thank the Deputy. I have dealt with this issue already in the House this morning. I am very clear the Government is focused on fulfilling the programme for Government. It is an important point that government must always be about policy and substance, not necessarily about personalities. I have already instanced the planning Bill, which the Deputy has complained about, on the delivery of a whole range of projects. That should be completed before any general election. The future fund Bill which was passed through …

It is the right thing to do and we want to get this through the Houses as well.

Water tables are very high at the moment across the country.