-----over the last two and half years has been against measures that would increase supply and has been about the introduction of measures that would reduce supply. That is a fundamental problem in terms of the Deputy's policy proposition.

We are committed to social housing and affordable housing, and on the vacancy, the Deputy knows the Croí Cónaithe grants have been increased from €50,000 to €70,000-----

There is also the new revolving funding of €150 million. Therefore, for the first time in a long time, there is a focused, targeted and well-resourced programme on vacancy and dereliction. The Deputy should at least acknowledge that, but there we are.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. In terms of lifespan generally, the last 20 or 30 years have seen a dramatic improvements in lifespan. Over the history of the State, we have gained 25 years in lifespan. In terms of health outcomes, there have been fairly dramatic improved outcomes on cancer care and survival rates and cardiovascular in terms of survival from cardiac issues. Heart disease was a huge killer in Ireland. It still remains a killer, but less so than it would have heretofore been. Stroke has bee…

It is all of the above. It will need more resources, if one looks at the trajectory of health expenditure. Much of that is on the human resource because the human capital in health has increased. The numbers of people working in the health service have continued to increase but more and more services have come on stream with it. It means more investment of capital, in equipment and in additional capacity in hospitals. It should and has to mean more investment in primary care. In that respect, there is a significant…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. She is correct to say this has gone on for far too long. It is not satisfactory. I will engage with the Minister for Finance to bring forward proposals to deal with the issue. It has had a long history. There was an earlier scheme in the 1990s that was broader. At that time, the then Department of Finance had views that it was too broad and it narrowed it. Most of us who have experience dealing with the current scheme, as it was in terms of the criteria and so on, accept t…

The Minister for Health is engaging with the National Rehabilitation Hospital in the context of the operation of this scheme to make sure there are sufficient numbers of necessary medical resources and staff, and on the broader issue of the volume of applications in terms of there being sufficient numbers on the board or to support the board in respect of processing the applications. I understand the urgency and importance of this for many people who benefited from the scheme in the past and those who fall to benef…

I am sorry. Can I say something?

I take the opportunity, which I should have at the outset, to thank the Ceann Comhairle and all of the ushers and staff in Leinster House for their courtesy, co-operation, tolerance and infinite patience with all of us. We wish them a bit of a break, or rather, more of a break. They will obviously still be here but will have some respite from the day-to-day pressures of the House being in operation. I sincerely thank them on my behalf, that of the Government, and all of the Government parties.

The Government has acted. Some €12 billion has been provided over the past year and a half, which is 4.5% of our national income, to help households and help people cope with the cost-of-living increases brought about by the war in Ukraine and the inflation that came from the ending of Covid. Those have been in specific tax and expenditure measures. Eight lump-sum payments were arising out of budget 2023 alone. I think it is time for the commercial wholesale prices to be reflected in retail prices by the energy com…

There is no issue with the deletion of sexist language. If there was, this would have been resolved a long time ago. The Deputy is a person of some capacity in the legal world and understands the complexities of this. It is not as simple as she has stated. The various wordings that have come forward need rigorous assessment from a constitutional perspective. The balance between the fundamental principles that we enshrine in the Constitution and policy and legislative work of the Parliament and the Executive has to …

This recommendation has emerged from the industrial relations process. The Government has accepted the outcome of the industrial relations process. I am not going to pre-empt the outcome of the ballot. The industrial relations process is independent and has come forward with an outcome. The Minister was proactive in all of this. He commissioned the report in the first instance. We have a forthcoming pay agreement which can also become a framework for resolving further issues, in addition to the outcome that has eme…

The Minister is very committed to this. Under the framework that has been agreed, there are a number of attractive options for water services workers including full protection of terms and conditions for those who choose to remain in their local authority. For workers in particular, it sets out the options that will become available generally and empowers each worker to decide voluntarily on the option which is best suited to their own individual needs. Other unions have taken a different approach to Unite the Unio…

I do not have the background to the case but I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on this matter. This, obviously, has potential implications for other unauthorised developments and people will have to look at these on a case-by-case basis. No one wants to see anybody evicted from a home if there is no alternative there for those people. Again, I would like to see the background to it. If the Minister has indicated to the Deputy that he will review it, I believe he will do that, and I will talk to the Minis…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know that Deputy Cahill and all of the Deputies in Tipperary have raised this issue. I know that the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is also conscious of it and he seems to be more disposed to bypasses of towns like Tipperary town. That is certainly one I am keeping an eye on and I will continue to engage with the Deputies in respect of this particular issue.

First, it is unacceptable that workers would be treated in the way described and outlined by the Deputy with regard to their basic entitlements. Where employees believe their rights have been breached, as the Deputy knows, they have a right to refer the complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. The WRC is obviously independent in the performance of its functions, but that would be one avenue to bring that to completion. I also know that an examiner has been appointed. That is the court-directed process,…

Again, these are two areas, but again, if the role of the WRC or the Labour Court can be used to try to-----

No, it will not take years.

We have to go through the various processes.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I am aware of it. A number of parents have contacted me in respect of this, particularly in the Midleton area. We will pursue this issue.