On the prepaid meters issue, I would argue we have had significant clarity on that in the Government’s response, both in the budget in respect of all the payments that are being made between now and the end of the year, together with the energy credits, something I have outlined to the House on numerous occasions, and in the work the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, has done in increasing protections. The Minister himself has also met with the companies. The Minister is in the House on Thursday on the e…

We have been very clear from the outset that the law applies from the date the law is passed, by definition. In any event, these are issues and there is time for that amendment to be taken.

On Deputy Healy-Rae's point, my understanding is that the Business Committee met in respect of the various timings for debates this week. The Deputy has asked for a debate. I take his point about services. I pay tribute to the health services and to our education services, where a great number of personnel have given a great deal of help and assistance outside of their normal work hours-----

----- pro bono to many Ukrainian refugees, and I thank them for that. Many people across the community in education, health and other services have done that and we should acknowledge that. With the greatest will in the world, I do not believe we could ever dismantle Kerry tourism or Kerry hospitality.

It is an impossibility. It cannot happen. I have been there too often, including last summer, and there is not a hope that it could be dismantled. It is so strong and robust. There are genuine issues in certain towns. We have a list of towns that have gone way beyond the call of the duty when compared to other areas. We saw that recently in Killarney, where the community responded very generously. We appreciate that.

I will ask the Whip if we can have a debate at some stage. I do not know whether that will be possible but I will ask the Whip if something can be done.

On the alleged rolling closures of ECCE services raised by Deputy Tóibín----

-----there is nothing that would please him more than to have as many protests as he can get on the back of.

The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has said that €1 billion will be invested in childcare in 2023, an increase of €346 million on last year. ECCE services will benefit from this funding.

The Minister can engage with the Deputy on this matter.

The Deputy should do a bit more homework than just one article because articles can get things wrong from time to time. My understanding is that the article in today's Irish Examiner that was critical of the level of delivery against our national retrofit targets incorrectly referred to a target of 62,500 retrofits in 2022 when the actual target was 27,000. The latest projections from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, indicate that we are on track to achieve our target of 27,000 home energy upgrade…

Some 35,000 applications for support have been received, which represents a 150% increase on the same period last year.

I could go on. I will get the details for the Deputy.

I will leave this to the Minister.

I understand that the all-island rail review is close to completion. The problem now is that the Executive is not up and running in Northern Ireland. The review is a joint initiative that is funded under the shared island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach. At the time that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the then Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon, launched the all-island rail network review the idea was to dramatically transform our rail speed in this country. Hopefully, if we can get positive …

Relationship and sexuality education is available at primary level and post-primary level. The reports the Deputy has received from the Donegal Rape Crisis Centre are very worrying. The Minister, through the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, has been undertaking a fundamental review of the junior certificate syllabus in respect of relationships and sexuality education, RSE, as well as at senior level. The work at junior level is complete. In addition to changing and broadening the curriculum, it is im…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Minister for Health is alongside me. He also heard the Deputy and would be responsive to the idea and to the recommendation of the national hearing plan. I will ask the Minister to pursue that. There have been many initiatives across the broad spectrum of health services but audiology services need attention, particularly at child level, where early intervention can be key to the child's developmental potential. Substantial funding has been allocated for redu…

It is an elective hospital, which means that there will not be an emergency department.

Yes.

Just hear me out.