First, I noticed references in a lot of contributions to the Government having ended contact tracing or the Government having decided this or that. It was a decision the Government took at the time, on 27 September, following, and in line with, recommendations from NPHET, to cease routine contact tracing. It was public health advice.

Does Deputy Murphy accept it was based on public health advice?

What I do not accept is the deliberate narrative created by Deputies that it was a decision taken without any reference to public health whatsoever. This is from the very same Deputies who will argue consistently for the need to adhere not only to public health advice but to even more severe public health advice in respect of zero Covid and so on. When it suits them, they turn it all around and say that anything they do not like is done by the Government, not on the basis of public health advice. It was the Governm…

In terms of HEPA filtrators and ventilation, guidance has been issued to schools and an expert group was formed. The fundamental view of that group, by the way, is that the most important ventilation is fresh air. That is the most basic rule of thumb it has applied. On the costings, people have magically come up with a figure of €12 million. I have been given an estimate that it could cost up to €80 million if every single classroom were to be ventilated with a HEPA filter. Again, that can be worked through. What c…

I did not get to every question. In response to Deputy Cian O'Callaghan, we are working on apprenticeships. There has been a big change in the new scheme we have introduced. Deputy Brendan Smith made a very good point on further education. There needs to be more structured co-operation and I am working on that through the shared island initiative. We are endeavouring to get the various education institutions together and we will support partnerships. I would be interested in a further education partnership. Work is…

Deputy Boyd Barrett asked about Clonkeen College. I will follow that matter up with the Minister for Education. Some clause in the 1998 Act has probably been invoked, and therefore a manager has to be put in place. That appears to me to be regressive. Let me follow through on that. I do not have the full answer here. I will alert the Minister for Education to the issue. Deputy Cathal Crowe dealt with contact tracing, five- to 11-year-olds and other school measures. The new substitute teaching measures will make a d…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 17, inclusive, together. The Government has been working hard to implement the commitments in the programme for Government across a wide range of issues in all Departments. The ten Cabinet committees established by the Government reflect the full range of policy areas that it will work on during its lifetime, as set out in the programme for Government. Cabinet committees meet regularly to continue this work. The strategy statements which have been prepared by Departments refle…

I remind Deputies that the original question was about the programme for Government. The key elements of that programme have been groundbreaking and significantly developed. Delivering Housing for All is the biggest State investment in housing in the country's history. I suggest that Deputy Cian O'Callaghan refer to the Minister with the specifics because the Minister is adamant that the local issue does not arise anymore and the accommodation should be provided. We have confronted and responded to the climate and …

This involved court actions. People never tell the straight story here. The courts arbitrated on peat and anything we do must be in line with EU directives and EU environmental law.

I have no difficulty with publishing the report, but Ministers are coming together to see if they can get a resolution to this for the horticulture sector. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked about the income thresholds. I understand his point about more discretion and flexibility in respect of the fuel allowance. I will talk to the Minister for Social Protection in that regard and to other Ministers regarding the measures we are introducing to reduce the overall levels. The increase in the income threshold will be…

I am not finished yet. My apologies, but I am going in reverse order.

To respond to Deputy Mac Lochlainn, we gave a fair bit of time to the defective block issue. It is a comprehensive scheme.

We asked for specific submissions from parties, but the Deputy's party decided not to respond to the Minister.

The Housing Agency is central to it.

Deputy Kelly raised the Limerick mayoral office and the election. We are working on the legislation and I take the Deputy's point. Certainly, 2022 has to be the time to get that legislation passed by the House and developed. In respect of masks for nine-year-olds, it has been advised that this will be required.

It has been advised and it will be required. We are not going to regulate it in law with legal regulations. We have to work with children and be practical about this, particularly children with special needs.

I think I have responded to everybody.

I have dealt with antigen tests all day. The important point regarding antigen tests is that up to 130,000 have been given out free through close contacts. I am sorry; I am wrong. Some 100,000 have been given for free to close contacts, 130,000 for food production and the agriculture sector and approximately 22,000 for higher education. They were all freely dispatched. Some 8,000 in respect of primary schools were dispatched free yesterday for close contacts of children. There are many antigen tests being given out…

The alternative would cost approximately half a billion euro if we were to make them free over 12 months. We have to allocate and use our resources wisely as well.

First, energy price increases are almost totally driven by global price rises which are being felt in Europe and across the world. The rebounding of international economies has led to supply chain constraints and real pressure on gas and oil prices. That is the fundamental driver here. It is a global phenomenon and is not unique to Ireland in any shape or form. There is a diesel rebate scheme in operation which was introduced in 2013. It offers a partial excise refund to qualifying operators when the retail price o…