On that issue, when the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, was originally introduced it was for a period of 12 weeks. We have kept it open for new entrants. We have also extended it to April next and we will probably have to extend it beyond that for as long as the pandemic continues, to make it more sustainable in terms of the overall needs of the country. The Deputy mentioned averages. The reality is that 48,000 people whose prior income was less than €200 per week will receive €203 per week under the PUP. A fur…

It has to be acknowledged that the serial testing programme introduced since last August has been important in terms of identifying these outbreaks early. Over 200,000 such tests have been carried out, with low positivity rates. That said, as the cases rise in the community, there will obviously be a consequential danger in terms of it spreading into nursing homes. Hence, the restriction on visitation numbers to nursing homes, which is difficult for many families but is in the best interests from a prevention of th…

I will speak to the Minister for Finance in that regard. I hear what the Deputy is saying. Remote working will be a continual feature in a post-Covid society, although perhaps not to the same extent. There is a benefit in that it reduces costs in some respects. That needs to be acknowledged. Employers in some instances have stepped up to the plate in terms of providing resources to employees. I understand where the Deputy is coming from and I will raise the matter with the Minister for Finance.

The experience in the UK does not suggest that will happen. Affordable housing is an important ambition and initiative but there are challenges around it. In terms of serviced sites, for example, that is taking more time than people would have thought in terms of getting off the ground but there are schemes that are being developed. People do need to have access to affordable housing in this country. In addition, there needs to be a strong social housing building programme. Unfortunately, during Covid-19, house bui…

The Tánaiste has asked the Company Law Review Group to examine changes to legislation not just along the lines of the Duffy Cahill report but also with regard to stronger parity for collective agreements with others in any liquidations. The bottom line is that this is a liquidation. Incidentally, it is not clear that the application of the recommendations in the Duffy Cahill report in all instances would have resolved the issues relating to Debenhams. The Government continues to examine what it can do to support th…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We reduced the post-primary pupil-teacher ratio to a degree as part of the reopening of the schools package. The Minister for Education and Skills is pursuing a range of issues in the budget and the allocation of Estimates next year. Undoubtedly, she will endeavour to prioritise the needs of both primary and second level education into 2021, particularly in the context of the continuing impact of the pandemic. There are areas where we need to increase resources. Technology…

It is not being ignored, and I accept the Deputy's point regarding the impact of Covid-19 on mental health, which is significant and serious. It could continue as long as the pandemic continues. I am concerned about that. We must be conscious of that in the allocation and utilisation of resources. Significant resources have been allocated to mental health over a number of years-----

-----but the capacity to recruit clinicians and personnel has proved difficult. That is a problem. The most important provision in mental health is community mental health. Nobody should leave an emergency department in an acute hospital with no follow-up through either a psychiatric nurse or some community-based psychiatric service that would be of help. That is the ideal model.

When did the Deputy ask me?

I have no difficulty meeting any such group. The Deputy should know that. I have met victims and the families of victims of the Glenanne gang previously. I have no issue with meeting people. What the Glenanne gang did was the worst possible manifestation of evil by any gang, perpetrated on innocent people. I have no truck with that type of thing, and I share the Deputy's empathy with the Mullen family. I would be more than happy to meet them. If the Deputy wants me to meet people in the future, he should just talk …

On Deputy Bruton's point, I believe not just in the replication of the north-east inner city Dublin model but also, and I was in the Liberties recently, in the initiatives of the early 2000s in the revitalising areas by planning, investment and development, RAPID, programme and the idea of a multi-sector and multidisciplinary approach to particular communities. It was one that worked. We need to recreate something along those lines. Embracing a whole range of inputs, from housing and education to community enhancem…

The flu vaccine programme is under way and there are specific categories of people who will receive it. I will talk to the health authorities about the Deputy's suggestion. By and large, the vulnerable sectors of the population are the first priority and there is also a specific programme for children, unlike last year. We are looking for a far more expanded programme and a higher participation rate this year than ever before. There have been delays with supplies of the vaccine, which had nothing to do with here bu…

The Government supports microgeneration and will continue to do so. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, will be publishing a groundbreaking climate Bill today which will set far-reaching targets for the country and our society. I believe it will be transformative in its impact. That said, microgeneration on its own will not meet the energy needs of the country into the future. Renewable energy and wind energy in particular have been very significant for electricity generation here and will continue to be. The move wil…

The Deputy clearly did not listen to me yesterday. I actually said that we would have to replace the European Union directive with a separate bilateral arrangement between Ireland and the United Kingdom. That is because the cross-border directive is a European Union directive. The Deputy and I know that Britain is leaving the European Union on 1 January so that specific directive could not apply from then onwards. That is what I said and the Deputy should not misrepresent it. I believe it is far better if we can pr…

The Government has great appreciation for the work of the many carers across the country. The Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform are mindful of that in the context of the forthcoming budget, alongside all the challenges they will face which they have to engage with and try to manage within available resources. There had been continuing provision of resources to carers. Obviously, more would be desired and more can be done. Again, I will not pre-empt the budget at this particular…

I do not know the reason those applications were refused. I have spoken to the Minister, Senator Hackett, and we had a good discussion around the need to strengthen the organic sector within agriculture. I appreciate the Deputy embracing that sector as an important area for growth and development into the future. I have a passionate interest in terms of promoting and developing it and, likewise, so do the Ministers, Senator Hackett and Deputy McConalogue. I will check out the reasons why 85% of applicants did not m…

Many ICU beds across the country are occupied because we want them to be in terms of ongoing non-Covid treatments. That is part of the overall plan in terms of the resumption of non-Covid services in our health system and that will continue. In respect of specific hospital allocation and provision, in the first instance, the allocation and prioritisation of resources is a matter for the Health Service Executive. I will relay the Deputy's question back to the HSE although I am not sure whether he has engaged with th…

The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, brought legislation to the Cabinet last week regarding the retention of records pertaining to mother and child homes. I do not believe he brought a report, specifically, to last week's Cabinet meeting. That Bill will be published and, to be fair, the Minister has engaged with all involved and is anxious to work to help survivors and families of all those involved as well.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. The role of the social policy and public service reform division is to assist me, as Taoiseach, and the Government, in delivering programme for Government objectives, and public policies and services, which help create a socially inclusive and fair society. Specifically, the division assists the work of the Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality, and associated senior officials’ group, established to oversee implementation of programme for Gove…

I will address Deputy Boyd Barrett's question on the film industry first. I have not seen that dossier and cannot really comment on its substance without having seen it in the first instance. I do not know whether the Deputy has submitted it to Revenue or to other authorities which may be in a position to investigate it, if there was wrongdoing. I am not clear on the status of the dossier. The Deputy can certainly send it to my Department but again, as to the capacity to act on whatever information and how accurate…