I am asking about the development and implementation of a single point of access for children's disability, mental health and primary care services to ensure timely access to appropriate supports. In many instances, cases are being sent from section to section within the Department itself and we are not getting proper conclusions for constituents and people coming to us.

I welcome the positive news and the developments, particularly on the implementation plans. It would be great to get an idea of the timelines for implementation. We have had a number of cases in our office. One that strikes me quite strongly involves a young person with autism and mental health difficulties. They were referred by their GP to CAMHS, which said the young person fell below the threshold. CAMHS then referred the case, after a lot of back and forth with the Department of Health, and the young person was…

These are all extremely positive initiatives. I commend the Minister of State on them. However, what remains to be addressed is how children and young people with autism are being dealt with through mental health supports. It is said that children's mental health supports need to be addressed through the relevant channels. Rather than actually analysing and looking at these two issues separately, the assertion is that the mental health difficulties here are due to the autism diagnosis. They may be connected, but th…

One hundred and seven years ago today, in 1919, this House - Dáil Éireann - sat for the very first time. It did so at a time of conflict. There was more conflict to come with a brutal Civil War. This country has moved significantly from war - the War of Independence, the Civil War and the Troubles in the North - to peace. There are lessons to be learned internationally about our own process and how we have developed as a nation, but what stands at the front of my mind every single day is that there are conflicts th…

It feels a bit like Groundhog Day here today. In February of last year, in one of my first contributions to this House, I spoke about water outages in Kildare North. Indeed, I had a Topical Issue on the very same issue in June of last year. I hate to admit the greater Dublin area, in relation to Kildare, is growing. Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge, Kilcock and Clane are under severe pressure when it comes to electricity, connections of new estates and water infrastructure. In particular with the water infrastructure f…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle.

I assume I will have my full time. Last Wednesday, the Minister for education visited St. Patrick's Primary School in Celbridge, Kildare North, which the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, also visited last May. The school in question has been in temporary accommodation for 19 years, since its foundation. The floor is collapsing and the ceiling is falling down. I have asked the Minister to ensure temporary accommodation is in put in place as soon as possible. The school cannot keep going on in this way. On…

Families in Kildare North are still reporting that their children do not have confirmed secondary school places for September. This is despite the apply to school pilot programme the Minister for education introduced in Celbridge and other locations around the country to provide earlier clarity and reduce duplicate applications. The overlap between towns in Kildare North is delaying offers and leaving parents and, more importantly, sixth class children in complete uncertainty. If this pilot is genuinely producing m…

Artificial intelligence is no longer emerging; it is already embedded in how society functions. It shapes how information is ranked, what people see online, how decisions are made and, increasingly, how power is exercised. This reality requires us to move from abstract discussions and act with urgency, clarity and competence. One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it is something people choose to use. In fact, the most influential AI systems today are the ones people never consciously engage with. They …

I acknowledge the Taoiseach's criticism of the Iranian and the Russian regimes. Similar to Deputy Byrne, I have particular concerns about Greenland and Denmark. Has the Government engaged with Denmark or EU parties regarding recent EU statements on Greenland? What is Ireland's position on safeguarding EU territorial and sovereign lands such as Greenland, particularly as we move into the EU Presidency in July of this year?

I note that, following the Taoiseach's attendance at COP in Belém, the EU made a significant decision to permanently stop Russian gas imports and phase out Russian oil. Similar to Deputy Byrne, I wish to highlight the issue of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels in the context of significant investment in public transport, in terms of DART+ West, for example, going to Maynooth and then Kilcock. The prioritisation of DART+ South West was not announced. There is significant traffic and build-up on the N7, M7, N4 an…

Much of society has moved online. Applying for a passport, banking and whatever it may be is now online. It is not realistic or fair to expect young people not to be online and it is not fair on young people that they are not online. The age verification goes some way but as many speakers have brought up already, the algorithms behind social media are an issue. Much of the discussion here is about social media, and rightfully so, but there is much online content outside social media that is having an impact on peop…

In September, the Tánaiste's predecessor published the Future Forty report. In what way will the findings of this report shape Ireland's fiscal policy in the coming years, particularly when it comes to demographic change and global trends? I am sure the Tánaiste is aware that a quarter of the population by 2060 will be over the age of 65, the Tánaiste and myself included, believe it or not. That will have a significant impact on State finances.

Go raibh maith again, a Thánaiste. While I said in jest we will both be retired by 2060, you never know. The main thing to bear in mind is that a quarter of the population will be at retirement age. That is going to have a significant impact on pensions and healthcare. Measures have been taken already - auto-enrolment will begin in the new year, which needs to be acknowledged. It is a crucial step to ensuring the future fiscal security of a lot of people, going into old age. However, there will be revenue challenge…

I thank the Tánaiste. I appreciate all that. The report contains measures we could take to achieve productivity gains. There are elements we could really tap into when it comes to digitalisation, in particular, and the likes of artificial intelligence, AI. There need to be guardrails for AI and that is why the national AI office is being established. There needs to be a proper and comprehensive examination of AI, which the Oireachtas joint committee and other bodies are doing, but we need to start considering ways …

We have seen the excellent work being done by men's sheds throughout the country and now at women's sheds. I commend the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and Department of Health on establishing a workforce to establish a national governing body for women's sheds. When will the facilitator's work plan with women's sheds will be completed? How does the Department plan on working with that governing body, particularly on funding for individual women's sheds?

As the Minister of State said, the work of men's sheds nationally has been rightly recognised. It is now time to recognise the work of women's sheds. It is a different space. While traditionally there would have been the ICA, women's sheds offer a different type of social space and give women different options for engaging in their community. This came about initially because representatives of Naas Women's Shed were in touch with me about funding in September. They said the same grant opportunities were not availa…

I appreciate that the lack of an umbrella body has made it more difficult. I acknowledge the work that the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, are putting in, working with representatives from women's sheds throughout the country and ensuring good governance structures are put in place to ensure that there is longevity in what we do and that it is not just for one year or for two years. We need these groups to last and we need funding s…

Táim ag tógáil na ceiste seo ar son an Teachta John Connolly. Mar is eol don Aire, tá géarchéim thithíochta ann sa Ghaeltacht. Cén féidearthachtaí atá ann d'Údarás na Gaeltachta obair le hUisce Éireann agus le húdaráis áitiúla chun tithíocht a thógáil do phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta, go háirithe leis an bplean Tithe a Sheachadadh, Pobail a Thógáil 2025-2030?

Is dea-nuacht é sin. Mo bhuíochas leis an Aire go bhfuil sé ag buaileadh le príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta le breathnú air seo agus ar na féidearthachtaí atá ann. Mar is eol dó, tá grúpaí éagsúla ann ar nós BÁNÚ agus Tinteán atá ag déanamh iarracht an cás seo a chur os comhair an phobail. An cás ná nach bhfuil tithíocht nó cead pleanála á fháil ag muintir na Gaeltachta agus go bhfuil sé deacair dóibh fanacht sa Ghaeltacht agus go mbeadh daonra óg sa Ghaeltacht freisin. Tá sé sin fhíorthábhachtach go háir…