I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I always try to attend the Seanad. I very rarely do not attend the Seanad for issues of my own and if I cannot, I always ask Senators to perhaps defer it to a time when I can attend. Anyway, I have made my remarks with regard to the rest. I have been asked by An Tánaiste to thank the Senator for raising this issue this morning and to apologise that he could not be here, given the other business requirements he is attending to at Cabinet. For those who may not be aware, th…

Unfortunately, I do not have any timeline for completion. I can relay the Senator's issues and concerns regarding safety to the Tánaiste and ask that his Department revert directly to her. I can understand her point because there is a similar situation with another pool owned by a different element of the State. It is also of importance to its local community. I will certainly relay the Senator's comments to the Tánaiste and ask that he reply to her directly.

Tá an freagra seo tugtha agam ón Aire Oideachais agus caithfidh mé an freagra sin a thabhairt, ach tá suim agam san ábhar seo mar is mise an tAire Stáit ar a bhfuil freagrach as an nGaeltacht agus an Ghaelainne. Bhí mé ag éisteacht go dian leis na rudaí atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Kyne. Beidh a fhios ag an Seanadóir go dtacaíonn creatchuraclam na bunscoile le forbairt churaclam bunscoile a thógann ar rathúlacht agus ar láidreachtaí na gcuraclam roimhe seo agus, ag an am céanna, ag aithint agus ag freagairt do dhúshlá…

Roimh an díospóireacht sin, d’iarr mé ar na hoifigigh i mo Roinn dul i dteagmháil leis an Roinn Oideachais chun an t-ábhar sin a phlé, mar tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an rud sin ag cur isteach go mór ar na tuismitheoirí agus na daltaí agus tá cuid de na ceisteanna ó thuismitheoirí, mhúinteoirí agus dhaltaí atá ag teacht isteach chuig mo Roinn. I am engaging on this issue with the Minister, Deputy Foley, through my officials. There are obvious concerns around the issue Senator Kyne raised. Táimid go léir ag déanamh ár…

I thank Deputy Ring for raising this Topical Issue matter which I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Education who is not here tonight. It gives us the opportunity to set out for the House the position with regard to the current status of the Sacred Heart School, Westport, County Mayo. The Sacred Heart School is a Mercy all-girls school under the trusteeship of CEIST, as Deputy Ring said. The school has an enrolment of 532 pupils. With regard to the major project for the school included on the Department’s …

I thank Deputy Ring again for raising the issue. I know he is meeting the Minister in the morning but my Department will also bring the issue to her attention due to her absence here tonight.

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Heritage and Government, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. I thank the Deputy for the question on the application of the residential zoned land tax, RZLT, to farmlands. The Finance Act 2021 inserted Part 22A, on RZLT, into the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The RZLT is designed to prompt residential development by landowners, including farmers, of land that is zoned for residential or mixed use, including residential purposes, and is serviced. It is importan…

I thank the Deputy. I know about the issues he raised and I see he feels very strongly about them. The matter has been raised previously in the House and the Tánaiste has responded directly specifically regarding, as the Deputy said, the tiers for different zoning matrices within towns. I will ask the Minister to contact him directly to discuss the specifics he raised as I am not familiar with them and am not in that Department. I will ask the Minister to come back directly to the Deputy.

Family friendly.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue, to which I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health. Cancer Connect was set up in 2011 and provides a free transport service for people attending Cork hospitals for cancer-related appointments, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The driving is done entirely by volunteers who give their time to the valuable service. Fundraising is integral to the continued service provided by Cancer Connect and other such support services and the Minister is advised the organ…

I thank the Deputy. My initial response would have been a good one if the question had been about the Irish Cancer Society, which, of course, it was not. It related to a totally different matter, but this is not the first time I have been asked to come to the Chamber and read out a prepared statement relating to something for which I am not responsible that is not related to an issue a Deputy has raised. The issue the Deputy raised is one that is close to my heart. I know people, including family members, who have …

I thank Senator O'Reilly for tabling this Commencement matter which I will be taking on behalf of the Minister for Education. As the Senator will be aware, a very significant agreement was reached after extensive engagement between the Department of Education and Fórsa in relation to the terms and conditions of grant-funded school secretaries. The agreement provides for significant improvements in the terms and conditions of school secretaries. Fórsa recommended a package of measures to its members and a ballot res…

I will relay Senator O'Reilly's comments to the Minister, Deputy Foley. I was a teacher and ironically, it is the school secretaries who will in most cases do the replies to the Department with respect to circulars. Everybody knows the value of the work they do and I saw it at first hand. The Senator's points are well made and I will ask the Minister to reply to her directly.

I beg the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach's indulgence with regard to the first point the Senator raised. I have been a Minister of State for seven years now and I must say things do not change. I am asked to come in and read out a script. To be quite honest, it is a permanent feature of how this House has unfortunately been operating that Senators are raising really important issues that deserve answers from the people who actually have policy control of the issues, but Members of this House are not getting such answers. …

Yes.

If there is an issue with the Office of Public Works, OPW, and I am not in attendance, I always make a point of asking the Senator whether he or she wishes to defer it to the next possible day.

Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case for some of my colleagues who have an issue coming into this House. That is regrettable, because I have always found the standard of debate here is far higher. I am eating up my time now. I thank Senator Malcolm Byrne for raising the matter. It is crucial local authorities have the necessary powers to utilise CCTV and other mobile recording devices to assist them in their efforts to tackle illegal dumping. The Senator was right with regard to Limerick City and Countr…

I apologise, I thought my time was up. It is important to note the use of these technologies will be restricted to appropriate authorised personnel and will require ongoing justification for installation and usage. The combination of legislation and guidance will help to ensure the processing of personal data can be carried out by local authorities. This will provide an important deterrent to those who brazenly flout our litter and waste legislation.

It is the circular economy.

I will certainly relay the Senator's concerns, but there is a bigger issue here-----