I welcome the Bill, which ensures all children with special educational needs will have access to special classes. Sinn Féin had called for this previously. I thank all of the parents and students in Dublin 15 and Dublin 17 who worked tirelessly to ensure those children who had no school places for September were given a voice. Hundreds of worried and concerned parents turned up to a meeting in Dublin 15 in May because the NCSE had failed to ensure proper planning for the educational needs of these students. It sho…

I welcome the Bill to exempt certain groups, including children under 16 years of age, from statutory charges for inpatient and day care services in public hospitals. I am sure this will be a welcome relief for hard-pressed families given the increase in the cost of living in all other aspects of life but it needs to go much further. The fact that these charges were introduced in the first place is actually quite unbelievable. As a parent of four children who has had to visit Temple Street hospital on several occas…

The Minister is very welcome. I listened to his speech in my office. There are so many positive things coming from the Minister and Government in terms of the LGBTQI+ community. I wish to start by wishing everybody who takes part in the parade on Saturday the very best. I hope the weather stays fine. Unfortunately, I heard the dress code will be raincoat and wellies. We hope the weather forecasters are incorrect. I welcome the opportunity to speak to this debate because this is an important issue, not just for the …

I thank the Members in the Independent Group for highlighting this issue and for bringing forward the motion. The current lack of day and respite services for people with intellectual disabilities and their families has become much worse since Covid-19. Many of the families who availed of the limited services are telling us that the service has not fully returned. Disability and day respite services in many areas are extremely limited. This is having a detrimental effect on people with intellectual disabilities and…

We are being told that the NCSE has the data and knows the children and their needs. If that is the case, why are we here relaying the concerns of parents and young people in the month of June? The reality is that the NCSE was aware of children's needs, but failed to put in place a strategy to deal with the situation. If it can do this year after year, why should parents and students believe that next year or the year after that will be any different? I know we all have the statistics, but I think it is worth repea…

Some weeks ago, a major meeting was held in Dublin 15 in my constituency, about 15 students who have no access to a school placement. There were two Ministers and a Senator from the Government benches there. Parent after parent spoke of their concerns that their children were again being left behind and they had to fight for everything. They are weary of fighting for what are their children's rights. I thank the parents and the activists who took time out the other day to meet myself and Deputy Ó Laoghaire. They to…

On Tuesday many of us stood outside Leinster House to witness demonstrations on the mental health crisis in the Traveller community. I wish to raise the issue of unemployment. I was shocked to hear that 86% of people within the Traveller community are unemployed. For example, 17 people took a Safe Pass course of whom 16 got jobs. The one person who did not was a member of the Traveller community. Until he changed his address, he was unemployed. That needs to be addressed in terms of a mental health crisis.

I thank the Regional Group for tabling the motion. We all recognise this is an extremely important grant to help older people and people with disabilities to remain in their own homes and ensure they have a better quality of life. I want to raise a number of issues which other speakers have already mentioned, particularly with regard to the maximum limit. This is way too low given the situation in the industry at present. Costs are spiralling through the roof. It is now 12 years since there has been an increase. Th…

This question relates to engagements with community-based organisations on tackling the cost of living and other major societal challenges. Has the Minister met with organisations, such as the alliance of 32 organisations, on this matter?

We all know there is a major difference between talking and having a real, genuine input into the challenges faced by all community organisations regarding the cost of living and other significant issues facing our society. The alliance has put out a call because there is a concern about the quality of that engagement and how genuine it will be in taking all the opinions on board. Ms Rachel Doyle, co-director of Community Work Ireland, which is a member of Community Platform, has said: It is not credible that the G…

This is critically important because of the scale of the rise in costs that society is facing at present. There is deep concern following the Taoiseach's statement today about the increasing cost of fuel because of the Ukrainian crisis, on foot of the deal done last night in the European Parliament. People are genuinely terrified about what will happen and how they will be able to live. The summer months will be a little easier because if it is a good summer, as we hope it will be, there will obviously be reduced c…

I thank every apprentice who is currently working, and they are working throughout the State. They are incredibly important to our economy and society. Irish tradespeople are working all over the world. They are building and helping other countries to grow and prosper. Sadly, many of our current apprentices will take an aeroplane and leave our shores when they qualify. Some will go by choice, and sometimes this is a decision that will enable them to build and develop on their skills. That will always be the case. F…

I want first to offer my sincere condolences to the families, friends and co-workers of Shireen Abu Akleh. We know in this House that the Israeli Government and its so-called defence forces are no strangers to hiding the truth of the cruel and inhumane crimes that they perpetrate upon the Palestinian people daily. They have executed a Palestinian reporter for Al Jazeera for factually reporting news of a raid by Israeli forces on the Jenin refugee camp. It is simply wrong. This level of aggression towards a clearly …

I welcome the introduction of the Short-term Lettings Enforcement Bill 2022 and commend Deputy Ó Broin on his work on this issue. The rental sector, as we know, is in crisis and renters need a break, but unfortunately, as we see time and again, the Government is not listening. Sinn Féin has brought motions before this House to alleviate the pressure on renters by giving them a month’s rent back in their pockets, beginning a massive housebuilding programme and bringing forward many other measures to try to help deal…

Everyone wants to see the building of the new national maternity hospital but it has been overshadowed by the Government's failure to listen to the concerns of so many people inside and outside this Chamber. The simple fact is that a national maternity hospital built by the State should, and must, be built on land solely owned by the State. Long-term leasing is not the same as full ownership. We have to nail the lie. Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have had plenty of time over the years to build and provide a nation…

I welcome this Labour Party Bill, which would give a much-needed break to workers and families. Thousands of young people are still leaving in their droves because of poor opportunities, low wages and a lack of access to housing and childcare. This is creating a future with a skills crisis and families left devastated at home. We have one of the highest rates of low-paid workers in the developed world, with 20% of our workers in low-paid jobs and 50% of women earning €20,000 or less per year. A living wage provides…

I raise the issue of places in autism classes in secondary schools. In Dublin 15, there are currently 30 autism classes in primary schools, which cater for a maximum of 180 students. There are nine autism classes in secondary schools, with a maximum of 54 places. Secondary school autism class enrolment operates in the same way as it does for primary schools, with six pupils per class and the provision then closing until graduation. A recent survey relating to children in primary school found that in sixth class ten…

I am gobsmacked that the Minister of State stood there and talked about the transfer of wealth to private landlords due to a tax rebate to people paying their rents. I find that absolutely shocking. The housing rental sector is a mess and I cannot believe for a second that the Government does not see that or thinks its plan is working. Every single measure that is used to gauge how good or bad it is for workers and families trying to access social and affordable housing is telling us that it is beyond horrific. I w…

I thank Deputy Funchion and the Sinn Féin team for bringing forward this motion. This motion will be welcomed by any young family facing the prospects of having to choose that one parent not to work and having to try to live on one wage due to cost of childcare. With the rising cost of heating, electricity, gas and fuel, people are already way overstretched. We had Senan 17 years ago. He is nearly 18. We were paying the guts of €1,000 at that time. It still has not changed. In fact, it has gotten much worse. It is …

I ask about additional supports that will be provided to community and voluntary groups, including local partnerships, that have stepped up to support Ukrainian refugees.