I welcome the fact that there are moves in regard to multi-annual funding and the response from the Minister of State. It is critically important for community organisations to be able to plan, strategise and keep staff, which is one of the major issues in some projects that are running on year-to-year funding. It is very difficult to maintain the continuity of staff required. Funding is important for the safety and security of projects. They are then able to consider other types of funding and know that they have …

I thank the Minister of State and appreciate his reply. As a voluntary member of many boards, and a current board member of the Dublin 15 community drug team, it is something that we have recognised in terms of our risk analysis of the project. In a review, we identified that training for volunteers and voluntary board members and staff and how we retain and maintain continuity is something that is important. As I said, it is critical for the future of community development structures and how they operate that we p…

I think this must be-----

We have done that one.

There must be a mistake because the question on SICAP funding is the one we have already gone through. There is a mix-up in the order. That has already been answered.

Yes.

I want to raise the issue of educational disadvantage and inclusion. This week, I met the parents of children with dyslexia. They set up a parent advocacy group and within a short period of time more than 60 people had been in contact with them. I have also been in touch with parents who had expected a dyslexia unit to be established in the school on Roselawn Road only for it to be pulled at the last minute. Many parents acknowledge and accept, as do teachers and educational psychologists, that mainstream is not th…

In the programme for Government, there is reference to an inclusive vision for education. Inclusion in and access to education is the foundation for a more just and equal society. I raise the issue of Riversdale Community College and Danu Community Special School. There is a strong desire to support each other. Particularly, the Riversdale board of management supports Danu Community Special School in its desire for a new school on the large seven-acre grounds it has. However, there is shock and anger at the turn of…

-----along with the teaching staff, are concerned about the future of the school. I ask the Minister-----

-----to appeal to the ETB to go back to its original agreement with Riversdale and Danu.

I wish all those who put on events well. They have had a tough time this year due to the pandemic. I look forward to going to football matches, watching bands and listening to live music again. I welcome the legislation. As stated by Deputy Quinlivan, it is unfortunate that this Bill comes many years too late for thousands of people who have been the victims of ticket touting. I welcome that community groups, sports organisations and charities are exempted from its provisions as millions of euro are raised by genui…

I thank Deputy Barry for bringing forward this Bill. I also thank and send solidarity and greetings to the former workers of Debenhams in my own area of Blanchardstown and the former workers of Debenhams stores throughout Ireland. Over the past year, I have spoken to many workers and to the Sinn Féin Deputies who have stood shoulder to shoulder with them. All of my colleagues spoke of these workers' steadfast determination to stand and fight for justice, and not only for themselves. The workers were talking about e…

We are all waiting.

I thank Deputy Cian O'Callaghan for bringing forward this Bill. Fingal County Council plans to lease 159 units in Hansfield SDZ, strategic development zone, under the Part V lease scheme which will cost between €60 million and €74 million. We do not know the real figure because it is shrouded in secrecy and it is impossible to get it revealed. The council is preparing to sign a contract with a private developer for these 159 units at a cost of over €384,000 for a one-bedroom unit over 25 years and €438,000 for a tw…

I welcome that many of the suggestions and changes that were put forward have been inserted into the Bill. However, there are still significant weaknesses in it. I hope the Government will keep listening to those who continue to have concerns and ensure there is the necessary public confidence in a just and fair climate action plan. Youth throughout the world have driven the pace of change on these issues. I commend, in particular, the young students in Blakestown Community School in my constituency, who have organ…

I thank Deputies Ó Broin and Conway-Walsh. I also welcome the initial response from the Minister. I live in Dublin West, as the Minister knows. It is a community which, like his in north County Dublin, has a substantial youth population and a diverse population. We have thousands of students who attend college and who travel the length and breadth of the State. Every year, when students get the word that they have got their places in college, it soon turns into a time of stress and worry if they have to live away f…

Sinn Féin has indicated that it will support this Bill and I endorse that support. The criminal justice system is something of a mystery to most people. They are unsure and, in many cases, puzzled about how decisions are made. This is sometimes not helped by the media who use the courts system to sensationalise their stories and, more recently, use court cases for clickbait online. Our ultimate goal should be to keep as many people as possible out of the criminal justice system. We must ensure that the myriad preve…

I also thank the front-line workers who have been working day in, day out on the roll-out of the vaccine. I understand that the roll-out process is very difficult but I would like to refer to an email I got from a member of the Garda. She and her partner are members of An Garda Síochána who live in my constituency and they have worked consistently throughout the pandemic in a support role on the front lines. They have two children and her mother was looking after the childcare. Unfortunately, they have not seen her…

I wish to raise an issue that I was aware of in my previous role but heard about again on the "Today with Claire Byrne" programme. Sarah was viciously attacked in her own home and suffered physical and emotional trauma. As part of her healing she attended counselling and, as happens in these sessions, she spoke her deepest thoughts and feelings in regard to what was going on for her. She was then forced to hand over the notes from her counselling sessions in regard to the trial of the person who attacked her. To ru…

I thank Deputy Funchion for introducing this motion and welcome that it will not be opposed. However, as previous speakers stated, we need to go further. When I was thinking about writing this speech I went to the person I know is an expert in this, my wife Angela, who was adopted in Dublin in 1968. These are her words: I always knew I was adopted. I was told before I really knew what it meant. I couldn't have asked for better parents. I loved them and my sisters dearly and was loved unconditionally by them. Despit…