We move on to Question No. 87 in the name of Deputy Bruton but being taken by Deputy Stanton.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Anois, tógaimid ceist Uimh. 88, arís in ainm an Teachta Bruton ach á thógáil ag an Teachta Stanton.

I support what has been said. The Minister said that 3% growth is envisaged. Is that for this year and going forward annually or does he envisage it will grow at a greater pace? Will the Minister provide in tabular form later the number of childcare services that have been established, especially in my constituency? I would appreciate it. To allow me to compare, will he include the number that have closed to see whether there is a net gain or net loss? I have two other supplementary questions. I support Deputy Goul…

What is the number of persons who have availed of the activation and family support programme in 2022 to fund the cost of training supports and education courses for people on social welfare in Cork?

It goes without saying that we all understand the merits of this programme and would like to see it continue to be funded in the future. I looked at previous parliamentary questions from over the years and was interested to learn that the funding in 2008 was €5.4 million, but in 2012 it was just €2.5 million. It has gradually reduced. The last figure I have in this parliamentary question was from 2017, when it was down to just over €500,000. What the Minister has just stated demonstrates that the funding provided f…

I thank the Minister. As she said, the service is demand-led. It comes down to the area manager, the welfare office or the case officer dealing with the people to decide if the applicant is eligible for the service. The Minister has acknowledged in her response that up to 50% of the overall cost is also covered. Does the Department have any intention to review that 50% allocation or will that remain the case going forward? Second, the Minister mentioned that two organisations in Cork are availing of this funding in…

I would like to make the case, like Deputy Bacik earlier, for the thalidomide survivors once again. More than a year ago, members of my parliamentary party met Sandra Sweeney who was making the case that a public apology was deserved for survivors. Unfortunately, as Deputy Bacik referred to, Elizabeth Sweeney passed away in the past few days. Approximately five mothers remain from that period and approximately 40 thalidomide survivors in total. Many of those mothers are living with the guilt and shame of the fact t…

I would like to make two fundamental points. Just before I do so, I would like to raise what concerns me most as a person who makes the six-hour round trip from Cork to Dublin and back most weeks, with one leg on a Tuesday and the other on a Thursday. The number of people who use a mobile phone when driving, be it in traffic or going down the motorway at 100 km/h or 120 km/h, is scary. So many modern cars are fitted with technology that means people do not have to do this, but the number of people you see whizzing …

What has been the extent of the Minister of State's engagement with Scoil Eoin in Ballincollig regarding the urgent need for an ASD unit and will she make a statement on the matter?

I acknowledge the presence of Deputy Aindrias Moynihan to my left. He has worked on this issue for a number of years. The Minister of State's response is no different from the previous response that was given on 9 April in respect of this school. Traditionally in Ballincollig, ASD classes have been outsourced to villages, such as Ovens, Berrings, Farran and other surrounding rural county towns. I have spoken in the past about Ballincollig in particular and referenced the deficit in special needs classes in the area…

I welcome that. I need to stress again, as Deputy Moynihan will, the urgency around the technical team submitting that report. As the Minister of State knows, those things take time and often require planning permission. It is not just a case of landing a modular unit or building. There are considerable planning requirements from the school's point of view as it arranges resources and so on. This project has been ongoing for a number of years and I reiterate the urgency around the technical team submitting that rep…

I appreciate the figures the Minister gave me of €102 million and €51 million for both of those increases. My question was with specific regard to the numbers because when we have this debate, it is easy to call for deferrals and putting things on the long finger. It is also important to highlight that it is €153 million, and the people calling for deferral will need to explain their own position on the other side as to where they might source that money or otherwise. I know people are hard pressed. That goes witho…

I join Deputy Nash in supporting calls to look into the impacts that will be felt, particularly in Border counties. When one is talking to hauliers or people whose business is on a forecourt, one hears genuine concern about fuel tourism and the impacts on Border counties going forward. That is possibly compounded by the UK chancellor's recent decision to extend the deferral of excise across the Border. I suggest that the Department should undertake some type of retail impact assessment of the impacts on businesses …

I wish to support Deputy Harkin. I have followed this issue for some time. The Minister’s response towards the end was not too dissimilar to replies we have received to previous parliamentary questions. I echo what Deputy Harkin said. The Minister might provide us with any content arising from the last meeting to give us an idea of what the outstanding issues might be. As he said, there is a proposal, or the meat of a proposal, there. If there are any outstanding issues or difficulties being encountered, we would a…

We obviously do not expect the Minister to announce details of any proposed scheme on the floor of the House. I do not think the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who is chairing the group, would thank him if he did. Are we working towards a deadline? Are there a specified number of meetings where a decision has to be arrived at? Will the Minister elaborate on the process that is left? My two supplementary questions follow on from what Deputy Connolly said regarding the number of previous appeals that were heard.…

I ask the Minister for an update on the progress that will be made on the Mallow relief road in the coming months given the recent allocation he announced.

I acknowledge that Deputies Stanton and James O'Connor advocated for this project long before I did. I also acknowledge the allocation of €300,000 the Department of Transport has contributed towards its progression. Cork County Council initially sought more than €1 million. I think it estimated it would cost €1.2 million to progress the project. While I acknowledge that €300,000 will get the ball rolling, there is a shortfall between that allocation and Cork County Council's estimated cost for the works. What will …

To be honest, the intention of my question was to get this on the record. As the Minister alluded to, there is a lot of disinformation that the project is somewhat stalled again. It is good to get that information on the public record. What will be the process for getting additional funding to kick the project on further if, in six or seven months' time, the €300,000 allocation is exhausted? Will the Minister clarify that?

I wish the Taoiseach the best of luck in the future. I have known him for a few years here and, to be fair, I have always found him to be very forthcoming and reasonable to deal with, so I wish him the best. I raise the issue of SET allocations. This is something I have raised with the Minister for Education previously. I taught for 15 years and I have a fair idea of how the model worked in the past. I understand how the Department of Education has removed complex needs as an assessment criterion because the HSE an…

Before I get to my question, I will clarify what I was saying earlier about the SET allocation. I have a scoresheet in front of me from a school principal. It includes weighting towards, as I said, illiteracy, innumeracy and the educational disadvantage or geographical location of a school. Nowhere in that assessment is there any provision for complex needs, as I stated. When it comes to brass tacks, that is the way allocations are scored and weighted. On that basis, I ask the Taoiseach once more to go back to both…