That is fine. I reiterate that it was very welcome and helpful that he arranged a visit by the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, to the school, where he saw first hand the challenges that are there. The challenge is to ensure the additional demand is met with additional capacity in a timely way as well. The one point I will have taken from the original reply is that there is ongoing engagement between the education and training board and the Department to ensure we can meet that demand, while at the same time not…

I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth. I know that Deputy McAuliffe has engaged directly with the Taoiseach on this but it is very positive to see such cross-party support on an issue. The school was approved to enter the Department's pipeline for a project under the additional school accommodation scheme, ASA. The project will provide 15 general classrooms, five special education tuition rooms, a two-classroom special educational needs base, …

I thank the three Deputies again for giving me an opportunity to update the House regarding the accommodation at St Aidan's CBS Whitehall. The Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context outlined, ensure that each school project under the school building programme is subject to due diligence required under the Government's infrastructure guidelines. The Deputies made a very strong case for the school this evening. Deputy McAuliffe h…

I do not believe the people want to see us playing Punch and Judy politics here this evening. The Government will secure a majority in the vote when the vote is taken but it would be both foolhardy and wrong for us not to acknowledge the level of fear, anxiety and frustration felt by many of the people we represent. Like many of my colleagues, I am in continuous engagement with the people whom we represent, despite what some in the Opposition might like to portray. The Government has acted. We now have a cumulative…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I will keep my voice at a reasonable level. I do not feel that just by shouting it makes a point any more valid. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Sinn Féin Private Members' motion on fuel this evening. I will start off by saying that, as a Government Minister of State, I engaged with the people who were protesting. I went out and met the people on the M4 in Mullingar. I recognise that those people were decent, honourable and hard-working people who did not wish to be there…

That is not a true reflection of what happened everywhere and we need to acknowledge that also. The Deputy is right that the Government won the confidence vote in the Dáil. As I said in my contribution on the confidence motion, we would be extremely foolhardy and wrong as a Government if we did not acknowledge the anxiety, fear and frustration out there of the people we represent. Sinn Féin does not have a monopoly on representation of people. Nobody does. Each one of us has received our own democratic mandate to b…

There is no magic money tree out there.

We must underline and understand that what we are seeing at the moment is a large increase in the wholesale market price of oil as a result of the supply shock caused by the conflict in the Middle East. This is compounding the supply issues we faced at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. That is what is driving the increase in fuel costs. Sinn Féin’s motion on fuel prices fails to mention that fact. This is an enormous challenge, not just for Ireland, but for every country around the world facing into the energy c…

You supported that.

You supported it.

You supported it.

The Opposition cannot even agree what government we would have.

I thank all my colleagues for their contributions today. As the Minister, Deputy Foley, set out earlier, the investigation of burial arrangements in mother and baby institutions, including Bessborough, was an important part of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, an independent, statutory body that was established in 2015. One of the key reasons for its establishment was to examine the burial practices and arrangements in various institutions. The commission was given the necessar…

What did the ESRI say?

The ESRI said it was a progressive budget.

I thank the Deputies for their contributions this evening. The financial resolution amends provisions for a partial repayment of mineral oil tax on auto diesel purchased in the State and used in qualifying vehicles by licensed Irish and EU road transport operators. As the Minister, Deputy Heydon, indicated earlier, this temporary and targeted measure is in recognition of the specific and detrimental impact of increasing fuel prices on hauliers and passenger transport operators and the importance of these sectors to…

Will you stop?

I am glad to have the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Government to statements on the consular aspect of this crisis. It has been a deeply frightening and uncertain time for citizens who are resident in the region and those visiting or transiting through the region. It is clear all Deputies share my deep concern for the safety and well-being of our citizens. The work of the consular crisis centre in responding to citizens and supporting embassy personnel across the region has been vital. This crisis respons…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. I will outline the ongoing initiatives for developing capacity in the electricity grid and relay the advice received from ESB Networks on the matter received. The Government does not have a role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is in line with the 2012 Government policy statement on the strategic importance of transmission and other energy infrastructure, which states: "The Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and ESB Networ…

I thank the Deputy for his contribution on the matter. I acknowledge that he has raised a serious and specific query regarding an issue in his constituency. As I said, the national electricity grid must deliver locally. That should mean providing quality electric supply for new and existing customers. Under the grid connection policy set by the CRU, connection applications are dealt with on a sequential, first-come, first-serve basis. As I outlined, the Government has invested heavily in acknowledgement that the gr…