What we are doing to tackle it is make core funding as attractive as possible for providers. Ultimately, providers have a right to make decisions, and we look to make core funding attractive to them. We have done that by growing the overall amount of core funding available to funders. This year, it will go to €331 million, a 15% increase. We have also recognised, however, that the fee freeze that is in place impacted certain providers differently according to when they last raised their fees. We have put in place a…

I thank Deputy Barry. I am aware of this issue. There is nothing more frustrating than the ghost bus or service that goes past because it is full. In my own area, Dublin Bus took measures in the last two years to increase recruitment, which is a major challenge for public transport operators all over the country. Dublin Bus has been able to increase recruitment by 10%. I strongly support any measures Bus Éireann can take to ensure recruitment is enhanced in the area which would allow a return to the previous levels…

I thank Deputy Shanahan. I had the opportunity to meet with the chamber of commerce and its new chief executive when I was in Waterford. We discussed a range of issues in respect of the enhanced level of infrastructure in Waterford. We talked about the university. I was glad to see the veterinary school that we discussed has now been awarded. I absolutely understand that clarity on the enhanced level of investment for Waterford Airport is required. It is something on which I have engaged with the Minister, Deputy R…

As the Deputy is aware, as part of our emergency response to both the needs of Ukrainians and international protection applicants, we have opened accommodation all over the country. Many times this accommodation is welcomed by the local communities. Sometimes, there are questions and tensions. That is why is I set up a community engagement team within my Department. The community engagement team has engaged with residents from Dundrum. It has engaged with Deputy McGrath on many occasions on many individual properti…

At a broad level, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and I, like all Ministers across government, are acutely aware of the need of the State to support people with a disability who wish to engage in employment. That will be a central pillar of the new national disability strategy. I am aware that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, has carried out a comprehensive review of the scheme. I understand there was strong feedback from businesses and employees who availed of it to the effect that it …

I thank the Deputy. I do not agree with his initial contention. The Government has prioritised the reform of the planning process through the new planning Bill, which I hope will be a planning Act in the coming weeks. It will address many of the overlapping complexities that exist in our planning law. To be very frank with the Deputy, I am not familiar with the specific case he has highlighted concerning the Wicklow County Council SPC. However, I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to revert to him.

I thank the Deputy for highlighting this important issue and drawing attention to the very real implications of the pressure placed by some of the funds on households, where bills often mount and where there is a genuine sense of struggle. The point the Deputy made on what the funds are and are not licensed to do is important. I am happy to feed that back to the line Minister responsible for the Central Bank and ask him to pursue it further.

I thank the Deputy. We had a useful discussion on the wider roads budget with Deputy Healy-Rae earlier. My understanding of what Deputy O'Connor is referring to is that it relates to the issue of TII dealing with its own budget. It has been given a budget and that has not been cut. TII has the same budget it had at the start of the year and it has to make decisions on supporting some of the really big roads projects that Deputies across this House called for and also some of the smaller projects. I understand there…

-----some of the money that was unspent has gone back to support the smaller road programmes. Ultimately, TII has a budget that it has to manage, like all the rest of us across government.

I thank the Deputy. I am aware of the changes that have taken place on the northern line and their impacts on commuters. My understanding is that these are on foot of a change that we all want to see as positive, that being to ensure an hourly Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin. That is something we all agree on, but a measure like that should not be taken at the expense of commuters. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, about this particular issue. I spent all my life before having this job…

The Deputy made the political point that this has been happening for 27 years. This Government has been here for four years so I do not think he can say it is a legacy of this Government.

However, his point is valid in terms of the public health and environmental health impact. It is also no doubt placing a limitation on the ability to undertake new developments in the area because of the lack of wastewater infrastructure. Uisce Éireann has spent €1.5 billion annually on wastewater infrastructure. I do not know why the project the Deputy referred to has not been prioritised. It sounds like something that is really important. I will raise that issue with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien.

I thank the Deputy for raising this with me. I am not going to give the rote reply on how many ASD classes are in the area. ASD classes are great but we know there are some students who need the extra supports of a special school. I have been involved with the formation of one in my own area, Danu Community Special School, and it is doing absolutely amazing work. What I will say is, I know the team in the NCSE, and particularly since John Kearney came in it has enhanced its ability to move forward these projects an…

I thank Deputy Carthy. As someone who worked in adult education at the start of my own career, I understand its value. I do not know the reason why those employees in the Cavan-Monaghan ETB have not been given the full level of hours but I will raise it directly with the relevant line Minister because I know how important those courses are and how much adult education means to so many people, particularly elderly people in reducing social isolation. In reply to Deputy Verona Murphy, having stood at many a bus stop …

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "welcomes that: — the present Government has implemented the most significant reform agenda to early learning and childcare in the history of the State; — total Government investment in early learning and childcare has almost doubled since 2020, rising to €1.1 billion this year, well in excess of the First 5 annual State investment target of €970 million by 2028, which was exceeded five years earlier than planned; and — C…

Yes, I got a selfie with your mother-in-law.

The Department works with Pobal and local childcare committees to offer case management supports to services in difficulty. Through this process, services may also access sustainability funding following an assessment of need. One strand of this funding can support a service with the cost of relocation. Pobal and Donegal County Childcare Committee are in communication with Ardara Community Childcare regarding the issue of defective blocks and these supports. In the first instance Donegal County Childcare Committee …

Until this year, the sole capital funding coming from my Department for early years services was for the building of new services or extensions to existing services. My Department and I, as Minister, have recognised that when a service requires major work - I am not talking about fire safety doors - there is a need for a fund to support community services. The situation outlined by Deputy Doherty, where there is going to have to be a complete rebuild, and the situation outlined by Deputy Barry, where very significa…

My understanding in the case of north Cork is that there is engagement between Pobal and the childcare committee on a resolution. In terms of the services Deputy Doherty raised, I will inquire with my Department on the engagement with the childcare committee. It is important to recognise the need to have flexibility and that has been recognised in the terms of the use of our capital funding. This is why a new sustainability capital fund has been introduced.

I thank the Acting Chair for his kind remarks. I thank Senator Currie for facilitating the debate today and, in particular, I thank her for her report on better planning for local childcare because it very usefully highlights some of the high-level planning challenges that exist at the moment. It illustrates those through case studies, many of which I am familiar with from our Dublin West constituency, and it sets out five concrete and important recommendations. I hope towards the end of my speech to speak to how I…