The issue of child poverty can be exacerbated by disability. I want to bring up the case of 14-year-old Harry. He is non-verbal and has been diagnosed with ASD, ADHD and general moderate learning disability. He has been in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, since 30 March. He is in a state of extreme distress and is engaging in daily self-injurious behaviour. He is confined to a single hospital room under 24-hour supervision by security guards. This is a medical setting. Timber blocks have been installed on windows…

No, it is in Limerick. Deputy McGettigan gave me the details and I can send them on to the Taoiseach afterwards.

I was contacted by somebody, like the Taoiseach, who might have an interest in the all-Ireland final on 19 July, before anyone mentions the county I am from, which is doing quite well at the moment. The fact is that the free travel option they would have on the basis of their disability was not available in the rail options that were open to them. They wanted this highlighted as a point. I agree with Deputy Conway-Walsh, and we have spoken before about the need for a cost-of-disability payment, but we need to incre…

It was about all-Ireland tickets for the person who could not get the free travel option for the all-Ireland final date. They have tried to book it but they are not able to get the free travel option.

Exactly. They are getting ahead of themselves, but you know-----

There may be.

No, it is-----

No, but these are not even the extra services that are put on. Usually this would be available but it is not available. The other thing was the guy with the spinal injury.

No. The guy with the spinal injury has been knocked out of the taxi industry because he has to buy a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and he is not able to operate it. I understand how this has happened. I will send it on. It is an unintended consequence.

This Government and this State do not cherish all the children of the nation equally when it comes to education. We are here discussing appropriate school places, inclusive education and ensuring that children have the correct supports they require. Unfortunately, we keep having this conversation because there is a continuity of failure to deliver. I will start with one example, but we could all probably list 50: Hi Ruairí, my name is Lisa, and I'm emailing regarding my son Matthew who attends an ASD class in a pri…

Tá ceist Uimh. 120 in ainm an Teachta Carthy á glacadh ag an Teachta Bennett.

Tá muid ag dul ar aghaidh go dtí Ceist Uimh. 123. Tá sé in ainm an Teachta O'Dea, ach tá an Teachta Daly á ghlacadh ar a shon.

Tá ceist Uimh. 127 in ainm an Teachta Ardagh á glacadh ag an Teachta Daly.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Emer Currie - To discuss the need for a competitive funds industry in Ireland. Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss battery energy storage systems and solar planning guidelines in rural Ireland. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the capacity of childcare provision in Cork North-Central. Deputy Michael Collins - To discuss the delay in publishing the s…

The reality is that this Government is not into listening, and there is no confidence out there. It should be very worrying for the Government if any of them were on the protests. We had supporters of Independents and some people who probably never voted before, but also a huge number of people who would have supported the Government partners over generations. You could feel the anger of people who felt they had been absolutely let down. The only way to say it is that the Government, in particular the Taoiseach, ma…

I agree with Deputy Byrne when he spoke about firefighters and the need to be able to work beyond 62. A firefighter, a retained station officer, spoke to me recently and I think he has written to the Taoiseach. He is about to turn 62, so that is an issue we need to resolve. I want to bring up the issue of Scoil Bhríde in Sheelagh. I was in it in the last while. It has been engaging with the Department for a number of years. In 2022, there was a new teacher. In 2024, an autism class and another teacher were added. T…

Ten staff, including SNAs.

The Taoiseach said he had conversations in relation to multilateralism and, obviously, questions in relation to economics. I understand this was very early on in January and, with Donald Trump's regime, we are not entirely sure what the future holds other than it goes from terrible to even worse. We have since had an illegal war with Iran, we have the fact that the Israelis are continuing with their genocide in Palestine and what they are doing in Lebanon is utterly unacceptable in any way, shape or form. Many of u…

Louth County Council is trying to update its tenant engagement and antisocial behaviour strategy, and I sat in yesterday for a short period on a consultative event. We can imagine the conversation. It is all about having a multiagency approach, strengthening community safety, embedding tenant engagement for the first time, improving well-being and neighbourhood cohesion and ensuring fairness, transparency and accountability. That is all sound. This is a continuation, however, of an issue I have brought up before. I…

Yes. This is about how we can get to having a proper, multiagency approach to deal with the complexity and early intervention and policing aspects. The big worry when we are talking about drugs and all that causes that problem is the national drugs strategy and the fear of moving away from the drugs and alcohol task forces and such community involvement.