It is just a follow-up with regard to the plan. Obviously, I agree with what Deputy Ó Cuív said on about a statement on this roll-out, particularly from a point of view of what surveys need to be done and the timeline. I accept there is an issue in respect of the most difficult 10%. How much fluidity is there in the plan with regard to being able to piggyback on previous technology that has already been put in place and looking at new technological solutions that may arise during this period? We need, however, a st…

I apologise for renaming the national broadband plan in the question. I will forego an introduction if the Minister can go straight into a reply. I do not expect a county by county breakdown. If the Minister has information on County Louth I will be happy enough.

How many are left to do?

My colleagues have already stated the facts about the absolute necessity of this money from the point of view of maintaining vital community centres and community projects. I would like to talk about Muirhevna Mor Community Centre. The fact is that it would have failed the criteria. It is now appealing. It technically administers money for other services, so it would seem initially that it has failed the 80:20 rule, but it is obviously afraid that it will not get these moneys and if that is the case, it will face s…

I will continue on the subject of testing. It was pretty frightening to hear a report on "Six One News" yesterday about a reagent that is necessary for rapid testing. There is a limited supply. I want to know what the Government is doing to deal with this. We need all Government resources to be put into community testing, as said by Deputy Munster. We need to consider the possibility of mobile testing units that can be introduced where they are absolutely necessary. We need to make sure we do not have staffing prob…

What about the reagent?

I agree with much of what has been said on either side of the House on the subject we are dealing with, which is expenditure. We need to be brave. Whatever the rights and wrongs people claim from a left or right background on fiscal prudence versus austerity, and whatever rules pertained previously, we are now in a completely different situation. We are talking in economic terms of something that is akin to how Europe was at the end of the Second World War, and what we need is a Marshall plan type solution. That in…

I welcome the Minister. His presence shows the absolute necessity of having rapid testing facilities. That is something we need to keep working on from the point of view of ensuring we have the capacity to keep this show on the road. It is as simple as that. I accept what several speakers have said in respect of floods, fires and winds. We need not look as far away as California. We have all experienced these in recent times so the reality of climate change is with us. This pandemic has shown up several weaknesses …

Gabhaim buíochas. It will be a first if I do not go over time. I thank my colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, for bringing this forward. Everyone accepts we are dealing with a nightmare scenario as regards rentals. We have a situation that has been created by the fact that the State has failed to build houses. There was an acceptance that the private sector would sort things out and the market would regulate itself but that has not happened. I accept that there have been some useful initiatives from the Minister concerning …

There would not be a public transport system if it were not for taxi drivers in the State. Many Members have spoken about the necessary work they did before and during this pandemic of taking front-line health and retail workers to work. We always knew taxi drivers did school, hospital and factory runs. They facilitated our economy. They, like others, have been listening to the claim that we are all in this together. We need to ensure there is a Government response which shows them we are all in this together. Many…

I raise A Vision for Change and Sharing the Vision. When will there be implementation and a full audit of mental health services in the State. We need to examine protocols when people present to services. This is a particular issue in County Louth, in Dundalk. This Sunday, families are holding a vigil to remember those who died tragically from suicide, including some who died very recently. They are looking for a better system. I would like this audit to take into account psychiatric services at Cross Lanes, in Lou…

I referred to the protocols when people present.

We are here to talk about protecting jobs and supporting businesses. As part of that, we must also protect workers. None of these measures will work in the world we now live in if we do not have the testing, tracing and isolation infrastructure to underpin them. We all saw the difficulties in this House this week. Thankfully, the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, tested negative for Covid-19. I wish him well. Proceedings could be resumed quickly, despite certain mistakes being made, because the Minister…

I would like an answer in regard to the timeline for the citizens' assembly on drugs. Obviously, many in this House and beyond will accept we have a huge drug problem as it relates to addiction, to the lack of services, to criminal gangs and to drug debt intimidation and the huge impact this has on communities and families. I was shocked the other day when the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy said he had written to the Taoiseach twice to get a timeline in regard to when the citi…

I am sharing time with Deputies Ó Snodaigh and Buckley. I welcome what the previous speakers have said. I would like to add my voice of support for medals and recognition of those who fought at the Siege of Jadotville. It is necessary that we give due respect to our Defence Force. In a previous sitting in this House when the Minister did not have responsibility for defence, I requested that he would make contact with the then Minister with responsibility for defence on the basis of getting the Air Corps helicopter …

What amount of funding has been allocated to implementing the national drugs strategy in County Louth? I am also asking about the level of resources required and whether there is scope to increase funding following the outcome of the recommendations presented in the Drogheda scoping exercise. I have made a request that the exercise be escalated to involve major towns such as Dundalk in County Louth, which have huge problems in this particular regard.

I welcome the Minister's response. The scoping exercise is absolutely necessary. She spoke about how this problem in Drogheda has seeped into other areas, including County Meath. Criminality is interconnected and any scoping exercise must at least look at the entire county and beyond, particularly where there are major connections to organised crime between Dundalk and Drogheda. We are dealing with a very dangerous quotient of criminals. I welcome the Minister's mention of drug debt intimidation. I accept that the …

I welcome what the Minister said. In that scoping exercise, they will need to look above and beyond just Drogheda and will have to take into account wider facets. There is a necessity for an audit of all services and the capacity and capability of the gardaí, who are doing brilliant work tackling these crimes. We are, however, starting from behind. I have recently been in houses in major urban areas in Dundalk that have been firebombed. I have also been out in north County Louth, where houses have been attacked in …

Is it possible to have an exchange with the Minister of State?

I realise that. If I do not ask-----