We have spoken before about autism and the lack of services we have concerning speech and language therapists, SLTs, occupational therapists, OTs, psychologists, physiotherapists and all that is required in this regard. Could I get an update concerning the school inclusion model pilot that was being operated? The idea of this is to put the service where the need is. Could we see about having a review and then an expansion beyond the pilot? Could we also look, from a parent's perspective, at the admissions process? …

The Israeli onslaught on Gaza continues. What Israel offers is bombs and starvation. We have all heard the figures at this stage - 5,791 Palestinians killed, including 2,360 children, and 704 Palestinians killed in the last 24 hours. There is nothing else this can be called but a war crime and forced displacement. It can be called ethnic cleansing. We dread to think what a land invasion will look like. We dread to think about the disparity of power we are dealing with. Many of us have called out what Ursula von der…

I accept that some countries have a different starting place on the basis of what has been a disgraceful history of pogroms, expulsion and extermination of the Jewish people, but we must deal with the Israeli regime that is in existence at this point in time. We can judge the people in that regime by their own words and deeds. They are involved in maintaining an apartheid state and in the annexation of lands that are not theirs. We could call it settler colonisation in the modern day. At this point in time, they ar…

What about ISIF and the divestment Bill?

We have already had a significant, but I would not say sufficient, conversation in the public domain on the underfunding of our health services and the belief that the amount of money being allocated is not even sufficient to maintain the existing level of service. Let us imagine what this will lead to. We all have our worries regarding the moratorium on recruitment. We all know the issues that exist right across the health service, right through to the home help that people cannot get now to try to ensure their lo…

The Minister of State had to leave to deal with a personal issue.

I am fairly sure the Minister of State welcomes the good news for Drogheda United on funding from a professionalisation point of view. If we are talking about development of a new stadium, that is what is needed in the League of Ireland as regards sustainability. That is the big byword. Obviously we have a particular high that is ongoing in respect of soccer and League of Ireland. A club I support, Dundalk F.C., is involved with the local authorities and others to develop a viable project to upgrade Oriel Park. Wit…

I am dealing with a young man who works in Dundalk and wants to do an apprenticeship through SOLAS. He has a workplace in Crossmaglen in County Armagh that is happy to do this but there is an issue in delivering it. I have spoken to the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Harris, about this, and the matter is with the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, at the minute. There is a general view that we need to deliver cross-Border student mobility, so I am hoping for some good news.

I am almost shocked with that positive answer, which is the one I had hoped for. Unfortunately, it is not the information the student in question, his mother or I had received previously when dealing with SOLAS so there may be a need for communication. If we ensure the employer meets the criteria and the correct people are communicating with SOLAS, we can get this sorted and bring the issue to an end. I ask for a promise from the Minister of State that we will ensure the right people talk to each other and deliver …

The Minister will not be shocked when I address my next contribution to him. I hope he is willing to accept it. I welcome all that has been said on mobility, whether we are talking about cross-Border, hard-to-reach communities or disability. I will return to the issue of personal assistants. I see the Minister has provided additional moneys to deal with disability in further education. People are under severe pressure and becoming apprehensive. There are other issues, however, including a long-term issue related to…

We have all been shocked by underfunding in the health service. We went straight from the budget into what seemed like a near disaster. We have all been very worried about the moratorium on recruitment because we are constantly talking about the number of positions left unfilled. The Government promised many more beds - 1,500 or so - but none were allocated in the budget. We are worried about hospital waiting lists. We are also worried about the nurses we train and who work in the medical sphere. Everyone, includin…

I add my voice to what has been said about the spectacular entertainment provided by the Irish rugby team. We wish all the players well into the future. Johnny Sexton, in particular, epitomised their never-say-die spirit. People might say I am a great man for jumping on a bandwagon.

It would be a first for this place, all right. I was at an event the other day by Turas Counselling at the Downtown Hub in Dundalk to launch its new gambling counselling service. Oisín McConville was there for the launch and he gave a powerful speech on what he said was his favourite subject, himself, that lasted for 35 minutes. He got into the ins and outs of the impact of gambling. That particular service is now available in Dundalk. There may be issues regarding a dual diagnosis pilot project in which Turas Coun…

The club is closer to the Minister of State's part of the world. I would like to think he has some power in this matter. I have no doubt it is a very good application. There are other applications in the locality, including from Na Piarsaigh-Blackrock CLG, which is very close to my house. This is very localised politics. There is also Clann Naofa Boxing Club. Again, I am talking about outfits that do a great deal of work. Turning to soccer, I spoke about this earlier to the Minister of State. I am going to put it s…

I was very good. I named only a small number. I had a lot more of them on my page.

Are the LSSIF grants going to be reactivated?

It is not the first time we have spoken here about how long it takes to get a test. Many promises were made and previously, excuses around Covid-19 and particular issues were made, but we need to get down to a level where we can provide people with the possibility of getting a driving licence faster than six months. It needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Some of my colleagues raised other issues. I thank the Rural Independent Group. I have no doubt that everyone has brought up the issue of students who requi…

The Palestinian people have long suffered under an illegal occupation, apartheid, annexation and Israeli onslaught. They have been provided with no real hope for the future. Israel's security-only policy has not provided security for anybody. At this point in time, Gaza, long an open prison, is suffering carpet-bombing and forced displacement, and there is not enough water, energy or fuel. They have all been cut off by Israel. We were all shocked and appalled at the actions of Hamas but the problem is that what we …

We all have a fear regarding the moratorium. With regard to some of the unfilled positions, we know how difficult it is to get home help hours and to have staff allocated. This is a huge issue in north Louth and, I assume, elsewhere across the State. I met representatives of Family Carers Ireland and noted the issue they still come up with is that of the means test. Very many people with really good jobs suddenly become carers, whether for siblings or parents. Children, in particular, have to give up jobs to care f…

I have brought up the issue of the recommendations of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight before, and Deputy Boyd Barrett might also have mentioned it once or twice. In fairness, the Taoiseach has been supportive of those recommendations and a stakeholders' forum. Follow-up will need to happen with the Minister and this is vital. There is much talk of the possibility of cross-Border solutions with film studios and such, and that is all welcome, but we need to get those pieces and issues like the possibility of bla…