I welcome the opportunity to speak on the budget announced today. A lot of money is being given out. There is a lot of detail that we have not seen yet. Something that came to my mind at the very start of this is that so much money is being flayed out all over the place, the most important thing will be how we are going to manage it. How are we going to make sure that money reaches where it is intended to go? With the social welfare payments, it will get to the people who need it but if we look at infrastructure an…

I want to follow on with the subject of housing and, in particular, the issue of affordable housing for first-time buyers in this country. A number of things could help with the delivery of affordable houses. The Tánaiste spoke about wastewater treatment plants. In many villages and towns in my constituency and throughout the country, people cannot build houses because there are not wastewater treatment plants. When I became a councillor in 2004, it was on the back of a plan to build a wastewater treatment plant in…

Wastewater.

While I mentioned Corofin, some 30 towns and villages in County Galway are earmarked for wastewater development. At the same time, we are creating restrictions in respect of rural housing. We are telling people they cannot live in the rural areas and telling them to move into the towns and villages. Houses cannot be built there and the urgency is not there. Craughwell in County Galway was allocated funding for a wastewater treatment plant last year. It will probably be another five to six years before this is deliv…

I move: That Dáil Éireann calls on the Government to set out a clear road map for the abolition of the Carer's Allowance means test by 2027. The Regional Group is tabling this motion because, given that the budget is next Tuesday, it is time that the Government take action on this issue. The motion calls for a roadmap towards abolishing the carer’s allowance means test by 2027, recognising the essential role that family carers play and supporting those who dedicate themselves to caring for their loved ones. More th…

The issue of University Hospital Limerick is very concerning for everyone. While I am not from Limerick and it is not in my area, I agree wholeheartedly with Deputy Boyd Barrett that there is an artificial dumbing-down of figures of employment. It is like a puzzle, trying to figure out what is actually happening with recruitment in the HSE. It is completely different from what is being portrayed in the public eye. Reconfiguring all the hospitals and making centres of excellence in Galway, Limerick and wherever else…

I welcome the motion by People Before Profit, and the opportunity to speak on it. I am a member of the disability matters committee. For nearly five years, we have been hearing from different parents and representative groups what is going on and the way they are experiencing life, living with a disability or with a family member who has a disability. We hear it in our constituency offices. I am sure every public representative has parents coming into their office. They are caught in limbo and cannot get some sort …

Next, I think, we are back to a Government slot. I am sorry; my apologies to Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne.

I thank all Deputies for their co-operation.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy James O'Connor - To discuss flood relief measures in the east Cork region. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the lack of bus infrastructure in housing estates across Limerick. Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the ongoing boil water notices in east Cork. Deputy Duncan Smith - To discuss timetable changes on the northern commuter line. Deputy Carol No…

Deputy.

I too welcome the opportunity to say a few words about the tax money that has come our way in the limited time I have. I am sure that everybody will have a shopping list and whatever. I too have a shopping list, but the shopping list is a bit like what Deputy Leddin said, in that there are projects we can invest in which will give us a return in our economy for generations to come. The western rail corridor is a prime example, were we to develop Knock Airport, Shannon Airport and Cork Airport to take the pressure o…

It is a simple enough question. Does the Minister for Education intend to increase core funding for primary schools and special schools to ensure they can meet operational costs?

The overall spend is very high, and rightly so, because this is about education, which is fundamental to every person in the country. Focusing on primary schools and national schools, the big problem is that there was a cut to the capitation grant. Basically, that cut has not been restored. Looking at the capitation grant for national schools compared to what is available for secondary schools, there is a big difference. At the end of the day, we are trying to make sure national schools have a proper, clean school …

While I appreciate that, I will say again that the funding for primary schools, and their capacity to be able to run the schools, has fallen back seriously based on the capitation grants they have now. Part of that is because inflation has come into being. Heating, electricity and insurance costs have all risen substantially. While I acknowledge there was a one-off payment, schools need a more permanent basis for additional funding rather than one-off payments. It is important for them to know where they are going …

Will the Minister reinstate the assistant principal role which was cut in primary and special schools during the period of austerity? I am down the pile.

I thank the Minister. There were a large number of statistics in that. In today's world, especially in primary schools, there is a great deal going on. I am aware of two schools that are undertaking building projects. Matters have become difficult. School principals are not just managing education, they are managing facilities. They are doing project management and procurement. They are responsible to anybody and everybody. It is important that we have the assistant principal role. In today's world there is so much…

I welcome the Minister's words of encouragement. I agree wholeheartedly with everything she is saying in respect of responsibilities and all of the demands that are now put on the entire school management from top to bottom in national schools, especially in today's world. I am aware of two schools in particular where there are problems. I will send the Minister a note on them separately rather than raising them here. I am coming across the situation more and more that, if a school needs an extension, emergency wor…

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and I thank the Social Democrats for bringing it forward. It is timely, given what we saw on television in the past couple of days regarding the FAI, ladies soccer and all that goes with that. It is time to put things in place, educate people and ensure we have a proper society where everybody is treated equally, both men and women, and that no one gender has a right or power over another gender. It is important that we start wit…

I will raise the issue of succession plans for family businesses. The Finance Act 2023 made changes to capital gains tax for small indigenous businesses with assets valued at more than €10 million. I have been contacted by many businesspeople in my constituency who run generational businesses. If these measures are brought in, businesses will either regress or be sold off to multinationals because the owners' children will not be able to come up with the capital gains tax that is required. In a country that relies …