The temporary scheme of paid leave was developed by the Department of Health for certain public health sector employees who were unfit for work after a Covid-19 infection. That scheme is due to end on 31 March, which is the end of this month, but I will raise the issue with the Minister and ask him to come back to the Deputy directly rather than giving him a stale answer here. I understand what the Deputy is saying but I would like to understand the numbers that are impacted and their circumstances. I presume the D…

There is a lot in the Deputy's question. I will try to answer the various elements of it. First, I am glad the Deputy is noticing progress in Cork. That is always important in terms of the scale of development there.

The mid-west has had a great year too. If we look at the performance of Limerick and the mid-west more generally, three of the biggest IDA Ireland announcements in the country this year happened just outside Limerick, involving Analog Devices, Eli Lilly and Verizon. Thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of euro of investment will be coming to the mid-west over the next few years. We are also seeing a lot of infrastructure delivery on the back of that such as the rail connection to Foynes Port and the Adare byp…

I hear the Deputy's frustration. I assure him there is no lack of ambition in this regard in my Department or that of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The Minister has done an extraordinary piece of work over the last number of years to make this prospect a reality. We have had our first round of auctions and 3 GW of draft supply contracts are in place. One of those projects is off the west coast - off the coast of Connemara - by the way. This is happening, but we cannot deliver a plan that aims to deliver 37 GW of…

I am familiar with this project. It has taken a long time to get to this stage with regard to site selection. This is an elective-only hospital, which is relatively new in Ireland in terms of structure. We are pushing as hard as we can to get it built as soon as we can. In the meantime, it is important to say that there are multiple projects at big hospital campuses like CUH, for example, that are also progressing at the same time, increasing capacity. We are seeing the kind of increases in staff numbers and bed ca…

On the issue of President von der Leyen, I think the Taoiseach has outlined a very different perspective from Ireland than, perhaps, the perspective that she has outlined at different times. However, I think President von der Leyen has done an extraordinary job if you look at the role she has played in the round over the last number of years. She has, I think, given extraordinary leadership in the Commission. I think we make a different argument in terms of emphasis than she has perhaps done with regard to the Isra…

Ireland continues to be the most vocal country in the European Union regarding the humanitarian disaster that has unfolded in Gaza, and we will continue to be that vocal voice. Calling for a ceasefire, as we have done for months, is now the mainstream position, and we are calling for the release of hostages and a massive humanitarian aid effort to be facilitated into Gaza as soon as possible.

I am sorry, I could not hear the Deputy.

This is a matter for the Minister for housing. I think he acknowledged in a debate in the last number of weeks that he needs to review this number to make sure there is an appropriate disincentive for bulk purchasing of homes. It is important to say that, I think, the figure is about 2% of homes that are being purchased by large investment funds as bulk purchases. It is important that we do not overstate the impact on the supply of homes. Having said that, the Minister has said that he is going to look at this issu…

The issue the Deputy raised is a very valid one. That is why we set up a Garda vetting review group to focus on how we can make changes and introduce more efficiencies into this system, avoiding duplication and unnecessary effort. Those issues are still being considered by that group. I am told it is due to report relatively soon but I will get the Minister to come back to the Deputy with an actual date as to when she expects the report from that review group to come back so we can act as a Government.

I hear what the Deputy is saying, but I will have to ask the line Minister to come back to him with a more detailed answer. I presume it is a combination of safety and appropriate regulation of driver licences.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. He is a constant advocate, both in committee and in this House, for the circular economy. We are acting on this issue. In particular, this year we are targeting the biggest emitters in our economy. The IDA group of companies comprises more than 1,800 companies of which around ten of them represent the vast majority of emissions. Likewise, in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies, about 20 of their clients represent the vast majority of emissions. We are working directly …

I will give the Deputy the same answer I gave Deputy Naughten earlier. I am aware the scheme is due to end at the end of the month. It is a matter for the consideration of the Department of Health and the Minister. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly. We have not had any recommendation to Government in relation to this issue, at least not yet.

There is very real concern on this issue. I want to say to people listening to vote at the end of this week. Changing a country's constitution is a big deal. No one should allow other people to make decisions for them. I encourage everybody to vote. This is an opportunity to modernise and improve our Constitution in relation to both questions. I hope people take the opportunity to do so. Of course there are dangers towards the end of a referendum campaign that there will be attempts to try to scare and mislead peop…

I thank the Deputy for that question. I know the incoming chair of RTÉ well. He is a very smart and capable person. He will be more than aware of the importance of TG4 and Irish-language media more generally. I am confident he will ensure the concerns the Deputy has addressed regarding the Irish-language speaking community and the importance of TG4 and Raidió na Gaeltachta to culture and language promotion are very much part of RTÉ's thinking. I am confident he will ensure that is part of his thinking.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Whenever any changes are made to how resources are allocated in schools it can cause a lot of worry for students and parents, as Deputy Nolan has just outlined. We want to ensure that every child with special educational needs has access to the most appropriate school place. Schools were notified of their special educational teacher allocation for 2024-2025 on 6 February. Special education teachers provide valuable additional teaching assistance for students with special e…

I think the terms of reference of that report were only agreed. I will have to check the timeline for the Deputy. Obviously, Frank Clarke is an extremely competent individual. I will get the Deputy a timeline for the publication of the report from the Minister. It was my understanding that the terms of reference were only created in the last few weeks.

I agree with the Deputy, for a change, on this issue. We need to move away from the extent to which we rely on digs accommodation at the moment, to more appropriate student accommodation, which should be on-campus or close to campus where possible. The Minister, Deputy Harris, has done an extraordinary amount of work in this area. Now more than ever before, we are seeing student accommodation being delivered right across the university campuses, both in Dublin and outside of it. There is much more in the pipeline. …

I am very familiar with the issues with Carrigaline Community Special School. We have spoken to the Minister of State about that, and she has been hugely helpful in trying to get solutions to effectively involve new structures. We recognise the frustrations, as well as the inability to get appropriate special staffing levels for certain necessary therapies and interventions. We will continue to work with the Minister to try to get an outcome as soon as we can. I meet parents who are very frustrated by the pace at w…

To Deputy Dillon, I will make sure the Minister for Education comes back to you on those two issues. Every child should be able to get a place in a school at a reasonable distance from their home, whether in Mayo or anywhere else. I know there are pressures in some parts of the country given population growth pressures and so on. We are putting a huge budget into education in terms of capital investment, scaling up school places and so on. I will get an answer on the two specific issues you have raised. Deputy Crow…