I appreciate the Tánaiste's response. Since the conflict began, 37,202 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 85,000 injured. I acknowledge that 1,200 Israelis are reported to have been killed, with nearly 5,500 reported as injured. Some 17,000 children are now known by the descriptor, wounded child with no surviving family, WCNSF. Approximately 70,000 homes have been destroyed and 1.7 million people in Gaza have been displaced. On 18 June, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle asked in the Chamber whether aeroplanes are bei…

I echo the concerns expressed by colleagues in the House and by the people of Ireland. I appreciate the Tánaiste's statement that there is no evidence of weaponry being transported through Ireland to Israel. However, there is also nothing to point to the contrary. The question is: how do we know? Do we take the word of those who possibly are supplying the arms being used in the genocide in Palestine? Do we accept that the oppressors of Palestine are not carrying arms through our airspace to perpetuate oppression an…

I ask the Minister to provide a detailed breakdown of where the EU just transition funding is to go; the reason it is being focused solely on the midlands instead of including areas like County Clare which are also losing fossil fuel power stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As the Minister has outlined, significant funding is being made available for Ireland in order to assist the regions and communities that are most negatively impacted by the transition to climate neutrality and to promote socioeconomic transition. Ireland is assessed to receive €84.5 million up to 2027 and the Government plans to match this funding with Exchequer resources. As the Minister alluded to, so far Fáilte Ireland has approved €32 million in grants under this scheme. Why is this funding being solely concen…

I appreciate that the midlands needs that extra assistance and I appreciate what the Minister said in respect of Moneypoint, but I have outlined the employment opportunities for the community. Responses to parliamentary questions have shown that when it comes to the construction of the offshore wind farms at Moneypoint, there may be employment of up to 600 positions but outside that, employment opportunities available for the community are very unsure. The most recent Pobal report showed that urban Kilrush is the m…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this question. It is a follow-up question, as I have raised this issue previously. I point to the ambition to see every school student with a hot school meal, which has to be commended. I agree that we need to ensure that our children are given all of the support that is necessary to get them the best results and access to education. Equally, it is important that children get the same experience and feel they are the same as their peers. However, there are issues with the ro…

I appreciate that the Minister of State will take that information back in respect of St. Anne's and the flexibility for special schools I am looking for. The response that has been provided is rigid and somewhat disappointing. Again, it is a one-size-fits-all approach that will not be workable in some schools, especially rural schools which do not have the options or opportunities that schools in urban areas may have. I want to see each child in both of the schools that I raised thriving, getting the best and equa…

I thank the Independent Group for bringing forward this timely and important motion. We all received the briefing last week and it was one of the most intense briefings that I have attended to date. It was incredibly interesting to note that the role of principals has not been reviewed since 1974. We heard from a principal who is a special needs teacher four days of the week and principal for one day. That is not practical. The principal outlined that he is also a plumber when a pipe bursts. He described so many ot…

More than 40,000 calls have been made to Women's Aid and nearly 60,000 domestic abuse calls have been registered in the Garda PULSE system. These are indefensibly high numbers and are getting higher year on year. Many victims who experience domestic, sexual and gender-based violence have nowhere to go except back to their abuser. We often hear that it can take up to eight attempts to leave. The Council of Europe 2021 guidelines mandate a refuge place for every 10,000 people, which equals 510 for the country. In the…

I want to again raise emergency accommodation with the Taoiseach today. I do so for two main reasons. The first is that I am generally concerned about the standard of these buildings but also about capacity issues. I note from a previous response that responsibility for the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the local authorities. Unfortunately, from the work I have been doing, it appears they are struggling and are in crisis mode. I mentioned that to the Taois…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion, especially given that electricity prices in Ireland are two thirds above the EU average. The rising cost of living has had a detrimental effect on households, families and workers, leaving so many having to choose between heating and food. The households most at risk are those that are most in need. The ESRI compared recent data with data collected in 2015 and 2016. This comparison shows that the number of households at risk of energy poverty has risen si…

Will I get to come in a second time on grouped questions or is it just once?

Perfect. I also met with representatives from the USI. They have given us a number of briefings over the past two years or so. They pointed to the fact they have waited three years for the publication of the national student accommodation strategy. I also appreciate the Minister is new in the role, but I point to the fact this issue is damaging relationships between students and the Government. The union had to debate whether to attend a cost-of-education event organised by the Department of higher education becaus…

I also welcome the Minister's earlier announcement in respect of legislation to ensure that students are not locked into 51-week leases. I also commend the USI on its serious campaigning on the matter. I was hoping to get a bit of clarification as to whether that will include digs accommodation. The USI's 2023 student digs survey included stark findings. Only 11% of students reported having access to a bathroom, fridge, iron, living room, oven, stove, television, washing machine and dryer. Some 59% lived in digs on…

First, and I mean this with no disrespect to the Minister of State, I really needed the Minister of Health present in the Chamber. It was incredibly important for him to be here to answer questions or, at the very least, to have a Minister of State from within his Department. I am struggling to be able to see where the Minister of State will be able to provide any clarification, which is what I need for my constituents. The Minister of State will only be able to read out the response he has been given and nothing m…

I appreciate the response the Minister of State has given and the indication that the service will commence in 2025. It is hard to see how that will transpire given that it is the middle of 2024 and nothing has been progressed. I also appreciate that he outlined that the procurement is progressing in line with national financial regulations but I am unsure as to what that means. I feel that I have entered a twilight zone given that he is responding to this issue for the second time. No definitive timeline was menti…

As the Tánaiste can tell, a number of us attended yesterday’s briefing by primary school principals. It was one of the most intense briefings I have attended since my election. Principals are at breaking point. They relayed a number of issues to us, but I will focus on SET allocations. The principals pointed to the fact that these allocations were based on historical data – standardised tests conducted in second, fourth and six class – and not on need. This must be addressed. Inclusion requires support and we know …

I welcome the opportunity to voice my views on the EU migration pact and will do my very best in my limited time as I have a lot to say on the matter. It is completely disingenuous of the Government to steamroll ahead with a single vote on this pact. There is no need for that, it has the public's back up and I take real issue with that. One point has been completely lost by the Government. It is abundantly clear, much the same as the recent referendum, that the heels have been dug in and there is no sign that the G…

I support the motion and welcome the opportunity to speak of the legendary work that carers do for the most vulnerable people, day in, day out. Carers save the State an estimated €20 billion per year and that is the equivalent of a second HSE. Carers are predominantly female and, for the most part, are alone and isolated. They are not respected for the work they do or the moneys they save the State every single year and they do not get recognition for the important roles they play, which, by the way, has a knock-on…

I ask the Minister if he is aware of the critical shortage of personal assistant hours for people with disabilities across the State, and the reason a person whose details have been supplied has been put in a position where they receive no PA support two days a week and only half-day support for two other days. I ask for his views on whether his Department is adequately supporting disabled people who require personal assistants.