I already have 14 Deputies who are offering, which means a time limit of one minute and one question per topic.
Questions on Proposed Legislation
The programme for Government contains a line outlining the Government's commitment on CAP funding and basic payments in the coming years. On foot of parliamentary questions asked by my colleagues last week, there seems to be a line in the programme for Government that the State may consider appealing the ruling of the High Court a number of weeks ago that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine acted unlawfully in inspecting farms. I presume the Government has no intention of taking this matter to the Supreme Court because it would be a retrograde step. It is time it recognised what was said in the High Court.
As the Deputy said, it was the subject of a recent High Court case and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will take full account of the ruling in making its decision which I am sure will become known.
The construction of the new national children's hospital is a key part of the programme for Government. Last week a group of parents of the sickest children in the country travelled to Dublin to meet the Taoiseach and hand in a petition signed by 60,000 people, but nobody from the Government, not even an official, met them. They had to hand it to the porter at the front gate. They came from every county, including Northern Ireland, to oppose the construction of the national children's hospital on the site chose. Will somebody examine the madness of the decision that construction go ahead on the site which will be inaccessible? There will not even be a helicopter pad. It is utter madness.
The Minister for Health has put the facts about the site chosen for the new national children's hospital firmly in the public arena. It is a suitable site and the building and development of the hospital will go ahead on it. It will be a state-of-the-art national children's hospital which is long overdue and badly needed. It will provide an excellent service for the parents described by the Deputy because it will have state-of-the-art facilities for the children of the country. The site has been examined and recommended and the decision taken to go ahead. It has received planning permission. I hope that in the next couple of years we will finally have a state-of-the-art natinonal children's hospital.
The Tánaiste is aware that yesterday, when the outgoing British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, left Downing Street, he was able to state 800 people in the entire United Kingdom had been waiting more than one year for an operation. Is she aware that this figure equates almost exactly to the number of patients waiting in Limerick alone for more than one year for an operation? More than 1,000 patients are waiting in Waterford and 3,200 in Galway. What steps will the Government take to halt and reverse this farce?
As the Deputy knows, the Government is absolutely committed to improving waiting times for patients, with a particular focus on those patients who have been waiting the longest. The Minister for Health will meet the director of the HSE again this week to discuss the very issue raised by the Deputy. There will also be a new initiative which is part of the agreement in the programme for Government whereby the National Treatment Purchase Fund will be used. There will be an allocation of €15 million in 2017 for an initiative targeted at those who have been waiting the longest. It is part of the continued investment of €50 million a year to reduce waiting lists.
The Department is engaging with the NTPF and the HSE in planning a dedicated waiting list initiative, which will be rolled out later this year. It is important to note that more than 60% of patients on waiting lists wait less than six months for their required care and 94% wait less than the maximum waiting time of 15 months, so we are determined to address the issue. The €500 million given to the Department of Health and agreed in this House last week will ensure that those waiting times are reduced further.
The programme for Government pledges the implementation of the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities. It also talks about supporting people with disabilities and removing barriers which impact on their access to services, education and work and yet the reality on the ground is that the Government is putting in place barriers in respect of these people. I met with the WALK PEER group this morning, as did a number of Deputies. The group outlined graphically the difficulties it is facing and the pending halt to the excellent work it is doing.
Has the Deputy a question, please?
I think it has funding until Christmas of €150,000. When will the Government implement the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities?
The previous Government published the first ever national strategy for people with disabilities in terms of access to employment. That strategy is now being implemented. There is work to be done but the policies are there and Government is implementing them. In regard to the particular case that the Deputy has raised, I know that both the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, and the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, are actively engaging with the people who are involved in the WALK PEER group to seek a solution to the issue.
In light of the commitment in the programme for Government to deal with the housing and homelessness crisis, I want to ask the Tánaiste about one specific issue. Last week the Minister, Deputy Coveney, announced an increase in the rent allowance across the country but, unfortunately, in a couple of counties, including my own county of Kerry, it was in the region of 5%. I went to the trouble of looking at the Daft first quarter average rents for the country. The average rent in County Galway is €618 per month and in Kerry is €623 per month. Both counties have similar populations and very similar demands regarding tourism activity, etc. Why did the Minister apply such a meagre increase to Kerry when he applied a 25% increase to County Galway? He applied an equally meagre increase to Mayo. While I understand he might have a reason for not giving Mayo a decent increase, I cannot understand why he did not give Kerry a decent increase. This should be reviewed and changed immediately.
The Department of Social Protection recently carried out a review of the rent limits, as the Deputy knows, in line with the commitments contained in the programme for a partnership Government. Increased limits for rent supplement have been introduced in all areas of the country with recent effect and the increases that have been given reflect the pressures on rental properties in each particular location. All I can say to the Deputy is that the review was based on the examination done and the data collected by the Department of Social Protection and the increases reflected that data and those pressures for each county.
The Tánaiste is wrong in the case of Kerry.
Yesterday my colleague, Deputy Noel Grealish, correctly raised the issue of the imminence of the review of the bail legislation. The question was answered by the Taoiseach and I listened with interest. Is there now an intention to prioritise the introduction of the required legislation in this House, with particular reference to the need to combat recidivism?
Given the continued acts of crime by a well organised and large group of people while out on bail, I ask that the legislation be prioritised.
Legislation is at an advanced stage and I hope to be in a position to publish it later this year when the Dáil returns.
I acknowledge the substantial amount of money made available in the programme for Government to deal with flooding. However, I refer to the appalling situation in south Roscommon where the level of the River Shannon has increased by 7 in. during the past two weeks. Yesterday I received a number of calls from people affected. Flood waters are beginning to come out onto the land and we are only in July. However, the problem can be solved. I have spoken to people and gained much local knowledge. The weirs at Meelick and Parteen are holding water. The weir at Meelick is controlled by the Office of Public Works, OPW, while the weir at Parteen is controlled by the Electricity Supply Board, ESB. I am told that if the water held there - a number of gates are closed - was released, the flooding that will occur in the region could be alleviated. I am asking the Tánaiste to get into a conversation with the ESB and the OPW to see if some of the water could be released in order to stop a major problem in July.
The Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, and the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, recently met the Geological Survey of Ireland to discuss the issue. I will bring what the Deputy said to the Minister's attention. He must bring the facts to his attention. The previous Government took action to deal with the flooding issues raised by the Deputy. For the first time, we have all of the agencies working more effectively together. Various actions are planned and whatever action can be taken will be taken.
I refer to people in receipt of respite care grants. In the case of carers who are looking after people with disabilities and have been overpaid, arrangements have been made to sort out the matter, including stopping their respite care grants in part payment. This is very unfair. Everybody knows that the respite care grant is paid to carers to support the people for whom they are caring, to improve their living accommodation or to take them on a holiday. I would like the Tánaiste to ask the Minister for Social Protection to examine this issue.
Will the Deputy please send me the details? I will ensure the Minister is made aware of the point and that it is followed up. It does not seem that the two should be connected.
I could send the Tánaiste details of several such cases.
Really.
I apologise for being late. The Taoiseach was briefing group leaders on Brexit.
A month ago I raised the issue of the task force for the north inner city. While there was a focus on it across the House, public attention moves on. We must ensure we keep our focus. I was promised that I would have the details of the terms of reference and the membership of the task force. Consultation should take place and has taken place. When will the task force take shape and begin its work? Do we know what its terms of references are and what its membership will be?
Last week the Taoiseach spent a long time in the north inner city with the Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. As the Deputy rightly said, a huge amount of work has been done with local groups. There has been a lot of discussion about the terms of reference they would like to see. The Taoiseach held another meeting yesterday with the relevant Departments and the work is very near completion. It is a comprehensive action programme for the area and it is moving towards finalisation.
Is it intended to do it before the Dáil rises for the summer?
The Taoiseach will make announcements on it in the very near future.
This morning we heard at least eight Deputies refer to the issue of disability and I want to pick up on Deputy Brady's point on the programme, Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024. It is my understanding that the committee on implementation of this has only met twice. Would the Tánaiste consider an all-party approach to the issue of the implementation of the employment strategy for people with disabilities, taking on board the spokespersons on health and disability with a view to ensuring that strategy is implemented and that this Dáil will be a champion for disability?
On the same matter, would the Tánaiste commit to a cross-departmental approach in this regard? Unfortunately, the families explained to us this morning that when they ask the question of the Department of Health, they get kicked to the Department of Education and Skills and when they ask the Department of Education and Skills, they get kicked to the Department of Social Protection. Realistically, we need all of the relevant Departments involved to focus on this. It is not only about the WALK PEER - Providing Equal Employment Routes - programme but about that model and where it can be rolled out. It does fantastic work. I hope the Tánaiste takes the time to have a look at it at first hand. It does great work with families, with people who otherwise would really struggle.
All right, the point is made.
I would agree that a cross-departmental approach is necessary in order to reach the target set out in the employment strategy for people with disabilities. I would expect that the relevant committee will also be examining this and monitoring the implementation of the report. It is essential that it is implemented and I would think that the relevant committee would be an appropriate place to discuss the ongoing implementation of that important strategy.
That concludes questions on promised legislation. My apologies-----
A Cheann Comhairle-----
It is unfair not to take anyone from our group.
My apologies to the six Deputies.
On a point of order, can the Ceann Comhairle explain to me Deputies' speaking rights? I indicated to him, long before other Deputies indicated here-----
Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick did.
-----but the Ceann Comhairle did not take-----
They were------
No, sorry, a Cheann Comhairle.
If Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick sits down, I will explain.
Can I please finish? I indicated to the Ceann Comhairle at an early stage and he indicated to me that I would get in. Six or seven Deputies indicated after me but I never got a chance to speak. Can the Ceann Comhairle please explain to me what way he call Deputies?
Has Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick a parliamentary party meeting?
Can the Ceann Comhairle please explain?
I can explain to Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick. I try to accommodate all parties, first and foremost. I called Deputy Howlin who entered the Chamber after Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick had indicated but I called him because no representative of the Labour Party had been included earlier and it is the norm to call on the leaders of each of the parliamentary groups present.
So why-----
Other than that-----
A Cheann Comhairle-----
I ask Deputy Fitzpatrick to sit down, please. Other than that, Deputies are called in the order in which they indicate.
Why did the Ceann Comhairle not call somebody from our group?
Three Fianna Fáil spokespeople spoke one after another. In fairness, I thought I was in in plenty of time. I gave the Ceann Comhairle plenty of notice and I am very disappointed.
The Deputy did but I cannot jump the Deputy up-----
Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, this is not the first time I have been neglected. I am very disappointed.
I cannot jump Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick up the list ahead of others.
I am not asking that. The one thing I have never asked for in my life is for any special privilege. All I am asking for is fair play.
Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick will get fair play.
Can I clarify, on a point of order-----
No, we will have no more points of order.
On promised legislation, is the Ceann Comhairle taking each group or not? It was my understanding he would.
Yes.
The Ceann Comhairle took the Labour Party and I assumed he would take at least one Deputy from our group.
I am afraid we had not reached Deputy Coppinger before time ran out.
The Ceann Comhairle took three Deputies from Fianna Fáil.
Why is the Ceann Comhairle taking so many?
They had indicated in advance.
The Ceann Comhairle said one from each group.
Can I clarify that?
Deputy Coppinger should come to my office afterwards and discuss it with me. We are not discussing it here.
This is so we know. I will sit down then.
If Deputy Coppinger wants to know, she should come to my office and we will have a discussion with her on the matter.
The way it was done in the past-----
If Deputy Coppinger wants to know, she should come to my office.
The House would like to know how it is done, that is all. All I am asking is if the Ceann Comhairle will just explain-----
It is done precisely-----
-----because it used to be done by group, according to size. That is all. If it is not being done like that, the Ceann Comhairle should tell us.
It is being done like that. Would Deputy Coppinger resume her seat?
It is not. I have a question and I cannot ask it.
Deputy Coppinger was not here at the start of the process.
I assumed I would be coming in after the others, in order.
Would Deputy Coppinger please resume her seat?
Excuse me, I was here.
The Deputy should resume her seat.
One of us was here. I am in my seat.
If either of the Deputies has some difficulty, they can come to my office together and we can have a chat.
I would be in the Ceann Comhairle's office half my life, if I did.