Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Sep 2017

Vol. 959 No. 3

Order of Business

Deputy Seán Canney

Tuesday’s business shall be No. a9, motion re change to committees’ orders of reference and appointment of a new committee; No. 9, motion re sectoral employment order (construction sector) 2017, referral to committee; No. 10, motion re taxation agreements between Kazakhstan and Macao, referral to committee; No. 1, Mediation Bill 2017 (Amendments from the Seanad); and No. 22, statements re developments on the UK withdrawal from the EU. Private Members' business shall be No. 144, motion re flooding, selected by Fianna Fáil.

Wednesday’s business shall be No. 22, statements re developments on the UK withdrawal from the EU (resumed); and No. 4, Water Services Bill 2017 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Private Members' business shall be No. 145, motion re housing, selected by Sinn Féin.

Thursday’s business shall be No. 4, Water Services Bill 2017 - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 5, National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. No. 11, report on immigration, asylum and the refugee crisis, by the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, will be debated in the evening slot.

I refer to the report of the Business Committee dated 20 September 2017. In regard to today's business, it is proposed that:

(1) The motions re committees’ orders of reference and appointment of a new committee, the sectoral employment order (construction sector) 2017, referral to committee, and the taxation agreements between Kazakhstan and Macao, referral to committee, shall be taken without debate and any division demanded shall be taken immediately.

(2) Statements re developments on the UK withdrawal from the EU of a Minister or Minister for State and the main spokespersons for parties and groups, or a member nominated in their stead, shall not exceed 15 minutes each, with ten minutes for all other Members on subsequent rounds. There shall be a five-minute response from a Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time.

An Ceann Comhairle

In accordance with what Deputy Canney has set out to the House today, is the proposal for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed? Agreed. We shall now proceed with questions on promised legislation. There are 22 Deputies indicating and we have 27 minutes.

Deputy Micheál Martin

As has been discussed earlier, there is an appalling housing crisis, particularly in the social and affordable area and in getting 3,000 children out of emergency accommodation. The programme for Government gives clear commitments on utilising various agencies and mechanisms, especially the Irish credit union movement. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to:

recognise the potential role that Credit Unions can play in housing finance ... [and to] lift current lending restrictions as appropriate, including for housing. To investigate what role the Credit Union movement can play in the development of new housing, the Department of Finance will engage with the League of Credit Unions to help them develop their housing proposals.

That was a target action for the first 100 days within the programme for Government. For the last three to four years the credit union movement has been saying to the Government that, essentially, it has substantial money on deposit and available to utilise through some vehicle for social house construction. They have not been taken seriously by Government and nothing has emanated-----

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot have a lengthy debate Deputy Martin.

Deputy Micheál Martin

-----in respect of housing or regarding the commitment made in the programme for Government, as I have read back out. Perhaps the Minister will indicate when that target or objective in the programme for Government will be achieved.

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (Deputy Eoghan Murphy)

The credit union movement is being taken very seriously. I met the Housing Finance Agency to talk about what potential role it might have regarding social and affordable housing in particular. I will bring legislation to regulate the approved housing bodies sector, AHBs, in October or November. At that point I should be able to clarify what have been the conclusions of our conversations with the Department of Finance, the credit union movement and the Housing Finance Agency.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Has the Minister met the credit unions?

Deputy Eoghan Murphy

I have spoken with them, but not directly.

Deputy Micheál Martin

The Minister has not met them and-----

An Ceann Comhairle

I call on Deputy Mary Lou McDonald.

Deputy Micheál Martin

-----that sums up what the problem is.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

In advance of the summer recess, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment committed to establishing a waste charges watchdog. Deputies will know, from representations to their constituency offices, that the roll-out of the new charging system differs hugely depending on where people live. I regularly receive complaints about bins not being picked up, a general lack of understanding of the new system and in some areas, waste collectors that behave as though they were a law unto themselves. We also know that parts of the country have yet to receive brown bins and people are being charged black bin prices for brown bin waste. Will the Taoiseach tell the House when will the price and watchdog monitoring unit be established and deliver on its much anticipated monthly reports?

The Taoiseach

I do not have the answer to hand but I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to communicate directly with Deputy McDonald.

Deputy Joan Burton

With regard to this year's budget, will the Taoiseach clarify what the overall fiscal space might be for the proposals the Government intends to announce in two weeks' time? I am particularly interested in hearing the amount the Government intends to raise in new or increased taxes it already has referred to, such as the sugar tax and excise duties and so on, to allow and provide for spending increases.

The Taoiseach has also spoken at length about a concept termed "hidden fiscal space". What is that and how much hidden fiscal space has now been identified? In the context of the budget, a lot of people are worried about what will happen regarding proposed changes in property taxes, revaluations and, potentially, rates beyond 2019. People deserve an answer and clarity on that and where they stand, in particular people living on their own in houses and paying out of a pension or social welfare income.

The Taoiseach

I cannot answer those questions for the Deputy today. The budget is still under negotiation and discussion and there are many moving parts to it, as with any budget. It is not possible at this stage to indicate the exact tax measures. The term "hidden fiscal space" refers to savings and things that had to be paid for in 2017 which might not have to paid for in 2018. It includes things such as the fall in the live register numbers. If they continue to fall, that will obviously result in savings.

Deputy Joan Burton

That is not hidden fiscal space at all. It is very visible.

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot go into that.

The Taoiseach

As the Deputy wishes. I do not mind what she calls it.

Deputy Bríd Smith

In the past week, we have seen serious disruption to transport with at least 350,000 people discommoded because of the actions of the Ryanair boss. I am very interested to see that there has not been a word from this House about these levels of disruption when one would think the sky was going to fall in when there is a strike in Bus Éireann or Dublin Bus. There has not been one word on what is going on in Ryanair. When are we going to see legislation before the House to protect workers' rights and bring them up to European levels where the courts have ruled that Belgian pilots are entitled to have their grievances heard in Belgium rather than Dublin because labour laws here are so lax? When are we going to see protection for workers who endure bogus self-employment contracts and have no access to trade union recognition? When will the Government challenge the likes of Ryanair, whose boss it has sitting at its pre-budget dinners and eulogises as one of the most decent businessmen in the country? When are we going to deliver some rights for workers to undermine this absolute abuse which is causing massive disruption to transport?

An Ceann Comhairle

For the Deputy's information, there will be a Topical Issue debate on that today.

The Taoiseach

I am not sure what pre-budget dinner the Deputy is referring to but I was not at it anyway.

Deputy Bríd Smith

You were. You were there last year.

Deputy Micheál Martin

It was before he became Taoiseach.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

He missed the flight.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputies.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy referred to a judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union saying pilots in Belgium have recourse to Belgian law. Obviously, that does not require legislation in this country. The point of the judgment was that the pilots can access the courts in the country they work from and reside in. That does not require legislation here as our laws do not apply in Belgium.

In relation to workers' rights, we will publish legislation before the end of the year specifically on the issue of zero-hour and if-and-when contracts to ensure that people have a better idea of the hours they will work from week to week. That is included as a priority in the legislative programme published last week.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Foilsíodh dréacht-chinn an Bhille maidir le hAcht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla níos luaithe sa bhliain seo. Ó shin, faraor géar, níor chualamar tada. Maidir le dréacht-chinn an Bhille, cá bhfuileamar agus cén uair go cruinn a thiocfaidh dréacht-chinn an Bhille sin os comhair Chomhchoiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus na nOileán? Mar is eol don Cheann Comhairle, tá gá práinneach leis an mBille nua seo.

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Joe McHugh)

Bhí comhrá dearfach idir mé féin agus Ardrúnaí agus príomhoifigigh Roinn na Gaeltachta. Táimid ag leanúint ar aghaidh leis an gcomhrá idir na coistí ábhartha, Comhchoiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus na nOileán ina measc. Tá an reachtaíocht seo difriúil le reachtaíocht eile agus tá scrúdú réamhreachtaíochta de dhíth idir na Ranna ábhartha agus na páirtithe leasmhara éagsúla.

Táim dóchasach go mbeidh fógra á dhéanamh faoi ag tús na bliana ach, anois, tá sé ar an chlár agus tá sé ag dul ar aghaidh. Dréachtaíodh an Bille roimh an samhradh agus, anois, tá sé ar mo phríomhchlár agus beidh muidne i dteagmháil leis an Teachta agus lena coiste maidir leis an chomhairliúchán cuimsitheach atá de dhíth.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

During the programme for Government talks, we and the Rural Independent Group fought hard to get the Government to address regional imbalances in economic activity. What is happening in this area? A recent EUROSTAT report states that more than 50% of all economic activity in Ireland is now based in Dublin, the highest rate in any European country. This is a bad development. Dublin cannot cope and we badly need economic activity in rural Ireland. In line with the commitment in the programme for Government, what will the Taoiseach do to fast-track moving some badly-needed investment to the regions, especially to rural areas? We can cope with it because we have the road network and everything else. It cannot all be in Dublin.

The Taoiseach

Several things are happening, including the provision of better infrastructure to allow all parts of the country to share in our recovery and prosperity. Next week - perhaps even this week - the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, will open the Gort-Tuam motorway. I expect to see much more investment in infrastructure outlined in the ten-year plan, particularly in the context of connecting parts of the country that are not connected at present.

The Deputy will be aware of how the extent of the provision of high-speed broadband is galloping on apace.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

That is not the reality. That is a dream: it is a con job.

(Interruptions).

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputies.

The Taoiseach

Up to 300 additional farms are connected every week. The number of premises served has increased from 52% on the day this Government came to office only 14 months ago to 67%. It will be 77% at the end of the year.

One statistic the Deputy may be interested in is the extent to which employment is increasing in all parts of the country. There is a perception that there is not an increase in employment in all counties. However, there is such an increase.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

It is only through JobBridge and Turas Nua.

The Taoiseach

Since 2011 and the change of Government, it will not surprise anyone that there has been a 17% increase in employment in Dublin. After that comes Louth with 14%, Carlow, 13%, Wexford, 13%, Meath, 12%, Monaghan, 11%, Galway city, 11%, Laois, 11%, and Kilkenny, 11%. That is further evidence that 70% of all new jobs created are now created outside Dublin.

Deputy Barry Cowen

That is because of all the people who have left the country and gone to Canada, for example.

Deputy Catherine Murphy

This morning the Taoiseach gave assurances that nobody will face hikes in property tax as a result of a review of increased house prices. Will he tell us the basis for giving that assurance? Is there a review of the local property tax in the context of the baselines used and the equalisation fund? The fact that the census of population is not considered at all and that some of the figures used as the basis for property tax date back to the early 2000s makes it a completely flawed model. What reviews are under way?

The Taoiseach

A working group has been established to examine the matter. The Ministers for Housing, Planning and Local Government and for Finance are involved and the group will take into account the content of the Thornhill report with a view to reporting itself sometime next year. The assurance I gave people yesterday was on foot of a question I was asked in London. In answering that question, I acknowledged that without a change of policy or in the absence of a Government decision, some people - not just in the greater Dublin area but also in other many parts of the country - would be facing a steep and sudden increase in property tax in 2019. I gave the assurance that people would not experience a sudden or dramatic increases in their property tax in 2019.

Deputy Eamon Ryan

It is three years since the previous Government set up a working group to report on the asylum process and how we could fix and change it. It is almost two and a half years since Mr. Justice Bryan McMahon came back with a series of recommendations, including one to the effect that we should allow asylum seekers who have been in the process without a decision for nine months to work. It is four months since the Supreme Court gave the Government a six-month window to rectify that matter.

However, there is nothing in the legislative programme. How and when does the Taoiseach intend to provide justice for asylum seekers who the Supreme Court recognised are being treated unconstitutionally? Our current system is killing them with boredom and mental health problems. How does the Taoiseach intend to rectify that in the next two months? What must we do to legislate for it and why is it not in the programme before us?

The Taoiseach

The Minister for Justice and Equality and I spoke about this today. I am aware of the court judgment and it is the view of the Government that if somebody is waiting for a prolonged period of time for a decision as to whether he or she has the right to remain, he or she should be allowed to have the opportunity to work. These are people who wish to get up early in the morning to go to work and we currently do not allow them to do so under our laws. The reason it does not appear in the legislative programme is that we think we can resolve it without using primary legislation, but the Minister for Justice and Equality should be in a position to respond to the court's judgment in a matter of weeks.

Deputy Carol Nolan

The programme for Government contains a commitment that the Government will act swiftly on the recommendations of the post office business development group. Over the summer the Irish Postmasters' Union withdrew from the talks with An Post. It also refused to implement the new smart account. This was due to sheer frustration at the lack of interest shown by this Government in securing our post office network. As the Taoiseach knows, the post offices provide a basic and vital service which serves rural communities very well, but 600 post offices are now believed to be under threat. What action has been taken to address the concerns of the postmasters? What action will the Taoiseach and the Government take to protect this vital service? Will the Government implement all the recommendations of the Kerr report? It is high time the Taoiseach and the Government stood up for rural communities. We have seen too many services decimated and we will not be treated as second class citizens any longer.

The Taoiseach

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is currently working on a response to that report and a separate study carried out by An Post regarding its viability. Certainly, the Government acknowledges the important service provided by post offices around the country. We wish to retain as much of the post office network as possible and to find new business for the post offices. However, we acknowledge that increasingly services are going online and that as more people have access to high speed broadband fewer of them will use the post office in the way they did in the past. That will require the post offices to find new business.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

In the past 18 months, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae and I have consistently raised the issue of people on three and four year waiting lists for cataract procedures and teenagers waiting four or five years for orthodontic treatment. There are five Ministers with responsibility for health and any number of HSE managers who are being paid a fortune. It is difficult for people who are languishing for three, four and five years on waiting lists, to be saved from going blind or for orthodontic treatment, to understand why they must wait so long. Has the Taoiseach interacted with HSE South about the queries we have been consistently raising? What answers has he received? What satisfaction will these poor people get, or will they ever get treatment? We gave an extra €900 million to the HSE last year. Where is it being spent? I plead with the Taoiseach to do something about this. It is not fair to these people.

The Taoiseach

I acknowledge that far too many people are waiting far too long for treatment in Ireland. As I mentioned earlier, while there are hundreds of thousands of people on waiting lists, the majority, more than 50%, wait less than six months for treatment or an appointment and approximately one third are seen within three months. Although that is no good to people who are waiting for prolonged periods of time, it is important to acknowledge that the majority of people wait for less than six months. Due to the funding that has been provided to the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the additional funding provided to the HSE there was a decrease of 2,000 in the number of people waiting for procedures in August. I hope that will continue.

Deputy Jim O'Callaghan

The Government, on page 100 of the programme for Government, commits to extending Garda oversight and accountability. One of the important elements of Garda oversight and accountability is the legislation regulating when journalists' telephones can be accessed by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. Some 15 months ago, the Government asked retired chief justice, Mr. John Murray, to produce a report on this matter. The report was delivered to the Minister for Justice and Equality five months ago. Why has it not been published to date and when will it be published?

The Taoiseach

I will have to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to contact the Deputy directly. I have not seen the report and I do not know why it has not been published.

Deputy Pat Buckley

The review of Roscommon mental health services published in July last made several stark findings. The key points include that there was a greater focus on achieving savings than providing safe and effective services, allegations of conspiracy were made and between 2012 and 2014, more than €17 million was handed back. The report found evidence of destructive conflict and extremely low morale at many levels of the service. To make matters worse, in its conclusion, it stated that services were characterised by an inward-looking orientation, an inadequate consideration for patients' needs, secrecy and the acceptance of poor standards. I mention only a few of the damning findings in the report. I submitted a request to discuss this matter in the Topical Issues debate today. Deputy Eugene Murphy also raised it more than a week ago. Does the Taoiseach not believe the report should be given the utmost respect and debate in the Chamber?

The Taoiseach

I am aware of the report and I am deeply troubled by some of its findings. It would be entirely appropriate to have a discussion about it in the Dáil, either through a private notice question or as a Topical Issue but that is not my decision to make.

Deputy Mary Butler

Page 86 of the programme for Government states that education is the key to giving every child an equal opportunity in life and no child should be left behind in the economic recovery. Unfortunately, we are in week four of the school year and many children are being left behind because they cannot avail of the school transport service. Some children who are not eligible for the service but have been accepted on a concessionary basis cannot board a school bus. One case in Waterford involves three brothers aged 12, nine and six years who have travelled on the bus together for years. This year, the six year old cannot use the bus while his brothers still use it. The youngest boy is not eligible, whereas the other two boys have concessionary tickets. What plans does the Government have to deal with the children who are not accessing school transport?

The Taoiseach

The impression I have from the Minister is that everyone who is entitled to school transport is getting it.

Deputy Thomas Byrne

That is not true.

The Taoiseach

However, there is a system by which children who are not entitled to the service may receive one of the extra seats on a bus on a concessionary basis. It will never be possible to provide a seat on a concessionary basis to the infinite number of children who are not entitled to one. The advice I have from the Minister, however, is that every child who is entitled to school transport is receiving a service but it is not possible to provide a concessionary seat to everyone who is not entitled to one but may want one. The Deputy may wish to raise the matter directly with the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

On the programme for Government, we have 25 dental clinics in County Cork and four in County Kerry. We had six clinics in the county but two - in Dingle and Kenmare - were closed. According to the census, the populations of counties Cork and Kerry were 542,000 and 147,000, respectively. On that basis, County Kerry should-----

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter the Deputy raises is more like a parliamentary question.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

The programme for Government includes a commitment for dental services. On the basis of population, County Kerry should have seven dental clinics but it has four. We are being treated unfairly in comparison with our neighbours in County Cork, with whom I have absolutely no problem. I want County Kerry to get its fair share, which we are not getting at present. We should have seven dental clinics but have four. As a result, young people in the county are waiting for urgent attention for their teeth. I ask the Taoiseach to do something to highlight the issue with the Health Service Executive.

The Taoiseach

I appreciate this is an important matter and a concern for the Deputy's constituents. However, the configuration of dental clinics between counties Cork and Kerry is not a matter that falls within my remit. I will ask the Minister for Health to contact the Deputy on the matter.

Deputy Tony McLoughlin

Recently, the Government stated that the insurance (amendment) Bill would be priority legislation in the new Dáil term. A key aim of the Bill is to ensure that the Insurance Compensation Fund becomes liable for 100% of future claims in the event of an insurance company going out of business. Will that liability be applied retrospectively in order that all of the drivers who were covered by Setanta Insurance when it failed will have 100% cover?

The Taoiseach

The heads were approved in July. We anticipate pre-legislative scrutiny and publication of the Bill before the end of the year. As is almost always the case with legislation, it is not envisaged that it will be retrospective.

Deputy Barry Cowen

As has been stated, we woke up this morning to hear of a referendum in the coming years. Previously, we heard of a "Constitutional Day" that never materialised. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to respond to and consider various reports of the Constitutional Convention on social, cultural and economic rights, one of which is housing. In light of last week's vote, will the Taoiseach confirm that he will allow consideration of such reports from the convention to be analysed and scrutinised by the relevant committees in order for a more informed decision to be made thereafter on the constitutionality of inserting such rights?

Deputy Eoghan Murphy

I confirm that there will be a motion before the House tomorrow to refer the Eighth Report of the Convention on the Constitution to the committee chaired by Deputy McGuinness for consideration of the balance of rights listed therein and to report back to the Dáil.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

The Government's plan for the next generation of broadband is set out on page 46 of the programme for Government. The House discussed this matter last week. Will the Taoiseach explain why a press conference is being held today by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, to outline the latest developments in the national broadband plan? A press conference is being held outside the House and, as a result, we cannot put substantial questions to the Minister that would allow us to understand why, since 2012, successive Governments of which the Taoiseach has been a member have failed to roll out broadband to the 500,000 or so households throughout the State that are not provided for by commercial companies. Will the Taoiseach indicate to the House whether he is aware that at least one of the three companies that was about to bid for the national broadband plan has potentially not submitted a tender?

An Ceann Comhairle

Does Deputy Curran wish to speak on the same matter?

Deputy John Curran

No.

The Taoiseach

I am not aware of the details of any press conference being held, but I am told that draft final bids in the procurement process are expected from bidders today. My apologies - the Minister is hosting a press conference today at Government Buildings to provide an update on the national broadband plan. This key stage is a significant milestone in the procurement process and it is the last stage before bidders are invited to submit final tenders. The roll-out of high-speed broadband in rural areas is happening. In order that people might check the roll-out areas, the Department's high-speed broadband map is now available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map is searchable by Eircode.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

Could we not have had a debate on the matter in the House? Could the Taoiseach ask the Minister to at least come before the House when making these kinds of statements rather than their being made at a remove and, consequently, not being open to scrutiny here?

The Taoiseach

The ordering of the House is a matter for the Business Committee.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

But you are the Taoiseach.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are six Deputies remaining. We can take them quickly if Members are amenable. I call Deputy Curran. The six Deputies should be brief.

Deputy John Curran

During the summer, the Government published the review of the capital plan. In the foreword, the Minister stated that it would be the foundation for further discussion and analysis before final decisions were made. I do not expect the Taoiseach to do so now, but were he to look at what is written about transport on page 63, he would see it to be very limited in terms of content. I am raising this matter because, in South Dublin County Council's area, which is my area, there are plans for a new town of Clonburris, with an estimated 8,000 or 8,500 housing units and a projected future population of more than 20,000 people. While the local authority is the lead agency in developing the plan, it cannot be done in isolation from the Government as regards infrastructure, particularly traffic infrastructure. Before the Government signs off on its capital plan, will it publish the documents from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and will it facilitate a debate on the capital plan in the House?

The Taoiseach

On the question relating to publishing documents, it is a matter for the respective Ministers. I would certainly welcome a debate in the House on the capital plan priorities and the planning framework before they are published. It would be appropriate for the House to, at the very least, have statements on such an important issue before decisions are made. As somebody who also represents a west Dublin constituency, I am very aware of the need to upgrade our public transport infrastructure and to electrify it if possible. However, these things are expensive.

Deputy Thomas Byrne

Recently, the Taoiseach published a document in a newspaper in which he outlined his vision for Ireland. I was searching through it for his vision for education but it was extremely limited. Blink and you will miss it. One thing the Taoiseach did commit to was technological universities and he suggested they would be coming as a matter or urgency. The Taoiseach will recall that this party offered to facilitate the passage of the legislation before the summer break. That offer still stands but we have had no contact from the Department of Education and Skills since it was made. We are wondering what is happening. We will get the substance of this legislation passed provided we are satisfied with it. With the Government, it is all style and announcements over substance. There is no substance to this promise, which was made some time ago.

The Taoiseach

I appreciate the Deputy's commitment and that of his party to getting this legislation through. We also want to get it through. I am very keen to see universities of technology - or technological universities - becoming a reality. Amendments are being worked on at present. They follow on from a number of issues, including an agreement with the Teachers Union of Ireland. I assure the Deputy that those amendments are both substantive and substantial. If it was just a matter of style, it would have been done by now.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

The building control Bill is promised legislation. Given the difficulties that have arisen in certain sectors of the construction industry in the past, when is the Bill likely to come before the House?

The Taoiseach

We anticipate pre-legislative scrutiny within this session.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

The programme for Government contains commitments in respect of people with disabilities. Is the Taoiseach aware of the unavailability of respite care to parents of children with disabilities right throughout the summer months? There was a commitment that there would be one weekend in every quarter for respite, yet these parents ended up with four days in the entire year. There is a crisis in respite care, particularly among parents who are entering their later years and trying to look after children with disabilities. They are at their wit's end. Is the Taoiseach aware of the crisis? What does he intend to do about it?

The Taoiseach

I am very aware of the shortage of respite care in the country. It is something that comes up in my constituency all the time. I imagine it comes up in the Deputy's as well. I am also very aware of the lifeline that respite offers to many families. The fact they get a break from caring for relatives or loved ones is essential to their own mental health and well-being. It is something in respect of which the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is developing proposals, with a view to their being included in the budget. I anticipate that there will be additional funding for respite next year. It may not be enough to give everyone the respite they need or deserve but it is certainly something the Government wants to prioritise.

Deputy Louise O'Reilly

On foot of what is contained on page 60 of the programme for Government, the Taoiseach is committed to the setting of annual performance targets in order to improve waiting times in respect of hospital procedures. Will the targets for children with scoliosis be met this year? I am not referring to the children who can be sent to have spinal fusion procedures abroad but to the 68 children with complex medical conditions for whom such a course of action may not be appropriate. In that regard, will the Taoiseach advise us when the theatre in Crumlin, which he spoke about earlier, will be open five days a week? It is currently only open three days a week.

The Taoiseach

I answered this question earlier in response to Deputy Michéal Martin. Parliamentary questions should be tabled to the Minister for Health in order to obtain more specific answers.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

I have a question on the Water Services Bill. We heard this morning about all the referenda that will take place. Will there be a referendum to ensure that water is kept in public ownership and when will it be held? Will the Minister ensure that group water schemes will be treated fairly? If water is free in the public system, will group water schemes be in a position to give this facility to their customers?

Deputy Eoghan Murphy

The referendum on the public ownership of water is not as urgent as was deemed previously in light of the changes that have happened to Irish Water. It is on the State's balance sheet and funding for it will come directly from the central Government Exchequer. There is a Bill going through the House at the moment. We have to ensure, in the wording of the Bill, that group water schemes will be protected. That is essential as we move forward with this. We are considering how to achieve that at the moment. My Department is in discussions with the Office of the Attorney General on what that wording might look like. The Bill is currently on Second Stage and awaiting Committee Stage. It is a Private Members' Bill.

An Ceann Comhairle

Finally, I call Deputy Declan Breathnach who will be very brief.

Deputy Declan Breathnach

I will be brief. In the programme for Government, there is a commitment to better connectivity between urban and rural areas. I welcome the utterances of the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, when he was Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and those of the Taoiseach in recent days on the upgrading of a high-speed train between Dublin and Belfast. I would like the Taoiseach to confirm that and tell the House what work, plan, costings and capacity are envisaged in that regard.

The Taoiseach

It was a real pleasure to visit the Deputy's county on Friday and to spend some time in both Dundalk and Drogheda. None of us can doubt the benefits that could accrue from much faster line speeds on the rail line between Dublin and Belfast which of course would also benefit Dundalk, Drogheda and Newry. The question asked by the Deputy represents exactly the kind of work we now need to do to carry out a proper assessment of how feasible it would be to upgrade that line, what it would cost and how long it would take. That is what we now intend to do.