Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Oct 2022

Vol. 1028 No. 3

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Jack Chambers)

I move:

Tuesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) Regulations 2022 (without debate)

- Motion re Eighteenth Report of the Committee of Selection (without debate)

- Finance Bill 2022 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hrs 40 mins)

Private Members' Business shall be the Motion re Accessible, Affordable and Reliable Public Transport, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday’s business shall be:

- Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hrs 40 mins and any division claimed be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage)

- Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 1 hr 55 mins and any division claimed be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage)

- Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to be taken no earlier than 7 p.m. and to conclude within 60 mins)

- Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 30 mins)

Private Members' Business shall be the Motion re Social and Affordable Housing Supply, selected by People-Before-Profit-Solidarity.

Thursday’s business shall be:

- Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hrs 40 mins)

- Statements on Energy Security (not to exceed 145 mins)

Thursday evening business shall be Second Stage of the Mental Health (Capacity to Consent to Treatment) Bill 2021.

Proposed Arrangements for this week's business:

In relation to Tuesday’s business, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(i) the Dáil shall sit later than 10.30 p.m.; and

(ii) where not previously concluded, Government business shall not be interrupted at 6.12 p.m., and private members’ business shall be taken on the conclusion of Second Stage of the Finance Bill 2022, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and topical issues;

2. the Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) Regulations 2022 shall be taken without debate;

3. the Motion re Eighteenth Report of the Committee of Selection shall be taken without debate; and

4. on Second Stage of the Finance Bill 2022, on the conclusion of the first speaking round in accordance with the arrangements agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion.

In relation to Wednesday’s business, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(i) the Dáil shall sit later than 9.30 p.m.;

(ii) Government business may continue after 8.45 p.m. in order to allow the proceedings on the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022 to conclude; and

(iii) the weekly division time may be taken later than 8.45 p.m. and shall, in any event, be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022;

2. on Second Stage of the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022, on the conclusion of the first speaking round in accordance with the arrangements agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion: Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage, but in any event, not earlier than 7 p.m.;

3. in relation to Second Stage of the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022, the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the first speaking round shall be in accordance with the arrangements agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, save that the times shall be halved in each case; and

(ii) on the conclusion of the first speaking round, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion: Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage;

4. Committee and remaining Stages of the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022 shall be taken no earlier than 7 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage;

5. Committee and remaining Stages of the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Bill 2022 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 30 minutes by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications; and

6. pursuant to Standing Order 94(3), the Dáil shall waive its instruction that not more than two Select Committees shall meet to consider a Bill on any given day in the case of the proposed meetings of the Select Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media and the Select Committee on Transport and Communications, to consider, respectively, the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill 2022, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 [Seanad] and the Communications Regulation Bill 2022.

In relation to Thursday’s business and in relation to the referral of a Bill to Select Committee, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that topical issues may be taken later than 7.24 p.m., but shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of Government business, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Mental Health (Capacity to Consent to Treatment) Bill 2021 and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil, which may be later than 9.27 p.m.;

2. on Second Stage of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022, on the conclusion of the first speaking round in accordance with the arrangements agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion;

3. Statements on Energy Security shall not exceed 145 minutes, with arrangements in accordance with those agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 135 minutes, following which a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, and members may share time;

4. the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022 be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 95 and 181; and

5. the Dáil on its rising on Thursday, 27th October, 2022, shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 8th November, 2022.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is the Order of Business agreed to?

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

It is not agreed. For the last number of weeks, we have sought answers from the Government, including the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, in respect of households that rely on prepaid meters. We have asked about a moratorium or ban on disconnection. We have offered a solution to Government which amounts to simply extending across the board a current ban that many companies operate in respect of weekends and some public holidays. We have asked, advised and insisted that happens immediately and have had no clear response. In fact, we have heard different responses from the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who we were advised was doing a round of meetings and is putting some class of a plan together, and yet here we are. The weather will get colder. We will head into the Dáil recess next week and we still have had no answer. It is wholly unacceptable to all of us in this House. More importantly, it is unacceptable for those households that rely on prepaid meters. I ask the Minister to present himself and set out the plan precisely to ensure there is an immediate ban on disconnection for households that are reliant on prepaid meters.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

The Government was under pressure and was belatedly forced to bring in a ban on evictions, and I am glad that was the case. As I pointed out in the past week, it now transpires from the legislation that any person whose termination date on a notice to quit came before the date of the emergency period commencing will not be protected from eviction. If you have already passed your termination date and you are overholding, as many people are advised to do by the councils and local authorities, you will not be protected. I hope that is an oversight. We have an amendment submitted to the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022 tomorrow but we only have 60 minutes for the Committee and remaining Stages. I want clarification from the Government on this or, alternatively, the time to take the amendments tomorrow for the Committee and remaining Stages so that the Bill can be amended.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

I am calling for a frank and open debate on the impact and effect the very significant number of refugees and asylum seekers coming into this country is having on our services, be it doctors, social welfare offices, hospitals, education and our hospitality industry in Kerry. We are very worried that it could be dismantled. I am saying to the Taoiseach that it is not enough to say the Government will provide beds and a roof over their heads. We need to have the other services. Our own people cannot get into social welfare offices.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy is looking for a debate.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

I am looking for an honest and open debate here inside in the Chamber. We are representing County Kerry here and our tourism industry-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy’s point has been made.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

-----could be dismantled together with what has been happening on housing with the closing down of so many beds in Airbnb accommodation. Where are we going to be in March?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

It is not a debate; it is the Order of Business. I call Deputy Tóibín.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

There will be a rolling closure of early childhood care and education, ECCE, and childcare services starting in November. Five hundred small businesses will close their services. It will affect approximately 20,000 parents and will be the first of many. It will go on for months and months. The reason for this is that some of these small businesses are simply being closed down by the core funding plan of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This core funding plan does not adequately cover the costs of these businesses to allow them to function. This will have a devastating effect on parents’ ability to access childcare. It is a car crash happening in slow motion and nothing is being done about it. We need to have debate on this issue.

The Taoiseach

On the prepaid meters issue, I would argue we have had significant clarity on that in the Government’s response, both in the budget in respect of all the payments that are being made between now and the end of the year, together with the energy credits, something I have outlined to the House on numerous occasions, and in the work the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, has done in increasing protections. The Minister himself has also met with the companies. The Minister is in the House on Thursday on the energy security issue and I am sure he will take that opportunity to add any further additional material the Deputies may seek.

Deputy Boyd Barrett raised a specific point which is for the legislation, and there is an hour tomorrow to take amendments.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

There is no time to take amendments.

The Taoiseach

We have been very clear from the outset that the law applies from the date the law is passed, by definition. In any event, these are issues and there is time for that amendment to be taken.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

There is not. There is 60 minutes for Committee Stage. That is not enough time to deal with amendments.

The Taoiseach

On Deputy Healy-Rae's point, my understanding is that the Business Committee met in respect of the various timings for debates this week. The Deputy has asked for a debate. I take his point about services. I pay tribute to the health services and to our education services, where a great number of personnel have given a great deal of help and assistance outside of their normal work hours-----

Deputy Mattie McGrath

They cannot cope.

The Taoiseach

-----pro bono to many Ukrainian refugees, and I thank them for that. Many people across the community in education, health and other services have done that and we should acknowledge that.

With the greatest will in the world, I do not believe we could ever dismantle Kerry tourism or Kerry hospitality.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

The Taoiseach is not so sure.

The Taoiseach

It is an impossibility. It cannot happen. I have been there too often, including last summer, and there is not a hope that it could be dismantled. It is so strong and robust. There are genuine issues in certain towns. We have a list of towns that have gone way beyond the call of the duty when compared to other areas. We saw that recently in Killarney, where the community responded very generously. We appreciate that.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

The Government has not provided one extra doctor or one extra man for the social welfare office.

The Taoiseach

I will ask the Whip if we can have a debate at some stage. I do not know whether that will be possible but I will ask the Whip if something can be done.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

Will the Taoiseach address the rolling closures?

The Taoiseach

On the alleged rolling closures of ECCE services raised by Deputy Tóibín----

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

The Taoiseach can wait and see.

The Taoiseach

-----there is nothing that would please him more than to have as many protests as he can get on the back of.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

I have been trying to solve this problem for weeks.

The Taoiseach

The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has said that €1 billion will be invested in childcare in 2023, an increase of €346 million on last year. ECCE services will benefit from this funding.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

Does the Taoiseach not understand that businesses are going to close?

The Taoiseach

The Minister can engage with the Deputy on this matter.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Are the proposed arrangements agreed to?

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman

The funding being provided is record-breaking.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

It is not enough, however.

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman

The providers are getting a very large amount of additional funding.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

It will leave a big hole. Parents will not have an opportunity to get childcare.

Question, "That the proposed arrangements for this week's business be agreed to", put and declared carried.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

Many people want to retrofit their homes but the reality is that they cannot under the terms of the current scheme. Not many have €25,000 to hand. The whole system as it is currently operating is a disaster. It is a time-consuming financial headache. It is therefore little surprise that only 89 homes have been retrofitted out of a Government target of 500,000. We were supposed to see 62,500 homes retrofitted this year but only a fraction of a fraction have been completed. It is now very clear that the whole scheme and system need to be completely overhauled. Those on middle and low incomes must be allowed to access this scheme, which they are currently locked out of. This means more public funding for the scheme. I ask the Taoiseach and Government to respond to the clear failure of this scheme and to change it.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy should do a bit more homework than just one article because articles can get things wrong from time to time. My understanding is that the article in today's Irish Examiner that was critical of the level of delivery against our national retrofit targets incorrectly referred to a target of 62,500 retrofits in 2022 when the actual target was 27,000. The latest projections from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, indicate that we are on track to achieve our target of 27,000 home energy upgrades this year. This compares to 15,500 upgrades last year. Of course, we need to ramp up delivery significantly in the coming years to an average of 75,000 B2-equivalent home upgrades per year from 2026 to 2030. The national retrofit plan is our roadmap to doing this. The article refers to just 89 homes being completed. This figure relates to output under just one of the SEAI schemes, which was only launched in February of this year and which is currently in the start-up stage. The reality is that demand and delivery across the range of SEAI retrofit schemes has been exceptionally high this year.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We are over time.

The Taoiseach

Some 35,000 applications for support have been received, which represents a 150% increase on the same period last year.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We are way over time.

The Taoiseach

I could go on. I will get the details for the Deputy.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I will raise a very serious issue regarding water quality and supply in my constituency of Dublin Bay South. Over the last week, we have had a serious disruption to water supply to households, schools and businesses across Dublin 6 and Dublin 6 west with minimal communication from Irish Water, which is deeply frustrating for residents. In addition, residents in Sandymount and Irishtown have ongoing problems with water quality. I have seen alarming pictures of brown residue in the so-called drinking water coming out of their taps.

Allied to this, along Sandymount Strand and as far down as Seapoint in Dún Laoghaire, we are seeing dreadful conditions, with sewage and waste being washed up and with a lack of maintenance and care being taken for public amenities. Will the Taoiseach ensure, through the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, that there is engagement with Irish Water about the quality and continuity of its service? Will the Taoiseach and all of his Government engage with me on the Dublin Bay Bill I have put forward in this House to ensure we have better governance around the environmental monitoring and control of Dublin Bay?

The Taoiseach

I will leave this to the Minister.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this issue. Uisce Éireann, or Irish Water, now has an unprecedented capital budget that is on a multi-annual basis. That will include some very important infrastructural upgrades that pertain directly to the Deputy's area and the quality of water in Dublin Bay, such as the second wastewater treatment plant at Ringsend, which will be fully commissioned shortly. Regarding water testing and water quality, the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, and I have engaged with groups such as SOS Dublin Bay. I do not see any reason the testing of water cannot be done and published on a year-round basis. We are working towards that. We have engaged with the three coastal Dublin local authorities in that space. The Minister of State and I continue to engage and we would like to see that done quite quickly.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I thank the Minister. That is very welcome.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

I raise the matter of a young girl from Greystones in County Wicklow. Her name is Miley McKee. She is 12 years old. She has a smile that would light up this entire Chamber. She is profoundly disabled and has had scoliosis for eight years now. She has been on the waiting list for an operation for two years. Her spine has a curvature of more than 100°, which according to some experts is very rarely seen in the developed world, except for people in Ireland who have scoliosis, unfortunately. Everyone is ready to go to do Miley's operation. A year of work has been done on her. She has had anaesthetics done. She has had spinal X-rays and a full blood work-up. She has done sleep studies and has had meetings with all her consultants. They are all ready to go except they do not have access to a tracheostomy nurse. That is the only thing between Miley and getting this operation done. Her parents have written to the Taoiseach. They have explained that she is in constant pain. They described it as child abuse and I absolutely agree with them. Will the Taoiseach please look into this?

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

I thank the Deputy for raising this case. It is a case I am familiar with and it is a case on which I have engaged with both the Department and the HSE. As the Deputy will be aware, we allocated €19 million this year specifically to deal with paediatric orthopaedics, including very complex cases, scoliosis and spina bifida. I met with Children's Health Ireland, CHI, and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh just yesterday. They have reported nearly a 50% reduction in the number of children waiting more than a year to date, which is very encouraging. There is about a 25% reduction in the number of children waiting in excess of four months. Our absolute goal and determination, and we are on track to meet it, is to bring the number of children waiting more than four months down to zero. I am meeting the Scoliosis Advocacy Network tomorrow. Everything that can be done for the young girl in our town will be done.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

Miley needs that surgery and she needs it urgently.

Deputy Gino Kenny

The Department of Health announced six specialist menopause clinics in recent weeks. This is very welcome in standardising women's health in Ireland. There is an issue with staffing but it is to be hoped that can be overcome. The issue I have been contacted about by a number of women in my constituency is in regard to the price. If a person does not have a medical card, he or she will have to pay an initial charge of €150 and €75 thereafter. We have been speaking about universal healthcare and about Sláintecare. People who do not have a medical card are burdened with that price. Can this be reviewed in the future in order that people can access this healthcare for free?

Deputy Stephen Donnelly

We will have the six menopause clinics up and running this year. I opened the one in the Rotunda just last week. The feedback we are getting from patients and practitioners is incredibly positive. Specifically on the specialist clinics, those services are free for everybody. Whether someone has a medical card, a GP card or nothing, the specialist clinic is free. Where there is a charge is for women who are engaging with their GP. Some of the GPs are charging more because they say it is an extended consultation. It is something I am aware of. It has been brought to my attention in recent weeks and it is something I would like to see explored.

Deputy Verona Murphy

Yesterday I visited one of my local secondary schools, the Good Counsel College, New Ross, where a young man called Adam asked me about the rail review and where that currently stood. He wanted to know will a future Ireland for him consist of a high-speed rail network connecting Ireland's major cities.

It must also be noted that while we await the review, there are significant projects in Wexford that have been completely shelved, namely the proposed greenway that would connect Rosslare to Waterford on the current out-of-service rail corridor, which would potentially be transformative for tourism and flagship villages in County Wexford. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, launched a pathfinder programme of 35 transport projects to be delivered within the next three years with zero mention of Wexford. Will the Taoiseach clarify today what is the further timeframe on the publication of the rail review?

The Taoiseach

I understand that the all-island rail review is close to completion. The problem now is that the Executive is not up and running in Northern Ireland. The review is a joint initiative that is funded under the shared island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach. At the time that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the then Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon, launched the all-island rail network review the idea was to dramatically transform our rail speed in this country. Hopefully, if we can get positive outcomes to potential discussions between the EU and the UK on the protocol, and if we can get the Executive back up and running, we could publish the rail review and get working on it then.

With regard to the Deputy's query on the greenway, I will talk to the Minister. There are many greenways going on between councils that do not necessarily have to be on the pathfinder programme list.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Many Irish Water workers, and Tipperary County Council workers in the water services section, and Waterford City and County Council water workers - my parish is divided into both - have raised huge concerns and angst with me and with many other Deputies about what is going on and the transfer of their jobs and careers into Uisce Éireann or Ervia or whatever you want to call it now. There is huge concern and angst. I hate to call it a basket case but that is what Irish Water is. Níl aon phingin acu. They have no money. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien is chomping at the bit to stand up and say that they have. They have not. The workers there have served the county council and have served the people in the water services sections. These are plumbers and caretakers. Many of them have served the country well and have done some service to the State. In many cases they are being forced to go fully into Irish Water and leave their jobs that they took on as gainful employment as workers with Tipperary and Waterford councils and all of the other councils. It is unfair to them. I do not believe the unions are doing an awful lot for them. They are very concerned.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

I thank the Deputy. The week after next we will have a full debate on Irish Water. I wish to inform the Deputy, as he might not be aware, that we have given a commitment as part of the framework agreement that there is no compulsory transfer of any council staff in any local authority to Irish Water. We are creating a single, publicly owned utility. We have had very good engagement with all of the unions. I met them again last week. We are advancing on that. Any worker who does not wish to transfer will not be transferred. There will be many opportunities for job advancement, career advancement and training within Irish Water as well. The week after next, however, we will have that full debate. It is important that the Deputy is aware, and for his own constituents and for anyone working in water services in the local authority, that if for whatever reason it does not suit them or they do not wish to transfer, there will be no compulsory transfers. That is actually in the framework agreement, which has been published.

Deputy Thomas Pringle

Last week saw the Donegal Rape Crisis Centre report that it had 38 teenagers use its services in 2022, which is the highest level anywhere in the country. The manager of the centre has said that the level of physical violence accompanying the sexual violence is really very frightening. The manager went on to say:

Each month now we can't keep up with the number of referrals both under and over 18. The number of under 18s [reporting] at the moment is just staggering, it really, really is.

One of the issues highlighted is the lack of proper education for children in this area. We need real sexual awareness teaching. I would suggest that this must start for all children in primary school, at this stage. The Donegal Rape Crisis Centre has reduced to the age of 12 for the children who can access its services. I believe it is young men and boys who are in most need of support and who need to be taught about proper sexual behaviour. Now, however, they will be left behind. Will the Taoiseach tell the House if the Government will provide adequate funding and reduce the age at which young people can receive sexual education in order to try to stem the tide of this abuse?

The Taoiseach

Relationship and sexuality education is available at primary level and post-primary level.

The reports the Deputy has received from the Donegal Rape Crisis Centre are very worrying. The Minister, through the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, has been undertaking a fundamental review of the junior certificate syllabus in respect of relationships and sexuality education, RSE, as well as at senior level. The work at junior level is complete. In addition to changing and broadening the curriculum, it is important to strengthen capacity through continuing professional development of teachers and to help and support teachers in the delivery of the programme at primary and senior cycle level. Regarding the combination of RSE with social, personal and health education, SPHE, it is important to make sure to strengthen capacity in the delivery of those programmes in primary and second level education. I agree with the points the Deputy has made.

Deputy Willie O'Dea

Ireland has a very high level of unaddressed hearing loss. Almost one in ten of the adult population has significant hearing loss and needs audiology intervention. In 2021, the World Health Organization recommended that national governments in each country establish a national hearing plan for their populations and demonstrated in its report that this would represent excellent value for money. Does the Government intend to accept that recommendation and put a plan in place for the audiology service which is cohesive, efficient and caring, and which would save the health service an awful lot of money in years to come? What steps does the Government intend to take to reduce the waiting list for audiology services, which at present stands at 20,000, half children and half adults?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Minister for Health is alongside me. He also heard the Deputy and would be responsive to the idea and to the recommendation of the national hearing plan. I will ask the Minister to pursue that. There have been many initiatives across the broad spectrum of health services but audiology services need attention, particularly at child level, where early intervention can be key to the child's developmental potential. Substantial funding has been allocated for reducing waiting lists. Perhaps a useful discussion could take place as to the best means of deploying that funding in respect of audiology to get the list down as quickly as possible, utilising all resources that could potentially be available.

Deputy Colm Burke

I raise the issue of private nursing homes and the challenges they are facing. Sixteen private nursing homes have closed in recent months and a number of others are considering closing. That is because of what they are allowed. There was a comment recently to the effect that a nursing home that closed was getting €950 per week per bed under the fair deal scheme, while a public nursing home up the road was costing €1,900 per bed per week. What will be done? I understand further funding is available from the Department of Health but there is no engagement with the nursing home sector. This is what they are advising me. I have been speaking to representatives of a number of nursing homes in recent days. We want to make sure there are no further closures. It costs over €8,000 per bed per week in a hospital. We need these nursing home beds kept in place.

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

I thank the Deputy for his question. I know he has raised it several times. To say there has been no engagement with the sector is completely untrue. I was in engagement with it this morning, and so have my officials in the Department. We engage with Nursing Homes Ireland on a daily basis, never mind a weekly basis.

Concerns have been raised about 17 nursing homes that have either closed this year or given notice that they will close. Thankfully, some nursing homes have opened this year so we have not seen a net loss of beds. Notwithstanding that, I am acutely aware of the challenges for small family-run nursing homes and especially the voluntary sector.

It is interesting to note that 15 nursing home organisations in Ireland control or own 10,700 beds. We have quite a differential between one side of the nursing home equation and the other but the good news is I will be announcing supports for the nursing home sector tomorrow.

Deputy Thomas Gould

Many of my constituents and those of the Taoiseach were devastated to hear the news that the new elective hospital in Cork will not be operational until 2028. Last September, promises were made that that hospital would be open in 2024. Hospitals in Cork are in crisis right now. Tens of thousands are on waiting lists. People wait days on trolleys. To wait another six years is not feasible. We need a hospital and we need it open now. I will give the Taoiseach one fact: last month, in September, one person waited 88 hours on a trolley in Cork. We need a hospital now and not in six years' time.

The Taoiseach

It is an elective hospital, which means that there will not be an emergency department.

Deputy Thomas Gould

But there will be operations carried out.

The Taoiseach

Yes.

Deputy Thomas Gould

So people will be going in their beds.

The Taoiseach

Just hear me out.

Deputy Thomas Gould

I was talking about the elective hospital.

The Taoiseach

I make the point that no date has been set for 2028. Because of this Government we have moved it on. There will be an announcement. It will come to Cabinet again very shortly. It has to go through various processes under the public spending code. Business cases have to be established. All that work is near completion and it will come before Cabinet in the coming weeks. Then it has to go to planning with the local authority and so on.

Deputy Thomas Gould

It was said last year that it would be open next year.

The Taoiseach

I never said that last year.

Deputy Thomas Gould

There were commitments given by this Government.

The Taoiseach

Who said that?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Taoiseach, through the Chair please.

The Taoiseach

Through the Chair, I do not think that anyone said that it would be open next year.

Deputy Thomas Gould

When will it be open?

The Taoiseach

Next year is 2023. It depends on the planning process and getting it built. We are going to do it as soon as -----

Deputy Thomas Gould

When will it be open?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I call Deputy Matt Shanahan.

The Taoiseach

If the Deputy could avoid any objections. He is a man of great influence. It depends on when we get it off the ground.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy Matt Shanahan, uninterrupted.

Deputy Matt Shanahan

I count 51 days to the end of the Taoiseach's premiership. Many commitments were made to Waterford and the south east in that time but one is paramount, namely, 24-7 cardiac care. We are just weeks away from a formal handover of the second cath lab in Waterford and we have no bed allocation other than the existing allocation within the hospital to service that cath lab. In essence, we are getting a Rolls-Royce with no engine. A 12-bed day ward was promised. I have engaged with the HSE for almost two years. We have spoken about modular space, capital remediation and moving out community services but we have done nothing in that time to deliver these beds and we cannot open the cath lab without having beds. In these remaining days, will the Taoiseach give a commitment through the Department of the Taoiseach to expedite some framework that we can get beds allocated to this unit?

Deputy Stephen Donnelly

I look forward to the day when the Deputy stands up and says, "We asked for a second cath lab and we got it".

Deputy Matt Shanahan

It is no good without beds.

Deputy Stephen Donnelly

And "we asked for a lot more staff and we got them".

Deputy Matt Shanahan

Be factual. You cannot run a service.

Deputy Stephen Donnelly

And "we asked for more beds in the hospital and we got them". And "we asked for more services in the region and we got them". The Deputy is aware-----

Deputy Matt Shanahan

We are still asking.

Deputy Stephen Donnelly

Sorry, I did not shout over you. Please at least have the courtesy to allow me to answer your question.

Deputy Matt Shanahan

You cannot run a service without beds. The patients need beds.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy, please. If the Minister could do it through the Chair.

Deputy Matt Shanahan

That is a ridiculous statement to make about beds.

Deputy Stephen Donnelly

I think we are-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

There are 22 seconds left for the Minister if he wants to use them.

Deputy Stephen Donnelly

I do not think the Deputy is interested.

The Taoiseach

If I could say a wee bit, we have done everything we possibly can to accelerate this. We are doing it. We will also provide the beds as well.

Deputy Matt Shanahan

That is what I want to hear.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Thank you. There are six speakers left. We have run out of time. What I will do, with the co-operation of the Taoiseach, is give literally 30 seconds per speaker. If Deputies cannot do that, they will just have to take their chance another day. The next speaker on the list for 30 seconds is Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan.

Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan

I am glad that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is present because the fishing sector needs a fuel subsidy. The seafood task force asked for a second month of a tie-up scheme. The Minister provided that; he answered. I now ask that he answers their call for a fuel subsidy. The energy costs are spiralling. Diesel costs are spiralling through the roof. I was presented with an invoice the other day of over €5,000 for diesel costs.

If there is a fuel subsidy, I would like to see it extended to the inshore sector too for those smaller outboard petrol engines.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I am asking for everyone's co-operation on this.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)

Will I answer?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

No. I will take all the questions together as we are way over.

Deputy Réada Cronin

I want to raise public transport. My constituents have been stranded on the side of the road because buses were late, did not turn up or rolled past because they are full. Students at Maynooth University have been unable to get to their lectures in time. Young people appeared before the climate committee last Friday from all across the country. All spoke about public transport in their area. I asked them if they intended to get a car and all said they did not but would need the public transport system to run. What is the Government's plan? People are waiting.

Deputy Patrick Costello

Promises were made in the budget of 1,000 extra gardaí. We need a clear timeline of when these will be delivered, partly so that communities know when they will get the resources they need but also to ensure that they are actually delivered. At one end of my constituency, in Dublin 8, four community Garda sergeants and 25 Garda officers has become one sergeant and four Garda officers. At the other end, in Cherry Orchard, members of the Garda have made very clear what they need to keep that community safe, which is something we have all been talking about. What is the timeline for these gardaí to be delivered?

Deputy Bríd Smith

It is a disgrace that the Government can sit stony-faced, having done absolutely nothing to help the 100,000 apartment and duplex dwellers who are listed in the defective apartment report. In my constituency, dozens of people have just received a demand for €8,500 within 30 days and yet here we are, in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. The Government gives people a little bit here and a little bit there but what is it going to do to address the question of defective apartments and duplexes and to give these people 100% redress? After all, it was the Taoiseach's party which gave carte blanche to those in the Galway tent back during the Celtic tiger era.

Deputy Paul Donnelly

On transport, unfortunately the services being delivered by Go-Ahead Ireland include late buses, no shows, overcrowding and general poor standards of service. People are being left at the side of the street. The 270 bus in Dublin 15 did not arrive again yesterday. One student was forced to return home after it failed to turn up. Again Go-Ahead Ireland said that the driver was sick. This is the same stock answer we have heard for months. Go-Ahead's Irish subsidiary made €2.6 million in profit last year. It is really hard for commuters to stomach hearing the profits from this company when it is letting so many people down.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

There are six questions here in total. Apologies, Deputy Stanton is next. I was rushing ahead of myself.

Deputy David Stanton

Is the Taoiseach aware that some companies which need to carry out investigations to develop offshore wind have been waiting for more than two years for decisions to be made on foreshore licences? Can these be expedited? It is causing a crisis of confidence.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked about support for the fisheries sector to deal with the increase in the price of fuel. It is something he has been raising with me and keeping on the agenda. I did step in and put in place an extra month of a tie-up option being available, which invested €12 million specifically to support the sector to deal with the fuel crisis at the request of the fisher representatives themselves. That runs up to the end of November. It started in June. I have been monitoring prices very closely. They have increased again in the past two or three weeks. I met fishing representatives last week and am meeting again fishing co-ops this afternoon. I am reassessing the situation and will be looking at what additional support may be necessary there.

The Taoiseach

Deputies Cronin and Paul Donnelly raised public transport services and Go-Ahead Ireland. It is a very serious issue. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has advised the Department of Transport in respect of this. The performance of all public transport operators is closely monitored as part of the contractual arrangements that are in place. Go-Ahead Ireland is not alone in experiencing service reliability issues. The public transport sector has been particularly hard hit by driver shortages as operators attempt to return to the pre-pandemic level of activity, as well as delivering intended service improvements. The NTA formally meets Go-Ahead Ireland on a weekly basis to review performance-associated customer feedback and driver recovery plans and will continue to closely monitor the situation. It continues to apply deductions performance payments as part of contracts. Due to the poor performance during the first half of 2022, the deductions applied were substantial. Penalties were previously applied to Go-Ahead Ireland in the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022 amounting to approximately €266,000 and €209,000, respectively. These are issues with the NTA. The Deputies could communicate with the NTA in respect of specific services.

Deputy Costello raised Garda numbers. There are 14,300 members of An Garda Síochána and there will be a further 1,000. The next cohort of trainees is being taken in this month, and they will be followed by another 200 every 11 weeks.

That is the background. It is an operational matter for the Commissioner to appoint personnel to the various areas.

Deputy Bríd Smith raised the issue of the apartment defects. I said to the House last week that the Minister responsible intends to bring forward a scheme towards the end of the year in respect of defective apartments.

Deputy Stanton might have heard my reply earlier to Deputy McNamara on the need to accelerate all this. I will ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to examine the foreshore licences issue. Perhaps Deputy Stanton will communicate with him on that.