Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Jul 2023

Vol. 1041 No. 6

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)

I move:

Tuesday's business shall be:

-Motion re Appointment of Members of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (without debate)

-Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters (to conclude within 55 minutes)

-Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 (Second Stage, resumed) (if not previously concluded, to stand adjourned either at 6.15 p.m. or after 90 minutes, whichever is the later)

Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Housing and Homelessness, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

-Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Fees for Certain Applications) Regulations 2023 (without debate)

-Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. XX) Regulations 2023 (without debate)

-Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2023 (without debate)

-Statements post European Council Meeting of 29th- 30th June 2023, pursuant to Standing Order 124 (not to exceed 125 minutes, including 20 minutes Q&A)

-Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to be taken no earlier than 4.30 p.m. and to conclude within 2 hours

-Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 (Report and Final Stages) (if not previously concluded, to stand adjourned after 90 minutes)

-Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 (Report and Final Stages) (if not previously concluded, to stand adjourned after 90 minutes)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Investment in Football, selected by the Labour Party.

Thursday's business shall be:

-Statements on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (not to exceed 3 hours 30 minutes)

-Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 (Second Stage, resumed, if not previously concluded)

Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022, sponsored by Deputy Steven Matthews.

Proposed Arrangements for this week's business:

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

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

(i) where the ordinary routine of business is not concluded before 10.30 p.m., the Dáil shall sit later than that time and shall in any event adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues; and

(ii) the time at which Government business shall be interrupted to take private members' business shall be in accordance with the arrangements for the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following private members' business in the ordinary routine of business, namely, oral Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Justice and topical issues: Provided that if the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 concludes within the allotted time, private members’ business shall take place on the conclusion thereof;

2. the Motion re Appointment of Members of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission shall be taken without debate;

3. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 55 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

-opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State - 10 minutes;

-speech by representative of Sinn Féin - 10 minutes;

-speeches by representatives of the Labour Party, Social Democrats, People-Before-Profit-Solidarity, the Regional Group, the Rural Independent Group and the Independent Group - 5 minutes per party or group; and

-a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and

(ii) members may share time; and

4. the proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, stand adjourned either at 6.15 p.m. or after 1 hour and 30 minutes, whichever is the later.

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

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

(i) where the ordinary routine of business is not concluded before 9.30 p.m., the Dáil shall sit later than that time and shall in any event adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time;

(ii) the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) shall be taken immediately following the Statements post-European Council meeting of 29th-30th June, pursuant to Standing Order 124; 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 Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023, or where those proceedings do not conclude within the allotted time, on the adjournment thereof;

2. the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Fees for Certain Applications) Regulations 2023 shall be taken without debate;

3. the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. XX) Regulations 2023 shall be taken without debate;

4. the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2023 shall be taken without debate;

5. the Statements and Q&A post European Council meeting of 29th-30th June 2023, pursuant to Standing Order 124, shall be taken on the conclusion of Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) and shall not exceed 125 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the statements shall not exceed 100 minutes, with speaking arrangements in accordance with those agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for that time;

(ii) following the statements, questions and answers shall be taken for 20 minutes;

(iii) on the conclusion of the questions and answers, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; and

(iv) members may share time;

6. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 shall be taken no earlier than 4.30 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, or amendments consequential thereon, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice;

7. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned after 90 minutes and shall not be resumed on Wednesday; and

8. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned after 90 minutes and shall not be resumed on Wednesday.

In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:

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

(i) the Statements on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory shall be taken immediately prior to the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1);

(ii) topical issues shall be taken either at 6.14 p.m. or on the conclusion of Second Stage of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023, whichever is the earlier, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022 and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil: Provided that in the event Second Stage of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 concludes before Thursday, topical issues shall be taken immediately following the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1); and

(iii) the Dáil on its rising shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 20th September, 2023;

2. the Statements on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory shall not exceed 210 minutes, with arrangements in accordance with those agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 200 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; and

3. the proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at 6.14 p.m.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is that agreed?

Deputy Matt Carthy

Not agreed.

Deputy Paul Murphy

Not agreed.

Deputy Matt Carthy

Last week, the Government published a long-awaited report of the scoping exercise into the death of Shane O'Farrell. The Taoiseach will know that many aspects of that scoping report have been challenged by Shane O'Farrell's family. The crucial question that has not been answered is why the person who was solely responsible for Shane's death, a man by the name of Zigimantas Gridziuska, was in a position to crash into this young man, kill him and leave the scene when he clearly should have been in prison in light of his multiple breaches of multiple bail conditions set by multiple courts. The scoping exercise was established by the then Government in response to a call made in the Dáil for a public inquiry. Rather than delivering the public inquiry that was sought, the Government instead provided a scoping exercise that was not sought by anyone.

The least that the family of Shane O'Farrell and this House deserve is a debate in this House this week on the scoping exercise report. I appeal to the Taoiseach to ensure we are given that opportunity.

Deputy Paul Murphy

We need to have a debate this week on the shocking revelations about the dark side of the dairy industry. As a Dáil, we cannot just close our eyes to the horrific treatment of hundreds of thousands of calves on a yearly basis and rise for the summer recess. The Taoiseach earlier seemed to suggest this is just about a few bad apples. That is the Government washing its hands of its responsibility for creating an industry in which, bluntly, the export of live calves can either be profitable or humane. Clearly, the decision has been made for it to be profitable. This is not just about a few calves being horrifically kicked, thrown around and hit with sticks, horrific though that is; it is about the export of hundreds of thousands of calves yearly in massively overcrowded trucks over long journeys of over 18 hours without anything like adequate rest, food or water. We need a ban on those live exports. It has been reported that there is to be an investigation by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. That is welcome but the findings should come before the House. We should be able to debate the nature of the investigation before the Dáil rises.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I commend the "RTÉ Investigates" team for its programme last night. It showed very distressing footage of the brutal ill-treatment of bull calves and awful scenes of calves being dragged around, hit with sticks and kicked. It would be worthwhile to have a debate this week, as others have called for, on animal welfare, live animal transportation and, crucially, the enforcement of standards. The Taoiseach spoke earlier about the existing laws and those who are breaking them, but let us look at enforcement of the law and how best we can ensure that animals are not ill-treated in this appalling way and in what appears, in some cases, to have been a systemic way. Let us have the debate this week and inform the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine investigation.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

The Rural Independents want to be associated with the vote of sympathy on the late Deputy Ben Briscoe.

At the Business Committee, I have asked dozens of times for a debate in the House on the excess mortality of humans, not to mention the animals that have been talked about by Deputies. Human life is the most sacred thing of all, in my opinion anyway. I want a debate here on the sharp and ongoing rise in the number of excess deaths compared to last year or many other years. We see overcrowding in every hospital and the ongoing chaos at Limerick University Hospital. There is pressure on people given the numbers getting sick, contracting serious illnesses and dying very quickly. The medical people are trying to do their best but we need an investigation into this. We need to debate it in this House before we rise for the summer so we will not pass on the problem again next winter. We should be prepared to have a proper debate before the winter.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

Barnardos is again raising the issue of child poverty and the increasing number of families being pulled into poverty and deprivation. It is calling on the Government to target child poverty and ensure families hit by it will be protected in the upcoming budget. The Taoiseach said that when he first took up office that he wanted to focus on this area. It is timely for us to have a debate in the Dáil on child poverty and the measures the Government is taking to address it.

The Taoiseach

I thank all the Deputies for raising these very important issues. To respond to Deputy Carthy's query, it is a fact that there are thousands of people out on bail today. Some people on bail commit crimes. Sadly, it is not that uncommon. It would not be possible or right for us to jail everyone who is on bail. It would not be practical or just. It is ultimately for the courts, not us in this House, to decide who is granted bail.

Deputy Matt Carthy

We are seeking a debate on a Government report that was laid before the House.

The Taoiseach

I will come to that.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, can the Taoiseach be allowed to answer without interruption?

The Taoiseach

Deputy Paul Murphy and Deputy Bacik sought a debate on animal welfare and Deputy Mattie McGrath sought one on excess deaths. The number of excess deaths varies from year to year. In the past couple of years, there has not been an increase. It may be of interest to the Deputy to know that hospital overcrowding is 20% lower this year than last year.

That is a fact.

Deputy Whitmore again sought a debate on child poverty, which is a very important issue and one close to my heart.

There are four important issues on which Deputies are seeking debate. The Opposition has three slots this week. It did not choose any of those issues as a priority. We can have debates on three of the four issues. The Opposition just has to make them a priority.

Deputy Matt Carthy

The Taoiseach's response is completely unacceptable. We are talking about a Government report that has been laid before this House. The Members of the House deserve an opportunity to debate it. The implications of it are quite profound. The Taoiseach's response is disingenuous in the extreme.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the proposals for-----

Deputy Paul Murphy

The "RTÉ Investigates" programme was on last night. The deadline for having Private Members' Bills in was last Friday. The idea that the Opposition could have anticipated using its time to discuss a programme that was on this week is just not possible.

An Ceann Comhairle

Thank you, Deputy.

Deputy Paul Murphy

This is news now. An investigation has been announced by the Department.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy is not entitled to speak twice.

Deputy Paul Murphy

We should be able to debate this, rather than going off until September.

The Taoiseach

I am sure the Whip will agree to changes. The Government has a legislative programme. We have important legislation we want to get through and get done this week. Every week, the Opposition is given three issues to prioritise. I am sure if Deputies are willing to withdraw one of the Private Members' Bills, or two, we could make the time for one of these issues.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the proposed arrangements for this week agreed to?

Deputies

No. Vótáil.

Question put: "That the proposed arrangements for this week's business be agreed to."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 70; Níl, 61; Staon, 0.

Tá

• Brophy, Colm.
• Browne, James.
• Bruton, Richard.
• Burke, Colm.
• Burke, Peter.
• Butler, Mary.
• Byrne, Thomas.
• Cannon, Ciarán.
• Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
• Chambers, Jack.
• Collins, Niall.
• Costello, Patrick.
• Coveney, Simon.
• Creed, Michael.
• Crowe, Cathal.
• Devlin, Cormac.
• Dillon, Alan.
• Donnelly, Stephen.
• Donohoe, Paschal.
• Duffy, Francis Noel.
• Durkan, Bernard J.
• English, Damien.
• Farrell, Alan.
• Feighan, Frankie.
• Flaherty, Joe.
• Flanagan, Charles.
• Fleming, Sean.
• Griffin, Brendan.
• Harris, Simon.
• Haughey, Seán.
• Heydon, Martin.
• Higgins, Emer.
• Humphreys, Heather.
• Kehoe, Paul.
• Lahart, John.
• Lawless, James.
• Leddin, Brian.
• Madigan, Josepha.
• Martin, Catherine.
• Martin, Micheál.
• Matthews, Steven.
• McAuliffe, Paul.
• McConalogue, Charlie.
• McEntee, Helen.
• McGrath, Michael.
• McGuinness, John.
• Moynihan, Aindrias.
• Moynihan, Michael.
• Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
• Naughton, Hildegarde.
• Noonan, Malcolm.
• O'Brien, Darragh.
• O'Brien, Joe.
• O'Callaghan, Jim.
• O'Connor, James.
• O'Donnell, Kieran.
• O'Dowd, Fergus.
• O'Gorman, Roderic.
• O'Sullivan, Christopher.
• O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
• Ó Cathasaigh, Marc.
• Ó Cuív, Éamon.
• Phelan, John Paul.
• Rabbitte, Anne.
• Richmond, Neale.
• Ryan, Eamon.
• Smith, Brendan.
• Smyth, Niamh.
• Smyth, Ossian.
• Varadkar, Leo.

Níl

• Andrews, Chris.
• Bacik, Ivana.
• Barry, Mick.
• Boyd Barrett, Richard.
• Brady, John.
• Browne, Martin.
• Buckley, Pat.
• Cairns, Holly.
• Canney, Seán.
• Carthy, Matt.
• Collins, Joan.
• Collins, Michael.
• Connolly, Catherine.
• Cronin, Réada.
• Crowe, Seán.
• Cullinane, David.
• Doherty, Pearse.
• Donnelly, Paul.
• Ellis, Dessie.
• Farrell, Mairéad.
• Fitzpatrick, Peter.
• Funchion, Kathleen.
• Gannon, Gary.
• Gould, Thomas.
• Guirke, Johnny.
• Healy-Rae, Danny.
• Healy-Rae, Michael.
• Howlin, Brendan.
• Kenny, Gino.
• Kenny, Martin.
• Kerrane, Claire.
• Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
• McGrath, Mattie.
• Mitchell, Denise.
• Murphy, Catherine.
• Murphy, Paul.
• Murphy, Verona.
• Mythen, Johnny.
• Naughten, Denis.
• Nolan, Carol.
• O'Callaghan, Cian.
• O'Reilly, Louise.
• Ó Broin, Eoin.
• Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
• Ó Murchú, Ruairí.
• Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
• Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
• Pringle, Thomas.
• Quinlivan, Maurice.
• Ryan, Patricia.
• Shanahan, Matt.
• Sherlock, Sean.
• Shortall, Róisín.
• Smith, Bríd.
• Smith, Duncan.
• Stanley, Brian.
• Tóibín, Peadar.
• Tully, Pauline.
• Ward, Mark.
• Whitmore, Jennifer.
• Wynne, Violet-Anne.

Staon

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Hildegarde Naughton and Cormac Devlin; Níl, Deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Carol Nolan.

Question declared carried.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Renters have been badly let down by the Taoiseach's Government. They are trapped paying sky-high rents and losing hope of ever owning their own homes. Earlier this year, the Government ended the eviction ban, despite all the warnings that this would push households into homelessness. When he lifted the ban, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, promised to introduce some small measures to protect renters. Three months later, we have now been told this has been delayed until at least September. No wonder renters feel abandoned and thrown to the wolves with this type of attitude. In the Dáil this evening, therefore, we are going to debate Sinn Féin's plan to stand up for renters, to put a month's rent back into their pockets, to cut and freeze rents and to provide more public housing through the use of emergency powers. Will the Government back Sinn Féin's plan and ensure renters get the break they need and deserve?

The Taoiseach

There is much more to the Sinn Féin motion than that. Some of it just involves opposition for the sake of opposition and political criticism, so we will be proposing an amendment to the Sinn Féin motion, which I hope the party will be able to support. This Government has acted to help renters. The rent pressure zones, RPZs, ensure rents, for the vast majority of renters, can only go up by a maximum of 2% annually. We have brought in the rent tax credit, with €500 for single people and €1,000 for a couple. We have also extended notice periods. If a notice to quit is served now, people are given much more time.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

The Taoiseach spoke earlier about today's Housing for All update for July. He said it showed that the Government is succeeding in meeting targets. The reality, however, whatever the spin, is that the Government is failing. First, targets are simply too low to meet existing needs. Second, on the most stark metric, we are seeing the figures for homelessness rising, with more than 12,400 people now in emergency accommodation. Today's update announced a public consultation on the private rental sector, but there is nothing concrete in the report to help renters.

Meantime, we heard reports yesterday that there are delays in introducing legislation on the first refusal scheme, a scheme which the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, promised us would be in place by the summer to provide some supports to renters facing homelessness and eviction. Just now, in response to a parliamentary question, the Minister has told me that he has no plans to reinstate the winter eviction ban this winter. Does the Taoiseach accept that the Government is simply failing renters and failing to provide adequate protections for renters? When can he say that the first refusal scheme will be properly in place for renters?

The Taoiseach

The first refusal law, which is a new right for renters, the right essentially to buy a property from the landlord if you can afford to buy it, is an additional right which will be given to renters. As with any primary legislation, it can take time. This was only announced towards the end of March. As is often the case, it can take a number of months to do primary legislation but we certainly anticipate having it done this year. That will add to the other rights that this Government has given renters-----

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

This is an emergency.

The Taoiseach

-----such as the rent pressure zones, where rents go up by less than 2% every year for most renters; the rent tax credit, which is €500 per renter and €1,000 for a couple; tenancies of indefinite duration; and extended notice periods. A great amount has been done with this Government to enhance the right of renters.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

I also want to ask the Taoiseach about the safety net he promised renters when the eviction ban was lifted. At the end of March, he told the Dáil that the first refusal scheme would be in place within a few months. The Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, Deputy O’Brien, promised that the first refusal scheme would be in place by now. However, not only is there no legislation, there is not even any draft legislation. The commitment which the Government made to independent valuations has been torn up. Legislation allowing renters to buy their homes at full market prices would be of little use to most renters. This is not a safety net but is threadbare. Will the Taoiseach apologise to renters for his Government having broken the commitments it has made to them?

The Taoiseach

There are a number of safety nets for renters. The longer notice periods give people more time to find alternative accommodation, and the tenant in situ scheme is very much happening now at scale, where we buy the property off the landlord so that the person can then become a regular social housing tenant. About 2,000 of those are in process at the moment.

What I said, I stand over. I said it would be done in a few months. This was only announced in March. Primary legislation takes time. We have published the detailed proposals today and we will have it legislated for before the end of the year.

Deputy Bríd Smith

I welcome the workers from Iceland here today and they are up in the Gallery. I hope everyone welcomes them. They have been busy campaigning, unionising and some of them occupying their stores where they are losing their jobs. We have just learned that five more stores have pulled down the shutters today without any consultation with workers. The issue of the Iceland workers has been raised several times by us and others on the floor of the House. The frequent answer which the Taoiseach gives me is that they have to wait to engage with the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, to get justice, but, in this case, justice delayed is certainly justice denied.

Molly Prendergast, who is sitting in the Gallery, is owed a staggering €1,700 in wages. She is one of 40 complaints that have gone to the WRC. She and her mother are both waiting for wages owed to them since the spring. They worked in the Northside Shopping Centre. Workers like Molly, and indeed like Donna and her colleagues, who are occupying the Talbot Street store, and they should not have to do this - sit in a store all day and sleep there all night to demand justice - are being left behind by the Government. Will the Taoiseach please encourage the Government or ensure it uses its influence, as it did with Tara Mines last weekend, to expedite talks in the WRC to get a resolution for these workers?

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Simon Coveney)

I will look at that case if it is helpful. We obviously want to use the industrial relations machinery of the State to good effect. Many Iceland workers find themselves in a very uncertain position and I can understand their frustration and anger as result of that. An examinership process is continuing and under way which is by court order. I have to be careful with respect to any political intervention here but the WRC is there for a reason and I will follow up on the issue after the Deputy has raised it here again with me.

Deputy Bríd Smith

Like you did with Tara Mines, you could expedite talks.

Deputy Cathal Berry

I raise with the Taoiseach today the issue of modern methods of construction to help alleviate our national housing crisis. We know that the Office of Public Works, OPW, is doing some good work at the moment, putting up modular housing around the country.

These are high-tech high-spec modular units but they are all single storey bungalow-type accommodation. The vast majority of EU countries allow for multistorey modular housing. Entire apartment blocks can be built relatively quickly and safely to a high standard but unfortunately not in Ireland due to the building regulations at the moment. There is a case with the National Standards Authority of Ireland at the moment. Can the Taoiseach give any indication of when we will get a final decision from the National Standards Authority of Ireland so we can get on with building homes for people which we all accept are desperately needed?

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Simon Coveney)

We had quite a long discussion on this at Cabinet today. A range of positive things is happening in terms of modern methods of construction. We will see much more social housing delivered using this technology - about 1,700 homes this year and next year - to show that this can be done cost effectively and produce quality homes while doing it. The Deputy asked about higher buildings using certain timber products and so on which are being used in other parts of Europe but not in Ireland. That requires some further work and we are looking to move quickly on that to ensure that that more sustainable and more efficient modern method of construction can be used here. It can already be used in two-storey buildings but for buildings with three storeys or more there are safety issues that need to be resolved.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

I have asked the Taoiseach a few times about the situation regarding motorcycles and motorcycle events. The Faugheen 50 has been running for decades in my county of Tipperary and it cannot get insurance. There are different clubs and organisations across the country involved in carting, quad racing or motorcycling events, all carried on safely with health and safety officers and everybody else present, but they just cannot get insurance in the Republic. They can get it in Northern Ireland. Absolutely no effort is being made and the season is slipping away from them. These give huge added value to the communities where they are run, and to the people who sell the machinery, equipment and parts. People are entitled to enjoy their sport. We all go to horse racing, GAA matches etc. This sport has been abandoned. While some people here have no interest in it, many people excel at it. It is worth a lot to the economy. For some people who love it, it is their livelihood. They have failed to get insurance. There have been some meetings with junior Ministers, but no effective effort by the Government to sort out this insurance racket.

The Taoiseach

Generally, what works best in this kind of scenario is for the industry and the sector to come together and negotiate a group scheme. We ran into this issue with childcare and came up with a solution. We ran into this issue with adventure sports and adventure centres and came up with a solution. That is the thing that will make a difference. I will certainly let the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, know that it has been raised again and see if she can engage with them further.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Baineann mo cheist le Gaillimh agus cúrsaí dídine. Níl na seirbhisí dídine in ann freastal ar an éileamh ar an talamh. Tá ar a laghad 263 teaghlach gan aon bhaile. In Galway city there are 263 households and the homeless services tell us that they are full. In response to a question yesterday after a man in a wheelchair appeared at my office door homeless on the streets, homeless services advised they are at capacity. Asking how long the waiting list is like asking how long is a piece of string. They are the answers we are getting. I am not blaming staff, although that certainly is not helpful. However, they are under pressure and we have a homeless service that is a symptom of a policy. Is the Taoiseach aware of this? Is he aware that repeated reports from Simon, entitled Locked Out of the Market, have told us there are no available properties in Galway under any housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme discretionary or otherwise?

The Taoiseach

I am very aware of the situation around the country and that is why we are investing so much in new social housing. More social housing was built last year than in any year since the 1970s. That takes people off the housing list and also frees up other properties for people to rent often using HAP or homeless HAP.

Deputy James O'Connor

Over the weekend, the chief executive of the IDA and others commented about the infrastructure deficit. What is the Government doing to try and tackle this, in particular pertaining to road projects? A significant number of national road projects, some contained within the national development plan, NDP, are not being replaced because of funding. What is being done to deal with that, particularly by the Department under the auspices of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan?

The Taoiseach

We had a report on capital spending at Cabinet today. The amount of money the Government invested in public infrastructure is 30% higher than it was this time last year. The spend in the first six months of this year is 30% higher than the first six months of last year which shows we are ramping up investment in transport, schools, hospitals, broadband and all the key things we need to make our country work better and to create capacity. When it comes to new roads, there is a roads budget of €250 million a year. It was not possible to fund all the projects we would like to have funded in the envelope for this year. Discussions are ongoing between the Ministers, Deputies Donohoe and Eamon Ryan, to see if we could provide funding to progress some more projects next year. We appreciate that some are stalled and that is causing much difficulty around the country.

Deputy Francis Noel Duffy

The Tallaght Parents Autism Support Group and concerned parents have communicated to me that the promised additional autism spectrum disorder, ASD, class spaces at post-primary level have yet to be delivered. I understand that currently there are only three ASD classes in operation and I acknowledge these classes take time to deliver. That said, the Tallaght Parents Autism Support Group and concerned parents would be very grateful if the Department could work with these post-primary schools to assess the shortage of these services.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising the question. I do not have an update to hand, but I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, later today and I will ask her to come back to the Deputy directly.

Deputy Pauline Tully

I want to raise concern about the service provided by the Irish Wheelchair Association in Cavan to disabled people and wheelchair users. The service has been curtailed since the Covid pandemic due to difficulty with recruitment and retention of staff, and is in danger of closing. It recruits staff, trains them for six months and then they leave to go to the HSE or section 38 organisations. When will the Government address the pay parity issue regarding section 39 organisations? If this is not done, they will continue to haemorrhage staff to section 38 organisations and the HSE. It particularly affects disability services and children's disability network teams, CDNTs.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Deputy Roderic O'Gorman)

The Deputy is right that it impacts disability services. It also impacts section 56 services providing services to Tusla. The Government has recognised that the pay differential. We have committed to engaging in a process through the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, to resolve that. That process is ongoing at the moment. My Department, the Department of Health, the HSE and Tusla have all been represented there. We are in the middle of a process which, I hope will have a positive outcome to allow these vital services to maintain and enhance their recruitment of staff.

Deputy Alan Farrell

I raise the tenant in situ scheme which has already been raised this afternoon. Unfortunately, as was mentioned earlier, there is a diversity of application of the process by different local authorities across the State. It has been brought to my attention that where a property is not in compliance with building regulations, however minor, such an application is deemed to be invalid. Perhaps the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage might be in a position to enhance the scheme to ensure that a tenant applying for the tenant in situ scheme and-or their landlord would be facilitated in some way either directly through the tenant in situ scheme or through other means.

The Taoiseach

When the State, through a local authority, buys a property from a landlord, we need to ensure that the building is up to code because ultimately this is taxpayers' money. As the Deputy mentioned, there may be some circumstances where the defects are so minor, they could be repaired and some flexibility should be shown. I am happy to raise it with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. If the Deputy has a specific example to share with me, that would also be helpful.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

The Taoiseach will be pleased to know that the N22 works on the Macroom bypass are very much progressing. The next stage of that road is due to be made available for traffic shortly. As the Taoiseach was Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport at a key time in that road project, I am sure he is well familiar with the situation there. One of the issues on linking up those pieces of road is that it disconnects the access at Carrigaphooca. It is a big concern for people in Kilnamartery, Renanirree, Ballingeary and other places. We want to see if there is a way to maintain or have some kind of suitable access for people in that area.

Will the Taoiseach impress on the Minister for Transport the need to look at some way to have, in the long term, suitable safe access for people onto the road at Carrigaphooca?

The Taoiseach

I have been delighted to see the progress on the Macroom and Ballyvourney bypass. I remember sitting in Deputy Creed’s office in Macroom maybe ten or 11 years ago as Minister with responsibility for transport trying to get that project started. It shows that sometimes these projects take time, and I am glad it has been completed under this Government and this coalition. I do not know the details of the safe access the Deputy mentioned but I will make inquiries with the Minister for Transport and directly with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII.

Deputy Claire Kerrane

There was widespread disgust last night at the vile scenes and blatant disregard for our existing laws shown on the investigative programme by “Prime Time”. Young calves were being kicked, beaten with sticks, dragged by their tails, legs or ears and thrown on and off trailers. These cruel practices by some people in some marts are very much not reflective of how handlers, mart staff and farmers treat animals.

I welcome the investigation undertaken by the Department. I am conscious that will take time. It needs to be thorough and prompt. In the meantime, we need accountability. The Taoiseach has said this is not about one sector or another. There is cruelty and people have broken the law. We need accountability. The people in the footage who were breaking the law and engaging in cruel practices should not remain in their jobs. Is that an approach the Government will take on this? These people should not be next or near animals.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon)

I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this important issue. I and my Department condemn the cruelty we witnessed in the programme last night. I share the Deputy’s sentiments on that. We in the Department take any such breaches of our strict animal welfare guidelines very seriously and wish people who have any information around them to share it with us. We have requested from RTÉ the videos and will pursue those matters. It is incumbent on all of us. I agree with the Deputy that this is not common practice. Farmers and people who work with animals care deeply for them. This bad practice is an abhorrence to all of us and we will pursue it with all the rigours of the law.

Deputy Gino Kenny

Many people in direct provision centres have leave to remain. Some of them have of late received letters from international protection accommodation services, IPAS, telling them to leave the centre for a different part of the country. Some residents, particularly those in Clondalkin Towers, have important jobs and are being educated locally. It is extremely unfair to ask them to leave Clondalkin or wherever to go to a different county. They lose their jobs and educational situation. Is the Minister aware of this policy? Is it the policy of the Government?

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman

I thank Deputy Kenny. We have about 21,000 people living in international protection accommodation. About 5,000 of them have status and they have status for different lengths of time. I know the Deputy is aware of the pressures our Department is under in terms of opening new accommodation for the significant number of people who have arrived. It is important we use the accommodation we have for those awaiting a determination of their status. Where people have a determination and have been given status, they are entitled to the full range of social welfare, housing supports, housing assistance payment, HAP, and rent supplements everyone is entitled to. The accommodation we provide is for those awaiting a decision on their international protection. We cannot allow them to remain there indefinitely. People who have been there significant periods of time with a determination of status are being asked to move on or are being provided with accommodation elsewhere.

Deputy Carol Nolan

The Taoiseach will recall that on Wednesday, 14 June, during Leaders' Questions, I raised a number of issues with him on the emergency situation the nursing home sector is facing, especially the private and voluntary nursing home sector. During his response, he claimed there was a net increase in the number of nursing home beds available in this State in 2022. I believe this statement to be factually incorrect. HIQA’s report for 2022 states clearly there was an overall net reduction of 168 in the number of registered beds. I wrote to the Taoiseach following this but his office has still not acknowledged my email. I would be happy if he would indicate his willingness to correct the Dáil record on this matter as soon as possible.

Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Headline figures from the Labour Court recommendation suggest an increase of between 24% and 32% in the annual €8,000 retained firefighters payment. It is a long way off a fixed or fair wage. I understand there are also ten recommendations to be examined by SIPTU and the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA. I had several phone calls this morning to my office about this. Retained firefighters need significant improvements in working arrangements to address what they call a recruitment and retention crisis. I know the announcement was only made yesterday and it is early days but I ask that something urgently be done about this.

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan

I raise the issue of a light rail system planned for Cork city. I understand the system, as the line is currently configured, would not connect into Kent Station. There seems to be disagreement between the National Transport Authority, NTA, which will fund it, and Irish Rail as to what they would like to do. My side of the city is getting heavy investment in rail, which is welcome, but if we are to have a fully integrated light rail system for the city, it should at the very least come into the city centre and be connected to Kent Station.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputies for their questions. I signed off on a response to Deputy Nolan’s letter the other day but perhaps it has not made its way to her office. I can confirm 14 private nursing homes closed in 2022, six have closed in 2023, and a further four which are currently active have notified their closure in 2023. Four new centres opened in 2022 and two in 2023. In 2022, there was an overall net increase of 112 registered beds. In 2023, there has been a net increase of 222 so far. That is private nursing homes. I think the figures the Deputy referred to might be nursing homes in the round, including public nursing homes. There may well be an overall decrease but I thought, as she prefaced in her question today, that we were talking about private and voluntary nursing homes, not the public ones. There has been an increase in private nursing home places last year and this year so far.

On the Labour Court recommendation on retained firefighters, the Labour Court is an office of the Government. It heard both sides in the dispute and has made a recommendation. I understand the next step is consultation and balloting. I hope it will go to a ballot and we will see what decision is made after that.

On Cork rail, there are two significant projects. There is metropolitan rail, which Deputy O’Sullivan touched on and which uses the existing train lines. We are keen to get that done as soon as possible. It will be a big addition to Cork. For light rail, it is early days yet and there is a much more complicated piece of work to be done. I agree it would absolutely make sense that the light rail should link up with Kent Station and with the heavy rail. I do not know enough about the geography and engineering to know whether that is possible but it would be a strange thing if the Luas in Dublin was not connected to Connolly or Heuston. I do not know the engineering issues enough to be definitive on that.