Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Sep 2024

Vol. 1058 No. 1

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

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

I move:

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate)

- Motion re Thirty-First Report of the Standing Committee of Selection and Appointment of Committee Cathaoirligh (without debate)

- Statements on the CJEU Judgment in the Apple State aid case (not to exceed 2 hrs 27 mins)

- Mental Health Bill 2024 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 8.00 p.m. or after 1 hr 46 mins, whichever is the later)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Childcare, selected by Sinn Féin.

Thursday's business shall be:

- Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Second Stage)*

- Mental Health Bill 2024 (Second Stage, resumed, if not previously concluded)*

* Please note: if not previously concluded, debate shall be interrupted on these Bills either at 6.30 p.m. or after 4 hrs and 46 mins, whichever is the later.

Thursday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Disability and Special Needs Provision, selected by People Before Profit-Solidarity.

Proposed Arrangements for this week's business:

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 extent that, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 34A(1):

(i) the Dáil may sit later than 10.32 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues pursuant to Standing Order 37 which shall be taken on the conclusion of private members’ business;

(ii) private members’ business may be taken later than 6.12 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on Second Stage of the Mental Health Bill 2024, or where those proceedings conclude within the allotted time, on the conclusion thereof; and

(iii) questions pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) to a Minister other than the Taoiseach shall not be taken;

2. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions shall be taken without debate;

3. the proceedings on the Motion re Thirty-First Report of the Standing Committee of Selection and Appointment of Committee Cathaoirligh shall be taken without debate;

4. the Statements on the CJEU Judgment in the Apple State aid case shall not exceed 2 hours and 27 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:

(i) the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 2 hours and 15 minutes, and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023, providing for two minutes for non-aligned members;

(ii) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(iii) members may share time; and

5. the proceedings on Second Stage of the Mental Health Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 8.00 p.m. or after 1 hour and 46 minutes, whichever is the later, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday.

In relation to Thursday'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) no motion for a Committee report pursuant to Standing Order 102 or private member's Bill pursuant to Standing Order 160 shall be taken;

(ii) private members' business pursuant to Standing Order 159(1) and Standing Order 169 shall be taken for 2 hours and 2 minutes on the adjournment of Government business, or where Government business concludes within its allotted time, on the conclusion thereof; and

(iii) topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of private members' business, and the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues; and

2. in relation to Second Stage of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024, and, if reached, the resumed Second Stage of the Mental Health Bill 2024, the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 6.30 p.m. or 4 hours and 46 minutes after the conclusion of the SOS, whichever is the later; and

(ii) the proceedings shall not be resumed on Thursday.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is that agreed?

Deputy Paul Murphy

It is not agreed. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have told the Dáil that Irish sovereign airspace has not been used to transport weapons to Israel. We know now from the journalism of The Ditch, that this is not the case. At least six flights containing munitions have flown through Irish sovereign airspace on their way to Israel.

Either the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste misled the Dáil or exemptions were not sought and were therefore not granted, in which case the law was broken. Either way, it is a very serious matter and we should have debate in the Dáil this week on it.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I welcome the Government's commitment to establish a commission of investigation in the wake of the awful revelations about abuse of children in religious-run schools as illustrated in Mary O’Toole’s scoping inquiry. I also pay tribute to Mark and David Ryan. Can we have clarity from the Taoiseach on the timing of when the Government will introduce the terms of reference, given that we are all conscious that this Dáil has a very limited time to run? When will we have those terms of reference? Furthermore, can we have a debate on another really serious incidence of abuse in a different religious-run institution, namely, a hospital? I speak of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, and the appalling case of the convicted abuser Dr. Michael Shine. Deputy Ged Nash, who has worked on this issue for a long time, and I last week met some of the survivors of abuse perpetrated by Dr. Shine. We are conscious that approximately 300 people have come forward. This was a religious-run hospital run by the Medical Missionaries of Mary. There has not been an indication from the Taoiseach or the Government as to whether it supports the holding of a scoping exercise akin to that carried out by Mary O’Toole or the establishment of a commission of investigation. Given the short timeframe in which we are all working, we would like clarity on those issues.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

The Taoiseach has claimed that 40,000 new-build homes would be completed this year. A report from the Central Bank published this morning rubbishes this claim and states it will be 8,000 homes short. Does the Taoiseach accept the findings of the Central Bank report? Given that another report published today shows that house prices have increased by 10% in the past 12 months, will the Taoiseach provide time this week to discuss these reports and the Housing Commission report that was published last May which still has not been discussed in the Dáil?

Deputy Mattie McGrath

I welcome the Ceann Comhairle’s statement on the bike shed. I understood from discussions at the Business Committee meeting that a party leader here asked for another bike shed to be built in the front yard of Leinster House. Maybe we could get clarity on that.

The situation with Irish Water is just untenable. This was an outfit set up by the former Minister, Phil Hogan, and the Taoiseach’s Government. I know of situations all over Tipperary, but especially in Ballynaraha, Kilsheelan, and in Kilnaneave and Emly, which have had no water in six weeks. A 90-year-old man in Kilsheelan is drawing water with churns and barrels for cattle. It is primitive. It is disgraceful. We cannot get meetings with senior management and we cannot get engagement. I thank Karen Ferris for engaging with me but we cannot get meetings with engineers. They are tinkering around with problems; do not have information; will not meet the people or will not engage with people who know the knowledge, their workers included. It is an untenable situation. We need an urgent debate in the House about Irish Water’s inability to provide water to provide water to people and farms. The situation in the town of Clonmel is appalling. It is in a hollow and should never be without water but it is experiencing ongoing problems with water all the time.

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

I support the request from Deputy Murphy. There has been report after report of the use of Irish sovereign airspace to transport munitions to be used in the genocide of the Palestinian people and all the issues that flow from that. This has caused widespread concern among the Irish people. We do not have clarification from the Ministers for Foreign Affairs or Transport about what are the actions to follow from the Irish Government or how seriously they are taking this matter. It is a grave abuse of our sovereignty. We need to have statements of clarification. I agree with Deputy Murphy and it needs to happen this week.

Deputy Thomas Pringle

On behalf of the Independent Group, I support those calls for a debate on the use of Irish airspace by the Israelis. It seems that the Government is operating on the basis that if it does not ask it will not get an answer and that is the best way to do it. We need to address that and quickly. Therefore I support a debate this week.

The Taoiseach

I wish to be associated with the Ceann Comhairle’s comments on former Deputy Joe Carey. I wish him, his wife Grace and his family the very best and I thank him for his service to this House, to my party and to the people of County Clare.

My understanding is that there was no dissent at the Business Committee to the Order of Business but new season, same old, so that is okay.

People have raised a number of issues here which, of course, we are happy to consider how best to facilitate through the Business Committee.

On the issue regarding the use of Irish airspace, to be clear, under Irish law and the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport. In 2023, and to date in 2024, no applications have been received or exemptions granted for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to a point in Israel. In considering any application for such an exemption in respect of munitions of war, the Department of Transport will consult with the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Justice on applications to determine if there are foreign policy or security considerations. This is a robust process. As the Minister for Transport has said, no exemptions were requested. He is engaging with the company and I will ask him to update the House when he has information. The position of the Government and of the people of Ireland is very clear in relation to wanting an immediate ceasefire and the bloodshed and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza to end.

Regarding Deputy Bacik's two very fair questions, I do not have a specific answer on the timing and on the commission of investigation. It is not that we do not wish to move on this. We do and with absolute vigour but we want to get it right. The Government has quite rightly empowered the Minister, Deputy Foley, to take the time to engage with the survivors. Let us try to get this process right because the next step is really important. If we get the process wrong, we will have failed survivors so we need to try to get this right.

Regarding Shine, a vile paedophile who has destroyed the lives of many people in this country, we are clear in relation to that. My colleague, the Minister for Health, is in consultation with the Attorney General in respect of the publication of the report and we are happy to keep the House updated on this and on potential next steps.

In response to Deputy O'Callaghan, the Central Bank of Ireland does very important work. I respect its forecasts. Many people provide forecasts but we have beaten the bank's forecasts over the past two years. We are consistently beating its forecasts. In its quarter 3 bulletin last year, it forecast 30,000 units but we delivered 32,695. In its quarter 3 forecast the year before, it predicted 23,500 and we delivered 29,851. We are getting well used to beating forecasts. We will beat it this year as well and the Department of housing and the Minister for housing tell me we are on track to deliver up to 40,000 homes. That is what we want to get to this year. On housing, I respect that there are consistent calls for a debate on the Housing Commission report and the likes. The Government is happy to facilitate that but we need to do that through the Business Committee.

Deputy Paul Murphy

The Government has been happy for months to facilitate it----

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

It just will not do it.

The Taoiseach

Welcome back lads. It is your first day back so we will facilitate it.

Deputy Paul Murphy

We were trying for months before we were-----

The Taoiseach

Not one of you sought this at the Business Committee. For those watching the theatrics at home, none of the Deputies dissented to the Order of Business and then they come to the House asking why we are not having a debate on housing. The reason is because they did not raise it.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

We keep on raising it.

Deputy Paul Murphy

We are raising it-----

The Taoiseach

If they please do that next week we will endeavour to facilitate them.

(Interruptions).

The Taoiseach

We will call a vote and they will be upset about the business but none of them bothered dissenting at the meeting. Let us have a little bit of fairness and give and take here.

Deputy McGrath's commitment to investment in water services is something we share. The Government is very keen to do more in relation to water. Irish Water as a vehicle is delivering but investing more in its ability to deliver is something we want to look at. We have made clear our views around the potential to do that through a variety of once-off resources that may be available to the country.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

What party leader wants a second bike shed?

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the proposed arrangements for the week's business agreed? Agreed.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

I wish to make a point of order.

An Ceann Comhairle

Yes, Deputy.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

It is fairly hard for any Deputy in the House to get elected. For each Deputy, it is a difficult ordeal. Notwithstanding that, it is easy enough to come up from Kerry. There are no restrictions all the way on the road up but it is getting increasingly more difficult to come into this building. On my way, I went out of the Dáil and I wanted to come back up through Molesworth Street. I was denied access to come up that way. I had to go around. I gave my identification. I would say they knew me anyway. It has gone beyond now. There are more barriers around this place and it is harder to get in and get out of here. I want some investigation into how a Deputy could be stopped on his way into the Dáil because it does not seem right to me. We are elected to come in here.

An Ceann Comhairle

All right Deputy. There are security measures in place because of threatened protest outside. We did not want to see happening today what happened on our return last September.

The Superintendent circulated to every Member the details of how access could be achieved. I accept that it is problematic for Members and I am quite prepared to talk to them offline about how we might improve matters.

On questions on policy or legislation, I call the leader of Sinn Féin, Deputy McDonald.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I again raise the issue of safety in Dublin, particularly in Dublin's inner city. As the Taoiseach will know, last Saturday, there was a very vicious attack in Thomas Street in the south inner city on tourists visiting the capital. It was shocking. It happened at 7.30 p.m, and it is not an isolated incident - far from it. I have raised this issue with the Taoiseach many times before.

In the north-west inner city, in Marmion Court, the community is very shaken today. Last night, a person carrying a knife and wearing a balaclava got access to the complex through a broken gate, which the locals have been looking to get fixed for a long time. Children were put in the way of danger. This person was making a getaway after using the weapon to rob a house in another part of the district.

The community in the north inner city simply does not feel safe. It is the same in the south. The Government has cut the number of community gardaí by 40% over ten years. That is a significant part of people feeling unsafe. When is the Taoiseach going to come into the real world with the rest of us, get a grip on this and address the issue of Garda resources across the State, but for the purposes of this question, in Dublin's inner city?

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy McDonald. I am delighted to live in the real world and I am sure she lives there as well. The Garda Commissioner has put significant additional resources into high-visibility policing in Dublin's city centre and that will continue. Of course, when the Deputy makes comments such as "the Government has cut", she is suggesting that the Government decides the allocation of gardaí, which she knows not to be true.

Gardaí are working tirelessly to keep our city safe for residents and visitors alike. The overall Garda overtime budget for 2024 is a substantial increase on last year, and a very significant number of permanent, full-time gardaí have been assigned to Dublin. A total of 157 new recruits were attested on 28 June from Templemore Garda College. Of them, 102 were assigned to policing duties in Dublin. While the distribution of Garda members and resources is a matter for the Commissioner, he is clearly supplementing resources in Dublin at each and every opportunity. There is also the deployment of the Garda national public order unit, which remains increased, with a full unit being deployed Sunday to Friday, inclusive, and two other units available to be deployed on Saturdays as well. I am happy to send the Deputy further information.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

Over the summer, new grim records were broken in July's homelessness figures. We see now 4,401 children left without a home, a really shameful figure, and we have learned that rents have increased by nearly 27% over the three years since the Government's Housing for All policy was launched. The Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, tells us that more than 4,000 eviction notices were served between April and June, and all of us are hearing all the time from families and individuals who are left without a home or who are in fear of eviction. We all know that, crucially, the State needs to get back building, delivering social and affordable homes. The Taoiseach said earlier that the Government is on track, he believes, to deliver 40,000 homes this year but that is contradicted, as we know, by the Central Bank's projections. It says the figure will be just 32,000, well short not only of the Government's own target but of the target the Central Bank says is required, of 52,000 new builds per year between now and 2050 to meet the shortfall that is there.

I have been asking this question for months. When is the Government going to publish its revised housing targets and does it have any chance of meeting that very serious and chronic level of demand?

The Taoiseach

The Government's Cabinet committee on housing will meet in early October and the Government will shortly thereafter set the new housing targets for 2025 to 2030. As the Deputy knows, the completion of the new national planning framework is an important part of that.

The national planning framework has been out to consultation. I am sure the Deputy and many others have had a chance to make a submission over the summer. We will, I believe, still meet the 40,000 figure this year, which is well above the target that we set. I base that on the fact that while the Central Bank does a very good job. It forecasted housing figures last year and we exceeded them. It forecasted housing figures the year before, we exceeded them, and we intend to exceed them again this year.

An Ceann Comhairle

Next is Deputy Whitmore. She is welcome back.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

Thank you. Some 327 children are waiting for their spinal surgeries. I must say I was very surprised a couple of days ago to listen to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, talk in the media about the horrific waiting list, the times and the impact this is having on the children. He said he was furious and deeply frustrated that this is happening and that nothing to do with the service and the scoliosis treatments over the last ten years is acceptable. He also said he was deeply frustrated that the €19 million he allocated to CHI Ireland was not used properly. We need a Minister for Health who is not just deeply frustrated and very good at describing how people feel, but who is actually taking actions to make sure children can get the treatment they need when they need it. In February, he sent in an audit team to find out exactly what happened to that €19 million. How long is it going to take to find out where the €19 million was spent? Has that report actually been delivered? I do not like talking about the Minister in his absence. I wish he was here. For parents who have to watch their children in agony, it is important to put that question.

The Taoiseach

I too welcome the Deputy back. I have welcomed her back in private but I welcome her publicly. I am pleased to see her speedy recovery. I will ask the Minister to directly answer the question as to whether he has received the report regarding the audit. He has taken a hands-on approach to this. We have a new clinical lead in place, Mr. David Moore. That is a really important piece, that this is now being overseen by a doctor. I have met him myself and look forward to meeting him, the HSE CEO, the Minister and the advocacy groups in early October.

Deputy Paul Murphy

I want to raise the infamous bike shelter which the public has paid almost €350,000 for. This is obviously a massive waste of public money but I do not believe it is just that. It is also an example of a private company profiteering off the backs of the public, and the consequences of the outsourcing of basic public infrastructural projects to private companies. I understand the company that got the extraordinary contract is Sensori Facilities Management. It is a company that was originally founded by Michael Stone, whose name was last mentioned here in connection with putting up posters for Paschal Donohoe. It is no longer owned by Michael Stone. It is in receipt of huge number of contracts from the public sector. Does the Taoiseach understand yet who within the OPW signed off on this contract? Can we find out the total value of all the contracts that Sensori has with the OPW? What is the total value of all the contracts Sensori has with the public sector as a whole? I think we will find it is a very large amount.

The Taoiseach

I am not quite sure what the tone or the implication of that is, a Cheann Comhairle; that is for you to consider. Certainly on that matter I would not have that information to hand on Questions on Policy or Legislation. I am sure a written parliamentary question would elicit the answer.

Deputy Cathal Berry

I welcome the increase in the mandatory retirement age to 70 for the vast majority of public servants a while back. It is a very good thing on balance. I understand that increase has not been extended to the semi-state sector, neither to the commercial nor the non-commercial parts of it. Does the Government have any plans to extend that mandatory retirement age increase to the semi-state sector? What are the Taoiseach's thoughts on the matter?

The Taoiseach

The Government's general position is to be supportive of those who wish to remain working for longer. This is reflected in the new flexible pension arrangements we have introduced since 1 January this year, which allow for a deferral of the start date of the contributory State pension. The way it would work, though, in respect of a commercial semi-state, each of which is governed by its own specific legislation, is that it would need to make a proposal to increase the age, to be considered by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. As far as I am aware, that Department has not yet received any proposal. It is a matter for the commercial semi-state in the first instance.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

The Taoiseach visited Clonmel recently; I was glad to see that. I hope he walked O’Connell Street. A businessman contacted me this week due to ongoing incidents of violence, open drug dealing and intimidation on the streets. He is threatening to remove his store from O’Connell Street. He has been there for a number of years and has a successful business. The lack of gardaí, in Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Cahir and all of south Tipperary is frightening at the moment. I have met the new superintendent. He knows I am raising this and he wants me to raise it. The Taoiseach mentioned 120 gardaí for Dublin. The Minister gave ten or 12 to her own county. We did not get one. We have two excellent officers out seriously injured after being violently attacked in my area in the past two or three months. Clonmel is a proud town with great business people and great people but they cannot put up with the intimidation, open drug dealing and violence in the middle of the street. There were full-scale rows blocking the street last Monday in the middle of the day and not a garda to be seen. I spoke to the sergeant, Kieran O’Regan, and the two community gardaí. They are bringing them into court and they are out the next day. The whole system is broken but the public need to be protected and they are not being protected.

The Taoiseach

I was delighted to be in Clonmel recently with Councillor Michael Murphy for the turning of the sod of the new Garda station.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

You did not turn the sod.

The Taoiseach

I was in the library.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

It has not even gone out to tender.

The Taoiseach

Excuse me, we were there for the enabling works.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Cool the spin, Taoiseach.

The Taoiseach

I know Councillor Murphy is working very hard on the ground and might have the Deputy rattled. Let me just finish the point. We were there for the enabling works for the Garda station. We will deliver a new library next. I was in the library. I was also in the beautiful museum Clonmel has and I mean that genuinely. I think I met the superintendent that day. I certainly met many senior gardaí. I genuinely will take back the serious issue the Deputy is raising about garda numbers in Clonmel, the antisocial behaviour and the issues he is coming across. I will get the Minister for Justice to reply to him directly.

Deputy Marian Harkin

I welcome the Taoiseach and all colleagues back. I want to raise the with the Taoiseach what is known as the Sligo cancer bus, which brings patients from Sligo-Leitrim and parts of County Donegal to the centre of excellence in Galway for treatment. There are two issues. First, the bus has no toilet facilities and is not wheelchair accessible. It is unacceptable for sick patients to have to travel in those conditions. A new bus is needed and it is needed now. The second issue, which is also crucial, is that it is essential that the HSE purchases the bus and obviously operates it. There seems to be some concern that HSE would like to see some voluntary groups fund-raising and perhaps accessing Clár funding to provide the bus. It is the responsibility of the HSE to ensure that the cancer service is accessible to people in the north west and I would like to get a guarantee on that.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy has raised a very reasonable and very fair point about the importance of toilet facilities and wheelchair accessibility on a bus, particularly a bus bringing sick people to their cancer treatment. I engaged on this matter with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, this morning to discuss funding streams that may be available in that area. I hear from the Deputy’s comments now that she believes it should be through the HSE. I take that point. I will engage with the Ministers, Deputies Humphreys and Donnelly, to see if we can make progress and come back to the Deputy.

Deputy Fergus O'Dowd

I recently met with representatives of Dignity for Patients. They represent an increasing number of people who are coming forward who were abused by the convicted criminal paedophile Michael Shine. I support their demand for commission of investigation into all aspects of the abuse they suffered and other issues we have privately advised the Taoiseach of. I support what the Taoiseach has said so far. It is an evil that has been perpetrated right across the country and we have to make sure that people are still held accountable. I ask him to arrange through his office a high-level meeting with this group to further their case and their cause.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising this. I also thank him for his ongoing work over a sustained period of time on this important issue. In the first instance, my Department is liaising with the Departments of Health and Justice to prepare a number of options. The Minister for Health has confirmed today that he is also engaging with the Attorney General on the publication of the report in the Department of Health. The three coalition leaders intend to discuss the matter at our next meeting. I am certainly very happy to ensure that there is high-level government engagement with that group and I will be in touch with the Deputy to arrange it.

Deputy Paul McAuliffe

Yesterday, Dublin City Council brought forward Part 8 proposals for almost 500 homes in Balcurris and Balbutcher. These are in addition to the other Part 8 proposals passed earlier in the year in Wellmount and Cardiffsbridge - all public homes on public land, all built under Housing for All and we did not even have to turn one page of Deputy Ó Broin’s little green book.

Unfortunately, many homes come through the non-Part 8 process and require the traditional one and they need reform of the planning Bill. Will the Taoiseach update the House on the progress of the Bill? Will he commit to the Bill being passed in full before the end of this Dáil and before any election is held?

The Taoiseach

When will the election be held? I thank the Deputy for raising that important issue and reporting significant progress on the housing numbers in his constituency and the benefit of the Part 8 process because we are seeing a significant increase in housing supply and we are using public lands to help deliver housing supply. The LDA is really showing very significant potential when others want to abolish it. My understanding is the planning Bill will be back in the Seanad next week and it is absolutely this Government's determination to get that legislation fully through both Houses of the Oireachtas in its lifetime.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Last weekend the National Ambulance Service announced cuts to staff hours in counties Cork and Kerry that would have led to ambulance bases being closed one day a week. In north Cork, there are five ambulances and one would be lost each day and two on a Wednesday. West Cork has four and would lose one a day. Thankfully, those latest cuts have been shelved, but there is no doubt the service is under savage pressure. A week and a half ago, a player who suffered a serious injury was waiting 85 minutes for an ambulance at Páirc Uí Rinn. It is unfortunately far from the first instance. I recall an instance in May very similar to that. The service is under savage pressure. There is a workforce plan or a capacity plan. Unfortunately, it seems like a bit of a fiction. The proposal was to double the number of ambulances and paramedics on the road. It does not seem like we have seen anything like that, but perhaps the Taoiseach can enlighten me. Is progress being made in that regard and how is it intended to reach that target of doubling the number of paramedics?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and acknowledge the significant concern there was in Cork and Kerry this week. I am pleased my colleague, the Minister for Health, intervened to stop that proceeding and is now working to ensure funding is provided to augment front-line services because I acknowledge that, despite the additional budget we have put into the National Ambulance Service, there are service pressures in Cork and Kerry. I will have to ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy specifically on the workforce plan and how best to achieve it.

Deputy Alan Farrell

I contacted the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, about this matter this morning and I regret he was not able to attend the Dáil this afternoon. I want to raise the very important issue of the recent timetable changes across the Irish Rail network that have resulted in the introduction of an appallingly unpredictable service in what had been heretofore a relatively good and reliable service for commuters, students and others right up and down the country. On behalf in particular of the people using Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk, Donabate, Malahide, Portmarnock and other stations, and indeed in the Taoiseach's constituency, I cannot stress enough how detrimental these changes have been. Trains that used to go cross-city, which our Luas trams and buses are being encouraged to do, no longer go through the city. They stop, which adds precious moments to commuting journeys. The most important impact is the services are now unreliable. They are constantly delayed. I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to consult the NTA and Irish Rail about this matter because it is entirely unacceptable.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It is an issue that is coming up quite a bit. Councillor Aoibhinn Tormey also raised this matter recently in terms of the unpredictability of the service and the Deputy has listed a number of areas in his constituency that are impacted. I will certainly talk to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, directly about the matter to see if he can engage with the NTA and come back to the Deputy directly.

Deputy Brendan Smith

In recent budgets, the Government quite rightly introduced a number of measures to help families deal with the increased costs of living. At this time of year there are huge financial pressures on many families who have a student or students attending further and higher education. The Government introduced once-off student contribution supports and a rental tax credit. I sincerely hope such measures will be part of budget 2025 as such support is required by many students and their families. The Taoiseach may recall me raising on a number of occasions in the House the inequity that exists in denying students from our State studying in Northern Ireland or abroad access to such supports. Families here, regardless of their children's study location, have similar cost-of-living pressures. Those students should not be disadvantaged because in many instances they were unable to access their course of choice in our jurisdiction, mainly because of a lack of places on some courses, including medicine, pharmacy and other healthcare disciplines.

I have been given lame duck excuses as to why such students cannot avail of these necessary supports. Those students are eligible to apply for SUSI grants and if the will was there, they could easily be included in any other support schemes. We talk at length about encouraging student mobility, particularly with our neighbours in Northern Ireland, and then we allow administrative nonsense and inaction to deny students from our State getting equal treatment with their fellow students south of the Border.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. I definitely do not want give him a lame duck excuse on this so he should let me engage directly with the Minister. I acknowledge this is an issue the Deputy has brought up time and time again. Let me in the first instance engage with the Minister on this matter to see if there is a way of advancing it once and for all. I will revert to the Deputy on that. Obviously, there will be a cost-of-living package in the budget. It used to be the tradition the budget was announced on budget day - it used to even be more than a tradition. I certainly hope the cost-of-living package contains supports for students and parents. Going to college puts a cost on many parents, including in those families who do not necessarily qualify for a student grant. Reducing the fees is definitely a good way of trying to make progress.

Deputy Johnny Guirke

I raise with the Taoiseach what is happening with housing developments around the country. The one I raise today is Bailey Hill in Navan, County Meath by Kingscroft Developments. There has been serious delay after delay when it comes to finishing the houses and giving people the keys to their new homes. Many young people and couples are in this predicament. A couple signed sale agreed in February 2023. They were told they would be in their house by that May, three months before their child was born. That child is now 13 months old. The estate agent T and J Gavigan took a €5,000 deposit on 28 February 2023. Kingscroft claimed €26,179 from the help-to-buy scheme in 2023. A further €6,320 was taken by the builder on 28 June 2023; quick to take the money, not so quick to finish the house. This couple are constantly ringing Kingscroft looking for an update with no one getting back to them.

A couple I know of pulled out of the sale because of mortgage issues. That house was up for sale the next day for €35,000 more. Is the developer waiting for others to do the same? The estate agent is blaming the ESB and Uisce Éireann, but never itself or the builder. This couple will have to apply for their fourth mortgage approval in December, causing immense stress to this young family who have run out of hope. Will the Minister for housing call Kingscroft Developments to find out when these people are finally going to get the keys to their new homes? They have suffered enough.

An Ceann Comhairle

I thank the Deputy. It is not in order or appropriate to name individuals and make allegations against them.

The Taoiseach

Obviously I will respect your ruling, a Cheann Comhairle. On a more general level, I can imagine the anticipation and excitement, of a young couple or anybody getting the keys of their new homes and the disruption that can cause to their life, to put it mildly, if there is a delay with that. Let me inquire through the appropriate channels of the Department of housing if there is any information or assistance we can provide.

An Ceann Comhairle

We have four remaining Deputies and the time is up. I ask for 30-second questions from each of them.

Deputy Leo Varadkar

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I raise with the Taoiseach the appalling catastrophe unfolding in Sudan. As the House may know, civil war has raged there for approximately two years, leaving 150,000 dead. Some 2 million refugees have left Sudan already, with millions displaced within the country, and the UN has declared famine in Darfur. It is the only place in the world where the organisation has declared a full-scale famine in quite some time. This is the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world currently. It risks becoming a geopolitical crisis by destabilising neighbouring fragile states and may be the cause of the next major wave of migration towards Europe. I have two specific asks of the Taoiseach. I request that he speak about this and use his voice and Ireland’s voice at the United Nations to shine a light on the situation in Sudan and also that he requests it be discussed at the next European Council and that there be specific conclusions relating to Sudan calling for the arms embargo to be extended to all of the country and for aid to be made available to those who need it, and to support the development NGOs on the ground providing aid to those who need it in this really truly terrible, appalling crisis happening before our eyes, which is not getting the attention and notice it deserves.

Deputy Patrick Costello

I raise the issue of school provision in Dublin South-Central. While the small increase in variety with Synge Street becoming a Gaelcholáiste has been welcome, there is still no Gaelcholáiste for Dublin 10 or Dublin 12 and no non-denominational, non-religious school for Dublin 8.

These issues need to be fixed and the Department of Education has quite frankly been opaque and contradictory in its response to this. Something needs to change in the process of planning schools. Dublin South-Central is suffering severely from a lack of options and a lack of places that the Department is not willing to address.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

For the third time, I ask the Taoiseach - he gave me a commitment, but I have not heard back from him - about taxi drivers who have reached the ten-year deadline to replace their taxi. It is a very expensive business to replace a taxi. As I pointed out, people who were approaching that deadline during Covid-19 got an extension but only for certain years. Drivers of cars from 2015, 2016 and 2017 do not. As of January, we will have an anomaly. Unless those who lost income - that is the point; they lost income and employment for two years - are treated in the same way as those who did get an extension, we will have an anomaly in January where 2012, 2013 and 2014 cars will still be on the road. They got an extension, but drivers of younger cars from 2015, 2016 and 2017 will be told to get off the road even though they can get an NCT, and the cars are perfectly suitable for the road. The taxi drivers need to know now about their financial situation. Some of them will be out of business if they have to replace their cars because of lost income-----

An Ceann Comhairle

I thank the Deputy.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

-----and credit with the banks and so on. The Minister for Transport is not coming back; he is not being positive. Will the Taoiseach ask him to give the extension to those who lost income and employment during Covid?

Deputy Verona Murphy

I brought that matter of school bus transport scheme to the Taoiseach pre-recess. He gave an undertaking that the Minister, Deputy Foley, would get in touch and do her best and he would do his best for the people of Wexford. That did not happen. Hundreds of children across the county of Wexford do not have school transport. Their working parents who are contributing hard-earned cash to our tax take have to drive them to school and make provision, which is very difficult in a rural county. No child should be have an imposition placed upon them because their parent is working. Some have had to change their school. Others are left dependent on whether or not they can get a lift home. This is a solvable problem. I appreciate that the Taoiseach cannot just wave a magic wand, but there are issues year-on-year that need to be dealt with. There is a ban on over-70s driving on a tendered bus route. There is a simple Garda vetting process that takes forever. There is a ban on buses aged over 20 catering for schoolchildren. They are perfectly good buses I might add. All these things can be addressed to solve this problem, but no action appears to be being taken. These people feel very let down.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Varadkar for raising the very important issue regarding Sudan. He is right. The world is not giving this issue nearly enough attention. I am deeply concerned about the appalling conflict and the humanitarian and protection crisis in Sudan. The impact and scale of the violence on civilians, with more than 12 million people forced from their homes, has been horrific. It is absolutely unconscionable that there is a denial of humanitarian access and that there is a deliberate destruction of food infrastructure. It has pushed more than 25 million people into crisis levels of hunger and has led to famine as well. I absolutely commit to using Ireland's voice to demand a ceasefire, humanitarian access, protection of civilians and accountability for human rights abuses. The Deputy's two proposals that we use our voice in time at the United Nations General Assembly next week and, indeed, that I request that it be discussed at the European Council, with conclusions at the next meeting, are two things I am very happy and eager to do. I thank him for that.

I thank Deputy Costello for highlighting the issue of school provision in his constituency, that is, the lack of a Gaelcholáiste in Dublin 10 and Dublin 12 and the lack of a non-denominational school in Dublin 8. I will certainly raise these matters and the broader issue he raised about education and school planning with the Minister for Education and ask her to revert to him directly.

I owe Deputy Boyd Barrett an apology on this. He raised this issue, and I should have come back to him on it. I have engaged with the Department of Transport, and I will get to the bottom of this and get back to the Deputy. I appreciate that the clock is ticking so I apologise.

Deputy Murphy raised the issue of school transport. I did pass on her comments to the Department of Education and asked that there would be contact with her. I will immediately follow up on that. For the life of me I cannot understand the ban on over-70s driving a school bus. People can drive children to a sports match, but they cannot drive them to the school when aged over 70. I have been asking this question and I have been getting a lot of interesting comments on it, none of which I accept.

An Ceann Comhairle

I thank the Taoiseach very much. That concludes Questions on Policy or Legislation.