Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Apr 2025

Vol. 1066 No. 1

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Last week, mothers from Donegal travelled up here to sleep outside the gates of Leinster House. They did so in desperation because their children, ten with additional and special needs, do not have a school place for September. There is only one school in the county that they can go to, and that is Little Angels. It is now more than six weeks since I raised this on the floor of the Dáil with the Minister. It is a month since I put a proposal to her, with my colleagues, on how to resolve this issue, and I am in regular contact with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, but these parents still have no certainty.

The new Little Angels school was built with fewer classrooms than the existing one – it is a scandal – despite the growing need for places. The old school is going to be left empty. Sanction is needed to allow the additional ten pupils to get their education. Can the Minister give any comfort to the families because it is absolutely cruel that the mothers who had to come here last week, although given commitments that they would know the position early this week, are still in limbo? Specialised equipment has to be ordered for the children; they cannot just walk into school in September.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are going to stick to the time.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

This needs to be sorted because a school in the hands of the State could be lying empty.

Minister for Education (Deputy Helen McEntee)

I reassure the Deputy and, most important, the parents and their children that the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and I, working with the NCSE and the Department, will ensure the children have school places come September and do everything possible to make sure those places, in so far as it is possible, are within the children’s communities and that they have the right resources and supports when in school. We have to make sure children can access the supports with the school places they need in their own communities, and that is exactly what we are working towards.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

When?

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I join the Ceann Comhairle in welcoming our colleague from London, Mr. Liam Conlon, MP, for Beckenham and Penge, to the Distinguished Visitors’ Gallery. He is here with Donal Sheehan from his office. I commend Liam for his work on bringing forward Philomena’s law in Westminster, legislation that will secure additional justice for survivors of mother and baby homes, many thousands of whom live in Britain despite having been in homes here in Ireland. However, we need to do more here for survivors of mother and baby homes. On Tuesday, I asked the Taoiseach about how the Government will respond to the report from Sheila Nunan on her negotiations with the religious orders responsible for running the homes. It is very disappointing to see that only one order has come up with a substantial offer to contribute to the redress scheme.

The Labour Party has a Bill which would give the State the power to compel religious orders to pay their fair share. It would provide a legal remedy for the current situation. I asked the Taoiseach his view on that. He said the Attorney General is examining options and the Minister, Deputy Foley, will go back to the orders. I ask the Minister to do all she can to ensure the orders will indeed pay their fair share of redress and we will see justice for survivors.

Deputy Helen McEntee

The Attorney General is looking at this and, yes, it was brought to Cabinet this week. We need to assess the report and look at the potential options that are here. The Deputy is right that of the eight orders, only one came forward with something substantial. There were some other minor offers from two of them but really we need to make sure that everybody who is responsible and everybody who played a part in the horrific situations women were left in and subjected to plays their part in any type of recourse. This will take time. We need to work together. I have no doubt the Minister, Deputy Foley, will be engaging with all Members of the House, as well as Cabinet and the Government, to make sure we get this right and do the right thing for survivors but also to make sure those who are responsible provide recourse and are held accountable.

Deputy Liam Quaide

This time last week, I raised with the Tánaiste the urgent medical case of Filip Kosacki, a 15-year-old boy from Midleton. I have consent from his family to speak again on his behalf. On 16 January, Filip was diagnosed with a ureteropelvic junction obstruction in CUH. He is in constant pain. He has not been able to attend school since early January and his mental health is now suffering. There have been very excessive delays in his treatment due to confusion between CUH, the Mercy hospital in Cork and CHI Crumlin regarding responsibility for his care.

Last week, it was clarified that his care is under CHI Crumlin. We welcome that clarity but the appointment that has been offered to Filip is on 14 May, five weeks from now, and it is just for an initial consultation. We do not know exactly when the treatment he so desperately requires will happen. I appeal to the Minister to intervene in this case as Filip's family would be very appreciative.

Deputy Helen McEntee

I apologise as I am not aware of the details of the case. It is obviously essential people can access the care they need as quickly as possible. I will bring this to the Minister for Health and see if there is any way in which she can provide support.

Deputy Seamus Healy

Before I start, a Cheann Comhairle, you might allow me to congratulate Tina Marie Barrett on securing a school place for her child, Michael Joseph, for this coming September. Following 16 rejection letters and the matter being raised here a number of times, he has secured a place.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is no problem, Deputy, but in your time.

Deputy Seamus Healy

Thank you.

There is a serious shortage of bus drivers in this country, yet we continue to insist on an ageist policy on this issue. Drivers over 70 years of age are not allowed to drive school buses, yet these same drivers can drive a bus to the school, pick up students and take them to a football match, a swimming lesson or a school tour. The policy makes no sense. Age is no barrier to employment, whether it be as a TD or a bus driver. I am 74 years of age, and my colleague on the Government benches, Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, is two years my senior. I am sure, and indeed I hope, that no one would suggest we are not capable of doing our jobs. This issue has been raised a number of times in the Chamber and I ask that it be dealt with seriously and urgently.

Deputy Helen McEntee

There is a very clear commitment in the programme for Government to review the current policy, as it exists, that you cannot drive a school bus over the age of 70. There have been reasons set out as to why that is the case but it is important we review it. We have approximately 7,900 buses across the country that bring children to and from school every day but we need more. We need to be able to fulfil our commitment to expand that school transport scheme by 100,000 students. Of course, that will require not just more buses but more drivers. This is something I and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, will be looking at but we will have to engage with the Minister for Transport to see if any changes can be made.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

Fourteen-year-old Noah Donohoe went missing for six days in 2020 and was found dead in a storm drain in Belfast, yet there is still no clarity about what happened to him. His mother, Fiona, continues to valiantly fight for justice. Three years ago, thousands of people took to the streets to protest against a public interest immunity certificate which redacted enormous amounts of information. The PSNI's investigation has been littered with failures. It has refused to obtain a water sample from the drain in which Noah was found and the coroner has now been recused. Last Saturday, thousands again took to the streets.

Equally concerning is the fact that other mothers are now coming forward to say their children were killed in shocking circumstances and they have not found justice either. The family of murdered Sean Brown is still fighting for justice in the North and the Government has rightly brought a case to the European Court of Human Rights against the British legacy Bill. What pressure is the Government putting on the authorities in the North and the British Government to ensure Irish people in the North of Ireland achieve justice?

Deputy Helen McEntee

I thank the Deputy. We all know and remember this case, which was a devastating case for Noah's family. As it is an ongoing investigation, the Deputy will appreciate I cannot comment on what is happening there. I can say that with any investigation of this kind, the Garda will always support, cooperate and do what it can in this type of investigation and, certainly, if there is work the Government needs to do. However, it is a live investigation that is ongoing so I am slow to comment any further on it.

Deputy John Lahart

The weather outside is absolutely stunning, which can mean only one thing: leaving certificate students are knee-deep in preparation for mock exams and the leaving certificate season. I send my best wishes to them. This morning, I wish to ask about leaving certificate grade inflation, a subject on which I know the Minister has received a lot of correspondence. Apparently, 25% of those competing for CAO places in the autumn of this year will have completed their leaving certificate over a number of previous years.

The concerns of the leaving certificate students in my constituency are that the 2025 students are competing at a systemic disadvantage. They fear they may risk losing CAO places, not because of their academic ability but because of inconsistent grading standards, as they see it. They also fear the current system undermines the integrity and fairness of the CAO process. What can the Minister say to reassure them as they head into probably the most challenging academic period of their lives?

Deputy Helen McEntee

I wish all of our students well and acknowledge the stress they are under and, indeed, the preparation under way at the moment. To clarify first and foremost from the information I have, 25% of students from last year will not apply this year.

Deputy John Lahart

That is from previous years.

Deputy Helen McEntee

On average, approximately 13% every year reapply for the next year and the indications are that this year will be no different. On top of that, every year, irrespective of whether there have been fluctuations or not, eight to nine out of ten students will get one of their top three choices. It is really important to stress that to students. It is not 25%, it is most likely about 13% and eight to nine out of ten students will get their one of their top three choices. The reason there will be a change and there needs to be a change is the grade inflation that has happened since Covid. It had to happen and it was important that students were supported in what was a very difficult time.

Grade inflation actually pushes up points and makes it more difficult for students because it pushes up the marks and we are now seeing people in a lottery to get the courses even though they have the points. It is proposed that there would be a much more gradual reduction at a much lower and slower rate than that at which it increased, which was only over two years. This will be a much slower gradual reduction which will see a very small number of people impacted by this. We need to be clear on those facts that may be misunderstood at the moment.

Deputy Grace Boland

I ask the Minister to update us, please, on discussions in respect of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. We are an island nation with an ever-growing population, expanding at a rate of 100,000 people per year. Our capital city's airport is a vital component for our national competitiveness and continued success. Dealing with the cap and putting in place a long-term plan for the airport is an opportunity for Ireland not just to attract more tourists but to increase our connectivity and attract more industry to our very well-situated island, which is a gateway for Europe and has pre-clearance for the USA.

The DAA needs to play its part. It needs to be a better neighbour to the communities around the airport, address the issues of traffic management, noise insulation and adherence to flight paths. However, we need to swiftly address this issue and put the negative narrative to bed once and for all so that Ireland can maximise its potential.

Deputy Helen McEntee

I thank the Deputy. This is an issue I know is ongoing and there is significant engagement between the Minister for Transport, the DAA and other relevant bodies in this regard. The Deputy is right; we are an island and we rely heavily on our airports and our air connectivity so it is really important we are not in any way disadvantaged. However, it is also important that we support the communities that live near the airport, as the Deputy referenced, whether it is making sure flight paths are adhered to or addressing issues around noise or traffic.

As we progress and move to increase or remove the cap, it is important that those issues are addressed as well. The Minister for Transport is very aware of these issues also.

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness

If education is a right, why is access seemingly always a fight for families? As the Minister knows because I wrote to her and because parents have been in touch with her, almost 20 families in Dungarvan, County Waterford, are left without a special school place. There is a wider issue across Waterford city and county when it comes to capacity in special education spaces in mainstream schools and special schools. The State is not just failing children and failing to vindicate the fundamental right of children to an education; it is also breaking constitutional promises. It is also discriminating against children because they have additional educational needs. Parents are forced to play bureaucratic roulette in some cases where names are picked out of a hat by a Garda superintendent, putting schools, members of An Garda Síochána and parents in terrible predicaments.

We need more than just announcements; we need delivery. September is barrelling down the road towards us at pace. Can we get additional capacity at St. John's in time for September and increased capacity across Waterford city and county?

Deputy Helen McEntee

My number one priority is to make sure that every child has a school place come this September - not just this September but next September and beyond - and that we have the right structures in place such that children, families and parents do not have to fight as they have done in the past.

I am very much aware of the situation in Dungarvan, County Waterford. I have been working with my colleague the Minister of State, John Cummins, on this for some time. We are working to make sure that every child who needs a school place in Dungarvan, Waterford or anywhere else gets one. That is the focus at the moment. I hope that in the coming weeks, as the enrolment policies are rolled out and the final decisions are made across schools, parents will have those decisions as quickly as possible.

Deputy Micheál Carrigy

The programme for Government commits to improving urgent and emergency care, yet since February advanced paramedics, some of our most skilled emergency responders, have been barred from bringing home their marked NAS vehicles, preventing life-saving out-of-hours responses in local communities. Between 2022 and 2024, these managers, again out of hours, responded to over 200 acute, life-threatening echo and delta calls. The decision, based on BIK concerns, was made with no patient safety risk assessment. Will the Government urgently review this decision and engage with the Revenue to resolve this issue?

Deputy Helen McEntee

I thank our ambulance workers and our paramedics for the unbelievable job they do in keeping us safe. This issue came to light only recently, and my understanding is that there is a review or the Revenue Commissioners are looking at this. Nobody should be disadvantaged or unable to do their job because of the situation the Deputy has outlined. My understanding is that a ruling is expected soon from the Revenue Commissioners and that will be given to the HSE, which will then have to act on it.

An Ceann Comhairle

Now, for the students, Deputy Malcolm Byrne.

Deputy Malcolm Byrne

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for welcoming my friends from Tara Hill national school.

We are all rightly proud of the very innovative and dynamic film, television and animation production sector here in Ireland. There was cross-party support in the previous Oireachtas, under the audiovisual media services directive, for the creation of a levy on streaming services to support the telling of Irish stories. We read this morning that the UK cross-party committee on culture, media and sport is calling for the introduction of a 5% levy on streamers to support film and TV production in the UK, joining 17 other European countries that have done this to ensure that stories get told. We see today that the Minister for the arts and media has announced that there will be a content production levy, subject to ministerial approval. I ask the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to outline the criteria under which the Minister for the arts and media will make the decision, if he will publish the report from Coimisiún na Meán and any evidence, and if we could have statements in this House on the future of the sector.

Deputy Helen McEntee

I welcome the students from Tara Hill to the Dáil.

I absolutely agree with the Deputy on the need to support our own sector here at home. I have a brother who is very much involved in it, and the work they do and the content they produce is phenomenal.

As regards the details, this was brought to Cabinet just this week, and the Minister was very clear that while there will be a directive in the legislation allowing a Minister to impose these levies, it will be at the discretion of the Minister. We need to think carefully as well about imposing an additional levy on top of a charge or a fee that people are already paying. While we need to support our own industry at home, we also need to make sure we are not imposing an undue levy or cost on top of people at home who are enjoying the various streaming services. Maybe I will ask the Minister to engage with the Deputy directly on some of the further detail of this.

Deputy Réada Cronin

I could speak about a hundred different issues in my constituency of Kildare North today, but I cannot, and my constituents would not want me to, ignore the depravity we see on our screens every day. Last week Irish mothers felt compelled to comply slowly with gardaí outside the Dáil because they refuse to normalise the barbarity we see on our screens. Irish legislation requires air carriers to get an exemption from the Department of Transport to carry munitions across Irish airspace. Yet Israel-bound cargo planes, some lined with explosives, have used our airspace as a pit stop on the way to what the UN has called the "killing field" of Gaza. Why are we not searching these aeroplanes at Shannon? How can we expect Irish mammies to comply with the law when this Government is refusing to comply with and absolutely violating international law?

Deputy Helen McEntee

To be very clear on this, there are no aircraft carriers landing here with any type of ammunition.

Deputy Réada Cronin

How do we know?

Deputy Helen McEntee

It is not something that is allowed. It has never been approved.

Deputy Réada Cronin

We do not know.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Minister is speaking.

Deputy Helen McEntee

It is not happening. We need to be very careful about saying that this is an absolute fact.

Deputy Michael Collins

Following on from my question two weeks ago in the Dáil about Ireland retaining our fishing rights off Rockall, in recent years the population of bluefin tuna has significantly increased. Denmark and Norway have successfully applied to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, ICCAT, and received quotas, while the Japanese fleet is fishing along the 200-mile international limit to freeze bluefin tuna for its market. This raises concerns about its carbon footprint and unlicensed fishing practices. While I know Ireland has requested the opening of discussions at EU level to advance our case for bluefin tuna quota, we also know that other member states are resistant to any discussion on amending relative stability for this stock. What action is our new Minister for the marine taking as regards the securing of bluefin tuna quota for Ireland? Additionally, when can we expect to receive our quota, given the abundance of this fish in Irish waters?

Deputy Helen McEntee

My understanding is that, as the Deputy has rightly outlined, we do not have a national quota on this. At the time when this was being divvied up, there was not a track record of commercial fishing for bluefin tuna. Obviously, that has changed. What we have now is a small bluefin tuna bycatch quota which is available to Ireland, primarily for use in our important Northern Ireland albacore tuna fishery and Celtic Sea herring fishery, when there can be bluefin tuna bycatch. Any changes, as the Deputy has mentioned, would have to be negotiated with our European counterparts, where there would be an element of taking away from other member states in terms of the quotas they have. The role of our Minister is to make sure that we raise these issues and that we engage with our European counterparts. Our objective when it comes to the European Presidency in the next year and a half is to do everything possible to support our agriculture and fishing industries. Where possible changes could take place, that is the place to do it and the place to try to drive it.

Deputy Paul Murphy

Some 3.5 million pigs are slaughtered in Ireland every year. We do not see them much because they are largely confined indoors, in big metal sheds. However, thanks to undercover investigations by the National Animal Rights Association and Animal Rebellion, we know what is going on inside these sheds, and real horrors are happening to these pigs. Six farms have been randomly selected and have had undercover investigations in them, and you really do not want to watch the videos of the kind of conditions these pigs endure: crammed together, tiny amounts of space, no natural light, not good ventilation, concrete floors, mother pigs literally unable to move because they are trapped in farrowing crates for long periods, tails docked in very unhygienic ways, castration, lying with abscesses on the floor and piglets dying and just left dead. This is not just one or two rotten apples, very clearly.

An Ceann Comhairle

Do you have a question, Deputy?

Deputy Paul Murphy

Does the Minister think this kind of treatment of pigs is acceptable, and will the Government bring in legislation to stop it?

Deputy Helen McEntee

I do not think anybody thinks mistreatment of any animal, whether an animal in the food chain or an animal in our home or a pet, is acceptable. We need to make sure that where there are very clear laws and procedures that should be in place, they are adhered to.

As the daughter of a farmer, I would say the vast majority of farmers comply with these regulations and treat their animals better than they might treat anybody else. I appreciate there are exemptions to the rules here, but obviously where somebody does not comply with very strict regulations they need to be held accountable.

Deputy Colm Burke

Back in October or November of last year there was a meeting between the HSE, Cork City Council and the Departments of housing and health with a view to opening a day centre in Cork. We have more than 500 people who are homeless. They are in shelters at night but during the day they have no place to go except out on the street. This also relates to the area of the Garda and justice. We have identified a building but need funding for its refurbishment. I note it is not included in the HSE capital plan. I ask that this issue be given priority. It would be a huge advantage to everyone. It is also about regenerating Cork city, the need to upgrade the city and the need to assist these people. The HSE has agreed it would move its staff into this centre. The staff it has employed catering for people who are homeless are amounting to about €2 million per annum, so there is no extra cost because the staff are already in place.

Deputy Helen McEntee

My understanding is HSE South West has developed a business case and that has been presented to the HSE and the Department of Health. I also understand it is a supported plan, so there are conversations and engagement happening to see how this plan can be funded and how it can be progressed for all the reasons the Deputy has outlined, including that we provide that support and that resource to people who need it most. There is a costed plan there and the intention is to see how funding can be secured.

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan

I raise an issue related to special education. Since the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, assumed their roles they have been doing their best to try to get to grips with the crisis we are facing in special education in particular. I taught in a classroom for 15 years. It was always a struggle to find people to teach special education. Historically it has always been that way. The problem has become more acute as the years have gone by. We recognise teachers who teach in the Gaeltacht and on the islands and they get an allowance for that. It is high time for recognition to be given to special education teachers because many teachers, like me, could walk into a special school in the morning and teach, but are not trained to do it. Special recognition needs to be considered in the upcoming budget. The provision of an allowance might entice more people to get into that profession.

Deputy Helen McEntee

I thank the Deputy. I too acknowledge and recognise our entire teaching profession, our teachers, our special education teachers, our SNAs and the entire school staff who support children every day and those who support children with special educational needs. It is for the reasons outlined by the Deputy that I wrote to the Teaching Council recently to ensure we put a process in place so any person coming through their teacher training would have a specific focus and an emphasis placed on a mandatory element on special education teaching and that they would have mandatory placements in special education classrooms and rooms so every teacher has the ability to support every young person no matter what their needs are. We have a separate body of work being done looking at our teacher workforce, including how we support teachers, how we encourage more into the profession, how we keep those who are there and how we encourage those abroad to come home. We need to look at all options and ways in which we can support those teachers, not just those who are teaching children with special or additional educational needs. We need to acknowledge the work they do and support them in every way possible.

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan

The programme for Government states the Government will "Conduct a review of National Aviation Policy to maximise use of our airports". When can we expect this review to take place and conclude? Some 86% of people who fly from this State do so from Dublin Airport and for transport flights it might be even higher than that. Several weeks ago the management of Shannon Airport called for the re-examination of aviation policy and requested the passenger cap in the regional airport programme be increased. Last year, for instance, over 2 million passengers used Shannon Airport, placing it outside the programme. As the Minister knows, Shannon has the capacity to easily take up to 5 million passengers without much work there. We really need a more balanced approach to Irish aviation and the conclusion of this review is the first step. The capacity is there. We need to allow airports outside Dublin to flourish and part of that includes rebalancing flights away from Dublin to Shannon. When can we expect this review to be concluded?

Deputy Helen McEntee

I thank the Deputy. Having been one of the leads in the negotiations for the programme for Government, I know the conversation on this was very clear. We need to support Dublin Airport but we also need to support our regional airports. We need to ensure people living outside our capital city in our rural towns and villages have access to perhaps not the same level, but to an increased level, of air connectivity. That is why those commitments were made in the programme for Government.

I do not have a timeline for the review but I will certainly ask the Minister for Transport to come back and engage with the Deputy directly on it.

Deputy Carol Nolan

Married couples in my constituency on decent but modest incomes are contacting my offices in frustration following confirmation from SUSI that their children are either not eligible for grants or fees or, if they are, are just entitled to the bare minimum. I am dealing with one case where one parent is a council employee and the other a civil servant. They have always instilled a profound work ethic in their children, they have always paid their taxes and they have never asked the State for anything in terms of welfare. They now find their eldest child is only entitled to a SUSI grant of just €500 because of the Government pay rise paid to all civil servants. While that is a very modest pay increase, and a welcome one, it has pushed their son over the income threshold. This is an unfair situation and has led to financial strain on this couple. I am asking the Minister to commit to extending the SUSI income thresholds further for families like the one in the case I mentioned. These families are looking around and they see with frustration there are other categories of students, such as students who arrived here post the invasion of Ukraine, who are accessing free fees. The situation is terribly unfair and there are many civil servants around the country whose families are affected in the same way due to that modest pay increase.

Deputy Helen McEntee

I thank the Deputy. I do not think we should compare or pit any student against another. It is important every child has access to education and can progress. It is important also to acknowledge that a huge number of young people can access grants - there has in fact been an increase over the years in the number of young people who can access SUSI - but also the investment that has gone into higher education to reduce the fees for those attending college or university. Obviously that has a positive knock-on impact on parents who are supporting their children. There have in the past been reviews looking at the boundaries. There is unfortunately always going to be someone who is on the wrong side of it, but every single year the Government has done more and more to allow, support and encourage more students into higher and further education. I have no doubt this Government will respond and act in the same way.

Deputy Mark Wall

I want to raise the recently announced figure of €325 million for the social housing second hand acquisitions programme. My county of Kildare received €15 million under that programme and it is the tenant in situ part of the circular I want to talk to the Minister about. Kildare County Council has purchased 84 properties over the past year and that is obviously 84 families who have been kept out of homelessness. Unfortunately, under the circular the money the council has to allocate for those purchases must come from the €15 million and the total of those moneys is €14.5 million. It also has commitments of €3.3 million to the buy and renew scheme, which means all the money allocated is gone with no new money available. I am dealing with five families who have been told in the past week they will not get a tenant in situ property. Is the Government going to look again at these allocations?

Deputy Helen McEntee

I thank the Deputy. There is a record €6 billion being invested in all our different housing policies and only in recent weeks the Minister for housing secured additional funding, so we are doing everything we can to support not just the development of new homes, the bringing back of homes into stock and the development of social housing, but also to support every person to be able to purchase or to stay in the home they are in. There is a lot of money going into it and every further extension of that will have to be negotiated in the budget. I will raise the fact the Deputy brought this up with the Minister for Housing directly.