Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2023

Vol. 1047 No. 4

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 Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate)

- Appropriation Bill 2023 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 1 hr 57 mins and any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday)

- Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 Motion to Instruct the Committee (to conclude within 62 mins and any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Report Stage of the Bill)

Tuesday's private members' business shall be Second Stage of the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) (No. 2) Bill 2023, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Presentation and Circulation of Revised Estimates 2024 (without debate)

- Motion re Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform on Rota for Leaders' Questions (without debate)

- Digital Services Bill 2023 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 5.45 p.m. or after 3 hrs 41 mins, whichever is the later)

- The Royal Hibernian Academy (Amendment of Charter) Bill 2023 (Second and remaining Stages) (to commence no earlier than 5.30 p.m. and if not previously concluded, to adjourn after 60 minutes)

- Appropriation Bill 2023 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 45 mins)

- Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 (Report and Final Stages) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn after 45 mins)

- Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 (Report and Final Stages) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 10.30 p.m. or after 1 hr 30 mins, whichever is the later)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Amendment of Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018, selected by the Independent Group.

Thursday's business shall be:

- Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023 (Second Stage) (to conclude after first round)

- Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023 (Second Stage) (to conclude after first round)

- Digital Services Bill 2023 (Second Stage, resumed) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn at 9.34 p.m. or after 30 minutes, whichever is the later)

Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business:

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

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

(i) the Dáil may sit later than 10.32 p.m.; and

(ii) the time allotted to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business, namely, private members’ business, Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Justice, and topical issues;

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

3. in relation to proceedings on Second Stage of the Appropriation Bill 2023, the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the first speaking round shall be in accordance with the arrangements agreed by

(a) the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for Second Stage, save that the times shall be halved in each case, and

(b) the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023, in relation to 2 minutes for non-aligned members; and

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

4. the proceedings on the motion to instruct the Committee on the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 62 minutes, and shall be confined to a single speaking round, with the contributions of a Minister or Minister of State and of a representative of Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, People-Before-Profit Solidarity, the Regional Group, the Rural Independent Group, and the Independent Group (who shall be called in that order) not exceeding 7.5 minutes each, and the contributions of non-aligned members (who shall be called as the last speakers) not exceeding 2 minutes in the aggregate, and members may share time: Provided that any division claimed on the proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Report Stage of the Bill on Wednesday; and

5. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 170(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) (No. 2) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after two hours.

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

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

(i) oral Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) shall not be taken, and the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) shall commence at the time when oral Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach would normally be taken, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Government business; and

(ii) the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m., and the weekly division time may be taken later than 8.45 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023, or where those proceedings conclude within the allotted time, on the conclusion thereof;

2. the Motion re Presentation and Circulation of Revised Estimates 2024 shall be taken without debate;

3. the Motion re Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform on Rota for Leaders' Questions shall be taken without debate;

4. the proceedings on Second Stage of the Digital Services Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 5.45 p.m. or after 3 hours and 41 minutes, whichever is the later;

5. notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 39, and in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 34A(1), the following arrangements shall apply to the proceedings on Second and remaining Stages of the Royal Hibernian Academy (Amendment of Charter) Bill 2023:

(i) the proceedings shall commence no earlier than 5.30 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned after 1 hour and shall not be resumed on Wednesday;

(ii) any division claimed on Second Stage shall be taken immediately; and

(iii) speeches on Second Stage shall not exceed 10 minutes and members may share time;

6. the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Appropriation Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 45 minutes by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform;

7. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned after 45 minutes; and

8. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 10.30 p.m. or after 1 hour and 30 minutes, whichever is the later.

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

1. the following arrangements shall apply in relation to Thursday:

(i) the Dáil may sit later than 9.27 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues which shall be taken as the last item of business;

(ii) no motion for a Committee report pursuant to Standing Order 102 or private member’s Bill pursuant to Standing Order 160 shall be taken; and

(iii) the Dáil on its rising shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 17th January, 2024;

2. on Second Stage of the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023, on the conclusion of the first speaking round in accordance with the arrangements agreed by the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply, which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion: Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage of the Bill;

3. on Second Stage of the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023, on the conclusion of the first speaking round in accordance with the arrangements agreed by the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply, which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion: Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage of the Bill; and

4. any resumed proceedings on Second Stage of the Digital Services Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 9.34 p.m. or after 30 minutes, whichever is the later, and the Bill shall not be resumed on Thursday.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is the Order of Business agreed to?

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Not agreed.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

For the second day in a row we have more than 700 patients who have been admitted to our hospitals and cannot get a bed. There were 57 yesterday in Letterkenny University Hospital and 47 today in University Hospital Limerick. For the second day in a row there are more than 100 patients admitted who cannot get a bed in that hospital. We have ambulances outside that cannot offload patients for the lack of hospital beds. We have elderly patients in my local hospital in County Donegal who have been unable to get a hospital bed and forced to wait for 36 hours in a hard chair without a second of sleep during that period. Staff and patients are suffering as a result of severe hospital overcrowding. All the while, the CEO of the HSE, the most senior civil servant in the Department of Health and even the fiscal council have warned that our health service has been underfunded for next year by the Taoiseach's Government. This is all happening under his watch, and is absolutely disgraceful. It is at crisis point and I ask that we have a debate before this House rises about what is unfolding in hospitals across the State.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I welcome the news that up to 3,000 homes will be provided by Respond, which will be cost rental and social homes. That is welcome, but we know the Land Development Agency must be scaled up if we are to see the level of social and affordable home building that we need. I ask again for a debate in this House for a debate on the level of funding to be provided to the Land Development Agency. We have seen a serious lack of clarity about how much money is to be provided to the agency and when it is to be provided. We know it is essential that we see the agency properly resourced to deliver the scale of social and affordable homes needed. I am looking for that debate again.

Deputy Bríd Smith

Last Thursday members of the Fórsa trade union walked out of several hospitals, one of which was CHI at Crumlin, the national children's hospital. I received calls yesterday from parents in different parts of the country who were personally extremely distressed that there was a serious lapse in their children's care. Young babies could not get IV lines into their arms because of a lack of specialists in the hospital. Distressed nurses and doctors were in a panic. Mostly, distressed parents were really concerned they might lose their babies or children. This is appalling, and will get worse. By the time we return and the Dáil reconvenes in January, we will be in the middle of a huge health crisis. As it is an annual event, it will be much worse when we return. We need that debate before we rise on Thursday. If we do not have it, then shame on us in this House, for not dealing with a crisis staring us in the face, and a crisis of children's health as well as that of the general population.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

I want a debate about IBI, the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland. They came here ten days ago from all over the country. Local radio stations like Tipp FM and Tipperary Mid West Radio in County Tipperary and all over the country-----

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

And Radio Kerry.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Radio Kerry, of course. All of the radio stations do a valuable service. We will probably see €56 million handed over to RTÉ over Christmas. These stations are operating on a shoestring. They are not able to pay proper wages to the excellent staff and presenters they have. This time of year, facing into Christmas, they connect with local people and local stories. If there is inclement weather or power outages, they are the people who give the information. They do a tremendous service to this State and to the public, and they are operating on a shoestring. When will we have a proper debate to ensure they get properly funded and supported? They serve the people, unlike some of the people in Montrose with what happened there, and who are getting all of this money to be rushed away.

Deputy Michael McNamara

The Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 is on the agenda this week. In 2019 the people of Limerick voted to have a directly elected mayor. It may not be the only one in the country, but it will certainly be the first. They were told he or she would have executive powers, notwithstanding that many of the powers of the CEO are not being transferred over. Many of the powers of the existing mayor are not being transferred over. Those powers were never debated on Committee Stage because the explanatory memorandum was not detailed enough to do it. The Minister was to come back. He has come back with 64 amendments, one of which has 64 provisions in it. Additional powers will not be transferred over. It is important that this Bill be passed. It is important that it be passed speedily, but it is equally important that if this office is to be established, funded and paid for by taxpayers, that the powers the mayor will have are properly discussed and debated by the Dáil.

I ask that the debate not be guillotined and that time be allocated to discuss the Bill, if need be, tomorrow, next week or in the first week of January. We need to make sure the office is properly created.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputies for their remarks. Deputies Doherty and Bríd Smith asked for a debate on health and raised the issue of health funding. The Cabinet approved a Revised Estimate for the health Vote earlier today. We are allocating an additional €92 million to health, which will include funding for new drugs in 2024 and for the fair deal scheme to make sure we do not see an increase in delayed transfers of care within our hospitals. That is in addition to the Supplementary Estimate agreed only a few weeks ago.

Deputy Bacik asked about a debate-----

Deputy Bríd Smith

What about the recruitment embargo?

The Taoiseach

-----on funding for the LDA. There will be additional funding to allow it to accelerate its programme, including important projects like Donore Avenue, for example, formerly St. Teresa's Gardens. The exact amount is yet to be determined.

I assure Deputy McNamara that we are very keen to have the mayor of Limerick Bill enacted. We want to have the election in June. I believe the office will be a success. I want to make sure it is well funded, is a success and becomes an example for other counties and city regions to follow. As is often the case with devolution, it is important to set up the office and we can then add further powers at a later date. That was done with devolution in other areas.

Deputy Michael McNamara

Will we have time to debate the powers of devolution?

The Taoiseach

Adequate time will be provided for the debate. I am sure of that.

I again point out to Deputies calling for debates on certain matters that the Opposition has at least two dedicated slots every week but that it did not choose to prioritise health this week.

Deputy Bríd Smith

What about the recruitment embargo in health?

The Taoiseach

There is not one.

Deputy Bríd Smith

It is stopping babies from getting specialist care.

Deputy Stephen Donnelly

No, it is not. That is absolutely not the case.

Deputy Michael McNamara

Will the debate on the mayor of Limerick Bill be guillotined?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We are not going to have a further interaction. I understand there will be no guillotine applied to the Bill.

The Taoiseach

The debate will be adjourned if it is not concluded.

Deputy Michael McNamara

I thank the Taoiseach.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Are the proposed arrangements for the week's business agreed to?

Deputies

Not agreed.

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

The Dáil divided: Tá, 69; Níl, 49; Staon, 0.

Tá

• Brophy, Colm.
• Browne, James.
• Bruton, Richard.
• Butler, Mary.
• Cahill, Jackie.
• Calleary, Dara.
• Cannon, Ciarán.
• Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
• Chambers, Jack.
• Collins, Niall.
• Costello, Patrick.
• Coveney, Simon.
• Cowen, Barry.
• Crowe, Cathal.
• Devlin, Cormac.
• Dillon, Alan.
• Donnelly, Stephen.
• Donohoe, Paschal.
• Duffy, Francis Noel.
• Durkan, Bernard J.
• English, Damien.
• Farrell, Alan.
• Feighan, Frankie.
• Flaherty, Joe.
• Foley, Norma.
• Griffin, Brendan.
• Harris, Simon.
• Haughey, Seán.
• Heydon, Martin.
• Higgins, Emer.
• Humphreys, Heather.
• Kehoe, Paul.
• Lahart, John.
• Lawless, James.
• Leddin, Brian.
• Madigan, Josepha.
• Martin, Catherine.
• Matthews, Steven.
• McAuliffe, Paul.
• McConalogue, Charlie.
• McGrath, Michael.
• McNamara, Michael.
• Moynihan, Aindrias.
• Moynihan, Michael.
• Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
• Murphy, Verona.
• Naughten, Denis.
• Naughton, Hildegarde.
• Noonan, Malcolm.
• O'Brien, Darragh.
• O'Brien, Joe.
• O'Callaghan, Jim.
• O'Connor, James.
• O'Dea, Willie.
• 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.
• Smith, Brendan.
• Smyth, Niamh.
• Smyth, Ossian.
• Stanton, David.
• Troy, Robert.
• Varadkar, Leo.

Níl

• Andrews, Chris.
• Bacik, Ivana.
• Boyd Barrett, Richard.
• Brady, John.
• Browne, Martin.
• Buckley, Pat.
• Cairns, Holly.
• Carthy, Matt.
• Clarke, Sorca.
• Collins, Michael.
• Conway-Walsh, Rose.
• Cronin, Réada.
• Daly, Pa.
• Doherty, Pearse.
• Donnelly, Paul.
• Ellis, Dessie.
• Farrell, Mairéad.
• Funchion, Kathleen.
• Gannon, Gary.
• Guirke, Johnny.
• Healy-Rae, Danny.
• Healy-Rae, Michael.
• Kenny, Gino.
• Kenny, Martin.
• Kerrane, Claire.
• McDonald, Mary Lou.
• McGrath, Mattie.
• Mitchell, Denise.
• Munster, Imelda.
• Murphy, Catherine.
• Murphy, Paul.
• Mythen, Johnny.
• Nash, Ged.
• O'Callaghan, Cian.
• O'Donoghue, Richard.
• O'Reilly, Louise.
• O'Rourke, Darren.
• Ó Broin, Eoin.
• Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
• Ó Murchú, Ruairí.
• Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
• Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
• Pringle, Thomas.
• Ryan, Patricia.
• Shortall, Róisín.
• Smith, Bríd.
• Stanley, Brian.
• Tóibín, Peadar.
• Tully, Pauline.

Staon

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Hildegarde Naughton and Cormac Devlin; Níl, Deputies Denise Mitchell and Bríd Smith.

Question declared carried.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

It has not been a good year for delays to a range of key farm payments. Farmers have already experienced serious delays to BISS payments and to payments under the ANC and eco-schemes. Thousands of these payments are still outstanding. Now, this trend of delay is affecting payments under the agri-environmental scheme known as ACRES. Many farmers have been told the very best they can hope for is for these payments to land from February 2024.

Farmers were actively encouraged by the Government to undertake work and incur expense under this scheme. Now, their bills are mounting up and they are being left high and dry as we approach Christmas. Does the Taoiseach agree with me that this is completely unacceptable? Will he tell the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, to step in urgently to ensure these payments are made before Christmas, as was promised? Thousands of farming families are depending on them.

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

The Department of agriculture, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and I are working hard to make sure farmers across the board are supported and will receive their payments in due course.

In the first year as part of the new Common Agricultural Policy, we have seen €1.2 billion being paid out under that to 113,000 farmers. There was big pressure on the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, with only 30,000 places where 46,000 people applied. We facilitated those 46,000 farmers who will all be able to join. That put significant pressure in the first year of the new scheme and on the all new area monitoring computer systems. There has been pressure and not all farmers have been able to receive the ACRES payment as soon as we would have liked but there will be payments made next week to a significant cohort of ACRES farmers and they are all due to be communicated with in due course. The remainder will be paid as soon as possible early into the new year.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I want to raise with the Taoiseach again the suffering of the people of Gaza as they continue to endure the relentless bombing by Israel with over 18,000 now dead. I very much welcome the Government's announcement that it has been working with like-minded governments in the EU, namely, Belgium, Spain and Malta, to press the European Council this Thursday and Friday for a ceasefire. That is very welcome and we absolutely support him on that.

It is also welcome to hear that he will be raising the question of sanctions against violent settlers and, indeed, against Hamas. I ask for clarity because I think the Taoiseach also said he would press for a review of the EU Israel Association Agreement. Will the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste be pressing to invoke Article 82 of that agreement which provides for cancellation of the agreement in light of the very serious ongoing issues, of the UN Security Council vote last week and of what the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNWRA, is telling us, which is that it is now unable to cope with the waves of disease and devastation which are sweeping across Gaza? Will the Government invoke Article 82 of the agreement and press at EU level for that to be done?

The Taoiseach

Ireland wants the EU to utilise its influence on Israel and the proposal for targeted sanctions against violent settlers, as well as Hamas, is now a matter of discussion at EU level. On Monday at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, the Tánaiste asked for the European Union to examine the EU Israel Association Agreement given the severity of the crisis in Gaza. However, any proposals to suspend the association agreement would require consensus or unanimity and the conditions for that do not exist.

Deputy Holly Cairns

The Government says that it is cutting support to Ukrainian refugees to bring it in line with other EU countries but, of course, it is very difficult to make comparisons of temporary protection supports across the EU. That is, because, for instance, some countries have free public services and the cost of living is varied across different countries. Some provide both federal and local level supports. In addition to that, the Department of Justice stated that 30% of Ukrainian refugees have come here after having spent time in other EU countries.

Can the Taoiseach provide any detail about that 30% figure? How long are people spending in other EU countries before they arrive? Are they just passing through? Have they spent considerable time in EU countries? Is it potentially connection flights? Does the Taoiseach know what proportion of those people are travelling here to be reunited with family?

To sum it up, we want to have a debate which is based upon facts. Will the Taoiseach publish all of the data which the Government is basing this decision on and will he publish it today so that we have that information?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy and she is absolutely correct to say that comparisons are difficult to do from member state to member state, given the different costs of living and social services which are available. Obviously, education will remain available to children coming from Ukraine as will the provision of medical cards. There is an entitlement to social protection, once the 90-days in State-provided accommodation runs out, or, if they leave prior to the 90 days, that protection will also kick in.

I do not think that we have ever said that 30% of all Ukrainians who came here were secondary movements; it is 30% in recent weeks or months. I will see if we can get that data for the Deputy. We have a table which compares what is on offer in different member states and we will also provide that.

Deputy Paul Murphy

We had a tornado in Leitrim at the weekend. Extreme weather events will become a more and more common occurrence as we head towards climate catastrophe. Meanwhile in Dubai, negotiations are continuing around an entirely inadequate draft text for COP 28.

The Taoiseach's speech at the opening of COP 28 was widely condemned by environmental activists as a copout. He chose to call only for an extremely vague planned reduction of fossil fuels rather than phasing out fossil fuels completely. Now, any mention of the phasing out of fossil fuels has been deleted from the draft text by the chair of the conference, Sultan Al Jaber, who is also the head of the UAE's national oil company, ADNOC.

If, after 28 conferences, there is still not agreement on the basic point of the need to phase out fossil fuels, does the Taoiseach agree it is time to shift venues, change the script and support an alternative process? Will he come out in clear support of a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty? Will he ensure Ireland becomes the first western state to support that and push the EU to get behind a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. I think he is mistaken, or perhaps whichever NGOs are briefing him are mistaken, as we have called for a phase-down, followed by a phase-out, of all unabated fossil fuels. That is the position of the Irish Government and indeed of the European Union, which the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is advancing in Dubai as we speak. We would have to look at any treaty. I have not seen this treaty. I have been lobbied about it, but nobody has produced to me a copy of this treaty. Generally, when it comes to any treaty, we would expect to be involved in the negotiations of it. It is not good practice to hand a treaty to somebody and ask them if they will sign it. They are supposed to be included in the negotiations first, at the very least.

Deputy Verona Murphy

Yesterday there was a mini tornado in Leitrim. Many of the people in Wexford watched with interest as the Taoiseach proclaimed he would bring a memo or a proposal to Cabinet that would see relief and support for the people of Leitrim. Thirteen months ago I sent the Taoiseach videos from Wexford of the mini tornado we had, which happened during the Hallowe'en recess. The scenes were that of Armageddon. There were no reliefs and, 13 months later, not one red cent has been paid to the people of Wexford. What reliefs is the Government proposing for the people of Leitrim and will they be extended and afforded to the people, mostly of south County Wexford although some in the north of the county were also affected?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. I had an opportunity to visit Leitrim village yesterday and witness at first hand the damage done by the tornado. Having visited many places that have experienced a disaster, it was more reminiscent of an explosion than what you would expect to see from flooding, for example, or other events. It was discussed briefly at Cabinet today but there was no memo. What will be in place for the people in Leitrim is exactly what was in place for the people in Wexford, that is-----

Deputy Verona Murphy

So nothing; that means nothing, Taoiseach. It means nothing because they have been given nothing 13 months later.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I thank the Deputy.

The Taoiseach

It is the following-----

Deputy Verona Murphy

Do not mislead the people.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy, please.

The Taoiseach

It is the following three things: the humanitarian scheme that is being opened by the Department of Social Protection, and community welfare officers were there yesterday; microfinance, a loan for business people until the insurance comes through-----

Deputy Verona Murphy

It is scurrilous, Taoiseach, that you stand there knowing none of those things fit-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy.

Deputy Verona Murphy

-----for the people of Wexford or Leitrim.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy, please.

The Taoiseach

-----and, finally, additional funding for the local authority for any repairs that may be necessary to the public realm. Those are the three things in place for both Leitrim and Wexford.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Go raibh maith agat. Ag bogadh ar aghaidh anois go dtí an Teachta Mattie McGrath.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

The Taoiseach's Government has forgotten about the farmers. I have been contacted by numerous farmers from Tipperary, Waterford and all over the country about the sudden, unannounced change by Revenue on the refund of VAT for unregistered farmers. This is a massive change. Farmers have put in huge investment and that is ongoing. It is dependent on getting the VAT back at 23%, which is a huge sum for many farmers. There have been refusals for such items as meal bins, milk bulk tanks, automatic calf feeders, milking parlour equipment and automatic scrapers. Is the Government trying to destroy farming completely? These farmers entered into this in good faith and encompassed in their quotation was getting the VAT back. They got the loans to do this on the basis the VAT would be a big help to repay them. Suddenly, Revenue, and the Minister, Deputy McGrath, has referred to this in the Finance Bill, has just decided farmers cannot get the VAT refunded. This is shocking because it could break some farmers and is a breach of trust. There was mention of Leitrim and Wexford, but the farmers seem to be the last people to get anything. It is to hell or to Connacht.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. I understand this is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. It is a Revenue interpretation. I will let the Minister for Finance know the Deputy raised it and ask him to respond to the Deputy directly.

Deputy Thomas Pringle

A recent statement from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland regarding the mortgageability of homes remediated under the flawed defective blocks scheme says assurances regarding the future mortgageability of properties remediated under the grants scheme cannot be given by the banking sector alone, that future mortageability is dependent on the sign-off and certification by others of remediation works under the grant scheme, and that it requires assurances by engineers, valuers, surveyors, insurers, conveyancing solicitors and any other party involved in the conveyancing transaction process, as would be standard for any property. This matter underscores the need for a cross-sectoral response through the establishment of a dedicated oversight committee which the BPFI has formally requested of the Department of housing. Will the Taoiseach's Government establish a committee as envisaged by the BPFI? The redress focus groups also wrote to Ministers in early November requesting emergency funding for a support hub. Will the Government provide funding for that? Last of all, new research commissioned by the Department of housing now shows pyrrhotite oxidation and internal sulphate attack are the main causes of the degradation which also affects foundations and is not currently covered in the legislation. Will the Taoiseach commit to bringing forward legislation to cover them?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy, who has raised a number of important issues. It would not be right to make commitments on the floor of the Dáil, but I will certainly speak to the Minister for housing about the matter and ask him to get back to Deputy Pringle directly.

Deputy Ciarán Cannon

The programme for Government contains a commitment to carry out an audit of school buildings across the country to ensure we have adequate capacity for future enrolment. There is a major capacity issue presenting in Athenry. Fortunately, we are seeing significant population growth in Athenry and its environs, but the secondary school capacity in the town is simply incapable of dealing with the numbers presenting. It is envisaged that next September there will be a shortfall of up to 100 secondary school places in Athenry. I asked a question in the Chamber two weeks ago about what the Department of Education intended to do about that. It was informed of this demographic challenge two years ago and to date it has not done anything to address the challenge. It needs to be addressed because, as I said, next September, we will have up to 100 children with potentially nowhere to go to school at post-primary level. It also needs to be addressed with an eye on the longer term in the next decade or so, because the numbers are set to grow even further in that period.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. What is usually done is the Department of Education looks at the child benefit stats to assess the number of places needed for primary school and then looks at the numbers in the primary schools to work out how many are needed for the secondary schools. From experience in my constituency, it can sometimes appear there is a very large shortfall in places, but once children are matched and those who may have two or three places accept one and not the others, a lot of places become free and that number comes down dramatically. However, I am not saying that is the case with Athenry because I do not have the details on it. I will ensure the Minister, Deputy Foley, knows it was raised and perhaps she will come back to Deputy Cannon directly.

Deputy Brendan Smith

I also want to raise the delay in payments for some participants in ACRES. As we know, it is a very important environmental scheme and helps to compensate farmers for costs incurred in carrying out additional environmental measures. Farmers in the scheme have carried out those tasks and considerable costs have been incurred. The importance of the scheme is illustrated very clearly, with 46,600 participants. The farmers understood the payments would be made at the end of November. I understand a sizeable cohort of those participants have been told they may not receive payments until February. There has been a history of advance payments for particular schemes over the years in the Department. I would like the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, to give urgent consideration to the introduction of an advanced payment of a sizeable proportion of, say, 80% to 85%. If any issues then arose in finalising the applications, the balancing payment could offset any non-compliance issue, etc. This is something that needs urgent attention. Farmers were depending on these payments to meet ongoing commitments on their farms.

Deputy Martin Heydon

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this important issue. As I stated, 46,000 farmers applied for ACRES and were all facilitated, even though initially the number of participants it could be anticipated could be taken in was just 30,000. There have been challenges in the additional complexity associated with the co-operation stream, the CP stream, and payments by ACRES CP participants are being progressed and will begin to issue in February 2024. Payments will commence on 18 December, with two thirds of all the ACRES recipients in receipt of them. I will bring to the Minister's attention the specific suggestion Deputy Smith put forward.

Deputy Johnny Mythen

As the Taoiseach is aware all children, including those with special needs, have a constitutional right to be educated in a place and manner that is appropriate to their needs. I understand the Educate Together school in Gorey has an ASD unit fully funded and ready to go.

It has space for six students and a further 18 on its waiting list. However, it is waiting on the go-ahead from the Department, which is holding up the project. Will the Taoiseach please investigate the cause of the delay? It is most important to have this decision sanctioned as soon as possible as it is unfair and is having a detrimental effect on the families who should have the right to know where their children's educational needs lie.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising the important of issue of special needs in Gorey. I do not have up-to-date information on the unit but I will make some inquiries with the office of the relevant Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, today and come back to the Deputy as soon as I have more information.

Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne

In just six days, it will be one year since the heartbreaking death of a beautiful young girl in UHL after she lay in the accident and emergency department for 12 hours with untreated sepsis. As a parent, there is no worse nightmare than what her family went through on that day. I again express my deepest sympathies for their loss.

In the days following her death and into the Christmas period, the wheels truly fell off at UHL. A major internal incident was declared. At the same time, Shannondoc became completely overwhelmed, dealing, on average, with one patient every minute. Calls went unanswered, which meant my constituents were denied basic access to healthcare over Christmas and into the new year. They cannot be left to face this scenario again. What measures have the Taoiseach and the Government put in place at UHL to deal with surge capacity over the Christmas period? I want assurances the HSE will be holding a microscope over the poor management of UHL. I want to know how Shannondoc will be supported to avoid collapse. The Taoiseach should be under no illusion. If we see a repeat if the fiasco that went on last year, I will be seeking accountability on behalf of County Clare.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. There were quite a number of questions there and I will not be able to answer them in the time allowed. I offer my sincere condolences to Aoife's family on their tragic loss. I understand the HSE has received the review in recent days and is considering the serious and significant issues that arise. Its representatives have offered to meet the family privately to discuss the matter further.

There has been considerable investment in University Hospital Limerick in recent years. Since this Government came into office, an additional 150 beds have been opened across the group, with 98 of them in UHL alone. Work is under way on a new 96-bed inpatient block. That is under way. There have been increases in budget and staff, and a close eye is being kept on management and clinical leadership because both are as necessary as resources when it comes to reducing overcrowding.

Deputy Fergus O'Dowd

A HIQA report on Castlebridge Manor Nursing Home was published this week. It shows non-compliance with seven out of ten regulations. This is the third inspection in 12 months which shows significant non-compliance in respect of governance, healthcare and staffing. I believe this is institutional abuse and elder abuse. It is absolutely appalling that people who are not incontinent are forced to wear incontinence wear for up to four hours at a time because of a lack of staff. In some parts of that home, people are forced into bed at 8 p.m. The personal hygiene of some residents is tended to at 5 a.m. or 11.30 p.m. There is inadequate assistance at mealtimes. There is a lack of staff. There are issues around bedsores. Human rights are being ignored. This report ought to be referred to the Garda in respect of elder abuse and also referred to professional bodies. The directors of homes such as this, which are badly run, must face financial penalties.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. I have not had the chance to read this particular report but certainly what the Deputy has described is deeply worrying and concerning. HIQA has a number of options it can take, including a closure order, for example. However, I should take a look at the report before saying any more.

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan

I raise the issue of the former Ashbourne House Hotel in Glounthaune. I understand that accommodation and migration are very topical issues at the moment and I need to highlight this case on the floor of the Dáil. I was called to the former hotel on Friday two weeks ago and met more than 30 families who received a letter that day to tell them they had to vacate the premises by the following Wednesday. They were not just going to another accommodation centre in the general area but were moving to Cork. There are people living there who are in college and others who are attending autism classes locally. One school is potentially going to lose 17 kids, over time, which will lead to the loss of a teacher. One guy is working for the county council. These people are, in many cases, being given five days' notice to leave the setting. It is an appalling situation. I do not think that is how we should be settling issues relating to accommodation.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the former Ashbourne House Hotel in Glounthaune. I know the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is familiar with the issue and the concerns that have been raised. We are in a difficult situation whereby we are trying to manage accommodation on an almost daily basis. We are trying to move people from places to free up spaces for others. I can ask the Minister or members of his team to talk directly to the Deputy to see what options might be available.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

The Respond announcement about plans for just under 3,000 new cost-rental homes by next September is very welcome. However, a problem was highlighted to me by Jane, who is a single mum with one child. She is working and earns €42,000 net and is, therefore, over the threshold of income for social housing. Her income is not sufficient, however, to allow her to pay the rent according to the guidelines for cost rental.

Jimmy, a single dad with two children, who earns €46,000 net, is over the social housing income threshold. He should be eligible for the cost-rental scheme but is not because the rent for the cost rental is too high for his income. Rent is supposed to be no more than 35% of a person's income. The scheme does not align with the incomes of those for whom it is supposed to be providing cost-rental housing. I have made this point previously. These are just two examples and I could give the Taoiseach more. There is a problem that needs to be addressed. These people are being left in limbo.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. We keep all these things under constant review. No matter what income limits are designed, there will always be people just above that limit. No matter what rent is set, there will always be some people who can and cannot afford it. No matter where those levels are set, the same problems and challenges will arise. I should say that the whole point of cost rental is that it is cost rental. The rent must be able to cover the cost of building the building itself and not without a profit.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

My point is that the criteria for the scheme are not aligning.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We are over time.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

The Taoiseach needs to look at that. The criteria are not aligning-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy-----

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

-----for the people for whom the scheme is supposed to be providing.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Táimid thar am. We are way over time. There are three contributors left and I will take them together, one after another. I call an Teachta Rose Conway-Walsh.

Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh

I welcome Harry, Lorcan and Karen Keely to the Gallery. I raise the seriousness of the delay in ACRES. Delay impacts not only the families of the farmers but also suppliers, local businesses and contractors who desperately need that money. The issue is also going to impact taxation. It means that for two payments in one year, recipients are going to be taxed more than they would otherwise be. Their incomes will be eroded on that basis. I support the call for advance payments. There is no reason an advance payment of, say, 85% could not be done in this situation. Will the Minister of State be contacting all farmers? They all need to be contacted about this issue. I ask the Government to do those advance payments of at least 85%. Anything that needs to be reclaimed can be reclaimed later but advance payments must be provided. This is not the fault of farmers.

Deputy Gino Kenny

In October, the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use made more than 30 recommendations in respect of our drugs policy. Has the Taoiseach received that report from the chair of the assembly? If so, when will he make it public? Most importantly, what does the Government plan to do to implement those recommendations?

Deputy Matt Carthy

After 65 days of brutal Israeli assaults on Gaza, more than 18,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 6,000 children. It must stop. The world must force Israel to stop. I welcome that the Irish Government has joined Spain, Belgium and Malta in urging the European Union to call for a ceasefire. The failure of the EU to adopt that position already has undermined Europe's credibility as a voice for peace, international law and conflict resolution. I hope EU leaders will finally act. However, if they do not, will the Taoiseach commit to working with those other signatories and other states, inside and outside the EU, to bring forward measures to put a price on Israel's blatant breaches of international law? There must be diplomatic, economic and trade penalties for a regime that is breaching international law in such a blatant manner.

Deputy Martin Heydon

On the issue raised by Deputy Conway-Walsh, I absolutely accept there is a challenge for farmers with regard to ACRES payments, particularly farmers who have worked with their advisors and undertaken the measures to be implemented this year. As I have said here already, payments will commence next week on 18 December for two thirds of all ACRES general participants. Those payments are in the final stages of being processed for this year. Due to the additional complexity associated with the co-operation project or CP stream, payments for ACRES CP participants are being progressed and are scheduled and will begin to issue in February 2024. I will bring the point the Deputy raised about advanced payments back to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue.

The Taoiseach

On the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use, I have not received the report yet. The practice would be to present it to the Cabinet and the Oireachtas and then refer it to an Oireachtas joint committee for further consideration. I am not sure whether that would be the committee on health or on justice, or both in the circumstances, but we will make that decision once the report is received. I would usually meet the chairperson as well and have a chance to talk through the report.

On Deputy Carthy's question, we are in discussions with like-minded EU states in relation to Gaza, Israel and Palestine. We are very strongly of the view that any action, if taken, needs to be on a multilateral basis and not unilaterally to be effective.