Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2024

Vol. 1061 No. 1

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

When Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil joined together with the Green Party in coalition four years ago, they promised that it would be the Government to fix housing. This was a very bold claim from the parties that had, in fact, created the housing crisis in the first place. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have had more than a decade to solve housing but it has only made it worse. Now, as their Government heads for the exit door, their record of failure is clear and people live with it every day.

House prices are through the roof and are far beyond the reach of working people. Rip-off rents are at record levels and continue to soar and tenants are facing the prospect of eviction. A level of homelessness, which we never ever thought we would see, is increasing month after month. While so many struggle to put and keep a secure roof over their heads, the Government's affordable housing schemes make a mockery of the word "affordable" by hanging price tags of more than half a million euro on so-called affordable homes in some areas. It has courted and backed vulture and cuckoo funds, promoted build-to-rent and tolerated the bulk buying of homes from under the noses of first-time buyers. Yet the Taoiseach and Micheál Martin spin the line that the Government has turned the corner on housing. It has not. So far, their Government has delivered less homes this year than last year. That is not turning a corner; it is called going backwards.

The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, spent months promising new housing targets but Micheál Martin was not best pleased. After all, joint housing targets simply draw attention to their joint failure. A sham fight ensued with petty politicking and then the Tánaiste buckled. Now, in the dying week of the Government, they have finally set their new housing targets and, lo and behold, they are too low again. They are 20% lower than what the Government's own Housing Commission states is needed. This demonstrates why people cannot afford another government led by Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil because the housing crisis will continue and worsen, house prices, rents and homelessness will continue to increase, thereby leaving more working people locked out of affordable housing and with what choice? The boxroom of their parent's house or getting fleeced in the rental sector if they can find somewhere or being forced to emigrate. That is what the Government offers.

The good news is that people can put an end to the Government's housing disaster in this election.

Deputy Matt Carthy

Hear, hear.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

They can choose to back a real housing plan from Sinn Féin. This is a plan to make housing affordable, to bring homeownership back to the reach of working people, to get families off council waiting lists and into homes, to end long-term homelessness and to give hope back to a generation so badly failed by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. This is hope that they can have a home of their own and build a good life here in Ireland.

Léiríonn Fine Gael agus Fianna Fáil nach réiteodh siad ceist na tithíochta. Tá sé thar am don bhunathrú a leagtar amach i bplean Shinn Féin a chuirfeadh tithe inacmhainne ar fáil agus a chuirfeadh deireadh leis an ngéarchéim tithíochta. Workers and families cry out for affordable secure homes and yet the Taoiseach again stands over housing targets too low to meet housing need. Can he explain that failure again, please?

The Taoiseach

As I rise, I am very conscious of the funeral today of a giant of the press gallery, David Davin-Power. I know I join colleagues across this House in extending my sympathies to David's wife Dearbhla, to his five children and to his wider friends and family. I know we all think of David and his family at this very sad time. We all remember him fondly in this House, as well as his incredible contribution.

I thank Deputy McDonald for raising what is an incredibly important issue, namely, housing. I agree housing is the biggest challenge that faces this generation and it must be the number one priority for government, but we are making progress. The Deputy's failure to acknowledge that progress is not borne out by the realities being experienced by people across this country. There are now 500 individuals or couples buying their first home every week. Deputy McDonald never seems to meet these people but I meet them regularly. People are buying houses each and every week, getting their homes, moving out of the box room, moving in with their partner and moving into a place they can start their career from. We have had housing commencement figures that are really quite extraordinary. Construction is now starting on over 49,000 homes so far this year. This is important progress and something that should give cause for optimism.

Of course, all of this is backed up by the largest housing budget ever in budget 2025. This coming year will see a record €6 billion of capital investment in housing. That is up 20% on last year's allocation. In addition to that, unlike Sinn Féin's plans, which would pull the rug from under first-time buyers, we are actually extending the first home scheme out to 2029 and extending the help-to-buy scheme, which is a scheme that has helped 50,000 first-time buyers. Sinn Féin wants to abolish it for some reason. We are also providing an extra €80 million for the first home scheme as well. We are increasing the renter's tax credit both now and again into next year and today, we agreed housing targets that roughly speaking will see, for every one home that was delivered during the lifetime of this Government, an ability to deliver two over the course of the next five years. That is genuine progress.

The Deputy is quite right that people will have time very shortly to give their view and verdict not just on our housing plans but also on her party's plans.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

Hear, hear.

The Taoiseach

I very much look forward to that as well because people watching should know Sinn Féin wants to abolish the Land Development Agency, an agency that is now capitalised to deliver 18,000 homes. What is Sinn Féin's priority when it gets into government? It is to spend God knows how long passing legislation to scrap that agency when it is building homes. I have been there with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in Shanganagh in Shankill where we have seen people moving into their new homes.

The second question I think people will ask Deputy McDonald is when she is going to tell the people of Ireland what issues the banks have raised with Sinn Féin about its housing plan. She told the people on RTÉ's "This Week" the banks have a couple of issues but the party thinks it can overcome them all. What are the issues? When she gets to her feet, will she please let us know what are the issues? Did the banks raise one issue? Did they raise five? Did they raise three?

Deputy Seán Crowe

This is questions for the Taoiseach.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

People will not get a mortgage on them.

The Taoiseach

What are the issues? People trying to get a mortgage want to know that. It is about a change here. It is not going to be just about Sinn Féin asking me questions. We have questions about its housing plan as well.

Deputy Matt Carthy

We will answer them.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Maybe after the election.

An Ceann Comhairle

Members, please.

The Taoiseach

The third thing is what does Sinn Féin say-----

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Sit over here.

The Taoiseach

-----to the garda married to the nurse who will not be able to qualify for assistance under its plan, because under our plan-----

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin

Not true.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

It is true, Deputy Ó Broin.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

People earning over €90,000.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, a little order.

The Taoiseach

Do not be shouting now. Under our plan, people can get up to €30,000 back through the help-to-buy scheme. Under the Sinn Féin plan, people on a combined income of €95,000 people will receive no support if a house price exceeds €450,000. Under our plan, people who try to buy a house worth €450,000 can get that €30,000 back. Under the Sinn Féin plan they can only get €4,500 back, so yes, there is going to be a choice on offer to the people and yes, Sinn Féin is offering change but it is just not change the people want.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

The Taoiseach's very great problem is nobody believes him.

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin

Hear, hear.

The Taoiseach

Let us see.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

We will see all right.

The Taoiseach

We will see.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

We will see all right. I look forward-----

The Taoiseach

The humility is gone already.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

I look forward to the debate that will ensue-----

The Taoiseach

Me too.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

-----when we place our costed, thoughtful, deliverable plan-----

Deputy James Lawless

If only it had the plan years ago.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

-----that is directed at delivering affordable homes for families, as well as affordable rents and finally tackling the scourge of homelessness. It is a plan rooted in concern for citizens and communities and not kowtowing to the high and mighty vulture funds, cuckoo funds, the big developers and the corporate landlords. That is the Fine Gael way, a Cheann Comhairle, and I look forward to the debate and challenging the Taoiseach on that.

The Taoiseach

Me too.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

It is a fact the Government's belated housing targets are 20% below what is required according to its own Housing Commission.

These are not Sinn Féin figures; they are the Government's figures. The Government has yet again failed to recognise the scale of the crisis and the need we face. I asked the Taoiseach to explain the fact that he has undershot by 20%. The memo was brought to Cabinet. As of yet, I have not seen how many social or affordable housing units are contained in the figures. The Taoiseach might enlighten us on that. On the bigger issue, how is it that, after years of hot air from the Government, even as we exit this Dáil and the Taoiseach walks out the door for the final time, he still undersells and underplays and cannot even get his targets right? For God's sake, the Government is hardly going to build the necessary number of homes when it cannot even do the simple maths.

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin

Hear, hear.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

The Deputy should be down in the Abbey.

The Taoiseach

Deputy McDonald is terribly confident about the outcome of the next election when she says I am walking out the door for the final time and all of this sort of stuff. It is good to see the arrogance is back. The reality is that this Government took a responsible decision today. We decided to set housing targets for the next five years to show people how, over the period from now to 2030, we can deliver 303,000 homes, an average of 50,500 a year. That is going to make a real and meaningful difference to people right across this country. Effectively, it will mean a doubling of new housing supply over that time period. That will enable more first-time buyers to buy their homes. It will enable us to provide more social homes than ever before. We are not coming at this from a standing start. Already we are seeing an increase in mortgage drawdowns and in the number of first-time buyers. We are seeing 500 new individuals and couples buying their first home each and every week. That is progress. There is a lot more to do. The country has the resources to do it. We have the plan to do it.

Deputy Louise O'Reilly

You have had 14 years.

The Taoiseach

We can credibly show people how we are going to do it. Sinn Féin is still refusing to answer the question of the issues the banks raised with it. When will the Deputy tell us what they are? When will she answer those questions?

Deputy Ivana Bacik

By all accounts, this will be the last time the Taoiseach and I speak during Leaders' Questions. I want to ensure constructive engagement rather than engaging in cheap political shots. That is important. It is fitting that I ask the Taoiseach about the issue that, above all else, has defined his Government's term in office, the housing crisis. This affects every family and every community. It is being raised with us every time we knock on doors. I am sure it is being raised with the Taoiseach as well. We know that everyone should have a home and that this crisis is not new. However, it has been compounded year on year by Government inaction, cementing itself as the civil rights issue of this generation and affecting every generation.

The Taoiseach took up his role nearly seven months ago but he has been a member of Cabinet for much longer than that and his Government has been in office for four and a half years. By any objective standard, its housing plan has failed over that time. Rents, evictions and house prices are up. Tragically, the number of people in homelessness is up and is increasing. The slowness of the Taoiseach's Government to take meaningful action on the housing crisis has directly impacted on people's ability to obtain a home and has deprived far too many people of a basic human right. As I said to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, before the recess, over the past four years, the Government could have acted to prevent renters from eviction by passing the Labour Party's renters' rights Bill. It could have acted to keep children out of homelessness by passing our homeless families Bill. Crucially, it could have increased its targets months ago and sought to build more homes. The single biggest impact the Government could have had would have been through the construction of more social and affordable housing, through transforming the Land Development Agency into a State construction company, as we advocated, and through the setting of higher targets, which could have made a real difference.

For some time now, we have all been aware that the Government's housing targets have been a work of fiction. They have been set too low and, in many cases, have not even been met. Successive Government Ministers have conceded to me for over a year now that the targets were too low. Before we broke for recess, I asked the Minister for housing if he would at last provide the revised higher figures before the general election. He did not commit to doing so then. I genuinely welcome the fact that they have now been published and I welcome the Taoiseach's announcement that they will be much higher. However, keeping the targets so low until now has prevented industry from pivoting towards the construction of homes rather than commercial construction. The slowness in other areas has also contributed to delays in construction output. I refer to slowness to amend the critical skills list. During the Taoiseach's tenure as Minister for higher education, we did not see proper action taken to incentivise people to take up apprenticeships or to stay in them.

There is no big strategy for getting more planners, no big recruitment drive and no urgency or ambition to tackle the housing crisis. The ramping up of delivery to the necessary targets the Government is now setting has been delayed by the Taoiseach’s delays. We see no additional capital investment for housing in this budget. The Taoiseach must understand he has gone about this in the wrong way. Does he accept his Government has failed and is continuing to fail on housing?

The Taoiseach

No. I genuinely believe this Government can approach the end of its tenure pointing to the fact that there are very many more homes of a whole variety of different tenures in Ireland now that were not there before this Government came to office. By any objective measure, not only have we hit targets, but we have actually exceeded targets as well.

While I appreciate the constructive way in which Deputy Bacik engages on this important matter, I find it odd when people say the targets were set too low. I remember that not that long ago in this House, only a couple of years ago, people were saying we would not hit those targets and doubting that those targets would ever be realised. When you then hit the target and exceed it, all of a sudden the target was too low.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

That is not how it happened.

The Taoiseach

The target was a fair reflection of what could be delivered when we were having to rebuild a construction sector almost from scratch. As a result, we have now absolutely exceeded the targets. Deputy Bacik has been a voice in this House calling for revised targets to be published, which the Government has now done today. That anchors the discussion for the weeks ahead. This Government believes we can deliver over 300,000 homes between now and 2030. We have outlined a breakdown of how many we believe can be delivered in each of those years. It will absolutely be up to political parties in their manifestos and in the time ahead in government formation discussions to outline what they believe the mix of that should be in terms of social homes, affordable homes and private-to-buy homes. I know people will have constructive ideas in that regard.

As regards the Land Development Agency, I would argue that in many ways we have gotten a lot of the way to what the Deputy is suggesting. The LDA is now partnering with many councils across the country to deliver homes on public land. I often hear in this House the need to deliver public homes on public land. That is now actively happening in many locations across the country.

On apprenticeships, we have taken a lot of action to try to incentivise apprenticeships, including providing financial assistance to anyone who takes on a new apprentice, accepting and understanding that the cost of actually training an apprentice, particularly for a small business or construction company, can be real. As a result, we have provided significant financial grants to businesses that take on apprentices.

We have also resourced other sectors. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has led on things such as staffing levels in An Bord Pleanála, which are up approximately 50%. Hundreds of more planners are in place right across our local authority system as well.

Today, however, we try to move forward by actually anchoring the debate and discussion about where we can get Ireland to over the lifetime of the next Government. That is a scenario in which, roughly speaking, for every new home built during the lifetime of this Government, two homes could be built in the lifetime of the next Government. Of course, all of that is contingent on a Government that will engage truthfully on this issue, have the credibility to show how it can do so and, of course, an economy which can continue to actually fund the delivery and the building of those houses.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

While I welcome the very late publication of revised targets, I regret the fact they are being published so late. It is just not good policy-making to set targets that are too low for too long and then at the eleventh hour, one month before many offices will close for Christmas, to bring in new targets, especially when they are not being funded adequately. I have serious concerns about the lateness of the setting of the new targets.

I regularly speak with those in the construction industry who want to be part of a building programme that lifts people out of homelessness and ensures a more ambitious and urgent delivery of homes but they are fundamentally stymied in achieving that ambition because the Government has simply failed to support them adequately until now. Now, on the week the Dáil is apparently to be dissolved, we see those targets finally being raised. For more than one year, we in the Labour Party have consistently been saying that the targets need to be in the vicinity of 50,000 new builds per year in order to meet the scale of demand. That is what we are hearing every day in our communities and I know the Taoiseach is hearing it too. It is simply too late now to be setting those revised targets with any prospect of making real change in the lifetime of this Government. It is important the Taoiseach acknowledges that at this point for those who are in homelessness and for those who are seeking to achieve their own home.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

What about the second bicycle shelter?

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I have already responded on that and I am not going to take that again. I am not taking it anymore.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

I will not start on you.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

And a million houses.

Deputy Ged Nash

Ignoramus. Absolute ignoramus.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

A million houses and a bicycle shelter.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy.

Deputy Ged Nash

Ignoramus. I hope that is unparliamentary language.

An Ceann Comhairle

I call order for Deputy Michael Lowry.

The Taoiseach

I have still to respond.

An Ceann Comhairle

Sorry. I was distracted.

The Taoiseach

That is okay.

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan

It happens to us all, a Cheann Comhairle.

Deputy Ged Nash

It is a free pass Deputy Danny Healy-Rae gets all the time.

The Taoiseach

Deputy Bacik has made a number of important points. As regards the targets, being honest, there is probably not much surprise about the fact that the targets are rising. The Deputy has suggested figures, as have all Opposition and Government parties, as to where housing needs to get to. We have heard figures getting to-----

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

The Government's commission clarified this.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy, please. We will let the Taoiseach answer.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

There is no guesswork involved.

The Taoiseach

We will have our detailed debate soon, but 50,000 to 60,000 homes are figures I have heard in this House and from people right across the building sector. Being honest, however, nearly the more important part, or at least as important a part, was getting the national planning framework for this. The old version of the national planning framework does not an ability to deliver that number of homes in terms of land and zoned land across our country. What we have done today, therefore, is not just set the figures for the coming years, which I hope will anchor the discussion, and I appreciate the Deputy's welcome, but also put out the national planning framework in a draft form in order that the system can prepare for whoever the Irish people decide to be in government in terms of being ready for that increase in scale. Approximately 40% to 50% of homes being built in this country are somewhat subvented by the taxpayer. That is an incredible level of intervention and is almost unparalleled across the European Union.

Deputy Michael Lowry

Throughout the lifetime of the Government, I have emphasised the need to maintain and expand the services that exist for older people within our communities. The Templemore community care project is a group that oversees the provision of a range of vital services, including day care for older people, a community preschool, community social work, family support services, Traveller support services and an invaluable meals on wheels service. The work of this group is the heartbeat of a very wide-ranging community. They provide a lifeline for an ever-growing number of people in Templemore and neighbouring parishes. Services are currently delivered from a premises in the town. Day care attendees range between 75 and 90 years of age. Restrictions on space prevent the extension of services to those aged 65 to 75. One community room acts as both sitting room and dining room, and there are no outdoor recreational areas. Access to physiotherapy and other ancillary services is by chairlift. Underlining this issue of space is the fact that some clients can be catered for only one day a week, with an ever-growing waiting list for places. Existing facilities just about allow for the cooking of meals for the day care attendees and meals on wheels clients. Capacity to meet the ever-growing demand does not exist in the current location.

There is, however, a solution to this situation. In the heart of Templemore is a now vacant convent building occupied by the Sisters of Mercy since 1873. It contains large spaces and stands on 2.5 acres of beautiful grounds. This building, which is in remarkably good condition, provides the perfect setting for the provision of services in the community. The building has the capacity to accommodate and greatly expand key services to support the elderly, children, families and marginalised groups. This former convent, which has overseen the education of a huge percentage of the local population, holds the key to the present and future care of generations to come. The local committee has secured agreement on the purchase of this cherished building. The committee will make the maximum contribution possible towards its purchase. This will be enhanced by the generosity of local people who are conscious of the need for the ongoing and increased provision of invaluable services. The cost of securing this building cannot be undertaken without financial assistance from the State. The HSE has a duty of care to meet the needs of those served by Templemore community services. Their contribution to its purchase is crucial to its future. I ask the Taoiseach and his officials to engage with the HSE and other State agencies to secure their financial assistance to complete the purchase and alteration of this building. Templemore social services is essentially a voluntary group. On a daily basis, they deliver vital support for older people. The many people from Templemore and surrounding parishes benefit enormously. Those people greatly appreciate the quality of care and attention. The Government, through its agencies, must give practical and financial support to a very deserving project.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I wish to begin by expressing my appreciation, and, I am sure, that of everybody in this House, of everybody who has worked or is working or volunteering with Templemore Community Services Centre and indeed day centres right across Ireland. We are lucky to have around 300 day centres and around 300 meals on wheels locations right across the country. I am conscious that some of these organisations are run directly by the HSE, but so many of them, although grant-aided by the HSE, are overwhelmingly run and supported by volunteers with a real Irish sense of meitheal. In answering the Deputy’s question, I take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank people working in Templemore Community Services Centre and all such centres right across Ireland.

I very much noted in his contribution the esteem in which the organisation is held and how vital the services it provides are to the local community. He is right that it is not unfair to say that when organisations provide such vital services, they should expect the State to step up and partner with them to enable delivery. It is not good enough just to thank people; we must try to support them as well.

Having spoken to the Minister for Health on this, I know that Templemore Community Services Centre has expressed an interest in the old Convent of Mercy. I understand the HSE has issued a letter of support to Templemore Community Services Centre in relation to its requirement for additional space to develop its services. The HSE has committed to me that it will engage directly with the centre. Therefore, the need for additional space is acknowledged and supported by the HSE. We very much look forward, as a Government, to doing all we can to support Templemore Community Services Centre in its efforts on this.

The service provides day care services five days per week, with a maximum daily capacity at the site of 20 people. As the Deputy pointed out, the centre needs and wants to do more, and it needs more space to achieve this. The core annual funding for the site is €263,303, which is provided for the provision of the day services and meal collection services. However, we will work with the Deputy and Templemore Community Services Centre to determine whether more progress can be made on advancing its interest in the convent site.

Deputy Michael Lowry

I thank the Taoiseach for his consideration of this proposal. Tomorrow morning, the HSE will meet representatives of the local action committee. It is important that when they put forward a proposal to the Department of Health, it is received favourably and some funding is provided immediately. I am very familiar with the local group who work behind the scenes. They are very dedicated, committed and hard-working. I have met them on several occasions. Their determination to continue to see their work benefit the community is inspiring. I have given the committee much time and advice and I am convinced of the merits of the project. We have to ensure the centre gets some capital funding to make sure the project comes to fruition. When the HSE provides a report to the Department, some financial support should be granted to allow the project to proceed.

The Taoiseach

I know time is getting short around here but that was very quick and efficient. I stood up only a minute ago but the Deputy has said the HSE and committee are having the meeting tomorrow. That worked out well. This is an important issue. I am pleased to hear from the Deputy that the meeting between the HSE and Templemore Community Services Centre will take place tomorrow.

The Government fully recognises and agrees with the Deputy and the centre that there is a need for additional space. We have to provide the opportunity and space for proper engagement between the HSE and the community services, but I am aware that the Government, including the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, are committed to doing what they can to support the organisation. I hope we have shown good faith in this regard over recent years through what we have invested in older people’s services. In fact, the budget for 2025 will bring investment in older people’s services next year close to €3 billion, representing an increase of €349 million on the figure for this year. We have increased the budget for older people’s services by approximately 50% in the lifetime of the Government, and I hope that shows the value we attach to caring for older people in our community. We will continue to keep a close eye on this.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

I welcome to Dáil Éireann almost 30 retired nurses who devoted their lives to working in hospitals and caring for the sick, and I commend them on the service they gave. I remind the Taoiseach that these are the very people who came back to help during the Covid period, in 2021 and 2022.

The Government is now taking and demanding money out of their pensions. The Government is abating the pensions of these very people, by €2,700, €5,000 and €25,000 for a man who had a high dependency job. These are the people the Government is trying to tax. That is what Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are doing to these grand people who are here.

I also want to ask the Taoiseach about the embargo in Kerry. Up to 120 posts have not been filled for many months. The Taoiseach says there is no embargo. There has been an embargo since last November. A girl came back from Australia or somewhere else last March and the Government will not give her job back. That is the gospel truth. There are beds closed and empty in all our hospitals - the district hospital and University Hospital Kerry - because they have no one to man them.

Respite care for the elderly and for those with physical and intellectual disabilities need to be greatly enhanced because it is almost non-existent. The means test for carer's allowance needs to be abolished now. Waiting times for procedures and surgeries need to be reduced. Waiting for assessments for children with autism, ADHD and mental health issues has to be dealt with urgently as early intervention is paramount for these children. Yesterday, I received a response to a parliamentary question I sent to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, stating that the current waiting time is 30 months. God almighty, is that what the Taoiseach is presiding over? Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are joined together. The Taoiseach told people in Kerry during his speedy trip around it that he had a way out of this and he would appoint another Minister instead of Deputy Donnelly when the election was over. Do not laugh. I could bring the man the Taoiseach told here. It would be no bother in the world.

Ambulance cover needs to be increased, not reduced. The Government closed down the only eye clinic we had in Kerry, in Tralee, five or six months ago. At the same time, it reduced the reimbursement I was getting for taking people to Belfast to save their eyes. This is what the Government has been at-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Thank you, Deputy. We will move on.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

-----and what the Taoiseach is presiding over. No matter how much they try to disentangle from each other, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are one crowd. They might as well rename themselves and get a new party because that is what they are. The Taoiseach does not want to take on the Greens because they get ministerial posts and the posts of Taoiseach and Tánaiste for themselves. That is what they are doing.

An Ceann Comhairle

Thank you, Deputy.

The Taoiseach

They liked that Deputy. I was in Kerry and there was nothing speedy about it actually. I was there for most of the day.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

You did not stay long

The Taoiseach

Sorry now, hang on a second. The Deputy has to give me a bit of a chance. I was there and indeed when was I driving by on the road, I saw this very large portacabin-type thing - I do not know what it was - with Deputy Healy-Rae's face emblazened across it asking people to vote-----

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

It is a lorry.

The Taoiseach

-----so he is clearly ready for battle.

Deputy Ged Nash

It was a lorry.

The Taoiseach

No, it was not a lorry I saw. The Deputy is clearly ready for battle.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

We know what it is.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy.

Deputy Ged Nash

There was probably no planning permission for it.

The Taoiseach

We will check that.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

It did not cost €326,000. You put more bicycles in here than in the bicycle shed.

The Taoiseach

I welcome the retired nurses from Kerry and thank them for their service in the health service. I will certainly have a word with them in a moment about some of the issues the Deputy has raised. I am not across the detail of that and it does not tally with my information but I will have a word with them in a moment.

When it comes to the health service, I accept of course that it has to live within an allocation and the allocation is larger than it has ever been. It is a hell of a lot larger than when I was Minister for Health. It has now gone from about €16 billion to about €25 billion. The truth also matters. We have funding in place now to hire thousands more people to work in the health service under the leadership of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. As of September 2024, there were 27,744 more staff working in the health service than there were when this Government of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party came into office. That is a 23% increase. There are 9,185 more nurses and midwives, 4,160 more health and social care professionals and 3,479 more doctors and dentists. I will get the Deputy the figures but I have no doubt that in Kerry hospital this means more staff, nurses and doctors than there were only a few years ago.

I accept we need to continue to grow those numbers to support our front-line health services. That is why we have funding for approximately 7,000 more people between now and the end of this year and next year.

The Deputy mentioned the issue of carers and I am glad he did. The means test is mean, and we need to overhaul and reform it. That is why my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has a piece of work that will be concluded by the end of the year relating to the means testing of our carers.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

You will be gone then.

The Taoiseach

All of us, including the Deputy and everybody else in this House, will have a chance to put forward proposals to carers in the days ahead as to what we would do to support them over the next number of years. I am proud of a number of the measures we have taken, under the leadership of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, in providing additional payments before Christmas to our carers, as well as the double child benefit payment being provided today, the double pension payment provided last week, the fuel allowance lump sum payment that will be provided this week, and many more measures that I know make a real difference to people in County Kerry. I met them in Kerry. I met them in Listowel, Tralee and Killarney. I met them with a good man called Billy O'Shea.

The Deputy is right that we need to make more progress on assessment of needs. The Labour Party brought forward a proposal based on the advocacy of Cara Dermody, the young girl from County Tipperary, to utilise capacity in the private sector while building up capacity in the public sector. That is what we have done, and that has seen more than 1,000 additional children with special needs get access to assessments of need this year. I accept that is a model we need to continue.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

I thank the Taoiseach for the reply. We have been living on promises for a long time. When the Taoiseach says that he and this one and that one are going to do something, it will be after the election. We will have to wait to see who is there. When is the Government going to react and lift the embargo? The facts are that day after day, young boys and girls who are trained to be nurses, carers and GPs are leaving the country because there has been an embargo in place for 12 months, since last November. The Taoiseach cannot deny it. It has happened and is happening. So many posts are unfilled and so many beds are empty because you cannot have beds if you do not have staff to fill them. That is what is happening. Even as we speak, these young people are flying out. We are calling for beds. There was not even an ICU bed to be got yesterday in most of the country, except for up here in Dublin. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, said he had reduced the waiting time for cataract procedures from three years to three months in Dublin. What has the Government done in Kerry? It closed down our unit and cancelled the insurance so they could not act. It was utterly criminal. That is the gospel truth.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy is right that there was a period during the year where we had to put restrictions on hiring new posts in the health service because many more thousands of people had been hired than had been budgeted for.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

The restrictions are still there.

The Taoiseach

We worked our way through that, and there are lots more people working in the public health service now, including in Kerry. There are around 410 additional staff in Kerry hospital today. I think there has been an increase of around 177 nurses in the lifetime of this Government. When it comes to reducing wait times we are making progress. We are one of the few countries in Europe that has seen waiting times fall over the past two years. That fall has happened in Kerry too. Let me assure the Deputy. The waiting time-----

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

People cannot get a doctor.

The Taoiseach

-----for cataract procedures in Kerry has fallen this year compared with last year.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

That is because we have taken them on buses.

The Taoiseach

No, you know why it is-----

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

One after the other - 165 buses and 2,000 people and nothing for us.

An Ceann Comhairle

Thank you, Deputy.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

What did the Government do for them? It closed down the unit in Tralee. That is what it did.

The Taoiseach

You would swear the Deputy was paying for the bus. The reality is that we are reducing wait times. We have opened up more ophthalmology capacity in the south west. The Deputy has pointed to additional capacity that exists in this jurisdiction that does not require anyone to be brought out of the jurisdiction. We will continue to do more to drive down waiting times.