The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of a proposal for a Council regulation on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of resident documents issued to EU citizens and their family members exercising their free movement, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m., with the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 3 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by Government; No. 3, Private Members' business, the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 2; and No. 4, Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 4 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 3, whichever is later, and the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 8:30 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by Government.
An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
I was devastated to learn yesterday that a seven-year-old girl in Dublin lost the sight in her right eye because, it is suspected, a vape exploded from a bonfire. It brought me back to many years ago when a young seven-year-old boy in Newbridge lost his hand from something escaping from a bonfire. We are approaching bonfire and banger season. I raised this issue in the Chamber recently and I again send out an appeal, both to the authorities to make sure everything is monitored and to those going across the Border to illegally purchase and use these bangers and fireworks. It is a very dangerous time.
I raise the issue of access to housing for single people. While we have made great strides in terms of housing on a national level, and almost 10,000 houses have been built in my own county of Kildare over the past four years, I am genuinely concerned for single people who are finding it very difficult to be able to purchase a house. I remember the absolute relief myself when, as a single person, I managed to get on the property ladder. Despite all of the measures that are in place, and they are really good measures, it is very difficult for people on their own. As we know, with all the bills that have to be paid, the costs to a single person are equivalent to an additional 80% of the costs for a second person. There have to be Government measures for supporting people on their own in accessing property as well as in terms of financial institutions giving mortgages, etc. It is really good that one can avail of the tax relief for renting out bedrooms, etc., but the important thing is, taking Kildare alone as an example, the number of single people recorded in the previous census as living on their own has gone up 2%. It is something we need to be very mindful of.
Today is SUDEP action day, which stands for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Knowing young people who suffer from epilepsy, it is important the issue is raised in the Chamber and that we look for a debate on it. In 2019, 33 people died from this. The median age was 45 but the youngest was nine years of age. It is an important issue we need to discuss.
Regarding nitrous oxide canisters, I was contacted by a person who had done the community a great service by collecting these from roads and streets. When they contacted Kildare County Council, however, they were told there was no facility under current legislation to take these - I assume it is the same for every local authority - and the council was unable to advise or arrange collection or storage. Something needs to be done about this. We need to have a debate with the Minister for the environment.
There is profound shock at the loss of Councillor John Naughten. He was a wonderful gentleman who was devoted to his family and livelihood as a farmer as well as being there for his local community as a public representative. It is a devastating loss for the Naughten family, friends and for so many in these communities. John helped people for decades and many are grateful for his invaluable public service for the people of Roscommon. As a Fine Gael councillor, John represented the Athlone municipal district on Roscommon County Council and had a very close team there of councillors and with the executive. He also represented the west on many regional forums. There have been many incredible tributes to his public service over the decades. I worked with John since joining the Seanad. I saw his tireless efforts on behalf of local groups, always with kindness and a smile. I know this contribution to public life is part of what his family has done for many decades. We know of his brother, Deputy Denis Naughten, and his father, Liam Naughten, a former Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. This is a heartbreaking time for so many and our thoughts are with his family, his wife, his beautiful children and his mother in this really difficult time. May John rest in peace. Our thoughts are with them at this time.
I thank Senator Dolan for her kind words.
I echo that tribute to the late John Naughten. Like everyone else, I was deeply saddened by the news. I have known the family and his wife, Breda, since our schooldays.
I join in expressing sympathy to Mrs. Breda Naughten, Mrs. Kitty Finnerty, to John's children and all the family. May he enjoy an eternal rest now.
I am sorry that I have to oppose today's Order of Business. Here we are again, it seems, with a proposal to guillotine important legislation. We should never be having the guillotine in this House. That is not what the Seanad is supposed to be about. We rightly try to talk up the importance of a second Chamber and then the Government does this to us. I acknowledge the efforts of the Leader in many ways but really, the Government majority should say "no" to the Government on this issue. It should not be happening, particularly on seminal legislation such as we have today, the hate crime legislation. We had a very important Second Stage debate in the Seanad a long time ago which stopped the Government in its tracks. To think the Government's response would be to come in with a rushed debate to push the Bill through today is hard to believe. I acknowledge the Government is pulling in its horns temporarily, at least, de-fanging the Bill to some extent by taking out the incitement to violence or hatred parts. What it should be doing is amending them. It has left in one very big fang, probably at the behest of the Green Party and Deputy Roderic O'Gorman but also NGO elements that have a disproportionate influence on this Government. I refer to a corrupt definition of gender which we have never seen before in legislation, which inappropriately conflates gender on the one hand, which is an objective concept and a binary, male and female, and on the other hand, the subjective idea of gender expression and identity. We could do what has been done in the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act, 2017, and keep those two categories separate. There is ideology behind this and it is an absolute disgrace.
If we have high-handedness on the Government side, we sadly have secrecy, it seems, on the Sinn Féin side. I for one am taken aback. When we were all told that a colleague was leaving here, they went into radio silence and there was a reference to health so we were all sympathetic. Something more should have been said, that there was a complaint or a matter under investigation which should not be prejudged. I know from experience, and we all know this, that if a priest, for example, has a complaint made against him in a parish, for a long time now the Church will say there has been a complaint and the person has been suspended, without prejudging the issues. That is very harmful and damaging to that person, but it is what is considered best practice when it comes to issues like child protection today. This is not what is happening with the party that tells us it should be the alternative Government. I do not know where people are going to go for people they can trust at the next election. Is it Aontú, Independent Ireland, the centrist Independents? Certainly Government parties and the main Opposition party are not proving themselves to be up-front with people. That needs a response, no matter how well the economy might be going at the moment.
I also join in the sympathies to Breda and the family of John Naughten.
Today I feel compelled to address an issue that families including my own are grappling with, namely access to appropriate education for children with special needs. My son Darragh, who has profound autism, attends Stratford National School in Rathgar. It is a wonderful school with fantastic staff. The patron, the Talmud Torah, has unfortunately gone against a decision by the board to convert his class into a school-age class. This has left Darragh, along with other children, without a place in junior infants this year. Darragh should have started junior infants alongside his twin brother but instead he is spending another year in early intervention.
Like countless other parents, we are applying to every school in our area but despite our best efforts there is so much uncertainty about whether Darragh will have a school place. His needs are quite profound and a special school would be ideal, but even this is uncertain as we do not know when applications open for special schools. One of the most concerning issues is that special educational needs officers, SENOs, are now asking parents to resubmit reports diverting children from autism units into mainstream environments that are often not suitable for their needs. The uncertainty and stress this causes parents who are already navigating a difficult system is immense. Every year it feels like a mammoth task just to get the support our children need. As a parent with one child in mainstream education and another in special education, I can tell you first hand that the disparity is staggering. The challenge of securing the right resources for children like Darragh is exponentially greater. I urge the Minister of State with responsibility for special education, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, to address this issue as a matter of urgency. Ultimately, we need a more transparent, well resourced system that works for all our children. Every child regardless of their need deserves access to a quality education. Parents deserve the support necessary to make that happen.
It is a great honour to stand in this Chamber and come into this House. I have always prided myself on being the person who speaks for those who cannot advocate for themselves. In this instance, it is my own son, who also happens to be non-verbal. Were I not to raise this matter today and put a spotlight on those behind this decision, I would not deserve to be here. Today I raise this on behalf of Darragh and other children adversely impacted by this decision, and on behalf of every child and adult all over this country whose lives are impacted by inexplicable actions and decisions taken by individuals who refuse to engage or explain their rationale. To date, the patron of Stratford, the Talmud Torah, has refused to engage with parents or the NCSE to set out their rationale or reasoning. I hope those close to the decision-makers will ask them questions as to why they have evicted one autistic child from their school and why they are refusing to provide clarity for those remaining in the class. I really hope the Talmud Torah will engage constructively with the NCSE and the board in the future.
Hear, hear. Well said.
My thoughts are with Senator Ardagh. It is a disgrace. I am bringing a Bill next week to address that very issue and will be looking for the support of the House on it. I also want to add my condolences to the family of Councillor John Naughten. We attended the funeral last week. It was incredibly sad. What an amazing tribute to a man who spent a life in public service.
I am rising today to ask the Leader to write a letter on our behalf to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. On apartment defects, there is a fantastic remediation scheme and I know the Leader is sick listening to me raising it again and again. However, a new aspect has come to my attention, concerning a very tiny cohort of people, those who have private houses adjoining a residential development that is afflicted by apartment defects. I have written to the Minister to bring it to his attention. The number is very small. Most apartment complexes are stand-alone buildings but there are a few built in towns and villages that are multi-unit complexes with an adjoining neighbour. If such a complex is affected under the apartment defects and comes within the category, that complex is entitled to the remediation scheme and to benefit from all of that. In the legislation that is coming forward, they will benefit from that. However, currently, if you are a neighbour to that property you are not included in the remediation scheme because you are not technically one of the actual apartment owners. These people are affected by water ingress and the defects in the building. It is really important that this very small group is included in the legislation that is currently being drafted. One woman wrote to me yesterday whose home adjoins a development in Wexford. They are plagued for the past 26 years by terrible problems in their house caused by the apartment complex next door. I do not think anyone in this House would disagree with the importance of this. I appreciate that we will not have time for statements on the matter but I would be grateful if the Leader could convey the sentiments of the House to the Minister, to make sure this tiny cohort is included in the remediation scheme. I have already written to the Minister on it.
I also oppose the Order of Business this afternoon. The issue in respect of the identity cards of citizens of this country has been overlooked this morning and has been taken without debate. There is also the issue in respect of the hate crime legislation. Having that guillotined today is really unnecessary. We need more time on it. It is going to open a Pandora's box if we do not debate it in full.
I call on the Minister for children to discuss the defunding of the Child Law Project. This is the last month of funding of reports published by the Child Law Project under a three-year grant from the Department of children. It is a great shame that this grant is not renewed. The Child Law Project examines and reports on judicial child care proceedings. It provides information to the public on the operation of the child care system in the courts with the aim of promoting transparency and accountability.
In a press release on Monday, 8 July, the project highlighted the crisis in availability of care placements for vulnerable children. In its reports, it states that judges expressed dismay at lack of appropriate placements to meet the needs of vulnerable children. It also reports concerns about larger numbers of cases with no allocated social workers and also adds that cases involving migrants highlight additional complexities.
Success stories showing life-changing and positive impacts of care are also reported on by the project. Despite the success stories, the project continues to see members of the Judiciary and other professionals expressing concern and frustration about failings of the care system and the dismal HSE response to meeting the disability and mental health needs of children in care. Multiple judges have said they are in despair at the situation, with one High Court judge describing the lack of special care beds as a tsunami about to reach shore and nothing is being done. Several vulnerable children are under a special-care order but no special care beds are available for them.
Perhaps the Child Law Project no longer gets this grant because of the uncomfortable truths it reveals about State failings that the Government would rather not publicise. At a time when the public is rightly angered about Government spending in budget 2025, defunding the Child Law Project is an egregious oversight. I hope it can do better to support this worthy project.
Before I call the next speaker, I extend a céad míle fáilte and welcome to the students and teachers of Monard National School in Tipperary town. Tá na daltaí i rang a cúig agus rang a sé agus tá céad míle fáilte rompu. They are very welcome to Leinster House. I hope it will be a pleasant visit for them. As a mark of their visit, as Cathaoirleach and on behalf of all Members of the House, I offer them to the opportunity to have homework off tonight to celebrate their visit to Leinster House. I call Senator Byrne.
I, too, welcome the students from Tipperary. I also welcome a Bill put forward by Senator Martin, the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021, which was strongly supported by our colleague, Senator McGreehan, on honey bees. In light of events last week, I wonder whether we also need to introduce a honey pot Bill in this House.
Is the Senator proposing that?
No.
I want to raise an issue which is covered by The Irish Times today, the challenge of rapidly growing areas and ensuring there is an adequate number of school places. I raised this issue in the House in a Commencement matter last week. There is a significant problem, particularly in what we might call the wider commuter belts around our cities, ensuring that we have an adequate number of primary and second level school places. I request a debate with the Minister, Deputy Foley, specifically on this issue.
We have seen challenges faced by counties Wicklow, Wexford, Kildare and Meath where we have seen rapid growth in population. Despite this the number of school places does not always keep up with that rapid growth. I am particularly conscious of places like Arklow, which, because of a wastewater treatment plant, is going to rapidly expand. Coláiste Bhríde in Carnew is looking to rapidly expand from the old 1930s building. It has planning permission yet progress still has not been made. It is important that the Minister, Deputy Foley, comes into the House to talk about the impact on areas such as north Wexford and south Wicklow and, indeed, right around the country and that we get an outline of the forward planning unit's decision and of where we are going to see those schools built. It is critical that we are able to guarantee every child and young person in this State access to a place in a school in their local area.
I wish to raise a report from the Central Bank about the flood protection gap. This appeared in the Irish Independent yesterday. Essentially, the flood protection gap is a problem that affects some parts of the country more than others, with 54% of the flood protection gap concentrated in just five counties. These counties include Dublin, Cork, Kildare and my own county of Louth. The flood protection gap is where houses, which were built below sea level, are at risk of flooding and insurance companies will not insure them. That is the case in my home town of Dundalk and specifically where we have tens of thousands of houses in the eastern part of Dundalk, along the coastline. This affects houses, whether they are in Bay Estate, Lennonstown Manor, Manydown Close or Avenue Road. I know the Leader has been to Dundalk. This affects a huge part of the town. None of these houses is able to get flood protection. In recent years we have put a substantial amount of money into reinforcing flood barriers along the way but, again, it is taking an extraordinary amount of time to this get done. We see freak weather accidents becoming more common. Every winter flooding is becoming more common and we saw that in north Louth last year.
How do we fix this? I am ten years in politics and this has been an issue for those ten years. The Central Bank raised very valid concerns about it. The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, as this is his area of responsibility, is doing a bit of work on it. If insurance companies are not willing to insure people, which they should do, surely the Government or the Central Bank needs to consider what ways they can step in and intervene. God willing, whether I am in this House, the other House or wherever I am after next election whenever it comes - perhaps in the next few weeks - this is an issue I will continue to be very concerned about and will want to continue working on. It is an issue on which I would like to start the process, in the last week or two weeks or however long we have left in this Seanad. It is simply not acceptable that insurance companies do not insure tens of thousands of houses in a town the size of Dundalk. We need to do something to fix it so the people in those areas get the proper flood protection they deserve.
I wish to raise a number of issues today. My colleague, Senator Hoey, has the University College Cork, UCC, students' union in today to talk about student accommodation. Student accommodation is something we have all heard about and dealt with over the last number of years and particularly the last number of months. The UCC students' union will tell us that students are missing classes because of the long commute they have to do to get to college. It is an issue all of us in this House have raised on various occasions and I encourage Members to come along today to talk to the UCC students' union, which has done a detailed report, including on the hunger faced by some students as they commute long distances to class. I call on the Leader to arrange for the Minister for higher education to come to the House to discuss student accommodation and the crisis for many students and their families.
The second issue I wish to mention today, and I am not sure whether it has been raised before, is sudden and unexplained death in epilepsy. That is a serious issue for many people. It causes 33 deaths per year. I listened to the discussion on "Morning Ireland" this morning around that particular issue. It is an issue that needs awareness-raising. We have 45,000 people in this country with epilepsy. It is an issue I have raised in this House before. I deal with families across Kildare South who are dealing with this. It is something we need to discuss and make everybody aware of. I encourage everybody to spread the message on their on their social media. I have been contacted by Epilepsy Ireland to spread the message today. It is important that we all do that.
On behalf of the Green Party group, I wish to convey our deepest sympathy to the family of the late Councillor John Naughten. The family is highly respected and has contributed a great deal to the Oireachtas. They are a family full of decency and integrity and we would like to express our deepest sympathy to Denis, John's family and all concerned at this dreadful time.
The horrific loss of life in Gaza and Lebanon is reported all the time. However, it is so important that we do not become immune. The Netanyahu regime acts with impunity and we should never become immune to the horrific loss of life caused. I am told 40,000 people have now died, including 16,000 children. Many more are unaccounted for. The Taoiseach correctly called out the Israeli regime for attacking UN peacekeepers. That is an egregious act. Prime Minister Netanyahu has thrown away the rule book; he has ripped it up. He is out of control.
Benjamin Netanyahu had the audacity to call on UN peacekeepers, including Irish troops, to get out of the way of his advancing forces. He said,"It should be done right now, immediately”. That is a warmonger and a bully who has to be faced down. We must redouble our efforts.
Ireland is a relatively small country but a nation of big influence. We have to bring our influence to bear on the United States and Germany, which have armed to the teeth a regime that is murdering innocent people. A year after the horrific, barbaric loss of Israelis on 7 October, the US State Department has, we heard yesterday, written to Israel demanding that it increase aid to Gaza or risk the supply of weapons. Talk about something being late; that is late. It is never too late, however. We cannot arm this regime to the teeth. It is not allowed to kill an alleged Hamas militant in a hospital, where all the nurses, doctors, patients and hospital porters are blown up, because there is a tunnel underneath that hospital. We have to stand up to a man who has ripped up the book of law. We must enact the occupied territories Bill. We have done a lot in Ireland as a leader in Europe, but we still must do more, lead from the front and call out this barbaric warmonger.
I ask for a debate on the Irish horticultural sector. It is the fourth largest agricultural sector in the country. In 2021, it had a turnover of more than €500 million and it directly employs over 6,000 people in the country. A KPMG report in 2022 on an overall strategy identified the issues and challenges for that industry. I would very much like the Minister to come to the House to outline what steps will be taken to support that sector and the industry to allow it to grow and not be at a standstill. Senator Murphy has also worked on this issue quite regularly. I am sure he will support this call because it is a highly important industry, no more for County Louth than for the entire country.
I again highlight an issue I raised as a Commencement matter yesterday regarding the emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. I asked for more investment, including more capital resources and human resources, in Drogheda hospital because it is overstretched. Yesterday, the hospital again issued a warning advising people not to come to the department because it is overstretched and could not handle it. It asked people to come only for serious emergencies. This is happening all too often. I call on the Department of Health and the HSE to come together to figure out a way to increase resources. They could maybe look at Navan hospital, or the minor injury unit in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, to stretch and enhance the services so we are not constantly seeing a situation where people are being turned away and asked not to come to the accident and emergency department in Drogheda.
I would like to be associated with the vote of sympathy on the death of Councillor John Naughten. I express my deepest sympathies to his family. I was there last week. I am certainly thinking of them all at this very sad time.
It is 16 October, which is significant for two reasons. One is the Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Awareness Day. It is thought that more 130 deaths have happened as a result of epilepsy. I wish Epilepsy Ireland well in its national campaign calling for the development of a national strategy to reduce unexpected deaths in epilepsy. It is a cause that is well deserved and that I support. I pledge my support to it.
As we head into the autumn rugby internationals, today also marks the eighth anniversary of the death of Anthony "Axel" Foley. Irish people were at the France versus Ireland match when this horrific death took place. He died way too soon. He would have been 50 years of age today. I am thinking of Olive, his children, his sister Rosie and his parents on this day, as well as the wider rugby community. He had such an impact, not only on his club members in Shannon but also on Munster and Ireland. He affected the lives of so many people and gave great encouragement to young people growing up, through playing sport, especially in the rugby tradition. I am thinking of them all on this sad day.
I will talk about Dublin Bus. It is an essential public transport service for those of us who live, visit and work in the city. For it to operate to the best standard, it has to be available, reliable and safe. I welcome the fact that Dublin Bus has taken on board the findings of the Fianna Fáil public transport survey on antisocial behaviour and crime and has commenced a 20-week pilot where it has deployed private security guards on its services in order to try to increase public safety on and public confidence in those services.
I draw attention to the short-changing that us northsiders are getting from the NTA when it comes to the provision of bus services. I specifically refer to the 11 bus route. The NTA in its infinite wisdom has decided to change that cross-city bus route in order that people in Sandyford on the city's south side can travel all the way to the northside to visit our beautiful Phoenix Park, which they are very welcome to do. However, it is egregious and unacceptable that people living on the northside from Ballymun, Glasnevin and Drumcondra who are coming into town, are being deprived of their cross-city 11 bus route, which they use to go to school, work and college. The 11 bus route from Glasnevin through Home Farm Road, Drumcondra, all the way across town, has brought students to schools such as CUS, to UCD, to the National Concert Hall for entertainment, and into the city. We are now being left with a truncated bus service. We are told we are being given a 19 bus route that will bring us as far as Parnell Square. It really is not good enough. It is not acceptable to those of us on the northside who value our bus service. We value the cross-city 11 bus route. We want a guarantee from the NTA that an 11 cross-city bus route will be retained into the future. We should not be reducing the service. We should be increasing service availability, reliability and safety.
I, too, wish to be associated with expressions of sympathy to the Naughten family on the death of Councillor John Naughten. He was someone I knew for between 15 and 20 years. He was an absolute gentleman. He is a massive loss to Fine Gael but an even bigger loss to his family. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Breda, his children, his mother, and his extended family and siblings, including Denis, who we all know and have known for a long number of years.
I will bring up the issue of school transport. We are six weeks into the school year and transport to special schools is still not being provided to families with children who have special needs. I have been working on a particular case where I have identified an alternative involving another child who has transport, which could bring the child I am working with as well. Yet, we are getting nowhere with the Department when it comes to getting that child brought to school. It is not acceptable. I call on the authorities to address the matter urgently. When an alternative has been put in place that can bring a child to school, it should happen. People should not have to go through letters and emails being sent out from the Department telling them they will not get transport when there is an alternative. It is not acceptable.
I will raise one issue it is important we have a debate on. We look at conflicts in many areas around the world, but this never seems to be mentioned. A large community from the Kashmir region is living in Longford. There have been issues in that region going back 50 years between India, Pakistan and China.
I want to find out what is the stance of the Irish Government. It is important to schedule a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs to allow him to put forward Ireland's view on the current situation as it exists. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have all been involved. There have been significant humanitarian issues. More than 20,000 people have died over the last few years but it is never on the agenda. I want to put it on the agenda and allow an opportunity for a discussion on it to put forward our views.
Yesterday, the main hospital in the north-east region, Our Lady of Lourdes, issued a statement effectively urging sick people to stay away because of overcrowding. It said that the most critically ill patients are prioritised for treatment but, as a result, some patients may experience delays. By the way, the normal delay in that hospital is 13 hours. If you are lucky, that is the normal delay. I have spoken consistently over the last decade in here and in the Dáil in defence of Navan hospital, a hospital which the HSE has tried to close on numerous occasions over the past 20 years.
It got me thinking because two years ago, the then HSE chief executive, Paul Reid, and the clinical officer, Dr. Colm Henry, again made another attempt to close the emergency department in Navan hospital which they said was unsafe. They said they would direct more resources to Drogheda to cope with this plan of closing the emergency department in Navan hospital. Two years later and the situation in the shining light they said was Drogheda is now as bad as ever, if not worse. A group of brave consultants at that time nearly two years ago, nearly 20 of them, told Stephen Donnelly that people would die if the HSE was allowed to get away with this plan. They said they had minimal confidence in Drogheda's ability to deal with the inevitable surge in clinical activity.
Two years later, the trolley count in Drogheda is worse than ever and I can only imagine what would have happened if politicians had not come in here and fought against the so-called best medical advice. Where would we be today in Navan if we had let the HSE get away with its plan? Where would we be if the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, had not stood up for the case I made to him that we need to retain geographical, regional health services, which is the way to go in line with our population? I urge the Leader, in the time we have left in this Chamber, that we change direction and continue to have a commitment from Government to make sure regional health facilities are kept open. As Senator Erin McGreehan has said, we need to ensure there is investment in those hospitals we have which clearly do not have the capacity to deal with the numbers that are using them.
Hear, hear.
Last week we had a briefing with Dyslexia Ireland in Buswells and I acknowledge the work of our colleague, Senator Tim Lombard, and other colleagues cross-party who have been supportive of the calls of Dyslexia Ireland in relation to additional exam time for students who suffer from dyslexia and other learning difficulties. It is clearly a barrier and disadvantage to dyslexic students that they do not get additional time and are treated the same as all other students. Indeed, extra time is the norm in most other European countries. The State Examinations Commission has promised a review in the next two to three years which does not show urgency on a matter for which there is widespread support. I ask the Leader to write to the Minister and indeed to the State Examinations Commission to highlight this issue.
I hope all political parties highlight this issue as part of their manifestos and the next programme for Government, whoever that is authored by, will have a commitment to provide additional time for those students who need additional time because they suffer with dyslexia. It is hugely important because they are at a disadvantage. The State Examinations Commission takes the opposite view and says extra time would provide an unfair advantage, which clearly is not correct because it is about ensuring there is a level playing field with the other students. As a result of their dyslexia, they need that little bit of extra time to allow them to reach the same levels. I ask the Leader to write to the Minister and the State Examinations Commission on this matter.
First, I support the kind words of Senator Dolan to the Naughten family. I paid my tributes last week with a number of other Members but like many other people, I am still reeling with shock because I was very close to the man. Second, I support Senator McGreehan in relation to the horticultural industry. We are missing an opportunity here to develop this and put extra funding into it. A lot of jobs could be created and we could produce an awful lot more of our vegetables and fruit at home if the effort was put in.
The main reason I am speaking this morning is to seek a debate on something that is very close to the Leader's heart; the Western Development Commission, WDC. I stress how important this particular organisation is to the west of Ireland; 280 companies support 345 projects; 90% of the enterprises supported by the WDC survive for more than five years - the national average is only 65.5%; 364 enterprises and co-working hubs were onboarded to the connected hubs network; more than 35,000 full-time equivalent job years were directly supported; and 66,000 indirect and induced employments were supported. The estimated value of carbon emission savings, which is very important in today's world, in 2023 due to the connected hubs is €1.6 million. Apart from that, it has generated over €3.35 billion in direct revenue, including €2.4 billion in exports; it has generated more than €639 million in research and development expenditures and it has contributed more than €444 million in Exchequer tax payments.
The role of this organisation is not sufficiently recognised by Government. While it gets State funding - it got €25.83 million in 2023 - the contribution it makes to the area we all know is lagging behind is highly significant. I want a debate here, Leader, with the relevant Minister to see how we could look at increasing the funding to the WDC. It plays a major role and I know I will have 100% support from the Leader on this. It is really important that all politicians from the west in particular give a massive show of support to this organisation that is there for 25 years.
I thank the Members who contributed to the Order of Business today.
First, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin expressed her sympathy to the family of the young seven-year-old girl who is reported to have had a serious eye injury following a vape exploding in a bonfire and has reissued her concern that people should be safe come bonfire season and Halloween and be mindful of not bringing illegal fireworks over the border.
She also raised issues around housing for single people, which I think was a really important point. The Senator has raised previously the fact single people are paying all the bills themselves.. Getting on the property ladder is difficult at the best of times but doing it alone is even more difficult. As we know, often on local authority housing lists, families with children are prioritised where there is limited access to housing. It is something we need to have policy direction on and try to do something more for people who clearly find it more difficult to meet all of the outgoings a household will have.
The Senator also raised the issue of sudden death with epilepsy, as did Senators Mark Wall and Maria Byrne. There is an awareness campaign currently ongoing this week and I listened to some contributions on radio this morning so it is very important to put that on the record here today. The Senator also raised concerns around nitrous oxide canisters and the fact local authorities are currently not permitted to take them in as local waste and something needs to be done about that.
Senator Dolan paid a lovely tribute to former Councillor John Naughten on his very sad passing, as did many other Senators here today. I know Senator Murphy was local to John in the constituency. I want to express my own heartfelt and deepest sympathies to our colleague Denis in the other House, to John's wife, Breda and all of his family on his really tragic passing. We were all deeply shocked to hear of John's passing; it was not expected. We express our deepest sympathies to his Fine Gael family, to his colleagues on the council and to the wider community and we are thinking of all of them at this very difficult time. I thank both Senators for raising it this morning. I know they had personal relationships with John and it is a difficult time for them as colleagues.
Senator Rónán Mullen has expressed his opposition to the Order of Business. I note the Senator's comments on the hate crimes Bill and the same with Senator Sharon Keogan as well who has also opposed the Order of Business on the motion before the House on identify cards for EU citizens.
I acknowledge the opposition to finishing the Bill today. I have received emails from other colleagues as well on this. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is very keen to progress and finish the Bill. We are all acutely aware that we may not be here for much longer, not that I know anything more than anyone here does. It is part of my responsibility as Leader of the House to bring Government business through the House. We began the debate on the hate crime legislation well over a year ago. It was this House that put a pause on that legislation. The Minister is to be commended on listening to Senators in terms of the hate speech element of the Bill, which we are all very aware is now being removed from the Bill. That is a significant amendment to the Bill from the Government side and from the Minister. I was here for the very extensive Second Stage debate. I have made my own views known in terms of the definitions in the Bill and the gender issue. My views remain as per the Second Stage debate. I do not think I can put it any clearer than that. We will have an opportunity to debate that later today. I do not think the Minister is minded to make changes on that aspect. I acknowledge, however, the significant change on the hate speech element, which was, from my memory of the Second Stage debate, the key issue that was being expressed by Members across the House, both Government and Opposition. That is to be welcomed. That is the work of the Seanad in making those changes to that Bill. I think there is broad support for hate crime legislation and I have expressed my own support for such legislation. There is an eagerness on the part of Government and the Minister to see that element of the Bill through, and I can understand that. I acknowledge and respect the views of Members in terms of the Order of Business and how it is proceeding, but I also acknowledge the significant changes that will be brought through later today.
Senator Mullen also raised concerns regarding the resignation of former Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile. I do not propose to say a huge amount on the matter. Of course, it is of concern to the House that the full facts were not given to Members at that time. The picture painted at the time was that the resignation was solely on the basis on mental health concerns. In that respect, we do not know the full story. Certainly, where mental health is concerned, it is extremely serious and we obviously need to be mindful of that. I think there was a misleading of the House as to the real reason behind the resignation, or certainly a significant part of it. That is being dealt with by Members in this House and the other House. It is important that all facts are given to the House in those circumstances. Each Member here is a representative of the people and it is a privilege to serve in this House. It is an unfortunate set of events that I hope we do not ever see repeated in this House. Transparency and accountability are hugely important when people put out a statement, and it should not mislead by omission, which is the charge being laid.
Senator Ardagh made an excellent contribution to the House about the needs of children and access to education for special education, and about her son, Darragh, whom she has spoken about previously. Her contribution was powerful. The fact her son is not able to proceed to primary education while his twin brother Seán is can only be hugely distressing for a parent. Obviously, we are all friends and colleagues of Senator Ardagh. I want to put on the record today my support for her and her husband and family in trying to secure that education. It should not be the battle that it is. It is disgraceful that it is a battle. Darragh should be able to start school now when the family want him to start school. I do not know the ins and outs of the situation of the school in Rathgar and why that is not proceeding, but I hope the situation can be resolved. Ultimately, it is about making sure that Darragh has access to the education he deserves and is entitled to under our Constitution.
Senator Seery Kearney spoke in support of Senator Ardagh. She also asked for support for the inclusion of a very small cohort of homeowners in the apartment defects scheme that is being put together under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage where an apartment block is attached to an individual dwelling. There cannot be too many of them, as the Senator outlined, but where those houses are affected, she has asked that they be included. That seems entirely reasonable to me from what the Senator said.
Senator Keogan opposed the Order of Business, which I have dealt with. She also raised the issue of the Child Law Project, funding for which is coming to an end. She asked that it be looked at because it is a fantastic project that is doing great work in terms of child protection and children's issues, and that it be funded long term.
Senator Malcolm Byrne expressed his support for Senator Martin's Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill. He also raised concerns about the challenges affecting rapidly growing areas of population in terms of school places and access to amenities and services. There are acute challenges in certain parts of the country, and he specifically mentioned Arklow.
Senator McGahon raised issues about the flood protection insurance gap for homes in flood areas with regard to his own County Louth. There are other areas in the country as well - the Senator mentioned Dublin and Cork - where those homes cannot get insured. Something will have to be done because those home are in a precarious situation every year and it is quite distressing for those homeowners.
Senator Wall raised issues with student accommodation in University College Cork from which his colleague, Senator Hoey, has students visiting Leinster House today. He also spoke about sudden unexplained death with regard to epilepsy.
Senator Martin made a very impassioned speech about Gaza and the need to continuously keep this issue on the agenda in this House and not become desensitised. I completely agree with the Senator's remarks. The Israeli Prime Minister is out of control with his warmongering and flagrant breaches of international law. If the Israeli Government can continue to breach international law, what incentive is there for other countries to abide by the rules we are all supposed to have signed up to and abide by? On the US intervention, we heard today about the leaked letter that states they will withdraw or reduce military support if aid is not permitted into Gaza, but they are giving 30 days to comply with the letter, which we know brings us beyond the election date in the States. A lot hangs in the balance in terms of that outcome. The loss of life and children in Gaza is just unimaginable. Words really do not cut it at this stage in terms of describing the atrocities and horrors on the ground there, particularly in northern Gaza where aid has been prevented from getting in for quite some time.
Senator McGreehan spoke about the Irish horticultural sector, as did Senator Murphy. She also raised issues about Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, as did Senator Cassells, who spoke very passionately about the impact. Had Navan hospital closed, what would the situation be in Drogheda today? It does not bear thinking about. Clearly, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is under pressure. There are challenges in many hospitals, but some tend to pop up more than others. There has clearly been a lot of investment in healthcare. We have had a record health budget. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, he has secured additional health funding every year he has been in office. Senator Cassells is right to credit him with making sure the emergency department in Navan stayed open because, had that closed, clearly the only place to go then was Drogheda, which would have put extra pressure on that hospital. It shows that Government and politicians, of course, need to take the advice from experts or people who are working on the front line in those fields, but ultimately, politicians have to make the decision as well and listen to people on the ground. In that case, keeping the emergency department open was a job well done. The evidence is there today to show it was the right call.
Senator Maria Byrne expressed her condolences, as did many others, on the passing of John Naughten. She spoke about the sudden unexplained death issue as well and expressed sympathies for the rugby family in Limerick.
Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about Dublin Bus and the number 11 bus service that has been removed from the northside. She also welcomed the pilot scheme that has been put in place for 20 weeks to have private security personnel on some Dublin Bus routes, which had been a call from the Fianna Fáil Dublin group for many months.
Senator Carrigy spoke about school transport and, obviously, the passing of John Naughten. He also spoke about the Kashmir region. I am not familiar with the ins and outs of that conflict, but it might be worth tabling a Commencement matter because it gives another opportunity to get it on the record The Senator will get the Government position and Department of Foreign Affairs position back through that mechanism.
As I said, Senator Cassells spoke very passionately about Navan hospital, as he has often done.
Senator Kyne raised issues regarding Dyslexia Ireland and the request that extra time be given to children with dyslexia. It is an entirely reasonable request. I do not see how it would be an unfair advantage given it is a clear disadvantage to have dyslexia in the first place in sitting the State examinations as they are currently constituted.
Senator Murphy spoke about the sad passing of John Naughten. He also raised the issue of the horticultural sector. His main contribution today was about the Western Development Commission and the huge work it does. I was pleased to meet Mr. Allan Mulrooney and his team, who are in Leinster House today to brief Members on the invaluable work they do. They span and work in the west and north west, our most disadvantaged region. They do very important work and it is important they are funded and that there are interactions, not just with us in the Oireachtas but with the regional assembly and local authorities in the region, and that we continue to support them in the fantastic work they do. I commend Mr. Mulrooney and the team there on all their work and the publication of their most recent report, which the Senator has in the Chamber today.
I thank the Leader, and Senator Dolan for her heartfelt tribute to John Naughten. We paid tribute to John last week. Again, to his wife, Breda, and his mum, brothers and sisters, we send our deepest sympathies. I also commend Senator Ardagh on her powerful contribution during the Order of Business.