We already know that there is an overreliance on overtime to deliver routine policing. There has been so little progress in tackling the recruitment and retention crisis in An Garda Síochána that problems are manifest across the State. Sinn Féin has put forward a range of proposals to deal with this, including a significant increase in the Garda training allowance to make it a more attractive prospect for new entrants, service payments for those with 30 or more years of service and increasing the compulsory retirement age to 65. These are practical solutions that could have outworkings on the ground. I am thinking especially of my constituency of Waterford, particularly the rural parts. On Monday, I spoke with an older woman who lives on her own in Cappoquin. She said she sleeps with a hurley on the bed beside her, keeps the yard light on all night and is petrified. At the weekend, I spoke to an older gentleman who lives in Portlaw. He told me he has not seen a garda in the town or its environs in the past couple of months. That is the reality on the ground. There have been a number of appalling incidences of violence and disorder, especially in places in west Waterford like Dungarvan, Cappoquin and Clashmore in recent weeks, including one in which a number of gardaí were injured. This is putting further strain on resources. What is the Government going to do? When is it going to take this matter seriously and ensure that people living in rural communities can feel safe in their homes?

Sentiment score: -0.03

30. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on disability will next meet. [58033/25]

Sentiment score: 0.00

The Government is failing children in Waterford with additional needs over the stagnation in early intervention classes. Five years ago, there were two early intervention classes across Waterford city and county. This year, there are still two. That is despite an increasing need and a demand that is there but unmet. These early interventions are critical for children’s educational and social outcomes. It is something that the Taoiseach’s Government needs to grapple with. Over the last nine or ten months, we have seen issues around special education spaces and classes in schools. While the Government did belatedly do some work to fill some of those gaps in service provision, there is a lot more to do. That situation is still there and I think there will be problems next year. We need to get to grips with the early intervention classes and increase them dramatically so that there is availability for parents to get their children that much-needed timely intervention.

Sentiment score: -0.06