We just had Leaders’ Questions and no one asked that.
Sentiment score: -0.30
The bus driver is very important.
Sentiment score: 0.27
We have committed to ending the waiver over the lifetime of this Government, which is five years and five budgets. We made a significant start on this occasion which will enable us to do it in five years. We have significantly increased the income disregard. It is the highest ever. If you look at some of the income levels now entitled to the carer's allowance when compared with some years ago, it is quite extraordinary in itself. It is a 60% increase. A single carer can earn just over €54,000 per year and receive a full carer's payment. The income disregard for a couple increased by €750 to €2,000 per week. A person caring in a household where their partner earns up to €108,000 a year will receive a full carer's payment. These are the largest ever increases in the carer's income disregard. We will be in a position to fulfil our programme for Government and manifesto commitments.
Sentiment score: 0.13
I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue. I accept fully her bona fides in moving this measure. As she said, we tabled a timed amendment to the legislation last year. I will talk to the relevant Ministers and the Government about the implications of adopting such a measure. We have made significant improvements in this wider area of the past number of years. We will look at it in the context of what is available. The case has been well made.
Sentiment score: 0.24
We are using that money. We have used substantial resources in terms of the retrofitting programme-----
Sentiment score: 0.10
-----fuel poverty, the increase in the fuel allowance payment-----
Sentiment score: -0.25
-----and extending it into the working family payment will which will bring in a significant cohort of working people who are on relatively low incomes. We are spending an unprecedented amount on funding, targeting the measures. The quote the Deputy used is a bit distorted because I said it in the context of Deputy Murphy wanting universal credits for everybody, irrespective of income or wealth. That was the context because that would bail out the energy companies, ultimately, and incentivise them to keep increasing prices. There needs to be pressure on the companies.
Sentiment score: 0.07
The Minister is engaging with them. We need to do everything we can to get prices down.
Sentiment score: 0.17
I met the group last Friday week. I asked them in to Government Buildings and we met in the Taoiseach's offices and had a lengthy discussion. Deputy Murphy knows the history. I established the inquiry into the industrial schools. That was followed by a comprehensive redress scheme and other measures that were taken. We are willing to engage and I have asked my officials to look at all the various requests from the group, but there are repercussions elsewhere and it is not as simple or straightforward as has been presented. We are willing to engage and quite a list of issues was discussed. I have asked my officials to look at those issues and I am also meeting the Minister for education, whose officials have offered to meet the group on her behalf. I would like this resolved but there has to be a bit of flexibility so we can get into a process. I would like them to come off the hunger strike because it can be damaging health-wise. I would like them to come off it in good faith that we would engage on issues and try to improve what is there already.
Sentiment score: 0.16
No, it is not.
Sentiment score: -0.30
We have the eighth-highest cost - and it is too high - of energy across the EU 27 when taken in the context of purchasing power parity. That is the situation. We have a very dispersed energy system. We have to invest very significantly in the grid over the coming years. We will have to triple the investment in our energy grid over the next number of years-----
Sentiment score: 0.19
-----and we have grown exponentially.
Sentiment score: 0.00
There is a European framework. Gas is the price-setter.
Sentiment score: 0.00
We are, unfortunately, importing too many fossil fuels and the sooner we can get to more and more renewables, the cheaper our energy will eventually become. In the meantime, we will keep the pressure on the companies. We will talk-----
Sentiment score: -0.12
We will talk to the CRU. There is a regulator there. The Deputies know that.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The regulator does not agree with Deputy Tóibín's position, but at the same time, we understand fully the pressures on people and that is why are focusing-----
Sentiment score: -0.60
-----on those on lower incomes-----
Sentiment score: -0.30
-----as opposed to giving wealthy people energy credits.
Sentiment score: 0.82
I thank the Deputy for, as usual, a well-researched and detailed presentation.
Sentiment score: 0.36
Sorry, Deputy Cullinane, but it was. Safety in the air is first and has to be prioritised. I will follow this up and talk to the Minister for Transport in respect of it. I know from my neck of the woods that there is a safe zone around Cork Airport where you cannot do anything or build anything and that has been the way for decades. I will pursue the issue the Deputy has raised.
Sentiment score: 0.26
That hospital has been closed for a long time. It may not be easily available for housing, or amenable, given the investment that would be required and the historical nature of the building. Aspects of it are probably listed. I do not know that but I presume so. Every Department, therefore, has to look at it from a value-for-money perspective. It is in a prime location and it would seem to me that it needs to be reused, but whether that is private sector-driven reuse or not, I would be open, given its location. There is an architectural heritage dimension to it, I imagine, as well as a purely utilitarian perspective in terms of what the building gets used for. Again, I recall at the height of the emergency in respect of-----
Sentiment score: 0.02
-----the emergency accommodation for Ukrainians-----
Sentiment score: -0.38
It is not just the Minister for housing. It is the Minister for Health and the HSE as well. They are all involved. Come on.
Sentiment score: 0.07
The Minister has been briefed in respect of this and I will be engaging with a number of Ministers on this as to what the current situation is. When the Deputy says "approved", does he mean by the Minister for housing?
Sentiment score: 0.35
It is the Minister for Transport from an airport perspective, but if the local authority is engaging and is facilitative, it may not require its line Minister to approve it also. It probably does not. The new injection of private capital is a very significant development. I will talk to the Minister for Transport in respect of it.
Sentiment score: 0.32
That speaks to the point I have been making all afternoon. The need for grid resilience is enormous. The expenditure will be enormous. There are huge costs on the taxpayer for the expansion of the grid. I will talk to the Minister in respect of the specifics regarding the towns in north Kildare the Deputy outlined. That is perhaps a manifestation of the challenges we face with the growth of industry and population growth, in particular in Kildare where it has been quite exponential. I will ask about more specific short-term measures. There is no doubt we require a massive investment in the grid.
Sentiment score: 0.11
There are three significant schemes: the help-to-buy scheme, which is a substantial help; the first homes schemes, which is where the State injects a degree of equity and; third, the derelict and vacant homes grant, which is quite substantial and has enabled about 3,000 houses to become available, whereby people have refurbished such houses and got a substantial grant for doing so. Sometimes, it is possible to combine grants such as the help-to-buy and retrofitting. Those are the measures so far. I acknowledge that people are above the threshold which puts them in difficulty regarding the affordability of housing. We are constantly trying to see if we can bridge the affordability gap.
Sentiment score: 0.16
Tá an-infheistíocht ag dul isteach sna scoileanna, agus ní hamháin sna scoileanna speisialta agus na ranganna speisialta. Tá scoileanna i gcoitinne i gceist freisin. Tá an-infheistíocht ar fad ann. Déanfaidh mé fiosrú leis an Aire maidir leis an scoil seo. Níl an t-eolas agam go mion faoi cad atá ar siúl idir an scoil agus an Roinn nó oifigigh na Roinne ach táim muiníneach go mbeimid in ann dul chun cinn a fheiscint sa togra seo sar i bhfad. Is féidir liom é seo a ardú leis an Aire.
Sentiment score: 0.04
I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue for her constituent, and more generally, as it could affect other people. I will ask the HSE and the Minister for Health to investigate the matter and to provide a note on it.
Sentiment score: 0.27
We would need to have a much broader outlook than that. We cannot make decisions on this on the hoof. I understand where the Deputy is coming from but, on the other hand, we have developed a model of childcare over two decades which involves either community provision, private sector provision, or some State provision. The State has tended to support access through grants and the development of the curriculum, as well as access to early education for children with special and additional needs. We had a price freeze in recent years through significant allocations to the existing providers. A State- or community-based provision may not be permanently based. There are three areas: price, in other words, affordability; the volume of places; and career pathways for those working in childcare.
Sentiment score: 0.24
Career pathways need to be better in terms of remuneration and future prospects.
Sentiment score: 0.62
Internationally, we have been to the fore in advancing the rights of the LGBTQI community, in particular at European Union level. Some member states are beginning to resile in respect of rights for the LGBTQI community. The law is the law in Ireland insofar as we can control that. I will certainly discuss the potential of what was outlined with the Attorney General but I surmise that we would be in a position to continue to recognise valid marriages and so forth. Our position as a society is clear on this.
Sentiment score: 0.21
I said that there would be a policy of prioritisation. We are working with Ireland's Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, and indeed with others towards that end because some significant projects need to be progressed in the interests of the common good be it energy, water, particularly offshore wind and so forth.
Sentiment score: 0.40
I thank the Deputy. It is good to see Deputy Heneghan back safe and sound. Well done on your efforts.
Sentiment score: 0.44