In relation to the programme for Government and what it says about pensions, I want to ask the Taoiseach about the pension entitlements of retired postal workers. As the Taoiseach knows, when An Post was founded in 1984, postal workers were promised at that stage that they would not lose their pension entitlements. That promise was copperfastened by the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act of 1983, which guaranteed that their pensions would never be less favourable than those of other civil servants. The retired postal workers have had pension increases capped since 2013 even though their pension fund now has a surplus of €500 million. Retired postal workers are being left out of pocket during the cost-of-living crisis. This makes a mockery of the promises that were made to them in the context of the dedication they have given, in their working lives, to public service. Will the Taoiseach ensure that the cap on the An Post pension increases is lifted without delay?

Sentiment score: 0.14

On the issue of infrastructure and education, I recently visited Gaelcholáiste Reachrann along with my constituency colleagues. It is an incredibly impressive Gaelcholáiste with a brilliant atmosphere. The staff are hugely dedicated and students achieve brilliant results both academically and on the sports field. Most of the school has been housed in prefabs for the last 20 years. The school has been promised permanent buildings. I raised this issue multiple times in the previous Dáil with the then Taoiseach, Deputy Simon Harris. When will the school get the permanent school buildings it has been promised and needs?

Sentiment score: 0.33

On competitiveness, the Taoiseach knows housing is a key challenge. The Taoiseach said himself there are issues with the refurbishment of long-term voids on a large scale. There is something that could be done to change this. On the cost of refurbishing long-term voids, the assumption is that it is spread over ten years. For other capital projects, it is usually spread over 30 years. If the Taoiseach wants to do something positive, that could be changed. There is no evidence base for it being restricted to ten years. It is holding up many of those projects. I recently met members of a campaign group, Access for All Ireland. An issue they raised with me is how the housing crisis is affecting disabled people. As the Taoiseach knows, according to the Ombudsman there are more than 1,200 disabled people under the age of 65 living in nursing homes. They are an unsuitable setting for most of these people. It can affect their mental health and it infringes on their independence. What is the Government doing to address the scandal of more than 1,200 disabled people under the age of 65 living in nursing homes?

Sentiment score: -0.07