John Paul O'Shea

I want to ask the Tánaiste about the communication this week from Tailte Éireann on early years service providers and childminders receiving bills for commercial rates. As he knows, they quietly provide a very important public service through the early childhood care and education scheme and other childminding services right across the country. To date, they have not been liable for commercial rat…

I thank the Minister.

I thank the Deputy and call on the Minister to respond.

Deputy Cummins has a supplementary question, as does Deputy Gould.

The Minister to respond. Can the Deputy sit down, please?

I welcome the opportunity to speak this evening on the importance of the N20-M20 motorway project for the Munster region and the urgent need to accelerate progress on its business case, the final design and planning during 2026. For far too long, the N20 corridor between Cork and Limerick has been recognised as one of the most congested, dangerous and inadequate national routes in the country. It …

I thank the Minister of State for his kind words relating to this project. It is a very detailed project and there is a lot of money involved, but I welcome the fact that in his response, he said the scheme preliminary business case is expected to be submitted to the Department of Transport in the second half of this year. This is very welcome news. We need to keep this momentum going, and subject…

I want to raise the importance of proceeding with the N/M20 Cork to Limerick motorway project. It is not just a road project; it is a vital piece of national infrastructure that will shape the economic and social future of our region for generations to come. For far too long, communities and landowners along this corridor have endured congestion, delays and safety concerns. Families, commuters, bu…

The Minister of State, without interruption.

The Minister of State, without interruption.

The Minister of State, without interruption, please.

The Minister of State, without interruption.

The Minister of State, without interruption now, please.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn, please.

The Minister of State, without interruption.

Deputy Bennett, please respect the House.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn, will you please stop?

Deputy Mac Lochlainn, please.

Deputy Bennett, please. The Minister of State, without interruption, please.

Deputy Gould, please.

The Minister of State to continue without interruption now, please.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn, please respect the Chair.

Deputy Kenny, please.

I thank the Minister of State.

I call the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley.