Jen Cummins

No problem. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre today said in its annual report that it had 24,000 contacts last year. That is up 5% from 2024 and up 29% from 2023. Almost 31% of them were first-time contacts. There was a huge fear among people who were at risk of becoming homeless. They then stay in their accommodation, whether it is live-in landlords or housemates abusing them. A large number of youn…

------in this House about that issue.

22. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy will next meet. [32603/26]

The fossil-fuel crisis is a time when we need to have a catalyst to move more towards renewables. I am regularly contacted by households that would really love to move to renewables and deeply retrofit their homes, but, unfortunately, they just cannot afford to do so. Even though they are able to apply for grants and all those things, which are very welcome, there is a shortfall in the grants by c…

I thank my colleague, Deputy Holly Cairns, for the work she has done on this legislation. When I grew up in Ireland in the eighties and nineties, abortion was absolutely not allowed. It was not spoken about and was portrayed as something only certain types of women did, and there was a massive stigma to it. When I went to college there was no availability of information for people about safe and a…

Parent across the country are desperately trying to secure appropriate school places for their children. There is still huge uncertainty around the level and scale of unmet need. Transparency is really important. The Department of Education and Youth, working with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, should be able to give us that data. I am suggesting that it publish that on a monthl…

I will message the Deputy.

Europe Day is a celebration of peace, solidarity and the shared values across our Continent. As someone who is proudly Irish, I am also proud to be European and part of a German family. Given the number of people who live in Ireland from elsewhere, it is important to celebrate our differences and what brings us together. I come from a proud bilingual family. We speak both German and English at hom…

Excuse me, Minister of State.

The Deputy is on her feet.

Can the clock be stopped because this is unfair on the Deputy?

Minister of State-----

Education is supposed to be free in this country but unfortunately this year we have seen exactly how it is not free. Books are free, which is great, but there is an ever-increasing reliance on tablets which are not free. In fact, not only are they not free, they cost between €700 and €800 each. Exam fees are being reintroduced for the leaving certificate and junior cycle exams. There was no warni…

I am delighted that the Minister of State is here. We often meet on Thursdays when we are chatting. I am disappointed that the Minister for education is not here because it falls within her remit. I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to come and discuss the issue of the Cork Life Centre. I am sure he is aware of it. It is in his neck of the woods, not quite in his constituency but clo…

I thank the Minister of State. As he said, it really is a wonderful centre. The thing is, however, it is not a special school. When it is designated as a special school, that means a primary school, which it is not. These are young people. In fact, some of them are 16. They can decide their own medical issues. They can apply for a driving licence at 17. It is not a special school. I know the Depar…

Six years ago, the Taoiseach visited Oliver Bond Street in my constituency. I can tell him the anger right now is palpable. The residents have been lied to and let down, and they live in homes that you would not put an animal in. There is damp, there is mould, there are windows rotting out of their frames and there are doors that are not able to close because they are so warped. There is antisocia…

The Minister of State is having a bad time today because what is happening with the Oliver Bond Street complex is an absolute disgrace. I have the letter that was sent by the senior Minister, who really should be here to answer the questions. Well done to Sinn Féin for bringing this forward. Dublin South-Central, which I represent, has a number of regeneration projects that have been going on for …

The Standing Business Committee of Dáil Éireann has completed its consideration under Standing Order 30 of the request by Deputy John Brady to waive the requirement for scrutiny of the Flood Insurance Bill 2021 by the relevant committee under Standing Order 103 and has agreed thereto.

11. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. [30356/26]

25. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the Cabinet offshore wind energy clearing house. [30357/26]

We are feeling the shock in fossil fuel prices because of what is happening outside the country, and this really has to be the catalyst for us moving to renewables. I was shocked to hear that we used to produce more wind energy than we do now. As I said in this Chamber recently, if people go to the west coast, they will nearly be blown over. Therefore, I am at a loss as to why we do not have more …

A new report revealed today the depths of disadvantage in Dublin's south-west inner city, where I live. On every metric, the area and its residents are being failed. There is a disproportionate disadvantage when it comes to deprivation and crime, low educational attainment and a chronic lack of sporting facilities, which I have spoken about several times in this Chamber. There are also very stark …

259. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the pay negotiations of community training centre staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19513/26]

I want to talk about community training centres, CTCs, and the pay negotiations that are under way for them. I have spoken about this before. I am very passionate about CTCs. I have seen the major benefits these centres have for the young people who are in them in terms of their ability to learn, progress and gain self-esteem they may have lost in other education facilities. I would like to know h…

I do not want to jeopardise any negotiations that are going on either, but I am aware of the frustrations people in the sector have. People are leaving CTCs because they can no longer afford to live on the wages they receive. They feel disrespected and not recognised. I am glad, as I think others will be, to hear the Minister express respect and understanding of how important CTCs are. I am a litt…