Aisling Dempsey

10. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to improve the inspection regime of dog breeding establishments. [52127/26]

Does the Minister intend to improve the inspection regime for dog breeding establishments in the near future?

I thank the Minister. I appreciate that answer and his commitment in this area. It is obvious it is something about which he is quite passionate. It would be really beneficial if we could get some kind of timeline on that now. We met with Dog Law Ireland and other advocates. I met a lady from my own constituency that day called Alma. It is not about people like that. There are excellent dog breede…

I thank the Minister for his commitment to getting this through as a priority. I am really delighted. I am sure many people will be delighted to hear that today. The caps he talks about are all very welcome. They are more or less in line with what people like Dog Law Ireland and advocates like my constituent Alma want. The one concern is around the number of bitches that can be in any one of these…

Our Lady's Hospital in Navan is extremely important to the people of Navan and County Meath generally. We are proud of the excellent staff who work there and the management team who run the hospital and work together every day to provide good outcomes for the patients in our county. The opening of the surgical hub in Swords was welcome news, not just for Dublin but for surrounding counties like Me…

15. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on Irish aid to Nepal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50097/26]

Throughout this debate, not one person has argued that we do not need high-quality, accessible and affordable childcare. Everyone, including the Minister of State, agrees that we need it and need it now. The question is not one of need; the question is whether it is possible to deliver nationwide, high-quality, affordable childcare for every family overnight. If we are all honest here, the answer …

I beg the Deputy's pardon.

The Deputy might let me finish. I actually agree with both policies. I hope to see them progress with relevant Ministers, like the Minister for Social Protection. More places for children aged under one is being addressed under schemes such as building blocks already. I hope we continue to make progress on this over the coming years. Parents should have the freedom to return to work as and when is…

I want to ask the Minister to outline the current and future actions that are being taken to reduce the cost of childcare for parents across the country.

I thank the Minister for that update. I really welcome the maximum fee cap the Minister mentioned that is coming in September and will cap those fees at €183.70. That is a real tangible step for families to achieving really affordable childcare. Families that are facing those highest fees will see the money back in their pockets. Where are those services that will benefit the most from that? Are t…

6. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection for a report on his attendance at the annual carers’ forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46023/26]

I raise the school summer programme, which was formerly called the July provision. I have been contacted by numerous parents, school staff and principals who are really frustrated and very stressed. People at St. Michael's school and Scoil Mhuire in Trim, St. Anne's school in Navan and many more schools across Meath West have told me they have not been allocated enough resources and staff by the D…

The village of Ballivor has been without water for over four days now, but Uisce Éireann does not appear to be accountable to me as a public representative nor to this House despite the billions of euro we are giving it to invest in upgrading our water infrastructure. There have been really poor communications, there is no end in sight and the school has been closed for the past two days. In 2019…

134. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment given that many SMEs are being disproportionately affected by the spike in fuel prices, and with businesses across the retail and hospitality sectors facing particularly heavy energy bills, the plans he has in place to help address these challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30074/26]

11. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education and Youth to explain the process around School Building Projects; the project process and if there are currently delays in the process. [29148/26]

I ask the Minister about the school building project list for schools which are either new builds or seeking extensions, and when they get on to that list how they work through the process and what delays they might face.

I thank the Minister for that clarification. I will use Boyne Community School in Trim as an example. It has been on the school project building list for over 15 years for works and an extension. Some 24 prefabs have been added to that site which is a recognition that the Department is aware how important extending and improving the school is. The local demand for this school is huge. It is the on…

Boyne Community School is a DEIS school. It is on a fantastic site and is a lovely, historical building, but it is not fit-for-purpose as it stands. The type of building it is causes complexity in design and cost but we really need to overcome that. It was acknowledged 15 plus years ago that this work was needed. I have concerns around the 24 prefabs. Incredibly, having looked at them and the cla…

124. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the building blocks grant. [29531/26]

I thank the Minister. That is positive information and it is a positive scheme. I have had many inquiries over the last while from childcare providers in my area, both private and community-run, as to when it would be announced. It is important that it is for private and community facilities. We need all of our facilities to avail of it. I know people in Trim who are putting their children's names…

I ask that the Department and the city and county childcare committees engage with providers, both community and private. I know a lot of places have identified to me a need for extensions, but some have not yet done so. It would be helpful if they were made fully aware and there was a good advertising campaign and engagement through the childcare committees to make them aware that this funding is…

Child and adolescent mental health services, or CAMHS as we know it, supports young people up to 18 years of age with moderate to serious mental health difficulties. At 18, they are expected to move to the adult mental health services, AMHS. While, logically, we know that these young people are adults, many still need our help and particularly the ones who are in the care of CAMHS. They can be so …

238. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will commit to the removal of the so-called "deemed disposal" tax in relation to ETFs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26607/26]

I wish to ask about Boyne Community School in my hometown of Trim, which was granted an extension well over a decade ago now. The Department is well aware of the situation and the need for the school to grow. It is so aware that it has granted 24 prefabs over the years to accommodate the growing school community. A few years ago, a site was purchased for the only girls secondary school in the town…