Simon Harris

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. I thank him for raising this issue, which is a growing issue in a number of constituencies. Perhaps his constituency is very prominent in that considering the volume of homes and apartments built and the number of multi-unit developments in place. Of course, that is very welcome but it means we need to put ourselves under pressure to keep the laws of the land and …

I thank Deputy Brennan for raising this issue with the usual passion, empathy and decency he brings to all matters on the floor of the Dáil. Our colleague the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who is present, is working with the Deputy on this. I will certainly work with him on it, too. We are all thinking of Eimear. We send our very best wishes to her and her family. None of us can even begin t…

I thank Deputy Kenny very much for raising the issue concerning St. Cecilia's School. It is absolutely the position of the Government that it is a matter of providing appropriate school places. The Government has shown that through investing in special schools. There was a view in the past, perhaps, that everybody could be mainstreamed. That is not practical for some children. Every parent would l…

I thank Deputy McCarthy for raising this issue concerning Ballyhooly in Cork East. As he has reminded us, it is not the first time he has raised issues around the water network and the need for an upgrade. I am informed that Uisce Éireann has introduced a number of measures to try to address the issues with the Ballyhooly network. I believe it has put in place a programme of mains monitoring. A l…

For a rare occasion, I agree with the Deputy. I agree with everything he said about the very important work done by the Irish Coast Guard service. We think of all of those who have lost their lives in the service of others, and also of their families and communities. I am really pleased to hear today about the enhanced service for the Deputy's community and constituency. I agree that there is a …

That is the wrong organisation.

The Deputy's comments are disgraceful and inaccurate and that has become the norm.

No, sorry, excuse me-----

The Deputy will shortly be required-----

The Deputy will shortly be required to correct the record of the Dáil because I think the organisation-----

Allow me to speak. This is not a blockade. The organisation that the Deputy is referring to is the World Bank, not the IMF, first of all. I ask him to please correct the record because he did not even bother to do his research. It was the World Bank. The second point is that as the current Minister for Finance, I provided to the Oireachtas committee all relevant documentation, which proves that th…

The answer to the other question is that the Deputy should read how State companies actually operate in terms of the role of boards and responsibilities.

You referenced the IMF incorrectly. You should correct the record of the House.

Correct the record and get your facts right.

First, I thank the Deputy for sharing that story with the Dáil. If the Deputy sends on the details to my office, I will be very happy to engage directly with Dublin City Council. People should not feel that fear if they are in a damp and inadequate property that - I say this not to be disrespectful - the taxpayer is helping to fund. They should not be expected to endure substandard accommodation. …

I thank Deputy Lawlor for raising this matter, which I know has become a real issue around Rosslare Harbour. I have been engaging with Revenue officials in relation to this and they have informed me that the old customs facility is being used to facilitate truck parking but, to the Deputy's broader point, the site is owned and managed by the Office of Public Works, OPW. What I will do, on foot of …

I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this important issue. Of course, he will know I am going to say that, at the macro level, we are significantly increasing the capital budget for education, and quite rightly so. However, at the level that he rightly raises of his own county of Kerry and the specific issues he highlighted for an individual school, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, come back…

I thank Deputy Daly for raising this issue. I will get him the numbers, but there is a commitment to increase the number of residential places and respite services this year in the HSE service plan. Allow me to ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, to write to the Deputy on that. On the broader issue, Before We Die is an excellent group. I look forward to meeting them directly. I know they met the Mini…

I thank Deputy Stanley. I know that much of this is the responsibility of the Department of disability, which, obviously, works with the HSE. The Deputy raises an important issue. My understanding is that there is now approval for 11 therapy posts in the midlands. Let me follow up with the HSE on that. Deputy Clendennen reminds me of this. I will come back to the Deputy directly on the OT piece. …

I will follow it up.

I join with the Taoiseach in moving this motion of confidence in the Government. This Government came together to form a stable majority with a clear mission to work hard to build a secure and prosperous future for the people of this country across five budgets. We are guided by that mission today as much as we were on the day we took office. Let me be direct about what is actually happening here…

In the cold light of day, people know that.

We are in a position to take this additional set of measures because of our budgetary strategy and the position of the public finances.

It has enabled us to do many things which are helping people in the here and now and things which are in place for the long term. One million children are getting free school books. There are hot school meals in our primary schools.

The fuel allowance worth-----