The Tánaiste, Simon Harris, promised voters an action plan on childcare within 100 days and here we are 400 days later with nothing to show for that but more empty words. The Minister does not need me to tell him that this sector is at breaking point for service providers, staff and, fundamentally, young families. The Social Democrats have called for a time-limited special Oireachtas committee to develop a pathway for the future vision of childcare and early years education in Ireland. That has fallen on deaf ears.…

What of the action plan?

The Minister needs to answer the question on the action plan.

I asked a question and the Minister has not answered it.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss funding and support for the Killarney innovation centre. Deputy Catherine Ardagh - To discuss the introduction of a national lung cancer screening programme using low-dose CT scanning. Deputy Johnny Guirke - To discuss the contracts homebuyers signed in Ringfort, Rathmolyon, County Meath. Deputy Aidan Farrelly - To discuss t…

I thank the Minister of State and Deputy McGettigan.

Tairgim: “Go léifear an Bille don Dara hUair anois.” I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” I thank my friends in the Social Democrats for the opportunity to bring what I believe to be potentially momentous legislation to Second Stage this evening. Before I continue, I am thrilled to welcome so many young people and youth workers to the Gallery, representing organisations like the National Youth Council of Ireland, Foróige, BeLong To and the Irish Second-Level Students' Union, ISSU. I thank them all for…

I thank both Ministers of State for their contributions to the debate, which I appreciate. I thank Deputies from all sides of the House for their important and meaningful contributions. There are a couple of things I would like to say in wrapping up. First, it is that my heart is full that we have had a chance to talk about young people for such an expansive amount of time - two hours - and what I certainly perceive to be universal support for the idea and the purpose behind this. Whatever way it manifests itself i…

Margaret Donohoe told Kfm news this week that she loves her job and does not want to quit it but she cannot face another bill. Margaret minds six children in her home and is a childminder, so you can imagine her surprise when a representative from Tailte Éireann arrived at her door to evaluate her home for commercial rates. Amidst a crisis in accessibility and affordability in childcare, is now the time to be chasing childminders for commercial rates?

I think we all, as the Minister rightly says, share in the concerns about the tragic cases that have unfolded in this State in recent months and years. I am really concerned with the Minister's reply. How do we think it is possible for Tusla to conduct a well-being or welfare check with 42,000 children by March of next year? We have not seen the methodology for those checks. I ask the Minister to publish what those checks will look like. Tusla has more administrators than social care workers. It has more managers t…

I want to stay focused. I thank the Minister for providing some information regarding the costs. That works out at approximately €76 per child. If we are looking at 42,000 children, that is what has been allocated. Will each child be spoken to or will a member of their family be spoken to? Kate Duggan told us in committee that the first phase of this will be an automated check to see if children are enrolled in school or services. Is that it? Is that when we deem that the welfare of a child is okay? Given that 100,…

I wish to draw the Minister’s attention to a situation that has unfolded in Craddockstown Special School, Naas. Twelve pupils were offered a place to begin in August this year back in March or April of this year and they turned down other places that were not as appropriate as a special school place. It is November and they have not been able to start. It seems the planning application for that site was only submitted in October this year. There is real confusion among parents regarding this site. Can the Minister …

I will cut straight to the question. We have seen reports this morning of 50 IPAS contractor locations with significant fire safety concerns. What does the Government intend to do to ensure the health and safety of every bed, whether that is State-run or State-funded? These contracts were signed with contractors by this Government. What steps will the Minister take to ensure the safety of every child and vulnerable adult in an IPAS setting or any State-run setting is secure?

I thank Deputies Tóibín and Lawless for bringing the motion forward this morning. It is always meritable to have a conversation, not only about the processes for nomination but, ultimately, as we are hearing from many contributors this morning, the merits and importance of the office itself. Notwithstanding the context, which is important in terms of when we are having this debate, it is no way to legislate to try to change the rules to reduce the thresholds because the rules did not help us get our nomination onto…

Deputy, relevance to the budget.

Deputy-----

Deputy, cease. Keep your debate relevant to the budget.

You are not speaking about the budget.

Your time is up now, Deputy. We will move to Deputy Paul Gogarty at this stage.

Deputy, sit down. We will move to Deputy Paul Gogarty now.