I am doing okay.

No, I do not do the funding side of it. I would say this will be the last day Senator O'Loughlin will allow me in her chair. On Darkness Into Light, I wish all the volunteers across the country the very best. A lot of preparation goes into working with Pieta House but it is the volunteers on the ground who make it happen. They do it on the basis there is a recognition and awareness locally. Maybe it is the one morning where barriers are broken down and that conversation can happen on that walk. However, it is about…

The work that goes into the delivery of the programme is also phenomenal and going there is a good way to show our courtesy to all the people who participate in it. Senator Conway also looked for a debate on low vision and low hearing. I think the Minister would welcome that opportunity because she is doing work with Chime already on the strategy on hearing. I would say she is doing work on vision as well. It would be a great opportunity. She is doing consultation at the moment so it would be great for us to hear w…

Today, I will raise the issue of rehabilitation for children with acquired brain injury, which needs to be co-ordinated from the top down. Someone needs to take ownership and responsibility for the service as a whole and for the individual care of children. This should not be the complete responsibility of the parents. Every child deserves to get the same level of service and not be discriminated against based on where they live in the country. They should also not get a lesser service because their parents or care…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for his leniency on this particular matter. I thank the Minister for being here. I thank all the Senators who throughout last October contributed to this Bill when it was brought forward. While there was a time delay amendment on it, the Minister worked furiously to ensure it was not dragged out. The Minister and his team have ensured we are here today talking about travel supports. The first step forward when a person decides to leave their home is that they have a next-step plan.

I thank the Chair for his indulgence in letting me in, and the Minister for his listening ability. It was really pragmatic of him and his Department to take on board what was said that night. It does make a difference here in the Seanad that we can work across party and get jobs done even if they are small, but this is huge. It is a small step in the right direction. It will have a huge impact on a lot of women when they make that step to go forward to leave the home to know that there is travel support there for t…

I rise today with a deep sense of responsibility because there are children in our care system who do not have a voice in this Chamber and yet their lives are shaped by the decisions we make here. The recent statement from the Irish Association of Social Workers once again exposed the reality of a system under strain, a system increasingly reliant on special emergency arrangements, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and unregulated settings for children who deserve much better. Let us be clear; these are not just placemen…

I thank the Minister for being here and giving myself and my colleagues time to have statements on prison conditions and alternative sentencing. I do not come from a legal background. I am on the justice committee. I attended Limerick Prison with Senator Ruane and that opened my eyes to what the conditions were like. It was my first time ever to visit a prison and it has had a lasting impact on me. We talk about the dignity of people if we want to help with rehabilitation and reform, but what I saw there that day w…

I thank the Senator.

I know. Just before I move on, I welcome the committee from the Fr. Sammon Centre in Monivea, who are guests of Deputy Albert Dolan. They are very welcome to this House and are in very good hands.

Before we move on to the next speaker, I welcome Kieran Stokes-Ryan, who is studying government and politics at UCC and who is on work experience here with Senator Laura Harmon. I believe we have another group here as well. We may as well say "Hello" to everybody. The walking group from Dundalk who are here with Deputy McGreehan are very welcome. Some of the Minister of State, Deputy Marian Harkin's constituents are here as well. It is great to see them all. We are doing statements on disability and are joined by t…

I apologise. I do that every time.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

We have got to organise our time if the Minister of State has ten minutes in which to respond.

I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House this evening and giving us an in-depth response on where exactly things sit with her and her officials within her Department. Her response is very welcome. The allocation in the 2020 budget has grown by approximately 90%. When I took over in 2020, the amount was €2.1 billion and today it is €3.9 billion. The Minister of State's job is to drive policy and ensure she gets as much money into the sector as possible so the HSE can operationalise it. I fully realise…

I propose the suspension of the House until the Dáil vote is concluded.

I thank the Minister of State for his opening statement. He is correct in what he has said there on increased supply in addressing homelessness. They Government is focused on making sure everyone has access to good quality, affordable and secure homes that suit their needs. Over €9 million in capital funding will be made available this year alone. The housing plan recognises that homelessness is the single most pressured social issue we face, and the Government has introduced several key measures to address homeles…

Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome Jane and Peter Maher from the Ballyglunin development to the Seanad this afternoon, along with my good colleague Deputy Albert Dolan. I also see Deputy Martin Kenny arriving with some of his friends and guests as well this evening. Not to leave anybody out, they are all very welcome. In the Sinn Féin slot, I call Senator McCormack. Is the Senator sharing time?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Is Senator Cosgrove sharing time?