It is a fair question. I asked for a detailed breakdown. This is millions in public money. Deputy Nash and I asked a fair question. Where is the detailed breakdown?

The Minister of State has failed to answer the question again.

No.

So the Minister of State knew on Thursday and could have told us on Thursday.

Who told us on Thursday that-----

Met Éireann has issued a status yellow weather warning for ten counties, with temperatures expected to fall to -3°C in parts of the country. People are now facing freezing conditions with some of the highest heating bills in Europe. The Government had a clear opportunity in the budget to target energy credits to those who need them the most. Instead, it decided to scrap them outright leaving vulnerable households afraid to turn the heating on. It is as if the cost-of-living crisis was forgotten about and ended by F…

It shows the worst-off are worse-----

Will the Tánaiste answer my question about poverty?

There is absolutely no reason for the Government to abandon questions to the Taoiseach and accountability by the leader of the country today. Why is the Taoiseach not taking questions as he should be today? Just because of events, it should not mean abandoning Leaders' Questions and Questions on Policy or Legislation. There is no reason for the Taoiseach not to take questions.

On behalf of the Social Democrats, I extend sympathies to Deputy Lawlor. Fine Gael has been in government for nearly 15 years. That is 15 years of promises, plans and press conferences with Ministers donning hard hats, 15 years spent turning the housing crisis into a housing disaster. Under the Tánaiste's watch, house prices have almost doubled, skyrocketing rents have more than doubled and the number of people who are homeless has increased by more than 400%. This morning Fine Gael's fourth housing plan was launch…

Fine Gael promised 40,000 homes in the last election campaign. That was a complete and utter fabrication and now it is making its annual housing target disappear because it cannot stand over its record and it does not want accountability on it. Since Fine Gael took office, rents and house prices have soared to record levels, home ownership levels have collapsed and now more than 5,200 children are growing up without a home. That is more than the overall number of people who were homeless when Fine Gael took office.…

Why will the Minister for housing not be here this evening?

Where is he going?

Did he not get enough training from Ivan Yates to debate people this evening?

It is welcome to hear the Aire Stáit's passion and interest in this area. I have something in common with him, in that I spent a lot of time having discussions with my poor dad. He did not agree with me on anything. Perhaps if we had done an exchange at that stage, there might have been more in common. I welcome the leadership that my colleague Aidan Farrelly has shown on raising this issue. I also welcome the young people in the Public Gallery. I especially want to welcome the young people from the National Youth …

I want to raise the issue of the redress scheme for the survivors of the fire at the Stardust. It has been more than 44 years since the devastating fire at the Stardust when 48 young people never came home. The State apology and the redress scheme for the families who lost loved ones are very welcome. However, there is growing frustration that the redress scheme for survivors is not yet up and running. Survivors have endured lifelong trauma, as the Taoiseach knows. Many are living with very serious health condition…

The Government has said time and again that there should be an appropriate school place for every child. I am contacted constantly by parents who are desperately trying to get a place for their child in an autism class. The same as any other parent, they just want their child to be able to thrive. Stapolin Educate Together National School in Baldoyle has asked to open two additional new autism classes. The school has the space for the modular units required. It also has experienced staff who can support the opening…

Ireland should be a country where every child is safe going to bed at night. The attack on the home of the women and children in Drogheda at the weekend shocked the nation. People are asking how has it come to this, and how could anyone try to burn and kill children while they sleep. It is vitally important that all of us show leadership. Words matter. The Tánaiste's words matter. Where misinformation is spread, we must challenge it. Where there are attempts to sow hate and division, we must build cohesion. Leaders…

We need these workers to keep our public services running, to ensure our elderly are cared for, to keep businesses open and to keep tax revenues flowing. Has the Tánaiste thought this through? Which sectors of the economy will he be targeting for reductions in migrant workers?

We do need to look at the facts, and the Tánaiste knows them well. The Government published a report this week saying that to meet housing demand alone, we need at least 50,000 additional construction workers. The Tánaiste also knows the facts about our ageing population. Again, the report pointed to the situation that we will soon have a reduction in the numbers in our workforce who will be able to support people who are retired, to pay for pensions and to care for our elderly. The Tánaiste knows these facts. Unle…