It is my first opportunity to wish the Tánaiste well in his new role. I wish to speak on the secretaries and caretakers talks, which have broken down again, in relation to their pension entitlements and leave entitlements. Mr. Andy Pike from Fórsa said: The Department’s refusal to table a constructive proposal on this point has now brought the process to an impasse. School secretaries and caretakers have shown extraordinary patience. Their determination to secure a just and long-overdue resolution remains unwaverin…

Absolutely.

We got elected at the same age.

Maybe I will be Tánaiste some day.

That is not true.

I thank Sinn Féin, including Deputy Martin Kenny, for this motion. The Labour Party will be supporting it. On behalf of the Labour Party, I welcome those from the IFA and other farming organisations in the Visitors Gallery. I am absolutely baffled by the senior Minister’s disappearance, considering that this is one of the biggest debates this Dáil has had since my election to this Chamber and affects so many rural communities and families across this country. It is so disappointing that he went away after ten minut…

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

Sit down, will you.

The Tánaiste appreciates the role community groups and community sports complexes play in communities across this country. I want to speak about the Mayfield Sports Complex and the urgent need for funding for it. When originally opened, the complex was designed to serve the local community and the school in Mayfield, as well as the wider public on the northside of Cork city. It was a joint project between the then Department of Education and the then Cork Corporation. As a former teacher in Mayfield Community Schoo…

I am pleased to speak on Science Week 2025, marking its 30th anniversary. This year's theme, "Then. Today. Tomorrow.", asks us to take an honest look at how far we have come, where we now stand and what choices we must make to secure a fair and sustainable future for our young people and for research in Ireland. Science Week began three decades ago as a relatively modest outreach effort. Today, it is the biggest science festival in the State with thousands of events involving schools, universities, libraries, youth…

I echo my Labour Party colleague, Councillor Peter Horgan, who has called for a renewed national focus on supporting remote and hybrid work opportunities. The recent utterances of Irish billionaires so far removed from the realities of real work are completely out of touch with the reality of modern working practice in Ireland. We can see the benefits, whether a reduction in commuter chaos in our cities, better work-life balance, practical benefits for parents or the increased activity in local economies. We can se…

This Private Members' motion is very personal for many people across the country. In each and every community, urban and rural, a significant number of people are now using drugs in their daily lives, in their nightlife activities or as their coping mechanism. This motion at the end of the day is about people. It is often a conversation that is taboo. People do not speak about it. I am very proud to be in the Labour Party which has led on this in calling out our country's failed drug policies. I wish to speak about…

I thank Sinn Féin for putting this Bill forward. The Labour Party is very happy to support it. For many years, the Labour Party has championed the serious effect that back-to-school costs are placing on families across the country and the serious need to implement concrete support measures. Every family is affected by this, not just the chosen few. However, we stand and debate another topic that has a significant effect on our most vulnerable people in our society. This year's budget is another missed opportunity t…

I appreciate that. With that design advisory group, are we on track to hopefully roll out DEIS plus for the academic year 2026-2027? Is that the priority for Government? In relation to the €16 million grant funding, that will not be the full amount to roll out DEIS plus in totality but is it the job of the design advisory group to come up with the specific schools or areas we were going to target first? If so, how do we pick those schools or areas? The Minister knows I am absolutely willing to work with her. At the…

DEIS plus is a welcome initiative and has been championed by my party and the former Deputy Ó Ríordáin, now an MEP. There has to be cross-party support for the roll-out of DEIS plus. It is about the implementation being as quick as possible because schools need it. Deputy O'Rourke and I met with a number of principals recently in the audiovisual room in relation to their schools and one point they focused on was the deputy principal role. I hope DEIS plus will help to tackle disadvantage in many schools across the …

This question is about the amount of money that has been granted per school for ICT equipment for the school year 2025-26.

The predictability of when funding will be made available to schools is absolutely welcome, and I know this from my own experience in some schools. To clarify again, am I correct in saying the minor works and the ICT funding will be given in December or January?

That is extremely good. In regard to the €35 million given to schools in May, was that funding down on last year's provision or is it the case the €35 million that was given in May and the funding that will be given in January will be placed together as the whole funding for one academic year? Alternatively, has the ICT grant funding reduced since last year? If the Minister could clarify this I would appreciate it.

That clarifies the position of the predictability of when that funding will come through and the fact some of the €200 million fund previously in the strategy still remains and will be followed through on. Does the Department outline guidelines to each school when it gives the ICT funding on what possible initiatives the school could use the funding for or is it totally up to the boards of management or principals of schools or people who are in post in relation to ICT equipment? The previous Bill debated this even…