In terms of making sure that we are following up and doing everything we can in this House, will the Minister commit to publishing clear data on outcomes of domestic abuse cases, including instances where the victim is allowed to stay in the home rather than having to leave, as well as data on the various delays and barriers in the system? We must ensure that all gardaí have the appropriate knowledge and can support all victims. Will the Minister also commit to bringing forward any necessary changes, whether they b…

There are many issues I could speak about today. I could speak about violence against women, which is still far too prevalent. I could speak about how women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds continue to face disproportionate disadvantage or about how caring role and professions traditionally carried out by women remained undervalued in our society. I could speak about the gender pay gap, which many companies continue to try and hide on websites. I could speak about the tsunami of research that shows women in lea…

As the Tánaiste knows, Fingal is the youngest and fastest-growing area of the country. We are delivering houses but our education infrastructure needs to catch up. In December 2022, when he was Minister for Further and Higher Education, he visited Swords and announced a college of the future campus. Three years later, we do not seem to be any further on and do not have a timeline for delivery. He might update us and let us know whether a preliminary business case has been concluded and when families in Fingal will …

We now move to Questions Nos. 20 to 39.

Ireland's greatest asset is us. It is our people - our hard-working, skilled and educated women and men. For this country to continue to prosper, we must invest in us for the future, which means investing in our educational system. Fingal, as the Tánaiste knows, is rapidly growing. It is the youngest area in the State. We are delivering homes in Rush, Lusk, Skerries and Balbriggan but this housing delivery has to be matched by delivery of appropriate school places in safe, warm and modern buildings. Schools are at …

I thank the Tánaiste. I appreciate his really constructive engagement. I know delivering schools is as important to him as it is to me. I thank him for also mentioning Rush National School, which is something I have raised with the Minister for Education and Youth. I will continue to raise it with her and the Tánaiste. I look forward to welcoming the Tánaiste in the coming years to the opening of both of these school projects. As he will be aware, I will continue to raise these repeatedly with him until I see the s…

I echo Deputy McAuliffe's calls regarding making sure that An Garda Síochána understands the powers it has and has all of the supports and equipment necessary to enforce these powers. My constituency borders that of Deputy McAuliffe. I express my condolences to Grace Lynch's family. What happened was horrific. There is a similar issue with scramblers in Santry in my constituency. We have to do everything we can to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the resources, manpower and technology to ensure this never happens …

This Bill represents the most significant reform of childcare since the Child Care Act 1991 came into force more than three decades ago. I very much welcome the opportunity to speak on it. Child welfare practice, interagency working and our understanding of children's rights have profoundly changed since 1991. I am very glad that the law is going to reflect that reality. This Bill comes in the aftermath of a long and detailed review process that began in 2017 and that involved extensive consultation with Tusla, com…

The Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, confirmed for me recently that Fingal County Council will be admitted to the defective concrete block scheme, which is very welcome. However, I need to highlight that a small number of very good, prudent homeowners in Skerries, Lusk and The Naul have already remediated their homes and consequently will not now be eligible to be supported under the scheme. I would very much appreciate it if the Minister for Finance worked with the Minister for housing to ensure those people, …

I welcome the Minister and this Government's focus on online safety. It is one of the most pressing issues for families today and it demands urgent action. I am a mum to two eight-year-old girls and I know the joy of their current world. It is a world of innocence, imagination and security but I already feel the worry of what lies ahead, including the phones, the apps, the group chats, the comparisons, the silence, and the stories we have heard here today. Like so many parents, I worry about what they will see befo…

Saved by the bell. I call Deputy Hearne.

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time next week.

The roll-out of national broadband is delivering high-speed fibre to rural and urban communities. It is a success and progress has been made, yet we know that there is partial coverage in some towns and villages. For example, my own hometown of Skerries has partial coverage of fibre broadband and not access to the national fibre broadband. The Minister might give us an update on when we can expect full roll-out of the national broadband plan in all towns and villages.

I thank the Minister and welcome his update. I have a concern in relation to the blue area. Part of Skerries is in the blue area as well. The Minister mentioned Balbriggan. The problem with the blue area is that the residents of an estate are being told that unless they come together as a collective of 20 to 50 residents who are willing to sign up with one commercial provider, they will not be able to access the fibre broadband, or it will not be delivered. That is not good enough. It also undermines competition. A…

I agree that the roll-out of the national broadband plan has been a success. We just need to make sure that people, families, residents and businesses are not left behind. I will contact the Minister's office in relation to the specific areas.

I wish the best of luck to Deputy Donohoe. He is the standard to which we all aspire in Fine Gael. I thank him for all of his support. Skerries, Rush, Lusk, Garristown, Balrothery and Oldtown are all principally served by Balbriggan Garda station. Balbriggan is the youngest large town in the country. It is the most culturally diverse town in the country, yet we have not had a permanent superintendent at the Garda station for well over a year. I hope the Tánaiste will be able to give me some news as to when we will …

I have mentioned many times that Fingal is the youngest area in the country and is also the fastest growing. Balbriggan is the youngest large town in the country and yet, we have a serious lack of childcare places. In January 2024, a supply management unit was set up in the Minister's Department. It was later renamed the forward planning unit yet nearly two years later, families in Fingal are still waiting. We still have no visible output from the Minister's forward planning unit. Can the Minister please tell us wh…

It is nearly two years. There has to be a sense of urgency by this unit. We need to see a plan from it and we need to see a clear timeline as to when we are going to see outputs. I am not asking for the specifics but I am asking to make sure this Department is delivering. Two years is simply not good enough. People who need childcare are putting off their lives and quitting jobs. They are not participating fully in the workforce. We have discussed this before but female participation in the workforce has been one o…

I appreciate that the Minister has only been in her position for nine months, but the Secretary General of the Department confirmed to me that the supply management unit or forward planning unit was set up in January 2024. It is nearly two years later and we still have not seen any visible output from this unit. Will the Minister commit to publishing the criteria that will be used by the forward planning unit, confirm that areas like Fingal are going to be included and will meet the criteria, and set out a timeline…

Deputy, please confine your contribution to the question submitted.