There are over 1,000 children awaiting speech and language assessment in County Wexford. Some 382 children are awaiting initial speech and language therapy in the county and 466 are awaiting further therapy. The stress and strain this puts on these children, their families and therapists on the front line, who are doing their level best to make their way through these long lists, is unimaginable and unacceptable. Monitoring, prioritising and hoping for the best are not working. What are the Government's immediate p…

It is important to see the support this motion has from many Opposition Members. It relates to housing, which has been one of the main political issues of this Dáil. It is appropriate that we table this comprehensive motion in the last week of the term, when the Government's targets are not sufficient to meet the housing disaster ahead of us. This is an issue that affects every constituency in Ireland. In County Wexford alone the latest house prices and rent prices have increased by 14% on what they were this time …

I welcome the guests in the Gallery. I thank the Social Democrats and Deputy Cairns for bringing forward this important motion, which we will be supporting. It is one of the many motions on legislation on the rights of people with disabilities we have debated recently in the House. Far too often, these life-changing issues are raised before the Dáil but to no avail. If the Government will not listen to the Deputies who raise these issues on a daily basis then it must listen to the 150,000 people on disability allow…

I thank my colleague, Deputy Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin's spokesperson on education, and his team for putting together this sensible and beneficial package for the good of our schoolchildren and of the nation. The facts speak for themselves. We have record high inflation rate of over 9% which is racing towards breaking the 10% barrier. Heavy food prices are also heading our way. A local bakery in Wexford which supplies the region has increased its prices three times in the last 18 months. It is now €3.19 for a white sl…

The programme for Government states: Family carers are the backbone of care provision in Ireland. They deserve support and recognition... We will [carry out a] Review and update the National Carers’ Strategy . When will this review be completed? Will the Government support the extension of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, to include psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy? At present, with the dire shortage of services, particularly in my county of Wexford, as well…

I thank the parents of children in the Gallery. I also thank the Labour Party for bringing forward the Bill. It is obvious that to address the shocking lack of services, relentless lists for assessments and unavailability of school places for children with autism that something must be done. At the moment, parents of children with special educational needs do not know if their children have a school place in September. Something must be done. Parents and guardians are at breaking point, mentally and physically worn…

I will start by paying homage to the activists in my county of Wexford. This is a team of mothers, fathers, and families of children with disabilities called FUSS - families unite for services and support - who are fighting to reform disability services. They have stood up and protested to make their voices heard. I salute their resolve and I stand with them. They are truly an amazing group of people who, every hour and every day of the lives, must fight for basic services for their children. There are some 500,000…

Insurance is one of the largest bills people face on an annual basis. Many small businesses, community groups, motorists and homeowners cannot make a living without insurance. Insurance companies are well aware of this stranglehold. Between 2009 and 2020, insurance companies increased liability premiums by 25%. They had an operating profit of 20% in 2020. Following the introduction of the new personal injury guidelines which came into force on 24 April 2021, data from the Personal Injuries Assessment Board show a 4…

I thank Members for bringing forward this motion. It raises some sobering points around energy security, an issue that ordinary working families are dealing with at present. Every day, we hear of people who are choosing to miss meals in order to put fuel in their vehicles to go to work or to turn on heating in their homes. The cost-of-living crisis has become embedded in our daily lives, causing real hardship for working families. Ireland’s energy and food security are intertwined and must be prioritised. The Gover…

We understand the basis of this Bill stems from a recent High Court judgment in which it was determined that the system of Garda court presenters had no legal basis. Garda court presenters, however, have served as a practical and successful working model across the State for many years. They are an integral part of allowing the State prosecutor to work on far more serious cases at High Court level. We recognise the importance of establishing Garda court presenters on a formal legal basis. This is why we did not opp…

I have been working alongside families in County Wexford who are campaigning for reform of children's disability services. They are fighting for the services and support their children desperately need. For example, one child, nine-year-old Leo Dixon, has been waiting more than 18 months for a wheelchair. He has outgrown his second-hand wheelchair and is not even capable of propelling it. I understand the establishment of family forums, which provides an opportunity for families to discuss general issues and ideas …

I will start by commending my colleague Deputy Ó Broin on bringing forward this legislation. The Bill mainly stems from the report published in 2017 by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government, which made unanimous recommendations for the then Government to regulate the short-term letting sector. It illustrated the economic and social impact of how Airbnbs that are let over 90 days per year artificially affect the supply of bona fide renter properties. The Short-term Lettings Enforce…

There are 445 children waiting for disability services in County Wexford. They and their families are in dire circumstances. This week "Prime Time" exposed the extent of the lack of services throughout the country through the bravery of the Milne family. I have met families in Wexford who are vexed by having to and tired and worn out from fighting for services for their children. They are sick and tired of telling their stories. They need and want action. Front-line staff are struggling with the numbers and are als…

According to the EU, the idea of just transition is that no one is left behind. However, rural areas of Ireland are being left behind. Rural public transport is non-existent. Rural public services are non-existent. The Government is not doing enough to mitigate the ground-breaking and life-changing proposals that those in rural areas are being asked to operate under. Rural communities function on a completely different eco and social plateau from large urban areas. This is a major concern when it comes to climate a…

Farming in County Wexford and throughout the island is a much-valued industry that contributes millions to local economies in employment, commerce and sustainability of rural communities. The Common Agricultural Policy is the single most important tool we have for securing the future of family farms and food security, yet the CAP budget in the next period represents a substantial cut to farmers' incomes and threatens the viability and sustainability of the small farm. The Government refused to bring its draft CAP s…

I commend the Labour Party on introducing this Bill, which is aptly timed and welcome. Workers, in particular, from low- and middle-income families, are under extreme financial strain. The consumer price index, CPI, is hovering at 6.9%, with the likelihood of it peaking at between 7% and 8.2% in midsummer. The latest European Commission figures show Ireland as having the fourth dearest energy costs in Europe. That is before any added Government VAT or other taxes. On top of all of this, energy companies surreptitio…

I would like to ask the Taoiseach today why there are no affordable housing targets set for my county of Wexford and why Wexford is left out of the Government's affordable housing scheme. Every day, I deal with young couples who are striving to purchase their own homes but are caught in no-man's land - earning too much to be eligible for social housing yet too little to qualify for a mortgage through the banks. Rents in Wexford are up over 15% and house prices up over 12% on the previous year, and climbing steadily…

There are supposed to be six whole-time equivalent psychology posts in County Wexford's children's disability network team. There are currently only two in situ . This renders the disability network team almost unworkable, considering the waiting lists. Four posts are still vacant. Two of the four positions have been vacant since August and September 2021. This is causing untold damage and severe pressure for families, and most of all for the vulnerable children themselves. Children's disability network teams provi…

Working families, pensioners and small rural family households are facing a cost-of-living challenge they have never faced before as inflation reaches record peaks that have not been seen here for the past 20 years. Rising prices of petrol and diesel have wiped away families' disposable income in an instant, condemning lower income households to a meagre existence. For months now, Sinn Féin has been warning the Government about how working families are being snowed under by financial strains. Rents, the cost of chi…

I have had several smaller childcare services in Wexford contacting me regarding the new core funding for the early childhood care and education, ECCE, sector. Some services, through the online portal, are only showing they will break even or see a slight increase in funding allocations. Will the Taoiseach contact the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and ensure that where there are such small margins, and where smaller operators will continue to struggle and possibly close altogeth…