School transport is causing frustration and stress for many families across rural Ireland. I refer specifically to the eligibility criterion for nearest and second-nearest schools. This requirement fails to reflect family circumstances, school preferences and logistical realities on the ground. It is simply too rigid and does not reflect modern Irish society. To give an example, the Bus Éireann portal advised a mother that St. Gerald’s College in Castlebar was her son’s nearest school but failed to take into accoun…

This case goes to the very heart of trust in our public institutions. It fills me with a deep sense of sorrow but even more than that a deeper sense of responsibility to speak here on the final report of the Farrelly commission. Grace's case, or story we might better call it, casts a dark shadow over how we cared for one of our most vulnerable citizens. She is at the centre of the deeply troubling and unsettling report. Grace, who is now 40, was at the time just a young girl with profound intellectual disabilities …

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Deputy. Minister?

I thank the Minister. We now move to question No. 91 in the name of Deputy Cathy Bennett. Deputy Claire Kerrane will ask this question on Deputy Bennett's behalf.

Thank you, Minister.

We will go to Deputy Ó Murchú for a supplementary question.

I thank the Minister of State.

I thank the Minister of State. I move now to the Independent Technical Group to conclude this debate. Deputies Gogarty and Tóibín are sharing time. I call Deputy Gogarty.

I welcome the Government's commitment to the Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. How are we leveraging technology and what are the timelines for when the Traffic Watch online reporting form will have the capacity for video or photographic evidence to be uploaded? With regard to the alcohol interlock programme, how is the working group getting on? Are there timelines for when we might get the benefit of this technology? Today is national slow down day and it is disgraceful that by 10 o'clock this morning more than 120 d…

International Women's Day is not just for flowers or chocolate. It is about equality, empowerment and celebration. As we know, this year the theme is to accelerate action and action is needed now more than ever. When we look at this globally, we are 300 years away from ending child marriage and 140 years away from achieving equal representation in leadership in the workplace. We cannot and must not forget about the girls in Afghanistan who are now three and half years out of school. When we look closer to home, we …

I found preparing for this debate extremely difficult because for me disability advocacy is not just a policy area. For me, it is deeply personal. For the past 19 years I have worked within the disability sector. I have been specialising in supporting children who are neurodiverse and their families and their schools. It is very difficult to fit 19 years of passion and knowledge into just a few short minutes when there is so much to say. I must point out that I was in private practice and was not working within the…

I welcome the planned review of the defective concrete blocks scheme mentioned in the programme for Government. When should this review be expected? Urgent changes are needed for those affected. I can think of a retired couple who are now in ill health who cannot cope with the toll of a rebuild and wish to sell with the grant intact, or people in Páirc na Coille, Westport, whose foundations are not currently covered and who are anxious to see if this might happen after the review. The physical, emotional and mental…

It is an honour to rise in the Chamber for the first time as a Teachta Dála. I want to express my deep gratitude to the people of Mayo who have put their trust in me and who voted for me. I feel a great responsibility and I commit to working as hard as possible every day to fulfil that responsibility. I also want to briefly thank my team, former Minister, Michael Ring, my friends, Fine Gael members and family who all supported me and worked hard towards my journey here to Leinster House. Today, I want to talk about…