The reason I asked this question is because in recent years various different task forces and expert groups have been set up. We have the construction sector group, for example. I was quite puzzled as to why this new group had to be set up as opposed to its members just being added to the construction sector group. As we know, that expert group was set up to help tackle the housing crisis. I read some of its reports - they were excellent - but I never really saw how its recommendations were translated into Governme…

I hope this works, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. I am worried that the task force will become a place where things are said and reports are written, but that nothing will come from this. Of course, it is important to listen to expert recommendations and bring them together. Some incredibly good reports have been published. In that context, we could fill the House with excellent reports. However, these reports are never actioned. That is the issue. I want to ensure that the task force does not …

This relates to the latest Deloitte report into the OPW. Will the Minister of State outline how he plans to reform the organisation and what his future steps will be in that regard? There was huge outcry when people saw the bike shelter and the cost of it at €336,000. You would get an ambulance for that price on Inisheer, which does not have an ambulance.

There are a number of reasons it is important to raise this. We have been talking about reports that were not acted upon, and I hope it will not be the same in this case. Although Deloitte's report is the latest one, it is not the first report on the OPW. We had damning report in 2014. That was an external London-based firm. Following that, there was a "Prime Time" special, PAC hearings and other examples of failure to get value for money. In 2022 we had another review; this time it was an internal Government study…

My question is on what actual reform we will see taking place in the OPW. I am sure the Minister of State is against these overspends and I take it he was not in office at the time but it has continued over a number of years and there have been reports over a number of years. What reform will take place in the OPW? Does the Minister of State have confidence it can properly manage its property? Is its property management function working? Does the Minister of State have confidence in it? What exactly will change org…

We are all waiting to see how the national development plan will proceed. Obviously, all of our areas require a lot of investment in infrastructure. The infrastructural deficit we have, especially across the west, is something I have raised with the Minister quite a number of times. We also need to look at procurement and how it can be used to benefit areas, particularly those more rural and isolated areas where different types of jobs are not as easy to come be. If we are spending a certain amount above a certain …

Will the Minister provide an update on how his Department is coming at this review? Is it that the Department was ready for such a review or did pressure come about as a result of the announcement that there would be a review? Does he think that all the information required will be available when it is needed? It is also welcome that the Minister is saying there will be public consultation. That is always very welcome. As he will know, when we talk about infrastructure in the west, the problem is that we have not h…

Tá a fhios agam gur rud é seo atá fíorthábhachtach don Aire Stáit. Fáiltím go bhfuil na hóráidí seo ar siúl inniu. I recognise that this is an issue that is of particular interest to the Minister of State. I thank him for facilitating these statements, which are very welcome. I also recognise that there has been a significant increase in funding for the OPW's flood defence programme in recent years. I understand that from a financial perspective and acknowledge that more has been done with regard to flooding. As th…

Chas mise le Sophie Ní Choimín ar an Luan agus chas mé arís léi inné agus í anseo sa Dáil. Tá Sophie ar stailc ocrais ón Aoine agus í ag fanacht go mbeadh an Bille um chríocha faoi fhorghabháil ina reachtaíocht. Tá sí ag fanacht air sin agus tá sí ar stailc ocrais mar go gcreideann sí go láidir gur féidir linn agus leis an Rialtas i bhfad níos mó a dhéanamh chun stop a chur leis an gcinedhíothú atá ag tarlú i nGaza. I have met Sophie Ní Choimín who lives in Galway. I met her on Monday, the fourth day of her hunger …

Let us remember the time during Covid when people went out to clap for our front-line healthcare workers. We were told we now recognised these workers and that things had changed. That seems like a lifetime ago. These are workers who enable people with high care needs to live with dignity at home. They are a vital support to our hospitals and nursing homes, yet carers, both paid and unpaid, are under significant and unsustainable strain due to inconsistent access to services, limited financial supports, inadequate …

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, can you clarify how much time I have?

Go raibh maith agat. A Thánaiste, 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if food is not allowed into Gaza, according to the UN. The Tánaiste will have seen those figures. We have all seen them just as we have all seen the pictures and the video footage of harrowingly gaunt faces, bodies down to skin and bones, and bodies consuming their own muscle tissue and organs as they try desperately to avoid starvation and stay alive. One of the greatest crimes against humanity is playing out before our eyes in real tim…

By the sounds of things, we all now know what the Minister of State does in his spare time. It sounds very interesting. Comhghairdeachas on the new role. I live in Galway city. Where I live, on the east side of Galway city, we are really lucky with different nature places we can go to. One of my favourite places is Ballyloughane Beach. I love going down there for a walk. Another place is Merlin Woods. During the Covid pandemic, I think we really noticed how important those places were, especially for people like me…

Bogaimid ar aghaidh go dtí an chéad cheist eile. Questions Nos. 111 and 114 are grouped and in ainmneacha na Teachtaí Kenny agus Aird. We will begin with an Teachta Kenny.

Will the Taoiseach advise if there has been a change of approach with regard to medical cards? Over the last while, a significant number of people have come to me, especially older women who have had medical cards for a long time and whose cards are now suddenly being taken away from them. Has there been a change of approach? Figures released to me show an increase in the number of people who are applying for medical cards but a decrease in the number of medical cards being issued. As well as medical cards, a lot o…

It is both.

It is both.

Driving test waiting times are a shambles. This is clear from the discussion today. I regularly get emails from constituents. Constituents are given absurdly long waiting times to be called to sit their driving tests. This means people are forced to pay very high insurance costs because the Government simply cannot get its act together on this issue. I remember almost five years ago the issue was raised in the Chamber quite a lot. At the time Covid was the reason for delays in driving tests. We are, however, now in…

Cén bealach a seasann an leasú?

Bogfaidh muid ar aghaidh go leasú Uimh. 21, atá in ainmneacha na dTeachtaí Ó Snodaigh agus McGuinness. Tuigim gur pléadh an leasú seo cheana in éineacht le leasú Uimh. 15. Cén bealach a seasann an leasú sin?