I return to the issue of home care hours, raised by Deputy Kerrane on Leaders' Questions, and the HIQA report. I do not expect the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, to have read the 323-page report but the findings of the report jump off the page. There has to be a root-and-branch review; anything else is unacceptable. I refer to the risks of the unregulated situation. What I want to focus on is that all Deputies have received letters regarding hours being allocated but no one being available to provide them. What will the Government do in respect of those vulnerable people in the coming months while we wait for the cross-departmental review? Something must be done. Suggestions have been given. I ask the Minister to address that issue.

In the middle of September, a significant breakthrough was made on the issue of the pay and conditions of school secretaries and caretakers. The Department conceded that all school secretaries and caretakers should be placed on the public service clerical officer scale, bringing an end to the two-tier pay system. The deal will also do away with the requirement for most secretaries and caretakers to sign on during school breaks. The deal was welcomed at the time but it seems to have stalled. Can the Minister update the House on that situation?

I ask the Minister to deal very briefly with those four questions.

I will do my best. I thank Deputy Clarke for her question. I heard a member of the Women of Honour group speaking on the "Saturday with Katie Hannon" radio programme last Saturday. There was to be a further engagement with the Department of Defence. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Coveney, will give an update on that. He is certainly satisfied that the terms of reference for the independent review are completely independent and that further steps beyond that are not being ruled out. I will ask him to revert to the Deputy in detail.

I thank Deputy Nolan for raising the issue of the fuel rebate. As she is aware, the Government increased it in the budget before last. That has been maintained. We acknowledge there is considerable pressure in the context of fuel prices, although I have observed the trend being reversed, thankfully. It is to be hoped that will continue in the coming period. The Government will keep the matter under review.

As regards Ciarán Cuffe, MEP, I am afraid I have no control over what he may or may not write in a letter.

I thank Deputy Connolly for raising the issue of home care. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, will revert to her in respect of the HIQA report that is currently being considered. As I stated earlier, the Government recognises the issues here are serious. We want to see the services and we do not want the HSE to have to prioritise certain approved applicants over other approved applicants. That is the key issue.

On the issue raised by Deputy Carey, I welcome the progress we have made in respect of school secretaries in particular. I am not aware of a stall in progress recently but I will certainly look into it. From my perspective, we have provided the funding in budget 2022 for the implementation of that agreement next year. That is important. It is now about agreeing the finer details. I am not aware of any significant problem.

I thank the Minister and all Deputies who asked a question.