Ba mhaith liom a bheith associated leis na focail a dúirt an Ceann Comhairle ansin. Guím gach rath ar Noel agus ar a theaghlach. Tá súil agam go mbaineann sé sult as an am atá amach roimhe.

The figures given by the HSE to my colleague Deputy Cullinane have confirmed that there is a real crisis in mental health services for children and young people. That crisis continues to deepen. There are now 4,314 children and young people waiting for a child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, appointment. That has increased by 88% from January 2020. More than 600 of these people have been waiting more than a year. The majority of these are actually in counties Kerry and Cork and those families took a difficult step to reach out for support. Instead of receiving the care they need, they feel that their children are being denied the opportunity to reach their full potential. Every expert in youth mental health will tell the Tánaiste that early intervention is vital.

We in Sinn Féin have called for multi-annual funding for CAMHS to plan forward, to staff teams properly, and for the appointment of a national clinical director for mental health. When will the Government adequately invest in mental health services for children and young people in order that they receive the care they deserve and not the failure they are getting?

I thank the Deputy very much for raising the question. We are acutely aware of the situation, particularly in counties Kerry and Cork, as the Deputy said. When it comes to CAMHS, which has the most acute situations, the issue is not funding. The issue is recruitment. We have many teams all over the country. Many posts have been sanctioned, including psychiatry posts, and all the additional supports the psychiatrist needs.

The Deputy will see in the national service plan that we have put a very strong emphasis and prioritisation on CAMHS and other youth mental health services, not just on the most acute services. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and I are engaging directly and frequently with HSE senior management, critically, to make sure regarding the national director positions the Deputy referenced which, as the Deputy is aware, have been sanctioned, and assistant national director positions-----

They are assistant positions, not national director.

-----that the HSE can recruit into the posts to make sure we have the psychiatrists and the other clinical supports the clinicians need for various teams right across the country.

It is always someone else's fault.

I acknowledge Mr. Noel Murphy, the outgoing superintendent, and thank him personally for all his immense support and friendship. It has been a pleasure to work with him and we will miss him in the Houses. I wish him and his family well on his retirement.

It appears that the Government is now determined to proceed with the lifting of the no-fault eviction ban from this Saturday, which is in two days' time. While many Ministers were busy castigating the Labour Party for daring to offer constructive ways of addressing the housing crisis yesterday in the Dáil, during that debate I received yet another communication from a constituent who is in dire need. She is a university student. Her parents work in healthcare and construction. They do not qualify for HAP or the rental accommodation scheme, RAS. They are in private rental accommodation, their landlord is selling, and they have nowhere to go from Saturday. She appealed to me because she told me they have applied to countless houses all around Dublin in the hope they would find something to rent, but with no luck. They have looked at their other options. The have approached the council, Threshold and Citizens Information, which do not have clarity on the measures we heard Government was proposing to introduce.

I thank the Deputy. Her time is up.

What am I to tell her? What are the measures? What is the safety net for my constituent and so many thousands of others facing homelessness in two days' time?

Approximately 1,000 units have either been provided or are in the pipeline of being provided-----

They are in the pipeline.

-----in respect of the tenant in situ scheme. The council is very clear in respect of the tenant in situ scheme. I am not clear on the background to the case the Deputy raised, but the council has the capacity to buy that house.

On behalf of the Social Democrats, I send our best wishes to Noel Murphy and thank him for all his years of public service,

The Taoiseach has put very misleading information into the public domain about the courts and eviction notices. He stated that it is "very, very rare" that a judge would evict an individual family into homelessness. However, solicitors specialising in housing law working at the coalface supporting renters have said they do not know of any cases at all in Ireland where a judge sided with renters facing homelessness and did not grant an eviction order. There were none, not a single case. The chief executive of Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, Ms Eilis Barry, said she is worried that the comments from the Taoiseach have given people false hope. Ms Barry stated that neither the courts nor the Residential Tenancies Board have any discretion or the ability to take humanitarian grounds such as illness, disability or age into consideration.

Does the Tánaiste agree that it is very important that renters facing eviction are given accurate advice and information? Will he ask the Taoiseach to withdraw his highly misleading comments, which do not reflect the reality of what is happening on the ground and, indeed, do not reflect the reality of what is legally permissible?

In the first instance, I pay tribute to Noel Murphy and thank him for his service to the Oireachtas. Very often, it is the people behind the scenes who keep the wheels of parliamentary democracy moving so efficiently and effectively. I thank him very much. I wish him and his family the best of happiness and good health in retirement.

In respect of the issues raised by Deputy O'Callaghan, in an earlier era with pressures on mortgages and so on, it is striking that Ireland was perceived at a European level to have had the least number of repossessions, for example. That generally is the case. It is perceived generally to be a country that puts a premium on people staying in their family homes.

That said, I take the Deputy's point that we must provide as accurate and precise advice to renters as we possibly can. However, we must also provide alternatives and interventions in terms of both preventing homelessness but also facilitating the exit from homelessness, which we are doing with significant increased outcomes.

Last year alone, the figure I mentioned earlier represented a 25% increase in the number of people who were helped out of homelessness.

Will the Tánaiste talk to the Taoiseach about what he said?

I will raise with him the point the Deputy has made.

The Government recently announced that a consultative forum will be set up to address Ireland's broader foreign policy. Nobody is afraid of debate and discussion but what many people are afraid of is the erosion of Ireland's neutrality. The Tánaiste may argue to the contrary but all of the soundings in recent times, particularly around the triple lock mechanism, as well as on Ireland's involvement in EU battle groups, permanent structured co-operation, PESCO, and the use of Shannon Airport, point to that. We must remember that US troops went through Shannon Airport and murdered tens of thousands of Iraqi troops. Where does the Tánaiste stand in relation to Ireland's neutrality? Will he give a commitment that a referendum will be held on our neutrality?

I will not give a commitment on a referendum because that is a matter for the Government of the day, in terms of foreign policy more generally. I welcome the Deputy's important statement that no one is against debate because at the very mention of hosting a national conversation or forum on foreign policy and security, and I will be bringing proposals to Government in the next number of weeks to facilitate such a national debate and conversation, people on Deputy Kenny's side of the House and from the far left generally immediately seized upon this as evidence of the end of our neutrality. If we create a national forum where all sides and all perspectives can make submissions, we cannot just immediately label that as some sort of attempt to browbeat people into a particular policy-----

I never said that.

It gets said all of the time.

No, the actions of the Government say it.

It gets said all of the time.

I have raised the issue of ash dieback on numerous occasions. This perilous disease hit Ireland in 2012 and now almost 80% of our 123 million ash trees are dead or dying. Valuable land, including 2,000 ha in Tipperary, has been rendered useless. Plant and animal life have been wiped out and livelihoods have been seriously eroded. Common sense would dictate that the lands should be cleared. It is a logical and sensible move that 6,000 landowners across the country should be compensated for this calamity and permitted to clear and reuse their land, returning it to productive use. Grant aid is available but there is also a requirement to obtain a felling licence. These licences are not available as currently we have no forestry scheme in place. Landowners are angry and frustrated because their hands are tied and their pleas are going unheard. Realism must prevail here. These trees have decayed and landowners must be legally permitted to fell them.

I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this important matter which is a significant issue in his constituency. We have an interim scheme in place, which I introduced recently along with the Minister of State, Senator Hackett. It has improved the terms and conditions and improved supports on the previous scheme. We are also continuing to review how we go forward on this issue. I have made it clear that any improvements that we bring in will apply to those who move now to the interim scheme, so there is no disadvantage to anybody who moves now. I understand the urgency for many to reconstitute their previous ash forests. We have spent €9 million so far on this and are determined to ensure we see them all reconstituted. We are continuing to review the potential to provide additional supports but if we do so, anyone who moves now, and we want people to move now, will be able to benefit from any future supports as well.

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I wish Noel Murphy and his family the very best and thank him for his sterling service over four and a half decades.

Tipperary County Council met yesterday in emergency session to discuss the housing situation. Each and every one of us as elected representatives must do our best, alongside many organisations, voluntary and otherwise, to try to solve the housing crisis. However, we have a farcical situation whereby a Fine Gael Senator attacked Tipperary County Council members for calling this meeting. It was a very productive meeting and those in attendance came up with very good ideas which they are sending on to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The council members were duly and democratically elected, and for a Senator to come in to these Houses and criticise them is unacceptable. We know Fianna Fáil was the party that built houses but it does not build anything now. Fine Gael was always the party of the landed gentry and big farmers and did not care about the ordinary people but for a Senator to attack democratically elected councillors for exercising their right to meet, discuss issues, formulate policy and come up with ideas and send them forward to the Minister is outrageous. Someone in government needs to apologise and rein this man in. April Fool's Day is on Saturday. I wonder was he a few days premature.

First, we will, of course, await the proposals from the county council. Every county and city councillor has a role in this. The Government has provided resources, especially in terms of the tenant in situ scheme and we want county and city councils to implement it and follow through on it. We also want them to follow through on affordable and social housing projects, which many are doing, but some less so than others. There is a need for us all to work collectively on this.

In respect of a Senator who voiced criticism, I would suggest that is part of the free flow of public debate in a democracy. People say things in public life. Deputy McGrath himself will have a good go at people every now and again and he is entitled to do so. The Fine Gael Senator is also entitled to have a go. He obviously has no ambition to go back into the Seanad again if he is attacking the entire county council in Tipperary, but that is another matter.

He wants to be in here.

That is the cut and thrust of political life.

On behalf of the Independent Group, I wish Noel Murphy well in his retirement.

The defective block issue in Donegal runs and runs. We have read reports this week in local newspapers of a bizarre situation where a semi-detached house was demolished while the adjoining house was left standing because of the way the scheme has been allowed to operate in the county. Thankfully, we now have a peer-reviewed study by several academics, including Dr. Andreas Leeman, an expert on concrete issues and Professor Paul Dunlop, himself a defective blocks sufferer. The study clearly shows that pyrite, pyrrhotite and other substances are the cause of the defective block issue. The National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, needs to take that on board. Will the Tánaiste contact the NSAI as a matter of urgency to ensure it amends IS 465:2018 to reflect this? This is vital if the defective block householders are to get an adequate response.

My understanding is that the NSAI is reviewing it but I will check that again for the Deputy. We are very anxious to keep moving in respect of the mica scheme. I am informed that around 812 applications have been approved to date. There is a very strong programme in place and we need to make sure we can enable people to access the scheme and get approvals as quickly as we possibly can. My understanding is the NSAI is reviewing that particular regulation but I will get back to the Deputy to provide clarity in that regard.

I heard the Tánaiste's comments earlier regarding the independent review group's report into the Defence Forces, which makes for very strong reading. The Tánaiste has indicated there will be a strong response from the Government. I would urge the Tánaiste to consider, in the context of the terms of reference of the independent review group, the issue of families of children with disabilities. I say this because while the toxic, macho culture within the Defence Forces has had an adverse impact on many people, I have been dealing with a particular case involving the parent of a child with a disability. There have been delays in the production of the investigating officer's report. Providing redress and righting the wrongs done have been deliberately delayed. Such tactics were used in many of the cases which were studied by the independent review group. I ask that the issue of children with disabilities in the Defence Forces be considered in terms of how they may be impacted by the culture discussed in the review group's report.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and I ask him to share the details of the specific case he raises with me, in terms of what transpired. There is no doubt the complaints system is not fit for purpose, which is why we are proposing the establishment of an external independent complaints process and will be introducing legislation providing for same. I would be interested in hearing the experience of the individual in the case referred to by Deputy McAuliffe.

First, I convey my thanks and congratulations to Noel Murphy and wish him and his family the very best for the future.

I acknowledge the unprecedented effort that has been made over the past 13 months or so in accommodating refugees fleeing the atrocious war in Ukraine.

Tens of thousands of people have been accommodated here. I have been asked by a number of accommodation providers in my constituency to again highlight the fact that those providing accommodation for Ukrainian refugees are not being paid. This has resulted in a number of providers having their credit ratings affected. The overheads have increased significantly, yet the financial compensation is not coming in to help to pay the bills. Will the Tánaiste and the Minister redouble their efforts to address this problem?

We discussed this issue ourselves yesterday. I recognise that there are delays and that these delays are ongoing. There is a backlog. In order to address that backlog, we have taken a number of steps within the Department to automate the processing of the significant number of invoices on hand. About 800 invoices come in on a weekly basis. Most importantly, additional staff are being put in place to address this issue. Within my Department, 13 staff have been reallocated. There are also five additional staff from an outside provider and a further four from Pobal. That is making a difference. In February ,we paid out €56 million in respect of invoices received. To date in March we have paid out €120 million. The amount we have paid out this month is more than double that paid out last month. We will continue to prioritise this matter. Sometimes, the reallocation of staff will mean putting work in other parts of the Department on hold, but we will do that because we acknowledge the importance of supporting the hoteliers who have given us so much support.

Research conducted by Queen's University Belfast and Technological University Dublin, which was commissioned by the Irish Heart Foundation and the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland, indicates that 1,000 lives could be saved on the island of Ireland each year if air pollution was reduced. A major source of air pollution comes from the burning of solid fuels in the home. Many people have no alternative but to use such fuels. They are not eligible for or cannot afford the retrofitting schemes that the Government provides. That is why Sinn Féin proposed a dedicated retrofitting scheme targeted directly at those who are dependent on solid fuel. The Government did not oppose a Dáil motion relating to that proposal last October. Will the Tánaiste please act on that proposal and introduce a dedicated retrofitting scheme for households that depend on solid fuel?

I am not clear how a scheme could be specifically targeted. The Government has taken action in respect of air pollution. Air pollution is a killer. I am not sure whether Sinn Féin supported the ban on smoky coal when it was introduced. That ban was necessary. There was a big row in the Dáil at the time. The original ban was introduced by Mary Harney in and around 1990. If I am not mistaken, she introduced the first ban on smoky coal in Dublin. Then there is the issue of pollution from cars and so on. That is why the move to electric vehicles is important. We are targeting a number of measures on retrofitting at those on low incomes. We will examine any further measures we can take.

Last year, 286 notices to quit were served in County Galway and 58 HAP tenants in the county have been given notices to quit. There are zero properties available within the HAP limits. There are zero properties available in most of the towns where people can actually rent, including Ballinasloe. There is a waiting list for emergency accommodation for County Galway. Roscommon County Council told me yesterday that it is still awaiting direction from the Government on the formal cost-rental scheme for those who are not on the social housing list and who face eviction. We now have less than 48 hours to go until the ban on evictions will be lifted. It is obvious to all of us that the necessary plans are not in place in order for the eviction ban to be lifted. It is reasonable to ask that the proper protections and plans be put in place, at which point the Government could then lift the eviction ban. It is not necessary to listen to the Opposition on this. The Simon Community has been out again today. That organisation is going to be on the front line turning people away. It has stated that the necessary plans are not in place. I ask that the Government look at this matter again.

We have responded at length to various debates in the House on this matter. The councils are aware of the tenant in situ scheme, the repair and lease scheme and the climate adjustment fund scheme, which will facilitate the provision of additional supply and ensure that voids are returned to use.

I join others in wishing Noel Murphy a long and peaceful retirement. I thank him for his contribution as a member of staff here in Leinster House.

I wish to raise the issue of accommodation for members of the Defence Forces. Over the years, accommodation was available on site in Army barracks. Much of that was allowed to fall into disrepair. An announcement has been made in respect of Collins Barracks in Cork. Will projects to build accommodation for general Army personnel and officers on Army property be fast-tracked? There is space to do this. We have major challenges in this area. This is one way in which we can respond. If we put out minds to it, we could provide the necessary infrastructure within a short timeframe.

To be fair, much work is being done. I visited the headquarters of the Naval Service in Haulbowline recently. Significant modernisation of an accommodation block has taken place, and there will be further investment in accommodation in Haulbowline. The accommodation that has been refurbished is of a very high quality. Similarly, in the context of other barracks, I have instructed that there be no demolition of any housing and that investment be made in accommodation in barracks across the country. There are already programmes under way in respect of those in training. I refer to people who are coming in to do various training programmes over shorter timeframes. In my view, this is an additional strand to make life more manageable for many people in terms of certain locations where rent is high.

I wish to raise the issue of forestry. Some companies will need a rescue package. A forestry programme has gone to Brussels for approval. Hopefully, approval will be issued soon. Afforestation has come to a complete standstill. It will be 2024 before companies involved in forestry will experience the financial benefit of the new programme. Contractors, nurseries, professional foresters and so on have a serious cash flow problem. It is essential that we keep these businesses afloat because, in the context of the forestry programme, they will play a key part in helping us to meet climate action targets. We must recognise that this delay, which is outside the Minister's control, is causing huge financial pressure for the companies in question. I ask that a package be put in place to assist them with their cash flow problems.

I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this matter. I recognise his advocacy for the implementation of a new forestry programme. I also recognise his strong advocacy in regard to ash dieback and the need to support forestry owners whose lands are affected by this disease to reconstitute and replant.

On the new forestry programme, we continue to engage with the European Commission in regard to submitting that and getting as quick a reply as possible. In the meantime, the radically increased new premium rates of up to 66% are now in place under a temporary scheme. Farmers have been in a position to plant under this scheme since January and receive those increased premiums for up to 20 years. That is five extra years. There will be four years for farm families. That is in place, but we also are working to get the long-term scheme in place. There is a strong future for the sector.

I thank the Minister. We are out of time.

That is being backed by the massive funding that the Government is committing to it.

I wish to raise the alarming spate of illegal evictions happening in Athy, County Kildare. These evictions relate to 22 apartments in the same block and owned by a certain landlord. So far, he has illegally evicted 16 families, with more to follow. Families told me of the gut-wrenching feeling of coming home to find all their belongings packed into black bin bags and left on the street. There was a baby’s cot there as well. Most of the families involved are vulnerable and in receipt of HAP. The landlord did not register their tenancies with the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB. Now he wants them out - no ifs or buts. My office is liaising with Threshold on this issue. The latter advises that these evictions are illegal. We are also helping those affected. Many people are scared out of their wits by the landlord and his actions. Some have even reported being followed by enforcers working on his behalf. Is the Tánaiste aware of this? Does he condemn these actions? Where are the people involved to go? Will the Government bring forward new legislation to clamp down on rogue landlords and illegal evictions?

I am not aware of the specific case. It is unacceptable behaviour. There should be no evictions of that kind. I do not know whether the matter has been referred to the Garda. There is a law in place.

There has to be a zero-tolerance approach to this kind of behaviour if it is illegal. There has to be respect for people and dignity and humanity must apply. The RTB is in place and the legislation is there. What we need is enforcement of the legislation.

I raise the future of Youghal Greyhound Stadium. The Tánaiste will recall that the viability of the stadium was raised during his recent visit to the town. There is local support for the retention of this track, which is of major importance to the community. I and others have done considerable work behind the scenes. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been working diligently with me and the local track supporters' club to try to keep the stadium going. There is a lack of faith in Greyhound Racing Ireland management's support for the Youghal track. I ask that this be looked at again. We are close to securing a deal. There have been ups and downs, but I want to get this over the line for the dog owners in Youghal. My family has a historical association with this community-run track, which is extremely important to local people.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which is close to his heart. He has shown massive commitment to it in the past and has been involved with it for many years. I have worked with him on it in recent times. I was glad to meet the management of the racecourse with the Deputy a few weeks ago to be updated on its concerns for the future and hear about its desire to ensure the track can continue. I assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with him in the context of his objective of ensuring there is a strong future for the track.

I refer to the case of Tom and Maria Browne of Delvin, County Westmeath. Tom is 85 years old. He is a retired member of the Defence Forces and has had two strokes. His wife Maria is 73, has diabetes and is his main carer. They have rented the same house in Delvin for the past 11 years. Recently, they were served with a notice to quit. They currently pay rent of €700 a month. The most they could pay is €1,000 per month. They do not have a hope of getting accommodation anywhere else for that amount. They applied to Westmeath Country Council to go on the housing list and HAP, but they are a couple of thousand euro over the limit for that. There are no social, affordable, or cost-rental houses in the area. The couple have never received help with their rent, have never defaulted on their rent and have good references. Maria has been so stressed that she has not been sleeping or eating properly and her doctor has prescribed tablets for ten days to help her relax. I can only imagine how they feel at the thought of being homeless. They could be anybody's parents. What help is this Government going to give Tom and Maria? Where will they go?

I do not know whether an approach has been made to the county council about buying the house under the tenant in situ scheme. That would be the most immediate response.

A family member is moving into the house.

I did not realise that. Then there is an onus on the council. Have the couple just gone on the list or is the Deputy saying they cannot do so?

They are over the limit to go on that.

Again, I do not have the specifics of the case. We can work with the county council to see what can be done in this case.

The Ardee Educate Together National School in County Louth has 187 students. A portion of the school building dates from 1812, the year in which Charles Dickens was born. The situation some of the students must go through at the moment is unbelievable. The school is ready to go, the council has been appointed a contracting authority and the tenders have been finalised. However, the project is one of the 56 currently held up in the Department of Education. I ask the Tánaiste to insist, as a matter of urgency, on a review of the decision to stop this construction project from proceeding in order that the school can open as expected in September 2024.

The Minister for Education has been in discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to get the issue of additional funding to facilitate movement and construction on these projects resolved so it can proceed as quickly as possible. I expect a decision on that imminently.

We are out of time, but we are going to take three 30-second questions.

I raise the need to reopen Garda stations and increase the operational hours of stations in areas in which there has been a growth in population. In my constituency, Laois-Offaly, the number of probationary gardaí has only gone from nine to 16 between 2015 and 2023. Many towns in the constituency, including Kilcormac, Banagher and Kinitty, need to see more operational hours in the Garda stations. There has been an increase in population, so obviously there has also been an increase in crime. We must ensure the Garda has a presence. Will the Tánaiste commit to allocating more resources to the Garda and to reviewing the Garda stations?

I raise an issue that I have raised previously, namely, the lack of public health nursing services for my constituents, especially those in Newcastle, Rathcoole and Lucan. Since I first highlighted this issue, babies and toddlers have missed developmental check-ups. Some have missed two. We talk all the time about early intervention, yet the HSE is providing no interventions whatsoever. I have been told again and again that as soon as student nurses come on stream, this matter will be resolved. However, time has moved on. Enough is enough. Parents are stressed out and children are missing check-ups. Parents want to know when these vital services will be provided, particularly as their taxes pay for them. This is what we need to provide to the children in my area. What is happening is not good enough.

This week, the Cork Business Association wrote to us all about the lack of a Garda presence and Garda resources in Cork city centre. At a recent joint policing committee meeting, Chief Superintendent Myers presented figures that showed thefts alone had increased by 78% and antisocial behaviour and drug dealing are more visible than ever on our streets. This a real concern not just for the traders, but for all the city's inhabitants. We all know Cork is a great city. Some would say it is the best city in the country, but we must ensure it receives additional Garda resources and a visible Garda presence on the main streets. I am sure the Tánaiste will agree with me on the last point.

I am in full agreement with the Deputy on the merits of Cork city, which is one the great cities. Many people who visit Cork remark on that very frequently.

The issue of crime was also referenced by Deputy Nolan, and there has been an increase. The funding is there. There had been challenges with the training centre in respect of that. The Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, will deal with this matter in more detail.

In response to Deputy Higgins, the issue is not one of resources, but recruitment and retention are significant issues. I think we have recruited up to 19,000 additional personnel to the HSE over the past number of years, and we are constantly recruiting. I will ask the Minister for Health to attend to the specific issue the Deputy raised about the lack of public health nurses in her location.

On the issues raised by Deputies Nolan and O'Sullivan, the deployment of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner. However, record funding has been put in place for the recruitment this year of an additional 1,000 gardaí. Many of them have already been recruited and have entered training. There are an additional 400 civilian staff as well, which will release gardaí to carry out other duties. An additional Garda recruitment process has started as well. I encourage people to apply for that.