I want to raise with the Taoiseach the frequency and duration of outages in the Keel-Inch water mains network.

Householders and businesses had a terrible weekend last weekend. This occurs more and more often on the network. The asbestos cement, AC, pipe between the Ballyarkane reservoir and the R561 is badly in need of replacement, but there is no plan by Uisce Éireann to do it at present. There is a terrible network in the Farran-Boolteens area. It could be months before that is replaced. Greater urgency is needed from Irish Water, when it comes to cases such as this, which occur over and again. I ask for an intervention to ensure this happens to spare the householders the misery they are going through at present.

Last November, my party brought forward proposals on how we deal with the continuing recruitment and retention crisis in the retained fire service. Many retained fire fighters came here that evening to listen to the debate and they made it clear they could not go on. They told us the service was on its knees and on the brink of complete collapse. Six months later, nothing has been done to address those issues. What will the Taoiseach do to re-establish the talks that have collapsed? What will he do to ensure meaningful proposals are brought forward to ensure strike action, which is now planned, can be avoided? Will he speak to his colleague, the Minister of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, about improved pay for retained fire fighters?

Some 120 front-line healthcare workers with long Covid are on a special leave scheme that will stop in 31 days. Hundreds more front-line workers with long Covid, including healthcare workers who contracted Covid since 15 November 2021, are left without any specific supports. The Government has been considering designating long Covid as an occupational illness, but I want to know when the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, will make a decision on that designation. If long Covid is not designated as an occupational illness, what supports will be put in place for staff who are unable to work due to these debilitating symptoms?

I will ask the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to answer the Deputy Naughten's question at the end.

With regard to Deputy Griffin's question, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services, planning delivery and operation. However, my offer made inquiries with Uisce Éireann on this issue today. I am informed there are two separate approved construction projects for this year. The section from Boolteens to Farran is designed and the plan is for the replacement of approximately 1.6 km of network. It will commence in July. The section from the Inch water treatment plant to the main road is under design and the plan is for the replacement of 2.2 km of network to commence once the first project is completed.

With regard to firefighters, I recognise the incredible work done by our firefighters, both retained and directly employed, putting themselves at risk to keep us safe. In particular, I will pay tribute to Dublin Fire Brigade for the work it did in getting a fire under control very quickly in my constituency, at Falcon's View in Blanchardstown. A report was done on the retained fire service, carried out by Coyne Research. The Government accepted the findings of the report. Negotiations took place under the chairmanship of Mr. David Begg. However, following proposals from the staff side, discussions on priority hire issues, remuneration and work-life balance were moved to third-party facilitation under Mr. Ultan Courtney. Progress was made during those discussions. However, it has not been possible to reach positive conclusions to that process that satisfy all parties. SIPTU has notified all local authorities of its intention to take industrial action from 6 June. I should point out that the State's offices, such as the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court are always available as an option for further intervention.

I thank Deputy Naughten for raising this issue. I know he has raised it on a number of occasions. I have written to my colleagues, the Ministers for Health and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and I will meet with them shortly. Ultimately, it will be a Government decision as to how we deal with this matter, because, as we know, it was a whole-of-government response to Covid. We will progress at whatever stage and whatever decisions are made will be brought to Cabinet.