We are out of time but we have five remaining Deputies. I will take 30-second questions from them if they are willing.

We see that thousands of people feel they have no choice but to go to Australia. I was contacted by one such person who emigrated to Australia recently. He said he has hit the one-year mark in Australia. He is 28 years old and applied for his visa in 2022 and left in 2023. He says he has absolutely loved his time there so far but while constant homesickness makes him want to move back home as soon as possible, he just cannot do so. He is a qualified chef who has worked in the best hotels and restaurants in Ireland but he cannot afford to rent a place, let alone even think about buying a house and setting up a life for himself back home. What does the Minister say to this?

Will the Minister consider a cross-Government initiative to see that everyone gets their entitlements in full? People are losing €250 million in unclaimed tax relief on medical expenses, €280 million in carer's support grant, €62 million in unclaimed GP cards and €140 million in unclaimed working family dividend. Many of these are our most vulnerable families. There are 85,000 children in low-income families who should be getting the working family payment. The list goes on of people who are not getting what is due to them. It needs a cross-Government initiative and I ask the Minister to agree to this.

The Government has already finished the fishing industry. Following its MEPs' support for the vote in Brussels today, it is making sure it will kill off the agriculture industry as well. A total of 20% of our land and seas are to be excluded from farming or fishing, yet the Chinese are boasting they will have an extra 1 million cows in production this year. The South Americans are building up their herds. Why does the Government hate Irish farmers so much? Why does it hate Irish agriculture, which has been the backbone of our country since the foundation of the State and far beyond that? Why does it hate them so much?

My question is for the Minister with responsibility for disabilities. Will the Minister commit to ratifying the optional protocol of the UNCRPD in the lifetime of the Government? There is not much time left.

They have too much time left.

Be careful what you wish for.

Two weeks ago, I met the chair of Cahercalla community hospital, former TD Dr. Michael Harty and Carrigoran House CEO Marie O'Malley. They both conveyed to me the enormous pressures that not-for-profit charitable nursing homes such as theirs are facing. The future is not looking bright as long as the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, continues to lowball them in contract negotiations. While these nursing homes provide vital local services to their local communities and do so at a fraction of the HSE cost, they need support. An extra 15% to 20% in their uplift could be the difference between them closing their doors or staying open. What is the Department's long-term plan to support not-for-profit charitable nursing homes?

I welcome the fact that the school transport scheme went to Cabinet for approval today. I worry that it is reported that improvements will not be implemented until the 2025-26 academic year. Please do not raise the white flag already. Please try to ensure that recommendations can be introduced in the coming academic year. Working families in particular are waiting on the broadening of the availability of the scheme. Will the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform ensure the Minister, Deputy Foley, is adequately supported in terms resources in order that we can have a broadened school transport scheme for the 2024-25 academic year?

With the permission of the House, the question from Deputy Healy-Rae will be answered by the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, the question asked by Deputy Costello will be answered by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman and Deputy Wynne's question will be dealt with by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler.

Regarding the questions put to me, I assure the Deputy that whatever the Minister, Deputy Foley, waves at me, it is not the white flag. She is always making the case for more services and supports for the children the Deputy referred to. The plan she outlined today will take time to implement. We need more drivers and mechanics and we gradually need to fund the system better. Like the Deputy and many Government TDs, the Minister wants to see the scheme improved. I will do my best to provide additional funding, but I have every other Minister also making a case for funding he or she will need in the time ahead. However, I am sure the Deputy will see improvements within the scheme.

Regarding Deputy Farrell’s question, that is the reason we are making such efforts to ensure more homes are built and available to rent or buy. I would respectfully make the case that her own party’s policy is one of saying that no rent increases will be possible. While I know that is popular and attractive, it is one that will ultimately lead to less rental accommodation being available, making it even more difficult for that person to return from Australia.

There is nothing to rent.

I agree with Deputy Bruton’s point. Some time ago, a campaign was run by the Revenue Commissioners to make people aware of the entitlements they could avail of within the tax code. The Deputy’s idea was a good one and I will follow up with the Ministers for Finance and Social Protection. The allowances to which he referred can make a considerable difference to taxpayers and families.