Mar is eol don Taoiseach, there are hugely critical recruitment and retention problems for public service workers, go háirithe i mBaile Átha Cliath, i gCorcaigh agus i nGaillimh. These workers include nurses, teachers, gardaí, social workers and paramedics. All of them are key in keeping our public systems functioning. The reality is they are being paid the same whether they are living in Longford or they are living in Lucan or Coolock. They cannot afford to live in the communities they are being asked to serve. In light of this, I ask the Taoiseach if there is any consideration for targeted reliefs, like the key worker scheme that was once used in London, to ensure essential workers can afford to live near their workplace. This is not about preferential treatment. It is about keeping hospitals staffed, classrooms open and our streets safe.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Bheadh sé deacair rátaí difriúla a chur i bhfeidhm ó chathair go cathair ach admhaím go bhfuil fadhb ann. There is a problem in terms of the cost of housing for workers and key workers. Through housing, I would like to see if we can create specific, affordable housing provision for key workers in given locations and whether that would it work side by side with the broader housing developments. I want to see if that could that happen and whether we could focus on that side of it.

In terms of pay rates and conditions, it is difficult to ring-fence one part of the country with different pay rates. There would be huge issues in the industrial relations process to bring something like that about.