I was not expecting a call first.

I welcome the budget we had yesterday. It will be a significant injection into the economy. When we look at the coverage it received and the impact it is going to make on the economy in the next few days, weeks and years in particular, it is a significant piece of work. I want to acknowledge the work done by all Ministers in particular, in getting this budget passed last night.

There were issues mentioned in the budget debate pertaining to education. We had a significant debate in this House in the past few weeks regarding school transportation. I was hoping there would be some light shed on the conversation we had with the Minister about a budget for affected children who had not been picked up so far in the school transportation scheme. Will the Deputy Leader use her good offices to inquire about that proposal with the Minister for Education? The Minister said she had been talking to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, about getting a budget in place. Can we get an update on this proposal for a budget to pick up the children not covered by the school transportation scheme? It is a huge issue in my part of the world. There are hundreds of kids who are not yet sorted. Will the Deputy Leader use her good powers to come up with some kind of timeline for when we can resolve this issue?

We had an usual and unfortunate announcement two days ago regarding Shell pulling out of the country. Shell was a major backer of two important offshore wind farms; one off the coast of Clare and one off the coast of Cork. It was part of our policy to make sure we would be sustainable going forward in order to reach our targets of proposed renewable energy in 2030 and 2050. These two wind farms were not even reaching 3 GW. I am not sure of the correct terminology. To have Shell pull out at this stage is really significant and we need to have a clear debate about where these two major proposals are going. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has continuously said that the wind potential we have off the coast, particularly the south coast, was going to be a key factor in making sure we reach those guidelines. I am genuinely concerned by this announcement by Shell. It is a global powerhouse when it comes to renewables. It has switched from fossil fuels in the last five years and has a huge concern in Scotland when it comes to renewable energy. For Shell to now leave the Irish market has a worrying effect when we take into consideration our cost-of-living issues regarding fuel prices. I call again on the Deputy Leader's good offices to arrange a debate with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, about how we are going to deal with the renewable resource we have and what work can be done to make sure key actors like Shell will not leave the market again. If they do, the knock-on implications mean reaching our targets will be unachievable without this kind of investment.

I will address the first point that Senator Lombard raised regarding school transport. The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, committed to doing her very best to ensure she got funding to address the school transport debacle particularly regarding those who previously had concessionary tickets. I am happy to confirm she received that extra funding. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, was very understanding of the situation so many families and students found themselves in. My understanding is that this funding is in place and that the task now is for Bus Éireann to sort the extra buses and drivers. Students who had previous concessionary tickets will be prioritised during roll-out and those who have applied for concessionary tickets for the first time will then be looked at. This is extremely important and we have to appreciate the efforts both Ministers made in terms of trying to sort this particular issue.

While I am talking about transport, the extension of the 20% and 50% fare discount for young people on public transport is particularly welcome. As we know, this discount has been extended to private operators also. The clarification yesterday that 16- to 18-year-olds in third level education will be able to avail of this extension, as indeed will mature students over 23 years of age, was particularly significant.

That was particularly significant yesterday. In my own area of Kildare there will have been some disappointment that the extension of the short-hop zone was not mentioned. That is something I am certainly very committed to for up to 50 km, indeed it is now Fianna Fáil policy, as is the extension of the medium-hop zone to 75 km.

A number of us met a lot of different people around Leinster House during our pre-budget meetings. One of the groups that had a profound impact on me was the Neurological Alliance of Ireland. The Deputy Leader will know Laura Reid Costello, whom we would have known before she had her traumatic injury. She is a wonderful woman, full of energy and vitality, who is inspirational in so many ways. It is incredible to see how far she has come in the last three years.

I was also fortunate to meet Dr. Rosie Mangan from Daingean in Offaly, who had a most unfortunate car accident while she was doing research in Brazil and had to be airlifted back to Ireland. Their asks were really important. Rosie has to travel four hours every day from Daingean to a place called An Saol in Dublin. We all know that the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire does incredible work but it really can only take a small number of people at any particular time. An Saol does really excellent work. Brain injury surpasses many diseases as the major cause of disability. The vast majority of people under 65 who are in nursing homes are there because of acquired brain injury. We absolutely need to do everything we can to help support this cohort, including ensuring that An Saol receives extra funding. Only two out of our nine community healthcare organisations have dedicated teams in respect of acquired brain injury. This commitment was made back in 2019. We need to follow up on it. I would appreciate if the Deputy Leader could organise a debate in the Seanad on acquired brain injury.

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome to the Visitors Gallery James Stokes from Kildare, who is on a placement with the Ceann Comhairle. I thank him for being here today.