I will raise an issue that the Leader will be aware of. Tomorrow morning at Galway County Council, there is a protest taking place and it is unfortunate that residents from Cregmore, Grange and Ballymoneen find themselves standing outside Galway County Council. It will be a very peaceful protest but they are raising an important issue. It is related to key community concerns around inadequate original assessment, materiel change, proven local risk, homeowners' financial loss and procedural unfairness.

The Leader will ask what this is all about and I know he is aware of it. It has to do with the planning permission extension for the storage battery plant that is going before the council. It relates to Article 29 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 and section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. It is understood that a section 42 application is not a new application. Rather, it is a request to extend the duration of an extension. Article 29 limits public participation in the matter. It is because the residents cannot make a submission that they feel the need to make a peaceful protest outside. When the original planning was granted in 2021, it was during the Covid-19 pandemic and there were real concerns around the vulnerable karst aquifers. The karst system, as we all know, is highly sensitive, with rapid underground water movement and limited natural filtration. Any contamination, whether from firewater or run-off system failure, has the potential to directly impact groundwater.

The residents would have liked to have made submissions. They would like to have had their voices heard. The Leader allowing me the opportunity to stand here this morning is acknowledging that they have voices and are being heard but unfortunately the process does not facilitate that, even where there are environmental issues. We talk about environmental issues here all of the time. During the Covid-19 pandemic when full planning permissions were granted, people's voices were restricted. Where we are allowing the opportunity for extensions to now take place, that restriction is very unfortunate, particularly when the project is going to make strategic changes in their environment. Also, it is a fact that the battery storage system regulation has changed since planning was granted in 2021. I plea that the local authority take those considerations on board.

There is a duty of care in how we deliver policy legislation. There should be flexibility. We allowed flexibility for a number of reasons during the pandemic. If planning extensions are being applied for now, then it is a classic example of where people should have the opportunity to have their voices heard and to make submissions.

In my final 20 seconds, I wish to support everybody this week who has called for statements in relation to special needs assistants. We need to understand the plan and the pathway, have clear communication to the special needs assistants, parents and teachers, and, most importantly, ensure that we have stability of care for our most vulnerable.