Can we reset the clock? I will start by mentioning the "parents notify" portal on the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, website for special classes and special places, which has a deadline of 1 September. The whole principle of the early notification this year is to determine demand, plan ahead and provide the special class places and special classes for 2027-28. To clarify for people, the portal is open 12 months of the year but the deadline is to allow the NCSE to plan and prepare a budget. The additional documentation has an extended deadline of 15 September but the documentation will be taken at a much later stage if necessary. The important thing is that people who need the places get on the portal now and identify the demand that is there.

Before we finish up I call for a debate on home care services when we come back in September. We all know the value of carers in our society but an awful lot of the HSE support service staff going into houses are private agency staff and when the person they are looking after goes into hospital or into respite the support they are getting immediately stops. This affects their availability because the staff will not be paid should the person come out of care again. Family carers and people getting the carer's allowance have a 13-week extension, whereby they continue to receive the carer's allowance for 13 weeks after somebody goes in. This is something we need to look at, especially in rural areas where we need to retain the expertise of people who are desperately needed to look after people and extend their time in their own homes.

Like previous speakers, the Leas-Chathaoirleach might allow me to thank the staff of the House, including the ushers and all the catering staff and, reluctantly, all of my colleagues in the House. We do not always get on or agree but there is great respect in the House. I extend a wish for happy holidays to everybody and thank them for the past couple of months. I thank all of the staff. To clarify what Senator Brady said, the work does not stop here and we are not finished for the summer. He may have given that impression but I think he was talking about the fact he had the hay done and the turf home. The real work starts now.