Leaders' Questions in the Dáil

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:01]Now can't only W Doherty The July provision scheme provides vital summer educational supports for children with additional needs and for many children these supports are not optional. They're absolutely essential.

[00:00:58]They provide structure, they provide routine, stability, continuity during the summer months. And yet right across the state families are now being told that their children are going to be denied. They're going to lose out on these vital supports. This is because of a deeply unfair and badly handled decision by the Department of Education.

[00:01:16]I've been contacted by principals, I've been contacted by parents, I've been contacted by teachers. People parents are deeply deeply distressed and they're all telling me the same thing. They're angry, they're upset and they're desperate to be heard. Parents are telling me that they're lying awake at night worrying about now what happens to their child. How in under God can a government who proclaims and constantly speaks about inclusion and supporting children with additional needs allow this to happen, Taoiseach? Schools and families have been pleading with the Department to intervene but their appeals are falling on deaf ears over and over again and this year the application window for the July provision was open just for 1 week, just 1 week. In previous years schools had months to complete this process. Many schools simply didn't have sufficient time to process applications, to gather the paperwork, to complete the registrations before the portal was closed. And the consequences of all of that, what what's the real-life consequences? It's the children with additional needs are now locked out of vital education supports this summer.

[00:02:15]It's absolutely appalling.

[00:02:17]And it is not an isolated problem, Taoiseach. This is happening to families right across the state. Parents are facing enormous battles accessing services for their children. They're already having to struggle, as we know, to secure assessments, to secure therapies, to secure tutors, to secure SNAs. And many feel that they're constantly being pushed from one wait list to another, from one bureaucratic process to another. And meanwhile, supports remain under-resourced and out of reach for so many of them. And now this, on top of all of that, more stress, more worry, more upset.

[00:02:49]Taoiseach, these are children with additional needs. We have to think about that for a minute. They are children with additional needs, and their families are already carrying huge emotional and financial burden. They are parents who spend every day fighting for supports, fighting for services, fighting simply to ensure that their child is treated with dignity. And now, you're effectively telling them that their child will lose out supports that they so desperately need and that they've relied on year after year because of what? An unreasonable tight deadline, because of bureaucracy, because of red tape. Families don't understand it. Teachers don't understand it. I, for the life of God, do me do not understand it because this is mean-spirited, it is penny-pinching, and it is penny-pinching at the expense of vulnerable children. And it is not on.

[00:03:37]Taoiseach, we've been raising this again and again. Teachers have been raising this. Parents have been pleading with you to act, and you have refused to do so. Yesterday, my party leader Mary Lou McDonald raised it with the Taoiseach.

[00:03:48]He ignored her question. My question to you is, are you going to listen? Are you going do the right thing? Will you acknowledge the hurt, the anxiety, and the anger at the decision that you's have taken? And will you listen to the pleas of the parents, the teachers, and the principal? So, I'm asking you directly, immediately, immediately reopen and extend the application portal so that no child with additional needs will be denied support this summer. We need certainty and certainty right now.

[00:04:13]>> Yes, we will.

[00:04:15]And I thank Deputy Doherty for raising this important issue and thank deputies across the house and I'm including on the government benches for raising this issue also. And we will reopen the portal.

[00:04:24]Deputy deputies right on occasions we can agree in this house. This is a vital program that plays a really important part in the lives of children with additional needs.

[00:04:36]Be they special educational needs or be they children from areas of economic disadvantage.

[00:04:42]Summer program as we now call it is a vital support for families. It's specifically designed to support children with complex educational needs or those at risk of educational disadvantage. And we're very much committed to continuing to expand and grow the program. And in fact the the facts would show that that's exactly what has happened and I'll get to that in a moment. So, the Minister for Education has very much listened directly to the concerns of schools, of principals, of teachers, and of parents. And I'm pleased last came quarter to confirm that the portal will be reopened to allow further schools to apply. The Minister will announce details of the extension shortly because everyone in this house knows that the summer program is an absolutely crucial support for families over the holiday period. It's huge benefits for children in terms of their social well-being and their emotional well-being. And we're absolutely committed as I believe everybody across this house is to growing and supporting that summer program. You do only have to look at the numbers to show the growth in the program. In 2020, 545 schools and nearly 23,000 children took part in the program. Just 5 years later, last year, more than 1,800 schools and almost 71,000 children participated. That's a 210% increase. So, this is a scheme that's rightly growing year on year. And the intention and the continued emphasis of that program is to mitigate the impact of of learning loss, if you like, on those children while the school is closed. All schools can participate in the program with a particular focus on increasing participation in special schools. Now, as the Deputy correctly says, the online portal for the summer program, including the home-based summer program, which is another element of it, was open from the 6th of May to the 15th of May. I'm told that all stakeholders were made aware of the time frame for the portal, but I'm also very aware that it's a particularly busy time for schools, for the school community. A lot going on as you get towards the end of that school year.

[00:06:38]So, yes, there was reminders sent to schools, all of that, but that's that's that's somewhat missing the point. The point is there's a need for a longer period of time for schools to apply and get this up and running. I also understand for the information of the house that the department has received more applications this year across primary, post-primary, and special schools compared to last year. And in addition, the number of home-based applications has also significantly increased on last year. Notwithstanding that, in fact, perhaps because of that, we want to make sure that the children who need this program get it. And that's why my colleague, the Minister for Education, will announce that short extension shortly so that schools who've missed the deadline for very genuine reasons, and I think the Deputy has highlighted some of those reasons. It was a shorter window than previous years, will have the opportunity to apply.

[00:07:24]>> Minister, I welcome the decision that you're going to now reopen the portal. I would ask that clarity is given to schools and parents immediately. You talk about a short extension. It needs to be long enough to deal with the process. And also now, because of the botched situation in relation to this year, there is now huge pressure in relation to having tutors and allocating that. So, this cannot happen again, but I want to raise an additional issue in relation to this year. My understanding is the scheme has also changed in relation to there is only now one option where you all the people to take it either the school based program or the home based program. That puts medically vulnerable children locks them out of the system. If the school decides for a school based program, you cannot have a home based program for that medically vulnerable child. I was talking to a parent of a child who's 13 years of age who has missed so much school because of their medical vulnerability. They have care every night from the HSE which proves their medical vulnerability. And because the portal only allows you to do one or the other, they cannot obviously avail of the school based program. They need home based program. So, I'm asking you in relation to examining this issue that you will also examine that issue and make sure that medically vulnerable students are not denied the the situation which up to now was always the case that they could avail of either or.

[00:08:45]>> Thank you. Thank you very much. I don't want to mislead the house because on the last issue I need to talk to the Minister for Education and and ask that she comes back to the Deputy as I'm sure she will, but I take the the seriousness of the point of the point that you make.

[00:08:57]Schools will be contacted today.

[00:08:59]As you're right, they do need that clarity. My understanding is the actual portal will probably open next week, but the schools will be contacted today.

[00:09:06]The portal will open next week. But look, I do just want to say this is a program that's growing. I mean, it's growing very, very significantly in terms of the numbers of children. And we all know in our own constituency, in our own community, the very significant difference that it is making to children as well. If we look back in 2016, I think 8,767 children benefited from that scheme. And like I said, last year it was over 70,000. And that's both a sign of I think it's a program that's working. And I want to thank all of those around the country who provide this program. It's also a sign though of the need, uh the fact that there are now so many children with those complex additional needs, and I share your view that this is not a discretionary extra or nice to have. Uh it's a very vital part of education provision and family support.

[00:09:53]>> Deputy John Nash.

[00:09:54]>> Thanks very much. Uh last can call it honest that it's important that opposition keeps government honest on public spending.

[00:10:03]It's important too that reliable figures are given to opposition ahead of the annual budget, so we know exactly what it costs to fund education, health, and other important services. And that has not been the case in recent years. We need to know exactly what it costs to fund existing services, the extra money that's needed to keep the show on the road, and what money is needed indeed for new measures.

[00:10:26]We in Labour believe honest politics means keeping the opposition honest, too.

[00:10:30]Now, last year DEPE refused to give out these demographic costs and what it would take to maintain existing levels of service in our country.

[00:10:38]We were met with triangulation and obfuscation. And we ask every year how much is needed to meet the growing needs in special education. On a budget 2026, Tanaiste, we were sold a pup. But more importantly, so were the very families and children who need that support. And weeks ago, we were told of an astonishing 646 million euro black hole in the Department of Education. So, Tanaiste, how did you and your colleagues get budget 2026 so badly wrong? So, what's your answer? A levy, uh effective cuts by another name in 2027 to every department's budget even before pre-budget talks open. And getting direct answers on how this is going to work from various ministers over the last few weeks has been like pulling teeth. So, what do we know?

[00:11:22]We know that the Minister for Health, for example, has said in replies to me that she will have to find 175 million in savings to plug the hole in education. And this is on top of the fact that the HSE is overspent to the tune of a quarter of a billion euros in the early part of this year alone. So, taken in the round, as we speak, the Department of Health, the HSE is now on the hook for at least 425 million euros this year and next. Now, government says that pay in health will remain untouched. That will be the case with the Department of Justice as well. So, Tánaiste, which services will be cut or scaled back? What plan new services will be stalled? And all of us who are health service users have a right to know. It's more money, not less, that our under pressure health services need. And there is a limit to the efficiencies and reforms you can extract from a service that's already under very significant pressure. And the problem is, Minister Chambers has put a deadline of the 17th of July on departments coming back to him with their cost-cutting proposals.

[00:12:25]Now, I'm no conspiracy theorist, but that's the day after the Dáil rises. The day after the Dáil rises. Zero accountability from this government over the summer on the kinds of cuts we're going to see next year. So, Tánaiste, will you commit to giving us honest figures on demographic costs and the cost of maintaining existing levels of service this this year and next? Will you confirm that there will be no further asks through significant supplementary budgets being brought to the House this year for various government departments? And directly, but directly ask you this question and I expect a response.

[00:12:57]What kind of cuts do you feel need to take place in health to fund the costs in education?

[00:13:05]>> Well, thanks very much, Deputy Nash. I believe in honest politics as well, and I think everyone in this House engages in good faith on behalf of the people that they represent as you do, too.

[00:13:14]First point I'd say is I reject the assertion that this is in any manner or means a cut, because a cut would suggest that the budget of one department is going to be lower than it would than it currently is. The budget of all departments are growing, and I don't need to remind the Labour Party who served in government at a very difficult time what cuts are actually like when we had to make extraordinarily hard decisions to get this country out of the depths of an economic crisis. The level of public expenditure in Ireland has risen from the voted expenditure just the year before COVID was 67.4 billion euro. Voted expenditure in this country is now due to be 147.2 billion euro by 2030 and 125.5 billion euro next year. So, the budget for every department, you reference the Department of Health, will be higher in '27 than it will be than it is in '26.

[00:14:00]It's higher in '26 than it was was in '25. I don't believe there is anybody in Ireland watching in on these proceedings that do not believe that savings, efficiencies, and reforms can be found in the public service.

[00:14:13]People do this in their own lives all of the time, and I actually think that people remember the times when you and I were in government and we were asking people to find savings with less. We're now asking people to find savings with a hell of a lot more, and I actually think even if there wasn't a need for a levy, I actually think that's prudent good management of the public purse because every week, whether you go to the PAC or certain committees, you can find examples of where the public service can do more and do better in terms of the expenditure of the public purse. So, this I want to say will not impact 2026 allocations, and the minister's been very clear about this. Whilst government colleagues are being asked because government is a collective, if you decide to do more here, it doesn't fall from a magic money tree. It has to be found somewhere. That's how the world works. That's how budgeting should work.

[00:14:58]That's how our medium-term fiscal plan works. Colleagues are being asked though in the context of 2027 budgets where every government department's budget will increase to find efficiencies and reforms. And I actually think it's a very important moment of truth for the public service as well. So, this will not impact the 2026 allocations. As you also rightly say, we've been very clear that no the levy must not impact on important areas.

[00:15:22]Must not impact, for example, Minister Cleary is here on the social protection vote and people with a disability, carers and those weekly payments.

[00:15:29]Must not impact on Department of Health pay allocations, in other words, staffing, nor the Department of Justice staffing. Must not impact on housing or disability services and a number of other carve-outs, if you like, as well.

[00:15:40]This is a levy that ranges from about 0 0.02% 0.02% to 1.4%. So, in the context of a budget this year of over 118 billion, the context of a budget next year of over 125 billion, people are being asked to find that level of efficiency. And we should and we will, of course, continue to engage honestly and transparently on all of these matters.

[00:16:05]>> You know >> Well, that commitment to engage honestly and transparently should extend to government ministers and their departments being required to come back to the Minister for Public Expenditure Reform well before the 17th of July with their very clear plans as to how these levies will impact services in their respective departments. The reality is The reality is the doll is rising on the 16th.

[00:16:27]And I don't believe that it's a coincidence that that that deadline of the 17th of July was set. We do need accountability in this house. We know that, for example, the medium-term expenditure framework It was published the day after the doll rose last December, a very significant five-year plan from the point of view of the fiscal position of this country and how we sustain our economy going forward. So, this is very much on brand for this government. Make important decisions when the doll is in recess, no accountability, ministers will not be available to be held to account by this house for their own budgets for 2027 and their own estimates in advance of budget 2027. This is a very, very significant development from the Minister for Public Expenditure. And there are alternatives as well to the introduction of levies across departments. We could look at, for example, reforming our taxation system and ensuring we introduce tax on wealth and assets in a most significant way to pay for the increased public services we all agree we need to introduce in this country. Well, you've decided not to do that.

[00:17:24]>> So, respectfully, my minister's nothing else to account is baloney. Uh we had a budget oversight committee the other day. In fairness, you were asked this, you contributed, you answered all your questions. Others didn't bother turning up. The meeting actually ended 40 minutes early for Minister Chambers and I were there looking for questions to take. And the And the chairman No, I'm just going to be clear. The budget oversight committee met, myself and Minister Chambers were there to answer every and any question anybody wanted to ask. And it ended with 40 minutes is better than the chairman uh fails then.

[00:17:48]Uh it doesn't matter who didn't turn up.

[00:17:49]40 minutes People can come back in as well. There were 40 minutes of unallocated time there. So, just this We're very accountable to this Iraqis, and I want people at home to know that.

[00:17:56]Very accountable to this Iraqis. I also want people to know the rising of the doll has nothing to do with this at all because these are figures that will affect 2027, where there'll be a significant opportunity. We'll have a summary economic statement. We'll have a national economic dialogue. And we'll have plenty of opportunities. I believe in good, honest politics. Uh so do you.

[00:18:12]I fully accept that. And it is important we're transparent in relation to all of these things. But, I think it's also important in the in the spirit of honesty that we make the point that when budgets are growing, and people at home know this, public spending is growing really fast in this country. I mean, it's growing very fast in this country relative to pretty much any other European economy. It's actually a prudent and sensible thing to say to those charged with expending that money, "Can you do better? Can you reform? Can you get value for money?" That's what households do. That's what small businesses do. It's about time It's what the public service does.

[00:18:42]>> Deputy Coveney, Claire Kerrane, told us that there is a brutal truth at [snorts] the heart of our disability system.

[00:18:51]Families have been forced to say it out loud because the government is not listening.

[00:18:55]The reality is the state is waiting for parents to die.

[00:19:00]Parents in their 70s, 80s, and even their 90s must continue to act as full-time carers for their son or daughter with an intellectual disability, regardless of their age, their health, or their ability to care for another adult, they're still alive the station looks the other way.

[00:19:18]Tánaiste, the system for housing adults with intellectual disabilities is both nonsensical and unusually cruel.

[00:19:25]When a parent passes away, only then will an emergency placement be found for their son or daughter.

[00:19:31]And that placement is too often hundreds of miles away from their home.

[00:19:36]Within a space of few weeks, a vulnerable person will lose their parents, their carer, their home, their friends, their community, and any semblance of a life that they once knew.

[00:19:48]No civilized society should treat its citizens like this.

[00:19:54]Tánaiste, there is more than eight more than 600 adults with intellectual disabilities in residential placements outside of their home county.

[00:20:03]Almost 200 are over 100 km away from their home.

[00:20:07]There are people from Cork and Kildare.

[00:20:10]People from Waterford up in Dublin.

[00:20:13]People from Kildare in Tipperary.

[00:20:16]Hundreds of vulnerable people are being ripped from their community at the most difficult time of their life.

[00:20:23]Tánaiste, Minister Foley recently announced that local authorities will be required to set disability housing targets, but people cannot live in targets, and families cannot wait to see if these homes will ever actually materialize.

[00:20:37]Tánaiste, the state's growing reliance on private operators is a symptom of a deeper dysfunction. The Muiriosa Foundation, a progressive Section 38 provider, recently told the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters that it's forced to rely on the private rental market.

[00:20:53]This means it invests tens of thousands of euro to meet HIQA standards, only to face eviction if a landlord decides to sell.

[00:21:01]At the same time, commercial companies funded by your government can buy up properties far from a residence home and community. This privatization of care is of serious concern for parents. They do not want their son or daughter outsourced for profit. They want them to be housed and cared for in their community.

[00:21:24]Tánaiste, adults with intellectual disabilities deserve to live with dignity, security, and independence.

[00:21:29]Targets alone are not enough.

[00:21:31]The Before We Die campaign wants a disability housing plan that includes delivery timelines, clear reporting, and multi-annual and ring-fenced funding.

[00:21:41]Tánaiste, will you finally listen to these parents? Will you meet them?

[00:21:44]They've asked to meet with you and you haven't arranged to meet with them yet.

[00:21:47]And will you introduce the ring-fenced funding that is so clearly needed to provide homes for adults with intellectual disabilities?

[00:21:54]>> Tánaiste >> Thanks very much uh Deputy Ó Caoláin.

[00:21:57]And welcome again to your colleague Deputy Éireannach, good to see him settling in uh settling in well beside you. Uh thank you for raising this um very important issue. And yes, I I will commit I I think I've been in touch to arrange to meet them, but I will be meeting them and I'll be meeting them in the month of June. I know the Taoiseach has also met them. I know Minister Foley and Minister Higgins has met them. When I say them, I mean the Before uh We Die uh group. And I want to thank them for the work and the advocacy and shining a spotlight uh in relation to this situation. Sometimes you just have to stand up in this house uh and admit where we are isn't where we need to be. And this is one of those cases. So, I have a lot of lot of figures here and I can tell you that we're going to do more residential placements this year, and we are by the way. I can tell you that we've increased the disability budget, and we have uh none of it takes away from the point that you've made, which is valid, which is accurate, and which is the lived experience uh of far too many people um in this country. And we did have a very good meeting at the Cabinet Committee on I think it's the Cabinet Committee on Disability with a focus specifically on housing a couple of weeks ago.

[00:22:53]I suppose motivated by uh the campaign of the Before We Die group. Um and at that uh meeting a number of things were agreed. Um I want to thank and acknowledge the role Minister Brown and Minister Foley and Mr. Higgins that are going to play together in relation to this because we need everybody to pull together in relation to this.

[00:23:10]Uh, and there was basically a number of principles set that we need to to have a shift away from this crisis response to a planned approach uh, to commissioning specialist residential places. Uh, because you're right, there's far too many emergency situations that hadn't had we as a state planned earlier and better uh, would have would have not needed to arise. But secondly, we need a rebalancing towards more placements with non-profit providers and social housing and away from privately funded housing.

[00:23:34]I mean, your point is right and if it's a criticism, it's it's right. We are using quite a lot of private uh, for-profit providers. Um, it's better to use them than not have any option available, but the direction of travel here is to ensure that the local authorities as the housing authorities in communities are stepping up to disability housing or housing for people person with a disability in the same way that they would be uh, around broader social housing. But also, I do think we can be doing more should be doing more in supporting the non-profit providers uh, to build homes. This used to happen in Ireland. I can think of it in my own community where there's a small housing estate with a relatively small number of homes, specialist staff in place and it works. So, uh, the the points you're making are valid. Uh, we will need a plan. I take the point about targets around housing people, but at the same time, we do need to have, I think, targets. You're saying there needs to be a degree of specificity around them in terms of our funding and timelines. Fair point. Um, and I'm very happy to let's concur with whatever the best way to do this, whether it's in the Oireachtas committee, whether it's in this house, to genuinely have a level of debate and discussion on how we get this right because this group um, are putting it up to us as a country to do better and we simply have to.

[00:24:40]>> Goer Goer Magos, tell us how you welcome that you are being frank about how appalling the situation is and you're acknowledging that it has to change and it's not acceptable.

[00:24:50]If the government is serious about not-for-profit providers being able to play a better role here, you must provide ring-fenced multi-annual funding so they can plan for services. Give you one example, St. Michael's House before you your government your party took took office in 2008, it had five respite homes. It is now has just one. There's a 6-year waiting list for adults with intellectual disabilities at access respite. So parents parents are getting older, getting exhausted. They can't even access respite for their their loved one. That's an appalling situation. Are you going to fix that or are you going to address that? There's no need for this situation to be happening to An Taoiseach. The HSE is aware of the needs of the adults with intellectual disabilities for years.

[00:25:34]They don't need to be waiting for a crisis situation to occur. This could be fixed, needs to be fixed, but for that targets are one thing. We need clear timelines. We need the ring-fenced multi-annual funding. Will you commit to that? And when are you going to give us information about that?

[00:25:49]>> An Taoiseach.

[00:25:51]Yeah, look, I I Firstly, I'm going to commit to meeting the group in the month of June. I'm very happy to to come back and engage further with Deputy Collins on this after that. I mean, we are increasing and I think this is an I think this is an interesting area where extra funding is 100% required, but also monitoring the impact of the extra funding in terms of the systems we have in place also matters too because like for example, we're increasing respite funding by 25 million euro this year. We're increasing the amount of funding for home support and personal assistance errors this year as well.

[00:26:23]I can say that and that's true, but then there's the demographic issue as well and the planning issue and how that money is deployed and and if it's deployed in an emergency capacity, it ends up having less impact because it costs more than it does in a planned capacity which I which I think at a high level is the point that the group is making. So yes, we need a housing plan when it comes to people with disabilities. Yes, that will need to have targets and specific timelines and of course the government will need to fund it, but I do want to have a better shared understanding of what that direction of travel looks like because not every person with a disability, no one's suggesting they are, is the same.

[00:26:53]For some person for somebody might be an ability to continue to live in the community, continue living in the family home. For some person it might be a specialist residential service. For some person it might be a social a local authority housing. For some person that might not work at all. So, I I think to have a a number a plan that tries to address that breadth is also important and I think we should facilitate detailed engagement in this house on that.

[00:27:14]>> Uh Deputy Varadkar >> Go raibh maith agat, Tony today in Ireland a pensioner living alone or a family pays almost two times more in terms of a unit of electricity than a data center. Despite the fact that many data centers are a part of the wealthiest corporations in the world and the demand from data centers is actually driving up the cost of electricity as well. And last year in 2024 data centers consumed 22% of electricity in Ireland.

[00:27:50]More than every household in urban Ireland. That is an incredible figure, Minister. And a report released today from Friends of the Earth shows that on our current trajectory data centers will add 1.4 billion euros to household electricity over the next number of years. That is a hidden data center tax, Minister.

[00:28:15]And you know, every week in my constituency clinic this is a major issue. Last week an elderly pensioner came into my clinic and she showed me her electricity bill and she said, "Paul, can this be real?"

[00:28:30]Such was the extortionate level. The cost of electricity is a major issue, Tony, in the cost of living crisis. And the fact is that over 300,000 people are in energy arrears and these in many cases are hard working people. They're pensioners and they're really really struggling. And the policy of your government, Taoiseach, has been essentially to offer energy credit before an election, and then after the election, you abandoned it. And then in relation to data centers, data centers are paying less about 50 percent less a unit, and families can't understand this, and they they're really really frustrated, Taoiseach, and this is by design in many respects. And the trajectory is going to add more cost to households. So, my question, Taoiseach, when will you introduce legislation to regulate the data center data sector electricity in terms of pricing, and when are you going to introduce a sustainable policy in relation to this?

[00:29:32]>> So, what was definitely not on my bingo card for 2026 was Aontú quoting Friends of the Earth.

[00:29:38]But look, it's the politics throws new things at you every day. The issue of electricity and energy prices in Ireland is a serious one.

[00:29:45]That's why this government, through Minister Coveney, is expanding the fuel allowance. It's why we extended it for a further month to help people like those people that you referenced. It's why we've also taken a number of decisions to reduce excise on diesel, on petrol.

[00:29:59]The benefit of that from an inflationary point of view is also worth about 0.5% in keeping general downward pressure on a rising inflation rate. And it's also why we need to accelerate the move towards renewables, and there's been some constructive suggestions from opposition and government deputies around how we can do more in relation to making it easier for people to make that transition themselves in terms of their home or their business, and Minister O'Brien has already introduced a range of measures that are helping people make their homes warmer. So, you know, hundreds of thousands of homes that have now benefited from direct government grants to retrofit, replace windows, to replace doors, and of course, the EV changes as well. I'd be interested in your position on data centers because it's easy to come in and kind of say the data centers are bad or make the data centers the bogeyman, but I am the Minister for Finance in this country and the evidence available to government is that across the six sectors in Ireland that are identified as being most dependent on data centers, it's estimated that of the order of 100 billion in annual gross value added, 875,000 jobs, and 14.6 billion euro in annual employment-related taxes were enabled by data center capacity air located in Ireland. It's also identified that the hyperscale data centers sit at the heart of Ireland's global digital competitiveness. So, when I make all these changes that you're calling on me to make in relation to data centers, what do you want to do when we don't have the benefit of the taxes? What do you want to cut? What do you not want to fund? Because it's so easy to come in here and ask us to spend more. It's easy to slice up the pie. It's a hell of a lot harder to bake the pie and bake a bigger pie in terms of economic success for this country. So, it's also important to say that data centers through the SEUR large energy user connection policy we've been very clear that data centers above certain thresholds will be required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new additional renewable electricity generation in the Republic of Ireland. And government policy firmly aims to enable the twin transitions of digitalization and decarbonization. We can't pick and choose. We've got to address both of them. And we're talking about AI. We're talking about every support AI jobs.

[00:32:06]We're talking about every how we deal with the fact that there's going to be significant churn in the labor market.

[00:32:13]And data centers do play a very important role, a very important role in having a competitive digital economy.

[00:32:19]And we can't just dismiss that. We can't just ridicule that. Or at least if we're going to, you'd have to be honest with the people about the economic and the tax impact that that could have on Ireland as well. There's a view put out there that a data center is about four or five lads sitting around with a dog or something. You know, and nothing else in terms of economic activity. That is an economically illicit point to make in relation to data centers.

[00:32:40]>> Deputy Gould >> Taoiseach, if you're going to make Ireland the data center capital of Europe, you better have a plan. A plan does does not mean that ordinary households are subsidizing that plan, and that is currently what is happening.

[00:32:53]The report outlined today estimates that one in the current trajectory that Ireland Well, first of all, in terms of data centers, it 22% that is on on the rise, and that is driving up the cost of energy in this country. And the truth is that that is going to have estimated about 1.4 billion euros over the next number of years in terms of additional cost to consumers. And already, Taoiseach, 300,000 people are in energy arrears. And currently, Ireland has the most expensive electricity prices in Europe. So, and and and also, Taoiseach, the ESB is profiteering, 650 million euros last year.

[00:33:33]The CEO of the ESB earned over 300,000 euros. So, you know, who is the ESB serving? Who is the government's energy policy serving at a at a situation where data centers >> Thank you, Deputy.

[00:33:50]>> are driving up the energy cost for families, and also paying less in terms of per unit electricity?

[00:33:56]>> But you see, you're you're ignoring the points that I'm making.

[00:33:59]Yeah, and it sounds very good in short clips and sound bites, but the reality is you're ignoring the economic benefit of the data center. You're ignoring the economic benefits in terms Sorry, okay, you're giving him a chance today. Come on. You're giving him a chance here.

[00:34:13]Give him a I'm not sure I did I didn't think the week I was that bad for you that you thought of a leadership bid, but anyway, when you give the man a chance, give the man a chance. Um Give the man a Thank you. You're asking for a good moment. Um good moment.

[00:34:26]>> Taoiseach, allow allow the Taoiseach >> The rule the rule You asked the question, and I get a chance to answer it. The reality of the situation for people sitting at home, I want to say this.

[00:34:34]INTO, on behalf of Friends of the Earth, are giving a suggestion that data centers are costing all of this money.

[00:34:39]They're ignoring the fact that I've put on the record of the house of the economic analysis available to me as finance minister in terms of the benefit to this country in terms of taxes and employment. I don't have the luxury and the government doesn't have the luxury to ignore that. And when we did if we did ignore it, you'd be the first to come into this house and condemn uh the loss of jobs and the loss of employment as well. Now, I want to say this, though. The Friends of the Earth report will be considered and it does also say things you didn't mention. It does also concede that under the high renewable growth scenario, we actually see a situation where accelerated renewables uh is presented as sufficient to displace significant reliance on gas.

[00:35:15]So, the message you should have taken from the report is we need to accelerate the move to renewables. That's what this government's committed to and if INTO is willing to finally step up and accept that climate action is needed, I welcome that conversion.

[00:35:25]>> Uh Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.

[00:35:27]>> Thank you very much, Ceann Comhairle.

[00:35:29]Tánaiste, as you're might be you're aware yourself, uh many young people are leaving our shores from the age of 25 to 33.

[00:35:40]Many in good settled jobs, guards, teachers, mechanics, different types of people, all different trades and valuable people. They're leaving because they simply believe that they can't uh now get to the point where they can buy or build a house for themselves. Uh they say that maybe if they were not working at all or or working only part-time, they would qualify to get on the local authority list and eventually get get get a social housing unit. In other words, they're saying to us that there's no incentive for them to continue working in Ireland.

[00:36:18]Uh I hope that the new planning bill will go far enough to ensure there's a lot of talk about it coming shortly. It can't come quick enough.

[00:36:27]That uh that people can get permission to build houses nearer in their own locality and that they will be allowed to come out onto national primary and secondary roads where it safe and where there already is an an existing exit. You're encouraging our own people to come home from Australia, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, and everywhere else.

[00:36:50]Nurses, mechanics, and nurses, all people with good qualifications.

[00:36:55]And to halt the flow of the present crop of boys and girls who are leaving in their droves in in in in the first instance. Both things will be achieved uh if we get the planning right. Uh myself and indeed others, many others have been asking and looking for these planning uh the planning to be made relevant and easier for many years.

[00:37:18]The other problem is is the mortgage.

[00:37:20]To qualify for a mortgage in you you have to um you have to uh you can borrow four times the company combined gross annual income of up to 90% of the value of the property. You see that's a big problem for many.

[00:37:38]And and then you need to have proof of steady employment for at least 12 months and a deposit of 10%.

[00:37:46]Um Uh you see most mortgages now because of their massive cost are taking 30 to 35 years to pay back. Many people will have reached pension age uh before they will be fully uh owned their houses.

[00:38:00]In the UK, there is no VAT on building materials. Why can't Ireland be the same?

[00:38:05]The cost of the actual building is increased by 1/3 in tax, VAT, and other levies. There should be a also a tolerance and there should be an incentive to build smaller houses. And in Kerry, the cost of building uh a house is 220 to 280 a square foot, which means that the type of house that's being built at the present time is costing somewhere between 200 and 280 280,000 to build it and top of the site and you're moving on for 400,000 before before the house is complete. I I'm I'm asking you to look at these things to to see if we stop the people from leaving our shores.

[00:38:51]>> Thanks Deputy Hourigan.

[00:38:52]>> Okay, Deputy Healy Rae and thanks very much for for the question on housing and how I suppose we give our young people hope in terms of the ability to own or indeed in some cases build their own home and I suppose two points that I would make. I mean firstly and and I don't say this in any way disrespectfully to you but you know, taxes are an important part of funding the state and we can't just reduce or abolish them all. We have taken a number of measures recently to reduce the cost of construction and to try and assist around viability but we've also taken a number of measures on the tax side particularly to help to buy scheme which has literally helped tens of thousands of people get some of their own tax back towards the deposit for their home and that's a scheme we're very committed to as a government and committed to keeping in place until the end of the mandate of this government.

[00:39:29]There's point points you make in relation to mortgages and the amount you can borrow and these are issues that I genuinely hear from people but what I would say I suppose we also have to get the balance because we don't want to arrive back at a place where we were in the past as a country with a very very high level of mortgage indebtedness and the difficulty that arises from that but we have a number of schemes in place in the government. We've commitments in the government in the program for government to keep them under review as well. Can I say though on the issue of rural housing I mean we've got to do more here and we've got to make sure that people have an ability to be able to live in their own community.

[00:40:07]It's a really important part >> have an ability to be able to live in their own community. Um it's a really important part of balanced regional development. It's a really important part of regeneration um of rural communities. And we've got to get it right, too. It's not about a free for all. It's hardly not. It's certainly not about people from one part of the country building a holiday home in the other. But it is about people who have a social and economic connection with the community being able to live in their own community and build their own home. It's about people who aren't asking the government to do anything other than allow them build their own home. And up until now, if we're being honest, the rules have been inconsistent. The rules depend on whether you live in this county or that county or the other county. I mean, that's not fair. This is a small country. It's a small island. We need to have a consistent approach uh to rural planning guidelines. And the intention now is to have a new national planning statement on rural housing being prepared under section 25 of the [clears throat] Planning and Development Act, which will ultimately require government approval, and then will be issued by the Minister for Housing. And the new statement will refine, uh will update, and will replace uh the existing guidelines as well. It'll provide more clarity and more consistency across the planning authorities by defining where and how rural housing uh can be developed. And I believe it'll make it easier for people, for young people, to be able to build a home in their own community. And I think the benefits of that socially and economically uh to rural Ireland, including uh to parts of County Kerry, uh will be uh significant as well. We need to facilitate rural housing for those with a local housing need, where they need to live or work in a rural area. And of course, we also have to balance that with protecting the rural character of countryside and preventing urban generation sprawl as well. So, I'm really looking forward to this new uh national planning statement coming to government very shortly. And I think it'll be a significant benefit uh to rural communities.

[00:41:54]>> Thank you, Mr. Ryan.

[00:41:56]Uh Mr. Varadkar, look, the other thing is the birth rate is falling, yet our population is going up over 500,000. Our population increased in the last in recent years. And this is putting pressure on house availability.

[00:42:10]Many vacant houses, there's no real incentive available to owners to rent them out.

[00:42:18]But that is an incentive that they are working for the Ukrainian people. But there's 600 being paid tax-free to the landlord. If we could do something for that like that for some of our own people, it'd be great for our own people.

[00:42:34]People coming from other parts of the world are very welcome to come here if they're coming here to work.

[00:42:41]But it should never be the case that they can come in here, get an apartment right away, get our social get on the social housing list, and compete with our own people who were born and reared here. We'll see after our own people first. And I just need to I just need to clarify to honest Ted.

[00:43:01]I said that the customer housing carry was 280 220 to 280. I mean 220 to 280 per square foot to build. So when you add that up, that goes over 400,000. And I'm saying too many people are having trouble getting the markets in the first place.

[00:43:22]And we need to do something about that, please.

[00:43:24]>> McDonald's O'Snush.

[00:43:25]>> I always believe in in an honest debate around migration. And I think it's important in our countries, but the honest debate has to be grounded in facts.

[00:43:33]People who arrive in Ireland from abroad through a variety of circumstances do not have an automatic integration to social housing. And indeed Minister and indeed you know that too. And you know that in Kerry as well. And people from Ukraine, please. And people from Ukraine contribute very significantly to our economy as well. Obviously do have the right to work. And indeed there's many businesses around this country who tell me how reliant Please please don't heckle me.

[00:43:58]Please don't heckle me on this because we have to be respectful when we debate these issues. The government is making a number of changes in relation to Ukrainian accommodation and some of the issues you highlighted because we do need in our view to make the model sustainable Uh because we want to be able to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

[00:44:12]And the emergency approach that we've had today still needs to be replaced with a more sustainable approach. And that's how we're going to do it. But I just want to say that acknowledge the positive contribution that Ukrainian people are making. As you pointed out, many people coming to Ireland and working in this country as well. I would just say in relation to the issue of vacant homes, we have already seen 20,000 homes back in use via the vacant property grant. We are bringing in a new derelict property tax. We'll do that in the budget as well. We have also expanded grants air for shop conversions. I think the issue of vacancy and dereliction in a housing emergency is right here in front of you as a key issue which we want to make more progress on.

[00:44:45]>> Answer your questions on policy or legislation. Deputy Pearse Doherty.

[00:44:49]>> Yeah, and can I ask the >> Can I first congratulate Jordan and Ken Adams who are going to complete their incredible superhuman challenge of running a marathon every day for the last 32 days across 32 counties to raise awareness for frontal temporal dementia for the two lads. And Tanaiste, the Irish football team should not be paying an Israeli as it continues its genocide in Gaza and its brutalization of the Palestinian people. Yesterday, your sports minister Patrick O'Donovan and Charlie McConalogue confirmed that they won't be attending the match in Dublin.

[00:45:20]But does it not stink of hypocrisy that you expect on behalf of the government the Irish people to accept the match going ahead, but your own ministers are actually boycotting it? Meanwhile, we have a letter sent to members of the FAI's general assembly demanding an extraordinary general meeting. The letter from the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland and others are very clear. It urges delegates to back a motion calling on the FAI not to participate. And I must say Seamus Coleman is right. This shouldn't be landed at the feet of the players. Those with the power should take responsibility. So Tanaiste, your government must withdraw its support for the match going ahead against Israel.

[00:45:55]And I'm asking you to take a stand for what is right and to stop the game because you know if you withdraw your support then this game will not be going ahead.

[00:46:02]>> Tanaiste, may I firstly join with you in congratulating and commending Jordan and Keenan and they they've inspired literally the entire country with I think 33 marathons right across our island. I know many of us look forward to welcoming them to Leinster House later today.

[00:46:17]But more importantly or as importantly is that working with them on the issues around dementia, around research, and around care pathways as well. And just to really thank them for all that they've done. Look, I too let me agree with you on the Seamus Coleman point. The Irish players who wear the jersey with pride do just that.

[00:46:33]And nobody should put any pressure on them as all. And I thought Seamus Coleman captured that very well in his comments yesterday. Also to make the point that the FAI gave their view in relation to this. The The FAI was very clear in relation to this. UEFA as the governing body ultimately made that decision. And that is the position. It's not a matter for the government. It's a matter for the governing body which is in this case UEFA. And my views on the genocidal activities of the government of Israel are very very clear. And I think there's a rock dism in the people of Ireland who are totally appalled at the genocidal behavior being undertaken by the Israeli government.

[00:47:11]>> It's just found that energy demand from data centers has added three quarters of a billion euro to household bills in Ireland since 2015 and it could add a further 1.5 billion over the next decade. This is the equivalent of adding a week's wages to bills for the poorest households.

[00:47:26]And look, we we all acknowledge here that data centers are good are part of modern life. Right? But the circle that you and your government need to square is that if it is your industrial policy to continue to roll out an energy intensive data centers around the country that this is becoming a cost of living issue now Taoiseach that we've been going on for years about the climate impacts. Your your former colleague Minister former Minister Donohoe has talked about the the water demands of data centers as well. But this is now becoming a serious cost of of of living issue. So, government Taoiseach, if it is your policy to allow unfettered growth in data centers, what are you going to to do to ensure that it does not impose additional costs on households already struggling to pay their bills?

[00:48:11]>> Taoiseach. So, so thanks very much to to to Deputy Hearne. Look, I'd make I'd make a couple of points. I think the Friends of the Earth report needs to be read in the round and it does basically put it up to us as a government and also as an Iraq this study if we can do more in relation to speeding up the move to renewables and under what they call high renewable growth scenarios, annual average residu- resi- residual demand, excuse me, including data centers actually falls below zero in the years ahead. So, in other words, acceleration of renewables development is presented in this study as sufficient to displace significant reliance on gas as a dispatchable source of energy in the future. There is a genuine and and you acknowledge it, there is an economic benefit to data centers, but I would I would dispute the characterization of the government's position as as an unfettered approach as well and I actually think the CRU's LEU connection policy very much shows that the government intends to deliver on its renewable energy targets with data centers above certain thresholds being required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new additional renewable electricity generated in the Republic of Ireland.

[00:49:08]>> Barry Cowen.

[00:49:12]>> Taoiseach, at yesterday's Health Committee we learned something very concerning. Consultants on public only contracts are continuing to do private work in the Rotunda Hospital. This is despite the fact that treating private patients in public hospitals is a breach of their contracts. And I think it's worth mentioning that these consultants are very well paid for giving up private work with salaries of up to 260,000 euro and that's just the basic pay.

[00:49:33]But this is not just about a breach of contract, Taoiseach. It is completely at odds with our national health care policy, Sláinte care, which is about creating universal health care based on need and not ability to pay and removing private health care from public hospitals.

[00:49:47]How can we ever have a well-functioning and quality public health service if private practice continues to leech resources from the system.

[00:49:55]And yesterday we learned that the Minister for Health was told about this a year ago.

[00:49:59]And she said she isn't happy about it, but that appears to be it. No sanctions or no actions have been taken against the hospital.

[00:50:06]What I want to know with honesty is in how many other public hospitals is this happening and what are you going to do about it?

[00:50:13]>> Peadar Tóibín, the Minister for Health in the government expects that the agreed terms of any contract are applied fully and consistently across all hospitals and we expect everybody to comply with the terms of their contract of employment. I think that's a general basic thing and just because you're a higher paid member of the public service doesn't mean you can you can deviate from your contract. So if people have issues with the contract that's that's a different matter, but actually signing up to a contract and then not adhering to the terms of the contract is not is not a small matter.

[00:50:41]The Department of Health has written to the HSE CEO on the 18th of March setting out concerns regarding the continuation of private practice seeking full compliance with public only consultant contracts, but I'll allow the Minister to come back to you specifically in relation to her view on the implementation of the contract and how many other hospitals and they have similar issues.

[00:50:59]>> Deputy Charles Flanagan.

[00:51:02]>> The state recommended an external wall room mediation only in a home where an internal wall was already cracking and carrying specialist hoist equipment used every day to lift and move a paralyzed woman who uh and then the family then were refused access to see the full technical report to understand whether this was a safe decision only given an outer leaf remediation. My constituent's home was adapted in 2017. She was paralyzed after a car accident and it is designed entirely around her needs and the hoist system is used inside. The walls are cracking, not just the outside. And internal cracking has already been identified in parts of the structure holding the equipment that supports her from getting out of the bed to the bathroom to the wheelchair.

[00:51:52]And uh how can this be described as a safe decision when the family are are being asked to to accept the decision without actually seeing the technical evidence?

[00:52:03]>> Word, thanks very much uh for raising this issue and um my sincere sympathy and solidarity with your constituent and their family for all that they've uh endured. I I think the point you make about being able to see the detail is an important point and I understand that any that any homeowner would maybe wish to see a report by the engineer in order to really understand the rationale behind the option being recommended or being proposed. That that's understandable, it's logical. My understanding is the house housing agency will, upon request, issue the report uh to homeowners and I think that would be an important step to take because I think that will inform the homeowner in question as to the query raised. In addition to that, as you know, there's a requirement in the 2022 Act to undertake a review of the operation of the Act. That review is due to commence shortly and the matters you've raised I think will be also considered as part of that and I'm fully of you raising this today. I'll ask that Minister Brophy's department note the issue that you've raised for that purpose, too.

[00:52:52]>> Is that okay?

[00:52:53]>> You're very welcome.

[00:52:54]>> I know just so you know >> aim to do support the rollout of sustainable energy across the country in partnership with local communities and to actually there's a big major demographic change happening in Ireland at the moment and we had the GAA in front of the infrastructure committee yesterday to discuss it. The lopsided development of the country is continuing at a pace uh unfortunately. Two-thirds of the population of the country now live in a very narrow strip along the east coast of Ireland. And most university type jobs are going into the Dublin area. Most university type uh uh graduates are therefore forced to work in the Dublin area but can't afford to live there, of course, so have to live 30, 40, 50 km away and live in a commuter hell to be able to get to work.

[00:53:37]Um and it's doing it's emptying a lot of regional areas of their young people.

[00:53:42]The other aspect is in 2009 there were 75,000 children born in this state. Last year there was 55,000 children born in this state. And that's an incredible collapse in relation to numbers. Young people are losing the confidence to be able to have families at the moment in Ireland. Plunging birth rates are already leading to some school closures and amalgamations in some parts of the country. And if it continues, it will lead to radically increased pension rates and health care costs for the generation who's already struggling to afford to pay rent at the moment. What will your government do to give parents the confidence to be able to raise families in this country?

[00:54:20]>> So there is a number of aspects to that, but firstly in relation to balanced regional development, I think the new national planning statement in relation to the ability to build a home in rural Ireland, the one-off home, will be a help because I do think there's many people finding themselves having to leave their community due to a too rigid planning system or at least an inconsistent application of the planning system across counties. I think that's one thing that can be done.

[00:54:40]Secondly, you know, I'm going to continue to say that housing supply, supply, supply is really important and and we need to get 300,000 more homes built by the end of 2030. And my own department has produced research in terms of Ireland 2040 and where Ireland will be demographically by 2040.

[00:54:54]It will be a very different place if on the basis of a no policy change.

[00:54:58]Therefore, I think a number of policy changes like auto enrollment, you mentioned the pensions issue, is a very important future proof issue to take now. But I'd also point out there's many parts of this country well outside the greater Dublin area are thriving and doing well. I spent a lot of time in Galway recently where there are key infrastructural projects that we need to deliver like the ring road for example, like the Bus Connects project down in Cork, the Lewis as well. So certainly I think I don't I don't like the phrase commuter hell while there are very serious traffic congestion issues in this country. There's many parts of this country that are thriving and they're proud of their communities. But they want to see us deliver infrastructure more quickly to help them meet their potential.

[00:55:36]I want to raise the issue of July the summer program. As we know, this is a very important program providing additional educational support to students during summer months.

[00:55:45]Unfortunately, issues have arisen this year in relation to the application process. A very short window was open for schools to apply.

[00:55:52]Many received no notification. They weren't aware of the application process and schools who have benefited from this provision in recent years have not had the opportunity to apply. I think this needs to be reviewed and schools need to be given the opportunity to apply. So, I would ask you to please take this message back to the department and try and open up the application process again. Thank you.

[00:56:09]>> Fully agree with Deputy McGrath in terms of the importance of reopening the application process and I'm pleased to tell him that will happen.

[00:56:16]We will be in contact with the government with schools today and the portal will reopen early next week.

[00:56:23]We have seen an increased number of primary schools, post-primary schools and special schools applying this year.

[00:56:28]I see that as a good thing, by the way, in terms of trying to meet the need and the portal will reopen.

[00:56:34]>> Thank you, um Um And and and again, I I follow on on the same subject. Um Taoiseach, firstly, can I say to you thanks for your continued engagement in that regard when I raised the issue of the summer program or what was the July provision.

[00:56:51]Um in in my constituency, I had one advocate who I suppose was representative of 10 families who were blocked out of the scheme, if you like. And the stress and the strain and the absolute torment that parents had to endure in the last few weeks was just unbearable. And I think, you know, the the the window of opportunity, six days, was was was just unacceptable, to be brutally honest, because I, for one, appreciate the stress and the strain that teaching staff are under in terms of, you know, managing all of this.

[00:57:21]And I will and continue to be a a champion for children with disabilities and I want the government to do likewise to be just that because, obviously, we need to be mindful to give them the best and the first opportunity to thrive in in life.

[00:57:39]And anything can be done in that regard to understand whether it's financial um uh issue or otherwise we need to resolve it. Go on a mhaga's.

[00:57:47]>> Yeah, look I I thank you very much Deputy Roach and you did indeed speak with me on this issue uh yesterday and I am pleased that the Minister for Education and the Government have decided that the portal will reopen uh in the coming days to provide that that that better window I suppose for schools uh to be able uh to apply. I will just say that this Government's record on special education and additional children with additional needs is one of investment and one of growth. There were 8,767 children benefiting from the summer program in 2016. Over 70,000 benefited last year. I'd be surprised if that number isn't higher again this year.

[00:58:21]When it comes to things like special classes, the rollout of therapies and special schools, the precise of the budget of special education. We have a lot of work to do in this area, but it's absolutely rightly as you highlight a priority area as it should be.

[00:58:34]>> Go on a mhaga's.

[00:58:35]>> Tánaiste, givinostat is a potentially life-altering drug for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Um the EU Commission granted conditional marketing authorization for givinostat almost a year ago on the 6th of June 2025.

[00:58:54]There has been a frustrating delay.

[00:58:56]Um some of it on the the company's behalf um but I understand that the HSE's drugs group will review givinostat at their June meeting and make a recommendation to the senior leadership team to approve the medicine or not to approve it.

[00:59:12]Time is muscle. There's a campaign um with with that name. Every day counts for these children. Um I would ask that an early as early a decision is made as is possible. Children need access to this drug. Gormally.

[00:59:29]>> Thanks to >> Deputy Rockfort for highlighting this issue. I also want to to acknowledge the fact that he made the point that sometimes the delays can be on the side of the company, and I think that's an important balance to make, too. I'm not I have don't actually have the detail in relation to this, but it is important that everybody in the process, I think, works in an efficient way so that at least we get a decision and clarity as early as possible. The drugs budget is growing in this country, quite rightly.

[00:59:48]I'm sure this is a very anxious time for families impacted, and I'll certainly convey your views to the Minister for Health.