Vol. 275 Friday, No. 1 5 March 2021. DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 05/03/2021A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 05/03/2021B00050Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 05/03/2021B00100Water Quality� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 05/03/2021D00400Harbours and Piers � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 05/03/2021F00250Passport Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 05/03/2021H00550Eating Disorders � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 05/03/2021K00400Covid-19 Pandemic Supports � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13 05/03/2021U00100An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19 05/03/2021HH00400Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2021: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 35 05/03/2021HH01200Health Insurance (International Students) (Amendment) Bill 2021: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 35 05/03/2021HH02000Taxi Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2021: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 36 05/03/2021HH02800Sitting Arrangements: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 36 05/03/2021HH03100Adult Safeguarding Bill 2017: Restoration to Order Paper� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 36 05/03/2021HH03400Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Restoration to Order Paper � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 37 05/03/2021HH03700Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017: Restoration to Order Paper � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 37 05/03/2021NN00100Local Government (Use of CCTV in Prosecution of Offences) Bill 2021: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 37 05/03/2021OOO00100Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 63 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé hAoine, 5 Márta 2021 Friday, 5 March 2021 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 05/03/2021A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad 05/03/2021A00200An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator John Cummins that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review the grant payable to improve water quality treatment for private water supplies and to extend the deadline for claims under the previous scheme beyond 30 March 2021� I have also received notice from Senator Barry Ward of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide fund- ing to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for harbours that were transferred to it under the Harbours Act 2015� I have also received notice from Senator Aidan Davitt of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the closure of pass- port services under level 5 restrictions� I have also received notice from Senator Fiona O’Loughlin of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the funding of the national eating disorder plan� I have also received notice from Senator Marie Sherlock of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to make a statement on the distribution of the €50 million live entertainment fund announced in budget 2021� 2 5 March 2021 I have also received notice from Senator Paul Gavan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to make a statement on the introduction of a deposit return scheme� I have also received notice from Senator Malcolm Byrne of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to make a statement on the full economic cost of a higher education student in full- time education and if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Cassells report on higher education funding� I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the delivery of a perma- nent extension for Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, County Cork. I have also received notice from Senator Rónán Mullen of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the conditions applied by his Department by the Health Service Executive to the provision of funding to charitable, voluntary and community organisations and whether such conditions include compliance with company law requirements, including the filing of audited accounts, with reference to the case of a particular organisation (details supplied) which has continued to receive fund- ing despite allegedly not being in compliance with company law filing requirements. I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a statement on the timeframe for the establishment of the office of food ombudsman as set out in the pro- gramme for Government� I have also received notice from Senator Garret Ahearn of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on St� Anthony’s Nursing Home, Clonmel, County Tipperary� I have also received notice from Senator Emer Currie of the following matter: The need for the Minster for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to develop a remote first communications campaign to prepare businesses and workers for a new work culture post Covid-19� The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion� I have selected those raised by Senators Cummins, Ward, Davitt, O’Loughlin, Sherlock and Gavan and they will be taken now� The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise� Beidh lá eile acu� 3 Seanad Éireann 05/03/2021B00050Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters 05/03/2021B00100Water Quality 05/03/2021B00150An Cathaoirleach: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit� 05/03/2021B00200Senator John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for his attendance and his continued work across his portfolio. The issue I raise this morning relates to the estimated 11% of Irish people who get their water from private water supplies� As the Minister of State will be aware, varying levels of grants are available under the rural water programme for the carrying out of works to private water supplies, be that for sinking a new well, rehabilitation of an existing well or treatment to improve water quality. Under the scheme, a householder can apply for an 85% grant, up to a maximum of €3,000, for rehabilitation works to an existing supply or an 85% grant up to a maximum of €5,000 for a new well, where the housing authority agrees that is the most appropriate solution. In addition to this, a householder can also apply for a 100% grant up to a maximum of €1,000 for treatment to improve water quality, which typically consists of filtration or UV treatment. All grants are paid on the basis of costs of works incurred by the householder� Unfortunately, the level of grant available for the treatment element of the scheme is often not sufficient to cover the costs involved, particularly in areas where ground water is poor. In my native county of Waterford, many rural householders face costs in excess of €1,500, and in extreme cases up to €3,000, for treatment works to improve the water quality and the level of grant is only set at €1,000. It is true that that sum of €1,000 is sufficient in some cases but often it is not� I am not suggesting an across-the-board increase in the grant� I am simply suggesting that instead of a householder being able to apply for the €3,000 or €5,000 grant plus the €1,000 treatment grant, the words “and-or” be inserted into the scheme to allow a combined figure of €7,000 to be used. That would enable the householder, who incurs significant treatment costs, to have them covered in full. This would simply be a reprofiling of the scheme and would not result in significant additional cost. It would basically allow householders to use the unused part of the grant for newer rehabilitated wells and allow them to use it for the water treatment which, as I have said, often costs well in excess of the €1,000 that is provided for. Alternatively, if that is not possible, the €1,000 grant for treatment only should be increased to €3,000 to re- flect the actual cost involved for householders. This will make a significant difference for the 11% of households that rely on private water supplies. In