Dáil Éireann
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 1009 Wednesday, No. 2 23 June 2021 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 23/06/2021A00100Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters 127 23/06/2021A00300Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate 128 23/06/2021A00400Site Acquisitions ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������128 23/06/2021B00250Housing Policy 130 23/06/2021C01150Dental Services 133 23/06/2021D00400Just Transition Fund 135 23/06/2021F00100National Maternity Hospital: Motion [Private Members] ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������139 23/06/2021S00200Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions 168 23/06/2021W00400Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation 177 23/06/2021Z00900Mental Health (Capacity to Consent to Treatment) Bill 2021: First Stage 186 23/06/2021Z01800Ceisteanna - Questions 188 23/06/2021Z01850Economic Policy ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������188 23/06/2021BB00550Taoiseach’s Meetings and Engagements 193 23/06/2021DD00150Cabinet Committees 197 3/06/2021LL00100Residential Tenancies (No 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage 201 23/06/2021DDD00300Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion 243 23/06/2021JJJ00500Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion 253 23/06/2021LLL00100Residential Tenancies (No 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages 253 23/06/2021XXX00700Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational, and Sporting Events) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages 279 23/06/2021YYY00400Regulation of Lobbying (Post-Term Employment as Lobbyist) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] 281 23/06/2021ZZZ00200National Maternity Hospital: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] 284 23/06/2021AAAA00100Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (Resumed) 287 23/06/2021BBBB01500Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (Resumed) �����������������������������������������������������������������������������293 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 23 Meitheamh 2021 Wednesday, 23 June 2021 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 910 am Paidir. Prayer. 23/06/2021A00100Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters 23/06/2021A00200An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in re- spect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Bríd Smith - to discuss the impact of the quota for hook and line mackerel fishing on our coastal communities; (2) Deputy Patrick Costello - to discuss the appointment of a local community representative to the digital hub as required under the Digital Hub Develop- ment Act 2003; (3) Deputy Gino Kenny - to discuss commencement of the medical cannabis access programme; (4) Deputy Joe Flaherty - to discuss measures to fast-track delivery to com- munity groups and projects under the just transition in the midlands; (5) Deputy Jackie Cahill - to discuss additional resources, staff and funding for early intervention services for children with disabilities in north Tipperary; (6) Deputy Pádraig O’Sullivan - to discuss if a review into the boundary expansion between Cork city and Cork county can be undertaken; (7) Deputy Verona Murphy - to discuss engagement between the Department and the Irish Dental Associa- tion in regards to the ongoing issues in the dental treatment services scheme; (8) Deputy Darren O’Rourke - to discuss ongoing issues with the scheduling and delivery of driver theory tests; (9) Deputy Bernard J Durkan - to discuss the need for carbon reduction and a globally sustainable agrifood business to survive side by side; (10) Deputies Mairéad Farrell and Catherine Con- nolly - to discuss the urgent need for an ambulance base located centrally in Conamara to ensure that Conamara receives cover all the time; (11) Deputy Brian Stanley - to discuss the important role of local employment services and jobs clubs as part of labour activation; (12) Deputies Carol Nolan, Mattie McGrath, Michael Collins, Danny Healy-Rae, Michael Healy-Rae and Richard O’Donoghue - to discuss the need for the Government to address the imminent threat of strike action within the post office network; (13) Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - to discuss the income limits for social housing; (14) Deputy Thomas Gould - to discuss the reconfigura- tion of children’s disability services in Cork and the continued delay in accessing services; (15) Deputy Thomas Pringle - to discuss the need for the defence of fishermen by the Government against EU negotiations; (16) Deputy Michael Creed - to discuss progress to date regarding site acquisitions for new primary and secondary schools in Ballincollig, County Cork; (17) Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne - to discuss the delay in publication of the Department of Health’s capacity 127 Dáil Éireann review of disability services and the Indecon cost of disability report; and (18) Deputy Martin Browne - to discuss the benefits of the proposed M24 route as an alternative to the proposed M20 route from Limerick to Cork The matters raised by Deputies Michael Creed, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Verona Murphy and Joe Flaherty have been selected for discussion 23/06/2021A00300Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate 23/06/2021A00400Site Acquisitions 23/06/2021A00500Deputy Michael Creed: I return to a familiar topic that I have raised in the Dáil a number of times I acknowledge that the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, is taking this debate I wish to express my disappointment, but also my understanding, that the Minister, Deputy Foley, is not in a position to take it She is familiar with this long-standing issue The opening of a new school in any community is an important milestone, particularly for younger generations In Ballincollig, we have a fantastic network of education infrastructure, but we need new school buildings for Gaelscoil an Chaisleáin, which has been in temporary ac- commodation for four years. This September will see Le Chéile Secondary School opening its doors for the first time. I wish its principal, Ms Nicola Barrett, and staff every success. We want permanent accommodation for these schools On average, the Department’s time- frame from the point of identifying a site to turning the key and moving into a new school is approximately five years. This means that the pupils who are now in second class in the Gael- scoil’s current accommodation at the rugby club in Tanner Park will never see the new school We need to get a move on We have been at this for some time I appreciate that site acquisition is not easy, particularly in a rapidly growing town such as Ballincollig where there is a great deal of pressure on the available land I had hoped that the Minister would be in attendance so that I could urge her to take a hands-on approach and drive the conclusion of the acquisitions for these new schools in Ballincollig I await with interest the Department’s response to this matter 23/06/2021A00600Minister of State at the Department of Education (Deputy Josepha Madigan): I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to update the House on the site acquisition for Gaelscoil an Chaisleáin and Le Chéile Secondary School in Ballincollig, whose building projects are includ- ed in the Department’s capital programme Under the memorandum of understanding in place between the Department and local authorities, officials in my Department are working with Cork City Council on the identification and acquisition of suitable sites for the two schools. Gaelscoil an Chaisleáin opened in September 2017 in temporary accommodation on Ball- incollig Rugby Football Club’s grounds Additional temporary accommodation was provided to the school for the 2020-21 school year A new 16-classroom school will be provided when a suitable site has been acquired. Following a recent patronage determination process, Le Chéile Secondary School was established and is due to open this September in temporary accommoda- tion at Ballincollig GAA 128 23 June 2021 As the Deputy mentioned, the identification of suitable sites for schools in Cork has proven challenging for the Department and Cork City Council. In 2016, a potential site was identified as most suitable for Gaelscoil an Chaisleáin However, it was not possible to progress the ac- quisition at the time because access to the site had to be established Subsequently, the Depart- ment was advised that the land had since gone to probate and, therefore,