Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I am not aware of that situation but is a very serious matter to raise. Let me ask for a report from the relevant Department. Dublin Zoo is independently run but receives funding from the State. I take animal welfare extraordinarily seriously. I was utterly horrified by the revelations in the "Prime Time Investigates" programme last week. I want to receive a full and comprehensive report on the actions that will now be taken on this matter at an Irish and an EU level.

Deputy Boyd Barrett and I do not often agree on issues but the issue he raised about taxi drivers seems logical to me. It was raised with me by taxi drivers in certain parts of Dublin when I was out on the canvass recently. The Deputy raised it with me previously and I asked that it be looked into. I ask whoever monitors these matters for me in officialdom to please follow up on this. I will certainly follow up on it on my return to my office. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, about it directly to see if anything can be done and come back to the Deputy on it.

I thank Deputy Barry for raising the issue of childcare in Ballincollig in Cork. The number of names on the list indicates the real challenge that clearly exists regarding capacity and childcare services. The Government is already providing capital grants for the refurbishment and expansion of childcare facilities. I can send the Deputy a note on this. Capital funding is now available through the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I hope it will be utilised in west Cork and by the county childcare committee and others who might be in a position to help. I will send a detailed note on what is available and I am happy to engage further with the Deputy on it.

The happiest day I have had an office is the day I met some of the Irish team who had returned from European Athletics Championships. Their energy and positivity are such a tonic. They have done the whole country proud and I know they are not finished yet. Many of them are planning for the Olympics. I join the Deputy in wishing Rhasidat and the other athletes the very best. Phil Healy was part of the group that came to see me. The Government wants to do a lot more to invest in sporting infrastructure. We are beginning to make real progress in a number of sports on the global stage. Beyond that, sport from a community physical and mental health point of view is vital. We will have the largest sports capital programme ever under the Minister for State, Deputy Thomas Byrne. Details of that will probably be announced around September. I think there will be some €250 million in that. All three parties in government are eager to do more on investing in sports infrastructure.

I will raise with the Minister the specific issue the Deputy raised related to an athletics track.

In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, I am not briefed on the PayPal potential redundancy issue and therefore do not want to say anything that cuts across a process or causes any anxiety. Of course, we think of anyone who is made redundant and, as the Deputy says, our hearts go out to them. Any time there are redundancies, the full infrastructure of the State must kick in, including the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Social Protection. I will speak to both Departments. I will also ask the Minister for enterprise, Deputy Burke, to come back to the Deputy specifically regarding PayPal and any interactions or engagement the State is having with it on its Irish operation.

In response to Deputy O'Callaghan, one of the benefits of being out on the campaign over the past while was that this issue was raised with me on a number of occasions when I was in Howth. I clearly understand the depth of feeling there is in the Deputy's constituency related to this issue. The Government signed off on what I believe is a good project, the expansion of the DART network. I am very conscious, though, that the consequence of that in terms of disruption to people in Howth, Sutton and Bayside is something people very strongly about. I intend to engage with Irish Rail on this and I will be happy to come back to the Deputy on it.

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