Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

At the end of February, on Leaders' Questions, I raised the case of Maggie, a ten-year-old child in desperate need of mental health support. Maggie has endured cancer and suffers from depression, anxiety and self-injurious behaviour. She is in very serious distress and does not leave the house except to go to school. Maggie was on an urgent list for over a year before getting a CAMHS meeting. An assessment for intellectual disability followed but she was not accepted into the service because there is no specialist in her area. Now Maggie is in a mental health crisis because she has not received the care and support she so badly needs. Maggie's distraught mother came to the Oireachtas yesterday pleading for help for her daughter. She came here in February to make the same plea, but nothing has changed since. Maggie is still not getting the care for which her mother has fought so hard and for so long, and she is not alone.

Maggie's mother was in the Oireachtas yesterday attending the launch of a report by Families for Reform of CAMHS, a group of more than 1,200 families whose children have been denied the services of CAMHS or who have not received sufficient care. The report will be published tomorrow but the group's presentation laid bare the full-blown emergency in the provision of child and adolescent mental health care. The report describes the dramatic increase in waiting lists, with so many children waiting more than a year to be accepted to CAMHS. The vast majority say their children deteriorated while waiting. Children with a dual diagnosis of an intellectual disability or autism and mental health difficulties, or those with ADHD, suicidal ideation or eating disorders, are sent from pillar to post in search of support.

Many parents report taking their children to the emergency department to receive care. A staggering 69% of those parents surveyed have been forced to seek private care. This places a really unfair and massive financial burden on parents, and many simply cannot afford it. One parent quoted in the report stated it breaks their heart to think what kind of life their daughter could have had if she had not been thrown on the scrap heap because her parents could not afford an earlier diagnosis. The parent suggests earlier diagnosis might have made a difference but that this will never be known.

These children and their families are crying out for help. They spend years knocking on the door of a system that is broken. Vulnerable children fall through ever-widening cracks. Tá cúram meabhairshláinte do leanaí agus do dhaoine óga i ngéarchéim. Caithfidh an Rialtas beart fiúntach a dhéanamh chun deireadh a chur leis an scannal atá le seirbhísí.

I would like the Taoiseach to intervene directly at this point to ensure Maggie gets the care she needs. I would like him to make that commitment to her mother today. I ask for meaningful action to fix the broken system. The first step has to be lifting the recruitment embargo so CAMHS teams can be filled and waiting lists tackled with urgency. I also want the Taoiseach to legislate to give the Mental Health Commission the statutory power to regulate CAMHS. I ask that the Taoiseach's colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, meet representatives of Families for Reform of CAMHS, study their report, hear their views and bring about the changes they are asking for.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McDonald for raising what is an extremely important issue. I share her view that more needs to be done and that we need to make much more progress. I thank the Deputy for raising the case of Maggie, in particular. Indeed, I would be very happy to make contact with Maggie's mother and engage in any way I can. I understand the Minister of State for mental health has met the group the Deputy referred to, Families for Reform of CAMHS. I am very happy to have ongoing engagement, as is the Minister of State, Deputy Butler.

For the benefit of people watching at home, I should state CAMHS provides a range of services to children and adolescents in need of mental health services. Evidence shows that around 2% of children and young people need the support of specialist CAMHS multidisciplinary teams. As detailed in the HSE's national service plan for this year, CAMHS expects to receive about 23,000 referrals over the course of the year.

I can point to true figures that show we have seen a very significant increase in mental health service funding year on year. Indeed, the mental health budget for 2024, of over €1.3 billion, entails a strong focus on investing in youth mental health, as is quite right and proper.

There are some encouraging signs although I accept we have much more to do in this space. There were 3,583 children on CAMHS waiting lists in April 2024. This number was far too high but it did represent a decrease of 778 compared with the previous year. There are some signs that, as we invest more, staff more and reform the services, we are seeing improvements in waiting times for CAMHS. The data also show that around 95% of urgent referrals to CAMHS in April were responded to within 72 hours. The severity of presenting symptoms, as well as the assessment of risk, is always taken into account in respect of waiting times, with every effort made to prioritise urgent cases so the referrals of young people with high-risk presentations are addressed as soon as possible.

There has been a significant increase in mental health staffing numbers, to which the Deputy referred. There was an increase of 476 in mental health service staffing numbers between December 2021 and December 2023. This year, 68 new posts have been allocated under budget 2024, and HSE child and youth mental health care will have over 130 new posts through the €10 million recently announced by the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health. My understanding is that the HSE is working to recruit for those vacancies as quickly as possible. I want people to know that there are funded posts currently that the HSE is endeavouring to fill. I assure the Deputy that it is not an issue of an embargo or recruitment pauses; there are funded posts that we are currently trying to fill.

More broadly, we now have a dedicated national office for child and youth mental health within the HSE. This development, delivered by the Minister, is very significant because it will provide the leadership, operational oversight and management of all the service delivery and improvement. I absolutely assure the Deputy that this is an issue on which I am very happy to work with her. I am very happy to do as she requests in terms of ensuring there is direct and ongoing engagement by the Government with Families for Reform of CAMHS. I will certainly follow the outcome of the report closely. We will continue to invest more, by way of budget and staff, in our mental health services.

On legislation, on which the Deputy has raised points, the new mental health Bill will be published shortly. It presents a genuine opportunity for us to work on a cross-party basis in the House to overhaul and update mental health legislation. I look forward to working with Deputies on all sides of the House on that.

The Taoiseach is right that the Minister met the families. That happened in October. It is now June, and there has been no progress from their perspective. They are very disappointed.

Every day that these children are on waiting lists or are denied services is damaging in the here and now and to their future prospects. With the greatest of respect, for the Taoiseach to tell me that a waiting list of 3,583 is an improvement on a previous scenario is no comfort at all. That is a deeply unacceptable situation.

I raised with the Taoiseach the issue of staffing and the embargo. He seemed to dismiss the staffing concern but as he knows, the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland is balloting for strike action such is its concern about the staffing of services. It describes mental health services as being "at a critical tipping point" and has raised specific concerns about child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. The Government has been slow with the legislative piece but I want to come back to the embargo, which needs to be lifted. Recruitment needs to happen unhindered and the CAMHS teams need to be filled if these children are to have any chance of getting the services they need.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I assure her that the words "dismissive" or "dismissing" could never be attached to me or this Government when it comes to this issue. It is an issue on which everybody in this House and everybody in Ireland wants to make more progress. There has been a significant increase in mental health presentations, particularly among younger people, post Covid, not just in Ireland but internationally. We know the impact that recent years have had on our youngest citizens. I say to the parents and young people watching in that waiting lists are falling. That is not cold comfort; it is a real benefit to the young people coming off those lists, their families and their communities. Staff are being recruited. We can have debates about recruitment levels and workforce planning in the HSE. That is no problem, and I am happy to do it. On this issue, we should not mislead, accidentally or otherwise, because 130 additional posts are funded for the very services about which the Deputy is talking. Those staff will be recruited during the year.

The mental health Bill we are bringing forward will deal with the issue of oversight of all 76 CAMHS teams. A lot of good work is under way in this area and there is much more to do. The Government will have ongoing engagement with the advocacy group the Deputy mentioned.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the Low Pay Commission recommended the abolition of sub-minimum wages for workers under the age of 20. I cannot say that any of us were surprised by the recommendation because maintaining a discriminatory system for young people could never have stood up to scrutiny when evaluated on the evidence. We all know that young workers have rent to pay and other living expenses. They are affected by price hikes and increases in the cost of living, including in respect of everyday goods, travel and transport. Those are the normal expenses that so many are struggling to cover in this cost-of-living crisis. It is true that there is still a way to go, but as our school completion rates become the envy of other countries, which I acknowledge, the rationale for pay discrimination that leaves young people so vulnerable simply cannot hold water. This is an argument the Labour Party has made for years. Labour Youth has been spearheading a campaign for the abolition of sub-minimum wages for workers under the age of 20. We have also been campaigning on the basis that Ireland needs a pay rise. We need to tackle the serious levels of low pay across the country. I pay tribute to all who have campaigned on the issue and to the members of the Low Pay Commission for this important recommendation.

The commission was established by my Labour Party colleague Deputy Nash. It is an important body. I hope the Taoiseach and his colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will act on its recommendation without delay. I also welcome the recommendation that a review mechanism should be built in to ensure no unforeseen consequences arise from a change in policy. It is important that the recommendations are acted upon.

We know that campaigns on workers' rights are not always popular endeavours. We must recall, and we in the Labour Party are particularly mindful, that workers' rights are core to the welfare of our communities. Workers' rights dictate whether economic success is worthwhile and trickles down to communities. Workers' rights make the difference for us all between living to work and working to live. They impact on our health and housing, and on the social cohesion of our communities. They are foundational to us, as a party, and to our communities across the country.

In recent times, we saw what appeared to be a shift within Fine Gael towards a not entirely convincing commitment to workers' rights. Even that slight shift appears to have changed again in recent months. Our concern is that the advent of a new energy in Fine Gael has meant the advent of a dangerous precedent for those bodies which have been pushing for better conditions for workers. We have seen some public efforts made from within the Taoiseach's party to exert influence over the Low Pay Commission and to slow progress towards a living wage for those lowest paid workers in Ireland. I give the Taoiseach the opportunity to repudiate any rowing back of his party's commitment to workers' rights. Will he act on the Low Pay Commission recommendation to abolish sub-minimum rates of pay for young people? Will he lead the charge in advocating for the introduction of a real living wage to ensure the lifting of all boats as our economy strengthens?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The Government welcomes yesterday's publication of the report of the Low Pay Commission. The Government, and specifically the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will now give it consideration. He will carry out an economic impact assessment and will then make recommendations to Cabinet, if that is the appropriate thing to do.

We must always take a balanced approach to these issues. I will not get into a political ding-dong but I am proud of the record of my party and this Government on workers' rights. I can point to a number of things we have done over the course of the past four years, including the increase of the minimum wage, the introduction of the statutory sick pay scheme, the parental leave Bill and the work being undertaken by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, in respect of auto-enrolment in pension schemes, which will address the pension apartheid that has existed in this country for many years and about which I am sure the Deputy feels strongly. We have taken a number of actions to help support workers, including with regard to remote working, to try to support a work-life balance.

We must also listen to people who run businesses, however. The Deputy and I were both in Munster in recent weeks during the election campaign, visiting café's, restaurants and small shops. The owners of such businesses have pointed out that the pace at which charges and costs have come at them has had a real impact. Nobody in government or in opposition wants to do anything that would in any way hinder the ability of somebody to provide employment in towns and villages. We will continue to support workers and small and medium enterprises. I do not buy into the idea that it is one or the other. It is about taking a balanced approach and the pace at which we do it.

The sub-minimum wage is currently a percentage of the overall minimum wage. As the minimum wage has increased, so too has the sub-minimum wage. The minimum wage rose by approximately 12% on the most recent occasion, which was significantly above the rate of inflation. That would have had a knock-on benefit for people on all forms of the minimum wage. The Government remains committed to the introduction of the living wage. This is a question of balance, the pace at which new costs come and how the Government can best support businesses that, as the Deputy knows, are under real pressure. I am talking about small and medium businesses, including those owned by people I have met in the Deputy's constituency and who have said to me that we need to be cautious about the pace at which new charges are put on businesses.

We will consider the report. I welcome its publication. We will carry out an economic impact assessment and the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will then bring proposals to Cabinet.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Taoiseach knows, we have always acknowledged any steps forward on workers' rights. We are, however, concerned to guard against any rowing back of workers' rights. As the Taoiseach acknowledged, I have engaged extensively with small businesses in my own constituency and elsewhere. I am conscious that the Low Pay Commission is statutorily obliged to have regard to the impact of its recommendations on businesses. That is already built in so any attempt to review further or to build in some other review mechanism sounds like a political review.

We are conscious that 20% of workers in this country are trapped in low pay. We need to address that not just at national level but at EU level. I spoke earlier to mark the election of my good friend and Labour Party colleague Deputy Ó Ríordáin to the European Parliament. His election and the fact we now have an Irish MEP in the Socialists and Democrats group for the first time in a decade will make a difference. It matters when Labour Party activists are in the room at national level and European level. The minimum wage directive is, or can be, a real game-changer for those trapped in low pay.

It will mandate all member states to ensure a living wage by 2026. I am glad to hear the Taoiseach's commitment to move towards a living wage but I want to ask how he proposes to implement this directive. Will he adopt the recommendation of the Low Pay Commission?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Labour Party's success in the European elections and congratulate Deputy Bacik's colleague Deputy Ó Ríordáin on his election to the European Parliament. I believe he is still Deputy Ó Ríordáin.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

He is.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know Deputy Bacik would not wish to misrepresent our position. There will be no rowing back on workers' rights. There is nothing I have said, nothing the Government has done and nothing the Government has indicated that suggests I am rowing back. The question, and it is a legitimate question, is on the pace at which costs come at small businesses. This is why, prior to my election as Taoiseach, the Government carried out a cost of doing business review. It was carried out by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Social Protection. This report has been sent to the Low Pay Commission for the very reasons Deputy Bacik outlined. It is statutorily obliged to take into consideration the cost of doing business and the impact of it to arrive at an evidence-based approach. It now has this and I have no doubt it will do its job. I acknowledge the job it does.

We generally make decisions on Low Pay Commission reports around the budget time. It is not on budget day but around budget time. It is a good time to do it because it allows us to look at things in the whole. This is what we will do. An economic assessment of that report will be carried out now and we will make decisions around budget time.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A September or October budget?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

When would you like it?

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of affordable housing schemes. Galway County Council is finding it very difficult to put schemes in place in towns such as Tuam, which is the largest county town, Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Gort or Athenry. This is on the basis that the figures do not stack up. Affordability schemes will be in Claregalway, Oranmore and Galway city. The structure by which the scheme has been drafted sets out density levels which are then linked to the supports that come from the Government. The cost of land, the cost of finance and particularly upfront finance, and the absence of any open market value in these areas really and truly raises barriers to getting a scheme that can be deemed to be affordable for the purchaser or young couple who want to buy the house and get approval from the Department.

In essence, what I am saying is that linking density of housing development to the amount of support the Government gives towards an affordable scheme is flawed. It is leaving large towns without an opportunity to provide the affordable housing schemes which are needed. I will take Tuam as an example. Tuam has a population of 8,000 or 9,000 people and not one private housing scheme has been constructed there since 2007 or 2008. We have a housing crisis. I acknowledge we have built an awful lot of social housing but we need to provide houses where people can get an affordable mortgage and be able to live without being a prisoner to it. We need to make the affordable scheme more flexible and not try to have it in a way that one size fits all. A large number of towns around the country are in the same situation.

Coupled with this we can take the smaller villages such as Corofin, Abbeyknockmoy or other such towns where people cannot build because there is no wastewater scheme. An Bord Pleanála has deemed that any development of a housing scheme in these towns and villages is premature until a wastewater treatment plant is delivered. On top of this we have a situation where existing housing estates with private wastewater treatment plants are not being taken in charge by the local authority or Irish Water. If there are infill sites in these developments they cannot get planning permission to build them out. These are the issues affecting delivering houses to people who want to pay for them and want to get them at an affordable price. I ask the Taoiseach to carry out a review of this.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Canney for raising these matters. The Government wants to remove any barrier that exists to the development of housing and housing schemes, such as the Deputy has indicated. I am concerned when I hear Deputy Canney highlighting these important issues being perceived as barriers in his community. I am very eager to work with him and to work through the structures in Galway to see how we can address some of them. The issue of home ownership is the biggest issue of our time. It is an issue that has created intergenerational anxiety. It is not just young people worried about whether they will ever be able to buy a home but their mum, dad and grandparents worry too. We want to ease this intergenerational anxiety. We are now seeing building homes at levels not seen since 2008. We see 500 individuals or couples buying their first home each and every week. So far this year we have seen more than 350 homes commence to be constructed every working day. These are very encouraging figures and I say this from the point of view of hoping to be able to demonstrate to people that there are some encouraging signs from a housing supply point of view.

I thank Deputy Canney for his acknowledgement on social housing. Sometimes we come into this place and there is a suggestion no social housing is being provided. Deputy Canney is rightly saying that in his community and constituency he is seeing a significant level of social housing being provided. This tallies with the national figures. Last year saw the highest number of social housing units provided any time since the 1970s. Of the past 50 years last year had the highest number. However we have a lot more work to do and we need to be willing to listen to communities. We need to be willing to be more agile and responsive to issues as they arise in communities. With this in mind we have the Galway housing task force. It is being refocused under its new chairperson John McCarthy. I understand it is meeting quarterly. It has a strong work programme to tackle what it describes as Galway-specific issues. I believe it met as recently as yesterday and two more meetings are scheduled already, one for 6 September and one for 28 November. I will ask that the specific issues raised by Deputy Canney be fed into its consideration to see whether progress can be made. I know the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage stands ready to respond to any outcome from that task force.

With regard to the specific issue on wastewater, as Deputy Canney is aware Clarinbridge and Craughwell were successful in being approved for funding last December. It is a very successful scheme and I acknowledge the work done by the Minister Deputy O'Brien in bringing it forward. It was a clever idea to try to empower people locally to make progress on wastewater. It is very important that we see these projects being successful so we can then have a further phase of roll-out in the small villages specifically referenced by Deputy Canney.

There are now cost-rental projects approved in Galway city. This will see homes delivered on the Old Monivea Road at Ballybrit by Tuath next year. I will take on board the specific issues raised by Deputy Canney and I will ask the Galway housing task force to look at them in conjunction with the Department of housing and we will continue to liaise with him.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach and I acknowledge that Clarinbridge and Craughwell have been given an allocation to put in wastewater treatment plants and not before time. The reality is there is a list of 30 more similar centres in Galway. When the Minister, Deputy O'Brien first announced the funding call it was three years ago. It was only in December that an announcement was made as to where the money would go. This type of long drawn-out process has to stop. We need to take it seriously in the sense that if we are to provide affordable houses we need to provide the infrastructure required. At the same time we cannot leave people living in houses which they bought in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 with the responsibility to maintain the private wastewater treatment plants there. At the same time they are paying their mortgages, local property tax and everything else. They seem to be left in limbo with the developers having washed their hands, Irish Water having washed its hands and the local authorities having washed their hands of all of this problem. The Government needs to have a look at this. It is particularly prevalent in the west of Ireland, and Galway in particular, where private wastewater treatment plants are not being taken into charge by anybody.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is a lot of hand hygiene and a lot of people washing their hands here. Let me assure the Deputy we will not wash our hands of our responsibility to deliver for the people of Galway in terms of housing supply. I am pleased with the progress we are making on social housing, as Deputy Canney has acknowledged. I also acknowledge that we need to do more on this. We continue to be ambitious with regard to social and affordable housing. There are also a hell of a lot of people in this country who want to buy their own homes. There are a hell of a lot of parents who want to see their adult children buy their own homes. We have a responsibility to listen to communities and builders and put schemes in place. There are reasons to be encouraged by housing supply when we see almost 33,000 new homes built last year alone, exceeding the target.

Let me be absolutely clear - the Government intends to lift the scale of its ambition in terms of housing supply. We will publish draft housing targets in the summer and finalised targets in the autumn. As part of realising and reaching those targets, we will have to work with the likes of the Galway Housing Task Force to see how, county by county, we can raise the scale of ambition.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has publicly stated that he supports the hardworking, local businesses that employ many people in rural towns and villages. Airbnb hosts also fall into the category of hardworking local businesses. They form the bedrock of visitor accommodation in rural and coastal areas across the island. For example, their contribution to the success of the Wild Atlantic Way, now in its tenth year, is beyond question. The extra footfall and spin-off spend generated by their guests is essential to the survival of local businesses and their employees. The guests eat in cafés, restaurants and pubs, go kayaking, whale watching and hill-walking and visit distilleries and museums. That is not just in west Cork; it is across our island. In 2023, tourism generated €12 billion, 2.5% of Ireland's GDP, and supported 5.1% of the national workforce. The Wild Atlantic Way alone generated €3 billion. Airbnb hosts also provide accommodation to allow people to relocate and engage in remote working. They also facilitate contract workers on weekly assignments and agency healthcare staff.

Airbnb hosts in rural and coastal areas are fearful of losing their livelihoods if the proposed registration of short-term lets requires planning compliance within a six-month period, with no clarity as to what this would entail. Many hosts who are over 55 host in their own homes and depend on this essential source of income in locations where employment prospects are scarce. This allows them the dignity of creating their own jobs while working from home and reducing their carbon footprint, which is a constant cry from this Government. To date, neither the Minister for housing nor the Minister for tourism has properly engaged with these thousands of hosts in the short-term rental sector as recognised stakeholders. The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin is said to be bringing forward a report soon. How can she do this when she has not consulted with the people who could be most affected?

The Government's decision to railroad with these proposals through will have devastating consequences. The Government must immediately decouple the planning requirements from the new register until it has produced reliable data on the actual type and pattern of short-term rentals in Ireland. Thousands of Airbnb providers need the Taoiseach to recognise that the proposed legislation in its current form could kill Ireland's tourism and the livelihoods of thousands of rural employees as early as 2025. Airbnb hosts are not the solution to the housing problem. They are the solution to a thriving local and national tourism economy, supporting local jobs for local people. Does the Taoiseach understand the crisis these hosts are facing? What is his solution to the thousands of top-quality tourism providers who may face being wiped out due to these new proposals.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. Just a gentle reminder to everyone, I have my phone on silent mode.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An-chiúin ar fad.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank Deputy Collins for raising this issue. This Government certainly understands the challenges being faced by the tourism sector and small and medium businesses. That is why we have taken a number of measures in recent weeks to further support them, whether that in terms of the doubling of the cost of business grant for people in the hospitality and retail sectors, the expanded energy efficiency grant or engaging with them on issues like the cost of business and some of the matters I referred to when I was talking to Deputy Bacik earlier.

I am sure the Deputy also understands this. When I was in his constituency during the local and European election campaign, I met people in Kinsale on the main street who came up to me and said, "Simon, there are a lot of places here that are vacant, Airbnb and the likes, and my young person cannot get anywhere to rent or live." This is about a balanced approach. Let me say this: I agree with the Deputy that we should not pit one challenge against another. There is absolutely a need for a tourism ecosystem. The latter is absolutely vital to constituencies like his and to our country. There is absolutely a need to have short-term lets that people can rent when they come here on their holidays. There is a need to support the bed and breakfast sector. All of that is true. However, There is also a need to have some form of structure around what constitutes a short-term let and what constitutes a house or apartment that is available for a young person or anybody else to rent or buy.

I ask everybody to wait and see the detail. People will not have to wait very long because the short-term letting and tourism Bill will be brought to Government very shortly. We are fully aware of the sectoral concerns around the impact on rural tourism. I say that seriously and sincerely. Those concerns will be assessed and considered by the Government. A critical piece here is trying to balance local housing needs and tourism and economic needs. We have got to get that right. The intention behind the proposed Bill is to provide a statutory basis for the establishment of a register for short-term lets in Ireland and to implement the EU short-term rental regulation which was adopted by the European Union on 11 April last. We intend to approve the draft Bill shortly and then publish a final version.

I am aware of a letter I received earlier today - I certainly saw it today - from a number of tourism and hospitality sectoral organisations including the Irish Tourism Industry Federation, the Irish Self-Catering Federation, the Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Restaurants Association of Ireland, the Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions and Ireland's Association of Adventure Tourism. That letter has been copied to a number of Departments. We will of course respond to each of the issues that has been raised there. This is about trying to put a regulatory structure in place and identifying what is a short-term let and what is available for people to rent. It is important to get this right. There would, quite rightly, have been requests on this from those on the Opposition and Government benches. Often Deputies on all sides of the House raise this during Questions on Policy or Legislation. It comes up a lot in constituency offices.

Let us not create a bogeyman here. We are not trying in any way, shape or form to do down the tourism sector. We rely on it. It is extremely important in all parts of this country, urban and rural. We will get it right. We are also seeing under Housing for All that this is an important measure to have that structure in place.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach said that he understands the challenges faced by businesses. I could question that because he is part of the Government that raised VAT from 9% to 13.5%. That was not evidence of understanding the challenges businesses are experiencing. I am talking about a completely different matter. The Taoiseach referred to regulation. Those in the Airbnb sector are not afraid of regulation. They understand that regulation has to be put in place. However, if this requires planning, for many of these homes that have been providing an excellent tourism service throughout the country, west Cork included, it will mean that the people involved may have to spend tens of thousands of euro that they cannot afford to spend on their homes. That is where the issue lies. They are not afraid of regulation. They are not afraid to sit down around the table and put things right and make sure everything is in order. They do have a concern, however, about the planning regulation that may be involved in this. If this goes ahead the way it is being reported, it is going to wipe out Airbnb services throughout west Cork and other places. That is the concern. They are not afraid of regulation or of making changes to provide clarity going forward. What they are worried about is the planning regulation. If the planning regulation comes in, it is going to put them out of business. That is where they feel this is going.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the sincerity of the point the Deputy is making but I would also say this. We have to be honest in this House about Airbnb and how much people can make on that over a couple of days versus renting out the place for a month. We have to have a balanced conversation. There is either a housing emergency in Ireland or there is not. Let me be clear, there is such an emergency. I am sure the Deputy would have spoken to young people during the local and European elections. It is good to continue that honesty afterwards. I am sure he would have looked them in the eyes and told them that he and his councillors, MEPs and whomever else are going to do everything in the Dáil and elsewhere to help them get homes. So am I. That involves taking decisions in government, not just defining the problem or deciding which bandwagon to jump on today. There are legitimate issues that the tourism sector has. We will work with it. We value it. We need it. The sector is an important part of our economy not just in rural Ireland but in all parts.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Shocking.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have been to your constituency and on the main street of Kinsale I heard about the need for this. I swear to God I did. I remember the mother who spoke to me on that street. This Government is not going to let her and her kids down.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has not answered the question.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is usual in parliamentary democracy that people wait to read legislation when it is published. We will publish it. The Deputy can then read it and then bring forward amendments. Let us have a debate on the floor of the Dáil. Do not do this usual thing of claiming that the Government does not understand rural Ireland and so on. That is nonsense.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is a scandalous answer to the people providing Airbnb in west Cork.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach visited Kerry recently and should know better than to come up here and say something like that. That is an insult.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The people who provide Airbnb support tourism services in west Cork. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is an insult.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Resume your seats.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

You are clueless. You do not have a clue, Taoiseach, you never answered the question I asked.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputies, resume your seats.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We would have expected better from you than that now, Taoiseach.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

You were offending at that point.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Do not bother coming down to west Cork.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not need your permission.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

You come up here and go mocking people like that. That is wrong. That is mocking, and you are wrong, Taoiseach. You are 62 days in the job and you should know a lot more than that.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Why are ye upset, lads?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have been in this job for four years, Deputies, and never once have I been ignored in this manner.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Sorry.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is just not acceptable.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is out of order.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

How am I out of order?

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am saying-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I ask that Deputies speak through the Chair or I am going to abandon the Dáil, and I do not wish to do that. I am asking the Deputy for the last time to show a little respect-----

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach should apologise.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----for the Chair, if nothing else. I thank the Deputies. It was Deputy Collins' question. It is now finished-----

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----and I am going to move on to Questions on Policy or Legislation. I thank the Deputies and ask for their co-operation.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies. If we could have co-operation from both sides of the House, that would be very helpful.